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229,466 | b5240960a9464711a9509e8ac45e5f614c8e8eb9 | Islamic State's barbaric uprising in Iraq and Syria is gaining traction in North Africa where extremists are now 'mimicking its rhetoric and brutality', security experts have warned. Rebel networks in Libya and Egypt have been pledging allegiance to ISIS in recent weeks and are even being helped to set up new terror cells. The opening of a new front is concerning officials in Washington because the expansion is taking hold in two countries which have struggled to quash extremism in recent years. ISIS executioner Jihadi John (in black) and his henchmen prepare to behead Syrian soldiers in a sickening propaganda video. Analysts fear the terror group's 'rhetoric and brutality' is gaining traction in North Africa . Creeping influence: Two extremist groups have pledged allegiance to ISIS in the Libyan town of Darna and the Sinai Peninsula in recent weeks raising fears they could be expanding their caliphate in North Africa . A U.S intelligence official, who spoke anonymously, said: 'ISIL's (ISIS) stated goal of expanding its caliphate and its adherence to a strict form of Shariah has definitely resonated with a collection of extremists across North Africa, who appear to be mimicking ISIL's rhetoric and brutality.' In Darna, north-eastern Libya, a group of young militants reportedly from the Islamic Youth Shura Council who claim to control the town, declared its allegiance to ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi earlier this month. The terror chief, who has long tried to recruit militants from Al Qaeda, responded by dispatching one of his henchmen to the town to become the group's 'emir' or commander. Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the group's reclusive leader, made his first video appearance in Mosul in July to announce his vision for a self-styled caliphate, a form of Islamic state. Meanwhile, another extremist group, this time on the Sinai Peninsula, has also pledged allegiance to ISIS, it was reported by the Washington Times. ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi outlined his vision for a caliphate, a form of Islamic state, in July . Members of Ansar Beit al-Maqdis (above) on the Sinai Peninsula reportedly circulated a video that bore all the hallmarks of Islamic State's slick propaganda wing after pledging allegiance in recent weeks . The paper says U.S. officials have shown particular concern after members of Ansar Beit al-Maqdis (ABM) reportedly circulated a video that bore all the hallmarks of Islamic State's slick propaganda wing. There are fears that Ansar Beit al-Maqdis may prove the biggest threat to Cairo after regional reports hinted that ISIS is helping them to create new terror cells in Egypt's heartland. Thomas Joscelyn, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies in Washington, said: 'I don't think there's any doubt that the Islamic State is going to commit and claim responsibility for an increasing number of attacks in North Africa, both in Libya and the Sinai during the year ahead.' However, he says that while ISIS's insurgency has become popular with a younger generation of militants, there are older factions which are resisting . 'It's pretty clear there's actually been a split within ABM on the issue of joining al-Baghdadi's group,' he added. In Darna (above) north-eastern Libya, young militants reportedly from the Islamic Youth Shura Council who claim to control the town declared their allegiance to ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi earlier this month . | Experts warn that extremists are 'mimicking ISIS brutality' in North Africa .
Militants who claim to control Libyan town have pledged allegiance to ISIS .
ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi despatches aide to become commander .
Terror network on Sinai Peninsula being helped to create new terror cells . |
32,971 | 5da81fd2bd238aee74d7efa7db30be5afcf74355 | Residents in a Sussex street were left with a very different parking problem when a hot air balloon suddenly landed between parked cars in the middle of their street. The balloon flew close to the roofs of houses in Midhurst in Sussex, leading people to fear they could be hit by the craft, before it made an emergency landing. People who witnessed the strange arrival of the balloon said that pilots told them it had run out of fuel and been forced to land. A hot air balloon was forced to make an emergency landing between parked cars in a residential street in Midhurst in Sussex after the craft reportedly ran out of fuel and it was seen flying close to roofs of houses . They claimed to have seen the pilots struggling to keep the flame going before making the emergency landing. The craft, which used to be owned by British Airways but now belongs to a private owner, sailed down to the middle of Barlavington Way in Midhurst at about 12.30pm on Tuesday. It was one of three seen at the time but was the only balloon to make an emergency landing. Steve Bull captured the incident on camera and said: 'It was more worrying than surreal as it slowly descended towards and then between houses. 'We often see hot air balloons in the sky around here in the summer but never in the winter.' Others said they were concerned that buildings or cars could be damaged by the surprise landing but said they were impressed when the pilot managed to calmly land the craft between two vehicles. Sophie May Lewis, 22, who lives on the street, said the pilots claimed they were running low on gas and were forced to ditch in the street. People living in Barlavington Way said they were shocked to discover a hot air balloon parked in the road . She said: 'Quite a few people had come out to have a look but they were only in the street around half an hour and then they were gone. 'The pilots were quite lucky there was a space between the parked cars but they landed it expertly. They did a brilliant job. 'It was quite an impressive sight when they deflated but I think a few people were a bit worried about their cars.' Writing on the Midhurst Facebook page, Simone Pontet-piccolomini added: 'There were 3 on the horizon when i first saw them then this one landed right at the end of my little road....i watched as the pilot struggled to get the flame going....neatly done though...i saw the other 2 in the distance, both pretty low over the town.' After the surprise landing the pilots were forced to carefully deflate the balloon and remove it. The balloon is emblazoned with a British Airways logo and has the name Concorde on its side. It took pilots about 30 minutes to deflate the craft and pack it up so they could take it away from the street . The balloon had to be carefully deflated after it landed and was packed up and removed in half an hour . However, according to records held by the Civil Aviation Authority BA sold the hot air balloon in 2008 and it was bought by Anthony Brown, of Guildford. Mr Brown is listed in connection with Reach for the Sky Limited, a hot air balloon flight company. Mr Brown could not be reached for comment by MailOnline today. Charlie Bush, who also lives in the road, told the Midhurst and Petworth Observer that the pilots said they had been 'running low on gas'. She added: 'He said a few of them had set off, but they had to bring it down here. They could see there was a clear space in the road, and were only there for about half an hour.' The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has not been contacted about the incident. A CAA spokesman said: 'Unfortunately this sort of incident does happen from time-to-time. 'The fact is that sometimes if the wind is in the wrong direction or there is some sort of fault then pilots have to put down somewhere, even in an urban area. They are perfectly entitled to do that. It is not like a plane landing there. They are trained to do it.' | Hot air balloon made an emergency landing on a Sussex residential street .
Pilots told residents they had run out of fuel and were forced to land there .
Those living in street were concerned balloon would hit cars or homes .
Pilots spent half an hour deflating balloon and then removed it on Tuesday .
Balloon previously owned by British Airways but now has private owner . |
62,010 | b028d3d76271da75f5f23fda303cef877dced73a | A seven-seat space taxi backed by Nasa to ferry astronauts to the International Space Station will make a high-altitude test flight next summer, officials said this week. Sierra Nevada Corp's ‘Dream Chaser’ space plane, which resembles a miniature space shuttle, is one of four space taxis being developed by private industry with backing from the U.S. government. For the unmanned test flight, it will be carried into the skies by WhiteKnightTwo, the carrier aircraft for the commercial suborbital passenger ship SpaceShipTwo, backed by Virgin Galactic, a U.S. company owned by Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group. Space taxis: An artist's impression of the Dream Chaser craft that may one day be used to take astronauts to the International Space Station . The test flight was added after privately held Sierra Nevada got a $25.6-million (£16million) boost to its existing $80 million contract with Nasa. The test flight will take place from either Edwards Air Force Base in California's Mojave Desert, or from the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, according to Ed Mango, manager of Nasa's Commercial Crew Program. With the retirement of the space shuttles this summer, Nasa is now dependent on Russia to fly astronauts to the space station, at a cost of more than $50million per person. Blast off: The test flight will take place from either Edwards Air Force Base in California's Mojave Desert, or from the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico . The agency hopes to turn over crew transportation services to one or more commercial firms before the end of 2016, Mango said. In addition to Sierra Nevada, Nasa is funding spaceship development work at Boeing Co, Space Exploration Technologies, and Blue Origin, a start-up firm owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. ‘Having only one way to get crew to the station is a limitation,’ Nasa astronaut Mike Fossum, who is currently living aboard the outpost, said during an in-flight interview last week. Sky's not the limit: Dream Chaser will be launched using WhiteKnightTwo, the carrier aircraft for Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo . The station, a $100billion project of 16 nations, was finished this year after more than a decade of construction 225 miles (350 km) above the planet. The outpost, which is about the size of a five-bedroom house, supports a variety of scientific research and technology demonstrations. Along with helping to develop commercial space taxis, Nasa is working on a heavy-lift rocket and capsule to fly astronauts and cargo to asteroids, the Moon, Mars and other destinations beyond the space station's orbit. Drawing heavily on equipment originally built for predecessor programs, including the space shuttle and the cancelled Constellation Moon exploration initiative, the new rocket, called the Space Launch System or SLS, is scheduled to debut in 2017. That unmanned test flight would be followed in 2021 by a trial run with astronauts, said Kennedy Space Center director Bob Cabana. Heavens above: The International Space Station orbits at over 200 miles above Earth . | Sierra Nevada's 'Dream Chaser' resembles mini shuttle .
It will use Virgin Galactic's carrier aircraft for test .
Private taxis could take over station flights in 2016 . |
111,038 | 1b2ece4b166fa6dc883acdc823c1a14ea97f29db | By . Sarah Griffiths . PUBLISHED: . 07:56 EST, 5 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 09:12 EST, 5 December 2013 . It might sound like a nightmare scenario from a science fiction film, but one expert has claimed that China is planning on transforming the moon into a missile base. The expert, from the China National Space Administration's Lunar Exploration Programme Centre, told a Chinese newspaper that the moon could be used as a military base from which to fire missiles at the Earth. The alleged plans have been likened to the creation of the Death Star in the Star Wars films, a fictional space station capable of destroying planets with its giant laser and home to a huge army led by Darth Vader. Comparisons of China's alleged plans have been drawn with the Death Star in the Star Wars films (pictured), which is a fictional space station capable of destroying planets with its giant laser and home to a super army led by Darth Vader . The Beijing Times reported that discussions are ongoing in China as to whether the People’s Liberation Army could establish a missile base on the moon. One expert told the newspaper that the Earth’s natural satellite could be turned into a giant weapon, which could be used as a military base where missiles could be directed at targets on Earth, Want China Times reported. The English news website compared the alleged plans to the building of the Death Star in Star Wars. The expert reportedly told the website that weapons testing sites could be set up on the moon but also that the Earth's satellite could become a base used to send crafts out to deep space. Earlier this week China launched its March-3B rocket carrying the Chang'e-3 lunar rover, which is known as Jade Rabbit and plans to send its first astronaut to the moon by 2030. The country hopes it will become the first country in almost 40 years to soft-land a probe on the moon. The Beijing Times reported that discussions are ongoing in China as to whether the People's Liberation Army could establish a missile base on the moon. Here, soldiers watch the live broadcast of the lift-off of the Long March-3B carrier rocket carrying China's Chang'e-3 lunar probe on December 2, 2013 in Jinan, China . The nation is only the third in history to launch an unmanned lunar probe after the Chang'e-3 device, nicknamed 'Jade Rabbit' after a Chinese folklore character, set off at 5.30pm on Sunday evening (1.30am local time). The lunar probe blasted off on board an enhanced Long March-3B carrier rocket from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in China's southwestern Sichuan province. The probe, which can climb inclines of up to 30 degrees and travel up to 200 metres per hour, is targeted to land within a huge volcanic crater known as Sinus Iridum, which means the Bay of Rainbows, on about December 14. The mission is a huge step forward for its ambitious space programme and forms part of a plan in which China hopes to build a permanent lunar base in order to launch future missions to Mars within the next 15 years. An expert, from the China National Space Administration's Lunar Exploration Programme Centre, told a Chinese newspaper that the moon could be used as a military base from which to fire missiles at the Earth . President Xi Jinping has said he wants China to establish itself as a space superpower, and the mission has inspired widespread pride in China's growing technological prowess. State television showed a live broadcast of the rocket lifting off. If all goes smoothly, the rover will conduct geological surveys and search for natural resources after the probe touches down on the moon in mid-December. It is designed to roam the lunar surface for at least 90 Earth days – three Lunar days – covering an area of about five square kilometres. It will send probes beneath the surface as well as taking high-resolution images of the rock, a flat area formed from the molten basalt released by lunar volcanoes several billion years ago. The journey of the probe and its final landing is being closely monitored by the European Space Agency (ESA), which is cooperating closely with China. A lunar probe nicknamed Jade Rabbit blasted off on board an enhanced Long March-3B carrier rocket from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre in China's southwestern Sichuan province (pictured) | Expert from the China National Space Administration's Lunar Exploration Programme Centre reportedly said lunar missile bases could be set up .
Comparisons been drawn with the Death Star in the Star Wars films, which is a .
fictional space station capable of destroying planets with its giant .
laser .
A Chinese newspaper reported there are also plans to use the moon as a base from which to explore deep space . |
241,344 | c4688351f43894978bfda00a331245e2f057e7c0 | Samsung’s rumoured smartwatch won't need a phone to work - and now patent images have revealed it may not even need a touchscreen. According to the application filed by the Korean firm, the standalone smartwatch could be controlled using gestures, detected by sensors built into the wrist-worn device. These sensors could recognise flicks, waves and other movements, and the files claim a depth sensor, when combined with a camera, for example, could be used to detect what a user is pointing at. According to patent images, pictured, Samsung's standalone smartwatch may include sensors that detect flicks, hand waves, fists and other movements. The files claim a depth sensor, when combined with a camera, for example, could be used to detect what a user is pointing at, or interacting with, for example . Samsung could be on the verge of entering the virtual reality race, if reports about an upcoming headset are true. The . Korean firm is said to have sent early prototypes to developers to . test, and the final product could launch by the end of the year. Sources close to Samsung told Engadget the headsets have OLED screens and will connect with the next generation of Galaxy devices. The . reports suggest the headset will run on Android, rather than the Tizen . operating system most recently seen on Samsung’s latest smartwatches. While orientation sensors could be used to unlock the device with a flick of the wrist or open certain apps. Elsewhere, ambient sounds picked up by the watch’s built-in microphone could add context to a gesture - for example, if using the watch at a gig, a gesture that traditionally switches on the camera could, instead, switch to video mode. ‘A depth sensor may be used in conjunction with an optical camera to enhance display or detection of a device's environment, or to determine which object a user is pointing at or interacting with via a gesture,’ explained the patent. ‘Sensors may include one or more inertial sensors or orientation sensors, such as an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a magnetometer, a GPS chip, or a compass. The G watch is likely to sync with LG's current range of phones. Earlier this week, patent files revealed a Samsung smartwatch, pictured, that won't need a phone to work. According to the application, the standalone smartwatch could be controlled using gestures, detected by sensors built into the wrist-worn device . Samsung already has four smartwatches on the market, including the Galaxy Gear, pictured left, powered by Google's Android operating system, and the Gear 2, pictured right, powered by Tizen. It is unclear which operating system the standalone smartwatch will run on . ‘In particular embodiments, output from sensors may be used to activate or unlock a device, detect one or more gestures, interact with content on the device's display screen or a paired device's display screen. ‘Sensors may include one or more microphones for detecting speech of a user, or ambient sounds to determine the context of the device.’ A number of existing Samsung products, including the Galaxy S5, already feature gesture controls, that let users scroll using hand waves, and sensors that follow where the user is looking. Its upcoming smartwatch could develop these further. The patent said sensors could be used to activate or unlock a device, detect one or more gestures, interact with content on the screen, or a paired device's screen. A number of existing Samsung products, including the Galaxy S5, already feature gesture controls and its upcoming smartwatch could develop these further . The G Watch is one of a handful of devices, including the Moto 360, pictured, to take advantage of the modified Android software. The Motorola watch is expected to launch shortly after LG's G watch . The images are part of a wider patent revealed earlier this week that suggest Samsung is developing a smartwatch that doesn’t need a phone to work. The firm plans to unveil the smartwatch over the next few months in a bid to take a larger slice of the wearable technology market. The unnamed smartwatch will be able to take photos, send emails, monitor the wearer’s heart rate and use GPS tracking, according to sources close to the company. Samsung has declined to say what the device will be called, how much it will cost or whether a user will make calls by holding the watch close to his or her mouth. The patent suggests Samsung's new smartwatch will have a round face resembling Motorola's Android Wear-powered Moto 360. | Patent images reveal sensors placed on the wrist-worn device .
A depth sensor used with a camera could detect what a user is pointing at .
Orientation sensors could be used to unlock it with a flick of the wrist .
The unnamed smartwatch could be launched over the next few months .
As .
well as sending calls and texts, the wearable device is expected to .
take photos, send emails, monitor the wearer’s heart rate and use GPS .
tracking .
Device will be the first standalone smartwatch from a major manufacturer .
Samsung's rival, Apple, could launch its own smartwatch later this year . |
68,507 | c2417e889f18e2cc3d5b88ee92472753ab8cd03b | London, England (CNN) -- A fishing ship whose crew had to be rescued from a fire is limping to port in the United Kingdom, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency told CNN Wednesday. Ninety-eight crew members were rescued from the Athena early Wednesday, while 13 remain on board to keep the fire under control and pilot the ship to port, the agency's Claire Johns said. The container ship Vega -- which happened to be nearby when the Athena caught fire -- is accompanying the ship to Falmouth, England, where both ships are due Thursday night, she said. The rescued crew members are aboard the Vega. The rescue operation was complicated by Athena's distance from land -- some 230 miles (370 kilometers) southwest of the British Isles of Scilly and 270 miles (435 kilometers) west of the Pointe Du Penmarche in Brittany, France. Because they can carry only so much fuel, British Royal Navy helicopters only had about 20 minutes over the rescue scene before having to return, according to the agency. A plane was also scrambled from France to help with communications during the rescue, the Coastguard said. The company that owns the ship does not know the cause of the fire yet, a representative said. "Hopefully tomorrow when the firefighters come on board (it) will be completely extinguished and cleared and then we will know more about what happened," Sue Philbrow told CNN by e-mail from the Faroe Islands, where the ship is registered. Five ships responded to the emergency call to pick up crewmembers, who include Chinese, Russian, Peruvian and Scandinavian personnel, among others. The Athena is a fishing ship that processes fish on board. CNN's Eileen Hsieh and Richard Allen Greene contributed to this report . | NEW: The ship owner doesn't know the cause of the fire .
Most of the crew is rescued from the Athena .
It's heading for Falmouth, England, under its own power .
The vessel caught fire more than 200 miles from land . |
129,165 | 32ead8f5a60cca1b11ec81df94a971e474c7a750 | Washington -- U.S. President Barack Obama will meet with French President Nicolas Sarkozy at the White House on January 10, according to a White House statement released Tuesday. France is assuming the presidency of the G-8 and G-20 economic groups in 2011. Obama "looks forward to working with President Sarkozy to sustain the global economic recovery and create jobs," the White House statement noted. "The two presidents will also discuss a broad range of current foreign policy and security issues." | Obama will meet with Sarkozy on January 10 .
The meeting will take place at the White House .
France is heading the G-8 and G-20 in 2011 . |
70,294 | c745871e59f6bc778f36b75822c8ce246e42f33a | Washington (CNN) -- A 21-month investigation into allegations that the Federal Air Marshal Service has a hostile work environment -- rife with discrimination and retaliation -- has concluded that no "widespread" problem exists, according to an internal government e-mail obtained by CNN. But, investigators also concluded, a large number of air marshals think those problems exist. The e-mail is the first glimpse into the long-awaited investigative report, which is scheduled to be released to the public on February 9. Whistle-blowers in the air marshal's Orlando, Florida, field office triggered the investigation in early 2010 when they alleged that supervisors used a "Jeopardy!"-style whiteboard to demean and ridicule rank-and-file officers. The board contained derogatory terms to allude to gays, lesbians and African-Americans, they said. But the investigation grew to include other field offices and other accusations, and the Department of Homeland Security's internal e-mail Tuesday said Office of Inspector General investigators have interviewed more than 300 DHS employees. While investigators have remained silent about their work, air marshals contacted by CNN say they provided evidence of a wide range of misconduct, including a supervisor who ran a private security business while at work, supervisors who perjured themselves in sworn testimony against subordinates, and instances of favoritism, racism, sexism and discrimination. A Federal Air Marshal Service spokeswoman declined to comment on the pending report and government e-mail Tuesday. But several air marshals said they are eager to read the report, and say they will dispute any conclusion that discrimination and retaliation are not widespread. "We're going to tear the report apart," one air marshal, who asked not to be identified, said Tuesday. "We're going to take and review the report and we're going to look at our conclusions, because we know what we gave them." The internal DHS e-mail summarizes the report's findings. "The (OIG) concluded that there was no widespread discrimination or retaliation within (the Federal Air Marshal Service)," it says. "However, the report does suggest that a large segment of our workforce feels that retaliation and discrimination exists." Supervisors have a responsibility to "dispel" the perception that the service is rife with discrimination and retaliation, it continues. In addition to the normal investigative techniques, the OIG took the unusual step of surveying the air marshal workforce. The survey asked air marshals if favoritism ever played a role in promotions, job evaluations and mission assignments; whether air marshals have ever been discriminated against or harassed on the job; and whether they feel they can report misconduct without fear of retaliation. In August 2011, the Department of Homeland Security declined a CNN Freedom of Information Act request for the survey results, saying that the documents involved an ongoing investigation. It also said the results could reveal the total number of air marshals, which is classified. A House committee has scheduled a hearing on the air marshals on Feb. 16. | CNN obtained an internal DHS e-mail about a probe of the Federal Air Marshal Service .
E-mail: Probe found discrimination isn't "widespread," but many air marshals think it is .
Air marshals tell CNN they provided evidence of perjury, discrimination, other misconduct .
"We're going to tear the report apart," says air marshal who asked not to be identified . |
208,678 | 9a337e2c542b6882b30c6c3b955369776f9d1a45 | By . Suzannah Hills . PUBLISHED: . 03:33 EST, 4 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 05:57 EST, 4 November 2013 . A search and rescue plane crashed in storms while trying to find two fishermen missing off the coast of Jersey. Lifeboats and coastguards were called to search for the men who lost control of their boat in the Les Ecrehous region, north-east of Jersey, at around 6pm. But just over an hour into the search an aircraft assisting in the operation was forced to make an emergency landing in a farmer's field. All five crew members from the Channel Island Air Search escaped without any serious injuries. Found: This rescue plane crash landed on Jersey while assisting in a search for two missing fishermen off the coast of the island . Damaged: Lion's Pride is in a farmer's field near the Priory Devil's hole - all five crew members from the Channel Island Air Search escaped serious injury . Rescue: Several hours after the plane crash, the two fishermen were found by rescue crews. Emergency workers last night took the men to hospital in Jersey . Another search and rescue aircraft was sent from France to continue hunting for the fishermen who were found late last night. Jersey Coastguard said: 'The two missing men involved in this evening's incident at Les Ecrehous have been found. 'A rescue operation is currently underway and we will update as and when we have further information.' The pilot on the search and rescue plane reportedly used the lights of a pub located on the coast to try and land the aircraft on dry land. John Gripton, managing editor of BBC Radio Jersey, said: 'There are reports that engines on the aircraft failed and that the plane used the twinkling lights of the pub in the darkness on the north coast as a target to try to land the craft on dry land.' The five crew members went to the pub shortly after landing to receive medical treatment. John Dowling, manager of The Priory Inn, said: 'No one was injured, everyone was all right and that's the main thing, isn't it? Rescue: It is believed the fishermen lost control of their boat in the Les Ecrehous region, north-east of Jersey at 6pm yesterday. They were found shortly before midnight . Joint effort: Rescue crews from St Helier, Jersey, Alderney and France all assisted in the search and rescue mission . 'Of course they were shaken up. You would be too if you'd just crash landed a plane, wouldn't you?' A spokesperson for Jersey Police added: 'We received calls at 7.15pm yesterday evening and we were informed by coastguards of a plane in difficulty. 'The plane then made an emergency landing in a field at St Mary, Jersey, with no injuries and minimal damage to the undercarriage of the plane. 'It is no longer a police matter and there will be no further action taken by the police.' Crews from St Helier, Jersey, Alderney, a nearby island, and France were involved in the rescue of the fishermen. A spokesman for the St Helier Lifeboat said: 'Lifeboat crews were launched from Jersey, France and Alderne. 'The weather here really was rather grim, wind force of 7-8 and heavy rain showers, which isn't ideal for a search.' Officials confirmed that resources had also been sent across from France to help with the search - including a helicopter from Cherbourg. Locator: The rescue plane was forced to make an emergency landing in a field in St Mary, Jersey, just one hour into the search for two missing fisherman near the Les Ecrehous region . | Rescue crews launched search for the missing men early yesterday evening .
The fishermen had lost control of their boat in the Les Ecrehous .
region .
A search and rescue plane looking for the pair was forced to make an emergency landing .
All five crew members on board escaped without injury .
The missing fishermen were found shortly before midnight last night . |
55,578 | 9d8d0f4ca37d50528770d83ac5fbecaf9d27e6bd | By . Olivia Williams . PUBLISHED: . 11:59 EST, 19 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 01:44 EST, 20 August 2013 . The owner of an infested takeaway restaurant has been fined after a child found a cockroach baked into their pizza crust. Matloob Hussain, 44, was ordered to shut down his business after the bugs were discovered scuttling around in pans, inside chiller cabinets and running up the wall. Cooking equipment and surfaces were filthy and covered in years worth of dirt, grease and food debris, Leeds Magistrates’ Court heard. Infested: The cockroach baked into the child's pizza at Munchies takeaway in Leeds . Filthy: Environmental health officers who found the kitchen to be overrun with insects and full of mouldy food . Bags of mouldy doner kebab meat were on the floor and food were found stored directly on filthy surfaces at Munchies takeaway at 21 Harehills Road in Leeds. It was immediately closed down by environmental health officers when they saw the state of the food preparation areas. Fined: Former owner Matloob Hussain . Derek Hallam, prosecuting, said a child’s father reported the matter on August 22 last year after one of his children spotted the insect in a pizza. Situated near the city centre, the American-style takeaway is used as a regular treat by residents in the Harehills area of Leeds. Its website offers 'special calzones' and 'vegetable calzones' as its specialities. Hussain was fined £750 and ordered to pay £1,250 court costs after pleading guilty to eight offences relating to failing to keep his premises clean. Justice of the Peace Bill Baker said: 'What we have heard this morning has been a stomach-churning horror story. 'We are due to have lunch in three-quarters of an hour but I think we will skip it now.' Speaking after the hearing, Councillor Mark Dobson said: 'Munchies took the idea of a stuffed crust pizza to a whole new level.' The . takeaway was shut down and re-opened a week later after the place was . cleaned and pest control contractors were called to the premises. Fazal Karim, mitigating at the case on Friday, said Hussain no longer owned the business. | Among toppings on a takeaway pizza in Leeds was a dead cockroach .
Munchies takeaway was infested and filthy when it was inspected .
The American-style restaurant has now re-opened with a different owner . |
243,024 | c68c2365453ff45d057c9e91006564f9d3b6f695 | HRT can protect women against Alzheimer's – providing it is taken at the menopause, according to researchers. A study showed women who began taking hormone replacement therapy within five years of the menopause cut their risk of the disease by a third. But the findings suggest that if HRT is started in later life, it could give women a greater risk of developing the condition, leading some experts to believe there is a 'window of opportunity' when the benefits are maximised. The study found that women who began HRT within five years of menopause had a 30 per cent lower risk of Alzheimer¿s dementia than those who had not used HRT . The researchers at Johns Hopkins . University, in Baltimore, followed 1,768 women aged 65 and over for 11 . years, recording a history of their HRT use and the date their menopause . began. A total of 1,105 women had used some form of hormone therapy, the report in journal Neurology noted. During the study, 176 women developed . Alzheimer's disease, including 87 of the women who had taken hormone . therapy compared with 89 of the 663 who had not. The study found that women who began . HRT within five years of the menopause had a 30 per cent lower risk of . Alzheimer's dementia than those who had not used HRT. Many people with dementia are not dying in the place they want to, says Alzheimer’s Society research. Although two out of three people want to die in their own homes, in 2010 only six per cent of people with dementia did. This is compared to 21 per cent of the general population, says a report, My Life Until The End: Dying Well With Dementia. It found in many cases people with . dementia had not discussed their wishes around death and dying so no-one . was able to put services in place to make them a reality. The high needs of people with dementia . also mean it is difficult for carers to cope at home and there are . difficulties in coordinating care. The report said people with dementia are often not treated with dignity at the end of their lives. One man had a dislocated shoulder for 11 days until his death despite his family raising concerns with numerous doctors. The risk was unchanged among other . hormone users who began treatment more than five years after the . menopause. And the protective effect was even larger in women using HRT . for ten years or more. But the risk of dementia among women . who had started HRT when they were at least 65, which, depending on the . individual, can be more than a decade after the menopause, was almost . doubled. The protective effect from HRT may . come from boosting supplies of the hormone oestrogen, which is thought . to play a key role in keeping the brain healthy, or the improvement in . heart risk factors linked to HRT. Earlier this month a study found HRT can reduce the risk of heart attacks and heart failure. In the United Kingdom, women in their 50s are told to use HRT drugs short-term and for no longer than five years. Dr Simon Ridley, head of research at . Alzheimer's Research UK, said: 'Previous research into HRT has shown . mixed results, but this useful study suggests the timing of hormone use . may be critical for either raising or reducing the risk of Alzheimer's. 'More work is needed to understand . this link and help women make informed decisions about whether to start . HRT, but these findings could be important for guiding future research.' | Scientists found 'critical window' near menopause where hormone therapy could be beneficial .
Women who began taking hormone replacement therapy within five years of menopause cut their risk of Alzheimer's disease by a third .
However, if HRT was taken later it could raise risk of developing dementia . |
286,389 | ff14d8b6797f94c3c9b6901061aac923b1d484a3 | By . Tom Gardner . PUBLISHED: . 06:16 EST, 10 April 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 09:16 EST, 10 April 2012 . A mother has hit out at school teachers for excluding her teenage son from classes over his Wayne Rooney-style haircut. Billy Davies was told his hairstyle was too ‘extreme’ for the classroom because it is shaved into a ‘V’ shape at the back - similar to one previously sported by the Manchester United striker. Teachers at Park Community School in Havant, Hampshire, decided to bar the 15-year-old from all of his lessons until his hair grows back. 'Extreme': Billy Davies' hairstyle was branded 'extreme' by teachers and he was told he could not join lessons because it breached uniform policy at Park Community School in, Havant . But furious Jackie Davies said: ‘The school is being pedantic. His hair isn’t extreme at all. ‘I could understand if he was going to school with purple or blue hair but that’s not the case.’ The teen, who lives with his parents in Havant, said: ‘It’s stupid because I don’t think there’s anything wrong with my hair. ‘It’s fashionable and a lot of my friends have the same sort of haircut, yet I’m the only one who has been punished. ‘Some of the students even have pink hair. Style icons: Haircuts, like the ones sported by Chelsea's Raul Meireles, left, and Manchester United's Wayne Rooney, have been banned by the school . ‘I . feel gutted because now I’m not in lessons with my friends and it’s . going to be harder to concentrate on my work being sat alone.’ The youngster now has to do his work in a room by himself during lesson time. If he needs any help then he has to go and ask a teacher before returning to the room once he has had assistance. The schoolboy has had the haircut for a . year but letters were sent out by the school in September which warned . parents it would not tolerate ‘extreme’ hairstyles. Billy says he never got a copy of the letter and argues that his hairstyle is not ‘extreme’. Excluded: Billy Davies does not see any problem with his hairstyle but has been banned him from lessons until it grows out . Last year, parents began a campaign to get regulations relaxed at the school after scores of pupils were banned from lessons. They felt their children were being punished for spiking up their hair with gel and having it subtly coloured. Headteacher Chris Anders said: ‘We’re an outstanding school and proud of our high standards. ‘Parents are well aware of the uniform policy and support it. ‘It’s . always a shame when students do not follow rules. But as adults working . with children and young people, we know it is important to be clear . about the consequences of actions and to follow through when rules are . broken.’ | Billy Davies, 15, has to do work in room by himself until hair grows back .
School says style breaches uniform policy . |
258,177 | da22f4a039b075414082182a557a022b10799f98 | Free woman: Nawal Msaad, 27, pictured after she was cleared of funding ISIS jihadists at the Old Bailey, has revealed that she has been stopped from leaving the UK by anti-terror police . A student cleared of trying to smuggle ISIS cash from Britain to Syria in her knickers has said an anti-terror squad has now stopped her boarding a plane to see her unwell grandmother. Nawal Msaad, 27, 'could not stop crying' as she was questioned by ten police officers at Gatwick and missed her flight to Tangier in Morocco on Sunday. The singer, who was dubbed 'The Jihottie' online during her terror trial, believes she is on a British watch list despite not having extremist views and being cleared of any terror charges during a four-week trial last summer. Last year she was caught with £16,000 in euros stuffed in her underwear at Heathrow as she attempted to board a flight to Istanbul, but a jury agreed that she was tricked into being a mule by an old school friend. But the new incident at Gatwick on Sunday means she is unable to get on with her life. She told the Evening Standard: 'I noticed around 10 officers came to the gate and I jokingly said, 'Are you all here for me?' 'I explained that I was visiting my sick grandmother, and that either way I don't need an excuse to go to Morocco — my family are from there. I couldn't stop crying I was so upset'. After 35 minutes of being searched and questioned her flight departed without her. She said: 'I'm really annoyed personally. They were apologetic as usual, but they'll just do it again. They said they would get me on another flight, (but) there are no direct flights for a few days so I have to wait.' Police was stopped under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act, used by police to establish if an individual is linked or involved in terrorism. Sussex Police said today: 'On Sunday afternoon a woman due to depart Gatwick Airport on an outbound flight for Tangier was briefly stopped and interviewed by Sussex officers at the Airport under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act. 'She was spoken to for 35 minutes and in the meantime the flight departed without her. 'We apologised for the fact that she had missed her flight and made efforts to find her an alternative flight but to no avail. We therefore supplied her with a rail warrant to enable her to return to her UK address that evening. We also offered to fund her eventual flight. 'The reasons for stopping passengers under Schedule 7 are not disclosed but specific suspicion of involvement in terrorism offences is not required. The woman was not detained under the Act, a procedure which only takes place after one hour has elapsed.' Miss Msaad's arrest and trial alongside her former friend Ama lEl-Wahabi threw her into the spotlight. Scroll down for video . Emotional: Miss Msaad broke down after the trial as she said she was 'physically and mentally weak' after the case and sobbed as she described her latest ordeal . CCTV: Miss Msaad was caught when the cash dropped down into her knickers as she walked through Heathrow . Anger: Police at Gatwick spoke to her and searched her for 35 minutes as her flight took off . Police believed she was due to hand the £16,000 in her pants over to a jihadi - but in fact she believed it was a deposit for a house in Turkey and was being offered a free holiday if she took it. Miss . Msaad, whose model looks have earned her the nickname 'jihottie' on . social media sites, wept as she was cleared. The London Metropolitan . University human resources management undergraduate appeared during the . trial to be a most unlikely jihadi sympathiser. Attending . the Old Bailey dressed in tight-fitting shirts, high heels, pink . lipstick and thigh-skimming skirts, the glamorous brunette appeared to . relish the limelight. She posted regular updates on social media of what . she was wearing to court. Other images on her profile showed her . modelling jewellery and wearing short black dresses for nights out. During . her trial, she was seen flirting with a defendant in another case, . provoking a reprimand from a judge after the besotted man was seen . waving at her in court. After she was cleared Miss Msaad, born . in London to Moroccan parents, accused police of targeting her because . she was a British Muslim. 'Anyone . out there who knows me will know I do not have any extremist views or . support terrorism nor do I have any jihadist affiliations,' she said. 'I . can't help but wonder if I had been called Natalie from Surrey whether . the authorities would have pressed terrorism charges against me.' 'Stitched up': Nawal Msaad, 27, left, was cleared of funding terrorism despite being caught with 20,000 euros handed to her by friend Amal El-Wahabi, 27, right, who was found guilty of the same charge . Anger: Nawal Msaad, pictured leaning on a car, believed she may have targeted because of her race and religion and was held for a month in custody after he arrest . Miss . Msaad met Amal El-Wahabi, 27, who gave her the money and is also of Moroccan descent, when they were . pupils at Holland Park School in West London and the pair remained . close. She told jurors she was 'stitched up' by her friend who promised . her £790 to take the 20,000 euros to Turkey in January. Wahabi told her the cash, in 500-euro notes, was to pay a deposit on a house in Turkey and fund a beauty therapy business there. But . in reality, the hairdresser was preparing to join her 30-year-old . drug-dealing husband Aine Davis on his terrorist crusade, taking their . two infant sons with her. Wahabi, . was described by her own barrister as a 'foul-mouthed, phone addicted, . weed-smoking kaffir' collapsed, screaming, 'No, I can't breathe' as she . was convicted of funding terrorism. She was jailed for 28 months and claimed she thought her husband, whom she met at a West London mosque when she was 19, was helping an aid convoy in Syria. But . police found extremist videos sent by Davis, a former Tube driver with . drug and firearm convictions. He also sent a message featuring the flag . of terrorist group ISIS, with the slogan: 'Allah prefers the Mujahadeen . over those who remain behind.' Wahabi responded: 'Be beside you until . the day you die.' Police . found photographs on Wahabi's phone of Davis posing with an AK-47 along . with other fighters. She sent him a picture of their son in a jihadi . headscarf. | Nawal Msaad, 27, 'could not stop crying' after anti-terror police stopped her .
Last year she was cleared of funding ISIS by smuggling cash in her pants .
Now stopped boarding flight to Tangier in Morocco to see unwell relative .
'I noticed around 10 officers came to the gate and I jokingly said, "Are you all here for me?",' she said .
Miss Msaad was searched and questioned by police using Terrorism Act .
Flight to Morocco left without her and she is still yet to leave the UK . |
155,140 | 548084e2e220dbe6ec25f7f51f1b7e93d0a9008d | By . Lillian Radulova . More than 5000 parents have voiced their opposition to the Productivity Commission's draft report on Childcare and Early Learning, in which recommendations suggest a significant reduction in support funds for middle-income earning families. The Parenthood, a non-profit national parent advocacy group, launched a national video campaign on Tuesday, rebuking the proposals which they claim could force many women out of the workforce. Under the current scheme, the government pays for 50 per cent of a family's early childhood education and care costs, with a cap of $7500 per child per year. Scroll down for video . Advocacy group The Parenthood, have launched a video campaign opposing proposed reforms to government subsidies for childcare . The Productivity Commission's draft report, released one week ago, recommends that the payment be means tested and based on a 'deemed hourly cost'. If passed, it would see families earning $60,000 or less a year have 90 per cent of their childcare costs subsidised by the government, while those earning more would receive a calculated reduced subsid - caped at 30 per cent for families with incomes of $300,000 a year or more. The Parenthood says this means families with an income of $160,000 a year will have their support greatly reduced, greatly affecting their ability to afford basic childcare services. Featuring real mothers, the add argues that the proposed government assistance cuts would greatly limit women's options in the workforce and force many to either leave their jobs or greatly reduce their hours . A survey they conducted of 1100 parents, found that 75 per cent of respondents 'would stop work or reduce their hours significantly if the rebate was cut'. Their black and white video features real mothers, dressed in 1950s styled clothes and chained to household tasks such as ironing and sweeping, while calling for people to support the 50 per cent childcare rebate. 'If you cut the childcare rebate you take Australia back to the1950s where women had no choice about whether they could go to work or not. Their choice was non‐existent,' Fiona Sugden, the executive director of The Parenthood, said. The report itself disputes this, suggesting that the proposed changes would lead the number of mothers in employment to rise: 'by around 2.7 per cent, or 46 700 mothers' 'If you take away a woman's choice to be able to go to work you chain them to the home. The impacts on Australian society will be far-reaching. 'We will see the return of an army of women kept in the home because the choice for them to be able to re-enter the paid workforce has been ripped away.' On the contrary, the report suggests that the proposed changes would lead to more opportunity for mothers to enter the workforce, saying: 'the number of mothers in employment is expected to rise by around 2.7 per cent, or 46 700 mothers,' if the recommended changes take place. | Advocacy group, The Parenthood, have launched an add opposing proposed reforms to government subsidies for childcare .
Currently, the government offers a maximum of $7500 per child each year .
The changes would see assistance to families with an income of $160,000 a year greatly reduced .
75 per cent of respondents in a survey by The Parenthood, said they would stop work or reduce their hours significantly if the rebate was cut . |
264,031 | e1f33eebdb6ee5f326404a14b9668251335450a2 | Madrid, Spain (CNN) -- An investigation was under way aboard a cruise ship in Barcelona's port on Friday after 26-foot waves crashed into a cruise ship and killed two people off northeast Spain, officials said. "We are extending all cooperation to all relevant authorities. The captain has been cooperating and is aboard the ship," said Michael Maratheftis, spokesman for the Greece-based Louis Cruise Lines. Its vessel the Louis Majesty suffered the casualties and damage on Wednesday. Two male passengers -- a German and an Italian -- were killed and 14 other people were injured. Maltese government officials arrived in Spain on Thursday to lead the investigation, because the Greece-based vessel flies a Maltese flag, a Spanish government spokeswoman said. "It's a weather investigation," Maratheftis said, adding that the crew's actions after the three "abnormal" waves struck the ship were crucial in preventing further casualties or damage. The waves smashed five windows on deck five in public areas -- on the forward part, or bow, of the 14-deck ship. Two male passengers -- a German and an Italian -- were killed, Maratheftis said. Were you on the ship? Share your story with iReport . "It was a shock. It was unexpected," Vito Sgobba, the cruise ship's hotel manager, told CNN in a phone interview from Barcelona. The first wave, Sgobba said, pushed down the ship's bow, and the second wave soon after struck the front of deck five. Sgobba was on an upper deck and quickly rushed to the scene with other crew members, who evacuated the injured to the ship's hospital. Several doctors and nurses traveling aboard as passengers also helped, he said. The two deceased apparently died at the scene, and did not make it to the ship's hospital, Sgobba said. The victims were a German man, 69, from North Rhine Westphalia, and an Italian man, 52, who was traveling with his family, their respective governments told CNN. Fourteen others were treated aboard the ship for light injuries, but were hospitalized as a precaution when the ship returned to Barcelona on Wednesday night, Maratheftis said. By Friday, only two of the injured remained hospitalized, and they were to be released over the weekend, Maratheftis said. The ship's owners on Thursday repatriated most of the 1,350 passengers from 27 nations -- including Americans, Dutch, Germans and Italians -- aboard flights from Barcelona. Only 200 passengers remained in Barcelona early Friday, for their convenience, Maratheftis said. Dutch passenger Tom Berg told CNN that he had been in the hardest-hit area of the ship just five minutes before the waves struck. "All people crying from that side, because there was a lot of water. We felt the wind going through the boat. After a few minutes, the cry ... calling for a doctor and we realize it was more serious than we expected," Berg said at the Barcelona airport, while awaiting a flight. Another Dutch passenger, Elly Maat, said she was on deck six, one level above the worst damage. The second wave broke the ship's windows, and some passengers donned life vests, she said. "A lot of people were very angry and children were crying," Maat said at the airport. The 580 crew members remain with the ship, which is under repair. The next scheduled cruise has been canceled, but plans are for the ship to sail from Barcelona to Genoa on March 10, and to resume its normal cruise operations from there on March 12, Maratheftis said. CNN's Al Goodman, Stephanie Halasz, Ben Brumfield and Chad Myers contributed to this report. | Cruise ship was hit by three "abnormal" waves, each about 26 feet (8 meters) high .
Maltese government officials begin investigation .
German, Italian passengers killed when waves smashed windows .
Fourteen other people injured in the incident which occurred off Cabo de San Sebastian . |
82,012 | e86a857d6ca5d0867ed8227ed01f99f9e1f0c223 | As sparring partners go, a Hollywood actress and an evolutionary biologist would not appear to be a natural fit. However, Oscar-winner Angelina Jolie, 39, and controversial scientist Professor Richard Dawkins, 73, have found themselves inadvertently at loggerheads over whether children should be allowed to read fairytales. Miss Jolie, who plays an evil fairy godmother in her latest film Maleficent – a spin on the classic story of Sleeping Beauty – said fairytales play an important role in how she raises her six children, using ‘a little magic’ to impart important moral lessons. Angelina Jolie, left, says fairytales are important to teach moral lessons. However, Professor Richard Dawkins, right, warned they could damage children . In a new interview, she said: ‘There are morals in these stories and you want a little magic – it’s important to have something that we’re a little bit in awe of. ‘The other day, one of the kids lost a tooth and I talked about the tooth fairy. Half of them are old enough to think: “What are you talking about,” yet they’re still not sure there isn’t something. ‘And I’m not lying to them. I say, “I really can’t tell you. I don’t really know. Mothers are sworn to secrecy.” ‘Kids grow up fast enough these days, so let’s allow them to have a little bit of childhood for as long as they can.’ Richard Dawkins acknowledged that the appeal of fairytales lay in their magic but believes they may be causing more harm than we think. He also questioned whether we should let children believe in Father Christmas at all . Do you think teaching children myths like Santa Claus and fairy tales is damaging? Do you think teaching children myths like Santa Claus and fairy tales is damaging? Now share your opinion . The comments put her at odds with Professor Dawkins, famous for his vocal opposition to religion, who this week branded fairytales ‘pernicious’ and warned they could damage children. Talking at the Cheltenham Science Festival recently, the father-of-one, said: ‘Is it a good thing to go along with the fantasies of childhood, magical as they are? Or should we be fostering a spirit of scepticism? I think it’s rather pernicious to inculcate into a child a view of the world which includes supernaturalism – we get enough of that anyway.’ He faced a backlash after the appearance, even being branded a ‘soulless bore’ by former Labour MP Tom Watson. Miss Jolie plays an evil fairy godmother in her latest film Maleficent, a spin on the classic story of Sleeping Beauty . Professor Dawkins has since tempered his views, saying: ‘I did not and will not condemn fairytales. My whole life has been given over to simulating the imagination, and in childhood years, fairy stories can do that.’ However, he reasserted his opinion on Thursday that there is an ‘interesting question’ surrounding the effect a ‘diet of supernatural magic spells’ might have on the development on children. In contrast, Miss Jolie, who has three adopted and three biological children with partner Brad Pitt, 50 – Maddox, 12, from Cambodia, Pax, 10, from Vietnam, Zahara, 9, from Ethiopia, Shiloh, 7 and twins Knox and Vivienne, 5 – said she has loved fairytales all her life and that it was this fascination that drew her to the role in Maleficent. Richard Dawkins has claimed that forcing a religion on children without questioning its merits is as bad as 'child abuse'. The leading atheist said he was against the 'indoctrination of religion' and teaching it as fact. Dawkins' best-selling book The God Delusion argues that belief in a supernatural creator is irrational and harmful to society. In the earlier interview, he claimed he had been told by a woman that while being abused by a priest was a ‘yucky’ experience, being told as a child that a Protestant friend who died would ‘roast in Hell’ was more distressing. In remarks to Qatar-based TV network Al Jazeera, he said: ‘Horrible as sexual abuse no doubt was, the damage was arguably less than the long-term psychological damage inflicted by bringing the child up Catholic in the first place. In the interview with Psychologies magazine she said: ‘I was fascinated by [Maleficent] as a child. I thought she was the scariest and the most interesting of all the Disney characters. But I wanted to know more about her. Who is that gorgeous, elegant creature? So I loved the idea of playing a Disney villain. It sounded so much fun. ‘I was afraid of her. But I loved her too because she was this elegant, sexy, evil creature. I was drawn to her. ‘I got really emotional because the script is very powerful. The kids loved it. ‘We tried to make this sophisticated enough that adults will read things into it that kids won’t. Parents watching the movie will identify with Maleficent in a different way, which I think is fine. ‘Little kids on set cried when they saw me. People would bring their children on to the set and one kid said “Mommy, tell that mean witch to stop talking to me!” ‘We have a choice about how we take what happens to us in our life and whether or not we allow it to turn us. We can become consumed by hate and darkness, or we’re able to regain our humanity somehow, or come to terms with things and learn something about ourselves.’ | Actress says fairytales play important role in how she raises her six children .
Adds children should have a bit of childhood for as long as they can .
Comes as Professor Richard Dawkins says fairytales may harm children .
He questioned whether children should be led to believe in Santa Claus . |
96,687 | 086dc58632101c7bf8ba12fa55de4afc6374a556 | The LAPD has called for police to be on high alert after two officers were shot at while sitting in their patrol car by suspects armed with a rifle. Police say one suspect is in custody, but they are currently searching for a second, who is described as armed and dangerous. Residents in parts of South Central Los Angles have been warned to stay indoors, while a manhunt involving about 100 officers takes place. LAPD police say they are currently searching for a suspect, who is described as armed and dangerous, after two police officers were shot at as they sat in their patrol car (file picture) According to CNN, the two officers returned returned fire and were not injured. Police have since recovered two weapons, including a rifle. In a separate incident in Pasco County, Florida, a suspect fired three bullets toward two sheriff's deputies as they were sitting in their cars on Sunday morning. 'Both deputies reported hearing the whizzing sound of each projectile as they flew by,' the sheriff's office said. 'Deputies did not see the suspect or the vehicle from which the shots were fired. 'Area residents also heard the three gunshots and reported seeing a small, dark-colored vehicle with tinted windows in the area at the time of the shooting.' The incidents come just over a week after two NYPD officers were shot dead in Brooklyn while sitting in their patrol car by a man who said he was avenging the killing of unarmed black men by police. Pasco County Sheriff's Office have asked for help from the public in connection with a graffiti message painted on a road barrier that read: 'Shoot MP Cop' Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu were killed in broad daylight by gunman Ismaaiyl Brinsley, 28, who then turned his weapon on himself. In the days after their deaths graffiti reading 'kill the cops' was found on the streets of Brooklyn as cops searched for suspects threatening police safety. Pasco County Sheriff's Office have also asked for help from the public in connection with a graffiti message - painted on a road barrier in a subdivision called Meadow Point - that read: 'Shoot MP Cop'. Sheriff Chris Nocco told Bay News 9: 'Our deputies deserve to be safe and our family members deserve to have their loved ones come home at the end of the shift. 'We're going to come out in force and we are not going to apologize. 'We are not going to be politically correct. We are going to do what is right.' The incidents in Florida and LA come just over a weeks after two NYPD officers were shot dead in Brooklyn while sitting in their patrol car by a man who said he was avenging the killing of unarmed black men by police . | Residents in parts of South Central Los Angles are warned to stay indoors .
Police are searching for a suspect described as armed and dangerous .
In separate case in Florida, suspect fired three bullets at sheriff's deputies .
Incidents come just a week after NYPD officers were shot dead in Brooklyn . |
101,231 | 0e76d25f2cd9743a2205211617c4ffd3af63551b | By . Sam Webb . PUBLISHED: . 04:53 EST, 5 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 06:43 EST, 5 January 2014 . England's drawn-out humiliation at the hands of a resurgent Australia is finally over, mercifully drawing an end one of England’s worst Test series defeats. Australia obliterated England's batting in a shade over 31 overs to claim a thumping 281-run fifth test victory with more than two days to spare and seal only the third 5-0 sweep in the long history of Ashes series on Sunday. The triumph at a sun-baked Sydney Cricket Ground completed a remarkable turnaround for Australia, who were in disarray after being swept themselves in India and going down 3-0 in England to lose a third successive Ashes series last year. England embarrassed! Australia celebrate winning the Ashes 5-0 in Sydney by raising the urn . Elation: The moment finally comes for Australia as they celebrate their historic victory . Winning feeling: Peter Siddle and Michael Clarke kiss the urn at the awards ceremony . All smiles: Shane Watson high-fives Australian fans as he comes off the pitch . Where did it go wrong? Alastair Cook looks dejected as he tries to contemplate England's dire performance . A big clue to how Australia managed that . turnaround came when paceman Mitchell Johnson was awarded the . Compton-Miller medal as Man of the Series after taking 37 wickets at a . shade under 14 apiece over the five tests. Johnson's ferocious pace again played an integral part in Australia's victory in Sydney but it was no one man show and his fellow quick Ryan Harris won Man of the Match honours after taking five for 25 as England were skittled for 166 on Sunday. 'It's very special after the roller-coaster ride, the ups and downs of 2013,' said Australia captain Michael Clarke, who also played in the 2006-7 sweep but clearly not that of 1920-21. 'It's been a lot of work to get us where we are today. I said to the bowlers at the start of the series that I thought they were the best attack in the world and I think they've shown that in five test matches.' Johnson's revival was even more remarkable than that achieved by Australia, turning him from a figure of ridicule for England's travelling Barmy Army into a bowler who struck fear into the touring batsmen. It was his intervention after tea on Sunday that turned what had been a stately progression to victory into another humiliating rout for the tourists. After finally dismissing Chris Rogers for 119 and bowling Australia out for 276, England stumbled to the break on 87 for three chasing a highly improbable 448 for victory. All changed now: Nathan Lyon replicates England's famous sprinkler celebration . First man down: Mitchell Johnson celebrates taking the wicket of Alastair Cook . Old head frazzled: Ian Bell has to walk off the field after being removed by Ryan Harris for just 16 . Unstoppable: Johnson's ball they kept low and nipped back to dismiss Gary Ballance . One-handed grab: George Bailey takes a stunning catch to dismiss Kevin Pietersen at short leg . Well played: Chris Rogers pulls a ball to the boundary on his way to getting a century . A fifth thumping victory had always looked on the cards after Australia's pace attack tore through England's top order in the first hour of day two. A more spectacular collapse in 11 balls after the second interval on day three made it certain with Johnson dismissing opener Michael Carberry for 43 and Gary Ballance three balls later in the first over. 'Mitchell's bowled a couple of spells in this series that are without doubt as good a spells as I've seen in my career,' said Clarke. 'And I've been lucky enough to play with Glenn McGrath, Jason Gillespie, Brett Lee and Shane Warne.' Spinner Nathan Lyon took over for the next over and he dismissed Jonny Bairstow for a duck and Scott Borthwick for four to reduce the tourists to 95-7 in a matter of minutes. With England's top order having failed yet again, Ben Stokes (32) and Stuart Broad (42) provided their country's stiffest resistance down the order but they could only delay the inevitable. Agility: Michael Clarke gets down low to take the catch dismissing Scott Borthwick . That's out! Ben Stokes drags Ryan Harris onto his own stumps in the second innings . Spinning master: Nathan Lyon gets several pat on the backs for his efforts . Complete shock: Michael Carberry's bat snaps in half after a ball from Harris . Harris bowled them both before performing the coup de grace on debutant Boyd Rankin and the SCG, bathed in pink in honour of Glenn McGrath's breast cancer charity, rose to hail the Australia team. 'I think today's batting was a culmination of being under the kosh for four and a half games,' said England captain Alastair Cook. 'Credit to Australia, I can't even count on how many sessions we won in the series. That's a pretty daunting stat to take but a very realistic statistic.' Australia had already reclaimed the coveted urn after winning the Brisbane test by 381 runs, the Adelaide match by 218 runs, in Perth by 150 runs and taking an eight-wicket triumph in Melbourne. For a dispirited England, their triumphs in India in 2012 and in Australia in 2010-11 will appear a distant memory and they face an immediate future of recrimination and rebuilding. Raising money: Pink day at the SCG with all supporters showing their support for breast cancer . Problems: Alastair Cook stares into the crowd as he walks off after getting out to Johnson . Bouncers: Boyd Rankin's pitch map shows how short he bowled during Australia's second innings . Aside from criticisms of his . captaincy, Cook's miserable series was a reflection of that of a vaunted . batting line-up which simply failed to fire in the face of sustained . pressure from the Australians. The . England skipper's seven runs on Sunday gave him 246 at an average of . 24.6 for the series, a paltry return compared to the 766 runs at 127 he . accumulated on his last trip to Australia in 2010-11 when he returned . home a 3-1 winner. England's . other top batsmen did not fair much better with Jonathan Trott . returning home after the defeat in the opening test to deal with . stress-related issues and Ian Bell and Kevin Pietersen failing to live . up to their billing. The . England bowlers have little more to crow about and one of the many . statistics being bandied about to illustrate Australia's supremacy in . the series will embarrass them. While . Australia took all 100 wickets in a five-test Ashes series for the . first time, England failed to dismiss their opponent's number 11 . batsman, Lyon, even once. Boundary: Brad Haddin pulls away a ball during his short innings on the final day at the SCG . Well held: Scott Borthwick takes a good caught and bowled to finally dismiss Chris Rogers . All around the wicket: Chris Rogers wagon wheel after scoring 119 . | England out for just 166 in final Test against an inspired Australia side .
Win is humiliating bookend to one of England's worst Test series defeats .
'We just weren't good enough,' England captain Alastair Cook admits . |
33,010 | 5dc54ad2fa682b18c46990d35d0c5754fa6514a7 | (CNN) -- Inter Milan coach Andrea Stramaccioni has rejected suggestions that Wesley Sneijder has been "victimized" in his pay dispute with the Italian football club. The Dutch midfielder, who earns a reported $290,000 a week, has been asked to extend his contract by an extra year to 2016 for the same total salary as cash-trapped Inter seek to cut costs. Last weekend the club said the 28-year-old would not be selected until he agreed to the new conditions, a move which has angered the international players' union FIFPro. "Clubs say that players must respect contracts, but why should that not apply in reverse?" FIFPro secretary general Theo van Seggelen said last week. "It is not as if Sneijder has taken a gun to the head of the board of Inter to force them to submit that contract. The club offered it to him with their full understanding." Messi's Barcelona set new record . However, Stramaccioni insists that he has not picked Sneijder -- who was one of Inter's key players in the 2009-10 treble-winning season under Jose Mourinho -- because of footballing reasons. "It's my job to pick the best team available, and at the moment I'm not picking him," Stramaccioni said after Sunday's 1-0 win at home to Palermo, which kept Inter in third place -- four points behind leaders Juventus. "This has nothing to do with his contract, I have to select the team and Inter come first. It's not a case of the president telling me not to pick Sneijder, I pick the team. And I think it's outrageous to suggest Sneijder is being 'victimized.' "We should be careful when using terms such as 'victimized.' If someone who earns 1,000 euros a month heard us, we'd look a bit silly. It's my job to decide who's in the best shape to play and I do so. I make my decisions and I stand by them." FIFPro says it will demand action from football's ruling bodies against clubs which seek to "blackmail" players into accepting reduced terms. "This type of practice used to be an exception. Unfortunately, we now see clubs in all countries in Europe using this type of measure. For us, the time has come to sound the bell," Van Seggelen said. He cited another prominent example in Spain striker Fernando Llorente, who has been dropped by Athletic Bilbao after refusing to assign a new deal. "If you want to offer a player a lower contract, you must only do that at the end of his current contract," Van Seggelen said. The Nerazzurri won on Sunday thanks to a 74th-minute own goal by defender Santiago Garcia, whose struggling Palermo team is coached by Gian Piero Gasperini -- sacked by Inter last season after only five games in charge. Napoli stayed second with a 5-1 thrashing of bottom club Pescara, as Uruguay striker Edinson Cavani and Swiss midfielder Gokhan Inler scored twice each. Cavani has now fired 10 league goals this season, putting him second behind AC Milan's Stephan El Shaarawy. Fiorentina retained fourth place despite being held 2-2 by Sampdoria, who canceled out two goals by Montenegro defender Stefan Savic before having Shkodran Mustafi sent off at the end. Lazio joined Fiorentina on 29 points with a 2-1 win at home to Parma, with veteran Germany striker Miroslav Klose netting the second goal for his ninth this season. In Spain, fourth-placed Real Betis kept pace with the leading clubs after winning 3-2 at Deportivo La Coruna, as striker Ruben netted the opening two goals. Second-bottom Deportivo leveled with two goals from striker Riki, but Betis snatched victory through on-loan Costa Rica winger Joel Campbell. Levante stayed seventh after being held 1-1 by Celta Vigo. In Germany, Werder Bremen moved up to eighth place with a 4-1 win at third-bottom Hoffenheim as Austrian striker Marko Arnautovic scored a hat-trick. Wolfsburg moved four points above the relegation zone after coming from behind to draw 1-1 at home to ninth-placed Hamburg. | Wesley Sneijder again not selected for Inter Milan's win over Palermo on Sunday .
Netherlands international is in a pay dispute with the Italian club .
Players' union says it is a key example of clubs "blackmailing" their employees .
Spain striker Fernando Llorente has been dropped by his club in contract dispute . |
32,437 | 5c3a806ca1db8ca88ca2b6df329e7c12e58dfa1f | By . Ellie Zolfagharifard . Caught in a deadly firefight, a combat doctor stumbles towards a wounded soldier soaked in blood. With only a charred metal panel as his operating table, the medic knows he has 90 seconds to stop the bleeding before the soldier dies. With this in mind, a veteran combat surgeon has developed the first inflatable tourniquet that controls circulation and stems blood loss at the waist, caused by bomb blasts and other injuries - and it can be deployed in just 25 seconds. Scroll down for video . The tourniquet, created by Dr Sam Scheinberg and design firm Ziba in Oregon, is the first field dressing that can be used at the waist, which is crucial if a soldier is injured by an IED explosion . It was created by Dr Sam Scheinberg, a combat surgeon from Oregon who served in Vietnam. Based on his experiences, Dr Scheinberg teamed up with Portland design firm Ziba to develop a tourniquet specifically designed to save lives in battle. Tourniquets are medical devices used for the temporary control of circulation, and on the battlefield, are vital to preventing blood loss. But this particular tourniquet is different. It is the first field dressing that can be used at the waist to stabilise the pelvis and stop bleeding. The only field treatment previously available was a rigid armature-and-clamp contraption which was slow, clumsy and lacked the benefit of pelvic stabilisation (right). The new system (left) is far simpler to use . Simple instructions are printed on the device in the event that the medic is also suffering trauma from injury . The ‘Sam Junctional Tourniquet’ is placed at or near the injury site, strapped on and pumped up until the bleeding stops. The nylon surface of the strap hides pneumatic air balls that are inflated to stop bleeding. A shut-off valve is included to prevent medics from over-inflating the device. A buckle provides clear visual and sound cues to make sure the the medic knows when it is properly set. Simple instructions are also printed on the device in the event that the medic is also suffering trauma from injury. ‘Research continues to show that high-on-the-thigh and groin-level injuries sustained in these blasts are the leading preventable cause of death in U.S, combat situations,’ Ziba wrote on its website. ‘The only field treatment previously available was a rigid armature-and-clamp contraption which was slow, clumsy and lacked the benefit of pelvic stabilisation.’ Dr Scheinberg gave Ziba complete design freedom with his only caveat being that it should be ‘brain dead and bomb proof.’ According to Wired, Ziba designers got rid of their sketchpads and instead opted to create a prototype by crawling on the floor of their studio and dodging imaginary mortar shells. Dr Scheinberg gave Ziba complete design freedom with his only caveat being that it should be ‘brain dead and bomb proof.’ Ziba designers got rid of their sketchpads and instead opted to create a prototype by crawling on the floor of their studio and dodging imaginary mortar shells . The nylon surface of the strap hides pneumatic air balls (pictured) that are inflated to stop bleeding. A shut off valve is included to prevent medics from over-inflating the device . What they came up with was something known as the ‘Sam Junctional Tourniquet’ which weighs around a pound (0.45kg) and can be deployed in under 25 seconds. It takes only few steps to apply; the device is placed at or near the injury site, strapped on and pumped up until the bleeding stops. The nylon surface of the strap hides pneumatic air balls that are inflated to stop bleeding. A shut off valve is included to prevent medics from over-inflating the device. A buckle provides clear visual and sound cues to make sure the the medic knows when it is properly set. Over 1,200 systems have now been shipped to active battle zones and just a month after it was sent into the field, this new version of a tourniquet saved a life in Afghanistan. | The tourniquet was created by Dr Sam Scheinberg and design firm Ziba .
It is the first field device that can stabilise pelvis and prevent blood loss .
The nylon surface of the strap hides pneumatic air balls that are inflated .
Device is placed near injury site and pumped up until the bleeding stops .
More than 1,200 of these tourniquets have been shipped to battle zones .
Just a month after it was sent into the field, this new version of a tourniquet saved a life in Afghanistan . |
205,422 | 95ed449e62861f397dd6e1767ce2b9e9459577e3 | For a typical young sportsman, returning from a lengthy injury lay off to be thrown into back-to-back European ties before a date with the All Blacks might be a daunting prospect. But Owen Farrell is not a typical young sportsman. Barely six years after becoming the youngest Englishman to play professional rugby union aged 17 years and 11 days — a mantle since taken by his fly-half rival George Ford — Farrell has won 25 England caps and scored 271 international points. Assuming he passes muster against Clermont this Saturday and Munster next Friday, Farrell looks set to start at fly-half against the world champions at Twickenham on November 8. Last week Jonny Wilkinson called for the 23-year-old to be England’s first-choice No 10 during next year’s World Cup. England No 10 Owen Farrell has declared himself fit after recovering from a quad injury . Farrell is looking forward to taking on the All Blacks at Twickenham on November 8 . Jonny Wilkinson, who won the World Cup in 2003, believes Farrell should be handed a key role . ‘I’m not worried about anything,’ said Farrell, who has not played since injuring his quad against London Irish in Saracens’ third game — and his only start — of the season. ‘I’m looking forward to getting back out and playing. I feel ready to go.’ The indications at Saracens’ training ground on Tuesday were that Farrell will start on the bench at Allianz Park. Veteran Charlie Hodgson is expected to continue at No 10 before handing over to Farrell against Munster at Thomond Park. Mark McCall, Saracens’ director of rugby, said: ‘Owen looks really sharp. We probably could have played him a fortnight ago because he was running well, which is why he’s so frustrated. We’ve been conservative with him. ‘I think in the long term for us and for England it’s been a break that Owen probably required. He’s played a lot of rugby at a very young age. He’s 23. Every question he’s been asked he’s answered. I think the world is his oyster.’ Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall believes the world is at Farrell's oyster . Farrell, who suffered a knee injury that ruled him out of last summer’s third Test against the All Blacks before his latest setback, has been spending his time on the sidelines studying opposition teams and England rivals. ‘The fact you don’t play doesn’t mean you don’t learn,’ he said. ‘I’ve watched more rugby over the last three weeks than I’ve ever watched. ‘I’ve watched a lot of Clermont already.’ Saturday’s clash will see a repeat of last season’s European semi-final, which Saracens won with one of the most breathtaking displays ever produced by an English club. ‘I’ve watched it back a few times this week and two things stood out to me. Our game was joined up: set pieces, kicking game, defence, attack, counter attack were all as one. ‘Coupled with that was the energy we brought. We’ll need to be like that again this week.’ Three Wales stars, Jamie Roberts, Mike Phillips and Dan Lydiate, could quit Racing Metro and return home. Racing coach Laurent Labit told French newspaper L’Equipe: ‘We have raised the subject with them. They have never really been that effective.’ Wales coach Warren Gatland has denied that the Welsh Rugby Union had ‘instigated contact’ with the players. Centre Roberts and flanker Lydiate joined Racing before the 2013-14 season and scrum-half Phillips moved there in December 2013 after being dismissed by Bayonne. Any move could collapse if they play for Racing in the European Rugby Cup against Northampton on Saturday and are cup-tied. | The 23-year-old looks set to start at fly-half against the world champions .
Jonny Wilkinson believes Owen Farrell should be England's first choice No 10 at next year's World Cup .
Farrell is 'looking forward' to facing the All Blacks on November 8 . |
87,990 | f9a955e9b703693773860b662c8f0c8060c3cc26 | By . Richard Hartley-parkinson . Last updated at 6:01 PM on 7th October 2011 . Justice Secretary Ken Clarke proposes to increase sentencing from two years in prison to five . Dangerous drivers who cause serious injuries on the road could be jailed for up to five years under new plans, Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke said today. The introduction of a new offence of 'causing serious injury by dangerous driving' would more than double the current maximum sentence of two years for dangerous drivers whose victims are seriously injured but not killed. The change was spurred on by cases such as that of motorist Christopher Marr, who was jailed for just 26 months when he left 14-year-old Devon Foster with horrific injuries after a collision. Judge Steven Everett presided over his case and said it 'defies belief' that he could not sentence Marr for longer. He was released from prison after 13 months. Campaigners welcomed the proposals, saying that, with 1,850 deaths on the roads in Britain last year alone, the move would 'help to provide justice to families whose lives have been ripped apart by dangerous drivers'. Mr Clarke said: 'We have listened to the victims of dangerous drivers, their families, MPs, judges and road safety groups and their experiences have directly informed these changes. The review was sparked by the lack of sentencing power that a judge said he had when jailing the driver behind the horrific injuries of 14-year-old Devon Foster . 'Making our roads safer is a priority - . five people died on our roads each day last year, so we need to do . everything we can to further improve safety.' Ellen . Booth, from road safety charity Brake, said: . 'This new offence finally means that serious injury is recognised . within the title of the offence, and this recognition is vitally . important to victims and their families. 'It also means that dangerous drivers . who inflict serious injuries can expect to see higher sentences to . better reflect the terrible trauma and injuries they have caused.' Andrew Howard, head of road safety at . the AA, said the changes, which will be part of the Government's Legal . Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill, 'should make sentences . more proportionate to the devastation dangerous driving causes and . should also deter people from driving badly'. Road Safety Minister Mike Penning added that while the vast majority of motorists were safe and responsible, 'the wilfully reckless minority who put lives in danger must face serious penalties'. Kevin Clinton, head of road safety at the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents said: 'RoSPA has previously called for the offence of causing death by dangerous driving to be extended to cover causing serious injury, so we welcome the announcement of a new offence of 'causing serious injury by dangerous driving'. 'Serious injuries often cause life-long disability for the victims of bad drivers and can fundamentally affect their quality of life and that of their families. 'To ensure this new law works as intended, it will be absolutely crucial to ensure that it is applied consistently in terms of prosecution and sentencing.' Robert Gifford, executive director of the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety, said 'The main response to this proposal must be to ask: what exactly is meant by "serious injury"? 'The definition in Reported Road Casualties refers to a visit to accident and emergency or an overnight stay in hospital. 'I assume that, if the injury results from an act of dangerous driving, then the definition must imply an injury that is life-changing. 'It will be important for Parliament to give a clear indication of what is understood by serious when the amendment is debated. Otherwise, it is quite likely that the offence may be placed on the statute book with little or no effect. 'At present, just under 6,000 drivers are charged every year with dangerous driving. Yet we have no information about how many of those charges are the result of a crash involving serious injuries. 'So, it will be important to understand just how many extra court cases will result from the new offence. 'I hope that MPs and peers will therefore look very carefully at the detail of this offence to ensure that it leads to improvements in road safety, especially as it was not referred to in either the Strategic Framework for Road Safety published by the Government in May 2011 or the earlier consultation document on Road Safety Compliance published in November 2008.' A judge who wrote to David Cameron last year asking why he was unable to sentence a driver to more than two years has been cited as sparking the the re-think in the law. Christopher Marr was sentenced to 26 months in prison when he crashed into three teenage girls in Bromley Cross, Bolton, after taking his girlfriend's car while drunk on August 22 last year. He drove at 90mph on the wrong side of the road before mounting a pavement and colliding with the girls, who were walking home from a party, leaving a scene of 'absolute devastation'. When jailing Christopher Marr (left) for just 26 months for dangerous driving Judge Steven Everett wrote to David Cameron to ask for tougher sentences . Marr took his girlfriend's car without her consent when he drove at 90mph, on the wrong side of the road, while drunk before hitting Devon and two friends . Devon Foster, then 14, was left fighting for her life with a fracture that ran from ear to ear under the front of her eyes, a cracked bone in her back, a bruised kidney, a fractured right arm and an ankle injury. She was left with brain injuries, scars and still suffers from hearing problems but has been able to finish her GCSEs. Devon Foster, pictured while recovering, suffered from a skull fracture that left her with hearing problems . Judge Steven Everett presided over the case and ordered for the court transcripts to be sent to the Prime Minister and the Justice Secretary when he found he could sentence Marr for just 26 months. He was released after 13 months. Summing up at Bolton Crown Court he said: 'For many years lawyers and judges have been railing against the government to change the sentence. 'It defies belief that successive governments have not seen fit to increase the maximum sentence. It is about time the government got its facts right and sorted itself out.' Miss Foster, now 15, backs the proposal. She said: 'I'm very happy the law is being changed. It's just sad that I have had to go through what I've been through for the law to be changed.' Her mother, Sam, 42, added: Devon's mum Sam, 42, added: 'It is wonderful, it's great news. It is a pity it has had to happen like this for so many families to go through what we've gone through for the Government to sit up and take notice. 'Christopher Marr is already out of prison but Devon is still serving her life sentence. 'She's got scars to look at every day, medication to take every day, hospital appointments each month. Devon's life has been turned upside down and her life has been put on hold. 'People may think twice now before driving dangerously.' | Sentences would be increased from maximum of two years in prison to five under the new court guidelines .
Move welcomed by road safety campaigners who say it's 'vitally important' for victims and their families .
AA hopes the law will mean punishment will become proportionate to the devastation caused . |
198,785 | 8d527cd2fb203a0797827265bd116bd28f3ff557 | By . Rob Waugh . PUBLISHED: . 03:57 EST, 27 April 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 03:59 EST, 27 April 2012 . Our solar system could have a 'twin' 130 light years away - with up to nine planets including 'rocky' planets like our own earth. The star system HD 10180 had five confirmed planets - and a new study has confirmed two more, with another two suspected. Most are liable to be 'scorchingly' hot. Astronomer Mikko Tuomi re-analysed data taken of star HD 10180 with High Accuracy Radial Velocity Planet Searcher (HARPS), a high-precision camera mounted on a 3.6 meter telescope in Chile . Record beater: This animation shows an artist's impression of the remarkable planetary system around the Sun-like star HD 10180 . 'The data indicates that there are not only seven but likely as many as nine planets in the system,' said Tuomi told SPACE.com. 'The two new planets appear to have orbital periods of roughly 10 and 68 days and masses of 1.9 and 5.1 times that of Earth, which enables the classification of them as hot super-Earths, i.e., planets with likely scorchingly hot rocky surfaces.' Our solar system has eight planets after Pluto was officially demoted to dwarf planet status. The staar has been studied for . years because at 130 light years away it is relatively close and . therefore brighter and easier for astronomers to examine. Recent . studies detected that the star, which is in the constellation of the . water snake Hydrus, hosted six planets and observed a possible seventh . planet. However, the latest research confirmed the existence of the seventh planet and found a further two planets orbiting the star. Extraordinary: New findings show that the sun-like star could have nine planets orbiting around it . The planets vary drastically in . size and include one which is 65 times the Earth’s mass and one . estimated to be only 1.4 times heavier than Earth - making it one of the . smallest planets discovered outside our own solar system. The . two newly discovered planets weigh in at 1.9 times and 5.1 times . heavier than Earth, 'enabling the classification of them as . super-Earths,' says the study. The new planets follow hot orbits, circling their star in under 10 days for the small one, and 68 days for the larger. Artist's impression: The oft-examined star is 130 light years away and in the constellation of Hydrus, the water snake . Competition: If the findings are proved HD10180's solar system will have more planets than ours since Pluto has been demoted to a dwarf planet . One of the new planets to be discovered and the seventh planet which was confirmed are particularly close to the sun-like star. The . one with a mass of 1.3 times more than Earth is only 3 million km away . from HD 10180, closer than mercury is to the sun, making its surface hot . enough to melt zinc, tin and possibly even iron. The . study explained that the star was a ‘very quiet one’ making it unlikely . that the activity of the two new planets that they detected was caused . by stellar phenomena. ‘Also, . the periodicities we report, namely 9.66 and 67.6 days, do not coincide . with any periodicities arising from the movement of the bodies in the . Solar system. Therefore, we consider the interpretation of these two new . signals of being of planetary origin to be the most credible . explanation,' the study continued. Other solar systems generally have four or less planets orbiting a star. | HD 10180 lies just 130 light years away in the constellation of Hydrus .
Seven confirmed planets with two more likely candidates .
Rocky planets likely to be 'scorchingly hot' says astronomer . |
120,427 | 27a0da39f14718553851bb62150ffde44514a2ea | It's the one fact about Mexico that you probably didn't know. The country's name is not really Mexico, at least not officially. After gaining independence from Spain in 1821, Mexico officially became the "United Mexican States." The American independence movement had inspired Mexican leaders of that era and since Mexico, in fact, also was a territory composed of states, the name stuck and became official in 1824. But the reality is the official name is used only by Mexican officials who deal with diplomatic protocol and official documents pertaining to international relations. For the rest of Mexicans -- and the world -- the country is simply known as Mexico. Mexicans feeling persecuted flee U.S. That's why outgoing Mexican President Felipe Calderon on Thursday sent to the Mexican Congress a piece of legislation to change the country's name officially to simply Mexico. Calderon, a conservative president better known for his war on drug cartels and organized crime, is literally in his last days in office. Enrique Pena Nieto, who was elected in July, takes office on December 1. It's still too early to know if the new Mexican Congress will quickly act on Calderon's bill or tackle other more pressing matters like security and the economy. In announcing his decision to propose officially changing his country's name, Calderon said Thursday the name United Mexican States was originally taken because back in 1824 the United States of America was an example of democracy and liberty for the new independent nations in the Americas. Opinion: To-do list for Obama and Mexico's new president . "It's time that we Mexicans retake the beauty and simplicity of our motherland's name: Mexico. (It's) a name that we use when chanting or singing, a name that identifies us throughout the world and that makes us proud," Calderon said. "Mexico" is a word first used by the Aztecs in their original nahuatl language. The indigenous tribe founded a city called Tenochtitlan in the valley now occupied by the modern Mexico City. That original city was conquered by the Spanish in 1521. Mexico gained its independence from Spain in 1821. In Spanish, Mexicans pronounce the "x" in Mexico as a hard "h." Opinion: Racism in plain view in Mexico . | In 1821, the country was officially dubbed the "United Mexican States"
Its leaders were inspired by the American independence movement .
Outgoing Mexican President Felipe Calderon has proposed making it just "Mexico" |
168,148 | 657c5e0477226e745fbd15d4fec443eed62c84ca | International titles and adoration can go to a person's head but a Spanish soldier who was voted one of the hottest men in the world is determined to keep his boots on the ground. Despite winning the Mr Universe title recently, Ruben Lopez has vowed to continue learning and stick with his career in the army instead of seeking bigger or better things. Mr Lopez, who was born in Navas de San Juan, defeated 40 participants from all over the world to be crowned Mr Universe last September in Lima, Peru. Uniform: Ruben Lopez, who is the newly crowned Mr Universe, buttons up his shirt during the brief video . The 22 year-old joined the Spanish Army in 2011 and he was subsequently posted in the Armoured Brigade Guadarrama XII at the El Goloso military base in Madrid. Mr Lopez, was assigned to the RBA Section (telecommunications) from the Signals Company. Despite having being named the most handsome man in the world, Mr López has no intention of giving up his army profession. He has been studying for his degree in physical education and working as a model. In 2013, the military man won the Beauty of Spain contest. Duties: Mr Lopez speaks on the telephone during his daily shift in the Armoured Brigade Guadarrama XII unit . Weights: Mr Lopez does some bench pressing at the El Goloso military base in Madrid . In a brief video that provides a glimpse into his day job, Mr Lopez said he is just another person to those who know him. The soldier said: 'I am still the same and I will be. Here in my work I am still just one more soldier. I still need to make efforts day by day and keep learning and improving.' The new Mr Universe, who has worked in the fashion industry since he was 14 years old, is treated as 'just another soldier' even though he is very handsome, according to female soldier Lorena Pozas Martin. Artillery: Mr Lopez stops to allow a tank to pass him in the military barracks . Exercise: Mr Lopez does some push-ups (left) while he does some jogging (right) during his army training . She said: 'He is one more among us but we have that feeling of "Wow, we are working with Mr Universe!" But, I don’t know, he is just one of us.' During the video Mr Lopez can be seen doing push-ups, running with colleagues, lifting weights, and putting on his boots, shirt and beret. The soldier can also be seen drinking coffee with colleagues, putting stairs on a military vehicle, working with an antenna and watching a leopard tank passing by. | Ruben Lopez won the Mr Universe title in Lima, Peru last month .
The soldier and model defeated 40 participants from all over the world .
The 22-year-old is based at the El Goloso military base in Madrid .
Female colleague says Mr Universe 'is just one of us' |
276,182 | f1d464e15865c5610d6731fe19673ea9b2e3620a | By . Associated Press . Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel told Congress Wednesday that officials of Qatar negotiating the release of captured Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl told the U.S. that 'time was not on our side' and a leak about the exchange would sabotage the deal. 'War is a dirty business, and we don’t like to deal with those realities, but realities they are,' he said. He revealed that the Defense Department had been evaluating different ways to retrieve Bergdahl for years, and at one point they were considering releasing six Taliban detainees but that fell through when one of the terrorists died. 'Since the time he went missing we've been looking for ways to get him back,' Hagel said this morning during a hearing on Capitol Hill. 'This was the best possibility to get him out because we were concerned that we might lose him.' Saying his part: Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel testified in front of the House Armed Services Committee Wednesday over questions about the prisoner swap that lead to the release of Bowe Bergdahl . Hagel testified at a House Armed . Services Committee hearing that the decision to transfer five Guantanamo . Bay, Cuba, detainees in exchange for Bergdahl was a tough call for . President Barack Obama. He . called the five men 'enemy belligerents' who had not been implicated in . any attacks against the U.S. and said that it was an 'extraordinary' situation. 'It was a very unique set of dynamics we were dealing with,' Hagel said. One of the most tense exchange came when Republican Congressman Jeff Miller from Florida asked why Sgt Bergdahl has not been returned to the U.S. and remains in Germany for his medical treatment. 'You’re trying to tell me that’s he’s being held in Landstuhl, Germany, because of his medical condition?' Miller said. 'Congressman, I hope you’re not implying anything other than that,' Hagel responded. Hagel also said that Qatar has . committed to adequate security measures that led him to decide the risks . of the transfer were substantially mitigated. Chairman . Buck McKeon set the tone for the tense exchange by accusing the White . House of breaking the law by failing to notify Congress 30 days before . the exchange took place. Hagel . tersely disagreed, saying that the Justice Department had given . reassurances that their actions- negotiating with the Taliban via Qatari . leaders for the prisoner exchange that led to the release of Bergdahl- . did not break the law. 'I . know that trust has been broken. I know you have questions... I’ll tell . you something else, I have always been straightforward, completely . transparent with this committee. I will continue to do that,' Hagel said . in his opening statements. 'That’s what I always demanded of any administration when I was a member of the U.S. Senate. I’ve been on your side. Tense: Hagel said that it was important for all of the military service members serving across the globe to see that the U.S. will make every effort to rescue them if anything were to happen . 'The circumstances were imperfect, but you have to make a choice, you have to make a decision.' One such decision was agreeing to release Taliban leaders, who Hagel said 'are bad guys, there's no question that they're bad guys, of course they are'. 'I . know that trust has been broken' -Chuck Hagel, to the House Armed Services Committee . Other questions centered on whether Bergdahl deserted and whether the U.S. gave up too much for his freedom. Administration officials have told Congress that four of the five Taliban officials will likely rejoin the fight. 'This prisoner exchange was done legally,' Hagel told lawmakers. Rear Adm. John Kirby, a Pentagon spokesman, said in advance of the hearing that Hagel was set to explain why the decision to make the trade was 'the right one.' Kirby said the administration had a 'very small, fleeting opportunity' to secure Bergdahl's release and seized the opportunity, he said. Kirby's description of a small window for the agreement meshed with comments by Senator Dick Durbin, a Democrat, who told reporters Tuesday that the administration finalized the exchange only a day before it took place on May 31. The release: Army Sgt Bowe Bergdahl is now in the custody of the American government after being exchanged for five Taliban terror leaders . Durbin, the Senate's No. 2-ranked Democrat, also said American officials didn't learn the pickup location for Bergdahl until an hour ahead of time, making the question of advance notification irrelevant. Critics in Congress weren't convinced: in a bipartisan 33-13 vote, the House Appropriations Committee on Wednesday added a provision to a $570billion defense spending bill that barred money for the transfer of future detainees from Guantanamo. It also withholds other funds from the Defense Department until Hagel assures lawmakers that notification rules will be respected. 'We don't negotiate with terrorists,' House Speaker John Boehner said Tuesday. 'We've made America less safe, here and around the world. And we're going to pay for this.' Although Boehner and other lawmakers voiced concerns when told more than two years ago about the possibility of the trade, the Republican told reporters he 'was never briefed on any specific negotiation.' Obama is 'not going to get away with this one,' Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, a Republican, said after a closed-doors hearing of the House on Monday. He described the president's attitude as an 'arrogant thumbing of his nose' at Congress. Bergdahl had been held captive since 2009 and the Taliban officials who were traded for his release had been at Guantanamo for more than a decade. Under the deal, they have to remain in Qatar for a year. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel is being questioned by the House Armed Services Committee about the Bowe Bergdahl exchange .
Called to answer questions about the lack of notification over the prisoner swap that freed five Taliban leaders in exchange for the one American .
Revealed that there was an earlier plan that would have freed SIX Taliban detainees but one died while being held . |
263,205 | e0e9ef26f287e76e569368356c0eab51ba7ae4dc | Real Madrid have dropped the Christian cross atop their official badge in a bid to appease new sponsors. The Champions League holders have signed a lucrative deal with the National Bank of Abu Dhabi and as a result tinkered with their Los Blancos crest, according to Marca. It is believed that the change is to pacify Muslim supporters in the UAE, although it hasn’t been altered outside the region. VIDEO Scroll down to watch The stunning Real Madrid Dubai Island resort in UAE . Real Madrid have removed the Christian cross from their official crest in the United Arab Emirates . Club president Florentino Perez announced the sponsorship earlier in the week . Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates scoring against Eibar with winger James Rodriguez last weekend . President Florentino Perez was joined by Gareth Bale, Toni Kroos, Karim Benzema and Dani Carvajal at the announcement earlier this week. ‘I know that the local people experience every match in a special way and that our links with the UAE are constantly growing stronger,’ Perez said recently. ‘This agreement will help the club to keep conquering the hearts of followers in the United Arab Emirates.’ | Christian cross removed from Real Madrid badge in the UAE .
The move is believed to have been made to appease new sponsors .
Madrid have signed a deal with the National Bank of Abu Dhabi . |
23,639 | 431f685a6f04a07454c69f26f939b312bf7ed211 | New York (CNN) -- Two American flags that were taken from the Brooklyn Bridge are now in the United States and are expected to be returned to the New York Police Department Friday, a law enforcement official tells CNN. The NYPD said they believe a pair of German artists took the flags and replaced them with two white flags late on July 21, the official added. The white banners were spotted early in the morning on July 22 by construction workers. At the time of the stunt, many New Yorkers wondered whether it represented an act of terrorism or an anti-American statement. But the artists, Matthias Wermke and Mischa Leinkauf, said the replacement of the American flags with two massive white flags last month was nothing more than an "art project" by the two performance artists meant to deal with "questions of historical legacy and art in the public sphere." The investigation into the incident is ongoing, and it's still unclear what, if any, charges the artists will face, according to the official. The artists dubbed the project "White American Flags," saying that "like an empty canvas, White American Flags invites many readings, multiple interpretations and projections." Wermke and Leinkauf also stressed they "were careful to treat the bridge and the flags with respect and followed the U.S. Flag Code." "White American Flags" was meant in part as a tribute to the German-born American architect of the Brooklyn Bridge, John August Roebling, who left Germany in 1831 "in search of a better future in the land of freedom and opportunity," the artists' statement said. As part of the investigation after the switch, intelligence analysts looked into any possible significance of the day that was chosen to see whether that would yield clues. The date turned out to be the 145th anniversary of Roebling's death. The Brooklyn Bridge opened in 1883 and at that time was the longest suspension bridge, according to the New York City Department of Transportation. | Two U.S. flags taken from Brooklyn Bridge expected to be returned to the NYPD Friday .
The NYPD believes a pair of German artists replaced the flags with two white flags .
Two white flags were spotted by construction workers the morning of July 22 .
The investigation is ongoing and it's unclear what charges, if any, the artists will face . |
82,284 | e93f97a8db54d1dec61c0d7a0f8cd4f787b7e35a | (CNN) -- Ousted Egyptian President Mohamed Morsy is slated to stand trial starting on November 4 on charges of committing and inciting violence, state media said Wednesday. Facing trial alongside him are 14 other members of the Muslim Brotherhood movement, state news agency MENA said. Morsy, who is backed by the Brotherhood, will be tried at Egypt's Criminal Court on charges relating to his alleged involvement in violence that took place around the Ittihadiya Presidential Palace, the news agency said. U.S. to cut some military aid to Egypt after coup, turmoil . Egypt's military forcibly removed Morsy from office in early July. He has been in detention since then, and a military-backed interim government has been in power. In September, an Egyptian court banned all activities of the Muslim Brotherhood and froze its finances, drawing complaints from the international community. The Brotherhood, an Islamist group that rose to power after the overthrow of Hosni Mubarak in 2011, has called for the reinstatement of Morsy's government. Egypt has been in turmoil since Morsy's ouster, with the military and Morsy opponents battling Muslim Brotherhood members and others. Read more: What is the Muslim Brotherhood? In August, hundreds of people -- citizens as well as members of security forces -- were killed. Many of the deaths occurred when the military used force to clear two pro-Morsy sit-in sites in Cairo. Violence raged after Morsy supporters staged demonstrations a few days later. Each side blames the other for stoking the violence. The rise and rapid fall of Egypt's Mohamed Morsy . Morsy, who was backed by the Muslim Brotherhood's political arm, was the country's first democratically elected president. But critics say he became increasingly authoritarian and forced through a conservative Islamist agenda during his year in power that alienated moderates. His ouster came after huge street protests calling for his removal. Western nations, including the United States and Britain, have urged Egypt's temporary government to have an inclusive political process. Egypt's interim foreign minister, Nabil Fahmy, told the U.N. General Assembly last month that the government is following a road map that will see nationwide elections by spring. U.S. military aid to be reduced . The Obama administration announced Wednesday a suspension of significant military aid to Egypt. The move, involving hundreds of millions in U.S. assistance to the Egyptian military, is the culmination of months of debate within the administration about how to respond to Morsy's ouster. "As a result of the review directed by President Obama, we have decided to maintain our relationship with the Egyptian government, while recalibrating our assistance to Egypt to best advance our interests," U.S. State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said in a statement. The reduction involves a significant amount of military aid, including large-scale military hardware and cash assistance. Aid that will continue includes funds to uphold Egypt's obligations under its peace treaty with Israel, and money for counterterrorism and security in Sinai, where extremists have been able to set up base, Psaki said. The United States will also maintain nonmilitary funding that helps promote democracy as well as health and education programs. CNN senior international correspondent Ben Wedeman said that in the short term, the U.S. decision could have a positive impact for the interim Egyptian government. "Immediately, probably, the Egyptian government is going to find it's going to gain somewhat in terms of local public opinion," he said. "There seems to be a lot of frustration with the United States, given its role in Egypt over the last 2½ years since the revolution." CNN's Jim Sciutto and Elise Labott contributed to this report. | Mohamed Morsy and 14 other Muslim Brotherhood members will stand trial next month .
Morsy faces charges related to his alleged involvement in violence, state media reports .
He has been kept in detention since the military removed him from office in July .
The U.S. may announce it is cutting some military aid to Egypt, U.S. officials say . |
40,125 | 713989859278f7e1c1312f47dc17e309cb75a2e7 | Washington (CNN) -- When Republican Sen. Olympia Snowe of Maine rocked the political world with her announcement that she would not seek a fourth term in the Senate, she was forthright in expressing her frustration with "an atmosphere of polarization" in politics. But for all her transparency, it was one of Snowe's Senate colleagues who perhaps best summed up her motivation for deciding to end her decades-long tenure on Capitol Hill. "I think she lost hope," Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina, told CNN. Graham, who like Snowe had participated in bipartisan efforts to find compromise on hot-button issues, added, "You know, all of us need to believe there is a light at the end of the tunnel. If you lose that belief, why do you spend seven years of your life -- which in her case would have been her commitment -- to do something that there seems no hope." Citing partisanship, Snowe makes surprising exit . Snowe is the latest in a string of centrist senators to announce that they will not seek re-election in the fall. Late last year, Sen. Ben Nelson, a conservative Democrat from Nebraska, announced that he would not seek re-election in 2012. In a statement announcing his decision, Nelson called for "those who will follow in my footsteps to look for common ground and to work together in bipartisan ways to do what's best for the country, not just one political party." At the beginning of 2011, Sen. Joe Lieberman, an independent from Connecticut who caucuses with Senate Democrats but agrees with Senate Republicans on many issues of foreign policy and national security, announced he would not run again in 2012. "I have not always fit comfortably into conventional political boxes," Lieberman said at the time, "Democrat, Republican, liberal or conservative. Because I've always thought my first responsibility is not to serve a political party but to serve my constituents, my state, and my country." Nelson and Lieberman are joined by Sens. Jim Webb, a centrist Democrat from Virginia focused on military and foreign affairs; Kent Conrad, a North Dakota Democrat who said a re-election campaign would distract him from focusing on trying to solve the nation's serious challenges; and Jeff Bingaman, a New Mexico Democrat. Retiring senators: Time is ripe for bipartisanship . While Snowe's departure is indicative of growing partisanship in the Senate, it will also be an unexpected obstacle to conservatives' ambition of regaining a Republican majority in the Senate. Democrats hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate but are defending 23 of the 33 seats up for grabs in November, including those of two independents who caucus with the Democrats. "It's a significant blow to Republican prospects in picking up the Senate," Stuart Rothenberg, editor and publisher of the Rothenberg Political Report, said. "They're going to now have to defend a very difficult seat." In the wake of Snowe's announcement, both Rothenberg and the Cook Political Report, both of which are nonpartisan, changed their ratings of the outlook for her Senate seat in the general election from "likely Republican" to a toss-up. Snowe explains reasons for leaving . Rothenberg said that he thought "probably most people would agree" with Snowe's comments about the climate in the Senate. Congress' upper chamber is starting "to look more and more like the House," observed Rothenberg, where Republicans and Democrats have recently found themselves in the past year on opposite sides of an ideological gulf. "[The Senate's] not there yet," Rothenberg said, "but it starts to look more like the House where you have people increasingly on both ends of the spectrum and relatively few people in the middle. And the people on each partisan side are more hesitant to compromise." "The center has been under siege in our Congress," CNN contributor John Avlon said. "This is not normal and it's not healthy for our democracy," Avlon also said about the heightened level of partisanship in Congress currently. Avlon: Snowe's departure symptom of partisan illness . Avlon added, "We've had divided government before and we've been able to accomplish great things in our history . . . but because hyper-partisanship has hijacked our politics with this divided government [right now] we've got dysfunctional government." What Avlon sees as dysfunction that impedes achieving bipartisan consensus, others -- especially conservatives and tea party movement activists -- see as a necessary and principled commitment to core ideological values. Indeed, backed by support from the tea party movement, a cadre of close to 90 freshman Republican House members arrived in Washington in 2011 committed to imposing fiscal discipline and either rolling back or stopping many of Democrats' key policy priorities. "You're calling them centrists and moderates," Amy Kremer, chairman of the Tea Party Express, said of Snowe and others on Capitol Hill. "But they're not centrists and moderates in the things that matter to us, and that's fiscal responsibility." "They are extreme on the spending," Kremer added, "and because of their reaching across the aisle and continuing to compromise we are now [close to] $16 trillion in debt. That's extreme. And we cannot support people like that." Although observers like Rothenberg believe Snowe would have survived a primary challenge and won re-election, a year ago the Tea Party Express included Snowe on its 2012 target list. "She's definitely one that has voted to spend more and grow government and she's definitely not a small-government, rein-in-the-spending senator," Kremer said of her organization's decision to target Snowe for ouster. Asked about the paradoxical situation created by Snowe's decision, with the GOP now facing a new obstacle in retaking the Senate, Kremer made no apologies for the tea party movement's push for more commitment to conservative fiscal principles. "Regardless of whether President Obama is re-elected or not, we need to take back the Senate," Kremer said. "We have changed the narrative," added Kremer, "Never before have Democrats even been talking about cutting spending. So we have to take that gavel out of [Senate Majority Leader] Harry Reid's hand." Kremer said Republican Sens. Jim DeMint of South Carolina, Rand Paul of Kentucky and Mike Lee of Utah are examples of the kind of fiscal conservatives that the tea party movement would like to see more of in the Senate after this fall's election. Despite partisan pressures for firmer ideological commitments from conservatives and the tea party movement on the right, and increasingly from liberals and the Occupy Wall Street movement on the left, some centrists remain in the Senate. "I am concerned when people like Evan Bayh, Olympia Snowe and Ben Nelson leave the Senate," said Sen. Mark Warner, D-Virginia. "I hope and pray it doesn't mean the end of sensible people in the Senate who wan to get things done." Warner was a member of the so-called "Gang of Six," a bipartisan group of senators who tried prior to the creation of the debt "Super Committee" this summer to arrive at a deficit-reduction deal that would have shaved roughly $4 trillion off the federal deficit. Although the "Gang of Six" did not succeed in crafting a plan that garnered enough support for passage in the Senate, Warner was quick to point out that the bipartisan effort did get 45 senators to sign on to its broad, bipartisan deficit reduction plan. And far from giving up on bipartisanship, Warner said that he and Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, have been hosting a series of bipartisan dinners for their fellow senators. Four have been held so far, Warner said, with about 20 senators attending each gathering so that a majority of the Senate has already participated in the events. Republican shake-ups in Senate leadership . "It does worry me if you allow voices on the ends of the political extreme to dominate the debate," Warner said, "That's not where the American people are. They want us to get things done." Pointing to Congress' historically low approval rating, Warner said he thinks its "both good policy and good politics" to try to figure out ways to get things done in Congress. Warner said he was "disappointed" to hear that Snowe would not seek re-election. "She's a great senator," the Democrat said of his Republican colleague, "She didn't view every issue through a partisan prism." On the same day that Warner praised his soon-to-be former colleague, Snowe held a news conference in her native Maine to explain her surprise decision. Snowe told a gathering of family, friends, staff, and reporters that she did not see the partisan atmosphere in Congress changing. "To the contrary, what I like to call the sensible center has now virtually disappeared in Washington," Snowe said. CNN's Ted Barrett, Dana Bash, Paul Steinhauser, Rebecca Stewart, Alexander Mooney, Shannon Travis and Mark Preston contributed to this report. | Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, surprised political world with her decision not to run again.
"I think she lost hope," a fellow Senate Republican said.
Snowe is the latest in a string of Senate centrists to announce retirement.
Despite departures, some centrists remain including Sen. Mark Warner, D-Virginia. |
136,818 | 3cfebde6fa9d4c501189d605315dd1665d8b4e77 | By . Sam Webb for MailOnline . A newlywed couple have been charged with public order offences over a reported row with hotel security staff after their wedding reception. Nick and Kirsty Bigland, from Salford, were first arrested at the Hilton hotel in Manchester city centre in May this year. Police were called to the Deansgate venue at around 11.30pm on Saturday, May 31, to reports of an argument. Nick and Kirsty Bigland, from Salford, were first arrested at the Hilton hotel in Manchester city centre in May this year after a reported row with security staff after their wedding reception . Nick, 25, of Salford, has now been charged with a public order offence and mum-of-four Kirsty, 30, has been charged with a racially-aggravated public order offence . The bride and groom were held overnight at a nearby police station and slept in neighbouring cells. Nick, 25, of Salford, has now been charged with a public order offence and mum-of-four Kirsty, 30, has been charged with a racially-aggravated public order offence. They will appear before Manchester magistrates next month. First night The bride and groom were held overnight at a nearby police station and slept in neighbouring cells . Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | Nick and Kirsty Bigland reportedly had row with venue security staff .
Police were called to their reception at 11.30pm after argument reported .
They were held in adjoining cells at a police station following arrest . |
66,851 | bda07f9ba1a1a567240e49311caf2584d219a726 | Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani called on black communities to do more to prevent crime in their own neighbourhoods . Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani has sparked fresh outrage by suggesting black communities need to do more to stop crime in their own neighborhoods. Giuliani said there was 'no question' unjustified shootings happen more often in black neighborhoods, but called on those communities to do more to curb violence so police were not called there in the first place. He was speaking after being shown a video of an officer in Cleveland killing 12-year-old Tamir Rice as he was holding an Airsoft pellet gun. Giuliani told Fox News Sunday said: 'There's no question that individual cases have situations that are unjustified, but you've got to put it in proper context. 'Why is it happening? Why is it happening more often in the black community? And doesn't it actually logically make sense that it's going to happen more often in the community where there is five, six, seven, eight, nine times more violence than in another community?' The comments were shared widely across social media, though users didn't appear particularly surprised by Giuliani's stance, which has remained largely the same since the fatal shooting of Ferguson teenager Michael Wilson on August 9. The Daily Edge tweeted: 'If a policeman shoots you for no reason, you've only got yourself to blame, says Rudy Giuliani'. Another user said the former mayor 'double downs on blaming black community for police problems'. Last week Giuliani caused a stir by suggesting more white officers were needed in certain neighborhoods to keep black people from killing one another. He did, however, admit there was 'more unfair interaction' between police officers and people in black communities. Scroll down for video . In his most recent interview Giuliani said responsibility for ending unnecessary shootings, rested with both police and the wider community. While the police force needed to be more diverse and better train their staff, 'just as much, if not more, responsibility is on the black community to reduce the reason why the police officers' were assigned to black neighborhoods. Giuliani went on to say he had changed his mind about the need for body cameras because he believes they would show that 90 or 95 per cent of police shootings are justified. Giuliani made the remarks after being shown a video of an officer in Cleveland killing 12-year-old Tamir Rice as he was holding an Airsoft pellet gun . Demonstrators protest outside the Edward Jones Dome St. Louis Missouri yesterday over the policing shooting of Brown on August 9 . Police officer Darren Wilson was not indicted but resigned following the shooting of Brown . The comments come as the police officer responsible shooting Brown resigned. Darren Wilson, who had been on administrative leave since the August 9 shooting, said that he didn't want to put the lives of his colleagues at risk. Ferguson has been a hotbed of riots and protests since Brown's death and in the lead-up to the Grand Jury decision not to charge Wilson. Giuliani had earlier spoken out about the case saying that prosecutors should never have tried to indict Wilson in front of a grand jury, something he said was simply political theatre. The remarks later led to accusations during a TV interview that Giuliani was a white supremacist. He refused to 'dignify' the question with an answer but went on to say he 'probably saved more black lives as mayor of New York than any mayor in the history of this city'. | Rudy Giuliani said Ferguson case should never have gone to Grand Jury .
Then said more police were needed to stop murders in black communities .
Follows the release of a video of a Cleveland officer shooting a 12-year-old . |
215,776 | a34c1606491b0bf56488ea3a2f8092b2453fa5a8 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . An ad in which TNT Post compared itself to Royal Mail has been banned for implying that it offered the same service and similar prices as its competitor. The leaflet showed a photo of a man in a TNT uniform and said: 'What does my postie look like? Like this - in a smart uniform which our posties wear at all times on duty. 'Like Royal Mail, all are CRB-checked and fully trained in how to keep mail safe and secure.' Delivery firm TNT Post has had one of its ads banned after implying that it offered the same service and similar prices as the Royal Mail . It added: 'We operate under exactly the same rules and regs as Royal Mail - authorised by the Government to carry mail and watched over by Ofcom.' A regional press ad said every item was delivered 'at a competitive price - not just within Manchester, but all over the UK'. Royal Mail complained that the ad was misleading because TNT was not required to deliver to every address in the UK on a next-day basis in the way Royal Mail was. Royal Mail also complained that the ad suggested TNT delivered mail all over the UK itself and also that it implied the service provided by TNT was better than the service provided by Royal Mail. TNT said the ad was intended to reassure consumers about the security of mail rather than frequency of delivery and where it did not have its own network, it subcontracted Royal Mail to deliver, enabling it to provide a service across the UK. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) said the ad suggested that TNT was subject to the same service levels as Royal Mail in all aspects of its service, including the obligation to deliver to every UK address every day, which was not the case. Royal Mail complained that the ad suggested TNT delivered mail all over the UK itself . It also said the reference to mail being 'delivered ... all over the UK' was misleading in the absence of qualifying information that explained that delivery to most areas in the UK could not be carried out by TNT. And it found that information in the ad did not allow readers to identify for themselves how TNT was superior to Royal Mail in respect of how its prices compared to those offered by Royal Mail. It ruled that the ads must not appear again in their current form, adding: 'We told TNT Post UK to ensure future ads did not suggest that they were subject to the same service levels as Royal Mail, that they delivered mail themselves to all parts of the UK or that their prices were competitive in relation to those offered by Royal Mail unless they could substantiate that that was the case.' A TNT Post spokeswoman said: 'Whilst we disagree with the findings, we will comply with the request for greater clarity in the future.' | Royal Mail complained that the TNT Post ad was misleading .
It said it implied TNT's service was better than Royal Mail's .
TNT said it was intended to reassure consumers about mail security . |
33,735 | 5ff3112e1c616e128d856131f90cbb888ee583ce | Everton are considering a bid for Lyon striker Bafetimbi Gomis after Romelu Lukaku injured his ankle against Liverpool on Tuesday night. The influential Belgian has damaged his ligaments and faces three to four weeks on the sidelines. They need another strike option as Lacina Traore is still some way off with his hamstring injury and Arouna Kone is out for most of the season. Wishlist: Everton could launch a move for Lyon striker Bafetimbi Gomis (centre) before the window closes . Blow: Everton want to sign a new striker after Romelu Lukaku was injured against Liverpool . Click here to read Part I of the Transfer Column . France centre forward Gomis is a long-time target of Newcastle but they grew tired of negotiating for the 28-year-old and have switched their attention to midfield and Clement Grenier to replace Yohan Cabaye. Lyon need the money but Gomis is out of contract in the summer and ready to leave after enduring a strained relationship with the club. Everton ideally want younger players but, if Lyon can be tempted with a bid of around £3million, they may be able to reach an agreement. Manager Roberto Martinez also remains keen to bring in another defensive midfielder on loan from abroad. He had designs on Gueida Fofana from Lyon but they are not prepared to deal with Grenier’s pending move and Arsenal considering Yoan Gourcuff as an alternative to other plans. West Bromwich Albion are looking at a diverse set of targets as they look to replace Shane Long. Chief scout Stuart White watched Leeds United against Leicester at the weekend and was at Burnley against Brighton on Tuesday night. In demand: West Brom and Sunderland are among the clubs interested in Ross McCormack . Ross McCormack is understood to be the object of his attention on Saturday while Burnley’s Danny Ings was the target at Turf Moor. They have made an enquiry for Valencia’s 29-year-old forward Jonas but, as West Ham found out earlier this month, he will struggle to gain a work permit as he does not have a dual passport and has not played the necessary games for Brazil. Albion have also asked about Espanyol’s Thievy Bifouma, as have Leicester City, while QPR target Ishak Belfodil of Inter Milan has been offered on loan, as has former Manchester City striker Rolando Bianchi, now 30 and at Torino. Belfodil was in the stands at Loftus Road on Tuesday night. His deal there has fallen through over terms of a proposed permanent deal but he is open to joining an English club until May. Seeking a move: Ishak Belfodil (right) has seen a move to QPR fall through but is still keen to come to England . Albion have a large squad and could still take offers for Nicolas Anelka while Markus Rosenberg is still expected to join Malmo. Offers have been made from Turkish sides for Diego Lugano but Pepe Mel sees the Uruguayan as someone who can help get his message across to the other players and he will stay. Midfielder George Thorne is likely to join Derby County on loan later on Wednesday. West Ham have been criticised by the sporting director of La Liga club Osasuna over the proposed transfer of Raoul Loe that failed to materialise last week. The Hammers had moved to sign the Cameroon defensive midfielder but backed out at the last minute after becoming aware that they could definitely sign Antonio Nocerino from AC Milan. It left 24-year-old Loe ‘sorely disappointed’. Vasiljevic said: ‘I cannot understand how a club at that level can negotiate and work in a two-faced way like that. Raoul had a bad Saturday night.’ West Ham believe it was more misleading information from the agents involved but there will be a few more upset players like that this week as clubs and agents adopt an almost scatter-gun approach across Europe. New arrivals: West Ham boss Sam Allardyce with Marco Borriello (left) and Antonio Nocerino . Wigan fear they will miss out on Hull City’s Jack Hobbs as Nottingham Forest seem to be in pole position. Leicester are also lurking with Fulham poised to bid again for the injured Liam Moore but Hull manager Steve Bruce said: ‘I would expect Jack to go. We have accepted a bid from Forest, we have accepted a bid from Wigan and we have accepted a bid from Reading, so I would expect him by Friday to take up one of those options.’ With that in mind, Wigan have considered Bolton target Craig Dawson as a loan from West Brom but are now leaning towards a move for former New York Red Bulls defender Markus Holgersson. The 28-year-old Swedish man is a free agent after failing to take up a new deal at Red Bulls for the new season. Sunderland have also expressed an interest in Ross McCormack. Manager Gus Poyet has been offered deals for Tomane from Guimaraes and Valencia winger Andres Guardado but is reluctant to bring in too many more foreign players. He remains keen on bringing in Liam Bridcutt from Brighton which may entail Connor Wickham going the other way. Swap deal: Liam Bridcutt (left) could join Sunderland from Brighton with Connor Wickham going the other way . Losing McCormack would be a blow to Leeds and manager Brian McDermott. West Ham are unlikely now to make a renewed bid but West Brom have watched him too. McDermott fears the 27-year-old may be sold as Leeds’ prospective new owners continue to jostle for position. The Italian consortium led by Cagliari’s Massimo Cellino were not seen at Elland Road on Tuesday night despite being expected. Their move on Leeds is being heralded in Italy as a chance for Cagliari playmaker Andrea Tabanelli to move to Yorkshire on loan for the rest of the season. That news has not gone down too well with some playing staff, who fear more Italians could follow if that buy-out goes through. | Everton are considering a bid for Lyon striker Bafetimbi Gomis .
West Brom target Ross McCormack and Danny Ings to replace Shane Long .
Sunderland also interested in Leeds forward McCormack .
Gus Poyet could swap Connor Wickham for Brighton's Liam Bridcutt .
West Ham blasted by Osasuna after Raoul Loe deal falls through .
Nottingham Forest, Wigan and Reading vie for Hull defender Jack Hobbs . |
255,045 | d61dcadd8afce804e85d4b40ec5eacdf37f04fed | After a nice meal out you might get the added bonus of a mint or a chocolate when your bill arrives at the end of the night. But when it comes to paying at a new restaurant in Oxford you might get a little more than you bargained for. That's because health conscious eatery Cabbages and Condoms is set to become the first in the UK to issue leaflets on protective sex when your meal ends. Bizarre: The unusual idea has been launched in the UK following success in Thailand . Sex advice with that sir? Cabbages & Condoms Thai restaurant in Bicester hands out advice on family planning at the end of the meal . Cosy atmosphere: The interior of the Cabbages and Condoms restaurant . In a bizarre initiative started in Thailand, the restaurant aims to promote sexual health alongside its food - following success in six restaurants across the south east Asian country. The name of the eatery refers to the idea . that people should buy condoms alongside everyday mundane items such as cabbages. Merchandise: Customers can buy condom themed goods like mugs, keyrings and books . And if the name wasn't strange enough it also comes with the slogan 'And remember, our food is guaranteed not to cause pregnancy.' Diners at the new restaurant will get the chance to sample traditional Thai food 'in a cosy atmosphere' before they are presented with the information on sexual health and even urged to buy some of its unusual condom-themed merchandise. Among them are condom-themed mugs, keyrings and books and even a mascot made out of the contraceptive. The strange but unique idea originated in the Thai capital of Bangkok where its restaurants even distribute condoms with the bill. In some of them there are even statues made out of condoms while they also adorn walls and ceilings used as decoration. But if reviews of its eateries in Thailand are anything to go by, its not just a restaurant with a message. Marian Burros of The New York Times singled out the 'fascinating' dim sum and 'wonderfully herbaceous' shrimp soup among . the 'well-prepared straightforward food that is very reasonably priced.' The idea came together as a result of the desperate need in the country to promote better understanding and . acceptance of family planning. A number of items will be available on sale as the restaurant aims to help promote sexual health in the UK . The new eatery in Bicester, Oxfordshire, even comes with the slogan 'and remember our food is guaranteed not to cause pregnancy' Former politician and activist in . Thailand Mechai Viravaidya popularised condoms, family planning and AIDS . awareness in the country and helped establish Cabbages and Condoms. He continues to oversee rural . development and health initiatives and in 2007 the non governmental . organisation which he founded to continue the work was awarded the Bill . & Melinda Gates Foundation's Gates Award in recognition of its . pioneering work in family planning and HIV/AIDS prevention. It was also launched to generate income to support various . development activities. Wilas Techo have now brought the idea over to the UK with the new restaurant in Bicester, Oxford, leading the way with all profits from merchandise sales . donated to charitable causes in Thailand. | Named Cabbages and Condoms the new eatery has opened in Bicester, Oxfordshire .
Diners will be given leaflets and encouraged to buy condom-themed merchandise - with proceeds going to charity .
It even has the slogan 'and remember our food is guaranteed not to cause pregnancy' |
98,745 | 0b2b198fde00948721f27891a1d1ab1f4e4463d5 | By . Alasdair Glennie . PUBLISHED: . 17:08 EST, 19 August 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 01:55 EST, 20 August 2012 . He is not known for any expressions of self-doubt. But Clive James has finally said he is ‘sorry’ for cheating on his wife of 44 years – admitting that he is ‘a reprehensible character’ and ‘a terrible husband’. The 72-year-old critic and broadcaster even revealed that he ‘admires’ his wife, the academic Prue Shaw, for having the courage to kick him out of the family home after discovering his eight-year affair. 'She's annoyed': Clive James, pictured with his wife Prue Shaw, in 2008, says he still loves her and that he regrets being unfaithful . James, who is battling leukaemia, said: ‘My wife is very angry with me, so the situation is fluid. I deceived her and she’s annoyed. ‘She is not just within her rights, she is perfectly justified and I not only understand but I admire her. ‘I’d like to say I love my wife and family very much and I am sorry that I have behaved so badly. I have great respect, admiration and love for my wife. ‘I am a reprehensible character who needs to clean up his act. But I have already done a few things that may have justified my existence and, given time, I would do more. ‘I don’t think I was a bad father but I was a terrible husband, much to my regret. ‘I deserve everything that has happened to me.’ 'Instant attraction': Former model Leanne Edelsten opened up about her eight-year affair with Clive James on Australian television in April . In April it was revealed that . Sydney-born James had enjoyed an eight-year affair with Leanne Edelsten, . a twice-married former model and Australian socialite. Speaking . of their romance on Australian television, the 48-year-old claimed she . and James had their own bedroom rituals, including drinking a cup of tea . and eating a Cherry Ripe chocolate bar before making love. She also described how she had nicknamed him Mr Wolf because of the way he ‘ravished’ her, while he called her ‘Miss Hood’. And . she told how they met in a Sydney restaurant in 2004 while she was . still married to an Australian barrister. She divorced her first . husband, Dr Geoffrey Edelsten, in 1988. She said: ‘We had an instant attraction. He was his formidable, funny, witty self. He just walked to the table and said: “In my opinion all intelligent women talk with their hands”. ‘He was flirting, complimenting, a very open guy. The guy’s hysterical. He made me laugh from the word go. ‘He has always been and always will be “Mr Wolf”...because our initial, how can I say it, our initial liaison, he devoured me.’ Mrs Edelsten said James confessed the affair to his wife after she confronted him with a string of their secret emails, along with photographs of his lover in bikinis and underwear. Miss Shaw, the mother of his two children, then banished him from their home in Cambridge, forcing him to live in a London flat. When asked if she felt sorry for Miss Shaw, Mrs Edelsten said: ‘No. I know he’s been busted. There will be comments, but that’s if there’s a home to wreck.’ The writer – who in June said he was ‘getting near the end after several years of serious illness – is currently moving back to Cambridge to be nearer Addenbrooke’s Hospital, where his cancer is being treated. However, the Mail revealed last week that he has been forced to find his own accommodation because Miss Shaw will not allow him back into her home. A source said: ‘It’s the first time Clive has had to live on his own and he is rather down in the dumps and worried.’ James previously denied allegations of adultery in 2009, when opera singer Anne Howells claimed he had had an affair with her in 2005. He once claimed that he had a ‘strict code of practice’ in his marriage: ‘Look but don’t touch.’ | The broadcaster has spoken of his regret over his eight-year affair with former model Leanne Edelsten .
Said he 'admires' his wife, who kicked him out of the family home when she discovered his infidelity .
The 72-year-old critic, who has been battling leukaemia since 2010, is now living alone . |
227,958 | b32b5d004a973aeb727c7cdab095fd21c7b82b7e | By . Harriet Cooke . PUBLISHED: . 05:40 EST, 8 November 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 09:23 EST, 8 November 2012 . Defence Secretary Philip Hammond wants to expand the reservists . Former servicemen are to be offered cash incentives to join the reservists, the Government will announce today. Defence . Secretary Phillip Hammond is proposing the scheme as part of a package of measures intended to improve the reserve forces and place them at the heart of the Armed Forces. In a speech today, he will set out plans to enable the Territorial Army (TA) - which will be renamed the Army . Reserve - to play a bigger role in future operations. With thousands of serving personnel being made redundant through defence cuts, the scheme will enable them to rejoin the Forces in a reservist capacity. The plans will also allow the 18,000 members of the Armed Forces who voluntarily leave . their jobs every year to serve again as reserves. Another proposal is to allow regular personnel to transfer to the reserves on . departure. Mr Hammond's announcement comes as 30,000 posts are slashed from the regular Armed Forces. The Army is . losing 20,000 soldiers and will be reduced to 82,000 by 2020. But the gap will be filled by a newly-expanded reservist force, which will be better integrated with regular troops. Under the plans, which will be subject to a consultation, the number of training days for reservists . will increase from 35 to 40 a year. Recruits would expect to serve a six-month tour of duty at . least once every five months. At work: The Territorial Army's London Regiment (file picture). TA battalions are to be better integrated with the regular Army . To bolster recruitment, they and their employers will be given more notice of . mobilisations, and companies will be encouraged . to hire and retain reservists. It is hoped the plans - to be published in a . Green Paper - will enable the TA to increase its size from 25,000 official members to 30,000. Calling for a 'radical shift' in attitudes to the so-called 'weekend warriors', Mr Hammond will say today: 'We're looking for people who are . going to turn out when they're required to turn out, who are going to do . the training they need to do and who are available for deployment. 'So the message to future reservists . is clear: promise us you will make the commitment; turn up regularly to . train and be prepared to deploy. And in return, we promise to equip you, . train you, fund you and use you as an integral part of the British . Army.' Mr Hammond will also pledge a 'fresh . start' in the Government's relationship with reservists, who will in . future be required to routinely share responsibility for 'activities . once the exclusive domain of regular forces'. Tough work: Territorial Army soldiers during an exercise at Sandhurst, Surrey . But shadow defence secretary Jim Murphy . said more support for non-regular forces was needed. He said: 'We support action to enhance the role of the reserves, but the . Government can go further to protect our reservists' patriotism. 'If more is going to be asked of . reservists, ministers must provide more support. Anti-discrimination . legislation, improved pre-deployment training and better mental . healthcare are vital. 'At a difficult time for many companies, employers must be given the support they need when their workers serve on reserve duty. 'Crucially, reserve units must be . integrated with regular forces rather than form stand alone units and . civilian skills must be maximised in military contexts." | Government wants veterans to join the reservists .
Plans will be formally announced later today .
TA recruits to be better trained and more integrated into the regular Forces . |
208,906 | 9a87f9f25edd40df0980c4c54fda9608aa4bd6ea | (CNN) -- Ivory Coast's star-studded team beat Burkina Faso 2-0 Thursday to seal qualification to the quarterfinals of the Africa Cup of Nations. Salomon Kalou put the Ivory Coast ahead in the first half and victory was sealed as Bakary Kone headed an own goal in the final minutes of the Group B clash in the Estado Neuvo de Malabo in Equatorial Guinea. Ivory Coast beat Sudan 1-0 in their opening match and look set to qualify as group winners. Earlier, Sudan and Angola shared four goals in their Group B match at the same stadium. It leaves Angola in second place in the section and in a strong position to go through with Ivory Coast who they meet Monday. Chelsea's Kalou thumped home his shot in the 16th minute after a cross by his club teammate Didier Drogba . Burkina Faso pressed at the start of the second half, but it was Arsenal's Gervinho who had the best chance for the Ivory Coast from close range. Kalou pulled up injured and was substituted before his side survived a real scare as Burkina Faso striker Moumouni Dagano outjumped Souleymane Bamba only to see his header hit the woodwork. Kone's looping 82nd minute back header sealed his side's fate as it flew over his goalkeeper Daouda Diakite. With two defeats in two games they are going home. In the earlier match, Sudan ended a 36-year Africa Cup of Nations goal drought, but they had to come from behind twice to draw with Angola. Mohamed Bashir twice leveled for Sudan with former Manchester United striker Manucho grabbing Angola's goals. | Ivory Coast beat Burkina Faso 2-0 to record second Group B win .
A Salomon Kalou strike and a Bakary Kone own goal seal victory .
Victory sees the Ivory Coast qualify for quarterfinals of Africa Cup of Nations .
Sudan and Angola share four goals earlier Thursday . |
120,489 | 27b73dbc5a485124d858c7fe1e501af56c4fe6ce | (CNN) -- Tokyo has been chosen by the International Olympic Committee to host the 2020 Summer Games. In voting Saturday in Buenos Aires, the committee picked Tokyo over the two other contenders, Madrid and Istanbul. The announcement came at 5:20 a.m. Tokyo time, but a large crowd watching on an outdoor video screen burst into cheers. Tokyo previously hosted the Summer Games in 1964. Japan's bid for 2020 billed the city as the safe choice -- despite radiation leaking from the Fukushima nuclear plant. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe personally made a presentation to the committee and promised an effective cleanup. "I am so happy, I am overjoyed," Abe told reporters at the post-announcement press conference. "I would like to share this joy with the people back home. We've received so much support from the people of the IOC and I would also like to express my support to them. And to the people around the world. "A safe and secure Olympic Games will be staged by us -- I think that was another hope for their support. I would like to pledge that we will be discharging this responsibility." Abe said Tokyo would try to stage a successful Games to thank the world for its support after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami that devastated parts of Japan. "Sport has the power to unite people," he said. "We experienced that after the earthquake and tsunami in 2011, when athletes came to our country and helped us. Japan needs the power of sport, we need hopes and dreams." Abe said Tokyo's 1964 Olympics had left a strong impression on him as a child. "I was only 10 years old but a lot of kids like me were fascinated. Like many children I dreamed of winning a medal. It was a celebration giving hopes and dreams," he said. "The joy (of winning the 2020 vote) was even greater than when I won my own election." Tokyo's bid came in at $5 billion to $6 billion, compared to $19 billion pledged by Istanbul, said Ed Hula, editor and founder of aroundtherings.com, which covers the business and politics of the Olympic movement. But Tokyo's government has already amassed a $4.9 billion Olympic fund to pay to prepare for the Games, Hula said. And a $1 billion national stadium that will be used for the athletic events and the Opening Ceremonies will already have been built for the rugby World Cup in 2017 and is not considered an Olympic expense. Turkey would have been the first Muslim country to host the Games, and with a median age of less than 30 years, one of the youngest. However, it missed out for the fifth time. Istanbul would have been "a more emotional choice," Hula said. But its huge bid would have been needed to fund infrastructure improvements, including modernization of its transportation system. Turkey's border with Syria also might have troubled some committee members, he said. And this summer, the image of Turkish sport took a hit when about three dozen athletes tested positive for drugs, he said. June's rioting in Istanbul's Taksim Square may also have tainted the city's hopes, though Turkish Prime Minister Recep Erdogan tried to persuade IOC members ahead of Saturday's vote. "We live at a time when our region and the world crave for peace," Erdogan said as part of Istanbul's final presentation. "And at this critical moment, we would like to send a strong message of peace to the whole world from Istanbul, the city of friendship and brotherhood." Tokyo led after a first round of voting Saturday but fell short of a majority, with 42. Istanbul and Madrid tied for second on 26 votes each, and a 49-45 tiebreaker vote put the Turkish city in the final runoff with Tokyo. Tokyo won the deciding vote, 60 to Istanbul's 36, according to an IOC tweet. Madrid, like Tokyo, was a repeat bidder -- making its third consecutive case for the Games, one that was little changed from previous attempts, Hula said. The Spaniards' $2 billion bid said they had little need for new infrastructure, he said. And they have ample sports experience, having hosted a number of other high-profile, international events. But the country's economic plight remained a drawback, with one out of four adults unemployed. Though Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy insisted that rate is improving, "the fact is that most reasonable, sensible economists think unemployment is going to linger at a high level for years to come," Hula said. And Spain's athletes, too, have had issues with doping accusations. In a case that occurred several years ago, blood bags from athletes who had tested positive were destroyed, Hula said. "It's been a long-running situation." Spain's Prince Philip, a former Olympic sailor, was a lead figure in Spain's presentation. "Some people around the world have questioned hosting the Games in a time of economic uncertainty," he told the IOC members Saturday ahead of the voting. "But I don't see this as a threat to the Olympics, I see it as an opportunity. The benefits of sport are measured in generations, not in dollars." On Sunday, the three sports competing to be added to the 2020 roster will know their fate. Squash is hoping to be included for the first time, but is up against a combined baseball/softball bid and wrestling -- which is seeking to be reinstated. The 125th IOC Session will be the last for its president Jacques Rogge, who is standing down after 12 years in the role. The 71-year-old's successor will be elected Tuesday. The 2016 Summer Olympics will be in Brazil. The Winter Olympics will be held in Russia in 2014 and South Korea in 2018. Tom Watkins, David Simpson and Gary Morley contributed to this report. | Celebrations in Japan after winning 2020 vote .
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe expresses his joy at IOC decision .
Japan is still battling image of Fukushima disaster .
Istanbul would have been first Muslim country to host the Olympic Games . |
94,742 | 05bc94dfe57f61f2c437297377c06a2ae564dc5f | Brendan Rodgers’ miserable week ended with a third defeat on the bounce as the Liverpool manager was jeered by his own fans at Anfield yesterday. Rodgers’ team were beaten 2-1 at Anfield by all-conquering Chelsea in the Barclays Premier League on Saturday, the defeat coming on the back of losses at Newcastle last weekend and Real Madrid in the Champions League in midweek. Liverpool are now 15 points behind Chelsea and seemingly out of the title race already. To make matters worse, sections of the Anfield crowd briefly turned on Rodgers when he took off fans’ favourite Philippe Coutinho midway through the second half. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Brendan Rodgers discuss the penalty appeal . Gary Cahill appears to use his arm to block Steven Gerrard's effort at goal . Gerrard appeals to referee Anthony Taylor for a penalty after Cahill's apparent block . Brendan Rodgers felt his side should have had a penalty and deserved at least a point from the game . 'I didn’t think we were creating enough so I made the change,' said Rodgers afterwards. 'There wasn’t enough momentum. But the supporters are a big part of this, here. They are frustrated and I understand that. 'They have given us great support and we are going through a difficult period at the moment.' Liverpool led early through a deflected striker from German international midfielder Emre Can. But Chelsea equalised through Gary Cahill soon after as goal-line technology was used to rule that the defender’s close range shot had crossed the line at the Kop end. Jose Mourinho’s team won the game in the second half through Diego Costa but Liverpool were subsequently denied a penalty when referee Anthony Taylor failed to spot that Cahill had handled a shot from Steven Gerrard. Rodgers added: 'The technology has been great. You see the replay for the goal and it was over the line. Emre can celebrates putting Liverpool ahead after nine minutes with a deflected effort . Simon Mingolet stops Cahill's effort but the ball goes over the line to make it 1-1 . Diego Costa smashes home his 10th goal of the season to make it 2-1 to Chelsea . 'But it’s bitterly disappointing that later there was a big decision in a big game and we didn’t get it. 'Our players gave everything and we should have got it. You have to see that. He had a clear look at it. Maybe he needed help from his linesman. 'But this is the situation we are at. We are not getting the rub of the green. It was a clear penalty and we should have got it.' And even John Terry conceded that Liverpool should have been awarded a penalty, saying: 'We have had some not go our way, it evens itself out'. Rodgers was criticised in midweek for leaving out so many first team players for the game in Madrid. They all came back in to the team yesterday but to no avail. 'The changes led to criticism and I can take that,' added Rodgers. 'I have no issue with that. I did think it was unfair on some of the players who played but there we go. I wouldn’t do anything different. We just didn’t get the result.' | Gary Cahill appeared to use his arm to block Steven Gerrard effort .
Liverpool lost 2-1 to Chelsea and are now 15 points behind league leaders .
Emre Can scored for hosts but Cahill and Diego Costa netted for Chelsea .
Some fans jeered Rodgers after he took off Philippe Coutinho . |
95,314 | 067f92ae7d09ee89a5c2f0c7e53400c4f0aab2a5 | By . Rob Cooper . Last updated at 10:46 AM on 4th November 2011 . Three men who were jailed for almost 20 years over the rape and murder of a 14-year-old girl have been released after new DNA evidence came to light. Robert Taylor, 34, said it felt 'beautiful' to be free 20 years after being sent to prison for the attack on Cateresa Matthews in Dixmoor, near Chicago. Brothers Jonathan Barr, 34, and James Harden, 36, have also been told they will be released while prosecutors are confident the final two men will also be exonerated. Released: Robert Taylor, 34, left, walked free two decades after the murder of Cateresa Matthews. Jonathan Barr, 34, is also set to be released . Cateresa disappeared after leaving her . grandmother's house in November 1991 and her body was found weeks later . near a highway with a gunshot wound to the mouth. The murder went unsolved for about a year before five teenagers were arrested in 1992. Two signed confessions and agreed to . testify against the others for shorter prison sentences, even though . attorneys said there were inconsistencies in their testimony and DNA . evidence taken from the girl did not match any of them. Robert Taylor, 34, who walked out of Stateville Correctional Center in Illionois yesterday, said it was great to be out. 'I'm still getting used to it. (But) I knew it would come,' he said. 'I'm always going to be angry, due to what . was taken away from me. I can't get that back. 'I'm not . going to let my anger drive what I want to do with the rest of my life. There is so much I want to do.' Wrongly convicted: James Harden, 36, was just a teenager when he was charged with murder . Prosecutors reopened the case this year after new DNA testing linked a convicted rapist to the crime. He has not been charged with the killing, but remains under investigation. The 53-year-old is currently serving time behind bars for a drugs offence, authorities said. Two years ago defense attorneys . asked for new DNA testing to be carried out amid growing fears the five had been wrongly convicted. Earlier this year the breakthrough came when swabs from the 1991 murder were matched to a man who is now aged 53. The group - dubbed the Dixmoor Five - all knew each other and the victim from school. Defense attorneys claimed the . teenagers were questioned relentlessly - and at least one of them was . told he could see his parents if they confessed. Robert Lee Veal, 34, and Shainne . Sharp, 36, confessed and agreed to testify against the others in . exchange for reduced 20-year prison sentences. Records show each served . about 10 years. Veal, who has 'severe learning . disabilities,' could not read when he was arrested and signed a . confession not knowing what it was, his attorney Stuart Chanen said. Taylor also had confessed to the . crime, but later recanted saying it was coerced. He and Harden were . sentenced to 80 years in prison. Barr received 85 years. Robert Taylor's attorney Josh Tepfer said: 'It's truly unexplainable. 'It's one of the most tragic injustices in this state's history. It's five kids who were wrongfully convicted... while a true perpetrator went on and lived a criminal lifestyle.' Robert Lee Veal, 34, has been unable to find work because of his conviction . Barr and Harden were both in custody at Menard Correctional Center and will be released once paperwork has been completed. Tara Thompson, who represented Harden, said: 'Their mother and father passed away while they were in prison. 'He missed the opportunity to go to college. Everything you've done in your life since high school, he's missed out on that.' The case is among the dozens of wrongful conviction cases in Illinois made public in recent years. Allegations of torture and coerced confessions by Chicago police eventually helped lead then-Republican Governor George Ryan in 2000 to impose a moratorium on Illinois' death penalty. Shainne . Sharp, 36, is now behind bars after committing a separate drugs offence. Veal, 34, is 'very happy' to have heard the news, his attorney said. While he has been out of prison since 2002, his conviction dramatically altered the course of his life and he has been unable to find work. 'It's virtually impossible to get a job with a murder conviction, with being an ex-con ... on your rap sheet,' his Attorney Stuart Chanen said. 'At least he gets the stench of that off his record.' | Three men released after 20 years behind bars .
Robert Taylor, 34 walks free while Jonathan Barr, 34, and James Harden, 36, are also set for release .
Two other men have already been let out .
Cateresa Matthews, 14, disappeared in 1991 . |
80,540 | e44fcf751f6ef4237effe0becd5a7270c15b6d02 | Washington (CNN) -- The Obama administration says that Pakistan was not involved or given advance warning about the operation that killed Osama bin Laden, but top U.S. officials said the al Qaeda leader never would have been found and killed without the counterterrorism cooperation between the two countries over the past few years. "Pakistan has contributed greatly to our efforts to dismantle al Qaeda. And in fact, cooperation with Pakistan helped lead U.S. to bin Laden and the compound in which he was hiding," Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said. "We're committed to this partnership. We think it is in the best interest of the security and safety of the United States." Officials maintain that the relationship with Islamabad is complicated, fraught with difficulties and mistrust, but the fact that Pakistan has allowed the U.S. counterterrorism operative to operate on its soil, albeit with only a tacit endorsement, is critical to the type of operations that led to finding bin Laden. "The relationship is complicated and their cooperation is mixed at best and going forward it's going to be bumpy, but there is no way to do this sort of thing without this partnership," one senior official said. "The idea that this would have happened if they wouldn't have let our guys in the country is not possible." Officials said they do believe that while a few members of the Pakistani intelligence service ISI might have known about bin Laden's location, they don't think it was broadly known that he was there. But they acknowledge that Pakistan does have some explaining to do about how bin Laden was hiding in plain sight just miles from the country's main military academy for close to a year. The U.S. never told Pakistan about its suspicions that bin Laden was hiding out at the compound, officials said. "Pakistan has never been and never will be the hotbed of fanaticism that is often described by the media," Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari wrote in a Washington Post column Monday. "And for me, justice against bin Laden was not just political; it was also personal, as the terrorists murdered our greatest leader, the mother of my children. "Some in the U.S. press have suggested that Pakistan lacked vitality in its pursuit of terrorism, or worse yet that we were disingenuous and actually protected the terrorists we claimed to be pursuing. Such baseless speculation may make exciting cable news, but it doesn't reflect fact." Husain Haqqani, Pakistan's ambassador to the United States, insisted his government had no knowledge of bin Laden's whereabouts at any point over the last several years. He didn't rule out the possibility that some in Pakistan who were sympathetic to bin Laden's views provided him sanctuary. "Pakistan is a nation of 180 million. There are people in Pakistan, unfortunately, who have sympathies with Osama bin Laden and obviously some of them had protected for him while he was there," he said. "If we had really known where bin Laden was, we would have got him." Despite being left in the dark, the Pakistani envoy spoke positively about the bin Laden mission. "They had superior intelligence, they had superior technology, and we are grateful to them and to God for having given us this opportunity to bring this chapter to an end," Haqqani told CNN. In addition to President Barack Obama's phone call with Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari, administration officials will continue to engage the government "as we learn more about the compound and whatever type of support system bin Laden had," White House counterterrorism advisor John Brennan told reporters Monday. The hope, officials said, is that the attack will inspire the Pakistani government to cooperate more fully with the United States. Several officials predict Pakistan will go through a period of soul-searching about the fact bin Laden was hiding in their country in plain sight as well as the fact the U.S. killed him on their soil. "The top four al Qaeda leaders were killed or captured in Pakistan; it's ridiculous to say this is not their problem," a second U.S. official said. "And any claims that we violated their sovereignty won't resonate because the target on the other end was Osama bin Laden." Anthony Cordesman of the Center for Strategic and International Studies said Pakistan's initial reaction to the news suggested reason for cautious optimism about the relationship going forward. "They didn't attack us for entering Pakistan. They didn't condemn us for being in Pakistan. Those are positive signs," he said. But he added, "They don't tell us, however, what's happening in the Pakistani military or ISI or the people who in the past have supported the Taliban or tolerated al Qaeda." Officials said the U.S. is going to be treating Pakistan gingerly over the next few days as they weigh how the attack will affect the relationship. Marc Grossman, special representative for Afghanistan/Pakistan, is in Islamabad on Monday for talks with Pakistani officials. "We still need Pakistan's cooperation, and we need to see how we can move forward," the second official said. "We need to give them some credit for what they have done, which did lead to this day. We can't focus excessively on the negative." Brennan pointed out that despite the "differences of view" between the U.S. and Pakistan on counterterrorism cooperation, Pakistan has been responsible for killing and capturing more terrorists on its soil than any other country "by a wide margin." "There have been many, many brave Pakistani soldiers, security officials, as well as citizens, who have given their lives because of the terrorism scourge in that country," Brennan said, calling the partnership with Pakistan "critically important to breaking the back of al Qaeda and eventually prevailing over al Qaeda as well as associated terrorist groups." But Seth Jones of the RAND Corp. warns that bin Laden's death does not resolve the big-ticket issues between Washington and Islamabad, namely Pakistan's support for the Taliban and other insurgent groups battling U.S. forces in Afghanistan, such as the Haqqani network. "As long as many of those issues continue to exist, and they have very different interests, and they have very different strategic goals in the area, then some level of conflict will likely persist," Jones said. Officials said they hope the U.S. can get Pakistan on board to support a political process in Afghanistan with reconciliation between the Taliban and the Afghan government -- and they believe bin Laden's death presents an opportunity for progress. Officials do believe that al Qaeda in Pakistan has suffered a huge disruption, having lost a charasmatic leader such as bin Laden. But they also are bracing for members of al Qaeda to avenge his death and believe the United States will see a period of increased threat, where attacks will likely be planned against U.S. interests. | Some in U.S. hope for more cooperation with Pakistan .
Pakistan given credit for allowing operation on its soil .
Others skeptical Pakistan didn't know Osama bin Laden was near military academy . |
150,666 | 4ecb5573907179ad6764f7075de27588e00d1b18 | By . Matt Chorley, Mailonline Political Editor . PUBLISHED: . 04:11 EST, 10 October 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 10:37 EST, 10 October 2012 . David Cameron will address an audience of 2,200 at the party conference today, but he has spent the week building a much bigger crowd online. The Prime Minister ignored his own advice about the perils of Twitter and signed up to the micro-blogging site on Saturday night, promising more 'edgy' political output. Four days later @David_Cameron has attracted more than 100,000 followers, been bombarded with abuse and posted the obligatory photo of food. 'Thanks to my team for squeezing in a quick birthday celebration on this v hectic day.' The PM was presented with a caterpillar birthday cake by Foreign Secretary William Hague (centre) and Chief of Staff Ed Llewellyn (right) Today he tweeted before his keynote speech, telling his followers: 'I’m levelling with the British people in my speech at 11.30. It's sink or swim, do or decline. How we'll ensure Britain wins the Global Race.' And as he left the conference venue in Bimrngham he added: 'Just leaving what has been a great #cpc12. A big thank you to all involved, we really showed that 'Britain can deliver.' In 2009 the Tory leader told Christian O’Connell’s Absolute Radio breakfast show: ‘The trouble with Twitter, the instantness of it – too many twits might make a t***.’ But with millions of people – and potential voters – on the site, the lure of Twitter became too strong to resist. On Saturday night Mr Cameron announced his arrival on the site with a reference to his 2009 warning: ‘I'm starting Conference with this new Twitter feed about my role as Conservative Leader. I promise there won't be "too many tweets...’ On Monday Mr Cameron used the @David_Cameron account to reveal he had packed some boxes for the #supportoursoldiers campaign . Here is a selection of some of the comments which @David_Cameron is being bombarded with: . @Gaslef mornin dave, what atrocities are you planning to inflict on the working classes today then? #toriesruiningthenation . @JamesCridland today you say that Britain has no future unless difficult decisions are taken. I don't think you understand concept of time. @JaneR1969: How are you getting away with killing off so many sick and disabled you turd? When are you going to be up in court for it? @Codeine74 Hello Dave, this is your daily reminder that thousands of Britain's most vulnerable people are suffering more thanks to you. @thisisamy_ I am seriously angry by @David_Cameron 's comments. Stop LYING & pretending you're helping the poor & vulnerable. You do not care one bit. @Chad_C_Mulligan Yawn. Another super-shiny PR opportunity. Why aren't your sleeves rolled up, Dave? @hoolscon spare us the mush about your family Dave, your a rich boy who inherited his wealth so don't try make out your one of us plebs . @Bethemediauk I thought you said you wouldn't tweet much. That's 7 now. 7 too many. Before the account was set up aides . promised it would be an ‘edgy’ and ‘more political’ outlet for the Prime . Minister to target voters. The . official Downing Street accounts is covered by Civil Service rules on . impartiality and cannot be used for party political purposes. To date it has been rather more sedate, consisting of posts praising speeches by colleagues, alerting people to imminent TV appearances and photos of charity work. The response has been rather more boisterous than the PM’s own tweets, with users posting a stream of abuse often aimed at Mr Cameron’s wealth. Mr Cameron defended his decision to join the site this week. He told Sky News: 'In this modern world you have got to use every means to try and communicate your message and explain to people why you are doing it. 'You've got to get with the programme, I suppose.' Before the account was set up, sources close to the PM said they wanted to use it as political tool to reach voters directly. 'He wants something that’s able to be more political,’ said a party source. ‘Especially when it comes down to the local, European and general elections he needs something where he can connect more directly with the voters as leader of the Conservative party.’ Mr Cameron was the 370th MP to start an account. So far Mr Cameron has not interacted with any voters, or even the 34 Tory MPs and peers he is following. Within . 12 hours the account had 75,000 followers but bookmakers Ladbrokes were . offering odds of 25/1 that he would reach 100,000 before the Tory . conference in Birmingham closed today. On Sunday David Cameron tweeted: 'About to appear on @MarrShow: I'll be explaining how we're on the side of people who want to get on in life.' The first photo the PM posted: 'Today I met the nursing team at the John Radcliffe Hospital, and announced £140m to help their work across the country' He passed that landmark early on . Tuesday, later posting: I'm told some bookmakers are regretting laying . odds against this account passing 100,000 followers during conference.’ Ladbrokes are now offering odds of 1/2 that he will reach a million followers by the end of the year.But punters can get 20/1 that the account will be closed before 2013. With just a few hours to go until the close of the party conference, the bookies are offering odds of 4/1 that Mr Cameron will unfollow Boris Johnson's account before the party leaves Bimringham. Aides say the next target is to overtake Ed Miliband’s account, which has 166,000 followers. But the Labour leader's use of the . site has not been without controversy, famously paying tribute to . Blockbusters host Bob Holness with the hashtag #Blackbusters. The Prime Minister's first tweet made reference to his 2009 warning that 'too many tweets might make a t***' | Aides had promised 'edgy' output which could be more political than official Downing Street accounts .
So far it has been a little on the dull side, highlighting TV appearances and charity work .
The response from other users has been more boisterous, with a stream of foul-mouthed abuse aimed at the PM . |
168,543 | 6601e2dd0ca9455049eda4e92dbcc51cb26a6893 | A couple have vowed to make their family homeless before Christmas in a bid to raise £160,000 to fund life-saving treatment for their daughter. Frankie-Rose Lea has been given just weeks to live, after doctors originally misdiagnosed an aggressive brain tumour as growing pains. The seven-year-old's tumour has tripled in size and spread to her spine since she started chemotherapy in August. Experts have told Michelle and Sam Lea their daughter's best chance of surviving is travelling to the US for proton beam therapy. Michelle and Sam Lea, pictured with their sons Alfie, right and Freddie, left, have vowed to make their family homeless in a bid to raise £160,000 to fund life-saving cancer treatment for their daughter Frankie-Rose, centre, after she was diagnosed with a brain tumour . The couple have put their terraced home in Erith, Kent, left, on the market and are desperate to sell it within the week, to fund proton beam therapy treatment in the US. Since having chemotherapy Frankie's brain tumour has tripled in size and spread to her spine, leaving doctors to predict she won't live until Christmas . Mr and Mrs Lea had planned to cancel their August wedding, after Frankie-Rose, was diagnosed the same month. But the seven-year-old told her parents she was desperate to be a bridesmaid . Applying for the treatment, sought by the family of Ashya King, on the NHS will take up to eight weeks - time Frankie-Rose does not have. Her tumour is growing so fast, doctors do not expect her to live to see Christmas Day. Mr and Mrs Lea, who also have two sons, Alfie, 11, and Freddie, five, have put their three-bedroom home in Erith, Kent, on the market in a desperate bid to raise the £160,000 needed to fund the treatment. They said the terraced property is worth £220,000 but are marketing it at £170,000 to try and attract a cash buyer, to encourage a quick sale. The couple said they are prepared to make their family homeless if it saves their daughter's life. Dinner lady Mrs Lea, 36, said: 'We are desperate. Right now all we can think about is getting Frankie to America for the treatment she needs to survive. 'We will live in a box if we need to as long as we are together. 'We have worked hard, our house is all we have but we will sell it to save her. ‘Some people might criticise us for making the family homeless when we have two other children but I would rather do that than have to tell her brothers we let Frankie die. 'What choice do we have ? If we wait for NHS funding it will probably be too late.’ Frankie-Rose began complaining of pain in her legs in May this year. Mrs Lea said: ‘Frankie-Rose said her legs were aching, so I told her to rest. 'Like most kids her age she was always on the go but when it got worse I took her to the doctor who said it was just growing pain.’ Doctors have told the family Frankie-Rose may not live until Christmas. To apply for proton beam therapy on the NHS takes around eight weeks - time the youngster doesn't have . Mrs Lea said: 'We will live in a box if we need to, as long as we are together. We have worked hard, our house is all we have but we will sell it to save her.' Frankie-Rose is pictured, right with a children's entertainer dressed up as Elsa from Frozen, at her seventh birthday party in August . But in the weeks that followed, Mrs Lea noticed her daughter falling over and bruises appearing on her legs. She went back to the GP and said she was told this time that Frankie-Rose was flat footed which was causing her balance problems. But unconvinced Mrs Lea took her daughter back again and says she was advised to take her for an eye test and again told it was growing pain. When her daughter’s pain got worse she arranged further visits and said on the sixth occasion she was annoyed to have been booked to see a locum GP. ‘I felt he wouldn’t know my daughter and made that clear,' she said. Proton beam therapy is an advanced form of radiotherapy that targets tumours with great precision. The radiation that uses beams of protons - small parts of an atom - rather than high energy X-rays, used in conventional radiotherapy. Unlike an X-ray, the proton stops after striking the target rather than continuing to travel through the body. It enables therapists to direct the beam at a tumour more precisely. The beam can be more finely controlled, in both its width and its depth, so higher doses of radiation can be more safely delivered to tumours, with less risk to healthy tissues. The treatment has been shown to be beneficial in the treatment of many different tumours, including those found in the head and neck, eye, central nervous system, lung, prostate and gastrointestinal tract. The precision of the pencil beam scanning makes it especially beneficial in treating tumours adjacent to critical and sensitive organs, such as the eye, brain and spinal cord. Source: Mayo Clinic . 'But to my surprise he was the first to perform a basic neurological test by asking Frankie to follow his finger with her eyes. 'She couldn’t do it and he told me to get straight to hospital for an MRI scan.’ At Darent Valley Hospital in Kent, an MRI revealed a dangerous build up of fluid on the little girl’s brain and she was sent by ambulance to Kings College Hospital in London for urgent surgery the following morning. The operation on July 18 revealed a mass on her brain stem was causing the build up. Mrs Lea said: ‘I was shocked. You never think it will happen to you. 'But at the same time I had known all along it was something more serious than growing pains.' The following week a biopsy revealed the tumour was cancerous and on August 4 the devastated couple were told the rare nature of high grade Astrocytoma giloma’s in children made it hard to predict how she would respond to treatment. But the position on the brain stem made it impossible to operate on and medics hoped to stabilise it with chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy when she was older and her brain more developed. Mr and Mrs Lea were due to marry later that month on August 23 and Mrs Lea originally wanted to call off the wedding they had booked back in January but Frankie was desperate to be a bridesmaid. ‘We’d been so busy in hospital that I hadn’t arranged the cars or wedding shoes, it was the last thing on my mind but doctors advised us to go ahead with the wedding because Frankie was well enough and she was looking forward to it,’ Mrs Lea said. But first Frankie turned seven on August 15 and the family hastily arranged a huge party, not knowing if it would be her last. Two weeks later the couple married surrounded by family and friends. Frankie revelling in her role as chief bridesmaid. Mrs Lea said: ‘It was all about her, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house because nobody knew what the future held. ‘She had lost some of her hair because of the surgery but she looked so beautiful.’ Doctors misdiagnosed Frankie'Rose's brain tumour as growing pains five times before her parents were told she was battling cancer . The family have also set up a fundraising page to raise money for Frankie-Rose's treatment . Frankie-Rose started chemotherapy two days later but suffered terrible side effects, including nausea, weight loss and a bleed on the brain. And when medics scanned her last week the tumour was found to have tripled in size and spread to her spine. That is when Mr and Mrs Lea were told proton beam therapy offered the best chance of saving her life and there was no time to waste. The family set up a fundraising page and well wishers have already pledged more than £20,000 - but the family need to raise a further £140,00 for treatment and travel in the next week. They put their house on the market for £170,000 this week and say making themselves homeless will be a small price to save their daughter’s life. ‘It would be nice to have a home to come back to after America, but nothing is more important than saving Frankie,' Mrs Lea said. Donations have been flooding in, and a second page has been set up to help accept money from the public. To help Frankie-Rose visit the new fundraising page here. Her Facebook page can be found here . | Frankie-Rose Lea was diagnosed with a rare brain tumour in August .
Doctors had dismissed her symptoms as growing pains five times .
Since starting chemotherapy, the growth has tripled in size and spread to the seven-year-old's spine - leaving medics unsure of how long she has left .
Proton beam therapy is her best chance of survival, experts say .
But applying for the treatment on the NHS will take eight weeks .
Michelle and Sam Lea have put £220,000 home on market for just £170,000 .
They are desperate to sell in the next week to fund the therapy in the US .
Mrs Lea said: 'Our house is all we have, but we will sell it to save her'
Family has set up a fundraising page to help raise the money needed .
More than £20,000 was donated and this second page was set up to help cope with demand .
For more information, visit her Facebook page . |
151,207 | 4f81582ac8268f5e4056242362f613c34cb95fca | Port-au-Prince, Haiti (CNN) -- It was as if the giant crowd were celebrating a joyous occasion -- not a coming-together one month after a deadly earthquake. Thousands of Haitians, many of them smiling, gathered Friday at the center of Port-au-Prince to remember the 7.0-magnitude quake of January 12 that leveled most of their capital city. A sea of people waved their arms in the air, prayed, cried, sang and -- where space permitted -- danced. The earthquake is blamed for killing more than 212,000 people, injuring 300,000 and leaving more than 1 million homeless in the city of 3 million and surrounding communities. The memorial took place near where the stately National Palace lies in ruins and the Champ de Mars square has been turned into a huge homeless camp. Other memorials were taking place at shantytowns, and there were religious observations. Haitians were urged to wear black or white. There was an outpouring of aid from around the world after the quake -- more than 600 aid agencies rallied -- but, initially, much of their work was ineffective because of the chaos, including the disruption of the government after its buildings collapsed. Relief operations are improving day by day, a spokeswoman for the International Rescue Committee told CNN on Friday. "Things [supplies] are moving now, and they are arriving to populations. The bottleneck has really, really decreased," Aisha Bain said. "About a month ago, when this quake destroyed the infrastructure of Haiti, it was very complicated to get aid in," she said. Now, "the ports and airports aren't at full capacity, but things are arriving and getting to populations. There is much more to be done, but food is coming in." Food distribution areas are set up around the capital, she said. According to the U.S. ambassador to Haiti, food is now being delivered routinely to 16 sites daily, and Haitians are receiving two weeks of rations. The food is culturally appropriate, Kenneth Merten said. "One month on ... I think we are in a very good place in terms of food distribution, water distribution and getting medicines out to needy hospitals," he said. The United States is working with many nations and organizations to do that. "The next issues we're most concerned about are sanitation issues and shelter issues," Merten said during a State Department news conference. As the rainy season approaches, "we want to make sure we have reached and touched as many people as possible." The rainy season comes with the approach of spring. The hurricane season begins June 1. Relief workers are providing temporary camps with latrines and portable toilets, and that project isn't finished, Merten said. Bain said her organization also is trying to provide sufficient sanitation. "We ... are working on a large-scale buildup of providing clean water, latrines, showers, hand-washing stations, which affect not only the livelihoods of basic survival but, really, health. There's a massive concern of the possible outbreak of disease, and so we are working to combat that quickly." Watch Bain talk about the situation in Haiti . On Thursday, Nevada real estate developer Tom Schrade said he was donating three used Cirque du Soleil tents for use as a temporary headquarters for the government and a hospital in Port-au-Prince. They will provide a total of 33,000 square feet of space, he said. Medically, "things have improved in a very good way," compared with the period right after the quake, when doctors were dealing with broken bones, crushed limbs and other acute conditions, CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta said. The medical establishment is much more organized. However, recovery facilities are grossly inadequate, he said. Of the people lined up recently at one of Port-au-Prince's largest public hospitals, most were suffering from chronic diseases such as diabetes. Many have never seen a doctor, he said. After treatment, most patients -- even those who have had major surgery -- end up in a temporary tent city that is dirty and lacks medications, follow-up care and nutritious food, Gupta said. Recent rain didn't help, he said, and there is fear that improvements won't be made before monsoons come. "People are trying to recover in a temporary tent city that is increasingly becoming more permanent," Gupta said. | Thousands unite in Port-au-Prince to remember 7.0-magnitude earthquake .
Quake killed more than 212,000 people, left more than 1 million homeless in city, nearby .
Anderson Cooper, Dr. Sanjay Gupta discuss Haiti news on "AC360," 10 ET tonight .
Watch Angelina Jolie talk about her visit to Haiti on "Amanpour," Sunday at 2 p.m. ET . |
28,387 | 508e6e8e6c0a30aa64128cf8e764316615601385 | Nathaniel Chalobah has returned to Chelsea at the end of his loan deal at Burnley. The 20-year-old midfielder did not make the impact he would have wanted with the Clarets, with his contribution limited to one Premier League start and four substitute appearances. Boss Sean Dyche said: 'Nathaniel will go back to Chelsea and we thank him for his efforts in his time with us. Nathaniel Chalobah (centre) has ended his loan spell at Burnley and is back at Chelsea . Chalobah headed to Burnley looking to impress Jose Mourinho but has had limited game time . 'We hope he has developed here, albeit not on the pitch as much as he would have liked. He has, however, been an active part of the group and has been a credit to himself. 'We wish him well as he looks to further progress his career.' The England Under 21 international arrived at Turf Moor on transfer deadline day hoping to impress Blues boss Jose Mourinho and show he could break the mould by being a Chelsea academy product worthy of regular first-team consideration. But while Ruben Loftus-Cheek has been tipped for a bright future by Mourinho, Chalobah, who once made the Chelsea bench aged 15, is struggling to build on the early hype which surrounded him. Chalobah has 21 caps for the England Under 21 side, and has also played for the Under 16, 17 and 19 sides . Dyche had admitted the Barclays Premier League's unforgiving nature has limited the teenager's opportunities. 'He's a young player learning, earning his spurs and developing, and this is a tough league to do all those things in and do them every week,' said the Clarets manager. 'Behind the scenes he's working hard and should he get his chance, he'll be ready to take it.' Chalobah was on the bench for Chelsea aged 15 (left) but has failed to fulfil his potential so far . | Nathaniel Chalobah was on loan at Burnley from Chelsea .
But the young midfielder has returned to Stamford Bridge .
Sean Dyche said Chalobah has not developed enough as a player .
Chalobah once earned place on Chelsea's bench aged 15 . |
281,439 | f88d8b482aff19e277d200b51908f19b865a46d1 | By . Stuart Woledge . PUBLISHED: . 13:31 EST, 3 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 04:28 EST, 4 October 2013 . Southern Britain was bracing itself for floods and chaos today as a band of torrential rain and thundery storms swept in from the Atlantic. The . Met Office put out a yellow weather warning, saying the West . Country is first in the firing line and could be swamped by the equivalent of early two . inches of rain in just three hours. A spokesman said: 'Areas of heavy, thundery rain will spread . into southern and south-western parts of England and Wales today, with . 20-25mm of rain possible within an hour and 40mm within three hours. Drenched: A dog walker and her labrador suffer the lashing wind and rain after going out for a stroll . Swell: A surfer braves the waves in Cornwall, which is due to be hit first as the South prepares for storms . 'This . warning will be kept under close review and updated as necessary, with . the possibility that it may need to be extended into Friday.' Claire Endean's furniture showroom in St Austell, Cornwall, has been hit by floods three times in the last couple of years. 'You just want to go home and cry,' she said. 'It isn't your home, but because . this is where you technically live eight hours a day, it is just . heart-breaking when you see all your nice clean, lovely shop getting . covered in water and mud.' Firefighters have already been called to pump out flood water from two hotels in the exclusive coastal town of St Mawes in Cornwall, an area where many celebrities and . politicians have holiday homes. Traffic ground to a halt on the A39 . in Truro earlier today tue to heaving flooding, with the road described . as 'just passable' in places. Huge . queues built up as motorists attempted to get through. More flooding . was reported on the B3277 between St Agnes and Chiverton Cross. Torrential: The Met Office has issued a yellow warning ahead of expected storms sweeping in from the Atlantic . Cornwall Council has put staff on standby and advised residents to stock up on sandbags, which can be obtained from builders merchants and hardware stores, to protect their homes from flooding. It has also advised people to check with the Environment Agency, either on their website or by calling the floodline on 0845 9881188, to find out if their property is at risk from flooding. A spokesman said: 'During the . floods, which took place last year, a number of householders reported . difficulties in obtaining sandbags when the heavy rain affected their . local area. 'As neither . the Council nor the Environment Agency has a statutory duty to provide . sandbags, anyone whose property is prone to flooding should ensure they . have a supply of sandbags ready to protect their home or business should . they need to. 'Officers . from Cornwall Council's Highways, Environment, Fire and Rescue and . Emergency Management services will be monitoring the situation closely . and are on standby to deal with any problems. 'Local . communities are also encouraged to check with vulnerable neighbours in . case they need help with obtaining flood protection materials. 'Agencies . are asking people to follow the advice on dealing with the potential . heavy rainfall, and warn people not to drive through any flood water.' In Scotland, traffic ground to a halt when 100 tonnes of debris poured onto the A83 following a landslide. Serious: Traffic was halted in Argyll when a landslide dumped 100 tonnes of debris on the A83 . It followed more than 26mm of rainfall overnight in Argyll, with much of it coming between 6am and 9am. First Minister Alex Salmond described it as a 'serious and developing situation'. The road has now been closed six times since December 2011, and roads management firm BEAR Scotland called in specialists to clear the area after heavy rain brought rocks and mud from a nearby hill on to the road surface. Two parts of the road were affected and engineers are to remain at the site near the Rest and Be Thankful, in Argyll, overnight with more rain expected. Concrete retaining blocks are to be fitted and BEAR will patrol the road to check for any danger. Developing: First Minister Alex Salmond described the landslide as 'serious' Brian Gordon, BEAR Scotland's managing . director, said: 'Our team has worked flat out in difficult conditions . to re-open the road. We are doing so with traffic controls and a number . of other safety measures in place given the on-going poor weather . forecast. 'As always the . safety of motorists is our utmost priority and we will ask anyone . experiencing delays to be patient while we continue to monitor the . situation throughout the night.' Argyll . and Bute Council leader Dick Walsh said there are concerns about the . route with businesses relying on it for deliveries and trade. He . said: 'Following today's closure of the A83 trunk road, we have written . to Transport Scotland seeking confirmation of the suitability of the . risk assessment and contingency planning for the A82 works at Pulpit . Rock. 'The people who visit, . live and work in Argyll and Bute depend on these lifeline routes and we . need to ensure that they are able to continue to go about their . business. 'We will, of . course, offer any assistance that we can to Transport Scotland and work . closely with them and the police to find the best possible solution for . everyone.' Transport Minister Keith Brown said: 'We know that the A83 is a vital route for people living and working in Argyll and Bute and our operating company, BEAR Scotland, has deployed all of its resources to clear the hundred tonnes of rock and mud from the road at Glen Kinglas as quickly as possible. 'Landslides are naturally occurring events, we can't stop them happening but we can lessen the impact and we have been making improvements, not only to our processes but also through engineering. There are no overnight solutions to the issue but we are committed to a programme of on-going works to remedy the situation. 'We have invested £3.7m in mitigation measures on the A83 including protective netting, a new culvert and drainage system at the site of a previous landslide and geotechnical monitoring equipment. 'This area at Glen Kinglas is part of the further studies we are undertaking on the A83 to find solutions to the unique challenges that the route poses.' | People warned to stock up on sandbags in Cornwall to prevent flooding .
Up to two inches of rain is expected to fall in less than three hours .
Atlantic storms are due to lash the South of England in the coming hours .
In Scotland more than 100 tonnes of debris covered a road after a landslide . |
174,501 | 6dd9f525feddbfba538b14013d355ed880524bb5 | Scroll down for new video of the crash scene . A truck driver who allegedly fell asleep at the wheel has been charged in the horrific crash which left comedian Tracy Morgan in a critical condition and his closest confidante James McNair dead. 30 Rock star Morgan and his entourage were being chauffeured from a show in Delaware back to New York City about 1am Saturday, when the truck driver rear-ended their . limousine bus and caused a fatal six-car pile up on the New Jersey . Turnpike. Morgan's 'traumatized' ex-wife has revealed 'he's not in good shape' after being pulled from the wreckage with a broken leg among other injuries. He is reportedly in a critical but stable condition. Morgan's assistant Jeffrey Millea, 36, and comedian Ardie Fuqua are also in a critical condition, while 62-year-old McNair, who performed as . Jimmy Mack and was one of Morgan's closest friends, died at the scene. Comic Harris Stanton was treated and released from hospital. Two others in the limo were unhurt, including the driver. Truck driver Kevin Roper, 35, has been charged with death by auto and also faces four counts of assault by auto. Bail was set at $50,000 and he is expected to surrender. Showtime: Morgan, top left, cheers in front of a packed crowd at the Dover Casino on Friday night, just hours before he and fellow comedian Ardie Fuqua, bottom left, were involved in an accident . Big night: Morgan had been performing his Turn it Funny gig in Delaware, above, just before the crash . New Jersey State Police Sgt. Gregory Williams said Roper, from Jonesboro in Georgia, apparently failed to notice . slow traffic ahead of his 18-wheeler and swerved at the last minute to . avoid a crash near Cranbury Township. But the vehicle plowed into the back of the limo, a 2012 Mercedes Benz Sprinter, prompting a chain-reaction crash with a second tractor-trailer, an SUV and two cars. The limo rotated clockwise and flipped over. 'Driver failed to observe slow-moving traffic ahead,' Sgt Williams said according to ABC News. 'He observed at the last minute - just prior to impact - the limo bus carrying Morgan and his party.' He said alcohol was not believed to be a factor in the crash. ABC News reported the driver was 'dozing', but police would not confirm the report. The National Transportation Safety Board said it was working with state police to look at any issues in the crash related to commercial trucking and limousine safety. Scene: A limousine-bus carrying comedian Tracy Morgan and his entourage back to New York from Delaware was rear-ended by a truck on the New Jersey Turnpike about 1am Saturday, critically injuring three people and killing one . Critical: Comedian Tracy Morgan is in intensive care after his limo-bus flipped over during a six-vehicle pile up . Family: Tracy Morgan and his ex-wife Sabina Morgan . Morgan and Millea, from Shelton in Connecticut, were flown to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick with critical injuries. Morgan's ex-wife Sabina Morgan told New York Daily News the crash has shocked and distressed family members. 'He’s . not in good shape. I’m traumatized. I’m so upset. I can’t believe it. It’s like I’m in a nightmare,' the mother of three of Morgan's children . said. 'We’re just still vigilant with prayer...They’re (our children) not holding up well at all.' She said Morgan, 45, had . a broken leg and was lying unconscious in hospital, but doctors anticipated he would . recover. Sabina Morgan said her old high school sweetheart, who she divorced in 2009, would be heartbroken to know one of his closest friends, McNair, had died. 'He was one of the first comedians that took Tracy under his wing,' she said of McNair. 'They were very close.' McNair’s sister, Valerie Daniel, told CNN that her brother 'spoke very highly of Tracy. They go way back.' Morgan's publicist, Lewis Kay, said in a statement: 'His family is now with him (in hospital) and he is receiving excellent care. We don’t anticipate much of a change in his condition today.' Passengers: Harris Stanton (left) is safe and has already been treated and released from the hospital but the condition of Ardie Faqua (right) remains unknown . Fatality: James 'Jimmy Mack' McNair (pictured) died in the Saturday morning crash . Meanwhile the mother of Morgan’s fiancée, Megan Wollover, said she was heartbroken. 'I was devastated,' Christine Wollover told New York Daily News. 'I couldn’t believe it. I was just hoping and praying that my daughter and the baby weren’t in the car.' Wollover . said her 27-year-old daughter and the couple’s 11-month-old . baby usually travel with the comedian on tours. 'I’m relieved for her and my granddaughter,' she said. 'But (Morgan) is the foundation. I love him dearly, and I just . hope he gets through this.' The New Jersey Turnpike was closed for more than five hours after the crash. Damage: The wreckage of the luxury Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Morgan and his friends had been in is removed from the crash site . Crash scene: Morgan's crumpled limo-bus rests on its side as police arrive at the New Jersey Turnpike . Just hours before the fatal crash, Fuqua had posted a picture on Instagram of Morgan performing at Dover Downs Hotel & Casino in Dover, Delaware. Morgan had been booked for the casino's entertainment, with a show called . Tracy Morgan - Turn It Funny!, with tickets costing between $35 to $65. 'This is . what it looks like from the stage to see a standing ovation from 1500 . people. Then we traveled back to NYC in style in a luxury Mercedes . Sprinter. Road life is a good life! #tracymorgan,' Fuqua wrote in the . post's caption. Morgan had been due to perform the same show in North Carolina tonight, but that leg of the tour has been canceled. Fatal: One person, believed to have been a passenger on Morgan's bus, was killed in the accident . Pile up: Police are still investigating the crash but believe a tractor-trailer may have rear-ended the bus . Mangled: Six vehicles were involved in the collision, which happened in the early hours of Saturday . Walmart President Bill Simon issued a statement saying one of the firm's trucks was involved in the accident. While noting that the crash remains under investigation, Simon said 'Walmart will take full responsibility' if authorities determine that the company's truck caused the accident. 'We're praying for the family and friends of the passenger who lost his life in the terrible accident,' the statement said. 'Our hearts go out to everyone involved and we hope those who were injured get the care that they need and make a full recovery.' Morgan's limo was owned by Atlantic Transportation Services, which said it had one employee behind the wheel and a second in the front passenger seat. 'Although the investigation is still pending, we concur with the preliminary reports that the accident was caused by another vehicle traveling behind the Atlantic limo bus,' the Rehoboth Beach, Delaware-based company said. 'We are grateful that our drivers did not sustain life-threatening injuries.' Injured: 30 Rock star Morgan, pictured with Megan Wollover last year, was returning from performing a show at a Delaware casino . Star: Morgan made his name on Saturday Night Live! before joining the cast of hit show 30 Rock . Morgan, a New York City native, joined Saturday Night Live in 1996 and was on the sketch-comedy program for seven years before leaving to star in The Tracy Morgan Show in 2003. That show lasted just one season. In 2006, Morgan found a long-running role on NBC's hit show 30 Rock, which was created by SNL co-star Tina Fey. He received an Emmy nomination for best supporting actor for 30 Rock in 2009. Morgan grew up fatherless, one of five siblings, in a blighted section of Brooklyn, where he helped raise and support the family. He once called his gift for being funny 'a defense mechanism' for his miserable circumstances. As a teen, he started doing comedy on the streets to supplement the family's welfare income. His tough upbringing informed his humor. In recent years, he has struggled with alcoholism and drunken driving arrests. He had a successful kidney transplant in late 2010. Morgan has three grown sons with his ex-wife, and a daughter, Maven Sonae, born last July to his fiancee, Megan Wollover. His films include Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, 'The Longest Yard, 'First Sunday, 'Rio and Why Stop Now. | Trucker Kevin Roper of Georgia charged with death by auto and four counts of assault by auto .
Roper, 35, is accused of slamming a tractor-trailer into a limousine bus, causing a six-car pile-up on New Jersey Turnpike on Saturday morning .
Former Saturday Night Live! star Tracy Morgan, his assistant Jeffrey Millea and comedian Ardie Fuqua are in a critical condition .
James 'Jimmy Mack' McNair died at the scene, while Harris Stanton was treated and released from hospital .
The comics were returning to New York from a show at Delaware casino .
Fuqua shared a photo of the interior of the luxury limo shortly before their fatal journey started .
Morgan's ex-wife Sabina Morgan said she is 'traumatized' and 'so upset' |
269,100 | e8986797babfffd184e47266bbebcb066e6a4536 | As accusations over Obamacare and U.S. spying spiral into political controversies at home and abroad, there are two key questions bubbling beneath the surface: What did President Obama know, and when did he find out? U.S. officials have said that the President didn't know about problems with the website for the health care policy he championed and that it wasn't until recently that he learned about a National Security Agency operation that wiretapped German Chancellor Angela Merkel's phone. Dianne Feinstein, the chairwoman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, became the latest official to say the President was unaware of at least some spying. "It is my understanding that President Obama was not aware Chancellor Merkel's communications were being collected since 2002. That is a big problem," she said Monday in a written statement. Questions about what the President knew and when he knew it have important implications, analysts told CNN on Monday. If Obama was aware, that could mean he isn't being clear with the American public now. And if he wasn't aware, that could mean his own staff kept him in the dark. "There's really no good answer," said Republican strategist Kevin Madden. "If he knew, essentially we're being misled by different people in the administration about the extent of the president's knowledge. If he didn't know, it's an abdication of even the most basic responsibilities of the command and control over very important parts of his administration, and that becomes a problem." A.B. Stoddard, associate editor of The Hill, said this isn't the first time this sort of situation has come up, and someone aiming to protect Obama could have deliberately kept him out of the loop. "So he gets to sort of exonerate himself and say, 'I really don't know.' ....But if he's not responsible, who is?" she told CNN's The Lead. "He has to be accountable for major decisions and major moments like this. When someone like Merkel calls him, he has to be able to be accountable to her and say these aren't decisions made by other people." White House: Don't tie issues together . In an exclusive interview with CNN last week, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said the President didn't know of problems with the Affordable Care Act's website until after its glitch-laden launch on Oct. 1. This was despite the fact that insurance companies had been complaining and the site crashed during a pre-launch test run. At a press briefing Monday, White House spokesman Jay Carney declined to detail what Obama knew and when. He said that tying topics like problems with the Obamacare website and reports about NSA spying together is "conflating a bunch of very disparate issues." Asked about a Wall Street Journal report that the White House stopped the operation monitoring Merkel after learning about it over the summer, Carney said he wouldn't "get into individual reports about specific programs" but said he'd provide more details once a White House review of U.S. surveillance is complete. Experts: Not every detail disclosed . It's plausible that Obama wouldn't know about specific surveillance targets, said CNN National Security Analyst Frances Fragos Townsend, who sits on the CIA external advisory board. Overall intelligence collection priorities are well-known by the White House, she said. "Specific targets, however, (like) Angela Merkel's cell phone, are not the sort of thing discussed with the President of the United States," she said. Every morning, Townsend said, Obama receives an intelligence narrative. "It doesn't tell him specifically where the collection came from," Townsend said, "but some of it is sort of self-evident." No one should expect the President to know everything the NSA is doing, said Julian Zelizer, a professor of history and public affairs at Princeton University. "But when you're talking about the surveillance of world leaders, and an issue that's been controversial for a while now, you would expect that there's some knowledge either by the President or people surrounding him. ... I do think there's surprise that this was off the radar in the inner circles of the White House," he said. Time for change? Republican U.S. Rep. Peter King, a key member of the Homeland Security Committee, said if the surveillance happened without the President's knowledge, it has larger implications. "I would say if the President did not know, that raises very serious questions about what he's doing as chief executive. The fact he would be going into negotiations and discussions and meetings with Angela Merkel or French leaders -- or any leaders for that matter -- and not be aware that there was surveillance going on of the private phone calls, to me either something is definitely wrong in his administration or he just has a totally hands-off attitude. To me, this is unacceptable," King told CNN's Wolf Blitzer on Monday. No matter what Obama knew, or when, Stoddard said, it's time for a new approach. "He has often said that he didn't know what was going on with the (HealthCare.gov) website. ... He can't pretend he doesn't know and walk away from problems anymore, because he has been caught too many times out of the loop," she said. "He can't do his job that way." Problems in management, analysts say . Ron Suskind, who analyzed Obama's leadership style in his book "Confidence Men," said the recent glitches in HealthCare.gov give a glimpse into problems with Obama's management approach. Obama should get high marks for the concepts of policies he's pushed forward, like the Affordable Care Act, Suskind said. But he's struggled with implementing them, Suskind said. "Whether Obama gave orders that were not followed, or simply did not give directives that were precise with attached ticking clocks, if you will, in terms of execution, he clearly should have, minutes after the Affordable Care Act was passed, said, 'This is a logistically high bar to cross. Let us begin now to come up with models, alphas and betas and test runs, and call in the best people on the planet to make sure that we have a system that is ready to operate efficiently on opening day.'" But when Obama learned of the problems isn't the most important question to ask, Suskind said. "The question is, what will he do now?" Ross Douthat, a CNN political commentator and a columnist for The New York Times, wondered whether some officials would lose their jobs if the President really wasn't informed. "The question becomes, why do the people who failed to keep him in the loop still have their jobs?" he said on Anderson Cooper 360. Another columnist at the Times said it looks bad that Obama looks uncertain. "(One of the) basic kinds of rules of management is: Never let the boss get caught off guard. The boss is caught off guard here. That is a problem," Charles Blow said. "That is a management problem, and they're going to have to figure that management problem out." | Intelligence Committee chair says President should have been told of some spying .
Officials say Obama didn't know about HealthCare.gov website glitches and U.S. spy programs .
Analyst: "This has happened before. ... He has to be accountable for major decisions"
Republican strategist: "There's really no good answer" |
240,990 | c3fe790cd10649bdb229df05d3f61e4f1f3cdb1c | By . Phil Casey . Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley believes Rory McIlroy is on course to dominate golf following the Open champion's victory in the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational on Sunday. A fortnight after holding off Sergio Garcia to lift the Claret Jug at Royal Liverpool, McIlroy overhauled his Ryder Cup team-mate to claim his first World Golf Championship event and regain top spot in the world rankings. McIlroy turned a three-shot deficit into a two-shot lead within the space of five holes at Firestone Country Club before Garcia battled back to leave the pair tied heading into the back nine. Champion: McIlroy with his trophy after winning the WGC-Bridgestone invitational at Firestone Country club . Garcia had played the same stretch of holes in just 27 shots in his second round of 61, but it was McIlroy who came out on top two days later in a tense duel, the 25-year-old carding a closing 66 to finish 15 under par, two ahead of Garcia as he had been in the Open. With Adam Scott finishing outside the top five, that meant McIlroy reclaimed the world number one spot he last held in March 2013, just in time for the final major of the year, this week's US PGA Championship at Valhalla. Asked if McIlroy was on the way to dominating the sport as Tiger Woods had, McGinley told Sky Sports: 'There is no reason why not. That's the best exhibition of driving I have ever seen from anybody in terms of length and accuracy. That golf course is very narrow off the tee and he is finding the fairway time after time at 340 yards. Duel: McIlroy and Ryder Cup team-mate Sergio Garcia finished first and second at the Open and at the WGC . Form: The Northern Irishman said he was proud to follow up his Open victory with a similar performance . 'What I think is great is that Rory can hold his attitude where it is at now, it's very much in the present, taking one week at a time. He's never said he was chasing Jack Nicklaus' record of 18 majors and that's a great attitude, it takes the pressure off him and keeps him very much in the present where he needs to be.' Atfer 16 birdies in the first three rounds Garcia could only manage one in a disappointing closing 71, meaning the 34-year-old has now won just three times after holding the 54-hole lead on 16 occasions. 'What I am really proud of this week is following on from the Open with a performance like this,' McIlroy, only the second European winner of the title after Darren Clarke in 2003, told CBS. 'I said straight after I did not want any let down, I wanted to keep going and performing until the end of the season. 'It's great to come to one of my favourite tournaments of the year and to perform like this I am pretty satisfied.' No 1: After victories at the Open and WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, McIlroy is now top of the world rankings . | Rory McIlroy won the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational on Sunday .
The Open champion is now top of the world rankings .
Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley says McIlroy can dominate golf . |
206,892 | 97e498df1566d38f2c062e5fe8fba301a7dfd67d | By . Helen Lawson . PUBLISHED: . 06:36 EST, 20 July 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 09:43 EST, 20 July 2012 . Veteran newsreader Sir Alastair Burnet has died aged 84 after suffering several strokes, his family announced today. The presenter, familiar to households all over the country as the anchor of News at Ten, fronted coverage of the wedding of Prince Charles to Lady Diana Spencer in 1981 and the 1969 Apollo 11 moon landings. He captured the momentous NASA expedition for viewers by saying: There it is, the old Moon - the one the cow jumped over, the one the poets wrote about, the one that lovers made love to. And from now on, it’s going to be rather a different one.' Sir Alastair Burnet died peacefully in the middle of the night after suffering several strokes, his family confirmed today . He also enjoyed a distinguished print career as the editor of The Economist and the Daily Express. In a statement, his family said: 'He passed away peacefully in the middle of the night at the Beatrice Place Nursing Home in Kensington, where he was being cared for after suffering several strokes.' Today, journalists paid tribute to their late colleague. Broadcaster . Andrew Neil said: 'Alastair was one of the greatest journalists of his . generation, as much at home in print as TV news and current affairs, . where he was a legendary figure as Britain’s premier newscaster and . anchorman. Alastair Burnet pictured with News at Ten co-presenter Selina Scott in 1982 . Familiar face: Alastair Burnet anchored nightly News at Ten bulletins . Broadcaster Andrew Neil paid tribute to a man who possessed: 'gentlemanly kindness' 'He played a pivotal role in the rise of ITN as Political Editor, interviewer and newscaster; he launched ITN’s News At Ten, Britain’s first dual-anchored, half-hour newscast - the most successful newscast in British broadcast history; and he will always be remembered for presenting historic live events, from numerous election nights - on BBC and ITV - to US space launches to major royal events. 'He will also always be recalled by family, friends and colleagues for his unparalleled professionalism, humour and gentlemanly kindness, especially to journalists starting out on their careers. 'Joy it was to be in his company and he was an inspiration to many who followed in his footsteps - the broadcasters’ broadcaster.' BBC newsreader Huw Edwards added his voice to the tributes. He said: 'He was one of the true greats of British television news. Alastair Burnet was an inspiration to many of those who are prominent in broadcast journalism today. 'Viewers liked and respected his authority and experience, and his understated style. He represented the best traditions of ITN and his period at the helm of News at Ten was without doubt the best in the programme's distinguished history.' Helen Boaden, director of BBC News, . said: 'ITN has lost a hugely dedicated colleague whose energy and drive . were unique. His passion for the story always shone through and . television journalism is the poorer without him.' Born . in Sheffield, Sir Alastair studied at Oxford University before . embarking on a career which saw him work on the BBC's Panorama programme . as well as the ITV work he was best-known for, fronting general . election coverage throughout the 1970s and 1980s. He was well-known for presenting documentaries about the Royal Family, particularly Prince Charles and Diana, Princess of Wales. His . royal coverage led to him being lampooned in satirical puppet show . Spitting Image and magazine Private Eye as a gushing royalist. Sir . Alastair led the coverage of the 1969 moon landings, remembered for . saying: 'There it is, the old Moon - the one the cow jumped over, the . one the poets wrote about, the one that lovers made love to. And from . now on, it’s going to be rather a different one.' The Queen visited ITN's News at Ten studio in Wells Street, London to mark its Silver Jubilee, speaking with the late Sir Alastair Burnet (left) and Anna Ford, watched by Don Horobin, deputy editor, ITN . Coincidentally, Sir Alastair's Spitting Image character famously featured in a sketch which made light of the deaths of leading figures from the entertainment world, and the flood of praise which followed. The puppet joked: 'Tonight's main headline - someone famous has died.'The world of entertainment is in mourning at the death of a fellow professional, who they didn't have a good word for while they were alive.' John Hardie, chief executive of ITN, said Sir Alastair's standard of work might never be equalled. Alastair Burnet, right, pictured with co-presenter Andrew Gardner, who died in 1999, on an early edition of News at Ten. 'ITN stands on the shoulders of giants, none greater than Sir Alastair Burnet. He defined newscasting for a generation and his influence is still clearly evident today,' he said. 'He set the bar to a standard that has never been surpassed and perhaps not even equalled. Sir Alastair will be sorely missed by many here at ITN, but his legacy lives on.' The Burnet family will hold a private funeral with a public memorial service to be organised for a later date. Lampooned: A Spitting Images' game show with Burnet on screen with Margaret Thatcher, Prince Phillip, the Queen and Neil Kinnock . Burnet anchored ITN's coverage of the 1983 general election, pictured centre with fellow newsreaders Peter Sissons, left, and Martyn Lewis, right, with producer Sue Tinson and director Diana Edwards-Jones in front. VIDEO: Sir Alastair Burnet, an obituary . | Fronted coverage of the Royal Wedding in 1981 .
Described the 1969 Apollo 11 landing to viewers .
'Alastair was one of the greatest journalists of his .
generation,' says fellow broadcaster Andrew Neil . |
55,463 | 9d3635583ce2d07d146b58209e28674d2c3fc889 | By . Gerri Peev . PUBLISHED: . 14:11 EST, 2 February 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 17:25 EST, 2 February 2014 . President Hamid Karzai said Afghanistan would have been better off without NATO troops . Afghanistan's president angered the families of British soldiers yesterday by suggesting the presence of Nato troops over the past 13 years had made his country worse. The US-led invasion in 2001, a response to the September 11 attacks, was launched to drive out Al Qaeda and the Taliban. But describing the Taliban as 'brothers' and America as 'rivals', Afghan leader Hamid Karzai said: 'The mission, in terms of bringing security, has not been successful, particularly in Helmand. 'What they did was create pockets of wealth and a vast countryside of deprivation and anger.' Asked by The Sunday Times whether it would have been better if British troops – many of whom are based in Helmand province – had never gone there, Karzai replied: 'I guess so. Yes.' His remarks were labelled an insult by relatives of some of the 447 British soldiers who have lost their lives there. Joan Humphreys, whose 24-year-old grandson Kevin Elliot, a Black Watch infantryman, was killed in Afghanistan in 2009, said: 'He has been hinting at this for a while but never said anything this blatant. I find his comments vile.' Britain's commander in Afghanistan, Lieutenant General John Lorimer, disputed Karzai's claims. He said: 'Amazing things have been achieved here.' British troops are due to be withdrawn later this year. Elaine Bell, whose son Private Martin Bell won the George Medal after being killed trying to save a colleague from the 2nd Battalion the Parachute Regiment, told the Mail: ‘The president is entitled to his opinion but those lads and girls do a fantastic job out there. I can see why a lot of people will be infuriated by his comments.’ She added: ‘All we hear about are the deaths and horror stories but our soldiers are out there building schools. They have also been out there trying to close down terrorist training grounds and if they were not to keep a lid on it, we wouldn’t be able to sleep so soundly.’ Comments: Karza, pictured shaking hands with David CAmeron outside No.10 in October, particularly criticized NATO action in Helmand, where British soldiers are based . The president was also accused by other relatives of ‘spitting on the graves’ of British soldiers. Jacqui Janes, from Brighton, the mother of 20 year-old Guardsman Jamie Janes, who was killed by an IED in 2009, said: ‘His government’s corrupt and he’s a proper turncoat. 'I don’t know what he hopes to gain from saying this. It’s wrong and it’s disgusting. ‘He may as well as have just come and spat on our sons’ graves. It’s such an insult to everyone who lost their lives.’ Carol Valentine, whose son, Sergeant Simon Valentine, 29, died from injuries after an explosion while on foot patrol near Sangin, northern Helmand, in 2009, said: ‘He makes some very rash, weird statements and in the next breath he wants to come over and shake people’s hands. 'So many families are now suffering because of the support that this country gave to Afghanistan.’ Britain’s most senior commander in Afghanistan, Lieutenant-General John Lorimer, disputed that Afghanistan had been left in a worse state because of Nato involvement : ‘I don’t agree,’ he said. Anger: The families of British soldiers who have served in Afghanistan since 2001 were 'disgusted' and 'insulted' by Karzai's interview (stock image) British troops keep watch at a checkpoint, where a man shot and killed three British soldiers, in Helmand province in 2012, an area singled out by Karzai . The involvement of international troops meant al-Qaeda had been denied a safe haven in Afghanstan and that local security forces had developed into a ‘pretty impressive’ force. He added: ‘Amazing things have been achieved here, if you go look at governance across country it has improved at province and district level.’ David Cameron provoked controversy when he recently suggested that the mission had been accomplished in Afghanistan. Britain plans to withdraw its troops from the country this year, after 13 years of involvement in the country. Mr Karzai is refusing to sign an agreement to allow American and other Nato soldiers to stay on until after this year to train Afghan forces. He is understood to want to leave it to his successor to decide, who is due to be elected in the April presidential elections. | President Karzai call the Taliban ‘brothers’ and America ‘rivals’
He said Afghanistan would have been better off without NATO troops .
Families of British soldiers 'insulted' and 'disgusted' by comments . |
152,076 | 5089d104c1d17c24ef1ae1b6eb101d48352d6e4e | A kitesurfer is today fighting for his life after he was launched 100ft and slammed into a building after his equipment was caught by a freak gust of wind. The unnamed man, in his early 30s, had just stepped out of the water when his kite suddenly filled with air, dragging him 30 metres along a beach and into a metal sign on the promenade. He was then lifted 10ft into the air and thrown into a building before falling back down and landing on a metal hand rail and some dustbins. Desperate: Paramedics and lifeguards battle to help the critically injured kitesurfer, who was launched 100ft and slammed into a building at Poole harbour in Dorset . Shocked members of the public and two beach lifeguards raced to his side and found him unconscious but breathing. He was airlifted to hospital with serious head injuries. A spokesman for the RNLI, whose two lifeguards helped the victim, said: 'A male kitesurfer had just come out of the water when a gust of wind unexpectedly caught his kite. 'He was then picked up by the kite and dragged approximately 30 metres towards the promenade before hitting a blue beach information sign. 'He was then lifted 10ft and hit a building. From here he fell around 10ft on to hand rails and bins with enough force to break the bins' metal bracket.' Rescue: The Coastguard helicopter flew the victim, who is yet to be named, to Southampton Hospital . The incident happened at 12.20pm yesterday in Poole Harbour, a popular watersports venue. Rare: Kitesurfing (file pic) can be dangerous but accidents like the one in Poole do not happen often, experts say . The RNLI spokesman added: 'The lifeguards carried out checks and found the patient was unconscious but breathing. 'They then administered oxygen, just as the ambulance arrived and took over control of the situation. 'A decision was made to call the coastguard helicopter due to the potential of the casualty having suffered a spinal injury following the incident.' The kitesurfer was flown to Southampton General Hospital where his injuries were described as life-threatening. Richard Gower, chairman of the British Kitesurfing Association, said: 'It was not that windy yesterday but there were squalls. 'The kites are very powerful but there is an emergency system to depower them. It seems this kitesurfer couldn't activate his for some reason. 'Accidents like this are fairly rare. They usually come about due to user error or other circumstances such as weather conditions. 'Unfortunately they often involve people who are fairly new to the sport. 'Most accidents within kitesurfing happen on land - they rarely happen on the water. 'When a kitesurfer is on the land it's the most critical time, and we do encourage everyone to look out for one another.' | Man, in his 30s, was treated on the pavement in Poole after freak accident .
Lifeguards and medics helped after kitesurfer hit sign, building and metal rail .
He was flown by helicopter to Southampton Hospital with critical injuries . |
68,050 | c1161e70bb36c5fe2d3cf2e5446074a6d2b53c6b | By . Hayley Coyle . He was once named one of the world’s sexiest vegetarians. However it is an accolade that is no longer true for Coldplay’s Chris Martin. He revealed yesterday that having ‘consciously uncoupled’ from his marriage to Hollywood actress Gwyneth Paltrow he has also relinquished the vegetarian lifestyle that came with it and is now once again a carnivore. The 37 year-old British star let slip about his change in diet during an interview with Steve Wright on Radio 2 yesterday. Scroll down for video . Meat feast: The 37 year-old British star let slip about his change in diet during an interview yesterday . ‘I am not really vegetarian. I eat meat. I was vegetarian for a long time but for various reasons I changed. 'My daughter [Apple, 10] has been a vegetarian since she was born. I keep getting tempted to go back but I don’t eat too much meat.’ Warming to his theme he then bizarrely said: ‘The honest answer why I changed is because I thought you can only eat something that you should be able to kill. 'I don’t why I am talking about this. I have got to stop as there will be some sort of headline. I mean “Could you kill a fish?” I would not like it but I probably could eat the fish...or a giraffe... I have been called the world’s sexiest vegetarian. I don’t think I am the world’s sexiest singer. I think I came about 17th.’ Miss Paltrow’s enthusiasm for following a vegetarian diet is well-documented and she has written a cookbook and blogged about the health benefits of following a diet rich in plants and seeds. The perfect split? Gwyneth and Chris have remained close since their split and are even still living together . And so stringent is her approach to diet she once admitted that her whole family can at times feel hungry because she will not allow them to eat carbohydrates like bread, pasta or white rice. The Iron Man star announced on her Goop lifestyle website in March that she and Martin were ‘consciously uncoupling’ after 10 years. The break up between Miss Paltrow, 41, and the Exeter-born singer, appears to be amicable and the pair have even been spotted out together since looking close and comfortable in each other’s company.’ Miss Paltrow wrote on her website at the time of the announcement that she and Mr Martin had tried in vain to save their marriage for over a year but that they would always be a family and their main concern was the welfare of their children. They also have a son, eight-year-old Moses. When asked how he deals with such a major personal upheaval while performing Mr Martin replied: ‘My job is so uplifting and that naturally is an endorphin. ‘I am very lucky I have some good teachers and good people who have written some great things that make you able to alchemise.’ He also said that music has helped him through other tough times in the past and described his craft as his ‘friend’. Mr Martin said: ‘Music, especially over the last couple of years has been very alchemising. I mean if you are going through something difficult in life or whatever and music for me is always a friend and something that helps me figure things out. ‘At the end of the day that is what I am always doing in the middle of the night. I need my time on my own with it and also like playing.’ Both Mr Martin and Miss Paltrow are involved in charity work and the singer said that for him it stems from his mother always encouraging him to give a portion of his money away. He added: ‘When I first got pocket money as a kid my mum told me I should give 10 per cent away.‘So we just keep doing it. ‘I don’t think that is corny at all. I think it would be amazing if more companies did that. ‘We always work with Kids Company in London and that is mainly what we do behind the scenes. ‘We are a tiny bit involved in Prince Harry’s Invictus charity. That is something we have got inspired by.’ | The 37 year-old let slip about his change in diet during an interview .
Miss Paltrow’s enthusiasm for following a vegetarian diet is well-documented . |
115,293 | 20c9f4ed5a42daadcd31fd79089a8920f27b2865 | Dimuth Karunaratne's maiden Test hundred helped Sri Lanka fight back against New Zealand, but their position still looks grim as they followed on in Christchurch. The tourists, bowled out for 138 on Saturday in reply to New Zealand's 441, made a much better go of their second innings as Karunaratne - out for a duck in the first innings - made 152 to help them to 293 for five at the close of day three, still 10 runs behind. New Zealand will remain confident of securing a positive result in this first of two Tests, however, after late wickets from Trent Boult - including that of Karunaratne - swung the momentum back the way of the Black Caps. Dimuth Karunaratne celebrates after reaching his maiden Test century for Sri Lanka against New Zealand . Karunaratne hit 152 to keep the tourists in contention as they followed-on in Christchurch . New Zealand celebrate the wicket of Sri Lanka's Niroshan Dickwella for just two runs . Sri Lanka resumed on 84 without loss, with Karunaratne on 49. However, they lost Kaushal Silva before he could add to his overnight 33. Tim Southee's scrambled seam delivery found an outside edge and the ball flew into the gloves of BJ Watling. Kumar Sangakkara quickly followed, making just one before he too edged behind, this time off Boult. However, Sri Lanka rebuilt thanks to a watchful innings from Lahiru Thirimanne, who helped Karunaratne negotiate a difficult period. Survival was the priority as the game slowed, but Karunaratne continued to creep towards three figures. Sri Lanka's Angelo Mathews celebrates his half-century on day three - he finished on 53 not out . Lahiru Thirimanne hits out during day three - his 25 came off a pedestrian 124 balls . He made it with a thick outside edge past gully for two off Boult, and by the time Thirimanne fell victim to an excellent diving catch from the wicketkeeper off James Neesham, Sri Lanka had moved on to 181. Thirimanne's 25 came off 124 balls. AD Mathews came in and showed a more aggressive streak, soon hitting Mark Craig for six, and the scoring rate picked up. Karunaratne brought up 150 with a four off Boult but the New Zealand paceman had his revenge two overs later, his delivery swinging back in to deceive the Sri Lankan who was clean bowled. His 152 was the highest score by a Sri Lankan while following on. Mathews made the close on 53 not out, but after Boult removed Nishan Dickwella, who edged into the slips for four late in the day, New Zealand could feel much better about their day's work, with plenty of time left to secure a result. A view of the Hagley Park Oval in Christchurch during the third day's play . | Dimuth Karunaratne hit 152 to keep Sri Lanka in contention in first Test .
Following on, the tourists reached 293 for five in their second innings .
They are 10 runs behind New Zealand's first innings score .
Late wickets from Trent Boult - including Karunaratne - kept hosts ahead .
Angelo Mathews was unbeaten on 53 at the close of day three . |
131,670 | 363be686d19ab9249202ac07ca4f3e99d45ec524 | The one-child policy in China can lead to an intensely close relationship between parents and offspring. This can make it difficult for parents to cut ties when their children move hundreds of miles away to start their first term in university . So when term starts children are not only personally delivered to their new university by their proud parents, but they often stay on for a few days to make sure their offspring have a friendly face to hand as they start their new lives as students. Parents of students at Shenyang Aerospace University in the city of Shenyang in north-eastern China sleep on the gym floor so that they can be near their offspring in the first few days of term . Shenyang Aerospace University's gymnasium was made available to 400 parents who were also given straw mats to sleep on . Many are from poor families who cannot afford the inflated hotel prices during the start of university term, and with the struggle to pay costs associated with sending their children to further education, a room is a luxury many are prepared to do without. As a result universities have now been increasingly turning some of the buildings over to parents who want to stay around for the first few days of their children's life. Crowded but happy: Chinese students' parents try to sleep on straw mats to be near their children . Water, water: University authorities give parents a drink as they try to get some sleep on the gym fllor . These photographs were taken at the start of the current academic year on September 1 at the Shenyang Aerospace University in the city of Shenyang in Liaoning, north-eastern China, where the gymnasium was made available to 400 parents who were also given straw mats to sleep on so that they can have an extended farewell with their children. The gesture was praised by students and other people on the Chinese social media website Weibo, although many other universities around the country are also offering the same service. These photographs were taken at the start of the current academic year on September 1 at the Shenyang Aerospace University in the city of Shenyang in north-eastern China's Liaoning . Rough night: Parents desperate to stay with their children but cannot afford a room close to the university campus bed down on the gym floor using rucksacks and towels for pillows . | Many are from poor families and cannot afford the inflated hotel prices .
Shenyang Aerospace University in Shenyang in Liaoning, north-eastern China has given over use of its gym .
400 parents are sleeping on straw mats and given water . |
242,751 | c632b38cffbef9d214e8e2e11e7d15fb4d818ab1 | By . Jaymi Mccann . PUBLISHED: . 06:58 EST, 4 July 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 05:06 EST, 5 July 2013 . Property developers using heavy machinery tore down a irreplaceable 4,000-year-old pyramid near Peru's capital of Lima. Rafael Varon, deputy minister of cultural patrimony, told reporters the destruction occurred over the weekend at the 20 foot tall ruins of El Paraiso, a few miles north of Lima. His agency has lodged criminal complaints against companies Alisol and Provelanz for the weekend's damage and has moved to seize the equipment used. Property developers have reportedly destroyed part of the ruins at El Paraiso Peru . No-one was available for comment at either company. Peru's tourism ministry says El Paraiso was built some 4,000 years ago and was a religious and administrative center, long before the rise of the Inca culture encountered by the Spanish conquerors. Marco Guilen, director of an excavation project at El Paraiso, said the people who tore down the pyramid 'have committed irreparable damage to a page of Peruvian history.' Experts have said that the destruction has caused 'irreparable damage to a page of Peruvian history' 'We are not going to be able to know in what ways it was constructed, what materials were used in it and how the society in that part of the pyramid behaved.' Varon said people apparently working for the two companies tore down one pyramid and tried to destroy three others, but were stopped by witnesses. Mayor Freddy Ternero from the town where the ruins are located, San Martin de Porres, said the pyramids were located in agricultural fields and were not guarded, though he said the Minister of the Interior sent police to protect it after the incident. | Property developers tore down an irreplaceable 4,000-year-old ruin .
Destruction occurred last weekend at the ruins of El Paraiso, near Lima .
Experts say that they 'have committed irreparable damage to a page of Peruvian history.' |
17,493 | 318619decc3f57eb82275162e077611e03cae339 | By . Hannah Ellis-petersen . and Elizabeth Sanderson . and Alison Smith-squire . PUBLISHED: . 17:00 EST, 11 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 21:36 EST, 11 January 2014 . One of Britain’s best-loved animal charities is today accused of putting profits before pet welfare after making swingeing cuts to services despite receiving a record income. Cats Protection receives £62 million a year in donations from caring animal lovers and investment profits – yet a Mail on Sunday investigation has revealed that it has slashed spending on frontline services by more than £3 million. The cuts include closing seven centres because they were helping ‘too many’ cats, and reining back on its crucial neutering programme, resulting in 17,000 fewer stray and rescued animals being helped. Vulnerable: Cats Protection has made cutbacks on vital services including vaccines yet pays its chief executive more than £100,000 a year, according to an investigation by the Mail on Sunday (file photo) Despite the cuts, Cats Protection increased its spending on staff to more than £12 million a year – including more than £100,000 on wages for its chief executive – even though it is run largely by an army of 8,500 unpaid volunteers. Now some of those volunteers have come forward to accuse bosses of ‘betraying’ the millions of people who make donations. Major: Cats Protection is one of Britain's largest animal charities, receiving £62 million a year . The whistleblowers, who have now left the charity, also revealed how: . ‘It is no longer about rescuing as many cats as possible, it has become about cutting as many costs as possible,’ said former volunteer Bernice Moorhouse. Cats Protection, which has more than 250 branches, says its ‘vision is a world where every cat is treated with kindness and an understanding of its needs’, with neutering and rehoming its two main objectives. But former volunteers have been left dismayed by cuts. One . of the areas to be hardest hit is the neutering of cats – even though . the charity itself has warned that the UK is being overrun by an . unprecedented number of strays, as owners can’t afford to neuter their . animals or care for their litters. Whistleblowers said cats were put down instead of having vets' bills paid - a claim the charity denied (file photo) 'Appalling': Mary Millar said her branch in Inverclyde, Scotland, had been chipped away at until it closed completely in October as managers cut back on vaccines. She now runs a cat charity from her home . A female cat can produce 18 kittens in a year and can end up with 20,000 descendants in just five years. However, the number of cats neutered by the charity fell by 20,000 in 2012. Mary Millar told how administrators chipped away at funding for her branch in Inverclyde, until they closed it for good in October. She said her branch had requested £9,000 for neutering in 2013, based on the number of cats brought in the previous year, but had been given only £1,600. Cute: This cat was one of several helped by Mary Millar, who has blown the whistle on Cats Protection . She said: ‘It’s appalling the way they treat the volunteers by cutting back, irrespective of the effects on the animals.’ She also revealed the cuts to the vaccination programme, saying: ‘In February 2013, they recommended we use cheaper vaccines and give the cats an injection which didn’t cover them against all the diseases, such as respiratory infection. I couldn’t believe they would be willing to put the cats’ health at risk for a small saving.’ But a spokesman from Cats Protection was adamant that ‘all cats in our care must receive a minimum veterinary standard of care, with most receiving more’. Mrs Millar also spoke out against the decision to cut back visits before rehoming strays. ‘It’s disgraceful’, she said. ‘How can you tell over the phone if people are lying or not, or whether they are suitable owners?’ Fellow former volunteer Mrs Moorhouse was left ‘devastated’ when her Cardiff branch was axed in November 2012 after 23 years. ‘It felt like a kick in the teeth,’ she said. ‘It felt like Cats Protection were prioritising cost over the care of the cats.’ She also accused the charity of targeting their branch for closure because they had requested £12,000 to pay for neutering that year. ‘They said we shouldn’t have been neutering so many cats and that we were helping too many people, which was now unaffordable. So they were closing us down. How can they justify paying themselves such high salaries while shutting the centres where the real work is carried out? It was just easier for them to shut us down than fight to keep us open. We helped thousands of stray cats every year – where will they go now?’ Needy: One animal which was put up for rehoming by Cats Protection. The charity's income is £62m a year . Other branches that have been shut in the . past two years include Slough, Maidenhead and Windsor, Inverness, North . Shropshire, Callington in Cornwall and Leeds. While Cats Protection – formerly known as the Cats Protection League claim the cuts are not ‘adversely affecting our care of cats’, figures show that the charity helped 17,000 fewer cats in 2012 than in 2011. Controversy: Another one of the thousands of pets rehomed through Cats Protection . Another volunteer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, accused ‘heartless’ Cats Protection of putting down cats unnecessarily. ‘When I was working for them I was fostering a lot of cats and they said they would take a couple off my hands and rehome them. ‘I stupidly believed them. One of them was a six-month old kitten and they ended up putting her down. They said she was too frightened on her own in the pen. But they didn’t make any efforts to help her. In my opinion it was just easier and cheaper for them to get rid of her. ‘They also wanted us to put down any cats that were over ten years old,’ added the former volunteer. ‘And if blood tests revealed the cats had any diseases, regardless of age, we had to put them down too, rather than pay a vet to cure them.’ However, Cats Protection deny the claim and say they ‘never put a healthy cat to sleep’ and put down sick cats only on vets’ advice. The charity admitted they had cut back their neutering budget following ‘overspends’ in previous years, but said the budget rose again last year. It also admitted no longer carrying out home visits for every rehoming, but pointed out: ‘Since we’ve reduced the number of home visits the number of cats returned to us has not increased.’ Cats Protection chief executive Peter Hepburn added: ‘In an organisation as large as ours, there are bound to be one or two who are unhappy with things.’ | Cats Protection whistleblower: Volunteers laid off and seven centres shut .
It has 8,500 unpaid workers but chief executive on more than £100,000 .
Vaccinations 'have been reduced for the sake of saving £2 per cat'
Charity has allegedly put down some cats rather than paying vets' fees .
Chiefs deny the claim, saying they 'never put a healthy cat to sleep'
Vaccine payments have been reduced, so cats are no longer immunised against bacterial infection, saving £2 a time but putting animals at increased risk.
Staff and volunteers are now told not to visit properties where rescue cats are being rehomed – except in ‘exceptional’ circumstances.
Cats Protection has allegedly put down sick cats, rather than paying vets’ fees. |
279,168 | f5af1f7c09f6f141717b70626f79837533178fd1 | An Ohio police dog that went missing two months ago and gained 24,000 Facebook followers on a page created by his owner has finally been found safe and sound. K-9 Karson and his handler, officer Jerry Popp, shared an emotional reunion on Sunday after the dog saw Popp and immediately jumped into the front seat of his police truck. Popp said he fell to the snow and cried after they found his furry friend. He ran away on December 20. Officer Jerry Popp has been reunited with his K9 Karson, who gained nearly 24,000 followers on Facebook while he was missing . After Karson saw his owner he immediately jumped into Popp's truck, where they shared an emotional hug . But the reunion wasn't quick, according to a post Popp wrote on Karson's Facebook page. Although Popp called commands to Karson he was not close enough to be seen, and the scared dog began to run from the truck. Popp ran for the Belgian Malinois on foot, while Sergeant Ron Fithen pursued him in their truck. After the dog finally gave up and stopped running, Fithen got out of the truck and laid down in the snow. Popp wrote that Fithen wanted to appear 'small and nonthreatening' as he began to talk to the K9. Popp then walked behind Karson, who immediately jumped into the truck when he saw him. As Popp fell the ground and cried, Fithen and a lost dog specialist consoled him and then enveloped him in a group hug. 'Getting the furry boy home is just a loss of words,' Fithen told WLWT 5. 'Just being there at the moment when I met eyes with Karson knowing he was coming home today that - that has made my year.' Karson at first ran from Popp and his fellow officer because he didn't recognize them and was scared . Popp fell to the ground and cried after Karson was finally safe and found in the truck. An officer and lost dog specialist comforted the handler before enveloping him in a group hug . Popp immediately updated Karson's Facebook fans after the rescue. 'Karson has been found. I have him in the truck next to me,' he wrote. # . 'He's alive and healthy. It's all over finally.' The K9 went missing two days before Christmas after escaping from a boarding kennel where he was staying while Popp was on vacation. Karson lost 14 pounds while he was away, surviving record-breaking low temperatures. Popp said he was getting plenty of sleep and being very quiet as he recovered at home. The devoted handler posted frequent updates about Karson after he went missing, keeping the dog's followers informed as the police received numerous sightings and tips. Karson's Facebook page had a devoted following and users were overjoyed to hear of the dog's safe return . Facebook users shared their joy with news of the dog's return. 'I can't say how relieved I am for you and your family and the department,' one user wrote. 'I along with my 9 year old daughter have been following you and K9 Karson since day one. We have checked this site everyday over a hundred times a day reading every post and hoping Karson would be found.' Another user advised Popp to get some much needed sleep. 'Rest well with your boy... cause he has thousands of tennis balls to play with you,' they wrote. Police Chief Duane Weyand said Karson wasn't 'just a dog' but a member of the department and the community. 'That's been our driving force that he belongs here. He's one of us.' Karson lost 14 pounds while he was away, surviving record-breaking low temperatures. Popp said he was getting plenty of sleep and being very quiet as he recovered at home . | Ohio officer Jerry Popp shared an emotional reunion with his K9 Karson .
Said he fell to the snow and cried after his furry friend was safely found .
Karson immediately jumped into Popp's truck when he saw his handler .
Dog ran away on December 20 .
The dog lost 14 pounds and survived record-low temperatures .
Popp said he is now resting quietly at home . |
247,989 | cce6387b1638726288ca663374ea2e745e58c98e | Prince Charles regularly visits Romania and owns two houses out there . A British double-decker bus, covered in images from the Carpathian Forest, has drawn up outside the British Ambassador's residence in Bucharest. The top floor has been converted into a classroom, its seats occupied by Romanian schoolchildren. A familiar head appears up the stairs. 'What have I missed?' asks Prince Charles. 'Bears! Wolves! Red squirrels!' the children shout. The Prince of Wales is here to support The European Nature Trust, which has turned the bus into a mobile classroom as part of its campaign to save the forests and wildlife of Romania. It's a subject close to Charles's heart. He first came here in 1998 on an official visit - the only time he's visited on business. He fell so much under the spell of the place that he bought a house in one of the wooden villages, then acquired another property which he's turned into a comfortable lodge. He makes a private visit for a few days every year if he can, preferably in May when the wild flowers are out, and both houses can be rented when Charles isn't there. The meadows of Romania are spectacular with a huge variety of species - as many as six times more to the square metre than can be found in Britain - as they've never been sprayed with pesticides or herbicides. The air is fragrant with the scent of herbs such as wild thyme. 'Stop!' cried the Prince when he spotted a creamy-coloured flower while walking with friends recently. 'Here's the bastard toadflax. I've wanted to see the bastard toadflax for ages.' He's been so inspired he's now planted a Transylvanian Meadow at Highgrove, his Gloucestershire home, using a wild flower seed mix mostly gathered from the hay meadows at one of his properties. Charles first visited the country in 1998 on an official visit - the only time he's visited on business. He is seen here with the then Romanian President, Emil Constantinescu . You don't have to be in Transylvania . for long to realise why the Prince is enraptured by it. The country . looks as England might have done around the year 1800. There are no . fences. Horses are a common sight on the roads pulling trailers and in . the fields yoked to ploughs. Very . little money circulates, but almost everything needed to support life . can be found growing, or is made, in the villages. Everybody is making . jams, syrups and cordials out of every conceivable berry, fruit and . nut. 'It's the last corner of Europe where . you see true sustainability and complete resilience. There's so much we can learn from it before it's too late.' Grapes, sweet from the summer sun, cluster from the vines that twine about the eaves of the farmhouses. Geese waddle out of the farmyards. Fruit swells in the orchards. Sheep are often guarded by gipsy shepherds, accompanied by ferocious dogs capable of repelling wolves. It's a land overflowing with good things, where weaving and embroidery are still practised. You'll be hard pushed to find a mega supermarket. This is the world as Prince Charles may very well feel God intended it to be. As he puts it, 'It's the timelessness which is so important.' The landscape is 'almost out of some of these stories you used to read as a child. People are yearning for that sense of identity and belonging and meaning.' In Transylvania the Prince usually begins by visiting some of the environmental and rural development causes that he supports. He'll then spend a day or two relaxing in the quiet and beauty of the countryside. But that doesn't mean putting his feet up. Walking is key for him - but the walks are accompanied by a bevy of botanists who can help inform and develop his ideas. In this hospitable country, villagers do what they can to make the Prince welcome. On his last visit a surprise was achieved by smuggling 120 children in traditional dress through the back door of a barn while the Prince was sipping an aperitif on the other side. A Field of wildflowers belonging to Prince Charles, in Zalanpatak, near Baraolt, Szeklerland, Transylvania . When the barn doors were thrown open, the Prince was regaled with a concert. So far, the Duchess of Cornwall hasn't been tempted to Transylvania, but it has found favour with the Prince's sons. In 2012, Prince Harry stayed with Count Tibor Kalnoky, who manages Prince Charles's houses, having reportedly flown out on budget airline Wizz Air. It can cost as little as £40 to get to Romania from Luton airport. The Transylvanian landscape looks something like Shropshire, with more woods and no hedges. Centuries-old trees stand in the meadows, giving shade to cattle in the fierce summer heats. The beechwoods are reminiscent of Sussex; only with hardly anybody about and no sign of human habitation for miles. There are more brown bears in Romania's forests than anywhere else in Europe. They're shy animals - even more elusive, for Prince Charles, than the bastard toadflax, since he hasn't actually seen one, even though they have been known to play on the hillside behind his lodge at Zalánpatak. There are more brown bears in Romania's forests than anywhere else in Europe . The forests are also home to wolves and lynx. Scientists believe these large carnivores are essential to the forest ecosystem. If left unchecked, deer would eat every young shoot as it appeared above ground. Wolves and lynx control their numbers, making it possible for the forest to regenerate. At a time when Britain is letting in large numbers of migrant workers from Romania, Prince Charles is leading a small counter-migration: of well-heeled Northern Europeans who delight in species-rich meadows and rickety farmhouses (which, incidentally, can still be bought for a song). 'It's the last corner of Europe where you see true sustainability and complete resilience,' says the Prince. 'There's so much we can learn from it before it's too late.' There is sometimes a note of frustration in the Prince's voice when he finds himself fighting a King Canute-like battle against an incoming tide of modernity, as when he speaks to the Travel Channel's Charlie Ottley in a series on Romania called Wild Carpathia being shown tomorrow and Monday. 'You'd think by now we might have learnt a few lessons from the things that have gone wrong,' he says. The Prince's house in Viscri is called the Blue House and he bought it in 2006 for £12,000 . Viscri, where Charles bought his first house in 2006 for around £12,000, still looks like the sort of place Thomas Hardy would have recognised. There are no pavements, no street lighting. Ducks and geese waddle down to the stream. Beyond the reddish tiles of the rooftops are glimpses of unspoilt countryside, without a wind farm or superstore in sight. A pipe dribbles water into a horse trough. 92,043 The number of square miles Romania covers, surpassing Britain's 88,745 . 74.45 The official life expectancy of the country's population of 21.8 million . 97.7 The percentage of Romanians over tha age of 15 who can read and write . 4,400 British businesses worth more than £2bn, operate in the country . 45 Years of Communist rule ended with a revolution in 1989 . The principal commercial activity consists of village women selling a variety of hand-knitted socks in striking patterns. The Prince's house is called the Blue House, after the blue limewash on the facade, against which are set olive-green shutters. Inside, the courtyard, partly cobbled, is planted with vegetables. A vine grows beneath the eaves. The furniture consists of old-fashioned painted chests and time-worn wooden benches. There are only three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a kitchen. The locally embroidered towels and hand-woven throws may be ever-so-slightly reminiscent of an artfully rustic World Of Interiors photo shoot, but the house is unquestionably delightful. The whole village is. At Zalánpatak, the Prince found a farmhouse at the end of a lane where he can walk directly into the meadows and up into woods. When I stayed, the morning began with the sound of cowbells, as cattle swayed out from their barns into the pasture. We heard them again in the evening, as each animal found her way back to her own barn. The nights were velvet-black, their silence only broken by the barking of guard dogs. No ringing of telephones disturbed the tranquillity. Fields of wild crocuses bloomed beside the roads. In summer, hay is heaped into rum baba-shaped stacks. The Prince's guest house in Zalánpatak (left) and its basic interior (right) The main cabin, heated by log fires and traditional ceramic stoves, has only three rooms. All the furniture - carved wooden beds, 19th-century chairs, an old oil lamp (converted to electricity) suspended from the ceiling, even an ancient radio - has been restored by hand. It's cosy, rustic and tasteful. As Prince Charles bounds from the bus to the car that will take him to the airport in Bucharest, he shows no sign of slowing down. Romania remains a place that he will visit in a private capacity for a few days a year, but its importance to him is more than that. Wherever he goes, the memory of it goes with him: a place where so many of his most passionately held ideas about humanity's place in the world are played out in everyday life. Clive Aslet is Editor at Large of Country Life. Wild Carpathia, Travel Channel, tomorrow and Monday, 2am. To rent Prince Charles's properties, visit www.transylvaniancastle.com. | Prince Charles fell in love with Romania on his very first visit .
He now regularly returns to the country for holidays .
He has two properties out there that are available for the public to rent . |
29,143 | 52c572f5e33e597b417c8a1c7cc6cfe21c682585 | The best-selling author of more than 30 erotic novels has filed for bankruptcy. Kristina Laferne Roberts, whose pen name is Zane, has published more than 18 erotic novels including Addicted, which hits movie theaters this week. She started by secretly writing and posting her creations online after her children went to bed - and ended up on the New York Times best-seller list 26 times. But last night it emerged she is 'the top tax cheat in Maryland' and has been forced to file for bankruptcy. Bankrupt: Kristina Laferne Roberts, known to readers as Zane, has filed for bankruptcy owing over $540,000 . The Washington Post reports that Roberts, a marketing graduate from Prince George's County, owes the IRS over $540,000. Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot called Roberts the state's top individual 'tax cheat' with undeclared earnings dating back more than 10 years. The state has been trying to collect back taxes from Roberts since 2003. Finally, in June, she filed for bankruptcy in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Maryland, the Post said. Roberts listed her total assets at over $1.4 million including two houses in Maryland, and claimed more than $3.4 million in liabilities. That figure includes more than $1.4 million owed to creditors and more than $337,000 in back state taxes. A call to Roberts' attorney was not immediately returned on Sunday. The news has emerged just days before the movie adaptation of her novel Addicted is released across the US. Movie adaptation: Her 2012 novel Addicted (left) has been made into a movie (right) hitting theaters this week . 'Cheat': The Maryland Comptroller branded Roberts the state's top individual tax cheat after years of dodging . It tells the story of a gallerist who risks her family and flourishing career when she enters into an affair with a talented painter and slowly loses control of her life. Directed by Bille Woodruff, who created Honey, and starring Sharon Leah, of DreamGirls fame, it is slated to be a box office hit. Her other work includes New York Times best-seller Afterburn about the liaison between a chiropractor and a bank clerk in Washington DC. Dear G-Spot, also critically-acclaimed, is a collection of letters from people that have contacted Zane with sexual questions - 'the preacher's wife worrying about being judged, the virgin, the guy next door, the gay man next door, the woman with low self-esteem, and the other woman with a sex drive over the moon'. Career: She started by secretly sharing her work online after her children went to bed but has since landed a book deal with Simon & Schuster and been named on the New York Times best-seller list 26 times . Roberts became Zane in November 1997 after sending chapters she had written to people she met online, she told theGrio last year. 'I wrote a short story and shared it with a few people I'd met online,' she said. 'I self-published three more stories online and got about 8,000 hits by word of mouth alone.' Numerous publishing firms offered book deals, but she refused to tone down the explicit nature of her work: 'They were asking me to tone down my material. They said it was too graphic.' 'That wasn't something I was going to do; I'd received so many emails from readers thanking me for affirming that they were normal, who felt empowered by my material.' | Kristina Laferne Roberts, pen-named Zane, owes IRS over $540,000 .
Maryland Comptroller named her the state's biggest individual tax cheat .
News emerges days before movie of her novel Addicted hits theaters .
She has been named on The New York Times best-seller list 26 times .
Became Zane after secretly sharing work online when kids went to bed . |
168,355 | 65bee979ba634745bfd38528ff90b12ef8e5f7f4 | By . Michael Zennie . The 9mm pistol that Boston bomber Tamerlan Tsarnaev used to murder one police officer and gravely wound another came from a brutal street gang in Maine that is allegedly led by an Eritrean immigrant. Tracking the path of the Ruger P95 semiautomatic pistol has led investigators to believe he may have dealt drugs to finance the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings that killed three spectators and injured more than 260 others. Drug money is also believed to have funded the 26-year-old's 2012 trip to Chechnya and Dagestan in Russia, where he became involved in radical Islam. Fighter: Tamerlan Tsarneav had a semiautomatic pistol that he used to killed one police officer and wound another as he tried to escape Boston after the bombings . Deadly: Tsarnaev had a Ruger P95 9mm pistol, similar to the one shown here. It carries 15 rounds in the magazine and can be purchased for $375 or less . The Los Angeles Times reports that Tamerlan used the weapon to ambush 27-year-old MIT police officer Sean Collier April 18, 2013 and kill him. Collier died of multiple gunshot wounds. Then, when authorities closed in on Tamerlan and his brother Dzhokhar as they fled Boston, Tamerlan opened fire with the pistol. He shot at officers until the gun was either empty or it jammed. Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority officer Richard Donohue Jr, 33, was critically wounded in the shootout. Tamerlan was killed after being shot multiple times by officers and then run over and dragged as his younger brother tried to escape in a stolen SUV, authorities say. When investigators recovered the handgun, they found that the serial numbers had been scratched off - a common tactic among drug dealers who are hoping to prevent police from tracking down the original owner of the weapon. However, agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were able to decipher the unique identifier - serial number 317-87693, according to the Times. Ambushed: Tsarnaev used the handgun to murder Sean Collier, an MIT police officer (left). He fired the weapon in a shootout in which Richard Donohue, a Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority officer, was critically wounded . Shootout: Tsarnaev emptied the magazine of his pistol - 15 rounds - at police before he was gunned down April 19 . They found that it was legally purchased at a Cabella's sporting goods store outside Portland, Maine, in November 2011 by Danny Sun Jr - a Los Angeles native. The gun typically sells for about $375. Sun told investigators that he gave the pistol to Biniam Tsegai, a 27-year-old Eritrean immigrant who goes by the street name 'Icy.' The Times reports that Tsegai is a reputed leader of a Portland, Maine, street gang with a lengthy arrest record - including robbery, criminal trespass and reckless driving. In May 2013 - a month after the marathon bombings - Tsegai was arrested and indicted on federal drug trafficking charges. Prosecutors noted that the drugs he is accused of trafficking were brought from Boston to Maine. Tsegai has refused to talk to authorities about the Ruger pistol - or anything else. However, Tsarnaev's possession of the weapon have strengthened their suspicions that he was involved in drug trafficking. They have not been able to prove his involvement, but suspect he had something to do with the September 11, 2011 murder of three men in an apartment outside Boston who were found with the throats slit. Marijuana and $1,000 in cash was found sprinkled around the crime scene. | Tamerlan Tsarnaev was found with a Ruger P95 9mm pistol after he was killed by police .
The handgun was originally purchased in Maine and given to an alleged drug dealer in Portland .
Authorities believe Tamerlan may have made his money from dealing drugs . |
129,208 | 32fb9cb7be3c879c01899c6c3eb9a1a09a5f71d1 | By . Snejana Farberov . PUBLISHED: . 18:15 EST, 14 November 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 18:18 EST, 14 November 2012 . A retired U.S. Marine whose injuries in Afghanistan have left him partially paralyzed filed a lawsuit claiming that he got a head injury and was soaked in his own urine after being mistreated by personnel at O'Hare International Airport. Sgt Joseph Smith, a 21-year Army veteran was attacked during his fourth tour of duty in Afghanistan in 2004, leaving him wheelchair-bound for life, according to his wife, Deborah. Smith, 42, has filed a $300,000 negligence suit against Air Serv Corporation and United Airlines, claiming that an employee of the former carelessly dumped him out of his wheelchair at O'Hare in November 2010 after failing to heed his warning that one of the wheels got stuck. Grievances: Retired Sgt Joseph Smith, a partially paralyzed former U.S. Marine, is suing an airline and airport workers after claiming that he was mistreated at O'Hare Airport in 2010 . Mishandled: Smith was traveling to a shooting completion with a Paralympic team when an Air Serv worker allegedly tossed him from his wheelchair after one of the wheels got stuck . On November 17, 2010, the veteran, who was part of a Paralympic shooting team called Semper Fi, was traveling from Colorado to North Carolina to attend a competition. Smith was trying to make a connecting flight when he claims an Air Serv worker tasked with helping disabled flyers tossed him out of his wheelchair when one of the front wheels became wedged between the plane and the jetway ramp, leaving Smith dizzy and bleeding from the head, according to the High Point Enterprise. Smith claims when he boarded the other flight, he was denied an aisle chair used to take handicapped travelers down tight airplanes aisles. Instead, he was forced to drag his 'limp body' to his seat in the seventh row unassisted, which he says caused his catheter bag to burst, soaking him with his own urine. The Paralympian said he got no help from the cabin crew and ended up sitting in his urine for the duration of the two-hour flight. High-flying drama: Smith said United Airlines workers refused to give him an aisle chair to take him to his seat, and he had to drag his body down the aisle, which caused his catheter bag to burst . Humiliating: The veteran said he received not assistance from United personnel was was left sitting in his own urine for the entire two-hour flight . ‘I had urine all over me, so I tried covering myself up,’ Smith recalled. ‘People were staring at me – it was humiliating.’ Smith said he arrived in Colorado Springs with a headache and spent the better part of two days in a hospital where he was diagnosed with a severe concussion. On his return flight, which also took Smith through O’Hare, the 42-year-old said executives from United, Air Serv and the airport attempted to get him to sign some document, but he refused. In the years since the incident, the companies in question offered to settle with Smith for $20,000, but he said it was not enough even to cover his hospital bill. Pressure: Smith said executives from O'Hare, Air Serv and United tried to get him to sign some document and offered a $20,000 settlement, but he refused . Legal action: Smith's lawsuit alleges negligence, negligent infliction of emotional distress and loss of consortium . United spokesperson Christen David said in an email to the Chicago Sun-Times, ‘Our preliminary review does not corroborate Mr Smith’s version of events.’ Smith said the lawsuit alleging negligence, negligent infliction of emotional distress and loss of consortium has to do with dignity, not payoff. ‘I’ve been in a war, and if (United and Air Serv) want a war, we can go to war,’ the 42-year-old veteran said. ‘Money is not what this is about. It’s about getting things changed for the disabled, because I don’t want this to ever happen to anybody else.’ | Retired Sgt Joseph Smith is suing Air Serv and United Airlines for the November 2010 incident .
Claims Air Serv worker tossed him from wheelchair after one of the wheels got stuck .
Accuses united staff of refusing to help him to his seat and causing his catheter bag to burst .
Smith was injured in Afghanistan in 2004 and left partially paralyzed . |
231,005 | b71a435811d07bf1b7558f2dd7816ebc461cdcdb | James McGee was unable to keep his New York fairy tale going at the US Open. The Irishman achieved his dream of competing in the main draw at a grand slam thanks to a tremendous run through qualifying at Flushing Meadows. McGee, ranked 194, has spent his whole career until now fighting to make a living on the lowest rungs of the professional game. Positive start: McGee, playing in his first ever Grand Slam, won the first set against Aleksandr Nedovyesov . Opportunity: McGee was in the main draw at Flushing Meadows after winning three qualifying matches . Big cheque: The Irishman, ranked 194, pocketed $35,000 at the US Open despite the first-round loss . A first-round clash against Kazakh Aleksandr Nedovyesov, also ranked outside the top 100, appeared to offer the opportunity for further heroics and McGee made a great start. The 27-year-old's family and friends had flown out from Ireland to watch him and he broke serve in the opening game before going on to take the first set. But Nedovyesov fought back to win the second and third sets and move a break ahead in the fourth. Eventual winner: Kazakh Aleksandr Nedovyesov, ranked 107, beat McGee in four sets on Monday . Best result: Nedovyesov had never qualified for the main draw at the US Open and is now into round two . McGee recovered that and forced a tie-break but it was his opponent who came out on top in a 4-6 6-2 6-1 7-6 (7/3) victory. Nevertheless, McGee leaves New York with his head held high and his wallet weighed down by a cheque for more than 35,000 US dollars. | The Irishman, ranked 194, qualified for the US Open for the first time .
Lost in four sets to Aleksandr Nedovyesov, ranked 107, from Kazakhstan .
Still takes home $35,000 after winning three qualifying matches . |
40,280 | 71b06d5bb44b36832da4862b19dd3fda826d2470 | A Syrian helicopter pilot who was shot down by the Turkish military was beheaded by rebels, it was claimed today. Horrific footage which purports to show a man's headless corpse dressed in military-style helicopter flight suit and dumped in a ditch has been circulating online since last night, just a few hours after the aircraft crashed. The film also zooms in on a bloody head lying a few yards from the corpse. WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT . Shocking footage apparently shows a Syrian helicopter pilot beheaded by rebels after he was shot down by Turkish forces . The film shows a bloody head lying a few yards from the corpse . The footage shows one a group of men surrounding the body search through the man's clothes . It has been impossible to establish . if the disturbing images do indeed show the chopper pilot or if it is rebel propaganda. According to website Weasel Zippers, . the pilot was beheaded by Syrian rebels after the helicopter was shot . down by Turkish warplanes. The video, which has been released on LiveLeak, shows one of the men searching through the pilot's pockets. It is believed that the man's head was probably removed after his death. A further two amateur videos have also . emerged which apparently show Syrian rebels shooting at the pilot as he parachutes from his stricken craft. It . is unclear which side of the border the pilot and the helicopter landed . on, but the videos of the shootings are said to have been shot in . Lattakia, in the Al-Akrad mountains, in Syria. It is believed that the man's head was probably removed after his death . The videos are the latest in a series of disturbing images to have emerged from the Syrian crisis which show the brutality from both sides. Last week, MailOnline reported on a . public execution that took place on August 31 in the town of Keferghan . in the north of the country. The whole barbaric episode is watched by a crowd of jeering men, many of them armed. Sitting on a low wall only a few feet from where the wretched captive died so violently is a line of young boys. They . were still there as the dead man’s head was dumped on his body. Another . child, even younger, was led by the hand past the corpse. The . picture forms part of a set taken by a photojournalist - whose identity . has not been revealed in order to protect him - who was given . unprecedented access to the gruesome proceedings. Amateur video footage, said to have been taken in Lattakia, in Syria, apparently shows the helicopter falling from the sky and exploding when it hits the ground . The helicopter can apparently be seen falling from the sky in a ball of flames after it was shot down . Among the other photos are an . executioner lining up his sword before delivering the final blow as his . victim kneels in the village square - and a victim's head being held . aloft by a jubilant fighter. Although . it is difficult to confirm the political affiliation of those involved, . an eyewitness told Time that the executioners belonged to ISIS - an . Al-Qaeda faction opposed to President Bashar Assad's regime. The . captives, meanwhile, are understood to belong to the fearsome Shabiha . ('ghosts') - thugs loyal to Assad who are said to roam the country . massacring women and children. Human Rights Watch yesterday, meanwhile, released details of a massacre, possibly one of the deadliest since the start of the conflict in Syria. The organisation claimed Syrian forces brutally slaughtered 248 people in the coastal towns of al-Bayda and Baniyas in May. The chilling accounts are detailed in the 68-page report, 'No One’s Left’: Summary Executions by Syrian Forces in al-Bayda and Baniyas' and are based on interviews with 15 al-Bayda residents and 5 from Baniyas. Syria's army acknowledged the helicopter had strayed into Turkish airspace for a short time while monitoring 'terrorists' moving across the border into Syria . And in May a video that appeared to . show a Syrian rebel cutting out and eating the heart of a dead . government soldier was posted online in an horrific propaganda stunt. Turkey has confirmed it shot down a Syrian helicopter yesterday after it crossed into Turkish airspace. The government has warned it had taken all necessary measures to defend itself against any further violations. Turkey . said it scrambled two F-16 jets along the border between its southern . Hatay province and Syria after warning the Mi-17 helicopter it was . approaching Turkish airspace shortly before 2.30pm, the military said in . a statement. Turkey has confirmed it shot down a Syrian helicopter yesterday after it crossed into Turkish airspace . Syria called the reaction 'hasty' and accused Turkey of trying to escalate tensions along the border. A . voice on the video of rebels shooting at the pilot as he parachutes . from the helicopter is heard saying: 'Allahu Akbar... Allahu Akbar... Ahfad ar-Rasoul in the cost, downing an aircraft, downing an aircraft... Allahu Akbar.' As people inspected the wreckage, a voice over the video can be heard heard saying: 'Here are Bashar al-Assad aircrafts.' News agency Reuters has said it cannot . independently verify the authenticity of the videos which were uploaded . on a social media website. 'Turkey will definitely not allow any . violation of its borders ... We will defend our borders and our people's . security to the end' - Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu . The video shows the helicopter falling from the sky in a ball of flames and exploding when it hits the ground. Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc said a warplane shot down the helicopter after it ventured up to a mile into Turkey near the border town of Yayladagi. 'It was repeatedly warned by our air defence elements,' he said. 'Turkey will definitely not allow any violation of its borders ... We will defend our borders and our people's security to the end,' Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu told reporters in Paris. 'No one will have the nerve to violate Turkey's borders in any way again,' he said after a meeting to discuss Syria with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, British Foreign Secretary William Hague and their French counterpart Laurent Fabius. Davutoglu said details of the incident would be provided to U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the U.N. Security Council and fellow members of the NATO military alliance. Syria's army acknowledged the helicopter had strayed into Turkish airspace for a short time while monitoring 'terrorists' moving across the border into Syria. The Syrian military said the helicopter strayed into Turkish airspace by accident and that the aircraft was on its way back when it was shot down . The Syrian military said it was an accident and that the aircraft was on its way back when it was shot down. In a statement carried by state news agency SANA, it accused Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan's government of trying to increase tensions between the two countries. 'The hasty response from the Turkish side, especially as the aircraft was on its way back and was not charged with any combat missions, is proof of the true intentions of Erdogan's government toward Syria to increase tensions and escalate the situation on the border between the two countries,' it said. Turkey, one of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's fiercest critics, has advocated military intervention in Syria' It shares a 560 mile border with Syria and is sheltering a quarter of the 2 million people who have fled the Syrian conflict. | Footage apparently shows helicopter pilot shot down by Turkish forces .
Body can be seen with head removed and surrounded by a group of men .
Videos also show 'rebels shooting at pilot' as he parachutes from craft .
Turkey confirmed yesterday it did shoot down Syrian helicopter . |
284,123 | fc1e032dffdcc665e93b5e3dc54eb20e1d91a44c | (CNN) -- "I don't think the euro should exist," said Saxo Bank co-CEO Lars Seier Christensen to CNN's Richard Quest, in terms that could hardly be less fractious to supporters of the 17-nation single currency bloc. "It's quite clear that what lacks here is fiscal union but it's also very clear that the populations of Europe are not supportive of that goal." The eurozone will also pull itself apart as competitiveness will continue "to develop in different directions," said the head of the online Danish investment bank. He added that the people of the eurozone -- in particular, Germany as the monetary zone's prime pillar -- will not make sacrifices for "the weaker part of the eurozone" -- Greece and other southern European countries. Christensen's controversial comments stand in stark contrast to what eurozone supporters have said -- advocating for austerity to keep the union together. Germany, Europe's largest economy, fears that a Greek exit from the eurozone could lead to a domino effect in which other massively-indebted countries -- Ireland, Portugal, Spain and Italy -- may pull out from the common currency, leading to the breakup of the eurozone. In December 2012, German Chancellor Angela Merkel won more support for bailout funds for Greece. In July, Mario Draghi, the president of the European Central Bank promised to do "whatever it takes to preserve the euro" which set off rallies for Greek, Spanish and Italian bonds. Still, Saxo Bank's Christensen believes the euro will disappear at some point in the future -- and despite hitting 13-month highs -- because he believes overall support does not exist. "I'm not saying it's a bad thing that support is not there," said Christensen, "because the ability to adjust your currency is an important equilibrium between different economies and different developments. When that's gone you're left with a completely different set of problems." The bank CEO declined to give a timeline but said it "depends how long the Germans hold out... how long the German population is willing to buy into supporting" fiscal union. "I can tell you the problem is going to get greater rather than smaller... I fear that the markets will take the thing apart eventually." | Saxo co-CEO: 'Euro should never have existed'
Germany fears Greek exit from eurozone would spark monetary union breakup .
Euro has risen 10% against U.S. dollar since July 2012 .
Saxo's Christensen: 'Euro demise depends on Germany' |
256,491 | d7fb6b25030707821e9f75e3e83b7232d58d204d | Peter Mandelson warns cutting tuition fees could lead to universities shunning British students in favour of those from abroad . Labour’s plan to reduce tuition fees could cause universities to shun home students in favour of those from abroad, Peter Mandelson has warned. The former cabinet minister said reducing the £9,000 fee cap for those who live in Britain may mean universities recruit more international students to plug the funding gap. He said such a move would ‘not be desirable’ if it came ‘at the expense’ of British students. He added: ‘While I strongly welcome foreign students to Britain, I would not want to see them receiving preference over British students because of the greater income they bring to universities.’ It comes after figures revealed British universities are already spending millions on agencies to recruit wealthy students from outside the EU. There is no limit to how much an institution can charge non-EU students, although there are limits in some courses. The average annual fee for an international student last year was £11,289 for classroom subjects and £13,425 for laboratory-based courses, but some institutions charge considerably more. Last year, Edinburgh University announced it planned to increase its international population to 50 per cent, although it denied this would put limits on home student numbers. In a survey released this month by Times Higher Education, academics complained they were having to lower the level of classes for people with poor English – ‘to the disadvantage of native speakers’. Labour leader Ed Miliband recently indicated he would pledge to cut fees for home students from their current level of £9,000 to £6,000, although a formal announcement is not due until next week. Lord Mandelson spoke about the issue as part of a wide-ranging speech to Vice Chancellors at Universities UK, which represents the sector. Speaking before the event, he said: ‘Anything that would boost the number of foreign students at the expense of British students would not be desirable and if you reduce fees for British students, you could not be surprised if universities turned to foreign students to make up the gap in funding.’ The former cabinet minister said reducing the £9,000 fee cap for those who live in Britain may mean universities recruit more international students to plug the funding gap. Stock photo . While he made it clear he did not want to go ‘head-to-head’ with his party, he said any reduction of the fee cap needed to be replaced by alternative funding sources. He also warned of the need to protect research-intensive universities, quality of education and widening participation of young people. In the year 2013-14, 13 per cent of the 2,299,355 total enrolments at British higher education institutions were by students from outside the EU. | Reducing £9,000 fee cap for those who live in Britain may mean universities recruit more international students to plug funding gap .
Former cabinet minister said such a move would ‘not be desirable’ if it came ‘at the expense’ of British students .
Comes after figures revealed British universities are already spending millions on agencies to recruit wealthy students from outside the EU . |
240,406 | c335101427f01d47a1284f64a9a9a8a3a2223768 | By . Martin Robinson . PUBLISHED: . 10:07 EST, 1 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 12:33 EST, 1 August 2013 . Death: Isobel Reilly died at a party where she found drugs in flat belonging to Brian Dodgeon and Angela Hadjipateras, who were 70 miles away . A coroner today blamed a lecturer and his partner for the death of a 15-year-old schoolgirl who took an ecstasy overdose at an unsupervised party at their home. Isobel Reilly collapsed in a shaking fit and foamed at the mouth after taking two high-purity ecstasy pills and powder she had found stashed in a bedroom closet. The teenager, already in trouble for cannabis use, begged friends not to call 999, and when paramedics were finally summoned it was too late to save her. Coroner Fiona Wilcox said lecturer Brian Dodgeon and his partner Angela Hadjipateras were guilty of serious failures for leaving Isobel and her friends alone at their house, in Kensington, west London, while they went to another party, 70 miles away in Hastings. She issued a damning narrative verdict after hearing Dodgeon, 62, a self-confessed ‘old hippy’, had kept ecstasy, MDMA, ketamine, and LSD unsecured in the house for years. Despite teenagers getting drunk and smoking cannabis at previous parties at his home, Dodgeon claimed he never considered someone may hunt out his drugs stash. ‘I find if the party had been supervised by Angela and Brian, as they had done for all previous parties, even if they had just come home around midnight or just after, Isobel would not have died’, said Dr Wilcox, at Westminster Coroners Court. ‘She would not have taken ecstasy tablets that ultimately took her life.’ The couple knew Isobel and a group of teenage friends would be partying at their home when they left for the night, on April 22, 2011. They only made a last minute phone call to a neighbour, asking her to be ‘on call’ for a small gathering at their house. But the coroner found serious failures by Dodgeon and Hadjipateras, but rejected a verdict of negligence or unlawful killing because she judged their failure to supervise the party or secure Dodgeon’s drugs had not been ‘gross’. Blame: Lecturer Brian Dodgeon and his partner Angela Hadjipateras were 70 miles away and the coroner said today: 'If the party had been supervised Isobel would not have died' Isobel and others discovered Dodgeon’s drugs after rummaging through his bedroom cupboards between 12.30am and 1am. The schoolgirl, who had been drinking vodka and Strongbow cider during the party, is thought to have swallowed two high-purity pills from the tin of narcotic. Around an hour later, her body temperature rocketed to deadly levels as she began sweating profusely, constantly moving around, and talking incessantly. Death: The Kensington home of lecturer Brian Dodgeon where he kept drugs but insisted they would be 'virtually impossible' for the teenagers to find . One friend, who had also taken ecstasy that night, said: ‘She was all over the place, people came and told me she was out of it. ‘She was crawling and rolling over the bed. At one point, I saw her banging at the window of the bedroom.’ Pals told the inquest Isobel, who was already receiving drug counselling at school for cannabis use, pleaded with them not to call an ambulance when she first began acting strangely. Dr Avalon Probst, a consultant at Charing Cross Hospital, said Isobel could have been saved if paramedics had been called immediately. ‘The fact we have a description of a person not right for about an hour, there is a window there’, she said. ‘Had that been taken, this life might have been saved.’ But it was not until after 4am that someone dialled 999, and when paramedics arrived, Isobel’s face was already stiff and her body temperature had reached 41 degrees Celsius. The Chiswick Community School pupil was rushed to hospital but died later that morning. Dodgeon, who tried to kill himself by jumping off a road bridge in east London a week after Isobel died, wiped away a tear as he offered an apology to the teenager’s parents. Turning to Lynne Jones and Patrick Reilly, sitting in the front row of the court, he said in evidence: ‘I am so sorry about what happened. ‘All I can say was at the time I didn’t feel as though it was irresponsible to have left the party unsupervised.’ He added: ‘In retrospect, I very much regret I had drugs at all and I made that decision.’ Hearing: An inquest at Westminster Coroner's Court in London heard that the schoolgirl would 'probably' have survived if she had received medical attention when she first started to feel unwell . Untimely death: Flowers and candles were left in tribute to the schoolgirl near her home after she died from taking up to three ecstasy tablets . But Dodgeon, a research fellow at the University of London’s Institute of Education, continued to insist it was not reckless to leave the party unsupervised. ‘At the time, it didn’t seem likely that anybody would come into our bedroom and start systematically looking through the drawers’, he said. ‘There was a 0.1 per cent chance of anyone finding those drugs, there is also a 0.1 per cent chance that someone might turn the cooker on and some kind of gas malfunction causes a fire and people die.’ Ms Hadjipateras told the inquest she believed it was a ‘manageable risk’ when they left the party of more than 20 teenagers alone for the night. They had asked a neighbour to be ‘on call’ during the party, and she claimed to not know exactly where Dodgeon kept his drug stash herself. But Dr Wilcox ruled it was ‘highly likely’ Ms Hadjipateras knew about the drugs in the house. ‘I find it difficult to believe didn’t know there were drugs in that house, they had been living together and sharing that bedroom for fifteen years’, she said. ‘I have consider this was an explanation put together after the event to try to avoid culpability failing on Ms Hadjipateras, but I can’t come to a firm conclusion on that.’ Ms Jones, Isobel’s mother, told the court she would never allowed Isobel to go to the party, in Kensington, had she known it was unsupervised. ‘We know young people put themselves in risky situations, particularly if there are no adults around and if they know no adults of coming back’, she said. ‘I think it is pretty obvious so many things could have gone wrong and I’m not even thinking about drugs, but young people bringing in alcohol, older kids finding out and breaking into the house, and accidents happening. ‘I do think we were naive, but we clearly thought at that age, children would not be left unsupervised.’ Mourning: Friends and family release balloons in memory of the schoolgirl whose temperature soared to 41.7C after taking the drugs . Dr Wilcox said rejected parts of Dodgeon and Hadjipateras’ evidence, accusing them of ‘post event justification’ for their actions and for being inconsistent. ‘They appeared to state they wanted to give the impression they might be coming back, but considered against the evidence, I make a finding of fact that there was a general understanding they would be away for the night’, she said. ‘The evidence of Brian Dodgeon and Angela Hadjipateras I do not accept, I find it was post event justification.’ She recorded a narrative verdict which concluded: ‘Leaving the stash unsecured and the party unsupervised were both serious failures ... and led to the death.’ In a statement released after the inquest into Isobel’s death, her parents said: ‘They knowingly left a party of 14 and 15-year-olds all night, with a substantial quantity of class A drugs in an unlocked cupboard. 'We thought Isobel was in a safe place, somewhere she had stayed before and we would not have let her go if we had known it was to be unsupervised. ‘What is so painful was for us to learn that, if a responsible adult had been there to call an ambulance early enough, Isobel’s life could have been saved.’ | Isobel Reilly attended party at home of Brian Dodgeon and Angela Hadjipateras .
The couple were at another party in Hastings - 70 miles from their home .
Isobel collapsed and died after taking two pills found hidden in bedroom .
Coroner said the pair were guilty of serious failures for not supervising .
'If the party had been supervised Isobel would not have died,' she said . |
133,029 | 3804373c8def6bcf977fc9f76ae4957bd724b4f7 | By . Associated Press . PUBLISHED: . 00:48 EST, 25 April 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 04:55 EST, 25 April 2013 . Striking teachers in Mexico's Guerrero state attacked the offices of four political parties and a building of the state's education department Wednesday after the legislature approved an education reform without meeting their demands. Dozens of teachers carrying sticks and stones smashed windows, spray-painted insults at President Enrique Pena Nieto on walls and destroyed computers and furniture. They set fire to the state headquarters of the ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party and another building. Scroll down for video . Protesting against President Pena Nieto's education reform project, a teacher burns a photograph of the Mexican leader outside a Secretary of Education office after they attacked the building, in Chilpancingo on Wednesday . Demonstrators attack the Democratic Revolution Party headquarters, during riots in Chilpancingo, Guerrero State, . The statue burns - the graffiti translates into 'Traitors sell country' No injuries were reported as the teachers, some masked, ran wild after a protest march in the state capital of Chilpancingo. Minervino Moran, a spokesman for the strikers, said the attacks were in response to the approval by Guerrero's legislators of legislation similar to a recently adopted federal education law that requires teachers to be evaluated and that seeks to remove control over hiring and firing from the teachers' union. 'We as leaders and as a movement endorse these actions because there is a lot of anger, a lot of outrage with the decision the (state) congress made,' said Moran, a spokesman for Guerrero state's Education Workers Union. The 20,000-member group went on strike in Guerrero state, where the resort city of Acapulco is located, shortly after Pena Nieto signed into law the sweeping education reform two months ago. Teachers break out windows during an attack on the Revolutionary Institutional Party, PRI, regional offices, causing significant damage . Thousands of teachers and activists participated in a riot against an education reform approved by the Mexican Government . Demonstrators attack the National Action Party's (PAN) headquarters with wooden sticks and metal poles, causing significant damage . Its members have since staged increasingly disruptive protests, including blocking the main highway connecting Mexico City to Acapulco. Guerrero Gov. Angel Aguirre said in a tweet that prosecutors had issued arrest warrants for Moran and another union leader because they were the 'masterminds of the acts of vandalism that took place today.' Television footage showed teachers trashing each of the buildings without the intervention of authorities. Aguirre told Radio Formula that police didn't try to stop the attacks because officers were busy guarding the government palace and legislature building. No injuries were reported as the teachers, some masked, ran wild after a protest march in the state capital of Chilpancingo . Demonstrators destroy a sculpture by pulling it off its mounting with metal poles . A group of teachers burn a picture of Mexico's President Enrique Pena Nieto as they attack the offices of the Institutional Revolutionary Party . The national education law was seen as Pena Nieto's first major legislative victory after taking office December 1. The constitutional amendment eliminates Mexico's decades-old practice of allowing the buying and selling of teaching jobs, and replaces it with a standardized national teaching test. That's heresy to a radical splinter union of elementary and high school teachers in Guerrero, one of the country's poorest and worst-educated states. The teachers claim the test is a plot to fire them all as a step toward privatizing education, although there is little evidence the government plans that. A protestor runs past office furniture set to fire by teachers in an attack of a Secretary of Education office . | Teachers on strike became upset and began rioting outside headquarters of Mexico's president .
No injuries reported, but windows smashed and buildings burned . |
246,628 | cb2882ed3728669799fea0cab38bc884cb9a936b | (CNN) -- A ninth woman is accusing San Diego Mayor Bob Filner of sexual harassment. Emily Gilbert told CNN Friday that she was hired to sing at a fundraising event in December. Afterward, she said, the mayor grabbed her, slid his hand down the small of her back and gave her "tush a pat." She said Filner had pulled her away and told his female assistant to give him and Gilbert a moment alone. He then asked her: "Oh, Marilyn, can I get your card?" she recalled to CNN. Gilbert bears a passing resemblance to Marilyn Monroe, but she hastened to add she was not performing as a Monroe impersonator. She said that he touched her, Filner told the singer, "I hope to see you again, Marilyn." Gilbert told CNN that her husband was upset but felt powerless because Filner was the mayor. CNN has made multiple efforts to contact Filner and his representatives on the latest allegations but has not gotten a response. The 70-year-old, dogged for weeks by sexual harassment allegations, served five terms in Congress before being elected mayor in 2012. Earlier this summer, when the allegations first began, Filner acknowledged "I need help," and added, "I'm clearly doing something wrong." "I am embarrassed to admit that I have failed to fully respect the women who work for me and with me, and that at times I have intimidated them. It's a good thing that behavior that would have been tolerated in the past is being called out in this generation for what it is: inappropriate and wrong," he said in a statement issued July 11. Read the full statement . But Filner has also said he believes he will be vindicated by "a full presentation of the facts" and he will not resign. In late July, Filner said he planned to enter "a behavior counseling clinic" for two weeks of intensive therapy starting August 5. In a statement given at City Hall, he apologized "to the women I have offended." "The behavior I have engaged in over many years is wrong. My failure to respect women and the intimidating conduct I engaged in at times is inexcusable," he said. Before Gilbert, Filner's former spokeswoman, Irene McCormack Jackson, and seven other women accused Filner of sexual harassment. Jackson has filed a sexual harassment suit against Filner. Read more: Mayor sued, called unfit for office . He asked the city to pay for his legal fees; the city council voted against that. Jackson said Filner subjected her and other women to "crude and disgusting" comments and inappropriate touching. She said she resigned as Filner's communications director in June after deciding the mayor would not change his behavior. None of the other women leveling claims of sexual harassment against Filner came forward until Jackson filed her suit in state court. Read more: Who are the women? One of the women is a nonprofit group founder who said she was lobbying Filner for her organization, which works with military and other families hurt by domestic violence. Morgan Rose met with Filner in 2009 at a Marie Callender's Restaurant & Bakery across the street from Filner's congressional office in Chula Vista, California, she told CNN. Filner allegedly looked her up and down, stared into her eyes and said, "Your eyes have bewitched me," Rose said. Filner allegedly then made a remark along the lines of, according to Rose's paraphrasing, "You'll have to excuse me for what's about to happen. It's your fault." Filner then moved to her side of the booth, sat beside her, pinned her to the wall, and put his arm around her, Rose alleged. Rose avoided the advances, and Filner was suddenly interrupted by his ringing cell phone, Rose said. Filner got up from the booth, gathered his materials and left the restaurant, Rose said. Rose spoke of the incident to her closest friends and didn't pursue the matter because she feared her nonprofit might somehow suffer, she told CNN. But when Rose said that when she heard of similar accusations against Filner in recent weeks, she called a victim's hotline at the sheriff's department and spoke with a captain. Another woman, political consultant Laura Fink, has accused the mayor of patting what she described as her "posterior" at a fundraising event in 2005. At the time, Fink was working as the deputy manager of Filner's congressional campaign. Fink told CNN that she thinks Filner should resign. Sharon Bernie-Cloward, president of the San Diego Port Tenants Association, claims that when Filner was running for mayor in 2012, he approached her at a political event, according to San Diego's public television station. "He touched me, actually groped me on my backside inappropriately," Bernie-Cloward told KPBS. "I was left there startled and fearful. In fact, I actually had someone walk me to my car that night." Patti Roscoe, a prominent businesswoman in San Diego's tourism and hospitality industry, told KPBS that on numerous occasions, Filner "put in me what I guess now is the famous headlock." "I felt fearful, even as well as I knew him, because it was an invasion into my space," Roscoe told the station. "And he would come in and try to kiss me on the lips and I'd have to squirm to get away. And just as recently as a few months ago this happened. I turned and he just slobbered down my chin. "And I was so violated and so offended. It's just such a terrible invasion." Veronica "Ronne" Froman, a retired Navy rear admiral and San Diego's former chief operating officer, told KPBS said that she and Filner, then a congressman, met a few years ago at his office after everyone had left. "He stopped me and he got very close to me. And he ran his finger up my cheek like this and he whispered to me, 'Do you have a man in your life?' " Froman said. "I jumped back. I was very, very startled. And I said, 'Yes, I have a man in my life.' "And he said, 'who?' And I said, 'Linden Blue.' He says, 'Oh, of the Blues Brothers?' And he says, 'Maybe we can get together sometime and have lunch and he can support me for mayor.' "I was really rattled. I got in the car with the two guys I was working with and I told them never to leave me alone in a room with Bob Filner again." Joyce Gattas, a dean at San Diego State University, told KPBS that she had several "interactions" with Filner "where he's held me too tight, a kiss on the cheek which is inappropriate, hands on the knee that last too long." The eighth woman to accuse the mayor was Lisa Curtin, who is director of government and military education at San Diego City College, according to KPBS. She said that he grabbed her hand, fingered her wedding ring and asked if it was real. She also said he tried to kiss her; she moved her head and she felt his tongue on her cheek. | Emily Gilbert tells CNN that the mayor gave her "tush a pat" at a fundraising event .
Singer who resembles Marilyn Monroe says mayor asked: "Marilyn, can I get your card?"
Filner has refused to resign; he says he will enter a behavior counseling clinic . |
211,905 | 9e68ef95af6f7c933672563a3138048a1fd00368 | (CNN) -- You may remember the episode of "Seinfeld" in which George Costanza struggles to find a way to break up with the woman he's dating without hurting her feelings. "It's not you," he tells her. "It's me." After decades of saying gay people were depraved and deviant, a bunch of dangerous predators out to recruit children and destroy families, in the last few years those opposed to equal rights for gay people have retreated to a very different message. It's not you, they tell gay Americans. It's us. It's true that you can still find some people on the fringe who will rail against homosexuality as an inherent evil. But watch the mainstream debate, from newspapers to television to the Supreme Court, and what you see are conservatives arguing that the problem isn't gay people themselves, it's how straight people are affected by them. Five things we learned from the arguments . Opponents of gay marriage want everyone to know that they aren't motivated by bigotry, only by a concern for straight people with tender feelings and fragile marriages. We saw this at the Supreme Court on Wednesday, when Chief Justice John Roberts tried to argue that the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act wasn't actually motivated by any disapproval of gay people. He seemed incredulous at the very idea when it was brought up by the attorneys seeking to overturn DOMA. "So that was the view of the 84 senators who voted in favor of it and the president who signed it?" he asked repeatedly. "They were motivated by animus?" Opinion: Chief justice reveals he's fed up with Obama . The chief justice has a short memory. Back in 1996, those pushing for DOMA were quite forthright about what they thought about gay people. "I come from a district in Oklahoma who has very profound beliefs that homosexuality is wrong," said Tom Coburn, now a U.S. Senator and then a member of the House. "What they believe is, is that homosexuality is immoral, that it is based on perversion, that it is based on lust... We hear about diversity, but we do not hear about perversity." His Oklahoma colleague Steve Largent said, "No culture that has ever embraced homosexuality has survived." During oral arguments in the DOMA case, Justice Elena Kagan read from a 1996 House Judiciary Committee report on the bill, which said in part, "Civil laws that permit only heterosexual marriage reflect and honor a collective moral judgment about human sexuality. This judgment entails both moral disapproval of homosexuality, and a moral conviction that heterosexuality better comports with traditional (especially Judeo-Christian) morality." That kind of rhetoric was common in 1996, but you don't hear it coming from members of Congress much anymore. Why shouldn't gay people be allowed to serve openly in the military? The answer, they say, isn't because gay soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines won't do their jobs well. It's because the straight ones will feel uncomfortable if they have to be in close quarters with gay comrades. It's not about gay service members' performance, it's about the feelings of straight service members (and if you're wondering why we haven't heard too much about the end of "don't ask, don't tell," it's because it turned out that straight military personnel could handle it just fine). Opinion: Bigotry drags marriage back to Supreme Court . The marriage debate has followed the same course. Opponents of gay rights used to argue that gay people were promiscuous and sexually debauched. But when it turned out that many of them just want to join in stable, permanent family commitments, that argument no longer made much sense. So now opponents say the problem isn't the gay marriages themselves, it's the effect those marriages will have on straight marriages. What, in particular, will that effect be? Opponents of marriage equality are having difficulty saying, but it seems they believe that if marriage is "devalued" by being open to gay couples, straight people will start ignoring their children, cheating on one another and getting divorced. Opinion: Is 2013 the 'Year of the Gay'? Here again, they have retreated to ground that is increasingly difficult to defend. They now argue that the only real purpose of marriage is to rear children biologically related to both parents, a rather pinched definition. When Justice Kagan asked during oral arguments on Proposition 8 whether, if that was the case, it would be constitutional for a state to ban anyone over 55 from being married, the attorney defending the initiative said no, because marriages between older heterosexuals still foster "the marital norm, which imposes the obligations of fidelity and monogamy," which "make it less likely that either party to that marriage will engage in irresponsible procreative conduct outside of that marriage." In other words, existing marriage laws discourage people from cheating on their spouses, but if you let gay people get married, the whole country will turn into an episode of "Desperate Housewives," with husbands and wives jumping in and out of their neighbors' beds willy-nilly. Opinion: How gay rights went mainstream . If that sounds ridiculous to you, you're absolutely right. But that's where "It's not you, it's me" eventually leads. If you want to argue that gay rights have to be restricted because of how heterosexuals will react, then you end up saying not only that straight people are frightened of gays and ready to abandon their spouses at the slightest provocation, but that those personal feelings and weaknesses deserve legal protection. At this point, that's about all opponents of gay rights have left. They don't want to sound like bigots, so they've almost stopped talking about gay people entirely. It's not you, they say, it's us. Well, they're right about that. Just maybe not in the way they think. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Paul Waldman. | Paul Waldman: Opponents of marriage equality say they aren't motivated by bigotry .
Waldman: They argue that gay marriage may adversely affect straight marriage .
He says in the military, for example, the end of "Don't Ask Don't Tell" didn't cause problems .
Waldman: The "It's not you, it's me" argument is ridiculous and all opponents have left . |
132,059 | 36c9769716c51315709dba5bb16e2a4317690480 | (CNN) -- Pirates hijacked a British-owned bulk carrier Saturday in the Indian Ocean, but NATO forces stopped an attack on another vessel in the Gulf of Aden hours earlier, NATO maritime authorities said. 11 pirates are arrested by Yemeni security forces in an operation last month. The UK cargo ship, the MV Ariana, was carrying 35,000 tons of soya about 250 nautical miles (287 miles) northwest of the Seychelles when it was seized around dawn. The crew members are Ukrainians and they are not believed to harmed, NATO said. It is unclear how many crew members were aboard the vessel and how it came to be attacked. NATO said it was unaware of ransom demands or any threats against those aboard. NATO said a European Union Protection Aircraft has been deployed to monitor and track the MV Ariana, which is making its way toward Somalia -- the epicenter of the pirate industry. The Seychelles is a republic consisting of a group of islands off East Africa. On Friday evening, a NATO operation conducted by a Portuguese warship disrupted a pirate attack on a Bahamas oil tanker in the Gulf of Aden. The tanker, the MV Kition, broadcast an emergency alert when a pirate-filled skiff approached. NRP Corte-Real, the closest NATO ship, and its helicopter responded and intercepted the pirates. Portuguese Navy special forces boarded a pirate mother-ship. They found and destroyed four AK-47s, a rocket-propelled grenade and four explosives. They seized 19 suspected Somali pirates but released them after consulting with Portuguese national authorities. Piracy has been soaring off the coast of eastern Africa -- particularly Somalia, which has not had an effective government since 1991. Somali pirates have defied foreign navies patrolling the waters and have collected large ransoms from shipping companies. Ransoms started out in the tens of thousands of dollars and have since climbed into the millions. Journalist Ashleigh Nghiem contributed to this report. | Pirates hijack British-owned bulk carrier in Indian Ocean .
NATO forces stop attack on another vessel in Gulf of Aden hours earlier .
Piracy is a major problem in the waters off Somalia .
Somalia has not had a stable government in place since 1991 . |
93,234 | 03ed7fea94b35406c454c4f71afe6cb5908af695 | Accused: Julia Bol, 28, was arrested for stabbing her friend in the cheek with a stiletto heel . A 28-year-old woman has been arrested for stabbing a woman in the cheek with a stiletto heel during an argument over a man they had both dated. Julia Bol allegedly punctured 41-year-old Rebecca Boss' left cheek as they stood on a Nebraska sidewalk about 3am yesterday following a baby shower. The pair were arguing before Bol reportedly grabbed one of Boss’ shoes, which she was holding in her hands, and 'stabbed her in the face with it'. According to the police report, published by the Smoking Gun, Bol hit Boss with such force, the six-inch heel of the shoe 'had to be pulled out of her face.' Bol then allegedly pushed Boss to the ground at the 1300 block of L Street, Lincoln, before choking and punching her. Boss was taken to Bryan West Medical Center in Lincoln for neck bruising and a puncture wound, but was quickly released, according to The Inquisitr. Brawl: Julia Bol, pictured, allegedly attacked Rebecca Boss over a disagreement about a man they'd both dated . Bol reportedly received treatment for a minor injury to her arm, and was arrested on suspicion of assault and strangulation. The police report claims the vicious brawl stemmed from Bol’s 'relationship with the father of the victim’s [Boss'] child'. However KLIN.com . reports police officer Katie Flood said the pair were arguing over a . man they had both dated, and alcohol may have been a factor. According to her Facebook page, Bol's hometown is Lincoln, Nebraska, but she currently lives in Woodland, California. Julia Bol has been accused of stabbing a woman in the cheek with a stiletto heel on the sidewalk at the 1300 block of L Street, Lincoln, Nebraska (pictured) | Julia Bol, 28, allegedly stabbed Rebecca Boss, 41, in the cheek with a stiletto heel .
The pair were reportedly arguing about Bol's relationship with the father of Boss' children .
The women had just attended a baby shower . |
119,302 | 261bbab4143d16a21f8a71c3c8a2287c5b7b77f0 | AMSTETTEN, Austria (CNN) -- Three children freed from a cellar in which their mother had been imprisoned and raped by her own father for 24 years had never seen daylight, police in Austria have confirmed. A hidden, narrow bedroom found in the cellar of the house where Josef Fritzl held his daughter captive. Police spokesman Franz Polzer told CNN that 73-year-old Josef Fritzl admitted holding his daughter, Elisabeth Fritzl, 42, hostage in the windowless cell and fathering seven children by her. "The mother had memories [of the outside world] and got used to the situation," Polzer told a press conference Monday afternoon. "The others knew nothing else." The main question reverberating from the small Austrian town: How could a man keep his daughter locked in his basement for 24 years, where she gave birth to seven of his children while her mother and three of those children lived upstairs without an inkling of the horrors in the cellar? Fritzl explained Elisabeth's disappearance by saying she had run away from home, a story backed up by letters he forced Elisabeth to write, including one that begged her parents not to look for her. Other letters made it seem the missing daughter had left the three children on the parents' doorstep -- when in fact they had been born in captivity in the family's basement. Elisabeth told police that she and her three children Kerstin, 19; Stefan, 18; and Felix, 5, did not see the light of day during their entire time in captivity underneath the building in Amstetten, a rural town about 150 km (93 miles) west of Vienna. Elisabeth is described as "very disturbed" and having trouble talking to police about her ordeal, reports CNN correspondent Fred Pleitgen. She went missing in 1984, when she was 18 years old, police have said. More details also emerged at the news conference about the basement dungeon in which the daughter and her children were kept -- and how her father managed to keep them captive for more than two decades. See inside the cellar prison » . The authorities have revealed that the prison, constructed in the basement of the 1960s building, ran underneath both the building itself and the garden outside. The entrance was via a small door, hidden behind cupboards in the basement, controlled by an electronic keyless-entry system. Polzer said that the prison was hard to find, even if someone was looking for it, and had been soundproofed. "Even though they shouted and called they were not in a position to let anyone hear them," Polzer told the press conference. Polzer said that Fritzl made clear to his wife and other children that the area was out of bounds and they were not to go into the basement. He bought food and took it to his captives in the evening. Watch a report on details of the case » . Detectives made the grim discovery about the cellar earlier this month after Kerstin was hospitalized in Amstetten after falling unconscious and taken to a hospital in Amstetten by her grandfather with a SOS note from her mother hidden on her. A DNA test was later carried out which revealed her grandfather, Josef Fritzl, was also her father, according to ORF, Austria's state-run news agency. That sparked a police investigation, which revealed that Fritzl fathered at least six children with his daughter, forcing her and three of the surviving children to live in the cellar of his house, according to ORF's Peter Schmitzberger. Watch police describe the captives' jail » . On Sunday, police searched the hidden rooms where Fritzl admitted he kept his daughter and their children, including sleeping quarters, a kitchen and a bathroom, which Fritzl told police he built, Polzer said. Amstetten police say they were put on Fritzl's trail following an anonymous tip off. They apprehended the pair on Saturday near the hospital and once police assured the daughter that she would never have contact with her father again, "she was able to tell the whole story," Schmitzberger said. Elisabeth said her father began sexually abusing her at age 11. On August 8, 1984 -- weeks before she was reported missing -- her father enticed her into the basement, where he drugged her, put her in handcuffs and locked her in a room, she told police. For the next 24 years, she was constantly raped by her father, resulting in the six surviving children, she said, according to the police statement. She also told police she gave birth to twins in 1996, but one of the babies died a few days later as a result of neglect, and Fritzl removed the infant's body and burned it in an oven. She told police that only her father supplied her and her children with food and clothing, and that she did not think his wife knew anything about their situation . Fritzl lived upstairs with his wife, Rosemarie, who police said had no idea about her husband's other family living in the cellar. The couple adopted three of the children that Fritzl had with his daughter, according to police. He told his wife that his missing daughter had dropped the unwanted children off at the house because she could not take care of them, police said. When Kerstin fell ill, Fritzl apparently told his wife and the hospital that his "missing" daughter had dropped off the sick girl on his doorstep. In an effort to find out about Kerstin's condition, the hospital and police asked the media to put out a bulletin requesting any information about the girl or her missing mother, attorney general Gerhard Sedlacek told NTV. Sometime later, Fritzl brought Elisabeth out of the cellar, telling his wife that she had returned home with her two children after a 24-year absence, police said. He took Elisabeth to the hospital to talk with doctors about Kerstin's condition, and at that point, authorities became aware of her situation, Sedlacek said. E-mail to a friend . CNN's Fred Pleitgen, Ben Brumfield and Nadine Schmidt contributed to this report . Copyright 2008 CNN. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Associated Press contributed to this report. | Father says he held daughter prisoner for nearly 24 years, fathered 7 children NEW: Police say Josef Fritzl forced her to write letter saying she had run away .
The daughter, now 42, has been missing since 1984, when she was 18 Three children fathered by Fritzl imprisoned with daughter had never seen daylight . |
285,648 | fe2587b899e8848413a322958d92e0019d9e14f2 | Bulgarians and Romanians will flock to Britain in far greater numbers than forecast as our economy races ahead of the rest of Europe, a secret report predicts. After immigration controls are lifted this week, Britons could find their jobs are squeezed in some areas – while community tensions could rise as the new wave of migrants fight for work with other Eastern Europeans who have been settled in Britain for a decade, it suggests. The Home Office-funded review – obtained by The Mail on Sunday – also suggests that the UK could lose out financially if low-paid Bulgarians and Romanians drive out Poles on higher wages, who pay more tax. From Wednesday, Bulgarians and Romanians, known as A2 migrants, will have the same rights as other EU citizens to live and work throughout Europe, but Britain is likely to be seen as more attractive than other countries struggling to make an economic comeback. The authoritative report by University of Reading academics was commissioned ahead of the change by a group of 74 councils in the South East of England, working with the UK Border Agency, police and health services, but has not been officially publicised. Obtained under a Freedom of Information request, the 40-page report reveals that migration overall was likely to be beneficial to the UK but warns that: . Already overcrowded schools will struggle to find places for the children of the new arrivals. Overstretched hospitals risk coming under fresh strain, and the housing crisis could get worse. The cost to taxpayers of state handouts, such as Child Benefit, could go up. Town halls may fail to collect enough council tax from new immigrants to pay for the extra services because they often crowd into one home and have ‘makeshift accommodation arrangements’. The Government has refused to say how many Romanians and Bulgarians it expects to come. The new report also gives no figures but suggests the recent growth in jobs in Britain, and lengthening dole queues elsewhere in Europe, will encourage more to come here than might be anticipated on previous trends. The study drawn up for the South East Strategic Partnership for Migration says that immigration restrictions ‘are ending when employment across the EU is changing,’ which could have an impact on migration patterns. Bulgarians and Romanians could compete for the jobs of previous immigrants such as Poles . Significantly, it adds: ‘Against this . background it is feasible the UK might receive a larger share of A2 . migrants than in the recent past.’ It . says a crucial issue is whether Bulgarians and Romanians think . Britain’s economic revival is here to stay – if so, it will have ‘a . greater impact on migration patterns’. Our financial turnaround may well be long term. Last week, one forecast predicted the UK economy will outstrip France by 2018 and Germany 12 years later. The authors of the £5,000 Reading university report, Christian Nygaard and Ellie Francis-Brophy, say there is little evidence Eastern European migrants take jobs from British workers overall, though this will ‘vary across localities’. But since 2004, when Poland and seven other East European countries – the so-called A8 – won full rights within the EU, ‘the employment rate of UK-born 16 to 64-year-old residents in the South East has fallen somewhat whereas that of not UK-born other white residents has increased somewhat.’ Worryingly, the report also raises the prospect of tensions between Bulgarians and Romanians on one side and the first wave of Eastern European immigrants on the other. It speculates that lower skilled Romanians and Bulgarians could undercut existing Polish migrants – with damaging consequences for community relations, and potentially the economy, especially if newly unemployed Poles sign on. Igor Kaminski, who has a Polish building firm in London, said: ‘There’s a lot of fear the cheaper end of the market will collapse under pressure from Bulgarians and Romanian workers who, for a short time, will accept any prices.’ THE VIEW FROM HERE: 'I CAME FROM ROMANIA TO WORK, BUT UNSKILLED MIGRANTS ARE A WORRY' By Simon Walters . Talented student Marius Petrea, who came to Britain last year to pursue his dream of becoming an airline pilot, shares worries that some of his fellow countrymen about to arrive here may not improve his country’s image. Mr Petrea, 27, says he believes many Romanians will take advantage of the relaxation in immigration rules, including some with few skills or qualifications. Mr Petrea, who has a Masters degree in English, was allowed to settle here before the rule change under exemptions for highly skilled immigrants. He is the model of a bright, hard-working young person who left his native country to seek a better life abroad. ‘I am very proud of my country and came here because I am ambitious,’ said Mr Petrea, who works as a minicab driver, regularly working seven days a week. ‘Quite a lot of Romanians will come here because there are jobs in Britain. I am a little worried that some may live up to Romania’s image as having a low-skilled workforce. ‘That would be wrong because most young people in Romania are educated, hard-working, have strong characters and could have a positive effect in Britain. Many want to come here to earn enough money to educate their own children.’ No one could call Mr Petrea low-skilled. His fluent English reflects the Masters degree he obtained in Romania. He paid for private tuition in maths and physics to improve his chances of achieving his dream of becoming a pilot and is determined to raise the six figure sum he needs to train to get his wings. ‘I will not give up until I have done it,’ he says. THE VIEW FROM THERE: ON THEIR WAY: 34 CRAM INTO A NINE-SEATER BUS . By Martin Delgado . Bulgarians and Romanians are planning to share car journeys or cram vehicles to come to Britain. The rush to migrate was illustrated just before Christmas when a minibus designed for nine people was stopped in the Bavarian city of Passau. It contained 34 Romanians who had left Bucharest en route for an unspecified western country. The vehicle was impounded. Forums on Romanian websites are carrying inquiries from people wanting to share cars or find out the price of petrol for a trip across Europe. It is feared that when they get to the UK, they could elbow British graduates out of the job market. Bulgaria and Romania have a large number of highly qualified IT specialists, entrepreneurs, aspiring lawyers and accountants and many of them speak good English and other languages. Barbara Page-Roberts, a British businesswoman who has lived and worked in Bulgaria since 1985, said: ‘I’ve met young Bulgarians who speak four or five languages. It gives them a flexibility and adaptability that most British job seekers lack.’ Gabriela Milanove, 24, wants a job in digital marketing or web development, but is in no hurry to rush to the UK. With a degree from a Bulgarian University and another from Cardiff Metropolitan University, she said she would like to return to the UK, but not until the furore over so-called ‘benefits tourism’ has died down. She said: ‘Britain doesn’t really want us at the moment. People there think we will be taking their jobs. But I would go if I had a firm offer or a contract.’ Another would-be migrant, Dobrin Dobrev, 36, who speaks English, Russian and some German and French, plans to set up a telecoms consultancy in Britain. He said: ‘I wouldn’t say I am better than a British person but I have travelled to many countries and I am very familiar with Eastern Europe, which has an expanding telecoms market.’ Residents of Maidstone in Kent, identified as having one of the highest concentrations of Romanian and Bulgarian immigrants in the South East, said they feared already oversubscribed schools and hospitals will fail to cope with more demand. Sharon McNeil, 53, said: ‘There’s no room at the schools or extra places. The services are stretched. At my doctor’s surgery you can’t get an appointment for at least two weeks.’ The Reading University report says the impact of migration on public services will be limited ‘in the short run’ because most new arrivals will be young people looking for work, though ‘existing pressure points are likely to be stretched further’. But there will be an impact on schools as one in three Bulgarian and Romanian immigrants are expected to have school-age children – and one in four will have babies – within four years of arriving. Migration Watch’s Sir Andrew Green said: ‘The clear conclusion of this report is that we can expect further migration from Romania and Bulgaria next year. However, they duck the key question of numbers.’ South East Strategic Partnership for Migration manager Roy Millard said the report was designed to assist councils with their planning rather than making firm predictions. He said there were no suggestions that there might be violence but ‘there can be resentments within communities when there is competition for resources’. Meanwhile, councils outside of the South-East have expressed concerns in internal documents, obtained by The Mail on Sunday. Leeds council said increased pressures on housing could lead to growing homelessness, and that both Bulgaria and Romania had high levels of diseases such as tuberculosis, mumps, measles and rubella. Manchester City Council highlighted concerns over its Roma community, saying there were high rates of truancy and teenage pregnancy. Residents also complained that Roma households ‘appeared to enjoy a comfortable lifestyle without appearing to work’. Despite the fears, virtually no councils have drawn up plans to deal with the expected influx of Romanians and Bulgarians. One exception was Kent, which estimated that the new arrivals could cost it £3 million in extra services, including 390 extra primary school places, though that would be outweighed by the benefit to the economy. David Cameron has announced controversial plans for curbs on benefits and a review of EU freedom of movement laws to end ‘vast migrations’ from poorer European countries. | Bulgarians and Romanians will have the same rights as other EU citizens to live and work throughout Europe, but Britain is likely to be seen as more attractive than other countries struggling to make an economic comeback .
The Home Office-funded review – obtained by The Mail on Sunday – also suggests that the UK could lose out financially if low-paid Bulgarians and Romanians drive out Poles on higher wages, who pay more tax .
Worryingly, the report also raises the prospect of tensions between Bulgarians and Romanians on one side and the first wave of Eastern European immigrants on the other .
Scroll down to read the full report .
In some regions, employment for British-born citizens has declined while jobs for ‘not UK-born other white residents’ [mainly Eastern Europeans] have increased – suggesting this gap could get worse.
Already overcrowded schools will struggle to find places for the children of the new arrivals.
Overstretched hospitals risk coming under fresh strain, and the housing crisis could get worse.
The cost to taxpayers of state handouts, such as Child Benefit, could go up.
Town halls may fail to collect enough council tax from new immigrants to pay for the extra services because they often crowd into one home and have ‘makeshift accommodation arrangements’.
Bulgarians and Romanians could compete for the jobs of previous immigrants such as Poles, ‘negatively effecting social cohesion’. |
194,195 | 875f964ce1cf3163a0a1527af76a0ac86993eeca | (CNN) -- Corrections officers looking inside Ariel Castro's cell found him with a sheet tied around his neck, his knees bent, his shorts around his ankles, 27 minutes after their last look. They also found that the convicted kidnapper had apparently done more than kill himself that day, according to a report on Castro's death from the Ohio State Highway Patrol. He wrote a note -- dated that same day, September 3 -- invoking scripture and saying that those who confessed with their heart "will be saved." "God loves you," Castro wrote in all capital letters, "for all are sinners, we all fall short of the glory of God. Christ is my saviour and yours!!" Did this constitute a suicide note? That's subject to interpretation; the only person who would know it, Castro, isn't alive to answer. But the report released Wednesday indicates that he did indeed kill himself. In the process, it also refuted a theory he died accidentally while engaged in auto-erotic asphyxiation, with state patrol spokeswoman Lt. Anne Ralston saying no evidence was found to support this claim. One fact that some said pointed to this possibility was the fact that Castro was found with his pants pulled to his ankles and without underwear in his cell at the Correctional Reception Center in Orient, Ohio. But, based partly on conversations with several inmates, the report found that Castro "frequently struggled to hold his pants up" after losing weight in prison. Moreover, an official indicated that Castro "frequently did not wear underwear," so the fact he didn't have any on at the time of his death wasn't surprising. Beyond that, the report also provides fresh detail into the final day of Castro, who just five months earlier was holding three women -- as well as one of their young daughters, whom he'd fathered while in captivity -- in his Cleveland home. The document details nine times, between 2:14 p.m. and when his hanging body was found at 9:18 p.m., that corrections officers had looked into his cell or went near or past it. He got a tray of food at 5:29 p.m., for instance, and a "supervisor, an officer and a nurse (stood) in front of" Castro's cell one hour and 10 minutes later, according to surveillance video. The next time anyone went by was 8:51 p.m., when the report indicated "an officer looked into Inmate Castro's cell." "During the entirety of the video, no one is observed entering or exiting inmate Castro's cell prior to the emergency call by the officers," the report notes. It added that "possible inaccurate and/or questionable entries" on the log book detailing what inmates were visited, and when, were found, but "no discrepancies were directly related to the death of Inmate Castro." This comes after a report released in October found that two prison guards responsible for checking on Castro "did not timely perform" their required rounds. Inside, they found the handwritten letter quoting Romans 8:39, a small Bible and another note that had "love" -- inscribed in a heart -- "my kids and grandkids." Also appearing all around that paper were the names of family members, interspersed with symbols such as hearts, flowers and musical notes. At the time of his death, Castro had been sentenced to life plus more than 1,000 years for kidnapping and repeatedly raping three young women: Michelle Knight, Georgina DeJesus and Amanda Berry. The former school bus driver lured the women -- some of whom he knew through his own children -- at different times into his home, where he variably tied them up, sexually assaulted them and prevented from having any contact with the outside world. With the help of people nearby, Berry (then with her young daughter) escaped May 6 and called 911. The other two women, still inside the Seymour Avenue home, were rescued by authorities a short time later. Diaries kept by Ariel Castro's captives paint picture of torment, trauma . | State report: Ariel Castro committed suicide, didn't die of auto-erotic asphyxiation .
A corrections officer saw Castro 27 minutes before the inmate was found hanging .
A note in Castro's cell says "all are sinners, we all fall short on the glory of God"
Another handwritten note says "love my kids and grandkids" |
36,988 | 68dd57211ef3e704e8c36f8ce94fa334e423d6f8 | By . Sarah Michael . Photographs allegedly show Bali Nine drug trafficker Scott Rush using drugs in prison, following his recent claims he is clean. The pictures allegedly show Rush holding and inhaling from drug paraphernalia and were taken in January, the Herald Sun reported. An unnamed source told the newspaper the 28-year-old was smoking crack cocaine, and added he would often take drugs during late-night parties. Scroll down for video . Photographs allegedly show Bali Nine drug trafficker Scott Rush using drugs in prison . The pictures allegedly show Rush holding and inhaling from drug paraphernalia and were taken in January . 'He has been telling people he has been clean of drugs for ages and that just isn't true,' they said. In June, Rush proposed to his successful London banker girlfriend who said she would only marry him if he turns his life around and is not doing any drugs. During a prison visit Rush dropped to one knee and asked 38-year-old mother-of-two Nikki Butler to marry him, more than nine years after they met for just a few hours before he was stopped with 1.3kg of heroin strapped to his body. Ms Butler had lost touch with the 28-year-old drug smuggler during his years of incarceration, but reunited with him in April after she recognised an image of him on British TV which referenced the Bali Nine. An unnamed source told the Herald Sun the 28-year-old was smoking crack cocaine, and added he would often take drugs during late-night parties . Earlier this year he became the second of the Bali nine drug couriers to be moved out of Kerobokan Prison, moving to Karangasem in Bali's far east. 'Rush was moved in February this year because he was getting beaten up and getting some serious threats over a drug debt of about $5000,' the source told the Herald Sun. Kerobokan prison is awash with drugs, particularly crystal methamphetamine and heroin, with the trade controlled by local gangs. At just 19 years of age Rush was committed to stand trial and sentenced to life in prison after his arrest at a Denpasar airport with 1.8 kg of heroin concealed on his body. After an appeal he was given the death penalty - which was later overturned back to a life in 2011. The couple hope that sentence will be reduced to between 15 and 20 years. In June, Rush proposed to his successful London banker girlfriend who said she would only marry him if he turns his life around and is not doing any drugs . Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | Photographs allegedly show Scott Rush holding drug paraphernalia .
An unnamed source said the 28-year-old was smoking crack cocaine .
In June, Rush proposed to his successful London banker girlfriend who said she would only marry him if he is not doing any drugs . |
193,720 | 86c4ce554e937cc02e91adaf9339ceb33c9837fc | Paul Gascoigne has been admitted to hospital following an apparent drinking binge. The England legend, who made 57 appearances for his country, was found slumped outside his penthouse apartment in Poole, Dorset, clutching a bottle of gin. He is reportedly in the process of being evicted from the £3million rented penthouse, because neighbours had recently complained about noise levels. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Harry Redknapp: Gazza has got a job at QPR anytime he wants . Frail: Paul Gascoigne, who made over 50 appearances for England, was escorted from his home in Dorset . Frail: The former England midfielder looked gaunt and almost unrecognisable from his footballing glory days . Helping hand: The 47-year-old was taken away by emergency services from his home in Dorset . Legend: Gascoigne, waving to a crowd in 2011, is still adored by football fans . According to the Daily Mirror, Gascoigne was taken away from the home to Poole Hospital after paramedics and police were called earlier on Thursday. A spokeswoman for South West Ambulance Service confirmed paramedics were called to attend to a patient in the Sandbanks area on Wednesday afternoon. A friend told the Daily Mirror: ‘It is very sad. But the reality is Paul has been drinking for the past few weeks and once that happens things will only end one way. ‘Today things came to a head. He has had a lot on his plate as he is in the process of trying to find somewhere to live. ‘His landlord had given him 10 days to get out of the flat and it was weighing on his mind. Obviously things became too much for him in the past couple of days and he has turned back to the bottle.’ He was recently seen in public at a WH Smith store, where fans said he appeared 'unsteady on his feet'. A spokesman for Gascoigne declined to comment on the incident outside his home. In a TV documentary shown last September, the star described the pain of fearing he might start drinking again, despite knowing it could kill him. The ITV show Being Paul Gascoigne revealed he was addicted to sweets and spent £1,000 a year on anti-wrinkle jabs to counteract the ravages of drinking. The . star of the 1990 World Cup in Italy, whose teams included Newcastle . United, Tottenham, Lazio, Rangers, Everton and Middlesbrough, spoke . about overhearing doctors say he might die when he was being treated in . the US. 47-year-old Gascoigne was pictured holding a bottle of gin and a packet of cigarettes outside his home . Career: Gascoigne played for Newcastle United, Tottenham, Lazio, Rangers, Everton and Middlesbrough . News: Just hours before his latest health scare, it emerged that Gascoigne was to make a return to football . Friends from sport and showbusiness clubbed together last year to pay for his treatment. He said: 'I just remember one bit after the third day of being in hospital when he (the doctor) said, "I don't think this guy is going to make it" and I sort of put my head up a little bit and I was like, tubes in my arms and an oxygen tank injecting round my heart and lungs and that. 'I just come forward and I went, "I don't want to die, I need to water the plants" and that was it and then I woke up two weeks later.' He added: . 'With me now, if I did have a drink and relapse, it's like becoming . tipsy and merry is OK for a couple of days but like the next mouthful . I'm so down, I'm so depressed, I cry. I do all that because I know . inside I'm hurting myself again. I know where I'm heading - a wooden . box. Or I'm back in treatment or hospital. Or getting sectioned.' Gascoigne . said he had been 'lucky twice' after almost dying from drink, saying: . 'I hope I don't die through it. Because I won't get any sympathy... because, well, "He was warned". At least I know if I did pass away . through it I wouldn't be in this pain all the time. Small screen: The ITV show Being Paul Gascoigne revealed he spent £1,000 a year on anti-wrinkle jabs . 'The pain's like, I know probably in the future I am going to drink again. I know in a year's time I am going to have f****** hassle again and, you know, family worrying and Sheryl (his ex-wife) worried, the kids worried, nephews worried, friends are worried. 'I just think sometimes, just think f****** hell. Just go away i.e. drink or me go away - and that means a wooden box and six nails... and I don't know why, I just don't know why I f****** pick up the drink.' Gascoigne is considered to be one of England's most talented players ever. His outrageous sense of humour during his playing days brought him love from fellow players and from the terraces, even if it led managers to despair about the scrapes he got into. His mentor, the late Sir Bobby Robson, famously dubbed him 'daft as a brush'. Just hours before his latest health scare, it emerged that Gascoigne, born in Dunston, Gateshead, was to make a return to football playing for a Sunday League side. Now living in Bournemouth, where he has been treated for alcoholism, he was recruited to sign up for Abbey FC in the Hayward Sunday League Division Four by taxi driver and manager Chris Foster. Class: Paul Gascoigne remains one of the most gifted players England has ever produced . Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | According to the Daily Mirror, Gascoigne was found slumped outside his penthouse apartment in Poole, Dorset 'cluthing a bottle of vodka'
England legend Gascoigne had earlier registered for Abbey FC, a Bournemouth Sunday league side .
Gascoigne was taken away from the home and taken to Poole Hosptial after paramedics and police were called on Thursday . |
255,017 | d615b17ad3424007261e12e6f3def92be63a5a1c | (CNN) -- Nearly half of those injured by exploding gas-filled balloons during a political campaign rally in Armenia's capital remained hospitalized on Saturday, according to state media. The incident occurred Friday in city of Yerevan, two days before parliamentary elections. The balloons erupted in flames, forcing at least 154 people to be hospitalized. By Saturday, medical personnel had still not discharged 76 of the victims, according to the official Armenpress. President Serzh Sargsyan reported that there were no fatalities as a result of the explosion, saying law enforcement has initiated an investigation, the agency said. "All those who are guilty will be revealed and punished in accordance with the law," Sargsyan said. "I urge everyone to keep calm. Let us pray for the injured and wish everyone fast recovery." The type of gas that filled the balloons is unclear. CNN's Karen Smith contributed to this report . | Gas-filled balloons exploded in the Armenian capital during a political campaign rally .
154 people were hospitalized after the incident .
By Saturday, medical personnel had still not discharged 76 of the victims . |
162,860 | 5e9834e6c608d90e2a84800d544cd41da3b37829 | Washington (CNN) -- Setting up a showdown with the White House and Senate Democrats, House Republican leaders Thursday proceeded with plans to vote next week on a proposal to extend the payroll tax cut and unemployment benefits while easing the path for approval of the Keystone XL oil pipeline. Meanwhile, the Senate blocked competing Democratic and Republican proposals to extend the payroll tax cut from proceeding Thursday, with both failing to get the 60 votes necessary. Senate Republicans halted the Democratic proposal on a 50-48 vote. It included a surtax on income over $1 million to help pay for the lower payroll tax rate. Republicans seeking to shrink the size of government oppose such a tax increase. Opposition from both parties blocked the Republican measure, with only 22 votes in favor and 76 against it. The measure would have been paid for by freezing federal pay as well as reducing the federal work force by 10%, provisions rejected by President Barack Obama and Democrats. The outcome means party leaders and Obama must work out a compromise by the end of the year, when the payroll tax cut is set to expire, or face the wrath of Americans facing higher taxes in the election year of 2012. On the House side, Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, told a closed-door meeting of GOP members that he was ready for a "fight" with Obama over the pipeline issue, according to two senior Republican leadership aides in the meeting. Cheers went up in the room after Boehner's comment, the aides said. On Wednesday, Obama said he would reject any attempt by Republicans to tie the pipeline project to the payroll tax extension issue. The House proposal would shift authority from the State Department to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for approving the proposed pipeline from Canada's oil sands production in northern Alberta to Texas. It also would shorten the time frame for a decision. The State Department recently said its decision would be delayed until 2013 to examine environmental issues raised by critics, a move Republicans labeled as political to put off the issue until after next year's presidential election. Boehner told reporters after Thursday's meeting that the pipeline project would generate "tens of thousands of jobs immediately." He also noted that Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper supports the plan. The State Department puts the jobs figure at 5,000-6,000, and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada, slammed the House GOP proposal on Thursday as a "partisan joke that has no chance of passing the Senate." The impasse sets up another countdown clock on congressional action, this time before the end-of-year holiday recess scheduled to begin at the end of next week. Obama told reporters Thursday that he was willing to stay in Washington "as long as it takes to make sure that the American people's taxes don't go up on January 1st and to make sure that folks who desperately need unemployment insurance get that help." "There is absolutely no excuse for us not getting it done," Obama said, adding that his response to efforts by Republicans "to see what can they extract from us in order to get this done" was "just do the right thing." Referring specifically to the Keystone project, Obama said that "however many jobs might be generated by a Keystone pipeline, there are going to be a lot fewer than the jobs that are created by extending the payroll tax cut and extending unemployment insurance." The House proposal, which Boehner and other leaders outlined to GOP members at Thursday's meeting, was largely similar to one they discussed last week, according to several aides. It would extend the payroll tax cut for one year, continuing savings of $1,000 for families earning $50,000. It also includes unemployment assistance but gives states the ability to reform the program -- including removal of a federal ban from the 1960s that prohibited states from drug-testing those who apply for unemployment benefits. The GOP legislation would also shorten the time period for receiving jobless aid benefits from the current level of 99 weeks, phasing it down to 59 weeks by the middle of 2012. In addition, the bill would avoid a scheduled cut in payments for Medicare physicians for two years -- the so-called "doc fix." Boehner noted that the bill is "fully paid for," and aides said the bulk of the cost would be offset from a freeze on salaries of federal employees and members of Congress through 2015. The measure would use funds from health care programs to pay for the Medicare "doc fix" provision. Last week, GOP leaders encountered significant resistance from conservatives when they outlined their plan, with a bloc of members opposing any renewal of the payroll tax cut because the bill uses spending cuts over 10 years to pay for a one-year extension. Some of those critics later said that after they talked through their concerns with leaders, they don't want to see a tax increase during the tough economy, even though they don't support the structure of the payroll tax cut. Republican leaders also added a couple of new spending cuts to help attract conservative support. One would eliminate the child tax credit for those in the country illegally, and another would not renew a research-and-development tax credit focused on energy programs. Some Republicans noted that Obama's comments the day before opposing any effort to link extending the payroll tax cut to the Keystone pipeline helped rally support for the plan. Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan, leader of the fiscally conservative Republican Study Group, said he supports the bill, adding: "Frankly, the fact that the president doesn't like it makes me like it even more." Asked about overcoming divisions among Republicans, Boehner said feedback on the proposal was good and that "I feel confident about our ability to move ahead." The House is expected to vote on the bill early next week, according to several aides. Even though the Republican plan could muster a majority of votes in the House, it is likely to encounter major obstacles in the Democratic-led Senate. The payroll tax issue, a headache for Republicans already, threatens to become a major campaign theme for 2012. Obama touched on it Tuesday in a policy address in Kansas, saying Republicans protected wealthy taxpayers from a tax increase during deficit negotiations this year, but now threaten to block the payroll tax cut extension. Blocking it would cause most Americans to pay higher taxes next year. Republicans, who oppose tax increases in keeping with their push to shrink the size of government, argue that Obama and Democrats are forcing votes on proposals they know won't pass in order to score political points. So far, the public backs the Democratic position, with polls showing majority support for increasing the tax burden on wealthy Americans to help pay for the measure. Republicans are on the defensive due to their history of arguing that tax cuts end up paying for themselves because they stimulate economic activity by letting consumers keep more of their money instead of giving it to the government. Democrats are quick to point out that the mounting federal deficits dominating the Washington discussion were caused in part by reduced revenue due to tax cuts from the Bush administration. Now both parties agree that any measure to extend the payroll tax cut should include provisions to reduce spending or raise revenue to offset the cost. As part of a budget-cutting deal last December, Obama and Congress negotiated a reduction of 2 percentage points in the payroll tax rate -- from 6.2% to 4.2%. With the reduced rate expiring on January 1, Obama and Democrats seek to expand the provision by lowering the rate even further -- to 3.1% -- for another year. Republicans initially opposed the idea, saying the provision failed to create jobs last year. Republican leaders now say they support an extension, but they differ with Obama and Democrats on how to pay for it. The latest Senate Democratic plan calls for a 1.9% surtax on income over $1 million, as well as increased fees that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac charge mortgage lenders to guarantee repayment of new mortgage loans to cover the $180 billion cost. Republicans oppose the plan because they say it will increase the tax burden on small-business owners, a contention the White House says is false. In their compromise, Collins and McCaskill included a provision to exempt the income of small-business owners from the surtax. However, House Republicans questioned whether it was possible to legislate such a distinction. CNN's Tom Cohen contributed to this report. | NEW: Senate Democratic leader rejects planned House proposal .
Separate Democratic and Republican proposals are blocked in the Senate .
Raising taxes remains an unresolved issue dividing Democrats and Republicans .
House GOP proposal links payroll tax cut to an oil pipeline project, defying Obama . |
207,821 | 991389fec92f60a0bd78f399c2e625f6ff2ff520 | Controversy: Patricia Jackson, a Methodist priest in Shropshire, refuses to wear a red poppy when she leads the Remembrance Sunday service . A minister has refused to wear a poppy when she conducts this year's remembrance service because she believes the symbol 'advocates war'. Patricia Jackson told other clergy that she would be happy to sport a white poppy during the proceedings on Remembrance Sunday, but will not wear a red one. Her decision has upset many parishioners at Hadley Methodist Church in Telford, Shropshire, who claimed that the American-born priest 'doesn't seem to realise' the importance of the poppy. Ms Jackson, who calls herself 'Rev PJ', last week told local councillors it was her 'democratic right' not to wear the poppy when conducting the service on November 10. She did not give a reason for her refusal at the time, but a spokesman for the church said it was because Ms Jackson is an advocate of peace. 'Reverend Jackson is happy to wear a white poppy, but doesn't want to wear a red one because she feels it advocates war which is something she does not believe in,' he said. 'She is in favour of peace and reconciliation. She is not doing it to be antagonistic - if anything, it is the opposite.' However, today locals suggested that if Ms Jackson was unwilling to wear the poppy along with most of the congregation, she should not be leading the remembrance service. Church: The service will take place at Hadley Methodist Church in Telford on November 10 . Hadley parish councillor Ron Plenderleith, who served in the Armed Forces for 38 years, said: 'I just think it is unbelievable. 'If someone says they don't want to wear a poppy because of their right to democracy I would say that is absolutely correct, but if they don't want to, don't get involved in the remembrance service. 'The Hadley Methodist Church are absolutely brilliant in the way they organise the remembrance parade.' Fellow councillor Pat Smart added: 'The Methodist Church and all the people associated with it passionately support the Royal British Legion. 'The minister doesn't seem to realise how important it is to us to wear the poppy. This is all political and I can't respect that in these circumstances. I find the whole thing very sad.' Iconic: Ms Jackson says the normal red poppy, left, is overly warlike and will only wear a white poppy, right . David Moore, president of the Hadley and Leegomery Royal British Legion, said: 'From the military members who attend the service - and there are a lot - we were very shocked. 'If someone decides they don't want to wear a poppy, that is down to the individual, but if they are officiating a remembrance service, just for an hour, an hour and a half, it's not going to cut anyone's throat to wear one.' Mr Moore said that the remembrance service would go ahead at the church as planned. | Patricia Jackson claims the red poppy is a sign of pro-war sentiments .
She will wear a white poppy when leading Remembrance Sunday service .
Parishioners say the reverend doesn't understand importance of the poppy . |
213,998 | a126343ddfdff55850e33254519b5dd668cc4785 | Northern Ireland defender Jonny Evans has hailed the team's efforts in his absence following Tuesday's 2-0 away victory over Greece. Michael O'Neill's side have now won all of their opening three Euro 2016 qualifiers - the country's best ever start to any World Cup or European qualifying series. Evans has missed the entire campaign so far, having at first been suspended and then sat out the last two fixtures due to an ankle injury. Northern Ireland players celebrate Kyle Lafferty's goal as they record their third win in a row in Greece . Injured Northern Ireland defender Jonny Evans says he is 'immensely proud' of his side's Euro qualifying efforts . Evans hasn't taken the pitch since limping off during United's 5-3 loss to Leicester on September 21 . The Manchester United man admits it has been 'absolutely gutting' for him to not be involved, but what he has seen from the sidelines has made him hugely proud. 'Obviously, it (the Greece result) was a great win for the team and I think it was thoroughly deserved,' Evans told manutd.com. 'We had a really good game-plan against Greece and it's fantastic we've got three wins on the trot at the start of the campaign. It sets us up going forward for the rest of the games. 'We've had spells in the past where we've had a lot of wins but the pleasing thing is two of the victories have come away from home, where it's always been difficult for us. 'We had some good performances throughout the last campaign but just came up short with the results. 'I think the manager has done a fantastic job in getting everybody together and believing in ourselves.' Lafferty celebrates Northern Ireland's second goal in Athens in their Euro 2016 qualifying victory . Jamie Ward (centre) opened the scoring with a deflected volley to set Michael O'Neill's side on their way . The 26-year-old, whose younger brother Corry Evans started Tuesday's contest, added: 'It's been absolutely gutting to miss the games but I'm immensely proud of the lads for the way they've performed. 'I've been in regular contact with my brother obviously and I'm pleased to see the lads performing so well and getting the result.' Evans hopes to get his participation in the qualifying campaign under way in Northern Ireland's next fixture, November's trip to Romania - although he may have a job on his hands breaking up a centre-back pairing of Gareth McAuley and Aaron Hughes that have performed admirably so far. O'Neill's men are top of Group F having seen off Hungary away and the Faroe Islands at home prior to Tuesday's triumph. With Man United's Evans out of action, his brother Corry has flown the family flag for Northern Ireland . | Northern Ireland beat Greece 2-0 in their third straight Euro qualifying win .
Jonny Evans is yet to appear for his country this campaign .
The Manchester United defender is proud of his team-mates' performances .
He is pushing to make Michael O'Neill's side to play Romania next month .
Evans hasn't played since United's 5-3 loss to Leicester on September 21 . |
73,657 | d0d927c612f74c141f78f089412eaadfdf0f340d | New Microsoft chief executive officer Satya Nadella has been awarded a new pay deal worth an estimated $84.3 million according to documents filed with securities regulators. The pay package includes once-off stock options worth $79.8 million which he cannot receive until 2019. Nadella became Microsoft's third CEO in February. The Seattle based company awarded the massive stock option to provide a long-term incentive to remain as head of the technology company. Scroll down for video . New Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, pictured, has been awarded a pay deal worth an estimated $84 million . His pay package includes a once-off stock option worth $79.8 million and basic pay of almost $1 million . According to Reuters, the company's top executives do not have employment contracts with the firm so large stock options are used to encourage loyalty. Two weeks ago Nadella urged women in technology not to ask for pay rises and instead rely on 'karma' to get ahead in the industry. The documents filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission said Nadella should receive stock worth $59.2 million as long as the company's share price exceeds Standard & Poor's 500 index. He also received $13.5 million to remain at the company while they searched for its next CEO. According to the returns, Nadella's basic salary this year was $918,000 with a cash bonus of $3.6 million. He also received an annual stock award of more than $7 million. Next year, Nadella is set to earn $18 million, with a base salary of $1.2 million and a maximum cash bonus of three times his basic pay. He will also receive shares worth $13.2 million. Nadella was forced to apologise after he appeared at an event designed to promote the role of women in technology companies. However, Nadella, pictured, recently caused controversy when addressing a seminar on women in technology . Satya Nadella was forced to retract his statement that women should rely on karma rather than pay rises . When asked about what a woman who feels uncomfortable asking for a pay rise should do, Nadella replied: 'It's not really about asking for the raise, but knowing and having faith that the system will actually give you the right raises as you go along.' He said not asking for a raise was 'good karma' and that the boss will realise that the employee should be trusted and given more responsibility. However, he was later forced to retract his statement claiming that he was 'completely wrong', insisting that 'men and women should get equal pay for equal work'. | Satya Nadella was appointed Microsoft's chief executive officer in February .
Nadella was awarded a once-off stock option worth almost $80 million .
He was also given a base salary of almost $1 million and a $3 million bonus .
Next year his remuneration will fall to $18 million including stock options .
He said women should accept 'karma' rather than looking for pay rises . |
117,625 | 23dffbe802a5e4882e7c6ace9d544325508b2cfa | (CNN) -- Thomas Muster believes in reinvention, and he doesn't do things by half measures. The former "King of Clay" beat career-threatening injuries at the age of 21 to become Austria's first grand slam tennis champion and only world No. 1 player. But he shocked everyone by disappearing into early retirement in Australia. After years of excessively good living, he made his top-level comeback at the age of 43, having lost 25 kilograms in a punishing get-fit regime. And now, after finally putting his racket down a year or so later, with his desire to compete on court at the highest level sated again, Muster will focus on his family and wine-making business. "When I went back to Austria I was looking for property. I grew up in this area and I knew these vineyards and property and the streets around it," he says of the Hochkittenberg wine estate he bought off a church diocese in 2004. A winning partnership . Muster teamed up with vintner Manfred Tement, who cultivates the eight hectares of land and put out their first joint Toms Hochkittenberg wine in 2005. "He's a great tennis fan and I asked him if this vineyard was worth a dollar. He said it's a fantastic vineyard and it's got great soil and everything you need," the Liebnitz-born father of two told CNN's Open Court. "That's how we started working together and that's how he started developing the vineyard around our house. Now it's a beautiful area with sauvignon, burgundy and muscatel grapes. "It's all about the Styrian wines, it's about white wines -- 85 or 90% of our produce is white wine or white grapes. It's one of the best sauvignon areas in the world. It's still undiscovered here, that's what we like about it, but I think in the next few years people are going to find out where this is." Muster won the French Open in 1995 and was the world's top-ranked player for six weeks the following year before quitting in 1999. It turns out he has the same passion for grapes as he did on the court. "It's lovely be here and it's lovely to be back home. Manfred loves tennis and I love wine. It's not my profession, it's my passion," says Muster, who also produces bottled spring water from the Styrian Hochschwab area. "He's such a great teacher and over the last years I've learned so much about wine, about the culture of wine, It's a great adventure. I love him as a friend and we have such a great time in the vineyards. "It's hard work. To work a vineyard, you need a lot of guts to do that. To go out there and work all year, you almost feel that these people talk to the grapes. Wine is a lifestyle and you can talk about it for ages. It's a passion but it's not something I can do on a daily basis." Disappearing Down Under . When Muster moved to Australia after feeling burned out by tennis, he quickly ballooned in weight to almost 100 kg. "When I lost to Nicolas Lapentti on Court Two at the French Open I knew this was going to be my last match and it was very emotional for me," he recalls. "On the other hand it was so great to feel like, 'I don't have to get up in the morning and practice!' When I went back home I threw everything I had related to tennis in the bin. I was so tired of playing tennis, so tired of traveling, of hotels, everything related to this sport. "Maybe I should have just taken six months off. I don't know if this was the solution but I just felt that I was ready to stop." Known as the King of Clay before Gustavo Kuerten and Rafael Nadal came on the scene, Muster won a record 12 tournaments in 1995 -- a feat that was not matched until Roger Federer in 2004. He won 40 of his 44 career titles on clay, but was also a strong competitor on hard courts as he twice reached the semifinals of the Australian Open and made the U.S. Open quarterfinals on three occasions. Overcoming adversity . It was in the United States where his career almost ended in 1989, when he was hit by a drunk driver in the car park at the event now known as the Miami Masters in Key Biscayne, where he was due to play the final the next day. "Coming back from two sets down (against former French Open champion Yannick Noah) and achieving top 10, you're entering the level everyone wants to be in. Then I'm seeing myself in hospital a couple of hours later and having a smashed knee. It was devastating," Muster recalls. "But I didn't really know meant to have ligaments torn, I didn't know the consequences that people have after that. So I was very positive. I thought it was going to be a few weeks and I'll be walking again, running again. But looking back it was a really, really hard time suffering from that injury. "We started rehab straight away and it helped me a lot. I stayed in a rehab center for three months, working every day. I knew I couldn't run, but I had that touch, hitting balls and that routine I was going through, getting up, practicing, having therapy, doing weights. "As soon as I could walk again I was able to play pretty good tennis because it was a great chance to build up my upper body. I almost felt like a chicken before, really skinny." The King of Clay . In 1995 Muster won 40 consecutive matches on clay, the best run since Bjorn Borg's 46 successive victories. Nadal surpassed that mark when he won 81 in a row from 2005-07. Muster returned to Key Biscayne and beat two-time French Open champion Sergi Bruguera of Spain in the 1997 final. It was to be his last ATP Tour title, with final defeats in Cincinnati later that year and Estoril in 1998. After his last outing at Roland Garros, he decided to skip Wimbledon -- where he is the only top-ranked player to have never won a singles match on the hallowed grass courts in London. "I just didn't come back and then suddenly people started asking, 'Where is Thomas, why isn't he playing?' The press started to call me and I said, 'I'm going on a holiday and I don't know when I'm going to return,' so I never actually retired," Muster explains. He went to Australia, got married and had a son -- and completely forgot about tennis. "I gave up everything I had in Europe and moved to a town north of Brisbane called Noosa Heads. I was 99 kilos, I smoked two packs of cigarettes a day," Muster says. "When we got divorced it was a time to come back home. It's my secure place, my haven with my family. I came back here to get grounded again, and that's also when I started to play tennis again." Back to basics . Working out up to seven hours a day, Muster soon trimmed down again and was able to compete on the seniors' Champions Tour. But the desire to play at the top level burned deeply, and he started again from the bottom on the Challenger circuit, where he found victories difficult to come by. "It was a completely mad decision -- but it was great, I would do it any time again. I had the best time in the past year and a half ... to practice, to play, to get fit, to fight these guys and not be given a game," he says. "I took my car and my coach, and we were driving thousands and thousands of kilometers. We had to drop in our keys to get three balls and a towel -- all things that are given at the big tournaments where they pick you up with great cars and they have the hospitality, food all day, trainers, physios. "You go to a Challenger and it's in the middle of nowhere, there's no sun shining for you, a little crowd of a few hundred spectators. Okay I lost all those matches, I won a few, but it was great, it was grounding." Family ties . Muster finally called it quits at the highest level at his home tournament in Vienna in October, losing in the first round. "I decided to retire in Vienna because I left the scene very quietly and never had the chance to say goodbye," he says. "I was never homesick when I played before, but now when I leave, when I see my daughter and I have to pack my bags, it's like, 'Do I have to go?' And when I lose I want to come back, and that's not a good sign for a professional player, you have to want to be out there. "I don't want to stretch it to a limit where people think I'm stupid what I'm doing. I want to be respected for what I did. I don't want to use wild-cards for players who deserve it. "It's been a great honor but at the end I want to say it's been a great time. I want to play a couple of senior tour events next year, but that's the level I can play at. You don't want to play tennis at 50 on a competitive level. "I think my family needs me more than anybody else, and tennis doesn't need me anymore. I respect my wife a lot for taking all that in. She said, 'I didn't marry a tennis player, you'd retired.' Now it's time to do something else." | Thomas Muster tells CNN about his life after retiring from top-level tennis .
Former French Open champion and world No. 1 has a thriving wine business in Austria .
He has overcome adversity on the court to keep alive his desire to compete .
Now Muster aims to spend more time with his second wife and young daughter . |
52,110 | 9390cfd9b48d4622563192151e44796eca38e623 | Tens of thousands more teenagers received the wrong grade in GCSE English this summer than previously thought, it emerged last night. As many as 67,000 youngsters were unfairly denied a C grade due to last-minute changes to grade bands, according to research. The analysis suggests that previous claims that 10,000 pupils had been affected seriously underestimate the problem. The figures emerged amid a simmering row . over a sudden drop in GCSE results this summer – the first in the . 24-year history of the exam. Last minute changes to grade boundaries meant that many pupils missed out on a C in English . Concern has mainly focused on English, where the proportion gaining C grades or better dipped 1.5 points from 65.4 per cent last year to 63.9 per cent. Head teachers claim that pupils who took English exams in January stood a better chance of getting a good grade than those who entered in June. They believe that exam boards unfairly raised grade boundaries for exams taken in summer to prevent severe grade inflation. Now a detailed study of the impact of grade boundary movements – carried out by David Blow, headmaster of The Ashcombe School, Dorking, Surrey – suggests that tens of thousands of pupils have been affected. The analysis looked at what would have happened to pupils who sat exams in June if the January grade boundaries remained in place. It suggests that half the 133,906 candidates who received a D in English in June would have been in line for Cs had the boundaries not been moved. ‘The numbers of pupils potentially . involved could amount to many tens of thousands of candidates,’ Mr Blow . told the Times Educational Supplement. Brian Lightman, general secretary of . the Association of School and College Leaders, said: ‘The more feedback . we get the more serious this crisis has proved itself to be.’ The study also suggested that pupils on the border between C and D were harder hit than their higher-achieving classmates. Pupils who scraped a C in an English . language coursework unit on understanding texts and creative writing in . January would have needed to score four extra marks to achieve the same . grade in June, it emerged. Some schools experienced a significant reduction in the numbers of students achieving A* to C grades in English . However, a candidate who just scraped an A in January on the same unit would have needed no extra marks to achieve the same grade in June. Mr Lightman said the changes would have a ‘devastating effect’ on pupils just missing out on a C. ‘A C grade or above in GCSE English is the key to so many career paths,’ he said. ‘There is a massive issue here, particularly for the Government’s social mobility agenda as many of these pupils are from areas of high deprivation.’ In a series of questions and answers posted on its website, Ofqual, the standards watchdog investigating claims of unfairness, admitted some schools had seen grades vary wildly compared with teachers’ predictions. ‘Overall, GCSE English pass rates at A* to C grade fell by 1.5 per cent, but some schools appear to have experienced much more significant reductions in achievement as compared with their own teacher predictions,’ it said. It denied it had been ‘leant on by the Government’ to crack down on grade inflation. A spokesman for the exam board involved, AQA, said: ‘Grade boundaries change between exam series by different amounts at different grades. This is a normal feature of the assessment process.’ | First time English grades have dropped in 24 years . |
147,841 | 4b2c14e6ea9ca92b0739c4005c86ea6038463026 | By . James Mulholland . A young couple who violently attempted to extort money from an amateur glamour photographer have been jailed for a total of nine years. Garry Faulds, 21, and his fiancée Laura Colquhoun, 17, hatched a plot to force their middle-aged victim to give them hundreds of pounds or they would expose his allegedly sleazy lifestyle. The High Court in Edinburgh heard how the man, who is in his 50s and cannot be named for legal reasons, took photographs of aspiring model Colquhoun at his home over the course of a year. Garry Faulds and his girlfriend Laura Colquhoun, who were sentenced for a total of nine years for extorting a man in his 50s . It was claimed that she had repeatedly performed a sex act on him and was receiving £150 per photo session. But just before one sitting, the teenager allowed her boyfriend – dressed in a balaclava and boiler suit – to enter the local government employee’s Edinburgh house. Once inside, Faulds bound the man’s arms, legs and mouth with tape before threatening him with a gas canister, repeatedly striking him and threatening him by claiming to be a member of an Ulster loyalist terror group who could do him serious harm. Faulds also said he would tell the man’s employer that he was taking illegal photographs of underage girls. The pair had plotted to force their middle-aged victim to give them hundreds of pounds or they would expose his allegedly sleazy lifestyle . Garry Faulds scared his middle aged captor by tying him up, beating him and claiming to be a member of an Ulster loyalist terror group who could cause him serious harm . Yesterday, temporary judge Paul . Arthurson, QC, sentenced Faulds to six years in prison. His girlfriend . wept as she was handed three years’ detention. Judge Arthurson said: ‘Given the extremely serious nature of the offence, which must have been truly terrifying for the complainer who was in own home, custodial sentences are inevitable.’ Laura Colquhoun at Edinburgh High Court where she was sentenced to three years in jail . Last month, Faulds and Colquhoun, of Paisley, Renfrewshire, were convicted of robbing, assaulting and threatening to extort cash from the man on August 23 last year. Sentence was deferred until yesterday for reports. The man, who works in a senior capacity for a local authority, has never been charged or prosecuted in connection with the allegations made by Faulds. During the trial, the victim told how he had met Colquhoun in 2012 and had conducted a number of photo shoots with her. Recalling the day of the attack, he said: ‘When I walked into the hall, there was a guy dressed in a balaclava with the eyes cut out. He was wearing a blue jump suit. 'He came towards me and he tried to overpower me. I fell backwards. I was screaming “help”. 'I was shouting as loudly as I could. ‘He sat there for a period of time presumably just to frighten me and I must say it was quite effective.’ The court heard that the intruder tried to access the photographer’s online bank account but failed. The couple stole £800 and tried to extort another £500 from him. Yesterday, Faulds’s advocate John McElroy said: ‘Mr Faulds regrets his actions. To paraphrase the words to a popular pop song, if he could turn back time, he would.’ Colquhoun’s solicitor advocate Liam O’Donnell said: ‘Social workers describe her as somebody who is naive. 'She made a seriously poor decision. She was very much the minor actor in the flat. 'The report describes her as being a vulnerable young woman who is keen to do well but is easily led.’ | Garry Faulds, 21, and Laura Colquhoun, 17, from Edinburgh jailed .
They blackmailed their middle-aged victim for hundreds of pounds .
Faulds, dressed in boiler suit, tied up man, striking and threatening him .
The victim, an amateur photographer, had been taking photos of Colquhoun for a year, the court heard .
Faulds sentenced to six years; Colquhoun sentenced to three years . |
50,945 | 902665baad0552c02832225f8b55871d0773f88b | When she began her career as a professional sheep dog Floss was impressive - the sheep responded well to her, she was faster than your average and she certainly looked good. But farmer Dave Issac has reluctantly decided to sell Floss as she is now too big to get through his farmyard gates - because she is a Peugeot estate car. Mr Issac, 46, who lives on an 180-acre farm near Battle in East Sussex, converted the family car into a working sheep dog in tribute to his dog which had recently died. Scroll down for video . Farmer Dave Issac, 46, (pictured) spent £2,000 converting his Peugeot car into a replica of his favourite dog . He spent £2,000 covering the family car in fur and modifying it until it became an exact replica of Floss, his favourite sheep dog. Floss the sheep dog car, who has a top speed of 40mph, soon proved to be a surprisingly effective herder as the flock of sheep failed to notice they were being rounded up by a much larger animal with headlamps for eyes and an exhaust. Mr Issac, who also has a herd of pedigree Aberdeen Angus cattle, said: 'I know it was a bit of a mad thing to do but it was a tribute to my old sheep dog Floss who passed away. 'I have three kids and we loved her and as a family we all missed her terribly. Mr Issac built a wooden frame and covered the estate car in fur following the death of his favourite sheep dog . The giant car has proven to be an excellent herder - as the sheep don't seem to have noticed the difference . 'So I got together with a friend and we built Floss the sheep dog car in my barn, copying as closely as I could every last detail of my old dog. 'Sheep aren't known for their intelligence and they didn't seem to notice the difference so they were quite happy. 'We even had a charity day on the farm and the car was a big hit.' Mr Issac's unusual experiment has come to an end as Floss the car is simply too big to get around the farm . But Floss the car, which is not licensed to drive on public roads, is now too big to navigate along the narrow farm tracks and through the gates to Mr Issac's fields. Because Floss also required a timber frame built around the Peugeot's chassis to attach the fur, the car is now taking up too much space in the barn of a busy working farm. Mr Issac has decided to sell faithful Floss on eBay and hopes she will go to a good home . Mr Issac added:'They were things we didn't really consider when we built her so with a heavy heart she is going on E-bay. 'It's been a lot of fun and she handles well, is obedient and nice and docile and surprisingly aerodynamic. 'But its back to the tried and tested traditional skills of the sheep dog again.' Mr Isaac hopes Floss the sheep dog car may interest festival organisers or dog charities as a fun car. 'As long as she goes to a good home I'll be happy,' he said. Floss shares more than a few characteristics with the iconic Mutts Cutts van immortalised in the cult film Dumb and Dumber. Actors Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels attend the premiere of 'Dumb And Dumber To' on Monday night in the iconic Mutts Cutts van . | Farmer Dave Issac, 46, spent £2,000 converting family car into giant dog .
Built 'Floss' as a tribute to his favourite sheepdog which had recently died .
Mr Issac drives Floss around his 180-acre farm to round up flock of sheep .
He has reluctantly put Floss up for sale as she is now too big for his gates . |
231,801 | b81ff677008e589130b1e2ebdb5d06305db2ea83 | Low-cost American airline JetBlue is the latest in a string of budget carriers to add fees to checked baggage and squeeze seats even closer together in order to boost profit. The airline said it will create three ticket classes beginning in the first half of 2015, and only the top two include at least one free checked bag. Checked bag fees emerged in 2008, when airlines needed money to cover rising fuel costs. In the first six months of this year, U.S. airlines raised $1.7bn (£1bn) from bag fees. Extra costs: Budget airline JetBlue is the latest major US airline to charge passengers to check in bags . JetBlue's decision will leave Southwest as the only major US airline to let all passengers check a bag free. And needless to say, passengers are not happy. Some complained that JetBlue was sacrificing perks that helped the airline win customer-satisfaction awards year after year. 'Airline tickets are already expensive,' said longtime JetBlue flier Maxwell Haddad, from New York. He added that not charging for the first bag 'was an extra level of kindness or service that JetBlue offered. They seemed to value customer service above and beyond other airlines.' JetBlue declined to give prices but said adding fewer than half of their passengers check in a bag. Complaints: Unsurprisingly, customers are not happy with the prospect of paying to check in bags . The airline also will add 15 seats to its Airbus A320 planes, increasing capacity to 165 from 150, which will reduce the average legroom to from 34.7 to 33.1 inches. The changes will begin in late 2016 and take two years to implement, say JetBlue representatives, adding that there will still be more legroom in the main cabins of bigger airlines. It's thought that the new fare classes and bag fees will generate more than $200m (around £130m) a year in operating income. Incoming CEO Robin Hayes, a former British Airways executive, said that other features such as free wifi, snacks and no overbooking mean that the airline can add bag fees and seats without driving away customers. He said: 'I'm confident when customers get on and see the cabin and experience the product, they're going to say, "Wow, this is actually better than what JetBlue was flying before".' JetBlue announced the changes as it met in New York with investors, who have been pressing the company to boost revenue and profit margins. | The budget carrier is creating three ticket classes in 2015 .
It will add 15 seats to Airbus A320 planes, decreasing legroom by an inch .
Shares of JetBlue Airways Corp have risen by more than four per cent . |
38,668 | 6d53469decf418cb26ea6e2c4b37a7a98163a6b8 | Responsibilities come along with a camera: when to use it or when to set it aside. Our human nature is to gawk, and the camera often creates a layer of added unreality, shielding at least our full attention from all that is in front of us. A freelance photographer for The New York Post recently took a heart-stopping photo of a subway train bearing down on a man who had fallen on the tracks. Instead of trying to pull the man to safety, the photographer took photos. One landed on the cover the The Post. The public outcry -- against the photographer, the paper and the bystanders who also did nothing to save the man -- was swift and severe. Back in the day when mobile phones did not come with a built-in camera, uproars made us duck and cringe. You'd suck in your breath and hope that trouble might sweep by without touching. Nowadays, if you are an ordinary citizen or even a special officer who is off duty, I hope you will find a quick, compassionate, humane response to everything in life. My purpose here is not to address the issue of journalists who are merely on duty, looking for spot news or prowling for features. My argument is not about instinct and reflex, which probably gripped the subway photographer, R. Umar Abbasi. He told reporters he "had no idea" what he was shooting. "I'm not even sure it was registering with me what was happening. I just started running. I had my camera up -- it wasn't even set to the right settings -- and I just kept shooting and flashing, hoping the train driver would see something and be able to stop." Opinion: Why the outrage over photo in subway death? Whatever Abbasi's motives may have been or still be, it is the habit of many photojournalists to shoot a lot and to keep shooting at all costs, especially in the heat of a dramatic moment. It's the reality of the job. In the movies, every photojournalist starts off as an aloof, confused, emotionally stunted voyeur. Think of Jimmy Stewart in "Rear Window," Dennis Hopper in "Apocalypse Now" or the photographers portrayed in "Blood Diamond," "Delirious" and "City of God." Screenwriters always demand that they lay their cameras down and, only in that way, attain clarity, take action and remake events for the sake of a noble, happy ending. Bearing witness is never enough, in this characterization. It's a popular conclusion, seemingly the only one that we are fed, but it is not in the best interests of society. Indeed, the National Press Photographers Association feels so conflicted about our role that it now goes beyond giving out awards simply for the best pictures of the year. It now has another plaque for the photojournalist who stops taking pictures, choosing instead to save a stranger's life or limb. I've been an investigative journalist and photographer for over 40 years, half of that in the field and half of it on the assignment desk. I am frequently called upon to judge the work of my peers. The journalist's job is to be invisible and, in that way, to see on behalf of everyone else. We perform our most vital role when the stakes are high, even to the level of life and death. Our duty is to test the tough question, the one at the very heart of a given story, the one immediately at hand. Say a photojournalist and an editor want to do a story about medicine and public policy. They might reflect on a couple of these questions and attempt to show them in a journalistic investigation: How often do schizophrenic patients stop taking their meds, becoming a danger to themselves and others? Does trouble sometimes show up like clockwork and for the same combination of reasons? Might a schizophrenic patient with a history of violence pick fights and hurt people? Is it time for an intervention? Nothing could be more compelling for the public and policymakers to examine, and photographs could be the best way to illuminate the problem. If the system needs fixing and our role as journalists is to witness things when they break down, we can't go around preventing or fixing the breakdowns before they even happen. We have to simply watch and wait and see how bad things get. We must see for ourselves. Stories of this quality are not psychologically easy for the journalist to undertake, or for the public to digest. They must be presented in a dignified manner, with the fullest possible context. If editors try to be quick and lurid in their display, both subjects and audience will only feel insulted. Back in 1977, in Rhodesia, I watched the brutal interrogation and torture of a man over a three-day period. The officer in charge later learned that the prisoner had died as a result. Up until that point, the government and the army had insisted that there was nothing to the rumors of such treatment, that if there were problems, they weren't significant. Only by waiting and watching patiently, I found out that there was more to the story. Much more. In 2005, I sat on a panel at Columbia University that reviewed the best journalism of the year. One unforgettable news photograph -- out of a portfolio of 20 -- showed Iraqi insurgents pulling a man out of a car in midday traffic and shooting him in the head. When we awarded that eyewitness account with a Pulitzer Prize, a chorus of criticism was heaped on the decision. The photo was too disturbing, so they said. How did the photographer just happen to be there? Couldn't he have stopped it? Wasn't he just as bad as the bad guys? No. He was doing his job. He was performing one of the most crushing duties that society can assign, all in the name of today's honesty, tomorrow's decisions about it and history's fullest account. Entering this profession is not easy, and not everyone has the internal strength for it. But we dare not turn a blind eye. Someone's got to do it. | Photographer took picture of man in path of subway; public outcry ensued .
J. Ross Baughman says a photojournalist's job is to witness .
He says if role is to record bad things in world, one can't fix them before they happen .
Writer witnessed brutal torture in Rhodesia; in doing so, he revealed government lies . |
170,232 | 6857ae0793f1ea9f39fb19e711865b3c224045f3 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . A woman has come forward claiming to be the secret fiancee of New York Giants No. 1 draft pick Odell Beckham Jr, spreading stories of alleged dalliances with strippers and saying he had a love child while dating her. The NFL is now said to be investigating the claims against the 21-year-old rookie, who just inked a four year deal with the Giants worth $10.4 million deal with the team, including a $5.9 million signing bonus. He says the 'entire story is fabricated'. 'I have never been engaged, I don't have any children and I have never met this person who is making these claims,' Beckham said in a statement to The New York Daily News. Fiancee?: Erica Mendez, 19, claims she has been dating New York Odell Beckham Jr since 2010, that he cheated on her with two strippers and has a love child . O'Dell Beckham Jr. formerly played for the LSU Tigers. He says he has never met Erica Mendez and that nothing she says is true . The woman, Erica Mendez, is a 19-year-old self-described model and personal trainer from Texas. She told RadarOnline she has been dating Beckham since November 2010, when they were both teenagers, saying the LSU star 'swept me off my feet'. 'I had come from a broken home and was looking for stability,' she said. 'He treated me like a queen.' Mendez said Beckham showered them . showering her with gifts including a new BMW and jetting her to Paris and London, she said. Then she discovered he was cheating on her — and had a love child from one fling, she said. During one alleged angry text exchange between the pair, Odell supposedly writes, 'U ain’t never believe anything I say!’ and she replies, 'Why is that? I believed that you were faithful and you had a child on me? Did u fall on your head lately Odelliee?’ Mendez told Radar: 'We fought about the child, but he claimed he was a changed man. I wanted so badly to believe him, so I stuck around.' Eva Mendez, who claims she is the long-time fiancee of Odell Beckham Jr., seen here in a picture from her Instagram account . Odell Beckham Jr poses with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after he was picked #12 overall by the New York Giants during the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall on May 8, 2014 in New York City . She said she then became pregnant in February 2013. But the stress of trying to deal with his cheating was too much, and she suffered a miscarriage, Mendez said. The pair bonded over their loss, she told Radar, and he proposed to her. 'He promised to change and that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with me. Too bad it was all just lies,' Mendez said. She said she walked into his parents’ home in New Orleans in August 2013, shortly after they were engaged, and found him in a 'sexually compromising position’' with two strippers. 'There were glasses thrown. It was quite a commotion,' she said. 'That was the final straw.' During one alleged text exchange between the pair, she wrote, 'Soo you’re still going to act like you did nothing wrong? Even now?' 'What u talkin bout now???' he allegedly replied. Eva Mendez came forward with her claims just days after Beckham was selected for the NFL draft . 'Umm, when I walked in and you had the two strippers in the bed that we slept in Odell. Forgot?’ Mendez retorted. 'Look I ain’t tryin talk about that sh-ttt. You wasn’t complaining after I sent you and ya mom to Cozumel,’' Odell supposedly snipped. But bizarrely, she told the Web site that the couple recently reconciled — and the wedding’s still on for next March. 'We love each other,” she said. “Everybody makes mistakes. He has promised he has changed. I have faith in him.' Odell’s dad, Odell Beckham Sr., told The Post that the family has hired a private investigator to try to track the woman down. 'This is just a made-up, fictitious individual,’' Beckham Sr. said. Erica Mendez is a 19-year-old self-described model and personal trainer from Texas who claims to be the fiancee of Odell Beckham Jr. 'It’s a hoax. … She’s just a kid who came out of nowhere, and we’re like, ''Who is this?'' The dad said both he and Odell’s mom “are really into our son’s life. 'We know who he dates, who his girlfriend is. It’s not anyone named Erica,’ the dad said. 'He’s actually seeing a young lady who went to Alabama.’ 'The only child he has is a pit bull named Dre, about 2 years old. That’s the son he raised.' A Giants spokesman said the NFL was involved. 'The organization has contacted NFL security to look into finding the person responsible and to help investigate the matter’ he said. | Odell Beckham Jr. was drafted by the New York Giants on May 8 .
Erica Mendez, 19, from Texas, has now come forward claiming to be his fiancee .
She said they have been dating since 2010 .
Claims to have walked in on him with two strippers and says Beckham has a love child .
Beckham says he has never met her . |
66,359 | bc41eeec28ecf0460fb7e76fba977ae91ad7eb90 | (CNN) -- Entertainer Jennifer Lopez says her former driver resorted to blackmail after the singer didn't use a security team he recommended for a music video shoot. In a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles last week, Lopez, her manager and her production company allege that an attorney representing driver Hakob Manoukian demanded that "unless Manoukian was paid $2.8 million, he would disclose sensitive and personal information that he allegedly heard while driving Lopez." The lawsuit also accuses the former driver of making "other ominous threats to report Ms. Lopez to the 'authorities' if his demands were not met." Lopez is seeking a minimum of $20 million in damages. Her suit is the latest chapter in a legal battle that began in April, when Manoukian, who was also Lopez's head of personal security in Los Angeles, filed a lawsuit accusing Lopez, her manager and her production company of breaching his employment contract when they decided he would not handle production security. J. Lo threatens legal action over reports about boyfriend . Manoukian's lawsuit alleges he had hired two police officers to assist with security during a music video produced by Def Jam Records. The night before the officers were to report for work, Manoukian says he was told to cancel their services and that Lopez' manager was assuming responsibility for hiring personal security. Lopez' suit alleges that Manoukian "became hostile and angry because he mistakenly and unreasonably believed he had the unqualified right to designate the security team and profit from any budgetary allocations for such security." Representatives for Lopez and Manoukian could not be immediately reached for comment. Lopez' attorney, Alex Weingarten, declined to comment, saying the "cross-complaint speaks for itself." The dispute between Lopez and her former driver dates back to 2011, shortly after Lopez and singer Marc Anthony announced their plans to split. Manoukian quit his job with Anthony's company, ARI Enterprises Ltd., and offered to work for Lopez in July 2011, according to Lopez's suit, which alleges he quit his job "under false pretenses" after one month of service. Manoukian's lawsuit alleges that "intolerable" work conditions forced him to resign, noting that he regularly worked more than 40 hours per week, did not receive overtime pay and was not allowed "to take all his proper meal periods." Lopez open to getting married again . J. Lo leaves 'American Idol' CNN's Douglas Hyde and Julie In contributed to this report. | The entertainer is seeking at least $20 million in damages .
Her lawsuit accuses the former driver of making "ominous threats"
The driver filed a lawsuit against Lopez, her manager and her production company in April .
He says they breached his employment contract and treated him poorly . |
81,143 | e5f2ce1f738063028800b87cbdefd0c3feafc5dd | By . Associated Press . The mother of a Fort Bragg soldier who disappeared more than two years ago said police were led to her daughter's grave by the suspect charged in her killing. Johnna Henson of St Cloud, Florida, said today she was told by Fayetteville police that Nicholas Holbert led authorities to the remains of her daughter Pfc. Kelli Bordeaux. Holbert, 27, was charged with killing Bordeaux. Police say Holbert went with Bordeaux to the Fayetteville bar where she was last seen in April 2012. He was charged with first-degree murder and first-degree kidnapping on Thursday afternoon. Prosecutors will review evidence to see if the charges . warrant the death penalty. Scroll down for video . Pfc. Kelli Bordeaux, pictured in an undated handout photo. Police in North Carolina say the remains of Bordeaux, who disappeared more than two years ago, may have been found on Wednesday. Nicholas Holbert has been charged with her murder . Ms Henson says Holbert led investigators to Bordeaux's shallow grave in a densely-wooded area about four miles from the bar. Detectives . went on Wednesday to an area near the Interstate 295 corridor on the . northern side of Fayetteville after receiving the information. The . search turned up remains believed to be those of Bordeaux. Kelli Bordeaux's mother said today that her daughter's alleged killer led police to her body in dense woodland . The remains will be sent to the chief medical examiner's office to confirm the identity. Fayetteville Police Chief Harold Medlock said that Holbert had been a person of interest in the case since Bordeaux disappeared. Bordeaux was 23 when she was last seen on the early morning of April 14, 2012, at Froggy Bottoms bar in Fayetteville, where she had gone to sing karaoke. At the time, police believed she left the bar with a man she met there the week before, a person identified as a registered sex offender. She was reported missing two days later when she didn't report to work. Arrest warrants obtained on Wednesday by The Fayetteville Observer . say that Holbert and Bordeaux arrived together at the now-closed bar . and were there for several hours before getting into a fight in the . parking lot. Holbert allegedly knocked the 23-year-old woman unconscious, and then brought her to his home behind the bar. He then beat her around the head until she died, according to warrants. Pfc. Bordeaux was reported missing when she didn't report for duty at Fort Bragg where she served in a medical unit. Remains found by the interstate close to Fayetteville, North Carolina are being sent to the medical examiner to confirm it is the young soldier . Convicted sex offender Nicholas Holbert said he drove Bordeaux home but denies any further involvement. He was arrested on Wednesday and will be charged with first-degree murder, police said . The man, who Lt. Joyce identified as . Holbert, said he dropped off Bordeaux at the entrance to the apartment . complex where she lived with her husband Mike, who was in Florida visiting . family that weekend. Holbert . was jailed because he did not live at the address he gave authorities, . as a registered sex offender is required to do, but he said at the time . he had nothing to do with her disappearance. According to The Fayetteville Observer, police learned two text messages were sent from Bordeaux's phone after she left the bar, including one that said she had arrived home. Police said early in the investigation that they didn't believe Bordeaux sent that one. Volunteers gathered repeatedly in the weeks and months following Bordeaux's disappearance to conduct searches. Fort Bragg and Fayetteville officials had offered a $25,000 reward for information regarding her whereabouts. It was nearly a year ago this month that the U.S. Army declared Bordeaux dead. That move allowed her family to receive military death benefits. Bordeaux, a Florida native, was assigned to the 601st Area Support Medical Company, 44th Medical Brigade and served as a combat medic. 'She and her family have remained close in our hearts since Kelli last stood in our formation in April 2012,' said Lt. Col. Heather A. Kness, commander of the 261st Multifunctional Medical Battalion in which Bordeaux's served. 'We honor her memory and will always remember her vibrant spirit, her love of life and her loyal and dedicated service to our Army and nation as a combat medic.' Kelli Bordeaux's husband Mike was in Florida visiting family when she disappeared in the early hours of April 14, 2012 after leaving a Fayetteville bar with another man . Kelli Bordeaux, 23, was last seen in the early hours of April 14, 2012, at Froggy Bottoms bar in Fayetteville where she had gone to sing karaoke . | Remains of Pfc Kelli Bordeaux believed to have been found near I-295 in Fayetteville, North Carolina .
Nicholas Michael Holbert, 27, charged with first-degree murder and first-degree kidnapping .
Prosecutors will review evidence to see if charges .
warrant death penalty .
Holbert had been a person of interest since Bordeaux disappeared .
Mrs Bordeaux was 23 when she was last seen in the early hours of April 14, 2012, at Froggy Bottoms bar in Fayetteville .
Her husband was in Florida visiting family the weekend she disappeared after being last seen leaving a karaoke bar with a man . |
51,285 | 913248d2f832fb82912ba1c40cff2637e082e705 | The stars of a viral video of their subway brawl have been slapped with assault charges. In the video, 21-year-old Danay Howard can be seen taunting Jorge Pena, 25, over his clothing before the argument turn physical. Howard and Pena were both arrested at the West Fourth Street subway station at about 5am Saturday along with Howard's friends Kevin Gil, 21, and Shanique Campbell, 20, who had jumped into the fight to support her. Howard, the woman who was shockingly slapped across the face, has been hit with the most severe charges - including a felony. Scroll down for video . 21-year-old Danay Howard can be seen taunting Jorge Pena, 25, over his clothing before the argument turns into a physical altercation.nting a passenger on a New York subway train, was slapped so hard she almost fell . The New York Daily News reports that Pena, Gil, and Campbell were each charged with misdemeanor assault and disorderly conduct while Howard was charged with felony assault using a weapon. In the footage, Howard can be seen taunting Pena on the Washington Square station-bound F train, when she is slapped so hard she was almost knocked over. Another man jumped to her defense as scenes descended into chaos with the men raining punches down on each other. Howard and Pena were reportedly both arrested at the W. 4th St. subway station at about 5 a.m. Saturday along with Howard's friends Kevin Gil, 21, and Shanique Campbell, 20 . The incident was captured on camera and has since gone viral, according to the New York Daily News. The undated footage, which was uploaded to YouTube on Saturday, has already had more than 1.5 million views. It shows Howard on the train with her friends telling Pena, who is wearing a leather 8 ball jacket and fur hat, to stay away before she starts to insult his clothing. Her friends egg her on and clap as she throws insults at the unnamed man, who nods and smiles at her. Howard tells Pena: 'You got a dumb*** 8 ball jacket that came out in the 1990s.' As she is holding a pair of high-heeled snake skin boots she says: ‘I’m done. You wanna know what shoes I’ve got on? They’re Steve Madden ones, alright?’ before sitting down. She was insulting his dress sense and told him 'You got a dumb*** 8 ball jacket that came out in the 1990s' The young woman's friends jump up when they see that another passenger is recording the argument . Her attention is then drawn to the man filming the incident after he tells her: ‘Nobody wears Steve Madden no more,’ and her friends jump up and charge towards him asking him what he is doing. He backs off but Howard knocks the phone from his hand – sending it flying to the ground but it is still recording and he tells her ‘you’re petty as hell – you can’t even afford this.’ The man picks it up but she knocks it from his hands again before continuing her attack on Pena. 'You sound stupid,' she shouts at him from behind before hitting him on the back of his head with her boot. Howard continues to taunt Pena by telling him he sounds stupid before she hits him on the back of his head . A man steps in in an attempt to break up the fight but is unsuccessful and also ends up in the middle of the fight . He then swiftly turns round and slaps her hard across the cheek, creating a loud smacking noise. The girl's friend jumps in and the situation quickly spirals out of control with several people trying to hit each other, while the cameraman screams in excitement. Another man steps in to break up the fight and eventually two of the men are separated. The video, titled 'Man smacks the soul out of girl on the NY Subway', has since gone viral and even led to remixed versions online. | 21-year-old Danay Howard can be seen taunting Jorge Pena, 25, over his clothing before the argument turns into a physical altercation.
She insulted his clothing before hitting him on back of head with her shoe .
The man turned round and slapped her so hard she was knocked back .
Howard and Pena were reportedly both arrested at the W. 4th St. subway station along with Howard's friends Kevin Gil, 21, and Shanique Campbell, 20, who had jumped into the fight to support her .
The incident was captured on camera but man who screams in excitement . |
45,521 | 8048a18ff5369c07ffdbcd3f2a4d5fff36d863cf | By . Kerry Mcdermott and Anna Edwards . PUBLISHED: . 08:54 EST, 6 March 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 13:53 EST, 6 March 2013 . A NHS nurse who worked 19-hour days . with moonlight shifts at a steel plant said she had to work the marathan . hours to pay for her son's university education. Diane Davies, 55, is accused of endangering patients lives by her marathon working days for 12 years. But Davies told how she took on the extra shifts as a steelworks nurse after becoming the sole breadwinner for her family. She is accused of breaking NHS rules by working 19-hour days for 12 years, leaving her 'too tired' to properly care for patients. 'Too tired': NHS nurse Diane Davies (pictured yesterday) drove straight from night shifts at a . Llanelli steelworks to her job at Morriston Hospital, Swansea, the . court heard . Davies would drive home when . her shift ended at 5pm only to start the routine all over again at the . steel plant five hours later, functioning on barely any sleep. Health . chiefs were unaware the nurse was holding down two full-time jobs. The . court heard Davies' 12 years of night shifts had boosted her income by . up to £28,000 per year on top of her NHS salary. The . court was told Davies worked from 10pm to 7am as an agency nurse at a . steelworks, before driving to Swansea's Morriston Hospital for 8.15am to . put in a near nine hour shift on the ward. But she told a jury she did what she . had to so to 'survive' and took on the punishing workload with two . full-time jobs after her husband Ken lost his employment. She said: 'I did what I had to do to survive. 'I was putting my son through university at the time so money was very very tight. 'My husband lost his job so we lost a wage. 'It was very important for me to put my son through university and things were bad.' Davies is accused of putting patients' lives at risk because she was too tired to care for them properly. She worked from 10pm to 7am as an . agency nurse at a steelworks, before driving to Swansea's Morriston . Hospital for 8.15am to put in a near nine hour shift on the ward. Davies would drive home when her . shift ended at 5pm only to start the routine all over again at the . Trostre steel plant in Llanelli, West Wales. Punishing: Between her jobs at Trostre steelworks and Morriston Hospital (pictured), Davies put in a working week of between 77 and 82 hours, the prosecution claims . The nurse told a jury that her role . at the steelworks as a 'babysitting' shift and she was able to sleep for . 'about six hours' while on the job. She said: 'After I finished at the hospital my husband would cook dinner, I'd watch telly or have a sleep then go to Trostre. 'They employed 600 at the steelworks, . it was heavy industry so they had a nurse 24/7 but the nurse on a night . shift wasn't really needed.' 'My role was to baby sit the plant at night. 'I'd do a hand over from the day . nurse, clean up, stock up dressing trollies, make notes for the . following day's duties and that was my role finished so I'd sleep. 'I couldn't have worked two jobs if I didn't have any sleep, so I slept. 'I never worked straight through two shifts, I slept at Trostre. 'If I was disturbed I woke up and dealt with that but that was the nature of the work. 'You can't sit in a chair for eight hours and not fall asleep.' 'If Davies had disclosed her full-time second job it would most definitely not have been allowed' Julian Quirke, senior HR manager at Morriston Hospital . Swansea Crown Court heard how health chiefs were unaware the nurse was holding down two full-time jobs. The court heard Davies' 12 years of night shifts had boosted her income by up to £28,000 per year on top of her NHS salary. But Davies claimed she had informed . her line manager at the hospital she was working a second full-time job . at the steelworks - but he 'had not been concerned'. She said: 'As he'd never placed any priority on it I didn't think it would be an issue with anyone else. 'I thought I was doing the right thing.' Davies told the jury her work at the . hospital was managerial not not clinical - from 2003 she was appointed . junior sister and later sister. She said she would 'never' be involved in clinical procedures and did not distribute drugs or remove stitches from patients. Prosecutor Kristian Jowett said: 'She was obliged to disclose her second job to the NHS but she didn't do that. 'Nurses are required to disclose secondary employment to their employers to ensure safe practice.' The prosecution claims she had a working week of between 77 and 82 hours spread over four days. The court heard Davies' contract at Morriston Hospital was for a minimum of 37-and-a-half hours each week. During her employment at the steelworks through Acorn Recruitment, she worked between 40 and 45 hours a week. She is accused of doing both jobs four days of the week, breaking the rules of her contract with the NHS. Julian Quirk, a senior human resources manager at the hospital, said: 'Working the hours Davies did would be almost impossible. 'It would be illogical for someone to . work so many hours back-to-back. There simply would not be sufficient . time for the individual to have rest.' 'If Davies had disclosed her full-time second job it would most definitely not have been allowed. 'If somebody was working 19 hours a day, I cannot imagine a manager not saying that would represent a risk.' The . court heard how that during the 12 years at the steelworks Davies was . paid between £8,471 and £28,238 each year in addition to her NHS salary. Davies, . of Birchgrove, Swansea, denies putting patient safety at risk and . obtaining a financial advantage by failing to disclose her second job. The experienced nurse claims she thought the hospital knew about her other employment and that she 'never hid it'. Davies, . who received no complaints regarding her clinical duty, has now . resigned from her role at the hospital, where she worked since 1994. The trial continues. Sorry we are unable to accept comments for legal reasons. | Diane Davies took on marathon shifts to support her family .
Claims she had to work such long hours after her husband lost his job .
Nurse was 'too tired' to properly care for patients, court heard .
NHS bosses were unaware she held down two jobs for 12 years .
Her working week was between 77 and 82 hours, prosecution says .
Night job thought to have boosted her income by up to £28,000 a year . |
85,495 | f27f754aedb83ad7babbce0a1a7213116299da1a | Canton, Ohio (CNN) -- As the snow started falling, I drove to Giant Eagle to pick up some groceries. With a storm on the way, I needed to stock up on supplies in case we got snowed in. I pulled into the parking lot of the store and found a spot right in front of the entrance. I sat there for a few minutes, collecting what I needed to take in. As I reached over to the passenger seat to grab my wallet, I glanced over at the car next to me through the passenger window and saw three people who were loading their groceries into their car. I also saw a large man standing there, reaching over the hood of their car. He was wiping the snow and ice off the car's windshield with his bare hands. The owner of the vehicle looked at him with an icy stare that seemed to say, "How dare you touch my car." She seemed disgusted just breathing the same air as the man cleaning her windshield. Instead of asking him to stop or giving him a few dollars, she quickly climbed into her car and gunned the car forward so fast the man was knocked back. A few seconds later, the man got up, walked to my car and knocked on my window. I hadn't even processed what I had just witnessed. Now he was coming over to me and I had no idea what to say. "Please, not now, I just want to get what I need and get home," I thought to myself. Where I live, it's common for people to approach you for money. I took a deep breath and started to open the door. The man opened it the rest of the way, being careful not to hit the car next to me. This man stood well over 6 feet and wore sweatpants, a light flannel shirt and boots that were left untied. It was roughly 20 degrees outside and he was clearly not dressed for the cold. In a rather abrupt voice, he broke the silence by asking, "Can I have your change?" I scooped up the change I had in the car and gave him everything I had, which was only $2.37. After handing him the money, I explained that I didn't have any more. "I'm cold and hungry. Can you take me to the shelter?" he asked. I noticed his hands. They were at his side but his fingers moved silently up and down, as though he was playing an invisible piano. He spoke with great difficulty -- in a stilted, mechanical fashion and his face showed no emotion. I never felt threatened, although he stood in my personal space about 1 or 2 feet in front of me. He would occasionally look in my direction, but never at me. Although he stood so close, he avoided eye contact. "Can you drive me to the shelter? Because it's warm there and they have food," he asked me again. "I'm homeless and very hungry," he said. "I'm not lying to you. If I lie to you then you might not help me." I really didn't know what to say, because I wasn't comfortable driving him anywhere. Then he asked me to buy him some food and gloves. I thought about what to say. I knew he would have a hard time understanding: I don't have any money. My family is struggling to survive each day. I was trying to figure out how to explain to him that I couldn't help, but I was at a loss for words. Then something happened that shook me to the core and completely broke my heart. As I was trying to tell him no, he looked me in the eyes. All of a sudden, I was looking at my oldest son. My wife and I have three boys with autism; the oldest is 12. Looking at the bare-handed man was like looking through some special window at my oldest son, 20 or 30 years from now. It was like being run over by a freight train. I was washed by a wave of clarity and my eyes and heart were now open to what was happening in front of me. Suddenly I was transformed from a person trying to avoid the whole situation into a parent, filled with compassion and understanding. He again asked me to buy him food because he was hungry and gloves because his hands were cold. Something about him was so familiar. Yes, I would buy him some food. I would never deny any of my children food if they were hungry. He smiled in my direction and took my hand without looking at me and led me into the store. His hands were cold, hardened and chapped. I noticed the looks people gave me as I walked with the bare-handed man into the grocery store. His clothes were old, beaten up and had a foul odor. He asked me to buy him a gift card so he could buy food later, when he would be hungry again. So we walked over to the rack and he picked out a Giant Eagle gift card. I put $25 on the gift card. I gave him $25 in cash and asked him to please buy some gloves and a bus ride to the shelter. He asked for the receipt so "When the police stop me, I can prove I didn't steal this." He told me again that he wasn't lying. I told him I knew he wasn't. He turned to walk away, stopped and looked in my direction as if to say "Thank you," but didn't. What he did said more than a simple thank you. He showed me his eyes again for a brief moment before he turned around and left. I was beside myself with grief. How could someone I didn't know have such a profound effect on me? It took everything I had not to burst into tears. I just couldn't shake just how much the bare-handed man reminded me of my oldest son. Their eyes, mannerisms and even the way they speak were so similar. My son struggles with boundaries and personal space simply because he doesn't understand, not because he wants to be invasive. All I could think was, "How does this happen?" I was smacked in the face with reality. Related story: Parents of autistic children who "take nothing for granted" Someday I won't be here to take care of my children. What if this happens to them? What if they are the ones wiping off a windshield with their bare hands and almost being run over by someone who doesn't care? I can't let that happen. I won't let that happen. Since that cold February day in 2011, I have met the bare-handed man on a few more occasions. Along the way, I learned that his name is Tim and that he remembers me. Tim has shown me just how much work still needs to be done. I would like to think that my experience that day -- the way people treated Tim in that frozen parking lot -- was an isolated incident. Sadly, I know it's not. Things like this happen all the time. To this writer and father of three beautiful boys on the autism spectrum, this is simply unacceptable. We need to do what we can to help the world better understand both children and adults with autism. I'm terrified of what the future might hold for my children. I have witnessed how cruel and unforgiving the world can be to people who are perceived as different. It is an ugly reality but one I'm working to help change. Please help spread autism awareness, even if it's one person at a time. Remember that the autistic children of today will be the autistic adults of tomorrow. These people need and deserve our compassion, understanding and respect. Let's help to ensure that what happened to my friend Tim in the parking lot of the Giant Eagle doesn't have to happen to anyone else, ever again. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Rob Gorski. | Rob Gorski is father to three sons with autism and blogs at "Lost and Tired"
Gorski encounters a homeless man brushing ice and snow off his windshield .
Homeless man reminds Gorksi of what could happen to his children . |
109,905 | 19a83fa239603ca74264f5f0d11d61ff0ace5c1f | By . Ted Thornhill . Munching just two and a half portions of fruit and vegetables daily may significantly reduce the risk of stroke, new research claims. Stroke risk decreases by 32 per cent with every 200 grams of fruit consumed each day and 11 per cent with every 200 grams of vegetables consumed each day, according to a study. The conclusion came from analysis of 20 studies about the effects of fruit and vegetable consumption on risk of stroke published over the past 19 years. Food for thought: Stroke risk decreases by 32 per cent with every 200 grams of fruit consumed each day and 11 per cent with every 200 grams of vegetables consumed each day . Stroke is a 'brain attack', according to the Stroke Association. Its . website says: 'For your brain to function, it needs a constant blood . supply, which provides vital nutrients and oxygen to the brain cells. A . stroke happens when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off and . brain cells are damaged or die. 'About . a third of people who have a stroke make a significant recovery within a . month. But most stroke survivors will have long-term problems. It may . take a year or longer for them to make the best possible recovery. Sadly, in the most severe cases, strokes can be fatal or cause long-term . disability.' It says that members of the public can recognise a stroke using the FAST test: . 1) Facial weakness - can the person smile? Has their mouth or eye drooped?2) Arm weakness - Can the person raise both arms?3) Speech problems - Can the person speak clearly and understand what you say?4) Time to call 999. The Stroke Association says that failing any of these tests means it's a medical emergency and it's time to call 999. ‘Improving diet and lifestyle is critical for heart and stroke risk reduction in the general population,’ said Yan Qu, the study's senior author and director of the intensive care unit at Qingdao Municipal Hospital, China. ‘In particular, a diet rich in fruits and vegetables is highly recommended because it meets micronutrient and macronutrient and fibre requirements without adding substantially to overall energy requirements.’ The studies demonstrated that high fruit and vegetable consumption can lower blood pressure – high blood pressure is a major cause of strokes - and improve microvascular function. This diet also has favourable effects on body mass index, waist circumference, cholesterol and inflammation, the study said. The beneficial effects of fruits and vegetables applied consistently to men and women of all ages. The NHS recommends eating five 80g portions of fruit and veg daily. The researchers combined the results of six studies from the U.S, eight from Europe and six from China and Japan. They noted that low fruit and vegetable consumption is prevalent worldwide, and especially in low and middle-income countries. Over 150,000 people suffer a stroke every year in the UK and it is the third largest cause of death, with heart disease and cancer being the most deadly conditions, according to the NHS. Strokes are the largest cause of adult disability in the UK, as they can starve the brain of oxygen, leading to permanent damage. Eighty per cent of strokes are the ischaemic variety, where blood supply is curtailed by a blood clot. The other type is haemorrhagic, where a blood vessel connected to the brain bursts. Increasing the consumption of fruits and vegetables up to 600 grams each day could reduce the burden of ischemic stroke by 19 percent globally, according to the World Health Organization. A recent study from the University of Eastern Finland, meanwhile, showed that consuming alcohol more frequently than twice a week increases the risk of stroke mortality in men. In China, stroke is the leading cause of death, with an estimated 1.7million people dying in 2010. In the United States, stroke is the No4 cause of death and a leading cause of disability. Brush with death: Chris Tarrant said he felt lucky to be alive after suffering a stroke on a flight from Thailand to Heathrow . Chris Tarrant and Andrew Marr are two recent high-profile stroke victims. Mr Tarrant suffered one during an 11-hour flight from Bangkok to Heathrow. He said afterwards: 'I wasn't sure if I was going to fade away completely on my own. I am incredibly lucky to be alive because one in three people who have strokes don't make it. It has made me appreciate my life so much more.' Results of the study were published in the American Heart Association's journal Stroke. | Stroke risk decreases by 32% with every 200g of fruit consumed each day .
Risk is cut by 11% with every 200g of veg eaten daily, a Chinese study said .
Over 150,000 people suffer a stroke each year in the UK . |
256,240 | d7ae49bc04c646ab2774ca0e4876d798c1caffd6 | You can set your watch by it. Within minutes of the start of a State of the Union address, the President will offer his assessment -- almost always positive -- of where America stands. "We can say with renewed confidence that the state of our union is stronger," President Barack Obama declared in the third paragraph of last year's speech. But why wait for him to tell us how things are going this year? And don't presidents always spin it to make it sound as good as possible for their administration? Instead, CNN asked its correspondents, producers, analysts and contributors to provide their assessment of the state of the Union as 2014 begins before Obama's speech on Tuesday night. Here's how they see it: . Economy -- for many, a slow recovery . CNNMoney's Annalyn Kurtz reports that economic recovery continues from the recession Obama inherited, but so far it seems that only the rich are getting richer. The presidency -- feeling feisty . CNN Senior White House Correspondent Jim Acosta reports that Obama and his team plan to use executive orders to bypass legislative gridlock in their declared "year of action." Congress -- coming to life? Darrell West, the vice president for governance studies at the Brookings Institution, writes that political expediency in an election year may bring some congressional cooperation rather than continued partisan stalemate. The military -- under the budget gun . CNN's Tom Cohen reports there's no evident peace dividend for the U.S. military after ending the Iraq war and winding down combat operations in Afghanistan, due to budget cuts in Washington and a transition to a more modern armed forces. Foreign policy -- U.S. still a leader? CNN National Security Producer Jamie Crawford reports the Obama administration faces questions of a weakened role in world affairs despite a high-profile role in international talks involving several Middle East issues, as well as an increasing U.S. presence in Asia. National security -- shifting post-9/11 posture . CNN Justice Producer Evan Perez reports that an evolving terrorist threat and classified leaks that disclosed U.S. surveillance programs are combining to bring changes to how the nation responded to the 9/11 attacks more than 12 years ago. And on politics, we hear from two CNN contributors -- Democratic strategist Paul Begala and Republican strategist Alex Castellanos -- on where they see things heading into Obama's speech. | CNN correspondents, producers and contributors assess the state of the Union .
President Obama will deliver the annual address on Tuesday night .
CNN's Acosta: expect a feisty stance by Obama on executive actions .
2014 is a time of transition for the economy, foreign policy, national security . |
123,288 | 2b61145e5f4fb03df0bc01dd1af84e89008d2f83 | By . Associated Press . PUBLISHED: . 10:58 EST, 30 August 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 13:00 EST, 30 August 2012 . Hero: Witold Pilecki infiltrated Auschwitz to chronicle Nazi atrocities. He survived nearly three years as an inmate in the death camp, before making a daring escape. But he was later executed . It could hardly have been a riskier mission - to infiltrate Auschwitz and chronicle Nazi atrocities. Witold Pilecki survived nearly three years as an inmate in the death camp, managing to smuggle out word of executions before making a daring escape. But the Polish resistance hero was crushed by the post-war communist regime tried on trumped-up charges and executed. Six decades on, Poland hopes . Pilecki's remains will be identified among the entangled skeletons and . shattered skulls of resistance fighters being excavated from a mass . grave on the edge of Warsaw's Powazki Military Cemetery. The . exhumations are part of a movement in the resurgent, democratic nation . to officially recognize its war-time heroes and 20th century tragedies. 'He . was unique in the world,' said Zofia Pilecka-Optulowicz, paying tribute . to her father's 1940 decision to walk straight into a Nazi street . roundup with the aim of getting inside the extermination camp. 'I would . like to have a place where I can light a candle for him.' More than 100 skeletons, mostly of men, . have been dug up this summer. On one recent day, forensic workers and . archaeologists wearing blue plastic gloves and masks were carefully . scraping away at the soil and piecing together bones as if working on a . jigsaw puzzle. The front of one skull had been blown away by bullets; another had apparently been bludgeoned; a skeleton showed evidence of multiple gunshot wounds. Near the pit where the bodies were dumped under cover of night stand the well-tended tombstones of the very judges and prosecutors who sent these World War II heroes to their deaths under orders from Moscow, which was fearful that the Polish patriots might use their seasoned underground skills to turn the nation against its new pro-Soviet rulers. Held: In this photo taken in 1940, Witold Pilecki is seen as an inmate of the Auschwitz Birkenau death camp . Discovery: Poland now hopes Pilecki's remains will be identified among the skeletons of resistance fighters currently being excavated from a mass grave on the edge of Warsaw's Powazki Military Cemetery . 'The perpetrators have not been punished . and the bodies of the victims have not been found,' said Krzysztof . Szwagrzyk, a historian in charge of the dig. 'Those times will be coming . back to us until we find the bodies and bury them with due honors. 'We . are doing them justice.' Pilecki's son Andrzej and dozens of other relatives of victims have been swabbed in the hope their DNA will be a match for the skeletons. Initial work is being carried out to determine age, sex, height and injuries of the victims. It will take several months to determine if Pilecki, who was killed by a bullet to the back of his head, is among them. Thousands of resistance fighters were killed across Poland; the remains of up to 400 are believed to have been dumped in the Powazki mass grave. Pilecki was 38 when Germany invaded Poland on September 1, 1939, triggering the start of World War II. He helped organize a resistance campaign during which many fellow fighters were caught and sent to Auschwitz, which in the early war years served more as a camp for Polish resistance fighters than Jews. Grim: More than 100 skeletons, mostly of men, have already been dug up this summer. In this photo an archeologist uncovers a skeleton during works at the cemetery . Patience: A forensic worker sorts through bones during work at the cemetery. It will take several months to determine if Pilecki, who was killed by a bullet to the back of his head, is among them . That inspired him to hatch an . audacious plan: He told other resistance commanders that he wanted to . become an Auschwitz inmate to check on rumors of atrocities. Carrying . documents bearing the alias Tomasz Serafinski, the Catholic cavalry . officer walked into the German SS street roundup in Warsaw in September . 1940, and was put on a train transport to Auschwitz, where he was given . prisoner number 4859. He was 'exceptionally courageous,' said Jacek Pawlowicz, a historian with Warsaw's Institute of National Remembrance. Pilecki is the only person known to have volunteered for Auschwitz. His terse dispatches to the outside world were slips of thin paper stitched inside clothes of inmates leaving the camp or left in nearby fields for others to collect. They included only code names for inmates who were beaten to death, executed by gunfire or gassed. As sketchy as they were, they were the first eyewitness account of the Nazi death machine at Auschwitz. Pilecki survived hard labor, beatings, cold and typhoid fever thanks to support from a clandestine resistance network that he managed to organize inside the camp. Some of its members had access to food, others to clothes or medicines. Past: The exhumations are part of a movement in the resurgent, democratic Poland to officially recognize its war-time heroes and 20th century tragedies . Remembrance: Zofia Pilecka-Optulowicz, daughter of Witold Pilecki, attends a ceremony marking the archeological work at the Powazki cemetery . He plotted a revolt that was to . release inmates with the help of an outside attack by resistance . fighters; it was never attempted because considered too risky, Pawlowicz . said. Pilecki escaped . in April 1943 when he realized that the SS might uncover his work. With . two other men he ran from a night shift at a bakery that was outside the . death camp's barbed wire fence. After his escape, Pilecki wrote three detailed reports on the extermination camp. One describes how his transport was met by yelling SS men and attacking dogs: 'They told one of us to run to a post away from the road, and immediately sent a machine gun round after him. Killed him. 'Ten random colleagues were taken out of the group and shot, as they were walking, as "collective responsibility" for the "escape" that the SS-men arranged themselves.' Difficult: A forensic worker cleans a skull during the excavation . Pilecki's heroics were for the most part in vain. Even though his accounts of gas chambers made it all the way to Poland's government-in-exile in London and to other Western capitals, few believed what they were reading. After escaping, Pilecki rejoined . Poland's Home Army resistance force and fought in the 1944 Warsaw . Uprising, the city's ill-fated revolt against the Nazis. In 1947, he was arrested by the secret security of the communist regime, imposed on Poland after the war, and falsely accused of planning to assassinate dignitaries. The Soviet plan after World War II was to subdue the Poles by crushing resistance and erasing any sense of Polish identity or history. Today, more than two decades into . Poland's democracy, however, enough documentation and funds have been . gathered to restore the banned past and try to find and identify the . heroes' bodies. In . addition to Pilecki, the search is on for the remains of other wartime . resistance heroes, including Brig. Gen. August Emil Fieldorf, a top . clandestine Home Army commander who once served as emissary to Poland of . the country's government-in-exile. He was accused of ordering killings . of Soviet soldiers charges that Poland's communist authorities later . admitted were fabricated and hanged in 1953. Szwagrzyk . is not sure if Pilecki will be found at Powazki cemetery because it is . not the only such clandestine site in Warsaw or the rest of Poland. Respect: Soldiers and scouts stand in front of coffins containing remains of World War II heroes during a ceremony ending the archeological works at the Powazki cemetery . But his place in history is gradually . being restored. A street in Warsaw is now named after him, as are some . schools across the country. He . found communist prison harder to endure than Auschwitz. A fellow inmate . described seeing him in prison slumped, unable to raise his head . because his collar bones had been broken. At his show trial, he was . hiding his hands because his fingernails had been ripped out during . torture. At one court session, he told his wife Maria that the secret security torture had sapped his will to go on. 'I can live no longer,' he said. | Witold Pilecki survived nearly three .
years as an inmate in the death camp, smuggling out word of .
executions before making a daring escape .
But the Polish resistance hero was crushed by the post-war communist regime, tried on trumped-up charges and executed .
Poland now hopes .
Pilecki's remains will be identified among the skeletons of resistance fighters being excavated from a mass .
grave in Warsaw . |
207,647 | 98dac8d2577e02236ca54ac8ab5bf251064a4284 | By . Jill Reilly . PUBLISHED: . 07:44 EST, 30 November 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 07:56 EST, 30 November 2012 . Dead: Paul Andrade, 30, of Hollywood . The bodies of a father and his six-year-old daughter have been discovered inside a minivan. Paul Andrade, 30, of Hollywood, killed himself, his daughter Amira and their dog through carbon monoxide poisoning, according to police. The Nissan Quest was found outside the home of his ex-wife and mother of the child Vicky Paredes early on Thursday morning. Andrade and Paredes had broken up about a year ago and she had recently remarried. The father was upset over that,' Davie Police Capt. Dale Engle said. Andrade had regular visitation with his daughter, including an overnight visit with the girl Wednesday, police said. 'It appears that he routinely saw his child,' said Davie Police Capt. Dale Engle. Two teenagers saw a hose attached to the van and at 6:44 a.m., officers responded to . the incident in the 3700 block of Northwest 74th Avenue. Crime scene: The Nissan Quest was found outside the home of his ex-wife and mother of the child Vicky Paredes early on Thursday morning . Tragic: Andrade's body, covered in a white sheet, was removed from the minivan and placed into a coroner's van . One neighbor said she unsuccessfully tried reviving the girl through CPR. When police arrived, Mr Engle said, they saw the distraught mother rocking her daughter in her arms. 'I just heard screaming at 6:30 in . the morning. She was crying for help,' said a neighbor, who preferred . not to be identified told the Sun Sentinel. Grief: Devastate friends gather outside the home . 'You could hear the hurt; you could just feel her pain.' First responders attempted to revive the girl but it was too late. Covered in a white sheet, Andrade's body was removed from the minivan and placed into a coroner's van. The girl's mother was taken to hospital clutching a soft toy. | Paul Andrade, 30, of Hollywood, killed himself, his daughter Amira and his dog through carbon monoxide poisoning .
The Nissan Quest was found outside his ex-wife's apartment early on Thursday morning and police said he was upset she had recently remarried .
Girl's mother had to be hospitalized after seeing the bodies . |
96,259 | 07cdf710c63c435cdcf184bc392a3762aa60539e | Sandy was the deadliest and most destructive tropical cyclone of the 2012 Atlantic hurricane season . Name to be retired from its list of tropical storm names and replaced with 'Sara' The most names ever retired in one year was five in 2005, including Katrina and Rita . Sandy is the only name to be retired from 2012 . 2013 hurricane season begins on 1st June . By . James Daniel . PUBLISHED: . 18:06 EST, 12 April 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 18:11 EST, 12 April 2013 . It's a name the residents of New York and New Jersey will never forget, but rest assured there will never again will there be a hurricane called 'Sandy'. The hurricane which struck the Northeastern United States with devastating impact last October was the second-costliest hurricane in United States history. At least 285 people were killed along the path of the storm in seven countries. Hurricane Sandy: Although the damage has not been fully calculated, estimates put it well in excess of $50 billion . The damage was particularly severe in New Jersey and New York. The storm surge hit New York City on 29th October 2012 flooding streets, tunnels, subway lines and cutting power in and around the city. Preliminary estimates suggest the damage in the US alone is likely to be well over $50 billion. The final figures will be released later this year. Sandy has been retired from the official list of Atlantic Basin tropical cyclone names by the World Meteorological Organization’s hurricane committee. Enormous: Sandy was a Cat. 3 storm when it made landfall in Cuba and a Cat. 2 storm off the coast of the US. The storm became the largest Atlantic hurricane on record spanning 1,100 miles . Damage: Winds were only part of Sandy's devastating impact - the floodwater was also extremely damaging as the hurricane made landfall along the New Jersey shore. Parts of the state were flooded and without power for days . It now joins a so-called 'hall of fame' for retired hurricane names - a move that usually only occurs when the damage is particularly extreme. Storm names are reused every six years for both the Atlantic and eastern North Pacific basins. Meteorologists use six alphabetical lists of names that alternate between male and female names. One set is used per year and the sets are recycled in the same order. However, if a storm is so deadly or costly that the future use of the name would be insensitive or confusing, the WMO hurricane committee may retire the name. Clean-up: Months on the clean-up continues where large section of the iconic boardwalk was washed away in the heavily damaged Rockaway neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City . Battered: Coastal communities like this one in Queens were torn apart by Sandy's devastatingly strong winds and storm surge. Thousands were left without heat and power for weeks . Sandy was a classic late-season hurricane in the southwestern Caribbean Sea. The cyclone made landfall as a category 1 hurricane in Jamaica, and as a 115 mph category 3 hurricane in eastern Cuba. Hurricane Sandy merged with a second winter storm hours before making landfall near Brigantine, New Jersey. Its size and strength caused catastrophic damage all along the mid-Atlantic shoreline. Sandy was the second costliest hurricane to hit the United States since Katrina in 2005. Switched off then struck off: Sandy saw half of Manhattan without power for days. It's destruction was so severe, the name 'Sandy' is being removed from the list of approved hurricane names . Sandy is the 77th name to be retired . from the Atlantic list since 1954 and was the only name retired for . 2012. The name will be replaced with 'Sara' beginning in 2018. In 2011, Irene was the only name taken off the list. The . 2013 Atlantic hurricane season, which runs 1 June – 30 November, will . use a set last used in 2007. It begins with 'Andrea' and ends with . 'Wendy'. The sets are only 21 names long without names for names beginning with Q, U, X, Y and Z. If there are more than 21 storms in a season, storms are named after the letters of the Greek alphabet. The Atlantic Hurricane season begins on 1st June and lasts until 30th November. | Sandy was the deadliest and most destructive tropical cyclone of the 2012 Atlantic hurricane season .
Name to be retired from its list of tropical storm names and replaced with 'Sara'
The most names ever retired in one year was five in 2005, including Katrina and Rita .
Sandy is the only name to be retired from 2012 .
2013 hurricane season begins on 1st June . |
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