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157,264 | 57559d15883e79fa3212511ca0b4bc3a2ae19a29 | By . Lizzie Edmonds . PUBLISHED: . 14:52 EST, 15 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 07:04 EST, 16 November 2013 . A woman who claimed a mystery man crept into her house and took a photo of himself on her phone has remembered that she actually knows him. The woman, named only as Susan, said she found a selfie of a 'stranger' sitting in her home in Plymouth, Devon, on her phone. However, she phoned police this morning and said she does know the man - and had even invited him in for coffee. Strange: A woman, only known as 'Susan', found this image on her phone and did not recognise the man . A Devon and Cornwall police spokesman said: 'We've had contact from the woman this morning whose phone the image was on, to say she now knows who the man in the picture is and that he was in her house legitimately. 'We are therefore assured this has been a mistake, the man in the photo is not a suspect of any crime and we will be making further contact with this person shortly to learn more.' The woman is not expected to be questioned in connection with any crime, such a wasting police time. However, the force has issued an apology to the public. The spokesman said: 'We assume this was a genuine lapse of memory by this woman and we want to apologise to anyone who has been distressed by initially reading this story.' The image shows the woman's lounge from the dining table with a photo of a man reflected in the mirror. Speaking yesterday the woman, who is in her 30s and lives in the Barbican area of Plymouth, said: 'In the picture he looks comfortable in my home. I showed the picture to friends and family and they are absolutely horrified. Mistake: The woman told police today she did know the mystery man - and had even invited him in for coffee . 'I think when the photo was taken I had been in the shower. 'It took me a week before I could stay in the house again. I'm absolutely terrified. 'Now, every time I hear a noise I flinch. It's the fact that he sat at my dining table, while I was in the house and if it wasn't for him taking that picture I wouldn't have ever known. 'That's what frightened me the most. 'The creepiest thing was him not taking anything of worth, it's unnerving. I want to know who he is and why he came into my home. I won't feel safe until I know who he is.' | Woman found image of 'mystery man' sitting in her lounge on her phone .
However, the woman - known only as Susan - rang police today and said she DID know the man and had invited him in to her home in Plymouth, Devon .
'We are assured that this has been a mistake,' police spokesman said . |
128,794 | 326847e397c5ea09e78a9930d27bb6e6349d368e | By . Thomas Burrows for MailOnline . A bingo-lover has been banned from his local hall - because he has Tourette's syndrome. Louis Bunn, 23, was ejected from the hall and banned, after staff thought his involuntary tics, shouting and swearing were deliberate efforts to disrupt people. Mr Bunn, from Eastbourne in East Sussex was removed from the town's Leo Leisure Bingo hall on Sunday in the middle of a game. Scroll down for video . Louis Bunn (pictured) claims that the bingo caller made fun of his accidental outbursts . Leo Leisure Bingo hall (pictured) in Eastbourne, in East Sussex, where Mr Bunn was removed on Sunday . Mr Bunn has claimed that, during the course of the evening, the bingo caller made fun of his accidental outbursts. He said: 'A member of staff was very disrespectful to me and this made my tics worse. 'When I confronted the person I told him I couldn't help it and that I was being discriminated against. 'As the night went on, the staff working the bingo made a few remarks on the microphone regarding my Tourette's and I felt like I was being singled out.' Mr Bunn said that he has doubled his dose of medication since the stressful incident. Mr Bunn was ejected from the hall and banned, after staff thought his involuntary tics, shouting and swearing were deliberate efforts to put the other bingo players off . Tourette’s syndrome is a neurological condition that affects the brain and nervous system. Named after French doctor, Georges Gilles de la Tourette, who first described the syndrome in the 19th century, it is characterised by involuntary noises and movements. Tics are usually vocal (grunting, coughing and shouting) or physical, with typical movements including jerking the head or jumping up and down. Most sufferers are first diagnosed during childhood and it is linked to ADHD and obsessive compulsive disorder. Source: NHS . But bingo hall owner, Peter Brown, defended his decision and said Mr Bunn had 'sworn and spat at' him. Mr Brown, who knows Mr Bunn as a regular, said: 'I am aware of his condition and have never had a problem with it in any way. 'I've spoken to other people to make them aware of his condition and told them that he was a nice person. 'But we'd had a complaint in that week that he had jumped out of his seat and got very aggressive towards an old lady. 'I told him he was welcome to continue playing but we would not accept him being aggressive to customers. 'He was aggressive to me, my female members of staff and I was sworn and spat at. I've never been spoken to like that.' | Louis Bunn, 23, was ejected from Eastbourne's Leo Leisure Bingo hall .
Staff thought his involuntary tics were deliberate efforts to disrupt players .
Mr Bunn claimed the bingo caller made fun of his accidental outbursts .
Bingo hall owner defended the decision and said he was 'sworn and spat at' |
12,732 | 24193c979517287d64951d9bc42c3f1a154c428b | (CNN) -- Monkeys in space. No, it's not the title of a wacky B movie, featuring primates amongst the stars in a bid for intergalactic dominance. Rather, Iran says this plot represents its latest bid to join the space race, though Iran's foes fear the real aim may be to test missile launching capabilities for less peaceful purposes. According to official Iranian news reports, the primate was strapped snugly into a Pishgam (or Pioneer) rocket and launched 120 kilometers (75 miles) into the sky on Monday. He returned back to Earth sometime later, looking shell-shocked but alive as a crowd of men along the desert ground rejoiced, video from state-run Press TV showed. "Sending (the monkey into space) and retrieving it was the first step for sending humans into space," Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi said, according to the semi-official Fars News Agency. But while it was celebrated in Tehran, the monkey business -- if it actually happened -- didn't play well in Washington. U.S. State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland told reporters Monday that while she saw pictures of "the poor little monkey," the United States doesn't "have any way to confirm this (happened), one way or another." "But our concerns with Iran's development of space launch vehicle technologies are obviously well-known: Any space launch vehicle capable of placing an object in orbit is directly relevant to the development of long-range ballistic missiles," she told reporters. Nuland said that, if confirmed, Iran's launch would violate a U.N. Security Council resolution that forbids "any activity related to ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons." But the tone was far different in Iran, where officials characterized the monkey's reportedly successful trip high into the sky and back as a major step forward in its space program. One of the 24 founding members of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space in 1959, Iran sent its first satellite into space in 2009. Other launches have followed, including of an orbiter capable of transmitting images of, and to, Earth. Monday's reported launch of the monkey -- who was kept in a "completely sealed" capsule that produces oxygen and absorbs carbon dioxide, with his vital signs recorded throughout the flight -- is part of a larger effort to someday send humans into space, said Iranian Space Agency Director Hamid Fazeli. It's not the first time animals have reached the skies ahead of humans. The U.S. space program launched a rhesus monkey into space from New Mexico in 1948. Other primates and mice followed, and the Soviet Union a few years later joining the animal space race when nine dogs went skyward aboard rockets. Many more creatures soared into space in the years to come, until Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin orbited Earth in April 1961. American astronaut Alan Shepard made a suborbital flight later that year, and John Glenn became the first American to orbit Earth in 1962. Read more space and science news on CNN's Light Years blog . | Iranian state news reports a monkey strapped inside a capsule launches into space .
An Iranian minister calls the monkey's trip "the first step for sending humans into space"
A U.S. official says such a launch, if confirmed, violates a U.N. Security Council resolution .
Animals have been used for space launches before, to prepare for human flights . |
245,339 | c98dd8b69ea73b8691f332ab9139a76cb0fcd09a | By . Harriet Hernando . As bow ties are plumped and hair is coiffed for this evening’s First Night of the Proms, an orchestra will be preparing to play Elgar’s biblical oratorio The Kingdom. But that isn’t the only curtain raiser, for today the home where Edward Elgar composed some of his finest pieces goes on the market for £2.25 million. The 18th century four-bedroom house just outside of Bray in Berkshire saw Elgar labour over the oratorio and part of his Cello Concerto. Stunning: The Mansion near Bray in Berkshire, which saw Elgar compose some of his finest pieces, is on sale for £2.25 million . Riverside: The Berkshire mansion's gardens are set beside the River Thames . Historic: the swimming pool was formerly the music room where English composer Elgar wrote his Cello Concerto and The Kingdom . A historic blue plaque marks the gated entrance to the Berkshire mansion where Elgar composed music. The home belonged to his close friend Frank Schuster, a patron of the arts . A historic blue plaque by the gated entrance marks his time in the mansion, stating that ‘he often stayed and composed in this house’. The present resident is Pauline Turner, a humanist celebrant who has been there for five years. Earlier, the home was owned by Miss Van de Weyer, a lady-in-waiting to Queen Victoria who regularly stopped by for afternoon tea. The sale of the home will likely cause a sit among Elgar fans, who have visited the mansion over the years to see where he worked. Sir Edward William Elgar was an an English composer who achieved international fame in the classical music arena. His best known compositions include the Enigma Variations and the Pomp and Circumstance Marches concertos for violin and cello. Born on June 2 , 1857, Elgar was the son of a music shopkeeper and piano tuner in provincial Worcester, and brought up as a Catholic. He received practical training as a performer on the violin and other instruments, and taught himself composition. In Protestant Britain, his Roman Catholicism was regarded with suspicion and he became an outsider. He did however attain national prominence in 1899 when his ‘Enigma’ Variations premiered in London. His next major work, the oratorio The Dream of Gerontius, quickly became successful in Britain and Germany. A decade followed which saw the composition of two further oratorios, The Apostles and The Kingdom and a stream of orchestral works culminating in the First Symphony and the Violin Concerto. When his wife died, Elgar, who had been living in London, moved back to the West Midlands. He was working with renewed energy on an opera and a Third Symphony when he died in 1934. There was . the time when a crew of Norwegian sailors arrived, out of the blue and . via the river Thames, dressed in naval costumes. They . sang Rule, Britannia! and staged a trumpet call outside what was the . music room , then toasted the moment with shots of schnapps. As they left the house via the Thames on their rowing barge they raised their oars in salute as they sailed past. Elgar . would sit in the music room, which is now the swimming pool, and compose . music that he would perform in front of an audience that included . Gabriel Faure, George Bernard Shaw, Dame Nellie Melba, Siegfried Sassoon . and Arnold Benett. Al fresco: A patio overlooks the manicured lawn belonging to the Berkshire mansion which Savills put up for sale today . Original: The leaded windows are some of the original features which still remain in the 18th century mansion . Roomy: The mansion is known for its high ceilings and open spaces . Open plan: While a new kitchen has been fitted since Elgar's days, the house clearly retains some of the 18th century features such as the leaded windows in the background . The property, called Long White Cloud, which was owned by Eldgar’s close friend Frank Schuster, was a regular haunt of the legendary composer in the early 20th century. In 1906 he came up with The Kingdom and, four years later, worked on his Violin Concerto. The house was named Long White Cloud, which is the Maori name for New Zealand, by a more recent resident, Stirling Moss. Mr Moss, 84, is a former Formula One racing driver from England. Stirling Moss, 84, is a former Formula One driver who raced for England. He was a top racer but never quite managed to get it over the line, becoming known as 'the greatest driver to never win the World Championship' by sports commentators. Moss was raised in Long White Cloud by his father Alfred, who was a dentist, and his mother Aileen. His sister Pat was also gifted behind the wheel and she became a successful rally driver. Moss, who raced from 1948 to 1962, won 212 of the 529 races he entered, including 16 Formula One Grand Prix. He would compete in as many as 62 races in a single year and drove 84 different makes of car over the course of his racing career, including Cooper 500, ERA, Lotus, Maserati, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Aston Martin, Maserati, Ferrari and Jaguar. He remained the English driver with the most Formula One victories until 1991 when Nigel Mansell overtook him after competing in more races. He now lives in West Kensington, London. It was his family home and he drove his first racing car around the track in the grounds of the property as a boy. The Mosses owned the home until 1959 and in 1963 the estate was sold and split up into two homes. Spread across 4,840 sq ft, it has five bedrooms, four reception rooms, an indoor swimming pool and a 32ft drawing room. It still contains many of the original features including leaded light windows and ornate fireplaces. Fiona Copeman, an associate director at Savills estate agents, said: ‘Long White Cloud is a historic home set within idyllic riverside gardens. ‘We've had quite a lot of interest in the property and already had six viewings. It is a lovely family home and is in Bray, which didn't flood last year.’ | Elgar composed Cello Concerto and The Kingdom at the mansion in Bray, Berkshire .
The biblical oratorio The Kingdom will be played at First Night of the Proms tonight .
Estate agents Savills is expecting a lot of interest in the 18th century Thames riverside mansion . |
2,675 | 07d6d9f0bad57da2ab99fdee4c65e6f6627eebcc | (CNN) -- I am an American Muslim. When I was growing up in a small town in upstate New York, the America I lived in cherished diversity and the freedom to worship, regardless of one's religion. People of various faiths resided in my community: Protestants, Catholics, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs and Mormons. How a person prayed was never a factor in how we treated each other. Yet today, Muslims in America are viewed as suspect and legitimate targets for surveillance by the New York Police Department because of their faith. This is not the America I know, and it is time for the courts to weigh in and ban discriminatory policing by the NYPD. Let me be clear: Anyone who engages in criminal acts should be stopped and brought to justice. But the NYPD can do that without targeting an entire community for blanket surveillance. The NYPD has been spying on American Muslims in New York as well as in towns, communities and college campuses throughout the Northeast. In New Jersey, for example, the NYPD visited mosques, schools, Muslim-owned restaurants and small stores and took photographs and videos of people and their cars, collecting information about ordinary people's daily lives, clothing and eating habits. Muslims have been a part of America since the first slave ships arrived. We have contributed to our nation's growth and fought and given up our lives defending it. Today, we are as diverse as our nation: We are white, black, Latino, Pakistani, Indian, Arab, Iranian and Indonesian. We are teachers, doctors, lawyers, engineers, store owners and business leaders. We are members of the military and Congress. But living freely as a Muslim in America today has become increasingly difficult. In New York and New Jersey, worshipers at local mosques fear that their discussions may be monitored and misinterpreted by police informants. Store owners wonder whether one of the customers might be an undercover cop looking to eavesdrop. Parents of college students caution their children about participating in Muslim student group activities. More than 100 faiths and civil liberties organizations have publicly objected to the NYPD's conduct. They are joined by numerous public officials, including 35 members of Congress. Newark Mayor Cory Booker and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie have voiced their objections. In addition, Reps. Rush Holt of New Jersey, Judy Chu of California and Keith Ellison of Minnesota have recently introduced a resolution condemning the NYPD's discriminatory practices and calling for an investigation of the NYPD. Despite all this outrage, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and federal officials with an obligation to enforce the law and protect Americans have refused to launch an investigation. That is why today, victims of NYPD's spying program have stepped up and filed a lawsuit against the police department, asking a federal court in New Jersey to ban religious discrimination by law enforcement. Since public officials with direct oversight responsibility have turned a blind eye toward this bigotry, the victims have bravely come forward, turning to the courts as a last resort. This lawsuit is about the pervasive and discriminatory policies and practices that Commissioner Ray Kelly and his leadership team have put into motion and that need to stop. Standing up to the largest police department in the country takes courage, and these brave individuals have done so in order to protect America's future. The plaintiffs in this lawsuit include college students, a military serviceman who has put his life on the front lines in Iraq and a small-business owner who is also a Vietnam veteran. They are ordinary Americans just trying to live a normal life, raising their families and supporting their country. These plaintiffs are parents, students, business leaders and service members who enrich our communities. Their only "crime" is that they are Muslim in America. Throughout our nation's history, the courts have often been called upon to protect fundamental rights and defend justice. Following this well-worn path, American Muslims are now raising their voices and knocking on the courthouse door, determined that our system of justice will protect the rights of all Americans. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Farhana Khera. | Farhana Khera: Muslims are targets of surveillance by the NYPD because of their faith .
Khera: Victims of NYPD's spying program are stepping up to file a lawsuit .
She says living freely as a Muslim in America today has become increasingly difficult .
Khera: It is time for the courts to weigh in and ban discriminatory action by the police . |
30,490 | 56b080278df5afa658f05fd55505c8c88a3f9400 | Paul Scholes believes Brendan Rodgers was too negative in his team selection for Liverpool's crucial Champions League tie against Basle. Liverpool were sent crashing out of the Champions League after failing to beat the Swiss side at Anfield and stumbling to a 1-1 draw. And Scholes said that the Liverpool manager Rodgers picked a negative team, leaving some attacking players on the bench. VIDEO Scroll down for Rodgers' reaction after Basle draw . Brendan Rodgers saw his Liverpool side crash out of the Champions League after a draw with Basle . Jordan Henderson (left) was selected along with Joe Allen, Lucas and Steven Gerrard (right) In his Independent column, Scholes said: 'Last season I felt he (Rodgers) had a confidence about him, and would pick attacking, positive teams. His selection on Tuesday was nothing like that. 'Liverpool needed to blast Basle out of the way. Instead Rodgers left Adam Lallana and Philippe Coutinho on the bench. 'It was a game he needed to win and yet he picked a midfield of Joe Allen, Jordan Henderson and Lucas Leiva – all solid players but more than two from those three and the side feels defensive. Raheem Sterling was Liverpool's only attacking threat as Phillippe Coutinho (centre) started on the bench . Basle secured the draw they needed to beat Liverpool to second place behind Real Madrid in Group B . 'At half-time he brought on a left-back, Alberto Moreno, and a winger, Lazar Markovic, who has done very little for him so far. 'Then when he did bring on Coutinho, a No 10 to his boots – he even wears the number – he played the Brazilian in central midfield.' | Liverpool went out of Champions League after failing to beat Swiss side .
Paul Scholes says Brendan Rodgers was too negative against Basle .
Scholes questioned decision to play three central midfielders .
Liverpool face Manchester United in Premier League clash on Sunday . |
86,911 | f6ab014104858f8bcef436218232981f2d370197 | By . Marielle Simon for Daily Mail Australia . It was once a 5-star resort swarming with happy guests but now the former Hyatt Regency has been transformed into a Clive Palmer shrine, with pictures of himself covering the walls, several in-house Palmer TV channels and more dinosaurs then guests. When purchasing the hotel in 2011 for an estimated $6.5 million, billionaire Clive Palmer promised his newly renovated seaside resort would lure cashed-up Chinese visitors and make for a better economy, The Courier Mail reported. Now, nearly three years on Palmer Coolum Resort would be seeing minimum return on his self-claimed $2 billion injection into the property, producing nothing but a ghost town, according to Channel Nine's program, A Current Affair. Scroll down for video . A Current Affair reporter Tim Arvier, described the resort as 'the hotel equivalent of a pub with no beer', revealing hidden camera footage of a resort that looks run down and closed down . In February this year, the Sunshine Coast's resort was at a loss of $500,000 a month, resulting in 90 job cuts . Channel Nine's A Current Affair program aired footage from their hidden-camera investigation . The ACA footage shows dirty and decaying pools, deserted restaurants, an empty golf course and facilities closed due to 'maintenance'. In February this year, The Australian reported the Sunshine Coast's resort was at a loss of $500,000 a month, resulting in 90 job cuts and forcing remaining staff at Palmer Coolum Resort to work long hours and inter-changing jobs. Daily Mail Australia attempted to contact the Palmer United Party leader and Palmer Coolum resort, who responded with 'no comment'. Facilities in the Sunshine Coast resort have been closed for 'maintenance' In ACA's hidden-investigation, workers at the resort admit it is 'short of staff', 'a bit pricey' and 'a quiet time'. And although demand is low at Palmer Coolum Resort, the price stands quite high, with rates for a standard room between $230 to $350, a tub of Ben and Jerry's ice cream $25 and a pad thai priced at $30. Guests on Tripadvisor.com.au describe the resort 'at best, a three star job', meals 'over priced and pool', 'staff were fine but like skittish deer and rarely seen' and 'guests were pretty thin on the ground too. Clive Palmer took to Twitter in defence of his resort, calling for termination of A Current Affair. Clive Palmer took to Twitter in defence of his Queensland resort, calling for termination of A Current Affair . Palmer retweeted Pat Orr's comments against the Channel Nine program . “Run Down.Very Dated. Overpriced.” We felt like we had stepped into a weird movie. It was eerily quiet and seemed abandoned. Gardens were a mess and infrastructure old and tired.The ever present Palmer propaganda was subconsciously disturbing.Prices were outrageous and definately did not reflect the hotel experience we thought we were going to get. Skeleton staff were friendly.Kids loved the dinosaur park.We expected an Australian experience in Ned Kelly restaurant but there was nothing except a portrait of Ned Kelly on the menu in the whole restaurant that themed the room. But there was a picture of the Titanic...and photos of Clive of course! - kristalgee, from Gold Coast Queensland . “Old and tired” Visited the resort for a conference. As one drives in it is very obvious that thus place needs a good spruce up to its former glory. Conference venue was adequate. Staff were friendly and our food tasted were catered for. Even us Vegos! I just kept noticing things that needed doing around the place, the paint that needed refreshing, paving askew, buildings looking tired. - Bossyonbike from Hervey Bay, Queensland . “If you want 5 stars this isn't the place - doesn't live up to its own website” We went for 1 night and noted the following;Cannot stay a full 24 hours checkin at 2pm, checkout at 10am; free internet does not exist, costs at least $12.95; the meals were incredibly overpriced with a 15% surcharge on Easter Saturday; $10 surcharge for room service; the rooms were tired and the air con didn't reach the rooms; the advertised spa was closed and the water spas empty; even the hair dryer didn't work.Overall this place was over priced and disappointing, not delivering what it advertises. We will not be returning. - Betsy W from Redbank, Australia . “Has not been maintained” Having visited this Resort many times under the Hyatt banner, I thought I would give it another try. Really disappointing to see a lovely Resort so run down. The rooms have not been kept up, the property looked scruffy - all the little boutique shops have closed down. - aussiekiwi_boy from Sydney, Australia . The resort features several in-house Palmer TV channels, dedicated to the Palmer United Party leader . The former Hyatt Regency has been transformed into a Clive Palmer shrine, with pictures of himself covering the walls . A Current Affair hidden camera investigation shows the resort with more dinosaurs than paying guests . Palmer Coolum Resort charges high prices, with a plate of pad thai (left) priced at $30 and a tub of Ben & Jerry's ice cream (right) $25 . | The former Hyatt Regency, now known as Palmer Coolum Resort has been transformed into a bizarre, Palmer-shrine resort with barely any people in site .
Channel Nine's A Current Affair program aired footage from their hidden-camera investigation .
Workers at the resort admit it is 'short of staff', 'a bit pricey' and 'a quiet time' |
170,158 | 6839059626385e3c4667b124e04bcf2831e86489 | By . David Wilkes . PUBLISHED: . 10:18 EST, 14 December 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 19:02 EST, 14 December 2012 . Stroke: Kenneth Kendall died in hospital in Newport on the Isle of Wight where he owned an art gallery . Kenneth Kendall, the first newsreader whose face was seen on British television screens, died yesterday aged 88. Kendall, who was known to millions for his elegant style and unflappable manner, had suffered a stroke. More recently he became familiar to a new generation of viewers as presenter of the game show Treasure Hunt. It was on September 4, 1955, that he made history by becoming the first BBC newsreader to appear on TV. Prior to that, presenters’ voices were heard over stills and footage of events because of fears they might, by some facial grimace, display political bias which could dilute the BBC’s authority and impartiality. Even after Kendall and his colleagues became visible to viewers, they remained austerely impersonal. ‘In the early days, our names were not even allowed to be mentioned. That was far too showbizzy,’ he once said. ‘We were only professional broadcasters reading stuff written by somebody else. The BBC had auditioned a few actors, but they were turned down because they acted the news – which is exactly what was not wanted. ‘In those early days, some people didn’t understand anything about television. ‘My cousin’s charlady honestly thought I could see her when I was on the screen. One day she said, “I fell asleep watching Mr Kenneth last night and when I woke up my false teeth had fallen out. I feel so ashamed that he saw me without my teeth in”.’ Scroll down for video . Heyday: Kenneth Kendall presenting the Nine O'Clock News on BBC1 in 1971. He started work at the BBC as a radio announcer before moving on to television in the 1950s where he became well known as a newsreader and a mainstay of the organisation . Born in India, Kendall was educated at . boarding school in England before going on to Oxford and then into the . Army, where he served in the Coldstream Guards, rising to the rank of . captain and seeing action in the Normandy landings. He began working for the BBC in 1948 . as a radio announcer before moving to television in the 1950s. He left . the BBC in 1961 and spent several years as a freelance, returning in . 1969 and staying until 1981. He became a household name alongside . his colleagues Robert Dougall and Richard Baker, and made a brief cameo . appearance as a broadcaster in Stanley Kubrick’s 1968 film 2001: A . Space Odyssey. Kendall found fame with a new generation as presenter of . the Channel 4 game show Treasure Hunt from 1982 to 1989. High-flying: Kendall (right) joined Treasure Hunt in 1982 and the show, which featured Anneka Rice (left) scouring the country for clues in a helicopter, become a huge hit for the fledgling Channel 4 . Celebrity friends: Kendall (second from right) appeared on a Christmas Day celebrity edition of Bullseye in 1983 alongside fellow TV presenters (left to right) Anne Diamond, Judith Hann, host Jim Bowen and Anne Aston . The show, which featured Anneka Rice scouring the country for clues in a helicopter, become a huge hit. He returned to the BBC in 2010 to . appear in a show called The Young Ones, which featured six celebrities . examining the problems of ageing. Last night Tim Davie, acting BBC . Director-General, said: ‘As one of the broadcasting greats, he will be . hugely missed by colleagues across the BBC.’ Fran Unsworth, acting . director of BBC News, said: ‘For generations, Kenneth Kendall’s familiar . face and reassuring voice were instantly recognisable in households . across the country.’ An enthusiastic sailor, Kendall had . lived with his long-time partner Mark Fear for many years on the Isle of . Wight, where they ran an art gallery and a charter boat business. He . died in hospital in Newport. His agent Jeremy Hicks said he had suffered . a stroke in recent weeks and never recovered. Trim waist: Kendall (far right) was among eight celebrities in 1975 to win a 'slimline Oscar' for personalities in the public eye who have kept their waistlines trimmest. He was joined by (left to right) Bruce Forsyth, Esther Rantzen, Henry Cooper, labour MP Bruce George, Lord Patrick Lichfield . | Kendall was known to many for his role in Channel 4's Treasure Hunt .
He joined BBC as a radio host before moving to television in the 1950s .
In 1955 he became the first newsreader to be seen on screen .
He was named the best-dressed newsreader by Style International in 1979 .
Acting BBC director-general Tim Davie: 'This is a sad day in TV history' |
104,561 | 12ec214ff18c3ab1449b2c785875ac6238a27dce | (CNN) -- "American Hustle" has stepped up its game. The comedic film, loosely based on the Abscam scandal of the late '70s, received just two nominations at the 20th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards Saturday night, but it won the big one: outstanding performance by a cast in a motion picture. Star Bradley Cooper, practically yelling his approval, paid tribute to director David O. Russell for the film. Relive all the action with our live blog . "Hustle" and "12 Years a Slave" are among the leading Oscar nominees, and at the SAG Awards the two films faced off for outstanding ensemble -- the SAG Awards' equivalent of Oscar's best picture. Last week, "American Hustle" won the Golden Globe for best comedy or musical film; "12 Years" took home that award for best drama. "12 Years," about a freeman forced into slavery in 19th-century America, led all SAG Awards nominees with four nominations. SAG Awards winners list . Other winners established themselves as Oscar front-runners as well. Matthew McConaughey of "Dallas Buyers Club" took home the Screen Actors Guild Award for outstanding performance by a male actor in a leading role Saturday night. He plays an AIDS-afflicted man in the film. He won the Golden Globe for the same role last week. Cate Blanchett, who also won a Globe, won the SAG Award for lead female actor. For Oscar watchers, the awards offer a key indicator of which way the wind is blowing among members of the Motion Picture Academy. The actors' branch is the largest of any of the academy's voting blocs. The Academy Awards are scheduled for Sunday, March 2. 2014 Oscar nominations announced . Winfrey: 'We do movies to move people' Lupita Nyong'o and Jared Leto led off the awards by winning prizes for supporting female actor and supporting male actor, respectively. Leto, who stars as a transgender woman in "Dallas Buyers Club," paid tribute to those who have been victims of AIDS, "that terrible disease." Nyong'o, who plays a slave terrorized by a plantation owner in "12 Years a Slave," won over competition that included Oprah Winfrey ("Lee Daniels' The Butler") and Jennifer Lawrence ("American Hustle"). Winfrey addressed the controversy about not being nominated for an Oscar with CNN's Nischelle Turner on the red carpet. After praising all the other supporting actress nominees, she pointed out that "The Butler" -- a box-office success -- has had an impact. "We don't do movies to get awards," she said. "We do movies to move people." Rita Moreno accepted the Screen Actors Guild's Life Achievement Award on Saturday night. She and presenter Morgan Freeman fell into their old "Electric Company" roles, pronouncing out "SAG-AFTRA." Then Moreno got serious. "It's early in the third act of my life," the 82-year-old Moreno said, and then went into a snippet of "This Is All I Ask": "Let the music play as long as there's a song to sing / And I will stay younger than spring." 'Breaking Bad,' 'Modern Family' win TV honors . Like the Globes, the SAG Awards also nominate television performers. Nominees for ensemble in a drama were "Boardwalk Empire," "Breaking Bad," "Downton Abbey," "Game of Thrones" and "Homeland." "Modern Family" won comedy series ensemble. It's the show's fourth straight SAG Award. "Veep's" Julia Louis-Dreyfus and "Modern Family's" Ty Burrell won SAG Awards for their performances in TV comedies. Michael Douglas ("Behind the Candelabra") and Helen Mirren ("Phil Spector") also took home trophies. "Breaking Bad" won drama series ensemble and star Bryan Cranston took home the award for male actor in a drama. Members of the cast of "Downton Abbey" knew what was coming. Before the show, they responded in unison when asked who was going to win. " 'Breaking Bad,' " they told CNN. But "Downton's" Maggie Smith did win for female actor in a drama series. Special coverage: Awards season 2014 . For performers, the Screen Actors Guild Awards represent recognition from their peers. The trophy is even called "the Actor." But the red carpet gave those performers some challenges. Sarah Paulson, who was nominated as part of the ensemble with "12 Years a Slave," was dressed in a somewhat flowy white dress. Complimented on the look, she could only laugh. "(People will say), what's with your weird princess dress?" she said. And Lawrence had the line of the night for every person who's ever had to get uncomfortable to look good. Her Dior couture gown, she said, was "squeezing my breasts into my armpits." | "American Hustle" beats "12 Years a Slave," others to win top SAG Award .
Matthew McConaughey, Cate Blanchett also win .
"Modern Family" wins fourth straight SAG Award for comedy series .
"Breaking Bad" wins for drama series . |
52,241 | 93fe55f4e4644ee0e8dc4798eaf3d7c0a4c48cc1 | HOLLYWOOD, Florida (CNN) -- For nearly three decades, John Walsh's black leather jackets and swagger have made him a crime-fighting cultural icon. But when he returned this week to the Hollywood police station, he was once again the father of a murdered child. John and Reve Walsh turned their grief into activism on behalf of missing children and crime victims. His face was ashen. His eyes were red and brimming with tears. He clutched the hand of his wife, Reve, as police closed the books Tuesday on their 27-year investigation into his boy's abduction, murder and decapitation. Ottis Toole, a convicted pedophile and murderer who was a partner of serial killer Henry Lee Lucas, was officially named the killer. Toole died in prison for an unrelated crime in 1996. After his son's death, Walsh became an advocate for missing children and crime victims, and host of the TV show "America's Most Wanted." He always thought Toole was the boy's killer. Now he knows for sure. "For 27 years, we've been asking, 'Who can take a 6-year-old boy and murder and decapitate him? Who?' We needed to know," Walsh said. "The not knowing has been a torture, but that journey's over." "We will always be the parents of that little boy," Reve Walsh said. Watch Reve Walsh thank her children » . In 1981, the world seemed to be a much safer place. It was not unusual for parents to let children play outside unattended or to drop them off at parks, malls and schoolyards. After Adam's murder, his parents went through tough times, separating and later reconciling. They raised three other children, who are now 26, 24 and 14. Adam would be 33. Walsh said the birth of their oldest daughter, Megan, "probably saved our lives, because she was born a year after Adam [died], when we were spiraling into hell." Perhaps to save themselves, they made it their mission to preserve Adam's legacy by helping other crime victims. The abduction and murder of Adam Walsh also fundamentally changed the way law enforcement agencies look for missing children. Chad Wagner, the police chief in Hollywood, where Adam was abducted, said law enforcement back then was "like a whole 'nuther world." Watch the chief close the case » . Hollywood police were accused of some major blunders in their investigation, and Wagner apologized to the Walshes for those mistakes. The case, he said, "made us a better agency.... If this same type of situation were to occur today, I would tell you it would be a much quicker, much better, much cleaner outcome." "In 1981, when Adam disappeared, you couldn't enter missing children information into the FBI computer system," said Ernie Allen, president of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The Walshes are co-founders of the center. "You could enter information on stolen cars, stolen guns and stolen jewelry, but you couldn't enter information on missing children," he said. Walsh, who before Adam's murder was a hotel developer, went to Capitol Hill and began a second career as an activist for crime victims. He fought for passage of the 1982 Missing Children's Act, which created the FBI's national database. Today, there are at least 80,000 missing children listed in the database. In 1981, when Adam was taken and killed, there was no coordinated national response to child abductions. The 18,000 police departments across the United States did not effectively communicate. "Most police departments would tell you he probably just ran away, if he doesn't come back, call us in 48 or 72 hours," Allen said. "But, what we've found in 75 percent of cases, the child is dead within the first three hours. Waiting until the day after tomorrow is just too late." Walsh lobbied for more federal legislation and by 1984, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children was up and running. With it came an explosion of activism that resulted in the faces of missing kids being printed on milk cartons and on fliers that have gone into 85 million homes a week for 23 years. There also have been advances in age enhancement photography. "Code Adam" is now an internal alarm at 70,000 department stores and shops that alerts employees to potential threats to children. The employees are trained to lock the doors when the alarm goes off. "It's a powerful example of the legacy of one little boy and his courageous parents," Allen said. Beyond the technical advances, there are social and cultural changes as well. People have become much more aware of crime, predators and fugitives. The Web site for John Walsh's show, "America's Most Wanted" says it has helped catch 1,049 fugitives. "Society has built on a lot of the things they have done," said CNN law enforcement analyst Mike Brooks. There are surveillance cameras at businesses, and Amber Alerts are issued when a child is missing. Walsh "has helped law enforcement immensely," Brooks said. "The more eyes and ears you can get out there looking for a missing person, the better." The Walshes raised their three other children in an envelope of pain and grief for a sibling they never knew. On Tuesday, the Walsh children, now grown, accompanied their parents to the police station in Hollywood, Florida. They stood silently as their parents clutched hands and fought tears, once again victims, once again the parents of a murdered child. | Murder of Adam Walsh, parents' response, changed law enforcement .
Adam, 6, was abducted and murdered in July 1981 .
Police closed case Tuesday, named deceased drifter Ottis Toole .
Boy's father, John Walsh, became activist for crime victims . |
142,970 | 44e66a86fc3b61a0bd539c925c9cc3048ed50563 | While plain, wooden, gender-neutral dollhouses have been available through boutique toy makers for some years, it seems that mass market retailers are finally catching on. Lisa Wade, a professor of sociology at Occidental College, looked into the girl-orientated toy in lieu of the holiday season, and found a surprising number of Toys R Us dollhouses veered away from heteronormative stereotypes, and instead 'had themes of friendship and, dare I say, female-independence.' Writing for Jezebel, she said: 'These houses had only women or, more often, a group of women and one man. They gave the impression of female home-ownership and female dominated social interaction.' Gender roles: Furnished dollhouses, like this one by Moolka, $184.99, started a movement toward mass market gender-neutral dollhouses . Dollhouses today are considered 'girly' and therefore a 'gender issue' because toy marketers have long sent pink-filled messages that they are a girls-only role playing device. However, as many parents know, both boys and girls play with dollhouses and acquire different lessons from the experience. While a girl may put a mother in the kitchen, and a boy may mow the imaginary lawn, or vice versa, children often role-play what they see their parents doing, and other families in their community doing. The need to role-play will be expressed . whether it is through a dollhouse, playing dress-up, a kitchen play . set, or stuffed animals; and big toy companies like Toys R Us and Costco . are beginning to realise that this includes both genders - not just . girls whose favourite colour is pink. Not just for girls: KidKraft® Everyday Heroes Wooden Police & Fire Playset, recently available at Costco, is a step forward in accepting that boys are also interested in role-playing with a dollhouse . Female domination: Barbie Malibu Dreamhouse, available at Toys R Us, $129.99, features a group of women and one man - giving the impression of female home-ownership and female dominated social interaction . Costco recently released a fireman-themed dollhouse, which while not gender-neutral, is a step forward in accepting that boys are also interested in role-playing with a dolls house. It also sells large, durable, unpainted wooden dolls houses 'so multiple children can play at the same time,' and create their own world within it. Ms Wade wrote: 'Among the 22 bestselling dollhouses at Toys R Us, four came without people, six came with a preponderance of females, ten came with a male, female, and children, and there were two I couldn't categorize. (All humans were white - some dollhouses included non-human creatures - and just about everyone appears to be wealthy.)' She added: 'Interestingly, most of the dollhouses that ... gave the impression of female home-ownership and female dominated social interaction, were Barbie affiliated. New world: Small World Toys Home Again A-Frame Wooden Hand-Painted Dollhouse, available at Costco, $139.99, allows multiple children to create their own world within it . 'People disagree as to whether Barbie is a good role model for young women. She is roundly criticized for upholding a harmful standard of beauty, but she also tells women they can run for President and go to the moon. 'In this case, Barbie is sending girls the message that they can have fulfilling lives and own homes without a husband.' However some parents actually see gender-specific dollhouses that perpetuate stereotypical gender roles as irrelevant. One commenter wrote: 'If you want your kids to have alternative models of gender roles, you achieve that by modeling them as their parents, not giving them gender-neutral models to play with. | Plain, wooden dollhouses have been available on boutique websites like Etsy for a while, however now Costco and Toys R Us are taking their lead .
Gender-neutral dollhouses aim to halt heteronormative stereotypes . |
88,086 | f9f8e65c96339e0b242c2a0427835eb58312e4c4 | With luxurious surroundings and the world famous Waldorf salad created in the building, it is not hard to see why many celebrities, and even presidents, have made The Waldorf Astoria their permanent home. And now the New York hotel is aiming to attract a few more permanent residents, but turning the area containing the presidential suite and penthouses into exclusive apartments. Chinese insurance company Anbang reportedly paid $2billion to buy the hotel this month and plans to transform the top floor of the Manhattan hotel into the new apartments. The Waldorf Astoria in New York has done a deal with Chinese insurance company, Anbang, for $1.95 billion, one of the highest prices per room ever paid for a US hotel, to renovate the top floor for new apartments . The luxury Waldorf Astoria Hotel, in New York, is one of the city's most iconic hotels and a favourite with celebrities . The Towers are already made up of guest apartments but could well be turned into condominiums if new plans go through . According to real estate website The Real Deal reported Wu Xiaohui, chairman of Anbang, recently told Harvard students that 'a potential buyer needs to have more than money to qualify for our apartments.' Famous celebrities who have made the hotel their home have included Frank Sinatra who kept a personal suite at the hotel between 1979 and 1988 for when he was out of Los Angeles, for nearly $1 million a year. The Towers, within the Waldrof Hotel, has its own separate entrance and already houses apartments for guests, but it is thought the whole area will be converted into condominiums. The hotel is famous for its central location on Park Avenue and the luxurious interiors in its suites, rooms and residences . Former presidents and celebrities including Marilyn Monroe are said to have set up home in the sumptuous hotel . The residences in The Tower offer a living room and dining area, a kitchenette and a master bedroom with an adjoining boudoir and marble bathroom . It was rumoured Sinatra and his wife etched their initials into the bathroom door but the door was extracted during refurbishment and its whereabouts are unknown. Actress Marilyn Monroe was reported to have lived at the Waldorf Astoria for several months, and songwriter Cole Porter and singer wife Linda Lee Thomas kept an apartment there, where Thomas died in 1954. Porter's 1934 song You're the Top, contains the lyric, You're the top, you're a Waldorf salad. Aside from celebrities, many presidents have made it their dwelling too. President Herbert Hoover resided at The Waldorf for more than three decades, and President Dwight Eisenhower stayed from 1967–1969. President Herbert Hoover, (left), resided at the Waldorf from 1932 to 1964. Actress Marilyn Monroe (right) was reported to have lived at the Waldorf Astoria for several months . The Towers could be turned into luxury condos, but buyers will need ;'more than money' to secure one . The Towers of Waldorf Astoria already include exclusive suites and luxury residential one-bedroom apartaments . Waldorf Astoria: The luxurious hotel reportedly employs someone to open windows as they are so heavy, they also employ a chandelier cleaner and a two full-time tour guides . President Eisenhower's is reported to have been terrified of heights, and to accommodate them, a lift was specially designed to open on the 7th floor. The hotel apparently had an underground railroad which leads from the fourth floor of the basement to Grand Central Terminal, which was used as an entrance for President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. The Waldorf Astoria and Towers spans an entire Midtown Manhattan block, 49th to 50th Street from Park to Lexington Avenues and boasts 1413 hotel rooms. The famous Waldorf salad was created by Oscar Tschirky, who is known globally as Oscar of the Waldorf. It used to contain cherries, walnuts, sliced apples, raisins, celery, and was served with a sugared mayonnaise dressing. Truffle oil has more recently been added to the recipe . | Insurance company Anbang secured a deal to build top-floor apartments at the famous Manhattan hotel .
Tenants will join the list of celebrities and presidents who have lived there .
A potential buyer will need more than wealth to qualify to live there . |
221,787 | ab192f4eb984764b5165684d0277fb827f6c902a | By . Dan Bloom . A bomb has ripped through a market in Pakistan killing at least 21 people in the deadliest attack on the nation's capital in several years. Officials said the device was hidden inside a box of guava fruit when it triggered the huge blast this morning, tearing traders' bodies apart and sending their limbs flying through the air. The Taliban denied responsibility, blaming the blast on 'hidden hands', as negotiations continued with Pakistan's authorities to end fighting that has killed tens of thousands in the north west. Scroll down for video . Horror: A Pakistani boy mourns over the death of a family member outside a morgue in Islamabad today. A 5kg device hidden inside a crate of guava fruit killed at least 21 people in the deadliest attack on the city in years . Checks: Armed police cordoned off the market and used metal detectors to scan several more containers . Deaths: The body of one of the victims is carried in a casket from the morgue in Islamabad . Blast: Residents transport the lifeless body of their relative, whose feet are visible from under a white sheet . Mourning: Relatives receive news outside a hospital. The bomb went off even as negotiations continued . Police said around 5kg of explosives were hidden in the fruit carton and exploded as morning shoppers were buying supplies at the market, on the outskirts of Islamabad. The power of the blast sent cartons of fruit and vegetables flying and left the ground littered with blood-stained sandals, guavas and prayer caps. Around 70 other people were injured. One trader, who gave his name only as Shaheen, said: 'Body parts went everywhere and even hit other people on the head.' Another, Afzal Khan, said: 'People were dying. People were crying. People were running.' Abdul Jalil, searching frantically for his brother whose phone was not ringing, said: 'The people . were torn apart. Their body parts scattered. 'Who are these people . killing innocent people? What do they get out of it? God will not . forgive them.' Abdul Jalil, searching frantically for his brother whose phone was not ringing, said: 'The people were torn apart. Their body parts scattered... Who are these people killing innocent people? What do they get out of it?' The Pakistani Taliban denied responsibility, claiming the attack was 'wrong and against Islamic law' Careful: A police official uses a metal detector to search the site of the bomb blast for more devices . Although large bombings are frequent in north western Pakistani cities, they are relatively rare in the capital . The Pakistani Taliban denied responsibility and condemned the attack. 'The deaths of innocent people in attacks on public places are saddening,' the group's spokesman, Shahidullah Shahid, said in a statement. 'Such attacks are wrong and against Islamic law.' The Taliban regularly bomb schools, marketplaces and public transport. Authorities say they have killed tens of thousands of Pakistanis. The organisation is in talks with the government, where it has demanded the release of hundreds of prisoners and the withdrawal of the army from regions on the border with Afghanistan. But there are concerns any peace deal with the Tehrik-e-Taliban - the formal name for the group in Pakistan - would be impossible to enforce because it has so many splinter groups and factions. Observers also say the Taliban have used previous peace deals to regroup and replenish their forces for a later fight. Anger: Men stand in front of the casket of their relative as they wait for an ambulance outside hospital . Tears: A man in mourning. One trader said 'body parts went everywhere and even hit other people on the head' Inconsolable: The bombing is a blow to the government's attempts to portray the capital as more secure . Nineteen of the dead today were taken to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences in Islamabad, said an emergency room doctor, Zulfikar Ghauri. He said the hospital was also treating 56 people who were wounded in the bombing. Two bodies and 31 wounded were taken to Holy Family Hospital in the nearby city of Rawalpindi, said doctor Tahir Sharif. Standing guard: Armed police at the bomb site . The market is near a makeshift camp for people displaced from fighting in Pakistan's northwest, as well as refugees from Afghanistan. It is also next to a supermarket which caters for the capital's middle class families. Although large bombings are frequent in north western Pakistani cities, they are relatively rare in the capital, which is home to diplomats, generals and top government officials. The symbolism of such a deadly attack in Islamabad, even in an area rarely frequented by its elite, is a blow to a Pakistani government trying to increase foreign investment. Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, a lawmaker . from the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-N party, said it was difficult to . say which group was behind the explosion until police complete their . investigation. Asked what the intended target was, he said: 'I think peace in Pakistan is the target.' Prime . Minister Nawaz Sharif came to power last May promising to end the years . of bloodshed through negotiation instead of military operations. Government . negotiators held direct talks with the Taliban on March 26 at an . undisclosed location in the tribal areas, and on Saturday the government . announced that Pakistan would release 13 Taliban prisoners to . facilitate the talks. The militants had also declared a temporary ceasefire until tomorrow. Shock: A relative at the hospital. Critics say peace is not guaranteed because the Taliban has many factions . United in grief: There are fears a peace deal would not be adhered to by all factions of the Taliban . Attacks: The Taliban regularly bomb schools, marketplaces and public transport, killing thousands . Orderly queue: Residents form a line to identify their relatives, in a nation where death is too often a fact of life . | Device was hidden inside a guava fruit box in the capital Islamabad .
Body parts 'went everywhere' in deadliest attack on city in several years .
Taliban denied responsibility, blaming the bombing on 'hidden hands'
Groups are currently in talks with government to end deadly fighting . |
172,229 | 6ae82da0f692db88adeef3424702b7476d138e88 | The best way to outsmart Ryanair's pricing policy is to book ten days before your flight departs, it was claimed today. Economics professor Claudio Piga said he has researched the low-cost airline’s flight costs - and found passengers booking their trip at least seven weeks in advance pay more. But the Keele University expert also found that fares are raised by between 50 and 75 per cent in the last few days before departure, meaning last-minute bargain hunting is not the best method. Claim: The best way to outsmart Ryanair's pricing policy is to book ten days before your flight departs . Mr Piga claimed low-cost airlines know some people will regularly book early because they have to travel on a certain day, reported Sunday Times social affairs editor Nicholas Hellen. And to avoid complicating business when people book flights at the last minute, the airlines want late bookers to know that they will face price rises. The professor described prices from low-cost airlines as being on a ‘U-shaped temporal profile’, with best value available ten days before take-off. He realised that the price of seats on flights went up by around 3 per cent every time one was sold. Getting on board: An expert realised that the price of seats on flights went up by around 3 per cent every time one was sold . But a Ryanair spokesman told the Sunday Times that the research was ‘hopelessly inaccurate’. 'Ryanair's lowest fares are sold on a first come, first served basis and rise only as quickly as the low fare class are sold in the six months prior to departure' Ryanair spokesman . He added: ‘Ryanair's lowest fares are sold on a first come, first served basis and rise only as quickly as the low fare class are sold in the six months prior to departure.’ Mr Piga will present his findings at the Royal Economic Society conference in Manchester this week. In a previous similar study in 2003, the expert claimed that passengers who book early do not always get the cheapest seats on low-cost airlines. | Economics professor Claudio Piga has researched airline's flight costs .
Says passengers booking trip at least seven weeks in advance pay more .
Added that fares are raised by 50-75% in last few days before departure . |
183,828 | 7a1eb2b0b050959b3f75a7045252ba731b6f2037 | By . Becky Evans . PUBLISHED: . 13:09 EST, 3 September 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 13:11 EST, 3 September 2013 . Jean-Marc Hodgkin has been warned he faces a jail sentence after ploughing his horsebox into a pensioner . A City high-flyer is facing jail tonight after he was found guilty of ploughing his horsebox into a pensioner and left him pinned to his bonnet. Ex-London Stock Exchange boss Jean-Marc Hodgkin was convicted of dangerous driving today following the incident that left Michael Parker, 74, with severe leg injuries. He was cleared of the more serious charge of causing grievous bodily harm to Mr Parker. Judge Gordon Risius today said he could not rule out a prison sentence for Mr Hodgkin after the jury delivered their verdict. The father-of-two was told he will definitely be banned from driving. Judge Risius said: 'I think that given the importance of getting the right sentence the proper course would be for me to adjourn for a pre-sentence report so I can ensure that all the options are properly covered. 'The fact I’m adjourning indicates that custody is a possibility but equally there are alternatives.' Polo-playing Hodgkin, who wore a pinstriped suit and red tie, was emotionless when the verdict was read out at Oxford Crown Court after four hours and 25 minutes of jury deliberation. The jury had been told that Hodgkin had become furious after Mr Parker reversed his green Land Rover Discovery from the middle of a 30mph road into his driveway on August 4 last year. Hodgkin, who had three of his polo horses and 250 litres of water in his Mercedes vehicle, was then forced to brake and stop just yards from Mr Parker’s vehicle near a dipped kerb. An argument erupted between the pair, . with Hodgkin allegedly calling Michael Parker a ‘cretin’, . ‘country bumpkin’ and a ‘f****** idiot’. Mr Parker admitted that he also . used foul language before he was struck after getting out of his car. Hodgkin, who had his 15-year-old daughter in the car, was accused of swinging his vehicle and three of his prized polo horses in the Mercedes, to the left - trapping Mr Parker on the bonnet of the Land Rover. He then drove off from the A418 Aylesbury Road, Bierton, near Aylesbury, Bucks., leaving the pensioner on the ground with severe leg injuries, the court was told. Hodgkin was found guilty of dangerous driving but cleared of causing GBH . Passing motorists stopped . to assist the pensioner, who sustained a deep cut to his leg, a . dislocated knee requiring an operation and damage to ligaments and . muscles. Prosecutor Sandra Beck previously told the jury the impact of the . pinning motion had bent the front grill of Mr . Parker’s Land Rover towards the passenger side. 'That impact caused a . very serious injury - a dislocated knee requiring an operation with . ligament and muscular injury,' she had said during the trial. Hodgkin, who has worked for KPMG and served on the board of trustees at two schools in Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire, maintained that he had not deliberately driven into the pensioner. Hodgkin previously said he was 'shocked, confused and upset' when police told him about Mr Parker's injuries. He said: 'I think it was a horrible accident. It was an accident I didn’t know about at the time.' Hodgkin with his polo team. He had been driving with horses and his 15-year-old daughter . He will be sentenced on September 30 and has been banned from driving until that date. Mr Parker, who walks with a stick, . told the court during the trial: ‘There was a verbal confrontation. The words were . grossly unpleasant. Four-letter words were involved. 'It ended in the . defendant giving it (the horsebox) one full blast of the throttle and . swung towards me quite violently.’ The defendant, who regularly played . polo at West Wycombe Park, Buckinghamshire, described his confrontation . with Mr Parker. He said: ‘I was getting illogical nonsensical answers so . I said ‘‘mate, you’re an idiot’’. Unfortunately that inflamed Mr Parker . and he started swearing back at me. I resolved to drive off.’ He said it was not an incident which lingered in his mind until 20 minutes later when police stopped him. ‘I said, ‘‘Is this because I shouted . at the old man?’’ They just told me there had been an accident and a man . was injured. I felt sick and confused and frightened because I hadn’t . been aware of an incident even.’ | Jean-Marc Hodgkin found guilty of dangerous driving at court today .
Caused serious injuries to Michael Parker, 74, after hitting him with car .
Mr Parker had completed a manoeuvre and drove into Mr Hodgkin's way .
Pensioner was pinned between horsebox and his Land Rover Discovery .
Jury cleared Hodgkin of causing grievous bodily harm to Mr Parker . |
240,785 | c3b77a024708476eb455c99b57608ee68a3d4458 | Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers believes Daniel Sturridge will never be considered one of the best strikers in Europe until he starts playing more regularly. The forward hasn't featured since August, making just three Premier League appearances before getting injured on England duty. Sturridge scored 22 goals and struck up a lethal strike partnership with Luis Suarez last term as Liverpool finished second behind Manchester City. Daniel Sturridge needs to play more regularly to be considered one of the best strikers in Europe, according to Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers . Sturridge scored on the opening day of the Premier League season but has not played since August . Injured Sturridge watched on from the stands as Liverpool struggled to score against Hull at Anfield . Liverpool WITH Sturridge . Games: 3 . Goals scored by Sturridge: 1 . Goals scored by Liverpool: 6 . Goals against: 4 . Points: 6/9 . Liverpool WITHOUT Sturridge . Games: 6 . Goals scored by Liverpool: 7 . Goals against: 8 . Points: 8/18 . However, manager Rodgers believes the former City and Chelsea forward needs to play more consistently before he is considered one of the best frontmen on the continent. 'He won’t become a top European striker until he plays consistently. It doesn’t matter about potential. You have to play,' said Rodgers. Liverpool have missed Sturridge's goals and Rodgers is keen to get the striker back in the team and scoring. 'Top players have such an influence on the team,' said Rodgers. 'When you are under the cosh, you know that you have strikers who can score out of nothing. 'When you have that as a team, it is a big weapon. Sturridge is one of them. That is where we aim to get with Daniel.' Despite missing the last two months of the season, the Liverpool boss is confident Sturridge will be firing on all cylinders when he makes his comeback. Last season's lethal strike partnership of Luis Suarez and Sturridge contributed 53 Premier League goals . 'When he comes back into the team, you will see the confidence because of the movement and the dynamic. But he isn’t fit and he hasn’t been for a long time.' Also without Suuarez - who joined Barcelona in the summer, Liverpool have struggled to reach last season's heights so far this campaign and Rodgers added: 'He (Sturridge) isn’t fit and he hasn’t been for a long time. We just have to work without and while we are doing that, we are staying up and around the top end of the table. 'Everyone can see our conditions are different to work in this season. The players are working their best.' Liverpool have missed the goals of Suarez, who moved to Barcelona from Anfield during the summer . | Daniel Sturridge has not played for Liverpool since August .
Striker was injured during England duty and has made just three Premier League appearances for the Reds this season .
Liverpool frontman scored 22 Premier League goals last term .
However, Reds boss Brendan Rodgers believes Sturridge needs to play more regularly before he is considered one of the best . |
154,516 | 53afbaab20ca31596f42220862c6475e4ba5c55a | The government's own watchdogs tried to hack into HealthCare.gov earlier this year and found what they termed a 'critical' vulnerability — but also came away with respect for some of the health insurance site's security features. Those are among the conclusions of a report released Tuesday by the Health and Human Services Department inspector general, who focuses on health care fraud. The report amounts to a mixed review for the federal website that serves as the portal to taxpayer-subsidized health plans for millions of Americans. The government's own watchdogs say they tried to hack into HealthCare.gov earlier this year and found what they termed a critical vulnerability . So-called 'white hat' or ethical hackers from the inspector general's office found a weakness, but when they attempted to exploit it like a malicious hacker would, they were blocked by the system's defenses. HealthCare.gov had some advance warning of the hacking attempt — a date range, but not specific times. HHS spokesman Kevin Griffis said the agency did not take additional precautions during that period. The report came on the heels of the massive breach at Home Depot stores, which affected 56 million credit and debit cards. The inspector general's office released a public version that summarizes detailed findings delivered to the Obama administration. It concludes that more work needs to be done to bolster security. Last week, the congressional Government Accountability Office released similar conclusions after its own review. HealthCare.gov was hacked this summer by non-government employees after the government conducted it's own tests but the administration said no consumer information was stolen. Instead, hackers installed malicious software that could have been used to launch an attack on other websites. 'We have not had any malicious attacks on the site that have resulted in personal identification being stolen,' Tavenner told Congress last week. Marilyn Tavenner, Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, told the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee last week that no consumer information was stolen when Healthcare.gov underwent suffered a hack from outside the government this summer . HHS' inspector general found that the administration 'has taken actions to lower the security risks associated with HealthCare.gov systems' and consumers' personal information since the site first launched. But the auditors said they 'remain concerned' about the use of encryption technology that is not certified to meet certain government standards. Encryption refers to the encoding of data traveling back and forth between consumers and HealthCare.gov to make it more secure. In its formal response, the administration said it has taken other actions to resolve the encryption issue. The inspector general's office tried to break into HealthCare.gov in April and May. Experts used a technique called 'vulnerability scanning' and also conducted simulated attacks. 'Scanners simulate an outside malicious attack on the system and may identify ... vulnerabilities that could put a system's security at risk,' the report explained. 'Scanners use the same techniques as hackers, so the scanners test the security from an outside perspective.' HHS itself also runs similar scans regularly, part of its own security program. The hackers from the inspector general's office found one 'critical' vulnerability, described as a flaw that would let an attacker take over the system and execute commands, or download and modify information. But the office said that when its 'white-hat' experts attempted to mimic what a malicious hacker might try next, they were blocked by the system's defenses. Separately, the review also found two critical vulnerabilities in databases that support the website. Specific descriptions of the flaws were not released, but apparently none has been exploited by hackers. HealthCare.gov serves 36 states, while the remaining states run their own enrollment websites. The federal site had numerous technical problems when it was launched last fall and for weeks it was unworkable for most consumers. At the time, technical experts within HHS were concerned that full security testing could not be completed because the system was undergoing so many last-minute changes. Nonetheless, Medicare administrator Marilyn Tavenner issued a six-month security authorization for the site, keyed to an action plan for reducing risks. The inspector general's office also probed security for two state-run health care websites, the Kentucky exchange and New Mexico's small-business portal. It found that Kentucky, seen as a national model, sufficiently protected consumers' personal information. But there were some weaknesses in who had access to the system. White-hat hacking of New Mexico's site revealed 64 vulnerabilities. The office said it will keep monitoring security on HealthCare.gov and state sites. | A report released by a Health and Human Services inspector found that more work needs to be done to bolster security on the site .
Government watchdogs were otherwise happy, however, with the improvements to security that have been made to the site since its launch .
The report follows a real hack that occurred on the site this summer . |
105,860 | 1487b15803f173c9c2c8d23ce276594b5696e35f | Labour MPs have been told to stop talking about the ‘North-South’ divide in a drive to win back support. An internal party review warned that Labour’s traditional focus on the northern working classes has alienated crucial swing voters in the South. In an apparent change of tactics, the party will look to target the man ‘on the 6.54 from Basingstoke’, whose allegiance might be swayed as he struggles to make ends meet in the economic downturn. The review of the party’s performance . was overseen by former Cabinet minister John Denham and Labour general . secretary Iain McNicol. Mr Denham said Labour would be making a . ‘very explicit appeal’ to the type of southern voter who helped Tony . Blair secure his landslide victories. A North/South divide drawn by . researchers at Sheffield University, stretching from the Severn to the . Humber and based on factors such as political leanings, life expectancy . and educational prospects, showed Labour had just ten MPs in the South . outside London after the 2010 general election, but had 210 above the . line in the North and Scotland. Meanwhile, Mr Denham’s report notes . that the figure is the same as in 1992 and much lower than in 1997, when . New Labour secured around 30 seats. Mr Denham suggested that next year, Ed . Miliband’s speeches would put greater emphasis on the struggles faced . by southerners, many of whom are locked out of the property market and . face a major squeeze on living standards. Speaking about the North-South divide, . he said: ‘If you think about it, the message is that everybody in the . southern part is doing okay. Vision: Labour leader Ed Miliband, pictured launching his 'One Nation' initiative back in September. A review under the One Nation scheme found that southern voters are being alienated by Labour . ‘If you use that language, it sounds . as though you represent the northern bit. A classic mistake for the . party for a long time was using that sort of language, and then . wondering why people in the South didn’t think we were talking about . them.’ ‘If someone in the Labour Party talks . about rail fares, a southern voter may not automatically think they were . talking about them, on the 6.54 from Basingstoke. ‘You have to make the point that you are talking about the 6.54 from Basingstoke. ‘There are towns around London where . the average wage may be above the national average, but because the . costs of housing and transport are so high, the living standards are . below the national average. Divide: Former cabinet minister John Denham, left, has said that Labour MPs have been told to avoid alienating southern voters when making speeches. Former The Sun editor Kelvin MacKenzie stoked fierce north-south debate earlier this month when he called for a political party to represent the interests of the south . ‘Part of what we are doing is making sure we are clearly rooting what we say with the lives of people in the South.’ Labour’s ‘Basingstoke man’ is the latest attempt to target swing voters. ‘Essex man’ was the term coined to . explain the popularity of Margaret Thatcher, and came to epitomise . aspirational Tory-voters, many of whom had working-class roots but had . sought a better life in the Home Counties. Fresh appeal: Labour wants to concentrate its efforts to win back the southern vote. John Denham MP says that the party must appeal to the 'man on the 6.54am from Basingstoke' Northern: Ed Miliband's constituency of Doncaster North, South Yorkshire, is above the line which splits the UK in terms of Labour support . In 1996, Tony Blair targeted the same . type of middle-income voter, this time incarnated as ‘Mondeo man’, and . in 2001, the Tories identified them as ‘pebble-dash people’ – . professional married couples aged 35 to 50, living in pebble-dash homes, . typical of the suburbs. It comes as Mr Miliband this week pledged to unveil a string of new policies to woo middle Britain. In his New Year’s message he said he . had learned ‘hard truths’ about what Labour ‘got wrong’ on issues such . as immigration in the past, and promised to focus on rebuilding the . economy and helping struggling families. But he will face a battle . after a survey showed Labour MPs remain firmly opposed to curbs on . immigration and red tape. The new Ipsos/Mori revealed some 49 . per cent of Labour MPs said placing any restriction on immigration would . harm the competitiveness of Britain’s economy. By contrast, 82 per cent of Conservative MPs said that immigration restrictions would not harm the economy. The survey also found Labour MPs are . deeply opposed to slashing red tape, which is cited as a major problem . stalling the growth of small business. | Party MPs told to avoid discussing a 'north/south' divide in speeches .
A party review found that southern voters were being alienated by the party .
The review was part of leader Ed Miliband's 'One Nation' initiative .
The party holds just ten seats outside of London in the south . |
52,157 | 93b78e2a1b95d1a94b237ce52f9a455f97b3009e | (CNN) -- James Bond piloted a Douglas DC-3 airliner. Indiana Jones hopped a ride on one for his last crusade. This aviation icon even stars in a reality TV show. Almost 80 years after its introduction, a few hundred DC-3s are estimated to still be flying worldwide. That's kind of unbelievable in an age when dozens of younger types of airliners have already retired to aviation boneyards. "When we take them to air shows I watch people gravitate toward (them)," says Joe McBryan, co-star of History Channel's "Ice Pilots." McBryan owns Canada's Buffalo Airways and its six operating DC-3s. "People always have a story. They say their dad or grand-dad flew one ... or they flew on one when they were young." The DC-3 debuted in the mid-1930s as an aviation rock star. With its two powerful propeller engines it revolutionized the travel industry by cutting typical coast-to-coast flight time across the United States from 25 hours to just 18. Although it typically seated only about 21 passengers, the plane allowed airlines to make a giant leap toward profitability. Later a military version of the plane helped win World War II by dropping thousands of paratroopers during the D-Day invasion of France, 70 years ago this month. Result: The DC-3 has touched millions of lives. But what about this plane keeps it flying all these years later? Pilots will tell you the DC-3 won't quit because it was so well-built. Some say its design and rugged landing gear helped it touch down safely on short runways. A day in the life of the world's busiest airport . But for McBryan -- age 70 and still flying almost daily -- it's about love. "You can choose your friends and coworkers but you can't choose the one you love. An airplane is the same. And in 1969, the DC-3 came and it stayed with me," McBryan says. During some of the coldest weather on the planet, McBryan's planes ferry tourists, hunters, adventurers and regional workers across Canada's remote Northwest Territories. The 45-minute DC-3 flights from Yellowknife across icy Great Slave Lake to Hay River are pretty basic. Passengers get no meals, no WiFi, no video. "There's coffee and cookies and juice," McBryan says. There is an alternative to in-flight entertainment: "A lot of passengers like the sound of the engine. It will lull you to sleep. It's a perfect sleeping noise." McBryan's son once said the engines sound like a "funeral procession for the Hell's Angels." On the flight deck, for McBryan, it's all about the plane's feel. These classic aircraft are controlled with a yoke connected directly by cables to the tail and wings. No fancy fly-by-wire electronics like newer airliners. No flashy heads-up displays for speed or altitude, either. An old fashioned instrument panel works just fine, thank you very much. "It's very comfortable," he says. "You're in your own nest. You have the ability to feel what the airplane's doing." 007 flies the Gooney Bird . In 2008, a Gooney Bird helped James Bond get out of a jam. Fans of the Bond film "Quantum of Solace," may recall actor Daniel Craig in the cockpit of a beat-up DC-3. "Let's see if this thing will fly," Bond says in the film. Does it? Oh yeah. And then some. After takeoff, a super-fast jet fires on the Gooney Bird, forcing Bond to use the DC-3's slow speed to outwit the jet pilot. The jet winds up as a stain on a rocky mountainside. Chalk up a win for low and slow. Back in the 1980s, a DC-3 served another movie franchise hero. In "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade," Indy flies from New York to Newfoundland to the Azores and Europe on his quest for the Holy Grail. 50 spots, 50 states for 2014 . Taildraggers . Getting on board a DC-3 is an uphill climb. Literally. The plane's tail sits on the ground when it's not flying, forcing passengers to walk up a steeply inclined aisle to take their seats. "One of the most common comments I hear when some passengers come on board is, 'Wow, there's really an angle here,' " says Ric Hallquist, a longtime pilot for Missionary Flights International. Three times per week, Hallquist flies DC-3s loaded with cargo or passengers from South Florida to the Caribbean. In addition to passengers, Hallquist and his co-pilots have hauled horses, ATVs and pretty much any legal cargo they can fit through the aircraft door. The Gooney Bird's rugged landing gear with its big struts can handle rough runways in places like Haiti or the Dominican Republic, Hallquist says. "And the air frame is just so strong, it really is." But the plane can also be temperamental, especially for pilots without much DC-3 experience, says Catalina Air Boats pilot Robby Bolling, who flies a daily DC-3 cargo route from Long Beach, California, to Catalina Island, about 30 miles offshore. "You just have to respect it, not abuse it," says Bolling. "I kind of feel like I'm going back in time to the 1940s or '50s. flying these airplanes around." When the DC-3 flies, folks around the airport start shooting photos, Bolling says. "I always notice that. It's kind of like a rock star." Bolling fears the plane won't be around much longer. He says he'll miss it. Back in Yellowknife, ice pilot McBryan sees it differently. He believes the planes could easily fly for another 30 years . "They keep making parts, so there won't be a shortage," says this son of a prospector. If anything stands in its way, McBryan says it will be a shortage of leaded fuel that his DC-3's engines burn. The environmentally hazardous leaded fuel is being phased out. But losing the DC-3 would be a shame, McBryan says. There's simply nothing else like it. The plane is about as near humans will get to growing wings. "Strap a DC-3 to your a** and let the wings extend out," he jokes. "That's the closest thing you will come to a human flying." Timeline: 100 years of commercial aviation . | Hundreds of Douglas DC-3 airliners still fly, nearly 80 years after their introduction .
Canada's Buffalo Airways offers scheduled passenger flights on DC-3s.
DC-3s opened the door to profitable coast-to-coast airline routes .
Nickamed "Gooney Birds," the DC-3s are known for their rugged landing gear and airframes . |
185,144 | 7bd70062937d530dd6d91a923a380fb95faf090e | By . Travelmail Reporter . Thanks to his superhero powers, Spider-Man is able to travel vast distances with ease and speed. And now the webbed wonder has confirmed that he will be pitching up in the French capital this summer with his very own residency at Disneyland Paris. In a Disney Parks first, the comic book hero is set to be the star attraction at the French theme park once the experience launches on April 19. Mickey vs Spidey? Spider-Man actor Andrew Garfield met Mickey Mouse on Monday at Disneyland Paris . Meet my girl: Andrew and co-star Emma Stone were in France to announce the launch of a Spider-Man residency at the park this summer . It will give fans of Marvel's most popular superhero chance to interact . with him in person, as well as being able to take home a . photo of themselves on the front page of the Daily Bugle, the famous New . York daily that publishes Peter Parker's pictures. On Monday Spider-Man actors Andrew . Garfield, 30, and Emma Stone, 25, who play Peter Parker and Gwen Stacy in the film, arrived in Disneyland Paris as part of their . whirlwind promotional tour of the film The Amazing Spider-Man 2: Rise of . Electro. The couple, who are also together off-screen, posed with Mickey and friends in the sunshine and Andrew also met with local children, all dressed as their favourite superhero and delighted to meet the man behind the mask. Real life romance: Emma Stone and Andrew Garfield are a couple off screen too . Whirlwind: The couple have been on a hectic promotional tour including premieres in Paris (l) and London (r) Following the announcement Andrew . said: 'It's really, really cool. it's about time. The more opportunity . the kids have to meet Spider-Man the better as he brings so much joy and . love. 'You can feel the joy that that character brings, the more young people that can be touched by Spider-Man the better.' Spider-Man . will be in residence at Walt Disney Studios Park at Disneyland Paris . from Saturday 19 April 2014 until Monday July 14. French fans: Andrew also met with delighted local children, all dressed as their favourite superhero . Mr popular: Spider-Man actor Andrew Garfield visited London charity Kids City on April 8 in Brixton, London . | The Spider-Man actors visited Disneyland Paris as part of their promotional film tour of Europe .
Spider-Man's summer residency in France will offer a 'character experience' for fans of the Marvel superhero .
Guests can interact with Spider-Man and take home a personalised Daily Bugle front page .
Experience will run from April 19 to July 14 . |
95,777 | 072161e234cdffd15411a62eef9c40385a6a8d67 | An estate agent to the rich and famous is celebrating after selling £3billion worth of property - on the same London street. Trevor Abrahmsohn has cornered the market on one of the world’s wealthiest roads, The Bishops Avenue in Hampstead Garden Suburb, north London - known as ‘Billionaires’ Row’. Over the last 35 years he has handled 150 house sales on the street at an average value of £20million at today’s prices. One of his pads: Estate agent Trevor Abrahmsohn is celebrating after selling £3billion worth of property - on the same street . Quite a portfolio: Mr Abrahmsohn recently made a map of all the homes he has sold on The Bishops Avenue in North London. He has sold many more since . His clients have included Bernie Ecclestone, Ringo Starr, Joan Collins and Britain’s richest man Lakshmi Mittal. Jonathan Ross and his wife Jane Goldman also have a home in the leafy area. Mr Abrahmsohn, 58, has just sold a 1.5-acre plot of land with planning permission on the leafy street for a staggering £25million. It takes his completed deals on The Bishops Avenue to 150 - having sold a number of the 66 homes and plots numerous times over. City pad: Mr Abrahmsohn sold one house, Toprak Mansion, for a record £50million in 2008 and then threw a party to celebrate. Former Russian president Mikhail Gorbachev flew in especially to attend . 'Perfect for an oligarch': Heath Hall on The Bishops Avenue could be yours... for £100,000,000 . Eye-watering amount: Jersey House, could be yours for £39,950,000 . The flamboyant entrepreneur, who runs . property firm Glentree International, says the inflation-adjusted total . of these sales has now topped £3billion. He . says The Bishops Avenue is a must-have address for ultra-rich . foreigners wanting to tell the world they’ve arrived on the main stage. 'The Bishops Avenue is probably one of the best-known addresses in the world, ranking alongside Beverly Hills,' he said. 'It is the address which says you have arrived, one of the ultimate statements of wealth. Bargain: Or how about the slightly cheaper Caravilla, a seven-bedroom property on the market for £12,500,000 . And the view from the house: It's not often a house in London has its own long drive, but Caravilla does . Not your average home brochure: Caravilla's details come in a hard back book . Large double bedroom: Additional facilities at the house include: a cinema, games room, leisure centre with swimming pool, separate staff accommodation and off-street parking for more than 10 cars . Grand: Just one of the living rooms at Caravilla, on The Bishops Avenue . 'Whenever there has been an explosion . of wealth from natural resources or if there is a political uprising . people look to buy in The Bishops Avenue. 'This has happened with the oil and gas booms in Nigeria and Eastern Europe and when there was the Islamic uprising in Iran. 'The . road is perfectly located, has two golf courses, you can land a . helicopter in the garden and you’re only 20 minutes from the centre of . London. 'Over the years I . have dealt with royal families, politicians, leading industrialists. I’ve sold 95 per cent of the houses on the street and 98 per cent of . sales come through us. Missed it: The grand Silverwood house on The Bishops Avenue sold for £22,000,000 in 2009 . Got a few million to spare? Fairways, on The Bishops Avenue is up for sale for £15,000,000 . Cheap at the price: Number 23 The Bishops Avenue sold for £7,950,000 this year . 'In the 1980s, I sold one home to a . blind Sheikh who would walk around the property while his nurse carried a . glass of whisky for him. 'It is the sort of sale you pray for. I just had to convince his entourage it was the right property and he bought it. 'When . I sold Toprak Mansion in 2008 for £50million, we threw a party and . former Russian president Mikhail Gorbachev flew in for it. That was one . of the best properties I have ever sold.' Despite his success, Mr Abrahmsohn doesn’t arrive at properties in a Rolls-Royce or Mercedes, instead zipping to viewings in his trusty little Smart car. THE street to live on: The Bishops Avenue is a must-have address for ultra-rich foreigners wanting to tell the world they've arrived on the main stage, according to Mr Abrahmsohn . Famous faces: Mr Abrahmsohn's star clients include F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone, left, and actress Joan Collins, right . Moguls: The estate agent has also sold property to Britain’s richest man Lakshmi Mittal, left, and Beatle Ringo Starr, right . Country house: Mr Abrahmsohn said Heath Hall was probably his favourite property on the road. It has taken seven years to restore and is like a country house in the middle of London . Over the last 35 years Mr Abrahmsohn has handled 150 house sales on the street, known as 'Billionaires' Row,' at an average value of £20million at today's prices . He is currently marketing five homes . on The Bishops Avenue including the £100million Heath Hall and another, . Jersey House, which is available for £40million. He . said: 'Heath Hall is probably my favourite property on the road. It has . taken seven years to restore and is like a country house in the middle . of London. It’s perfect for an oligarch.' Mr Abrahmsohn also . sold Polly Peck fraudster Asil Nadir’s home in the 1980s, saying the . tycoon was 'fine to deal with, although it took him a while to pay'. Investment: Whenever there has been an explosion of wealth from natural resources or if there is a political uprising people look to buy in The Bishops Avenue, Mr Abrahmsohn said . Crime: Despite its exclusivity, the road is no stranger to controversy - with a couple of grisly murders taking place there over the years . Land a plane in it: Just a couple of the mansions on The Bishops Avenue in north London . Posh: The street is in leafy Hampstead Garden Suburb, which is about 20 minutes from central London . Despite its exclusivity, the road is . no stranger to controversy - with a couple of grisly murders taking . place there over the years. In 1985 Trevor was tasked with selling the home of retail magnate Aristos Constantinou who was murdered in his mansion. 'As I was conducting viewings there were silver bullets in the wall,' Mr Abrahmsohn said. Famous neighbours: Jonathan Ross and his wife Jane Goldman own a property in the leafy suburb . Star of the show: Mr Abrahmsohn also revealed that prices in London are only going in one direction - and that's up . 'There was another home on The Bishops Avenue where an owner was killed by his mistress when she hit him over the head with a champagne bottle. 'It is such an interesting road that if it didn’t exist then it would have to be invented.' On top of The Bishops Avenue, Glentree has also sold more than 120 homes on the equally affluent Winnington Road which sits adjacent to Billionaires’ Row. Mr Abrahmsohn said: 'It’s well known that Mark Twain once said you should buy land because they aren’t going to be making anymore of it. 'Prices in London are only going in one direction and that’s up. There have been a few dips but it always recovers.' | Famous clients include: Bernie Ecclestone, Ringo Starr, Joan Collins and Britain’s richest man Lakshmi Mittal .
Trevor Abrahmsohn also sold Polly Peck fraudster Asil Nadir’s home in 1980s .
The Bishops Avenue in north London is a 'must-have' address for the rich and famous .
But it has also witnesses a couple of grisly murders over the years . |
121,639 | 2934ffb8551ada42512f867fe18ad1a26d4363be | A Russian father who fed parrots, guinea pigs, cats and puppies to his pet snake and filmed the gruesome footage is being hunted by police. Father-of-two Andrei Generalov, 32, from St. Petersburg in north-western Russia, started uploading videos of his Boa Constrictor 'King' devouring rats and hamsters. But as the videos rose in popularity, he began taking suggestions from viewers who demanded more 'blood and gore'. With this in mind, he started feeding 'King' larger animals in the sickening videos, which included terrified puppies. In the videos, he tells his audience: 'Why these senseless sacrifices? It's for the sake of food (ha ha). 'I like to film the way the animals fight for their lives, suffer and eventually die.' Scroll down for video . Andrei Generalov, 32, from St. Petersburg, feeds animals to his pet snake 'King' and uploads the video online . In this video, the Boa Constrictor curls round a petrified guinea pig with its muscular body before suffocating it . An excited Mr Generalov says: 'I like to film the way the animals fight for their lives, suffer and eventually die' The guinea pig tries to wriggle free but the snake has jaws lined with small hooked teeth, for holding their prey . A petition has started in St Petersburg, Russia, by those appalled by the suffering of the animals . But furious campaigners - outraged at the appalling suffering - began a petition to take Mr Generalov to court. After collecting more than 4,000 signatures, they handed it to the prosecutors office who ordered police to arrest him. Chief Prosecutor Sergey Litvinenko said: 'An arrest warrant has been put out for this man but he has now disappeared. 'Anyone with information of his whereabouts should contact us or the police directly.' Local petition signer Tigran Evdokimov, 28, said: 'What this man did was sickening beyond belief. 'To film such cruelty and to enjoy it is the work of a very sick and dangerous man.' But his friend, Leopold Polyakov, 35, defended Mr Generalov describing him as a 'good, family man'. He said: 'Andrei is a very good man, a family man. He has three cats at home and has never shown any sign of cruelty towards people or animals. 'I find it just incomprehensible that he would do this.' Boa Constrictors will eat almost anything they can catch, including birds, monkeys and wild pigs . In the videos, the Russian father tells his audience: 'Why these senseless sacrifices? It's for the sake of food' He started feeding his snake, 'King', hamsters and rats but moved on to bigger animals, including puppies . The boa constrictor is a species of large, non-poisonous snake. It is a member of the Boidae family and is found in the wild in North, Central and South America, as well as some islands in the Caribbean. They live for between 20 and 30 years, reach up to 13ft in length and can weigh up to 60lbs or 27kgs. Like their cousins, Anacondas, Boas are excellent swimmers but prefer to stay on dry land. In the wild they tend to live in hollow logs and mammals burrows. Their jaws are lined with small hooked teeth, for grabbing and holding their prey, while wrapping their muscular bodies around their victim, squeezing it until it suffocates. Boas will eat almost anything they can catch, including birds, monkeys and wild pigs. Their jaws can stretch to allow them to swallow their prey whole. Female boas incubate their eggs outside their bodies and can give birth to up to 60 babies during their lives. Some boa constrictors are hunted for their fine, ornate skin and as such, many of the species are endangered. | Andrei Generalov, 32, uploads videos of his Boa Constrictor eating animals .
Feeds his snake called 'King' parrots, guinea pigs, cats and even puppies .
Boas have jaws lined with hooked teeth for grabbing and holding prey .
They wrap their bodies around their victim, squeezing it until it suffocates .
Petition started to take him to court and he is now being hunted by police . |
258,676 | daca29d84fc8a4a5fb8d7bc4c93343b52718e7c5 | By . Ellie Zolfagharifard . Failing to protect yourself online is so irresponsible, it could threaten the economy of entire nations. That's according to a security report by California-based group, McAfee, which suggests cybercrime is now such big business, it is worth more than the wealth of some countries. As a business, cybercrime would be ranked 27th in the world based on revenue, and the attacks are currently costing the world more than £238 billion ($400 billion) a year. Scroll down for video . Not protecting yourself online is so irresponsible that, in the long-term, it could threaten the economy of entire nations. That's according to a security report by California-based group, McAfee, which suggests cybercrime is now such big business that it is worth more than some countries . Operation Tovar, which disrupted the viruses that led to the National Crime Agency issuing a two-week alert last week, has been highlighted as an example of the sort of global collaboration that needs to occur more often. The U.S.-led operation has thwarted an international crime ring that infected hundreds of thousands of PCs across the globe with malicious software that stole more than $100 million (£59.4 million) from businesses and members of the public since 2011. The Justice Department announced earlier this month that anywhere between 500,000 and 1 million machines worldwide were affected by the virus's known as Gameover Zeus which stole banking passwords and Crytolocker, which encrypted files and blackmailed the users for their release. 'These schemes were highly sophisticated and immensely lucrative, and the cyber criminals did not make them easy to reach or disrupt,' said Leslie Caldwell, who heads the Justice Department's criminal division, to a news conference. But while the grip of those behind the 'malware' has been weakened by the counter attack, computer experts said users must take this opportunity to install anti-virus software and update their operating systems to the latest versions to stop it regaining its hold. This is equal to more than 0.5 per cent of the world’s total gross domestic product, damaging the global economy almost as much as illegal drugs and piracy, according to ‘The Global Cost of Cybercrime’ report. Security experts, including from EU law enforcement agency Europol and Nato, have been discussing the report, and what more needs to be done to stop the increasing amount of web attacks. They claim the big problem remains a lack of understanding among the public about different threats that exist. ‘I’ve got young children, and I know that I can’t be there every time they cross the road,’ said Raj Samani, the chief technical officer of McAfee in Europe and a special adviser to Europol. ‘What I can do is teach them the dangers of crossing the road and hope that they can protect themselves. Technology does play a part, but the user plays a part as well. ‘[Last year] I went to a shopping centre, and there were people giving away chocolate in exchange for your personal data,’ he added. ‘The queue was 40 people deep. I said ‘why are you giving up your data for a piece of chocolate? Do you not realise it has more value?’ As part of the report, Samani revealed there are 20 to 30 cybercrime groups that are operating on a ‘nation-state level’. This means they are working on an industrial scale, and overcome almost any sort of web defence they face. ‘We want the economy to grow, and it’s being held back by cybercrime. ‘If you’re not taking important measures you’re contributing to criminals, and I mean nasty criminals, making money off you. Not taking action is resulting in people losing their jobs,’ he said. He added that ideas are the currency of the digital age and our ideas are being stolen. ‘Do you want the next Facebook to be out of London and Silicon Roundabout? It won’t be if we don’t protect our data because they’ll steal it and run it somewhere else,’ he said. Operation Tovar, which disrupted the viruses that led to the National Crime Agency issuing a two-week alert last week, has been highlighted as an example of the sort of global collaboration that needs to occur more often. Paul Gillen, from Europol, said that this operation, which involved officers from the U.S., the UK and around the world, was the perfect example of the collaboration that is needed to take on cyber criminals. ‘No single law enforcement agency can get an instant result on their own. We have to work in partnerships and Operation Tovar was a great example of this with the pooling of resources and ideas. This is not the end of the war however. The war goes on,’ he said. As a business, cybercrime would be ranked 27th in the world based on revenue, and the crime is currently costing the world more than £238 billion ($400 billion) a year. This is equal to more than 0.5 per cent of the world’s total gross domestic product, according to ‘The Global Cost of Cybercrime’ report . The report found that more than 200,000 jobs had been lost as a result of cybercrime - through reputation damage or loss of assets. The news comes in the wake of continued efforts to improve web security before the ‘two-week threat’ elapses, and two viruses that have infected thousands of computers are active again. Potential victims can protect themselves but have only a short time to do so before the hackers - whose attempts have been temporarily thwarted - can rebuild their network. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security urged users to install anti-virus software on their computer and ensure that the latest operating systems were also installed on their computers. If systems do not offer automatic updates, people should enable it, the department said. It also advised changing passwords, as original passwords may have been compromised during the infection. | Cyber attacks cost world more than 0.5% of its gross domestic product .
It damages global economy almost as much as illegal drugs and piracy .
McAfee report found 200,000 jobs had been lost as a result of attacks .
There are 20 to 30 cybercrime groups operating on a ‘nation-state' level .
The challenge remains in the lack of understanding among the public .
The report comes in the wake of Operation Tovar, which disrupted the viruses that led to the National Crime Agency issuing a two-week alert . |
137,534 | 3ddeaf7938b3ee84c6dba5f4d460545d63b87009 | By . Becky Evans and Ap Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 07:09 EST, 13 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 02:16 EST, 14 August 2013 . The FBI believe Israel Keyes, who killed himself in his Alaska jail cell, murdered 11 people . An Alaskan serial killer who committed suicide in his jail cell last year is now believed to have killed 11 people, the FBI said yesterday. Officials released an updated timeline of travels and crimes Israel Keyes, which sheds new light on a case that left a trail of unsolved killings around the U.S. FBI spokesman Eric Gonzalez said they hope the information will help identify victims who remain unknown and provide some closure to their families. 'We've exhausted all our investigative leads,' Gonzalez said. The FBI documents said Keyes frequented prostitutes during his travels and killed an unidentified couple in Washington state sometime between July 2001 and 2005. The FBI said yesterday that Keyes is believed to have killed 11 people, all strangers. Previous reports had estimated he had killed eight people across the country. Keyes also told investigators he committed two separate murders between 2005 and 2006, disposing of at least one of the bodies in Lake Crescent, near Port Angeles, Washington. When he killed himself in jail, the 34-year-old Keyes was awaiting a federal trial in the rape and strangulation murder of Samantha Koenig, 18. She had been abducted in February 2012 from the Anchorage coffee stand where she worked. Keyes confessed to killing Koenig and at least seven others around the country, including Bill and Lorraine Currier of Essex, Vermont, in 2011. The murderer told investigators his victims were male and female, and that the murders occurred in fewer than 10 states, but he did not reveal all locations. Koenig and the Curriers were the only victims named by Keyes because he knew authorities had tied him to their deaths. Keyes killed himself while he awaited trial for the abduction, rape and murder of Samantha Koenig (pictured) Video surveillance captures moment Keyes approached Koenig in the coffee shop and abducted her . Bill and Lorraine Currier were the only other people Keyes specifically admitted to murdering . Keyes told investigators that only . one other body - other than Koenig - had ever been recovered but that . victim's death was ruled as accidental. The bodies of the Curriers were . never found. The FBI said Keyes admitted frequenting prostitutes, but it's unknown if Keyes met any of his victims this way. Officials said Keyes told them he robbed several banks to fund his travels along with money he made as a general contractor. The father-of-one also told authorities he broke into as many as 30 homes throughout the country, and he talked about covering up a homicide through arson. The timeline begins in summer of 1997 or 1998, when Keyes abducted a teenage girl while she and friends were tubing on the Deschutes River, he told investigators. The FBI said Keyes was living in Maupin, Oregon, at the time, and the abduction is believed to have occurred near that area. The FBI said Keyes lived in Neah Bay, Washington in 2001 after he was discharged from the Army. The timeline states that Keyes committed his first homicide while living in the area. The identity of the victim is not known, and neither is the location of the murder. Keyes moved to Anchorage in 2007, but continued to travel extensively outside the state. FBI say Keyes killed his first victim in Neah Bay, Washington, in 2001 after being discharged from the Army . After killing Koenig, Keyes flew to New Orleans where he went on a cruise. He left Koenig's body in a shed outside his Anchorage home for two weeks, according to the FBI. After the cruise, Keyes drove to Texas. The FBI said that during this time, Keyes may have been responsible for a homicide in Texas or a nearby state — a crime Keyes denied. He was arrested in Lufkin, Texas, about six weeks after Koenig's disappearance. Keyes had sought a ransom and used Koenig's debit card. Three weeks after the arrest, Koenig's dismembered body was found in a frozen lake north of Anchorage. The FBI said Keyes also traveled internationally, but it's unknown if he killed anyone outside the U.S. In December last year, Keyes was found dead after slashing his wrists with a razor blade. After his death the Alaska Department of Corrections admitted a blade was mistakenly issued to in . his jail cell allowing him commit suicide. The razor was never found. | Israel Keyes committed suicide with razor in prison cell last year .
FBI hopes new information on serial killer will help identify unknown victims .
Documents reveal Keyes frequented prostitutes while traveling across U.S.
Confessed to killing people in at least 10 states from 2001 .
Died while awaiting trial for abduction and murder of Samantha Koenig, 18 . |
244,893 | c8f2b38d39aff5ee1f6553a0725f56db44031787 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 09:07 EST, 17 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 18:53 EST, 17 October 2013 . American director and producer Michael Bay has confirmed that he was attacked on the set of the latest Transformers movie while filming in Hong Kong. It had previously been reported that a man apparently made his way onto the set where he swung at Bay's head with an air conditioning unit after accosting several other workers to get to him. However, 48-year-old Bay revealed on his blog on Thursday what really happened, and filled in details about the violent assault by the 'drugged up zombie,' saying: 'The story being passed around is not all true!' Scroll down for video . On set: Michael Bay (left) filming the latest Transformers installment in Hong Kong on Thursday, the same day he was attacked on set . 'Yes, some drugged up guys were being belligerent a**es to my crew for hours in the morning of our first shoot day in Hong Kong,' explained the Pearl Harbor director on MichaelBay.com . 'One guy rolled metal carts into some of my actors trying to shake us down for thousands of dollars to not play his loud music or hit us with bricks. 'Every vendor where we shot got paid a fair price for our inconvenience, but he wanted four times that amount. I personally told this man and his friends to forget it we were not going to let him extort us,' he further explained. 'He didn’t like that answer. So an hour later he came by my crew as we were shooting, carrying a long air conditioner unit. 'He walked right up to me and tried to smack my face, but I ducked, threw the air unit on the floor and pushed him away,' explained Bay about the attack that was first reported by TMZ. On location: Bay, centre, with his film crew. A man apparently swung at the director with an air conditioning unit . 'That’s when the security jumped on him. But it took seven big guys to subdue him. It was like a Zombie in Brad Pitt’s movie World War Z,' he exclaimed, describing the man's drug-induced strength. 'He lifted seven guys up and tried to bite them. He actually bit into one of the guards Nike shoe, insane. Thank god it was an Air Max, the bubble popped, but the toe was saved. 'Then it took fifteen Hong Kong cops in riot gear to deal with these punks. In all, four guys were arrested for assaulting the officers. After that, we had a great day shooting here in Hong Kong,' he added. TMZ claims that there was only one . attacker and reports of two men involved are false, despite authorities . naming two brothers as the main perpetrators. Getting ready for action: The director was filming on a city rooftop . A police spokeswoman had earlier said that two . brothers, surnamed Mak, aged 27 and 28, approached Bay on the set for . the American science fiction film and the younger brother demanded . payment of HK$100,000 ($12,900, £8,000). As a discussion ensued in a busy area . of Hong Kong island, the elder Mak reportedly walked up and assaulted the director, . the spokeswoman said, adding that the elder brother attacked three police officers who tried to intervene. The . younger brother was arrested on suspicion of blackmail and assault, . while the elder Mak was also arrested on suspicion of assault, she said. Bay . sustained injuries to the right side of his face, although he declined . to seek treatment, the spokeswoman said, adding she did not believe his . injuries were serious. Leading man: Bay arrived in Hong Kong on Wednesday with Transformers 4 star Mark Wahlberg . When Reuters visited the scene after the assault, the film crew and others working on the set declined to comment. The three police officers were treated in hospital for minor injuries, while it was reported that the younger Mak asked to be taken for treatment, saying he did not feel well. According to reports, also arrested at the scene was a third man surnamed Chan. All three are in custody and police are investigating. Cast arrivals: Li Bingbing and Nicola Peltz were also spotted jetting into Hong Kong . | Bay confirms he assaulted during filming for Transformers 4 on Hong Kong island .
Sustained injuries to side of his face, but declined medical treatment .
It took seven men to subdue the attacker, who Bay described as 'like a Zombie in Brad Pitt's World War Z'
Police spokeswoman named two brothers as the perpetrators, but TMZ claim only one man was involved . |
82,695 | ea7dc0b7815c9ce53ba1da6f393aec081d533802 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . The parents of a seven-year-old Burmese refugee who was raped and beaten to death have broken down in tears as her killer was convicted of the heinous crime. Esar Met, 26, also a Burmese refugee, was convicted on Friday of kidnapping and murdering Hser Ner Moo in Salt Lake City in March 2008. But prosecutors have not asked for the death penalty due to a language barrier - an issue that has already caused nearly six years of costly legal delays. Instead, Met faces 20 years to prison in life when he is sentenced on May 7. As jurors, who appeared as if they had been crying, delivered their verdict, Hser's mother, Pearlly Wa, could be heard sobbing in the gallery. Guilty: Esar Met is handcuffed at the conclusion of his murder trial in Salt Lake City on Friday. He was found guilty of kidnapping and murdering seven-year-old Hser Ner Moo, who vanished in 2008 . 'Still no more daughter,' Hser's . father, Cartoon Wah, said outside the courtroom, the Salt Lake Tribune reported. 'My only daughter is still no . more.' Hser Ner Moo was found dead in a pool of her blood at the bottom . of Met's shower in 2008. In the nine-day trial, child abuse expert Lori Frasier testified that the little girl suffered an excruciating death and had gruesome injuries to her genitals, as well as a broken arm. 'This would have been terrible pain for . her,' Frasier testified, the Salt Lake Tribune reported. 'This kind of injury would have required force.' Mikal Wersland, a sergeant with the . South Salt Lake Police Department who had helped search for the little . girl after she vanished, also gave emotional testimony as he recounted . how a colleague called him to say they had found the girl's body the day . after they began looking for her. 'They . told me they found what they believed to be blood evidence in the . stairwell of one of the apartments we hadn’t been able to search,' he . said, using a tissue to wipe tears. 'I . just thought about this poor family and having to - just the thought of . having to tell this family what had happened to their little girl.' Missed: Hser Ner Moo was kidnapped, raped and beaten by a man she had grown to trust, prosecutors said . Heartbroken: Hser's mother Pearlly Wa, pictured in November 2012, sobbed as Met was convicted . Loss: Cartoon Wah, pictured in 2012, said losing his daughter has been the worst experience of his life . Hser's heartbroken parents gave their . own emotional testimony earlier last week as they sobbed about how much . they missed their only daughter. 'She was my one, my only one,' her . father, Cartoon Wah, said through an interpreter on Wednesday, the Salt Lake Tribune reported. 'I have lost many things in my life, but this . was the biggest loss of my life... Now I have to carry on living with . this broken heart and support my family.' Before moving to Utah, the family had fled the Burmese jungle for a crowded refugee camp in Thailand, which later burned down. Her father recounted their fears as they waited for news of their missing daughter. 'The night [she disappeared] my . wife was crying,' Wah said. 'It had been too long, so we assumed, we . thought maybe our daughter is already dead.' Crime scene: A photo shown in court reveals blood in the basement bathroom where Hser was found . Gruesome: Another image shows blood against a wall in the bathroom where her body was discovered . Cordoned off: A photo shows the front of Met's apartment in Salt Lake City where Hser was found dead . Scene: Hser and her family lived at this South Salt Lake complex, where she reportedly befriended Met . His wife, Pearlly Wah, sobbed as she added: 'This is the biggest loss of my life. If you . gave me the whole world of happiness to exchange for this little girl, I . would say no. Nothing can pay me back because I only had one. Whenever I . see little girls run around, it breaks my heart.' Hser was killed on March 31, 2008 . after she wandered from her parents' home at the same complex, telling . an aunt she was going to play downstairs. But when she failed to return home, her parents grew anxious when they couldn't find her. The . couple, who only speak their native language of Karen, contacted their . case worker who in turn called police. The little girl's body was found . the following day. Met was arrested and charged with first-degree felony counts of child kidnapping and aggravated murder. Locked up: Met, who listened to the trial through an interpreter, faces life behind bars when he is sentenced . Emotional: South Salt Lake Police's Mikal Wersland became emotional as he spoke about the desperate search for Hser in March 2008 and how he and his colleagues feared she would be found dead . Painful memories: Carrie Pender, the family's caseworker, testified on Thursday and recalled the look of pain on Hser's mother's face as the family desperately searched for the missing girl in March 2008 . Defense lawyers had argued that no one saw Met . take or kill Hser and that DNA found from his jacket and from beneath . her fingernails were from games the two had shared in days before the . murder. Met, who had also been living in a . Burmese refugee camp in Thailand before moving to the U.S., moved to the . apartment about a month before the slaying. He . lived at the house with four roommates, but defense attorneys say they . shunned him because he was a Muslim man of Indian origin. The . roommates were arrested on April 1, 2008 but they were later released. Police said they had not been home at the time of the killing and did . not know her body was in the basement bathroom. | Esar Met, 26, was convicted on Friday of kidnapping, sexually assaulting and killing Hser Ner Moo in Salt Lake City, Utah in March 2008 .
Met, also a Burmese refugee, finally went on trial this month after language barriers stalled the process .
Her heartbroken parents sobbed as they testified in the trial, while a police officer who helped with the search wiped away tears on the witness stand .
Child abuse expert testified that the girl's body showed rare and painful injuries that indicated a brutal sexual assault .
The family came to Utah after fleeing the Burmese jungle and moving to a crowded refugee camp in Thailand which later burned to the ground .
Met faces up to life in prison when he is sentenced later this year . |
189,911 | 81e62bc714e1483a16715314bc04cbdf66c73e80 | By . Sam Webb . PUBLISHED: . 15:22 EST, 2 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 15:27 EST, 2 December 2013 . Howling winds are responsible for these carved this outstanding series of pictures of diving dunes and swirling lines in vast desert landscapes. Photographer Sandro Santioli snapped the intricate patterns, which were cut into the rolling plains of Namibia, Tunisia, and Morocco by the harsh winds of the desert. The huge dunes are continually moving and being reshaped by the weather, with a mixture of straight and wavy grooves etched into the sides. Ethereal: The Merzouga Desert in Morocco. Photographer Sandro Santioli snapped the intricate patterns, which were cut into the rolling plains of Namibia, Tunisia, and Morroco . Sun and shadow: The interplay of light and darkness in the twisting sands creates this astonishing image . They show a huge range of golden colours, moving through yellow, orange, red and brown, depending on the placement of the sun. Sandro, from Chianti, Tuscany, Italy, regularly travels through deserts in a 4x4 jeep as he leads photography workshops. He said: 'Namibia has some of the highest and most beautiful dunes in the world. 'The intense red-like colour offers a high contrast against the blue sky, and its beauty stuns me every time I see it. 'The dunes are always on the move, as a mix of weak and strong winds shape them. The only things that is constant is change.' Infinite sands: A scene from Sossusvlei (left), a salt and clay pan surrounded by high red dunes, located in the southern part of the Namib Desert. Right, a desert vista taken near Walvis Bay, a city in Namibia and the name of the bay where it is located . Seascape: Sossusvlei, Namibia, where the huge dunes are continually moving and being reshaped by the weather . The low sun casts long shadows as a party riding camels travels in the Merzouga Desert, Morocco . He added: 'The most fascinating thing about taking pictures of this kind, is the endless chance to see new shapes, colours, and contrasts. 'Everything looks so infinite, like tracks, roads, and plains. All the landscape is just one single and endless view - it is breathtaking. 'These wide spaces are so extremely empty, but you don't feel alone. Instead, you feel deeply in touch with nature. 'It is like being in the middle of a huge art exhibition.' Tunisia: The pictures show a huge range of golden colours, moving through yellow, orange, red and brown, depending on the placement of the sun . The photographer said: 'Everything looks so infinite, like tracks, roads, and plains. All the landscape is just one single and endless view - it is breathtaking' Otherworldly: This image, taken in Morocco, looks almost unreal . Sandro Santioloi, from Chianti, Tuscany, Italy, regularly travels through deserts in a 4x4 jeep as he leads photography workshops . | An Italian photographer took the series of stunning images over a series of expeditions to African climes . |
30,300 | 5622812eb032feb05894c3c629d71e13e537f6ee | By . Alex Gore . British jobs could be at risk when nearly 30 million Bulgarians and Romanians gain the right to live and work unrestricted in the UK from 2014. Experts are warning of a 'significant spike' of newcomers when limitations on coming to Britain, which have been imposed on the citizens of the two countries by the European Union, are lifted at the end of next year. They believe the numbers will be higher than those seen after Poland and seven other eastern European countries were given the same rights in 2004 because of the fragile state of economies on the continent. Spike: Bulgarians and Romanians are set to gain unrestricted access to the UK . Home Secretary Theresa May has indicated support for an end to free movement of EU workers - but Britain cannot stop the restrictions being lifted without tearing up the treaty signed with Bulgaria and Romania when they joined the EU in 2007. The Government has not made official predictions of how many Bulgarians and Romanians will move here and critics say this is because it grossly underestimated the numbers in 2004. It predicted less than 20,000 would arrive but Office for National Statistics figures show more than 600,000 were working in Britain last year. A report by the Coalition's Migration . Advisory Committee has highlighted fears that the British jobs market will suffer 'adverse' effects. Cambridge University emeritus economics professor, Robert Rowthorn, explained around one million eastern Europeans moved to Britain in 2004 and said net migration is around 40,000 a year. He told The Sunday Telegraph: 'I imagine a similar pattern will be repeated with Romania and Bulgaria, although the transitional controls have perhaps taken the edge off somewhat.' Union: Britain would have to tear up an EU treaty to stop restrictions being lifted . MigrationWatch UK director, Sir Andrew Green, said Britain has taken far more eastern European migrants than any other country and called for a delay in the lifting of restrictions. He added: 'I think there could be a significant spike from Romania and Bulgaria, particularly as the economies in other parts of the EU are suffering serious difficulties. 'Neither Spain nor Italy are a good bet at the moment if you’re looking for a job. I think we need a further five year extension of the transitional arrangements.' Figures show nearly 40,000 Bulgarians and Romanians moved to the UK last year, with more than 130,000 living in Britain - where the GDP per capita is nearly four times higher. An investigation by The Sunday Telegraph revealed that loopholes allowed 50,000 east Europeans to get jobs they should have been restricted from by declaring themselves 'self-employed'. These included hotel and restaurant workers, sales staff, tax-drivers and lap-dancers - with many thousands of such jobs being advertised in the two countries. Jobs: Eastern European immigrants are likely to shun other countries for the UK . | Experts warn of a 'significant spike' when limitations imposed by the EU are lifted at the end of next year .
Numbers expected to be higher than when restriction was lifted for Poland in 2004 .
Britain would have to tear up EU treaty to avoid the migration rise .
Immigrants predicted to avoid more fragile economies such as Greece, Spain and Italy . |
204,170 | 945030ba3c3b385162a474b9a827fa4924c2ef9d | Famed boxer Muhammad Ali was admitted to an undisclosed hospital Saturday with pneumonia, his spokesman Bob Gunnell said. Ali's treatment prognosis is good, he said. "Ali, who suffers from Parkinson's disease, is being treated by his team of doctors and is in stable condition," Gunnell said in a statement. The illness was caught early, and Ali, 72, is not expected to be in the hospital long. "At this time, the Muhammad Ali family respectfully requests privacy," the statement said. Ali was born Cassius Clay and won an Olympic gold medal as a light-heavyweight at age 18. In 1964, he became world heavyweight champion in an upset victory against then champion Sonny Liston, according to Ali's official website. Shortly thereafter changed his name to Muhammad Ali to reflect his conversion to Islam. The boxer was also known for his protest against the Vietnam War and refusal to be drafted into service out of religious conviction. He retired from boxing in 1981 and announced his diagnosis with Parkinson's Disease three years later. | Former world heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali has pneumonia .
The illness was discovered quickly, Ali's spokesman said .
He is expected to be out of the hospital soon .
Ali became heavyweight world champion for the first time in 1964 . |
169,006 | 66a5c8f2b0d0da30a31733d24b5c87ef7779f22d | (CNN) -- Amid talk of a possible nuclear bomb test, North Korea vowed Tuesday to carry out a "high-intensity, all-out action." The promise emerged from a meeting of the ruling Workers' Party and was reported by the state-run news agency KCNA. "It emphasized the necessity to continue on with launching artificial satellites ... and long-range rockets," the agency reported. It also said that the party leadership promised to "stage a high-intensity, all-out action, and maximize its preparation ... so that just after an order is issued, we can destroy and sweep America and the South Korean puppet army, and achieve the historic achievement of reunified Korea." Last month, the U.N. Security Council voted to tighten sanctions on Pyongyang, after the North launched a satellite aboard a long-range rocket in December. The North Koreans responded by announcing they planned another nuclear test and more long-range rocket launches as part of a new phase of confrontation with the United States. Since then, U.S. officials have told CNN they believe a nuclear test could come at any time. "I don't think there's anything special to it, except that it comes in context of renewed trash-talking from Pyongyang. But on whole it's part and parcel of their threats to engage in more provocations," a senior U.S. administration official said about Tuesday's announcement. North Korea has conducted two previous nuclear tests, in 2006 and 2009, and proclaimed itself a "nuclear state" in 2012. U.S. analysts believe the 2006 test had a yield of about 1 kiloton -- comparable to the explosive power of about 1,000 tons of TNT -- while the second was roughly 2 kilotons, National Intelligence Director James Clapper told a Senate committee in 2012. By comparison, the bomb the United States dropped on Hiroshima in 1945 was roughly 15 kilotons. CNN's Elise Labott and Matt Smith contributed to this report. | NEW: "It's part and parcel of their threats to engage in more provocations," says U.S. official .
U.S. officials say a new North Korean nuclear test could come at any time .
North Korea has conducted two previous nuclear tests, in 2006 and 2009 . |
82,235 | e91c67739e36a6cda59ae57f8e7dbcd7c4f51993 | Harry Redknapp is still searching for a number of players to improve QPR's chances of Premier League survival but insists keeping Loic Remy would feel like a new signing. Signed from Marseille in January 2013, Remy proved an instant hit with the club's fans but could not prevent the Hoops from slipping to relegation. Having spent last season on loan at Newcastle while QPR battled back into the top flight through the play-offs, Remy's long-term future appeared to be away from Loftus Road, but a summer move to Liverpool collapsed. Now the France forward is preparing to start the new campaign at Rangers, with Redknapp impressed by his application since rejoining his team-mates. Transfer: Harry Redknapp said persuading Loic Remy to stay at QPR would be like a new signing . Second spell: Loic Remy was a hit at QPR when he first signed for the club, but couldn't stop them going down . 'I'm hoping Loic Remy stays,' the 67-year-old said in his 666Bet blog. 'It will be like a new signing if he does. His attitude has been fantastic since he has come back, so we will have no problem welcoming him back into the side. 'If he is going to go, we need to know as soon as we can so we can get a replacement in.' So far Redknapp has looked to add experience and competition to his defensive ranks with Rio Ferdinand, Steven Caulker and Mauricio Isla all coming in, the latter on loan from Juventus, with midfielder Jordon Mutch also signed from Cardiff. Although the former West Ham, Tottenham and Portsmouth boss is keen to add numbers to his squad before the transfer window closes, Redknapp knows there are limitations on what the club can spend. Money: The QPR manager said he wants to sing more players but understands the financial contraints . 'We're still short, certainly need another three or four players,' he said. 'The chairman (Tony Fernandes) is working hard at getting the right players in, but these things take time. We can only spend what we can spend, so it's certainly not easy.' Redknapp confirmed Adel Taarabt is likely to depart in the coming weeks, with Holland international midfied duo Leroy Fer and Jonathan De Guzman linked with moves to the west London club. After replacing Mark Hughes at QPR in November 2012, Redknapp was unable to keep the R's in the Premier League but, with a much-changed squad, that is his main goal this time around. Signing: Rio Ferdinand has joined QPR from Manchester United and could partner Steven Caulker in defence . 'If we can stay-up I'd be delighted,' he added. 'If you offered me fourth from bottom now, I'd bite your hand off. I could talk cobblers and say we want to finish in the top half. 'But just to stay in the Premier League would be great for us - consolidate and keep building. We have been a yo-yo club for too long, we just need to become an established Premier League club.' CLICK HERE to start picking your Fantasy Football team NOW! There’s £60,000 in prizes including £1,000 up for grabs EVERY WEEK… . | Harry Redknapp says QPR need 'three or four' more players .
But he also says signing Loic Remy would feel like a new signing .
Rio Ferdinand, Steven Caulker and Mauricio Isla have all joined London club .
Redknapp also confirmed Adel Taarabt was likely to leave the club soon . |
131,798 | 36696a2f3088e04c5d512693b0f3f8321d64d6aa | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 05:18 EST, 15 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 07:07 EST, 15 November 2013 . Of all the tricky tasks we have to learn as children, walking is perhaps the most difficult. So spare a thought for this little girl who has been filmed trying to walk on ice for the first time. In the video Polina, thought to be from Russia, can been seen stamping around on a frozen puddle. Scroll down for video . A little girl, thought to be called Polina, from Russia, was filmed trying to walk on ice for the first time . she slips but manages to use her arms to expertly balance and stop herself from falling over . While she initially enjoys the crunching sound it makes, she suddenly realises that this new surface is slippery as she loses her balance. Flailing her arms, she expertly manages to stay upright but when she bends down for a closer look everything goes horribly wrong. As she lays her hand on the ice she accidentally over-balances, tipping forward as her feet slide out from under her. However curiosity gets the better of her and she bends down to get a closer look at the ice . Having saved herself earlier the girl's feet suddenly slide out from under her and she ends up face down . She ends up bent over double with her head meeting the ice with a soft crunch. Despite face-planting the frosty soil, there are no tears as she is protected by her huge pink winter coat. The video has attracted around half a million views since it was posted on YouTube a week ago, and has been circulating on social networking sites this morning. Twitter user Vicky Crystal commented: 'So cute - and, she has an excuse because ice is new to her. This could be me - every year!' Emma Saunders added: 'This has made my morning already.' | Toddler thought to be called Polina, from Russia .
Videoed while walking on ice for the first time .
She slips but somehow manages to stay upright .
However as she bends over for a closer look she falls face-first . |
242,906 | c666707170c80a3978e4726997b24e2aa7a08f2d | By . Larisa Brown . PUBLISHED: . 17:38 EST, 21 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 17:47 EST, 21 August 2013 . As a pearly white Pomeranian, Harvey Moon was the shy, nervous type. But all that changed when he was signed up to a doggie modelling agency and had to be dyed green for a music video. The transformation was remarkable. He came out of his shell and turned into an attention-seeking bundle of fun. Colourful personality: Harvey Moon the Pomeranian dog who is only happy when he is dyed . But when the safe vegetable dye wore off he returned to being timid again. Owner Stephanie Mariam, 19, became convinced the puppy was only happy in bright colours and dyed him blue. Again Harvey became the life and soul of the party and now he has become a local celebrity in Bournemouth – sporting an array of colours from emerald green to bright purple. Stephanie said: ‘Once he was dyed again he was back bouncing about so we haven’t looked back. It obviously makes him happy.’ Coat of many colours: Harvey in his latest colour violet (left) and dyed bright blue (right) Emerald eyes: Harvey was once shy but all that changed when he was dyed green . Miss Mariam signed her dog up to modelling agency, Diva Dogs, early this year. Within a few months, Miss Mariam, a support worker from Dorset, received a phone call inviting Harvey to star in a music video for a band called Roll Deep - but he had to be dyed green. After being reassured the vegetable-based dye was safe, the teenager handed her dog over. Dapper: Sporting a crown and tuxedo, a violet Harvey Moon looks every bit the pampered pooch . With its newly found hair-style, Harvey Moon has become a local celebrity with his colourful locks . With its newly found hair-style, the puppy has become a local celebrity – touring the south coast sporting an array of colours from emerald green to bright purple. And rather than damage the dog’s soft locks, the dye has improved its condition and it now feels even softer. Miss Mariam said: ‘He has always been a lovely dog and he has always been very well behaved but he was quite quiet and reserved. ‘But when we dyed him for the video he just came out of his shell. Owner Stephanie Mariam became convinced the puppy was only happy in bright colours and dyed him blue . New hair do: Harvey became the life and soul of the party once he was dyed a bright colour . ‘He was a bundle of fun and actually went out his way looking for attention. ‘As the dye washed out he started to get quieter again so it was suggested that I dye him a different colour. Miss Mariam added: ‘The first thing I loved about Pomeranian’s was that they looked like teddy bears and as I researched them more I liked the sound of their temperament. ‘I fell in love with him as soon as I saw him and thankfully my mum said I was allowed to have him. ‘Harvey is my best friend, he is my baby. I don’t know how to put it any other way because he is the best companion I could ask for.’ Blank canvas: When Harvey Moon is his natural colour he is not as happy as when he is dyed a bright colour . | Harvey Moon signed up to a modelling agency and had to be dyed green for a music video .
He came out of is shell and turned into an attention-seeking bundle of fun .
When the vegetable dye wore off he went back to being timid again .
His owner, 19, is convinced he is only happy when he is a bright colour . |
92,960 | 039688542ee36385707e57de300dafd1be80ee8f | (CNN) -- Cyclist Lance Armstrong was part of "the most sophisticated, professionalized and successful doping program that sport has ever seen," the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency said Wednesday in releasing more than 1,000 pages of evidence in the case. The evidence involving the U.S. Postal Service-sponsored cycling team encompasses "direct documentary evidence including financial payments, e-mails, scientific data and laboratory test results that further prove the use, possession and distribution of performance-enhancing drugs by Lance Armstrong," the agency said. Armstrong lawyer Tim Herman dismissed what he called a "one-sided hatchet job" and a "government-funded witch hunt" against the seven-time Tour de France winner, who has consistently denied doping accusations. Armstrong teammates recount dodging, tricking drug testers . But the USADA said 11 riders came forward to acknowledge their use of banned performance-enhancing drugs while on the team. Among them is George Hincapie, Armstrong's close teammate during his winning Tour de France runs. "I'm not suggesting that they are all lying, but I am suggesting that each witness needs to have confrontation and cross examination to test the accuracy of their recollection," Herman said. The USADA is sending its "reasoned decision" to the international governing body of cycling, the Union Cycliste Internationale, as well as the World Anti-Doping Agency and the World Triathlon Corporation, which runs Ironman competitions. Highlights of the Armstrong report . In the past, Armstrong argued that he has taken more than 500 drug tests and never failed. In its 202-page report, the USADA said it had tested Armstrong less than 60 times and the UCI conducted about 215 tests. "Thus the number of actual controls on Mr. Armstrong over the years appears to have been considerably fewer than the number claimed by Armstrong and his lawyers," the USADA said. The agency didn't say that Armstrong ever failed one of those tests, only that his former teammates testified as to how they beat tests or avoided the test administrators altogether. Several riders also said team officials seemed to know when random drug tests were coming, the report said. The agency also said it had a professor compare Armstrong's red cell and plasma levels from blood samples taken late in his career, and they showed levels that wouldn't be expected of an athlete competing in a three-week endurance event like the Tour de France. What's behind the Armstrong headlines . Hincapie publicly admitted for the first time Wednesday that he took drugs. "Early in my professional career, it became clear to me that, given the widespread use of performance-enhancing drugs by cyclists at the top of the profession, it was not possible to compete at the highest level without them," Hincapie said in a written statement. "I deeply regret that choice and sincerely apologize to my family, teammates and fans." Hincapie testified, the report said, that he was aware of Armstrong's use of the drug EPO, or erythropoietin, which boosts the number of red blood cells, which carry oxygen to the muscles, and his use of blood transfusions. He also testified Armstrong dropped out of a race in 2000 to avoid a positive drug test, according to the report, which was accompanied by hundred of pages of supporting documents like Hincapie's 16-page affidavit. Three members of the Postal Service team, which changed sponsors in 2005, will contest the accusations, the agency said. They are team director Johan Bruyneel, team doctor Pedro Celaya and team trainer Jose "Pepe" Marti. Each will get a hearing before an independent judge, according to the agency. The agency compiled the evidence as part of its investigation into doping allegations that have dogged Armstrong and the Postal Service team for years. The organization is not a governmental agency but is designated by Congress as the country's official anti-doping organization for Olympic sports. In August, four days after a federal judge dismissed Armstrong's lawsuit seeking to block the agency's investigation, Armstrong announced he would no longer fight the accusations. The agency then announced it would ban Armstrong from the sport for life and strip him of his results dating from 1998. "When Mr. Armstrong refused to confront the evidence against him in a hearing before neutral arbitrators, he confirmed the judgment that the era in professional cycling which he dominated as the patron of the peloton was the dirtiest ever," the USADA writes in its decision. "Peloton" refers to the main group of riders in a bike race. Armstrong: It's time to move forward . The agency praised the 11 riders who came forward to document the widespread use of banned substances by the team. But in a statement issued Wednesday afternoon, attorney Herman called the expected USADA report "a taxpayer-funded tabloid piece rehashing old, disproved, unreliable allegations, based largely on axe-grinders, serial perjurers, coerced testimony, sweetheart deals and threat-induced stories." In addition to Hincapie, the agency identified the cyclists who came forward as Frankie Andreu, Michael Barry, Tom Danielson, Tyler Hamilton, Floyd Landis, Levi Leipheimer, Stephen Swart, Christian Vande Velde, Jonathan Vaughters and David Zabriskie. The agency said those riders would receive various punishments, including suspensions and disqualifications. The scope of evidence against the team is "overwhelming," according to the agency. "The USPS Team doping conspiracy was professionally designed to groom and pressure athletes to use dangerous drugs, to evade detection, to ensure its secrecy and ultimately gain an unfair competitive advantage through superior doping practices," the agency said. Your Armstrong questions answered . Armstrong became a household name not only in Europe, where cycling is wildly popular, but also in the United States, where the sport traditionally attracted little attention before he embarked on a remarkable stretch between 1999 and 2005 and won seven consecutive Tour de France titles. Persistent accusations that he used performance-enhancing drugs grew as he won more Tours. Author and cycling journalist Bill Strickland compared the case to baseball's "Black Sox" scandal, when eight Chicago White Sox players conspired with gamblers to throw the 1919 World Series. But he said Armstrong is "not interested in ever admitting to his guilt, and he just wants to move on right now." "Despite this evidence and despite all the evidence that has come out, he's got a strong core of people who believe in him and will always believe in him because of his link to fighting cancer," said Strickland, who chronicled Armstrong's 2009 return to the Tour de France in a 2011 book. Opinion: Armstrong and the tenuous nature of heroism . But how Armstrong might move on is unclear. "Certainly, he's not going to be able to move on within the sport," Strickland told CNN. "It seems likely that all of his Tour victories will be stripped. He won't be allowed to participate in any sports that are signatories of WADA, the World Anti-Doping Agency. But he's found a few triathlons to do in the meantime." And he said the allegations could lead to the reopening of a criminal case against Armstrong that federal prosecutors closed without charges in February. "What's next is years and years of fighting if the criminal case is reopened," Strickland said. The USADA opened its own case, which does not carry criminal penalties, in June. Armstrong's cancer foundation still strong . | NEW: Armstrong's lawyer says witnesses should have been cross examined .
Armstrong has long denied using performance-enhancing drugs .
Former teammate testified Armstrong use a drug called EPO, report says .
Other teammates said they were shown how to avoid positive drug tests . |
130,507 | 34c53fd3aed590eaa73d907ef57ec31edb913ff3 | DICTATORS' DINNERS . by Victoria Clark & Melissa Scott . (Gilgamesh Publishing £14.95) How many cookery books do you have? Lots? More than lots? An absolutely ridiculous number? Power-hungry: Ugandan tyrant Idi Amin . The problem is that there’s always one more that you have to have, even when you think you have collected the set. Dictators’ Dinners is subtitled A Bad Taste Guide To Entertaining Tyrants, and if there’s even the smallest chance of you having to feed Robert Mugabe or Kim Jong-Un one evening, you are going to need it on your shelf. Victoria Clark and Melissa Scott have approached their task with great clarity and simplicity. They profile 26 dictators, all from the 20th century, from Hitler and Mussolini in Europe, to Pol Pot in the East and ‘Papa Doc’ Duvalier in the West. They describe their culinary preferences, and then give us the recipe for one of their favourite dishes. Rarely, if ever, have the depths of human depravity and haute cuisine been so stylishly combined in a single book. Stalin enjoyed long, severely alcoholic meals: when he referred to ‘a bite to eat’, he was usually talking about a six-hour feast, cooked by his favourite chef, Vladimir Putin’s grandfather. After one such snack, Marshal Tito vomited in his jacket sleeve; after another, Nikita Khrushchev was discovered to have wet his bed. Hitler was, as we know, a vegetarian, but more because he had a tender concern for animals than because he didn’t like the taste. On several occasions in the Thirties, he wolfed down fledgling pigeon stuffed with tongue, liver and pistachio nuts, and reportedly remarked that there was ‘nothing better than a liver dumpling’. He had 15 food-tasters, and only if none of them had dropped dead within 45 minutes of tasting a dish was it deemed safe for the Fuhrer. He must have eaten a lot of lukewarm food. How did paella become Spain’s national dish? Because it was thought to be General Franco’s favourite, so no Madrid restaurant could afford to leave it off the menu, just in case he popped in for lunch. Nicolae Ceausescu travelled with a mobile laboratory to analyse any food he was offered. If it hadn’t been screened and approved, he shovelled everything he was served at formal banquets straight on to the floor and kicked it as far away from him as possible. Saddam Hussein had 20 palaces, and kitchen staff at each of them prepared three meals a day for him whether he was there or not. He had his eldest son beaten up and thrown in jail for clubbing one of his food‑tasters to death. His usual breakfast was camel milk with bread and honey. After Hussein was captured in 2003, a nearly empty box of Bounty bars was found in his hideout. Colonel Gaddafi liked camel milk, too, but it may have been the cause of his legendary flatulence. On a visit to his tent in 2004, Tony Blair was advised not to accept a glass, lest he be similarly afflicted. Hastings Banda of Malawi favoured mopane worms, the large caterpillars of the emperor moth, especially when dried and eaten as a snack like crisps. Both Emperor Bokassa of the Central African Republic and Idi Amin of Uganda were rumoured to eat human flesh. Amin denied it: ‘It’s too salty for me.’ Instead he ate up to 40 oranges a day. One state banquet he hosted included bee larvae, green bush crickets, cicadas, flying ants and locusts. (Wash your crickets thoroughly and fry them with a little onion and garlic, with salt and pepper to taste.) Mao Tse-tung was a chronic insomniac who regularly took sleeping pills before dinner and fell asleep while he was eating, leaving attendants to fish any remaining food from his mouth. Ferdinand Marcos’s shoe-crazed wife Imelda, flying to Rome in their private plane, ordered the pilot to turn back because they had forgotten to bring cheese. According to his sushi chef, Korea’s Kim Jong-Il ‘enjoyed raw fish so fresh that he could start eating it when its mouth was still gasping and its tail still thrashing’. Maybe the most serious foodie dictator, though, was Fidel Castro, who was extolling the virtues of plain, fresh ingredients decades before Jamie Oliver was born. His favourite soup involved a plain, fresh, endangered species — the sea turtle. Clark and Scott reproduce the recipe here but, happily, leave the turtle out of it. Their magnificent book is alternately mouth-watering and stomach-turning. I wonder what’s for dinner? | Victoria Clark and Melissa Scott have profiled 26 dictators .
They describe their culinary preferences and give a recipe for each one .
Stalin enjoyed long alcoholic meals and Hitler was a vegetarian .
Paella is Spain's national dish because it was General Franco's favourite . |
204,785 | 9522df48ed43c197220de4e841cae34f8823b33a | By . Jack Doyle and Keith Gladdis . Last updated at 11:31 PM on 29th November 2011 . Intimate details of the affair between a married MP and his blonde Russian researcher were exposed last night as she was cleared of spying for Moscow. In her diary, Ekaterina Zatuliveter, then 20, described her love for 'her darling Teddy Bear' Mike Hancock, who is 40 years her senior. She wrote of her desire to feel him 'with all my naked body', and nicknamed the Liberal Democrat her 'King Louis', thought to be a reference to the ape from Disney's The Jungle Book. Success: Miss Zatuliveter, 26, smiles with flowers outside the Immigration . Commission hearing today where she won her case against deportation . Details from the diary proved crucial . in convincing the tribunal that she was not a honeytrap sent to access . defence secrets while working in the Portsmouth MP's Parliamentary . office, as MI5 claimed. The Special Immigration Appeals . Commission described the diary as 'compelling' evidence of her innocence . and concluded the pair's four-year liaison was 'enduring and genuine on . both sides'. The panel said: 'However odd it might seem, she fell for him.' Appeal: Katia Zatuliveter told a hearing her affair with MP Mike Hancock was based on love, not espionage . Last night Miss Zatuliveter admitted . she was 'surprised' to win her case and accused the security services of . being 'unprofessional and paranoid'. She added: 'I went through an . extremely unfair process. If I can describe it in war terms it would be . me on a horse with a sword against tanks and aircraft.' And she confessed she felt she had no choice but to reveal intimate details of her private life to prove she wasn't a spy. She said: 'I had two options. I would . be forever branded a spy, but will be able to keep my private life . private; or I had to give all of this out to the press and to the public . but be able to prove that I am not spy. 'And for me, it was more important to prove that I am not a spy.' The former international relations . student was arrested last year as the Government sought to deport her to . Russia, claiming her presence was a threat to national security. The 26-year-old, known as Katia, was . accused of seducing Mr Hancock, who has been married to his wife . Jacqueline for more than 40 years. Government lawyers pointed to a string . of affairs she had with older men in sensitive positions, including a . Nato official and a Dutch diplomat. The journal emerged at the start of . the tribunal – despite Miss Zatuliveter's claim in her first witness . statement that she had never kept a diary. It purported to cover a period from November 2004 to April 2007, including the start of the affair with Mr Hancock in 2006. She wrote of clashes with her sister Polina who told her she was 'wasting her youth on an older man'. The panel said the diary showed Miss . Zatuliveter to be an 'immature, calculating, emotional and self-centred . young woman'. In it she describes four men she wishes to date as . potential 'victims'. In April 2006, she wrote: 'Mike Hancock, MP wants both to help me and to sleep with me. True love: Miss Zatuliveter, 26, wrote in . her diary like a 'love-struck teenager' after meeting 65-year-old . Liberal MP Mike Hancock, right, at a conference in St Petersburg in . 2006, the hearing heard . 'He offered me to go with him to Strasbourg at the end of June. I said yes. Is there any danger in it?' Then in June, after the affair began, she wrote: 'I am in love... And he's gone to Iraq today. 'I worry a lot, don't know what to do, . what to do with myself. Yes, he had told me that most probably he won't . be able to either call or to write me. 'I wish there were at least some news. I stay at home all day. What if he calls me? My darling Teddy Bear. Happy: Katia Zatuliveter, centre, walks with lawyers to her immigration hearing in London last month . 'I so want to see you, to feel you . with all my naked body. Let the moment of our next meeting come the . soonest possible. I love you, my King Louis!' The tribunal said the entry about Iraq . was a 'revealingly false statement'. While Miss Zatuliveter thought Mr . Hancock was in Iraq on a committee visit, he was actually in Paris. The . panel, chaired by Mr Justice Mitting, accepted this could be a . 'subsequent fabrication' but concluded Mr Hancock had lied to her. Their ruling states: 'The picture . painted by the diary entries is inconsistent with the Security Service's . assessment that she was, most likely, tasked actively to pursue the . offer of a relationship with Mr Hancock. 'The most likely explanation, and one . which we find to be proved on the balance of probabilities, is that, . however odd it might seem, she fell for him.' Last night security officials insisted . they were not in any way 'embarrassed' by the ruling and insisted their . identification of Miss Zatuliveter as a potential threat to national . security was correct. The ruling said: 'We are satisfied that it is significantly more likely than not that she was and is not a Russian agent.' However, it added: 'We cannot exclude . the possibility that we have been gulled – but, if we have been, it has . been by a supremely competent and rigorously trained operative.' A Home Office spokesman said: 'The . court ruled that there were ample grounds for suspicion. We are . therefore very disappointed by the court's judgment.' | Russian blonde convinces court she wasn't sending spy secrets to Kremlin .
She wins right to stay in the UK after four-year affair with Mike Hancock, 65 .
Russian's lawyer hails 'historic judgment'
Home Office 'disappointed' by ruling . |
261,227 | de533f9a066c48b6c5a98932e03fa0d0d077fd2b | Conversation: Ben Sullivan, 21, was cleared of suspected rape and suspected attempted rape after police read a conversation between him and one of the alleged victims in which she admitted it wasn't rape . A girl who accused the Oxford Union president of rape admitted she consented to their relationship months before she made the allegation, it has emerged. Ben Sullivan, 21, was cleared of all suspicion after police saw an online exchange between the pair in which she vowed to make clear he had not raped her. The conversation also suggested there had been a plot to oust him from his role as president of the revered society. 'If we ignore it, it'll go away,' the alleged victim wrote in a conversation read by the Daily Telegraph. She went on to say she felt guilty about their encounter having just rekindled her relationship with her ex-boyfriend, the paper reports. And when asked if she thought it was rape she replied, 'no', adding 'I was far too drunk, that's it'. However, a year later Mr Sullivan, a third-year undergraduate, was arrested at dawn in his college room at Christ Church and was on bail for six weeks. The case sparked outrage, with calls for speakers to boycott the union and a petition - signed by high profile activists - for Mr Sullivan's resignation. Finally, last week, police informed the 21-year-old that no further action would be taken against him following an investigation into the allegations, thought to have been made by the young women more than a year ago. A Thames Valley Police spokesman said: 'All of the evidence was passed to the Crown Prosecution Service for them to make a decision about charging and they decided against.' Rape victim support campaigners are now warning of a backlash against the alleged victims, blasting the release of details of their conversation as Mr Sullivan is given a platform to defend himself. Speaking of the ordeal, he said: ‘It’s been very difficult, very harrowing. It puts things in perspective, changes your priorities to say the very least. 'I’m very thankful to everyone who has given me support - my friends, my family, and people at the union.’ A letter written by student politicians to around 30 speakers who had been booked to attend, asked them to boycott the Union, and Mr Sullivan to resign in what they called a ‘push for equality’. Scandal: The case sparked outrage, with calls for the 21-year-old undergraduate to resign . Nobel Peace prize winner Tawakkol Karman, a human rights activist, Interpol secretary-general Robert Noble, the US entrepreneur Julie Meyer and David Mepham, the UK director of Human Rights Watch, were all said to have pulled out of debates at the Oxford Union, citing concerns about Mr Sullivan’s arrest. But the banker’s son, who attended £22,000-a-year St Paul’s school in London, repeatedly defied calls to stand down as president while the police investigation was carried out. Student union official Sarah Pine who was the leader of the campaign to boycott the union also appeared on Newsnight and said she stood by the campaign. Mr Sullivan said: ‘I don’t doubt the organisers of the boycott have very good intentions and I do agree that sexual violence is a very serious problem at Oxford and other universities.’ | Ben Sullivan, 21, cleared of suspected rape after police saw online exchange .
Alleged victim told president it was not rape and to 'ignore it' in the dialogue .
Also 'implied there was a plot to oust him as head of Oxford Union'
Anti rape groups blast release of conversation as backlash against victims . |
212,879 | 9fa7d3eb146be931c1d102511aa71502d2bd393f | Andy Murray arrived in Perth on Sunday evening as the British No 1 gears up for the start of the Australian Open later this month. Less than 24 hours after winning the Mubadala World Tennis Championships in Abu Dhabi following the withdrawal of Novak Djokovic, Murray landed in the Western Australia capital ahead of his first match at the Hopman Cup team event on Monday. Murray is representing Great Britain alongside Heather Watson, with the pair taking on France's Benoit Paire and Alize Cornet in their first Group B match. Andy Murray arrives at Perth International Airport on Sunday evening ahead of the Hopman Cup . Murray pushes a trolley packed full with bags (left), and was accompanied by mother Judy (right) After experiencing pain in his left shoulder following a straight-sets win against Rafael Nadal on Friday, Murray has said he should be fit to play in Perth, which will be his last event before the Australian Open gets underway on January 19. The 27-year-old had an ultrasound scan on his shoulder in Abu Dhabi on Saturday morning which showed there to be no serious damage to worry about. Speaking before leaving the United Arab Emirates, Murray said: 'I had an ultrasound scan on it and the results of that were clear and very positive so that was good. Murray (right) negotiates his way to waiting transport after arriving in Western Australia . Murray smiles as he is welcomed upon arrival at Perth International Airport . 'Hopefully in a few days with some more rest and more treatment it will be absolutely fine when I get to Australia.' Murray received some more good news after arriving in Perth as brother Jamie and Australian partner John Peers beat top seeds Jean-Julien Rojer and Horia Tecau 6-3, 6-4 in the first round of the Brisbane International on Sunday night. Murray signs autographs as he arrives Down Under ahead of the Australian Open . Murray (left) receives the Mubadala World Tennis Championships trophy in Abu Dhabi on Saturday . | Andy Murray arrived at Perth International Airport on Sunday .
Murray plays for Great Britain in the Hopman Cup with Heather Watson .
The Australian Open begins in Melbourne on January 19 . |
6,526 | 128118811e73f65a278f9b80a6dacc51bf0a97e9 | London (CNN) -- You've answered the call for volunteers, signed up for the Mars trip and you are looking forward to boldly going to space, the final frontier, to explore a strange new world. But wait. Recent evidence from NASA's Curiosity rover mission to the Red Planet has revealed that astronauts on the round-trip would be exposed to high levels of radiation from cosmic rays and high-energy particles from the sun contained in solar storms. NASA says a Mars voyager would receive a radiation dose around 100 times the average yearly exposure on Earth. Along with all the other risks of spaceflight, this would clearly be bad for your health -- and it is proving difficult to find a solution. Eddie Semones, a radiation health expert at NASA's Johnson Space Flight Center, told CNN that shielding to completely block the radiation danger would have to be "meters thick" and too heavy to be used aboard a spacecraft. In contrast, with the release of the Star Trek movie "Into Darkness," science fiction fans have once again got used to the ease with which Captain Kirk gives the order for "shields up" and the crew of the Enterprise being protected instantly from the hostility of space. Perhaps though, a real Star Trek shield may no longer be science fiction -- scientists at the UK's Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL) certainly think so. Radiation 'potential showstopper' They have been testing a lightweight system to protect astronauts and spacecraft components from harmful radiation and working with colleagues in America to design a concept spaceship called Discovery that could take astronauts to the Moon or Mars. "Star Trek has great ideas -- they just don't have to build it," said Ruth Bamford, lead researcher for the deflector shield project at RAL. "The radiation problem is a potential showstopper. I'm very concerned that the radiation issue is not being addressed very publicly and it's absolutely key. "Even if astronauts are sick for 3-4 days, it could still threaten the mission because the whole crew are affected -- and vomiting and diarrhea in space is no joke. It could also potentially lead to organ failure," said Bamford. The RAL plan is to create an environment around the spacecraft that mimics the Earth's magnetic field and recreates the protection we enjoy on the ground -- they call it a mini magnetosphere. "On Earth, mostly we're protected by the atmosphere but ultimately what the Earth's magnetic field is doing is forming a first line of protection for life," explained Bamford. "The concept behind what we're suggesting is due to the evolution in our understanding of plasmas. What we discovered is that if you put a magnetic field around an object in a flowing plasma, the electrons, which are very light, will follow the new magnetic field that you've put there but the ions, the very fast ions, will overshoot -- they won't follow the magnetic field lines. "You end up with a constant electric field that can be enough that it actually refracts or deflects enough of the radiation from inside the magnetic cavity that you've formed to protect the astronauts ... enough like the Earth that they can survive." The mini-magnetosphere concept has also been proposed by a team at the University of Washington in the United States as a way of harnessing the solar wind to create a propulsion system. Other shielding ideas are also being explored. The Inspiration Mars Foundation that is committed to sending a crew to Mars has proposed lining the spacecraft's walls with water, food and even human waste to help protect the astronauts. Early results 'pleasing' New Scientist magazine recently reported that the "hydrocarbons in excrement and food are good candidates for radiation shielding." It added: "NASA's Water Walls project uses a similar concept, but Inspiration must make it work for real." As a child, Bamford was inspired to explore a scientific career by the Apollo moon landings and is a fan of the Star Trek series. She believes the concepts explored in the science fiction films are a useful shorthand for scientists when trying to explain their work. The RAL deflector shield she has helped to develop has been tested on a model inside a fusion reactor which produces a plasma like that of the solar wind. Bamford said they were delighted with the results. The RAL team now hope the project can be scaled up and fly on a real craft. "First we need a technology demonstrator in space in, say, five years," said Bamford. "That's quite realistic for a dedicated, small, unmanned spacecraft. "I'm sure our idea will work. It does work. There are a number of improvements to make it work better though -- perhaps we should call down to Scotty." | NASA's Curiosity mission to Mars revealed that astronauts on a round-trip would face high radiation levels .
Scientists at the UK's Rutherford Appleton Laboratory are working on a radiation shield for astronauts .
A model has been tested inside a fusion reactor which produces a plasma like that of the solar wind .
The team are hoping to test their concept in space in the next five years . |
217,689 | a5d958ad93491868ba62574af76451f7105c63b4 | August Reiger was supposed to reunite with his family at the top of a scenic mountain trail in Ecuador. But when his father, mother and younger brother arrived Sunday at the meeting point overlooking the town of Baños, the 18-year-old was nowhere to be found. Authorities in the South American country have been searching for the Oklahoma high school valedictorian for days. Family members say it appears he vanished without a trace after they split up during a hike in the mountainous area 100 miles south of the capital, Quito. "Nothing makes sense to me. ... Everyone's baffled, because it's not a dangerous place," his father, Chris Reiger, told CNN. "There's no rebels or something like that that who kidnap people. I can't come up with a scenario that could make sense." Teams of firefighters, police, army troops and village volunteers have combed the area, Chris Reiger said, rappelling over steep mountain slopes and using search dogs in their hunt. "They're still searching in the mountain, but not with that kind of force. They're confident he's not up there stuck somewhere," Chris Reiger said. "I could see. I was up there. I knew what they were doing, and I don't know, they didn't find him." Lira de la Paz Villalva, governor of Ecuador's Tungurahua province, said local authorities don't have any leads about what could have caused the teen's disappearance. A new search operation is planned for Friday. August, an avid Spanish speaker with a deep interest in indigenous cultures, had been looking forward to the Ecuador trip. The family had been scheduled to leave for a three-day tour in remote jungle areas on Monday. But instead, they've been traveling to local villages with police, posting pictures of their son and asking for help finding him. It's out of the question that August would have wandered off or could be trying not to be found, the teen's father says. "I feel that he's particularly mature for his age. He's not the kind of kid that does crazy stuff," Chris Reiger said. August had just graduated from the Classen School of Advanced Studies in Oklahoma City, said Shannon Schmoyer, Reiger's father's cousin. The 18-year-old had asked his parents for a trip to a Spanish-speaking country as a graduation present, she said. According to CNN affiliate KOKH, about 150 volunteers have joined the search, with helicopters assisting the effort. Local authorities have been cooperative but don't have many leads, Schmoyer said. In Washington, the U.S. State Department said its embassy in Quito was in touch with the Reiger family and "is monitoring the situation closely." "Protecting the well-being of U.S. citizens is one of the department's highest priorities, and we take all such reports seriously," it said. The family arrived in Ecuador on June 11, Schmoyer said. She described the missing teen as "caring, sensitive, family-oriented, soft-spoken, compassionate, social, inquisitive and wicked smart." August plays piano and guitar, was a state science fair winner and had a full scholarship to the University of Oklahoma, she said. In Oklahoma City, word of his disappearance has has shaken those who know the teen. "I'm not sure what to do. I feel very helpless," neighbor Tim Smith said. "Everyone here who knows him, it's all over Facebook. We're all e-mailing each other, trying to keep each other apprised. I'm knocking on whatever doors I can think of to knock on." Smith, who used to drive August to school in a car pool, said he's been reaching out to local lawmakers to draw attention to the case. "We really need people to let the governor's office and congressmen know," he said. "We need somebody to really step up and try to push this through, so that it gets some more exposure." August's father said he hopes publicity about the case will help authorities locate his son. "He's not gone yet in my mind," he said. "They're going to find him." | In Ecuador, a province governor says investigators have no leads .
August Reiger was last seen Sunday while on a family hike in the mountains .
The family trip was a graduation present for the teen, who is fluent in Spanish .
Father: "Everyone's baffled, because it's not a dangerous place" |
49,950 | 8d3e87fd934bafe3f1ce5c1c79f5610eb42bc4ee | An Arizona academic is asking a New Mexico court to order a death certificate for Billy the Kid to settle questions about whether the infamous outlaw was actually killed in 1881. Robert J. Stahl, a professor emeritus at Arizona State University, filed a petition Wednesday in state District Court and says a death certificate would end tales that the Kid wasn't fatally shot by Lincoln County Sheriff Pat Garrett in Fort Sumner, the Santa Fe New Mexican reports. According to the official story, the brother of the outlaw's love interest tipped off Garrett, who eventually gunned down the 21-year-old Kid at the woman's Fort Sumner home on July, 14 1881. Billy the Kid: An Arizona academic is asking a New Mexico court to order a death certificate for Billy the Kid (photographed) to settle questions about whether the infamous outlaw was actually killed in 1881 . 'Quien es?' the outlaw asked before he was shot. 'Who is it?' Garrett later collected a $500 reward, indicating that territorial officials accepted the lawman's account. For decades, Billy the Kid has been an important figure in New Mexico's Old West past and any story mentioning him often generates a lot of attention, as well as a lot of disagreements over historic detail . Some claim Garrett shot someone else, and Billy took up ranching and farming or escaped to Texas, living under an assumed name. Stahl had gone to the state office that registers births and deaths and was told he'd need a court order for a death certificate to be issued. End Tales: Robert J. Stahl, a professor emeritus at Arizona State University, says a death certificate would end tales that the Kid wasn't fatally shot by Lincoln County Sheriff Pat Garrett (photographed) in 1881 . Figure: Billy the Kid became a central figure in a violent, Irish-English land war in New Mexico. He was beloved by Mexican-American ranchers who felt discriminated against by racist white bankers and land thieves . In July 2013, his article on the fate of Billy the Kid's trigger finger, floating in alcohol in a mason jar, was featured in True West Magazine. Stahl has written a 29-page petition containing a detailed account of the documentary record and extracts from the testimony of eyewitnesses that he believes show beyond any doubt that the Kid died by a bullet from Garrett's pistol. District Judge Albert Mitchell, in court in Las Vegas, New Mexico, on Thursday, has not yet had time to act on the matter, according to clerk Kerri Webb. In an interview, Stahl said an official death certificate would 'relieve a lot of doubt as to whether Billy the Kid died that night and was buried the next day.' Tales: Some claim Garrett (left) shot someone else, and Billy took up ranching and farming or escaped to Texas, living under an assumed name, Stahl aims to put those tales to rest . Scene: Here, the scene of Billy the Kid's death is depicted. Garrett (center) is seen shooting at Billy (left) in Fort Sumner in 1881 . Stahl said there are many continuing fallacies about the Kid. While at the Billy the Kid Museum in Fort Sumner, for example, he heard one story claiming that the Kid was shot and killed in Mexico. A museum employee told him they get questions about the outlaw's death 'all the time.' The official document would 'end a lot of people's doubts,' Stahl said, and 'undermine supporters of Brushy Bill and other impostors.' Born Henry McCarty, likely in New York City, Billy the Kid came to New Mexico with his mother while searching for a better economic future. He became a central figure in a violent, Irish-English land war in New Mexico. He was beloved by Mexican-American ranchers who felt discriminated against by racist white bankers and land thieves. Hide Out: The house, built in 1878 (photographed), where the infamous outlaw hid out while evading capture is on the market for $545,000 . Although he apparently died 134 years ago, Billy the Kid still makes news. In 2003, there was a proposal to exhume his body to compare the DNA to that of his mother, but the exact location of his remains is in doubt. Also, the house, built in 1878, where the infamous outlaw hid out while evading capture is on the market for $545,000. Early in his first term, Gov. Bill Richardson drew headlines by hinting that he was looking into a posthumous pardon for the Kid. | Robert Stahl, an Arizona State University professor emeritus, is asking the state of New Mexico to issue an official death certificate for Billy the Kid .
Stahl says the certificate would end tales and prove that the Kid was fatally shot by Lincoln County Sheriff Pat Garrett in 1881 .
Stahl says the death certificate would 'end a lot of people's doubts' but was told he'd need a court order for a certificate to be issued . |
156,235 | 55ef027fee2cc0e2734118e465f02ce3628b3aab | By . Dan Bloom for MailOnline . A camera-shy mother-of-three has launched a career appearing at children's parties as a Disney princess after leaving her job as a council social worker. Terri Cheesebrough's daughter Phoebe, five, begged her to dress up as Princess Elsa from the hit film Frozen at a school event after insisting they looked alike. Parents began asking the 28-year-old from East Hull to act and sing at parties - and the resemblance has now spawned a whole new career. Scroll down for video . Ice work if you can get it: Terri Cheesebrough, 28 (left) has forged a career dressing up as Princess Elsa from the smash hit Disney film Frozen (right) after she left her job as a council social worker in East Hull . Fairytale career: Ms Cheesebrough said she was 'camera-shy and I have never been confident having my picture taken but I've overcome that to do this job, and it's so worth it to see the look on the children's faces' Ms Cheesebrough said she had suffered depression and anxiety in the past, and gave up her job as at Hull City Council in March last year because she was unable to give her all to the role. She began looking for a more stress-free way to earn a living while still being able to look after Phoebe and her two sons Arthur, three, and seven-month-old Henry. She said other parents were amazed by the resemblance and began booking her for £25 per appearance. 'I have always been career driven but took a bit of a knock after suffering with depression and finishing my council job,' she said. 'I was keen to get back into work and the Princess Elsa job seem to come out of nowhere, but just at the right time. Persuaded by her family: Ms Cheesebrough at home with her children Henry, Phoebe and Arthur . Glittering career: The mother-of-three dons her blue sequined outfit for parties at which she charges £25 for an appearance. She admitted it was a low fee for singing, bringing presents and having photographs taken . 'It all happened by accident, but working as a Disney Princess is so rewarding. 'I am extremely camera-shy and I have never been confident having my picture taken but I've overcome that to do this job, and it's so worth it to see the look on the children's faces. 'I couldn't believe it when all the parents and friends said I looked like Princess Elsa - my daughter Phoebe absolutely loves the film Frozen. 'The response has been fantastic and the kids absolutely love it. 'In a space of a week, everything took off and I have been so busy ever since. I'm working weekends and some evenings doing appearances - the support has been fantastic.' Smash hit: Frozen became the highest-grossing animated film in history after its release last year at £644m . Success: Ms Cheesebrough said: 'In a space of a week, everything took off and I have been so busy ever since. I'm working weekends and some evenings doing appearances - the support has been fantastic' Ms Cheesebrough charges £25 for appearances which usually consist of her singing, bringing presents and having photographs taken. She added: 'As a mum it is important to keep the price affordable- I'm not making much profit, but it's a great job for fitting in around my children.' Frozen became the highest-grossing animated film in history after its release last year, pulling in £644million at box offices worldwide and winning the Oscar for best animated picture. It follows the story of 21-year-old Princess Elsa, whose ability to conjure snow and ice at will traps her kingdom in an eternal winter. | Terri Cheesebrough was begged to dress up by her daughter Phoebe, five .
28-year-old from Hull appears at parties after leaving job as social worker .
She charges £25 and said: 'I'm not making much profit, but it's a great job' |
73,017 | cf0abc288662782962aeff2b763dcea68075a2ba | (CNN) -- Police released two photos Thursday of a man they suspect abducted the mother of Baltimore Orioles legend Cal Ripken Jr. from her Aberdeen, Maryland, home before she was found nearly 24 hours later tied up in the back seat of her car. The pictures, which appear to come from surveillance cameras, show a man wearing an orange and black baseball cap with sunglasses on the brim and a light-colored button-down shirt. There is also a $2,000 reward for a tip leading to the man's conviction, Aberdeen police said. A reward poster described the man as 5-feet-10, 180 pounds with short brown hair. Earlier police said he was in his late 30s to early 40s. Officials in Aberdeen say they are still looking for motives in the case and haven't found evidence of ransom demands for Violet Ripken, the mother of a baseball Hall of Famer. Ripken, 74, was safe and resting with relatives Wednesday after a nearly daylong ordeal, authorities said. Police said a man with a gun showed up at her home between 7 and 8 a.m. Tuesday, forced her into her vehicle and drove off. She was found about 6:15 a.m. Wednesday in the back seat of the vehicle near her home with her hands bound, but she was otherwise unharmed, police said. Michael Jackson's mom found safe, family drama unfolds . "At this time I can say we know of no ransom demand," Aberdeen Police Chief Henry Trabert told reporters on Wednesday. He also said police don't know of any relationship between the suspect and the Ripken family. Trabert said Violet Ripken was understandably upset after the ordeal. The official said the suspect put sunglasses on the woman and they drove around all day and made stops for gas, using Ripken's credit cards at several places. The official said the suspect made no mention of Cal Ripken, an indication that he might not have known she is the mother of one of baseball's most popular stars. Police believe the suspect drove the woman's silver 1998 Lincoln Town Car throughout central Maryland but they aren't sure of precise locations. Rich Wolf, a spokesman for the FBI in Baltimore, said the agency is helping local police investigate the case. The Ripken family released a statement expressing gratitude for Violet Ripken's safe return. "This has been a very trying time for our family, but we are grateful and relieved that mom is back with us, safe and healthy," the statement said. Cal Ripken Jr. achieved stardom as a shortstop with the Baltimore Orioles and is a member of baseball's Hall of Fame. He holds the Major League Baseball record for playing in the most consecutive games -- 2,632 from 1982 to 1998. He made 19 straight All-Star appearances and won two Most Valuable Player awards, racking up 3,184 hits and 431 home runs. He is a baseball analyst for TBS, which like CNN is owned by Time Warner. His Ripken Baseball group owns three minor league teams, including the Aberdeen IronBirds. Cal Ripken Sr. -- who was a manager, coach and scout in the Orioles organization for 36 years -- died in 1999. CNN's Carol Cratty contributed to this report . | Police offer a $2,000 reward for tips leading to the arrest of the suspect .
A gunman forced Violet Ripken into a car at her home Tuesday .
She was found unharmed about 24 hours later, they say .
Police are still looking for motive, saying there were no ransom demands . |
183,304 | 796c6751cbace5f3bf99264518b383ee36e59ee3 | Fort Campbell, Kentucky (CNN) -- Ann Campbell and Marla Schroeder dub each other "battle buddies," although they've never gone to war. Between them, they have 45 years in the U.S. Army. They're the wives of the top commanders of the 101st Airborne Division. "Our husbands look after each other, and we look after each other," says Ann Campbell, the wife of Maj. Gen. John Campbell, the commanding general of the Combined Joint Task Force 101. "We always joke that being an Army wife is actually the toughest job in the Army." Their job has become even more important this year. This summer, the base has seen the highest three-month death toll in Afghanistan since the war began. Forty-two soldiers from the 101st were killed during the months of June, July and August. Another six soldiers have died in battle in September. Roughly 17,000 soldiers from the 101st -- nearly the entire division -- are deployed as part of the surge in Afghanistan. "We've had a very tough couple of months here in Afghanistan with casualties," Maj. Gen. Campbell tells CNN from Afghanistan. "I tell you we've got a very resilient force in our soldiers and we have very resilient families. ... And I'm just thankful to be a part of it." On this day, Ann Campbell and Marla Schroeder -- whose husband is Division Command Sgt. Maj. Scott Schroeder -- have come to a three-hour Family Readiness Group seminar to prepare other wives for the year ahead: how to stay strong, how to communicate with each other, how to maintain calm when the one you love most is not around. "We can be there and bolster each other up and get through the hard times together," the general's wife says. "We want to make sure our families have all the tools and resources they need to be resilient during these back-to-back deployments they've all experienced." Marla Schroeder slips through the crowd and scoops up a fussy baby from her mother. The baby coos. Schroeder beams. Sometimes, pitching in can be as simple as cradling someone else's baby. "We want grandchildren, but no time soon," she says, holding up the baby for all to see. "She's beautiful!" Behind her is a sign: "FRG is not a disease!" The two have known each other for more than a decade, meeting first when they were Cub Scout leaders for their oldest sons' troops. Schroeder smiles when she talks about her battle buddy. "Working with her is just a phenomenal thing," she says. "I am overwhelmed every day. She's great." Schroeder says she's an "easy cry" and that Campbell helps her get through those rough days. When she's at airports and sees soldiers get handshakes from civilians, the tears come again. "I get teased a lot about my invisible T-shirt that says, 'Please ask me about my husband.' He just embodies the American soldier." Both of their husbands will be in Afghanistan for the next year, along with their fellow soldiers. Ann Campbell's husband, the commanding general, is on his third deployment. He served one tour in Iraq and is now on his second tour in Afghanistan. She says it's important for spouses to have battle buddies. "Those are the folks you lean on," she says. "Stay strong, stay in touch with the Army family. Wrap arms around each other." There's new anxiety for Campbell. On this day, her youngest son shipped out to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, for his first stint in the Army. "It's a whole different ballgame when it's your child going," she says. She doesn't have any rituals to send off her husband of 26 years or her son. "You just try to keep the tears away until they're out of sight." Marla Schroeder's eyes fill with tears when she's asked about the heavy toll the summer months have taken on the base. "When the news is first broken, I usually have to sit down somewhere by myself, because every soldier lost is one too many," she says. Fort Campbell holds a ceremony on the first Wednesday of every month to recognize fallen soldiers from the month before. It's a way to help the community heal, but "we never forget." A mother of three children, Schroeder has been married for 19 years. "Do I miss him? Oh yeah," she says. "Do I worry about him? Sure. But is it a bad thing? No, because every month he is gone I am that much stronger. I have that much more stuff in my kit bag." Her oldest son also serves in the Army. She has two teens at home. She stays busy running them around to soccer practices; one just got his driver's license and the other is learning to drive. "My husband picked a great year to go away," she says with a laugh. When she's having a bad day, she tries to quickly change her frame of mind. Her battle buddy often helps with that. "If you can change your thinking, you can change your world." The highlight of the family's weekly routine comes around 9:30 p.m. on Saturdays. That's when Sgt. Maj. Schroeder calls home and the kids hear their dad's voice again. "Being an Army wife is a positive state of mind. You have to be able to step forward, empower yourself and do it," Marla Schroeder says. | Wives of commanders of 101st Airborne say spouses form tight bond while soldiers away .
Ann Campbell and Marla Schroeder call each other "battle buddies"
The 101st has had more than 40 soldiers killed over the summer . |
110,186 | 1a12297c8f4e017590282691fdbe8614cd94267e | Irene McAuley, 18, one of 10 people injured in the Glasgow bin lorry crash, has left hospital . An 18-year-old injured in the bin lorry crash in Glasgow that killed six people - including three members of the same family - has been discharged from hospital. Irene McAuley, 18, was one of 10 people injured after the lorry mounted the pavement, ploughing into pedestrians and shoppers in George Square on December 22. A 14-year-old girl and a woman aged 64 are in a stable condition at the city's Royal Infirmary. A 57-year-old man, understood to be the driver of the lorry, also remains in a stable condition at the Western Infirmary, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde confirmed. Miss McAuley, a university student, suffered facial injuries following the crash. She was released on Monday evening after spending more than a week in hospital. Her brother posted an image of the family beside Miss McAuley's hospital bed on Christmas day. He wrote: 'The events of George Square have brought our family together and we are lucky,' the Daily Record reported. More than 1,000 people gathered near Queen Street on Sunday to remember the victims of the crash. Primary school teacher Stephenie Tait, 29, and tax worker Jacqueline Morton, 51, both from Glasgow were killed in the crash. Gillian Ewing, 52, from Edinburgh, were killed when the council truck mounted the pavement before crashing into the side of the Millennium Hotel. Erin McQuade, 18, and her grandparents, Jack Sweeney, 68, and his 69-year-old wife Lorraine, all from Dumbarton, also died in the accident. Miss McAuley's brother posted this picture of the family at his sister's hospital bedside over Christmas . Dozens of flowers were left in tribute to the six people killed in the crash - just days before Christmas . Jacqueline McQuade, mother to Erin, is believed to have gone to take out money from a cash machine during the Christmas shopping trip when her 18-year-old daughter and parents were struck by the out-of-control bin lorry. After the deaths Archbishop Philip Tartaglia said that Glasgow was now 'reeling from this latest sad and sudden tragedy'. Jack Sweeney (left) and Jacqueline Morton (right) were also killed after the bin lorry mounted the pavement . Lorraine Sweeney (left) and her granddaughter Erin McQuade (right) were killed in the bin lorry crash . Gillian Ewing (left), from Edinburgh, and primary school teacher Stephenie Tait (right) died in the crash . Mr Sweeney was a former president of Bramalea Celtic supporters' club in Canada. His granddaughter was a first-year student of English literature at Glasgow University and worked at Cameron House Hotel on the banks of Loch Lomond. | Irene McAuley, 18, released from hospital after Glasgow bin lorry crash .
She was one of 10 people injured in the crash which killed six last week .
Miss McAuley spent Christmas day in hospital and left on Monday evening .
Three members of the same family were killed in crash on December 22 .
Bin lorry ploughed into pedestrians and shoppers and then crashed . |
253,128 | d3a2011a03ecf6d88851307ce2884d589121b536 | (CNN) -- Voters in Iceland on Saturday appear poised to reject a deal to pay billions of dollars to the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, which helped savers who were their own nationals who'd lost money in a failed Icelandic Internet bank. According to preliminary results, about 93 percent of voters rejected the deal, which would pay the United Kingdom and the Netherlands more than $5 billion for bailing out people who lost money in Icesave -- an online retail bank branch of Landsbanki. That Icelandic bank failed in October 2008, along with two other banks. Under a European Union directive, Iceland now owes compensation to Britain and the Netherlands. The Icelandic government has said it will honor its international obligations. Only 1.6 percent of the 74,000 ballots tallied so far were in favor of the deal, the country's foreign ministry said Saturday. Another 5.2 percent of the votes were empty ballots, the ministry said. About 200,000 people were registered to vote, it said. Iceland's parliament passed a bill authorizing a state guarantee for repayment of the funds, but President Olafur Ragnar Grímsson declined to sign it in January. He cited public disapproval, and in particular, an Internet petition signed by up to one-quarter of the electorate, as a reason for not signing the bill. He said there needed to be a national consensus in addressing the issue. That prompted Saturday's national referendum on the law. The Icelandic public widely disapproved of the deal, the government said in a fact sheet on the deal. "There is widespread frustration over the claim on ordinary citizens in Iceland to pay the price for the irresponsible behavior of reckless bankers," it said. Magnus Arni Skulason, who campaigned against the bill, called the terms of the loan repayment unacceptable. "Of course we feel empathy for those people that lost money," he said. "We just want to get a more reasonable agreement," he told CNN. "There are sovereign issues that ... would not be acceptable to any country," he said. "Also there is a staggering interest rate ... equal to running the national health care system for six months here in Iceland." He called the collapse of the Icelandic banks during the world financial crisis of 2008-09 a "shared responsibility of Iceland, the UK and the Netherlands," blaming "financial regulators" in the countries. It is not clear what will happen if voters say no to the loan guarantees. The Icelandic government said it has "clearly stated its intention to honor its international obligations and remains fully committed to implementing the bilateral loan agreements with the UK and the Netherlands..." The International Monetary Fund loaned Iceland $2.1 billion in November, and said repaying the money to the British and Dutch governments was a requirement of the loan. Dutch Finance Minister Wouter Bos told CNN in January that nonrepayment of the funds would affect "the long-term interest of the Iceland economy and the Iceland people." Britain's Treasury expects Iceland to live up to its obligations, it said in a statement in January. Iceland has begun moves toward applying for European Union membership, which Britain and the Netherlands could block. Britain spent 2.3 billion pounds ($3.69 billion) last year to cover the losses that British savers incurred when Icelandic banks collapsed. The Dutch government spent 1.3 billion euros ($1.87 billion) to cover bank losses in the country. The government of Iceland has for the past three weeks been engaged in a dialogue with the governments of the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, hoping for a resolution, Iceland's foreign ministry said Friday. Iceland called the talks "constructive," adding that "Iceland is confident that a mutually acceptable solution can be reached.... and is hopeful that discussions will resume as early as next week." Despite his refusal to sign the bill, Grímsson told CNN in January that "Iceland recognizes its obligations under this agreement." Resolving the issue, he added, "is a key to our recovery and our harmonious relations with these countries." The law on which Icelanders voted Saturday would compensate Britain and the Netherlands by 2024. A simple majority is needed for the bill to pass. About 300,000 people live in Iceland. | NEW: According to preliminary results, about 93 percent of voters rejected the deal .
UK, Dutch governments bailed out savers hit by the collapse of Icelandic banks .
Under an EU directive, Iceland owes compensation to the UK, the Netherlands .
Some Icelanders say that the current repayment terms are unacceptable . |
229,007 | b48672a29026b22c065d2cf7e5e3502639966090 | New measures: Immigrants will be forced to pay to visit a GP . Immigrants will be forced to pay to visit a GP and be banned from getting council houses for up to five years after they settle in Britain. The moves, to be signalled by David Cameron this week, mark a new hardline stance on immigration aimed at reviving Tory fortunes. The Prime Minister intends to introduce legislation on both issues in the next few months, despite the likelihood of strong opposition from Labour MPs. The measures are to be rushed through to stop Bulgarians and Romanians being allowed free access to the UK next January. A . senior source said: ‘The PM wants the immigration system to back people . who work hard and do the right thing. He is determined to bring an end . to the situation where people can come to the UK and get benefits and . public services without putting anything in. ‘He . is opposed to the “something for nothing” culture of some people who . come here from abroad and jump the housing queue of deserving local . families who have lived in an area for years and paid taxes. ‘We want to remove any expectation that new migrants can expect the taxpayer to give them a home on arrival.’ Earlier . this month, Nick Clegg chaired a Home Affairs Cabinet Committee to . examine plans to deter EU migrants from coming to Britain by slashing . benefits without breaching discrimination laws. They examined options to restrict access to housing and welfare, and introducing an ‘entitlement card’ for all EU citizens. The Prime Minister, right, intends to introduce legislation on both issues in the next few months. Nick Clegg, right, chaired a Home Affairs Cabinet Committee to examine plans to deter EU migrants from coming to Britain . Health . Secretary Jeremy Hunt is also looking at proposals to restrict access . to services by introducing a tighter ‘habitual residency test’. At . the same time, the Home Office has been examining ways to bar migrants . from Romania and Bulgaria from using NHS hospitals if they come to . Britain without a job. People . who have lived in the UK for the past year can get free treatment at . hospitals, while those who are here for a shorter time are charged. However, foreign patients can use GPs’ surgeries without charge. The Government review has looked at whether the system applied by hospitals should be extended to GPs. Doctors’ leaders have suggested that Ministers should introduce a system under which patients who cannot provide proof of residence have to pay for treatment. However, the British Medical Association has advised its members not to make any checks on residency because ‘there is no obligation on them to do so’ – and it could leave them open to allegations of discrimination. Halted: The measures are to be rushed through to stop Bulgarians and Romanians being allowed free access to the UK next January . They have called on ‘other bodies’ within the health service to make judgments about someone’s eligibility for care to avoid putting doctors in a difficult position. GP practices have been placed under a growing burden by the requirement to provide free emergency treatment and immediate necessary treatment for up to 14 days to any person within their practice area. EU citizens from outside the UK have the same rights to free NHS treatment as British residents when they take up residence here, either as temporary migrant workers or as permanent residents. At the same time, nearly one in ten council houses and ‘social housing’ go to foreign nationals, a 30 per cent rise in four years. The new rules are intended to force town halls to introduce a ‘local residency test’ before letting families join the list for a council home. They will have to wait a minimum of two and a maximum of five years to join the list, depending on the availability of houses. Local authorities are currently free to impose such restrictions, but many choose not to. | Mark a new hardline stance on immigration aimed at reviving Tory fortunes .
Banned from getting council houses for up to five .
years after they settle .
Rushed to stop Bulgarians and Romanians being allowed free access . |
88,457 | fb0fdc14aa0316bca2aea4579322010c9f56be4f | Diego Maradona has risked the wrath of the Argentine public after claiming national star Lionel Messi does not deserve to win his fifth Ballon d'Or this year. The Barcelona forward is on the shortlist of three along with last year's winner Cristiano Ronaldo, but Maradona believes Manuel Neuer should take the trophy. The German goalkeeper won the World Cup in Brazil last summer, with Maradona claiming the other two candidates 'took a break'. Manuel Neuer should win the Ballon d'Or this year, according to Argentina legend Diego Maradona . Maradona may not be too popular in his home country after opting against siding with Lionel Messi . 'Neither Messi nor Ronaldo are my choice; my candidate is Neuer who did more to merit the award,' Maradona, who scored 31 goals for Argentina, told television programme De Zurda on a recent visit to Cuba. 'I think Ronaldo and Messi took a break,' Portuguese striker Ronaldo is the favourite for the award after scoring 62 goals for club and country in 2014, also finding the net during the Champions League final win against Atletico Madrid in Lisbon. Despite trailing his rival by only four goals last year, Messi has been accused of suffering with a dip in form at Barcelona as the Catalan giants struggled for success. Meanwhile, Neuer has gone from strength to strength with Bayern Munich and his national team, impressing with his shot-stopping and sweeper-keeper style. Cristiano Ronaldo is the favourite after scoring 62 goals in 2014, including one in the Champions League final . Neuer lifted the World Cup and impressed during the tournament in Brazil last summer with Germany . | Manuel Neuer impressed in goal as Germany won the World Cup last year .
Diego Maradona believes 28-year-old deserves to be handed the title .
Says Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo 'took a break' in 2014 .
Pair scored 120 goals combined last year for club and country . |
31,675 | 5a1adaec3de9b78183afb4299154f864840f7abe | In the afterglow of Chris Christie's smashing re-election win last November, a chorus of big-name Republicans heralded the charismatic New Jersey governor as the party's savior in 2016. Not everyone was so enamored. Just days after the election, Texas Gov. Rick Perry appeared on national television and poured cold water on Christie's impressive victory. "He was a successful governor in New Jersey," Perry said on ABC's "This Week." "Now does that transcend to the country? We'll see in later years and months to come. We're all different states. Is a conservative in New Jersey a conservative in the rest of the country?" The comments made headlines, but were largely seen as just another predictable potshot fired off by one likely presidential contender jockeying for position with another. But Perry's curt dismissal belied a much deeper resentment toward Christie -- and thrust a long-simmering tension between two of the Republican Party's biggest personalities into public view. It is a rivalry that continues today and colors many of the political discussions inside the usually drama-free Republican Governors Association, the powerful fundraising committee currently helmed by Christie. Even with the slow-burning controversies that have engulfed his governorship in New Jersey, Christie, a prolific fundraiser, maintains the support of his fellow governors, barring any further revelations that contradict his story about the George Washington Bridge lane closures. But should Christie ever be forced to step aside, Perry -- along with his close ally, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal -- represents another power base inside the governors association that could step into the leadership void. In Perry-world, Christie is seen as pompous and disrespectful, both to his fellow governors and the sense of collegial decorum that has ruled the governors association for years. To Christie and his allies on the committee, Perry is regarded as unserious, past his prime and too conservative for the national stage. When Christie traveled to Dallas and Fort Worth on Thursday for a series of closed-door meetings with leading governors association donors, Perry was hundreds of miles from the scene. The Democratic National Committee, which has turned its full artillery on Christie in the wake of the bridge fiasco, highlighted Perry's absence as a sign of Republicans fleeing a scandal-tarnished governor. 'They just don't like each other' The truth is that Perry likely would have avoided Christie anyway, with or without the subpoena-flecked drama back in Trenton. "There are factions within the RGA," said an adviser to one Republican governor. "Perry is kind of the leader of one, and Christie is the leader of the other. They just don't like each other." Like most of the people interviewed for this story -- including aides to both Christie and Perry -- the adviser declined to talk on the record so as not to offend two of the most powerful governors in the country. Christie and his close-knit team control the purse strings of the governors association, a cash-flush campaign committee that will help fund the party's slate of gubernatorial candidates in 2014. And despite the embarrassment of his failed White House campaign, Perry is angling to run for president again and continues to be a gatekeeper to many GOP donors in Texas, a wealthy state that doubles as an ATM for Republican politicians. Supporters of the two men who volunteered to discuss their relationship openly were cautious with their words. "I think there are stylistic differences based on their upbringing and where they come from," said Republican operative Bob Haus, chairman of Perry's 2012 caucus campaign in Iowa. "There is a humility that comes from being from the South. And there is a brashness that comes from being from the Northeast. And that may be very apparent between the two of them." Most accounts of their sour relationship begin in 2011, during the bruising Republican presidential campaign, in which Christie endorsed Mitt Romney on his way to the GOP nomination. With backing from some of the GOP's biggest donors, Perry entered the race late that summer to much fanfare, rocketing to the top of national polls and providing Romney with his first serious primary opponent. Perry had resigned his post as chairman of the governors association, but was still counting on support from his fellow Republican governors. But one of them, Christie, was reluctant to give it. Christie not shy with his thoughts about Perry . Throughout the GOP primary battles, even before his endorsement of Romney, Christie was not shy with his thoughts about Perry. In private sessions with donors, governors and assorted Republican power brokers, Christie asserted that Perry was far from qualified for the White House. "Christie was unequivocal in saying that the Perry he had gotten to know, while a nice guy, was not suited for the presidency," said one Republican familiar with the conversations. "That was not kept a secret. He was pretty comfortable telling people that. Major donors, other governors and the like. That quickly got back to Perry." Perry's team chafed at the way Christie handled his endorsement process, in which the GOP candidates were summoned to Drumthwacket, the New Jersey governor's residence, to dine with Christie and his top aides in hopes of winning his support. One veteran of Perry's campaign described the ritual as "imperial." Perry never made the trip. When Christie ultimately endorsed Romney just hours before a debate in New Hampshire, no one bothered to give a simple courtesy call to Perry-world, the former campaign aide said. After his presidential race concluded, a chastened Perry returned to Austin and began dabbling in governors association business again. According to Christie sympathizers, he discovered that his once-rising star had been eclipsed by a younger set of governors, chief among them the ambitious Christie. "Perry had gotten used to being everyone's favorite governor," said one GOP strategist who works with the committee. "Everyone loved the guy and he could raise a lot of money. And he took it hard that it didn't translate to presidential support. When he came back on the RGA scene, he showed up, and guess who everybody's favorite governor was? Chris Christie. A new guy with a lot of swagger and fundraising ability. And he was from New Jersey." "You can only have so many sheriffs in one town," the strategist added. Beyond the obvious political tensions -- both are headstrong politicians with room-filling personalities and White House ambitions in 2016 -- people close to both governors point to a complicated cultural gulf between the two men when asked about their fraught relationship. Perry not naturally drawn to Christie . Perry, the socially conservative son of north Texas ranchers who wears his evangelical faith on his sleeve, isn't naturally drawn to Christie, a lawyer raised in the shadow of New York City who wants Republicans to move beyond the conservative orthodoxies that have damaged the party's brand with swing voters. Christie is friendlier to the bumper crop of Republican governors who were elected in 2010, in particular Wisconsin's Scott Walker and New Mexico's Susana Martinez. Perry, who became governor nearly a decade before Christie, is notoriously close with Jindal, the current vice-chairman of the governors association who is thought to have his own presidential aspirations. "Those two are like brothers," said the adviser to a Republican governor. "They're always doing stuff together." In summer 2012, even before that November's presidential election, Christie began jockeying with Jindal to take over the chairmanship of the governors association in 2014, a prime election year post that would give one of them a coveted launchpad for a potential White House bid. Perry actively worked to support Jindal. But after an unusually furious bout of behind-the-scenes campaigning, Christie won the prized post, thanks largely to his star power on the fundraising circuit. Jindal agreed to serve as governors association chairman in 2013. But the Christie-Perry rift was exposed again last November when Christie, the soon-to-be-anointed governors association chairman, moved to install Indiana Gov. Mike Pence on the governors association's executive committee. Word of Christie's maneuvering frustrated Jindal, the outgoing chairman, who had wanted to give the open spot to Perry, in part because of the Texan's fundraising prowess. "Perry got wind of this, got pissed, and started calling all these governors," said one Republican consultant who witnessed the intense executive committee campaign that soon followed. Another operative familiar with the incident said: "Why keep a governor who has been the most prolific fundraiser in the history of the governors association and from a huge donor state off the executive committee? It was strictly a power play by Christie." As Perry supporters tell it, Perry outworked Christie on the phones and whipped up enough support among his fellow governors to force Christie into a compromise: The governors association agreed to add a slot on the executive committee so that both Perry and Pence could serve. Christie allies have a different take: The governor simply agreed to give both Perry and Pence executive committee posts to avoid an unnecessary flame war inside the organization. "The whole executive committee thing was very overblown," said a governors association source when asked about the conflict. "Once Christie figured out Perry wanted to be on board, he allowed him to be on board. And all the governors were happy with it." As for the greater friction between Christie and Perry, the governors association source acknowledged some ill will but said the two Republicans have an amicable relationship. "There may be some hangover from Christie endorsing Romney, but Christie respects Perry and his work as governor, and was happy to recommend him to join the executive committee," the source said. | Rick Perry's dismissal of Chris Christie's big win in November belies a deep resentment .
In Perry-world, Christie is seen as pompous and disrespectful .
To Christie, Perry is unserious, past his prime and too conservative for the national stage .
"You can only have so many sheriffs in one town," one GOP strategist said . |
208,881 | 9a7db97f0c6f535bed4b902b09d8805fc00698f3 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 11:56 EST, 4 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 18:03 EST, 4 December 2013 . Danielle Bradbery, the 17-year-old recent winner of The Voice has been signed as the newest face of Skechers sneakers. The teenage country star's spring 2014 ad campaign for the brand's Bobs line, marks her first-ever fashion campaign. She will appear in Skechers’s print and TV ads, as well as the brand's social media and marketing campaigns through 2015, reports WWD. The new face: Danielle Bradbery has been named the new face of Skechers, her first-ever fashion campaign . Danielle shot to fame on season 4 of The Voice, at which time she was only 16. After winning the show in June, her first original single The Heart of Dixie, reached the top 20 on iTunes. To celebrate her arrival as a Skechers ambassador, the brand’s president Michael Greenberg released a statement saying: ‘Danielle is a breakout star, and we are thrilled to have Skechers at the starting gate of her incredible career. Her rise: Danielle shot to fame by winning season 4 of The Voice, with the help of coach Blake Shelton (L) He added that ‘With a top-20 hit under her belt, she’s clearly talented and definitely one to watch. We see the same massive potential in Danielle as we did in Carrie Underwood when we signed her several years ago.’ His remarks are a high mark of acclaim for a young star who has previously cited Underwood’s career as a musical inspiration. The Bobs brand that she is set to represent for spring 2014 is Skechers’s own answer to Toms. Country roots: Danielle is a country singer whose first single The Heart of Dixie became a top-20 hit . Bobs are styled much like Toms inimitable flat shoes - which were modeled after a traditional Ageninian shoe called alpargatas. Also like Toms, Skechers donates a pair of shoes to a child in need for each pair of Bobs that are purchased. Of the line, Danielle said in a statement: ‘Bobs shoes have helped so many children in need with their donation program, and I love the fact that it really is a simple way for anyone to give back.’ Her idol: Danielle has previously cited Carrie Underwood as her musical inspiration, and now follows in the singer's footsteps as the face of Skechers . | Danielle follows in the footsteps of her musical inspiration Carrie Underwood, who has previously represented the brand . |
259,799 | dc5e8c143ebd8f160d319bd306a192117c5056d3 | During the height of the months-long protests in Ferguson last summer, police said demonstrators could protest all they want -- as long as they stayed home after dark. The reasoning back then: Troublemakers from outside the city come in to create chaos under cover of darkness, making the police's job of maintaining order difficult. And yet, even though a grand jury reached a decision on whether to indict Officer Darren Wilson by Monday afternoon, the decision wasn't publicized until hours later -- around 8 p.m. in Missouri. So why did officials wait so long? How prosecutor defended grand jury's decision . Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon was asked by reporters about the nighttime announcement. Nixon said the decision was made solely by St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Robert McCulloch. "We coordinated with law enforcement, gave schools time to get their children home and in a safe place, gave businesses time to make a decision on their employees' safety, gave media time to set up, prepared our statement and made the announcement," Edward Magee, executive assistant to McCulloch, said in a statement. CNN senior legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin said McCulloch's decision was "foolish and dangerous." "I find this a completely bizarre decision to do this at night," Toobin said. "Here's the thing about that time of night: it's dark. Anyone -- anyone! -- should have known that the decision in the Brown case would have been controversial. Crowd control is always more difficult in the dark." CNN legal analyst Paul Callan noted the announcement was supposed to be made at 8 p.m. ET but was rescheduled for 9 ET. "Why would you be moving it another hour? I think the only reason can be that they don't have their security forces in place," he said. Initially, prosecutors were expected to give law enforcement 48 hours' notice from when the grand jury made its decision to when the announcement was made. But that clearly didn't happen Monday, since the decision and the announcement came on the same day. Community activist John Gaskin anticipated McCulloch's explanation, saying he could understand if officials wanted to get schoolchildren home and businesses closed first. "But he could have easily made this (announcement Tuesday) morning," Gaskin said at the time. Also, chilly nighttime weather can sometimes deter violence -- though Ferguson's near-freezing temperatures overnight didn't stop agitators from looting businesses and setting dozens of buildings and cars on fire. Benjamin Crump, the attorney representing slain teenager Michael Brown's family, said Brown's parents didn't know what the decision was after dusk fell on Ferguson. And they found out that the grand jury had reached some sort of decision from watching CNN. "It was very painful on behalf of his mother and father, that they did not get the notice that they were going to find out before the media found out." Complete coverage of what's happening in Ferguson . | Timing was meant to allow children, employees to get home, prosecutor's office says .
Officials also wanted to let media set up, prosecutor's office says .
But CNN legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin called decision "completely bizarre"
"Crowd control is always more difficult in the dark," he said . |
204,184 | 945548f525dd06f8cdaafebd1fd5e8766cfeb58d | Stephen Ireland has accused Aston Villa of treating him 'like a toy' and making him train alone in a field. The 27-year-old spent four years at Villa before moving on loan to Stoke last September before making his move permanent in January. The midfielder has become a vital part of Mark Hughes' side and is looking forward to proving his critics wrong when Stoke host Villa on Saturday. Scroll down for Steve Sidwell on talkSPORT discussing Stoke's exciting season ahead . Reborn: Stephen Ireland (right) is glad to have left Aston Villa for Stoke . Making his mark: Stephen Ireland is determined to prove his critics wrong . 'Villa took the p***. They treated me like a toy. I was cast on on one side,' Ireland told the Daily Star. 'They even took me to a field on my own to train. It was an absolute nightmare. 'There was just me and the fitness coach in a field. He used to take me three or four pitches away from the main group. He would warm-up the first-team, run me around for 30 minutes and then leave to go home. 'I don't feel I was given the chances. It's difficult not to feel hard done by. I can't do anything about the past. All I can do is influence the future and that's what I'm planning to do.' Ireland also revealed how he was being paid just £85 a week during his spell at Manchester City. He added: 'I played three years in the Premier League and I was still on £85 a week. I had a baby son. I never drove until I was 23 years old. You wouldn't believe it now, looking at City. Now I see players there making five appearances who are on £50,000 a week.' | Ireland spent four years at Villa before moving to Stoke on loan in 2013 .
Midfielder says he wasn't given a fair chance at the midlands club .
Stoke host Aston Villa on Saturday in the Premier League .
Ireland also reveals he was paid just £85 a week while at Manchester City . |
184,686 | 7b396a3270dadceace26584d35f234ce43e72f11 | A three-year-old girl was kidnapped by a stranger through her bedroom window - but miraculously saved when her father and uncle chased her abductor down the street, police have said. The unidentified youngster was allegedly snatched by the hooded man after he leaned through her window at her family's Southern California home on Thursday and told her to 'come toward him'. However, she was rescued when her father and uncle reportedly heard a commotion and ran out of the house, pursuing the alleged kidnapper down the street until they eventually caught up with him. They then tackled the man to the ground, it is said. Scroll down for video . Terrifying: A three-year-old girl was kidnapped by a stranger through her bedroom window (pictured)- but miraculously saved when her father and uncle chased her abductor down the street, police have said . Scene: The unidentified youngster was allegedly snatched by the hooded man after he leaned through her window at her family's Southern California home (pictured) on Thursday and told her to 'come toward him' Now, the man has been arrested by police on suspicion of kidnapping the infant. His name, age and place of residence are currently being withheld by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. In a statement, the Department said: 'A male adult allegedly grabbed ahold of a 3-year-old female by reaching through a bedroom window at the female’s residence.' During the incident at around 7pm, the man - who was 'wearing a hoodie' according to family members - allegedly pulled a screen off the bedroom window and reached through to the little girl. 'He leaned in the window and then told her to come toward him,' the youngster's aunt, Adriana, told KTLA 5, adding that her entire family had been in the house during the 'frightening' attack. Shocked: 'He leaned in the window and told her to come toward him,' the girl's aunt, Adriana (pictured), said . Emergency response: The infant was rescued when her father and uncle reportedly heard a commotion and ran out of the house, chasing the alleged kidnapper down the street. Above, deputies at the scene Thursday . The man then grabbed the child and dragged her away from the house in the 24200 block of Arch Street in the Newhall area of Santa Clarita, before running down the street with her, deputies said. However, after the girl's father and uncle heard a commotion and realized she was missing, they reportedly chased her attacker down the road until they were just feet away from him. 'I actually … ran behind him,' said the girl’s uncle, whose name is Jesus. 'I think he heard my footsteps and then he turned around quickly and asked me if this was my daughter.' After Jesus told the kidnapper that the girl was his daughter in an attempt to get her back, the man handed her back to him and made to flee, her relatives said. Official: During a press conference on Friday morning, Sheriff's Deputy Joshua Dubin (pictured) described the incident as a 'random kidnapping' that involved the suspect 'breaking out a window screen' at the girl's home . But he was stopped when the girl's father suddenly tackled him, knocking him to the ground before restraining him. When deputies arrived at the scene, they were able to take the man into custody. In the statement, the Sheriff's Department said that the girl had been safely returned to her relatives and was startled, but not harmed. It added that deputies have set up a perimeter at the scene. During a press conference on Friday morning, deputy Joshua Dubin described the incident as a 'scary' and 'random kidnapping' that involved the suspect 'breaking out a window screen'. Although the names of the girl and suspect have not been released, officials have said there is no apparent relationship between them, CBS reported. An investigation is ongoing. Chase: The alleged kidnapping and subsequent chase occurred in the 24200 block (pictured) of Arch Street in Santa Clarita. Officials have said there is no apparent relationship between the suspect and the young child . | Hooded man 'leaned through window and told girl to come toward him'
He then fled with her down street in Santa Clarita, California, police said .
However, the girl's father and uncle heard a commotion and gave chase .
They 'caught up with suspect, tackled him to ground and got child back'
Man was later arrested on suspicion of kidnapping; is yet to be identified . |
12,355 | 22fd92483385bc46e30cfc7f6975fe45757661a3 | (CNN) -- Chris Colfer told Piers Morgan that his mother was driving him home from his final audition when he got the call saying he'd landed the role of Kurt Hummel in "Glee." When Morgan asked the actor if he realized that the Fox series would become such a phenomenon, Colfer replied, "Absolutely not. And had I had any notion that it would become what it was, I would've been insane. Who could've predicted all of this?" The "Glee" overnight sensation is a guest on Friday's "Piers Morgan Tonight." "We were just passing Santa Monica Pier," Colfer continued. "And the phone rang and she answered it. And then she just looked at me with that look, and I knew I had it." Colfer, whose 21st birthday is Friday, told Morgan that at the time he had been in college for a grand total of two weeks and was working in a dry cleaner at minimum wage. Morgan pointed out the recent barrage of magazines Colfer has graced: Cover of "Entertainment Weekly," two copies of "The Hollywood Reporter" and a spot on "Time" magazine's list of Most Influential People. "It's so surreal," Colfer told the CNN host. "That, whenever I have a minute to myself and I stop and think about it, I get so lost in this cloud nine world that it -- it's so hard to come back down from it." When Morgan asked Colfer when he realized his life was never going to be the same, the actor said it was "the first time I was recognized, or maybe it was the first time that I drove up to Paramount Studios and had a place for my car to go." Colfer recalled how special it was to cruise through the iconic studio gates. When Morgan asked Colfer what celebrity icons he looked up to as a kid, the actor said that while he mostly inspired himself along the way and didn't latch on to heroes, "everyone wants to be Lady Gaga at one point or the other." When Morgan argued that he has never wanted to be Lady Gaga, Colfer countered, "Now you're lying. Everyone wants to be Lady Gaga." Colfer admitted that he's always wanted to be Oprah Winfrey, proclaiming, "Who wouldn't want to be Oprah Winfrey, are you kidding? If you don't want to be Oprah Winfrey, there's something wrong with you." When Morgan pointed out that Colfer and his "Glee" character, Kurt, are looked up to by kids who are being bullied, the actor opened up about the bullying he endured as a child. When Morgan asked Colfer if his Golden Globe win was "this wonderful moment of payback," Colfer joked, "Now, there's a diplomatic answer that I could give, but... ." When Morgan asked for a straight answer, Colfer responded, "Yes! Oh, God, yes! Yes! And those individuals, I just -- it's almost like you want to say, 'Suck it' to them, like, right there." The bullying didn't stop with "Glee," as Colfer admitted that he stopped Googling himself altogether as of September 2009 after reading hurtful, often homophobic statements that he referred to as "high school all over again." Morgan asked Colfer, who attended the White House Correspondents' Dinner on April 30, what happened when he met right-wing politicians at the dinner who vote against gay rights. "Oh, everyone loves 'Glee,'" exclaimed Colfer. "Everyone loves 'Glee.' Everyone loves me in 'Glee,' and it's hysterical." "And you know that," said Morgan. "You quietly know they're all voting against gay rights." Colfer told Morgan that while he is aware that many of the political leaders who request photo-ops with him do vote against gay rights, he gladly poses for pictures with them regardless, in the hopes that the next time a gay-related issue comes along, they don't say, "No, that gay kid from 'Glee' didn't give me a picture, I'm going to vote no. Take that." "When people believe so strongly against you," stated Colfer, "yet they want proof that they met you -- it's kind of awesome." Watch Piers Morgan Tonight weeknights 9 p.m. ET. For the latest from Piers Morgan click here. | Chris Colfer, who plays Kurt on "Glee," turns 21 this week .
Colfer was in college and working for minimum wage when he got the part .
Actor on payback for those who bullied him: "It's almost like you want to say, 'Suck it' to them" |
160,421 | 5b6325541b29ffe8d39229a9229479a2f3612a76 | By . Katy Winter . Many women around the world dream of being able to eat whatever they want and have any weight they gain go straight to their cleavage. But with the stereotypical perfect female body being both very slender yet with large breasts most women fight a constant battle between avoiding the snack aisle and bemoaning their shrinking assets. However one confectionery maker in Japan aims to bring women the best of both worlds, creating 'F Cup' cookies that claim to enhance breast size. Each cookie contains 50mg of Pueraria Mirifica, plant extract found in plant found in northern and north eastern Thailand . The makers say that eating just two a day will create a noticeable difference in breast size, and they have spread in popularity not only through Japan but other parts of Asia. Subtly named ‘F cup cookies’ the biscuits contain 50mg of Pueraria Mirifica (a plant extract found in plant in northern and north eastern Thailand) extract per cookie. The plant Pueraria Mirifica contains a molecule similar to oestrogen known as Miroestrol which mimics the biological activities of the hormone. Human oestrogen plays an important role in breast development and determining their size, and the F cup Cookies claim that the Mirestrol in the biscuits will act in the same way on the body when eaten. Most women fight a constant battle between avoiding the snack aisle and bemoaning their shrinking assets . While eating boob-boosting cookies might sound great, there is no scientific evidence at all that Miroestrol has a similar effect to oestrogen on humans when eaten . However, while the idea of the only consequence of indulging in sweet treats being a larger cup size might sound appealing, there is no scientific evidence at all that Miroestrol has a similar effect to oestrogen on humans when eaten. It also has been claimed – though in a similarly unproven manner – that Pueraria Mirifica extract can be taken to increase appetite, which, if true may well increase a person’s breast size through increased fat but is unlikely to be noticed as the weight gain will occur on the entire body. Nutrition expert Ian Marber says: 'Phytoestrogens are in numerous foods and to date there is no research to show that ingestion changes breast size. ‘Even concentrated doses haven't been shown to do anything, although eating several biscuits can lead to weight gain with all that goes with it.’ | Cookies sold in Japan promise to have noticeable effect on cup size .
Contain extract of plant Pueraria Mirifica which contains Miroestrol .
Miroestrol acts similarly to the hormone oestrogen .
However, while oestrogen does effect breast size, no evidence eating Pueraria Mirifica has any impact . |
232,079 | b884196333085481adf17e573611512512002c5e | (CNN) -- It's a good bet that Lolo Jones and Lauryn Williams won't be wearing singlets for this Olympics. But it's also safe to assume that -- once again -- they'd be plenty fast. These two U.S. Track and Field stars got one step closer Saturday to another Olympic Games, this time in wintry Russia. They are among the women named Saturday as "push athletes" for the Americans' six-women bobsled team, according to the USA Bobsled and Skeleton Federation. Williams acknowledged the honor with a quick, emphatic message on her Twitter feed to those offering congratulations: "Thank you!" Jones quickly followed suit, while noting that Saturday's announcement means she's part of the national team, but not necessarily off to Sochi this coming winter. The Olympic team will be named in January, though those on the national team certainly have a big leg up on the competition. The others in the same group as Jones and Williams include 2010 Olympian Emily Azevdo, two-time World Champion medalist Katie Eberling, two-time national push champ Aja Evans and Kristi Koplin. Those piloting the American bobsleds are Elana Meyers -- who won a silver medal as last season's World Championship -- as well as Jamie Gruebel and Jazmine Fenlator. These are all accomplished athletes in their own right, though Jones and Williams are probably the most recognizable among the U.S. public. Williams, 30, emerged in 2002 as a U.S. Junior then World Junior champ in the 100-meter dash, the same footrace in which she won the 2004 NCAA crown while attending the University of Miami. That same year, Williams made her Olympic debut -- finishing second in the 100. The Miami resident finished first in the 2005 World Outdoor 100 meters, and was a two-time gold medalist (in 2005 and 2007) in the World Outdoor 4x100 relay. She also made the U.S. Olympic team in 2008 after placing third in the trials. The photogenic Jones may be as recognizable for her commercials and photo shoots in some circles, though she's been a fierce and accomplished track and field athlete in her own right. The Iowa native is an 11-time All-American from her days at Louisiana State University, where she won titles in both sprint relays and the hurdles. In 2008, Jones appeared on top of the track world -- winning the 60-meter hurdles in the World Indoor Championships and being named the VISA Humanitarian Athlete of the Year for good deeds outside the sport. In fact, she entered that summer's Olympics in Beijing as a gold medal favorite, only to trip on a hurdle and finish seventh. She suffered another setback in 2011 when she underwent spinal surgery, yet still managed to make the next year's Olympic team. This time, Jones did better but finished just out of the medals, in fourth. | Lolo Jones, Lauryn Williams are both accomplished track and field athletes .
Each has competed in summer Olympics as sprinters or hurdlers .
They're named to the USA national bobsled team .
That makes them a step closer to the 2014 Winter Olympics in Russia . |
158,377 | 58c1446c661f42e58c3fdd5651cdab08cb392ac6 | (CNN) -- Serena Williams maintained her dominance of Denmark's former world number one Caroline Wozniacki with a typical fightback in the quarterfinals of the Rogers Cup in Montreal. Williams has only lost once to Wozniacki in eight meetings, back in 2012, but looked in danger of a rare defeat when she trailed a set and 4-2. The world number one fell 15-30 on her next service game before hammering home one of her 15 aces of the day on the way to a run of 10 straight points to level at 4-4. A further break of service saw Williams take the second set and she led 2-0 and 4-2 in the decider. Wozniacki, who was playing some of her best tennis of the year, twice leveled but the top seed pulled ahead again to close out the match 4-6 7-5 7-5 in two hours 41 minutes. It was to set up a semifinal match with her elder sister Venus, who later also came from a set down to beat Carla Suarez Navarro. The Spaniard had put out Maria Sharapova in the last 16 and she led Williams a set and 2-0 before the seven-time grand slam champion hit back. She won 10 of the next 11 games to go 4-1 up in the decider and although Navarro briefly rallied she was always trailing. Venus eventually closed it out 4-6 6-2 6-3 in two hours 11 minutes to earn her 25th career match up with Serena, who leads 14-10 in wins. At the men's Rogers Cup tournament, the Masters 1000 event in Toronto, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga continued his fine run with a three-set victory over former Wimbledon champion Andy Murray. 13th seed Tsonga had won the first set on a tiebreak, but after Murray had leveled at one set all, the Frenchman trailed 0-3 in the decider and looked set to go out. However, he rallied to win six of the next seven games to reach the semifinals. Tsonga, who beat top seed Novak Djokovic in the previous round, will take Bulgaria's rising your star Grigor Dimitrov for a place in the final. Dimitrov, the seventh seed, accounted for South Africa's Kevin Anderson in a marathon three-setter 5-7 7-5 7-6. | Serena Williams beats Caroline Wozniacki in Montreal .
Williams comes from a set and break down to win three-setter .
Faces sister Venus for a place in the final .
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga extends fine run at Toronto Masters 1000 event . |
216,095 | a3bc356d94423647bd2b09702588f0457655353c | A driver who abandoned his car in the woods after it broke down 40 years ago has was shocked to find it again - in the exact same spot where he left it. Pekka Nummelin, from Mikkeli in Finland, dumped the 1967 Ford Anglia in the woods behind in his parents house in 1974. Mr Nummelin then moved away from the area, leaving the car behind. Scroll down for video . Pekka Nummelin finds the car he dumped in the woods in the exact same spot behind his parents old house 40 years ago . Mr Nummelin abandoned the car after it broke down and became virtually irreparable . But last weekend, a conversation with his son Tommi about cars led to the pair travelling back to Mr Nummelin's old house where they found the car with all its paint, lights and glass still in tact. The car, in seafoam green, was bought by the then 20-year-old Mr Nummelin to help him get to and from his first job. His son Tommi told the Huffington Post that the upper radiator hose became lose and he filled the compartment with water. This in turn froze the cooling channels meaning the engine wouldn't start and Mr Nummelin had to be towed by his brother. But Once the cold water reacted with the hot engine, it cracked the block, meaning the car was irreparable. Mr Nummelin discovered the car with his son Tommi after they headed to the old house to see if it was still there . The car was then dumped in the woods behind the family home and left there even when the family moved on years later. But with the father and son beginning to wonder what might have happened to the vehicle, they drove the 20 miles from their home to the old house where they found the car in the exact same spot. Tommi explained: After walking for some minutes through the forest that has slowly been growing for the last 40 years, we found a small mossy patch in it where he had left his car. The pair now plan to return to the woods behind the old family home so they can gain access to the interior of the car . 'The Ford was in better nick then anoyone really expected. Because of the remote location, all glasses and lights (except one that was smashed during towing) were intact.' However, althought the car appears to be in good shape, it has has sunk around six inches into the ground. The pair now plan to return to the woods so they can gain access to the interior of the car, but will have to take lock picking tools as Mr Nummelin no longer has the keys. | Pekka Nummelin dumped the car in woods behind his parents' house in 1974 .
The 1976 Ford Anglia broke down and was left in the spot after being towed .
Mr Nummelin left the car there even when the family moved across town .
Forty years on, he and son Tommi decided to see if car would still be there .
Were shocked to find the car in the exact same place where it was left . |
277,221 | f329707029a3bca6855d422fc19f680203df0d5c | (CNN)Taiwanese airline TransAsia has grounded 10 pilots for failing an oral flight test, as divers continue searching for the final victim of the crash of Flight GE235 which killed at least 42 people earlier this month. The failed pilots will undergo retraining before being allowed to fly again, the airline said, adding that each had an average of 6,900 flying hours, not a insignificant number for a commercial pilot. The 39 pilots who passed the oral test will have to sit a simulator test -- if they don't pass, they too will be grounded, TransAsia said. Nineteen other pilots have yet to take any of the tests, but they won't be assigned any duties until they do so. The testing was recommended by Taiwan's Civil Aeronautics Administration for pilots at the controls of ATR turboprop aircraft, the type involved in the February 4 crash. Meanwhile, rescue workers continue to search the muddy depths of the Keelung River in Taipei, where the flight went down, for the last unaccounted passenger. Two bodies were found around 600 meters downriver from the crash site on Tuesday, taking the final death toll to 42. Officials said the bodies found were still strapped in their seats. Fifty-one search boats, three helicopters, and more than 450 people are working to find the remaining passenger, according to a statement from the Taipei City mayor's office. Excavators are being used to dig the river bed amid theories that the final victim may be stuck in mud. TransAsia Flight GE235 crashed minutes after takeoff in the Taiwanese capital after the pilots struggled to correct problems with both engines, according to preliminary investigations by Taiwan's Aviation Safety Council. The agency said the aircraft's engines stopped producing power, one after the other, leaving the plane flying without thrust for more than one minute. Dashcam video taken by cars on a nearby highway showed the plane turning sharply left, before the wing hit the overpass and crashed into the river. Fifteen people survived the crash after being pulled from the submerged wreck. After the crash, Taiwan's aviation authorities ordered special checks on all ATR 72s in the fleets of local carriers. TransAsia was involved in another deadly disaster last July. Forty-eight people died after an ATR 72 aircraft crashed as it was attempting to land in the Taiwanese Penghu Islands during bad weather. Journalist Annie Liao in Taiwan contributed to this report. | 10 TransAsia pilots grounded after failing flight test .
Search continues for final victim yet to be found after crash .
15 people survived when plane's wing clipped bridge and crashed into river . |
252,692 | d305e1a76d4b81637924f3b4db186108d456120f | By . Associated Press . and Alex Greig . PUBLISHED: . 00:47 EST, 13 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 03:25 EST, 13 January 2014 . The family of a 23-year-old Santa Rosa man who died after he contracted the H1N1 flu virus says his illness wasn't accurately diagnosed until it was too late to possibly save his life. The Santa Rosa Press Democrat reports Matthew Walker was admitted to a Kaiser Permanente hospital in Santa Rosa on December 27 after he reported breathing difficulties. The previous day he was sent home from the hospital after being diagnosed with pneumonia. Desperately ill: This was the last picture Matthew Walker posted on Facebook, the day before he was put in an induced coma . Walker's family says Kaiser doctors didn't discover Walker had the 'swine flu' until after he was put into a medically induced coma before his death Wednesday. Walker is one of four people who have died in the most recent outbreak of the H1N1 strain on California's north coast. The virus first emerged in 2009. In the 2009-2010 flu season, 12,000 people died from the virus - or complications caused by the disease - across the U.S. The previously healthy 23-year-old's Facebook page provides a devastating timeline of his decline. Strong young man: Walker was an active young man who enjoyed skateboarding and worked two jobs . On December 22, he posted that he had a sore throat, cough, runny nose, nausea and a headache, plus no food at the Santa Rosa apartment he shared with two roommates. 'The things that make me miss home... Like moms home made chicken noodle soup!' he wrote. By December 26, Walker wrote that he'd spent a 'miserable' six hours in the emergency room of Kaiser Permanente hospital where he was diagnosed with 'bad' pneumonia on his left lung. The very last post Walker made was a picture of himself looking wan and tired with the caption, 'Lying on a gurney with 103 temp today. No fun...' Prevention: Doctors recommend the flu vaccine to ward off this season's deadly H1N1 strain . According to the Press Democrat, Walker's sister Ruth Bell said her brother's cough became so violent on December 27 that doctors had to sedate him. He went into cardiac arrest and was put in an induced coma. His brain began to swell. Walker's sister, Ruth Bell, said Saturday her brother's death is a 'devastating loss' and 'there is some anger.' Kaiser officials said Saturday they couldn't comment on the case, citing patient confidentiality. | Matthew Walker, 23, fell ill on December 22 .
He was admitted to hospital on December 26 when he was diagnosed with pneumonia in his left lung .
On December 27, he was placed in an induced coma and doctors realized he had H1N1 .
It was too late to help Walker and he died on January 8 .
His family say that doctors could have treated Walker if he had been correctly diagnosed earlier . |
174,500 | 6dd908485b04cf33b31d48af4c51cd9570d0db9f | By . Peter Jenson . Five months is a long time in football and an eternity in the struggle for supremacy between Real Madrid and Barcelona. When Gareth Bale made his Clasico debut in October Barcelona won 2-1 with a goal from Neymar who had supposedly cost just £48.6m. Bale was hauled off after hour – having cost twice as much as his opposing number and yet looking like half the player. Scroll down for video... The Real deal: Gareth Bale joined Real Madrid from Tottenham for a world record £86m in the summer . On the up: After a stuttered start, Bale has started to prove his worth with 14 goals and 17 assists this season . Inauspicious: Bale was hauled off after a lacklustre performance in his first clasico at the Nou Camp . Boy from Brazil: By contrast, Neymar scored on his first taste of La Liga's biggest game . When he makes his Santiago Bernabeu . clasico debut on Sunday Real Madrid will be four points ahead of their . rivals instead of six points behind and his world has been turned upside . down. Gone are the concerns about his injury problems and with them the doubts over his price tag. Neymar’s . real value, in contrast, has everyone obsessed. An investigation into . how much he really cost is now up around the £80m mark and as the . price has risen, his worth to the team has declined. The more expensive . he becomes the worse he looks; and the more Bale looks like a bargain in . comparison. Bale has found . a home out on the right of Real Madrid’s now famed BBC front three . alongside [Karim] Benzema and Cristiano [Ronaldo] and the combination . has scored 52 goals between them with Bale getting on the scoresheet 14 . times and providing 17 assists – more than any other La Liga based . player. Reversal of fortune: Bale and Neymar's careers in Spain have moved in opposite directions since El Clasico . Provider: Bale has notched up more assists - 17 - than any other player in the Spanish league . B: Gareth BALE . B: Karim BENZEMA . C: CRISTIANO Ronaldo . The injuries have . cleared up too. After a two-month period around the mid-winter break . when his minutes-played ratio dropped below 50 per cent and it seemed he . was being held together by blue Kinesiology tape, he now looks far less . worthy of the ‘Glassman’ nickname he had been given by some, and has . played all but 17 minutes of the last nine games . There . was a cruel irony that his room in the players’ private hotel at . Madrid’s Valdebebas training complex where the team often stay overnight . before or after big games was opposite the physio’s room, but he is now . taking big matches in his stride, even coming off the bench in midweek . to replace Jese whose cruciate ligament had been torn ruling him out for . the rest of the season. Tale of the tape: How Bale and Neymar's first seasons in la Liga have compared . The . 21-year-old Jese had come on in that first Clasico scoring Real . Madrid’s consolation goal and begging the question why spend 100m euros . when you have such a home-grown talent coming through for free. Shedding . light on Bale’s physical fragility his former Wales boss John Toshack . told Marca this week: 'He had several serious injuries when he was a . very young player. The first one ruled him out for 10 months and the . second for nine. That is a long time to be out between the age of 18 and . 20. The treatment he had was not always the best and that is why he . needs to be 100 per cent and can’t be one of these players who can play . through injury.' Money matters: Neymar signed for Barcelona for a supposed £48.6m, although that price is being questioned . Paying the price: The more Neymar is reported to be worth, the worse his performances on the pitch have been . Brothers in arms: Meanwhile, Bale has struck up a blossoming relationship with the world's best, Ronaldo . The stress . of not being physically right accompanied the doubts over that world . record price-tag. He said on the day of his presentation that he would . have signed for a penny. That certainly would have lowered expectations. He had not come cheaply and no-one has let him forget that during a . first season in which during several games he has even been whistled by . impatient supporters. Olympiacos . coach Michel is a former Real Madrid player who knows all about the . demands of the Bernabeu. He was jeered too despite being a home-grown . talent and Spain international. 'It’s . impossible for that price tag not to weigh heavy,' he says. 'The first . person who will think ‘I’m probably not worth 100m’ is the player . himself. Fighting fit: Bale has recovered from the injury problems that plagued the start of his career at the Bernabeu . Weighing heavy: Olympiacos coach Michel (C) has warned of the pressure on Bale from his enormous price tag . 'It’s not the . player’s fault, it’s the market’s fault. And the fact that he doesn’t . understand the Spanish media will not save him because you can smell the . doubts. I’m certain that he will be aware of people questioning the . price. The spotlight is on him and it is not just an external spotlight. At a big club like Madrid the spotlight is also internal.' But . the escalation of the Neymar fee with the uncovering of more and more . contracts that if interpreted to have been simulated wages will send the . price rising further because of tax evasion penalties has changed . Bale’s status as La Liga’s most expensive player. And . the idea that the Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti has to pick Bale . because he cost so much has been replaced by the notion that Gerardo . Martino at Barcelona is under boardroom pressure to select Neymar. Frontrunners: Real Madrid can open up a seven point lead over Barcelona is they win the clasico . Stick or twist? Criticism of Carlo Ancelotti (L) and Gerardo Martinez's selection policies have changed . 'No-one . can say that Bale doesn’t deserve to be in the team on his own merit . because his numbers speak for themselves,' says Michel. Ancelotti . has admitted his team for Sunday’s game now picks itself with Bale very . much in it. Barcelona coach Martino, meanwhile, knows supporters want . him to leave Neymar where he was last weekend when Barça won 7-0 – on . the bench. The forward line . of Alexis Sanchez, Pedro and Leo Messi has actually only scored one goal . fewer than Real Madrid’s famed BBC and Barça followers want those three . to start this weekend. Whoever . accompanies Messi, Sunday will still be about him and Ronaldo first and . foremost. The idea that Ronaldo is now ‘streets ahead of any other . player in the world’ as heard by some commentators in midweek forgets . that Messi has scored 17 goals in his last 17 games. The weekend’s duel will throw up the usual race to break more and more ridiculous records. Record breaker? Ronaldo is one goal away from break Ferenc Puskas' all-time scoring record for Madrid . Lionel Flair: Messi is getting back to his best after a season disrupted by injury . Ronaldo . needs another goal to beat Ferenc Puskas’ 240 goals scored for Madrid . and Messi is one goal short of Alfredo Di Stefano’s 18 goals scored in . the Clasico fixture record. The Argentine is also one goal from Hugo . Sanchez in the all-time league scorers list – passing him would leave . only Telmo Zarra to aim for. The two of them will fight it out for top of the bill but there is a fascinating undercard. Bale . lost out to Neymar last October but now he has his rematch and after an . incredible turn around in their first seasons in Spain he is favourite . to come out on top on Sunday and to win his first Spanish League title . at the end of the season. | Real Madrid are four points ahead of Barcelona ahead of El Clasico .
Gareth Bale was taken off in his first clasico while Neymar scored .
Bale is now winning plaudits in Spain while Barca rival Neymar is faltering .
Bale has scored 14 goals and made 17 assists - more than any other player .
Confusion over the actual cost of Neymar's transfer has distracted him .
Ronaldo and Messi will be competing to break more records on Sunday . |
62,122 | b0785ba367cb6b02fc4b8324bffcd7f38b1fe947 | Scotland's Marc Warren was one of four players to claim a share of the lead heading into the final day of the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters. Warren shot a five-under-par third-round 67 in Doha to join Branden Grace, Emiliano Grillo and Bernd Wiesberger at the top of the leaderboard on 13 under. England's Eddie Pepperell was among the chasing pack after shooting a superb 65 to finish the day on 11 under alongside Alejandro Canizares and George Coetzee. Marc Warren of Scotland fired a third-round 67 to take a share of the lead on Doha . Warren, who only bogeyed the 14th hole, admitted it had been a 'really pleasing day' Another Englishman, Oliver Fisher, was alone in eighth on nine under after carding 69. Warren's only blemish came as he missed a short putt to bogey the 14th but he responded with back-to-back birdies at the 15th and 16th to maintain high hopes of a fourth European Tour win. Warren told Sky Sports: 'It was good, really solid today. I missed a few greens on the back nine but my short game held it together, with a few good iron shots coming in. Overall it was a really pleasing day.' Bernd Wiesberger of Austria was also top of the leaderboard at the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters . Emiliano Grillo and Brandon Grace were the two other players to go into the final day on top . Grace bogeyed the third and fourth and hit further trouble when his tee shot at the fifth found the trees. But the South African somehow produced a superb recovery, despite not having clear sight of the green, to set up a birdie chance and provide the spark for a round of 68. Austrian Wiesberger had a steady day and birdied the 18th to record a 68 after a visit to the rocky rough had seen him drop his only shot at 16. Grillo, of Argentina, shot a bogey-free 67. Coetzee had a share of the lead after two rounds but fell back despite not dropping a shot in his 70. Canizares has not made a bogey in three days and maintained his progress with four birdies in his 68. Englishman Eddie Pepperell scored a superb 65 to give himself a fighting chance in the final round . But the round of the day belonged to Oxfordshire's Pepperell. A day after his 24th birthday, Pepperell sank nine birdies and held the clubhouse lead as he signed for his seven-under-par round. He was particularly impressive on the back nine, coming home in 31 with six birdies. He finished superbly by holing long putts on each of the last three greens. He said: 'I hit the ball well - better than I had the first two days - but I also putted better. I holed a number of good-length putts - 16, 17 and 18, they were all putts over 15 feet and nice ones to hole.' The day was not a memorable one for defending champion Sergio Garcia, however. The Spaniard slipped right out of contention by dropping eight shots in a dreadful back nine, including a triple-bogey seven at the par-four 15th. His 77 left him 12 shots off the lead. | Marc Warren is joint leader after third round of the event in Doha .
Scot joins Branden Grace, Emiliano Grillo and Bernd Wiesberger .
England's Eddie Pepperell shot a 65 to put himself in contention . |
148,966 | 4c9ed3e9bc0f4532700299f1cc80559621a81768 | Arms aloft, Syrian fighters celebrate the moment the notorious black flag of Islamic State fanatics is torn down from above the beleagured city of Kobane. The soldiers marked their victory by raising their own symbolic flags on a hill where the black banner of IS once flew, while triumphant fighters shot bullets into the sky and embraced each other on Kobane's war-ravaged streets. The rebel fighters celebrated after placing two white flags of their Fajr al-Hurreya brigade (Dawn of Freedom) on top of a hill in Kobane. Other flags on the hill were from the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), who helped defeat the militants. Kurdish fighters are now rebuilding the town on the Syria-Turkey border after bravely expelling IS with the assistance of American-led Coalition forces. The four-month battle culminating in the 'defeat' of the insurgents was a significant victory for both the Kurds and the Coalition forces who trained them. The children who fled the streets of the city to escape the threat of Islamic State terrorists are now returning home to find their homes in ruins. Many of their homes, schools and hospitals fell inside the battle zone and were subsequently destroyed in the months of fighting. Scroll down for video . Victory: Syrian rebel fighters celebrating after placing two white flags of their Fajr al-Hurreya brigade (Dawn of Freedom) on top of a hill in Kobane. The green and yellow flags on the left are from Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), who helped defeat the militants . Reclaimed: Jubilant Syrian rebel fighters hold aloft victory signs after planting their Fajr al-Hurreya brigade (Dawn of Freedom) flags high above the city of Kobane . Gone: Last October, the notorious black banner of the Islamic State militants was raised over Kobane. The jihadists laid siege to the strategically-placed town on the border between Turkey and Syria . Innocence lost: The children of Kobane (pictured), who fled the town to escape the threat of Islamic State are returning home . Symbolic: Kurdish children carry a picture of Abdullah Ocalan, a jailed leader of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), during a celebration . Destroyed: The brutal war against Islamic State fighters has left Kobane (pictured) in pieces . Coalition assault: As well as ground battles, American-led air-strikes on IS targets within the city contributed to the destruction . Dangerous: Hazards such as this unexploded bomb remain as rebuilding of the town begins . Starting over: Once celebrations following the 'liberation' of the city have died down, the task of rebuilding it will begin . Warzone: The streets where people once lived and shopped became a brutal battle-zone against IS militants . Hazardous: Members of a Kurdish militia known as the Kurdish People's Defence Units (pictured) are trawling Kobane to dismantle bombs left behind . Returning home: Residents who fled to Turkey to escape the fighting are beginning to trickle back home to help in the rebuilding effort . Triumph: The Kobane they are returning to will look very different . On Monday, a Kurdish militia group known as the People's Protection Units (YPG) said Kobane had been 'completely liberated' from Islamic State, who it refers to using the pejorative Arabic acronym 'Daesh'. A statement on their website read: 'The defeat of Daesh in Kobani will be the beginning of the end for the group.' IS's failure to capture the town was a major blow for the extremists whose hopes of an easy victory was disrupted by Coalition air-strikes and a resilient Kurdish militia. Kurdish official Idriss Nassan said: 'Daesh gambled on Kobani and lost. Their defenses have collapsed and its fighters have fled.' The few civilians who remained in the city while fighting continued joined in the celebrations with Kurdish fighters. Most of the original 60,000 residents had already escaped to Turkey and there is no telling when they can return to their homes. Meanwhile US officials have have not been able to confirm Kurdish fighters have fully gained control of Kobane, but they have no reason to disbelieve their claims. The Kurds now control around 90 per cent of the town and particularly the central and southern areas, according to a senior US official. The official admits there is still a considerable Islamic State presence in the outlying areas of Kobane, where they continue to battle pockets of Kurdish fighters. Celebrations: The few civilians who remained in the city while the battle took place celebrated with the local militias . Safe for now: One senior US official said the Kurds now control around 90 per cent of the town and particularly the central and southern areas . Honoured: Kurdish people celebrating the liberation of Kobane held up a picture of a female fighter killed during the battle with IS . Freedom: On Monday, a Kurdish militia group known as the People's Protection Units (YPG) said Kobane had been 'completely liberated' from Islamic State . Proud: Kurdish people celebrate in a massive rally near the Turkish-Syrian border . Elation: While inside the city, Kurdish citizens returning home also celebrate their liberation . Kurdish officials and activists have said it is entirely in Kurdish hands with only sporadic fighting on the outer edges in the east where the militants retained some control. According to the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the (YPG) are searching houses in the eastern suburbs to dismantle and detonate bombs left behind. Capturing Kobane would have given IS militants control of the border-crossing with Turkey and allowed direct lines for their positions along the frontier. In September, Islamic State fighters began invading around 300 Kurdish villages including Kobane which sent tens of thousands of residents fleeing into Turkey. The town became a centre-piece for the international campaign against the militants which inspired US Secretary of State John Kerry to say it would be 'morally very difficult' not to help the town. Reduced to rubble: The once populous town of Kobane has been decimated by months of fighting . Routing bombing: An average of six Coalition air-strikes on IS locations a day also destroyed homes and vehicles . Wreckage: The destruction in Kobane, following a four month-long battle with IS is widespread . Roaming free: A man in military fatigues rides around Kobane with relative safety . The American-led air assault began on September 21 and Kobane itself was the target of about half a dozen daily air-strikes on average. It is estimate that 80 per cent of all Coalition air-strikes focused in and round the town. By early January, over 1,000 Islamic State fighters had been killed and much of its heavy weaponry destroyed. The group continued to invest in resources by bringing in hundreds of reinforcements. Activists said these included many teenagers and even children which signalled a shortage in its forces. Last month, Kurdish fighters in Iraq retook the strategic town of Sinjar which had been home to many of Iraq's minority Yazidis. | Local fighters marked victory by raising symbolic flags on the hill where Islamic State's black banner had flown .
Children return to the streets of Kobane after fanatical militants are driven out of their home town .
Kobane is in pieces following the four-month long battle against IS and constant air-strikes on militants' positions .
People's Protection Units, a Kurdish militia group, are now trawling through rubble to dismantle bombs left behind .
US Central Command believes 90 per cent of the war-ravaged town is now controlled by Kurdish fighters . |
92,229 | 029ec682da2467d6524c5ba63a9dd2bd8dda5920 | (CNN) -- The remains of what was Christchurch Cathedral, whose shattered spire became a symbol of the New Zealand city's quake devastation, is to be dismantled after Anglican church officials said the earthquake had damaged the structure of the iconic church beyond repair. Bishop Victoria Matthews said the existing church walls would be brought down to about 3 meters and the base of the church kept for use as a prayer garden. Officials had thought part of the building could be saved but said on Friday that recent aftershocks had made the existing structure unsound. "What we need to do is bring the walls down to a safe level which is probably about 2-3 meters," Bishop Matthews said. "There will be no bulldozers, no wrecking ball. This will be done with deep respect and love." The cathedral -- one of the city's best-known historic buildings -- was severely damaged in the earthquake on February 22, 2011, its neo-gothic spire crashing to the ground. The quake destroyed many buildings in Christchurch's central business district and killed 185 people. When the deadly quake hit New Zealand . News of its demolition was greeted with dismay in Christchurch where heritage campaigners say the decision was taken without public consultation. Christchurch City Councillor Aaron Keown vowed to protest to stop the demolition and said there was widespread support for his position. "I would be in there chaining myself to the building to stop that and I know lots of other volunteers would come in to do that," he told the Christchurch Press. Bishop Matthews said the cost of saving the cathedral was "staggering" and that NZ$50 million (US$42 million) would be needed to rebuild existing parts of the building or NZ$100 million for a complete reconstruction. She said bringing the walls down to a safe level would allow officials to retrieve artworks and other church relics still inside the structure. The cathedral is within Christchurch's "red zone," the worst-hit area of the city where many of the buildings still remain too unstable to enter. The Anglican Church has said that it is committed to building a new cathedral, but no plans have been drawn up about where it will be placed, how much it will cost or what it will look like. The 131-year-old cathedral had previously been damaged in earthquakes in 1881, 1888, 1901 and in 2010, according to its website. | Church officials say quake-damaged cathedral will be demolished .
Walls to be reduced to three metres and the base kept as a prayer garden .
The Anglican Church says the cost to rebuild the structure is 'staggering'
The cathedral had survived five other quakes in its 131-year history . |
112,778 | 1d85353ae18ffd43b6a23dbbc96c30e8bd8b9da4 | PALLAVAKAM, India (CNN) -- South India's sun beats down on a long line of trucks wending to the Bay of Bengal. In the back of these trucks, giant, brightly painted statues of the Hindu god Ganesha are waiting to be dropped in the nearby ocean. Ganesha worshippers transport their Idol for an immersion ritual. All over India, Hindus recently celebrated the birthday of the elephant god and now the idols made for this festivity are being taken to India's ocean, rivers and lakes and deposited. It's part of the Hindu religious cycle. But it's also a huge source of pollution. And in recent years, idol immersion has become a popular local event, with some statues so huge they must be lifted by cranes. The Ganeshas gleam with gold paint and glisten with reds, pinks and greens. But scientists who've studied the problem say these paints often contain toxic metals, such as lead and mercury. They contaminate plants, and poison fish and irrigation and drinking water. They end up in the human food chain. The problem is not just caused by idols of Ganesha, but by the many other Hindu god idols as well, such as Saraswati and Durga. Hundreds of thousands of god idols are immersed every year in festivals across India. A detailed study of the problem has been done by Shyam R. Asolekar of the Indian Institute of Technology in Bombay. He estimates that, in the city of Mumbai alone, several hundred thousand idols are made annually. Watch a Hindu immersion ritual » . Decades ago, there were far fewer idols and idols were made of mud and biodegradable materials, Asolekar said. The effect also was "minimal" he said, because waterways weren't linked as they are now. As a result of water and irrigation projects, "connected water systems and dams have reduced the flow of water" and dramatically increased the effect of pollution. According to Asolekar's study, "Forbidding the disposal of painted idols, ornaments and decoration is the only sure way of protecting our water bodies." Various Indian states are testing out new approaches, such as mobile immersion tanks, and encouraging mud idols. Asolekar dismissed the idea of an eco-friendly idol, saying even large amounts of mud kill waterways. "The number of idols is so high," he said, "no matter what the material, there will always be an impact. Even organic substances in large quantities cause a problem." He suggests a "dry immersion," in which the idol is sprinkled symbolically with water and then later dried for reuse. This approach would face great hurdles in a country where religious rituals have deep social and cultural ties and change comes slowly. Another possible interim measure uses a polymer-lined tank for immersion. More than 100 such tanks have been installed in Mumbai. The linings can be rolled up after use and the materials separated into bio and nonbiodegradable materials for composting and landfill. The water is filtered. But this solution is far from ideal, Asolekar said, as tens of thousands of such tanks would be needed, and there is still plenty of contamination. "It will take time to change people's attitudes," he said. | Hindu ritual of immersing idols in oceans, rivers and lakes is causing contamination .
Paints on idols often contain toxic metals, such as lead and mercury .
Pollutants contaminate plants, poison fish and irrigation and drinking water .
"Dry immersion" suggested as a solution -- idol is sprinkled symbolically with water . |
108,637 | 181587f0766bbc3e9d48f6378cca1f40d20530a3 | A Tampa, Florida police captain exclaimed 'I can't believe what I've done' after fatally shooting a fellow moviegoer because he was texting, a witness said. Alan Hamilton, a Sumter County cop, was inside the West Chapel screening of Lone Survivor and watched as 71-year-old police officer Curtis Reeves shot dead 43-year-old Chad Oulson. He and other witnesses gave their account of events in Pasco County court today as Reeves asks to be released on bail. He has been in jail without bond ever since the January 13 shooting. Scroll down for video . Release me: Curtis Reeves appeared in Pasco County Court today as he attempts to be released on bail after shooting dead a fellow moviegoer who was texting. Reeves teared up as his daughter acted as a character witness . Lost husband: Nicole Oulson (left), the widow of Reeves' victim Chad Oulson, also appeared in court today . Witness Mark Turner overheard the fight, and said he heard Oulson say: 'Do you mind, I've got a voicemail from by babysitter. I'd like to check to see that my daughter is okay.' After more requests to stop using his phone, Oulson got up and threw a small bag of popcorn at Reeves, Turner said. 'Almost immediately the gun came out, the shot was fired and it went back into Mr. Reeves' lap,' Turner said. Hamilton remembers Reeves yelling at his wife after the incident, after she said 'That was no cause to shoot anyone.' 'He leaned back around and stuck his finger out as to scold her and said, "You shut your [expletive] mouth and don't say another word,"' Hamilton testified. Reeves officially plead not-guilty today to second-degree murder, with his defense lawyers arguing that Reeves was defending himself from Oulson, who committed battery by throwing an unknown object and a bag of popcorn at the older man.They also say Reeves is entitled to special legal protection because of his advanced age. Locked up: Reeves has been in jail without bond ever since the fatal January 13 shooting . According to Hamilton's testimony, Reeves approached him after the shooting and said: 'I just got hit by something and look at my eye'. But Hamilton says he didn't see any injury on Reeves' face. Both Hamilton and Turner say they didn't see Oulson hit or punch Reeves. These new perspectives on the fatal altercation came the same day that family and friends of Reeves acted as character witnesses for the accused murderer. Thomas DePolis, who worked with Reeves to create a SWAT team for the Tampa Police department said: 'There's nothing in my affiliation with him that would lead me to believe that he's a danger.' Devastated: The killing of Chad Oulson, center, has left 22-month-old Lexy, right, without a father and Nicole Oulson a widow . Heartbroken: Nicole Oulson spoke to Good Morning America about the loss of her husband, Chad. She said she wants his killer locked up forever . Torn apart: She said the killer left her without the love of her life, Chad, center, and Lexy without a daddy . Reeves 40-eyar-old daughter Jennifer Shaw also testified on her father's behalf, describing him as a man who dedicated his time to his family and went to church every Sunday. 'My father was present at everything. My parents seemed to realize that investing time in your family was the most important thing,' Ms Shaw said. She said all the weapons have been removed from the house she shares with her parents by her brother who is a Tampa police officer. The family are willing to but their $186,0000 house as collateral for bond. Florida Police Captain Curtis Reeves, Jr., suspected of fatally shooting Chad Oulson, 43, and wounding his wife, Nicole, 33, appears via video at an earlier court appearance wearing a suicide-prevention gown . The judge didn't make a decision on whether to release Reeves today. His bail hearing will continue on Friday. However, the judge did decide that surveillance footage from the movie theater would be aired in court and released 30-days after. It is not clear though whether that footage will be available to view by the general public. Florida has some of the broadest public records laws in the nation. Almost any document released to the defense in a court case can be open to the public. However, they changed the law in 2011 to exempt photographs, video or audio recordings that depict or record the killing of a person. Loss: Mrs Oulson looks at a photo of her husband Chad and their daughter Alexis, along with her husband's helmets and motocross gear, on display during a memorial service on January 18 . | Curtis Reeves, 71, plead not-guilty to second-degree murder charges in court today .
He is accused of fatally shooting 43-year-old Chad Oulson because the man was texting in a movie theater .
Witnesses inside the theater gave their account of events in court today as Reeves attempts to get released on bail .
Family and friends of the accused killed testified on his behalf, hoping for his release .
The bail hearing will continue on Friday . |
202,194 | 91c3d830131db0d3b28cd3b89ef0e99994d2d17f | By . Tara Brady . French police say they have foiled a plot to blow up the Eiffel Tower in Paris . An Islamist plot to blow up the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre and a nuclear power plant has been foiled according to French police. Officers stumbled on the plans made up of a series of coded messages between a 29-year-old Algerian butcher living in the south of France known as Ali M and a high-ranking member of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb. The member of al-Qaeda was known online as Redouane18. Le Parisien newspaper reported that in April last year the married father-of-two was contacted by his al-Qaeda contact. Ali M suggested targeting nuclear power plants, 'planes at the moment of take-off' and French landmarks which included the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre museum in Paris. He even suggested targeting people in market or nightclubs as well as cultural events which attract thousands of Christians. According to The Telegraph, he wrote: 'The mainways become black with people and a simple grenade can injure dozens of people, not to mention a booby trapped device', he said. The al-Qaeda member advised Ali M to fly to Algeria where he could benefit from combat training. However, the Algerian was arrested last June - a month before he was due to fly to Tunisia and then to Algeria. According to the man's lawyers he was brainwashed. Marc Trevidic, one of France’s highest-profile anti-terror judges, said there are more cases like Ali M's in France. He told Le Parisien: 'There are doubtless others on our soil programmed to harm French interests.' Last month French police arrested Mehdi Nemmouche, a French jihadist who fought in Syria, and allegedly killed four people at the Brussels Jewish Museum in May after travelling back to Europe. The Louvre which was also suggested as a target for an al-Qaeda attack which was foiled by police . | Officers stumbled on the plans made up of a series of coded messages .
Made by a 29-year-old Algerian butcher living in the south of France .
They were sent to a high-ranking member of al-Qaeda .
Butcher arrested last June but his lawyer says he had been brainwashed . |
226,292 | b105a67bc9bad113520f1c4b57dd103a5dca48f7 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 12:54 EST, 12 September 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 13:16 EST, 12 September 2013 . A renowned doctor has been accused of trying to beat his neurosurgeon son-in-law to death with a pry bar outside his home as he went through a bitter divorce with his daughter. Dr Georges Bensimhon, 66, an anesthesiologist from Allentown, Pennsylvania, allegedly drove six hours through the night to Dr Seth Alan Hoffer's Cleveland Heights, Ohio home to attack him. Once there, he hid in bushes outside the home and when Dr Hoffer emerged just before 6am, the older doctor allegedly pounced on him. But Dr Hoffer, 39, had heard rustling in the bushes behind him and footsteps and turned to see a figure wearing a black ski mask and blue surgical gloves. Arrest: Dr. Georges Bensimhon, 66, faces felony assault and kidnapping charges after he allegedly beat his son-in-law with a pry bar outside his Ohio home earlier this month . His attacker allegedly hit him across the forehead with the pry bar before continuing to beat him several times on the head and bite him, police said, ABC News reported. But Dr Hoffer was able to overpower his attacker, breaking his arm and forcing him to the ground. At that point he heard his alleged attacker scream: 'Alan, get off of me! I can't breathe' - and he knew the man behind the mask was his father-in-law, police said. Police said Bensimhon had a backpack filled with syringes, different . types of anesthetics, a screw driver and additional surgical gloves when he approached the house. Battle: The attack came as his daughter, Danielle Bensimhon, left, and son-in-law, Dr Seth Alan Hoffer, right, are going through a bitter divorce battle and are fighting for custody of their one-year-old daughter . Fight: The girl currently lives with her mother in Florida - and Hoffer was on his way to visit when he was attacked . Hurt: Bensimhon, pictured with his granddaughter, was overpowered by Hoffer, who broke his arm . Police arrived on the scene after multiple neighbors called 911 hearing someone screaming for help and seeing a man covered in blood. Officers found Hoffer pinning Benhimhon to the ground. Hoffer, who suffered wounds to his head, was leaving the home for the airport to fly to Florida, where his estranged wife, Danielle Bensimhon, is living with their one-year-old daughter Lila. ABC reported that Danielle Benhsimhon and Hoffer are going through a bitter divorce and custody battle for the little girl. He also has a seven-year-old daughter from his first wife, who died in 2007. The girl was being looked after by a sitter while her father was being attacked outside. Scene: Bensimhon was allegedly hiding in the bushes at Hoffer's home, pictured, and waited to attack . Police arrested Dr Bensimhon after the attack and a grand jury indicted him on one count of attempted aggravated murder, one count of attempted murder, two counts of kidnapping and two counts of felonious assault. He appeared in Cleveland Heights Municipal Court on September 5 and was released on $500,000 bond. He's due back in court September 25, when he is expected to enter a plea. | Dr Georges Bensimhon 'drove six hours to his son-in-law's home, put on a mask and hid in the bushes before attacking him with a pry bar'
But Dr Alan Hoffer, 39, fought back and broke his father-in-law's arm .
He only realized who masked attacker was when Bensimhon shouted: 'Alan, get off of me! I can't breathe!'
Dr Hoffer is in a bitter custody battle with Bensimhon's daughter . |
216,664 | a4801e6f96c5b2cf9346a18d09f81e27454d79f4 | Gary Cahill is honoured to have been named England vice-captain by Roy Hodgson as the Chelsea defender eyes another strong season which he hopes will culminate in silverware. The 28-year-old has been rewarded for his consistency for club and country by being formally named Rooney's deputy and received the armband when the Manchester United forward was substituted in England's recent wins over Norway and Switzerland. 'It's an ambition, but more of a dream, to captain your country,' Cahill said. 'It's still an amazing feeling every time you put on an England shirt to go out to play. Dream come true: Gary Cahill says being named England vice-captain by Roy Hodgson is unbelievable . Chase: Cahill challenges for the ball during England's comfortable 2-0 win over Switzerland in Basel . 'In the next few years, whether Wayne's rested or injured, there might be an opportunity to captain the team. To know that is unbelievable. To have (the armband) for the short period of time in both games felt really good. It's something I'm really proud of and I'll relish.' Cahill was speaking ahead of Goalmouth, which airs on Disney XD on Saturday, when he surprised Chelsea fan and competition winner Mark Castiglione, who is 11 and from Walton on Thames. 'He was happily surprised,' Cahill added. 'He was a crazy Chelsea fan and it was a fantastic opportunity for me to do something like that. We had a kick-a-bout in his back garden. It was a fantastic day. I really enjoyed it and I hope he did as well.' Cahill passed on some of his knowledge and skills. 'Basic ones,' said the central defender, laughing self-mockingly. Yet the former Aston Villa and Bolton defender showed his skill and value in the Euro 2016 qualifier against Switzerland in making a crucial block. It may be a less glamorous skill, but Cahill believes the experience of playing for Chelsea for the last two-and-a-half years, alongside the likes of Ashley Cole and John Terry, have helped his game immensely. Improving: Cahill believes the experience of playing for Chelsea for the last two-and-a-half years helped . Insistent: Cahill says his reading of the game has vastly improved alongside Ashley Cole and John Terry . 'My reading of the game has improved,' Cahill added. 'It's never over (the line) until it's over. It's a fantastic feeling when something like that happens and you save a goal.' Cahill and Terry are crucial members of a Chelsea side who are many people's favourites for the Premier League title this season after beginning the campaign with a 100 per cent record ahead of Saturday's match with Swansea. Cahill added: 'We're confident we've got a good squad, like many other Premier League teams. 'But we're three games in. It's going to be tough. 'We've strengthened the team and we look good. But it's about consistency. Every single time you turn out in the Premier League, no game is easy.' Losses at Crystal Palace, Aston Villa and to Sunderland cost Chelsea dear last season. Cahill, who has won the Champions League, Europa League and FA Cup during his time at Stamford Bridge hopes to taste more trophy success, with the Premier League on his wish list. He said: 'Last year we knew as a group where we slipped up in the league. If we learn from that, we'll do well. 'I'm lucky enough to have won a couple of trophies since I've been here and I'm as hungry as ever to go and try to win some more. We're all fully focused on that and that's our aim.' Strong: Cahill and Terry are crucial members of Chelsea's team ahead of their Premier League campaign . Catch the brand new episode of Goalmouth, featuring Disney Aim High with England and Chelsea defender Gary Cahill on Saturday September 13 at 10.30am exclusively on Disney XD. | Gary Cahill received the captain's armband when Wayne Rooney was substituted in England's recent wins over Norway and Switzerland .
Cahill: 'It's an ambition, but more of a dream, to captain your country. It's still an amazing feeling every time you put on an England shirt'
The 28-year-old says his reading of the game has vastly improved by playing alongside John Terry and Ashley Cole at Chelsea . |
73,549 | d087f93033ef3156b5b76c32f9655fa4d8476c8d | (CNN) -- The swollen Missouri River washed over and punched through levees in northwestern Missouri early Sunday, spurring authorities to urge about 250 nearby residents to leave their homes. The river breached levees at two points overnight and overtopped them at two others near Corning, Missouri, about 100 miles north of Kansas City, the Holt County Sheriff's Department reported. Most residents had already cleared out due to voluntary evacuation calls, but authorities went door-to-door early Sunday to order nearly 30 people who remained to leave, the agency told CNN. Upriver, evacuation advisories went out for 200 to 250 people in the town of Watson and other areas west of Interstate 29, said Mark Manchester, the deputy emergency management director in Atchison County. Water was sloshing over the levees "at a pretty good clip" Sunday morning and had already topped the county's previous record mark, set in 1993, he said. "We're in uncharted waters here," Manchester said. The Missouri was more than 11.5 feet over flood stage at nearby Brownville, according to National Weather Service data. And across the state line in Hamburg, Iowa, where two levees failed last week, the river was expected to crest at 10 feet over flood stage in the coming days, Fremont County Emergency Management chief Mike Crecelius said. Crecelius said the river has been over flood stage since late April, and that forecasters are projecting river flows of 150,000 cubic feet (1.1 million gallons) per second through August. "They're not designed for this amount of pressure for this length of time," Crecelius said. "They've never been tested like this." Heavy rainfall in Montana and North Dakota, combined with melting snow from the Rocky Mountains, have sent the Missouri surging downstream, according to the National Weather Service. The 6 to 12 inches of rainfall in the upper Missouri basin in the past few weeks is nearly a normal year's worth, and runoff from the mountain snowpack is 140% of normal, the agency says. CNN's Matt Smith and Divina Mims contributed to this report. | NEW: Official raises concern about projected high water flows .
About 250 people are affected by the latest orders and advisories .
A local official in northwestern Missouri says the river has already topped a 1993 record . |
117,034 | 231581b6e06c1fb06cd7d5e8fde0840455aacc0a | By . Emma Reynolds . PUBLISHED: . 05:22 EST, 12 September 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 11:33 EST, 12 September 2012 . When Billy Browne's cat 'began to resent him' after suffering from a painful ear infection, the video director hit upon the perfect way to make it up to him. He designed the animal his very own 'cat castle', and spent four hours stacking and cutting holes in cardboard boxes to build the impressive structure. Mr Browne, from Victoria, Australia, used colourful tape to stick together the tower for Rufus - who was delighted with his new home. Scroll down for video . Feline friend: Billy Browne introduces himself and Rufus and explains how he wanted to give the cat present after its painful ear infection . Picture purr-fect: The 33-year-old video director sketches out his plans at his kitchen table under Rufus's watchful eye . Best friends: Mr Browne spent £80 on cardboard boxes to build the impressive structure - and decided to film his work for posterity . Now the adorable five-minute video of the bizarre DIY project has gained cult status on YouTube and has been viewed more than 400,000 times. The footage begins with Mr Brown, a commercial and music video director, explaining that his relationship with his pet had become strained following the ear infection that required Rufus to suffer painful treatment. 'I would return from work and he would run from me,' said Mr Browne. After the cat's ear healed, his owner wanted to give him a present that would make up for the unpleasant experience. 'It came to me in the shower where all great ideas come,' added Mr Browne. 'Rufus loves boxes.' Cat's got the cream: Rufus sprawls on the ground while his owner folds and lines up each box . Ginger stacks: The cat considers offering a helping paw as his castle starts to take shape . Labour of love: The sweet video has received more than 400,000 views on YouTube . The 33-year-old sketched out his plan at his kitchen table, looking to Rufus for input at every stage. 'The tower took four hours to build, the boxes were delivered by IKEA and cost 123 Australian dollars (£80),' he said. The video, which is set to music by Mr Browne's brother Ollie's band, Parallel Lions, has received plenty of praise online. One user wrote: 'On behalf of all cat lovers, I take my hat off, and thank you for showing us how much you care.' Others called it 'sweet' and 'inspiring', with one commenter saying the clip had left them in tears. Walk this way: Mr Browne sticks all the boxes together with coloured tape before cutting holes in each one to provide his cat with corridors . The finished product: Mr Browne says he was never a cat lover but sees Rufus as his 'little mate' Emotional story: Viewers of the video have called it 'inspiring' and said it brought a tear to the eye . Mr Browne insists he is not a born cat-lover, however. 'I was engaged to someone who wanted a cat,' he said. 'I am not a cat person, but we got him anyway. 'We broke up and he stayed with me and now we get along like housemates. I had a severe struggle with anxiety and he really helped having a friend around. 'I am not a crazy cat person I just love my little mate. 'The video was a bonus meant for friends but it has made a lot of people very happy which makes me happy.' Watch the making of the Rufus Tower... | The structure took four hours to make and cost 123 Australian dollars (£80)
Video director sketched out plan and used tape to stick boxes together .
The 33-year-old said the animal had become a friend . |
5,013 | 0e469443a9ae86edf92c29c0c8666974d1d16b60 | An effigy of President Barack Obama was burnt today by Filipino activists during a rally in protest at a a 10-year agreement which will beef up U.S. military forces there. The military will get greater access to bases across the region as an effort by Washington to counter Chinese aggression. The presence of foreign troops is a sensitive issue in the Philippines, a former American colony. Scroll down for video . An effigy of U.S. President Barack Obama is burned by Filipino activists during a rally . Angry Filipino protesters burn effigy of Barack Obama in protest against military pact . An effigy of President Barack Obama is burnt by Filipino activists during a rally as a 10-year pact was signed . The presence of foreign troops is a sensitive issue in the Philippines, a former American colony . The Philippine Senate voted in 1991 to close down U.S. bases at Subic and Clark, northwest of Manila. However, it ratified a pact with the United States allowing temporary visits by American forces in 1999, four years after China seized a reef the Philippines contests. Following the September 11, 2001, attacks in the United States, hundreds of U.S. forces descended in the southern Philippines under that accord to hold counter terrorism exercises with Filipino troops fighting Muslim militants. However this time, the focus of the Philippines and its underfunded military has increasingly turned to external threats as territorial spats with China in the potentially oil and gas-rich South China Sea heated up in recent years. Filipino protesters clench their fists during a protest rally against U.S. President Barack Obama visit in Manila, in the Philippines . A Filipino protester shouts slogans during a protest rally against President Barack Obama's visit in Manila . Protesters run around a burning effigy of President Barack Obama during an anti-U.S. protest . Anger: People take part in a protest against U.S. President Barack Obama's visit to Philippines today . U.S. Ambassador Philip Goldberg and Philippine Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin signed the agreement at the main military camp in the capital, Manila, ahead of Obama's stop and portrayed it is as a central part of his weeklong Asia trip. The Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement will give American forces temporary access to selected military camps and allow them to preposition fighter jets and ships. The deal was signed hours before Obama arrived in Manila on the last leg of a four-country Asian tour, following stops in Japan, South Korea and Malaysia. Goldberg said the agreement will 'promote peace and security in the region,' and allow U.S. and Philippine forces to respond faster to disasters and other contingencies. It is not known how many additional U.S. troops would be deployed 'on temporary and rotational basis.' Filipino protesters circle around burning effigies of President Barack Obama and Philippine President Benigno Aquino III during a rally against President Obama's visit to the Philippines . Effigies of President Barack Obama and Philippine President Benigno Aquino III, bottom, are burned by protesters during a rally to oppose the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement between the countries . Protestors shouting slogans against President Barack Obama's visit to Philippines during the protest today . Filipino protesters shout anti-U.S. slogans during a protest rally against President Barack Obama's visit . It said the number would depend on the scale of joint military activities to be held in the camps. The . size and duration of that presence has to be worked out with the . Philippine government, said Evan Medeiros, senior director for Asian . affairs at the White House's National Security Council. Medeiros . declined to say which places are being considered under the agreement, . but said the long-shuttered U.S. facility at Subic Bay could be one of . the locations. Filipino activists hold a mock U.S. flag bearing the name of President Barack Obama during a rally outside the Malacanang presidential palace in Manila . Filipino protesters carry a mock U.S. flag and shout anti-American slogans during a protest rally against President Barack Obama's visit . The presence of foreign troops is a sensitive issue in the Philippines, a former American colony . The defence accord will help the allies achieve different goals. With . its small military, the Philippines has struggled to bolster its . territorial defense amid China's increasingly assertive behavior in the . disputed South China Sea. Manila's . efforts have dovetailed with Washington's intention to pivot away from . years of heavy military engagement in the Middle East to Asia, partly as . a counterweight to China's rising clout. U.S. President Barack Obama (left) meets Philippine President Benigno Aquino III (right) inside Malacanang presidential palace in Manila . President Obama, centre left, smiles as he walks through the line of a troop during his arrival in Manila . U.S. President Barack Obama waves to the media after arriving at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila, Philippines, this morning . Philippine Defence Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, left, shakes hands with U.S. Ambassador Philip Goldberg after signing the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement . President Obama, left, and Philippine President Benigno Aquino III, right, toast as they attend a state dinner . U.S. President Barack Obama, left, and Philippine President Benigno Aquino III, right, at a state dinner . 'The Philippines' immediate and urgent motivation is to strengthen itself and look for a security shield with its pitiful military,' Manila-based political analyst Ramon Casiple said. 'The U.S. is looking for a re-entry to Asia, where its superpower status has been put in doubt.' The convergence could work to deter China's increasingly assertive stance in disputed territories, Casiple said. However, it could further antagonise Beijing, which sees such tactical alliance as a U.S. strategy to contain its rise, and encourage China to intensify its massive military buildup, he said. Hundreds of American military personnel have been deployed in the southern Philippines since 2002 to provide counterterrorism training and serve as advisers to Filipino soldiers, who have battled Muslim militants for decades. U.S. President Barack Obama, left, walks with Philippines President Benigno Aquino III at Malacanang Palace in Manila, Philippines . U.S. President Barack Obama arrives at Ninoy Aquino International Airport in the Philippines . The agreement says the U.S. will 'not establish a permanent military presence or base in the Philippines' in compliance with Manila's constitution. A Filipino base commander will have access to areas to be shared with American forces, according to the primer. Disagreements over Philippine access to designated U.S. areas within local camps hampered negotiations for the agreement last year. The agreement will increase coordination between U.S. and Filipino forces, boost the 120,000-strong Philippine military's capability to monitor and secure the country's territory and respond more rapidly to natural disasters and other emergencies. U.S. President Barack Obama reviews the honor guard with Philippines President Benigno Aquino III, left, at Malacanang Palace in Manila . While the U.S. military will not pay rent for local camp areas, the Philippines will own buildings and infrastructure to be built or improved by the Americans and reap economic gains from the U.S. presence, it has been said. Chinese paramilitary ships took effective control of the disputed Scarborough Shoal, a rich fishing ground off the northwestern Philippines, in 2012. Last year, Chinese coast guard ships surrounded another contested offshore South China Sea territory, the Second Thomas Shoal, where they have been trying to block food supplies and rotation of Filipino marines aboard a grounded Philippine navy ship in the remote coral outcrops. China has ignored Philippine diplomatic protests and Manila's move last year to challenge Beijing's expansive territorial claims in the South China Sea before an international arbitration tribunal. It has warned the U.S. to stay out of the Asian dispute. | Military will get greater access to bases across the region .
Presence of foreign troops is a sensitive issue in the Philippines .
Philippine Senate voted in 1991 to close down U.S. bases .
The deal was signed hours before Obama arrived in Manila . |
134,031 | 3949098c58811bd67fbd536bfa62e978563a8a46 | (CNN) -- As awful as Louisville guard Kevin Ware's leg injury appeared during Sunday night's Elite Eight game against Duke, Ware could be back on the court in six months to a year, an orthopedic surgeon says. Fans across America averted their eyes in horror Sunday night as Ware, 20, came down wrong on his leg, causing a gruesome break. His right tibia, or shinbone, broke through the skin in what's called an open or compound fracture. Open fractures often cause damage to the surrounding muscles, tendons and ligaments, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. "This type of fracture is particularly serious because once the skin is broken, infection both the wound and the bone can occur," the academy's website states. Ware was immediately taken to an Indianapolis hospital. In a two-hour surgery, his bone was reset and a rod inserted into his tibia, according to a statement from Kenneth Klein, senior associate athletic director for media relations at the University of Louisville. That's typical procedure for this kind of injury, says orthopedic surgeon Dr. Fred Azar of Memphis, who is not involved in Ware's care. After the wound is washed out, doctors address any tears in the surrounding tissue. Then a steel or titanium rod is placed inside the hollow leg bone to reconnect it where it broke. After surgery, Azar places his patients on antibiotics to lower the risk of infection. Although the fracture looked extraordinary, Azar says, he sees it all the time in his practice. Open fractures are usually the result of a "high-energy" trauma, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons website. Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Saul Kaplan of Springfield, Virginia, says Ware may have twisted his leg as he landed, causing the bone to snap. Kaplan -- who also is not involved in Ware's care -- said it's also possible Ware had a benign bone tumor that weakened the tibia before his fall. If there is no nerve damage, Kaplan says, doctors will probably get Ware up and moving the day after surgery. And with intensive daily physical therapy, he could be back on the basketball court in six months to a year. Of course, with serious injuries comes the risk of serious complications, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. The three most common complications for open fractures are infection, difficulty healing and a condition called acute compartment syndrome. That develops when pressure builds in the muscles surrounding the injury; it's painful and can cause tissue death if the pressure is not relieved, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons website. If Ware's leg doesn't heal properly, he may need more surgery. Before leaving the court Sunday night, Ware reportedly told his teammates to focus on winning. A photo posted on the Internet shows his jubilant teammates holding up Ware's jersey as they celebrate their win. Another showed Ware in his hospital bed, holding the trophy his teammates brought to him. "Ware will remain in Indianapolis until at least Tuesday, when he is hopeful to return to Louisville and then join the Cardinals as they advance to the NCAA Final Four in Atlanta," Klein said. The Louisville Cardinals take on the Wichita State Shockers at 6:05 p.m. ET on Saturday. Get updates on Ware's condition on Bleacher Report . | Louisville's Kevin Ware suffered from an open fracture in his right tibia on Sunday .
Ware underwent two-hour surgery to reset his leg; a rod was inserted into the bone .
Without nerve damage or complications, Ware could return to the court in six months . |
82,065 | e89570c0a6423041404f1b9066b807a145481c8a | (CNN) -- Former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky has been sentenced to a long prison term for sexually abusing boys, and for many people, this means that justice has been done. But in the complex crime of child sexual abuse, "doing justice" is rarely as simple as convicting and locking up the offender. For most victims of sexual abuse, sending the offender to jail is not the most important thing. Their top priority is to be believed, to receive an apology or to restore their sense of trust. Sandusky's victims may have been accorded belief, but the apology does not seem forthcoming, at least from Sandusky. And the sense of trust often takes a long time to repair. For the communities and families damaged by disclosures of sexual abuse, wounds continue to fester long after the cell door closes. There are almost always many who feel guilt or are blamed for having allowed the abuse or for mismanaging the situation and causing avoidable pain. The justice and mental health systems often don't do enough to help with all this collateral damage. But "doing justice" also means preventing future harm. Many victims ultimately come forward to prevent other children (sometimes their own siblings) from becoming victims. Law enforcement believes that putting abusers away for a long time keeps the community safe. But while convictions and incarcerations do prevent some future offenses, it is naive to think that we can prosecute our way to child safety in this crime. For example, a third of all child sex offenses occur at the hands of other youth (PDF), and these crimes are not likely to be prevented by greater incarceration, in part because few of these juveniles have records that would have allowed authorities to intervene. The key to real prevention is awareness and education. There is no question that the Sandusky case has advanced these goals. Certainly, campuses all over the country are reviewing their standards and educating their staff members to make sure it "won't happen here." But the Sandusky case also reminds us of how much more we potentially have to do. Nearly 50 years after mandatory reporting laws came into effect and 10 years after the priest abuse scandal, highly educated and well-meaning professionals still fail to do the right thing. Here are some changes that should be on our prevention agenda: . • Make abuse prevention, detection and management prominent in the curricula of graduate education in all human service fields. • Create off-the-shelf abuse prevention guidelines and educational materials that small and large youth-serving organizations can adopt and disseminate without a lot of expense. • Provide evidence-based prevention education for children and youth at all levels of the educational system. • Through schools, libraries and pediatricians, give parents the skills and vocabularies for talking about abuse with their kids. Finally, we need to see justice in these cases as a process, not just an outcome. Convictions may be obtained, but victims and families are left battered. Studies suggest that most cases with child victims take far too long to resolve in the legal system. Many victims and families complain that they aren't kept up to date on what is happening in the case and why. Victims' identities are often not protected. Investigative interviews and procedures can be intimidating and exhausting. Helpful mental health and support services are not readily available. At the same time, much is being done to make the process more victim-friendly. Child advocacy centers are being established all across the country. Law enforcement is being trained in child development skills and sensitive interviewing practices. Judges are being admonished to speed cases along. But we still have a long way to go before we can close cases like that of Jerry Sandusky with confidence that "justice was done." The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of David Finkelhor. | Former football coach Jerry Sandusky got long sentence for abusing boys .
David Finkelhor says abuse leaves collateral damage that is difficult to address .
He says spotting abuse must be key part of curricula in human service fields .
Writer: Youth groups, schools, libraries should disseminate guidelines for prevention . |
150,642 | 4ec16505c91dac8f6641bd4f3dedd544277658a8 | CHICAGO, Illinois (CNN) -- The woman who received the first-ever near-total face transplant in the United States told her doctor she has regained her self-confidence, said Dr. Maria Siemionow, head of plastic surgery research at the Cleveland Clinic and leader of the transplant team. This illustration represents the transformation of a patient who underwent a near-total face transplant in December. The patient, who prefers to be anonymous, is finally able to breathe through her nose, smell, eat solid foods and drink out of a cup, Siemionow told participants of the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in Chicago over the weekend. The complex surgery, a 22-hour procedure, took place in December at the Cleveland Clinic. The patient received her new face in one graft from a donor cadaver. "I believe this procedure is justified because you need a face to face the world," Siemionow said. Watch an animation of the face transplant » . The patient had previously "suffered severe facial trauma," the Cleveland Clinic said. She had no nose, right eye or upper jaw before the procedure, and could not smell or eat normally. People would call her names on the street, Siemionow said. The surgery gave the patient a nose with nasal lining, as well as a palate. This, combined with the olfactory receptors in the brain, gave the patient the ability to smell, Siemionow said. Social reincorporation is as important as the face transplant itself, Siemionow said. At this point, the patient doesn't want to face the "common world," but she is facing her family, the surgeon said. The patient said she is happy because when she puts her hands on her face, she feels a nose, Siemionow said. She can also taste a hamburger and pizza, and drink coffee from a cup, the "things we take for granted every day," Siemionow said. The patient also received lower eyelids, upper lip, skin, muscles, bone, hard palate, arteries, veins and nerves. As for the aesthetics of the new face, Siemionow suggested that restoring function was more important. "At this point, no one is really looking at beautification," she said. Siemionow, who has been working on face transplant research for 20 years, received approval from the Institutional Review Board in 2004 to conduct a full facial transplant. Only patients who had already exhausted all possible options for conventional repair were considered for the transplant, Siemionow said. Currently, cancer patients are not candidates for face transplants because transplant recipients must take immunosuppression drugs for life so that the body does not reject the donated tissue, Siemionow said. In the future, however, lifelong immunosuppression may not be required, she said. While burn damage is normally patched with pieces of excess skin from a person's own body, this does not work if the whole face needs to be covered -- the skin of the entire back is less than half of what would be needed to cover the full face and scalp, Siemionow said. Previously, three facial transplants had been completed -- two in France and one in China. The Chinese recipient, Li Guoxing, died in July of unknown causes, Guo Shuzhong, a doctor involved in the case, confirmed to CNN. One of the French face transplant recipients was a man who had a genetic disorder that created large tumors on his face. The other French patient had been bitten by a dog. The Chinese patient had been attacked by a bear. European news media recently reported that a surgeon in Spain received approval for another face transplant, which would be the fifth in the world. Researchers are also making headway into treatments for disorders that give rise to facial abnormalities, experts say. They are identifying genes that become mutated and cause the skull and facial features to become distorted. "We're moving into the arena where we can do medical treatment," Dr. Ethylin Jabs, professor of developmental and regenerative biology at Mount Sinai Medical School, said at the conference. One example is Treacher Collins syndrome, a condition found in one in every 50,000 births, which affects the development of bones and other tissues in the face. Scientists have determined that the gene TCOF1 is involved in the disorder, and research is ongoing into the precise function of this protein. By looking at the genetic underpinnings of disorders that lead to facial deformities, scientists can also understand what accounts for the normal differences in face and skull types. "These are going to be some of the genes that cause some of that variation," Jabs said. | Face transplant recipient can now eat solid foods, smell, breathe out of nose .
The patient received her new face in one graft from a donor cadaver in December .
Skin on surface of a person's back is not large enough to cover a face and scalp .
Doctor: Social reincorporation is as important as the face transplant itself . |
185,042 | 7bb2e23aad9f1175de52081a3425b6e8756b3aee | By . Lisa Kjellsson . PUBLISHED: . 05:55 EST, 1 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 11:40 EST, 1 May 2013 . A female lifeguard who believed an eight-year-old boy floating face-down in front of her was 'messing about' has been cleared of allowing his death. Kelly Woods, 31, was charged with failing to protect pool users after Suraj Mall died at the leisure centre on February 10, 2008. A two week trial heard Woods had been chatting to a customer for 15 minutes at Wolverhampton Swimming and Fitness Centre when the youngster got into difficulty. Eight-year-old Suraj Mall drowned in the swimming pool in Woolverhampton Leisure Centre in February 2008 . Wolverhampton Crown Court heard Suraj had been floating face-down in the water for a minute-and-a-half but Woods believed he was 'messing about'. By the time she realised he was in trouble and dived in to save him, it was too late and he was later pronounced dead at Wolverhampton’s New Cross Hospital. Woods was charged with failing to properly supervise pool users and went on trial on April 16. She said that although her conversation with customer Barry King only lasted a couple of minutes, she admitted she should have kept her eyes on the pool rather than looking away. Lifeguard Kelly Woods has been cleared of failing to properly supervise pool users following eight-year-old Suraj Mall's death . But a jury of seven men and four . women returned a unanimous not guilty verdict after four and a half . hours of deliberation on Tuesday. Woods wept as the verdict was read out. Judge . Amjad Nawaz told her: 'In so far as the past five years are concerned, I . hope you are able to put it behind you and get on with your life. 'This verdict is no reflection on anybody at all. 'The Mall family have conducted themselves with exceptional courage and grace throughout.' Amy . Kalay, from the Health and Safety Executive, who brought the case . against Ms Woods, said: 'However disappointed we are with the verdict, . this prosecution will reiterate to lifeguards, leisure centres and pool . owners worldwide of the importance of constant vigilance when looking . after swimmers in their care.' Paying . tribute to her son, mother Lajla Kaur said: 'He was the light of all . our lives, now he’s gone we will always feel that emptiness inside. 'This is something we have to live with forever. 'Suraj and his sisters used to attend swimming lessons regularly every week. 'Now, since the accident everything changed, we have not gone to the pool since. 'Suraj will never be forgotten, his laughter will echo through our hearts forever.' Woods refused to comment outside court. Wolverhampton Swimming and Fitness Centre in Wolverhampton, where the schoolboy drowned . Scene: Woods denied that her conversation with customer Barry King led to her not spotting the boy . | Suraj Mall died at Wolverhampton Swimming and Fitness Centre in 2008 .
Lifeguard Kelly Woods, 31, was charged with failing to protect pool users .
She thought the eight-year-old boy floating face-down in front of her for a minute-and-a-half was 'messing about'
Judge said Woods should 'put the past five years behind her and move on' |
175,235 | 6eccbae5cd854e6cd7f0bc440ccf5427f8f4892e | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 17:11 EST, 26 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 04:52 EST, 27 August 2013 . Officials say a bear that attacked a 12-year-old girl near Cadillac earlier this month is not the same one that was shot two days later a couple of miles away. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources said that DNA from the bear's carcass did not match fur and saliva samples taken from clothing that Abby Wetherell was wearing when she was attacked and mauled on August 15th. The tests showed that the bear that harmed Abby was a female, while the bear that was killed was a male. Brave: Abby Wetherell, from Michigan, miraculously survived the bear attack by playing dead but sustained deep gashes and puncture wounds to her thighs and back . Injuries: The animal knocked the girl down twice and lashed one of her thighs with its powerful paws as she screamed for help . Abby was jogging on a trail near her . grandfather's cabin in a wooded area of Wexford County when the bear . came after her. About 100 stitches were needed to close her wounds. She . sped up, but the bear knocked her down twice and lashed one of her . thighs with its powerful paws as she screamed for help. Her father and a . neighbor chased the animal away. She miraculously survived the bear attack by playing dead but . sustained deep gashes and puncture wounds to her thighs and back. The attack happened on grandfather Dave Wetherell's wooded property near Cadillac. Dave . Wetherell, Abby's grandfather, tells the Detroit Free Press that . Abigail Wetherell is a strong person who realizes 'she was in a lot of . danger and she beat it.' Abigail was treated for abrasions and puncture wounds before being released from a Traverse City hospital. The DNR says the search for the bear is continuing. Wanted: The black bear knocked the girl down twice and lashed one of her thighs with its powerful claws before fleeing into the woods . Speaking to Good Morning America last week she said: 'I see this bear. Oh, my gosh. I start running the way I was coming . from. All of a sudden, the bear stopped me and put me down . on ground, scraping me and clawing me. 'I was terrified. I was thinking, "I shouldn't have went for this jog. This is it, I'm a goner'." The bear suddenly stopped attacking . her and she took the chance to get up and run away but the bear came . back. She decided to pet it to see if she could get the animal to like . her. 'That did not work. Then it just got me again. 'And then I heard that you should . play dead. So that's what I did,' she told GMA. 'And then it kind of . went away and then it looked back and . then it just took off.' Her father Chris told GMA: 'I was in . shock when I first saw her. I didn't believe it was a bear attack until I . saw the claw marks and bruises. It was horrible.' Abby was taken to hospital and had to get 100 stitches on her wounds over two hours of surgery. She is recovering at home. She said of her injuries: 'When the bear was attacking me, I couldn't feel it. I was . just numb. I don't know how or why but my whole body went numb and when I . started getting up it hurt bad. 'It's over. But, I'm not going to go in the woods without anybody. I'm OK and I'll be all right.' Father Chris Wetherell said: 'I was in shock when I first saw her. I didn't believe it was a bear attack until I saw the claw marks and bruises. It was horrible' Back home: Abby Wetherell is now recovering from the attack at home after undergoing two-hour surgery . Tough cookie: Abby, who is a hunting enthusiast, a soccer goalie, and loves the great outdoors, plans to return to the site of the bear attack in the near future - but not on her own . People who venture into likely bear territory should carry pepper spray, travel in small groups and make noise to avoid startling them, the DNR said. ‘If you encounter a bear, stand your ground and then slowly back away,’ the agency said in a news release. ‘Do not turn away.’ It advised people not to show fear, run or play dead, but instead to make themselves look as big as possible and talk to the animal in a stern voice. | Abby Wetherell was jogging in Michigan woods earlier this month when bear started to chase her .
After it attacked her twice she played dead and the bear away .
She underwent two-hour surgery in hospital and get 100 stitches .
Wardens shot dead bear but discovered afterwards it was the wrong one . |
238,071 | c02229dadc5767312d4961b27d7731d7b5959b48 | Formula One's sparring championship protagonists Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg again proved there is little to separate them. In-form Hamilton emerged top dog from Rosberg at the end of Friday's two practice sessions for the United States Grand Prix by a hair's breadth, just three thousandths of a second. Championship leader Lewis Hamilton maintained his focus despite a hydraulic problem on Friday . Hamilton had topped FP1 at the Circuit of the Americas by a clear 0.293secs from Rosberg, with McLaren's Jenson Button their closest challenger. But in switching from the medium-compound tyres used in FP1 to the soft Pirelli rubber given an outing in FP2, Rosberg managed to reel in his Mercedes team-mate. Hamilton's day also ended under a slight cloud as his car encountered a hydraulic problem with 20 minutes remaining, bringing an early end to his day's running. It underlined the fact that despite winning the last four grands prix to open up a 17-point cushion to Rosberg, Hamilton's hopes of claiming a second title rest as much on the reliability of his car over the final three races as his own talent. Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel prepares for practice session at the Circuit of the Americas, in Austin, Texas . Toro Rosso's seventeen-year-old test driver Max Verstappen from speaks to his team in the pits . With Hamilton on a roll, the Briton holds a 17-point cushion going into one of his favourite races of the year in the United States on Sunday. With nine victories already this season - only Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel have won more in a single campaign - Hamilton is confident of keeping the momentum going. 'I don't see why not,' said Hamilton. 'Nico's obviously going to be strong this weekend, and he's going to be pushing, but the tables could always turn. 'Nico has shown that this year, every race he bounces back, but I've been strong here in the past, and I'm hoping to be very strong here this weekend. 'The last few races I've really felt great, amazing. It was almost like there was a wall in front of me and I was trying to climb it but I couldn't quite get over it. 'But I've got over it now and hopefully the remaining races are more like hurdles rather than big tall walls.' Lewis Hamilton poses in front of a fans' banner in the pit lane in Austin on Friday . Hamilton and Nico Rosberg were head and shoulders above any of their rivals, with Ferrari's Fernando Alonso the best of the rest, and not for the first time this season. Alonso finished a staggering 1.104secs adrift of Hamilton, such is the performance advantage of the Mercedes at this track. Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo, who only completed five laps in FP1 due to his car encountering an ERS (energy recovery system) problem, was back on track in FP2. Ricciardo rattled off 29 laps to finish fourth quickest, whilst in contrast team-mate Sebastian Vettel propped up the timesheet. It was confirmed in between the two sessions the team had installed a complete power unit, and with it being the sixth of the season, the outgoing four-times champion serves a penalty that will see him start from the pit lane. However, Vettel almost immediately encountered problems with the new system as he managed only 19 laps, finishing nearly five seconds off the pace. Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg, pulls out of the garage during the first practice session . Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton pulls out of the pits during the first practice session for the U.S. Grand Prix . Significantly, Vettel was last of only 18 cars - the financial problems encountered by Caterham and Marussia over the past week forcing both teams into administration. With both teams and out of this event, it means the field for this weekend's race will be the lowest since the 2005 Monaco Grand Prix. Behind the leading quartet was Williams' Felipe Massa, followed by Kimi Raikkonen in his Ferrari and Toro Rosso's Daniil Kvyat. Red Bull driver Daniel Ricciardo talks with is crew during the first practice session . Lotus driver Romain Grosjean is followed by Ferarri driver Fernando Alonso during the first practice session for the U.S. Grand Prix . Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel drives into the first turn during the first practice session for the U.S. Grand Prix . McLaren duo Kevin Magnussen and Button were eighth and ninth respectively, the latter 1.613secs adrift, with Force India's Nico Hulkenberg completing the top 10. Significantly, in the dying stages of the second session the FIA tested their new virtual safety car (VSC) system. The device has been introduced in the wake of Jules Bianchi's life-threatening crash in the Japanese Grand Prix nearly four weeks ago. Bianchi went off the Suzuka circuit under double-waved yellow-flag conditions, forcing the FIA to experiment with the VSC - which forces a driver to slow significantly via a signal sent to the cockpit of his car. | Hamilton emerged ahead of Rosberg at the end of Friday's two practice sessions .
McLaren's Jenson Button their closest challenger at the Circuit of the Americas .
Daniel Ricciardo was fourth quickest but team-mate Sebastian Vettel propped up the timesheet . |
48,568 | 890e44534bd45efe82b5ef88f9da8e7ea015ba38 | It's not likely to be a day they'll ever forget but new mothers are increasingly asking their partners for 'push presents' to mark the occasion they gave birth. The trend from the U.S is catching on in the UK, fuelled by celebrities such as Kim Kardashian. She was reportedly given a £500,000 diamond ring from Kanye West after she gave birth to their daughter North this year. Analysis of conversations on parenting website the BabyCentre's online community over the last three years found that mentions of push presents had increased by 41 per cent in the past 18 months, compared to only a two per cent increase between 2011 and 2012. Labour pain to gain: More new mothers in the UK are expecting a 'push present' from their partner . A poll of 1,200 BabyCentre mothers also revealed that more than a quarter (27 per cent) were expecting, or had already received, a 'push present' this year. Diamonds were the most popular gift in the form of an eternity ring with the prices spent ranging from £500 to £1475. Tablet computers, charm bracelets and designer watches and handbags were also popular gifts to celebrate a new arrival. Baby bling: Kanye West reportedly gave a £500,000 diamond ring to Kim Kardashian after she gave birth to their daughter North . Linnea Ingham-Jeffries, from Kent, received a charm bracelet from her husband after her son, Orlan, was born. She said: 'When . Orlan was born my husband surprised me with a charm bracelet and three . charms - a mum one, one with the initial of our son and an owl charm, . which is the theme of our nursery. I wasn't expecting anything so it was . such a lovely surprise. My husband bought it for me simply so I'd have . something unique as a thank you for giving birth.' Reward: Father are giving gifts to acknowledge the 'huge physical and emotional changes that their partner has been through' Eternity ring . Charm bracelet . Other Jewellery (earrings necklace, bracelets) Spa vouchers . WatchDesigner . Handbag . Technology eg iPad, Kindle . Flowers . Perfume . Champagne . Sarah Barrett, BabyCentre's managing editor said the rise in popularity of the trend shows how fathers want to reward their partner for the 'huge physical and emotional changes' they've been though in order to give birth. She said: 'Whilst Mums are becoming more vocal about push presents this trend also shows a shift in Dads' understanding around the huge physical and emotional changes that their partner has been through. 'Whilst having a baby is the ultimate present, many Dads want to show how proud they are of their new family and all that Mum has been through with a special gift.' Push presents have been common currency in the U.S. since 2007 when a survey of more than 30,000 respondents found that 38 per cent of new mothers had received a one. It's now the latest trend to cross the Atlantic following 'sip and see' parties - where friends and family are invited for drinks to meet the newborn for the first time. Baby showers are another pregnancy rite of passage for mothers-to-be that are also becoming more popular in the UK after starting in the U.S. | Fathers rewarding new mothers with a present is popular in U.S.
Kanye West gave Kim Kardashian £500,000 diamond ring .
More than a quarter of British mothers-to-be polled expect a push present .
Top ten gifts include eternity rings, bracelets and iPads . |
280,020 | f6c4aade5385ae18de07a01e966f56f8edd4ab6c | Are you in the market for a new car but have trouble deciding between a Holden Commodore and a Ford Falcon? Well look no further because Bundamba Auto Wreckers in Ipswich, south-east Queensland, has morphed the two together to create a car lover's dream - the 'Falcodore'. Dean Hawkins, owner of Bundamba Auto Wreckers said the challenge came about when he was approached by breakfast radio hosts Mike Bryne and Marie T from the local station River 94.9. Bundamba Auto Wreckers in Ipswich, south-east Queensland, has morphed a Holden Commodore and a Ford Falcon together to create a car lover's dream - the 'Falcodore' The challenge came about when owner Dean Hawkins was approached by breakfast radio hosts Mike Bryne and Marie T from the local station River 94.9 - they couldn't decide which one to purchase . Mr Hawkins, a self confessed Holden lover, said the challenge was sure to be hard but he was ready to take it on . 'Marie's partner was looking at buying a new vehicle but he couldn't decide between a Ford Falcon or a Holden Commodore - they asked me what I thought and if we could put the two together,' Mr Hawkins told Daily Mail Australia. Mr Hawkins, a self confessed Holden lover, said the challenge was sure to be hard but he was ready to take it on. 'We made a plan on how we were going to do it, made a schedule and away we went.' He said he knew of other auto wreckers who had tried to combine cars together. 'Others have cut cars and just attached the front and back of two different vehicles but we actually got the two cars and cut them down the middle. 'We worked out how to cut them, got it wielded, got the paint and added the stickers.' The red and blue Falcodore is literally half Ford and Holden, with an engine made from a Ford Falcon motor, a Holden gear box and a Falcon diff. The savvy car developer was amazed at how fast it took his team to create the Falcodore. 'I had six people working on it at different times and it only took us about four weeks to build which is pretty good,' Mr Hawkins said. 'The result was great - I thought it was excellent.' As for Marnie's partner Mr Hawkins said he was blown away with the innovative Falcodore. 'It was built because he was undecided and once he saw it he loved it - he wanted to take it home,' he said. Mr Hawkins said the Falcodore can be driven, but unfortunately for Marnie's partner driving his ultimate car is not an option. 'The car works - it can drive but it can't be registered which means we can't even drive it across the road.' Community members of Ipswich travelled Bundamba Auto Wreckers to check out the unique hybrid vehicle. Mr Hawkins said his business welcomes any other challenges given to community members from Ipswich. Mr Hawkins said 'we made a plan on how we were going to do it, made a schedule and away we went' The workers at Bundamba Auto Wreckers literally cut the two cars in half . The Falcodore took only four weeks to create . The red and blue Falcodore is literally half Ford and Holden, with an engine made from a Ford Falcon motor, a Holden gear box and a Falcon diff . Community members of Ipswich travelled Bundamba Auto Wreckers to check out the unique hybrid vehicle . | The 'Falcodore' is every Ford and Holden lovers dream car .
Bundamba Auto Wreckers in Ipswich, south-east Queensland has morphed the two together .
The unique hybrid vehicle took only four weeks to create .
The Falcodore is able to drive but not registered . |
249,078 | ce50334d31d158d0d4cb7824f7944b6d3f2b3308 | By . Emily Payne . PUBLISHED: . 12:03 EST, 20 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 12:03 EST, 20 February 2013 . Research shows that over 65-year-olds could benefit from learning how to use social networking sites . Forget crossword puzzles and scrabble, the way to keep your brain sharp into old age is to get on Facebook, new research suggests. Scientists from the University of Arizona have found that over 65s who use the social networking website performed better in cognitive tests than those who simply surfed the internet or didn't use it all. It's thought the ever-changing nature of the site - such as the constantly rolling updates - may boost mental acuity. Adults who used the site performed about 25 per cent better on tasks designed to measure their ability to . continuously monitor and to quickly add or delete the contents of their working memory – a function known as 'updating'. During the study, 14 adults between 68 and 91 who had either never used the site or used it less than once a month were set up on Facebook. They were instructed to make 'friends' with those in their training group and were asked to post on the site at least once a day. A second group were taught to use online diary site, Penzu.com, in which entries are kept private, with no social sharing component. Before the tests, participants completed a series of tests which assessed their levels loneliness and social support, as well as their cognitive abilities. The assessments were done again at the end of the study, eight weeks later. In the follow-ups, those who had learned to use Facebook performed about 25 per cent better than they did at the start of the study on tasks designed to measure their mental updating abilities. Posting updates on Facebook may improve the cognitive performance of older adults . Participants in the other group saw no significant change in performance. Lead researcher Janelle Wohltmann, from the University of Arizona department of psychology, said: 'The big difference between the online diary and Facebook is that when you create a diary entry, you create the entry, you save it and that's all you see. '[Whereas] if you're on Facebook, several people are posting new things, so new information is constantly getting posted. 'You're seeing this new information coming in, and you need to focus on the new information and get rid of the old information, or keep it in mind if you want to go back and reference it later, so you have to constantly update what's there in your attention.' The researchers said they also see Facebook as a potential alternative to some online games marketed to older people to help boost mental acuity. 'Those games can boring after a while, and this might be a new activity for people to learn that's more interesting and keeps them socially engaged,' said Wohltman. She added that those considering teaching their elderly relatives how to use the social networking site, should also consider their safety. 'It's also important to understand and know about some of the aspects of Facebook that people have concerns about, like how to keep your profile secure,' she said. 'So I wouldn't suggest to anyone to get out and get Granny online right away, unless you or somebody else can provide the proper education and support to that person, so that they can use it in a safe way.' | Adults aged 68-91 performed 25 per cent better in cognitive tests after being taught how to use Facebook .
Ever-changing nature of the site - such as constantly rolling updates - is thought to boost mental acuity . |
275,359 | f0bc7bbf20e071852e56d5752b57ee90663661e1 | Islamabad, Pakistan (CNN) -- At least nine people died after three rockets were fired toward an airport in the Pakistani city of Peshawar, authorities said Saturday. The Bacha Khan International Airport was cordoned off after the rocket fire, senior police official Imran Shahid said. Syed Naveed Qamar, Pakistan's defense minister, said on Geo News five attackers were killed. Qamar said the target could be an airforce base, which is adjacent to the airport. Both the airport and the air base have the same entrance. Mian Iftikhar Hussain, information minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, said after the attackers fired the rockets they tried but failed to drive an explosives-laden vehicle into the airport. The vehicle struck the airport's outer wall, blew up and killed the militants. Other than the attackers, four civilians were also killed, Shahid said. He said 35 people were injured as well. Two of the rockets landed inside the airport and the other struck outside the facility. The Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility of the attack. Taliban official Ehsanullah Ehsan said their target was in fact the air base. "We have planned more attacks on Pakistani forces and its installation as it works to please the USA," Ehsan said. Peshawar is near Pakistan's volatile tribal region. Militants have a strong presence in that region, which borders Afghanistan. | Many people were hurt .
The airport was cordoned off .
Peshawar is near the Pakistani tribal region . |
188,922 | 80ade57c1ca33066ffea3e3a55328c976f5c74b7 | Tokyo (CNN) -- The president of Tokyo Electric Power Company, the business at the heart of Japan's nuclear crisis, apologized again Wednesday, a day after the situation there was designated a Chernobyl-level nuclear accident. Masataka Shimizu, the president of the power company, also said he is working with the government to create a plan to privide short-term compensation to the many affected by the nuclear crisis. "I regret the fact we are inconveniencing all these people, I want to take this opportunity to apologize," Shimizu said. His speech comes after Japan's prime minister vowed to wind down the month-long crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant "at all costs." Prime Minister Naoto Kan said he wants Tokyo Electric Power Company, to produce a timetable for bringing the disaster to an end, "and they will be doing that soon." Shimizu did not provide a detailed timetable during his speech Wednesday but said his company is working to stop harmful materials from going into the atmosphere "as soon as possible." Japan declared the Fukushima Daiichi crisis a Level 7 event on the international system for rating nuclear accidents Tuesday, putting it on par with the 1986 Chernobyl disaster in the former Soviet Union. The top-scale designation was based on the massive release of radioactivity since the accident began, particularly in its early days, and classifies Fukushima Daiichi a "major accident" requiring long-term countermeasures. "At all costs, all the reactors and the spent nuclear fuel pools must be brought under control so that we can prevent a further expansion of the damage," Kan said. Tetsunari Iida, a former nuclear engineer-turned-industry critic, told CNN the declaration has no immediate practical impact on the crisis. But it's a sign that Japanese regulators have rethought their earlier assessments of the disaster, said Iida, who now runs an alternative energy think-tank in Tokyo. Shimizu already issued an apology Tuesday for the disaster and the "enormous anxiety" it has caused after the Level 7 designation. "We would like to stabilize the situation as soon as possible, and we are working on the measures and steps to cool the reactors and prevent the spread of nuclear substances," he said. "While continuing to ask for the support and cooperation of the government, the ministries, and the municipalities, we would like to maintain close communication with them, and we will make the utmost effort to bring the situation to an end." Scientists believe the amount of radiation released is only a tenth of what was released at Chernobyl, said Hidehiko Nishiyama, the chief spokesman for Japan's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency. But the levels for radioactive iodine and cesium that have been spewed into the air, water and soil around the plant are in the thousands of trillions of bequerels -- 15 times higher than the threshold for a top-scale event, according to figures released by the safety agency Tuesday morning. The crisis began with the March 11 earthquake and tsunami that devastated northern Japan. The tsunami knocked out the plant's cooling systems, leaving operators with no way to keep the three operational reactors from overheating after they shut down. Engineers are now pumping hundreds of tons of water a day into the damaged reactors to keep them cool, but Tokyo Electric said long-term solutions must wait until it can get the highly contaminated water out of the basements of the units' turbine plants. In addition, more water is being poured into pools housing spent but still-potent fuel rods in units 1-3 as well as unit 4, which had no fuel in the reactor at the time of the quake. The work has been complicated over the past five days by a series of powerful aftershocks that have forced workers to clear out of the units and seek shelter. Evacuation orders have so far covered about 85,000 people inside the 20-kilometer (12.4-mile) zone, while another 62,000 within 30 kilometers have been told to stay inside, Fukushima prefecture officials told CNN. Japan's government said it had no estimate of the number of people who would be covered by the new directives. Yukio Edano, the country's chief cabinet secretary, added outdoor-grown shiitake mushrooms from 16 towns and villages neighboring the Daiichi plant to the country's banned food list Wednesday. CNN's Kyung Lah, Whitney Hurst, Junko Ogura, Matt Smith contributed to this report. | NEW: Tokyo Electric's president says he is creating a plan for short-term payments for victims .
Japan's prime minister vows to end the crisis "at all costs"
The Level 7 designation puts Fukushima Daiichi on par with Chernobyl .
The effort has been complicated by recent aftershocks . |
246,788 | cb628e647f44ceda1d14f73f79cf62654f2e6e1a | When Make-A-Wish Foundation approached Peter Srsich, a stage-four cancer patient, offering to make a dream of his come true, the 17-year-old boy had an unusual request: he wanted to meet the pope. Two years later, the Colorado teen is in remission - and he has credited his encounter with Benedict XVI with helping him beat the cancer. Srsich, a devout Catholic who is now studying for priesthood, is well aware that his cancer was cured thanks to decades of medical research and his doctors' extensive training - but he believes that meeting the former pontiff in Rome has restored his faith and gave him strength to fight for his life. Fateful meeting: In May 2012, Peter Srsich, 17, a stage-four cancer patient, got to meet with Pope Benedict XVI, who unexpectedly placed his hand on the exact spot where his tumor was to offer him a blessing . Humble offering: Unlike other people in line to meet the pontiff who came bearing costly presents, Peter handed the pope a simple wristband with the words 'Praying for Peter' that a friend had made for him . For Peter, the harrowing ordeal started in 2011 with a simple cough. When the lanky 6-foot-6 lacrosse player returned from a canoe trip in July of that year, he felt overwhelmed with the kind of fatigue that he had never experienced before, ABC News reported. The family suspected that the boy came down with pneumonia, but the reality was much more terrifying: doctors discovered a softball-sized mass in his left lung that was pressing on his heart. The tumor was diagnosed as a stage-four cancer. Luckily for Peter, he was young, strong and very athletic, giving him a good chance for survival. What followed was six months of grueling cancer treatment, which included seven rounds of chemotherapy that left the teenager completely bald. Srsich's diagnosis and treatment had another impact on the boy: it plunged him into depression and made him question why all this was happening to him. But the 17-year-old still found comfort in his faith. Knowing that he was devout, a friend created 1,200 lime-green wristbands with the words 'Praying for Peter' on them, along with Srsich's favorite Biblical passage, Romans 8:28. Out of the blue: For Peter, an athletic 17-year-old, it all started with a cough and a feeling of overwhelming fatigue, which turned out to be stage-four cancer . Harrowing ordeal: Srsich (far left) had to go through seven rounds of chemotherapy, which left him completely bald. His younger brother (center) and dad shaved their heads to support him . Three months into his treatment, Srsich was approached by the Make-a-Wish Foundation - a charity that grants wishes to children suffering from life-threatening illnesses. Peter's dream was an unusual one: the 17-year-old high school student wanted to go to Rome and see the pope in person. Trooper: The 17-year-old was treated with powerful drugs that plunged him into depression, but Peter fought on . 'I would have been perfectly fine if I just got a tour of the Vatican,' he later said . The Italian branch of Make-A-Wish helped organize the $14,000 trip, covering the cost of plane tickets, accommodations, meals and spending expenses. ‘After meeting Peter, there was no doubt in my mind it was his true wish and it was going to play an important role in what he wants to do career-wise,’ said his gift coordinator LuAnn Griffin. On a sunny day in May 2012, Peter, his parents and 15-year-old brother, Johnny, filed into St Peter’s Square in the Vatican to hear Pope Benedict XVI address the multinational audience in five languages. Afterwards, Peter and his family were invited to queue up before the pope along with a number of high dignities. Srsich was concerned: everyone else in line waiting to speak to the pontiff came bearing expensive gifts, but he only had a lime-green rubber wristband to offer the leader of the Catholic church. Finally, his turn was up to meet the pope. Towering over the diminutive pontiff, Peter told him that he had cancer and asked him for a blessing. And then something unexpected happened. ‘He looked at me and said, “Oh, you speak English?” and put his hand on my chest right where the tumor had been, even though I had not mentioned it to him,’ Peter recalled. ‘The blessing is usually on the head.’ Special moment: Even though Peter (second right) ended up missing most of his senior year of high school, he made it to his prom and was voted homecoming king . In February 2013, less than a year after the fateful encounter, Pope Benedict resigned due to his declining health and was replaced by Pope Francis I. These days,. Peter Srsich says he feels ‘wonderful.' He currently attends Regis University, a Jesuit college in Denver. His goal is to be ordained as a priest in about eight years. With his cancer on the ropes, the 19-year-old is also back to playing lacrosse and practicing taekwondo. Dream come true: When Peter (second left), pictured, with his mother, father and younger brother, was approach by the Make-A-Wish-Foundation, he asked to travel to Rome with his family and meet the pope . Although some Christian groups have latched on to Peter's recovery story, proclaiming it a miracle, Srsich does not see it quite that way. ‘Chemo helped me fight the cancer. Make-A-Wish helped me fight the chemo,’ he told ABC. ‘Knowing the pope was in my future helped me get through that, and in a small, non-miraculous way, helped cure my cancer.’ | Peter Srsich was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoid in July 2011 after doctors found softball-sized mass on his lung .
Peter and his family traveled to Rome in May 2012 to attend audience with then-Pope Benedict XVI .
The 19-year-old credits his doctors and chemotherapy with curing him, but believes pope's blessing gave him strength to fight cancer .
Srsich now attends Regis University and plans to be ordained as a priest in eight years . |
233,027 | b9afa619a0e13ec2b448d364d30c7d8afcf3737f | (CNN) -- According to the Obama administration, the fact that Umar Farouk AbdulMutallab boarded a plane for the United States with potentially exploding underwear was caused by a systemic failure in intelligence. That's true. In the same way that an auto accident is caused by two cars crashing together. Saying the system failed is merely describing what happened, and Obama's plan will do nothing to address the underlying problem. The real problem is what we need to be talking about, not just because it's at the core of our intelligence crisis, but because it's the same problem that broke our economy, made health care unaffordable and hobbled the U.S. auto industry. And unless the Obama Administration gets smart about dealing with this larger problem, and fast, our skies won't be safer any time soon. The problem is organizational culture. As Peter Drucker, the late father of modern management, said: "Culture eats strategy for breakfast." Culture says it's OK to not think creatively about how a lead might connect to other information. Culture says that following up on leads eventually is soon enough. Culture says that doing what's in our job description is "good enough for government work." Obama's plan to fix the intelligence system boils down to integrate the components, clarify roles and responsibilities, add additional steps to the screening process, invest in newer technology, deploy more air marshals and work cooperatively with other governments. None of these actions will do one thing to effect people's relationships with each other and with their work, which is the essence of culture. Let's be honest. When we go through a Transportation Security Administration line in the United States, we're not blown away by organizational brilliance. We see people plodding through the same steps, in the same way, often doing the minimum to not get fired. (That's not to say that all TSA cultures are that bad; a few are quite effective.) Most people assume that the culture in the intelligence community is better. Actually, the odds are against it. In a study of 24,000 people published in 2008 in Tribal Leadership, John King, Halee-Fischer-Wright and I found that 25 percent of workplace cultures are as stupid as our worst TSA experiences. These groups express a "my life stinks" view and show almost no innovation, initiative or ownership -- precisely the behaviors necessary to reform our intelligence systems. Even more frightening, 48 percent of organizational cultures express the view that "I'm great (and you're not)". People in these workplaces rise to the challenge, but as individuals, not as groups. Star performers hoard information, work on outshining each other and act with the real goal of advancing themselves. They hoard information, build silos and erect walls between groups. So imagine these two cultures -- accounting for about three out of four workplaces -- responding to Obama's plan to reform the intelligence system. People in "my life stinks" cultures will react by rolling their eyes, making sarcastic jokes and looking at their watches. Nothing will change. People in "I'm great" cultures will respond that the problems are easily solved as long as everyone gets behind their plan. The problem is, everyone is advancing their own ideas, and ultimately, their own careers. (Sound like Congress?) As a consultant who logs almost as many miles as the George Clooney character in "Up In The Air" and a scholar of organizational performance, I've hoped that the Obama Administration's reaction would focus on the heart of the problem, that the agencies and organizations that we rely on have stupid workplace cultures. I'm not saying the people involved are stupid. I'm saying the culture makes people stupider than they really are. (And while we're on the subject, "my life stinks" is the dominant culture in the U.S. auto industry, which is why it failed in the first place. And "I'm great" cultures run Wall Street, which is why greed went unchecked until it became pathological.) Until we target culture as the issue, all we're accomplishing with systemic fixes is the illusion of action. No amount of Obama-style fixes will make a stupid culture any smarter, and remember, culture eats strategy -- and systems -- for breakfast. In his press conference, President Obama said, "Ultimately, the buck stops with me. When the system fails, it is my responsibility." The question is: Why is no one taking responsibility for the cultures that produce these failures? The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Dave Logan. | "Systemic failure" is not a real explanation of Christmas Day near attack, says Dave Logan .
He says patching the nation's security system is no substitute for a culture change .
He says intelligence agencies need a culture of initiative and ownership .
Logan: President Obama's fixes amount to the "illusion of action" |
53,289 | 97281e31aad6b81463911b3869125e345ac4032c | (CNN) -- A quick look at Japan's nuclear industry and the problems faced at three plants since Friday's massive earthquake off northern Honshu, as compiled by the CNN Wire: . NATIONWIDE . Japan's electric power companies run 54 nuclear reactors, with two under construction, at 17 power plants, according to figures from the International Atomic Energy, the U.N. nuclear watchdog. They produced more than 280,000 gigawatt-hours of electricity in 2010 -- about 30 percent of Japan's total electricity generation. Most Japanese plants -- including the three facing emergencies since the earthquake -- use boiling-water reactors, in which water circulated through the reactor is converted to steam and used to drive a generator. Most U.S. reactors and about 40 percent of Japan's are pressurized-water reactors, in which reactor coolant is kept separate from the steam used to drive generators. Both types are far different than the Soviet design involved in the 1986 Chernobyl disaster, a reactor model now considered unsafe by the international nuclear industry. In addition, the Chernobyl plant lacked the kind of reinforced steel-and-concrete containment structure that U.S. and Japanese regulators require. Tokyo Electric Power Company is the largest of the nine utilities that operate Japan's nuclear plants and runs the two plants affected by Friday's quake. In 2002, its president, vice president and chairman resigned after a scandal in which TEPCO was accused of falsifying safety repair records in 29 cases. The company instituted reforms in September 2002 in an attempt to restore public confidence. FUKUSHIMA DAIICHI . The plant with the worst reported problems is TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi, about 65 km (40 miles) south of Sendai. Three of the plant's six reactors had already been shut down for inspection at the time of the quake, but two of the three that were in service at the time have been damaged, the utility said. An explosion caused by hydrogen buildup Saturday blew the roof off the No. 1 reactor's containment structure and injured four workers, but the reactor was not reported to have sustained damage. Workers have been pouring a mixture of seawater and boron into the No. 1 and No. 3 reactors in what experts have called a last-ditch attempt to prevent a meltdown -- a catastrophic failure of the reactor core, with a potential for widespread radiation release. Japanese nuclear regulators have said there is a "possibility" that at least a partial meltdown already has occurred in the reactors. The government has evacuated more than 200,000 residents from homes within a 20-km (12.5-mile) radius of the plant and tested 160 people for radiation exposure, authorities said Sunday. The six units at Fukushima Daiichi went into service between 1970 and 1979. FUKUSHIMA DAINI . Japanese authorities have detected cooling-system problems at TEPCO's Fukushima Daini plant, but have not expressed any concerns about possible meltdowns there. Nevertheless, those living within a 10-km radius of Fukushima Daini were ordered to evacuate as a precaution. TEPCO reported that cooling systems the three operational units at Fukushima Daini failed after the quake, but the IAEA, citing Japanese authorities, reported that all three had power Sunday afternoon. TEPCO reported one fatality at the plant. A crane operator who had been trapped at an operating console in the plant's exhaust stack was pronounced dead Saturday, the company reported. Fukushima Daini is about 80 km south of Sendai. The plant's four reactors went online between 1981 and 1987. ONAGAWA . Japanese officials declared an emergency Sunday at the Onagawa nuclear plant after finding radiation levels above allowed levels in the surrounding area. However, radiation levels had dropped to normal levels by early Monday, and the "current assumption" of Japanese authorities is that the increased radiation levels may have been caused by material released from Fukushima Daiichi, according to the IAEA. The plant reported smoke in a turbine house after Friday's earthquake, but Japan has told the IAEA that the three reactors at Onagawa are under control. Onagawa is about 70 km north of Sendai. It is owned by the Tohoku Electric Company, and its three reactors entered service between 1983 and 2001. Reactor No. 2 was shut down for a five-month inspection in November, according to the company. | Japan's electric power companies run 54 nuclear reactors at 17 power plants .
They produced more than 280,000 gigawatt-hours of electricity in 2010 .
Most Japanese plants -- including the three facing emergencies -- use boiling-water reactors . |
211,549 | 9df02d5598a17d73b095192e027e1f8c411eaf23 | Gaza City (CNN) -- For residents of Gaza and southern Israel, the fleeting period of calm is over. The Israeli military said aircraft carried out strikes on at least 70 militant targets in Gaza on Friday in response to a barrage of rocket fire after a three-day truce in the region came to an end without a longer-term agreement. At least 50 rockets were fired at Israel after the cease-fire expired Friday morning, the Israel Defense Forces said. Most of the rockets hit unpopulated areas, but one wounded a civilian and slightly wounded a soldier, the IDF said. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon ordered the military to respond forcefully to the resumption in rocket fire, Israeli officials said. The IDF said it "targeted terror sites across the Gaza Strip." Several explosions were heard in Gaza City as Israeli fighter jets flew overhead. Local media reported airstrikes elsewhere in the territory. One strike in Gaza City killed a 10-year-old boy, said Ashraf el-Qedra, a spokesman for the Palestinian Ministry of Health. Hamas, the Islamic militant group that holds power in Gaza, said that Palestinian officials at peace talks in Cairo hadn't agreed to extend the truce but would continue negotiations. But Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev told CNN that the resumption of rocket fire means Hamas has "broken the fundamental premise of the talks in Cairo." Violence flares in the West Bank . With the cease-fire over, unrest spread to the West Bank, where a 19-year-old man was shot and killed by a Israeli soldier near a settlement east of Ramallah, medical officials told CNN. A dozen Palestinian youths were throwing stones at a watchtower near the Ammari camp in alBireh when an Israeli soldier opened fire and killed Mohammad al-Qatari, according to the medical officials. Dr. Ahamad Bitwai, head of the Ramallah medical complex, said the young man was shot in the chest and died on the way to the hospital. In Hebron, at least 40 people were hurt during clashes between Palestinians and Israeli military and border police near the old city. According to the official Palestinian new agency WAFA, 23 of the injuries were from live fire. Pro-Palestinian demonstrations erupted in many areas of the West Bank after Friday prayers. The IDF said dozens of rioters near Ramallah hurled rocks at soldiers, who responded by using "riot dispersal means" before "exhausting all possible measures" and resorting to gunfire. "A hit was confirmed and the incident is being reviewed," the IDF said in a statement. Islamic Jihad and the Al-Nasser Salah al-Din Brigades, two militant factions that have fought alongside Hamas in Gaza under the banner of "the resistance," said they fired rockets at Israel on Friday. "The enemy ended the cease-fire when he refused to accept the demands of the resistance and he bears responsibility for the consequences of that," the military wing of Islamic Jihad said in a statement. Two rockets fired from Gaza hit southern Israel a few hours before the truce was due to end Friday, the IDF said. They caused no casualties. Hamas denied responsibility for firing the rockets, which landed near Eshkol, said Sami Abu Zuhri, a senior spokesman for the group. No breakthrough in talks . The rocket fire came as hopes faded for an agreement to extend the Egyptian-brokered cease-fire, which began Tuesday. During the truce, Israeli and Palestinian delegations held indirect talks in Cairo through Egyptian go-betweens, but the two sides appeared to be far apart in their positions. A Palestinian member of the negotiating delegation, not authorized to speak to the media directly about the talks, told CNN on condition of anonymity that the two sides failed to agree on the wording of a cease-fire extension that included the Palestinian demand for Israel to lift the blockade on Gaza. The official also indicated the Israeli negotiators declined Palestinian demands to re-open the Gaza airport and seaport, and to release prisoners who had been released and rearrested in June. One key Palestinian economic demand centered on fishing rights. The Palestinians are currently allowed to fish up to three miles off the Gaza coast, and they demanded that be extended to 20 miles. Abu Zuhri said Israel was willing to extend fishing rights to only six miles off the coast. The fishing industry in Gaza is a major part of the territory's economy. Israel said Thursday it was willing to extend the cease-fire unconditionally. The country's military said earlier in the week it had achieved its goal of destroying Hamas' network of tunnels that extend under the border into Israel. After the rocket fire Friday, however, Israel's Foreign Ministry said on Twitter that the country "will not conduct negotiations while under fire." Hamas leaders said the Israelis bear responsibility for the breakdown of the talks. Abu Zuhri said the Palestinian delegation arrived in Cairo five days in advance in an effort to reach a cease-fire agreement, but the Palestinian delegation did not receive an Israeli response to its demands. "We did not see any effort from the Israelis to encourage us to extend the cease fire agreement. As result, the Palestinian delegation, collectively, decided not to extend the cease fire agreement," said Abu Zuhri. United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday expressed his "deep disappointment that the parties were unable to agree to an extension of the ceasefire." Israel's U.N. ambassador, Ron Prosor, responded with a message on the U.N. Facebook page, saying: "If I wasn't familiar with the UN, I would think this is a parody. But because I am familiar with the UN, I know this is a tragedy." The message added, "Your statement said that you were disappointed that the parties were unable to agree to an extension of the ceasefire. I couldn't help but notice that you didn't mention one of the parties, which happens to be the party that violated the ceasefire. This party has a name -- they are called Hamas." Civilian population suffering . The lack of a deal appears to be reviving a conflict that brought death and destruction to large areas of Gaza and thousands of rockets fired at Israel. Renewed hostilities also deepen the misery for people in Gaza who were wounded, displaced or deprived of basic necessities by the first four weeks of fighting. On Friday, the Palestinian Ministry of Health issued new casualty numbers for the conflict -- 1,898 deaths, including 446 children, and 9,837 injured. It's unclear how many of the Palestinian dead were militants. The United Nations estimates that at least 70% of the dead were civilians. The Israel Defense Forces says it believes roughly half of the dead -- about 900 people -- were militants. Israeli officials say 64 Israeli soldiers and three civilians in Israel have died. Israel's Iron Dome missile defense system intercepted many of the rockets fired at populated areas of the country. Additionally, about 65,000 Gaza residents lost their homes to the fighting, according to U.N. estimates. The territory is also short on running water, power and medical supplies. CNN exclusive: Inside the mind of Hamas' political leader . Nobel laureate Wiesel: Hamas must stop using children as human shields . Gaza conflict: Can economic isolation ever be reversed? Life in Gaza: Misery heightened by war . CNN's John Vause reported from Gaza, Matthew Chance reported from Jerusalem, and Jethro Mullen reported and wrote from Hong Kong. CNN's Ali Younes, Michael Pearson, Reza Sayah, Tal Heinrich, Jake Tapper, Katie Hinman, Claudia Rebaza, Samira Said and Karl Penhaul also contributed to this report. | NEW: Israel's ambassador criticizes the U.N. response to the resumption in fighting .
A barrage of rocket fire on Friday follows the end of a three-day truce .
In response, Israel says its military "targeted terror sites across the Gaza Strip"
The Egyptian-brokered cease-fire began Tuesday . |
239,497 | c213eab3fb17f8fd3bb351f60c48029b39786e10 | By . Ben Spencer . PUBLISHED: . 18:50 EST, 5 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 19:22 EST, 5 December 2013 . Thousands of travellers were stranded yesterday as winds as fast as 140mph wrought havoc across the transport network. Roads were shut and train services cancelled, with Network Rail’s tracks covered with debris. A spokesman said: ‘We’ve had a trampoline, items of garden furniture, trees ... It’s quite extensive.’ By yesterday afternoon, there was not a single train running in Scotland, while services for almost the entire north of England were suspended. Elsewhere, passengers were forced to leave trains mid-journey after fallen trees meant it was not safe to continue. Killed: The driver of this HGV died after it was blown over in gale-force winds on the A801 near Bathgate, West Lothian, crushing several cars beneath it . Sheer power: Police examine an overturned car in Windy Nook, Gateshead . Glasgow Central station was evacuated during the morning rush-hour after flying debris smashed glass in the roof, but fortunately no one was hurt. Flights were also disrupted, with high winds leaving some unable to land. One easyJet plane with 112 passengers aborted two attempted landings in Scotland, before being diverted to Manchester. The flight from Gatwick to Glasgow was initially diverted to Edinburgh – but the storm soon reached that city too. Passenger Hazel Bedford, a charity worker, said: ‘I’m feeling really lucky to be alive. I was absolutely terrified. Hanging on for dear life: Another pedestrian in Leeds battles to stay upright by hanging on to a post . ‘The captain said there was a chance it could be a bit bumpy north of the border and there could be some delays while landing. ‘But we got further north and suddenly everything started shaking and bumping – we were going up and down, up and down, like a roller coaster.’ Glasgow, Leeds Bradford and Birmingham airports also faced disruption. Ferry services were cancelled at ports around the country, while motorists were confronted with fallen trees and flash-flooding. As a result, accidents caused further major delays. The winds were so powerful that vehicles were flipped onto their roofs; one overturned lorry caused long tailbacks on the M60. In Scotland, a man and woman had to be cut free from a taxi after a tree collapsed on top of it, while in Wales two drivers escaped when a 50-tonne tree fell onto their vehicles on the A40 near Abergavenny, South Wales. Another driver was similarly lucky to escape with his life, after his van was crushed by a tree with him inside it near the centre of Manchester. The tree missed the windscreen by just inches. Witness Kathleen McGuiness, 51, said: ‘It’s a miracle he’s walked away from it. I think he should make sure he plays the lottery on Saturday. ‘It landed right on his bonnet and made a massive bang. He was trapped inside, and he had to kick through the windscreen to get out.’ Another onlooker added: ‘He was very lucky to escape with just cuts and bruises.’ Going, going... gone: A pedestrian tries desperately to stay on her feet yesterday as winds batter Leeds city centre, but in the end a gust blows her over and she falls in the road . In Birmingham, Muhammad Sial told how a tree had smashed his car – missing him by mere seconds. The 66-year-old said: ‘I didn’t hear a noise, I just got to the front door and turned to look back and the tree had smashed my car. It smashed the front and the windscreen. 'The trunk of the tree was lying right across my car – it had happened just in an instant. I think my prayers must have been answered. Every morning I pray to Allah to save me and others, so I am grateful.’ Scaffolding being used to repair the roof of an Aldi in Flintshire, north-east Wales, collapsed onto cars in high winds, and in Merseyside parts of a newly-built block of flats blew into the road and onto cars, smashing windscreens. Police said nobody was injured, although a number of residents were ‘severely shaken’. High winds forced aborted plane landings across Britain today, like this one at Birmingham Airport, as the country was battered by hurricane-force gusts . | Roads, trains and air travel all affected as UK reels under high-speed winds .
At one point yesterday not a single train was running in Scotland .
Motorists faced flash floods and fallen trees, causing accidents . |
236,568 | be3328f7e720cd2bdd0726a20f887a32236347a6 | (CNN) -- If you've packed your warmest hat and coziest jacket for the Winter Olympics, it would be a bit disconcerting to look out your hotel window and see a palm tree, swaying in a gentle spring-like breeze. That, however, is exactly what many patrons of the Sochi Winter Games are experiencing. Most people think of Russia in winter and picture the snow-covered cathedrals of Moscow, where average temperatures in February range between minus 10 Celsius (14 Fahrenheit) and minus 4 C (24.8 F) and all but require the wearing of those iconic fur hats. Sochi, however, is one of the southernmost cities in Russia. It's located over 1,000 km south of Moscow and has a completely different climate. Indeed, on most winter days, Sochi (and the nearby town of Adler, where many of the events are being held) are the warmest locations in the country. This was the case on Monday, when Sochi reached a balmy 15.9 C (61 F) -- warmer than any other Russian city by more than 1 C. Compare that to the coldest location in Russia -- Siberia's Jikimda, which hit -50 C (-58 F). The International Olympic Committee cannot say Sochi's temperatures this month come as a surprise, as the city has the warmest climate of any Winter Games host city. In February, temperatures range between 3 C (37 F) and 10 C (50 F) on average, but as we are seeing they can climb even higher. These numbers mean that it edges out the previous warmest location. Vancouver, Canada, host of the Games in 2010, averages highs of about 8 C (46 F) and lows around 1 C (34 F). Like Vancouver, Sochi is a coastal town and has a much warmer climate than the surrounding areas, including the "Mountain Cluster" venues where the skiing, snowboarding, and sliding events -- bobsled, skeleton and luge -- are taking place. These mountain peaks rise over 2,300 meters, and since air temperatures generally cool with height, it means these venues stay 5 - 10 C (41 F - 50 F) degrees cooler. Even with this mitigating factor, the full sun and above-average temperatures this week have led to less than ideal conditions for skiing. Ultimately, however, between the snow-making machines and the millions of pounds (kilos) of snow that were saved from last winter, Sochi will avoid snowless ski and snowboard events. And since the events held in Sochi and Adler -- the "Coastal Cluster" -- are all indoors, they could be theoretically be held in Dubai in July and it wouldn't make much of a difference -- but let's not give the IOC any ideas! But those who prefer their Winter Olympics to be held in places that actually feel like winter, and require the wearing of hats and jackets, can look forward to the 2018 games in Pyeongchang, South Korea, where daytime highs rarely go above 0 C (32 F) and night-time lows average -11 C (12 F). | Sochi is the warmest Winter Games location .
February average temperatures range between 3˚C (37˚F) and 10˚C (50˚F)
However, "mountain cluster" venues significantly colder due to altitude .
Snow-making machines and last year's snow means slopes will remain covered . |
226,550 | b157500ac4ba40f289225410ca171c51dc60c095 | ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- Rims and bling? They're "super-played out," Common said, explaining that hip-hop is finding another direction and President Obama is helping point the way. Rapper/actor Common says he is not hearing as much "gangsta talk" in hip-hop lately. Common spoke of the "Obama effect" before a recent performance in Atlanta during the Hennessy Artistry Series. The Chicago, Illinois-born rapper/actor, who has appeared in the movies "Wanted" and "American Gangster," spoke on a variety of topics, including the virtues of playing with live bands such as The Roots, who are co-hosting the series with him. Watch why hip-hop should inspire » . However, he skirted questions about recent outbursts by rapper Kanye West and tennis star Serena Williams. West is a friend and fellow Chicago rapper who has produced two of Common's albums, and Williams is reportedly dating Common. "People that I care about, that I consider being friends of mine, most of the things I discuss with them I wouldn't discuss in public because it's a real relationship," he said. "It's not a relationship for the public, you know?" He did, however, spend a few minutes providing a progress report on Obama's influence on hip-hop. Nine months ago, Common told CNN he believed Obama's presidency would change the attitudes of many hip-hop artists. "I think hip-hop artists will have no choice but to talk about different things and more positive things, and try to bring a brighter side to that because, even before Barack, I think people had been tired of hearing the same thing," he said in December. Read his December conversation with CNN . On Saturday, Common said he is already seeing signs that Obama is making a mark on a musical genre often vilified because of its focus on drugs, violence and the degradation of women. "I also don't find as much gangsta talk," he said. "You see the whole chain-shining-and-rim era is gone. That's like super-played out. Just to have that, I think, is part of the Obama effect." Also improving the industry, making it a more "independent-thinking entity," he said, is that record labels and corporations hold less sway over the production process than they have in the past. Watch Common perform with The Roots » . "So you find these artists that are having that independent thinking of being able to go out and create for themselves," he said. Common, born Lonnie Rashid Lynn Jr., believes hip-hop patrons want to hear more positive, upbeat messages in songs, and he believes the "conscious rapper" -- that is, the more socially aware -- is on the rise. "People always want to feel better and be inspired," he said. "Sometimes we need it. I think the conscious rapper will always be able to live and exist." Obama and the American spirit, he said, are prodding the movement along. Common said he hopes more rappers abandon vacuous materialistic ideals and the glorification of vices plaguing American communities -- "and if whatever MC doesn't, I will," he warned. "I think Obama is definitely bringing people to be able to inspire people to create for themselves," he said. "What America was built on was being able to say, 'Hey, we're going to come in and use our resources to build for ourselves and our communities and build around that. We're not going to depend on others.' "I think that's what hip-hop is starting to do to a certain extent. I think it's a great thing." | Common politely declines comment on friends Kanye West, Serena Williams .
Chicago rapper/actor gives progress report on President Obama's effect on hip-hop .
"I also don't find as much gangsta talk" in hip-hop lately, he explains .
Socially aware rappers on rise because "people want to feel better, be inspired" |
71,878 | cbc39640032439729fc852608280d9b301bd77fb | A man has been arrested by Los Angeles police after he stole the ambulance that had been treating him for hallucinations and crashed it into a minivan. The unnamed male had been treated to what is believed to have been hallucinations caused by abusing the drug ‘spice’. However, as Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics were caring for him, he suddenly ran off and stole the ambulance – with the medics still in it. Thief: The unnamed man is taken into care before being arrested after he stole and crashed an LAFD ambulance while it was treating him for hallucinations . A Los Angles Fire Department ambulance had been called to the scene around 7.20pm on Friday after a man had complained of hallucinations after taking ‘spice’. Two paramedics treated the man in the back of the vehicle when he suddenly ripped the IVs out of his arm and ran away, KTLA5 reports. Thinking he had ran off, the paramedics informed LAPD of the incident and began cleaning up the mess left behind. However, the man returned and before they knew it, he had jumped into the driver’s seat and started the ambulance. As paramedics cared for the man, he ripped out the IV and ran off, but later returned and stole the ambulance . Needing care: The man had told paramedics that he had taken drug 'spice' and was hallucinating . The man made it approximately two miles down the road before crashing the ambulance into a minivan . Fearing for their lives, the two paramedics jumped out of the ambulance through the back doors. A nearby LAFD vehicle started to pursue the ambulance, and less than two miles down the road, the man crashed into a minivan. Two people travelling in the minivan sustained minor injuries and the ambulance thief was arrested. The unnamed man can expect to be charged with carjacking and felony evading, officials said. Police believe the man had either taken drugs, as he himself told ambulance staff, or that he suffers from mental illness. | Man stole ambulance that was treating him for hallucinations in LA .
He told paramedics he had been taking spice, then ripped out the IV and ran .
The unnamed man then returned, jumped into the drivers seat and took off .
He made it less than two miles down the road before crashing into a van . |
1,127 | 0333dde45b4127cf588fe7d362bb108f38907d45 | By . Eleanor Harding . and Nick Fagge . and Emily Davies . Taxpayers, MPs and councillors united last night to condemn the decision to spend £10,000 on flying lessons for a failed asylum-seeker. They said the decision was ‘plain wrong’ and ‘crazy’ when public services are being cut. The controversy centres on Yonas Admasu Kebede, 21, who is training to be a pilot despite a ruling that he must leave Britain next year. Anger: News that asylum-seeker Yonas Admasu Kebede, as identified by neighbours in a picture from Facebook, is being given £10,000 flying lessons has been condemned by MPs and councillors . Newcastle Council has to pay for his lessons after the Court of Appeal ruled it had a duty to meet his ‘education costs’ as he has no parents and had been taken into its care. Yesterday, it emerged that the authority has already spent £30,000 on the case and will also have to pay Mr Kebede’s costs. Councillors could now take the decision to the Supreme Court, which would incur further costs. Labour MP John Woodcock said: ‘This crazy ruling could signal open season for a run of indefensible claims. Asylum-seeker: The controversy centres on Yonas Admasu Kebede, 21, who is training to be a pilot despite a ruling that he must leave Britain next year . 'Flying lessons for someone ordered to leave the country is just plain wrong.’ Conservative MP Peter Bone added: ‘My constituents struggle to get by each day, Most people would find it an extraordinary waste of money.’ Local councillors also questioned why the money is being spent after Newcastle’s revenue was cut by £9million last year. Henry Gallagher said: ‘Flying lessons seems fairly extreme. The main city swimming pool has closed and there are libraries under threat.’ Fellow councillor Marc Donnelly said: ‘In times of limited public funds, we have to be extremely careful.’ There was also anger on Twitter last night from across the country. Dan Forrest, of Middlesbrough, wrote: ‘Pensioners will die this winter ’cos of fuel costs. 'But never mind, we’re paying for an asylum seeker’s flying lessons!’ Graham McNeill, of Surrey, wrote: 'The mind boggles more and more every day . . .’ Edward Cyster, of London, wrote: ‘I wish I would have been this lucky!’ Mr Kebede’s lawyer Paul Heron said yesterday that he could not access ‘student support in the normal way’. He was ‘confident’ the student will gain indefinite leave to stay in the UK and be able to repay the money by getting a job. Lessons: Kebede has so far taken four lessons at the Elstree Aerodrome in Hertfordshire, pictured . Mr Kebede has taken the first four out of 45 lessons costing £165-an-hour at Elstree Aerodrome, Hertfordshire, . With his brother Abiy, 20, he arrived from Ethiopia in 2004 with their older brother and father, who later abandoned them. Their asylum bid failed but they have discretionary leave to remain until November 2014. The council is also paying for Abiy to attend university. | Ethiopian Yonas Admasu kebede, 21, must leave Britain next year .
He has already had four flying lessons at Elstree Aerodrome, Hertfordshire .
MPs and councillors have hit out at the cost of the flying lessons .
Newcastle Council is considering taking the case to the Supreme Court .
But the local authority has already spent £30,000 on the case . |
113,894 | 1ef67bbbffd3be0203c5390e7464407f10102ad0 | (CNN) -- As the final days of 2012 trickle away, an uncommon emotional intensity hangs in the air in America. Something is happening here. The country stands on the cusp of major change. Gun control is just one of the formerly taboo subjects that has come out of the political closet. Today, a majority of Americans support stricter gun laws, a majority support a more progressive tax system and most favor same-sex marriage. A majority of voters even support the idea of legalizing marijuana. The laws have not caught up with this dramatic change in attitudes, and entrenched interests will fight what amounts to a quiet but pivotal social revolution. The coming year will see continuing battles in the courts, in the media and in legislatures, as the forces of change -- now representing the majority -- seek to upset the status quo. No topic has stirred more passion in recent days than the clash between two competing rights: the right to own guns and the right not to get shot. Americans feel the lingering sadness, confusion and anger surrounding a recent massacre of schoolchildren, stirred more by the outrageous, dumbfounding, Christmas Eve murder of firefighters responding to a call for help in New York. Then there's that strange, unbecoming political show, the one with the ticking clock, known as the fiscal cliff. The contest over the budget sounds arcane, but it deals with a fundamental social value, the role of government in society, and the way the burden of financing ought to be shared. Those are just the most immediate of the ongoing dramas adding stress to holiday dinners, energy to television shows and liveliness to coffee house debates. The United States is reassessing matters that many thought had been settled. It wasn't very long ago that the views from the most conservative elements of the political establishment dominated the social agenda. Since the turn of the century we had seen a steady turn toward lower taxes, a ban on even discussing gun control, a rising wave of anti-gay legislation and all manner of conservative legislation. America seemed left behind, ossified, as other parts of the Western world, which generally share America's culture and values, revised their views and rules on social issues. In July, after the movie theater massacre in Colorado, President Obama unhelpfully, unnervingly, mused that "if there's anything to take away from this tragedy, it's the reminder that life is very fragile." This time, in the wake of the Newtown massacre, he found a more practical takeaway, launching a push to stop gun violence. Most importantly, the tragedy energized the growing majority of Americans who support stepped-up gun control. It also prompted the powerful NRA to push back, and we can expect an all-out campaign whose outcome is far from certain. But the battle has been joined -- and not just in Washington. It took far too many killings, but the massacre at Sandy Hook elementary finally pushed the matter of gun rights one awful step too far, and the conversation changed. Jeffrey Toobin: 2013, a year for big issues in the courts . People who have spent decades working tirelessly for change will no doubt want to correct the impression that all this change has come suddenly. Surely, gay rights activists, gun control organizations have toiled with only minimal victories as reward. In recent months, however, we have reached a tipping point. It may have something to do with the media -- social media, television, the Internet -- providing a boost to the message, a message of human dignity and common sense. It certainly has much to do with demographics. Young people, growing up with new ideas, are picking up the torch of social change. Today, a majority of Americans -- 57% -- favor stricter gun control, jumping sharply from 39% just a few months ago. That's bad news for the most conservative elements in society, who think the government should stand back from almost every aspect of our lives. But the truly radical transformation has come in the area of gay rights. For the first time, Gallup Polls show a majority of Americans support full marriage equality for gay couples. That's an astonishing change. But it's not as astonishing as the wholesale acceptance of gay people that has suffused American society in the last few years. Perhaps it was "Will and Grace" or "Glee" or President Obama's long-delayed approval of same-sex marriage. Probably all of the above and much more, but a switch has been flipped. The cause has gained an unstoppable momentum, so unstoppable that even if full equality is denied by the conservative-tilted Supreme Court, scheduled to rule on the issue by this summer, it will only amount to a delay of the inevitable. Once again, the people are leading their leaders. Public views, especially among the young, hold that discrimination is not only wrong, it's silly. Attitudes are changing in other ways that seemed unthinkable not long ago. Who would have thought Americans would favor legalizing drugs? Two-thirds of voters under age 30 support legalizing pot, bringing the overall total to 51%, and giving a boost to referendum campaigns on the issue. The wisdom of lowering taxes also dominated for many years, but no more. Three-quarters of Americans agree it makes sense to make the tax system more progressive, raising the burden on the wealthy. What exactly "wealthy" means is still unclear. And, as in all the other areas of change, the battle to transform those majority views into law will be hard-fought. With just a few days before the start of 2013, the issues facing America are serious, the disagreements are intense, and the range of views is wide. And yet, the country is facing its choices with nervous anticipation. Something is happening in America. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Frida Ghitis. | Frida Ghitis: After years in which conservative views predominated, U.S. is changing .
Ghitis: 2013 should see impact of support for progressive tax rates, same-sex marriage .
Gun control is now considered an urgent issue once again, she says .
Ghitis: Opponents of progressive policies will stand against change . |
276,831 | f2a42f055804c0b18e3c7da78c144abe1ff36a4a | (CNN) -- A surveillance video captures the moment when a store clerk in Florida survived a bullet, thanks to his cell phone. It shows a robber pointing his gun at the clerk as he walks away from the counter. The clerk doubles over after the bullet strikes. But the clerk survived the shooting without serious injury because the bullet hit the cell phone he had in his front pocket. In the surveillance video, aired by CNN affiliate WESH, the clerk can be seen lifting his shirt to check for wounds. His co-worker, meanwhile, describes the close shave in a 911 call. "My partner was, he was hit, I think it hit his phone," she says in a recording of the call released by police and aired by WESH. "But he was hit, he was injured." The dispatcher asks her where the victim is now. "He's standing up," the worried co-worker replies. "The bullet didn't go through, but it hit him." The clerk's lucky escape happened Monday at the store of a Hess gas station in Winter Garden, Florida. The robber had pulled out a revolver and demanded that the store clerks open the safe. When they were unable to do so, he left, firing one shot at the male clerk. The clerk experienced chest pains from the impact, but he was quickly released from a hospital after being checked for injuries, authorities said. His HTC smartphone came off worse. A photo showed its screen shattered around a hole where the bullet had lodged. Police have said he was very lucky to have escaped almost unharmed from the shooting. No arrests had been made in the case as of Wednesday evening, according to WESH. | The store clerk doubles over after the bullet hits him, a surveillance video shows .
He survived without serious injury because his cell phone blocked it .
"The bullet didn't go through, but it hit him," his co-worker says in a 911 call .
The shooting happened during an attempted robbery at a gas station in Florida . |
195,040 | 8878d5b6ef4947b574d8486d9e74f3a0850536be | Google is preparing to sell wireless phone plans directly to consumers, pitching it head to head against America's telecoms giants, reports claim. Google is expected to reach deals to buy wholesale access to Sprint and T-Mobile mobile voice and data networks, making it a mobile virtual network operator. The project, codenamed 'Nova', is expected to be launched later this year, The Information said, citing people familiar with the move. Google headquarters: Google is expected to reach deals to buy wholesale access to Sprint and T-Mobile mobile voice and data networks, making it a mobile virtual network operator . Google was considering launching mobile phone plans for markets where it sells Google Fiber Internet service, according to the report. If everything falls into place, Google could offer discounted wireless data plans that would pressure other major carriers to offer better deals and services or risk losing customers to a powerful rival. More affordable plans, in turn, could bring more people online, something that Google is trying to do because it runs the Internet's dominant search engine and largest advertising network. The Mountain View, California, company would profit from a potentially larger audience for its services. Google also implants its services in its Android mobile operating system, the mostly widely used software on smartphones like this Samsung . Google also implants its services in its Android mobile operating system, the mostly widely used software on smartphones. Representatives from Google, Sprint Corp. and T-Mobile US Inc. declined to comment on the reports, according to the Associated Press. It is unclear how widely Google plans to sell wireless plans to smartphone owners or when the service would launch. The company already sells an Internet and cable TV service directly to homes. Google Fiber is available in parts of Kansas City, Kansas; Kansas City, Missouri; Provo, Utah; and Austin, Texas. Google's plans to make its entry into the wireless Internet market by buying access on the networks of Sprint and T-Mobile is known as a mobile virtual network operator, or MVNO, agreement. Google probably will still have to set up its own operations to handle customer service and billing, an area in which the company doesn't have much previous expertise. Leasing space to Google represents a calculated risk by Sprint, the third largest wireless carrier, and T-Mobile, the four largest. While a deal with Google could boost their revenue, it also opens the door for a deep-pocketed company that could turn into a competitive threat. T-Mobile already has been shaking up the industry during the past year by cutting prices and introducing new service plans that have prompted the two biggest carriers, Verizon Communications and AT&T, to match some of the features. | Google plans to buy wholesale access to others' mobile networks .
That would make it what's known as a mobile virtual network operator .
Google already sells an Internet and cable TV service directly to homes . |
50,215 | 8e0ae44ff577e4bc51d11f7e7e215eac0930ef17 | (CNN) -- In Madrid, all the talk is about "La Decima". In London, all the talk was about the "Special One". Tonight, after a performance which helped to write another chapter in one of the season's most romantic fairy tales, Atletico Madrid allowed itself to dream of its own special one -- La Primera -- the first. Atletico, for so long a club living in the shadow of city rival Real, has the opportunity to make history not just at home but also on the European stage. A convincing 3-1 win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge secured a place in the Champions League final and allowed the dream of a league and European double to prosper. This Atletico team has guts, resilience and an indefatigable spirit -- but what it also has, in abundance, is quality. Trailing to Fernando Torres' strike, Atletico offered a brutal riposte with Adrian Lopez leveling before Diego Costa and Arda Turan applied the finishing touches. Four points clear at the top of La Liga with three games remaining and a clash with Real to decide the destiny of the Champions League trophy to come in Lisbon on May 24, this is turning out to be some season for Atletico. "It's a dream," Atletico midfielder Tiago told Sky Sports. "We have a great spirit, we are a great team, we all work together, now we are in the final in Lisbon, the dreams can be true. "It is not easy to play here, we know that. But we knew Chelsea had to play more. "We know we are very good away from home. After our goal Chelsea went down a bit, but we were confident and now we are there. "We know Real Madrid is a fantastic team with great players. They can win the game in any action but we are there. Last year we won the Cup in their stadium so we are confident." Not since 1996 has Los Rojiblancos won the domestic title but managed by Diego Simeone, who was part of that team 18 years ago, it now stands on the brink of history. Simeone, who presides over a budget nearly five times smaller than Real, has worked wonders but perhaps even would not have expected his players to record such an impressive victory. To score three goals away from home in European competition is a marked achievement, but to do so against Chelsea, a team whose defense has been so miserly in the competition, is staggering. Chelsea, derided for its defensive tactics and considered an "enemy of football" by some because of its negative approach, has already answered its critics on numerous occasions this season. A fine victory at Liverpool on Sunday proved once again that Mourinho's tactics, however unpalatable, gain results. But on this occasion, the solidity and cohesion which had caused such frustration in Madrid last week, was missing. The dour goalless draw in the opening leg led to plenty of accusations that Chelsea had not attempted to win the game but simply stifle Atletico. There is no doubt that Mourinho has been hurt by the criticism and hit back at his detractors by claiming that "at this moment, football is full of philosophers." While everybody appears to have an opinion on Chelsea's defensive approach, Mourinho sticks to the belief which has made him a serial winner -- winning at all costs. The prospect of facing his former employer, Real Madrid, in the final added another subplot to an already intriguing tie. Eden Hazard, back from injury, was restored to the side, and Chelsea, often so adroit at scraping through tight contests, appeared confident. Yet it was the visitors who began the brighter of the two. Atletico, on the brink of the domestic title and chasing a place in the final for the first time in 40 years, played with a sense of purpose and came within inches of taking an early lead. Koke, influential throughout, aimed what looked like a cross towards goal only for the ball to sail over Chelsea goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer and smash against the crossbar. Chelsea responded with David Luiz's overhead kick sailing just wide of the far post as the home side stepped up the pressure. And with 11 minutes of the first half remaining, the home side finally made the breakthrough. Willian escaped his marker on the right before finding Cesar Azpilicueta, who in turn found Torres to fire home from inside the penalty area. Torres, who began his career at Atletico and scored 84 goals in 214 games for the club before moving to Liverpool in 2007, refused to celebrate but that gesture did not detract from the significance of the strike. Buoyed by the goal, Chelsea began to take control and with its resilient defense holding Atletico comfortably, the visitors appeared rattled. But with just a minute of the opening period remaining, the game was turned on its head. Tiago, once of Chelsea, picked out Juanfran at the far post and when he crossed the ball into the penalty area, Lopez was on hand to steer the ball home. Mourinho's defense, such an integral part of his side's success, appeared brittle for the first time in the competition and it never really recovered. Within minutes of the restart, Schwarzer was forced to produce a fine save to deny Turan after the Atletico midfielder had found space inside the penalty area. While Schwarzer performed heroics at one end, Thibaut Courtois, on loan from Chelsea, did similar at the other. John Terry's powerful header looked certain to find the net but Courtois produced an astonishing stop to deny the Chelsea captain. That save appeared to change the momentum of the contest and slowly but surely, Atletico began to turn the screw . With an hour of the game gone, Atletico finally struck and grabbed the initiative. Diego Costa, a man constantly linked with a move to Chelsea, was fouled inside the penalty area by Samuel Eto'o. The Spain striker, who endured a nervous wait to take the spot kick after the ball failed to settle on the spot, fired home emphatically to put his side within touching distance of glory. An eerie silence engulfed Stamford Bridge and but for a few thousand Spaniards clad in red and white, a sense of hopelessness began to emanate. Chelsea, to its credit, refused to give up the fight and came perilously close to equalizing within five minutes. Willian's exquisite free kick caused panic in the Atletico defense and Luiz sent a header crashing against the post when the ball seemed destined for the net. Chelsea, by now beginning to look ragged and forlorn, strained every sinew in an attempt to gain some sort of foothold to launch a comeback. But as the home side pushed forward, Atletico countered and in doing so, swiftly put the tie beyond Chelsea's reach. Once again, a wonderful switch of play caught Chelsea sleeping and after sending a powerful header against the crossbar from Juanfran's cross, Arda tucked away the rebound from his own effort. That strike sent Simeone down the touchline dancing a jig of delight a la Mourinho all those years ago. It is a jig he will hope to dance again in Lisbon with the whole world watching. | Atletico Madrid will play Real Madrid in Champions League final .
Atletico defeated Chelsea 3-1 at Stamford Bridge .
Two teams drew 0-0 in first leg last week .
Adrian Lopez, Diego Costa and Arda Turan on target . |
267,923 | e6fc0f873128fdbb4dcad68df9f47ef558ee964e | By . Sarah Griffiths . PUBLISHED: . 09:55 EST, 31 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 10:14 EST, 31 January 2014 . The European Space Agency’s (ESA) huge horn is part of the most powerful sound system in Europe. But, according to the agency, no human can survive hearing it when it is turned to its maximum volume. Instead, the massive machine, which is used to blast satellites and spacecraft with sound, is shut away behind reinforced walls. Engineer Kees van Zijtveldt (pictured) stands beside the largest sound horn of ESA's Large European Acoustic Facility (Leaf), which is capable of subjecting satellites and spacecraft to the same noise a launcher produces as it takes off and flies through the atmosphere . Any sound above 85 Decibels can cause hearing loss in humans and the pain threshold is between 120 and 130 Decibels, according to Listverse. A 400,000 watt speaker used at rock concerts can generate around 135 Decibels of noise. Theoretically, fireworks and gunfire can create a staggering 145 Decibels but you can't stand next to them to be exposed to that level of sound and survive. The call of the blue whale reaches levels of up to 188 decibels so it can travel for hundreds of miles under water. Humans tend to stand around half a mile away from a shuttle launch as if they were very close they would be exposed to up to 170 Decibels of sound. ESA's Leaf sound system can generate over 154 decibels of noise. ESA's Large European Acoustic Facility (Leaf) is used to subject satellites to the same level of noise as a rocket makes when it takes off and flies though the atmosphere. It is housed at ESA’s ESTEC Test centre where there is a collection of spaceflight simulation facilities, in Noordwijk, the Netherlands. One wall of the sound chamber that houses the massive horn stands 16.4metres tall and 11metres wide by nine metres deep. Nitrogen shot through the horns can produce a range of noise up to more than 154 Decibels – which is like standing close to multiple jets taking off. The Herschel spacecraft (pictured) successfully passed its acoustic tests in June 2008. During the tests it was subjected to acoustic noise generated by the Leaf sound system . That level of noise is more than enough to permanently deafen a human. To prevent this from happening, it can only be operated when all the safety doors are closed – so that no human will ever hear the true power of the vast stereo system. Steel-reinforced concrete walls are used to safely contain its noise. They are coated with epoxy resin to reflect noise to produce a uniform sound field within the chamber. The room of sound is also supported on rubber bearing pads to isolate it from its surroundings. Extremely high-power sound waves can disrupt or destroy the eardrums and cause severe pain or disorientation. Less powerful sound waves can cause humans to experience nausea or discomfort. The use of these frequencies to incapacitate people has been used both in counter-terrorist and crowd-control settings. The possibility of a device that produces a frequency that causes vibration of the eyeballs - and therefore distortion of vision - has also been shown to work. High-amplitude sound of a specific pattern at a frequency close to the sensitivity peak of human hearing (2-3 kHz) is used as a burglar deterrent. Some police forces have used sound cannons against protesters, for example during the G20 summit in Pittsburgh. 'Acoustic grenades' generate between 120 decibels and 190 decibels. German researchers showed that a blast of 210 decibels or more affects the inner organs and can cause internal injury that could lead to death. A blast impacts the body, and does so very violently. | Large European Acoustic Facility sound system is capable of generating more than 154 Decibels and is housed in a special room in the Netherlands .
The sound is the equivalent to standing next to several jets taking off .
It is used to blast satellites and spacecraft with sound .
Large horns are housed in a sound-proofed room that is 16.4metres tall . |
127,747 | 311fcca3dffb437785e78f4d0f66b7ee00cf19c4 | A young woman claims she spent an entire flight in 2011 in the cockpit being entertained by one of the pilots who was flying the missing Malaysian Airlines plane while smoking. Jonti Roos, who is who is currently living in Melbourne during a year-long stay in Australia, said she and her friend Jaan Maree were waiting to board their flight from Phuket to Kuala Lumpur three years ago when two pilots plucked them out of the queue and asked them if they would like to ride in the cockpit. The girls, who had just finished a two-week trip to Thailand, spent the entire flight including take-off and landing in the cockpit with the two pilots, which is strictly forbidden by the airline. Scroll down for video . Happy snaps: Jonti Roos (centre right) claims she and her friend Jaan Maree (centre left) were entertained by Fariq Abdul Hamid, 27 (right) in the cockpit of a flight in 2011 . In this picture Jonty Roos and her friend Jaan Maree pose with the other pilot on the plane where they became friend with Fariq Abdul Hamid . Jonty Roos told A Current Affair last week of her friendship with Fariq Abdul Hamid, the first officer of flight MH370 . Jonty Rossi posed with the other pilot on the plane and spoke of also meeting Fariq Abdul Hamid, when they struck up a friendship in 2011 . One of the pilots was Fariq Abdul Hamid, the 27-year-old first officer on board missing flight MH370, Ms Roos claims. ‘Throughout the whole flight they were talking to us, they were actually smoking throughout the flight, which I don’t think they’re allowed to be doing and they were taking photos with us in the cockpit while they were flying the plane,’ she told A Current Affair. A mid-air explosion: The lack of debris could be explained by it falling into Malaysian jungle . A terrorist attack: Director of CIA has said terrorism could not be ruled out . Power failure: Possibly caused by deliberate cutting of power to communication instruments . Electronic warfare: 20 passengers on board were experts in this technology. Hijacking: Radar data indicates the plane might have made a U-turn. A pilot error: There is a chance of them in all air mysteries, claim experts . Structural failure: Possibly involving damage sustained by an accident in 2012 . Pilot suicide: There were two large jet crashes in the late 1990s caused by this . Aeronautical black hole: Plane is stranded hundreds of miles from current search area . She also claimed that for much of the trip the co-pilots were not even facing the front of the plane. Mr Hamid was one of 239 people on board the plane that disappeared en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on Saturday. Ms Roos says she was shocked when she saw that Mr Hamid was one of those missing. ‘When I realised that it was the exact same co-pilot… and that I had met him and been in the cockpit with him and have photos with him – that was quite shocking.’ Ms Roos said she came forward with her . information because ‘It seems like everybody’s completely in the dark . and nobody has any information.’ She does not want to suggest that Mr Hamid was incompetent and caused the crash in any way. ‘They were very friendly, but I felt they were very competent in what they were doing,’ she said. ‘I’m really not saying that I think the co-pilot is in the wrong, at all, it could have been absolutely anything.’ Ms . Roos added that while the pilots were ‘possibly a little bit sleazy’ and invited the girls to stay with them in Kuala Lumpur, she never felt . threatened by them or uncomfortable and that she was very sad for Mr . Hamid’s family and friends. ‘When . I saw all his friends and family posting on his [Facebook] wall my . heart really broke for them and my heart broke for the family of the . passengers. It's just a really sad story.’ Plucked from the queue: Jonti and her friend were invited by the pilots to join them for the flight, and says it is 'scary' to think her life was in their hands . The pilots entertained the girls and posed for photos without them throughout the 2011 flight from Phuket to Kuala Lumpur . Family and friends of the missing 239 passengers and crew have left signs at Kuala Lumpur International Airport expressing hope that they can be found. Among the missing is Pulau Perak Fariq Abdul Hamid, the 27-year-old first officer of the flight, whose friendship with Jonty Roos, Australian traveller wom he met in 2011 and asked to join him in the cockpit has been disclosed. | Jonti Roos claims missing MH 370 pilot invited her to cockpit on 2011 flight .
She and friend were entertained by Fariq Abdul Hamid for entire flight .
Co-pilots smoked, chatted, and took photos with the young women .
Mr Hamid was one of 239 people on board the missing Malaysia airlines flight . |
205,227 | 95aa7c794c8955b0a5fd0f2b2d68fdb8f0f25357 | (CNN) -- World No. 1 Rafael Nadal is looking forward to renewing his "special" tennis rivalry with Roger Federer in the semifinals of the Masters Series event in Miami on Friday. The duo, who have won 110 ATP Tour titles between them, will meet on U.S. soil for the first time since 2005 -- which was also the last year they clashed at the last-four stage of a tournament, the French Open. Nadal battled past Czech seventh seed Tomas Berdych in Thursday's second quarterfinal after No. 3 Federer received easy passage when Frenchman Gilles Simon retired with a neck injury while 3-0 down in the opening set. Nadal was beaten by Federer in five sets in the 2005 Miami final, having stunned the Swiss as a 17-year-old in the third round of the same event the previous year. Since then Nadal has won 13 of their 20 clashes -- 12 of them in finals. "Very few times we've played in the semifinals of a tournament. The rest of the matches are finals and important for big titles," the Spaniard told the ATP website. Boxer Haye tips Murray to fight back . "It's always special to play against him and have these matches, very important matches for both of our careers: finals of Roland Garros, finals of Wimbledon, of Australian Open, a lot of finals in Masters 1000s. "That makes the rivalry very, very special. I don't know if rivals in the rest of the history of tennis played as many matches as we've played." Nadal will go into the showdown troubled by a worrying problem in his right arm, which affected his movement in the 6-2 3-6 6-3 win over last year's runner-up Berdych -- who he also beat in the 2010 Wimbledon final. "First time in my life I felt something like this, it's really strange. Especially since the left arm I could do aggressive movements, but the right was really strange. Seriously, I couldn't understand during the match what happened," the two-time Miami runner-up said. Federer, also the 2006 champion at Crandon Park, has a 5-2 advantage over Nadal in hard-court events. "I think in the beginning, early on in my career when I became the world No. 1, I didn't really have that rival, and I was very happy about it," the 16-time grand slam champion said. Tired Clijsters crashes out in Miami . "I was just able to win, win, win, and dominate and go on and lose, you know, 10 matches in two years kind of thing. That was quite incredible. So in the beginning I guess I struggled to embrace the rivalry I had with Rafa. "Only later on I was able to say, 'This is actually quite cool.' Sleeveless, pirate pants, you name it -- long hair, lefty, spins, more with the flat shots and so forth, and double-handed against one-handed, lefty against righty. I think it all kind of made sense, and I was able to embrace it then. "I think we had some good times in the past, and they have changed into what it is today. Really respectful and helping each other for good causes, foundation matches, you name it, for tsunamis. We've done so many things together. It's been a lot of fun." The winner of the Nadal-Federer tie is likely to face a player who is threatening to end their dominance of the men's game, Novak Djokovic. The Serbian is unbeaten in 22 matches this year, and defeated both icons on his way to victory at Indian Wells last time out. His semifinal win over Federer in the California desert lifted him to second in the rankings, and he will be seeking his second Miami title if he can beat new American No. 1 Mardy Fish for the sixth successive time in Friday's opening semifinal. In the women's event, two-time runner-up Maria Sharapova will play 2009 champion Victoria Azarenka in Saturday's final. Sharapova, who will return to the top-10 for the first time since 2009 following her recent run of good results, avenged her Australian Open defeat by Germany's Andrea Petkovic. The Russian triumphed 3-6 6-0 6-2, winning 11 games in a row after losing the first set. "I'm really happy I'm back in the finals here," the 2005 and 2006 losing finalist said of her first Miami outing in four years. "I'm almost lucky to be here. I had a tough one the other night and another three-setter today. Andrea has been playing the best tennis of her career and beat some good players here, so I was really happy I was able to change things around after losing the first set." Eighth seed Azarenka of Belarus followed up her win over defending champion Kim Clijsters with a 6-3 6-3 win over Vera Zvonareva that ended the Russian's hopes of reclaiming the No. 2 ranking from the Belgian this weekend. Azarenka reached her 12th career WTA final, and will be seeking her sixth title. | Rafael Nadal reaches semifinals in Miami, beating 2010 runner-up Tomas Berdych .
World No. 1 will face his old rival Roger Federer in last four for first time since 2005 .
Two-time Miami winner Federer has easy progress as Gilles Simon retires injured .
Maria Sharapova will face 2009 champion Victoria Azarenka in women's final . |
224,742 | aefea1ab70bbcdcac2140f8a987adcbce4703fc7 | Tiger Woods claims he 'feels fantastic' ahead of his long-awaited return to competitive golf this week. Woods heads into the Hero World Challenge at Isleworth Golf & Country Club in Florida on Thursday, the tournament he annually hosts which benefits his foundation, with a new coach who is in the process of changing his swing. During his four months out of action following surgery on a herniated disc in his back, the 39-year-old turned to Chris Como, who he refers to as a 'consultant', after spending the last four years with Sean Foley. Tiger Woods speaks at a press conference on Tuesday afternoon at Isleworth in Florida . Woods insists he remains 'very good friends' with Foley, but that he needed to do something different. It was another old friend in Notah Begay who recommended Como, with Woods adding at Tuesday's press conference: 'I was very surprised and excited to see how he felt my swing should look like. 'It was very similar to the vision I had, and that's where we're at right now.' Asked for detail on the swing, Woods added with a smile: 'It is new, but it is old. I say that because I haven't done it in a very long time. 'We looked at a lot of video from when I was a junior, amateur, and it was interesting to see how my swing was then and how much force I could generate with a very skinny frame. 'How did I do that? How did I generate that much power? That's what we are getting back into. 'As to how long the changes will take I don't know. I am curious to find that out myself, too.' Woods was last seen in action during a sorry, injury-plagued performance at the US PGA Championship . The swing change is as a result of the injuries that have taken their toll on Woods over the years. But as he noted: 'I'm older. Father Time is undefeated. 'We all eventually start losing some of the things we were able to do when we were younger. 'As an athlete you do notice these things and we all have to make adaptations and adjustments, and I'm no different. 'I'm not quite 40 yet - that's not until next year - so I still have some time.' Woods has not played competitive golf since failing to make the cut at the PGA Championship in August, following which he decided to take some out to get his mind, body and game into better shape. That exit was only Woods' fourth tournament since undergoing back surgery on March 31 to cure a pinched nerve. The 2008 US Open remains the last major of 14 won by Woods with injuries having beset his career since . Woods is adamant his back is now cured and is confident there will be no repetition of the injury which has seen him plummet from world No 1 at the start of the year to No 24. 'It feels great, it feels fantastic,' said Woods, who finished 201st on the money list this year with 'meagre' earnings of just £69,000. 'I've gotten stronger, more explosive, I've gotten faster and now I just need to hit more balls. 'But the body is good. I don't have the sharp pain like I had at the beginning of the year. 'I still have some aches and pains, like anybody else my age and older. 'But I can play with my kids, do whatever I want. I've played a ton of soccer in the backyard. 'Am I game-ready? Probably not quite as I would like to be. I haven't played a tournament round since August' Woods hits a drive during his very first major victory, as a 21-year-old at the Masters in 1997 . Woods achieved notable success and tremendous power despite having a slender frame when younger . Woods, meanwhile, has admitted surprise at the creation of a Ryder Cup task force by the PGA of America following the United States' latest humiliating defeat to Europe earlier this year. As a member of the 11-man panel, Woods said: 'Did I ever think we would end up in this position with a task force? No. 'Our job going forward is we only have this task force once. It's so we have a process in place where everyone is happy with the selection of not only the players, but also the captains, assistant captains. 'If we do our job correctly we're only going to have this once.' | Tiger Woods will make his latest comeback in Isleworth, Florida this week .
14-time major champion plays in the Hero World Challenge .
Woods insists he is now healed four months after surgery on his back .
Former world No 1 has a new swing coach, Chris Como .
Woods insists he is working on regaining explosive power of his youth . |
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