Unnamed: 0
int64 0
287k
| id
stringlengths 40
40
| article
stringlengths 117
14.7k
| highlights
stringlengths 37
3.97k
|
|---|---|---|---|
97,871 | 0a00a9aebcb754c51534867cf1db2335dcb76884 | You can never tell or prove someone is racist unless they actually say or show you. That’s what I’ve always believed. On Tuesday in Paris one group of bullying Chelsea supporters screamed and shouted and showed how racist they were. Seeing and hearing these cowards chanting ‘We’re racist! We’re racist!’ to one lonesome black guy made my blood boil. All I kept thinking was: I hope these guys get some payback. Michael Duberry played over 100 games for Chelsea in his six years at the club in the mid 1990s . 'I never played in front of racist Chelsea fans...That Chelsea was dead and buried decades ago' Gary Lineker, presenter and ex footballer: 'Just saw the video of the Chelsea mob's deplorable behaviour and racist chants. Sickening, embarrassing, moronic, disgraceful.' Paul Canoville, Chelsea's first ever black footballer: 'I watched it and I was in disgust, I was so angry and ashamed. We’ve done so much campaigning against the very issue of racism and this happens and it’s brought it all right back down. I don’t care if it’s the minority because regardless of that it is connected to the club and when you mention Chelsea this will be the response. I can’t believe this has come about.' Stan Collymore, pundit and ex footballer: 'Chelsea fans. Save your spite for those on the train, I'm sure you'll want to see them banned from holding season tickets at your club.' Jason Roberts, pundit and ex footballer: 'I hope that every black Chelsea Player watches that.' Sepp Blatter, FIFA president: 'I also condemn the actions of a small group of Chelsea fans in Paris. There is no place for racism in football.' Ian Wright, pundit and ex footballer: 'Chelsea what you gonna do? Your club has been linked to racism for so long! What have you done? Put a couple of signs up in your ground? Those guys on the train remind me of my childhood. Chase you with their mates! But when alone and confronted, I've seen them cry.' I was disgusted to see such behaviour. It was like I was going back in time and watching a documentary about the old Chelsea fans; the old Chelsea fans that were racist, the Chelsea fans that used to give their own players racist abuse. It was always difficult to picture the Chelsea fans I played for being the same racist Chelsea fans who gave their own players Paul Canoville and Keith Dublin such grief and abuse. I never played in front of racist Chelsea fans at Stamford Bridge or anywhere when I wore the Chelsea shirt. That old racist Chelsea was before my time. That Chelsea was dead and buried decades ago. The club has done all it can to kill that image and now it is very much a multicultural club. But maybe this is something that Roman Abramovich’s millions can’t buy. I kept thinking to myself: how do the minds of these racist guys work? A few hours later these same men were cheering on their Chelsea team, with two black guys in the starting line-up - Willian and Ramires. Did they cheer for them? Or did they get angry that these two were wearing the Chelsea shirt? Did these same racist idiots not cheer with the rest of the Chelsea fans when Didier Drogba scored that penalty in Munich? Was the club’s greatest triumph tarnished because a black man scored the winning goal? Did these fans used to hate me as a black man wearing the blue of Chelsea? Only they can answer those questions. I can’t even begin to try to translate the thought process of a racist. A black fan attempts to board a train but is refused entry by fans travelling to the Champions League tie . The amateur footage goes on to show passengers in the carriage following the disgraceful incident . Honestly, I find it all disgusting and hope they all get locked away. Extreme, I know, but surely let’s make an example of them — of racists. Chelsea, the FA, FIFA and any other footballing governing body need to come up with a plan to eliminate these thugs from our game and society. Not just a poster campaign, or wristbands or even a fancy advert, but a proper campaign with proper consequences and proper punishment for those guilty. Chelsea need to clean up their own house with these fans and do their own in-house justice to make sure they are identified and make the punishment radical. Disassociation alone is not enough — there has to be a huge message for all to see. Duberry (right) celebrates with Dennis Wise and Gus Poyet after a Chelsea goal at Stamford Bridge . Duberry holds off Dennis Bergkamp during his six-year career at Chelsea, and has been a fan ever since . I know those cowards do not represent all Chelsea fans but unfortunately they did in Paris and brought shame on the club. Chelsea are my team and have been ever since I signed as a schoolboy more than 25 years ago, so I feel the highs and lows like all Chelsea supporters. I will defend them in debates about everything but what happened on Tuesday in Paris was indefensible. I didn’t even try to. In many discussions I heard in the aftermath there was talk I should be ashamed to be a Chelsea fan. I’m not ashamed to be a Chelsea fan and I am not ashamed over what happened in Paris as those racist idiots do not represent ME but I am very saddened at what those mindless idiots have done to the image of my Chelsea. Michael Duberry played 116 games for Chelsea between 1993-99 and writes a weekly column in the Oxford Mail . | Watching those Chelsea fans in Paris made my blood boil .
I thought we had left all this behind decades ago .
Chelsea, the FA and FIFA should make an example of these racists .
Chelsea need to clean up their own house with these fans . |
157,844 | 5814a355b0e1587b77a1c431844b6ef2d81a9339 | (CNN) -- Five patients who underwent surgery at a Cape Cod Hospital this summer may have been exposed to Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease after their surgeries were performed using the same potentially contaminated medical equipment found in a New Hampshire hospital, according to a statement released by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health on Thursday. The specialized medical equipment had originally been used to operate on a patient now suspected of having Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services announced Wednesday. The now-deceased patient had neurosurgery at Catholic Medical Center in Manchester, New Hampshire, and normal sterilization procedures don't get rid of the disease proteins, known as prions, the Department of Health and Human Services said Wednesday. The surgical equipment used at both hospitals was from Medtronic Inc. according to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. The five most recent cases in Cape Cod come one day after the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services announced it is monitoring eight patients for signs of the fatal brain disease. "Our concern is with the health and well-being of the eight patients who may have been exposed to CJD," Dr. Joseph Pepe, Catholic Medical Center's CEO, said in a statement issued with the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services on Wednesday. "We will work closely with these families to help them in any way possible, even though the risk of infection is extremely low." The five most recent patients each had spinal cord surgery at Cape Cod Hospital between July and August 2013, and all the potentially affected patients have been notified of the risk, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health said. The department added that the risk to the potentially affected patients is very low because they underwent spinal cord surgery instead of brain surgery. There is no danger to hospital staff or members of the public, according to the statement. An autopsy of the original patient to confirm the illness -- which differs from a variant of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease commonly known as "mad cow disease" -- is being conducted at the National Prion Disease Pathology Surveillance Center, Catholic Medical Center said Wednesday. The only way to confirm the illness is with an autopsy. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says no cases of the disease have been linked to the use of contaminated medical equipment since 1976. Most medical devices are sterilized by heat, but the World Health Organization recommends the use of a caustic chemical like sodium hydroxide to disinfect equipment that may have come in contact with tissues that could cause Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease strikes fewer than 400 people a year in the United States, according to the CDC. Victims show signs of memory loss and cognitive difficulty early on; the ailment is "rapidly progressive and always fatal," the CDC says. Florida boy dies from brain-eating parasite . CNN's Matt Smith, Miriam Falco and Jennifer Bixler contributed to this report. | Patients may have been exposed to Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, officials say .
Possibly contaminated medical equipment was used for patients' surgery, officials say .
The same equipment may have exposed eight patients in New Hampshire . |
118,345 | 24cab0b7d4a70eed202d5172221192a771f722e3 | (CNN) -- Hungary awoke Monday to a new political landscape after the center-right opposition Fidesz party took decisive election victory, ending eight years of Socialist rule. Fidesz won two-thirds of the votes in Sunday's second round of parliamentary elections, gaining 263 of the 386 seats -- enough to allow it to govern without forming alliances. Fidesz leader Viktor Orban characterized the vote -- which also saw gains by the far-right -- as a "revolution" in the Eastern European country that was under Soviet control from 1945 to 1991. "Today there was revolution in the polling booths," Fidesz leader Viktor Orban told a crowd of supporters, according to Hungary's MTI news agency. "Hungarians have overthrown the system and created a new one. The old system of leaders misusing their power was replaced by one of national unity." While the Socialist party took second place with 59 seats, it was closely followed by the far-right Jobbik party, making its parliamentary debut. Jobbik has come under international criticism for what many perceive as anti-Semitic statements and for its verbal attacks on the country's gypsy, or Roma, minority. Ahead of the vote, the Socialists has seen their support dwindle as they struggled to push through a broad reform program, tackling the country's education and health care systems. Their problems were compounded when the global recession hit Hungary hard. In late 2008, it had to borrow $27 billion from the International Monetary Fund as unemployment climbed into the double digits and the economy shrunk. The party was also derailed by scandals and accusations of corruption. In 2006, Hungarian radio played a leaked tape where former Prime Minister and Socialist Party member Ferenc Gyurcsany admitted that his party lied to the public to win that year's general election. Journalist Fanny Facsar contributed to this report. | Fidesz won 263 of the 386 seats in parliament. The Socialists won 59 .
A second round of balloting was held in 57 constituencies where no clear winner emerged .
Fidesz promising tax cuts, new jobs to address Hungary's economic problems .
Hungary was forced to take $27 billion loan in 2008 from the IMF to keep its economy afloat . |
261,335 | de739230c3d49881f80f8c00c01435bda30143fd | James Holmes reached out to multiple women on a sex website in the days before launching a massacre which killed 12 people and injured 58 during a screening of The Dark Knight Rises, it has emerged. However, at least three of the women he contacted through AdultFriendFinder rejected his advances - even though he was apparently just hoping to 'chat' with 'nothing sexual' on the cards. The news follows rumours that Holmes may have broken up with a girlfriend shortly before the shooting in Aurora, Colorado, and that he was due to be evicted from his apartment after dropping out of grad school. Gunman: James Holmes apparently contacted at least three women online days before the Aurora shooting . Picture: Holmes posted this photograph of himself with a poster of model Keeley Hazell on his site profile . The 24-year-old gunman's profile on AdultFriendFinder first came to light the day after he attacked a midnight screening of the Hollywood blockbuster. It shows pictures of Holmes with dyed red hair posing with a poster of British model Keeley Hazell, and features the chilling tagline, 'Will you visit me in prison?' The PhD dropout wrote on the site that he was looking for 'a fling or casual sex' - and described himself as 'a nice guy'. But one of the women who was in contact with Holmes told TMZ she thought he was 'just looking to maybe chat... nothing sexual'. He asked to meet up with her but she turned down the request, as did two other women who talked to TMZ about their communication with him. Profile: Holmes said he was looking for 'a fling or casual sex' in his posting on AdultFriendFinder . Holmes had dropped out of the University of Colorado weeks before the attack and was nearing the end of his grace period for staying at the institution's accommodation. Aurora police chief Daniel Oates also hinted that Holmes had recently gone through a break up and that authorities were investigating the claim. A former classmate from the University of Colorado suggested another cause for the killings, describing Holmes as someone who had lost touch with reality after becoming 'obsessed' with video games. The classmate told the Daily Mail: 'James was obsessed with computer games and was always playing role-playing games. Inside the life of a killer: After spending hours dismantling the many booby traps set up around James Holmes' Aurora apartment, police investigated the area and took pictures of the evidence . 'I . can’t remember which one but it was something like World of Warcraft, . one of those where you compete against people on the internet. 'He . did not have much of a life apart from that and doing his work. James . seemed like he wanted to be in the game and be one of the characters. 'It . seemed that being online was more important to him than real life. He . must have lost his sense of reality, how else can you shoot dozens of . people you don’t know?' It . is also believed that Holmes was due to be evicted from his flat. The . 24-year-old, who is now in police custody, pulled out of the university . weeks before the deadly attack. Neighbours told TMZ anyone living in the block had to be enrolled at the university otherwise you had 30 days to evacuate. It is not known exactly when Holmes . stopped going to classes but it is thought he was nearing the end of the . 30-day grace period. Interests: Glimpses into Holmes' apartment show that he had a poster of the video game Soldiers of Misfortune . Earlier Aurora police chief Daniel Oates addressed the hunt for a motive for Holmes's murderous actions, telling CBS' Face the Nation: 'I’ve heard one morsel of information about a relationship that may or may not be true. 'That’s . why we have all our investigators working on this. That’s why we . brought in the FBI behavioral analysts. They’re going to figure all that . stuff out. 'There will be . no easy or quick answers. And maybe there will never be any answers. This requires a lot of work. And we’re just not in a position to give . any indications of that now. 'And again, whatever we do develop, the . proper place to make sure we get proper justice for the victims is to . reveal that stuff in the course of the criminal prosecution.' This . clue came out on the same day as it was revealed that in addition to his . profile on AdultFriendFinder, Holmes also had a profile active on the . dating website, Match.com. Inspecting carefully: Police and fire officials carried out the search of Holmes' apartment . During . the same interview, Mr Oates said that they had spoken with someone . who was an acquaintance of the 24-year-old shooting suspect, leading . many to initially fear that the investigation had not come to an end. 'This was a person . who had contact with the suspect, a casual acquaintance,' Mr Oates told CBS News. 'We found him . yesterday, we interviewed him.' During the talk with Face The Nation's Bob Schieffer, Mr Oates was quick to downplay the questioning. 'The relationship was really inconsequential and we're happy that we spoke to him. That's all that was,' he said. A witness at the scene initially said that he thought he saw a second man helping Holmes during the attack. The male witness who saw Holmes . launch his deadly attack says he thought he also saw someone open the . doors of the movie theatre to let the shooter in. Anti-social: Holmes was thought to be a recluse who covered his windows with black garbage bags so that no one could see in . Insight: Pictures have not been released of the interior of his apartment, so the only glimpses come from the outside looking in . The witness, who has not been named, . told KCNC it appeared that a cinemagoer who left the screening after . receiving a telephone call deliberately left the emergency exit open. Holmes used the emergency exit to access the screening of the Hollywood blockbuster in Aurora, Colorado. The . witness said: 'As I was sitting down to get my seat, I noticed that a . person came up to the front row, the front right, sat down, and as . credits were going, it seemed like he got a phone call. 'So . he went out toward the emergency exit doorway, which I thought was . unusual to take a phone call. And it seemed like he probably pried it . open, or probably did not let it latch all the way. 'As . soon as the movie started, somebody came in, all black, gas mask, . armour, and threw a gas can into the audience, and it went off, and then . there were gunshots that took place.' Mr Oates was clear to mention that . while they were still trying to determine the circumstances leading up . to the fatal attack - and what, if any, motive the young man had - he said . that police are confident in saying that he acted alone. 'All . the evidence we have, every single indicator, is that this was all Mr . Holmes' activity. He wasn't particularly aided by anyone else,' Mr Oates . said during the interview. Massacre: 12 people were left dead and 58 injured in the Colorado shooting . The . first time that police began to think that there may have been an . accomplice was when a local officer received a threatening electronic . message Saturday evening, demanding that Holmes be released from custody . or else the sender would become violent. The sender and the format of the . message have not been released publicly, but police investigated the . threat and appear confident that there was no accomplice. They spent hours on Friday and Saturday in Holmes' apartment, dismantling the many booby traps and explosives that the madman had set up to kill whomever entered his apartment. Unconfirmed reports state that Holmes had a Batman poster adorning one of the walls. Police chief Oates would not comment on the poster, but photographers did capture a portion of a different poster while investigators were examining the shooter's apartment. A poster for a video game called Soldiers of Misfortune is visible- and fitting considering both Holmes' interest in video games and his maniacal course of destruction that has torn Aurora apart. Witness: This man claims to have seen someone leave the emergency exit of the cinema open for Holmes near the beginning of the film . Ritchie Duong told the Los Angeles . Times that he has known Holmes for more than a decade and they also both . attended undergraduate school at the University of California, . Riverside, where they saw each other once a week to watch the television . series Lost. They last met in December for dinner and a movie. Mr Duong says at the time, Holmes seemed fine. He also says academics came easily to Holmes both at high school and at the UC Riverside. Mr Duong says he remembers that in one college class they had together, Holmes didn't take notes but would just sit through class and always got an A. Police have surmised that the grad school dropout had seemingly spent months planning the murderous assault, as he had amassed a stockpile of arms and explosives over long period of time. | Profile on AdultFriendFinder read 'Will you visit me in prison?'
Three women turned down James Holmes's advances before shooting .
Police chief hints gunman was recently involved in relationship split .
Holmes was due to be evicted from his university-assigned flat days before the deadly attack as he had dropped out of PhD programme .
Classmate said Holmes was obsessed with role-playing video games .
Killer 'did not have much of a life' apart from work and gaming . |
207,377 | 98814f063f47a8613d8ab1b4ec9c4f1402363dac | Cairo (CNN)An Egyptian court triggered an international uproar Monday, confirming a death sentence for 183 defendants. The defendants were convicted of murdering 11 police and two civilians in August 2013, Egypt's state-run MENA news agency reported. Those deaths came in an attack on a police station. It followed a massive, deadly crackdown by Egyptian forces on supporters of ousted President Mohamed Morsy. "Today's death sentences are yet another example of the bias of the Egyptian criminal justice system," said Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui of Amnesty International. "These verdicts and sentences must be quashed and all of those convicted should be given a trial that meets international standards of fairness and excludes the death penalty." "Issuing mass death sentences whenever the case involves the killing of police officers now appears to be near-routine policy, regardless of facts and with no attempt to establish individual responsibility," Sahraoui added. "So far, 415 people have been sentenced to death in four trials for the killing of police officers, while the case against former President Hosni Mubarak, involving the killing of hundreds of protesters during the uprising, has been dropped. To date no security officers have been held to account for the killing of 1,000 protesters in August 2013," the organization said on its website. Amnesty International opposes the death penalty altogether. Thirty-four of the 183 defendants were tried in absentia. All are permitted to appeal. In July and August 2013, hundreds of demonstrators -- perhaps more than a thousand -- were killed by Egyptian forces in what Human Rights Watch said "probably amounts to crimes against humanity." "The authorities have failed to hold even a single low-level police or army officer accountable for any of the killings, much less any official responsible for ordering them, and continue to brutally suppress dissent," the group said. It issued a 188-page report titled "All According to Plan: The Rab'a Massacre and Mass Killings of Protesters in Egypt." Since August 2013, 343 police personnel have been killed, Egypt's Ministry of Interior says. At the heart of all this is the battle for control of Egypt that has gripped the country for four years. In February 2011, strongman Mubarak was toppled. Morsy, a longtime fixture in the Muslim Brotherhood, became Egypt's first democratically elected president in 2012. But he was deposed a year later in a military coup after mass protests. Also in 2013, Egyptian authorities cracked down on former Morsy supporters. In December of that year, Egypt's interim government officially declared the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organization. (Hamas, the Palestinian militant group that controls Gaza, is a branch of the Muslim Brotherhood.) Egypt's current government, led by President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, has called for a "religious revolution" and asked Muslim leaders to help in the fight against extremism. He has launched a war against terrorism focused particularly on the country's Sinai region where an extremist group recently pledged allegiance to ISIS. CNN's Salma Abdelaziz reported from Abu Dhabi, journalist Sarah Sirgany from Cairo, and CNN's Josh Levs from Atlanta. | The defendants were convicted of murdering 11 police officers and two civilians .
That attack followed a deadly, widespread crackdown by security forces .
"Mass death sentences" in police killings are becoming routine in Egypt "regardless of facts," Amnesty International says . |
228,947 | b4711e43069d770d4a23e2f49ac0527bd3a2de59 | By . Harriet Arkell . Anthony Stallard, 24, of Portsmouth, admitted flapping his arms about and making ghost noises within earshot of mourners visiting graves . A man who flapped his arms about in a cemetery, making ghost noises within earshot of mourners visiting graves was fined and given a suspended prison sentence. Anthony Stallard, 24, was reported to police after he was seen throwing himself backwards and saying 'wooooooh' at Kingston Cemetery in his home town of Portsmouth, the city's magistrates heard. Shortly before that, Stallard, who is unemployed, was seen kicking a football at graves with a friend. Tim Concannon, prosecuting, told Portsmouth Magistrates' Court: 'While the football was going on, this defendant was effectively singing loudly and being disrespectful in among the graves. 'He was throwing himself backwards, waving his arms about and going 'woooooooh'. 'I'm assuming he was pretending to be a ghost.' Police arrested him and charged him with using threatening or abusive words or behaviour likely to cause distress. Stallard admitted the charge, and accepted that his behaviour could cause distress to grieving relatives. Denise Saunders, defending, said: 'He has accepted that his behaviour, if it had been outside of a cemetery, would not have been inappropriate. 'But inside a cemetery, while people are grieving for their loved ones, it might be.' Stallard committed the offence while subject to a 12-month conditional discharge which he'd received for a charge of harassment in January. He was also in breach of a suspended sentence for an offence of assault, which he had committed in August last year. He was fined £35, and made to pay a £20 victim surcharge and £20 court costs. An extra three months was added to his suspended sentence, which will now run for 15 months instead of the previous 12. And if he commits a further offence that breaches this suspended sentence, he will face 12 weeks' imprisonment. Charges of causing damage to gravestones as the pair played football were dismissed when witnesses failed to turn up at court. 41843 . 61520 . 40473 . 32000 . 14977 . 60512 . 34475 . 40914 . 90187 . 184576 . 52440 . 72192 . 56288 . 74368 . 89408 . Kingston Cemetery: Unemployed Stallard was seen throwing himself backwards and kicking a ball at graves . | Anthony Stallard, 24, was spotted in Portsmouth's Kingston Cemetery .
He was flapping arms, throwing himself backwards and making ghost noises .
Unemployed Stallard, from Portsmouth, could be heard by mourners there .
Lawyer told magistrates: 'I'm assuming he was pretending to be a ghost'
Stallard admitted a public order offence and was told to pay total of £75 .
Extra three months was added to an existing 12-month suspended sentence .
Charge of damaging graves with a ball dismissed as witnesses didn't attend . |
119,202 | 25f6f33e1037999d888daa4535ca323dddfa283b | (CNN) -- For centuries, it has enchanted visitors with its fortified walls, pointed arches, towers, ornamental flourishes, carvings, and spectacular gardens. The Alhambra, a fortress and palace in the Spanish city of Granada was begun in the mid-13th century by the Nasrid Emirs of Granada, the last Muslim rulers in Spain. Further palaces and Christian chapels were added to the complex in the centuries since, making it a fascinating mix of cultures and histories. Full of mysterious nooks and crannies as well as grand spaces, the Alhambra attracts around two million visitors a year, according to the Patronato de la Alhambra in Spain, the organization that looks after the complex. Now a sustainable tourism effort from the Patronato de la Alhambra, the World Monuments Fund and others is taking the Alhambra into the 21st century, using technology to bring previously hidden areas of the complex to light. Entitled "The Hidden Alhambra," the project aims to expand the site for tourists, with an app. It will allow visitors to virtually explore delicate, closed-off areas on their iPhones, or on specially designed portable electronic tablets, as well as opening up new routes to related areas outside the complex. "It is a site that gets many visitors, we can say that it's a major tourist destination," said Maria del Mar Villafranca, director of the Patronato de la Alhambra. "For many years now, we have worked with a model that limits access to a certain number of visitors per day," she explained, saying "Hidden Alhambra," is designed to further take the pressure off "fragile zones." Hidden areas that the application will bring to light include an underground space beneath the palace of the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, as well as storage areas, towers and pavilions, according to Norma Barbacci, Program Director for Latin America, Spain, and Portugal at the World Monuments Fund. "(Visitors will) be able to see images and video (on their iPhones) and get all kinds of information about these specific sites that are not open," she said. "They are not able to walk down the stairs into the silos for example, but they can be close to them and get a lot of information," she continued. The app is currently being developed and augmented reality features have not been ruled out, said Barbacci. The first phase of information-gathering for the application, namely photographing the various sites, is being undertaken, according to Villafranca. They are aiming to have the app ready for the public by summer 2012. Virtual visitor experiences are an increasingly popular way of making delicate historic monuments accessible, said Barbacci. "Once the technology began to improve, then we started looking at this as a way of promoting knowledge and caring for a building without trampling all over it," she said. But it's not all virtual work: The World Monuments Fund is also contributing $300,000 to the conservation of the Oratorio del Partal, an elaborate mid-14th century chapel built during the reign of Yusuf I. The conservation effort will include work on the roof, carved wood ceiling and decorative plaster work and will be incorporated into the "Hidden Alhambra" application. "It's a very important part of the Alhambra, for its symbolic value being a part of the oldest area of the complex," explained Villafranca. It is part of a long-term plan of conservation works to other fragile areas of the complex that, she hopes, will make more and more of it accessible to visitors -- and continue to pique their interest in it. | App will make closed-off areas of Moorish palace accessible to tourists .
App a "sustainable tourism" development, says World Monuments Fund .
Around two million people visit Alhambra each year, says Patronato de la Alhambra .
Area to be broadened for tourists and preserved for future . |
233,183 | b9e148edae921d2c1ceeb9f0a735fec25c77cc11 | Attacks against British Jews have reached a record high fuelled by an explosion of violence in the Middle East. Hate crimes of anti-Semitism doubled to exceed 1,000 in a single year for the first time last year, according to new figures. The bloody conflict in Gaza and Israel is the single biggest contributor to the sure, the Community Security Trust (CST) said. Scroll down for video . There were a total of 1,168 attacks in the UK last year - ranging from graffiti to violent assaults - more than double 2013's figure. Pictured: An Orthodox Jewish man walks through Stamford Hill, north London . Officials at the group, which monitors anti-Semitism and provides security for the Jewish community, recorded 1,168 anti-Semitic incidents in 2014. This was more than double the 535 incidents recorded in 2013 and the highest annual total ever recorded. The incidents ranged from violent attacks in the street to vile graffiti and criminal damage against synagogues and homes. In one of the most serious attacks a victim was called a ‘Jewish c***’ and then hit with a glass and a baseball bat in London. In Manchester, a man was knocked off his bike and kicked while on the ground by a group of youths who called him a ‘Jew’. A Jewish girl had deodorant sprayed in her face by a 12-year-old fellow pupil who said to her ‘gas the Jews’ at a school in Edinburgh. And in London two men ran into a kosher restaurant where they intimidated diners before making a Nazi salute and shouting: ‘Heil, Adolf Hitler.’ The Community Safety Trust, which has recorded every anti-Semitic incident in the UK since 1984, blames rising tension in the Middle East. Pictured: Palestinians protest against Israeli President Reuven Rivlin to the small Jewish settler community living in Beit Hadassah, Hebron . The CST has logged anti-Semitic incidents in the UK since 1984, and the previous highest annual total came in 2009 when 931 anti-Semitic incidents were recorded. Experts believe the conflict in Israel and Gaza, which took place in July and August, was the single biggest factor behind the increase. They are braced for a similar spike this year after the attack on a Jewish supermarket in Paris which left four people dead. Jihadist gunman Amedy Coulibaly, who had earlier killed a police woman, struck after two accomplices massacred staff at the offices of Charlie Hebdo. Tensions are escalating across Europe, with three soldiers stabbed on Tuesday while protecting a Jewish centre in Nice, leading to fear the UK figure may rise once more. Pictured: Police collect evidence in Nice . Officials said the attacks, which sent shockwaves around the world, led to an ‘unprecedented’ number of calls from worried Jews. The CST received reports of anti-Semitic incidents from 89 different locations around the UK, including 81 attacks. There were the same number of incidents of damage and desecration of Jewish property, 884 incidents of abusive behaviour and 92 direct anti-Semitic threats. The group also recorded 233 anti-Semitic threats and comments made on social media, including Twitter and Facebook. Last month Scotland Yard Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley said there is ‘heightened concern’ about the risk to Jewish people since the attacks. The figures have been released 10 days after the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, the Nazi death camp which gassed more than a million Jews during the Second World War. Pictured: Holocaust survivor Mordechai Ronen is overcome by emotions standing next to the President of the World Jewish Congress Ronald Lauder, right . Home Secretary Theresa May described the latest figures as ‘deeply concerning’, adding: ‘Britain without its Jews would not be Britain.’ ‘I am absolutely clear that everyone in this country, including members of Britain’s Jewish community, should be able to live their lives free from racial and religious hatred and harassment. No one should live in fear because of their beliefs or who they are.’ Greater Manchester Police Assistant Chief Constable Garry Shewan, who has national responsibility for policing anti-Semitic crimes, called on people who suffer such crimes to always contact police. He said: ‘The recent events in Paris are a reminder to all of us here in the UK that if we tolerate people being targeted because of their race, religion or even how they look the consequences are catastrophic.’ David Delew, who leads the CST, said the figures show ‘just how easily anti-Semitic attitudes can erupt into race hate abuse, threats and attacks’. He said: ‘Thankfully most of the incidents were not violent but they were still shocking and upsetting for those who suffered them, and for the wider Jewish community.’ | There were a total of 1,168 anti-Semitic incidents in the UK during 2014 .
Incidents range from violent attacks in the street to vile graffiti .
Include girl who had deodorant sprayed in her face told 'gas the Jews'
The Community Security Trust (CST) says rise is down to Gaza conflict .
Braced for a similar rise this year after attack on Paris Jewish supermarket . |
41,170 | 74255f896787e612f968b4c89dbc80b451708ff1 | By . Emily Crane . A young boy has narrowly missed being hit by two cars after he dashed out onto a busy Singapore street. The toddler was captured on a dashboard camera running straight into oncoming traffic on Bedok North Road at 8.50pm last Friday. The driver who recorded the ordeal can be heard shouting when the small boy suddenly appears in front of his car. Mad dash: A toddler was nearly hit by two vehicles when he ran out onto a busy road in Singapore on Friday . He braked just in time before honking his horn several times. The driver shouted when the little boy failed to stop and almost got collected by a taxi in the next lane. The toddler seemed unfazed by his near miss. He turned around momentarily in front of the taxi as a woman dashed into the camera frame with her handbag under her arm. But he raced off again and only stopped when the woman caught up with him on the other side of the road. The one-minute video was uploaded to streetdirectory.com's Facebook page on Tuesday. Many who watched the video praised the driver for his quick reflexes but also condemned the woman for not keeping the toddler close as they crossed the road. Near miss: Two vehicles had raced past just before the boy ran onto Bedok North Road . Frightening footage: One of the drivers recorded the ordeal on his car's dashboard camera . 'The driver was very quick to see this child in a split second. Able to avoid the child and at the same the car behind him. The praise should be given to the driver who was alert and vigilant. It could happen to any body and not to specific people. Life is precious,' Margisvaran Chris posted. Wendy Cheng said: 'Parents must always hold their hands. Even till now, my boy is 11, as a mother, I will never let go this hand when crossing the road'. 61 children aged under 12 have been casualties in road accidents this year in Singapore – a 15 percent increase from last year, according to Yahoo! Singapore. Desperate dash: A woman raced across the street to chase the boy, who only stopped when he reached the other side . | Boy suddenly appears in front of car on busy Singapore street on Friday .
Footage captured on one driver's dashboard camera shows near miss .
Woman chasing the toddler comes under fire on social media . |
277,481 | f37f0bc12d65a0fe897ffcd63e98f906e4431b8b | (CNN) -- The aircraft that Capt. Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger heroically landed in New York's Hudson River began its long ride Saturday to an aviation museum in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Airbus A320, sans its wings and tail section, left a warehouse in Harrison, New Jersey, for the journey south, according to Shawn Dorsch, president of the Carolinas Aviation Museum. "It's very hard to miss," Dorsch said of the fuselage. "It's not covered." The museum has invited the 155 crew members and passengers from the "Miracle on the Hudson" incident for a June 11 arrival reception, at which Sullenberger is the scheduled keynote speaker, Dorsch told CNN. On January 15, 2009, US Airways Flight 1549 left LaGuardia Airport and ran into a flock of geese that damaged both engines, forcing the crew to make an emergency landing in the frigid Hudson. Rescuers quickly reached the aircraft and found passengers standing on its wings. Everyone was rescued. Sullenbeger, who retired in March 2010, and other crew members became instant celebrities. J. Supor & Son Trucking and Rigging Co. in New Jersey has donated the considerable cost of transporting the aircraft, Dorsch said. About 40 vehicles are in the entourage, which reached Rutgers University later Saturday. Because the rig's height won't allow the plane to go under older interstate bridges, some of the move will be on other highways, where wires and some stoplights will have to be temporarily moved, Dorsch said. The plane will be shown off at the Charlotte museum's main hangar. "It will be on display almost as soon as it arrives," Dorsch said. US Airways and Airbus mechanics will reassemble the aircraft, including its wings and tail section. Much of that work will be completed by the fall. Sullenberger's uniform, passenger belongings and other artifacts will be part of the display, he said. The cabin will look much as it did during the flight, Dorsch added. Between 30,000 and 35,000 visitors visit the museum annually. Dorsch expects that number will triple within 18 months of the exhibit's opening. Most of the flight's passengers still live in the Charlotte area, he added. The incident represents the height of technical achievements in safety and human heroism, the museum president said. Dorsch recalled taking the next flight after Flight 1549 and seeing the plane in the Hudson River. "I was thinking, 'That could have been me,'" he said. | US Airways plane will have new home at North Carolina museum .
Crew of Flight 1549 was forced to land plane in Hudson River .
The Airbus 320 will be reassembled in Charlotte .
Capt. Sullenberger is expected to speak at a June 11 reception . |
89,029 | fca6deace3cedd5d2abc611a53016fb04835ed8b | PUBLISHED: . 06:01 EST, 14 November 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 14:11 EST, 14 November 2012 . In past years arriving students would have to make do with some money off vouchers and maybe a notebook if they were lucky. However, Brunel undergraduate Computer Sciences students are set to get something far better when they arrive - their very own robot. The School of Information Systems, Computing and Mathematics (SISCM) has provided 200 robots for first year students to take home, look after and experiment with throughout the year. Students arriving at Brunel University will each be given a robot when they arrive. Lecturers hope it will help them become more engaged with their computing coursework . It is hoped that as well as giving them a chance to work on their practical skills outside the lab, the robots will enable students to compete with one another through tasks such as navigating obstacle courses. This will culminate in a robot Olympics, to be held during the Spring Term. Apart from moving in different directions, the robots (known as finches) have a beak that can change colour, an accelerometer so the orientation is known, IR sensors to detect obstacles, a light sensor, a thermocouple to determine temperature and a buzzer. Professor Martin Shepperd, Undergraduate Programmes Director at SISCM, said: 'Teaching programming to novices is traditionally challenging so we came up with the novel idea of giving each student their own robot to help with their learning. 'The bonus of these finches is that they provide instant feedback - the student can see whether they respond as intended. 'If you write some code for the robot to turn left and it turns right then it's immediately apparent there's a problem. Write caption here . 'We also hope that because they are fun to work with, they will arouse students’ curiosity and help them to gain a better understanding of the subject area.' This is the first time such a large number robots have been given out to students in such a way. The Finches, specifically designed by Carnegie Mellon University to support the teaching of computer science, have the advantage of being robust and affordable. Although the idea is at the development stage SISCM also plan to take the robots into local schools, alongside first and second year students, to help support learning and encourage more children to think about taking up computer sciences. The robots (known as finches) were developed by Carnegie Mellon University. They have a 'beak' that can change . colour, an accelerometer so the orientation is known, IR sensors to . detect obstacles, a light sensor, a thermocouple to determine . temperature and a buzzer. They are plugged into a computer's USB port and can be programmed easily. The Finch robot's sensors . | Brunel University to give 200 robots to computer science undergraduates .
Also plan to visit local school with them to persuade children to study the subject . |
14,457 | 290453fb2df5df462b5a051627ca61c1d50c6d5e | By . Sarah Griffiths . PUBLISHED: . 12:26 EST, 27 September 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 04:30 EST, 30 September 2013 . A strange second 'moon' orbiting the Earth that has baffled astronomers for the last month, is actually of human origin, scientists said. The mysterious object known as '2013 QW1' was spotted in August as part of the PanSTARRS asteroid survey in Hawaii and immediately caught the attention of researchers who noticed it is orbiting the Earth and wanted to know its identity. Scientists at the European Space Agency observing the near Earth object moving in an Earth-centred orbit were keen to find out whether it was natural or artificial. The mysterious object can be seen moving in a GIF below. The scientists suspect the object is part of a rocket stage, similar to the labeled part on the rocket pictured . Scientists came up with various theories to explain the identity of the moving 'dot' shown on a screen (above), ranging from an asteroid caught in a wide orbit around the Earth, to a piece of space debris or even a small second moon. However, the mystery was solved by staff at the European Space Agency's NEO Coordination Centre, who tracked the object with an Italian telescope with help from researchers at the Observatoire de Paris. Davide Perna, a member of the team, said that finding the object 'was a bit of a challenge, because the object was moving fast' compared to a typical near Earth object. The scientists declared the object 'artificial' and think it is very probably part of a booster stage rocket. It is not the first time that scientists have rediscovered a lost rocket stage close to the edge of the earth's gravitational reach. When the third stage of the Apollo 12 mission failed to crash on the Moon as planned, it drifted through space and then orbited the Earth, before being rediscovered in 2002. Its man-made origin was revealed by analysing the light reflected by the rocket body, . which did not resemble that of an asteroid, but rather revealed the titanium-enriched white paint used at that time for the Apollo rockets. However, the process to identify 2013 QW1 was trickier. Scientists came up with various theories to explain the identity of the mysterious near Earth object, ranging from an asteroid caught in a wide orbit around the Earth, to a piece of space debris or even a small second moon. Our own Earth and its one true moon is pictured . Dr Perna said: 'Despite the difficulties, . observations were made with an instrument called DOLORES, for "Device . Optimised for the LOw RESolution," which allowed us to obtain the . object’s spectrum.' The spectrum bore strong similarities with the spectra of . previously observed space junk such as discarded rocket stages, . abandoned boosters or defunct satellite, ESA said. Detlef Koschny, who is responsible for NEO activities at ESA's Space Situational Awareness programme office, said: 'The observations by European astronomers coordinated by ESA demonstrated a very quick reaction in getting high-quality data that conclusively identified the object as artificial, and hence no threat.' | The mysterious object known as '2013 QW1' was spotted in August as part of the PanSTARRS asteroid survey in Hawaii .
International scientists came up with different theories to explain its identify including an asteroid, a piece of space debris and even a small second moon .
ESA confirmed the object is artificial and think it is very probably part of a booster stage rocket . |
125,397 | 2e1ba341d323244d2cd2d9162c0c03a8eed857ec | Shenyang, China (CNN)On the streets of the neon-lit Chinese city of Shenyang, you'll find a restaurant, hotel, and other businesses owned and operated by the North Korean government. You'll also find a secret network of North Korean hackers, known as Bureau 121, according to defector Kim Heung-Kwang. "It's easy for them to work secretly. It also has great Internet infrastructure," says Kim Heung-kwang, a former Pyongyang computer science professor who escaped North Korea in 2004. Kim says some of his own students became cyber warriors for the hacker network. "By day, they worked regular jobs. But the rest of the time, they were acting on orders from Pyongyang," he says. RELATED: North Korea pushes back against U.S. sanctions for Sony hack . What is 'Bureau 121'? Kim claims North Korean hackers operated secretly in Shenyang for years, moving from location to location to conceal their whereabouts and activities. "Bureau 121 began its large-scale operation in China in 2005. It was established in the late 90s," Kim says. "Team members entered China separately -- in smaller groups -- 20 members at a time," he says. "When they entered China, they came under different titles. For example an office worker, an official with a trade company or even as a diplomatic staffer." Long before North Korea had its own Internet, it dialed in to servers in Shenyang, in Liaoning Province, in the country's north. Today, nearly all of North Korea's Internet traffic is still routed through China. Kim says the operation in China scaled back considerably a few years ago, when North Korea expanded its high speed Internet access. But he believes hackers are still operating in Shenyang. "North Korea does have illicit activities in China," says Steve Sin, a terrorism expert at the University of Maryland and former U.S. military intelligence analyst. Sin wrote a report naming the northeastern Chinese city of Shenyang as a North Korean hacker hub. "It has the location, security, as well as infrastructure," Sin says. "Right now, the best information available to us is that they are still conducting such an operation and they can still conduct such an operation from that location." The North Korean embassy in Beijing, and government officials reached by email in Pyongyang, tell CNN they have no comment on Kim's claims. For its part, China says it opposes any illegal cyber activity on its territory. Inside Shenyang . For a Chinese city, Shenyang has a distinctly North Korean flavor. At the state-owned "Pyongyang Restaurant," waitresses told us they came to China on what is considered a prestigious three-year assignment. They say they're all from the same university in Pyongyang. They serve "North Korean meals," in far more substantial portions than the food rations at home. They also sing and entertain customers with popular folks songs like "Arirang," considered the "unofficial anthem" for both North and South Korea. A short drive away is state-owned The Chilbosan hotel, a joint venture between North Korea and China. The women who work in the hotel wear traditional North Korean clothing. There is an art gallery featuring pieces that glorify North Korea, a gift shop with Pyongyang souvenirs, and even a travel office for North Korea's state-owned national airline "Air Koryo." There is also a marketplace -- which caters to Shenyang's large Korean community. And not far from the government business, there's a North Korean consulate. As the biggest Chinese city near North Korea, Shenyang is a place where many from Pyongyang come to work. According to Sin, they also come to hack. "If you are going to conduct illicit activities or covert operations, it's better to hide among this population, if you will," Sin says. "Large, complicated attacks require a certain amount of cyber infrastructure to carry it out. Shenyang, China has that capability." | Underground network of North Korean hackers are operating in China, defector says .
They're based in Shenyang, defector says, near the North Korean border .
North Korean embassy in Beijing and other government officials declined to comment . |
118,176 | 2498dad0c1e17f22efa3d29d1d25bc7e8b922895 | Justin Goforth was just a 26-year-old nursing student when he had unprotected sex with another man and, as a result, got the diagnosis that changed his life. "I started to feel like I had the flu -- aches, pains, chills, fever, swollen lymph nodes, that kind of thing -- and so I went to my doctor ... we did a viral load test, which was rare back then ... and he called me and said, you know, it came back (HIV) positive." It was 1992. Goforth's doctor immediately sent him to the National Institutes of Health, where research was being done, but treatment options were, at the time, still few. Patients were being treated with AZT, the first drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 1987 to treat HIV/AIDS in the United States -- by then known for its serious, even life-threatening side effects. The reality of the diagnosis set in. "I was so sick," Goforth says. "I was sitting silently and crying because of my circumstance ... and the nurse came over and was trying to console me, I believe, and said ... 'Because you were just infected, you may have, you know, six or eight years before you die.' "I think she was trying to cheer me up," he says. "Didn't work very well, but that's just a good commentary on where we were at the time" Bill Gates: Where to put the smart money to end AIDS . That was then, but what does it mean to have HIV today, after years of research and advances in treatment? "It means likely you can have a normal lifespan and have a similar life to someone who does not have HIV," says Dr. Ray Martins, chief medical officer at Whitman-Walker Health in Washington, which provides health care services for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. "For people who had to deal with the medications and stuff from the '80s and '90s, it was a bit of a rough road there, so figuring out the virus and the medications that would work effectively with the least side effects, it took a while," Martins says. "But now we're at the point where we have three options for one pill, once-a-day regimens with very little side effects." In 1981, when the virus was discovered, being HIV-positive was considered a death sentence. For most patients today, it's a chronic disease, much like diabetes or heart disease. Goforth is a perfect example. He has been living with the disease for 21 years and today is a healthy 47-year-old. Instead of the difficult treatment regimen he was on back then. which included some 40 pills five times a day with "horrific" side effects, he now takes five pills twice a day "with virtually no side effects," he says. For the last 7½ years, Goforth, who is a registered nurse, has worked at Whitman-Walker in a variety of positions, including director of nursing and in case management. He sees potentially thousands of patients each year, and has personally delivered the same news he got two decades ago to more than 200 patients. But he tells them living with HIV today means that you can be healthy, thrive and live a normal lifespan without complications. "You can go to your doctor two, three times a year, get some tests done and make sure everything's on track, and then just live the rest of your life as you would," he says. "Follow your dreams ... have your career, your family, or whatever it is that you'd like to do with your life, and that is the truth of where we are." Today's science, he said, supports that. Interactive: World AIDS Day 2013 . "We are at a place that we actually have the tools we need to stop the epidemic and then just get to a point where we're just taking care of the people who have HIV throughout their life," he says. "But because of how horrible the first 10, 20 years of this (epidemic) was, we have collectively this culture of what it means to be infected and affected by HIV that still is this huge block, this huge barrier for people understanding that they can get into care and they can be OK and that it's not something to be afraid of." About 1.1 million Americans live with HIV, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But because of improved treatments, they're living longer and their quality of life is better. "If a person is HIV infected today, it is important that they put themselves under the care of a physician experienced in caring for HIV-infected individuals," says Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health. "Depending on the stage of infection, it is highly likely that it will be recommended that the person begin antiretroviral therapy (ART)." ART is a combination of at least three antiretroviral drugs that prevents the virus from replicating. It can also help reduce virus transmission. Unlike years ago, when effective treatments were not available, HIV patients now benefit significantly from ART, Fauci says. "These drugs are highly effective in suppressing HIV replication and, if taken as directed, can result in the HIV-infected individual having an almost normal lifespan without experiencing serious illness related to their HIV infection." And so, on this 25th World AIDS Day, Goforth has mixed emotions. It's a day that, in the past, has been incredibly sad and traumatic for him. Now, he says, he has tremendous hope. "I see the freight train being slowed down so that we can turn it around," he says. "Even five, six years ago, I'm not sure that I could have said that I had the hope that that was going to happen, but I think we're at that point we're at a really historical moment with this." Each November in advance of World AIDS Day, POZ, an award winning magazine started in 1994 to provide education and information for people living with and affected by the disease, names its "POZ 100" -- HIV-positive people who are unsung heroes in the fight against AIDS, and committed to ending the epidemic. This year, Goforth is on that list. World AIDS Day 25 years on: It's time to stop saying 'AIDS in Africa' | Justin Goforth thought his 1992 diagnosis was a death sentence .
Today, he counsels others that they can live a fairly normal life .
Treatment breakthroughs and research have improved the outlook for HIV . |
171,768 | 6a4e9a6012f85137798f7913ed5e154055c5edd9 | Horror films and TV shows are about to get a lot more scary. Philips and SyFy have unveiled the first TV show that syncs with smart lights to control them. 12 Monkeys, a drama based on the 1995 film starring Bruce Willis (which itself was based on a 1962 short film called La Jetée), will come complete with a light track to marry the on screen action with your lights. Scroll down for video . The Syfy Sync second screen app will work with the Philips Hue connected lighting system to change the lights to reflect the on screen action. The app can change the colour and brightness of lights throughout the show. The Syfy Sync second screen app will work with the Philips Hue connected lighting system brings a new dimension to immersive TV. When combined, the app will detect audio cues from 12 Monkeys and translate them to the Web-enabled Hue system. The Syfy Sync second screen app will work with the Philips Hue connected lighting system brings a new dimension to immersive TV . 'We constantly look for new and innovative ways to create the optimal environment in the home through unique lighting experiences, from everyday tasks to deeper engagement with your favorite TV shows such as 12 Monkeys,' said Amy Huntington, president, Philips Lighting - Americas. When combined, the app will detect audio cues from 12 Monkeys and translate them to the Web-enabled Hue system. 'Fans will then be enveloped in the onscreen action through ambient lighting effects designed to engage viewers in an entirely unique way,' the firm promises. The experience follows the success of this summer's Sharknado 2, which, for the first time ever, enabled home viewers to sync their Philips Hue lighting system to accompany the soundtrack. 'Working with Syfy on Sharknado 2, we gave viewers a whole new way to experience television and with 12 Monkeys our partnership pushes the envelope from a movie to the first television series with integrated light tracks,' said Huntington. With 12 Monkeys, audiences will get custom light tracks for a full 13 episodes. Matthew Chiavelli of SyFy said: 'We are consistently at the forefront of utilizing technology for transmedia storytelling. With Sharknado 2, our fan base whole-heartedly embraced the addition of Philips Hue to their viewing experience. 'The gritty drama that 12 Monkeys delivers offers a perfect opportunity for us to extend this exceptional capability throughout the entire first season' The TV show is based on the 1995 American science fiction film directed by Terry Gilliam. It, in turn, inspired by Chris Marker's 1962 short film La Jetée, and starring Bruce Willis, Madeleine Stowe, and Brad Pitt, with Christopher Plummer and David Morse in supporting roles. The original short, constructed almost entirely from still photos, it tells the story of an experiment in time travel. It is 28 mins long, black and white. The Philips hue system is the market-leader in smart lighting for the home. This starter kit comprises three bulbs and a unit called a ‘bridge’, that connects your lights to your wifi system, allowing you to control the lights with your iOS or Android smartphone or tablet. If you want to really go to town, you can add up to 50 more bulbs. As well as being able to control the lights, you can also make the lights respond in certain ways to certain events. For example, if your football team scores, the lights could be programmed to flash. Or if you get an email from your children, the lights could change colour. The lights can also double as an alarm, and even automatically turn on when you return home. The hue lightbulbs can recreate any colour . | SyFy channel and Philips worked together on the apps for the Hue lights .
12 Monkeys will be first TV show to have a 'light track' for $60 bulbs .
App will allow users to sync their lights with show . |
164,779 | 61115ba054be972d11f3f8ff078ee72c0d15b803 | By . Ted Thornhill . Tara the tabby, who saved a four-year-old boy from a vicious dog attack that was caught on camera, has ‘thrown the first pitch’ at a minor league baseball game. The cat was the star attraction on Tuesday at a Bakersfield Blaze home game at Sam Lynn Ballpark in Bakersfield, California. She was carried onto the pitch by Roger Triantafilo, accompanied by his son, Jeremy, who she saved from the dog attack, and his wife, Erica. Scroll down for video - WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT . Feline fine: Hero cat Tara, with the help of her owner Roger Triantafilo and team staff member Jade Henry (right), 'tosses' the first pitch prior to the start of the Bakersfield Blaze and Lancaster Jayhawks Single A baseball game in Bakersfield, California, on Tuesday . Claw blimey: Tara, with Roger Triantafilo, leaves with son Jeremy (left) and mom Erica after throwing the ceremonial first pitch . Cat's amazing: The famous feline was the star attraction on Tuesday at the Bakersfield Blaze home game . Tara, however, didn’t quite play ball. Organisers had provided a baseball attached to a piece of string for the ceremonial first pitch, but . she wasn’t very interested in swatting it. In the end Mr Triantafilo gave her a helping hand and moved her paw through the air as he pitched the baseball. The crowd were ecstatic nonetheless. Last Wednesday, she became the nation's most beloved cat when surveillance . footage emerged showing her saving Jeremy by pouncing on the . neighbor's dog as it attacked him. Tara's owners said she has been best friends with Jeremy since he was born. She followed Erica and Roger Triantafilo home from a park about six years ago and has been a member of the family ever since, they said. Last Thursday, Jeremy snoozed his way through his first live interview on the Today show as his parents described their shock at Tara's act of bravery. 'It's pretty amazing to see just a cat . take on a dog and selflessly put herself out there,' Roger Triantafilo said. 'That dog did not . even know what hit him.' Erica explained that she had been near to the house watering a tree when the neighbor's dog, an eight-month-old male Labrador-Chow mix, escaped and grabbed her son by the leg. 'I'd never seen a dog just shake a child like that so violently,' she said. 'I just remember hearing him and the next thing I know, I see my cat flying out of nowhere and getting to this dog.' Loved: The cat happily lets the little boy kiss her as he calls her a hero who saved him from a 'mean dog' After the attack, Tara can be seen chasing the dog away before returning to Jeremy's side. In an interview with the Bakersfield Californian, . his family said she had always been protective over their oldest child . and slept in his crib when he was a baby. They also have younger twin . boys. They added that Tara became part of the family in 2008 when she followed them home from a nearby park - and they accepted her into their home, even though Erica is allergic to cats. She 'really just adopted us from there,' Mrs Triantafilo said. They named her Tara after 'Zatara', which was the name given to Edmond Dantes in The Count of Monte Cristo by smugglers. They told him it means driftwood. 'We named her driftwood because she's our little cat that followed us home,' Triantafilo said. 'She's our little driftwood. She's amazing.' She said that even though her three boys tug at Tara, she sits there and takes it. Lurking: Jeremy Triantafilo was outside his family's home when a neighbor's dog escaped and ran towards him . To the rescue! Tara the cat can be seen running towards her beloved owner as the dog shakes him . 'She's the most mellow cat you've ever seen,' she told Today. 'All our boys love her... and she loves them right back.' The video had shown . Jeremy sitting on his bicycle outside his family's home on Tuesday when . the dog escaped its home through an open gate and crept up on him from . behind. Surveillance footage, which Jeremy's father uploaded to YouTube, shows the dog grabbing the boy's leg and pulling him to the ground before violently shaking him with his teeth clamped tight. Then suddenly, an unlikely hero bounds towards him - the family's cat, Tara. The . video shows the fearless feline jumping on the dog with enough force to . push him away from the boy. Tara then chases the dog away from the . driveway with its leg between its tail. Feline brave: The cat launches herself at the startled dog and knocks it away from Jeremy . And don't come back! Tara follows the dog to make sure it has left, before returning to check on Jeremy . The neighbor, who had been pulling out of their gated driveway when the dog escaped, called 911 for the boy and his mother, KERO reported. The boy, who has mild autism, needed 1- stitches to the deep wounds on his legs but is otherwise fine. 'He's just bouncing back from this,' she told Today. 'He . tells us it feels better.' Speaking to Kero, he said: 'Tara is my hero!' The dog was taken by Bakersfield Animal Control and could be rehabilitated at the neighbors' but home but also faces being euthanized. Injuries: Jeremy needed stitches to the wounds on his leg, pictured, but is otherwise fine, his mother said . Relief: Jeremy's parents, Erica and Roger, pictured, said they were relieved his injuries were not worse . The . encounter was caught on surveillance cameras outside the home and . uploaded to YouTube by the boy's father, Roger Triantafilo, last . Wednesday. 'My cat . defends my son during a vicious dog attack and runs the dog off before . he can do additional damage,' Triantafilo wrote beneath the video. 'Thankfully, my son is fine!' The . boy's mother said on Facebook: 'We aren't upset with our neighbors, . we're just thankful our son wasn't injured more... Our cat is my hero!' 'Whoever said cats don't love their owners!' one YouTube viewer said. See below for video . Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy . | WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT .
Family cat made an appearance at Sam Lynn Ballpark on Tuesday .
Jeremy Triantafilo was outside his family's California home when the neighbor's dog escaped and grabbed him from behind .
But Tara jumped on the dog and chased it away . |
185,604 | 7c6b7d40191c707e97b9654fed1418685f94c226 | By . Becky Barrow . PUBLISHED: . 19:59 EST, 20 September 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 04:11 EST, 21 September 2012 . Millions dream of owning a pretty country cottage with a garden and a beautiful view. But for most of us the rural dream will remain just that, not least because of the soaring cost of living in the countryside, according to a report yesterday by Halifax. The bank’s report reveals the average price of a home in rural areas is £202,000, compared with the £172,000 average in an urban area. The ‘rural premium’ of £30,000 is more than the average full-time worker earns in a whole year. Turville village in the Chilterns, Buckinghamshire: The area is the most expensive rural hotspot, which is close enough to London for commuters to live in the countryside but work in the capital . The soaring price of living in the countryside has been dubbed ‘the River Cottage effect’, after the Channel 4 series featuring chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall growing his food in his own rural idyll. ‘Country living is an aspiration for many Britons – the fresh air, the scenery, the slower pace,’ said Halifax housing economist Martin Ellis. ‘It all adds to the attraction, but this has its drawbacks. For many of those tempted, the high prices put rural homes out of their reach. ‘The traditional British country pile has become less affordable. ‘It is proving more and more difficult to find fruitful results when foraging for houses in the country.’ One ‘country pile’ advertised in this . week’s exclusive Country Life magazine is an eight-bedroom manor house . near Petersfield, Hampshire, which costs £4million. The . most expensive rural hotspot is in the Chilterns, which is close enough . to London for commuters to live in the countryside but work in the . capital. For the past decade, the average house price in the area has increased by £1,107 every month. In 2002, you could buy a home in the area for £295,000. Today the same property would cost £428,000. Another big winner is the Cotswolds, which includes famous towns such as Stow-on-the-Wold, Cirencester, Bourton-on-the-Water, Moreton-in-Marsh and Tetbury, which is near Prince Charles’s Highgrove home. The average house price there is £283,700, just over eight times the average salary of a local resident, which is £34,811. The Halifax report is based on average house prices in local authorities in the UK. A home is defined as ‘rural’ if it is in a town or village with a population under 10,000. Overall, it found only one in 17 of Britain’s 111 rural local authority districts are ‘affordable’. To be affordable, the ratio of house prices to local earnings must be below four. A spokesman from rural affairs campaign group the Countryside Alliance said: ‘The significant difference in house prices will come as no surprise to the thousands of people currently unable to get on to the housing ladder in rural Britain. ‘Many simply cannot afford to live in the areas where they grew up, causing concerns that rural communities may disintegrate as people are forced to move away, often into towns where housing is more affordable. ‘The Countryside Alliance cannot overstate the importance of kick-starting the housebuilding programme, because the future of our rural communities depends on it.’ | Only one in 17 of Britain’s 111 rural local authority districts are ‘affordable’ |
166,880 | 63c887226814f11885e5731e10e38e75ebe2eb0c | By . Tamara Cohen . PUBLISHED: . 19:24 EST, 23 January 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 20:00 EST, 23 January 2013 . The latest figures for websites visited by civil servants reveal 80million viewings of Facebook and 48million to Twitter . Cyberslacking civil servants are spending thousands of hours browsing shopping, social networking and sports websites at the office. Whitehall officials found time last year to log on to Facebook, Twitter and Sky Sports millions of times, official figures have revealed. At the Department for Work and Pensions, which is leading the crackdown on ‘skivers’ by capping benefits and running work programmes for the jobless, Google was the most popular website visited with nearly 700million page views, and Facebook was in fifth place with nearly 82milllion views. Twitter was in tenth place with 48million. The rest of the top ten was filled with sites related to their work, but the officials, paid by the taxpayer, clocked up 19,267,228 visits to Amazon, the 28th most popular site, over 16million to mail-order site Littlewoods in 31st place and 9.5million to used car website Autotrader - which was in 55th place. Meanwhile at the Department for Communities and Local Government, where Secretary of State Eric Pickles has slashed staffing levels by 40 per cent, there were still 131,468 visits to the website comeonyouspurs.com, which tracks the fortunes of Tottenham Hotspur football club, in the past year and 383,133 hits for esprc.info which displays live cricket scores. At Mr Pickles’ department, which is much smaller than the DWP, the top visited site was BBC News, with Facebook in sixth place with nearly 2.5million hits and YouTube at number 13 with 932,958. However, a spokesman said it was part of civil servants work to ‘engage with the public’ on these sites. Tory MP Priti Patel, a member of the . Commons Public Administration Committee said: ‘This is outrageous. I . really do think this is of serious concern across Whitehall that people . who are paid out of the public purse are spending time on websites which . are clearly not related to their work. 'It is not in line with their professional duty as civil servants and the Government should look into it.’ The top 100 websites visited by civil servants at the two departments were released under Freedom of Information requests. So-called . ‘cyberslacking’ is not restricted to the public sector and is estimated . to cost the economy billions of pounds a year in lost productivity. Tory MP Priti Patel, left, has described the figures as 'outrageous'. They revealed how civil servants at the Department for Communities and Local Government, led by Eric Pickles, right, visited a Tottenham Hotspur fan site 131, 468 times . In 2011, officials at the Department for Transport were forced to release records of their staff’s online activity which included checking lottery results, booking holidays and even planning belly dancing lessons. A website dedicated to ranking MPs in order of attractiveness - sexymp.co.uk - had been visited 21,477 times. Tory MP Nick de Bois added: ‘It seems government will never learn. Eighteen months on and it seems civil servants are still preoccupied with Facebook and shopping. Members of the public will find it hard to understand.’ A DCLG spokesman said staff were allowed to surf the web in their lunch hour and after work, and that line managers ensured their staff were not using the web inappropriately during work hours. He added that staff used social media such as Twitter, Facebook, Flickr and YouTube to ‘engage with the public.’ At the DWP, a spokeswoman said staff could use the internet outside working hours, and added: ‘For the small minority who don’t abide by the internet usage rules, we have disciplinary measures in place.’ | New figures reveal web habits of government workers .
Google, Facebook, Twitter and Amazon among most popular .
131,468 visits to a Tottenham Hotspur fan site at Department for Communities and Local Government . |
185,769 | 7c9fc53da40156ee5a2318563a530b6be6c3b580 | Liam Lyburd, 18, arriving at North Tyneside Magistrates Court today where he is accused of planning a bomb attack targeting Newcastle College . A teenager accused of planning a pipe bomb attack was allegedly targeting a further education college, police have revealed. Around 50 homes had to be evacuated in Newcastle after police received reports from concerned neighbours and sent in a bomb disposal squad to Hamilton Place. Liam Lyburd, of Hamilton Place, has been charged with possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life, possessing ammunition with intent to endanger life. The teenager has also been charged with five counts of possessing an explosive substance, namely a pipe bomb, with intent to endanger life. Police claim there was 'intent to cause serious harm' at Newcastle College. Officers said they believe their actions prevented an incident taking place. After they received a report from neighbours at about 11.30am on Monday they searched a property. The neighbour had become concerned after seeing posts of Facebook. Police then evacuated the area and people were housed in Westgate Community College overnight. Further searches were carried out at the premises overnight and officers found officers found pipe bombs, firearms and three cannisters containing 94 lots of live ammunition as well as a black 'killbag' including black balaclava, knee and elbow pads, nail covered pipe bombs and a lanyard for holding a firearm. The items are now being forensically examined. Following completion of the searches, residents returned home on Tuesday morning. Newcastle College worked with police throughout their investigation. Carole Kitching, principal of the college, said students should attend the college as usual and that officers would be patrolling the campus. She said: 'I would like to reassure staff, students and their families that their safety has been paramount to us and the college remains a safe place to study. 'Officers will be on patrol around the campus to offer reassurance and anyone who is concerned can speak to an officer or contact the college's welfare team. Liam Lyburd, 18, on his way to court this morning to face charges relating to a bomb plot in Newcastle . Police claim there was 'intent to cause serious harm' at Newcastle College and they prevented the incident . Liam Lyburd is pictured leaving North Tyneside Magistrates' Court after he appeared there this morning . The teenager was led in handcuffs from the court and will appear at Newcastle Crown Court later this month . 'People should attend the college as usual. 'We have an extensive network of CCTV cameras monitoring key areas inside buildings and across the campus and our security staff are on duty 24 hours a day.' Lyburd, 18, appeared before North Tyneside Magistrates Court this morning and spoke only to confirm his name and address. Gale Gilchrist, prosecuting Lyburd, told the court that the ammunition included expanding bullets, 'the most dangerous type' available. The teenager will appear at Newcastle Crown Court on November 20. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | Liam Lyburd is accused of possessing a pipe bomb and plotting an attack .
The 18-year-old from Newcastle is due to appear before magistrates today .
He has been accused of plotting to target Newcastle College with the bomb .
Police evacuated 50 homes on Monday after a report from a neighbour .
They found pipe bomb, 94 rounds of live ammunition and expanding bullets .
Officers will be patrolling the college and students should 'attend as usual' |
102,066 | 0f88e14eb4fd0cfce17d894932f87f67f97a54a8 | By . Hugo Gye . Claims: Nigel Farage has been accused of preventing debate over UKIP's use of expenses money . UKIP today faces new claims that it has blocked questions about its EU expenses, a day after it emerged that Nigel Farage was paid £15,500 a year to run his office. Party insiders said that the UKIP leader had tried to stop other officials from raising concerns about how allowances and donations were being spent. Mr Farage allegedly told one party worker to 'shut up' after she questioned the expenses claimed by UKIP's MEPs. He has denied any wrongdoing after it was claimed that the European Parliament paid him more than £75,000 in office allowances every year even though he spent just £3,000 a year on his constituency office. He claimed that the allegations reported by The Times were a 'political smear' and insisted he had not spent any expenses improperly. Mr Farage has been outspoken in opposing the abuse of expenses by MPs, and last week called for Maria Miller to resign from the Cabinet after she was found to have claimed too much money. However, former UKIP executive Delroy Young claimed that the party leader had previously refused to discuss how expenses and donations were handled. He said that Mr Farage went 'berserk' when confronted with questions from an official about EU expenses and the money raised by donations to a call centre in Kent. 'Farage shouted at her, he said, "Shut up you stupid woman." He went berserk,' Mr Young told The Times. Ian Gillman, who formerly sat on UKIP's governing body, said that he was threatened by an official when he raised concerns about the way the party spent its money. 'I never raised my voice, I just persisted with question after question about where our money had gone,' he said. 'The official made threats to take me outside the room and beat me up.' Bruce Lawson, the party's ex-treasurer, apparently wrote to Mr Farage in 2008 calling him for him to resign as leader and expressed worries about MEPs' expenses. He claimed that some MEPs were given £660 a month directly into their pension funds, adding: 'In theory they are then supposed to reimburse this money from their salaries, but everyone relies on the MEPs' honesty. There are no checks that any of them actually do repay this money.' Controversy: Mr Farage claims £15,500 a year to run his constituency office in West Sussex, pictured . Mr Farage acted angrily yesterday after he was accused of being paid more money than he needed to run his constituency office in West Sussex, which was donated rent-free by supporters. The former manager of the office estimated that the building's insurance and council tax cost £150 per month with £100 spent on utilities, bringing the total running cost to £3,000 a year. However, Mr Farage was paid £15,500 a year from the European Parliament's 'general expenditure allowance' - leaving £60,000 unaccounted for since the last European elections in 2009. He told Sky News: 'They are not expenses. We don't actually claim for anything. I have not claimed for an office, I have not claimed this figure of £15,000.' Asked what the money was spent on, Mr Farage said: 'The electricity bill is more than £3,000 a year, we have burglar alarms, we have insurance, we have a massive postbag and a mail bill that is growing by the week as the level of interest and support for our party and our campaign and our cause grows.' Accusation: Former UKIP officials claim that the party is not transparent with its finances . Writing in the Independent today, he added: 'It is not for me to defend this system: after all, I want it abolished. 'Ever since 1999, I have expressly stated that UKIP MEPs will use the wherewithal provided by the EU Parliament to campaign for Britain's withdrawal from the European Union.' Liberal Democrat MEP Chris Davies called for Mr Farage to spell out exactly how he spent his parliamentary allowances. 'I have always ensured that money paid to me for office costs has been used for that purpose,' he told The Times. 'Mr Farage should be able to produce the same evidence if he wants to claim to be different.' MEPs are paid €95,482 (£78,800) a year, and also receive a daily attendance allowance as well as money for staff costs. | UKIP officials have allegedly been stopped from raising concerns about how European Parliament expenses are spent .
Nigel Farage told a woman to 'shut up' in a meeting, according to reports .
The UKIP leader has hit out at claims he was paid £15,500 a year to run the office which he was given rent-free . |
272,431 | ecded3b65064b904d3f2fb9fb9afb1581f98002e | (CNN) -- At home and at work, there was no doubting Mary Sherlach's success. Professionally, she'd worked in three Connecticut school systems before settling in as school psychologist at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, writing on her website that "I truly enjoy working with the SHS staff, parents and children." Personally, she'd been married to her husband for more than three decades and, together, they were "proud parents" of two daughters in their late 20s. It all ended in an instant Friday morning, when, authorities say, 20-year-old Adam Lanza went into Sherlach's school and killed her and 25 others, including 20 young students. Details were still emerging Friday night about exactly what happened. But a parent told CNN that she was in a room with Sherlach, the school's principal, Dawn Hochsprung, and its vice principal when they heard a "pop, pop, pop" sound around 9:30 a.m. Slain Connecticut principal remembered as energetic, smiling, passionate . The three school administrators headed into the hall to find out what was happening. Hochsprung and Sherlach didn't come back alive. Sherlach, 56, was an expert in psychology, having earned her undergraduate degree in that subject at SUNY Cortland and a master's degree at Southern Connecticut State University. Before becoming a school psychologist, she worked as a rehabilitation assistant at a psychiatric facility, at a group home for disabled adults and as a community mental health placement specialist. Her experience in education included stints in the Redding, North Haven and New Haven public school systems before landing at Sandy Hook Elementary in 1994. During her time in Newtown, Sherlach kept busy as a member of numerous groups such as the district conflict resolution committee, safe school climate committee, crisis intervention team and student instructional team. "I ... am always ready to assist in problem-solving, intervention and prevention," she wrote. In the "About Me" section of her website, Sherlach also spoke extensively about her family. "My husband Bill and I have been married 31 years and are the proud parents of two beautiful daughters, ages 25 and 28," she said. Comforting survivors: 'Hug them' and 'cry with them' Sherlach then went into detail about each of her children, one a high school chorus teacher in southern New Jersey and the other a Ph.D. candidate in chemistry at Georgetown University. Sherlach listed her interests as gardening, reading and going to the theater. She and her husband lived in Trumbull, Connecticut, and "enjoy traveling and spending time at our lake home" in upstate New York's Finger Lakes region. Her sudden death prompted Jeanne Stocker to write an emotional tribute on Facebook, saying she was "beyond numb as I lost a good childhood friend." "She gave her life protecting these children," Stocker said. "Her husband Bill and two daughters are beyond devastation. Just so unfair and horrific too." People are sharing their concern and sadness over the Newtown school shooting. What are your thoughts? Share them with CNN iReport. CNN's Diana LaPosta, Ann Colwell, Meredith Artley and Dorrine Mendoza contributed to this report. The story was written by Greg Botelho. | Mary Sherlach was a school psychologist at Connecticut's Sandy Hook Elementary .
She was among 26 people killed by a gunman inside the Newtown school .
On Facebook, a friend calls Sherlach's death "so unfair and horrific"
Sherlach was married for more than 30 years and had two daughters . |
211,535 | 9deb763cbcc0c84236f48d1057eac9e162b6b896 | By . Sam Webb . A young Scottish entrepreuner has developed a modular home that can be assembled in just three weeks for as little as £59,000. The Wee Housing Company was set up by 22 year-old Jennifer Hope, a University of Strathclyde graduate, with help from her father Ian, who has been working in the construction industry for over 25 years. The homes are constructed as modular timber units at their manufacturing base in Ayrshire and then transported to the customer’s plot of land for completion. The houses can be one bedroom or two. Scroll down for video . Adorable: The prefabricated modular homes sell for as little as £59,000 . The homes are constructed as modular timber units at their manufacturing base in Ayrshire and then transported to the customer¿s plot . The homes take five weeks to construct and three weeks to build, Pictured, a crane lowers one of the modules into place . The company claims 'Wee House' is ideal as a second building on a property for an elderly relative, holiday home or for downsizing, and can be transported to any corner of the UK. Parents with grown-up children underfoot will be glad to know they can also act as an affordable first home. The original inspiration for a Wee House came from staff accommodation cottages on rural estates. Ms Hope, who lives in a Wee House herself, said: 'The Wee House Company can handle the entire process from applying for planning permission, to the construction of the house, to installation of services, providing the customer with a self build experience for those who do not have the time to actually self build. The original inspiration for a Wee House came from staff accommodation cottages on rural estates . The company claims 'Wee House' is ideal as a second building on a property for an elderly relative, holiday home or for downsizing . Living room: Unlike prefabs of yesteryear, the home is designed to last . 'The construction time of a Wee House takes only eight weeks, with just three weeks work spent on the customer’s plot of land. With the majority of the construction time spent at their manufacturing base, the whole process is made easy and stress-free for the customer.' Floor Area - 40m sqLounge - 3.80m x 3.30m sqBedroom - 3.13m x 3.10m sqKitchen - 2.10m x 3.10m sqShower room - 2.17m x 1.80m sq . The business recently completed their first two bedroom Wee House in Argyll and Bute in Scotland, and is currently building a one bedroom ‘grandpa annex’ in Beith, North Ayrshire and a larger two bedroom ‘Wee House’ on the Isle of Lismore. The Lismore house will feature stained glass windows designed by an artist who lives on the Isle. A typical one bedroom and two bedroom design is around 40m sq and 68m sq respectively. They are currently working on a 30m sq design to fit with the Scottish government’s new planning policy on ‘hutting.’ Recent legislation will make it easier for people to build ‘huts’ in the Scottish countryside for holidaying and leisure activities. Pre-fab houses were first introduced to the UK in the wake of the Second World War for returning soldiers who had their houses demolished by German bombing during the Blitz. Constructed in large numbers in factories, they were then moved to pre-plumbed concrete slabs where they could be put up in less than a day. For more than 150,000 homeless, bombed-out families in Britain, these two-bedroom prefabs were designed as a temporary solution - though some still exist as permanent residences today. While the original homes were little more than wooden huts, today's designs are far more complex, featuring large amounts of glass, steel and even brickwork. Jennifer Hope, 22, the entrepreneur behind the project, lives in a Wee House herself . Quaint: A typical one bedroom and two bedroom design is around 40m2 and 68m2 respectively . Compact: A floor plan of a typical Wee House . | Wee Housing Company set up by graduate Jennifer Hope, 22 .
The modular homes are constructed in a workshop and assembled on site .
Can be used as a holiday home, or to house elderly relatives close by . |
102,914 | 10a42076fbac5c5968491eb66bd7c0798338c8c2 | By . Paul Christian . PUBLISHED: . 10:02 EST, 16 November 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 12:15 EST, 16 November 2012 . It is usually patients who are afraid of dentists, but when a 75 stone polar bear needed root canal treatment yesterday, the dynamics of that relationship could easily have changed around. Arktos the polar bear had been suffering from toothache so vets from the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland had to check over his 42 razor sharp teeth. Early yesterday morning Arktos was darted with tranquilisers and the three hour dental operation began. Polar bear Arktos during his three hour dental treatment and Highland Wildlife Park, in Kingussie, Scotland . Keepers had noticed that the usually playful polar bear seemed to be feeling sorry for himself and not hanging out with fellow bear Walker quite so much. Broken or infected teeth are a major cause of large carnivore debilitation and death in the wild. Walker and Arktos, the only polar bears on display in the UK, had been trained to open their huge powerful mouths to show their keepers their terrifying teeth. Jaw-some: Huge polar bear Arktos is given oxygen during the delicate dental operation to save his teeth . A small area of discolouration was spotted on Arktos’ upper left canine tooth and the Highland Wildlife Park called in external dental experts to fix the problem. When experts got four-year-old Arktos into the equivalent of a dentist’s chair - a specially reinforced table made from scaffolding poles and planks - they discovered he needed a root canal. Team effort: Arktos is rolled into position on the 'dentists chair' by experts including two dentists, two radiographers, two veterinarians, one vet nurse and three senior animal staff . One of his teeth had become damaged at the tip and rotted through, so it needed drilling out, cleaning and then packing with dental cement. Exactly the same procedure as in humans, just with a tooth canal almost six times the size. Polar molars: A team of vets from the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland operate on Arktos . Douglas Richardson, Animal Collection Manager at the Highland Wildlife Park, said: 'Because we regularly train our polar bears and other large animals to take part in regular health checks, this means that we can spot issues like this before they become a problem and give our animals the best possible care available. An X-ray of the four-year-old polar bear's tooth shows dentists the extent of the damage . 'Arktos really is a lucky bear and we were delighted to be able to save his tooth; in the wild the infection would have tracked through his system, causing him a great deal of pain and discomfort and, over the longer term, it could eventually kill him. 'Although due to his size an operation like this is never straight forward, the dental work carried out is actually very similar to a root canal that we humans would have - although obviously on a much larger scale. Heavily-sedated Arktos is left to recover from the root canal treatment as experts check on him . 'Arktos needed a specially made and reinforced operating table and a team of 12 to carry out the procedure. 'As far as we can tell, the operation was a success. It took three hours in total and Arktos just took 20 minutes to come round. He was then up on his feet, although still a bit wobbly. 'He quickly had a drink and we expect him to start eating again this morning, when we will try him on some of his favourite soft foods as his mouth will still be a bit sore. Experts check Arktos is getting a good supply of oxygen during the precarious dental treatment . Arktos spent the night in a small holding area and then should be reunited with Walker later today.' The operation lasted three hours and involved a team of ten experts: two dentists, two radiographers, two veterinarians, one vet nurse and three senior animal staff. Arktos arrived at the Highland Wildlife Park in early April 2012 from Hannover Zoo. He was born in Vienna Zoo in 2007. A bear with a sore tooth: A groggy Arktos comes round after his root canal operation . After the operation it’s hoped he will soon be able to enjoy food again for his fifth birthday on November 30. Earlier last year the Park’s other polar bear, Walker, also underwent a dental procedure. In this case a tooth extraction, Walker had a canine tooth that had not developed properly, likely due to an injury when he was a cub, which had become infected. | Four-year-old Arktos has root canal treatment .
Three hour operation by team from Royal Zoological Society of Scotland .
Huge 'dentists chair' constructed out of planks and scaffolding . |
94,444 | 0561b5541492ee401dd9ba207ed455719180bed1 | By . James Nye . PUBLISHED: . 15:49 EST, 25 September 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 16:36 EST, 25 September 2012 . Talented jazz musician Taron Pounds was so badly injured in a fireworks explosion at a family party in July that his mother said that she didn't recognise him the first time she saw him in the hospital. Suffering severe wounds to his nose, eye, neck and chest, the left side of the 22-year-old's face was literally 'blown off' and doctors told his family that he was lucky to still be alive. Despite this the guitarist has come through a 22-hour operation in Oklahoma City on Friday during which doctors used part of the bone and skin from his leg to begin the difficult task of reconstructing his face. Scroll Down for Video . Two surgical teams operated on Taron Pounds for 22-hours as they transplanted bone and tissue from his legs to his disfigured face on Friday . Celebrating a family wedding at his home when the stray firework exploded into his face on July 7th, Pounds was rushed to OU Medical Center in Tulsa as a level one trauma patient close to death. Coming through one month in intensive care, doctors shifted their focus to restoring what they physically could of Pounds' horribly disfigured face. 'Taron lost a lot of bone and tissue. He is really missing a lot of bone in the left eye area, the nose and the roof of his mouth,' said Trinitia Cannon, M.D., an ear, nose and throat specialist at OU Medical Center and one of the lead surgeons in the marathon surgical effort. 'We were able to take bone and skin from his leg, as well as blood vessels that keep that skin alive and we basically reconstruct his face with that.' Taron Pounds hugs his step-father David Cauthron (left) and his mother Tammy Cauthron before his massive operation on Friday . A digital scan of Taron Pounds face displays the severe damage the firework that exploded caused . One surgical team operated on Taron Pounds' face while the second worked on his leg from where blood vessels and bone were taken . During the marathon operation, two surgical teams worked in tandem in the operating room - the first led by Cannon, spent time on the face and neck area attempting to close the four inch hole in Pounds' face left by the blast. The second team, headed by ear, nose and throat specialist Dr. Jose Sanclement harvested bone and tissue from the left leg used by the first team for the facial reconstruction. 'It’s basically a transplant,' said Sanclement. 'We are transplanting a piece of bone to another place in the body. It is sort of like a puzzle finding the right pieces and then when we have the right pieces, we establish blood supply.' Almost three months after his accident, the injuries the firework caused to Taron Pounds are clear . In the accident, Pounds suffered the loss of most of the bone that holds and stabilises his mid-face, in addition to a substantial amount of nasal and cheek bone which support his left eye, the roof of his mouth and teeth. Five days after the operation, doctors expressed their satisfaction with Pounds' progress as they monitored blood flow through the transplanted blood vessels and skin and bone. 'Mentally and emotionally, he has a lot of healing to go through,' said Cannon to KJRH. In July, Pounds was at a family party in Inola, in charge of fireworks, when something went badly wrong. The talented jazz musician was in charge of the fireworks display at a family party in Oklahoma . Pounds lit the fuse of a commercial-grade mortar shell, and seconds later, his family members saw the firework explode on the ground. 'I didn’t even recognize him,' said Tammy Cauthron, Pounds' mother, of the first time she saw him after the accident. 'His face was blown off -- the left side gone. 'The left side of his face was peeled back and parts missing. I literally identified my son by his fraternity tattoo.' 'This really is every parent’s nightmare -- to have this much damage to our child. What do dads do? We fix stuff and Dad can’t fix this one,' said David Cauthron, Pounds’ stepfather. This will be the first of a series of arduous operations for Taron, the next of which will be in two months . Dr. Cannon admitted to Newsok that the first time she saw Pounds, she was unsure where his nasal passages were because of the extensive damage. Together with Dr. Sanclement, the physicians have been working up to this operation for several weeks, performing smaller surgeries to repair his jaw and stabilise the bones around his mouth. Pounds will now spend another five days in recovery at the hospital before returning home to continue his recovery and his next surgery will most likely be in another two months. He still cannot see out of his left eye, however doctors are unsure whether his sight will be restored. And his surgical team believe that it will still be another six months before Pounds is back to what's 'cosmetically acceptable' for him in the long term. 'Taron has accepted ... he's not going to be exactly what you see in this picture ever again, inside or outside,' said Tammy Cauthron. 'He's changed. This is a life-changing event for our entire family. 'For Taron, it's physical, as well as emotional and mental. There's a lot of changes — for the good, I know he's a much stronger man because of this.' | Accident in July almost killed musician Taron Pounds .
He spent three weeks in a coma and three weeks in recovery after the accident destroyed the left hand side of his face .
Underwent a successful 22-hour operation on Friday to rebuild his damaged face . |
102,168 | 0faab21167316f7ea2cf38c138fc997c2a409ce8 | (CNN)Jo Jin-hye, who escaped North Korea, wanted to watch "The Interview." The comedy lampoons North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, whose dynasty she loathes. Her father died in custody of North Korean security forces, who tied him by his wrist in a torturous position for 10 days without food. Her younger brother starved to death and her older sister is missing. Read her story: A brutal choice . Jo escaped North Korea with her mother and sister, and was granted asylum in the United States in 2008, where they now reside in a quiet suburb. When told "The Interview" would not be shown in theaters, Jo asked, "Are we that afraid? It's sort of embarrassing. I thought America is strong. If North Korea is that frightening, I think that speaks for itself." If North Korea hacked the United States, she said, "Of course, people have to hack North Korea." Satire and North Korea . There's nothing like canceling a satire to anger a nation. From celebrities to politicians, just about anybody with a social media account has been venting about Sony Picture's decision to pull "The Interview" from U.S. theaters. Critics say it's caving to hackers and muzzling free speech. The FBI announced North Korea is officially responsible for the cyberattack on Sony Pictures, an attack law enforcement officials called a "game changer." In a press conference Friday, Obama said the United States will respond "proportionally" to the attack,though he would not say how it would specifically retaliate. "Right now people are angry in the U.S., people are angry at Sony," said Alex Gladstein, director of institutional affairs at Human Rights Foundation. "It's not the greatest movie of all time, but they can't even go see it." He said he'd like to harness the interest about the film and North Korea to "get people to hack North Korea back in a educational way, to look at what we're doing, some of the groups of North Koreans who've escaped, who are hacking for educational purposes. If we can hack North Korea back, it'd be pretty powerful." Gladstein doesn't mean hacking in the sense of exposing emails or using the tactics of the Sony hackers, who call themselves the Guardians of Peace. It's a type of hacking "to disrupt North Korea and help end the Kim regime's monopoly of knowledge. It's nonviolent and we're figuring out the best way to get Hollywood movies, Korean dramas and offline Wikipedias, different art, music into North Korea." For years, activists have been disseminating radios, launching balloons near the border and circulating secret cell phones, USB drives through smugglers to communicate with North Koreans -- who are at great threat if they're caught. They face severe punishment, imprisonment and even death for possessing or watching foreign media. "Satire and creative thinking are dangerous for dictatorships and the ability to control society. It's losing control and it's very afraid of that," Gladstein said. Balloon activists vow to send copies of "The Interview" The group wants to drop DVDs of "Team America: World Police," a 2004 film that pokes fun at North Korea's former leader, Kim Jong Il, along with several other movies in a campaign it's calling #Hackthemback. The country's human rights record is under increasing scrutiny as the UN General Assembly called for the Security Council to refer North Korea to the International International Criminal Court and sanction those most responsible for "crimes against humanity." Silicon Valley meets North Korean defectors . In August, a group of human rights activists, coders, engineers and Silicon Valley types gathered in SOMA, a San Francisco neighborhood known for its concentration of start-ups and tech companies. North Korean defectors flew into the event, called Hack North Korea to share their insights in spreading information inside the country. DVDs and Korean dramas give North Koreans a peek into the forbidden, outside world they had never known. "When North Koreans describe their 'Aha' moment, when they realize they were lied to by their government, they got information from a movie or reading a book or seeing something -- something that jived," said Alex Lloyd, a Silicon Valley venture capitalist, who also co-organized the event. Some of the hackathon ideas included retro tech like smuggling pagers into North Korea to decidedly no tech, like a slingshot to fling media across the border. One centered on using the Raspberry Pi, a popular microcomputer that fits in the palm of the hand. Why everyone wants a slice of Raspberry Pi . The winning idea at the hackathon was a satellite receiver that would get broadcast signals from South Korea. That team has an 18-year-old hacker, named Justice Suh, who traveled to South Korea this year to show a prototype to North Korea activist groups. If the receivers are small enough, they could be smuggled into the country for North Koreans to receive outside information, Suh said. The first hackathon was a test and future North Korea-focused events will likely focus on solving certain technical issues, Lloyd said. "What's lasting is the relationships made between the North Korean community living in South Korea and Silicon Valley," he said. Things that annoy North Korea: Christmas trees, soap operas and K-pop . | North Korean defector who lives in U.S. calls picture pulling "embarrassing"
Group seeks to harness anger over film being pulled, turned into attention on North Korea .
Hackathons meant to find ways to disseminate information in North Korea . |
22,733 | 408867dd45bf8a63f73249c09897e4c778de3f68 | ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (CNN) -- Hina Khan used to take her life in her hands every morning just to get to school. Hina Khan, 14, fled to Pakistan's capital, Islamabad, to escape the Taliban. When she stepped outside her door, the 14-year-old knew that ahead could be suicide bombings, gunfights, kidnappings and beheadings. Death threats were made against her, other students and teachers every day simply because they went to a girls' school in Pakistan targeted by Taliban militants. "They said don't send your girls to school," Hina told CNN. She used to live in the Swat Valley, a scenic mountainous region once popular with tourists and dubbed "Pakistan's Switzerland." But those were the days before militants moved in, "striking the fear of God" into residents with violence as they pushed for compliance with stricter moral and religious standards -- so-called Talibanization. Now she is safer, 100 miles away in Pakistan's capital, Islamabad, but her thoughts are often with her friends in Swat, near the border with Afghanistan. They do not even go to school now, as authorities gave in to militant demands to shut all girls' schools. As many as 200 schools, mostly for girls, have been destroyed since November 2007 when the Taliban began their campaign to take control of the Swat Valley and surrounding areas. "They have problems there," Hina said of those left behind. Watch how the Taliban's power has changed the valley » . "How can they leave their land, their home? Why come here? Here it's expensive, and they are all poor. They can't come here. And I feel really bad. All my friends are there. There is no one here." The targeting of girls' schools shows an anti-women bias by the militants, who advocate an extreme following of a version of Islamic law, according to Islamabad-based human rights activist Tahira Abdullah. She adds it's almost as if the Taliban does not want women to exist. "And if they do exist, they need to be within the four walls of their house compound; they need to be veiled," she said. Abdullah is blunt in her assessment of the situation. "Right now, [Swat Valley] is under the control of the Taliban," she said. "They are knocking on the doors of Peshawar, and I have no doubt they will be knocking on the doors of Islamabad [if] the government continues the complacency they are showing right now." But the accusation of complacency is rejected by Maj. Gen. Athar Abbas, spokesman for the Pakistan military. "There is success," Abbas said of operations against anti-government forces in the tribal areas near the border with Afghanistan. "The success rate of the army's operation is pretty good in these areas." He attacked critics of the military operation for failing to recognize the sacrifices of the armed forces. About 1,300 Pakistani soldiers have been killed in operations against militants since 9/11, he said. And he said the fight was made harder because the army lacked modern equipment such as night-vision goggles and unmanned drones. But the military's continuing fight to secure the area is alienating those it is supposed to help. Some residents said the government is doing more damage than the Taliban ever did. "If the government doesn't stop this cruelty, finally we will be forced to come here, and this parliament, we will set it on fire, too," said Israr Ali, standing outside the parliament building in Islamabad recently. Ali had traveled there with hundreds of others from the tribal regions for a protest organized by an Islamic political party in the federal capital. He said army operations have turned his home into a war zone and that shelling from army helicopters has destroyed buildings and killed his friends and neighbors. The Pakistan Institute for Peace Studies reported that in 2008 at least 7,997 people were killed in terrorist attacks, clashes between security forces and militants, military operations, incidents of political violence, sectarian strife between tribes and border clashes. More than 230,000 people have fled their homes as a result of fighting in the tribal areas and the Swat Valley, according to a report last month by the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Those people include Hina, who fled with her parents and four younger siblings so that they could continue their education. Hina said she is still scared of the Taliban. But she also is focused on school and her dream to become a doctor. And when she does that, she has another goal -- to help her country "fix problems." | As many as 200 schools destroyed under Taliban pressure in Pakistan's Swat Valley .
Taliban enforce strict version of Islamic law in former tourist haven .
Almost a quarter-million people have fled as Pakistan government fights Taliban . |
247,078 | cbbd0fd5ffdeea540c1c5d25b8a9329d27bdd380 | A teenager who was sentenced to 25 years and would have served some time in adult prison after pleading guilty aged 12 to helping kill a friend's stepfather could leave a juvenile prison as early as next summer under a deal with prosecutors. Paul Gingerich, 15, had successfully appealed his case being waived to adult court. He agreed on Monday to plead guilty to the same conspiracy to commit murder charge he did three years ago and to receive the same 25-year sentence, only under a starkly different state law. The new deal calls for a 30-year sentence with five years suspended, meaning he'll remain under state supervision for 25 years in Indiana. Paul Gingerich pleaded guilty in November 2010 to conspiracy to commit murder. He is now 15 and could leave juvenile prison as early as next summer . Gingerich was sentenced to 25 years in prison for helping kill a friend's stepfather after being tried in an adult court at the age of 12 . Where he spends those years will depend on how he behaves. He could serve that time in a maximum-security facility if he gets in trouble, or in a group home, community corrections, on probation or even on parole if he's well-behaved. Gingerich will remain at Pendleton Juvenile Facility until he achieves his high school diploma in the prison school around summer 2014, according to indystar.com. Then the teenager will be transferred to a residential treatment facility and begin college classes. He will likely stay there until he is 18. At that age, he could be released on probation under the new deal - as long as he keeps up the good behavior. 'He committed a serious crime. But to send him to adult prison would guarantee we will create a criminal,' said his attorney Monica Foster. The law does allow a judge to drop all supervision, but Foster told Judge James Heuer that the plea agreement doesn't allow for that for Gingerich. The case involves the fatal shooting of 49-year-old Phillip Danner on April 20, 2010, in his home near Lake Wawasee, about halfway between Fort Wayne and South Bend. Danner's 15-year-old son pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit murder in September 2010 in exchange for prosecutors dropping charges of murder and aiding murder. He was sentenced to 30 years in prison. Victim: Paul Gingerich was found guilty of conspiring to fatally shoot 49-year-old Phillip Danner (pictured) Authorities said the pair and another boy who served as lookout conspired for more than a month to kill Danner so they could run away to Arizona. Danner's death was discovered after . officers checking reports of a suspicious vehicle stopped the three at a . Wal-Mart store in Peru, Illinois, and called authorities in Kosciusko . County to ask them to check on Danner. Gingerich, . who was a sixth-grader at Wawassee Middle School at the time of the . shooting, pleaded guilty in November 2010 to conspiracy to commit . murder. The new plea . agreement was worked out after the Indiana Court of Appeals last year . threw out Gingerich's guilty plea and sentence, saying Kosciusko County . Superior Judge Duane Huffer rushed when he waived the case to adult . court. A new law that went . into effect July 1 allows a judge to sentence a juvenile to serve time . in the Indiana Department of Correction's youth services division and . allows the judge to review the case for a possible sentencing . modification before the defendant turns 19. 'It applies very well in this case,' Prosecutor Daniel Hampton said. Hampton said he had talked with Danner's family and they approved of the new deal. Five members of the Danner family were in court for Monday's hearing, but they left without comment. Gingerich's parents also attended and declined to comment afterward. Gingerich, who wore a green short-sleeve shirt, tan pants and white sneakers, repeatedly answered, 'Yes, your honor,' when Judge James Heuer asked whether he understood his rights and what was going on. Sentencing is set for December 16. 'You understand you could serve the full sentence?' Heuer asked. 'Yes your honor,' Gingerich replied. Tough life: Gingerich now 15, has been described as a role model at Pendleton Juvenile Correction Facility where he is currently incarcerated . Foster told Heuer that Gingerich has been a model prisoner and plans to try to earn a college degree. She believes he will be moved to a group home this summer after he receives his high school diploma. How much freedom he has will depend on the group home he is assigned, she said, but she expects him to be given more and more freedom over time. The law calls for a judge to hold a hearing as soon as possible after Gingerich turns 18 to determine where he should be placed based on the rehabilitative programs he has completed and how he has behaved. Foster said the new law has worked well for Gingerich but that some defense attorneys fear it could lead to more youths being waived to adult court. | Paul Gingerich was a sixth-grader at the time of the shooting of his friend's stepfather in Indiana . |
55,943 | 9e954354d7386fb2e869e870205fb5efd3947343 | By . Snejana Farberov . PUBLISHED: . 08:10 EST, 17 April 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:37 EST, 17 April 2013 . Family and neighbors in a small Pennsylvania town were left reeling when it was revealed that a family of four, including two young girls, who were found dead Monday perished as a result of the husband’s suicide by carbon monoxide. Bucks County District Attorney David Heckler said that a state police investigation indicates that Gary Reitnauer went to the garage of an adjacent home on the family's property on Monday and started the car after having a fight with his wife, Michelle. He said it is believed that Michelle Reitnauer and the family's two daughters tried to save him and were overcome by the fumes. Fire department rescue crews were unable to revive the family. Scroll down for video . Heartbreaking loss: Kimberly Reitnauer, 16 (left), and her 10-year-old sister, Jamie (right), both had succumbed to carbon monoxide fumes while checking up on their parents . Scene of tragedy: Carbon monoxide from a car left running in the garage apparently killed a family of four inside this Milford Township, Pa. home . ‘Good man,’ a nephew, Rob Zern, told . reporters as he left the home Tuesday. ‘The family was trying to save . each other and it didn't work out ... don't know what all went wrong, . but it's a tragedy all around.’ State police were called to the . Reitnauer family's 1525 Kumry Road in Milford Township at 11.20pm . Monday, and found it filled with carbon monoxide coming from the . attached garage. The fire department also responded and discovered the victims. Paramedics on the scene attempted to revive the family, but it was too late. The victims have been identified as 59-year-old Gary Reitnauer, his wife, Michele, 58, and their two adopted daughters, 16-year-old Yun Jiao 'Kimberly' Cao and Jamie Hongfan Reitnauer, 10. Investigators ‘believe the husband committed suicide and each...of the family members succumbed to carbon monoxide when they went to check on him and tried to rescue him,’ Heckler said. State police have found no note but the garage door handle had been knocked off ‘which suggested that the husband went in there and did not intend to be disturbed or rescued,’ Heckler said. Deadly intentions: Police say Gary Reitnauer broke a latch on the garage door (pictured) to prevent anyone from getting in a stopping his suicide . He said the circumstances also indicate that the wife went to the garage and broke the window of another door in an attempt to rescue him, but was apparently overcome by the deadly fumes and was found inside. The family's 16-year-old daughter, Kimberly, became concerned that her parents had not . come back and went to check up on them. She was found dead in the kitchen adjacent to the garage. Heckler said her 10-year-old sister, Jamie, was talking to friends during the ordeal, . and they had advised her to call 911, but her mother had told her not to alert . police, PhillyBurbs.com reported.. At some point, the girl also went . over to the second property . to look for her parents and sister. When paramedics arrived, the child . was found in the kitchen next to her sister's body still clinging to . live, but she too later died. Autopsies will be performed on the victims Wednesday to determine the exact cause of death. PhillyBurbs.com . reported that the family of four living in a house at the rear of . Mayer's Well Drilling company consisted of the couple and two daughters . adopted from Asia. Police . officers responded to the home on Kumry Road after getting a request to . check up on the welfare of residents living there. Sources tell ABC Action News that Gary Reitnauer's body was inside a car with the motor running and the garage door closed. Loving family: Neighbors said the Reitnauers lived on the property in Milford Township for about 15 years and appeared to be a happy, close-knit family . Quakertown Community School District . Superintendent Lisa Andrejko posted a message to the school district's . website informing parents and students about the tragic incident and . asking the community to pray for the family. The school district made arrangements to bring in counselors to help students and staff cope with the loss. The . site said Kimberly, a junior, was a gifted student, receiving the . highest possible score on the advanced placement calculus exam at the . end of her sophomore year. ‘She was just the sweetest soul, the one taking care of . everyone else,’ high school math teacher MaryAnn Byatt said on the website. ‘She . was beautiful inside and out,' Byatt added. She also sang in the chorus and played in the jazz band, and was set to compete at a band festival in Erie. Her . sister was a fifth grader at Trumbauersville Elementary School and took . part in her school's Reading Olympics Team. Like her sister, she played . in the school band and sang in the chorus. She wanted to become a . veterinarian, the site said. The children were adopted from China, according to Maggie Chambers, a neighbor. She said they were ‘just the sweetest family.’ Like other neighbors and friends, the deaths stunned her. ‘It's . not that kind of family,’ she said. ‘For me to even think for a minute . that this was a deliberate thing, it's just not them. It's not.’ Six . of Kimberly's high school classmates placed flowers on the family's . mailbox Tuesday afternoon, then formed a circle, clasped hands and . prayed. Afterward, . they remembered their friend as a highly intelligent student near the . top of her class, and as a talented musician who played piano and . trumpet. She was happy, kind and humble, they said. Terrible discovery: Police officers arrived at the house for a welfare check, only to find a man, his wife and one of the children dead in the garage, and their other daughter dead inside the house . Close-knit clan: The family lived in the five-bedroom house for about 15 years, and the kids' grandmother resided on the property in a trailer . ‘Everyone here loved her. She always had a smile on her face. Her whole family did. They were just the happiest people, and they made everyone else feel the same way,’ said Aislinn Strohecker, 17, a close friend and neighbor. Neighbors said there was no inkling of trouble in the Reitnauer home. Mrs Reitnauer gave Christmas cookies every year to a well-drilling company down the gravel road, and would fetch the company's mail when she got her own, according to Gloria Mayberry, a secretary at the firm. Reitnauer's 59-year-old husband, known as ‘Ozzy,’ would use the bucket on his John Deere tractor to take his trash can to the end of the drive, a cigar usually hanging from his mouth, she recalled. Mayer's manager Paul Moser described the victims as a nice family who appeared loving. Speaking of the husband, Moser said Gary Reitnauer always appeared happy and laughing in the office. The family lived in the five-bedroom house for about 15 years. The kids' grandmother, who suffers from Parkinson's disease, lives on the property in a trailer. Police say it was she who called 911 when no one came to take care of her. | Police officers were making a welfare check when they discovered the family dead .
Gary Reitnauer, 59, went into the garage and started the car with the intent to kill himself after having a fight with his wife .
Michelle Reitnauer, 58, broke a window to access the garage to save her husband, but was overcome by fumes along with her 16-year-old daughter .
Couple's 10-year-old daughter was found by paramedics clinging to life, but later died . |
54,674 | 9ae5d623d244b3204d8fc8f86edc1e82a17d7743 | (CNN) -- Some of the most iconic films ever made have used the ocean as their backdrop. Whether it's to highlight the romance of a moment, the isolation felt by characters or intense drama, filmmakers often turn to the seaside to help illustrate their story. Here is a list of some of the best seaside locations featured on the silver screen. THAILAND -- "THE BEACH" Leonardo Dicaprio's character goes on a journey to find a secret idyllic Thai beach, where a sort of utopian society exists. For this filmmakers searched for paradise, eventually finding it near Phuket on the main beach of Phi Phi Leh Island, Hat Maya. Environmentalists voiced their opposition to using the beach during filming following concerns the area would be damaged. However production went ahead and since the release of "The Beach" Phi Phi Leh island has become a popular tourist destination for travelers wanting to experience utopia too. ITALY -- "THE TALENTED MR RIPLEY" Positano was used as the inspiration for the fictional port of Mongibello in "The Talented Mr Ripley". The stunning seaside town is set in the cliffs of Italy's Amalfi Coast and provided the stylish surroundings for the film, starring some of Hollywood's biggest names including Cate Blanchett, Matt Damon, Gwyneth Paltrow and Jude Law. Just a few hours south of Rome, Positano attracts Europe's rich and famous, eager to enjoy its fine dining restaurants and top hotels. HAWAII -- "BLUE HAWAII" Elvis Presley was no stranger to Hawaii. Three of his films were shot on the islands, none more famous or successful than the 1961 hit "Blue Hawaii". Set in the Hawaiian islands of Oahu and Kauai, the film highlighted the beauty of the area, with Presley playing a former Army officer-turned tour guide in the musical. SPAIN -- "DIE ANOTHER DAY" It's one of the most iconic scenes of the modern James Bond franchise: a bikini-clad Halle Berry emerges out of the water, meeting 007 himself. The encounter is set in Cuba however makers of "Die Another Day" in fact shot the scene in Cádiz, Spain. The historical coastal city is one of the oldest settlements in Western Europe. JAMAICA -- "THE BLUE LAGOON" "The Blue Lagoon" was shot in Port Antonino, Jamaica and on the privately owned island, Nanuya Levu, in Fiji in the South Pacific. The film tells the story of a young girl and boy being marooned on a desert island. It caused controversy at the time because of nude scenes which featured a teenage Brooke Shields. | Environmentalists were worried Thai beach Phi Phi Leh would be damaged during filming of "The Beach"
Positano was used as the inspiration for a fictional port in "The Talented Mr Ripley"
One of the most famous scenes of the modern James Bond franchise was filmed in Spain . |
48,195 | 880b0ab1358130da8f712dfb4b4c839a2aab1849 | Devastating: Evidence has surfaced that Churchill ordered chemical weapons to be dropped on Russia . He is feted as a national hero, but new evidence has come to light that Winston Churchill once ordered 50,000 of the most devastating chemical weapons ever made to be dropped on Russia. In two months at the end of the First World War, Churchill authorised the M Device - shells with chemical tips - to be dropped over villages and military posts held by the revolutionary Bolsheviks in northern Russia. Then secretary of state for war, Churchill had wanted the British Government to support the White Army in its civil bitter fight for power with the Bolshevik Red Army, according to Giles Milton author of Russian Roulette. Mr Milton told The Telegraph Churchill had wanted to 'really go hard against the Bolsheviks, who had seized power from Tsar Nicholas II in 1917. He said: 'The British had developed this highly secret chemical weapon called the M Device, which is like a shell with a canister of gas on the end. 'It was developed at Porton laboratories in Wiltshire and described by the head of munitions as the most devastating chemical weapon ever devised. It had been invented but not used. 'Churchill’s idea was to use the M Device against the Russian Bolsheviks. Fifty-thousand . were taken up in planes and then dropped on the Bolshevik Red Army . positions and Bolshevik controlled villages in northern Russia between . August and September 1918.' Although Churchill had wanted to help the White Army, the Government refused to take sides. Mr Milton, 47, has also revealed Churchill wanted to use chemical weapons against rebellious tribes in North India. He added: 'What I found really shocking was when he wrote this internal memo to the India Office, along the lines of ‘we should use it against the tribes on the North West front. They’re really troublesome, let’s gas them.' 'There’s a line in the memo that says "I really don’t understand this squeamishness about poison gas". Today that reads pretty badly.' Cabinet minister: When Churchill ordered the chemical weapons to be dropped on the Bolsheviks, he was secretary of state for war. Pictured here at Enfield munitions factory in 1915 . Bloody: Bolshevik soldiers take aim at their rival Mensheviks during the struggle for power in 1917 . Minority: In 1917 the Bolsheviks were in the minority, but that did not stop them seizing power and ordering the assassination of Tsar Nicholas II and his family . Mr Milton explained he was researching material for his new book when he discovered a document in the National Archives that had been written by British scientists, who had been sent to Russia to record the effects of the M Device. Shortly after breathing it in, victims started vomiting blood. They then fell unconscious. Mr Milton said the British tried to 'play it down' by claiming fatalities were limited. But Russian evidence tells an altogether different story, with one soldier claiming 50 of his comrades were killed. Revolutionary zeal: This image from about 1900 shows Vladimir Ilych Lenin addressing a crowd. Stalin, Trotsky and Kamenev stand behind him . Support: Churchill wanted to support the White Army against the Bolsheviks. Pictured, the North Russia Intervention saw the allies invade land at Archangel and drive the Bolsheviks back . Despite their fearsome reputation, the M Device did not prove as devastating as Churchill had hoped and thousands of the shells were dumped in the White Sea on the north-west coast of Russia because they were too unstable to fly home. Asked what effect the latest revelation could have Churchill's image, Mr Milton said: 'He’s a great Briton but there are other sides to his character. He was advocating the mass use of chemical weapons.' Mr Milton's new book, Russian Roulette, is the true account of British spies who were sent to Russia to undermine Lenin's plot to bring down British India. Lenin: Churchill was vehemently against the Bolsheviks and described their leader as a 'bacillus' The Bolsheviks finally seized power in October 1917 following a five-month struggle. Tsar Nicholas II had been toppled during a coup in March, but it was not until later that year that the Bolsheviks finally managed to solidify their grip. From the outset they were locked in a bitter struggle for power in the Russian parliament, known as the Duma, principally with the liberal Mensheviks. Bolshevik leader Vladimir Ilych Lenin was living in exile in Switzerland when the first revolution took place. He struck a deal with the Germans - who were still officially at war with the Russians - that he be allowed to travel on a 'sealed train' from Switzerland, through Germany, and onto Finland, where he crossed the border into Russia. Churchill later said of the journey: 'They transported Lenin in a sealed truck like a plague bacillus from Switzerland into Russia.' The Bolsheviks could count on the support of the navy, which proved key in their bid to take power and in October 1917 the Bolsheviks overthrew the provisional government and appointed party members to key posts. A bloody civil war ensued between the counterrevolutionary White Army and the Bolshevik Red Army that was to drag on four nearly four years. But by 1922 the Bolsheviks finally defeated the White Army and in 1922 the Union of Soviet Socialist Republic (USSR) was declared. After a lifetime of fighting to bring about the revolution in Russia, Lenin died in 1924 leaving behind him a power vacuum that would lead to the inauguration of Joseph Stalin in 1928, one of the most brutal dictators the world has ever seen. | Churchill ordered 50,000 chemical shells to be dropped on Russians .
A new book reveals Churchill sanctioned the use of deadly M Device .
'I really don't understand this squeamishness about poison gas,' he wrote .
He also wanted to use it against tribes on the North-West frontier in India . |
155,264 | 54b03f2f10022e5e18d42a2bc85800ffc00caacb | Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal challenged misfiring loan striker Radamel Falcao to 'prove himself' in the build-up to Saturday's west London clash. The 28-year-old promptly wasted four prime chances to score, including twice failing to fire into an empty net. Despite another off-kilter display, United boss Van Gaal said: 'I think he did well.' Radamel Falcao stands in the middle of the Loftus Road pitch with his hands on his hips . The Manchester United star (left) posted a victory picture with team-mate Victor Valdes on his Instagram . United's Dutch manager added: 'It's not so important what I think, because he wants to score goals. 'And for me I have to judge how he has played. 'Scoring goals is an important aspect of a striker I know, but for me it's also very important if he is an attacking point, that he can play further and that with another striker we are coming into third and fourth phases of our attack. 'And I think he did well.' Van Gaal sent United into action in an unorthodox 3-3-2-2 formation that struggling QPR were still able to pick apart regularly in the first half. Angel Di Maria started up front alongside Falcao, but United were unable to gain tactical control. Falcao smashes a shot towards the Queens Park Rangers goal for Manchester United . Karl Henry (left) and Clint Hill (right) of QPR challenge Falcao during the first-half at Loftus Road . The travelling United fans chanted 'attack, attack, attack' and even 'four-four-two, four-four-two' in demanding a system change - and eventually the Red Devils' boss relented. A switch to a 4-4-2 diamond bore the two-goal fruit vital for victory, but Van Gaal felt it would have been risky to start with that set-up. 'I know in advance that when we play with four midfielders in a diamond that we create more chances, but then the balance of the team is also weak,' said Van Gaal. 'And you've seen it because we had created chances but so had QPR. 'We have to decide every week how we have to play. And that's the question.' QPR's goalkeeper Rob Green (left) rushes out to deny Falcao when the Colombian takes a shot at him . Green dives to his right with his hands out to prevent Falcao from scoring on Saturday at Loftus Road . 'But also with the other system we played against Tottenham Hotspur, maybe you remember the first half we created maybe six or seven more chances than today, and we didn't score. 'So it's always the question, are you effective enough? 'Against Southampton away we scored two out of three chances and we won the game. 'But it was not because we were the better team at that time. 'Last week we were the better team, but in football it is not always the better team who wins. 'In the first half we played like QPR wanted. 'We did the same thing as QPR, playing through the air, long balls, and QPR were better. 'In the second half we changed the shape and that helped also.' | Louis van Gaal had challenged Radamel Falcao to 'prove himself'
The misfiring striker failed to find the net in 2-0 victory on Saturday .
QPR goalkeeper Rob Green denied Falcao three times at Loftus Road . |
119,146 | 25e4710018ee13ba3a47c372d5454df4bcfadd03 | In a bid to urge the Federal Aviation Administration to lift a . ban currently preventing U.S. airlines from . flying to Israel, former New York mayor Mike Bloomberg has flown to Tel Aviv in an effort to prove it is safe. The ban was imposed after a Hamas rocket demolished a home near Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv and as airlines remain skittish following the downing of a passenger plane over Ukraine last week. Bloomberg, echoing comments made by the Israel Government, said the decision to impose a ban was a victory for the terrorists. Scroll down for video . Former New York mayor Mike Bloomberg is urging the Federal Aviation Administration to lift a ban imposed on Tuesday which is currently preventing U.S. airlines from flying to Israel . To re-enforce his point, he announced that he would fly on El Al to Tel Aviv on Tuesday night to ‘show solidarity with the Israeli people and to demonstrate that it is safe to fly in and out of Israel.' ‘Ben Gurion is the best protected airport in the world and El Al flights have been regularly flying in and out of it safely,’ said Bloomberg. ‘The flight restrictions are a mistake that hands Hamas an undeserved victory and should be lifted immediately. I strongly urge the FAA to reverse course and permit US airlines to fly to Israel.’ When U.S. and European airlines quickly canceled flights to Israel on Tuesday, they showed both a skittishness and a new sense of urgency in dealing with global trouble spots following last week's downing of a passenger plane over Ukraine. Delta Flight 468 from New York to Tel Aviv carrying 290 passengers and crew was rerouted to Paris yesterday . Israeli airline El Al has maintained its regular flight schedule while U.S. and European airlines quickly canceled flights to Israel on Tuesday . Delta Air Lines turned around one of its jets mid-flight and indefinitely canceled all future flights between the U.S. and Israel after a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip landed near Ben-Gurion Airport. Other U.S. airlines quickly took similar action, and counterparts in Europe and Canada followed within hours, despite protests from the Israeli government. Israeli airline El Al maintained its regular flight schedule. The airlines were out ahead of aviation regulators in stopping service. The Federal Aviation Administration imposed a 24-hour ban on flights to Israel after the U.S. airlines acted. Germany's Lufthansa, Italian airline Alitalia and Air France all acted before the European Aviation Safety Agency issued an advisory. How long the cessation of flights will last is unclear. U.S. airlines now must wait for the FAA, which said it will provide updated guidance by midday Wednesday. Aviation and legal experts said that airlines are now taking risk assessment into their own hands, both for the safety of passengers and to avoid claims of negligence, following last week's Malaysia Airlines disaster. Major airlines have moved quickly to cancel services to Israel’s main air hub – Ben Gurion International in Tel Aviv – in light of yesterday’s attack, with saw a rocket land a mile from the airport. The incident comes at a time of heightened tension within the air industry following last week’s downing of Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine by an apparent missile strike. The latest information is as follows: . America’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a statement yesterday in response to the rocket attack, informing all American carriers that they are ‘prohibited from flying to or from Israel’s Ben Gurion International Airport for a period of up to 24 hours… in response to a rocket attack which landed approximately one mile’ from the airport. The ban will run until 12:15 EDT (Eastern Daylight Time) today – 5.15pm UK time – but may be extended for a further period. Delta re-routed yesterday’s Flight 468 – which had been due to land in Tel Aviv – to Paris. The airline has announced that it ‘has suspended service until further notice to and from Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv and its New York-JFK hub. Delta, in coordination with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, is doing so to ensure the safety and security of our customers and employees.’ British Airways is still operating to Ben Gurion International. Its two daily flights to Tel Aviv from London Heathrow are still on the schedule. Its 08:50 service took off late, and is currently en route. Its 22:30 service is still due to depart as listed. The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) says it ‘strongly recommends’ that airlines should avoid operating in and out of Tel Aviv. Easyjet has announced that it ‘is suspending its services to and from Tel Aviv for 24 hours, and, as a result, will not be operating Luton/Tel Aviv/Luton and Basel/Tel Aviv/Basel flights on Wednesday 23 July.’ Air France and KLM have suspended flights to Israel. A statement says that ‘Air France has decided to suspend flights to Tel Aviv until further notice. Air France's security department is closely monitoring local developments in real time. The safety of our passengers and our crews remains our top priority.’ Lufthansa, Germanwings and Austrian Airlines yesterday announced two-day suspensions of flights to Israel. Air Canada and Alitalia have cancelled flights to Israel. Passengers near an information board featuring numerous cancelled flights from Ben Gurion Airport, in Lod, Israel, on Tuesday . 'Most airlines have security departments that try to evaluate those sorts of risk,' said William Waldock, a professor of safety science at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. 'Some do it better than others, but I would expect that everyone is on a very heightened sense of alert right now.' Richard Aboulafia, an analyst with the Teal Group, said airlines might be more proactive about avoiding hot spots, although he noted that there are very few areas where non-government militaries have weapons sophisticated enough to shoot down a plane. The Israel government felt the airlines overreacted Tuesday. The Transportation Ministry called on the companies to reverse their decision, insisting Ben-Gurion Airport is safe and completely guarded and saying there is no reason to 'hand terror a prize,' by halting the flights. Palestinian militants have fired more than 2,000 rockets toward Israel, and several heading toward the area of the airport have been intercepted by Israel's Iron Dome defense system, but police spokeswoman Luba Samri said Tuesday's landing was the closest to the airport since fighting began on July 8. Ukrainian rescue servicemen look through the wreckage of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 in Grabovo, Ukraine . | Bloomberg boarded an El Al flight to Tel Aviv on Tuesday night in an effort to prove it is safe to fly to the country .
He has urged the Federal Aviation Administration to lift a .
ban currently preventing U.S. airlines from flying to Israel .
The ban was imposed after a Hamas rocket demolished a home near Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv .
‘The flight restrictions are a mistake that hands Hamas an undeserved victory and should be lifted immediately,' said Bloomberg . |
14,267 | 287a5bf12cae6a8a2b2cc8119ef63835ba40c4b3 | Daniel Bolger, who retired last year as a lieutenant-general, said ‘young riflemen paid the price’ for Sir Nick Carter’s (pictured) ‘risk averse’ mentality . A U.S. General has blamed the head of the British Army for the death of troops in Afghanistan saying he refused to carry out air strikes when they were asked for. Daniel Bolger, who retired last year as a lieutenant-general, said ‘young riflemen paid the price’ for General Sir Nick Carter’s ‘risk averse’ mentality and fear of causing civilian casualties. He said that while other generals went to the front line with their men, Sir Nick made only brief helicopter trips to safe positions and instead turned down requests for aircraft and artillery from the safety of his ‘large, well-appointed command post.’ The American claimed his British counterpart was a ‘peppy, pushy fellow’ and said: ‘He’s not the type of general I would put in charge of anything.’ The outspoken attack in his new book Why We Lost: A General’s Inside Account of the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars, highlights the tensions between senior U.S. and British officers over how to take on the Taliban. Bolger served alongside Sir Nick at Nato headquarters in Kabul and became exasperated by his strict interpretation of the policy of ‘courageous restraint’ which was meant to cut the number of civilian casualties. Under the policy, Nato troops were forbidden from firing unless they were fired upon and could identify their attackers and were warned destroying a home or property ‘creates more insurgents’. Bolger said: ‘In the First World War you had the chateau generals. Now we’ve got the digital chateau generals where they sit and get PowerPoint briefings and think that told them what the hell was going on.’ He claimed Sir Nick’s attitude was: ‘‘Oh, I don’t want to oversupervise my troops, I’ll give them all these rules to follow then let them sort it out on the ground’‘, but he added that ‘this is the same guy trying to direct where every single artillery round goes’. In his book, Bolger refers to a 2010 report by former US colonel Harry Tunnell which claimed Sir Nick showed a ‘gross lack of concern for subordinates’. He claimed Sir Nick gave a verbal order that any civilian casualties were unacceptable and ‘coalition soldiers may have to be killed rather than defend themselves’. U.S. General Daniel Bolger (pictured) has claimed his British counterpart was a ‘peppy, pushy fellow’ The criticism refers to the time when Sir Nick was the head of Nato’s Regional Command South in Afghanistan in 2009 and 2010. But British military officials defended Sir Nick, 55, who was appointed chief of the general staff in September. ‘UK forces have always worked closely with their US counterparts and the concept of courageous restraint was an International Security Assistance Force-led initiative which was in place across Afghanistan,’ a Ministry of Defence spokesman said. ‘In any operation, UK troops always have the inherent right to self-defence and accusations that troops were put in unnecessary danger are nonsensical.’ Lord Dannatt, a former head of the British Army, told the Sunday Times that the criticisms were ‘very unfair’. He said: ‘I hope he sells half a dozen copies and not many more than that.’ | U.S. General Daniel Bolger blames British Army leader for death of troops .
Said ‘young riflemen paid the price’ for General Sir Nick Carter’s decisions .
He added: ‘He’s not the type of general I would put in charge of anything’
Outspoken attack in new book Why We Lost: A General’s Inside Account . |
165,587 | 62246729ef83244d20709bffa37e260e55fd9bae | (CNN) -- Yes, it was a fact. But no, it wasn't fun. Not for E! and especially not for Michael J. Fox. The entertainment network laid an egg on the red carpet Sunday in its lead up to the Golden Globe Awards when it listed Fox's 1991 diagnosis with Parkinson's disease as a "Fun Fact." The graphic appeared on E!'s Internet coverage, not on television. "We regret the insensitive classification of Michael J Fox's Parkinson's diagnosis during our E online live stream," the network said. "We understand the serious nature of the disease and sincerely apologize." Fox appeared on the red carpet with his wife Tracy Pollen. He was nominated for best actor in a comedy for his new NBC show, "The Michael J. Fox Show." The 52-year-old actor first rose to fame in the early 1980s in the sitcom "Family Ties," before starring in the "Back to the Future" trilogy and the "Spin City" TV series. As his Parkinson's progressed, Fox continued to act, although less regularly until his TV show debuted in the fall. He had recurring roles on "Boston Legal" and "The Good Wife." 5 things we learned from the 2014 Golden Globes . | E! listed Fox's Parkinson's diagnosis as a "Fun Fact" during online coverage .
Fox was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 1991 .
He now stars in a new sitcom "The Michael J. Fox Show"
Fox rose to fame in the 1980s on the TV show "Family Ties" |
265,030 | e3479f8bb93deda80c36bb6e6cc58f374633aaa1 | When the largest home in Wisconsin went to auction last year, its sellers must have thought they had a real zinger on their hands. But fast forward 12 months, and Ellison Bay Manor, in picturesque Door County, is still on the market. Perhaps given the state of the sluggish US economy, an $8.75million (£5.4m) price tag is too much for even the wealthiest prospective buyers. For that money, they'd get a mansion with three grand guest suites, 10 bathrooms, and a massive 5,000sq ft master suite. Larger than the average American home, the master suite alone has two dressing rooms, two bathrooms, a sitting room and a fitness room - which can even be reached by elevator. Scroll down for video . Ellison Bay Manor in Door County, Wisconsin, is back on the market for $8.75m . Last October, the 43-room property - which has been empty for almost a decade - was known as Sur la Baie and was put up for sale for $19m . The 35,000 sq ft French-inspired estate, built by Chicago philanthropist Judith Blazer in 1993, is one of the largest single-family residences in the state . The house features a two-storey library designed in the style of the Vanderbilt mansion . Last October, the 43-room property - which has been empty for almost a decade - was known as Sur la Baie and was put up for sale for $19million. But clearly its new name has not been enough to entice a new owner. 'We had at least half a dozen offers. 'We had some who were fairly interested and basically they indicated that it was really a full-time residence, it was not really a vacation type property and they were not prepared to live year-round in Door,' realtor Kurt Penn told Fox 11. The 35,000 sq ft French-inspired estate, built by Chicago philanthropist Judith Blazer in 1993, is one of the largest single-family residences in the state. Ellison Bay Manor is currently owned by realty group Jameson Sotheby International Realty, based in Chicago - who have managed the property for six years . The house even has its own big screen movie theater complete with concessions stand and ticket booth . The house also features sitting rooms, an entire wing dedicated to a pool and spa including tropical plants, and a floor made of Jerusalem quarry stone . The house was sold to an unnamed couple from California in 2005, but the pair became ill before they could move in and never lived there . Blazer built the house to mimic 19th century homes on the East Coast. She sold the house to an unnamed couple from California in 2005, but the pair became ill before they could move in and never lived in the house. Ellison Bay Manor is currently owned by realty group Jameson Sotheby International Realty, based in Chicago - who have managed the property for six years. The new deal includes the beach house, guest house and 80 acres of land. Penn said that the owners will pay the first five years of real estate tax, and will also donate 4 per cent of the sale proceeds to charities such as the Door County Humane Society, Midsummer Music Festival, the Medical College of Wisconsin, and another charity chosen by the buyer. Given the downturn in the real estate market since that 2005 sale, real estate agents expect buyers with enough cash on hand could make a killing on the sale. Last year, Hilco Real Estate Michael Fine described the house as a mixture of classic style and modern amenities with a breathtaking view of Green Bay. The luxury property has lain vacant for almost a decade . Last year, Hilco Real Estate Michael Fine described the house as a mixture of classic style and modern amenities with a breathtaking view of Green Bay . Judity Blazer built the house to mimic 19th century homes on the East Coast . 'Spiral staircase, leaded glass stained window,' Fine said. 'An entrance from the balcony above into the owner's bedroom.' The house also features a two-storey library designed in the style of the Vanderbilt mansion, sitting rooms, and an entire wing dedicated to a pool and spa including tropical plants, a floor made of Jerusalem quarry stone, and several waterfalls including one connecting to a 14-person whirlpool. The indoor pool also includes its own fully-functional kitchen, guest locker room, steam shower and bathroom. The house even has its own big screen movie theater complete with concessions stand and ticket booth. Realtors told Fox that the problems in the housing market are not limited to shifting huge mansions. Less expensive holiday homes, such as another valued at around $1.5million has also proved hard to sell. 'This is probably an average upscale vacation home in Door County. It's been for sale this time for about seven months,' said Scott Bader, from Coldwell Banker. 'Right now I think there are only about 40 to 45 for sale. So that's a fairly long market time.' Scott Bader, who specialises in homes valued at more than $1 million, said just seven such properties have been sold annually in the county. Ellison Bay Manor has been rented out for private events but is classed as residential, so cannot be converted into a hotel. | Ellison Bay Manor in Door County has 3 grand guest suites, 5,000 sq ft master suite and two-storey library .
35,000 sq ft French-inspired estate was .
built by Chicago philanthropist Judith Blazer in 1993 .
Failed to find buyer when put on market last year at $19m when it was then known as Sur la Baie .
House even has its own big screen movie theater complete with concessions stand and ticket booth . |
246,931 | cb8e2f7f370ffd53d5dae569258e4b476dc04e9a | (CNN)It's proving to be a roller-coaster ride for Ghana at this year's Africa Cup of Nations. After the heartache of conceding a last-minute winner against Senegal in its opener, ecstasy has followed with the Black Stars stealing all three points at the death in their second Group C match against tournament favorite Algeria. Following 91 minutes of a game of football that had very little to show for it, Asamoah Gyan -- back for Ghana after a bout of malaria -- was on hand to keep his nation's dream of a first Africa Cup of Nations title in 33 years alive. Despite a poor showing, but for a handful of minutes at this tournament, Avram Grant's men will take heart from beating the competition's highest-ranked team -- the last time it defeated Algeria in the Africa Cup of Nations, it went on to win the whole thing in 1982. The result means Ghana is now level on points with Algeria but leapfrogs the North African nation into Group C's second qualifying spot due to its superior head-to-head record. The day's late game between South Africa and Senegal ended 1-1, leaving Group C very tight -- South Africa sit top, one point ahead of Ghana and Algeria, with bottom-placed South Africa a further two points adrift. Ghana's chances of a victory against Algeria did not look quite so bright at halftime, however, following a cagey, scrappy 45 minutes bereft of any real quality, with the Black Stars desperate not to lose and the Desert Foxes happy with a draw. Given that it was pretty much a must-not-lose affair for Ghana in Mongomo, Equatorial Guinea, jangling nerves were perhaps to be expected. And they certainly had their wicked way in the first half, with a poor touch from Brimah Razak in Ghana's goal almost handing Yacine Brahimi the opener on a plate, only for the keeper to recover in time. Algeria, equally, struggled to make an impact, lacking the enthusiasm going forward it showed in last summer's World Cup, though it did come closest to scoring in a drab first half through Nabil Bentaleb, who fired wide an Aissa Mandi delivery. Ghana appeared a somewhat different team after the break, perhaps realizing that three points might be vital towards ensuring a first Africa Cup of Nations group-stage exit since 2006 is avoided. Gyan first went close, heading an Harrison Afful cross agonizingly wide, while Andre Ayew and Jordan Ayew also had chances -- the older sibling heading over after his younger brother had earlier fired a flicked effort off target. Inspired by its opponent, Algeria also picked up its performance going forward, resulting in a rather more open second 45 minutes. One constant from the first half, however, remained -- a lack of quality in the final third. That was until a shattered Gyan latched onto a long ball forward over the top deep into stoppage time and picked out the bottom corner. "Asamoah is a great player with a fantastic attitude. He was ill but he played the 90 minutes and scored at the end," Grant told FIFA's official website following his first competitive win as Ghana coach. "He is a great player but also a great personality. But it's not just the victory of one player. It's the victory of a whole team." The second match at Estadio de Mongomo saw South Africa and Senegal play out a far more entertaining affair, with the second half coming alive after an uninspiring opening 45 minutes. Although eventually succumbing to a 3-1 defeat against Algeria Monday, it was South Africa that started the brighter and took the lead on that occasion -- and it was similar for the Bafana Bafana this time around. The 1996 champion was the more threatening team in the first half and came out of the blocks firing after the restart as Oupa Manyisa converted a cross from the right into the bottom corner of the net with an excellent first-time finish. Senegal, insipid in attack up to that point, was soon awoken and thought it had found an equalizer through Sadio Mane shortly after, only for the goal to be disallowed due to offside. Minutes later, though, and the Lions of Teranga had leveled, with Kara Mbodj rising highest to head home Pape Diop's free-kick past the stranded Jackson Mabokgwane. With momentum on its side, it was Senegal who looked the more likely to score another, attempting to replicate Monday's comeback victory over Ghana. This time, however, there was to be no last-minute winner for Alain Giresse's side, yet it still had the consolation of ending the evening sitting atop Group C. | Ghana beats Algeria 1-0 with last-minute winner from Asamoah Gyan .
Gyan was back in the Ghana team after recovering from bout of malaria .
Win keeps Black Stars hopes of first AFCON triumph in 33 years alive .
Senegal draws 1-1 with South Africa to move top of Group C . |
207,186 | 98408ceb96b417e8fcc610d22db40afa23b7c022 | (CNN) -- Bill Haslam, the mayor of Knoxville and considered a moderate Republican, easily won the Tennessee GOP primary for governor Thursday, the Tennessee Department of State's website reported. With all of the state's precincts reporting Haslam had 47.5 percent of the vote as he defeated Congressman Zach Wamp and Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey. Halsam, who helped fund some of his own campaign, will now face Mike McWherter, a Democratic businessman and son of a former governor. The race is to succeed Gov. Phil Bredesen, a Democrat, who is prevented by term limits from running for a third term. Political handicappers think Republicans have a good shot at winning back the governor's office. Republican Governors Association spokesman Tim Murtaugh in a statement: "Bill Haslam emerges as a strong candidate headed toward November, having beaten a pair of qualified office holders in a spirited primary. As Tennessee faces great economic challenges, Bill Haslam will be a strong voice for job creation, fiscal restraint and individual freedom. "A successful mayor and businessman, he has the leadership experience necessary to create jobs and grow the economy. We look forward to seeing him elected the next governor of Tennessee." Democratic Governors Association executive director Nathan Daschle said, "Mike McWherter has spent his career growing jobs and strengthening the economy. The only thing Bill Haslam has increased in his career is Knoxville's taxes and unemployment rate." "Voters are looking for someone with the know-how to move the state in the right direction, and that candidate is Mike McWherter," Daschle added. The race grabbed national attention last month because of controversial comments by two of the challengers. Wamp appeared to suggest that Tennessee should consider secession in light of mandates forced on the states by the Obama administration's health care bill. The eight-term congressman later stepped back from those comments. Ramsey also drew attention to himself last month after he was seen in a YouTube video questioning whether Islam is a religion. He was expressing his opposition to the expansion of a mosque in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, which has become a hot-button issue in the city about 35 miles southeast of Nashville. Ramsey, who has been endorsed by 20 Tea Party organizations, said he is a supporter of religious freedoms, but such protections may not extend to bringing "Shariah [Islamic] law into the state of Tennessee ... into the United States." "Now, you could even argue whether being a Muslim is actually a religion, or is it a nationality, way of life, a cult, whatever you want to call it," he continued. "But certainly we do protect our religions, but at the same time, this is something we are going to have to face." Following criticism, Ramsey defended his comments, saying, "My concern is that far too much of Islam has come to resemble a violent political philosophy more than peace-loving religion." In a high-profile Congressional primary, two-term Democratic Rep. Steve Cohen overwhelmingly defeated former Memphis Mayor Willie Herenton. The campaign in the 9th District, which covers Memphis and has a large African-American population, was dominated by race. With all precincts reporting, Cohen had 78.7 percent of the vote to Herenton's 21.3 percent. Herenton has been urging voters to elect him as the only African-American member of the state's congressional delegation, saying, "It is as if only white people live in the great state of Tennessee. No African-Americans. I believe that it is very clear to the majority of the citizens of this community that we lack representation." Cohen, who served as a state lawmaker in the area before being elected to Congress, has campaigned on what he's done for education and health care in the area. "I represent everybody and I work hard for people to get them opportunities. And I just think that race should not be an issue in 2010," he said. President Barack Obama and the Congressional Black Caucus backed Cohen. Stephen Fincher won the 8th District Republican primary. Fincher collected 48.5 percent of the vote over Ron Kirkland at 24.4 percent and George Flinn at 24 percent. The race, for Rep. John Tanner's seat, is noteworthy because the Center for Responsible Politics has called it the most expensive House primary in the country, . Fincher will face Roy Herron, who easily won the Democratic primary. | Cohen is winner of 9th District Democratic primary .
Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam has nearly 48 percent of the vote in the GOP governor's primary .
The GOP winner will face Democrat Mike McWherter .
The GOP race grabbed national attention last month . |
239,002 | c169a2e4c8ca3ca75ba6daa20ef424304ebfb7b7 | By . Sarah Griffiths . After decades of historians denying that the Carthaginians sacrificed their children as described in Greek accounts, a new study claims to have found ‘overwhelming’ evidence that the ancient civilisation really did carry out bloodthirsty practice. Carthaginian parents ritually sacrificed young children as an offering to the gods and laid them to rest in special infant burial grounds, according to a team of international researchers. They said that the archaeological, literary and documentary evidence for child sacrifice is ‘overwhelming’. Carthaginian parents ritually sacrificed young children as an offering to the gods and laid them to rest in special infant burial grounds called tophets, according to a team of international researchers. A tophet outside Carthage is pictured . Carthaginian parents ritually sacrificed young children as an offering to the gods and laid them to rest in special infant burial grounds called tophets. The practice could hold the key to why Ancient Carthage was founded in the first place. Babies of just a few weeks old were sacrifice. Dedications from the children's parents to the gods are inscribed on slabs of stone above their cremated remains, ending with the explanation that the god or gods concerned had 'heard my voice and blessed me'. An Oxford University professor said that people might have sacrificed their children out of profound religious piety, or a sense that the good the sacrifice could bring the family or community as a whole outweighed the life of the child. We think of human sacrifice as a terrible practice because we view it in modern terms, but people looked at it differently 2,500 years ago. The backlash against the notion of Carthaginian child sacrifice began in the second half of the 20th century and was led by scholars from Tunisia and Italy - the very countries in which tophets have also been found. It was first documented by Greek and Roman writers who seemed more interested than critical of the unusual practice. A collaborative paper by academics from institutions across the globe, including Oxford University reveals that previous well-meaning attempts to interpret these ancient burial grounds, called tophets, simply as child cemeteries, are misguided. Instead, the researchers think the practice of child sacrifice could even hold the key to why the civilisation was founded in the first place. The research pulls together literary, epigraphical, archaeological and historical evidence and confirms the Greek and Roman account of events that held sway until the 1970s, when scholars began to argue that the theory was simply anti-Carthaginian propaganda. 'It's becoming increasingly clear that the stories about Carthaginian child sacrifice are true. This is something the Romans and Greeks said the Carthaginians did and it was part of the popular history of Carthage in the 18th and 19th centuries,' said Dr Josephine Quinn, of the university’s Faculty of Classics, who an author of the paper, published in the journal Antiquity. 'But in the 20th century, people . increasingly took the view that this was racist propaganda on the part . of the Greeks and Romans against their political enemy and that Carthage . should be saved from this terrible slander,’ she said. The city-state of ancient Carthage was a Phoenician colony located in what is now Tunisia. It operated from around 800BC until 146BC, when it was destroyed by the Romans. The Antonin Thermal baths are pictured in Carthage, which are listed as World Heritage by UNESCO . 'What we are saying now is that the archaeological, literary, and documentary evidence for child sacrifice is overwhelming and that instead of dismissing it out of hand, we should try to understand it.' The city-state of ancient Carthage was a Phoenician colony located in what is now Tunisia. It operated from around 800BC until 146BC, when it was destroyed by the Romans. Babies of just a few weeks old were sacrificed by the Carthaginians at locations known as tophets. Dedications from the children's parents to the gods are inscribed on slabs of stone above their cremated remains, ending with the explanation that the god or gods concerned had 'heard my voice and blessed me'. Roman writers tended to describe child sacrifice as more of an eccentricity than a crime. Gaius Marius is illustrated in sacked Carthage . Dr Quinn said: 'People have tried to argue that these archaeological sites are cemeteries for children who were stillborn or died young, but quite apart from the fact that a weak, sick or dead child would be a pretty poor offering to a god and that animal remains are found in the same sites treated in exactly the same way, it's hard to imagine how the death of a child could count as the answer to a prayer. 'It's very difficult for us to recapture people's motivations for carrying out this practice or why parents would agree to it, but it's worth trying. 'Perhaps it was out of profound religious piety, or a sense that the good the sacrifice could bring the family or community as a whole outweighed the life of the child. 'We have to remember the high level of mortality among children – it would have been sensible for parents not to get too attached to a child that might well not make its first birthday.' Dr Quinn said that we think of human sacrifice as a terrible practice because we view it in modern terms, but people looked at it differently 2,500 years ago. 'Indeed, contemporary Greek and Roman writers tended to describe the practice as more of an eccentricity or historical oddity – they're not actually very critical,’ she said. 'We should not imagine that ancient people thought like us and were horrified by the same things.' The backlash against the notion of Carthaginian child sacrifice began in the second half of the 20th century and was led by scholars from Tunisia and Italy - the very countries in which tophets have also been found. Dr Quinn said: 'Carthage was far bigger than Athens and for many centuries much more important than Rome, but it is something of a forgotten city today. Babies were sacrificed by the Carthaginians at tophets. Dedications from the children's parents to the gods are inscribed on slabs of stone above their cremated remains, ending with the explanation that the god or gods concerned had 'heard my voice and blessed me' A tophet in Marsala, Sicily is pictured . 'If we accept that child sacrifice happened on some scale, it begins to explain why the colony was founded in the first place. 'Perhaps the reason the people who established Carthage and its neighbours left their original home of Phoenicia – modern-day Lebanon – was because others there disapproved of their unusual religious practice. She explained that child abandonment was common in the ancient world and human sacrifice is found in many historical societies, but child sacrifice is relatively uncommon. ‘Perhaps the future Carthaginians were like the Pilgrim Fathers leaving from Plymouth – they were so fervent in their devotion to the gods that they weren't welcome at home any more, Dr Quinn said. 'Dismissing the idea of child sacrifice stops us seeing the bigger picture.’ | Bodies of children were buried in special cemeteries called tophets .
Researchers from Oxford University said there that the archaeological, literary, and documentary evidence for child sacrifice is ‘overwhelming’
Historians think practice could hold the key to why Carthage was founded .
Ancient Carthage was a Phoenician colony located in what is now Tunisia . |
162,226 | 5dbe862f0cbfa02fad8eaa86f1eff7bbf6aaa29a | By . Richard Spillett for MailOnline . Ireland's former prime minister Albert Reynolds has died at the age of 81. He served as taoiseach for just under three years, from February 1992 to January 1993 and again from January 1993 to December 1994. Representing the Fianna Fáil party, he played a key role in the Northern Ireland peace process and is best known as one of the architects of the historic Downing Street Declaration of 1993. Reynolds retired from politics in 2002 and developed Alzheimer's disease in later life. Ireland's former prime minister Albert Reynolds, who served as taoiseach in the 1990s, has died aged 81 . He was born in 1932 and grew up in the small village of Roosky in Co Roscommon. He later abandoned a sensible job and set up a dance hall empire with his brother Jim to capitalise on the big craze of the 1950s and 60s. After turning to politics, he was first elected to Dail Eireann for the Longford/Westmeath constituency in 1977 for Fianna Fail and was appointed a government minister just two years later. He was elected Ireland's eighth taoiseach in 1992 and worked with then-prime minister John Major, Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams and then-SDLP leader John Hume to try to deliver stability to the north. The Downing Street Declaration, which Mr Reynolds co-signed with Mr Major on December 15, 1993, paved the way for an IRA ceasefire in 1994, which in turn led loyalist paramilitaries to declare an end to terrorism, and laid the foundations for the eventual signing of the Good Friday Agreement of 1998. Mr Adams recently claimed that Mr Reynolds brought a new dynamic to peace negotiations and praised his 'directness' in addressing the potential for progress. One of Mr Reynolds's most famous achievements was the Downing Street Declaration, which he signed with then-British Prime Minister John Major in 1993, paving the way for the Northern Ireland peace process . Mr Adams said: 'His wife Kathleen and their family welcomed me into their home and we enjoyed copious cups of tea during the ups and downs of that time. 'His was a relatively short term as taoiseach but Mr Reynolds ended exclusions, formal censorship and brought the Irish government in from the cold.' Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams expressed his condolences to the Reynolds family today, saying: 'I'm really sorry to hear of the death of Albert Reynolds. 'Albert acted on the North (of Ireland) when it mattered. My thoughts are with (his wife) Kathleen and all the Reynolds family. May he rest in peace.' Mr Reynolds resigned as leader of the party and as taoiseach in late 1994 following a dispute with Fianna Fail's then coalition partner, Labour. Mr Reynolds pictured with then-US president Bill Clinton on St Patrick's Day in March 1993 . In 1997, he suffered another political defeat in an internal Fianna Fail election to determine the party's presidential candidate. He was beaten by Belfast-born academic Mary McAleese, who went on to win the presidency and served as head of state for two terms. Mr Reynolds later retired from politics in 2002. Husband to Kathleen and father to seven children, the once busy businessman-turned-politician had since been enjoying his retirement. But his health became poor and in 2008 and, in December 2013, ill-health kept him away from the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Downing Street Declaration. That week, his son Philip revealed that Mr Reynolds was in the very last stages of Alzheimer's disease and in need of 24-hour care. At the end, he was unable to have conversations with people. Mr Reynolds (left) chats to Prince Charles at a gala charity concert in Belfast in May 1997. The former Irish PM developed Alzheimer's disease after retiring from politics in 2002 . | Moved into politics after running a dance hall business with his brother .
He twice served as taoiseach, running the country for just under three years .
Best-known as one of the architects of the Downing Street Agreement .
After retiring from politics in 2002, he developed Alzheimer's in later life . |
87,292 | f7a41e5d28bf9a15d9665d2d4e0d1e6e584b38d0 | Katie Hopkins has sparked controversy once more by saying police officer Darren Wilson should 'get a medal' for shooting unarmed black teenager Michael Brown who she called 'a thief and a thug'. The never-ending source of opinions took to Twitter to give her two cents on the Ferguson case after a grand jury decided not to indict officer Wilson over the killing. Unsurprisingly, the reactions to Ms Hopkins' comments, posted to her 263,000 followers yesterday, did not take long. Scroll down for video . Controversial: Katie Hopkins tweeted her support for police officer Darren Wilson for shooting Michael Brown, calling the dead 18-year-old 'a thief and a thug' 'Brown was not shot for being black. Brown was shot for being a thief and a thug. Give the officer a medal. Justice with knobs on,' Ms Hopkins wrote. In response, several Twitter users accused Ms Hopkins of 'attention seeking', 'antagonizing', and trying too hard'. Ms Hopkins, whose post has been favourited 306 times and had 264 retweets so far, is not the first person to tweet her opinion on the controversial case. When the decision was announced on Monday, 3.5million tweets were posted about the ruling using #Ferguson in just a few hours. When St. Louis County Prosecutor Bob McCullough announced the grand jury's conclusion that 'no probable cause exists' to indict Officer Darren Wilson at 8.30pm CT, around 52,200 tweets per minute were posted. Tragic death: Michael Brown was unarmed when he was shot and killed by police officer Derren Wilson in Ferguson, Missouri in August this year . Taking sides: Ms Hopkins tweeted that Darren Wilson deserved a medal for shooting Michael Brown . Ongoing protests: Demonstrators in Washington DC march in the streets to protest the Missouri grand jury's decision not to indict Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson over the shooting of Michael Brown . Earlier today, Officer Darren Wilson revealed that he believes he made the right choice to use lethal force against Michael Brown. Wilson said that while he feels remorse for causing Brown's death, he would do it all over again. 'I don't think it's haunting; it's always going to be something that happened,' the controversial cop said during an interview with ABC's George Stephanopoulos . 'The reason I have a clear conscience is because I know I did my job right,' Wilson said. Michael Brown's family reacted with anger on Wednesday, saying Wilson's interview added 'insult to injury'. The teenager's mother, Lesley McSpadden, told CBS she didn't think Wilson wanted to kill Michael but that 'he wanted to kill someone'. Despite the St. Louis grand jury decision, federal investigations into the shooting of Michael Brown continue the US Attorney General Eric Holder said on Monday. The Justice Department will continue to pursue two investigations, one into potential civil rights violations by Officer Wilson when he shot dead unarmed Brown in August this year, and one into the practices of the Ferguson Police force. | Katie Hopkins tweeted Darren Wilson 'should get a medal' for killing .
She also called Ferguson victim Michael Brown 'a thief and a thug'
Twitter users called Hopkins 'attention seeking' and 'antagonizing' |
194,859 | 883e7c4af7578badb4d65357db380af592536104 | A massive cleanup effort was underway early Sunday at an Istanbul park where hours earlier Turkish riot police cleared protesters camped out in what has become ground zero in anti-government demonstrations targeting the policies of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. At least 29 people were injured in clashes Saturday as police sealed off Taksim Square and took Gezi Park, Istanbul Gov. Huseyin Avni Mutlu said in remarks carried on Turkish television stations. Police pushed protesters onto side streets, where on one street many -- with their faces covered with masks because of tear gas and smoke -- appeared to reorganize. Chanting "long live Taksim solidarity," the demonstrators began moving back toward the square and park. In turn, authorities fired tear gas and a water cannon down the street to try to disperse them. The move came after police warned demonstrators who have occupied Istanbul's last remaining green space for more than two weeks to depart voluntarily or face being ejected. By early Sunday morning, most protesters had dispersed and the cleanup was underway, according to CNN's Arwa Damon, who was reporting in the area. Calls for political reforms . The protest that began over Erdogan's plan to turn the park into a mall quickly devolved into large anti-government demonstrations that have seen calls for political reforms. What's driving unrest and protests in Turkey? Erdogan, who has been defiant of protest demands, said earlier in the day at a rally with supporters in Ankara that if protesters did not leave on their own, they would be forced out of Gezi Park. "If it is not emptied, from now on, this country's security forces will know how to empty that place," he said. A few minutes later, police used loudspeakers to order the protesters out of the park, saying it was their last warning. But the demonstration continued as the sun began to set, with hundreds of people packing the square, some of them wearing gas masks, others linking arms in solidarity and anticipation. During his speech, Erdogan said the demonstrators were not meeting him halfway. "We have reached out with our hands," he said. "However, some people returned their fists in response. Can you shake hands with those who reach out with a fist?" And he ridiculed the protesters' assertions that they are environmentalists, calling them "thugs" instead, and citing their honking of horns as evidence of their insincerity. "This is called noise pollution," he said. A dozen of his Justice and Development AK Party buildings have been damaged and burned, he said, accusing "outsiders" of staging the demonstrations. He accused demonstrators of inciting sectarian violence by attacking a woman who was wearing a headscarf, kicking her, dragging her on the ground and snatching away her head cover. He accused some demonstrators of having entered a mosque while wearing shoes, drunk alcohol there and written insulting slogans on the walls -- acts forbidden by Muslims -- but said authorities had been patient. Erdogan said the courts will handle such incidents. Letters from Turkey, with pride . He said he did not understand the concerns about the park, since no contracts have been signed and no construction has begun. "There is nothing yet to protest," he said. 'Every kind of hypocrisy' Erdogan accused social media for spreading misinformation, the national media of lying and the international media of displaying "every kind of hypocrisy" in its reporting, but he expressed gratitude for the crowd's support. He praised his government's performance over the past 10 years, citing a rising standard of living, a stock market that has broken records, a quintupling of the central bank's reserves, plans to build the world's biggest airport and the construction of a third bridge scheduled to begin carrying traffic in four lanes in either direction over the Bosporus in 2015. Erdogan said maintaining the park as a green space was not the real goal of most of the demonstrators, four of whom have been arrested. "What is the issue then?" he asked. "It is to take down the AK Party government." Except for a few who are genuinely concerned about the environment, the demonstrators are upset about Turkey's growing strength, he said, adding that more than 600 of his police had been wounded in the clashes. "No one can scare us off," he said. Erdogan delivered his message to a supportive crowd, amid a carnival atmosphere and heavy police security. During his comments, some of his supporters waved the red-and-white Turkish flag as well as the orange, white and blue flag of Erdogan's AK Party. The festive mood contrasted sharply with the scene here overnight, when Turkish riot police sprayed rowdy anti-government demonstrators with water cannon and fired tear gas at them, arresting nearly a dozen people in the third consecutive night of clashes in the capital. Erdogan vs. protesters . The unrest began nearly 500 kilometers (311 miles) away, in Istanbul, nearly three weeks ago, when a small group of people turned out to protest government plans to bulldoze the city's Gezi Park and to replace it with a shopping mall housed inside a replica of a 19th-century Ottoman barracks. Protesters said the plans represented a creeping infringement on their rights in a secular society. Turkey was founded after secularists in the early 20th century defeated Islamic Ottoman forces, and many modern-day secularists frown on Ottoman symbols. The protests broadened into an outpouring in the square and throughout the country as security forces cracked down on demonstrators. The images, seen worldwide on social media and TV, sparked criticism around the world as well as in Turkey, a NATO member and a U.S. ally. The unrest also signaled political danger for Erdogan, a populist and democratically elected politician serving his third term in office. Erdogan has been criticized -- even by his allies -- for using heavy-handed tactics in his governance and for trying to impose changes without first seeking public input. The park plan represented the final straw for many Turks, who accuse the government of trying to impose its will whenever and wherever it wants. On Friday, Erdogan met with protesters in Ankara and then said he would suspend plans to build the mall in Istanbul pending a court decision on the protesters' objections to its construction. If the judicial ruling is not in line with what Gezi protesters want, a popular vote will be held. Erdogan also agreed to investigate claims of excessive use of force by police during the protests, some of which have turned violent. Tayfun Kahraman, a city planner speaking on behalf of the Taksim Solidarity protest movement, thanked Erdogan and his ministers for accepting their demands for a meeting. "We will closely follow his promises and the process. Unfortunately, four people died in the incidents. We still feel the pain of their death." Despite conciliatory statements from both sides, protesters defied the pleas of their prime minister and remained encamped Saturday in the park where the demonstrations started 19 days ago. Opinion: Past and future collide in Turkey clashes . | A massive cleanup is underway, CNN's Arwa Damon says .
Police are using tear gas and water cannons to disperse demonstrators .
Istanbul's governor says 29 people have been injured .
"Can you shake hands with those who reach out with a fist?" Erdogan asks . |
84,521 | efc9af23f235c499e69e199c0302b7b91eaf44e8 | Law enforcement officials in Los Angeles have confirmed that they are in possession of a video that shows Bruce Jenner was responsible for starting a chain-reaction crash that resulted in a woman's death on a Malibu highway earlier this month. Jenner was hauling an off-road vehicle on a trailer behind his Cadillac Escalade on February 7 when he steered to avoid cars slowing for a traffic light in front of him on Pacific Coast Highway. Jenner's SUV rear-ended two cars, pushing a white Lexus into oncoming traffic, the official said. The driver, Kim Howe, 69, was killed when it was struck head-on by a Hummer. Scroll down for video . Law enforcement officials have confirmed they are in possession of a video that shows Bruce Jenner was responsible for starting a chain-reaction crash that resulted in a woman's death earlier this month . The Los Angeles Sheriff's Department is investigating the cause of the wreck and will consider whether to issue a citation that could result in criminal charges - possibly vehicular manslaughter. The official briefed on the video was not authorized to speak publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on Wednesday on condition of anonymity. The official said the video taken by cameras on an MTA bus in the area showed Jenner's vehicle continued forward and rear-ended a Toyota Prius. Officials initially said the victim's white Lexus had struck the Prius. Most significantly the video shows that the Lexus driver didn’t make contact with the Prius involved, reports TMZ. A video showing a possible recreation of the accident has been created by Integral Media Works. Investigators have sought cellphone records to see if any drivers were distracted, but the video appears to show that Jenner was not using his phone. His publicist, Alan Nierob, has said Jenner was not texting and is cooperating with investigators. Jenner was hauling an off-road vehicle on a trailer behind his Cadillac Escalade on February 7 when he steered to avoid cars slowing for a traffic light in front of him on Pacific Coast Highway . Jenner's SUV rear-ended two cars, pushing a white Lexus into oncoming traffic, the official said. The driver, Kim Howe, 69, was killed when it was struck head-on by a Hummer . A video showing a possible recreation of the accident has been created by Integral Media Works . The video shows Jenner rear-end the Lexus and when the Lexus clears his lane, his SUV keeps moving and crashes into the Prius . The MTA video is alleged to show that Jenner hits the Lexus, propelling it into a Hummer coming the other way. Jenner then continues on and hits the Prius . According to earlier reports, the Lexus had been in Jenner's path after coming to a halt when it hit a Prius travelling ahead. The Lexus was then pushed into the path of a Hummer coming the other way, leaving the vehicle a crumpled wreck and the sole occupant, 69-year-old Kim Howe, dead. The Kardashian family patriarch, who escaped the crash unscathed, took a roadside sobriety test in front of officers in the wake of the collision, which he passed. This latest evidence suggests that rather than the chain reaction being caused by the victim's Lexus hitting the Prius in front of her, Jenner may have hit both cars, claims TMZ. Law enforcement sources told the celebrity news site that one operating theory is that the Prius had been stopped behind cars and, as a traffic light turned green, vehicles began moving. It was at this point, sources say, that Jenner rear-ended the Lexus and when the Lexus cleared his lane, his car kept moving and crashed into the Prius. TMZ reported that police say when Jenner hit the Lexus, it veered left while his Escalade moved to the right. Detectives in Malibu have opened a vehicular homicide investigation. If any of the drivers in the crash are found criminally negligent, felony charges could be filed - which carry a sentence of up to six years in prison. Jenner's Cadillac Escalade hit the back of the victim's white Lexus on the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, California, which caused a chain reaction that resulted in the luxury sedan veering into oncoming traffic . An aerial view of the crash scene on February 7 shows the damaged cars, and police markings as they work to investigate the cause . If it is determined that Jenner's Escalade struck both cars and authorities find he was following too closely, it would make prosecution for vehicular manslaughter more likely than if he was just part of the chain reaction, TMZ claims. Investigations will determine if Jenner, or any of the other three drivers involved in the collision, were texting or on their mobile phones at the time of the collision. It is illegal to text while driving in California. The star's representative has denied that he was texting behind the wheel. Breaking his silence on the crash the following day, Jenner said in a statement: 'My heartfelt and deepest sympathies go out to the family and loved ones, and to all of those who were involved or injured in this terrible accident.' 'It is a devastating tragedy, and I cannot pretend to imagine what this family is going through at this time. I am praying for them. I will continue to cooperate in every way possible.' But three days after the crash, Jenner was seen talking on his phone while driving in Los Angeles. The reality star had the device pressed to his ear while behind the wheel in Thousand Oaks, California. Bruce married Kris Jenner, pictured together, in 1991, but their divorce is expected to be finalized next month . | Cops have confirmed that they are in possession of video that shows Jenner was responsible for chain-reaction crash that resulted in a woman's death .
He steered to avoid cars slowing for a traffic light in front of him on Pacific Coast Highway .
Jenner's SUV rear-ended two cars, pushing a white Lexus into oncoming traffic .
The driver, Kim Howe, 69, was killed when it was struck head-on by a Hummer .
If it is proved that he caused the fatal wreck, Jenner could be charged with vehicular manslaughter which carries a six year prison sentence . |
74,035 | d1f47f333aa199e82e1f542e03eefa592de5c9ba | By . Ray Massey . Self-driving ‘robo-cars’ are to be allowed on Britain’s roads from the New Year despite fears over their safety, the Government announced yesterday. Ministers are fast-tracking the measures, which pave the way for drivers to sit back and, ultimately, concentrate on other tasks as an on-board computer assumes command of the vehicle. The cars are guided by radar, laser sensors, cameras and sat-nav. They will take to public roads in Britain for the first time from January in a series of trials lasting up to three years. Scroll down for video . Major manufacturers already developing self-driving car technology include Volvo, Nissan, Mercedes-Benz, Ford, Vauxhall, Volkswagen and Honda. They have been joined by internet giant Google. All models are expected to have a manual override, allowing the driver to take control if necessary. The cars can be used in regular traffic either independently or as a ‘road train’, where they work with other driverless vehicles to move through traffic as a convoy. In the UK, self-drive mode may be restricted initially to certain roads, such as motorways, or specific lanes. Business Secretary Vince Cable in a driverless car. The vehicles work by using GPS technology to locate the vehicle’s position on an electronic map . Significantly, much of the technology is already fitted to family cars – including self-braking, self-parking, lane recognition, cameras that can ‘read’ signs and adaptive cruise control, which adjusts speed to the traffic. The test for manufacturers is to link the technology via an on-board computer in a way that will meet safety legislation. The Government will review road laws to enable driverless cars to be street legal. Business Secretary Vince Cable announced the move after testing a vehicle at the headquarters of motor industry research organisation MIRA at Nuneaton in the West Midlands. Ministers have set aside £10million for trials in three cities. Mr Cable said the announcement would put Britain ‘at the forefront of this transformational technology and open up new opportunities for our economy and society’. Driverless cars are already in use in a number of countries, including Japan, Sweden and the US, where four states have passed laws permitting autonomous cars. But there are many hurdles to overcome before they become a regular sight on Britain’s roads. AA president Edmund King was wary over the development. ‘Cars have become more automated,’ he said. ‘However, there needs to be a big leap of faith by drivers from embracing assistance systems to accepting the fully automated car.’ In a survey by Churchill Car Insurance, 56 per cent of UK adults said they would not purchase a driverless car and a quarter believed they would not be safe. There are suggestions that Britain’s pot-holed roads are in such a state that the technology could not cope. Insurers say there are challenges over liability if a self-driving car crashes, while academics warn that their computers could be ‘hacked’ and disabled, or even used by terrorists as a weapon. Supporters say the cars will be safer than many motorists. Safety experts often joke that the most dangerous part of any car is ‘the nut behind the steering wheel’. | First trials of driverless cars on British roads will start from January 2015 .
The cars are guided by radar, laser sensors, cameras and sat-nav .
Business Secretary Vince Cable has unveiled the plans in full today . |
30,097 | 558eb1777466ed09e0f61c309a75c17e773c9604 | A Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate was advised 'not to be associated' with party leader Nick Clegg - and was warned to dodge a visit to his constituency by the Deputy Prime Minister last week. Maajid Nawaz, the Lib Dem candidate for Hampstead and Kilburn was told that being seen with Mr Clegg would 'blunt the progress we are making' in the constituency. The email from Lib Dem campaigner James Newsome, who stood for the Lib Dems as a local councillor for Camden Council this year but failed to get elected, advised the prospective MP to 'let Nick do his own thing'. Liberal Democrat candidates have been advised not to be pictured with the leader Nick Clegg . The remarks from Mr Newsome, a city banker who has worked at Mr Nazaw's press officer, were made in an email he accidentally sent to his local paper, the Ham & High. In the email he raised concerns about a visit by the Deputy PM to the Tavistock Centre, an NHS-run mental health centre, which Mr Nawaz was also invited to last Friday. In the email from Mr Newsome to Mr Nawaz, he stated: 'M, I am on same page as I was when this visit first came up. We don't need to be there. 'In fact you being associated with the leadership right now blunts the progress we are making with these young volunteers and the crossover pledge momentum we are getting.' He added: 'You are a top 500 Briton in Debretts Guv, let's let Nick do his own thing, which is good in itself, right? J.' Mr Nawaz, 37, is a former member of the radical Islamist organisation Hizb ut-Tahrir - who was jailed for four years in Egypt in his mid-20s before being released and setting up anti-extremism think-tank Quilliam. He was recently named in Debrett's 500, a list of the UK's top 500 most influential people. Mr Nawaz, however, did not follow the advice from Mr Newsome and attended the visit with his party leader last Friday. Maajid Nawaz, the Lib Dem candidate for Hampstead and Kilburn was told that being seen with Mr Clegg would 'blunt the progress we are making' in the constituency . Local Benjamin Tailor, 43, said: 'Maajid is doing good things around here and people like and respect him. 'He needs to follow his own path, but he also needs to stick by his leader - whether or not he is good for his image or not.' Another local, who asked not to be named, however, said Mr Nawaz should 'stay away from toxic Clegg', adding: 'Nick Clegg has abandoned all that I thought the Lib Dems stood for since going into coalition with the Tories. 'He has backtracked and U-turned so many times it's a wonder he knows which direction he is facing - he is toxic and can only hurt Maajid's chances of being elected.' A Lib Dem spokesman, asked to comment on the email, said this week: 'Maajid joined Nick on his visit to the Tavistock, he has been at Nick's side in the past and will be in the future as he fights to win Hampstead and Kilburn.' | Maajid Nawaz told being seen with Clegg will 'blunt progress we're making'
Candidate for Hampstead & Kilburn advised 'not to be associated' with him .
The warning was sent in an email by Lib Dem activist James Newsome . |
71,893 | cbd1ffc9deadf236173e87b9bd5f84cadde3e023 | By . Beth Stebner . PUBLISHED: . 00:22 EST, 14 March 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 00:39 EST, 14 March 2013 . The schizophrenic patient of a Manhattan psychologist muttered that he didn’t mean to kill her with a meat cleaver and only wanted money to help out his ailing mother. David Tarloff, who is on trial in New York for the 2008 slaughtering of Dr Kathryn Faughey, 56, confessed to NYPD officers that he only meant to ‘tie her up and scare her’ in a video that was shown to the jury on Wednesday. During the ten-minute interrogation, the accused murderer also asked for the cops to bring him a sandwich, changing his mind several times between salami, pastrami, and corned beef. Throughout the interview, Tarloff, 44, has to be roused by the officers. Show him the money: A jury saw David Tarloff, a schizophrenic, in this 2008 police interrogation video following the murder of a psychologist; he said he only wanted money to take he and his nursing home-bound mother to Hawaii . As the hunt for the hatchet-Loss: Kathryn Faughey was brutally murdered in her Upper East Side office; the doctor she shared an office with was also badly wounded, but survived . His lawyers do not dispute the horrific February 16, 2008 crime, but are using the insanity defence, saying that because of his mental health. At one point in the video, Tarloff can be seen swaying his head and mumbling. An officer asks him if he would like a sandwich. ‘David? David?’ The detective prompts, finally getting Tarloff to say that he wanted ‘pastrami or salami. Actually I’ll have pastrami please, or corned beef,’ according to the New York Daily News. In a haunting moment of the interrogation, Tarloff confessed: ‘I didn’t want to kill them. All I wanted was money,’ he said, saying that his mother was forced to live in squalor at her nursing home. ‘She had been sitting in feces for five years,’ he muttered to the two detectives. Tarloff then recounted to the detectives how he first called Dr Faughey’s Upper East Side office to make sure she and Dr Kent Shinbach, with whom she shared a space, were there. He talked of plans to tie up Dr Shinbach and take the $50,000 and run. His confession was peppered with apologies. ‘I’m sorry. I only wanted money to go away,’ he said, according to the New York Post. He slashed the psychologist 15 times with a nine-inch meat cleaver. Trial begins: Opening statements begin earlier in this month in the case of David Tarloff, left, who confessed to killing therapist Kathryn Faughey, right, in her Manhattan office in 2008 . Under arrest: David Tarloff's lawyer is pursuing a rare insanity defense in a case that highlights how the legal system tends to hold even severely mentally ill people accountable for answering criminal charges . Prosecutors and Faughey's family say Tarloff carried out a considered, criminal plan. Tarloff admitted he wanted to rob Faughey's colleague with whom she shared an office to get money to take his sick mother to Hawaii, and was deemed mentally unfit for court months later. After doctors said his condition had improved, jury selection got started in 2010 but he was again declared unfit. Authorities say that Tarloff set out with a bag full of knives . to hold up his psychiatrist for . $50,000, grab his mother out of a nursing home, and escape with her to . Hawaii. The trial's jury will be asked to decide whether . Tarloff, who has a decades-long history of hospitalizations and . hallucinations about God and Satan speaking to him, knew he was doing . wrong when he killed Dr Faughey. They had never met. He had said he was frightened that she was going to attack him because her long fingernails alarmed him. 'Believe me, I wish she was never there - but I thought she was evil,' Tarloff told a psychologist in 2010. 'I went to kill her. I thought I . had no choice.' 'Everything about his thought process was so bizarre - so crazy - that . the proof in the case shows he was legally insane,' lawyer Bryan Konoski . has said. However prosecutors and Faughey's family feel that, whatever Tarloff's . illness, his actions bespoke a considered, violent scheme. 'He planned this out' and was heavily armed, said Owen Faughey, one of . her brothers. 'He was determined, it would seem, to stop anyone who . would interfere with his plan. And, unfortunately, that's where our . sister fell victim to his plan. He should be held fully accountable.' Murdered: Psychotherapist Kathryn Faughey was fatally attacked with a meat cleaver at her office by David Tarloff in February 2008' It was an accident that Tarloff and Faughey, a 56-year-old therapist who . specialized in helping people with relationships, met at all. Faughey . shared an office with psychiatrist Dr Kent Shinbach, who treated . Tarloff in 1991 but hadn't seen him since. Yet in February 2008, as an increasingly panicky Tarloff tried to craft . what he saw as a rescue plan for his mother, he thought of Shinbach. He . figured the psychiatrist had money, and he'd get it from an ATM after . forcing the doctor to disclose his code, Tarloff later told police and . psychologists. 'I figured a little bump on the head. No one would know, and I would have $40,000,' Tarloff said. He went to Shinbach's office one evening with a rubber mallet, a set of . kitchen knives, rope, duct tape, a suitcase full of adult diapers and . clothing for his mother — and a belief that the plan had God's blessing, . he told a psychologist. He encountered Faughey instead and hacked her 15 times, then seriously wounded Shinbach when he tried to save her. Court case: Tarloff pictured in court at the beginning of his long-delayed trial with disheveled hair and a five o'clock shadow . Tarloff, now 44, was a college student when his mind abruptly began . fracturing into paranoid suspicions of classmates and a preoccupation . with God and the devil. Over the years, as he was hospitalized more than a dozen times, he . recounted seeing 'Satan' spelled out in his mind and the 'eye of God' on . the kitchen floor, according to psychologists' reports and court . papers. He heard police sirens and concluded they'd been summoned by his . bad thoughts. He viewed pieces of paper on the street as a special . message from God. His relatives begged him to stay in mental hospitals or adult homes, but he left them, psychologists said. After his mother, Beatrice, moved from the Queens apartment they shared . into a nursing home in 2004, Tarloff grew still more erratic and . fixated. Convinced she wasn't getting good care at a series of homes, he . repeatedly clashed with staffers. Two weeks before Faughey's death, he . got arrested in a scuffle with a security guard at a hospital where his . mother was being treated. Residence: NYPD officers outside his Queens apartment on February 16, 2008 after matching bloody fingerprints at the crime scene to his prints . Manhunt: Police arrested Tarloff in 2008 at his Queens apartment building . | David Tarloff, 44, killed Kathryn Faughey in 2008 at her Manhattan office; his lawyers say he is innocent by reason of insanity .
Told detectives in 2008 police interrogation that he only wanted money to buy he and his mother a new life .
Hacked psychologist 15 times with meat cleaver as well as male psychiatrist, who survived . |
52,056 | 93712fb26f43f053cf5fa9b6b5cec8fdab5e35c8 | By . Bianca London . PUBLISHED: . 08:40 EST, 22 January 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 12:57 EST, 22 January 2013 . Valentine's Day provides the perfect romantic opportunity for smitten partners to pop the question and from flash mobs to flying banners, proposal methods are getting more and more lavish. But for hopeful romantics feeling the pressure of finding an original and romantic way of getting down on one knee, help is at hand. Luxury website, VeryFirstTo, is offering one individual the opportunity to propose to their loved one in the UK's first-ever Valentine's Day marriage proposal advert on national TV. Not one to stick to traditions? Now you can propose on TV in the UK's first wedding proposal on Channel 4 . The romantic stunt will cast the proposer as the star of a specially crafted commercial on Channel 4 dedicated to persuading his/her loved one to say 'yes' - but it doesn't come cheap. The 30-second ad will cost the hopeful romantic a staggering £135,000. But no expense will be spared as the commercial will be produced by the world's leading visual effects studio for advertising and film, MPC, which has helped craft numerous famous ads including recent favourites for John Lewis, Virgin Atlantic and Channel 4 Paralympics. MPC will work closely with the ad's hero to ensure that the 30-second film best delivers the message he or she wants to convey. Lavish proposal: The TV opportunity will set you back a cool £135,000 . While costs include the creation and production of the . ad, plus buying the air time, a £2,000 donation will be made to the . Variety Club Children’s Charity to mark the momentous event. Marcel Knobil, brand expert and VeryFirstTo founder said: 'We are delighted to offer the ultimate opportunity to literally broadcast one's love. 'This is yet another example of VeryFirstTo's commitment to enable individuals to be the very first to have newly launching luxury products and experiences.' VeryFirstTo.com dubs itself 'the first website for individuals to learn about, and have, newly launching luxury products and experiences.' Luxury website: The opportunity is available on VeryFirstTo's website which also sells the £160,000 Azature nail polish and £315,000 Z. boat . It aims to showcase the most desirable . items within the world of technology, fashion, home, leisure, beauty and . beyond; as well as the latest must attend venues and events. Extravagant items to have featured include the £160,000 Azature 267 carat black diamond nail polish that Kelly Osbourne made famous, a £315,000 Z.Boat by Zaha Hadid and a £4,500 24-carat Faberge-inspired egg. All the items have been hand-picked by connoisseurs such as model Poppy Delevingne and It girl and DJ Bip Ling. | Luxury website VeryFirstTo is selling the opportunity .
Will be broadcast on Channel 4 .
30-second advert costs £135,000; £2,000 of which goes to charity, while rest goes on production costs . |
204,204 | 945c7319dff3b6f49256a40412408d5c5bbd15d1 | A mother who was declared not guilty by reason of insanity after being charged with three counts of attempted murder for driving her three children into the ocean in a van may have been triggered by her most recent pregnancy. Dr. Jeffrey Danziger testified in a Daytona Beach, Florida courtroom on Tuesday that 33-year-old Ebony Wilkerson's mental crisis last March was likely triggered by her pregnancy, but that her symptoms disappeared after she gave birth to her child while in jail. Wilkerson's mental illness appears to be in remission, and there is nothing in her behavior to indicate that she is dangerous, Danziger said. 'She has done well in the past seven months,' the psychiatrist added. Scroll down for video . Ebony Wilkerson (above) went insane and tried to murder her children after being triggered by a recent pregnancy . In March, Wilkerson drove her van into the ocean in Daytona Beach, Florida with her three children inside (above) But Dr. William Meadows, a psychologist, argued that Wilkerson needs to be forcibly confined for treatment so she can get a handle on her mental illness. She has shown an unwillingness to admit she has mental illness, Meadows said, and what happened last March was similar to a 2005 episode when Wilkerson was hearing voices to kill her family and herself. 'We don't have a handle on what's going on with her,' Meadows said. 'She is unwilling to admit to these difficulties. She lacks insight into these difficulties. That lack of insight is a major risk factor.' Circuit Judge Leah Case ruled last week that Wilkerson was not guilty by reason of insanity of child abuse, and prosecutors dropped attempted murder charges. The judge must now determine whether Wilkerson should be forcibly hospitalized, released under certain conditions or released with no conditions. Wilkerson ultimately gave birth to her fourth child while she was in prison . Wilkerson, of South Carolina, drove her van into the surf off Daytona Beach, Florida on March 4. One of the children fought with Wilkerson over the steering wheel as the car was entering the water and was able to lower the windows to call rescuers' attention. Bystanders and officers pulled her and her children - aged three, nine and ten, from the van as it was pulled into the waves. Wilkerson, who was pregnant at the time of her arrest, reportedly punched her belly after being taken into custody and had to undergo psychiatric treatment. She gave birth to a boy after her arrest. The child is in the custody of her husband, Lutful Ronjon. Wilkerson's attorneys planned to continue making their case against confinement Wednesday morning. Their presentation was interrupted when one of Wilkerson's attorney, Juliane Morris, fainted at a podium while questioning Danziger. She quickly regained consciousness. | Ebony Wilkerson was ruled not guilty for reason of insanity in the attempted murder of her three children last week .
Wilkerson tried to drive her children into the water in a van in daytona beach, Florida, in March .
Now, a doctor testifying for the defense is saying the incident was triggered by her fourth pregnancy and she is no sane .
A doctor for the prosecution says this is not the case and she most be forcibly confined to a facility .
Wilkerson gave birth to her fourth child while in prison . |
4,182 | 0c0e36a877f38c5287605b127ef47369c9d8721c | LONDON, England (CNN) -- The late Academy Award-winning composer Maurice Jarre enjoyed a glittering career composing the scores to many classic films. French composer Maurice Jarre wrote scores for films by Hollywood legends like John Huston, Alfred Hitchcock and David Lean. Last month, the 84 year-old who died Sunday gave one of his final interviews to CNN's The Screening Room, in conversation with fellow composer Alexandre Desplat. Jarre, who died of cancer, worked with many legendary directors, like Alfred Hitchcock and John Huston. But it is the French composer's work with British director David Lean -- the scores to "Lawrence of Arabia," "Dr Zhivago," and "A Passage to India," for which he won three Oscars -- for which he is best remembered. Twice Oscar-nominated French composer Alexandre Desplat, who has written the scores for Stephen Frears' 2006 drama "The Queen," and last year's "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," regarded Jarre as an inspiration and an influence. "Maurice was an immense artist; an incredible symphonist; a magician of the melody and a benevolent human being," Desplat told CNN in tribute to Jarre who he describes as the greatest composer of the last 50 years. Alexandre Desplat: I don't know if you know, but the path that you traced for us French composers is phenomenal and indispensable. And, of course, love for cinema and theater is something that unites us, because I also wrote a lot for the theater like yourself. Maurice Jarre: The love for cinema, that's correct. I also had the opportunity to work with real -- to use a common word -- 'giants.' Volker Schlöndorff , Visconti, John Huston ... AD: and Hitchcock! MJ: Hitchcock. This type of director has disappeared. They no longer exist. AD: One can sense with your work this passion for cinema, and for images -- your complete dedication to images. I think I also have this devotion, in fact, I don't think, I know, because it's devoured me since I was an adolescent. There are many composers of whom I know that are film composers by default, simply because it's a job; it's a good occupation. I don't sense in them that love for images, and that inspiration films has given us. MJ: People who say to me, 'When you write the music for a film do you know whether the film will be a great success?' I tell them, 'No, I was mainly concerned about finishing the music in time.' Sam Spiegel (producer of "Lawrence of Arabia) once said, 'You have a job like Superman!' That was true because I worked day and night. But, at that point, I had no idea I was working on probably one of the best films in the history of cinema. What is your favorite Maurice Jarre movie score? Tell us below in the SoundOff box . AD: This dedication to the cinema is all-encompassing. When one is a composer for films, it's day and night. One needs to be in great physical condition! MJ: Oh yes! [Jarre puts up fists, as though in a boxing match] Like an athlete... AD: I know that like me you must have worked 18 to 20 hours a day because there was no choice. Unless we are directing other people, having people work for us. In this case you'd probably have to do less. But as we're, I think, somewhat intelligent, and in love with details and in love with the timbre of the orchestration. MJ: That's why I was so disappointed that you lost the Oscar [Desplat was nominated for Best Score in 2006 for Stephen Frears' "The Queen."] The award is not that important, but it has sentimental value for you, because I respect your work. AD: I hope to one day achieve three Oscars like yourself Maurice. But you have to keep in mind that the rewards for the work are secondary. MJ: I was very disappointed with the people who won the Golden Globe and Oscar for Best Composition last year. For me, it should represent the real best film scores outside of, let's say, political factors. Watch video: 'Zhivago' composer dies . AD: What's essential is to have extremely talented directors who listen to you. That's the best reward, because your talent as a composer can express itself. You can search, you can invent something. With films where the directors aren't so great, it's much more difficult to write good music. MJ: You know, before I wrote the first electronic score for Peter Weir, for "Year of Living Dangerously," nobody wanted to hear about a purely electronic score, but Peter Weir used it in an artistic manner. That's what was so great. AD: That is, for me, an example because after having done 70 or 80 film scores, I realize it is perhaps time for me to be careful not to repeat myself, and to find a new voice. I think that the path you took in the 1980s ... I find it extremely courageous to abandon the orchestra for electronic music. For me, it's an incredible example. What was for you, Maurice, the most beautiful experience, or the Oscar which you loved most? MJ: Of course, it's the first [for "Lawrence of Arabia" in 1963]. It's a sentimental one, because David Lean and I became good friends. With the good directors it was always an interesting experience -- and a difficult one -- because we always had slightly different visions at the outset. But, it always arranged itself. I never really had a 'bust-up' with a good director. A good director will always find an intellectual understanding. And that's what was great - I had an opportunity with all these people. I don't think I can say that I ever worked with a bad director. There were never any real problems; there were discussions ... a bit of diplomacy here and there. | Oscar-winning composer, Maurice Jarre wrote score for "Lawrence of Arabia"
Jarre talks to CNN's The Screening Room in one of his final interviews .
The director who died Sunday also worked with Hitchcock, and John Huston .
He is in conversation Oscar-nominated composer, Alexandre Desplat . |
269,254 | e8c80fb54ad92e9014c5a78fe923f23b6f4d13b0 | By . Joe Strange . Follow @@Joe_Strange . A man has been charged after running onto the pitch during West Ham’s game with Tottenham and taking a free-kick. Jordan Matthew Dunn, of Dover in Kent, has been charged under Section 4 of the Football Offences Act 1991, which states that it is an offence to enter the playing area without lawful authority. Mr Dunn sprinted across the Upton Park pitch before shooting towards the Hammers’ goal as Christian Eriksen prepared to take a free-kick. His effort was saved by Spanish goalkeeper Adrian. Caught: Jordan Matthew Dunnis tackled by security after running onto the Upton Park pitch on Saturday . Going for goal: The 22-year-old struck a Tottenham free-kick towards goal during the second half . After originally avoiding stewards who ran on to chase him, Mr Dunn was apprehended by secrity staff before being taken to a police station in east London. He missed Tottenham’s winning goal, which arrived through summer signing Eric Dier in the 90th minute as Spurs secured a 1-0 win on the opening day of the new Premier League season. The 22-year-old will appear at Thames Magistrates’ court on September 1. On the run: Dunn attempts to evade security staff after taking a shot at Hammers goalkeeper Adrian . Serious business: Mr Dunn will appear at Thames Magistrates' court on September 1 . VIDEO Poor finishing cost us - Allardyce . Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | Jordan Matthew Dunn has been charged under Section 4 of the Football Offences Act 1991 .
The 22-year-old ran onto the pitch during Tottenham's 1-0 at West Ham .
He took a Spurs free-kick which was saved by Adrian .
Mr Dunn will appear at Thames Magistrates' court on September 1 . |
282,462 | f9da91442d1e121b931cdddd0eb157c50f6b8915 | Sendai, Japan (CNN) -- Long lines at grocery stores and gas stations along with continued aftershocks and power outages greeted many in Japan on Sunday morning, nearly two days after the devastating earthquake and tsunami that left hundreds dead and missing. Supplies of food and gas were running out in Sendai, the northern coastal city close to the epicenter of Friday's quake. Those who survived the earthquake and chose to remain in the city were enduring two-hour waits at the supermarket, according to a CNN iReporter in Sendai with the username joeyjenkins. "They have waited for I don't even know how long to get gas, as the gas station manually pumps the gas since there is no electricity," joeyjenkins wrote, adding they were without power until early Sunday. Schools and hospitals and Sendai have been turned into shelters, and volunteers were handing out bottles of water, CNN correspondent Kyung Lah reported from the city. Fears of power outages in Tokyo, about 200 miles south, sparked a run on flashlights, said iReporter Jessica Tekawa, 26. "I think last night, there must have been something on the news about a power outage," she told CNN, "because when we went, with my friend, we were trying to get flashlights and they were sold out everywhere." Water, too, was sold out in every store she went to after similar reports of possible water contamination, she said. Kenneth Cukier, the Japan correspondent for The Economist magazine, said the government announced managed power cuts will start Monday in certain regions of the country -- including suburban areas of Tokyo -- to give businesses enough power to operate. A seemingly endless barrage of aftershocks from Friday's 8.9-magnitude quake was still rattling nerves Sunday. The U.S. Geological Survey reported more than 140 such quakes -- magnitude 4.5 and higher, with the strongest coming at a 6.4 -- in, near, or off the east coast of the Japanese island. There have been "many aftershocks," said Yasue Schumaker, a Sendai native who now lives in Hawaii, but was visiting her mother in a Sendai hospital when the quake struck. "The day it happened, it was constantly aftershock, and last night was better, but still we are having quite big ones," Schumaker said. The aftershocks are a "constant reminder of what's happened, and what could happen in the future," Wall Street Journal reporter Yoree Koh told CNN from Tokyo. Such aftershocks are also producing tremendous anxiety for earthquake survivors, reported CNN's Gary Tuchman, driving from the western coastal city of Shonai to Sendai in the east. "People are wondering, could there be an aftershock that's greater than the original earthquake?" Tuchman said. "Each time you feel it, there's an element of fear." The Japanese military was working in at least one neighborhood of Sendai on Sunday morning to search for anyone trapped in the rubble. "A few hundred" people were still unaccounted for in one part of town Sunday, Lah reported. Search-and-rescue helicopters buzzed over Sendai as workers walked through the muddy streets wearing hard hats and carrying shovels. At least one person was winched by chopper from a damaged house. The city was still littered with debris and standing water from the tsunami. Two to three miles inland, houses were destroyed or simply gone, cars were stacked on top of each other, and brown mud covered the ground, Lah said. An iReporter with the username xeynon, who described himself as an American living and working in Sendai, said "there are still many friends and acquaintances living along the coast we have not been able to contact." Schumaker, her voice quivering, said those people should be the priority. "People who lost their homes, or the people who are still needing help, they are the ones who need help," she said. "We don't have any electric, water, gas, and the city just announced it could take 30 days to get gas set up for everybody. But we definitely need water and food, but please help the people who lost their homes and still ... on top of the buildings asking for help." CNN's Mary Lynn Ryan and Ashley Hayes contributed to this report. | NEW: There are still "quite big aftershocks" in Sendai .
NEW: Helicopters are helping the rescue effort in Sendai .
People are waiting in long lines at grocery stores and gas stations .
Aftershocks are still rattling nerves, nearly two days after the quake . |
191,020 | 8360aedb4d62c04ea4d318a7e9938fb78da83754 | By . Francesca Chambers . One of Sgt Bowe Bergdahl's captors lost a son in a CIA drone strike in an incident that has intriguing similarities with the hit HBO Homeland, it was revealed today. Four years ago, in an untelevised speech at an Idaho Republican Party fundraiser, Bergdahl's father, Bob, made an unusual request of his audience. The grieving father asked attendees of the event to say a prayer for the head of the terrorist network he believed was holding his son hostage. Prayer: bob Bergdahl (with wife Jani) made a speech making the drone claim and asked the audience to say a prayer for the terrorist holding his son hostage . 'The man who we believe holds Bowe grew up on the lap of his mother learning the Koran. He is a powerful man,' Bergdahl said, according to a reporter there. 'We pray for him. He recently lost a son to a CIA missile drone strike. The fact that he didn't kill Bowe right then is incredible. So we pray for him.' The man Bob Bergdahl spoke of was Sirajuddin Haqqani – leader of the Haqqani terrorist network. Earlier that year, family members of Haqqani were allegedly killed in a U.S. drone strike intended for the Taliban commander. According to a secret report created by the Pakistani government that was obtained and published by the Bureau of Investigative Journalism earlier this year, 19 missiles were fired in the February 2, 2010, attack and at least 23 people were killed. CNN ran a report on the day of the strike confirming that 29 people total were killed in drone strikes that day in Pakistan. That report made no mention of Haqqani’s home being hit, but CNN did quote an anonymous source as saying that Haqqani was indeed the target of the drone strikes. A year and a . half later, hit series Homeland would embark on a plotline eerily . similar to the one in the story told by Bowe Bergdahl’s father at the . Idaho GOP event in June of 2010. In . an episode revealing why Marine Sgt Nicholas Brody (played by Damian . Lewis) became a terrorist after he was captured and tortured for eight . years by Al Qaeda leader Abu Nazir in Afghanistan, Brody is brainwashed . and becomes a devotee of Nazir and Islam. Echoes: the incident has similarities with the plot from Homeland, in which Sgt Nicholas Brody turns terrorist after the son of his captor is blown up in a CIA drone strike . Nazir takes him back to his home, and asks him to teach his son Issa how to speak English. Brody falls in love with Issa, and, in shocking scene, witnesses the brutal death of Issa and eighty other children at his madrassa. After this, Brody returns to the U.S. determined to seek revenge for Issa's death. Bowe Bergdahl had written home before he was captured in 2009 about how deeply effected he was that his brothers in arms were not bothered when they ran over a young Afghan child in an armored car. In May of 2011 Bob Bergdahl posted a video to YouTube thanking the Taliban for keeping his son safe. 'Strangely to some, we must also thank those who have cared for our son for almost two years. We know our son is a prisoner and also a guest in your home,' he said. While his son was gone, Bob Bergdahl reportedly studied radical Islamic politics, the Bergdahl family’s former pastor told the Washington Post, and he kept a beard like the ones adorned by Bowe’s captors. Bergdahl says he grew the lengthy beard to remind people how long his son had been gone, but skeptics believe the patriarch might have had an ulterior motive for keeping his facial hair long. A few days before Bowe's release, Bob, sent the following tweet to a website that claims to be the ‘Voice of Jihad’: ‘I am still working to free all Guantanamo prisoners. God will repay for the death of every Afghan child, ameen.’ The tweet has since been deleted. In a video posted by the Guardian on the weekend his son was released, Bob said he was just 'a father who wants his son back.’ His critics say he’s taken it too far, though. Friends of the Bergdahl’s worry that Bob may even have developed some sort of Stockholm syndrome, Henley said. Meanwhile, Fox News reported on Thursday that Bowe Bergdahl was more than just a prisoner in a Taliban commander’s home. According to documents based on eyewitness accounts that were obtained by Fox, after an initial period of harsh treatment, Bergdahl became a Taliban confidant and converted to Islam and jihadism while in captivity. 'Bergdahl enjoys a modicum of freedom, and engages in target practice with the local mujahedeen, firing AK47s. Bergdahl is even allowed to carry a loaded gun on occasion,' the report claims, according to Fox. 'Bergdahl plays soccer with his guards and bounds around the pitch like a mad man,' it continues. 'He appears to be well and happy, and has a noticeable habit of laughing frequently and saying "Salaam" repeatedly.' Salaam means 'peace'. At . that time, Bergdahl was being held in Pakistan by Haqqani Network . commander Mullah Sangeen or men who are close to him, the report says. Not Sirajuddin Haqqani himself, as Bob Bergdahl claimed. Claims: Deputy National Security Adviser Tony Blinken today said that trying Bergdahl in the court of public opinion was 'repugnant' before he could defend himself. It followed reports that the POW had converted to Islam and even declared 'jihad' while in captivity . A retired U.S. Marine Corps General who served as CENTCOM commander for two years when Bowe Bergdahl was being held prisoner said the claims made in the documents were not true, though. 'We were always looking for actionable intelligence,' he said, referring to the military and the intelligence community. 'There was never any evidence of collaboration.' Meanwhile, deputy national security adviser Tony Blinken said trying Bergdahl in the court of public opinion was 'repugnant', The Hill reported. He said 'we have seen no evidence' of the claims that Bergdahl converted or declared jihad, adding: 'The idea that we are trying Sergeant Bergdahl in the court of public opinion in absentia, without giving him an opportunity to give his story and to tell us what happened, frankly, I find repugnant'. Blinken concluded: 'We don't know what happened. We are determined to get to the bottom of it. The military will investigate appropriately. Let's get the facts before we rush to judgment.' | A story told four years ago by Sgt. Bowe Begdahl's father about his son's captor is eerily similar to a plotline in Homeland .
At an Idaho Republican Party fundraiser in June 2010 Bob Bergdahl asked an audience to pray for the man holding Bowe hostage .
That man's son, Bob said, was killed in a U.S. drone strike earlier that year .
A year and a half later, the HBO hit Homeland would air an episode in which former POW and Marine Sgt. Nicholas Brody is revealed to have 'turned' against his country after his captor's son, Issa, was killed in a drone strike .
Brody converted to Islam and took up jihadism after Issa's death .
There have been conflicting reports on whether Bowe Bergdahl has done the same . |
13,847 | 27415c7ebd8b8abb1284e153a48a764ddb1ca086 | This little boy gets a firm ticking off from his mother - after getting buried up to his shoulders in mud on a Somerset beach yesterday. The youngster got an earful after apparently straying onto mudflats which are exposed at low tide in Weston-super-Mare. He is seen bursting into tears as the furious woman wags her finger in front of his face. The incident happened a few miles from the spot where Lelaina Hall, five, died after getting trapped in the mud at nearby Berrow beach in 2002. And the ever-present danger was underlined during the day as emergency crews were called out several times to reports of people stuck in the mud. Three call-outs were for missing children, who were all located safely. A seven-year-old boy had to be checked over by an ambulance crew. Last year, fire crews had to send a hovercraft to rescue five people after they became stuck in mud on the same beach. The shallow incline of the beach means the tide comes in faster than a human can run . Landed right in it: The youngster is berated by his mother after he is covered in dirt after playing in the mud flats in Weston-super-Mare FFF . Mark Newman, Chairman of BARB Search and Rescue - a charity that operates hovercrafts in the area - said the mud flats present a constant danger. 'We had a very busy weekend attending incidents of people who had got stuck in the mud or had gone missing from families,' he said. 'It's a very dangerous stretch of coastline, that goes on for some way, and has strong currents and deep mud in places. 'People should always take care when going out to sea and be wary of the mud.' Retired Roger Fry, 66, of Weston-super-Mare, took the photos as he attended the Weston Air Day on Sunday. He said: 'I was on the beach watching the planes when I heard this great ruckus. I looked round and saw this mother screaming a a kid. "I told you not to go down there, you're filthy" and so on. 'Everyone stopped and looked around before the mother stormed off with some other children towards the car park. The muddy kid just followed on a little later. 'There is so many people that get stuck out on the mud every year that the mother must have been aware of the danger. There are plenty of warning signs around.' Do you know the woman in the pictures? If so please contact reporter Sam Webb at [email protected] . Upset: The boy is seen bursting into tears as his furious mum wags her finger in front of his face. Danger: The mother may be right to be angry - the shallow incline of the beach means the tide comes in faster than a human can run and some holidaymakers have had to be rescued . | Photos show a tearful young boy being berated by his mother after getting caked in mud on a Somerset beach .
The mud flats can be dangerous and rescue hovercrafts are frequently called out to rescue tourists . |
133,559 | 38b552c79e3172db657661d8a061c0c2fcb7ad4d | They say diamonds are a girl's best friend -- especially if they're flawless, vivid blue and 13.22 carats! But to get acquainted with this particular bit of bling, you'll need a cool £13.5 million to spare. 'The Blue', the largest flawless vivid . blue diamond in the world, is the centrepiece of the annual Christie's Magnificent Jewels sale taking place at the Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues in Geneva next month. Scroll down for video . Start saving!: The largest flawless vivid blue diamond in the world, The Blue, is up for sale. Yours for £13.5 million . The Blue is estimated to fetch between . £12.5- £13.6 million and is the leading gem of the 250 lot strong sale, . expected to rake in approximately £47.5 million. Just six months ago, Christie’s Geneva . sold 'The Orange', the largest fancy vivid orange diamond in the world . for £21million, a world record for an orange diamond .The sale of 'The Orange' also broke world records for price per weight of any diamond at £1.4 million per carat. A Christie's auction house employee holds 'The Blue', which will go under the hammer in Geneva in May . The upcoming sale will also feature other spectacular coloured and colourless diamonds such as 'The Ocean Dream'. At 5.50 carats, the dazzling stone is the largest fancy vivid blue-green diamond in the world to come to auction, with an estimated value of £4.5 - £5.6 million. It's weighing me down!: At 13.2 carats the stunning stone is an excellent finger work-out . The combination of its size, natural origin, hue, and saturated colour makes it an extremely unusual stone. Another rare coloured diamond in the sale is the light pink square-cut diamond of 76.51 carats. Set as a necklace it's likely to fetch £4-6 million. But if you're after a bargain, you could always try to nab a deal for just under a million with a necklace made from spinel, a type of gemstone made from magnesium. A girl's best friend: But at £13.5 million you might have to do without this particular pal . The seven spinel beads date back to the 17th century to the time of Mughal emperors. The gems were a symbol of the opulence and dignity of the empire, and were also treasured as protective talismans. So if you have a birthday or anniversary coming up, or just feel you deserve a little treat, book your man on a plane to Geneva and you never know what treats he might find. A dazzling salute for the world's largest blue diamond . | The rare coloured stone is being sold by auction house Christie's .
Stone weighs a whopping 13.22 carats .
The auction's 250 lots are expected to make a staggering £47.5 million . |
286,829 | ffa4ce48cc658216c0fc39094b9fbafee89afc6d | (CNN) -- Up to 37 people died Friday after a fire tor through a psychiatric institution in Russia, a regional branch of the country's Investigative Committee said, according to the state-run RIA Novosti news agency. A representative of Russia's Emergencies Ministry gave a different toll, telling the news agency that 15 bodies had been recovered and 22 people were still missing after the fire outside the central Russian city of Veliky Novgorod. A criminal case has been opened to look into the cause of the fire, according to a statement on the Investigative Committee's website. A total of 59 people were inside the building when the fire broke out, the Health Ministry said, according to RIA Novosti. The Emergencies Ministry said 23 people have been rescued, according to the news agency. Police are searching the area for residents who may have fled the site, it said. The fire broke out shortly before 3 a.m. Moscow time in the men's ward of the Oksochi mental health care clinic, state-run Itar-Tass reported. The facility is a low-level wooden building. The fire has been extinguished, the news agency said, and dozens of emergency personnel are working at the scene. In April, a fire at another psychiatric hospital near the capital, Moscow, left 38 people dead. President Vladimir Putin called for an investigation and a closer focus on fire safety in hospitals after that blaze. CNN's Susannah Palk contributed to this report. | NEW: As many as 37 people are dead in the fire, state media cite local investigators as saying .
The fire broke out at the psychiatric institution in the early hours, reports say .
The Emergencies Ministry says 23 people have been rescued, state media say .
A fire at a psychiatric clinic in April killed 38 people, sparking calls for better fire safety . |
193,983 | 871c29990aee6dfac6ef881e0f81bf829c23f499 | Washington (CNN) -- U.S. Secret Service Director Mark Sullivan will step down this month, concluding a long career that was clouded last year by a scandal at the agency involving agents and prostitutes ahead of a presidential summit in Colombia. Spokesman Brian Leary said on Friday that Sullivan would retire on February 22 after leading the agency that protects presidents and fights financial crime since 2006. He's been an agent for 30 years. There was no statement on the reason for his decision to leave. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano praised Sullivan career. Report: No problem with Secret Service response to Colombia scandal . "Mark Sullivan epitomizes the term 'public service,' and has devoted his life to the safety of our first families, our nation's leaders, and the public at large," she said in a statement. But last April's episode in Colombia rocked the vaunted 150-year-old agency, prompting congressional inquiries and raising questions about its culture that currently is under review by a government watchdog. In that case, some agents working an advance detail for a trip by President Barack Obama brought prostitutes to their Cartagena hotel. The scandal also involved members of the military. Obama's security was not compromised and that the agency took subsequent steps intended to prevent similar problems on future trips, according to the Homeland Security Department inspector general. Nine agents eventually left or lost their jobs. Sullivan told Congress in May that such behavior was not routine when agents traveled on official business. He called the scandal an aberration. Secret Service scandal: Systemic problem or aberration? "This is not a cultural issue, this is not a systemic issue," Sullivan said. "On this particular trip, we had individuals who made very bad decisions." The Homeland Security watchdog credited Sullivan's handling of the matter, saying the agency "responded expeditiously and thoroughly" to the incident. Rep. Darrell Issa, chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, also credited Sullivan's response to the scandal. "When controversy occurred in his agency, he took swift action and responded to oversight with direct and forthright answers," the California Republican said in a statement. "This enhanced his credibility, allowing Congress and the American people to remain confident in his agency's ability to effectively do its job." CNN's Jessica Yellin and Tom Cohen contributed to this report. | Sullivan's tenure clouded by Colombia scandal involving agents and prostitutes .
Served as Secret Service agent for 30 years, director since 2006 .
Agency culture under review, Sullivan said it was not an issue in Colombia case .
Watchdog, congressional chairman credit Sullivan's handling of the incident . |
182,661 | 788a8796b826473054265522805832d8c59c9135 | By . James Salmon . Follow @@JamesSalmon79 . Growth has stalled in the eurozone with Germany’s powerhouse economy slamming into reverse and France grinding to a halt. There was zero growth for the 18-country bloc in the three months to the end of June, figures showed. Germany, Europe’s biggest economy, shrank 0.2 per cent in the second quarter of the year, after registering 0.7 per cent growth in the first three months. Scroll down for video . The German economy shrunk by 0.2 per cent in three months to end of June, which will be bad news for Chancellor Angela Merkel, while 0.8 per cent growth in Britain has buoyed the Tories . France, Europe’s second biggest economy, stagnated for the second consecutive quarter as it registered no growth, according to figures yesterday from Eurostat, the EU’s statistics organisation. Italy, the eurozone’s third largest economy, fell back into recession after shrinking for two consecutive quarters. Last night economists described the worse-than-expected figures as ‘very worrying’ and said they were also bad news for the UK. They fear it will be more difficult for the fragile eurozone economies to withstand any fallout from the growing crisis in the Ukraine, including Russian sanctions, and are concerned the eurozone could slide into a triple-dip recession. A senior Bank of England official described Europe – the UK’s biggest trading partner – as ‘dead in the water’. Monetary policy committee member David Miles told the BBC: ‘Our single biggest export market has been, I’m tempted to say, dead in the water. It hasn’t been growing at all. ‘And it’s difficult in that environment to see [UK] exports growing very strongly. So the recovery, very welcome as it is, has been a bit dependent on consumer spending.’ Eurostat figures showed that the UK grew by 0.8 per cent in the second quarter, second only to Latvia in the EU. But experts said the spluttering performance of economies across the eurozone poses a major problem for the Government as it tries to boost exports to cultivate a more balanced recovery. Growth was flat across the 18 countries of the Eurozone bloc, while the UK economy increased 0.8 per cent . The scale of the challenge was underlined again last week when official figures showed Britain’s trade deficit widened unexpectedly to £9.4billion in June from £9.2billion in May. The shrinking output of the German economy caught experts off guard. The dramatic fall was partly caused by a mild winter, which led its factories to bring forward production, boosting first quarter output. France’s flatlining economy will heap further pressure on its president Francois Hollande, who has been criticised for damaging business by introducing a 75 per cent tax for the wealthy. The French government has admitted it will miss its budget deficit target this year and has cut its forecast for 1 per cent growth in 2014 in half. Jennifer McKeown, senior European economist at analysts Capital Economics, said: ‘At what should have been an early stage of recovery in the eurozone, the fact that growth has ground to a halt is very worrying. ‘These are key export destinations for the UK so this has to be very bad news.’ Chris Williamson, chief economist at financial research group Markit, said: ‘A stalling of economic growth in the second quarter raises concerns that the euro area is sliding into a triple-dip recession.’ | German economy shrank by 0.2 per cent in second quarter of the year .
Growth across Eurozone bloc was flat in three months to end of June .
Meanwhile in the same period the UK grew its economy by 0.8 per cent . |
155,272 | 54b2c21142c1261a2f5ae499cdbbb3c31ebe8457 | Kris Boyd showed little mercy to former club Kilmarnock as he grabbed Rangers' second goal in the 3-0 Ibrox win which eased the Light Blues into the William Hill Scottish Cup last 16. The former Scotland striker was left on the bench by boss Ally McCoist but netted just 90 seconds after coming on as a second-half substitute. Nicky Law had given the Championship side a 19th-minute lead with his deflected opener and swept home another with a fine finish six minutes from time. Nicky Law, assisted by Fraser Aird, opened the scoring in the 19th minute with a shot from outside the box . Law's Rangers team-mates celebrate with him after his first-half goal at Ibrox . The Rangers players congratulate Kris Boyd after he doubled Rangers' lead in the second half . Law adds his second, and Rangers' third, goal of the game to send them through to the quarter-finals . It was a welcome win - their third victory over top-flight opposition this season - for under-pressure boss Ally McCoist after last week's defeat to promotion rivals Hearts. And it was also a good day for Boyd. He returned to Ibrox in the summer after a 22-goal stint with Killie last season but has struggled to repeat the lethal form of his record-breaking first spell with the club. But he wasted no time in punishing a mistake by best friend Craig Samson in the Rugby Park side's goal with the crucial second as the visitors slumped to their fifth straight defeat. Killie's last visit to Ibrox was six days after the club was plunged into administration in February 2012. Since then the Light Blues faithful have endured a living nightmare that shows no sign of relenting. Last week's 2-0 defeat at Tynecastle leaves them nine points adrift in the race for automatic promotion back to the Premiership, while their off-field woes continue to roll on with this week's news that the club lost another £8.3million in the year up to June 30. The home fans once again showed their frustrations by staying away in their droves, leaving a meagre crowd of just 14,412 to watch the action. Early sniffs at goal from Rangers' Lewis Macleod and the visitors' Rory McKenzie offered hope of an open affair. But it was not until the 15th minute that a genuine attempt on target was registered. Kilmarnock defender Manuel Pascali attempts to tackle Rangers' Jon Daly on Sunday . Daly has an acrobatic effort on the Kilmarnock goal in the second half of the fourth-round clash . Kilmarnock manager Allan Johnston and his opposite number Ally McCoist on the touchline at Ibrox . Striker Kenny Miller, who is enjoying his third spell at Rangers, tries to hold off Craig Slater . Defender Bilel Mohsni dived in on McKenzie down on the right touchline but the Killie winger skipped past the challenge before pulling the ball back for Alexei Eremenko. The Finnish playmaker's shot did not look threatening until it skipped off Lee McCulloch's boot and squirmed a fraction wide with Steve Simonsen wrong-footed. But it was Rangers who got the breakthrough. Darren McGregor launched a long throw into the box which Killie failed to clear further than Fraser Aird on the edge of the box. The Gers winger had to shove referee Brian Colvin out the way before stabbing the ball back to Law, who saw his right-foot sweep deflect off Sammy Clingan's brow on its way into the top corner. The goal sparked Rangers into a sudden burst of industry. Macleod stung the hands of Samson with a 25-yard strike while Kenny Miller claimed for a penalty after Ross Barbour slid in on him just as he was about to pull the trigger. The right-back came from the wrong side but Colvin correctly judged that he took the ball. Daly heads the ball during the second half at Ibrox while Chris Chantler watches on . Rangers and Kilmarnock playing at Ibrox in their Scottish Cup fourth round clash on Sunday . Kilmarnock striker Lee Miller holds off Rangers defender Bilel Moshni in the Scottish Cup clash . Samson then tipped away Ian Black's grass-cutter while Clingan's under-cooked header back to the keeper almost put Kenny Miller in, but Killie made it to the break without any further losses. Allan Johnston's team were livelier after the break, with Tope Obadevi giving McGregor problems down the left. But Rangers should have put daylight between the teams on 58 minutes. Aird danced past Chris Chantler before whipping a cross to Macleod at the back post, but the Scotland Under-21 cap ballooned his shot high into the Copland Road stand. Jon Daly found himself through on goal with 25 minutes left but pace was never one of the Irishman's strongest attributes. His decision to play in partner Miller - rather than press forward himself - drew a huge groan from the crowd, especially when his pass failed to find its target. The former Dundee United frontman could have little complaint when he was replaced soon after by Boyd - who rubbed his team-mate's nose in it by taking just 90 seconds to make his mark. Aird's corner was met by McCulloch but Samson should have gathered it. His spill though fell straight at the feet of former Rugby Park colleague Boyd, who showed little sympathy by ramming the ball home at the near post. Law then put the seal on the win as he collected Foster's pass from the left before curling a delicious finish past the helpless Samson. | Rangers beat Kilmarnock in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup .
Nicky Law opened the scoring for Rangers in the 19th minute .
Kris Boyd doubled Rangers' lead mid way through the second half .
Law got his second, and Rangers' third late in the game . |
72,186 | cc98f2462d2479dce81ecbe4439eeeee3809443a | By . Jo Knowsley . and Sophie Jane Evans . Pressure: Motorists are being handed unjust and illegal parking tickets by traffic wardens battling to meet targets, according to an investigation . Motorists are being persecuted with unjust and illegal parking tickets issued by traffic wardens battling to meet targets and terrified of losing their jobs, according to an undercover investigation. The report for BBC1’s Inside Out London features interviews with wardens in the boroughs of Ealing and Camden, some of whom admit fabricating ‘evidence’. Dirty tactics include issuing tickets in a loading bay after five minutes instead of 20, making up records of discussions with motorists in pocket books and falsifying photographic evidence. One unidentified warden said: ‘Supervisors have a definite expectation of the numbers required. The pressure to issue tickets makes the job demoralising and depressing.’ Wardens who missed targets claimed they were penalised by not being allocated overtime or having holiday leave refused. Others said it had been implied that if numbers fell too sharply they could lose their jobs. Both councils said the number of tickets being issued is falling. However, figures released by car insurance company LV have shown that motorists are being stung by almost 900,000 parking fines a month at a cost of £30million - a 4 per cent increase on the previous year. And tickets issued on Sundays have increased by 13 per cent – with nearly 300,000 tickets issued on that day of the week in the first five months of 2013. The AA have said some traffic wardens had even 'targeted church-goers and choristers'. Today, it was revealed that a man had been hit with a £70 parking fine after pulling over for just seven seconds to drop off his elderly mother-in-law. Ian Hardman, 58, fell foul of a council-run spy car in Bolton when he stopped in an empty taxi rank to let 82-year-old Audrey Harrison out. 'Spy car': The vehicles, which are fitted with CCTV cameras, have been called council 'cash cows' by critics . He later received a letter from Bolton Council, giving him 28 days to pay the fine – which works out as £10 for every second of his good deed. Local shopkeepers near the layby in . Knowsley Street said the council's camera car, which films from inside a . small Toyota IQ car and has been labelled a 'cash cow' by critics, has . been located at the layby for weeks trying to catch out motorists. However, a Bolton Council spokesman defended the spy vehicle, saying drivers who stopped in the layby were preventing taxis from parking and picking up a fare. l Inside Out London is on BBC1 London tomorrow at 7.30pm. | Motorists are being persecuted with unjust and illegal parking tickets, according to an undercover investigation by the BBC .
Traffic wardens admit to fabricating 'evidence' for fear of losing their jobs .
Figures reveal drivers are being stung by almost 900,000 parking fines a month - a 4 per cent increase on last year . |
155,460 | 54f06af14753ec4dbce96e4ee6a4bc3ac526e9d1 | By . Emily Allen . Last updated at 12:16 PM on 13th January 2012 . A GP accused of telling a patient he was an 'a*******' destined for a 'horrible death' will battle to save his practice before a tribunal next month. Dr Richard Dunn faces allegations that his 'rude and abrupt manner' left patients feeling bullied and intimidated and, instead of simply telling tobacco addicts their options, he informed them they would die horribly if they didn't quit. However the GP, who practices in West Kent, disputes the accusations and says that, even if he did use the word 'a*******', it was not a description of his patient but was meant as 'a basic description of a part of his anatomy'. A file picture of an unknown GP talking to a patient. Dr Richard Dunn faces claims that his 'rude and abrupt manner' left patients feeling bullied and intimidated . After a series of patient complaints about Dr Dunn's manner, West Kent Primary Care Trust is now trying to have him removed from its 'Performers' List' and the case is set to be heard by the First Tier Tribunal in February. In a preliminary decision last month, tribunal judge, Melanie Lewis, said Dr Dunn stands accused of having a 'grossly unprofessional and unacceptable manner towards patients' as well as poor record keeping and failing to provide 'clinically appropriate' treatment in some cases. The Primary Care Trust (PCT) launched an investigation after a 'significant number' of patients requesting a transfer from Dr Dunn's practice raised concerns about his conduct and the treatment he was providing. Detailing some of the 'highlights' of the claims Dr Dunn faces, Judge Lewis added: 'A number of patients complained of no eye contact and/or rude and abrupt manner. Patients complained of Dr Dunn being bullying and intimidating when they felt too ill to defend themselves. West Kent Primary Care Trust is trying to have Dr Dunn removed from its 'Performers' List' and the case is set to be heard by the First Tier Tribunal . 'There is also a specific example of Dr Dunn allegedly telling a patient that he was an 'a******' and was going to die a 'horrible death' and was a 'burden on him'. 'In relation to that particular allegation, which he (Dr Dunn) does not accept, he says that whilst he may have used that word, it was not a description of the patient but a basic description of a part of his anatomy'. Another patient who complained of 'foul language', claimed Dr Dunn had told him: 'Now get out of my office, you're p****** me off and no doubt you p*** other people off as well'. Judge Lewis added: 'We read other examples of where Dr Dunn hadn't simply given patients an explanation of the choices available to them if they continued to for example smoke, but allegedly told them that they would die a horrible death.' Dr Dunn was temporarily suspended from the PCT's Performers' List in October 2010, but Judge Lewis refused to extend that and he has been back on the list, subject to an agreed regime of 'strict and intensive monitoring and supervision', since the December ruling. In her decision, Judge Lewis said 'no adverse professional findings' had ever been made against Dr Dunn, who qualified in 1986 and is now in his mid-50s. The judge made no findings on any of the allegations faced by Dr Dunn, none of which have been proved, and observed: 'Overall, our view is that whilst troubling, conduct and negative language to patients, are issues that are capable of being remedied.' Despite claims that Dr Dunn's treatment of some patients was not 'clinically appropriate', she said it was 'not a case of glaring error or omission'. And restoring his name to the Performers' List pending the full hearing of his case, Judge Lewis concluded the continued suspension of an experienced GP was neither necessary to protect the public nor otherwise in the public interest. Dr Dunn's case has now been listed for a full hearing, expected to last at least five days, before the First Tier Tribunal in February. | Dr Richard Dunn said if he did use the word 'a******* it was meant as a 'basic description of a part of his anatomy' |
27,406 | 4db21f0d72484e643bd4c98d10de11a0aebbf847 | Ottawa (CNN)A third Canadian man arrested this week on terrorism-related charges will remain in custody after making a brief court appearance Tuesday. Suliman Mohamed, 21, stood watching the court proceedings before being remanded into custody. He wore a brown-colored, hooded jacket and was carefully watched by his parents, sitting in the front row. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police announced Mohamed's arrest Monday, charging him with participating in the activity of a terrorist group and conspiracy to participate in terrorist activity. Federal prosecutor Roderick Sonley indicated Tuesday that the government would disclose more details of evidence against Mohamed before his next court date, set for February 12. Outside the Ottawa courthouse, Mohamed's father defended his son, saying he was a devout Muslim and not a radical. "My son is not involved in this at all," Idris Altahir said. "He's a very normal person, quiet, polite and generous." Police allege Mohamed's terrorist activity was directly linked to the arrests of Ashton and Carlos Larmond, two Ottawa twin brothers accused of conspiring to commit terrorism offenses. "My son doesn't participate in these things, but we're going to see the evidence, what they have," Altahir said. After an investigation dating back to at least August, the Larmond brothers, both 24, were arrested Friday in two different locations. Ashton Larmond was arrested in Ottawa, but his brother Carlos was arrested at Montreal's Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport, where police allege he was intending to travel overseas for terrorist purposes. Carlos Larmond was charged with participation in the activity of a terrorist group but also with attempting to leave Canada to participate in terrorist activity abroad, a relatively new Canadian terrorism law. Through their attorney, the brothers indicated they would be fighting the charges. To date, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police have released few details. | Suliman Mohamed makes court appearance after arrest on terror-related charges .
"My son is not involved in this at all," Mohamed's father says .
Police allege terrorist activity directly linked to the arrests of Ashton and Carlos Larmond . |
13,505 | 2653cf41dc4a995eb0999da784f9a7b2f5db7f5f | By . Daily Mail Reporter . Bad blood? Millionaire founder of the Carrabba's restaurant chain Damian Mandola (pictured) was arrested twice in three days for allegedly breaking into a Texas winery he once co-owned . A millionaire restauranteur was arrested twice last week on charges he drove a golf cart to a Texas winery he once co-owned to settle a score by stealing a bottle of wine and taunting employees. Carrabba's Restaurants co-founder Damian Mandola was photographed Saturday carrying a hammer that Duchman Family Winery staff say he used to damage property and threaten them physically. Just two days before, cops booked and released the 61-year-old for driving his golf cart erratically before allegedly breaking into the winery to steal his former partner's stock. Mandola, who founded the national . Carrabba's chain with his nephew, was charged with burglary for the . incident on Thursday, for which police picked him up near his Trattoria . Lisina restaurant, which is adjacent to the Driftwood, Texas winery. Mandola . removed his name from the award-winning winery after a falling out with . the Duchman family in 2010 that has apparently left some lingering bad . blood. Whatever the reason for this most recent emotional flareup, Mandola was not satisfied with his first visit to the winery. He posted $5,000 bond and was released from the Hays county Jail on Thursday. On Saturday, a staff member who spoke to the Houston Press on the condition of anonymity said he came back. The worker said he noticed a damaged sign before he saw Mandola coming towards him with a hammer and a knife. Family feud: Mandola is charged with breaking into the Duchman Family Winery, which he once co-owned but removed his name from after a falling out with the Duchmans in 2010 . Tough times? The chain he co-founded with his nephew now has hundreds of locations across America. Nonetheless, he's accused of breaking into the Duchman Family Winery to steal a bottle of wine . 'I . headed outside,' said the employee 'and upon reaching the corner of the . building I heard a tire burst, which was the tire of my Toyota Tacoma. As I rounded the corner I witnessed Damian smash the back window of my . truck.' The employee . told police Mandola brandished his 'deadly weapons' at him and called . him 'a few choice names' before speeding away on his golf cart. Mandola . reappeared later that day while a wedding was being held at the winery, . when the employee said he continued to taunt him. Mandola was subsequently arrested and has since made $15,000 bail. | Damian Mandola was arrested April 3 and April 5 after visits to a Driftwood, Texas winery he once co-owned .
The Carrabba's co-founder allegedly drove a golf cart to the Duchman family Winery to steal a bottle of wine before he was arrested Thursday .
On Saturday he was arrested again after he allegedly showed up again, this time with a hammer he brandished while threatening staff . |
177,604 | 71eca601212cf4c12c942a4cbe6103c53f8ac226 | By . Ian Drury, Home Affairs Correspondent . Lives will be put at risk if the Government pushes ahead with controversial plans to force emergency services to share airwaves with the public, it was claimed last night. Ministers want to put calls by the emergency services on commercial mobile phone networks, with Vodafone and Motorola invited to tender for the new super-fast 4G system. The Home Office insists 999 crews will have priority over other phone users on the system, which replaces its taxpayer-built Airwaves network for fire, police and ambulance crews in 2016. Ministers want to put calls by the emergency services on commercial mobile phone networks (file picture) Officials say emergency workers will receive faster internet connections to download data available using the latest smartphones. But critics are concerned that moving the emergency services on to the commercial network – largely untested in major emergencies – increases the risk of call blackouts. They say that during the 2011 riots and the London bombings in 2005, mobile services across the capital crashed under the sheer volume of use. Currently, emergency services have their own masts so even when commercial networks collapse their calls can continue. Inspector Alan Ogg, of the Police Federation, which represents rank-and-file officers, said: ‘There are two major issues which are still of concern. 'How the transition to the new network will take place and be managed, and what provision has been made to ensure the emergency services are prioritised during periods of heavy user traffic and events. The Home Office insists 999 crews will have priority over other phone users on the system (file picture) ‘Public and officer safety must remain the priority for any advancements and changes to the emergency service network.’ A West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service briefing paper said: ‘The capacity of a commercial network, particularly if an incident occurred during a large event, is a concern… Question marks still exist over the technological solution. ‘There are significant health and safety implications. Delivery of a solution that simply results in lower cost for Government without fully considering the effectiveness and ongoing efficiency for individual services could have significant implications for public and fire-fighter safety.’ The Home Office insists the consortium which wins the contract, worth more than £400million a year, will be ordered to prioritise the police, fire and ambulance services in an emergency. Declan Ganley, chief executive of Rivada Networks, whose firm was not shortlisted by the Home Office, said: ‘People’s lives will be put at risk by the Government’s plan to put calls by the emergency services on commercial mobile phone networks. ‘The system simply cannot cope with a major incident.’ A Home Office spokesman said the plan remains on track and ‘the tendering process marks another step towards the emergency services having the modern communications network they need to protect the public’. | Plans in place to force emergency services to share airwaves with public .
Home Office insist 999 crews will have priority over other phone users .
But critics say the plan will increase he risk of call blackouts . |
237,295 | bf1e71148d9f7951407f929639c8fd65daafe7df | Washington (CNN) -- A U.S. citizen has been charged with alleged involvement in planning last year's terrorist attacks in Mumbai, India, the Justice Department said Monday. David Headley of Chicago, Illinois, already faced charges alleging that he planned attacks against a Danish newspaper. Headley, 49, was born in Washington, D.C. The Justice Department alleges he helped plan the November 2008 terrorist attacks in Mumbai, which killed 160 people, including six Americans. The Justice Department said Headley attended terrorism training camps in Pakistan and conspired with members of the group Lashkar-e-Tayyiba to carry out attacks in Denmark and India. The United States considers Lashkar-e-Tayyiba a foreign terrorist organization. The department said Headley was charged in Chicago with six counts of conspiracy to bomb locations in India and to murder and maim persons in India and Denmark, and six counts of aiding and abetting the murder of U.S. citizens in India. He has agreed to cooperate with authorities investigating both terror plots, lawyers involved in the case said. At the time of his October 3 arrest in Chicago, he was on his way back to India to plan a second attack, a source close to the investigation said. He remains in federal custody, with no date set for his arraignment, the Justice Department said. Headley's attorney, John T. Theis, said he has read the additional charges but said he would not comment "while we have the case under review." No formal plea has been offered to either these charges or the previous ones, he said. Asked whether his client is cooperating, Theis said, "At this time, we will only say I don't disagree with the statements made by the U.S. attorney regarding my client's involvement in the investigation." A retired major in the Pakistani military, Abdur Rehman Hashim Syed, also was charged with conspiracy in planning to attack the newspaper in Denmark. So was Tahawwur Hussain Rana, whom U.S. authorities identify as a Pakistani native and Canadian citizen who lives mainly in Chicago. Headley said he worked for First World Immigration Services, a company owned by Rana, though authorities have said in court papers that surveillance showed that he "performs few services" for the company. Kia Scherr -- whose husband, Alan, and 13-year-old daughter, Naomi, were killed in the Mumbai attacks -- welcomed the developments in the case. "Though my loss still causes me much grief, I am grateful for the support of the FBI, who called me personally and informed me of the news," she said. "My hope is that Headley cooperates fully and discloses all information to aid in the investigation ..." CNN's Drew Griffin and Terry Frieden contributed to this report. | NEW: Woman who lost her husband and daughter thanks FBI .
Feds: David Headley attended terrorism training camps in Pakistan .
Feds: Headley conspired to execute attacks in Denmark and India .
Headley agrees to cooperate in probes of both terror plots, lawyers say . |
284,265 | fc49de32b5a72831764e8f8d192c7291e1dfde46 | By . Daniel Martin, Whitehall Correspondent . Income tax and national insurance could be merged if the Tories win the general election, it was reported last night. George Osborne was said to have considered the proposal as part of the recent Budget, and it was suggested he was now looking to put it in his party’s manifesto ahead of the general election. However, the claims were immediately denied by Treasury sources last night. Scheme: George Osborne is said to have considered a proposal to merge income tax and national insurance . Some senior Tories believe rolling together the opaque national insurance system with income tax would remind people of the scale of the tax contribution they make. Supporters of the reform believe that it would increase popular pressure to bring taxes down. The Chancellor has long considered national insurance a ‘stealth tax’ because it can be raised without uproar. However, the move would involve merging two computer systems, and could cause another Whitehall IT disaster – leading to problems similar to those that have beset universal credit. Benefits: Some senior Tories believe rolling together the opaque national insurance system with income tax would remind people of the scale of the tax contribution they make . A source told The Times: ‘We came within a whisker of doing this at the last budget, but in the end we decided against it. ‘They are currently on two separate computer systems and we thought the risk was just too great. But it’s something we could do in the next Parliament.’ But last night a Treasury source said there were no plans at all to merge the two types of tax, and discussions had not taken place about it being part of the Conservative manifesto for next year. | George Osborne said to have considered the proposal as part of budget .
Some senior Tories believe rolling .
together national insurance system with income tax would .
remind people of the scale of their tax contributions .
Move would involve merging two Whitehall computer systems .
Claims of a planned merge were denied by Treasury sources last night . |
188,324 | 7fdf5743d80dfbab57cfd88e779e94e51fec1905 | Blackburn winger Josh King has expressed his frustration at a lack of playing time at the club. The 22-year-old played for Norway against England in midweek but has only started two games for Blackburn this season with one being in the Capital One Cup. King, who joined from Manchester United, said: 'I did a very good pre-season and was surprised when I did not start the first match of the season against Cardiff. I came back from holiday in good shape and heard from people in the team that I was one of the very best players in the running. Frustrated: Blackburn winger Josh King (right) has expressed his frustration at a lack of playing time . 'It is very frustrating. The situation in Blackburn is very strange. Had I scored a hat-trick at Wembley, it is still not certain I would start for Blackburn in the next match. 'The coach has his reasons. I just have to respect them and keep working hard.' | Blackburn winger Josh King frustrated by lack of playing time .
Wideman played for Norway against England in midweek .
22-year-old moved to Ewood Park from Manchester United . |
149,194 | 4cea4ddbc84750c4a5cf8e1f11a1a58aa88cfe75 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 11:23 EST, 7 October 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 11:55 EST, 7 October 2012 . An American woman who was kidnapped in Yemen is expected to stand up in court against the Islamic hate preacher who orchestrated her terrifying ordeal. Mary Quin was abducted along with 15 other tourists in 1998 by militants who were instructed by hate preacher Abu Hamza al-Masri. During the tour group's rescue, she was used as a human shield and four other hostages were killed. Scroll down to watch the video . Facing evil: Mary Quin (left) who was taken hostage in Yemen in 1998 could prove a valuable witness against Cleric Abu Hamza who is charged with orchestrating the attack . In this courtroom sketch, radical Islamist . preacher Abu Hamza al-Masri (R) appears before before U.S. Magistrate . Judge Frank Maas (L) in Federal Court in New York . Hamza appeared at federal court in New York on Saturday after being extradited from Britain. Hamza faces 11 counts of criminal conduct related to the taking . of 16 hostages in Yemen in 1998, advocating violent jihad in . Afghanistan in 2001 and conspiring to establish a jihad training camp in . Bly, Oregon, between June 2000 and December 2001. U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara called the extraditions 'a watershed moment in our nation's efforts to eradicate terrorism.' He . added: 'As is charged, these are men who were at the nerve centers of . Al Qaeda's acts of terror, and they caused blood to be shed, lives to be . lost, and families to be shattered.' If found guilty, 54-year-old Hamza is likely to die behind bars. Ms Quin could be a crucial witness to the trial. After her ordeal in Yemen, she investigated the reasons why her tour group was attacked and discovered that radicals wanted to swop tourists for terror suspects who had been arrested including the son and stepson of Hamza. The Federal Court in New York, left, where Hamza, sketched right in court, appeared this morning . She traveled to London when she . tracked down Hamza at his mosque and demanded he answer her questions to . which he agreed. He admitted helping the militants in Yemen carry out . the attack. Ms Quin, 59, who wrote a book about her experiences in 2005, now lives in Anchorage and runs a boutique. While at court on Saturday, Hamza demanded the return of his notorious hooks. The . hate preacher, who lost his hands in an explosion, did not enter a plea . during the brief hearing and was remanded in custody ahead of his next . appearance on Tuesday. Ordeal: Ms Quin wrote a book about being kidnapped by militants in the Yemeni desert . The . former imam, who had his hooks removed for . 'security reasons', has demanded they are returned so 'he can use his . arms'. Also in New York, Adel Abdul Bary and . Khaled al-Fawwaz pleaded not guilty while earlier in the day Babar Ahmad . and Talha Ahsan pleaded not guilty in a court in Connecticut. He entered no plea in the Manhattan court, while four other alleged jihadists - Syed Talha Ahsan, Babar Ahmad, Khaled . al-Fawwaz and Adel Abdul Bary - all pleaded not guilty to a series of terrorist offences. Hamza came into . court without his recognizable hooks, and with both arms exposed through . his short-sleeved blue prison shirt. His court-appointed lawyer, . Sabrina Shroff, asked that his prosthetics be immediately returned 'so . he can use his arms'. The . Islamist fanatic lost the last of his countless appeals in a legal . farce that has seen him thwart extradition from Britain for more than eight years. An armoured police van collected the hate preacher from HMP Long Lartin in Worcestershire at around 7.30pm on Friday, just a few hours after the decision was made. The van, heavily flanked by a . number of other police vehicles with their emergency lights on, drove more than 130 miles to the U.S Air Force base RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk. Two planes carrying the suspects took off shortly before midnight. The convoy of vehicles with blue . flashing lights earlier entered the military base through a side . entrance at 10.10pm after completing the journey in just under three . hours. Paperwork was . then completed and after years of fighting against it, the group were . successfully handed over to U.S. marshals, who were waiting to escort . them on the 3,700-mile flight to the United States. 'Deteriorating health': Abu Hamza asked the High Court to grant him time for an MRI scan as he renewed a long-running legal battle to halt his extradition from the UK to the US . Last week, Hamza’s lawyers – in a move . condemned as a blatant delaying tactic – had gone back to court again . to claim he was unfit to stand trial. They . said the ‘harsh’ conditions in his cell at HMP Belmarsh had left him . unwell, sleep-deprived and depressed – and demanded an MRI scan. After . a three-day hearing, a judge at the High Court in London said . he was ‘wholly unpersuaded’ by their claims, adding: ‘The sooner he is . put on trial, the better.’ Making . clear no further appeals would be allowed in the case, Sir John Thomas, . President of the Queen’s Bench Division, rejected the idea that Hamza . was unfit to plead. If depressed, he said, Hamza could get anti-depressants in the U.S. He also criticised delays in the . extradition process, saying it was ‘unacceptable’ that the case should . have taken so long, and warning of ‘real dangers’ of a system that . allows repeated appeals on issues that had already been decided. The judges also rejected legal . challenges by Babar Ahmad, Syed Ahsan, Khaled Al-Fawwaz and Adel Abdul . Bary, who were part of the convoy to arrive at the airbase. Justice: Hamza is set to face trial over charges he set up a terrorist training camp in Oregon . A . 20-seater Gulfstream V jet owned by the US Department of Justice and a . privately-owned Dassault Falcon 900 jet were visible from the airfield . perimeter. The two . white aircraft were in stark contrast to the base's fleet of United . States Air Force KC-135 fuel tanker jets and C-130 transport planes. Official . flight records reveal that the twin-engine Gulfstream jet arrived at RAF . Mildenhall on Tuesday night after a six hour and 27 minute flight from . Reagan National airport in Washington DC. A U.S. Embassy spokeswoman said: 'These . extraditions mark the end of a lengthy process of litigation through . the UK courts and the ECHR. 'The U.S. government agrees with the . ECHR's findings that the conditions of confinement in U.S. prisons - . including in maximum security facilities - do not violate European . standards. The Gulfstream aircraft believed to contain Cleric Abu Hamza takes off from RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk just hours after he lost his final legal fight to remain in Britain . The plane shortly before it took off from the American air base, where it had been waiting for a number of days . 'The law enforcement relationship . between the United States and United Kingdom is predicated on trust, . respect, and the common goals of protecting our nations and eliminating . safe havens for criminals, including terrorists.' Hamza, who is missing his right . hand and an eye, has celebrated the September 11 terror attacks . and preached jihad to a young congregation. Hamza, who was jailed for seven years . for soliciting to murder and inciting racial hatred in 2006, first . faced an extradition request from America in 2004. All five cases returned to the High . Court after judges at the European Court of Human Rights refused to . intervene and stop the Home Secretary extraditing them. Between 1999 and 2006, the men were indicted on various terrorism charges in America. Ahmad, . a computer expert from south London, and Ahsan are accused of offences . including using a website to provide support to terrorists and . conspiracy to kill, kidnap, maim or injure persons or damage property in . a foreign country. A cavalcade of police vehicles carrying Hamza leaving HMP Long Lartin in Worcestershire . They . wanted their removal stopped so that they could challenge a decision by . the Director of Public Prosecutions not to allow British businessman . Karl Watkin, a campaigner against the UK’s extradition arrangements with . the United States, to bring prosecutions against them in the UK. Bary and Al-Fawwaz were indicted - . with Osama bin Laden and 20 others - for their alleged involvement in, . or support for, the bombing of US embassies in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam . in 1998.Al-Fawwaz faces more than 269 counts of murder. Hamza once appeared to embrace Western society and worked as a bouncer in a Soho nightclub. He had a reputation for socializing and heavy drinking when he first came to Britain from Egypt 30 years ago. Born in Alexandria, he studied civil engineering and in 1984 married a British woman, Valerie Fleming. But throughout the 1980s he slowly began to turn towards a fundamentalist interpretation of the Koran. In 1990 he divorced his wife and returned to Egypt where he reinvented himself as a Muslim 'holy man' or sheikh. He traveled to Pakistan and then on to Afghanistan which was at the time gripped by civil war as differing factions fought to fill the power vacuum left by the retreat of Russian troops. It is unclear if he fought there but when he returned to the UK with his British passport in the early 1990s he was missing his right hand and an eye. He claims he lost the hand fighting jihad in Afghanistan. In 1996 he re-emerged at Finsbury Park Mosque in north London preaching jihad to a young congregation. Then in January 1999 three British . tourists were killed in Yemen, drawing public attention to the civil war . between fundamentalists and the secular government there, which accused . Abu Hamza of using his mosque to recruit Islamic warriors to the . fundamentalist cause. He . was alleged to have been the leader of a cell called Supporters of . Sharia. Yemen said that it wanted him extradited. But Hamza continued to court controversy. Following the September 11 attacks in the US, he said: 'Many people will be happy, jumping up and down at this moment'. Charges: Imam Abu Hamza al-Masri, pictured addressing his followers near Finsbury Park mosque, north London, in March 2004, now faces terror charges in America . VIDEO: Hamza arrives on U.S soil . | Mary Quin was abducted with a tour group in 1998 where she was used as a human shield .
Abu Hamza landed in New York on Saturday morning with four other terror suspects after being flown out from U.S. military base in Britain .
Preacher will face charges .
relating to kidnap in Yemen in 1998, advocating .
violent jihad in Afghanistan and a jihad .
training camp in Oregon .
Entered no plea as he appeared in court in Manhattan on Saturday . |
18,386 | 33fe0b25bb4eba131af260f02717f875de63fc7a | By . Ben Spencer . Teenagers who play violent computer games such as Grand Theft Auto are more likely to drink, smoke and have unprotected sex, psychologists have found. Games that glorify risky behaviour can encourage adolescents to become more rebellious and seek out thrills themselves, according to a new study. Scientists tracked 5,000 American teenagers for four years, and found a distinct correlation between the frequency that they played violent games and their behaviour. Teenagers who play violent computer games such as Grand Theft Auto (pictured) are more likely to drink, smoke and have unprotected sex, psychologists at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire have found . They discovered that those who often played adult-rated games were more likely to smoke, drink and become aggressive. The teenagers, who were aged 13 and ten months on average when the experiment started, were also more likely to go on, within four years, to display delinquent behaviour such as petty theft, starting fights or running away from home. Those who played violent games were also more likely to have first had sex at a younger age, more likely to have caught a sexually transmitted disease, and more likely to have had unprotected sex. The changes in behaviour, which were similar for boys and girls, increased in magnitude over time, the scientists found. Separate research published yesterday by Oxford University suggests that playing video games for less than an hour a day can lead to children becoming better adjusted. That study, published in the journal Pediatrics - which did not differentiate violent and non-violent games - found that young people who indulged in a little video game-playing were more sociable and more satisfied than those who had never played or who used video games for three hours or more. The study involved nearly 5,000 young people, half male and half female, drawn from a nationally representative study of UK households. Research Dr Andrew Przybylski said: 'These results support recent laboratory-based experiments that have identified the downsides to playing electronic games. However, high levels of video game-playing appear to be only weakly linked to children's behavioural problems in the real world.' Grand Theft Auto, a phenomenally successful game now in its fifth edition, involves stealing cars and driving at excessive speeds to evade police cars, with extra points for knocking over innocent bystanders or committing other crimes. Other violent games linked by the scientists to deviant behaviour include Manhunt - a psychological horror video game - and Spiderman 2, in which a comic-book superhero beats up villains. The scientists, from Dartmouth College in the US, said the violent characters in the video games appear to affect how adolescents think of themselves, with consequences for their alter ego in the real world. The study, published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, follows a 2012 Dartmouth study that suggested that such video games may lead teens to drive recklessly and drink and drive. Professor James Sargent, who worked on the study, said: ‘Up to now, studies of video games have focused primarily on their effects on aggression and violent behaviours. ‘This study is important because it is the first to suggest that possible effects of violent video games go well beyond violence to apply to substance use, risky driving and risk-taking sexual behaviour.’ His colleague Professor Jay Hull, quoting a 1960s American actor, said: ‘With respect to playing deviant video game characters, we feel it best to follow the admonition of Kurt Vonnegut in Mother Night: “We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be.”’ The authors suggested that changes in behaviour following protracted game play was down to alterations in the users’ personality, attitudes and values, making them more rebellious and thrill seeking. Other violent games linked by the scientists to deviant behaviour include Manhunt - a psychological horror video game - and Spiderman 2 (pictured), in which a comic-book superhero beats up villains . They wrote: ‘Across a wide variety of measures, mature-rated risk-glorifying gameplay was associated with deviant adolescent risk behaviour including excessive alcohol use, cigarette smoking, aggression, delinquency, and risky sex. The authors added: ‘Character-based video games provide an opportunity to practice being someone else. As a result, the behavioural consequences of playing such games are potentially much broader than the specific kinds of behaviours enacted in the game.’ Playing video games is not necessary all bad, however. Separate research published yesterday by Oxford University suggests that playing video games for less than an hour a day can lead to children becoming better adjusted. That study, published in the journal Pediatrics - which did not differentiate violent and non-violent games - found that young people who indulged in a little video game-playing were more sociable and more satisfied with their lives compared with those who had never played or who used video games for three hours or more. | This is according to a study of 5,000 US teenagers by Dartmouth College .
Other violent games linked by the scientists to deviant behaviour include Manhunt - a psychological horror video game - and Spiderman 2 .
Teenage fans of games are more likely to smoke, drink and be aggressive .
Within 4 years, the study found behaviour included petty theft and fights .
Study says violent characters affect how teenagers think of themselves .
This, they believe, has consequences for their alter ego in the real world . |
56,865 | a11ce4101321f83fbcb27347bb568237449a2bd5 | A 21-year-old schoolteacher has gone from Amish to stylish thanks to a dramatic makeover courtesy of a women's magazine. Theodore Leaf, a celebrity stylist and Glamour Magazine’s beauty editor-at-large, has traveled to the tiny Amish enclave of Jamesport, Pennsylvania, to glam up a young woman named Sarah by giving her a brand new hairdo. The 21-year-old teacher and housekeeper grew up in a small Amish community and has never colored or styled her hair, leaving her locks looking drab and permanently tucked underneath a small white bonnet for modesty. Scroll down for video . Breaking Amish: Sarah, a 21-year-old Amish schoolteacher and housekeeper, pictured here before her dramatic hair makeover (left) and after (right) on an episode of Glamour Magazine's Bad Hair Day . 'I’m definitely up for adventure... and doing my hair is definitely exciting,' Sarah says before her transformation gets under way. In the video of Sarah's dramatic makeover released by Glamour Magazine on YouTube earlier this month as part of its series Bad Hair Day, Sarah explains to the stylist that most of the time she wears her tresses hidden from view, as dictated by her faith. The only exception was when she did her rumpsringa - a rite of passage for Amish teenagers during which they are allowed to temporarily leave their community and experience the outside culture. Bee in her bonnet: Sarah explains that her never has never been colored, and she usually wears it pinned up and tucked underneath a small bonnet for modesty . Extreme makeover: Amish Edition: Celebrity stylist Theodore Leaf decided to turn Sarah blonde . Cutting edge look: To give her lackluster tresses some movement and texture, Leaf gave Sarah a layered look . Amish blow dryer: Sarah lamented that she cannot blow-dry her hair because there is not electricity in her home . Theodore Leaf, who also hosts a style show on LOGO-TV, tells Sarah he plans to color her hair - 'because blondes have more fun' - and add layers to give movement to her long-neglected locks. While getting her hair dyed, Sarah confides in Leaf that not having electricity in her home is a major challenge because she is unable to use a blow-dryer. Leaf advises Sarah to use foam to add wave and braid her hair before bedtime for texture. ‘Do you think there is a way to have an Amish blow dryer?' Sarah inquires. In response, Leaf jokingly blows on her newly highlighted tresses while combing them out. 'I'll be done next year,' he quips. Big reveal: Both Sarah and her Amish friend Laura (right) were left speechless by the schoolteacher's dramatic transformation . All smiles: Sarah appeared to be very pleased with her beachy blonde, wavy tresses and ruby red lips . She's impressed: Laura pronounced her friend's new, flirty look to be 'hot' The video of Sarah's makeover concludes with the big reveal when the new and improved Amish schoolmarm unveils her new look to her friend and co-worker, Laura, a fellow member of the Amish community. When Sarah looks at herself in the mirror for the first time since the transformation, she appears stunned and overjoyed, exclaiming in delight: 'Oh, my stars!' Gone is the bonnet and Sarah's flat, mousy wisps of hair. Instead, the 21-year-old is now sporting a mane of beachy blonde, layered hair, with ruby red lips and a light touch of makeup completing the picture. 'This look right here is hot!' concludes her Amish pal in admiration. | Celebrity stylist Theodore Leaf traveled to tiny Amish enclave of Jamesport, Pennsylvania, to glam up Amish woman named Sarah .
The 21-year-old teacher and housekeeper grew up in a small Amish community and had never colored or styled her hair . |
215,579 | a30c48f9f2f0f966f60c651428ba2c6c8d6ba8cb | President Obama is expected to outline a seismic shift during Tuesday's annual State of the Union address in how much tax American businesses pay, but the devil is in the details. While his plan will lower the top corporate rate, smaller companies whose proceeds are considered individual income – since they're not organized as large corporations – won't see any benefit. And the net impact, says one Washington, D.C. watchdog group, will be more money, not less, flowing into the federal government's coffers. Those funds, the group says, will be redistributed into public works projects calculated to benefit labor unions that support Obama and other Democrats. Obama hinted at a corporate tax overhaul proposal in his 2013 State of the Union speech, never bringing anything forward until 2014 when a congressional election looms large . Corporate giants like Google would pay more taxes under Obama's plan when it kills deductions and closes loopholes, but the big companies would get a rate reduction in exchange -- unlike smaller businesses . Manufacturers love infrastructure projects near their factories, a fact Obama is hoping to leverage in order to get the GOP to go along with his plan: some of the new tax revenue would reportedly pay union-backed construction projects across America . Problem for Obama: The U.S. has no rivals in the corporate-tax department among developed nations, according to data collected by the Tax Foundation . 'The President’s plan is a net tax increase,' the right-leaning anti-tax group Americans . for Tax Reform said Monday. 'The plan raises taxes on all American . employers, but only gives partial rate relief to the largest . multi-national companies.' Obama . will reportedly dust off a proposal Tuesday night from his 2012 . campaign, when he argued for lowering the top corporate tax rate from . 39.1 per cent to 28 per cent in exchange for closing a series of tax . loopholes and disallowing a wide range of business tax deductions. Those give-backs . Obama would affect all businesses, both small and large, while only the . largest corporations would see a reduction in their overall rates. The average top corporate tax rate among member nations in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development is 25 per cent, according to the nonprofit Tax Foundation. America's top rate is the highest. And 'cutting the corporate rate to 28 percent will only help very large companies,' ATR says, since most companies in America file and pay taxes using the individual tax rates.' IRS data show that 32 million businesses file tax returns every year, and fewer than 2 million of them are corporations that can tax advantage of tax rates and loopholes extended to General Motors, Apple Computer, ExxonMobil and other Wall Street titans. The Wall Street Journal reported Saturday that a source who received a private White House briefing advised the paper to 'expect to hear Mr. Obama trumpet a proposal he made last year: reworking the business-tax system and directing proceeds to roads, bridges and other public works projects.' ATR sees those initiatives as Democrat-aligned union construction projects. Grover Norquist, the group's president, was aghast. Oh, poop: Dog-walkers and other small businessmen and women will continue to pay individual income tax rates on everything they earn, but they'll have to give up the same deductions the big boys are slated to lose . Run your own consultancy from your kitchen table? You're out of luck, too -- stuck with a 44 per cent effective tax rate . Playing coy: A milquetoasty White House press secretary Jay Carney will say only that Obama will address 'the need to grow our economy in a way that rewards hard work and responsibility, that makes the middle class more secure' That kiss Obama blew to his wife before delivering last year's State of the Union address might be redirected this year to congressional Democrats who need political cover to push his 'income inequality' philosophy on the campaign trail . 'Again?' he asked when MailOnline contacted him in Washington. 'Obama is . spraying perfume on and recycling two ideas that have already failed.' 'One, . "tax reform" – by which he means higher overall taxes on businesses . targeting entrepreneurs and the self-employed – and two, taking all that . tax revenue and having another stimulus spending spree.' 'It failed the last time,' said an exasperated Norquist. 'How stupid does he think we are?' In his 2013 address, Obama promised several initiatives that never managed to arrive later in the year amid scandals that included Obamacare's sputtering start, an alleged Benghazi cover-up, The National Security Agency's data collection programs, the IRS's targeting of tea party groups and the Justice Department's spying on journalists. Harping a year ago on the so-called 'Buffett rule,' Obama told Congress that Americans deserved a 'tax code that ensures billionaires with high-powered accountants can’t work the system and pay a lower rate than their hardworking secretaries ... and lowers tax rates for businesses and manufacturers that are creating jobs right here in the United States of America.' A year later, the White House is gearing up to take some action. But ATR warned Monday that the net result would be a higher tax bill overall. 'The Republican House would never support a net tax increase, and using the money to fund Big Labor (and, by extension, Democrat campaign coffers) is hardly a sweetener,' the group said in a statement. Obama is emboldened by the populist appeal of his 'income inequality' argument, a Democratic Party insider told MailOnline. And he hopes to soften Republicans for a minimum-wage hike by offering big business a carrot instead of a stick. 'The president is now preparing speeches on income inequality,' said RNC chair Reince Priebus, but 'I believe he should give those speeches while standing in front of the mirror, because under his watch, everything has gotten worse' But the result may be a triple-whammy on employers if they find themselves squeezed simultaneously by a higher tax bill, higher wage costs and higher health care expenses. Still, congressional Democrats desperately need a defining issue to run on in the November midterm elections, and the White House believes a rich-vs-poor argument can win the day with its base. And anything that sniffs of a tax cut for the rich, suggests Democratic Rep. Steve Israel, won't play well with liberal voters. Israel chairs the Democratic Party's congressional campaign organization. 'Middle-class security is the defining issue of our time,' Israel told the Associated Press. 'Our candidates are going to talk about what priority makes more sense for the middle class: Increasing the minimum wage, or decreasing taxes for the wealthiest? Those contrasts are imperative and revealing.' The danger for Democrats is that the current state of play for lower-income Americans has followed five years of Obama's presidency. Republican National Committee Chairman . Reince Priebus told a partisan crowd last week that Obama was trying to fix a problem that he caused himself. 'The president is . now preparing speeches on income inequality. I believe he should give . those speeches while standing in front of the mirror, because under his . watch, everything has gotten worse,' Priebus told the GOP's winter meeting in Washington, D.C. 'His economic policies are not working,' Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz added Sunday on the CBS program 'Face The Nation.' Americans for Tax Reform president Grover Norquist, an anti-tax crusader whose pedigree dates from the Reagan years, asked Obama supporters: 'How stupid does he think we are?' Yes, you too: most U.S. farmers are sole proprietors of their businesses, making them ineligible for what may appear to be a massive Obama tax rate cut . While many small U.S. businesses cope without any tax relief, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg will find his company's earnings taxed at a lower rate under Obama's expected proposal . After-tax U.S. corporate profits are at a level not seen since the years following World War II. And it has been 60 years since ordinary workers saw a smaller share of the nation's economic output than they did in 2013. The campaign manager for a Republican House candidate in New York, Israel's home state, told MailOnline on background that Obama's foray into tax policy could blow up in his face. 'The president needs more Democrats in Congress, and he's not going to get there by offering what looks like a tax cut for Wall Street,' the political operative said, 'even if the result is shareholders getting smaller dividends and CEOs losing some of their bonuses.' 'It's the perception that counts in November, and it sounds like Obama is going to have to go back to his people and whisper, "Don't worry about that corporate tax cut – I don't really mean it."' The White House has been mum on the content of Obama's speech. Jay Carney, his press secretary, told Reporters on Friday only that the president would address 'the need to grow our economy in a way that rewards hard work and responsibility, that makes the middle class more secure.' | Watchdog warns: Obama will head-fake by offering tax cuts to big businesses while closing loopholes on every company in America .
The result, says Americans for Tax Reform, will be a bigger income for the government and no relief for small businesses .
President Obama will deliver his annual State of the Union address on Tuesday night, and is expected to push 'income inequality' policies .
Congressional Democrats need a defining issue while Obamacare recovers .
Explaining away an apparent big-business tax cut will be hard for them, even if it's not a real tax cut at all'
GOP campaign operative speculates: 'Obama is going to have to go back to his people and whisper, "Don't worry about that corporate tax cut – I don't really mean it"' |
54,113 | 995596db862c0ed86bf13105c28603fccf826e0d | Killed: Imani Green, eight, was on a family holiday in Jamaica and shot dead after an assailant opened fire at a grocery store . Eight suspects were last night being ‘intensively interrogated’ by police over the murder of British schoolgirl Imani Green in Jamaica. The island’s authorities said they are confident of solving the killing of the eight-year-old, who is believed to have been an innocent victim of gangsters fighting a turf war over an illegal lottery scam. Imani, who suffered from the debilitating blood disorder sickle cell anaemia, was in the Caribbean for an extended holiday to help alleviate the symptoms of her condition. The youngster, from Balham, south London, was shot in the head and shoulder when a masked gunman opened fire in the roadside shop and bar run by her cousin. Police said the suspects, all men under 35, were being ‘intensely interrogated’ at three separate jails following raids on properties close to the shooting in Duncans, a town on the island’s north-west coast, following tip-offs from the public. A police spokesman said: ‘Over the last 24 hours eight people have been taken into custody and we’re confident we will make a breakthrough soon.’ Imani’s grandmother Sandra Fisher welcomed the arrests. Mrs Fisher, 54, said: ‘I’m pleased with our community for giving over the information, I think it’s because it’s the death of a child.’ Deputy Superintendent Steve Brown, . from the Jamaica Constabulary Force, said the eight suspects were being . questioned but dismissed suggestions linking the shooting to gang . warfare. He told the BBC: . 'Over the last 24 hours there have been some developments where the . police have taken eight persons into custody and we're confident we will . make a breakthrough on this one very soon. 'We've . heard about gang warfare but we find it a bit difficult to believe . because where the incident took place it is a sleepy community, nothing . happens there. 'This . is just an isolated incident but it could well link to a number of . things and we are looking at all possibilities and following all the . leads that we are getting.' Imani was attending a local primary school while on the island and had been due to return to the UK on January 25. Meanwhile, a man has been shot dead half a mile away from the cafe where Imani died. Yesterday’s killing is believed to be related to Imani’s death. One local, who would not be named, said: . ‘People are whispering that he knew too much – he knew who killed the little girl. That’s why he got shot.’ Tragic death: Imani Green (pictured left by herself and right with her mother Donna, both in 2009) was at her cousin's small shop on the island's north coast, when violence broke out during an argument . Three of Imani's relatives were taken to hospital after they were wounded in the hail of bullets.It has been claimed they were gunned down in a reprisal for a shooting which happened several months ago and is connected to a telemarketing scam.The racket involves tricking people in America into thinking they’ve scooped the lottery and getting them to wire an ‘advance fee’ to collect their winnings.Around £30million was sent to Jamaica last year alone and the sums involved have led to disputes among the criminals who collect it.The scam has been linked to 500 murders in the past five years and is responsible for half of violent crime in the area where Imani was killed. The little girl was hit in the head by a bullet from the shooter's 9mm pistol, before being struck in the shoulder by a second bullet. Grandmother Mrs Fisher said . she found Imani lying in a 'pool of blood' after she asked to visit the . grocery shop in the quiet Red Dirt district of Duncans in Trelawny . parish. Her sister Jamila Palmer, 19,said; ‘We heard gunshots. We ran outside and shouted “Imani, . Imani, Imani”. I picked her up off the ground and realised she was still . breathing. 'I picked her up off the ground and . realised she was still breathing. I flagged down a car and they drove us . to hospital. The rest is history.' Neighbours in Britain have spoken of their sorrow following the killing. Relatives were said to have left . their home at Old Hospital Close for a flight to Jamaica early yesterday . morning to be with Imani's mother. Imani had been enrolled in a Jamaican school to keep her education ticking over. Her . brother Dean Palmer, 27, described her as ‘an extremely brave girl’ who . visited the island twice a year to help with the energy-sapping . illness. Family: The girl was visiting relatives in the small town of Duncans, a rural area on the north coast of the Caribbean island . Headteacher of . Fircroft school, Anne Wilson, yesterday confirmed she had given Imani . time off to seek respite for her condition, adding: ‘Imani was a happy, . playful child who was popular with staff and pupils alike. ‘She dealt with her illness very bravely and coped well with the special arrangements we had to have in place to support her.’ A relative in London said: ‘Imani was . playing out with some other little children. Her mother came back from . shopping and told her to come indoors. ‘But Imani begged to stay out. She said “OK, five more minutes and then come inside”. After that they heard gunshots. ‘When she ran out Imani was on the floor in a pool of blood.’ It has been claimed that innocent bystanders, including Imani, were deliberately shot by the gunman. Education: Imani attended Fircroft Primary School in Tooting, south London, near her home in Balham . Home: The three-storey, semi-detached property in Balham, south-west London, where Imani Green, eight, was said to have lived . A source said; ‘The killer shot the little girl in the head with his first bullet. The second bullet hit her in the shoulder. ‘He then turned the gun on to the other three – two women and a man all related to Imani.’ Sickle cell anaemia is an inherited genetic blood condition. People with the condition have sickle haemoglobin (HbS), rather than regular haemoglobin (HbA) - the protein in red blood cells which carries oxygen. Regular red blood cells can easily bend and travel around blood vessels without any problems - but sickle haemoglobin sticks together when giving oxygen to tissues. This makes red blood cells sickle-shaped and less able to move. They can easily block small blood vessels and this prevents oxygen from getting through and can damage organs. Sufferers should avoid wearing tight clothing, dehydration and cold temperatures - as well as maintaining a good diet. It . was suggested that the reason for this was because gunmen in Jamaica . will target the innocent if they cannot find their intended victim. A . neighbour of the family in South London, who is Jamaican and whose . cousin was murdered three years ago, said: ‘This is the way they take . revenge. ‘There is a saying out there “If I can’t catch you, I will catch someone for you”.’ But the girl’s uncle, Mitchum Brown, . claimed the shooting was a revenge attack after a row with the owner of . the store, who is Imani’s cousin. Mr Brown added Imani was a ‘quiet, lovely, friendly girl’ who had only just begun to grow in confidence. Her father Richard Green, 38, a decorator, was in Britain when he learned of his daughter’s death and was taken to hospital after collapsing in shock. Imani was said to be ‘his life’. Yesterday, he left the family’s four-bedroom semi-detached home with other family members to fly out to the Caribbean. The Foreign Office is providing consular assistance and is liaising with the Jamaican authorities. MP for Tooting and Labour justice spokesman Sadiq Khan said he was ‘devastated’ to hear the news of the shooting. | Imani Green, of London, shot on Friday night in Duncans, Trelawny Parish .
Girl abroad for winter holiday with mother Donna, 47, and sister Jamila, 19 .
Struck in head by bullet from 9mm pistol and hit in shoulder by second .
Scam involves tricking .
Americans into thinking they've scooped the lottery .
It has been linked to 500 murders in the past five years . |
273,483 | ee478e19d61b142aab5ff5cfaf93a3470cc45046 | By . Peter Rugg and Meghan Keneally . PUBLISHED: . 18:28 EST, 19 November 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 18:44 EST, 19 November 2012 . Police now have a picture of the man . they believe killed three storekeepers in Brooklyn, and are calling for . the public’s help in catching the mystery man they call ‘John Doe Duffle . Bag’. The man in question is balding with a dark mustache and was seen walking near the scene of the most recent murder in Flatbush. Three store owners have been killed in . their shops over the past four months and the killings are connected as . all three were shot with the same .22 caliber handgun. Ballistics tests matched in each killing, all of which occurred in Brooklyn shops with an '8' in the address. John Doe Duffle Bag: The balding man with a mustache was seen twice in Flatbush minutes before and after the third shop keeper was killed on Friday . The latest suspect, ‘John Doe Duffle Bag’, was caught on surveillance footage a block and a half away from the Flatbush store where Rahmatollah Vahidipour was killed on Friday evening. Minutes later, the same moustachioed-man is seen in a different video two blocks away from the store. Murdered: Vahidipour Rahmatollah was killed with three gunshots, but it seems nothing was stolen . The New York Post reports that a different surveillance camera, located by the scene of the second murder in Bensonhurst also shows the same man. The video is of poorer quality, but they feel confident that the same duffle bag-toting man was in the area around the time that shopkeeper Isaac Kadare was killed on August 2. ‘”John Doe Duffle Bag” wore a long overcoat and carried a duffel bag,’ police commissioner Ray Kelly said. ‘He was seen in the vicinity of Vahidipour’s store just after 6 p.m. The shop owner’s body was found at 7.11pm.’ This is not the first person-of-interest in the case, and a number have since been ruled out. Previously unidentified suspects, dubbed ‘Jane Doe Green Jacket’ and ‘John Doe Bubble Jacket’, were on the police’s watch list since they were seen in the area of Vahidipour’s shop at the time of the murder. They have since been eliminated from the suspect pool as it turns out that ‘Green Jacket’ stole a bottle of perfume from street vendor ‘Bubble Jacket’ who was chasing after her following the theft. Two remaining possibilities are ‘Jane Doe Long Coat’, a woman who was seen near the crime scene wearing sunglasses and a scarf. Looking for the man: He appeared near at least two of the three crime scenes over the past four months . Near the scene: None of the stores where the shootings took place had video cameras inside . There also was a police sketch released following the first murder that took place earlier in the summer at a 99 cent store that left Mohammed Gebeli dead on July 6. That possible suspect was a man with . dark skin and wearing sunglasses, who witnesses described as being . ‘disturbed’ and talking to himself about putting a bullet in someone’s . head. That man is said to be roughly 5-foot-5 and around 140 pounds. The Daily News reports that the shop owner Vahidipour of Great Neck was behind the counter of She She in Brooklyn's . Flatbush section when he was shot Friday night. The gunman . dragged the victim's body toward the back of the store and covered it . with clothing. Victims: Isaac Kadare and Mohammed Gebeli were killed by the same handgun earlier this year . Police found the 78-year-old with two gunshot wounds to the head and one to the torso, DNA Info reported. On . the floor of the shop were the killer's calling card: shell casings . matching casings left at the scenes of the last two homicides. 'Now it's like he's telling us, 'It's me again,'' a police source told the New York Daily News. casings that police have matched to two other murders. “Now it’s like he’s telling us, ‘It’s me again,’ ” a police source said. The way Rahmatollah's body was hidden was also consistent with the previous shootings. On July 6, Mohammed Gebeli, 65, was found shot through the neck in his Bay Ridge clothing shop. His body was also hidden. Police believe the methodical killer does this to buy himself more getaway time by delaying the discovery of the bodies. 'I hope they catch the son of a b****,' Gebeli's son, Mourad said. When Rahmoatollah didn't come home at the usual time Friday his family called the police, who discovered his body. It wasn't not clear if the killer actually took anything, or if the murder was his sole motivation. 'He never had in his whole life one enemy, he didn't have, he was a very . kind man,' his sobbing wife, Naima Rahmatollah, told reporters. Suspect: Following one homicide at a 99 cent store that used the same gun, police released this sketch of the suspect . Saturday he was supposed to be at his grandson’s Bar Mitzvah. Police believe the murderer had been . watching the store in preparation for the attack, noting that he'd . chosen a shop with no security cameras. Issac Kadare, 59, was found dead in his Bensonhurst store at 1877 . 86th St., was shot in the head and stabbed in the neck. Besides owning stores, each victim was of Middle Eastern descent, prompting suspicion the killer could be racially motivated. It appeared nothing was taken from Rahmatollah's shop but both Kadare and Gebeli had money taken from them, and it remains unclear whether robbery is a motive. Unguarded: believe the killer was attracted to the store because, as with previous crime scenes, there were no cameras . Fernando Mateo of the Bodega Association of the U.S. said they were sending copies of the police sketch to their members but were mostly concerned with those fitting the previous victim's description. 'The only members that we would be concerned about are Middle Easterners,' he said. It's also possible the killer has a fascination with numerology, as the address for each homicide includes the number 8: Kadare at 1877 86th St., Gebeli at 7718 5th Ave., and Rahmatollah at 834 Flatbush Ave. None of the stores had working surveillance cameras. Scene: Police believe the killer may have been casing the shop, as it had no security cameras to catch him in the act . Neighbors called Rahmoatollah a 'neighborhood staple.' 'He was a regular guy,' said customer Xanius Patterson. 'He never hurt nobody.' Police are offering $12,000 for any information leading to the killer's arrest and conviction. | Casings from the same .22 caliber handgun found at all three crime scenes .
Killer may have chosen stores based on lack of surveillance cameras .
All three victims are Middle Eastern, prompting fears of racial motivation .
Police offering $12,000 reward for information . |
264,440 | e2807f98bfd68dfc4db03eb163d355ba55ce19a8 | A man has died after falling through a grate on a Brooklyn sidewalk, reports claim. The victim, believed to be a homeless man in his 30s, was walking down Bedford Avenue at 3pm on Sunday when he stepped on the metal trapdoor, which broke beneath his feet. He fell 12 feet into the cellar of an abandoned building. Tragic: A man is believed to have died after falling through this grate on a sidewalk in Brooklyn, New York . Police were seen carrying a dead body out of the basement, according the the New York Daily News. The NYPD has yet to confirm the death. 'The thing just opened. He was walking. He wasn't paying attention,' witness Richie McCray, 50, told the Daily News. 'The thing is loose. And he disappeared.' Horrific: He walked over the abandoned building's metal cellar doors which gave way to a 12ft hole, reports say . | Man, believed to be homeless and in his 30s, stood on grate and it broke .
Fell 12 feet into basement of abandoned building on Brooklyn sidewalk . |
185,518 | 7c4f62bd4a935378e9901b31e83b9c8ec54c52e2 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 09:45 EST, 10 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 13:33 EST, 10 December 2013 . A female after-school aid at a California Catholic school has been arrested and charged for an alleged two-year sexual relationship with a student, which started when the boy was 12. Mia Cummings, 29 - who has worked as a program coordinator at All Saints Catholic School in Hayward since 2005 - has been charged with eight felony counts of child molestation, including oral copulation, forced oral copulation and contacting a minor with the intent to commit a sex crime. Police say they began their investigation on Nov. 18 after being informed of a possible child sexual abuse case by a 'professional' mandated by the state. Mia Cummings, 29, of Oakland, is facing eight felony charges of child molestation over an alleged two year sexual relationship with a male student, starting when the boy was 12 . The boy at the center of the investigation, who is now 14, has told police of at least 10 sexual encounters with Mia Cummings - seen here in a Facebook photo - five of which allegedly occurred on the school campus . Cummings is seen here in a photo from her Facebook, which lists her likes as Skittles, Taylor Swift and the film The Goonies . Mia Cummings, seen here in a photo from her Facebook profile, is being held on a $800,000 bond and has been charged with counts of lewd acts with a child . Hayward police officer Mark Quinn said in a probable cause statement that Cummings supervised the boy - now 14 - while he attended the after-school program and developed a relationship with him when he was 12-years-old. The two would stay in contact by cellphone calls and text messages, according to ABC Local. The boy has told police of at least 10 separate incidents in which Cummings would orally copulate him, Quinn said. Five of the incidents occurred in the school's kitchen when the boy was 12, and five other incidents occurred off campus, including one in Cummings' apartment. Prosecutors alleged that the incidents occurred between Dec. 1, 2011, and November this year. Mia Cummings, 29, has been an after-school program coordinator here, at All Saints Catholic School in Hayward, since 2005. She is said to have first met the victim when he was a 12-year-old student . Cummings was arrested Nov. 26 and booked at the Hayward police jail on multiple felony counts of lewd acts with a child. On her Facebook page, Cummings lists her 'likes' as Skittles candy, Taylor Swift and the film The Goonies. She also watches Law & Order and enjoys In-N-Out Burger. The suspects sister, Utopia Cummings, said her sibling had confided in her about the student long before her arrest. However she never said anything sexual had happened between them. 'This boy has rubbed up against her and she was like ''hey, that is not ok'',' Ms Cummings said. '(She was ) asking me for my advice on what is it she should do in regards to this young man. '(She said) ''I dont want to get him into trouble''.' Family support: Utopia Cummings, sister of the accused, said her sibling admitted she 'didn't want to get the boy in trouble' Mia Cummings was arrested on Nov. 26 following a one-week child abuse investigation by police, who say they were tipped off by a 'professional' mandated by the state . Cummings, of Oakland, remains in custody at the Santa Rita Jail in Dublin and is being held on a $800,000 bond. She is scheduled to return to Alameda County Superior Court in Hayward on Jan. 7 to enter a plea. All Saints Catholic School are yet to comment, however police say they have cooperated with the investigation. Mia Cummings is being held here, at Santa Rita Jail in Dublin, in lieu of a bond of $800,000 . | Mia Cummings, 29, of Oakland, was arrested Nov. 26 and charged with eight counts of lewd acts with a child .
Police allege the after-school program coordinator at All Saints Catholic School in Hayward, California, had a two-year sexual relationship with a student, starting when the boy was 12 .
The boy has told police of 10 separate sexual encounters in which Cummings would have oral sex with him, five of which occurred on campus . |
279,848 | f6863678060eefc2a62d33b5005159df329af7f1 | (CNN) -- Christopher Carlson sprang into action when smoke and embers ushered a fire that threatened to envelop his Noble, Oklahoma, home. After taking his 12-year-old stepson to safety, Carlson raced against time to assist neighbors and try to save his trailer from one of more than a dozen wildfires that, as of Saturday, had destroyed more than 120 structures. "That's what we do in Oklahoma," Carlson told CNN on Saturday from Norman. "We help each other because we are prone to tornadoes, disasters and fires." Conditions across the state remained critical, state officials said, with high temperatures and winds stoked by a cold front. The Noble fire in Cleveland County, south of Oklahoma City, affected about 7,800 acres and had destroyed 25 structures -- including homes and outbuildings -- as of Saturday, officials said. Residents Friday helped shovel dirt around Carlson's residence to protect it from flames. He checked on neighbors to ensure they were aware of the danger. Dressed in flip-flops and shorts, Carlson doused the outside of his home, which eventually lost several rooms to the fire. Carlson, who has asthma, said he suffered minor burns, smoke inhalation and respiratory failure. Fourteen fires were burning Saturday across the state, according to Michelle Finch-Walker, spokeswoman for Oklahoma Forestry Services. Gov. Mary Fallin toured Luther, where at least 56 structures were lost to a 2,600-acre fire. Resident Joe Love told CNN Oklahoma City affiliate KOCO that he stayed in his residence as long as he could. "When I left, the fire was right at my back door," said Love. "I don't know what to think right now. I'm just numb to the whole deal." A fire in Creek County, southwest of Tulsa, had mushroomed to 32,000 acres. Forty structures were reported lost. "Those numbers are going to grow," said Finch-Walker. "It is rolling. It is a big fire." Weather has been a fierce enemy . Six helicopters had been deployed, according to Jerry Lojka, spokesman for the state department of emergency management. Officials were unable to handle additional requests. "This is a repeat of yesterday," Lojka told CNN. "The fires that started to come under control last night are back to full fire." Oklahoma City tied a record of 113 degrees on Friday, and Saturday's reading was expected to be around 107. Oklahoma, like much of the nation, has been locked in an extreme drought, making fire conditions critical. Officials are urging residents to have an evacuation plan ready and to take extreme precautions outdoors, including limited outdoor grilling and not driving vehicles across bone-dry grass. "It doesn't take much to strike a blaze in these conditions," said Finch-Walker. "Once the fire gets into a highly vegetative area with a lot of trees it will create its own wind," Lojka said. Marc Austin, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Norman, said the region will see somewhat better conditions Sunday, but temperatures will stay in the low 100s next week. Rainfall for the year is 2 inches below normal, but the deficit for the summer is 6.2 inches -- meaning most of the rain fell by spring. A cold front in northwestern Oklahoma brought increased wind speeds to an area enduring sweltering temperatures. "It makes for a pretty nasty fire weather scenario," said Austin. Heat, long tours take toll on firefighters . The wildfires posed special challenges for firefighters, many of whom were getting little sleep. Supervisors were closely watching their crews in the searing, wind-fed heat. "They can only fight minutes at a time, come out to drink some water and go back in," said Capt. John Conkling of the Bristow Fire Department, which is helping combat the Creek County blaze near Freedom Hill. "Within 15 minutes your socks are squishing wet," from perspiration, he said. With winds at about 30 miles per hour and a temperature of about 107, the strategy Saturday was to protect homes, he said. "To fight this fire offensively would be dangerous." Still, homes were lost Friday and Saturday. "You want to try to help people and do the best that you can," Conkling said. "Sometimes you have to pull people back and say we can't do this because it is too dangerous." Conkling said a couple firefighters were treated for heat exhaustion. Seven firefighters suffered heat-related injuries Friday in Luther, northeast of Oklahoma City, said Lojka. One of them and a trooper were transported to a hospital for treatment. David Richardson, spokesman for the Midwest City Fire Department in suburban Oklahoma City, said many crews are using lighter-weight and specialty gear in the wildfires. "You've got to rotate those guys out," he said. "You have to look out for their safety." Regan Siler, wife of Bristow firefighter Mike Siler, said Facebook and other forms of social media are getting the word out to communities about how to help neighbors and fire victims. Residents across the affected areas also were donating snacks, water and Gatorade to fire crews. "Everybody has come together to try to help," said Regan Siler. "So many of our friends have lost their homes." CNN's Kara Devlin contributed to this report. | NEW: Firefighters face challenges with extreme heat, winds .
Fourteen fires are burning Saturday in Oklahoma .
At least 120 structures are destroyed .
Strong winds, low humidity and high temperatures take a toll . |
2,045 | 05f6f7186f7a62875dc516ebdf0f99d5fc97e704 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 13:01 EST, 16 July 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 13:14 EST, 16 July 2013 . A reporter who had an affair with Dateline NBC star Chris Hansen has spoken out about what she says is a double standard against women in broadcast media. The outburst comes as 32-year-old Kristyn Caddell released photographs allegedly showing her kissing Hansen, who had previously said reports of the affair had been 'full of hurtful lies'. Miss Caddell claims that she has not been able to find work since their four-month affair was revealed, while Hansen has continued unscathed by the scandal, according to RadarOnline. Caught on camera: Kristyn Caddell says this photo, allegedly showing Chris Hansen and her kissing, proves their relationship . The reporter said she had worked at three stations since the affair was revealed in 2011, but claims she was unable to hold down a job because of the stigma of the relationship. 'No matter what your philosophy is . on someone who has an affair, if it was the man or the woman’s fault, . there are two people involved and if I can’t work, he should not be able . to work,' Miss Caddell told RadarOnline. 'I have lived the double standard,' she . added. 'A double standard is an understatement as to what happens in . this industry. The women get fired and the men keep going.' Miss Caddell met 54-year-old Hansen in Palm Beach, Florida, when she was a news reporter for NBC affiliate WPTV. She claimed he led her to believe his 20-year marriage to Mary Joan was ending and he was therefore able to date. 'I believed him with my heart,' Miss Caddell, who is not married and does not have children, said. 'You can say I was naive, as it was. That was my biggest crime, being naive ... I make one personal mistake and I am [considered] a worthless human being.' Ruined: Kristyn Caddell claims she has been turned down by news networks because of the affair . Denial: When the National Enquirer first revealed the affair, Chris Hansen said the pair were just friends . Hansen, a father who is best known for his show To Catch a Predator, had previously claimed evidence showing his alleged affair was just a picture of him going out to dinner. 'I understand the perceived irony of . the, you know, so-called "gotcha guy" getting gotcha-ed,' he said in March last year. 'But what the "gotcha guy" got gotcha-ed . doing was going out to dinner.' The National Enquirer had revealed the affair after the pair were recorded enjoying a romantic dinner at the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Manalapan, before spending the night at Miss Caddell's Palm Beach apartment. However, in images Miss Caddell has just released, Hansen is shown kissing her. She claims he did not try to hide their relationship at the time, and she believed it was public knowledge before the Enquirer exposed it. 'Chris was flying me all over the . country; putting us up in the finest hotels; having dinner and mingling . with many of his colleagues; having our photographs taken together in . public places ... Chris . gave me no reason at all to believe our relationship was a secret and I . trusted him explicitly,' she said in an open letter to the Enquirer earlier this month. Miss Caddell said she decided to release the images because the affair was still affecting her ability to find work. She told the National Enquirer that potential employers told her they were put off because of the negative publicity surrounding her. 'For the past two . years, I was told that it would be in my best interests not to say . anything. Let it blow over. Just keep trying to truck along and keep . trying to get jobs. “But we . are here two years later and I probably don’t go a day without an . employer tell me they do not want to hire me because of the situation . involving Chris Hansen.' She added: “I . thought by not saying anything, and Chris advised me that it would be in . my best interest not to say anything, that I would continue to go and and . my life would go back to normal. My life has been the exact opposite of . that.' Dreams shattered: Kristyn Caddell says the scandal has ruined her career as a news reporter . The reporter added that she had struggled to break into journalism, and just before the affair, had finally felt like her career was taking off. 'Then, to essentially get taken down, because of a man, who has a lot of money and a lot of fame, it is not a good feeling. That is what happened to me,' she said. Hansen has previously claimed the pair were no more than friends, according to Fox News. | Kristyn Caddell says news stations are put off by 'negative publicity'
Reporter releases pictures of her kissing NBC star to 'prove' relationship . |
101,979 | 0f6cc99c6633fd4425221e354b780605ef22893d | TOKYO, Japan (CNN) -- Police found three men dead in a car parked outside a spa Monday morning -- the latest in a string of suicides involving detergent, officials said. According to local media reports, more than 60 people have committed suicide across Japan in the last month by mixing detergent and other chemicals, and inhaling the hydrogen sulfide gas that results. A passerby discovered the bodies of the three men in Tamioka, north of Tokyo, police said. In western Japan, police found a 21-year-old man with a plastic bag over his head Monday. A police officer in Suma, where the body was found, said authorities found detergent containers by the foot of the man. They suspect the man may have inhaled the toxic gas after mixing them in the bag. Earlier this month, police in Japan had asked Internet service providers to take down the recipe for the detergent mix. Even before the spate of recent suicides, Japan had one of the highest rates of suicide in the world. In early May, police evacuated about 350 people from their homes on the island of Hokkaido after a neighbor mixed detergent and chemicals to kill himself. The two most recent cases did not require the evacuation of the neighborhoods where they occurred. In some cases, officials had to order residents to leave because the resulting gas from the detergent mix can sicken people. CNN's Yoko Wakatsuki contributed to this report . | Police found three men dead in a car parked outside a spa Monday morning .
More than 60 people have committed suicide across Japan in the last month .
Police say string of 'detergent suicides' encouraged by Internet sites .
Japan has one of the highest suicide rates in the world . |
243,258 | c6d29fbb0c072187d58cf1eb6b83d080cb905b20 | (CNN)The combination is lethal and becoming all too familiar: a long criminal record, easy access to weapons, a loathing of the countries where they were born and deep-seated anti-Semitism. So it was with the perpetrators of the Paris attacks. Now, it appears to fit the description of the man who killed two people in Denmark at the weekend. Danish police describe him as 22 years of age, born in Denmark, with a violent past, connections with gangs and weapons offenses. Jens Madsen, head of the Danish Security and Intelligence Service (PET), said investigators were "operating under a theory" the attack could have been inspired by last month's attacks in Paris, which were also aimed at cartoonists. Carsten Ellegaard Christensen, national security reporter at the Danish newspaper Jyllands Posten, told CNN the gunman was on the radar of Danish police and PET for gang-related activity but not extremism, according to his security sources. The gunman had recently spent time in jail for a knife attack. "There is a closer nexus between immigrant criminal gangs and violent extremists in Denmark than anywhere else," says Magnus Ranstorp of the Swedish National Defence College. "This interface makes violent extremists more dangerous as they are able to switch between roles and skill-sets and have easier access to illicit weapons on the underground market." The so-called "Nordic biker war" of the 1990s saw gang members in Denmark and Sweden attack each other with automatic weapons, grenades, and explosive devices. Morten Storm, a former Danish jihadist, moved from being part of a biker gang to Islamist extremism to spying for Western intelligence. He says that belonging to gangs and extremist groups had made him feel he belonged to a "band of brothers." In 2012, a convicted drug trafficker and gang leader -- known as Big A -- traveled to Syria to take up arms against the Assad regime. His real name was Abderozzak Benarabe. The subject of a TV documentary last year by Nagieb Khaja, Benarabe returned to Copenhagen where he allegedly raised some $75,000 for the cause. He is now in prison after conviction on aggravated assault charges unrelated to terrorism. There is a long history of jihadist activism in Denmark, and intelligence officials believe at least 110 Danes, both converts to Islam and Muslims since birth, have traveled to Syria and Iraq. Some estimates put the number as high as 200. At least 16 Danes have been killed in Syria and Iraq, according to PET, including 2 women. Last year, ISIS claimed several Danish suicide bombers had carried out attacks in Iraq, including Abu Khattab al Denmarki, said to have carried out an attack in Diyala province, and Abu Sa'ad al Denmarki, who detonated a car bomb close to an Iraqi military convoy near Mosul. It is believed as many as 70 Danish nationals have returned from Syria to Denmark. Within Denmark, according to PET's latest assessment, there are "people who sympathize with militant Islamism, but have not been in the conflict zone." They may be "inspired by individuals or groups in the conflict zone or elsewhere abroad," a danger heightened by Denmark's participation in the international coalition against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS). Recent postings on jihadist forums have singled out Denmark as a target. One entitled "O Lone Wolves, You who Reside Among the Infidels, Your Turn has Come," and posted last month, urged "sons of Islam, in Europe, America, Australia, France, and Denmark" to "light fires beneath their feet." "Developments in the Middle East in general, including in the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, increase the threat of attack in the West against Israeli or Jewish targets," PET warned. A number of jihadist conspiracies in Denmark have been foiled in recent years, but early in 2013 a man tried to shoot the writer Lars Hedegaard, a prominent critic of Islam, at his home in Copenhagen. Hedegaard was not injured, but his assailant escaped on foot. Among scores of Danish jihadists to have traveled overseas in recent years was Mustapha Darwich Ramadan, who had spent time in prison for armed robbery in the 1990s. He eventually traveled to Iraq where he joined al Qaeda. Ramadan took part in the beheading of the American Nick Berg in 2004 before being killed fighting U.S. forces in Fallujah. Much more recently, according to Flashpoint Partners, a group that tracks jihadist activity, a Danish national called Abu Ikramah Al-Pakistani was killed in Anbar Province, Iraq. He was not the first to make the journey. In August 2013, a group of Danes in Syria released a video in which they fired at pictures of six Danish "kuffar attacking Islam" -- among them Anders Fogh Rasmussen, the Secretary-General of NATO, Morten Storm, and the cartoonist Kurt Westergaard. Denmark has been the focus of militants' anger since the newspaper Jyllands Posten published Westergaard's cartoon of the Prophet Mohammed in 2005. In an edition of its online magazine, Inspire, al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula called for the murder of Westergaard -- as well as Carsten Luste, the editor of the paper when the cartoons were published, and Lars Vilks, the Swedish cartoonist who was attending the free speech forum in Copenhagen that was attacked at the weekend. Westergaard is under police protection in Denmark after a conspiracy to murder him was uncovered in 2008, and a 28-year old Somali believed to have ties to Al-Shabaab tried to kill him in 2010. In 2012, three Swedish nationals and a Tunisian resident of Sweden were found guilty of targeting Jyllands Posten in an al Qaeda plot. Prosecutors accused the four suspects of planning a gun attack on the newspaper, to be followed by "the execution" of hostages. They had been tracked from Sweden and arrested in Copenhagen in a joint operation between Swedish and Danish intelligence. Denmark has a large immigrant population from the Muslim world -- including Palestinians, Turks, Somalis, Bosnians, Moroccans and Tunisians. While the vast majority have integrated peacefully, a small fraction of "second generation" immigrants -- as in France -- have adopted militant Salafism, especially in Odense, Aaarhus and parts of the capital. In 2010, one counterterrorism expert, Michael Taarnby, told CNN that out of Denmark's population of some 18,000 Somalis, there were at least 300 sympathizers of Al-Shabaab, the jihadist group in Somalia that is now an affiliate of al Qaeda. "Those attracted are usually quite young -- there's the usual issue of a clash of cultures, of being stuck between east Africa and Scandinavia and not knowing where they belong," Taarnby told CNN. That clash of cultures threatens to shed more blood on the streets of Europe's major cities. | Denmark has a long history of jihadist activism .
Denmark has a large immigrant population from the Muslim world .
As many as 70 Danish nationals may have returned from Syria to Denmark . |
168,961 | 6693e29c8abd4b6c923cf50ac809195d859b1d50 | In the year that has seen the likes of Liam Neeson, Tom Cruise and Sean Penn all reveal their toned torsos, there has been a dramatic rise in the number of male patients in their fifties and sixties seeking cosmetic treatment in order to achieve a more defined, muscular physique at a later stage in life. One such man is 54-year-old Donovan Nelson, who has undergone laser liposuction and pec implants to keep up with his 33-year-old wife. Donovan from Braintree, Essex, was once in very good . shape – exercising regularly and eating healthily – but nevertheless he . struggled to maintain a body that was toned and muscular through . exercise alone. Honed to perfection: 54-year-old Donovan underwent a new type of lipo called VASER so that he could keep up with his 33-year-old girlfriend . In his younger days Donovan, who owns his own marketing company, was better able to achieve . the results he wanted but after starting a family and living a busy . working life, he struggled to maintain a lifestyle that was active . enough to give him the body he wanted. Donovan’s wife Anna is also 21 years . his junior and so the pressure to look fit and in shape alongside her . was even larger because of this age gap. In the end he resorted to a treatment called VASER high def . at The Private Clinic, performed by Dr Mike Comins. The treatment was . carried out under local anaesthetic and involved melting away the . unwanted fat and removing it via a tiny canula. Maintenance: Donovan struggled to maintain a lifestyle that was active enough to give him the body he wanted alongside his younger wife . Dr Comins targets the . underlying fat during the procedure and suctions it out around the . musculature to create a more defined, finished result. Speaking to MailOnline, Donovan said: 'You can only go so far with exercise and at my age it's much harder to keep the weight off. 'I do a lot of cardio but it's hard to shift the fat in certain areas, especially after a certain age. 'The good thing about this treatment is it's targeted weight loss off the area you want to lose it from. I had love handles and fat below my pecs and I wanted to get rid of it.' He underwent the treatment six months ago and it set him back £10,000 but he maintains that it was worth every penny. Before and after: The candid photographs show the before (L) and after (R) effects of the £10,000 treatment . He said: 'Now I feel so much more confident and I love walking around without my top on. 'I like to go to Ibiza every summer for a few days and dance with my top . off - being over 50 it's hard to dance around with your top off unless . you're in good shape. 'I would say to other men, try and get in shape through exercise first, . but if that doesn't work then perhaps surgery is a better option. Also, . the amount it costs is a good incentive to keep it off.' Staying in shape: Donovan maintains his great shape with Muy Thai boxing and weight training 4-5 times each week . He said: 'I do get told I look very young for my . age. I once got stopped at passport control as the officer didn't . believe it was me, because of my age.' He also had a pec implant a few years ago and is keen to have more treatment on his lower abdomen next as he wants more definition there. And it seems that Donovan isn't alone in his quest for more definition. The number of men above the age of 50 who have undergone the non-surgical alternative to liposuction at The Private Clinic of Harley Street has increased by more than 110 per cent in the past two years. Now, almost 20 per cent of the total number of men who undergo VASER at the clinic are above the age of 50. Confidence: He says he feels so much more confident with his new shape and loves taking his shirt off in Ibiza . Experts have put this increase down to a more open attitude to cosmetic surgery amongst men, together with the presence of older males in the public eye - from heads of industry and politicians to actors and musicians - who are today being photographed looking fit and well later in life. Dr Mike Comins, cosmetic doctor at The Private Clinic, who has performed more VASER treatments than any other practitioner in the UK, said: 'Some four-five years ago the average age of a patient who came to me expressing an interest in VASER was around 30 years old. At that time it was incredibly rare for men in their 50s and 60s to seek the treatment. 'Now a considerable proportion of the males I treat are 50 or older, which demonstrates a dramatic change in attitude towards cosmetic treatment. Not alone: Donovan isn't alone is his quest for greater abs, the Private Clinic have been a 110 per cent surge in men seeking the treatment . 'There are a number of reasons I would attribute to the rise in numbers. A lot of the men I treat have exercised regularly and maintained a healthy diet their whole lives in order to remain in shape. 'When these men reach their mid fifties and their metabolism begins to slow, they struggle to maintain that physique but they are not prepared to give up the body that they desire. 'I’m also increasingly aware that captains of industry are taking a much greater interest in their general health, fitness and physical appearance. 'The image of a senior male figure in business today is very different to what it was some 10-15 years ago. Trim and toned: With age, Donovan, who owns his own marketing company, couldn't maintain his physique so this was perfect for him . 'Gone are the days where men can afford not to care about the way they look and their physical health and fitness. Now these men are in the public eye and they care a great deal about looking and feeling fit and healthy beyond the age of fifty. 'For these individuals, treatments like VASER can go hand in hand with regular exercise, to help ensure that they look and feel fitter and younger. 'VASER is also far more suitable for these patients than traditional liposuction because it involves very little downtime, allowing the patient to get back to their day to day working routine almost immediately.' Facts taken from theprivateclinic.co.uk . | Donovan Nelson, 54, sought treatment to enhance his body as it became harder to maintain with age .
He underwent VASER treatment, which involved melting away the unwanted fat and draining it .
Cost him £10,000 but feels 'so much happier' with new body and loves dancing with top off in Ibiza . |
109,985 | 19c7edffa3f0fc46b0e842b97b1a0b081686cf63 | The Bank of England (BoE) has suggested that they may consider rolling out their own digital currency at some point in the future. They highlighted the importance of digital currencies like Bitcoin, and say it could become as common as modern banknotes. But they warn that there are a number of problems - and if consumers flocked to digital currencies, it might leave high street lenders devoid of customers. The Bank of England has suggested it could 'mint' a digital currency. In a discussion paper it highlighted the benefits of currencies like Bitcoin (shown). It said this could eradicate the need for a third party - a bank. But a central bank would still be needed to regulate the currency . One of the benefits of using digital currencies is that a third party - such as a bank - is not necessarily needed to complete a transaction. This reduces some of the steps needed to securely transfer money - but the BoE notes that a means of controlling the digital currency would still be needed. Bitcoin is a distributed peer-to-peer digital currency that functions without any central authority, such as the Bank of England. The currency was launched in 2009 and is traded within a global network of computers. Bitcoins can be bought with near anonymity, which supporters say lowers fraud risk and increases privacy. But critics say that also makes Bitcoins a magnet for drug transactions, money-laundering and other illegal activities. However, a huge jump in value of Bitcoins in 2013 allowed some to reap huge rewards. For example a Bitcoin investor, Norwegian Kristoffer Koch, made more than half a million pounds in 2013 after he forgot he bought £17 ($26) of currency four years before. ‘The emergence of private digital currencies (such as Bitcoin) has shown that it is possible to transfer value securely without a trusted third party,’ said the Bank of England in a discussion paper. They added that while existing private digital currencies ‘have economic flaws which make them volatile,’ the process through which Bitcoins are ‘minted’ shows promise. This is known as the blockchain, where computers must work out the next line in a sequence of code with increasing difficulty to release more bitcoins. There is no process of actual minting, though - rather, the entire system relies on the steady progress of computers to ‘mine’ bitcoins and release them into the market. But a system would need to be devised that allowed a digital currency like this to be controlled. In a scenario where a digital currency is proposed by the BoE, the Bank would create its own digital currencies, and make them available just as they do with banknotes. The Bank of England highlighted the importance of digital currencies like Bitcoin, and said it could become as common as modern banknotes (stock image shown). But they warn that there are a number of problems - and if consumers flocked to digital currencies, it might leave high street lenders devoid of customers . ‘There are several different ways in which a central bank might make use of a digital currency,’ the BoE said. ‘It could be used as a new way of undertaking interbank settlement, or it could be made available to a wider range of banks and NBFIs [non-bank financial institutions]. ‘In principle, it might also be made available to non-financial firms and individuals generally, as banknotes are today.’ In a tweet the chancellor George Osborne said: ‘Good that @bankofengland looking into digital currencies - need to ensure UK customers benefit from new tech.’ The BoE notes there are a number of unanswered questions about digital currencies that need to be answered before it can be rolled out. These include the impact they would have on existing payment systems, and how regular bank would compete with digital currencies. The BoE warned that consumers may choose to hold all their money in electric money, rather than using high-street lenders, if it ultimately proved successful. And they have not yet put a timeline on when a Bitcoin clone could be introduced. | The Bank of England has suggested it could mint a digital currency .
In a discussion paper it highlighted the benefits of currencies like Bitcoin .
It said this could eradicate the need for a third party - such as a bank .
But a central bank would still be needed to regulate the currency .
There are a number of unanswered questions to be solved, however .
And one problem could see consumers ditch their high street banks . |
166,773 | 63a64851c321945977eda32d7bbb358029192515 | By . Luke Garratt . PUBLISHED: . 05:55 EST, 22 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 06:31 EST, 22 January 2014 . The driver of the car that killed a Salford scientist in Australia in 2012 was high on drugs and driving the stolen car at more than 160mph, and has pleaded guilty to two counts on manslaughter in Western Australia's Supreme Court. Antony Edward Fogarty, 24, was driving with a suspended licence when he sped through a red light and hit a taxi in October 2012. British tourist Dr Sean Barrett, 36, and his taxi driver Kuldeep Singh, 28, were both killed instantly less than an hour after Barrett had arrived in Australia. Scroll down for video . Salford scientist Sean Barrett who was killed by a car crash less than an hour after he touched down in Australia . Antony Edward Fogarty (Taken from his facebook) The Supreme Court heard how Fogarty drove dangerously and recklessly across suburban Perth streets for at least half an hour before the crash, reaching speeds of up to 171 kilometres-an-hour in 60 kph zones. The court heard that Fogarty ran a succession of red lights while driving at more than twice the speed limit, with blood tests showing that he was high on a combination of cannabis, amphetamines and methylamphetamines, as well as being intoxicated when the stolen Toyota 4x4 crashed into the taxi. The court heard how Fogarty had climbed . out of the wreckage of the car following the crash with a broken leg, . only to tell witnesses that he had not been behind the wheel of the car. A police helicopter had followed his car, but lost sight of the car when Fogarty switched off the headlights. Police patrol cars had originally chased the stolen . Toyota FJ Cruiser, but had dropped back, deciding the pursuit was too dangerous. Assistant . police Commissioner Gary Budge said the police aborted the chase 'a long, long way from where the crash occurred.' While he didn't admit his guilt to the police, he was recorded on the phone in prison admitting to his family that he was responsible. Dr Barrett, a doctor of quantum physics who worked at Imperial College London, had traveled to Australia to speak at a physics conference, and had planned to spend two weeks in Perth following the engagement. But at the time of his death he had only been in the country for 20 minutes. Perth, Australia, where Dr Barrett was headed to in a taxi when he died . The British tourist who was 36, died less than an hour after touching down in Australia, in a taxi to Perth from the airport . His mother, speaking at her home in Whalley Range in Manchester, said: 'Everybody loved him and had great respect for the work he was doing. 'He was renowned in his field even though he was only 36. 'He had an awful lot of papers published and would've gone on to do more great things.' His family paying tribute to him at the time of his death, said: 'Sean was a brilliant mind, and a brilliant man. 'Anyone who had the pleasure to meet him in physics and beyond would tell you that. 'He was a charismatic man who had the rare gift to light up any room. 'He is a loss to science, and to life. 'He was cut short in his prime.' | Driver high on a medley of different drugs when he crashed, court heard .
Was driving stolen car with a suspended licence at twice the speed limit .
Pleaded guilty to two counts of manslaughter following taped confession .
British man was renowned quantum physicist with many published papers . |
157,018 | 5705372c67c80de0e2468605ddddba55473e535d | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 12:42 EST, 20 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 13:22 EST, 20 May 2013 . Arrest: Chad Johnson has been arrested in Florida for allegedly violating his probation . Former NFL wide receiver Chad Johnson has been arrested for violating his probation stemming from a charge that he head-butted his wife last year. Johnson, 35, turned himself in to authorities in Broward County, Florida on Monday after a warrant was put out for his arrest earlier this month. It came after he failed to report to his probation officer on two separate occasions and failed to show proof of his enrollment in a domestic violence education class, police said. He was arrested last August after his wife Evelyn Lozada claimed that he head-butted her after she confronted him about a receipt she found for a box of condoms. The 38-year-old reality star was treated at a nearby hospital for a cut to her forehead and Johnson was charged with simple battery, domestic violence. He was dropped from the Miami . Dolphins the day after his arrest, but he avoided jail time after . striking a plea deal with prosecutors. He was placed on 12-months probation . and ordered to attend domestic violence awareness classes after pleading . no contest to the misdemeanour charge on September 21. Held: Johnson turned himself in to authorities in Broward County after a warrant was put out for his arrest . On Monday, Johnson, who was formerly known as Chad Ochocinco, appeared in a Broward County courtroom and a judge found he was in violation of his probation, TMZ reported. He has now been ordered to stay behind bars until he posts $1,000 bond and another hearing has been set for June 3. Following the alleged altercation on August 11, Lozada, who features on the show 'Basketball Wives', promptly filed for divorce - just 41 days after their wedding. Johnson later revealed that he was taking anger management classes following the incident. He told Showtime's Inside the NFL: 'I'm trying to find out how can I channel my anger when I'm in situations to where I would pop off.' Happier times: The probation stems from an arrest last year after he allegedly head-butted his then wife Evelyn Lozada, pictured with Johnson left in January 2011 and at their wedding in July 2012 . Wedding: The couple are seen dancing on their wedding day last year - 41 days before their divorce . Despite their rocky past, the former couple were seen holding hands on their way to a fan appreciation dinner in honour of Johnson in January. And in February, Lozada revealed she’s still trying to heal from the relationship. 'We don’t communicate at all,' she said. 'We’re not at that point. Both of us are doing a whole lot of healing and soul searching and working on ourselves. I know I am and I hear that he is as well. 'We still do love each other. We were in a tough relationship and at times toxic. It’s still every emotional for the both of us,' she added. Since their break up, Johnson been seen frolicking with a several different women, including chef Lauren Popeil. Moving on: Johnson has been linked to other women since the split including chef Lauren Popeil . | NFL wide-receiver 'failed to report to his probation officer and did not complete domestic violence education class'
Probation stems from August 2012 arrest for 'headbutting his wife'
Evelyn Lozada filed for divorce soon after - just 41 days after they wed . |
219,219 | a7be0652ead3971dd5e167046add4ea5ab0ba6e7 | (CNN) -- Authorities late Sunday located a 14-year-old kidney transplant patient who was taken by her father from a St. Louis hospital, where she was undergoing medical treatment, a police spokeswoman said. Brittany Jones was located at a hospital in Milwaukee hours after she was seen leaving her room at Cardinal Glennon Children's Medical Center with her father, said Katy O'Sullivan of the St. Louis Police Department. O'Sullivan said the girl's father, Dana Jones, was with her at the Milwaukee hospital. Hours earlier, St. Louis authorities issued an abduction alert for Jones, warning she was in grave danger if she did not receive a scheduled medical treatment. Jones, who underwent a transplant in 2010, was placed in the custody of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services after her doctors determined she was not getting adequate care for her condition at home, O'Sullivan said. Dana Jones is believed to have taken his daughter around 2 p.m. Sunday from the St. Louis hospital, where according to surveillance footage he was seen removing her IV, walking her out of the hospital and driving off with her in his car, O'Sullivan said. | NEW: Brittany Jones, 14, and her father have been located at a Wisconsin hospital, police say .
NEW: An abduction alert was issued for Jones after she was taken from a St. Louis hospital, police say .
Jones, who underwent a kidney transplant in 2010, was in the custody of Illinois child protective services . |
224,499 | aeae25762503094d4089707a9ff0050b40d3052f | Dramatic new details have emerged of how the hero Sergeant-at-Arms dived onto the floor from behind a pillar and shot the Muslim convert who attacked the Canadian parliament. Kevin Vickers was in his office when he heard masked gunman Michael Zehaf-Bibeau fire a flurry of bullets while running down the Hall of Honour towards the doors to the Parliamentary Library. He immediately picked up his firearm, left his office and hid behind a pillar just an 'arm's length' from where the shooter was hiding. Apparently he could see the barrel of Bibeau's gun as he stood, waiting. Scroll down for videos . Hero: Sergeant-at-Arms Kevin Vickers, pictured shaking hands with Canadian prime Minister Stephen Harper, was in his office when he heard masked gunman Michael Zehaf-Bibeau fire a flurry of bullets . Pictured receiving a standing ovation from Canadian MPs this week, he immediately picked up his firearm, left his office and hid behind a killer just an 'arm's length' after from where the shooter was hiding. His security team ran down the hall, warning him that the suspect was hiding in the alcove around the corner. Sources said after Mr Vickers knew he had killed the shooter, he calmly returned to his office to reload, in case there was any further threat. The vital actions from Mr Vickers, who has been labelled a 'hero' by his peers, all took place while the Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper hid in a cupboard inside the Conservative caucus. Mr Vickers went to the door, identified himself then took the microphone at the front of the room . During the ordeal, MPs sharpened flagpoles to use as spears and barricaded the doors while Muslim convert Michael Zehaf-Bibeau exchanged dozens of shots with guards inside Canada's Parliament building. He fatally shot Corporal Nathan Cirillo, a 24-year-old father, as he stood guard at the War Memorial in Ottowa on Wednesday morning. Zehaf-Bibeau fatally shot Corporal Nathan Cirillo, a 24-year-old father, as he stood guard at the memorial . Politicians have now returned to the city's Parliament Hill complex, where Mr Harper said the Canadian government would 'be vigilant' to threats but 'not run scared'. 'We will always stand together,' Mr Harper said, vowing to push on with tougher security laws. 'They need to be much strengthened, and I assure you, Mr Speaker, that work which is already under way will be expedited.' Harper was in parliament when the attack began, addressing members of his party on the increased terror threat to Canada. In a televised address to the nation, he said: 'We will not be intimidated. Canada will never be intimidated. 'This week's events are a grim reminder that Canada is not immune to the types of terrorist attacks we have seen elsewhere around the world,' 'We are also reminded that attacks on our security personnel and our institutions of governance are by their very nature attacks on our country, on our values, on our society, on us Canadians as a free and democratic people who embrace human dignity for all.' One source told the Globe and Mail that MPs had flanked the doors of their meeting room, preparing to attack the gunman with sharpened flagpoles. 'These guys were up there holding these spears ready to impale anyone who came in,' the source said. A man identified by Royal Canadian Mounted Police as Michael Zehaf-Bibeau is seen on October 22 as he leaves a car and runs toward the parliament buildings . Cirillo is raced to an ambulance after he was fatally shot in the abdomen by a gunman as he stood guard at the National War Memorial . Ottawa police said there were shootings at the War Memorial and at the Canadian Parliament . Mr Harper was placed in a cupboard - described as little more than a 'cubbyhole' in the Centre Block after the gunfire rang out, the report said. The Globe and Mail's source said many MPs had no idea the prime minister was still in the building. Foreign Minister John Baird said there were no substantiated claims yet that Zehaf-Bibeau was associated with Islamic State. He said he was 'tremendously concerned about the number of Canadians who are radicalised and are fighting in Syria or Iraq, but we don't have any evidence to link the two at this stage'. 'Reports suggest that well in excess of 100 Canadians have gone to fight jihad in the Middle East and that's a huge concern.' Mr Baird also said Zehaf-Bibeau could have done much more damage than he did. 'For several minutes it was complete horror, complete terror, we didn't know whether the door was going to be kicked in, whether there was one or a group of people.' Canada's prime minister vowed the country would 'not be intimidated' after a Muslim convert stormed parliament and killed a soldier . | Kevin Vickers was in his office when he heard the gunman's shots .
Michael Zehaf-Bibeau was running down the Hall of Honour at the time .
Sergeant-at-Arms immediately grabbed his side arm and ran outside .
Hid behind a pillar and was just an 'arm's length' away from the gunman .
The 53-year-old then dived onto the floor and shot and killed the suspect .
Prime Minister Stephen Harper hid in a cupboard nearby .
Vickers was hailed as a hero by Canadian MPs earlier this week . |
58,997 | a765ec7ceaea44e89f319a12491dfcd2dccd1262 | By . Ian Drury . PUBLISHED: . 14:09 EST, 17 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 14:14 EST, 17 November 2013 . Support: Major General Ed Davis said the Armed Forces still has a 'duty of care' towards Marine A and his family . Britain's top commando has vowed to stand by the sergeant convicted of executing a severely-wounded Taliban prisoner, declaring: 'Once a marine, always a marine.' Major General Ed Davis risked a clash with military top brass by issuing the message of support on the day the 39-year-old - identified only as Marine A - was found guilty of murder. His comments to the 8,300-strong Royal Marines are at odds with those from General Sir Nick Houghton, the head of the Armed Forces, who said there should be 'no leniency' for Marine A because of his 'heinous crime'. Maj Gen Davis, who led 3 Commando Brigade in Afghanistan at the time when the unknown captive was shot dead, said: 'We will hold true to our duty of care and responsibility for this member of the corps family, and his family, as he serves out his sentence. 'Our mantra of "once a marine, always a marine" is not conditional.' His stance was revealed as a poll revealed that more people believed the commando should be treated with clemency than thought he should receive a mandatory life sentence for the murder. Some 47 per cent of those quizzed by ICM agreed that Marine A should be given a shorter sentence because 'the law should make an exception for a soldier serving on the frontline'. However, 35 per cent think he should receive the full life term. Maj Gen Davis is under pressure from his officers to submit statements of mitigation to the court martial when Marine A is sentenced next month DEC. Some commanders in the marines want him to be treated like soldiers convicted of killing civilians in Northern Ireland during the Troubles, who were not dismissed from the military. This would allow the sergeant, who serves with 42 Commando, to receive his salary and his family to retain other perks. A Royal Marines officer said: 'If Marine A's family are evicted from their home and forced on to benefits, it will make them victims and cause an outcry.' Charged: Maine A was found guilty of murder after footage capturing the death of a Taliban insurgent was unearthed . His unit commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Neil Sutherland, is expected to submit an 'operational effectiveness impact statement' to the court setting out Marine A's chances of returning to duty after completing his sentence. A defence source said: 'These are usually the key to dissuading military judges from issuing sentences demanding dismissal from service, so it is very important whether the chain of command of Royal Marines says he has a future in uniform.' Marine A killed the insurgent in September 2011 near the end of a 'tour from hell', during which 23 servicemen from 3 Commando Brigade were killed and the Taliban hung the blown off limbs of maimed British troops in trees as 'trophies'. He shot the unknown man in the chest at close range with a 9mm pistol, then taunted him: 'Shuffle off this mortal coil, you c***.' His badly injured victim had been found with an AK47 assault rifle and grenade after an Apache helicopter blitzed him with cannon fire following an attack on a British base. Harrowing film and audio recordings of the 'field execution' in a cornfield, captured on a helmet-mounted camera worn by a comrade, were played to a court martial. Marine A denied murder, claiming he thought the insurgent was already dead. His co-accused, known as Marine B and C, were cleared of the charge. Short sentence: Major General Julian Thompson who led the elite commandos in the Falklands War, has called for leniency when Marine A is sentenced . The commando, a 15-year veteran who had done six tours of Northern Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan, was found guilty after a two-and-a-half week trial. He is the first serviceman to be convicted of murder on active service abroad since the Second World War. Several retired commanders, including Major General Julian Thompson, who led the elite commandos in the Falklands War, have called for leniency when Marine A is sentenced. Supporters believe the seven-strong board of military personnel who decide his fate must take into account the unimaginable horror, stress and provocation he endured in the weeks leading up to the killing. | Major General Ed Davis gave his support the day Marine A was convicted .
Risked a clash with the head of Armed Forces who wants 'no leniency'
Convicted soldier shot a Taliban insurgent in 2011 during a 'tour from hell' |
187,507 | 7ed351ca693b8b757117d86bf43b0967b1d6158c | New York (CNN) -- A religious mural depicting two military servicemen was unveiled Sunday after 60 years hidden away. The painting was unveiled at the historic St. Peter's Chelsea church in Manhattan just in time for Veterans Day. In 1946, St. Peter's installed the painting by Ted Witonski, titled "Our Lord Blessing a Soldier and a Sailor." It features two men in uniform kneeling before Jesus. The congregation decided in 1954 to cover the painting because of its militaristic themes, according to a news release from the parish. Witonski ahd enlisted the day after the attack on Pearl Harbor and quickly rose to the rank of colonel during World War II, his son, Peter Witonski, told CNN. Back from the war, Witonski found a home at St. Peter's. "He simply wanted to show that Americans won the war. And here they are, having won the war not going out and getting drunk but kneeling down and praying," Peter Witonski said. The decision to cover the painting came sometime after Witonski moved away, his son told CNN. Witonski had no idea that the painting was hidden under a curtain, his son added. "I think he would have been hurt," Peter Witonski said. "It was a labor of love. He did not charge money for it," Ted Witonski died in the 1970s at the age of 65, according to his son. Witonski produced a large body of art, and his work is exhibited by a number of prestigious institutions, according to his son. Witonski is not the only one that did not know about his mural being hidden; most of the current congregation was surprised by the announcement of the unveiling, said parishioner Jennifer Maguire. Once the congregation found out the painting exists, people started peaking under the curtain to glimpse it, said Maguire. Maguire, who has been attending St. Peter's for 16 years, only learned about the painting when she volunteered to help take a survey of the church's artwork. After some research, Maguire learned the painter was a respected artist. The interim pastor, Stephen Harding, told CNN that when he found out about the hidden work, he immediately thought to unveil it. Harding said he hopes that being able to see the work will give people an opportunity to think about the history of the parish and the nation. Peter Witonski told CNN he is looking forward to seeing the painting again after so much time. "I feel that my father will be watching, somehow," he said. | Ted Witonski painted a mural for St. Peter's Chelsea in 1946 .
It shows two servicemen kneeling before Jesus Christ .
The church covered it in 1954, deemed it too militaristic .
It will be unveiled Sunday, the day before Veterans Day . |
66,594 | bce0da392c8c3f07b362afede6b29f5e4cdeee46 | By . Nick Pisa . A wanted Mafia cop killer has been captured by detectives as he sunned himself on a beach. Massimiliano Sestito, 42, was held along with an accomplice after a six week undercover investigation following a tip off. Sestito had been released on parole but failed to return to prison after being convicted of the shooting of police officer Renato Lio, who was gunned down by the mobster when he failed to stop at a police roadblock. Massimiliano Sestito, a Mafia cop killer was arrested in his trunks as he sunbathed on a beach in southern Italy . Holidaymakers looked on stunned as Sestito, dressed only in a pair of swimming trunks, was surrounded by armed police who broke cover on the beach at Centola near Palinuro in southern Italy. Initially he tried to claim police had the wrong man and showed them a false identity card but the ruse failed and he was arrested and taken to a nearby police station, along another man he was with. Last month he was released on parole from a prison near Rome but failed to report into police as ordered and instead went on the run . Police released a picture of him sitting on a towel in his trunks and in handcuffs as an officer stood by. He was originally sentenced to life but this was reduced to 30 years for the 1991 cop killing and is still said to be a key figure in the Calabrian Mafia known as the 'ndrangheta and he is suspected of several other Mafia related crimes such as extortion, racketeering, drug trafficking and he was also the prime suspect in another murder and a further attempted murder. Last month he was released on parole from a prison near Rome but failed to report into police as ordered and instead went on the run - and thought he would be safe soaking up the rays on the beach. One holidaymaker said: 'It was like a scene from a film - one minute everyone was enjoying the suns and the sea, the next there were armed police everywhere screaming at these two guys in their trunks to get down. 'They tried to tell the police they had the wrong people but it didn't work - they put handcuffs on them and took them away. It's not something you see everyday at the beach.' When officers searched the home of the second man arrested, Antonio Gallo, they arrested his mother Anna and also seized original documents in Sestito's name and they were charged with assisting hm in avoiding capture. A police spokesman in Rome said: 'We received information that Sesito was hiding out in the south of Italy and passed it to colleagues based there. 'A surveillance operation was launched and Sestito was tracked down to the beach where he was arrested. He obviously thought he was safe but he was very wrong. He was very surprised to see us and after initially trying to climb he was someone else he was arrested. Holidaymakers looked on stunned as Sestito, dressed only in a pair of swimming trunks, was surrounded by armed police who broke cover on the beach at Centola near Palinuro in southern Italy . 'He has been convicted of murdering a police officer in 1991 and other mafia related crimes and even though he has been in prison the feeling is he has still exerted influence in organised crime circles. He is suspected of ordering a murder earlier this year of a rival in Rome and is also the prime suspect in another attempted murder.' Rome police chief Fulvio della Rocca said: 'This was an excellent operation and I congratulate all those officers involved. They were all highly professional - the man arrested is a key figure within the 'ndrangheta who are spreading their influence across Rome.' It is not the first time that a wanted mobster has been arrested on a beach - last year crime boss Roberto Mattalone was also captured at the seaside near the southern port city of Reggio Calabria after two years on the run, as he read a book on police anti mafia operations. | Massimiliano Sestito, 42, held after six week undercover investigation .
He and accomplice captured by police following a tip off .
Renato Lio was gunned down by mobster in 1991 at a road block . |
210,253 | 9c4d9d8fb692c97b41990756e263bcaccbfce3b1 | Paranoid about looking like a frump in your gym kit? Look away now. Victoria's Secret model Karlie Kloss has just been unveiled as the new face of Nike and shows off her enviable figure and natural glow in the campaign imagery. Wearing her hair in a messy bun with barely a scrap of make-up on, Karlie displays her toned ballerina's body all while modelling the sportswear brand's AW14 range. Scroll down for video . Abs-olutely stunning: Karlie Kloss has opened up about her grueling fitness regime, admitting that her SoulCycle instructor 'usually calls her out' because she tends to be 'one beat off of the rest of the class' The 21-year-old supermodel, who trained as a classical ballerina growing up, emphasises how important exercise is to her and says it's when she feels at her best. Speaking to Grazia Daily, she said: 'Movement is everything. A body in motion stays in motion. I have a lot of body, so I like to keep it moving. 'For me, that can be anything from dancing to going for a run. I travel a lot, so I’m constantly on the move, but even when I’m traveling, I make sure to stay active because that’s when I feel my best.' Natural beauty: The 21-year-old clothes horse wears barely any make-up in her new campaign, despite recently revealing that she has a spare bedroom to store all of her beauty products in . Fighting fit: The sculpted stunner switches it up with a wide range of workouts; including ballet, Pilates, weights training, running and spinning . Old school: 'My favorite trick for defined abs are good old-fashioned sit-ups,' she says. 'It's something you don't need any equipment or trainer for and you can do anytime.' The model may have recently revealed that she has a separate room for all her beauty products, but has also admitted that she's a tomboy at heart. 'I love football. I am obsessed,' she said. 'I have my own fantasy football team and love going to games. I love the strategy that goes into the plays. I’ve looked through playbooks before and it’s like playing chess.' Want to get Karlie's natural Nike glow? The . supermodel, who admitted that she has so many beauty products, a . bathroom isn't enough to contain them, has shared her secrets. Problem area: You wouldn't know it from looking at her, but Miss Kloss claims her inner thigh muscles are the spot she finds hardest to tone . Rise to fame: Karlie, whose modelling career started at Abercrombie, has seen her star rise rapidly in recent years and she's fronted all the biggest fashion campaigns . The young star, who . appears in the July issue of ELLE, revealed: 'I have a whole second . bedroom filled with products, but I stick to the things that work.' She . adds: 'I like products that streamline my morning routine. Sunday Riley . has a really good foundation; it’s very velvety. I love RMS “Un” Cover-Up for under eyes or on a blemish.' She . also credits Living Proof shampoo and conditioner, for making her hair . 'bounce in a different way,' and mentions that Laura Mercier tinted . moisturizer is also 'good.' Karlie, whose modelling career started at Abercrombie, has seen her star rise rapidly in recent years. The model, who once walked 64 shows in a fashion week season, is also currently the clothes horse for Tamara Mellon's new range. Work it out: The statuesque six-foot-one model recently revealed that when she is travelling, she brings 'two or three-pound ankle weights and resistance bands' along with her, and favors the privacy of her hotel room over the gym . It's cowgirl Karlie! Miss Kloss is Tamara Mellon's new poster girl and shows off her svelte physique in the new campaign imagery . On the runway: The model, pictured walking for Stella McCartney, once walked 64 shows in one fashion week season . | Karlie, 21, is new face of Nike's AW14 campaign .
Models clothes and shows off yoga skills in imagery .
Revealed 'movement is everything' for her . |
126,471 | 2f723b98627952212a6268063636c940f3426bf9 | By . Ashley Collman . In his press conference yesterday, President Barack Obama said that there was 'overwhelming evidence' Syrian President Bashar al-Assad carried out a chemical weapons attack against rebels in the suburbs of Damascus on August 21. What he didn't mention was that his administration knew about the alleged nerve-gas attack three days before it happened. At a U.S. intelligence briefing Friday afternoon, senior administration officials disclosed that there were indications three days prior that an attack was coming. Advanced notice: According to a report released Friday, the U.S. received signals that the Syrian military was about to carry out a chemical weapons attack on August 21, three days before it happened . Ready: President Obama announced in a press conference yesterday that he had enough evidence to justify a military strike against Syria. What he didn't mention is how intelligence officials knew about the attack before it happened . 'In the three days prior to the attack, we collected streams of human, signals and geospatial intelligence that reveal regime activities that we assess were association with preparations for a chemical weapons attack,' the U.S. intelligence report released by the Obama administration said. At the briefing, officials would not answer of whether or not they warned rebel forced before the attack. But at least two opposition members told Foreign Policy magazine that they had no idea the attack was coming. Dishad Othman is a Syrian activist and secure-communications expert living in the U.S. He says his opposition contacts in Syria had no warning before the chemical weapons attack. 'If you knew, why did you take no action?' Othman asked. Razan Zaitouneh, another opposition member who lives in one of the towns affected, said she too knew nothing about the oncoming attack. 'It's unbelievable that they did nothing to warn people to stop the regime before the crime,' she said. Questions: Members of the Syrian opposition questioned why the U.S. didn't warn them an attack was coming if they knew about it three days before it happened . The U.S. intelligence report concluding that the Assad regime had used chemical weapons against it's own people on August 21 was based on 'a substantial body of information' including satellite imagery, intercepted communications and social media reports around the time of the attack . 'Our high confidence assessment is the strongest position that the U.S. Intelligence Community can take short of confirmation,' the report said. 'We will continue to seek additional information to close gaps in our understanding of what took place.' One of those gaps seems to be whether the order was executed at a high level within the Syrian military, or if it was carried out by a rogue military officer. One of the reports confirming the attack happened came from a phone call intercepted by the U.S. between a panicked Syrian Minister of Defense and the leader of a chemical weapons unit. The minster was demanding answers for the strike which could be evidence that it wasn't directly orderd by President Assad. Nevertheless, in his speech yesterday, President Obama said he is holding President Assad responsible. The U.S. has determined that 1,429 people were killed in the chemical weapons attack on a suburb of Damascus on August 21. The chemicals weapons used a nerve-gas agent which caused it's victims to asphyxiate. Intel says that 426 children were among the attack's victims. Innocents: According to U.S. estimates, of the 1,429 killed in the attack, 426 were children . An assessment conducted by British intelligence estimates a much lower death toll of 350 people. But President Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry are confident that the attack happened and that any military action in the country won't be like the 2003 invasion of Iraq for so-called 'weapons of mass destruction.' 'We will not repeat that moment,' Secretary Kerry said. Which is why President Obama announced yesterday that the U.S. 'should take military action' even before U.N. inspectors have finished their investigation. Weapons inspectors left Syria yesterday and now need at least 10 to 14 days to analyze samples they took from the attack site to verify if nerve gas was used. 'Redundant': The UN high representative for disarmament affairs negotiated with President Assad to let weapons inspectors into the country last week. They now need 10 to 14 days to analyze the samples they collected . The White House has called this investigation 'redundant' so President Obama has set up the military strike, pending approval from Congress. It's still uncertain whether or not Congress will support the strikes and there is a chance that they will vote against the strikes as the UK's Parliament did last week. Whether or not Congress approves the strikes, they will no longer come as a surprise to President Assad who has been given time to build up his defenses. 'This is one worry that we have. Sice the international community has begun talking about a response to the chemical massacre, what we have noticed is that the Assad regime has started moving different military units into different areas,' Khaled Saleh, media director of the Syrian National Coalition told Foreign Policy magazine. 'So they're using that time to hide their more well-armed units. And you know, when they move them to schools, the U.S. and the international community can't do a whole lot about that.' Pending approval: President Obama said he would wait to get authorization from Congress before carrying out any strike. He was pictured speaking on the phone to Speaker of the House John Boehner yesterday . | A U.S. intelligence report released Friday by the Obama Administration indicates that they knew about a chemical attack by the Syrian military three days before it happened .
Officials refused to answer whether or not they warned rebels before the August 21 attack on a suburb of Damascus .
Members of the opposition say they were given no advance warning .
According to U.S. estimates, 1,429 people died in the nerve-gas attack including 426 children . |
83,322 | ec52aa365f2e350a813d7da2d340414b315d9342 | By . William Turvill . They may not be considered the most fearsome of creatures, but try telling this angry squirrel that. This photograph shows the incredible moment one ground squirrel grabs another by the neck and pins it against a rock. The series of images, taken in Jasper National Park, Alberta, northern Canada, mirrors scenes from The Simpsons in which Homer grabs his son, Bart, by the neck, shouting: 'Why you little!' This picture shows the incredible moment one squirrel grabbed another by the neck in Jasper National Park . The wildlife scene mirrored the behaviour of Homer Simpson, seen here strangling his son, Bart . Fortunately for the squirrel in Bart’s position, it managed to escape the grasp and ran off. The photographs were taken by engineer Gilles Baechler, 27, who spent a day in the park with his girlfriend. ‘My girlfriend certainly thinks they resemble Homer choking Bart but fortunately the squirrels are friends,’ he said. The series of photographs were captured by engineer Gilles Baechler, 27, in western Canada . The squirrel in Bart's position here begins to fight back and pull away from the strangling attacker . ‘They are just playing - not trying to kill each other.’He added: ‘The squirrels were running after each other the whole time. ‘The action went by very fast and I was happy to see how the photos turned out.’ Ground . squirrels are typically found in western areas of Canada and the United . States at altitudes above 3,280 feet (1,000 metres). They hibernate from October to May and transport food in their large cheek pouches. With . predators including bobcats, coyotes, foxes and hawks, the omnivore’s . do not usually live beyond the age of four, according to Switch Zoo. Unusually, these rodents are able to rise up on their hind legs and stand fully erect for prolonged periods of time. He said: 'My girlfriend certainly thinks they resemble Homer choking Bart but fortunately the squirrels are friends' Mr Baechler added: 'They are just playing - not trying to kill each other' | Incredible photos show squirrels mirroring scenes from The Simpsons .
The ground squirrels were pictured in Jasper National Park, Canada . |
251,300 | d142f250a9ef933218ed4b64bc01e0c5aa90eeae | By . Lizzie Parry . Dying Kelly Murray has one wish before she loses her fight with a rare disease - to smile in a photograph with her sons. The 33-year-old has lost half her teeth because a cancer-like illness has caused the bones in her mouth to disintegrate. She was diagnosed with the rare disease langerhan cell histiocytosis, which affects one in one million adults, 12 years ago. It now threatens to claim her life, before she as a chance to see Bradley, 10, and Louis, nine, grow up. Dying mother Kelly Murray has one wish before she loses her battle with a rare disease - to smile in a photograph with her sons Bradley, 10, and Louis, nine . The condition has caused Ms Murray to lose her teeth as the bones in her mouth to disintegrate. She is pictured with her sons and their father Jason, before her teeth began to fall out . But with the help of kind-hearted friends, Ms Murray is desperate to smile again, so she can enjoy the time she has left with her sons . 'I don't like smiling now,' the mother-of-two from New Whittington in Derbyshire said. 'I used to be so confident, but now I never want to pose for pictures with my sons.' After suffering two collapsed lungs when she was 20, she was diagnosed with the illness. She went on to become the only person with the illness to carry her own children. But at the start of last year her condition began to deteriorate. The 33-year-old has been told by doctors, she now has just 12 months to live. Two of Ms Murray's friends are launching an appeal to raise money so the 33-year-old can have dentures . 'I find it hard to accept that I won't see my sons grow up,' she said. 'I want to see them grow into young men. I don't want to miss their first day of secondary school. 'I have always tried to keep on going, but you know your own body, and I know. I can barely lift things. 'Sometimes the pain is so bad and I don't sleep, and if I do I wake up gasping. I'm more tired and I feel weaker.' Langerhan Cell Hisiocytosis, or LCH, is an extremely rare cancer-like disease that attacks the organs. It causes pain in the bones, spontaneous fractures, loss of teeth and extreme fatigue as well as weakness, seizures and collapsed lungs. It can affect a sufferer's memory and affect the pituitary gland, leaving the disease to spread from one organ to another. Ms Murray has to use an oxygen tank because the disease has cut her lung function by 60 per cent. Now her friends Karla Wilkinson and Sherralyn Newton want to raise money so Ms Murray can have veneer dentures fitted and be able to smile again. 'It would give me my confidence back, and I could pose for pictures the boys could look at for years to come, even after I'm gone,' she said. Ms Wilkinson added: 'We're also hoping to get her and the boys a private photo shoot and maybe a holiday so the boys have memories to last along with Kelly's smile.' | Kelly Murray was diagnosed with langerhan cell histiocytosis 12 years ago .
It has caused her teeth to fall out as bones in her mouth disintegrated .
Doctors have given the 33-year-old just 12 months to live .
Devastated at not being able to see her sons Bradley, 10, and Louis, nine, grow up, she is desperate to smile in a last photograph with them .
Friends have started a campaign to raise money so she can have dentures . |
186,274 | 7d434cb8aa3360c61162513ad74c3ef0c73f28d6 | A notorious rapist walking the streets of Britain has been granted anonymity by a judge as he uses human rights laws to dictate to the authorities where he wants to live. The violent sex attacker is using Article 8 of the Human Rights Act to demand that he be allowed to move from England, where he committed his crime, to another part of the UK. But even before the case has been heard, a judge has thrown a cloak of secrecy over proceedings following an application by his lawyers. Anonymous: The rapist has been granted anonymity by the courts before proceedings start . They have obtained a strict court order banning the Press from telling the public who he is, or giving any detail which might identify him. The man, whose identity is known to the Daily Mail, raped a woman after breaking into her house armed with a knife. He was sentenced to more than a decade behind bars but released after serving half his sentence. Like other prisoners ‘on licence’ he must remain in a particular place and report to the Probation Service. He applied to the Ministry of Justice to be allowed to move from England to another part of the UK, where he is originally from and where his family now live. When the authorities refused, he launched a legal appeal under Article 8 of the Human Rights Act, the right to a private and family life. His case is thought to be funded by legal aid. Judges have granted the convicted sex offender anonymity following an application by his lawyers . A full hearing in the case will take place this week. A court order made by High Court judge Mr Justice Underhill said nothing should be printed which could reveal who he is and what he did. The judge did not make clear his reasons for imposing the order, other than to note a claim by the rapist’s lawyer that naming him would have an impact on his family. He said: ‘I do … accept that, given the apparent particular Press interest in the case, the issue of anonymisation is best determined in advance of the substantive hearing. I have directed accordingly. ‘I have provided for preliminary anonymisation but it must be understood that that may not be continued at or after the hearing.’ Tory MP Priti Patel called for a review to ensure anonymity is not given too easily to ‘such despicable individuals’. She said: ‘The first point to make is that clearly secret justice in this case is showing utter disregard for the victim of this appalling crime. Yet again we are seeing the criminal justice system on the side of the offender and not the victim.’ | Raped woman at knifepoint in her own home .
Now using Human Rights Act in legal battle .
Demands to be allowed to move freely within UK . |
214,022 | a12c8fe81ade52e1040fcdb2d4ff2674dc1e7954 | Ahead of the Boxing Day Premier League action, Sportsmail will be providing you with all you need to know about every fixture, with team news, provisional squads, betting odds and Opta stats. Here is all the information you need for Burnley's home clash with Liverpool... Burnley vs Liverpool (Turf Moor) Team news . Burnley . Sam Vokes could return to the Burnley squad against Liverpool for the first time since March. The Wales international stepped up his recovery from cruciate knee ligament damage by scoring twice for the development squad on Monday and is being considered for a place on the bench. Sam Vokes could return to the Burnley squad against Liverpool for the first time since March . Matt Taylor is also in contention following an Achilles injury but centre-half Michael Duff (calf) and Stephen Ward are still struggling ahead of the Barclays Premier League contest. Provisional squad: Heaton, Cisak, Trippier, Shackell, Mee, Reid, Wallace, Kightly, Sordell, Marney, Jutkiewicz, Boyd, Gilks, Keane, Long, Barnes, Arfield, Ings, Vokes, Chalobah, Jones. Liverpool . Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli returns from suspension but will only be on the bench. Fellow forward Fabio Borini is banned after his sending-off last weekend against Arsenal while midfielder Joe Allen has not yet recovered from a knee injury. Defenders Dejan Lovren and Glen Johnson (both groin) and Jon Flanagan (knee) are still not fit. Provisional squad: Jones, Toure, Skrtel, Sakho, Henderson, Gerrard, Lucas, Markovic, Coutinho, Sterling, Lallana, Mignolet, Manquillo, Moreno, Enrique, Can, Lambert, Balotelli. Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli returns from suspension but will only be on the bench . Kick-off: Boxing Day, 3pm . Odds (subject to change): . Burnley 7/2 . Draw 13/5 . Liverpool 17/20 . Referee: Anthony Taylor . Managers: Sean Dyche (Burnley), Brendan Rodgers (Liverpool) Head-to-head league record: Burnley wins 26, draws 19, Liverpool wins 31 . Key match stats (supplied by Opta) Burnley have failed to score in their last four league games against the Reds and in five of the last six matches in all competitions. Liverpool have lost both Boxing Day fixtures under Brendan Rodgers’ stewardship. The Reds had lost just two of the 17 Premier League matches on Boxing Day prior to Rodgers’ arrival (W10 D5 L2). Liverpool won both Premier League games against Burnley 4-0 in the Clarets only season in the Premier League. The Reds are in their lowest position on Christmas Day since the inaugural Premier League season (1992-93), when they were 10th – the same as they are now. Burnley's only goal against Liverpool in the last 20 years came through Djimi Traore, who scored a comical back-heel own goal in a 1-0 win for the Clarets during a January 2005 FA Cup tie . Danny Ings (four goals and two assists) has been involved in 50 per cent of Burnley’s goals so far this season in the Premier League. Only Charlie Austin (65 per cent of QPR’s goals) has been involved in a larger share of his team’s goals than Ings so far this season. The woodwork at Turf Moor has been struck 10 times this season; more often than any other Premier League ground this season. Since the beginning of last season Brendan Rodgers’ side have hit the frame of the goal 31 times; more than any other team in the top-flight. Mario Balotelli has picked up just one card fewer (19 - 16Y 3R) than he has scored goals (20) in his Premier League career. | Mario Balotelli returns from suspension but will only be on the bench .
Sam Vokes could return to the Burnley squad for the Boxing Day clash .
Liverpool will be without Dejan Lovren and Glen Johnson . |
210,010 | 9bfa891b076391c8464433620582f36548940af8 | (Entertainment Weekly) -- How are the elements of the charming, traditional romantic comedy "The Proposal" like the checklist of a charming, traditional bride? Let me count the ways ... Ryan Reynolds wonders if marrying his boss, Sandra Bullock, is a good thing in "The Proposal." Something old: The story of a haughty woman and an exasperated man who hate each other -- until they realize they love each other -- is proudly square, in the tradition of rom-coms from the 1940s and '50s. Or is it straight out of Shakespeare's 1590s? Sandra Bullock is the shrew, Margaret, a pitiless, high-powered New York book editor first seen multitasking in the midst of her aerobic workout (thus you know she needs to get ... loved). Ryan Reynolds is Andrew, her put-upon foil of an executive assistant, a younger man who accepts abuse as a media-industry hazing ritual. And there the two would remain, locked in mutual disdain, except for Margaret's fatal flaw -- she's Canadian. (So is "X-Men's" Wolverine; I thought our neighbors to the north were supposed to be nice.) Margaret, with her visa expired, faces deportation and makes the snap executive decision to marry Andrew in a green-card wedding. It's an offer the underling can't refuse if he wants to keep his job. (A sexual-harassment lawsuit would ruin the movie's mood.) OK, he says. But first comes a visit to the groom-to-be's family in Alaska. Amusing complications ensue. Something new: The chemical energy between Bullock and Reynolds is fresh and irresistible. In her mid-40s, Bullock has finessed her dewy America's Sweetheart comedy skills to a mature, pearly texture; she's lovable both as an uptight careerist in a pencil skirt and stilettos, and as a lonely lady in a flapping plaid bathrobe. Reynolds, meanwhile, is just refining his dry comedy thing, learning to get the most from his deceptive cute-face looks. Who knew these two would, hmmm, complete each other? Working together, both are surer and more disciplined in delivering their comedy goods. iReport.com: "Proposal" has "plenty of laughs" Something borrowed: The boisterous family dynamics. The eccentric supporting players (none more extreme than Oscar Nunez from "The Office"). The snappy screwball dialogue in Pete Chiarelli's script. And the way Anne Fletcher directs like a camp counselor wrangling bunkmates ... it's all been seen before. For a reason. These elements work. Something blue: As the wise and saucy matriarch of the family, the divine 87-year-old Betty White has fun as one hot grandma -- and inspires her younger stars to say "I do," too. EW Grade: B+ . CLICK HERE to Try 2 RISK FREE issues of Entertainment Weekly . Copyright 2009 Entertainment Weekly and Time Inc. All rights reserved. | EW: "The Proposal" is a top-notch romantic comedy .
Movie adheres to formula, but it's well done, very funny .
Casting is perfect, script delivers . |
143,215 | 45363493354658320d34ba7203377846e59a9eeb | It seems some drivers will go to great lengths to avoid paying fees in underground car parks. From reversing into friends to snapping off and ploughing through boom gates, it's just another day for motorists causing havoc and damage to boom gates and even to their vehicles. CCTV footage from Wilson Parking has captured the reckless drivers and drunken revellers damaging boom gates in Melbourne's underground car parks. Scroll down for video . CCTV footage shows one vehicle crashing through a boom gate to avoid paying for parking . Some careless drivers were caught casually driving straight through the boom gate, while two vehicles were seen speeding through behind another car before the barrier moved back down. In one piece of footage, a passerby gets hit over the head by a boom gate on its way down so he pushes it off out of anger and walks off, while two girls, who appear to be drunk, caught ripping off the barrier after a night out. One frustrated driver is seen trying to insert her ticket through the machine several times but ends up dropping it so she crouches down to pick it up but falls flat on her face. A male passenger is caught getting out of his seat and pushing the boom gate out of the way then he quickly runs back to the car as the driver speeds off followed by a second vehicle. One vehicle was caught driving through the barrier but the boom gate manages to remain in one piece so the driver reverses and snaps it in half . A cyclist is clotheslined after attempting to ride through right after a vehicle is seen leaving . One woman is seen standing next to the machine but her friend reverses and knocks her to the ground, while a cyclist attempted to ride through after a car but ends up getting clotheslined. Daily Mail Australia has contacted Wilson Parking Australia for comment. Herald Sun reports boom gates cost up to $6000 to repair or replace every gate after drivers choose to crash through them instead of paying between $5 to $20 parking tickets. The surveillance cameras operate 24 hours and seven days a week across the company's car parks, capturing every movement or crime and supplying footage to police. Two men, who appeared to be drunk, attempt to cover their faces while they destroy the boom gate . Two girls, who appear to look drunk, are caught damaging the boom gate and running off in amusement . Wilson Parking business development manager Simon Pearce told the Herald Sun the incidents committed lead to serious consequences. 'They have this expectation they will get away with it but we have a substantial combination of fixed and covert cameras across all of our major sites,' he said. 'Someone is not only watching you, but also recording what you are doing. 'Would you risk having police tap you on the shoulder for a $6 parking fee?' | CCTV footage has caught the reckless drivers damaging boom gates .
Drunk revellers are also caught ripping off boom gates just for laughs .
Repairing or replacing boom gates cost up to $6000 for every gate .
Wilson Parking monitors and records every movement inside the car park . |
40,029 | 70f2f73a1c7b89c387d10008caf5398c15b8467d | By . Lucy Crossley . PUBLISHED: . 12:22 EST, 2 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 12:57 EST, 2 December 2013 . Learning supervisor Tracey Graham forged an 'obsessive' relationship with a teenager, repeatedly calling her and sending inappropriate messages . A learning supervisor who forged an 'obsessive' relationship with a teenager has been spared jail. Tracey Graham, 35, admitted harassing a child over a period of ten months, repeatedly ringing her and texting her inappropriate messages. Graham, of Alnwick, Northumberland, also made the child a CD of love songs and took her on a day trip to Edinburgh zoo. Newcastle Crown Court heard how Graham was working as a learning supervisor at a Northumberland School when the offence took place. In one message, Graham messaged the teenager saying: 'Goodnight beautiful princess, I love you so much, sweet dreams xx' Another text message read: 'You are the most important person in my life. Love you.' Prosecutor Gavin Doig said: 'The defendant had been calling her, messaging her and sending her cards. 'This shows the obsessive nature of the relationship that had developed. 'The victim said "stop texting me please, will you delete my number. I have got all this built up and it’s beginning to make me feel sick. You are a caring person but this is past caring". 'The defendant accepts holding the child’s hand and hugging her but said it went no further, it was not sexual.' Defence lawyer Ros Scott-Bell said: 'She can see what went wrong but at the time she was leaned upon by the child. 'Most of the people who know her speak of her desire to help. She volunteers and she goes out of her way to help and it appears that is what she did on this occasion. Graham accepted holding the child's hand and hugging her, but said their relationship went no further, the court heard . 'I accept she went totally over the top and smothered the relationship and she should have known better. 'But it was one that she closed her eyes to. It was one that was not sexually motivated and she failed to see the impact she was having on the young girl. It wasn’t set out from the start.' A statement from the victim read: 'She said she was my friend. She is the one that has hurt me most.' Judge Penny Moreland sentenced Graham to eight weeks imprisonment, suspended for 12 months. The judge also granted a five year restraining order banning her from contacting the girl. Judge Moreland told Graham: 'It is absolutely clear to me and should be clear to all listening to these remarks that you were not behaving from the best of intentions. You behaved in a way that was selfish and obsessive. The fault for what happened is yours.' Judge Penny Moreland, sitting at Newcastle Crown Court, sentenced Graham to eight weeks imprisonment, suspended for 12 months . | Tracey Graham, 35, forged 'obsessive' relationship with teenage girl .
Graham bombarded child with text messages and took her to the zoo .
Learning supervisor given suspended sentence after admitting harassment . |
132,579 | 3774238ee209aa1942b5cae26029ba5a44f9d099 | By . Eleanor Crooks, Press Association . Grigor Dimitrov will attempt to do in the third round of the US Open what only one player has managed in 28 matches - beat David Goffin. It is unlikely the Belgian will make the latter stages, but no player arrived in New York with more confidence than the Goffin. After losing to Andy Murray in the first round at Wimbledon, Goffin headed to Scheveningen in Holland to play a Challenger tournament. Form of his life: David Goffin is on a run of just one defeat in his last 28 matches, and next faces Grigor Dimitrov . He won that, just as he did the next two Challengers he played. Then he played in Kitzbuhel and won that too - his first title on the ATP Tour. By the time he had come through qualifying in Winston-Salem last week and made the quarter-finals, he had won 25 successive matches. The run was ended by Jerzy Janowicz, but Goffin remains on a roll and, after beating compatriot Niels Desein in round one, he hammered 32nd seed Joao Sousa 6-4 6-2 6-0 on Friday. Cruising: Dimitrov outclassed Dudi Sela 6-1 6-2 6-2 in his second round match on Friday . 'It's the first time I've won 25 matches in a row and now I'm in the third round for the first time in New York,' said Goffin, whose ranking has climbed from 106 to 56 in seven weeks. 'The first tournament I played in Holland, I went there to get some confidence and I had tough matches in the first and second rounds. After that it gave me some confidence. 'I won the first one, second one and then I continued to play well. I won a lot of matches, but it's not over so why not in the next match? I'm very happy with the way I played today. It was a great match.' Goffin faces his stiffest test next in the shape of seventh seed Dimitrov, who trounced Dudi Sela 6-1 6-2 6-2. 'It's a tough match against Grigor,' he said. 'I have nothing to lose so I'm going to do my best to win this match. It will be an exciting match on a big court so I hope there will be a good atmosphere. I will try to be aggressive like I have been this summer.' Underdog: Goffin knows Dimitrov will be the favourite in their match on Sunday but he goes in with no fear . Goffin burst into the limelight at the French Open in 2012 when he reached the fourth round as a lucky loser and took a set off Roger Federer. His upward curve continued for a little while, but a year later Goffin found himself back outside the top 100, the hype taking its toll. He said: 'After that it was tough, but now the French Open is behind me and I'm looking forward. Now the most important thing is this tournament and the next tournaments in the season. I don't care what happened before.' Elswhere Fourth seed David Ferrer was handed a walkover when opponent Bernard Tomic pulled out with hip problems. On the rise: Dimitrov reached the semi-final at Wimbledon and is at a career-high world ranking of 8 . The Australian had surgery on both hips after the Australian Open and did not want to take a risk when he felt pain in the left one following his first-round win over Dustin Brown. Tomic, who has also been struggling with flu, said: 'I don't want to muck around with that area. For sure something is there. I've got to get it checked. It's not good right now. It's painful.' Marin Cilic has been impressive so far, and the 14th seed's 7-6 (7/2) 6-2 6-4 victory over Ilya Marchenko set up a third-round clash with 18th seed Kevin Anderson, who came from a set down to beat Janowicz. Gael Monfils avoided his customary drama in a 7-5 6-3 6-2 win over Alejandro Gonzalez and next meets fellow Frenchman Richard Gasquet, a 7-6 (7/4) 6-3 6-3 winner over Paolo Lorenzi. Nineteenth seed Feliciano Lopez won in four sets against Tatsuma Ito. | David Goffin has only lost one match in his last 28 .
The Belgian hammered 32nd seed Joao Sousa 6-4 6-2 6-0 on Friday .
Seventh seed Grigor Dimitrov is also in good form, and beat Dudi Sela 6-1 6-2 6-2 in the second round .
Goffin vs Dimitrov is scheduled to take place on Sunday .
Goffin won his first ever ATP title in Kitzbuhel earlier this month . |
93,819 | 04a30e11ce0535917dba870a87a7c9ca91ebbad1 | By . Sophie Jane Evans . PUBLISHED: . 15:25 EST, 1 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 19:51 EST, 1 December 2013 . Thousands of anti-government protestors have descended on Thailand's capital - leading to violent clashes with police. Demonstrators hurled rocks, bottles and petrol bombs at riot officers today as they attempted to storm government buildings in Bangkok. They were met by volleys of rubber bullets, tear gas and water cannons. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO . Violent clashes: Thousands of anti-government protestors have descended on Thailand's capital, Bangkok . Attack: Demonstrators hurled rocks, bottles and petrol bombs at riot officers, while carrying flags . Force: Police put up barricades and fired back rubber bullets, volleys of tear gas and water cannons . Anger: A protestor prepares to throw a tear gas cannister back at riot police outside Government House . It is the eighth day of protests aiming to overthrow the government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. Last night, three people were killed - and a further 103 injured - by gunfire in fierce skirmishes at a Bangkok stadium. Today, more than 2,500 military personnel were deployed to tackle the clashes, which became so violent that Ms Yingluck was forced to flee to a nearby compound. The protestors - wearing bandanas, gas masks and plastic bags on their heads - surrounded Government House, pulled at barbwire barricades and seized police vans. Defence: Demonstrators use a self-made barricade to protect themselves against the water cannons . Ongoing: It is the eighth day of protests aiming to overthrow the government of PM Yingluck Shinawatra . Recovery: An anti-government protester cleans his eyes with salt water solution following the tear gas attack . Protection: Two demonstrators protect themselves from tear gas by wearing a plastic bag on their heads . They also besieged state television . stations - demanding they broadcast the demonstrators' views and not the . government's. The violence has prompted Thailand's government to urge the capital's 10million residents to stay indoors overnight. Some of Bangkok's biggest shopping malls have also been closed. Today's clashes mark the first time police have used force since the protests began a week ago - a risky strategy that many fear could lead to more deaths. Until this weekend, the . demonstrations had been largely peaceful. Break: Riot police take a break to clean their faces after launching a gas assault on the violent demonstrators . Injured: An injured protestor is helped by other demonstrators during the clashes, which have prompted Thailand's government to urge the capital's 10million residents to stay indoors overnight . Overcome: A woman suffers a coughing fit after inhaling some of the tear gas near Government House . Struggle: Other protestors hold cloths over their noses and mouths as they suffer the effects of the cannisters . However, last night's incident saw rival groups . clash at a large pro-government rally in a stadium in northeast Bangkok - leaving three dead and dozens wounded. Protestors are calling for the . overthrow of Ms Yingluck, who they believe has abused her party's . majority to push through laws that strengthen the behind-the-scenes . power of her self-exiled brother and former premier, Thaksin Shinawatra. The . demonstrations have raised fears of fresh political turmoil and . instability in Thailand, which is one of southeast Asia's biggest . economies. They have also posed the biggest threat to Ms Yingluck's administration since she came to power in 2011. Ferocious: A man hurls a rock at riot police during the week-long demonstrations in Thailand's capital . Dangerous: Opposition protesters use fire extinguishers during clashes with police outside Government House . Hurt: A Thai Buddhist monk washes his eyes after riot police fired tear gas at protesters today . Today, protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban unexpectedly announced that . he had met with Ms Yingluck - claiming he had told her he would accept . nothing less than her resignation and a new government of an appointed . council. In a defiant tone that drew cheers . from his supporters, Mr Suthep said the meeting was held under the auspices of the military, which claims it is . neutral in the conflict. He added that the talk had not constituted negotiations. Many . anti-government protestors have dubbed today 'victory day' - despite failing to achieve . their main goal of overthrowing Ms Yingluck's government. Standing guard: Thai riot police line up at Government House during the violent demonstrations . Preparing for battle: Police officers form a line behind barbed wires inside Bangkok's police headquarters, left, while riot police look out for protestors at the prime minister's headquarters, right . However, Mr Suthep told his followers it would take . another two days for their end goal to be reached. 'If Prime Minister Yingluck . Shinawatra listens to the people's voices, we will treat her like . gentlemen because we all are good citizens,' he said. Spokesmen for both the prime minister and the army have refused to comment on the alleged meeting. However, . government spokesman Teerat Ratanasevi has said Ms Yingluck is not . expected to make a public statement tonight - adding that the prime . minister is currently residing in a 'safe place'. Political instability has plagued Thailand since the military ousted Ms Yingluck's brother Thaksin in a 2006 coup. Effect: A rainbow forms in water cannon spray as protestors attempt to remove police barricades in the capital . Painful: An anti-government demonstrator lies on the ground after riot police launch the tear gas attack . Two years later, anti-Thaksin . demonstrators occupied Bangkok's two airports for a week after taking . over the prime minister's office for three months. And . in 2010, pro-Thaksin protestors flocked to downtown Bangkok for a . standoff that ended with parts of the city in flames and more than 90 . dead. Any further . deterioration is likely to scare away investors, as well as tourists who . come to Thailand by the millions and contribute 10 percent to the $602 . billion economy. Statement: An anti-government protester sits on sand bags in front of a police barricade in Bangkok today . Unexpected: Protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban, left, announced he has met Ms Yingluck, right. The prime minister was forced to flee to a police compound following the violent anti-government clashes . Army commander General Prayuth Chan-ocha - who said last week the army would not take sides - has urged the police not to use force. He has also called on protesters to avoid violence, according to an army spokesman. Most of the protesters are middle-class Bangkok residents who have been part of the anti-Thaksin movement for several years. Others include people brought in from the opposition Democrat Party strongholds in the southern provinces. | Thousands of anti-government protestors descended on Bangkok today .
Hurled rocks and petrol bombs at riot police near Government House .
Officers fired back rubber bullets, tear gas and water cannons .
Eighth day of demonstrations calling for overthrow of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra .
Protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban says he has met with Ms Yingluck .
Claims he told her he expects 'nothing less' than her resignation . |
27,471 | 4ddcf230dff7271c8f4892f03ebbfcc0d96bb4cb | Bailed: Davidson, pictured with his fifth wife Michelle Cotton, was arrested as part of Operation Yewtree . Jim Davidson has pulled out of Celebrity Big Brother after he was arrested on suspicion of sexual offences yesterday by police investigating the Jimmy Savile child abuse scandal. The 59-year-old comedian was detained at Heathrow after returning to the UK from Dubai ahead of a planned appearance on the reality TV show, which starts tonight. Davidson was taken to a London police station and questioned for hours on suspicion of committing sexual offences before being released on bail until March. And now MailOnline understands that Channel 5 has agreed to re-jig its line-up at the last minute after talks with the comedian. 'Everyone has agreed that it's for the best,' a source from the TV station said, but it is not yet known who will replace him. Last night his solicitor said in a . statement that the comedian ‘vigorously denies’ the allegations, which . he said dated back about 25 years. In October Davison, who formerly . hosted BBC shows Big Break and The Generation Game, publicly labelled . the Savile investigation a ‘witch hunt’. On his blog he wrote: ‘The Savile . witch hunt is going a bit silly now. We all are starting to speculate . and accuse ... even in jest. So no, I don’t know who’s next. ‘Everyone has had the nod. Everyone is . an expert. 'Just pick someone you don’t like and say it’s them. 'As odd . as he was, Savile can’t defend himself. 'The bloke’s dead for God’s sake. Let’s move on.’ Missing: With the show now in full swing, the Big Brother House is without Jim Davidson after he pulled out . Davidson had flown to London yesterday . to give a series of interviews in advance of his appearance on . Celebrity Big Brother on Channel 5. Several plain-clothed police officers . spent more than four hours searching Davidson’s £1million Georgian home . in the picturesque village of Stockbridge in Hampshire. They left the property at 7pm carrying boxes which appeared to contain plastic evidence bags and brown envelopes. House search: Unmarked police cars pictured outside the home of controversial comic Jim Davidson in Stockbridge, Hants, after his arrest by officers as part of Operation Yewtree . Investigation: Police officers arriving at Jim Davidson's home after his arrest over alleged sexual offences . British entertainer Jim Davidson outside Buckingham Palace after receiving his OBE in 2001 . Police also arrested a 53-year-old man . at his home in Hampshire at 8am yesterday on suspicion of committing . sexual offences. The suspect, who is thought to be a DJ who has worked . with Davidson, was taken to a nearby police station for questioning. Davidson has often courted controversy by telling offensive jokes about ethnic minorities, homosexuals and the disabled. He has divorced four times and in 2011 . married his fifth wife, Michelle Cotton, 17 years his junior. Last . night his solicitor Henri Brandman said: ‘Two women have made . allegations in respect of Jim that date back approximately 25 years. The . complainants were then in their mid-twenties. ‘Jim vigorously denies the allegations. He answered police questions as fully as he was able after this passage of time. ‘He has not been charged with any offence. Neither he nor I will be making any further comment.’ Davidson and the 53-year-old man are . the ninth and tenth arrests made in the Savile investigation, called . Operation Yewtree. Detectives are working through an arrest list of . people who could be questioned about allegations made by victims of . Savile or others associated with him. A Scotland Yard spokesman said: ‘A . 53-year-old man was arrested at approximately 8am at an address in . Hampshire and taken into custody locally. ‘A 59-year-old man was arrested at approximately midday in West London and taken into custody at a London police station.’ Search: There was no sign of Jim Davidson at his country home as police officers visited the £820,000 property . Inspection: Officers wore gloves and carried equipment into the home of the award-winning comedian . An officer carries an unmarked brown bag from Jim Davidson's home in the affluent village of Stockbridge, Winchester, Hants, last night . Officers pictured leaving the house of Jim Davidson after searching the property for several hours . Household name: Jim Davidson pictured left with his fifth wife Michelle Cotton outside The Dorchester hotel in London in 2010 and right at the funeral of celebrity chef Keith Floyd at Ashton Court, Bristol, in 2009 . Star: Davidson pictured on the Generation Game after replacing Bruce Forsyth as presenter . Arrests: Davidson and an unnamed 53-year-old were on the same day as police investigate accusations made in the wake of revelations about disgraced Jimmy Savile . Scotland Yard said a total of 31 allegations of rape have been made against Savile so far. And 589 people have come forward with . information relating to the scandal, with a total of 450 complaints . against the BBC presenter and DJ himself, mainly alleging sexual abuse, . police said. Held: Ted Beston was arrested by police and bailed . Ten weeks after the launch of . Operation Yewtree, police recorded 199 crimes in 17 force areas in which . Savile is a suspect, with 31 allegations of rape. Others who have been arrested include . former pop star Gary Glitter, comedian Freddie Starr and publicist Max . Clifford. Those three are on police bail. The . investigation has three strands, one dealing with allegations directly . involving Jimmy Savile, the second involving allegations against . associates of the disgraced DJ and the third involving 'others'. Operation Yewtree has already cost around £2million and involves a team of 30 officers. In December a man from London in his 60s was arrested on suspicion of sexual offences. PR guru Max Clifford was then arrested on suspicion of sexual offences but was later bailed as part of the probe. A man aged in his 80s from Berkshire was interviewed by detectives three weeks ago. Gary . Glitter, comedian Freddie Starr, DJ Dave Lee Travis and a man in his . 70s, reported to be former television producer Wilfred De'Ath, have been . arrested and bailed as part of the probe. On Monday, Starr and Clifford were re-bailed to return on dates in February and March pending further inquiries. PR guru Max Clifford (left) leaves his Surrey . home after being arrested by police. (Right) Former BBC producer Wilfred . De'ath was arrested at an earlier date. Both were bailed . Dave Lee Travis (left) was arrested at his . Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire home in November. Gary Glitter (right) was arrested and bailed in October . Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | The 59-year-old TV personality had flown in from Christmas in Dubai to appear on Celebrity Big Brother .
But he has now pulled out in a move 'everyone has agreed is for the best,' a Channel 5 source said .
Comedian 'vigorously denies' the allegations against him and was released on bail until March .
Mr Davidson - previously voted Britain's funniest man - and a 53-year-old man were taken into custody yesterday .
Both have been arrested under the 'others' strand of the investigation .
Detectives have arrested ten men in connection with Operation Yewtree . |
79,898 | e280f982a60f6cd7b703648b15d3a01eadd9d6da | A message posted on Facebook by Navy SEALS claiming that President Obama denied them backup as forces overran Benghazi was taken down twice by the social networking site. The move has stoked accusations that Facebook was censoring the SEALs’ message to ‘quietly squelch opposition’ to President Obama’s alleged failures. The message contained in a meme suggesting that Obama relied on the SEALS when he wanted to get Osama bin Laden, but then turned round and denied them back up when they called for it in Benghazi. Censored? The SOS post was taken down by Facebook twice... but not before it had been shared online by thousands . US ambassador to Libya Chris Stevens and three other American embassy staff were killed in the attack by Islamist militants in Benghazi, Libya on September 11. The tragedy has become a controversial issue in next month's presidential election due to ongoing confusion over how much the administration knew about the circumstances of the attack. Sources present during the deadly six-hour assault have said that a desperate last request for military assistance once the CIA themselves came under attack was denied, even though elite counter-terrorism units were only two hours away. The Facebook message about the attack was posted by Special Operations Speaks PAC (SOS), an organisation founded by Special Operations veterans dedicated to protecting forces at home and abroad. Attack: The US Consulate in Benghazi is seen in flames during fierce clashes in which US Ambassador Chris Stevens died . The image was shared on Facebook between 30,000 users within 24 hours of it being posted online. However it was taken down at the weekend for what SOS claims was an ‘unspecified violation of Facebook’s terms of Rights and Responsibilities.’ Retired SEAL Captain Larry Bailey said: ‘It looks like Obama’s liberal followers in Facebook HQ are terrified of how damaging the Benghazi scandal is for the President. 'We understand that Facebook can run their site however they’d like, but when they’re trying to quietly squelch opposition to what is a clear leadership failure that resulted in the tragic deaths of some of our nation’s heroes, they deserve the to be called out on it.’ Tragedy: Walls at the main entrance of the US consulate in Benghazi, apparently stained with blood . Colonel Dick Brauer Jr, retired from the US Air Force, added: ‘Americans across the country deserve the truth about what happened in Libya, and they certainly deserve to know when people who hold the keys to a lot of their online communications are trying to keep that from them.’ After the post was removed twice and SOS’s Facebook account suspended for 24 hours, the post was reinstated and SOS received an email from Facebook apologising. It said: ‘A member of our team . accidentally removed something you posted on Facebook. This was mistake, . and we sincerely apologize for this error. We've since restored the . content, and you should now be able to see it.’ SOS . responded to the apology: ‘We accept their apology but do not accept . that it was an innocent mistake. It was clearly a means to protect Obama . on Libya.’ A spokesperson from Facebook said: 'This was an error and we apologize for any inconvenience it may have caused. They can feel free to repost the image.' Anger: Protestors during a rally to condemn the killers of the US Ambassador to Libya and the attack on the US consulate last month . | Message was taken down by Facebook TWICE .
SEALS claim it was attempt to 'quietly squelch' opposition to President Obama's alleged failures . |
224,217 | ae53206776c7bacb8216fef803032e1b5306d9ab | (CNN) -- It is a measure of the squad Alex Ferguson has at his disposal that the Manchester United coach can make eight changes to the side that drew with Real Madrid and still move closer to an historic treble. With his side 12 points clear at the top of the English Premier League and in the box seat after drawing 1-1 with Real in their European Champions League last 16 tie, they moved into the last eight of the FA Cup with a 2-1 win over Reading. Only goalkeeper David De Gea, midfielder Phil Jones and striker Danny Welbeck, who grabbed United's goal at the Bernabeu, survived from the Real Madrid test as they defeated struggling Reading. Portuguese winger Nani and Mexican striker Javier Hernandez put United into a 2-0 lead before Jobi McAnuff ensured a tense last ten minutes at Old Trafford. United are now in line to play Chelsea in the quarterfinals, if the Blues beat second-tier Middlesbrough. The only negative of the evening was a potentially serious injury to Jones, who limped off after 42 minutes and later left the ground on crutches. "It was a good cup tie and ended up a really good one,'' Ferguson told ESPN. "They (Reading) went for it, piled the ball into the box and we withstood that. "We played some great football, missed chances, had shots blocked and their goalkeeper made some saves. "I`m satisfied with the quality of the game. We had to defend, our goalkeeper made some excellent saves because at 2-0 we were never comfortable.'' On Jones' injury Ferguson told the club's own channel MUTV: "We will have to assess it in the morning. It is an ankle injury so I would imagine he would not be ready for Saturday and we will see what he is like after that." Arguably, Ferguson's finest moment in his 26-year stint as manager of United came in 1999 when his side won the Premier League, the FA Cup and the Champions League. And his side are in with a chance of repeating that famous triumph after extending their unbeaten run to 16 matches. United piled on the pressure in the early stages but Reading goalkeeper Adam Federici kept them at bay with smart saves from Tom Cleverley and Ashley Young. Nani came on for Jones and twice went close, volleying narrowly wide before forcing Federici to tip over his fierce shot but the pressure finally told as the Portuguese tucked home from Antonio Valencia's cross. Three minutes later Hernandez doubled United's lead with a near post header but McAnuff's finish on 81 minutes gave Reading hope though they couldn't force an equalizer. In Italy, Lazio spurned the chance to leapfrog AC Milan into third place after they went down to a shock 3-0 defeat at Siena. Innocent Emeghara put Siena into a sixth minute lead, turning home Matteo Rubin's cross before Alessandro Rosina polished off another Rubin center to make it 2-0. Emeghara got his second and Siena's third on the hour mark to seal an important win for the club, who remain in the relegation zone despite picking up three points. | Manchester beat Reading 2-1 to move into the quarter finals of the English FA Cup .
Goals from Portuguese midfielder Nani and striker Javier Hernandez see off Reading .
Coach Alex Ferguson makes eight changes from the side that drew with Real Madrid .
Lazio miss the chance to go third in Serie A after a 3-0 defeat at lowly Siena . |
Subsets and Splits
No saved queries yet
Save your SQL queries to embed, download, and access them later. Queries will appear here once saved.