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204,872 | 953e970641c95c8c32735b1df896257673e0f523 | Novak Djokovic and Petra Kvitova swapped their tennis gear for formal wear on Sunday night when they attended the traditional Wimbledon Champions' Dinner. The 27-year-old Serb, fresh from his five-set victory over Roger Federer in the men's singles final, was joined by coach Boris Becker and wore a black suit as he arrived at the Royal Opera House in London's Covent Garden. Kvitova was also in attendance following her 6-3, 6-0 victory over Canadian Eugenie Bouchard on Saturday afternoon at the All England Club. Both Djokovic and Kvitova won their second Wimbledon titles having first tasted glory on the lawns of SW19 three years ago in 2011. VIDEO Scroll down to watch champion Djokovic discuss his relationship with coach Becker . Golden couple: Novak Djokovic and Petra Kvitova poses with their trophies at the winners ball . Eyes on the prize:Novak Djokovic and Petra Kvitova share a joke as the pose for the cameras . Serving up a treat: Novak Djokovic was all smiles as he celebrated winning his second Wimbledon title . Suited and booted: Novak Djokovic arrives for the Wimbledon Champions' Dinner in Park Lane . Flying without wings: Djokovic beat Roger Federer in a five-set final on Centre Court earlier on Sunday . Growing family: Novak Djokovic poses with girlfriend Jelena Ristic and their two dogs before the dinner . Djokovic admitted doubting himself before securing his second Wimbledon title and the seventh grand slam of his career. The . Serbian denied Federer a record eighth Wimbledon crown, but conceded he . feared the match might slip away after failing to convert a match point . in the fourth set. 'Congratulations to Roger, he proved what a great champion he is once again here this year,' said Djokovic. 'I respect . your career and everything you've done Roger - thank you for letting me . win today! After dropping a fourth set it wasn't easy to regroup. I . tried to compose myself and find the necessary energy to win the fifth. I . don't know how I managed to do it. Duo: The Serb was joined by his coach and former Wimbledon champion Boris Becker (left) Invite: Women's singles champion Petra Kvitova arrives for the dinner in London's West End . Having a ball: Petra Kvitova and Annabel Croft (right) make their way to the dinner . Dream team: Becker and Djokovic . All smiles: Anne Keothavong took to Instagram to poses pictures with Petra Kvitova and Boris Becker . Representation: Britain's Anne Keothavong . No way through: Serbian star Djokovic leans to his right to ensure Federer doesn't add another ace to his tally . He's done it! Djokovic raises his arms in victory after winning his second title Wimbledon title in dramatic style . The best: The emotion gets to Djokovic as he lifts his Wimbledon trophy on Centre Court . VIDEO Djokovic wins second Wimbledon title . 'This is the tournament I always dreamed of winning. This is the best tournament in the world, the most valuable one.' After . thanking his family and his camp, Djokovic added: 'Last but not least, I . would like to dedicate this title to my first coach who taught me all . the basics of tennis shots and behaviour and everything I know about . tennis - Jelena Gencic - and she passed away last year, and this is for . her.' Djokovic knelt to the turf to eat some of the famous All England Club grass to greet his victory - just as in 2011. Leading the way: Novak Djokovic (centre) poses with his team, including Boris Becker (third left) and his wife . Again: Both Djokovic and Kvitova won their first Wimbledon titles in 2011 . Dressed to impress: 2013 champion Marion Bartoli . All smiles: Nine-time champion Martina Navratilova . All white on the night: Boris Becker's wife Lily and Virginia Wade (right) attended the dinner . The Belgrade native lost out in last summer's final to Andy Murray, and admitted it was a thrill to win again. 'The last time I won here was part of a fantastic year, and it's just amazing for it to happen again,' he said. Men's singles: Novak Djokovic (Serbia)Women's singles: Petra Kvitova (Czech Republic)Men's doubles: Jack Sock (United States) and Vasek Pospisil (Canada)Women's doubles: Roberta Vinci (Italy) and Sara Vinci (Italy)Mixed doubles: Sam Stosur (Australia) and Nenad Zimonjic (Serbia)Boys' singles: Noah Rubin (United States)Girls' singles: Jelena Ostapenko (Latvia)Boys' doubles: Orlando Luz (Brazil) and Marcelo Zormann (Brazil)Girls' doubles: Tami Grende (Indonesia) and Qiu Yu Ye (China)Wheelchair men's doubles: Stephane Houdet (France) and Shingo Kunieda (Japan)Wheelchair women's doubles: Yui Kamiji (Japan) and Jordanne Whiley (Great Britain) | Wimbledon champions attend traditional dinner on London's Park Lane .
Novak Djokovic joined by coach Boris Becker at Intercontinental Hotel .
Serb beat Roger Federer in five sets to win second Wimbledon title .
Petra Kvitova thrashed Eugenie Bouchard on Saturday in women's final . |
195,480 | 89097436f8105cf37acf30a01ff94bffc437458f | Most scuba divers want to stay as far away from the gaping jaws of crocodiles as possible, but a pair of British photographers got close enough to one beast's teeth to be its dentists. Nick Robertson-Brown, 62, and his wife Caroline, 41, took close-up pictures of Niño the crocodile in December 2014 at Jardines de la Reina, Cuba. Taken just inches from the jaws of the reptile, the photographs show the stunning beauty of the three-metre deadly predator, whose name means little boy in Spanish. Scroll down for video . Nick and Caroline Robertson-Brown took close-up pictures of Niño, an American crocodile, on a trip to Jardines de la Reina, Cuba . The photographers, from Manchester, were careful not to startle the animal when getting close enough to capture the details of its teeth . The pair, from Manchester, England, were accompanied on their journey by guide Gustavo, who made calls to Niño on a trip through the government-protected mangrove forest. The American crocodile then swam out of the trees to see them - allowing the Robertson-Browns to capture the extraordinary pictures. Avalon Cuban Diving Centers' guides have been working with Niño since he was very small, so he is now quite used to photographers getting close. The photographers, who were outfitted in scuba gear, were able to stand in shallow water during the encounter as they shot photos of the animal as it waded among the sea plants of its natural habitat. The husband and wife team, who have been working together for 12 years as dive instructors and underwater photographers, said that the shallow water proved a challenging environment. 'The sediment very easy to stir up, so it was hard to get into position to get shots, without disturbing the croc,' the pair said on their Facebook page. Avalon Cuban Diving Centers regularly take trips out to the mangrove swamps to see crocodiles, who have been exposed to photographers since an early age . Only 700 divers per year are allowed to go to Jardines de la Reina, which is seven hours by bus and a six-hour boat ride from capital Havana . While the water was in danger of becoming murky, the stunning images show detailed images of Niño's snout as it cut through the swamp. Mr Robertson-Brown said: 'We got into the water with the croc and got so close his teeth were almost touching our camera housings. Though Niño is used to attention, the British snappers were wary of being snapped at suddenly by the scaly swimmer. 'It is a wild animal, so you have to be very careful, moving slowly and smoothly in the water so as not to startle or scare the croc.' The Robertson-Browns were worried that the sediment in the shallow water would make their pictures murky and limit the detail of the croc . Guide Gustavo helped lure the crocodile over to the photographers in scuba gear so that they could capture the amazing images of Niño . 'Whilst we never felt in danger, as the croc was moving in a very easy going way, it is still an amazing, adrenalin-filled experience,' Mr Robertson-Brown said. Only 700 divers are permitted to go each year to Jardines de la Reina, a national park that is a seven-hour bus ride and additional six-hour boat ride from Havana. Mr Robertson-Brown, who has also photographed fish, sharks and manatees, called the experience was 'well worth it' because of the 'pristine reefs and amazing animal encounters.' The pair said the Cuban expedition, during which they met Argentinean footballing legend Diego Maradona and photographed giant feral rats called jutías, was 'one of our most productive trips ever'. Mr Robertson-Brown said that he and his wife never felt in danger during the crocodile shoot, but added that it was 'still an amazing, adrenalin filled experience' The Robertson-Browns said the trip, during which they also photographed giant rats called jutías and met Diego Maradona, was one of their most productive . The Jardines de la Reina, is home to a wide variety of marine vegetation and wildlife, including sharks and giant groupers that can weigh up to 400 pounds . Jardines de la Reina, which means Gardens of the Queen in Spanish and were named by Christopher Columbus, is a roughly 675 square mile coral reef system about 60 miles off of Cuba's southern coast, according to Diver Magazine. The 250-island archipelago includes portions of reef and mangrove swamp that house animals including sharks, goliath groupers that can weigh up to 400 pounds, loggerhead turtles and American crocodiles such as Niño. American crocodiles, which live in the Caribbean from southern Florida to the north coast of South America, are listed as vulnerable by Red List. While the animal's skin is legally traded from some farms in Cuba, illegal hunters also target the crocodile for its hide. The American crocodile, which is labeled as vulnerable by conservationist group Red List, is illegally hunted for its thick scaly hide . The Robertson-Browns rode around the mangrove swamp in a small boat driven by guide Gustavo, allowing them to capture images both in and out of the water . Niño is an American crocodile, which are widely distributed across the Caribean, largely in shallow waters such as those in Jardines de la Reina . | Nick Robertson-Brown, 62, and wife Caroline, 41, captured pictures of American crocodile Niño .
Pair from Manchester travelled to Jardines de la Reina, Cuba, where only 700 divers are allowed per year .
Guide Gustavo helped lure the crocodile, which has been exposed to photographers from an early age . |
34,868 | 6315a0455bf56b680ee941938778f92620ff574d | I know it makes a lot of you see Red. The idea that so many of our football shows’ pundit chairs are seemingly warmed frequently by the backsides of so many ex-Liverpool players. And if that is you, then Saturday evening’s coverage of the jewel in club football’s crown may have just been too much to bear. No sooner had Harry Redknapp got his second soaking of the afternoon - the first, from a hailstorm. the second, victory champagne following QPR’s play-off final victory at Wembley - than Sky Sports were off to The Champions League Final. And there, his boy Jamie was waiting for us in Lisbon. While alongside him, two more ex-Liverpool men, Jamie Carragher and Graeme Souness. VIDEO Scroll down to watch the Real players interrupt Ancelotti's press conference . Yellow cards: Suspended Xabi Alonso appeared on TV as a pundit during the 2014 Champions League final . But just in case that wasn’t enough Anfield for you, over on ITV, they were preparing to unveil none other than Steven Gerrard as their guest pundit for the evening. Like the song says, they never do walk alone, do they? Having said all that, the real point is that each man is there in his own right. And certainly for those men on Sky, that worked well during their extensive build up. Graeme Souness was his chippy self from the get go. Modric, he told us ‘borders on being a 5-a-side player’. While Ramos is ‘an accident waiting to happen’. Jamie Redknapp delivered the one liner of the night when discussing the virtues of Diego Simeone as a leader. ‘Some managers do their preparations in the mirror’, he said. But alas, he couldn’t be convinced to then go on and name names. Jamie Carragher was then in his pomp, breaking down and analysing tactics and formations at the big screen. Although I have to be honest, it did seem to go on for absolutely ages without anyone else chipping in. Perhaps they’d all taken the chance to sneak a cheeky latte? Good to see you: Alonso (left) comes into the ITV studio to greet former team-mate Steven Gerrard . This was their first hour of coverage, and lead just about perfectly to when ITV came on air. Which they did, by the way, with an absolutely dynamite flamenco opening sequence. Adrian Chiles picked up where the guitarists left off, nearly bursting with the joy of not only introducing the Liverpool captain to the game, but also the fact that he was about to ‘get to work with Roy Keane’. To which Stevie G responded that is it was ‘very exciting’. Only he said it with the tone of voice and body language of a man who had just been delivered blindfolded in the back of a transit van. However, he did quickly warm to the occasion. Unfortunately, just at the moment when all the Lads In Red were suddenly upstaged by a surprise package - and yet another former member of the fold. Glory: Alonso celebrates after winning the trophy despite being suspended for accumulation of yellow cards . This particular one, making his entrance for the evening down on the pitch, in a slick three piece suit, sunglasses and sipping on a Cappuccino. No doubt about it, the star of both channels was the suspended Galactico Xabi Alonso. Real Madrid’s loss was telly’s gain. First, he was great in the studio with the Sky boys. He talked about how well Gareth Bale had ‘integrated into the club, into the city’. He took Souness to task about Modric’s contribution this season, explaining he had been ‘outstanding’. And then went on to illustrate how the Madrid personnel would deal tactically with Atletico. It had Souness purring like a kitten and telling Xabi how much he would be missed out there. All smiles: Alonso and Zinedine Zidane celebrate the victory . Well, luckily, there didn’t seem to be a camera inside the Estadio da Luz that missed him from then on in. ITV quickly got themselves in on the Alonso lovefest - showing us the impromptu moment when he nipped in to say hello to his old team mate Gerrard. Then it was all down to the match director to use him as punctuation throughout the game. ITV were first out of the blocks in taking advantage of these candid shots. At half time, they stealthily attached his reaction to the replays of Gareth Bale’s chance. And it seemed that whatever Xabi was kicking, he was doing it much more effectively than Gareth had just done. Celebrating long into the night: Alonso in Cibeles celebrating the Tenth European Cup with fans . Into the second half, and we got even more Xabi for our money. First, there he was hugging a team mate within an inch of his life as another chance went begging. Then when Ramos equalised - something happened, Graeme, but it wasn’t an accident! - we saw a face filled with relief as it puffed out, puckered it’s lips and kissed the top of a team mate’s head. Finally, he was back on the pitch trying to rally his pals for one last surge. And while he was there, Xabi took time to also turn to the Real fans and urge them to do the same. The glasses and coffee were gone by now. It was nitty-gritty time. So Sky Sports saw their season off with a bang. While ITV neatly dovetailed their switch to Rio in a couple of weeks time by bringing the England captain on board. But at the end of the evening, in telly terms, it was the X Man who was first class. | Former Liverpool players dominate Champions League punditry .
ITV include Reds and England skipper Steven Gerrard in their team .
Graeme Souness, Jamie Carragher and Jamie Redknapp lead Sky's coverage .
Suspended Madrid midfielder Xabi Alonso is the Real star of the show . |
58,563 | a61577d50afd7b6630ebf1647c40c34dd426a294 | (CNN) -- TV's Dr. Mehmet Oz attempted to offer more than just health guidance on a busy street in Manhattan on Tuesday morning after a taxi jumped a curb and hit a pedestrian and a cyclist. The accident happened at 49th Street and Sixth Avenue -- home to Rockefeller Center and near Radio City Music Hall and Saks Fifth Avenue -- around 11 a.m. A British tourist was struck and her right leg was severed above her foot and below the knee, according to New York City police. She was sent to Bellevue Hospital, where she was undergoing surgery to try to reattach her right leg, police said. A bicyclist was also struck but was treated at the scene. Police said the incident seemed like an accident. Oz, the host of "The Dr. Oz Show," was getting ready for a shoot when he and his team heard emergency vehicles rushing to the scene, according to Tim Sullivan, representative of the Dr. Oz show. Their offices are about a block away from the accident. Dick Van Dyke helped from burning car . Oz and students from the medical staff on the show ran to the accident, but by the time they arrived, paramedics were already on the scene assisting the injured tourist, according to Sullivan. A good Samaritan walking by was able to use his belt as a tourniquet until paramedics arrived, according to Sullivan. "David Justino, a plumber from New York, took action, removing his belt and using it as a tourniquet," Oz said in a Facebook post. "My prayers are with the victim for a speedy recovery." He posted a photo of himself and Justino on Facebook. Oz told CNN affiliate PIX11 that when he arrived, the belt had been tied to the woman's leg and he was just trying to tighten it to stop the bleeding. The cab driver was in a daze and very emotional, Oz said. Another good Samaritan, Max Crespo, a pizza truck owner, put the woman's amputated leg in a bucket of ice until paramedics arrived, according to WCBS. Oz praised "Plumber Dave" as a hero in the accident. "Plumber Dave, who's an average Joe, an average Dave, walking along the streets, saved her life," Oz told PIX11. Dr. Oz's 10 habits of healthy families . | A taxi jumps a curb at a busy intersection and hits a British tourist and a cyclist, police say .
Dr. Oz and his student staffers run to the scene about a block away from their office .
The tourist's foot is amputated, and a good Samaritan uses his belt as a tourniquet .
Oz, who tightened the makeshift tourniquet, praises the plumber who jumped into action . |
198,233 | 8c9911f524679dfd74c687f9d7e3ac86b66763c6 | (CNN) -- Authorities have obtained an arrest warrant for Jesse Matthew, charging him with abduction with the intent to defile, in the case of missing University of Virginia student Hannah Graham, Charlottesville Police Chief Timothy Longo told reporters Tuesday. Police believe Matthew was the last person with Graham before her disappearance. She was last seen September 13 in an area of Charlottesville known as the downtown mall. The Charlottesville Police Department is circulating a wanted poster for the 32-year-old Matthew, who is also wanted for two counts of reckless driving. He is described as an African-American man, standing 6 feet, 2 inches tall, and weighing 270 pounds. He is known to have contacts in Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington, D.C. Matthew willingly went to a police station over the weekend, along with several family members, walking through the front door and asking for a lawyer, Longo said. There was no warrant for his arrest then. Matthew and the lawyer spoke and then left, Longo said. The police chief declined to provide additional details on the case. "Between now and the time that this matter goes to trial, we need to be very sensitive about the information that we share," he said. However, the chief stressed: "We absolutely are continuing our search for Hannah." On the evening of September 12, she was seen at a party before friends saw her at an apartment complex a couple of blocks away. That was shortly before midnight, according to a time line compiled by CNN affiliate WVIR. Hannah Graham disappearance: What we know . About 12:45 a.m. on September 13, a surveillance camera caught her outside a pub, about three-quarters of a mile from the apartment complex. A doorman turned her away at the pub, Longo said Sunday. Ten minutes later, she is seen running past a gas station -- no one appears to be pursuing her -- and witnesses say they saw her five minutes later roughly four blocks from the gas station, WVIR reported. She was at a restaurant, witnesses said. Videos offer clues in search for missing student . The surveillance camera at an Italian cafe captured her walking along the mall about 1:06 a.m. The camera at a jewelry store recorded her passing two minutes later, WVIR reported. At 1:20 a.m. she texted her friends to say was lost and trying to find a party, WVIR reported. She and a man were seen having drinks at a bar between 1:30 and 2 a.m., WVIR said. Police believe she may have been under the influence of alcohol, and may have been vulnerable or unable to defend herself. Investigators have previously searched Matthew's apartment and car. Potential evidence was sent to a lab for analysis. Jeffrey Ban, central laboratory director at the Department of Forensic Science in Richmond, Virginia, declined to say how long that work might take. "Some cases are much quicker than others, just depends on the evidence -- depends on how much evidence we have, where the evidence is, how small the sample is," he said. "The best I could tell you is that my staff, in a case like this, is very dedicated and they're doing everything they can in the quickest manner possible," Ban said. Authorities are offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to the safe return of Graham, 18, a second-year student at the University of Virginia. "Hannah is beyond precious to us," her parents said in a statement released shortly after her disappearance. "We are truly devastated by her disappearance. It's totally out of character for us not to have heard from her, and we fear foul play." CNN's Eliott C. McLaughlin, Stacey Samuel and Jean Casarez contributed to this report. | NEW: Potential evidence in the case has been sent to a lab for analysis .
Jesse Matthew is wanted on suspicion of abduction with the intent to defile .
University of Virginia student Hannah Graham was last seen September 13 .
An investigation into her disappearance is ongoing . |
193,881 | 86f6ad8e5f1b0875b1ae77e851871679849b45fe | Mauricio Pochettino insists the Europa League is a priority for Tottenham despite the decision to leave a host of first-teamers behind for their clash against Partizan Belgrade. Spurs kick of their European campaign here in Serbia tomorrow night, but they go into the clash without Emmanuel Adebayor, Younes Kaboul, Danny Rose, Moussa Dembele and Nacer Chadli who have all been left back in England. Pochettino, however, insists his decision to leave behind a number of his top stars does not reflect his attitude towards the Europa League. Mauricio Pochettino insists the Europa League is a top priority for Tottenham this season . Star striker Emmanuel Adebayor is one of many Tottenham players not to travel to Serbia . 'We have a strong squad and we need to choose the best players for Thursday and those in the best condition to play against Partizan Belgrade,' Pochettino said at his pre-match press conference when asked about his decision to leave several stars behind. 'We decided not bring Adebayor, Kaboul, Rose, Dembele and Chadli for different reasons. 'Yes, yes, of course the Europa League is a priority for us. All competitions are priorities for us,' the Argentina added. 'This year it is very important because the Europa League gives you the possibility to play in the next Champions League. It is an important competition for us. 'For me all my players are stars. But when we come to a different period, or a different problem or situation we have to analyse the squad and see what is the best condition for us to get three points. but for me Tottenham have a strong squad with different names.' Belgian international Moussa Dembele is another who wasn't selected in the matchday squad to play Partizan . | Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino says the Europa League is a priority for the club this season .
Partizan Belgrade host Spurs in their opening Europa League group stage encounter .
Spurs have travelled to Serbia without star players Emmanuel Adebayor, Younes Kaboul, Danny Rose, Moussa Dembele and Nacer Chadli . |
157,746 | 57fb075c9b172b5f1462898e3e7b377b48c6606e | A man charged in the "Fast and Furious" death of Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry has been extradited to the United States from Mexico, the Justice Department said. Lionel Portillo Meza was extradited Tuesday. What was 'Fast and Furious,' and what went wrong? At his arraignment in federal court in Tucson, Arizona, on Wednesday, he pleaded not guilty to a litany of charges, including first-degree murder. He is also charged with second-degree murder, conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery, attempted interference with commerce by robbery, using and carrying a firearm during a crime of violence, assault on a federal officer and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. The "Fast and Furious" operation of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives began in 2009 with the purpose of tracking around 2,000 weapons intended for drug cartels. But officials couldn't track the firearms, and most are believed to have ended up with cartels and gangsters in Mexico. "This development brings us one step closer to achieving justice for a beloved agent who paid the highest price in protecting this country," U.S. Attorney Laura E. Duffy of the Southern District of California said in a news release. Terry was killed in a confrontation with Portillo Meza and four others along Arizona's border with Mexico on December 14, 2010. The Terry case has been controversial because two rifles from the "Fast and Furious" operation were found at the scene of his death. But U.S. officials have not produced evidence proving that Terry was killed with either of those guns. In February, another man charged in the incident, Manuel Osorio-Arellanes, was sentenced to 30 years in prison. He had pleaded guilty to first-degree murder. | Border Patrol agent Brian Terry was killed in 2010 .
Weapons from the botched "Fast and Furious" operation were found at the scene .
One of men charged in the killing has extradited to the United States from Mexico . |
163,775 | 5fcfa69579908d5cb6473db1a8f575716325bfd2 | This is tender moment David Beckham gave a baby a polio vaccine while visiting a typhoon-devastated city in the Philippines. The former footballer used his celebrity status and sporting skills to entertain locals in the city of Tacloban as part of UNICEF's relief efforts, vaccinating four babies during his 30-minute stay. Beckham, 38, was welcomed by hundreds of children who have been living in United Nations-provided tents outside a stadium since super Typhoon Haiyan struck in November, killing more than 6,200 people and leaving tens of thousands of survivors homeless. Scroll down for video . Medicine man: David smiled adoringly at one young child while giving them a polio vaccination . The Beckham Effect: the superstar player delighted children with his playful approach to their plight . The father of four mets babies and mothers who survived Typhoon Haiyan and are being helped by UNICEF and partners to have a safe haven to play with their babies as well as learn about the best nutrition for their babies . David Beckham playing with children affected by Typhoon Haiyan at a school in the typhoon devastated town of Tanauan in Leyte province, Philippines . Speaking after the visit, Beckham said: 'I was humbled to visit Tacloban and see how people are still so full of spirit despite the devastation they have suffered' Arriving wearing a black . UNICEF T-shirt with a pair of grey skinny jeans, Beckham also wore a . backwards hat and some brown leather boots for the trip, his second to the region. As . he entered the village he was greeted by hundreds of excited boys who . were keen to meet one of the world's most successful sportsmen. Moved by the reception, he then played a friendly match with them before stopping to sign autographs and pose for pictures. Shortly afterwards the 38-year-old icon stopped for photographs with children inside a large white tent used as a classroom as . they showed him their art works. Beckham then began administering polio medication to young children in the tent, vaccinating four babies, all of them under the age of one. England football superstar David Beckham is greeted by children-survivors of super Typhoon-Haiyan prior to a football game at a school ground in Tanuan town . England football superstar David Beckham carries a boy on his shoulders during a football game with children-survivors of the country's latest natural disaster . Star power: David visited a school in Tanuan town, Leyte province, central Philippines on Valentine's Day . Speaking after the visit, Beckham said: 'I was humbled to visit Tacloban and see how people are still so full of spirit despite the devastation they have suffered. 'Close to six million children are affected and many have lost loved ones,' said Beckham. 'As a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, . seeing how children are being given a sense of normality amidst the . rubble of their communities has been amazing,' he added. 'I want to show people around the world how their generous donations have had an enormous impact on children and their families and how thankful people here are for their kindness.' Zafrin Chowdhury, spokeswoman for the UNICEF office in Manila, said Beckham was touched by the typhoon's impact and wanted to meet displaced children and their families. Head start: David carries a young survivor on his shoulders during the match, which delighted locals . England football superstar David Beckham gives comfort to survivors of the Asian country's deadliest ever typhoon . That's not five-a-side: The blonde football ace was besieged by delighted boys . [caption . England football superstar David Beckham signs autographs on the second day of his visit to the Philippiness . Beckham flew to the Philippines on February 13 to give comfort to survivors of the Asian country's deadliest ever typhoon . He removed his shoes on entering a tent where a family has been living, stroking a sleeping infant's hands as he spoke with family members. Officials and UNICEF staff did not say what he and the family members talked about during his 30-minute stay. It's Beckham's second trip to the Philippines as a UNICEF goodwill ambassador. He toured a shelter for former street children in Manila during his first visit in 2011 and also played an exhibition game with the Philippine national football team. 'He felt very touched by what happened and that he wanted to come back, not do anything else - no meeting, no media - just to focus on children and meet them, encourage them and see for himself the situation,' Chowdhury said. Beckham made Valentines Day cards with children at the tented space where children play games and can access psychosocial support away from their devastated communities . UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador David Beckham meets child survivors of Typhoon Haiyan at a UNICEF-supported child friendly space at one of Tacloban's major evacuation points . Beckham is now scheduled to visit a warehouse of the World Food Program in nearby Palo, which was also devastated by the typhoon. The retired footballer and his pop star turned fashion designer wife Victoria, have previously donated some of their most expensive designer clothes and shoes to raise funds for the typhoon victims. The typhoon displaced more than four million people in more than 40 provinces in the central Philippines. At least 1,700 are still missing. Beckham's visit to Tacloban followed trips by pop star Justin Bieber, U.S. State Secretary John Kerry, Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera and Australian Foreign Minister Julia Bishop. | Beckham visited the storm-devastated Philippine city of Tacloban today .
He visited hundreds of people while taking part in UNICEF's relief efforts .
He administered polio medication to babies and played football in the street .
Beckham was greeted by hundreds of excited young boys when he arrived . |
261,193 | de45d949b1181355bacfc130ec903a7c8a89ee94 | Police hold grave concerns for a teenage girl who has been missing for more than a week. Taylor Almond, 16, was last seen at her Dudley home, a southern coastal suburb of Newcastle in New South Wales, at about 1.00pm on Sunday October 12. Police from Lake Macquarie Local Area Command have revealed new information on her possible whereabouts. Taylor Almond (pictured), 16, was last seen at her Dudley home, a southern coastal suburb of Newcastle in New South Wales, at about 1.00pm on Sunday October 12 . Over the last week, police have received information that supposedly links Miss Almond to the Kotara, Adamstown area and Newcastle Beach areas in New South Wales. 'Further information shows she may now be as far as the Kempsey area', revealed in a statement from New South Wales Police. Police say the teenager was last seen wearing a white sleeveless shirt and blue denim shorts. Miss Almond is of Caucasian appearance, about 160 to 170-centimetres tall with a slim build, long blonde hair and blue eyes. Police fear for the teenagers safety, as Miss Almond's family claim her disappearance is completely out of character. Anyone who has seen Miss Almond or may know her whereabouts are urged to call triple zero (000) immediately. Over the last week, it is believed Miss Almond may have been in the Kotara, Adamstown area and Newcastle Beach areas in New South Wales . Miss Almond's family say her disappearance is completely out of character . Miss Almond is of Caucasian appearance, about 160 to 170-centimetres tall with a slim build, long blonde hair and blue eyes . | Taylor Almond, 16, has been missing since October 12 .
The teenager was last seen at her Dudley home, a southern coastal suburb of Newcastle in New South Wales .
New information on her whereabouts link her to Kotara, Adamstown area and Newcastle Beach areas in NSW .
Miss Almond's family say her disappearance is out of character .
Police fear for the teenagers safety and urge anyone with information to come forward . |
32,748 | 5d147e2626d932b32d9b1a4355f3006b4906db12 | The LA Kings reclaimed the Stanley Cup with a double overtime win over the New York Rangers that capped one of the most remarkable post-seasons in National Hockey League history. With both teams close to exhaustion and fans at the Staples Center roaring themselves hoarse during an epic slugfest, the Kings sealed a 4-1 series victory by winning Game Five 3-2. The winning goal came courtesy of defenseman Alec Martinez almost 15 minutes into the second period of overtime. Landing the big one: LA Kings' Dustin Brown raises the Stanley Cup after beating the New York Rangers . Sealed with a kiss: Brown celebrates winning the Stanley Cup with the LA Kings . Kings of the ice: The LA Kings pose for a picture after beating the New York Rangers to win the Stanley Cup . LA Kings forward Justin Williams was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy on Friday as the most valuable player during the National Hockey League's Stanley Cup play-offs. Williams was the leading scorer during the title series in helping the Kings clinch their second Stanley Cup in three years with a 4-1 series win over the New York Rangers. . The Kings struck first in the opening period through Justin Williams, who won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the Most Valuable Player in the playoffs, but the Rangers led 2-1 after the middle frame when Chris Kreider and Brian Boyle scored in a four-minute span. Marian Gaborik, who finished as the leading scorer in the play-offs with 14 goals, tied the game in the third before the teams slugged it out in overtime. New York goalkeeper Henrik Lundqvist made 48 saves for the Rangers while Jonathan Quick turned away 28 shots for the Kings, who claimed their second title in three years. They've done it: Kings' Alec Martinez celebrates after scoring the winning goal during the second overtime period . Champions again: The Kings celebrate winning their second Stanley Cup in three years . Beaten: Henrik Lundqvist looks dejected on the ice . Dream come true: The LA Kings players celebrate their win over the New York Rangers . While the series scoreline suggested the Kings romped to victory in the final, three of their four wins were decided in overtime and they overcame incredible odds just to make the final, winning each of their first three rounds in seven games. In the first round, they roared back from 3-0 behind to beat the San Jose Sharks. In they next round, they came from 3-2 down to defeat the Anaheim Ducks. Then, in the Western Conference Final, they won a Game Seven overtime thriller to see off the defending Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks. Williams had given the host Kings a 1-0 lead in the first period when he backhanded a loose puck between the legs of Lundqvist after a scramble near the New York net six minutes after the opening face-off. Contrast in emotions: New York Rangers' Benoit Pouliot looks dejected as the Kings celebrate . Game over: New York Rangers' Benoit Pouliot looks down after losing to the LA Kings during overtime . No way back: Henrik Lundqvist is close to tears as the New York Rangers lost Game 5 of the Stanley Cup . New York led 2-1 at the end of the second period after Kreider tied it at 1-1 with a powerplay goal when he sent a cross-ice pass from Ryan McDonagh into the back of the Kings net. The Rangers, appearing in the Stanley Cup Final for the first time in two decades, grabbed the lead with a short-handed goal from Boyle with 25 seconds to play in the second period when he sent a wrist shot into the top right corner of the net. No way through: New York Rangers goalkeeper Henrik Lundqvist makes a save from LA's Marian Gaborik . In it goes: Brian Boyle celebrates his goal as Kings goalie Jonathan Quick looks on . The Kings drew even on a powerplay less than eight minutes into the third period when Gaborik fired a wrist shot underneath Lundqvist's pads while both teams were inches away from winning the game in the first overtime period. Famous face: Actor Channing Tatum was one of the celebrities at the Staples Centre to watch the game . McDonagh hit the post for the Rangers and Tyler Toffoli struck the crossbar for the Kings. Both teams hit the pipes again in the second extra period before Martinez' found the back of the net and triggered a wild celebration in Tinseltown. | LA Kings beat New York Rangers 3-2 to win Stanley Cup 4-1 after Game Five .
Alec Martinez scored in the second period of overtime to secure win .
Kings forward Justin Williams awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy for being most valuable player in Stanley Cup . |
261,231 | de549c095ffa80df941de0e7567628e2791a24d2 | (CNN) -- Jose Mourinho may believe the English Premier League title race is already over but reigning champions Manchester City kept alive their slim hopes of retaining the crown with Monday's 1-0 win at Aston Villa. The victory cut the gap on arch rivals and championship leaders Manchester United to 12 points with 10 matches of the EPL season remaining, including a return clash between the top two at the beginning of April. It was a disciplined display from Roberto Mancini's men, who owed their victory to a neatly-taken goal by Argentina international Carlos Tevez just before halftime. Defeat left Villa deep in relegation trouble in 18th place with just 24 points in the bag. While Mourinho's Real Madrid team were training at City's Etihad Stadium ahead of their Champions League clash with Manchester United, their temporary landlords were making their way to the testing fixture at Villa Park, knowing dropped points would end all hopes in the title race. An even first half offered Paul Lambert's strugglers hope they could at least get something from the match and striker Christian Benteke was a threat throughout with his muscular presence. At the other end Pablo Zabaleta rattled the Villa woodwork, but a defensive mistake just before the interval was to cost the home side dear. Defender Ciaran Clark was robbed by substitute Edin Dzeko -- on after England midfielder Jack Rodwell went off with a hamstring problem -- and the Bosnian played in Tevez. He cleverly dummied goalkeeper Brad Guzan and slotted the ball home. After the break there was almost a repeat as this time Mathew Lowton was caught napping by Dzeko but the defender got back to clear Tevez's shot off the line. Benteke continued to be a nuisance to the end, but City defended stoutly to move five points clear of third-placed Tottenham Hotspur, who had closed to within two after Sunday's derby win over Arsenal. Mancini was delighted with his team's efforts. "I think it is very important to win this game. For us it was important to stay 12 points behind, the championship is not over," he told Sky Sports. And he had a word of consolation for Villa. "I think they will stay in the Premier League," he predicted. Meanwhile, in Monday's Spanish La Liga action, Sevilla won 4-1 at home to third-bottom Celta Vigo to move up to 10th place. Striker Alvaro Negredo scored a fine hat-trick to take his tally to 13 in the league this season. | Manchester City win 1-0 at Aston Villa in English Premier League .
Victory cuts the gap on leaders Manchester United to 12 points .
Carlos Tevez scores only goal of the match in first half .
Alvaro Negredo scores hat-trick in Sevilla's win in La Liga . |
262,561 | e01b553d681737b180585eca514dd340416eaee2 | (CNN) -- The New Hampshire primary will tell us a good deal more than the Iowa caucuses did about where the Republican candidates stand and how they might do in the general election against President Barack Obama. While the unpredictable nature of the Iowa caucuses offered Rick Santorum an opportunity to shine, Tuesday's vote will tell us where the party is really headed, in what has been a Wild West of a presidential selection process, one with more ups and downs than the Colorado Rockies. The New Hampshire primary, established in 1916, has a long and treasured history in American politics. It has often been the site where new voices have been able to upset the status quo and take on establishment figures. In 1952, the military hero Dwight Eisenhower successfully challenged "Mr. Republican" Robert Taft, the senator from Ohio, who was thought to be one of the strongest figures in the party. That same year, Tennessee Sen. Estes Kefauver shook up the Democratic Party by winning a stunning victory against President Harry Truman, fueling his decision not to run for re-election. In 1968, Minnesota Sen. Eugene McCarthy's strong second-place showing similarly upset President Lyndon Johnson, forcing him to think twice about how strong his support was within the Democratic Party. The results, Sen. Ted Kennedy recalled, demonstrated that "overnight, Johnson had become beatable." A few weeks later Johnson told the nation that he would not run for re-election. In 1976, the little-known Jimmy Carter built on his surprise victory in the Iowa caucuses by winning in New Hampshire and cementing his status as a front-runner. Republican Patrick Buchanan revealed the soft support among conservatives in 1992 for President George H.W. Bush, whom Buchanan derided as "King George," when he did better than expected against the president (though Bush won). To be sure, the outcome of the primary is not always a measure of who will win the party's nomination. There is a substantial list of New Hampshire losers -- including Barack Obama in 2008, George W. Bush in 2000, Bill Clinton in 1992, and Walter Mondale in 1984 -- who went on to receive party nominations. Most important, New Hampshire is a state where independents matter very much and turn out in large numbers. The primary allows unaffiliated voters to participate, thus boosting the number of participants from the middle of the political spectrum. With the base of each party relatively deflated about the choices in 2012 (liberal Democrats are disappointed in Obama's record, while conservatives are not overly enthused about any of the front-runners), the 2012 election will likely come down to the person who can capture the center. With Obama's approval ratings at a low ebb, Republicans have a major opportunity if they can win the hearts and minds of independents and centrist Democrats. One of Mitt Romney's biggest selling points is that he offers the GOP the only candidate who can run as a moderate who is not beholden to the party's base. During one of the weekend debates he brushed back talk about making contraception illegal and tried to focus on his economic policy rather than social and cultural issues. He left the others to fight it out as to who was a "big-government conservative" and who was not. In New Hampshire, Romney will have the first chance to show that his appeal to centrists is a strength. Republicans in New Hampshire tend to fit the profile of the kind of conservative candidate who will have the greatest national appeal. While Republican party activists are often attracted to the candidate who can speak the language of the religious right, the Republican with the best chance of taking Obama in this election will be the fiscal conservative who pushes for lowering the deficit, lowering spending, and containing taxes, while avoiding the cultural issues that turn off moderates. In 2008, according to ABC News, only 23% of the New Hampshire electorate said they were evangelicals, compared with 58% in Iowa this year. Finally, New Hampshire looks more like a national election than does Iowa. While Americans like to think our political process works by retail politics, with candidates shaking hands and enjoying a meal at the local diner, the reality is that elections are won or lost on major media -- television, radio and the Internet. The candidate who has the best ability to mount a national campaign is the person who can master the media, handling reporters and the 24-hour news cycle, and can amass the kind of money that is needed to buy TV ads In New Hampshire. It is simply not possible to win the state only by shaking hands. A candidate has to be able to do well on the screen. This is a year when New Hampshire's verdict will be key in evaluating the Republican field. The test is not completely fair in that Romney comes from this region and even has a home in this state. That said, being local is not a guarantee of victory. While a close victory in Iowa was certainly something that Romney can live with, he needs to have a very strong showing in New Hampshire to demonstrate that he is as electable a candidate as he has promised to be. He has to answer the kind of challenge posed in Sunday's debate, when Newt Gingrich said Romney would "have a very hard time getting elected" in a race against Obama. At the same time, this is a major opportunity for Romney's opponents (especially Jon Huntsman) to show that they fit the bill as well, and that the prospect of Romney winning the nomination is not inevitable. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Julian Zelizer. | Julian Zelizer: Iowa gave Santorum prominence but N.H. vote is likely to be more revealing .
He says the primary will test whether Romney is strong with centrist voters .
The primary has been a place to challenge establishment figures, Zelizer says .
Zelizer: Unlike Iowa, New Hampshire isn't decided by retail politics . |
142,447 | 44366c1d0bbeebd4e1619280522aff7b8b1e48c2 | Ask Rio Ferdinand who the next England manager should be and he will tell you that the search should start and end with Glenn Hoddle. Nearly 16 years have passed since Hoddle’s last game as England’s head coach, a 2-0 win over the Czech Republic at Wembley in a friendly in November 1998. On Tuesday the pair were reunited when Hoddle accepted a bolt-from-the-blue offer to become Harry Redknapp’s first team coach at QPR. Bolt from the blue: Glenn Hoddle accepted the offer to become Harry Redknapp's first-team coach at QPR . Redknapp wants to play the in-vogue 3-5-2 formation, casting Ferdinand in the role of sweeper and using Clint Hill and Steven Caulker to stabilise his defence. If it works - and safety in the Barclays Premier League will be the measure of its success - then you can expect some momentum for Hoddle’s return to the national team. Football really is that fickle. This is a fascinating appointment because Hoddle - as a man and as a manager - divides opinion. He is not an easy man to get along with. His last coaching appointment was in 2004, an unsuccessful spell at Wolves that lasted less than two years. He has been off the training field a long time now. ‘The game has moved on since the last time Glenn was a manager,’ was Tim Sherwood response to Hoddle’s criticism of his Tottenham team from the television studio last season. They have never seen eye-to-eye, a legacy from Hoddle’s spell as Spurs manager when Sherwood’s playing days were coming to an end. Sherwood is not alone in his assessment. With the national team, Hoddle made some catastrophic decisions as head coach. One of them, over his comments about the after-life, led to his resignation in February 1999. Those with even deeper memories will recall his book - Glenn Hoddle: My World Cup story - spilling the guts on England’s dressing room secrets at France 98. As a result, he lost the trust of his players. Believer: Rio Ferdinand thinks Hoddle should be England boss, as he was here in 1998 . Highs and lows: Hoddle after England drew 0-0 in Rome in 1997 (left) and his final match vs the Czech Republic . Swindon Town 1991-1993 . Played 115 Won 49 Drew 32 Lost 34 . Chelsea 1993-1996 . P 157 W 53 D 54 L 50 . England 1996-1999 . P 28 W 17 D 6 L 5 . Southampton 2000-2001 . P 52 W 22 D 12 L 18 42.31 . Tottenham 2001-2003 . P 104 W 41 D 18 L 45 . Wolves 2004-2006 . P 76 W 27 D 34 L 15 . More recently Gary Neville, who is now England’s assistant manager, questioned his methods and ability to manage a dressing room in his own autobiography, RED. According to Neville, England’s head coach used to touch players on the heart in the dressing room before matches and asked the backroom team to walk around the pitch ‘anti-clockwise’ when they played Argentina at France 98 to create positive energy. Sounds bonkers. Neville, though, does go on to say that Hoddle ‘undoubtedly’ wanted England to play the right way but questioned whether that he had ‘the man-management skills to go with his football intelligence’. Society demands a second chance, an opportunity to rectify mistakes from the past. This, unquestionably, is Hoddle’s. Ferdinand, who played in Hoddle’s last game as England’s head coach, believes he possesses one of the finest tactical minds in the game. Long spell out: Hoddle has not coached in English football since his tenure at Wolves ended in 2006 . That is a select grouping, one that includes some coaching greats such as Rinus Michel, Miguel Munoz and Bob Paisley. The former Manchester United defender, who played and trained under Terry Venables, Kevin Keegan, Sven Goran Eriksson, Steve McClaren and Fabio Capello with the national team, is convinced Hoddle belongs in the elite category. On the training field, Ferdinand will tell you that Hoddle has an eye for detail and the intuition to solve problems before his players have even seen them. If true, that is a unique skill. In the Louis van Gaal era, we are witnessing a massive change in the landscape of English football. There is endless talk about tactics, systems and team shape now that the fabled Dutch coach has arrived at Manchester United with his salt and pepper pots. Sweeping statement: Ferdinand will be the 'libero' at QPR, as Hoddle (right) was at Swindon . New era: Louis van Gaal is using the same 3-5-2 formation Hoddle and Redknapp will attempt to implement at QPR . It is there, at Old Trafford, where van Gaal intends to play a variation of 3-5-2 this season. Redknapp wants to do the same. Hoddle didn’t reinvent the wheel when he became manager of Swindon in 1991, his first coaching appointment, but it was certainly brave to play with a libero in the old Second Division. He put himself there, the launchpad for Swindon’s attacks as they progressed to the play-off final, where he scored the opening goal in a 4-3 victory over Leicester, in his second full season. Paul Bodin, Colin Calderwood, John Moncur and former Tottenham midfielder Micky Hazard, who came on as a substitute at Wembley, were in the victorious Swindon team. He went on to sign the great Ruud Gullit in 1995 when manager of Chelsea, converting the former AC Milan forward into a libero, with mixed results, towards the end of his career. It is 21 years since he started work at Chelsea’s old Harlington training centre after succeeding Dave Webb as their manager. Now he is returning to work there, this time as QPR’s first team coach as he attempts to rebuild his career at the very highest level. At the age of 56 there is time for Hoddle to make an impression and fulfil the ambition he once showed as a promising young coach. If it works out, it will only be a matter of time before he becomes an option for the national team. | Glenn Hoddle has joined the coaching staff at Queen's Park Rangers .
Harry Redknapp is considering employing 3-5-2 tactics at Loftus Road .
Rio Ferdinand will be a sweeper with Clint Hill and Steven Caulker ahead .
Former England manager has not been involved in coaching since 2004 .
Tim Sherwwod claims the game has moved on since Hoddle was last around .
Gary Neville questioned Hoddle's management skills in his autobiography .
Rio Ferdinand ranks the former Tottenham boss as a tactical genius . |
266,297 | e4e6591d2d154df885f08ba29e41edae72b1d7f1 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . Last updated at 11:00 AM on 20th January 2012 . Influential: Professor Stephen Hawking has placed a number of previously unseen personal items on display at the Science Museum in London . A new exhibition celebrating the life and work of renowned physicist Stephen Hawking to mark his 70th birthday was unveiled at the Science Museum today. The exhibition includes a wide range of objects, papers and photos, primarily sourced from the professor’s own collection which had been previously unavailable to the public. Among them is the blue suit worn by the professor for a zero-gravity flight in 2007, his original drawing of the Hawking Radiation mechanism and his annotated script for a 1999 guest appearance on the Simpsons. Professor Hawking has recorded a personal voice-over to be featured in the exhibition, in which he credits the museum for 'introducing young people to the wonder and excitement of scientific discovery'. Also on show is a series of photographic portraits of Hawking commissioned by the museum in December, along with a birthday gift to the professor - a special invention by its current inventor in residence, Mark Champkins. Entitled Black Hole Light, the invention is a model of the gravitational pull of a black hole and was due to be presented to Prof Hawking at a reception to launch the new display. Alison Boyle, curator of astronomy at the Science Museum, said: 'We have been very privileged to explore Prof Hawking’s archives, discovering early drafts of his hugely influential scientific papers alongside a rich array of popular material. 'We hope that the selection we have chosen to display will offer a unique insight into the career of the world’s best-known scientist.' Born in 1942, Hawking was diagnosed with motor neurone disease at the age of 21 and given two years to live. But he defied medical opinion by going on to become one of the most influential scientists of the 20th and 21st centuries. Scroll down for video . Personal collection: Some of the objects, papers and books on display at the Science Museum exhibition celebrating Prof Hawking's 70th birthday . Cartoon capers: An annotated script from a 1999 episode of TV show The Simpsons which featured Prof Hawking . Genius: This working diagrammatic paper by British physicist Professor Stephen Hawking entitled 'Black Hole and Unpredictability' is also on display . He is currently Director of Research at the Institute for Theoretical Cosmology at Cambridge University and is the author of international bestseller A Brief History of Time. His other books for the general reader include A Briefer History of Time, the essay collection Black Holes and Baby Universe and The Universe in a Nutshell. Professor Hawking was awarded the CBE in 1982 and is a fellow of the Royal Society and a Member of the US National Academy of Science. His story: This blue suit worn by Prof Hawking during a zero-gravity flight in 2007 is among the objects on show . Science to the masses: Some of Prof Hawking's books including his international bestseller A Brief History Of Time . | Items include his zero-gravity space suit and Simpsons script . |
161,164 | 5c5808b069b43c371a1a48f066bae3c0680c9120 | Swimmers and surfers were forced to evacuate at the weekend following the sighting of a great white shark at a coastal beach. Several jet skis and speed boats scoured the water at Merewether Beach on the coastline of NSW after the shark alarm sounded around 1pm on Saturday. The coastal stretch between Nobbys and Stockton beaches in Newcastle remain closed for a third straight day after lifeguards spotted the large shark on Monday morning. It's believed to be the same shark that was first spotted across the weekend and it appears to have moved up north, with the entire coastline being shut down to beachgoers. Scroll down for video . Following the sighting of a great white shark at Merewether Beach, the entire coastline remains shut down . Nearby resident, 14-year-old keen surfer Nicholas Tonks captured a photograph of the five-metre shark swimming behind a lifesaver on a jetski on Saturday. 'My house is pretty close to the beach so when I heard the shark alarm go off, I grabbed my camera and quickly dashed down,' the young photographer told Daily Mail Australia. 'I was overlooking the beach and saw a lot of jetskis around so I looked through the lens of my camera and snapped a few shots. It wasn't until I got home, I realised I got a picture of the shark.' 'There were no attacks reported but the lifeguards did a great job to maintain and get everyone out of the water - they were very visual on their jetskis as well.' Swimmers were forced to evacuate at the weekend following the sighting of a great white shark at a beach . Newcastle beaches have been closed for a third straight day following the sighting of a great white shark . Nobbys beach inspector Paul Bernard said: 'Our beaches are currently closed and the rest of the city's beaches will once again be closed today.' A Westpac helicopter patrol returned with no sighting on Monday morning but lifeguards are continuing their watch. 'People have been sighting it from the break walls and lifeguards have been seeing fins in the water,' Mr Bernard told AAP. 'It's quite irregular to have them hanging around constantly,' he said. He cited increased marine activity, overcast and warm weather as possible reasons for the shark's prolonged presence. It comes just less than a week after multiple sharks were spotted at the iconic Bondi Beach, forcing beachgoers out of the water and shutting down for a couple of hours until it was all clear again. Several jet skis and speed boats scoured the water after the shark alarm sounded around 1pm on Saturday . Lifeguards spotted the shark on Monday and are monitoring its progress between Nobbys and Stockton . | Great white shark forces lifeguards to shut down all the city's beaches .
Swimmers were forced to dash for the shores about 1pm on Saturday .
Nicholas Tonks, 14, captured the shark after the alarm was raised .
Lifesavers spotted the giant shark again on Monday morning .
The beaches remain closed while lifeguards are monitoring its progress . |
160,580 | 5b9a4dc5b290e097858f8a4179692d440494683b | Marriage is as important to the future of the nation as climate change and poverty, a senior family lawyer said yesterday. Baroness Deech said the growing numbers of families without fathers was doing more harm to the next generation than other factors such as smoking, alcohol, poor diet and lack of exercise. And she warned that a conspiracy of silence surrounded the issue because political leaders were afraid to say married families were better for children than cohabiting families or single parent families. 'Conspiracy of silence': Politicians are now too afraid to offend single parent families, says Lady Deech . Lady Deech, who is head of the Bar Standards Board, made her remarks at a conference organised by the Marriage Foundation, a pressure group led by High Court family judge Sir Paul Coleridge. She said marriage was based on a public promise and evidence showed married parents were twice as likely to stay together through a child’s early years as cohabiting parents. Children of single mothers have greater problems than those of cohabitee parents, and children of cohabitees have greater problems than those of married parents. ‘Since this is so incontrovertible, why is it so brave, as Sir Humphrey would put it, to tackle the desirability of marriage over cohabitation, both for adults and children?’ Lady Deech asked. ‘The topic has become a no-go area. ‘We live in a world where we are encouraged to take care of our own and our children’s health: we are constantly admonished to take exercise, eat healthily, wear a cycle helmet, study the side of the package, stop smoking, recycle, combat global warming, brush our teeth, control our drinking habits and have health checks. But when it comes to the one issue that does more harm to the next generation than any of these – the absence of a father in the family – there is a conspiracy of silence. Championing marriage: Baroness Ruth Deech says children of single mothers and cohabitees have greater problems than those of married parents . ‘Politicians fear to address it. It is time to place marriage issues up there along with climate change, poverty and peace as a topic pre-eminently relevant to the present and future happiness and health of all people.’ Lady Deech said those who favoured cohabitation often said marriage was ‘only a piece of paper’, adding: ‘It is clearly a very important piece of paper, nonetheless, of the utmost significance to life, equal love and happiness, say the gay community, when gay marriage is on the agenda.’ Other kinds of relationship are seen as lesser than marriage, she added. ‘Children deserve natural parents who are prepared to make the act of commitment and aspiration found only in marriage, in order to demonstrate to those children that they intend to be there for them, without question, as they grow up. ‘The wedding ceremony highlights the fact that marriage is the strongest bond ever invented to link together two people and two families, for now and posterity – intimately, legally, politically, religiously, civilly and publicly.’ Lady Deech added that same-sex couples who have entered civil partnerships are pressing to have marriage, which is seen as a ‘better alternative’. | Supporting marriage has become a 'no go area' for our politicians says Baroness Deech .
She says an absence of fathers is 'harming' the next generation of children .
Politicians are 'too afraid' of offending cohabiting partners or single parents . |
241,436 | c481a999c996671bf34214e02fa29162064a6c4f | By . Richard Spillett . Jennifer Marley (pictured) stole from Mavis Patey, whose family say the shock of the betrayal killed the pensioner . A care worker caught stealing cash from a pensioner - who later died from the stress - has walked free from court. Jennifer Marley, 54, took £1,000 from Mavis Patey, but was arrested after the 79-year-old's family became suspicious and set up secret cameras. Mrs Patey's relatives were left furious yesterday after Marley got off with a suspended sentence for her crimes. Mrs Patey's son, Gary McKinnon, said the sentence was 'very lenient' and sent the wrong message to others tempted to steal. He said: 'What do you have to do to get sent to prison? It was just greed. When my mother found out she just lost the will to live. She did not want to go on with her life.' The court heard Mrs Patey's family suspected Marley was stealing and installed security cameras in the elderly woman's house in Plymouth, Devon. After the footage showed Marley rummaging through the OAP's drawers and stealing an envelope containing £1,000 in cash, the family called in the police. Marley, of Plymouth, denied one charge of stealing an envelope containing £1,000 between September and November 2012 and pleaded not guilty to the attempted theft of more cash, in an envelope containing plain paper. But a jury found her guilty of both of those counts following a trial in January. She was acquitted of the theft of two further envelopes containing £1,000, which the family say disappeared from the same chest of drawers. The court heard retired nurse Mrs Patey trusted Marley so much, she asked her to become her preferred carer and take over visits from other care workers. Scroll down for video . Mrs Patey's family set up secret cameras in her home after becoming suspicious of Marley . The images showed the carer looking through the pensioner's drawers and taking envelopes of money . Mrs Patey has since died and her family say she was killed by the shock of watching the CCTV footage. Marley was sentenced to 40-weeks in prison, suspended for two years, at Plymouth Crown Court yesterday. Sentencing . Marley, Judge Paul Darlow said: 'This was a gross breach of . the trust of an old lady who thought she had formed a caring, trusting . relationship. And this is how you repaid her.' Mrs Patey's family say she was left very upset after seeing her trusted carer stealing from her . Despite being found guilty of theft, Marley avoided prison on a suspended sentence this week . Marley had . told the jury she took the money and the fake notes in a bid to attract . the attention of employers First Call, but the judge said he found her explanation 'implausible'. Ali Rafati, for Marley, said she had spent her life in the care industry but would now never work in that field again. Mr Rafati claimed: 'She is a mature woman who is extremely unlikely to appear in court again.' Marley resigned from the agency where she had worked since 2003 after she was interviewed by police. | Jennifer Marley, 54, worked as a carer for Mavis Patey, 79, for six months .
After being made her preferred carer, she stole money from her home .
Mrs Patey's family became suspicious and set up secret cameras .
Marley found guilty by jury of stealing £1,000 from chest of drawers .
But she avoided prison on a suspended sentence for the 'breach of trust'
Family say shock of being victim of crime killed retired nurse Mrs Patey . |
222,528 | ac136036b68e719abc995c4040a42c39f7dc1019 | For 15 years, the makers of racing game Gran Turismo have created cars so outlandish they’d never feasibly make it in the real world - until now. Volkswagen has taken the designs for a GTI Roadster, destined to appear in the next installment of the PlayStation game, and turned it into a reality. The supercar has 20-inch alloy wheels, a top speed of 190mph (306 km/h) and goes from 0 to 60 in under 3.6 seconds. Scroll down for video . Volkswagen has taken the designs for a GTI Roadster, destined to appear in the next installment of racing game Gran Turismo, and turned it into a reality. The supercar, pictured, has 20-inch alloy wheels, a top speed of 190mph (306 km/h) and goes from 0 to 60 in under 3.6 seconds . The GTI Roadster supercar has 20-inch alloy wheels, a top speed of 190mph (306 km/h) and goes from 0 to 60 in under 3.6 seconds. The angular-looking GTI Roadster has a large spoiler and is fitted with a 3-litre, twin-turbocharged V6 engine. This develops 500bhp and 413lb ft of torque to propel the car’s kerb weight of 1,420kg. It additionally has a seven speed DSG gearbox and Volkswagen’s 4MOTION all-wheel-drive system. Elsewhere, the car doesn’t have a roof. This puts it on par with the Ferrari FF, for example. It has been on display at the Woerthersee car show in Germany this week, but sadly the model that’s been built is a one-off concept. Volkswagen said it has no current plans to put the supercar into mass production, and make it widely available. The angular-looking GTI Roadster has a large spoiler and is fitted with a 3-litre, twin-turbocharged V6 engine. This develops 500bhp and 413lb ft of torque to propel the car’s 1,420kg weight. The supercar, illustration pictured, is the work of three Volkswagen designers, who won a competition to design a vehicle to celebrate the 15th anniversary of Gran Turismo. It has been on display at the Woerthersee car show in Germany this week, but sadly the model that's been built is a one-off concept . The angular-looking GTI Roadster, illustration pictured, has a large spoiler and is fitted with a 3-litre, twin-turbocharged V6 engine. This develops 500bhp and 413lb ft of torque to propel the car's 1,420kg weight. Volkswagen said it has no current plans to put the supercar into mass production . It additionally has a seven speed DSG gearbox and Volkswagen’s 4MOTION all-wheel-drive system. Elsewhere, the car doesn’t have a roof. The GTI Roadster is the work of three Volkswagen designers, who won an in-house competition to design a vehicle to celebrate the 15th anniversary of Gran Turismo. Klaus Bischoff, head of design at Volkswagen, said: ‘When Sony asked us if we would develop a Vision GT vehicle exclusively for the game to mark the 15th anniversary of Gran Turismo we didn’t hesitate for a moment.’ This image is a screen shot from the Arcade Mode of Gran Turismo 6. In this mode, players take part in single races against computer-controlled enemy cars, or take on a single player time trial or drift trial . It additionally has a seven speed DSG gearbox and Volkswagen's 4MOTION all-wheel-drive system. Players will be able to download the digital version of the car, pictured, for Gran Turismo 6 next month . | The GTI Roadster was originally designed for Sony’s Gran Turismo 6 .
Designers created the car for the 15th anniversary of the racing game .
Volkswagen has now made the car a reality, but it is only a one-off concept .
It has 20-inch alloy wheels and reaches 62mph (99 km/h) in 3.6 seconds .
The vehicle has been on display at the Woerthersee car show in Germany . |
154,283 | 5363956194705b8573258702ddce1cc704d2b6f4 | Dhaka (CNN) -- Bangladesh has smashed a record set by Pakistan last year by forming the world's largest human flag, Guinness World Records has confirmed. Tens of thousands of Bangladeshi students and armed forces held up red and green colored placards in Dhaka's National Parade Ground last month to create the huge Bangladeshi national symbol. The formation broke a record set in October 2012, in Pakistan, when 24,000 people assembled a flag in the city of Lahore. On December 16, a total of 27,117 people held the flag together for at least five minutes, following instructions provided by Guinness World Records. "This is the first time our nation is breaking a record like this with Pakistan," said Akhika Akhtar, a 17-year-old student who heard about the event from her professors. The date was chosen to celebrate Bangladesh's Victory Day, according to an event organizer, Toffael Rashid. Victory Day commemorates the day Bangladesh officially gained independence from Pakistan on December 16, 1971, after a nine-month war that left between 1 million and 3 million people dead. An accounting firm oversaw the record-breaking attempt and submitted materials to Guinness World Records, which verified the record. | Bangladesh sets new record for world's largest flag .
More than 27,000 students and members of the army held placards .
Organizers attempted the record on Bangladesh's Victory Day . |
109,278 | 18dbdae41d607b0da5f3c845b68c2779832e349a | By . Lizzie Parry . PUBLISHED: . 07:04 EST, 18 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:20 EST, 18 December 2013 . Joshua Makin died after taking the nicotine patch-style painkiller fentanyl as a joke at a party in September 2012 . A trainee legal clerk died after swallowing a nicotine patch-style painkiller while experimenting with recreational drugs at a party. Joshua Makin ate the single super-strength opiate patch as a joke, not realising it would give him 50 times the recommended safe dose. Hours after the 20-year-old went to bed laughing with his girlfriend about taking the drugs, which should have been attached to his hip, he died in his sleep as he lay next to his girlfriend. Waking to discover her boyfriend lifeless next to her, Summer Harrison alerted a friend who called 999. But paramedics who rushed to help were unable to revive Mr Makin, an apprentice at a solicitor's firm. Investigations into what happened revealed the patch taken by Mr Makin was from a batch of fentanyl, which had been prescribed to a former airline pilot who suffered chronic back pain. The drugs had been stolen by the man's college dropout son and sold to friends at the party, Mr Makin and his girlfriend had been at the night before his death. A coroner today recorded a verdict of misadventure after examining the circumstances leading to the 20-year-old's death. Reacting to the verdict, his mother Louise said: 'Anybody trying recreational drugs is playing Russian roulette with their lives. 'If they truly knew what we had gone through after Josh’s death, I would hope they would never do it again. It’s been hell since he died.' The hearing heard Mr Makin, from Ashton-on-Mersey in Greater Manchester, and Miss Harrison had been invited to stay at the home of his friend Jonathan Drinkhill, while his parents were away in September last year. The pair played FIFA on a games console and listened to music, while taking recreational drugs including valium and ketamine. Joshua Makin, pictured left with his mother Louise, was found lifeless in bed the morning after a sleepover party at a friend's house, by his girlfriend Summer Harrison, right . Mr Makin ate the 100mg patch of fentanyl, pictured left is a 75mg version, giving himself 50 times the recommended dose according to toxicologist Julie Evans. Right, Louise Makin arriving at the inquest . Mr Drinkhill, 21, said: 'We got 10 tablets of valium and 1g of ketamine and made it last a few hours. 'We both felt fine and happy. We played on the computer and drank some lager and then Josh’s girlfriend came round.' Ambrose Murray was jailed in November to 18 months in prison for supplying Class A drugs. He stole the fentanyl patches from his father, who suffered chronic back pain . Later former grammar school dropout Ambrose Murray, 22, turned up at the sleepover with a batch of drugs he had stolen from his father, by sneaking a key from his dressing gown to open a locked draw. Murray, from Altrincham, had already posted messages on Facebook a week earlier saying: 'Does anyone there want to buy fents?' When he arrived at Mr Drinkhill’s house in Timperley he emptied the patches out of his pocket on to a table. Mr Drinkhill added: 'I had never heard of them before this and didn’t have any idea what they were. They looked like a nicotine patch and you had to break the seal to get in. 'We took one each and placed it on our waist like Ambrose said. 'Soon after that everyone left but Joshua placed a patch on his forehead and then placed the patch in his mouth. 'He was joking around when he put it on his forehead - trying to get a laugh out of me. 'He put the same patch in his mouth and swallowed it. He then went to sleep and so did I. 'In the morning I was woken by his girlfriend who said there was something wrong with him so I rushed in the front room and called an ambulance.' Mr Makin's girlfriend Miss Harrison wept as she told the hearing: 'Ambrose had the patches and they said they were going to buy them and they were going to give him the money the next day. 'They were asking about opiates and your tolerance levels and Ambrose said you just put it on your skin. Joshua put one on his hip. I didn’t see him do any more. 'When Ambrose and the others left I was tired so me and Joshua went to go to sleep on the sofa. He did go out the room to speak to Jonathan and came in with a patch on his head and I didn’t know what it was. 'He came in again laughing saying he had swallowed it but I didn’t know what it was so didn’t know if it was anything to worry about. We were lying down and talking until we went to sleep. 'When I woke up I noticed a rash on him which looked like purple blotches or bruises on his side. 'I tried to wake him but he didn’t wake up. I ran to get Jonathon then telephoned the ambulance and tried to start CPR. The ambulance arrived but he was dead.' A toxicology report found Josh had 52.4mg of fentanyl per litre of blood. Those using the prescription painkiller for its intended purpose require between 1.9 and 3.8mg per litre. Fentanyl is an opiate painkiller, similar to morphine. The drug has a rapid onset and short duration. It is approximately 100 times more potent than morphine. Intravenous fentanyl is commonly used as anesthesia in the operating theatre. The patch is used in the management of chronic pain. They work by releasing the drug into body fat underneath the skin, which then slowly releases into the bloodstream over 48 to 72 hours. The patches provide long-lasting pain relief. A typical patch will start to take effect within eight to 12 hours. Dosage is based on the size of the patch. Toxicologist Julie Evans told the inquest Mr Makin took 50 times the recommended dose. She said: 'Fentanyl patches are designed to slowly release the drugs over three days - a trickle feed. If someone swallows them it’s released much quicker. 'The acid in the stomach breaks it down and the drug is released. A 100mg patch would contain 16,800mg of drug as it is designed to release 100mg per hour. 'It’s an opioid - a synthetic opiate. It’s a depressant for the central nervous system and slows the heart down which has a knock-on effect. 'It’s more falling asleep and not waking up as apposed to anything violent. You go to sleep and your heart rate stops.' Murray was jailed for 18 months in November for supplying Class A drugs. Coroner Joanne Kearsley said: 'Joshua was a young man who together with friends thought that using drugs was a way they wanted to spend time and money - but what happened was a highly tragic consequence. 'He was loved by his friends and he was outgoing and popular. This appears to be a mindless impulsive act which has tragically led to his death. 'Hopefully it can teach a lesson to any of his friends or young people who use drugs. I hope his death acts as a warning.' The medicine which is similar to morphine, is used for treating chronic pain and induces relaxation and euphoria. Skin patches containing fentanyl are designed to be worn like a nicotine patch for 72 hours, releasing the drug slowly into the bloodstream. It takes 12 hours for the full effects of the patch, often used for terminal illnesses, to wear off. But several patients have claimed they became addicted to the drug. | Joshua Makin ate nicotine patch-style painkiller as a joke while at party .
20-year-old was sold the opiate by Ambrose Murray, who stole the drugs from his father who was prescribed them to ease chronic back pain .
Murray was jailed for 18 months in November for supplying Class A drugs .
Toxicologist said Mr Makin took 50 times the recommended dose . |
188,027 | 7f7d959f898bf5c47a6fadf47b7295ae79911465 | The big freeze will turn into a deep freeze tomorrow as temperatures hurtle down to -8C (18F) in parts of rural Britain. It came as forecasters put out weather warnings for ice and snow across the country, predicting the arrival of snow in London, Surrey and Hampshire by Thursday. Residents affected by last week’s floods were also warned to expect around an inch of rain.Some 40 flood alerts were issued for the South East and South West alone. Scroll down for video . Festive scene: A flurry of snow hits the north-east of Scotland on the A957 in Aberdeenshire, with freezing conditions making driving hazardous across the country . Chill in the air: A high pressure front moving from Siberia into Scandinavia, and then ridging westwards, can give the British Isles a bitter easterly airflow . Sarah Holland, a Met Office . forecaster, said: ‘There are going to be some snow showers around the . east coast tomorrow, possibly up to an inch or two in places. ‘We could also see some snow flurries and wintry showers over northern . parts of England and Wales. 'Temperatures will only get up to about 3C . (37F) and we also have a big ice warning for Wales and the South East. ‘We also have a band of rain moving in from the South West bringing up to 25mm (nearly an inch) in a short, sharp burst. ‘After the recent heavy rain there is a chance we could see some . localised flooding and potentially hazardous driving conditions. ‘There will be widespread frosts and in the Midlands we could see . temperatures dip to possibly -8C (18F) in rural locations overnight.’ Many believe Britain could be heading towards one of the coldest winters . on record. The conditions are being put down to high pressure over Scandinavia, which has seen cold air tearing over Britain from the north-east and raising hopes for a white Christmas. Shovelling snow: Adam Middler clears the street outside his house Huntly, Aberdeenshire . Take care: Snow and rain has turned to slush, adding to the perilous conditions on the roads . The Big . Freeze that heralded the start of December is set to continue, with . sleet, snow and hail covering much of the country all week. The . cold snap will persist, with temperatures dropping to a . lower-than-average -8C in Scotland and four inches of snow expected . tomorrow, and another four inches likely later in the week. High pressure in Scandinavia can . indicate one of the most well-known snow setups, in which the pressure . front moves from Siberia into Scandinavia, and then ridges westwards, . giving the British Isles a chilly easterly airflow. Continental air from Russia is very cold and dry, but as this air passes over the North Sea, it warms up and picks up moisture. This . gives rise to layers of grey cloud and mostly dull dry weather, with a . little drizzle or fine powdery snow for eastern areas. When . the high pressure to our north is not particularly strong, or the . airmass has a long track over the North Sea, or there is a strong . contrast between surface and upper-air temperatures, there may be enough . instability in the atmosphere to produce cumulonimbus clouds. These can give rise to heavy prolonged snow showers for eastern Britain, and snow flurries for western Britain. BBC weather forecaster Chris Fawkes tweeted today: 'I spy with my little eye Scandinavian high. Ecmwf [European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts] forecast middle of December could bring us really bitter snowy weather....fingers crossed!' The wintry conditions are expected to last all month, unleashing sub-zero temperatures, freezing fog and icy 30mph winds. Bookies last night slashed the odds of a white Christmas to 5/1 in the capital and to 6/1 in other cities across the country. Dangerous corner: A van driver luckily escaped uninjured after he was left hanging perilously over the edge of Hebble Brook in Salterhebble . Close shave: A local resident had warned of the risk to drivers because of the collapsed wall . Unseasonal surprise: Summer flower the cistus in full bloom at the Lost Gardens of Heligan in Cornwall despite the recent rain and frost . The Met Office and police have issued warnings to drivers over ice and snow on the roads. One driver in . Salterhebble, Halifax, last night had a lucky escape when . his van was left hanging 10 feet above a stream after skidding on ice and ploughing through a collapsed wall. The incident happened at around . 7.30am when the van slipped perilously close to the Hebble Brook in the West Yorkshire town. Earlier this year, a resident warned of the danger facing drivers using the road because of the collapsed wall. Chilling intelligence: A young fox forages for food through the ice hardened field in Cumbernauld, Lanarkshire . Atmospheric beauty: Icy fog hangs over a farmhouse in Glen near Cumbernauld . Gorgeous view: Horse looks out over the frosty glen in Lanarkshire with Glasgow far in the background . Bleak midwinter: The wild countryside of central Scotland is bathed in a soft, pale light as the sun shines through the icy fog . Cold and bright: Forecast from the Met Office for conditions at 12pm over the next three days . There she blows: How a high pressure front in Scandinavia can bring freezing winds and snow showers into Britain . There were several accidents throughout the area after rain . turned to ice overnight, but nobody has been hurt. Met . Office forecaster Dan Sabbagh said: 'We've got a warning for ice and . snow out on the roads, especially in the north-east of Scotland. 'There could be two to four inches . (5-10cm) of snowfall on high ground there until 12pm tomorrow, with up . to two inches (5cm) on lower ground. 'There will be showers this evening in south-west areas, mixed with thunder and hail. 'Rain, sleet and snow could be anywhere overnight, with snow on high ground throughout the Midlands and the North.' 'Tomorrow it will be dry and cold, mainly 3-4C in the North but possibly reaching 6C in the South. 'It will be a cold night, with some cities reaching -4C and the coldest parts of Scotland dipping to -8C. 'We'll wake to widespread frost on Thursday with a rainfront coming in from the North-East, and some snow here and there.' Age Concern warned elderly people in . the North West, North East, Yorkshire & Humber, West Midlands, East . Midlands, and East of England that there was a strong chance of icy . conditions and/or temperatures falling below 2C from Tuesday evening . until Friday 7 December. They advised people with health . concerns to keep bedroom windows closed at night, wrap up well when they . go outside and keep bedrooms at 18C. The organisation's website adds: . 'Exposure to cold weather for prolonged periods of time can be . dangerous. 'It raises the risk of heart attacks and strokes, and can . cause problems for people with breathing difficulties such as asthma.' It has been a colder than average start to December, with average lows at -2 to -8C, where usually they are 1C. The Met Office said today that it is likely to be a colder than average Christmas, but this does not necessarily guarantee snow. VIDEO: The history of the white Christmas... | Sleet, frost and four inches of snow are expected tomorrow .
Cold air from Siberia passing over the North Sea from Scandinavia can pick up moisture, creating snow flurries .
Wintry conditions are expected to last all month, unleashing sub-zero temperatures, freezing fog and icy 30mph winds .
One driver left hanging over stream after his van skidded on ice .
Bookies have slashed the odds on a white Christmas .
Met Office admitted it was likely to be colder than average on December 25 .
Temperatures for the start of the month are 6C colder than usual . |
141,725 | 4347b22279c4e3650880231d2ed63191ff968d7a | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 18:00 EST, 4 September 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 18:00 EST, 4 September 2012 . The first human cases of a mosquito borne virus, previously only found in animals, have been found in Vermont causing widespread fear of an impending epidemic. The Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) virus, which can be deadly a third of the time, has struck two victims who have been hospitalized with flu like symptoms. But health officials fear the virus could develop into a serious strain of the illness that can be fatal. Public health officials fear the easy spread of the mosquito-borne virus, similar to the West Nile virus . The two cases for the state were found in residents in Rutland and Addison counties, in western Vermont, though no information has been released about the identities of the patients. In humans, the virus can develop into two types of illness. The first, which is least worrisome, causes flu like symptoms and typically lasts one or two weeks. But the more serious form attacks the central nervous system, causing fever, headache, irritability, restlessness, drowsiness, convulsions and coma. It causes death in a third of all cases, which have been found mainly in Massachusetts, and can leave survivors with serious neurological damage. 'It's impossible to tell which people will develop the more severe illness,' Vermont State Epidemiologist Dr Patsy Kelso told WFFF-TV. 'Like I said with eastern equine virus a number of people develop that more serious illness and it's fatal about a third of the time,' she added. EEE is spread by the bite of an infected mosquito and has been found in other areas in New England . EEE is spread by the bite of an infected mosquito and has been found in other communities across New England. In Vermont, it was first discovered in emus in the state in September 2011. There is a vaccine for horses, emus, llamas and alpacas but no vaccine for humans. 'Last year there was an emu farm that had a die off from eastern equine and so we've been anticipating that we might see some human cases and unfortunately we have this year,' Kelso said. 'The reason we're seeing it here now is the weather. Hot dry summers are perfect for mosquitoes, conditions that have been seen all over Vermont this year.' Public health officials in Vermont fear the fast spread of the illness and local officials are working on measures to keep the virus contained. Officials in Vermont will spray pesticides to control the mosquito population, using aerial spraying similar to this twin-engine plane used in Dallas to control the West Nile virus . The EEE virus, as well as West Nile Virus, were both detected in mosquito pools in the two counties. The Vermont Department of Health and Agency of Agriculture will be spraying pesticides from aircraft to control mosquitoes. 'The severe form of EEE is a terrible disease, and we want to take every reasonable action to prevent people from becoming infected,' Health Commissioner Harry Chen said in a statement. 'These viruses will continue to circulate until the first freeze. Although spraying will help reduce the risk of infection, it's important that we all take personal precautions to avoid mosquito bites no matter where we live,' the statement added. In addition to spraying for mosquitoes, officials are warning Vermont residents to wear long sleeves shirts and pants and to avoid being outdoors after dark.# . The West Nile virus was first discovered in the U.S. in 1999. So far in 2012, 66 people have died from West Nile virus infections and the number of people infected is now at 1,590, according to U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. | EEE virus can cause death in a third of the cases .
Previously only found in animals .
Public health officials are going on the defense, spraying for pesticides and warning people to stay indoors . |
171,380 | 69d07c18a6033a04275b83a417f40ebe2fdf5a23 | A shopper was given a nasty shock while preparing a pork casserole recipe - when he discovered an inch-long beetle festering in the packet of pork. Shiva Govinden, 36, from Tarring in West Sussex, was appalled when he found the bug inside the pork belly slices from Tesco. Mr Govinden, a special needs teaching assistant, was so disgusted he immediately returned the British pork belly slices to his local Tesco Express store and demanded an apology. Shiva Govinden found the beetle inside the British pork belly he was about to serve up in a casserole . He said it had taken the supermarket six weeks to investigate his case and vowed to never return to the chain. He said: 'It was pretty disgusting. I just put it into the casserole dish ready to go into the oven and there was a beetle an inch-long. 'I took it back to them straight away. 'I feel extremely disappointed about the length of time taken by Tesco to commence an investigation into what is a public safety issue and a very poor standard of customer service. 'I hope that Tesco learn to improve their food safety and investigative procedures as it should not take over six weeks to confirm what type of beetle was found in one of their pork belly packets. 'It's appalling. They are treating it as if it's just another foreign body. 'If you've got one thing like that then surely you want to get to the bottom of it straight away. 'It's just not right. You wouldn't accept it from a restaurant, so why a supermarket?' Mr Govinden said he was 'disgusted' by his discovery and vowed to never return to Tesco . And the disgusted shopper said he would never shop at Tesco again. He added: 'They treat loyal customers like animals and serve them food not fit for pigs.' A Tesco spokesman said: 'We set ourselves extremely high standards for our food and were disappointed to hear of this incident. 'We appreciate Mr Govinden returning the product to us so our suppliers can investigate and we have offered him a gesture of goodwill.' | Shiva Govinden found the beetle in the pork while preparing a casserole .
He returned the meat to the Tesco Express in Worthing, West Sussex .
The disgusted 36-year-old vowed to never shop at Tesco again .
Claimed it took the supermarket six weeks to issue a formal apology . |
123,325 | 2b6c60ae97ed4e484211615439edaabf675f3780 | A doctor has launched the first clinic in the country offering facials - for your derriere. Using peels, laser therapy and moisturising techniques, the £300 treatments are being offered due to stars such as Kim Kardashian and Rihanna proudly parading their derrieres in 'belfies' or 'bottom selfies' across social media. Dr Carlos Xavier said that there have already been dozens of both men and women queueing up to undergo one of the treatments, which can even be offered during a lunch hour. Scroll down for video . Dr Xavier carrying out the procedure at the first clinic in the country offering facials for your bottom using peels, laser therapy and moisturising techniques . Stars like Kim Kardashian and Kelly Brook (R) proudly parading their derrieres in 'belfies' or 'bottom selfies' across social media are thought to be why there is increased demand for bottom facials . He said the treatments promise to rejuvenate and enhance posteriors and are the first of their kind in the UK. The Ultimate Butt Facial - available at Natura Anti-Ageing Clinic in Manchester - uses the latest peels, lasers and moisturising treatments to polish your posterior to perfection. Bosses said the treatment, tailored to the individual, can be done in a lunch time, leaving your buns toned, polished, radiant and camera ready, with minimal downtime. Dr Carlos Xavier, who carries out the treatments, says it is becoming increasingly popular. Judith Liriano, 21, had the procedure done to rid her bottom of cellulite, dimples, and dark spots in America (left before, right, after) and she couldn't be happier with the results . He said: 'I first carried this treatment out in the USA, now it's caught on at my clinic here and why not? We use these treatments to great effect on our faces and other areas; this treatment works just as well on our bottoms. It can help target cellulite, skin issues and enhance the tone and appearance of your skin. I'm expecting a peak in demand as people head for the sun this winter.' Sarah Thompson 28, a PA from Manchester, is a fan of Natura's Butt Facial: 'I love it, I've always had facial treatments and I don't see this as any different. 'It used to be all about how your breasts looked, but my bum is my best asset and deserves looking after; now it's really smooth and healthier looking, I'm much happier and more confident too.' Judith Liriano gets a chemical peel from Amanda Sanzone as part of getting her $500 (£300) butt facial at Dr. Matthew Schulman's plastic surgery office in New York, where bottom facials are already popular . Registered with the General Medical Council for over twenty five years, Dr Xavier has more than thirty years medical experience, including anaesthetics, is a member of the British Association of Cosmetic Doctors; the American Society of Laser Surgery and Medicine and the International Dermoscopy Society. Already established in America, a treatment in New York costs roughly the same as in the UK. But despite the hefty price tag, increasing numbers of Americans are jumping on the butt facial bandwagon. Judith Liriano, 21, had the procedure done to rid her bottom of cellulite, dimples, and dark spots and she couldn't be happier with the results. Speaking about the treatment, Judith said: 'Every girl wants to feel confident when they're on the beach - before I tried the booty facial, I wasn't as confident as I am now. I don't think you could put a price tag on looking good and feeling good.' | The 'bottom facial' is already popular in America .
Improves appearance and tone of buttocks .
Uses chemical peels, laser therapy and moisturising techniques .
First clinic in the UK has now opened offering the £300 treatment . |
189,311 | 812ae81f3ab713c41825cf58a70d228d4ff67b8d | Washington (CNN) -- The Senate has taken up the Employment Nondiscrimination Act, a measure that would protect gay, lesbian and transgender employees in the workplace. While the measure has many obstacles to overcome before it would become law, the Senate's action to take up debate is historic, coming after decades of failure. Here's a look at how it got here: . 1974: The notion of protecting gay and lesbian workers in the workplace first surfaced in 1974, fueled by the Stonewall Rebellion five years earlier. The resistance by LGBT patrons at the Stonewall Inn by New York City police in 1969 shed a light on widespread discrimination and harassment. New York Reps. Bella Abzug and Ed Koch introduced broad anti-discrimination legislation in the House of Representatives that covered discriminatory practices in housing, the workplace and public institutions. It went nowhere. 1994: Twenty years later, in 1994, the fight for workplace protections began in earnest. The first version of the Employment Nondiscrimination Act was introduced in the House and the Senate. While it made discrimination in the workplace based on sexual orientation illegal, it did not include protections for transgender workers. 1996: Just two years later, the Senate took up the legislation. It failed, barely. The vote was 49-50. Vice President Al Gore waited in the wings to cast a tie-breaking vote. But Arkansas Sen. David Pryor, the father of the current Sen. Mark Pryor, was unable to attend the vote. 2007: The next time ENDA would receive a vote was in 11 years later. This time, the House took it up and passed it. This version, just like the Senate bill in 1996, did not offer protections for transgender workers; it just covered sexual orientation. The measure was placed on the Senate calendar but never made it to a vote. 2008: Barack Obama was elected to the presidency after campaigning for workplace protections for the LGBT community. Advocates had high hopes. 2009: Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-Massachusetts, passed the torch to newly elected Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon. It was an issue Kennedy had been working on, but, with his health failing, he asked Merkley to take up the initiative. Kennedy chose Merkley because he was speaker of the Oregon State House when the state version of ENDA passed. October 2009: Congress passed the first federal legislation to offer protections to transgender people. The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act updated the federal hate crimes law to include crimes against "actual or perceived" gay and transgender people. December 2010: Just over a month after the midterm elections, Congress passed and President Obama signed into law a repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," a President Bill Clinton-era initiative that prohibited openly lesbian and gay people from serving in the military. 2011: Merkley continued to work on ENDA. He approached newly elected Sen. Ron Kirk, R-Illinois, to work on a bipartisan bill. Kirk supported the ENDA legislation as a congressman in 2007. 2011: The Obama administration announced it would stop defending the Defense of Marriage Act. DOMA made it illegal for states to recognize same-sex marriages. Opponents of the President's decision challenged the administration, leading to the Supreme Court case United States v. Windsor. April 2012: With just more than six months until Election Day, Obama told LGBT advocates that he would not sign an executive order that would prohibit federal contracts from discriminating against gay and transgender workers. It was a major disappointment to the activists. Essentially it was ENDA for federal contractors. At the time, Tico Almeida, president of the group Freedom to Work, said this executive order was an easy initiative. It was "the low-hanging fruit," he said. May 2012: Just a month later, Obama came out in support of same-sex marriage. While he is the first president to do so, he did indicate that he would not push for federal legislation and said it's a matter best left to the states. February 2013: Congress passed an updated version of the Violence Against Women Act that included protections for gay and transgender people. June 2013: The Supreme Court struck down DOMA, calling it unconstitutional. July 2013: The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions committee voted ENDA out of committee, with the support of three Republicans. Sens. Kirk, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Orrin Hatch of Utah all voted for it, improving the legislation's chances. October 2013: All 53 Democrats and both Democratic-leaning independents confirmed their support for the legislation. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announced that he would bring the measure up for a vote. November 4, 2013: House Speaker John Boehner has announced his opposition. "The speaker believes this legislation will increase frivolous litigation and cost American jobs, especially small-business jobs," spokesman Michael Steel said. November 4, 2013: The Senate passed a key procedural vote that enables the upper chamber to take up the legislation. It's the first time the Senate has taken it up since 1996 and the first time it has included protections for transgender people. CNN's Deirdre Walsh and Ted Barrett contributed to this story . | Act would protect gay, lesbian and transgender employees in the workplace .
1974: First time legislation banning this type of discrimination is introduced .
1996: Senate takes up Employment Nondiscrimination Act; it loses in very close vote .
2012: President Barack Obama comes out in favor of same-sex marriage . |
259,681 | dc3355d0e59609ac2d30bc118a1283c87ee77ecd | (CNN) -- Don't bother to send in the clowns. A rash of "creepy clown" sightings in California has left some residents unnerved. It all appears to have started with the "Wasco Clown." According to KernGoldenEmpire.com, the clown's appearances -- and subsequent social media postings -- in the San Joaquin Valley city are part of a photography project launched by a husband and wife team who wish to remain anonymous. But copycat clowns have arrived on the scene, including one who was reportedly armed. The Bakersfield Californian said police received a call about someone in a clown suit brandishing a weapon. "We've had multiple (sightings) of these clown sightings all over town," Bakersfield police Lt. Jason Matson told the publication. "He was gone by the time we arrived." The Los Angeles Times said Bakersfield police arrested a teen in another incident in which he allegedly dressed as a clown and pursued other teens, scaring them. Coulrophobia is the formal term for the fear of clowns. | Sightings of "the Wasco Clown" are reportedly part of a project .
Bakersfield police say they've had multiple clown sightings .
A teen was arrested for dressing as a clown and chasing others . |
35,451 | 64c240b03602c2683abaa5aaad886a3db2bad274 | Arrest: Ryan McPherson (pictured in court in 2003) was jailed over the TV series Bumfights, in which homeless men attempt amateur stunts in exchange for money, alcohol, and other incentives . The two American tourists who fled Thailand after allegedly trying to post body parts to Las Vegas are film-makers who served time in prison for producing a show that paid homeless men to fight each other, it has been revealed. Ryan McPherson, 31, was questioned on Saturday after the gruesome discovery of a baby's head, a foot, 'sheets' of tattooed skin and an adult heart with stab-wounds, by staff at a DHL sorting office in Bangkok. The second suspect was reported to be Daniel Tanner, 33, a co-producer on the controversial television series, Bumfights. The parts - which police believe were stolen from a Bangkok hospital's 'Museum of Death' - were stored in plastic containers filled with formaldehyde, wrapped and addressed to Las Vegas. 'X-rays showed there were contents similar to human body parts. From our investigation of three parcels we found human body parts in five plastic containers,' Police Lieutenant General Ruangsak Jaritake, assistant to the National Police Commissioner, told reporters. 'The packages were marked 'children's toys' but x-rays showed they were not children's toys.' He said the boxes in fact contained a left foot, skull, face and heart of babies as well as pieces of skin tattooed with Khmer letters and tiger patterns. McPherson and Tanner told police they bought the items at a market and wanted to send them back to friends as a joke. Both men were released without charge, upon which they crossed into Cambodia yesterday, police said. But police have now demanded the two foreigners return 'for further investigation' over breaching customs laws. The controversial film-makers, from California, produced the popular TV series Bumfights, in which homeless men attempt amateur stunts in exchange for money, alcohol, and other incentives. Thai police officers show pictures of tattooed human skin during a press conference in Bangkok . But they were arrested after the first episode, Bumfights Vol. 1 – Cause For Concern, was released on DVD in 2002 and charged with misdemeanor charges of conspiracy to stage an illegal fight and sentenced to 280-hours of community service at a homeless shelter. But when McPherson failed to show up to the work, he was jailed for 180 days. One of the homeless men involved in the video was even paid to have the word 'Bumfights' tattooed on his forehead. In 2006, the filmmakers agreed to stop making Bumfights films and pay three of the homeless men featured as part of an out of court settlement. The men were attempting to sue the film's producers for emotional and physical damages suffered by appearing in the Bumfights videos. The Nation newspaper said, citing a police source, that he had left for Cambodia but promised to return to Thailand on November 25 to cooperate with police. The second man has not been identified. Policemen show pictures of body parts found in parcels as they address reporters in Bangkok . Police say one of the packages contained an adult 'sheet of skin' with tattoo markings . Police Col. Chumpol Poompuang told reporters that the American claimed he had bought the objects to 'spook' a friend 'for fun'. He told reporters: 'He said he thought the body parts were bizarre and wanted to send them to his friends in the US.' He said the men told police they had bought the infant's head and other organs from a night flea market at Saphan Phut (Memorial Bridge) but were unable to retrace their steps back to the shop. He confirmed the man was questioned for several hours before he was released without charges. Gruesome: DHL staff made the startling discovery when they scanned three packages . One of the American tourists told police the items were purchased at a night market in Bangkok . Police said the two suspects aged 31 and 33, and said they were being 'monitored', but did not say how. Both men fled Thailand on Sunday through a checkpoint in the east of the country, Ruangsak said. He said the heart had stab marks and belonged to an adult while the sheet of skin with tattoo markings also belonged to an adult. 'As soon as we have results, we will contact the FBI,' he said. The three packages were being sent to Las Vegas, including one that a tourist had addressed to himself . Doctors at Bangkok's Siriraj Hospital said that the body parts were taken from the hospital's Medical Museum, nicknamed the Museum of Death, which exhibits preserved human remains, many of them from murder victims. 'We can confirm that they were stolen from Siriraj,' Udom Kachintorn, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, told reporters. He added that the two Americans visited the museum last month. In 2012, Thai police arrested a British citizen of Taiwanese origin after discovering six human foetuses which had been roasted and covered in gold leaf stuffed into travel bags at a hotel room in Bangkok's Chinatown. Thai detectives said they believed the corpses were due to be sent to Taiwan to be used as part of a black magic ritual. | Staff at DHL sorting office in Bangkok made the startling discovery .
Police claim the packages were being sent to Las Vegas .
One of the tourists named as controversial filmmaker Ryan McPherson .
He produced TV series Bumfights, which exploited homeless men for cash .
American tourist told authorities he bought the items at a night market .
Police the parts were stolen from Bangkok hospital's 'Museum of Death' |
10,725 | 1e778c58b4430fddb9036349c4ef4287a2527ee0 | Millions of workers are being hit with extra tax demands as officials attempt to claw back under-payments - despite £300 million of reforms which were supposed to reduce errors. HM Revenue and Customs last night revealed 5.3 million people paid the wrong amount in 2013-14, including 3.5 million who paid too little and will have to make extra contributions in future years. Two million people who paid too much tax will be able to claim refunds. Refund errors: HM Revenue and Customs revealed 3.5million people paid too little, and will have to now pay more this year, while 5.3million have paid the wrong amount in the last 12 months . HMRC has now started writing to those affected by the errors, which average £300 per person and have occurred despite reforms costing £270 million - supposed to improve the accuracy of the pay-as-you-earn system. The number of people affected by errors has increased in 2013/14 from 5.2 million in 2012/13. Changes to the tax system are supposed to use ‘real time information’ under which employers report details of what tax payments they have made to HMRC on a weekly or monthly basis, to ensure they are correct. Response: HMRC has said that 2million people who paid too much tax will be able to claim refunds . The number of errors under the new system has disappointed businesses. Kate Upton, a payroll consultant, told the Daily Telegraph last night: ‘Taxpayers have spent hundreds of millions on RTI and employers have had to spend hundreds of millions to use the new system, so we are entitled to expect significantly fewer errors in the process.’ An HMRC spokesman said: ‘There will always be end-of-year reconciliation due to the way PAYE works. Most people pay the right tax throughout the year, but there will always be a small percentage of the 41 million people in PAYE who have underpayments or overpayments at year end. ‘This could be because they have moved jobs, received a number of different sources of income or received benefits-in-kind that were only reported at the end of the year.’ He added: ‘The effect of Real Time Information is not reflected yet as it has not bedded in but, over time, RTI will help to reduce the number of cases that have to be reconciled. The estimates quoted for reconciliations in 2013-14 are based upon actual numbers in 2012-13.’ | It has been revealed that 5.3million paid wrong amount in 2013-14 .
Two million people who paid too much tax will be able to claim refunds .
HMRC has now started writing to all those affected by the errors . |
36,039 | 664db2a7033130ebcc19d219be9a061f83d02443 | A Utah State University football player has been suspended from the team for a violation of team rules on the same day police reported he was seeking sexual favors from a prostitute. Gregory Weichers, 20, a State wide receiver was issued a citation Tuesday on suspicion of solicitation of a prostitute, a Class B misdemeanor. Logan Police Chief Gary Jensen has not made any additional comment on the charges and no further details have been released. Player: Gregory Weichers, 20, has been suspended from the team for a violation of team rules . Prostitute: Utah State wide receiver Gregory Weichers was cited on suspicion of soliciting a prostitute . Game: Weichers, seen here, right, is facing a class B misdemeanor charge stemming from an Oct. 22 incident . But the incident is alleged to have taken place on October 22. Weichers, a graduate of Bingham High School, is the son of Greg Weichers, a former safety who once played for the Brigham Young University Cougars. The freshman has played in all nine games for Utah State this season, catching 10 passes for 84 yards. He had a career-high three receptions for 27 yards in the Aggies' 35-14 win at Hawaii on Saturday. He also played on special teams for USU this season, returning four punts for three yards and one kickoff for zero yards, according to The Herald Journal. Game: Weichers had a career-high three receptions for 27 yards in the Aggies' 35-14 win at Hawaii Saturday . Engagement: A Facebook picture appears to show a proposal by Weicher to an unidentified woman . Relationship: Weichers, seen here, stands with an unidentified woman who is showing off an engagement ring . | Gregory Weichers, 20, was suspended by Utah State University .
Police also issued him with a citation on suspicion of soliciting a prostitute .
Logan Police said the incident is alleged to have taken place on October 22 .
Weichers, a freshman, is the son of Greg Weichers a former safety . |
174,599 | 6dfb76e7a7fbd5e3f3c5ece7062f113e9cdc46d3 | By . Christopher Leake . Last updated at 1:35 PM on 20th November 2011 . Snipers on board military helicopters will patrol the skies over London during next summer’s Olympic Games. Sources say the military crackshots – dubbed ‘heli-snipers’ by defence chiefs – will fly above the capital in case terrorists attempt an atrocity at the prestigious event. The RAF snipers are understood to have been training recently at the restricted Lydd military live-firing range near the Kent coast to sharpen their skills. Taking aim: RAF snipers will be deployed in London to target potential threats to the 2012 Olympic Games . Death from above: The snipers will hover above Olympic sites in Lynx MK7 helicopters, like this one, which have been used in Iraq and Afghanistan . One source told The Mail on Sunday . that the training had been designed specifically to prepare for an . Olympic Games deployment to protect stadium sites in East London and . elsewhere. Flying in Merlin . or Lynx helicopters, the snipers are capable of killing an attacker at a . range of more than a mile using a Barrett ‘Light Fifty’ rifle, which . fires a powerful .50-calibre half-inch bullet at 2,799 feet per second. Even . at night, the flying snipers can kill an enemy 1,000 yards away using . night sights and infra-red lasers for target-marking as they keep in . touch with commanders on the ground using encrypted military radio . frequencies. Their . rifles have the power to destroy engine blocks and fire through . concrete from long range, making it difficult for a terrorist to take . cover. Bird's eye view: The snipers will be able to kill suspected terrorists from up to a mile away - even at night . The airborne sharpshooters were deployed in Iraq, where they were . described by the Ministry of Defence as a ‘special weapon’ against the . insurgent threat. In Iraq, . the snipers were on standby around the clock to provide protection from . the air and carried out sniping and surveillance duties on the ground. Now, . they could find themselves on operational duty in the UK for the first . time, helping to protect prime venues such as the 80,000-seat Olympic . Stadium and the Aquatic Centre. Airborne threats: Surface-to-air missiles may also be part of the armoury available to Olympics security forces . Last week, Defence Secretary Philip Hammond revealed in the Commons after a question from his predecessor, Dr Liam Fox, that ground-to-air missiles were part of the armoury that may be used during the Olympics if required. Mr Hammond’s statement was interpreted as an attempt to show how seriously the UK is taking the terror threat after it was revealed that the US is preparing to send 1,000 armed agents, including 500 from the FBI, to protect its competitors. High security: Left, police officers take part in a search exercise at the Olympic Stadium. Right, Mail cartoonist Pugh imagines the scene at the start of an event . A Ministry of Defence spokesman said last night: ‘The MoD has been fully involved in Olympic security planning work and it is anticipated that the Armed Forces, at the request of the civilian authorities, will provide some specialist support including the use of assets where appropriate. However, this will be a police-led operation and any military involvement will be in a supporting role. ‘It is too early to talk about the numbers of personnel who may be involved or further details around precisely what support the MoD might provide – but ongoing planning to meet a range of contingencies is sensible.’ The spokesman added: ‘This work is not in response to any specific threat but, as the Defence Secretary said in Parliament, all necessary measures to ensure the security and safety of the London Olympic Games will be taken.’ | RAF snipers will be armed with high calibre rifles that can penetrate concrete and destroy engine blocks . |
69,679 | c581d05d601674d2198bb10aea7466bb2d470b08 | (CNN) -- Neil Armstrong, the American astronaut who made "one giant leap for mankind" when he became the first man to walk on the moon, died Saturday. He was 82. "We are heartbroken to share the news that Neil Armstrong has passed away following complications resulting from cardiovascular procedures," Armstrong's family said in a statement. Armstrong underwent heart surgery this month. "While we mourn the loss of a very good man, we also celebrate his remarkable life and hope that it serves as an example to young people around the world to work hard to make their dreams come true, to be willing to explore and push the limits, and to selflessly serve a cause greater than themselves," his family said. Armstrong gives rare interview to Australian accountant . Armstrong died Saturday in Cincinnati, Ohio, according to a NASA spokesman. The agency's administrator put the death in perspective. "As long as there are history books, Neil Armstrong will be included in them," said Charles Bolden. "As we enter this next era of space exploration, we do so standing on the shoulders of Neil Armstrong. We mourn the passing of a friend, fellow astronaut and true American hero." Armstrong took two trips into space. He made his first journey in 1966 as commander of the Gemini 8 mission, which nearly ended in disaster. Armstrong kept his cool and brought the spacecraft home safely after a thruster rocket malfunctioned and caused it to spin wildly out of control. During his next space trip in July 1969, Armstrong and fellow astronauts Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins blasted off in Apollo 11 on a nearly 250,000-mile journey to the moon that went down in the history books. It took them four days to reach their destination. Time: Life up close with Apollo 11 . The world watched and waited as the lunar module "Eagle" separated from the command module and began its descent. Then came the words from Armstrong: "Tranquility Base here, the Eagle has landed." About six and a half hours later at 10:56 p.m. ET on July 20, 1969, Armstrong, at age 38, became the first person to set foot on the moon. He uttered the now-famous phrase: "That's one small step for (a) man, one giant leap for mankind." The quote was originally recorded without the "a," which was picked up by voice recognition software many years later. Armstrong was on the moon's surface for two hours and 32 minutes and Aldrin, who followed him, spent about 15 minutes less than that. The two astronauts set up an American flag, scooped up moon rocks and set up scientific experiments before returning to the main spacecraft. All three returned home to a hero's welcome, and none ever returned to space. The moon landing was a major victory for the United States, which at the height of the Cold War in 1961 committed itself to landing a man on the moon and returning him safely before the decade was out. It was also a defining moment for the world. The launch and landing were broadcast on live TV and countless people watched in amazement as Armstrong walked on the moon. "I remember very clearly being an 8-year-old kid and watching the TV ... I remember even as a kid thinking, 'Wow, the world just changed,'" said astronaut Leroy Chiao. "And then hours later watching Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin take the very first step of any humans on another planetary body. That kind of flipped the switch for me in my head. I said, 'That's what I want to do, I want to be an astronaut.'" Tributes to Armstrong -- who received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1969, the highest award offered to a U.S. civilian -- poured in as word of his death spread. The untold story of Apollo 11 . "Neil was among the greatest of American heroes -- not just of his time, but of all time," said President Barack Obama. "When he and his fellow crew members lifted off aboard Apollo 11 in 1969, they carried with them the aspirations of an entire nation. They set out to show the world that the American spirit can see beyond what seems unimaginable -- that with enough drive and ingenuity, anything is possible." Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney said the former astronaut "today takes his place in the hall of heroes. With courage unmeasured and unbounded love for his country, he walked where man had never walked before. The moon will miss its first son of earth." House Speaker John Boehner, from Ohio, said: "A true hero has returned to the Heavens to which he once flew. Neil Armstrong blazed trails not just for America, but for all of mankind. He inspired generations of boys and girls worldwide not just through his monumental feat, but with the humility and grace with which he carried himself to the end." Armstrong was born in Wapakoneta, Ohio, on August 5, 1930. He was interested in flying even as a young boy, earning his pilot's license at age 16. Armstrong's one small step resonated for all mankind . Armstrong studied aeronautical engineering and earned degrees from Purdue University and University of Southern California. He served in the Navy, and flew 78 combat missions during the Korean War. "He was the best, and I will miss him terribly," said Collins, the Apollo 11 command module pilot. After his historic mission to the moon, Armstrong worked for NASA, coordinating and managing the administration's research and technology work. In 1971, he resigned from NASA and taught engineering at the University of Cincinnati for nearly a decade. While many people are quick to cash in on their 15 minutes of fame, Armstrong largely avoided the public spotlight and chose to lead a quiet, private life with his wife and children. "He was really an engineer's engineer -- a modest man who was always uncomfortable in his singular role as the first person to set foot on the moon. He understood and appreciated the historic consequences of it and yet was never fully willing to embrace it. He was modest to the point of reclusive. You could call him the J.D. Salinger of the astronaut corps," said Miles O'Brien, an aviation expert with PBS' Newshour, formerly of CNN. "He was a quiet, engaging, wonderful from the Midwest kind of guy. ... But when it came to the public exposure that was associated with this amazing accomplishment ... he ran from it. And part of it was he felt as if this was an accomplishment of many thousands of people. And it was. He took the lion's share of the credit and he felt uncomfortable with that," said O'Brien. But Armstrong always recognized -- in a humble manner -- the importance of what he had accomplished. "Looking back, we were really very privileged to live in that thin slice of history where we changed how man looks at himself and what he might become and where he might go," Armstrong said. People we've lost in 2012: The lives they lived . Share your tribute on CNN iReport . CNN's Tricia Escobedo and Fredericka Whitfield contributed to this report. | "As long as there are history books, Neil Armstrong will be included in them," NASA says .
Apollo 11 touched down on the moon on July 20, 1969 .
"That's one small step for (a) man, one giant leap for mankind," Armstrong famously said .
He largely avoided the public spotlight . |
142,467 | 443e4551414533142cd414f458168d07ef99b772 | By . Corey Charlton . A car fire which left a young boy fighting for his life, and his mother and sister seriously injured, was today being treated as attempted murder as police wait to question the mother involved. The five-year-old boy and a six-year-old girl were dragged from the blaze by brave passers-by after the vehicle exploded into flames. Detectives today said the fire, which occurred on Merdon Castle Lane near Winchester, Hampshire on Monday was 'not a random incident' and they were . satisfied they had 'identified all of those involved.' A five-year-old boy is fighting for his life and his mother and sister have been seriously injured after their car exploded into a fireball . The schoolboy was airlifted to hospital, where today he remained in a life-threatening condition. His sister and mother, aged 37, were also still in hospital and were described as being in a serious condition. No arrests have been made at this time. The children’s mother was due to be questioned by officers in her hospital bed when she was well enough. Police are not seeking anyone else in relation to the incident. Detective . Inspector Simon Baker from Hampshire Police’s Major Investigation Team, . said: 'This is now being treated as an attempted murder investigation. Our priority is to establish how this fire started. 'We are keeping an open mind and considering all the options at this stage including whether the fire was started deliberately. 'We . also have to take into consideration that the people involved are all . being treated in hospital and we have to balance our investigation with . their medical needs, so establishing the full circumstances of what has . happened may take some time. 'Our . inquiries so far indicate that this was not a random incident and we . are satisfied that we have identified all of those involved in the . investigation.' The boy and his six-year-old sister were pulled from the blazing car by motorists after the vehicle exploded into flames in Hursley, near Winchester, Hampshire . Police, paramedics and the the fire service raced to the scene in Merdon Castle Lane just after 8pm on Monday after passers-by reported seeing the blazing Ford Fiesta . Police, . paramedics and the fire brigade raced to the scene just after 8pm on Monday . after passers-by reported seeing the blazing Ford Fiesta. Eye witnesses described seeing the children trapped inside the car, while the panic-stricken mother stood close by. Alan Beusmans and his son William were first at the scene of a horrific fireball. 'It was well alight and there were two people in the road, a woman and a . young girl,' said Mr Beusmans, a 64-year-old grandfather of three. 'We thought we’d run to assist the lady, who had flames coming up around her legs. 'She was pointing towards the car and that’s when I saw the other kid. 'I went over to the car and managed to get the door open - the boy was pressed up against the window. 'I burnt my hand opening it and the boy fell out of the car, I got him over to the other side. 'They were very distressed and I was shocked at what I saw but I managed to get myself together. 'You never expect anything like this to happen.' The three injured were all from Southampton. Today . specially-trained officers were continuing to support them and their . family. Officers have named the investigation into the incident . Operation Ursa. | The boy and six-year-old sister were pulled from blazing car by motorists .
Firefighters said that the car was completely destroyed in the inferno .
Vehicle exploded into flames in Hursley, near Winchester, Hampshire .
Mother due to be questioned by police in relation to the incident . |
30,402 | 56712145955552216de82d1ef98fa5b573084000 | By . Freya Noble . In his latest venture, a serial conman has told young women he could get them weather presenting roles on Channel Nine. Brenton Robert Jarrett, 42, has a long history of pulling similar stunts, and on Monday he pleaded guilty to breaching his bail conditions in an Albury court. It is said his new scam targeted young models aged 17 to 25, and he admitted he had failed to comply with his bail obligations. Jarrett was awaiting a mental health evaluation before he could be sentenced on other charges he also plead guilty to in March. Brenton Robert Jarrett has a history of scams, and has most recently been found to have been contacting young models telling them he could land them weathergirl jobs . The conman, from Howlong NSW, has previously claimed to be the brother and manager of Hollywood star Johnny Depp, actor Skeet Ulrich, and director Alfred Hitchcock's grandson. This time, Jarrett set up a company called DM Productions and said he was part owner in the Nine Network under the fake name of Robert Caine. On the company's website he used images from US photographers to try and prove his credibility. According to The Border Mail, Jarrett advised Albury police on May 10 of his new contact details at DM Productions. Just four days later, officers at Albury were contacted by a concerned member of the modelling industry reporting a man by the name of Robert Caine. 'Caine' had been contacting models over social media and trying to arrange meetings with the women. The industry worker recognised Jarrett from previous exploits, but when confronted the conman said he was 'Jarrett's twin brother', according to ninemsn. He also said 'his brother' committed suicide after he received media attention for previous crimes. Jarrett suffers from bipolar disorder, and his sentencing was adjourned until July 22. Previously, Jarrett told young women he owned a modelling agency - claiming to be Josh Kells from modelling agency Vexus. In March he pleaded guilty to nine counts of obtaining financial advantage by deception and one count of failing to comply with reporting obligations. | Brenton Robert Jarrett has a history of such scams .
Has posed as the owner of a modelling company contacting young models .
Before an Albury court on a series of charges relating to similar incidents .
Jarrett suffers from bipolar disorder, sentencing adjourned to 22 July . |
75,585 | d65863743a7bbf623ba9605cb4371091ec62425e | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 12:21 EST, 19 January 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 14:15 EST, 19 January 2013 . Explorer: Ernest Shackleton buried whisky bottles when he abandoned his desolate hut in the Antarctic to set off on an expedition . Three bottles of rare 19th century Scotch whisky left behind by Antarctic explorer Ernest Shackleton have finally been returned to his desolate snowbound base. They came home today after a distiller first flew them to Scotland to recreate the long-lost recipe. But not even New Zealand Prime Minister John Key, who personally returned the stash, got a taste of the contents of the bottles of Mackinlay's whisky. They were discovered 102 years after the explorer was forced to leave them behind and buried them under floorboards . 'I think we're all tempted to crack it open and have a little drink ourselves now,' Mr Key joked at a ceremony handing over the bottles to Antarctic Heritage Trust officials at New Zealand's Antarctic base on Ross Island. The whisky will be transferred in March from Ross Island to Shackelton's abandoned hut at Cape Royds and replaced beneath it as part of a programme to protect the legacy of the heroic era of Antarctic exploration from 1898 to 1915. Bottled in 1898 after the blend was aged 15 years, the Mackinlay bottles were among three crates of Scotch and two of brandy buried beneath a basic hut Shackleton had used during his dramatic 1907 Nimrod excursion to the Antarctic. The expedition failed to reach the South Pole but set a record at the time for reaching the farthest southern latitude. Shackelton was knighted after his return to Britain. The bottles of rare 19th century whisky, pictured, were discovered 102 years after the explorer was forced to leave them behind . A crate of the rare Mackinlay's whisky found under the floorboards of Shackleton's hut . Snow home: The interior of Ernest Shackleton's hut at Cape Royds, where he buried the crates of whisky under the floorboards . Snowbound: Ernest Shackleton's ship, the Endurance, stuck on ice during his Imperial Trans-Atlantic Expedition of 1914-1918 . Shackelton's stash was discovered frozen in ice by conservationists in 2010. The crates were frozen solid after more than a century beneath the Antarctic surface. Gravestone: The final resting place of explorer Ernest Shackleton at Grytviken, South Georgia . But the bottles were found intact — and researchers could hear the whisky sloshing around inside. Antarctica's minus 22 Fahrenheit (-30C) temperature was not enough to freeze the alcohol. The bottles remained unopened as they were returned Saturday - if Shackleton couldn't have a dram, no one could - but their contents nevertheless formed the basis for a revival of the bend. Distiller Whyte & Mackay, which now owns the Mackinlay brand, chartered a private jet to take the bottles from the Antarctic operations headquarters in the New Zealand city of Christchurch to Scotland for analysis in 2011. The recipe for the whisky had been lost. But Whyte & Mackay recreated a limited edition of 50,000 bottles from a sample drawn with a syringe through a cork of one of the bottles. The conservation work of the Antarctic Heritage Trust has received £5 for every bottle sold. The original bottles had flown in two combination-locked containers with the New Zealand prime minister to Antarctica in a U.S. Air Force transport plane from Christchurch on Friday. Antarctic Heritage Trust manager Lizzie Meek, who was part of the team that found the whisky, recalled its pleasant aroma. 'When you're used to working around things in that hut that perhaps are quite decayed and some of them don't have very nice smells, it's very nice to work with artifacts that have such a lovely aroma,' Meek told the ceremony by radio from explorer Robert Scott's Antarctic hut which she is restoring. 'And definitely the aroma of whisky was around very strongly.' | Distiller first flew them to Scotland to recreate long-lost recipe .
Shackleton's stash was discovered frozen .
in ice by conservationists in 2010 . |
270,215 | e9f354abc4e49969ec0e4622e21af448a012a19b | Baroness Williams has said the downfall of her marriage, prompted by her husband's affair, was that he was 'vulnerable' to 'hopeful women' Her first husband cheated on her then deserted her. But far from feeling bitter, as many women would, Shirley Williams insists she was partly at fault. The veteran politician also blames the split on women who ‘pinioned’ Bernard Williams, saying the philosophy professor succumbed to their charms because he was too ‘vulnerable’ to resist. Baroness Williams says her burgeoning career – she was a Labour shadow minister at the time – played a part in the collapse of the marriage and urges other women whose husbands leave them to look at themselves with a critical eye. She rejected 12 proposals before marrying Sir Bernard, once described as the most brilliant and most important British moral philosopher of his time, in 1955. They had a daughter in 1961 but ten years later he left her for Patricia Skinner, the young wife of a fellow academic. She is said to have offered to sacrifice her career as a rising political star if he stayed but to no avail and their divorce was finalised in 1974. ‘He [Bernard] was a wonderful man, a brilliant man but he was always a bit… vulnerable, put it that way,’ said Baroness Williams, now 84, yesterday. ‘And of course because he was rather good-looking as well as frighteningly clever, he was pinioned by quite a number of – I have to say – hopeful ladies.’ The Roman Catholic added: ‘I’d been brought up with the view that if you were going to get married, then you had to be faithful – and you only got divorced in the most extreme circumstances.’ Her mother, the feminist author Vera Brittain, initially applauded her decision to marry Williams, telling her: ‘Of all the men you might have married, Bernard obviously has far and away the best mind, and he is also the only one who is capable of putting you before himself.’ Baroness Williams was happy in her second marriage to Harvard historian Richard Neustadt, who died in 2003 – the same year as Sir Bernard. But reflecting on what went wrong the first time, more than 40 years ago, she told the Radio Times she had stopped herself being consumed by anger by asking herself: ‘If your spouse indicates that they feel the time has come to break up, what did I contribute to that?’ She said: ‘You’ve got to understand how it is that he – who you loved – decided to leave you. And if you don’t begin to understand what you have contributed to it, your life will be destroyed by a sense of vengeance, anger, fury, injustice – and, you know, that’s not the way to go. Sir Bernard Williams left his politician wife for Patricia Skinner (pictured above, left following his divorce from Baroness Williams) ‘You’ve got to come to terms with that single question – what did I contribute to this? And only when you have the answer to that can you actually then seriously think about why you broke up. ‘You mustn’t kid yourself that you’re the one who’s been badly treated – you just have to understand how it happened.’ Many regarded Baroness Williams as the woman likely to become Britain's first female prime minister . A former journalist before entering Parliament in 1964, Baroness Williams rose via the Shadow Cabinet in the early 1970s to become Secretary of State for Education and Paymaster General – holding both positions at the same time – as the only woman in James Callaghan’s 1976 Cabinet. Many at the time regarded her, not Margaret Thatcher, as the politician most likely to become Britain’s first woman prime minister. After losing her seat in 1979, Baroness Williams left the Labour Party in 1981 as one of the ‘Gang of Four’ who founded the Social Democratic Party, before becoming a Liberal Democrat peer in 1993. Asked if she encountered sexism in Parliament, or was patronised, she replied: ‘It was more subtle than that. 'It was much more being treated as though you weren’t worth listening to. ‘That was one of the real problems but, to be fair, people like, not just Margaret Thatcher, the usual example but Barbara Castle even earlier, were quite substantial figures and they stood up for what they believed in and argued the case. 'They did not fit into the agreeable, supportive woman concept. It’s about being taken seriously and not being treated as an ancillary figure.’ Meanwhile, a film version of Baroness Williams’ mother’s 1933 book, Testament of Youth, opens this week. Miss Brittain, a pacifist and feminist, was inspired to write it by the deaths of her fiancé, brother and two closest male friends during the First World War. It was adapted for TV in 1979. | Baroness Williams described former husband as 'brilliant' and 'wonderful'
She and Sir Bernard Williams divorced following his affair in 1971 .
The 84-year-old veteran politician said her career played a part in their split .
She also said the philosopher had been 'vulnerable' to 'hopeful ladies' |
274,053 | eef849c6ba16b246f5bd737c1418989d19162425 | Neymar has everything needed to eclipse the talents of Lionel Messi and be heralded as the greatest player on the planet, believes 1994 Brazil World Cup winner Romario. Neymar played an integral part in the tournament hosts' run to the World Cup semi-finals this summer, scoring four goals before suffering a back injury in their quarter-final win against Colombia. In the 22-year-old's absence, the five-time World Cup winners were thumped 7-1 against eventual winners Germany - who beat a Messi-led Argentina 1-0 in the final after extra-time. Neymar has everything needed to succeed Lionel Messi's and become a better player, says Romario . And Romario believes this summer's defeat at the Maracana, could have been Messi's best chance of winning the tournament while citing the fact Neymar still has time on his side to leave a lasting legacy on the world's biggest stage before he retires. 'He has everything to be bigger than Messi,' the legendary striker said of his compatriot in an interview with Revista Trip. 'Messi is already a part of history but Neymar can make an even bigger impact. 'Messi may not have another World Cup in which to compete and win, but Neymar has three or four more to contest.' Messi (left) captained Argentina to the World Cup final this year where they lost 1-0 to Germany in extra-time . VIDEO Dunga hints at having more confidence in Neymar . | Lionel Messi led Argentina to the World Cup final this summer .
Neymar scored four goals in the tournament before injuring his back .
Romario believes Neymar has a few more World Cups in him to leave a lasting legacy, whereas Messi may not have in comparison . |
65,935 | bb26737c7c5cb066b5dd5a6db92ee44c67f082c2 | Amsterdam, Netherlands (CNN) -- The problem has become so complicated, that perhaps only a child can solve it. An 11-year-old Dutch boy, Jurre Hermans, entered a serious economics competition with a plan for bringing the Greek economy back from the brink. In the end, Hermans, the youngest ever to enter the Wolfson Economics Prize, received a 100 euro voucher for his original idea -- conceived on the notion of exchanging debt for slices of pizza. Maybe Washington can invite him for some budget brainstorming. Meanwhile, Europe's crisis goes on, still in need of creative solutions. Beyond the placid old Amsterdam canals, the bustling bike lanes and the quaint tulip fields, roils a furious debate about the future of the Netherlands. On the surface, the issue is what to do about the budget deficit. In reality, it is about whose life will become more difficult. Who will pay more? Who will receive less? It is a question coming soon to a deficit-spending country near you: the United States. In other parts of Europe, in places like Greece and Spain, similar discussions have toppled several governments and have escalated into huge, sometimes violent protests, as people lash out in frustration against government decisions they find intolerable. I believe that some time next year, with the election in the past, when either Barack Obama has started his second term or Mitt Romney has finished unpacking in the White House, Americans, too, will discover that budget debates are not just academic exercises or political theater. It's a good bet that just as Europe has come up against the reality that deficits cannot grow forever, so too will America. Investors, who have taken losses in the European debacle, will start looking at America's books, questioning its solvency, and demanding change. The European economic crisis has unfolded most dramatically in Greece, where the economy has plunged into a depression. With its budget deficit and national debt rising out of control, the Greek government sought help from the eurozone, where rich countries demanded stark austerity measures in exchange for a bailout. Greece, like other countries in Europe, had given up its own currency in exchange for the euro, so it did not have the option of printing more money or devaluing the currency to pull itself out of the mess created in part by politicians who gave voters what they wanted without troubling to bring up the unpleasant fact that someone, sooner or later, would have to pay. Today, the Greek people are enduring economic pain that makes America look like a paradise of prosperity. Unemployment stands at 21%, wages are collapsing for both government and private sector workers. A series of new taxes have been imposed, including a "solidarity" tax, new property taxes and higher self-employment taxes. The VAT, a national sales tax on all transactions, has jumped from 13% to 23%. The minimum wage has been been sharply cut. Poverty has increased dramatically. After all that, Greece is still required by European rules to cut another 4.7% of gross domestic product from its budget, equivalent to the United States suddenly cutting more than $700 billion. Even if it achieves those goals, or rather because it will enact such draconian cuts, the Greek economy is expected to sink deeper. The European economic pact requires countries to keep their budget deficits below 3% of GDP. That became increasingly difficult as the world entered a recession. In Greece's case, the government had been concealing its deficit spending. In other countries, especially those that relied heavily on real estate, home prices collapsed, and tax revenues declined, opening up the budget gap. The Dutch economy, one of the healthier ones, now faces a 4.6% deficit. There's talk of across-the-board pay freezes and even more social safety-net cuts, among other ideas. Unemployment is just 6%, but the country has returned to recession. In Spain, the government wants to avoid requiring a bailout the way Greece, Ireland and Portugal have. The newly-installed government of Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy needs to slash the budget by 5.5% of GDP, even more than Greece. Spain expects unemployment, already the worst in the developed world, to go over 24% this year, about the same experienced by the United States during the Great Depression. The European crisis is far from over, but it already has important lessons for the United States, where federal deficit figures are treated as poison darts to be thrown among politicians, rather than as an important problem needing adult solutions. The top three lessons from Europe are these: . • Deficits matter and sooner or later will have to be cut . • Trying to cut deficits in the middle of a recession makes the recession worse . • When the cutting starts, it will cause major social and political upheaval, as well as very real pain. Unlike most European countries, the United States has the luxury of printing money and borrowing almost at will. The crisis in Europe has actually made it more attractive to lend to the United States, so it's easy to pretend the deficit and the debt don't matter. But America's deficit of about 10% of GDP and debt of $15 trillion, roughly 100% of GDP, cannot go on forever. Interest payments on the debt already consume more than $200 billion each year, and the debt is rising at blinding speed. The United States was right to deal with the recession first before tackling the longer term problem. Europe is proving what the Hoover administration already showed in the 1930s, that cutting spending in a recession is counter-productive. But, with the economy recovering, the time will soon come for the difficult decisions: Will the government cut defense spending, Social Security, or Medicare? Or perhaps other programs that keep millions out of poverty? In the Netherlands, the ruling coalition has been brought to the edge of collapse over the choices. The far-right politician Geert Wilders demanded huge reductions in foreign aid. There is also talk of ending the mortgage tax deduction, along with other tax increases. Social services have been reduced and food banks say they have seen an "explosion" in the number of clients. And the government is still looking for more cuts. The choices go to the heart of a nation's character. Voters in the United States should insistently demand that presidential candidates say exactly what they will do about the deficit. They should also demand that politicians at long last resolve -- not just debate -- the problem. Will politicians behave responsibly? If you hear anyone say tax cuts alone will get the economy growing and fix the problem, don't believe it. Economists say spending cuts and tax increases are necessary. If adults won't face up to the truth, maybe it's time to bring in the children for new ideas, and for a reminder of what's at stake. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Frida Ghitis. | Frida Ghitis: The pain of budget cutbacks is being felt in many parts of Europe .
She says in reality the decisions are about who will pay more -- and receive less .
America has rightly been spared budget cutbacks in the midst of a recession, she says .
Ghitis: The U.S. debt is growing at unsustainable pace, day of reckoning is coming . |
194,319 | 878d29c806cd6813f2daedc41705be00dacad402 | By . Ayesha Arvind . PUBLISHED: . 18:57 EST, 9 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 21:24 EST, 9 November 2013 . When NGO Consumer Voice revealed in 2010 that the vegetables and fruits that Delhiites eat everyday are extremely toxic, with chemical content that could cause serious health problems, the Delhi High Court of its own accord told the state government to review the situation. The government literally watered down the report, telling the court that the food was perfectly safe and that the NGO's figures were hugely exaggerated. Now, in a stinging and embarrassing no-trust vote against the Delhi government, the Delhi High Court has told the government to conduct toxicity tests over again. Fears: Pesticide chemicals are used as ripening and colouring agents for fruit and vegetables. Recent reports claim that poisons found on vegetables and fruits had the lethal potential to cause cancer . Not just that, it has also asked a court-appointed expert committee as well as an amicus curiae (assistant to the court) for a much larger sample to be tested and also a checklist of preventive measures. The court's order came on November 6, the last date of hearing in the matter. The order followed a submission by the Delhi government earlier this week stating that the pesticide content present in fruits and vegetables being sold in the Capital was within permissible limits and that they were not harmful. Consumer Voice found that pesticides such as chlordane, endrin and heptachlor (which can cause serious neurological problems, kidney damage and skin diseases) were rampantly being used in fruits and vegetables supplied across Delhi. The chemicals are used as ripening and colouring agents. It also said that poisons found on the vegetables and fruits had the lethal potential to cause cancer. The NGO found several banned pesticides as well and the level of some of the pesticides were 750 times that of European standards. The court's own panel of experts had told the HC that it had visited markets in Kotla, Mayur Vihar, Sarojini Nagar, INA, Defence Colony, Vasant Vihar and Lodhi Estate and found pesticides, toxic colours and hormones present in the samples it had checked. The court had ordered an inspection of fruits and vegetables for pesticides content while hearing a PIL on May 29. When the government went back to court, its reply said that the amount of pesticides consumed through fruits and vegetables in India was a fraction of that in America and Europe. This, it claimed, had been deduced by several sample surveys carried out by its lab. It also submitted that the Food and Supply department picked up 88 samples since January this year and the report on 70 items suggests that the pesticide content in them was less. "The quantity of pesticides in these samples is under the consumable limits and did not pose any health-related threat," it said. In addition to this, the government also submitted a report by the Agricultural Marketing department on 1,513 samples of fruits and vegetables containing pesticides within the "prescribed range". Sri Ram Khanna of Consumer Voice told Mail Today that "major pesticide manufacturers have started discrediting our notion that pesticide residuals are high in content present in the vegetables and fruits and it also appears that the government's effort to whitewash our fight showing that there is indeed alarming presence". He also claimed that the NGO was threatened with a Rs 25 crore legal notice, asking it to withdraw stories about pesticides from the media. But the high court seemed to agree with the NGO about the government's attempt to underplay the extent of pesticides and toxins in the fruits and vegetables and junked the state's plea. The court said "…We find these pleadings surprising because the material brought on record before us shows a picture which is far from what is painted in the affidavit. Impermissible pesticides have been found in the vegetables in the national capital territory." The court directed the government to test more samples and come up with definite ways to curb the use of harmful pesticides by February 5, 2014, the next date of hearing. | Delhi High Court orders the government to conduct toxicity tests again .
Consumer Voice claims government sample not large enough .
Chemicals linked to brain problems, kidney damage and skin diseases .
Pesticide levels is 750 times that of European standards .
Campaigners faced with a Rs 25 crore legal notice from pesticide industry .
Delhi HC insists on prevention methods to avoid toxicity in foods . |
115,102 | 208c26790c9922bd942d7f9aaa6785e58b254e5d | September marks 15 years since graduates Larry Page and Sergey Brin set up a small web crawler from a garage in Silicon Valley, which went onto become the world's biggest search engine. The site was originally called BackRub, but was changed in 1997 to Google - a misspelling of the word googol which is a term for the number one followed by one hundred zeros. There is a little confusion around when Google's official birthday is, but reports claim papers to incorporate the company were filed on September 4 1998. The company became incorporated three days later and the domain was registered on September 15. A screenshot from the beta version of Google: September marks the 15th anniversary of when Google was first incorporated by founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin. The company started from a garage in Silicon Valley in 1998 and is now the world's largest search engine -with more than 13 billion searches a month . Google has teamed up with . Nestle to launch the next version of its Android operating system, called Android 4.4 KitKat. It follows the release of other sweet-themed software names including such . as Android Ice Cream Sandwich and Android Jelly Bean. There had been speculation that the latest version would be named Android Key Lime Pie because each release begins with the letter of the alphabet that follows the previous. To mark the announcement, the KitKat homepage has been redesigned as a parody of Google software releases. The release of Android KitKat will be marked with a competition to win . prizes including 1,000 Google Nexus 7 tablets through more than 50 . million specially-branded KitKat bars. Consumers can take part by buying special packs of KitKat four-finger . and KitKat Chunky multipacks available in Sainsbury's, Morrisons, Asda . and Tesco. Google, however, now officially celebrates the event with a Google Doodle on September 27. It is thought this date was changed as an attempt to gain media coverage several years ago, at a time when Yahoo was gaining ground on Google. The site is now the world's number one search engine and its name has become so synonymous with searching, it is now used as a verb in its . own right. Despite its humble beginnings in a rented garage that belonged to Susan Wojcicki - Brin's now sister-in-law - the company now has more than 70 offices in more than 40 global locations, including London, with their headquarters - known as the Googleplex - in Mountain View, California. Its size and reputation grew rapidly in the first few years, with three billion web documents on Google's index by December 2001. Innovations subsequently launched by Google that have become part of everyday life include Google Maps, Google Streetview and Google Earth, each showing how far the company now spans across the globe. Its Android operating system is also the most popular mobile software in the world and it has teamed up with manufacturers including Asus and LG to launch a number of best-selling devices such as the Nexus 4 smartphone and Nexus 7 tablet. Google also bought Motorola in 2011 and a new Moto X handset is expected towards the end of this year. Looking to the future, Google Glass is one of the internet giant's latest products, aiming to offer voice-activated hands-free connectivity through a wearable device. Plus, Google has designed a range of self-driving cars that use sensors and mapping technology to travel around cities without a driver. Industry experts have praised Google for its success, however, some have questioned how long it can stay at the top. Joseph Lampel, professor of strategy at Cass Business School, City University London, said Google had to continue to innovate to make sure they stay ahead of the curve to survive the next 15 years. Professor Lampel said: 'I am not surprised they have survived this far but if you're asking if they will survive until they are 25 or 30, that's another question.' Google's Android operating system is now the most popular mobile software in the world. A screenshot of an early version, called Android 2.2 Froyo is pictured left. The most recent release, Android 4.3 Jelly Bean, is shown in the right-hand image . He said there was increasing competition from search engines from emerging markets, especially those in Asia, and added: 'Google might not be able to maintain their level of dominance, if the industry opens up to competitors. 'The question also arises of the very function of Google. The search engine business will shift in the next decade into new technology and new devices.' Professor Lampel attributed Google's success to its speed in adding services to their search engine and their push into hardware with products like Google Glass. 'All in all, they have done very well, and they have had an enormous influence, without question,' he said. Colin Cieszynski, senior market analyst at CMC Markets, said: 'It's really incredible when you think about whatGoogle has done over this period of time. September 1998 - Google Inc. is founded by Larry Page and Sergey Brin . July 2000 - Google becomes world's largest search engine and by December has 1 billion indexes . July 2001 - Images search is launched . February 2003 - Google buys blogging platform Blogger . March 2004 - Gmail launches . October 2004 - Google launches Desktop Search and by reaches 8 billion indexes by December . June 2005 - A busy month for Google as it launches Google Earth, Maps, Talk and Video . July 2005 - Android is bought by Google . October 2006 - Google buys video site YouTube . September 2008 - Search index reaches 1 trillion and the Chrome browser is unveiled . July 2009 - Google launches its Chrome OS for netbooks . July 2010 - The first Nexus smartphone handset - the Nexus One - is launched . August 2011 - Plans are announced for Google to buy Motorola Mobility . March 2012 – Google launches the Play store with TV and movie rentals as well as apps . June 2012 - First Google tablet, made by Asus, launches called Nexus 7 and Google Glass is unveiled . June 2013 – Google buys mapping and navigation company Waze to boost its mapping software and self-driving car capability . June 2013 – Google balloons fitted with internet transmitters launched . 'They've taken a lead in the second wave of success of the internet, becoming the premier company. It's like there was a shake-up, and they're the ones who ended up on top. 'Yahoo has struggled along, but lots of others have fallen by the wayside. They have continued to innovate. The question is, how long do you manage to stay on top of everyone else? 'But this anniversary is incredible for them - they're still on top. To dominate for so long is amazing.' Despite the milestone date being reached, Google may not be marking the event until later in the month - having put out last year's Google Doodle to celebrate their 14th anniversary on September 27. A Google spokeswoman would not be drawn on whether users could expect any birthday surprises during September. Last year, a Google Doodle showed a birthday cake with 14 candles, which had slices removed until the name of the search engine emerged. Google traditionally marks its birthday with a Google Doodle such as this one that was unveiled to celebrate its 10th anniversary. Up to 2005, the birthday Doodle was unveiled on September 7 but since that date Google now releases it on September 27 . Google Doodles can also be used to mark major milestones in history, as well as birthdays. This Doodle from August 28 this year marked the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King's famous speech . The first Google Doodle, which is when the Google logo is altered on the site's homepage in celebration of a particular event, was in 1998 to mark the Burning Man festival. In May 2012, Google unveiled its first interactive Google Doodle to celerate the 30th anniversary of the arcade game Pac-Man, in association with Namco. Searchers play Pac-Man within their browser by clicking the 'Insert Coin' button. When players pressed this button a second time, a second player would join the game as Ms. Pac-Man. The game was so popular, Google made it a permanent site after the Doodle had been removed. Later the same year, Google unveiled its first animated Google Doodle to mark John Lennon's 70th birthday with a short clip of his song 'Imagine'. A similar Doodle was launched, using a clip of Queen's 'Don't Stop Me Now' song, to mark Freddie Mercury's 65th birthday in September 2011. The image, tweeted by Idealabs found Bill Gross shows what Google's self-driving car sees as it turns left. Gross claims the cars collect 1GB of data every second. Google has become a pioneer in forward-looking technology over its 15-year history . | September marks the 15th anniversary of when Google began .
Search engine now makes more than 13 billion searches a month .
Google is the number one search engine in the world .
Its Android mobile operating system is now the most popular . |
157,370 | 57782ca80252510c6f3f05f2dc722fdb3bc49b46 | By . Julian Gavaghan . PUBLISHED: . 10:48 EST, 25 June 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 20:02 EST, 25 June 2012 . A 'smirking' gunman who shot a student dead was tattooed only two days later with a teardrop design that signified he was a killer, a court heard yesterday. Kiaran Stapleton, 21, who appeared in court amid heavy security charged with the murder of Anuj Bidve, was told by shop staff that the tattoo suggested the wearer had killed someone, a jury was told. Brian Cummings QC, prosecuting, said: ‘This was pointed out in an effort to ensure this was really what he wanted and he said words to the effect that he killed his goldfish and did that count?’ 'Smirking killer': Kiaran Stapleton, pictured left before the murder, allegedly laughed as he killed Anuj Bidve . Stapleton has already pleaded guilty . to the manslaughter of Mr Bidve on Boxing Day last year on the grounds . of diminished responsibility but that admission has been rejected by . lawyers. Mr Bidve’s parents, Subhash and . Yogini, travelled from their home in Pune, India, to Manchester Crown . Court for the start of the trial. The jury heard Indian-born Mr Bidve, . 23, had been in the UK since September 2011, when he enrolled on a . postgraduate micro-electronics course at Lancaster University. He decided to go to Manchester with friends for the Boxing Day sales instead of returning home for the holidays. The group of five women and four men . had set off from their hotel sometime after midnight and were using a . GPS phone to guide them. They were walking through Ordsall, Salford, towards Manchester city centre when they saw two men. In the dock: Stapleton facing a murder charge at Manchester Crown Court today . Emotional: Anuj's father Subhash Bidve and mother Yogini Bidve arrive at court today . Mr Cummings said as they got closer . one of the men crossed the road and approached them, asking the time. He . said: ‘One of the group answered that it was 1.30am. ‘With no warning, the male produced a gun, put it to the head of Anuj Bidve, and fired a shot. ‘He immediately fell to the ground, fatally injured. ‘The gunman smirked or laughed and ran off.’ Stapleton and his friend, Ryan Holden, . allegedly fled into the housing estate where they lived, and showered . and discarded their clothes. During the investigation, police . seized CCTV footage from a nearby garage which showed Stapleton walking . towards the scene of the shooting with Holden. Holden was arrested at . his home in Ordsall 48 hours after the shooting and initially refused to . speak to police, saying he feared for the safety of his family. Protection: Armed Police stand guard outside the court as they prepare for the arrival of Kieran Stapleton . High security: Armed police and a convoy of police cars outside the court Stapleton arrives . But he decided to give a statement after receiving assurances that they would receive police protection. He said Stapleton had been in a . long-term relationship with his cousin, Chelsea Holden, and they had had . a child together but had split up in 2011. The court heard Stapleton had been out . with Holden earlier on Christmas Day and was fine until he was told his . ex-girlfriend had slept with another man when he had been living with . her. The jury was told Stapleton was ‘p***** off’ and said something like: ‘If I see him, I’ll kill him.’ Mr Cummings alleged: ‘He then went on . to say something to the effect that this had been the worst year for him . – he’d lost his girlfriend, lost his house, lost his licence and hardly . saw his kid.’ The pair became aware of Mr Bidve and his friends as they walked home, Mr Cummings said. He added: ‘They could see they were not local. They were dark skinned and not dressed like Salford people. ‘They seemed to be having a laugh. As . they drew almost level with this group, Stapleton said to Holden “Wait . here a minute.” He then walked across the road. Tragedy: Flowers are left at the spot where Indian student Anuj Bidve was shot dead in the early hours of Boxing Day . ‘(Holden) couldn’t hear anything that . was said but he saw Stapleton raise his arm and make a gesture as though . he was asking the time. ‘Stapleton moved back a little and . Holden again saw Stapleton raise an arm, he couldn’t remember if it was . the same arm, stretch it out as if he was going to shoot and then Holden . heard a loud shot.’ Mr Cummings said: ‘He also heard a lot . of screaming and then Stapleton ran back towards him, shouting “Run!” but he was already running. ‘They ran back to Stapleton’s house where he told Holden to “Chill the **** out” and “Don’t fold on me”.’ Holden did not know Stapleton had a gun before he heard the shot, Mr Cummings added. Stapleton was arrested in the early hours of December 29. When he appeared before magistrates the next morning he gave his name as ‘Psycho Stapleton’. Mr Cummings said: ‘The prosecution do not accept this is a case of manslaughter and we seek a conviction for murder. ‘If you deliberately fire a loaded gun . at someone’s head, you must intend to cause really serious injury or . death. Kiaran Stapleton intended to kill.’ The trial continues. Sorry we are unable to accept comments for legal reasons. | Kiaran Stapleton, 21, shot Anuj Bidve on street after asking him the time .
Stapleton, who admits manslaughter but not murder, 'ran off smirking'
Two days later he had 'killer' tattoo inked on right cheek, jury hears .
Armed police join heavy security outside Manchester Crown Court court . |
206,430 | 973d791aacdc817d70a13a0636350a908e688a94 | By . Alex Greig . PUBLISHED: . 17:16 EST, 20 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 17:16 EST, 20 October 2013 . An alligator came dangerously close to shoppers at a Florida Walmart shortly after midnight Sunday. Employees at the Apopka store had to lock one entrance of the store as the predator set off the automatic sliding doors and managers were afraid the gator would enter the store.Police officers arrived on the scene to ensure no customers came to close to the beast. Shopping trip: The alligator hung around the Walmart in Apopka for about an hour . The Walmart at Orange Blossom Trail and Hiawassee Road is open 24 hours and plenty of customers were around to witness the beast's arrival.It's unclear whether it was drawn by the low, low prices, but the gator's presence certainly didn't stop Walmart customers. 'Someone inside said there was a gator at the door. So of course, curious people, we came out and it was right against the door, it was probably five or six foot long, just chilling,' one shopper told WESH. Police called state Fish and wildlife officers when the alligator showed no sign of leaving the store. Kept at bay: Police kept curious customers away from the beast . Later, gator: The predator finally wandered off to a lake behind the store where it's believed he or she lives . Shortly before they arrived, though, the alligator wandered off, having been circling the store for about an hour. According to authorities, there's a lake and wooded area behind the discount retailer where the alligator lives. Fish and Wildlife officers are expected to conduct a search for the animal during the daylight hours to determine whether it's a risk to humans and needs to be relocated. In 2011, SNAP, the Statewide Nuisance Alligator Program, received 14,275 nuisance alligator complaints resulting in the removal of 6,995 nuisance alligators. | A five-to-six-foot alligator turned up at a Walmart Sunday .
The beast disturbed late-night shoppers at the store around midnight .
It prowled around the store's entrance so managers disabled the automatic doors so the gator couldn't enter .
It's believed to live in a lake behind the store . |
266,900 | e5b13025141fcbb5aa108f074911757d47411c24 | By . Snejana Farberov . A Florida mother and her live-in boyfriend are facing a slew of child abuse charges after sheriff's officials say the man repeatedly molested his girlfriend’s children - and she did nothing to stop him. According to the Manatee County's Sheriff's Office, 42-year-old Shawn Ussery had not only sexually abused the minors for five years, but he also smoked methamphetamine with at least one of the victims. Ussery was arrested Tuesday at his home in Bradenton on 10 counts of sexual battery, 16 counts of capital sexual battery and a single count of aggravated child abuse. Shocking claims: Shawn Ussery (left) and his 37-year-old girlfriend (right) are facing a slew of charges in connection to sexual abuse involving the woman's children . His 37-year-old girlfriend, who is not being named by MailOnline to protect the identities of her children, is facing charges of child abuse, failure to protect the children, and lewd and lascivious exhibition. The couples' arrest reports cited by Sarasota Herald Tribune indicate that Shawn Ussery was taken into custody after law enforcement officials received a tip that the 42-year-old man had been abusing his girlfriend's children. When interviewed by officers, the kids confirmed that information and revealed that their mother has been aware of the molestation and did nothing to protect them from her boyfriend’s advances. The children claimed that instead of turning her boyfriend in to the authorities, the 37-year-old mother grew jealous and forced one of her children to watch as she performed oral sex on Ussery. MyFox Tampa Bay reported that the woman then allegedly declared in reference to Ussery: 'He was mine first.' Defenseless: The woman's children told sheriff's deputies that their mother (second left) knew about the sexual abuse and did nothing to shield them from Ussery . Sick: The girlfriend allegedly became jealous of her children and forced one of them to watch as she performed oral sex on Ussery (left) Besides the alleged sexual abuse, the children living in the household also have been exposed to drug use, with at least one of the kids allegedly smoking meth with Ussery as recently as three days before his arrest. The arrest reports state that a blood test later confirmed the presence of methamphetamine in the child's system. Online jail records show that Ussery has a lengthy criminal record encompassing more than a half dozen arrests on DUI, cocaine, theft and burglary charges dating back to at least the late 1990s. The couple are being held without bond at Manatee County Jail. | Shawn Ussery, 42, of Florida, charged with sexual battery and aggravated child abuse .
His 37-year-old live-in girlfriend is facing counts of failure to protect children and lewd and lascivious exhibition .
Arrest reports state the mother performed oral sex on Ussery in front of a child because she was jealous and said: 'he was mine first'
Ussery is accused of smoking meth with one of the kids just three days before his arrest . |
108,418 | 17cbdfe02c9ae31dbbda2871bb278971e601b5d5 | By . David Kent . Erik Lamela has been making the most of his time off by getting himself fit for the new Premier League season with Tottenham. The 22-year-old wasn't selected in Argentina's 2014 World Cup squad after a difficult first campain with the north London club. Lamela seems to be looking forward to the new season though as he took to Twitter to show off a gym workout while writing, 'come on you Spurs!'. VIDEO Scroll down to watch in the gym at the end of last season and scoring for River Plate . Getting ready: Erik Lamela took to Twitter to show off his pre-season preparations . Tough start: Erik Lamela had a difficult first season playing for Tottenham . He tweeted: 'I'm really looking forward to this season, come on you spurs!!' New Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino will be hoping to get the former Roma forward back on track this season after injuries plagued his debut season in England. Pochettino left Southampton to sign a five-year contract with Spurs in the summer as the club decided not to continue with Tim Sherwood as their manager. Fresh legs: The 22-year-old will be hoping to impress new Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino . In charge: Pochettino left Southampton to take over from Tim Sherwood as Spurs manager . | Erik Lamela takes to Twitter to show off his pre-season preparations .
Tottenham forward hits the gym as he tweets 'come on you Spurs!'
22-year-old had a difficult first season in the Premier League . |
81,946 | e83bd319941ea099da99aaf8366eb79f2984d278 | A builder training company's television ad has been slammed by Australia's advertising watchdog for depicting hazardous workplace behaviour. The character in the Builders Academy Australia ad is represented as an action hero, rather than a builder, as he throws a chisel like a knife and jumps from the roof to the ground, running with firing guns in both hands. The 30 second video has the builder named Bob act out Matrix-style moves. Builders Academy Australia's TV ad has been slammed by Australia's advertising watchdog for depicting hazardous workplace behaviour . The 30 second video has the builder named Bob act out Matrix-style moves . The ad went to air in September and has since had a complaint made against it to the Advertising Standards Bureau, suggesting the promotion encourages dangerous behaviour among builders. 'The building and construction industry has a serious problem with safety caused by ‘cowboys’ leading to serious injury and death, and promotion of this behaviour I find objectionable. 'This ad blatantly promotes and encourages the most dangerous of behaviours that can actually kill people — things like throwing a sharp and dangerous chisel like a throwing knife or firing nail guns or trying ridiculous gymnastics in a workplace. 'This ad is supposed to sell a service that teaches young builders and apprentices how to build homes safely yet this ad shows the complete opposite, glorifying dangerous and stupid on-site behaviours that have killed too many people in the industry already.' The character in the Builders Academy Australia ad is represented as an action hero, rather than a builder . The character throws a chisel like a knife and jumps from the roof to the ground . He runs with firing guns in both hands, depicting a dangerous workplace environment among builders . Builders Academy CEO Mark McCoach said the ad was perfect for the audience, despite it being far from a normal workplace . But Builders Academy CEO Mark McCoach said the ad was perfect for the audience, despite it being far from a normal workplace. 'The ad is really different to anything else in the industry. It’s edgy, but it aligns perfectly with our audience. Our aim was to grab attention. I have full confidence it will generate many enquiries,' Mr McCoach said. 'It is a fantasy — our character is a superhero and the environment is a fictitious space constructed for the purpose of the ad. 'The comparison is Batman and Gotham City — a fantasy built on aspects of reality. The final scene, with Bob standing on a pedestal, confirms the surreal environment. 'The actions depicted are not dangerous to our character — because he is obviously not real. He is a superhero, and can therefore do things normal people can’t, such as defy gravity and shoot nails into beams of wood over distance.' The claim made against the TV ad forced Builders Academy to remove shots of the nail gun being fired incorrectly, promoting a slightly safer workplace environment for builders. Mark McCoach, CEO of Builders Academy said 'the final scene, with Bob standing on a pedestal, confirms the surreal environment' | Builders Academy Australia's 30 second ad has been slammed for depicting hazardous workplace behaviour .
The ad was aired in September .
Advertising Standards Bureau received a complaint made against the Builders Academy .
They were forced to remove shots that were overly dangerous . |
278,974 | f56dc29c92d2f97c419a4d44a9272c76d713d9b9 | A sprawling, 100-acre New Zealand farm that shares its name with a popular nursery rhyme has gone on sale for £3.5 million. Old Macdonald's Farm in Marahau, on the northern coast of the country's South Island, boasts panoramic views of the nearby Abel Tasman National Park and overlooks the picturesque Tasman Bay. Buyers will also get an interesting sweetener thrown in to the deal – a collection of the farm's free-roaming animals including cattle and alpacas, pigs and cattle. Old Macdonald's Farm in Marahau, on the northern coast of the country's South Island, boasts panoramic views of Abel Tasman National Park . The settlement also features a full-sized sand volleyball court, a secure car park and a mini orchard filled with almond, apricot, plum, persimmon and loquat trees. The farm is currently owned and run by Craig, Lyn, Doug and Sean Macdonald, and comes complete with livestock including 40 cattle, 20 llamas and alpacas and a pig, as well as a three-bedroom family house. A spokesperson for Vladi Private Islands who are listing the property said: 'Old MacDonalds Farm is a melange of a rustic Kiwi camping ground, untouched country pastures and riparian river rights. 'Many aspects make up this already, well established property however the opportunities and potential is still colossal. The 100-acre settlement overlooks the Tasman Bay, perfect for sea kayaking, boating, fishing and trekking on world-famous coastal paths . According to the estate agent's website, a 'crisp, clear river runs through the property and offers many swimming holes' The farm is located on the edge of the 22,530 hectare Abel Tasman National Park, renowned for its golden beaches, sculptured granite cliffs, and its famous coastal track . 'In its entirety the farm is 31 hectares of flat to gently contoured land mass. 'From almost all bearings there is a view to be had, either out to Tasman Bay and its azure waters or a distinctive green belt that wraps and intermingles the property. 'A crisp, clear river runs through the property and offers many swimming holes with easy access from the flat areas. 'A circular bush walk is also part of the camp attracting many visitors to enjoy a slice of New Zealand with its native plant varieties including Nikau Palms, Matai trees, ferns and a 700 year old rimu tree. 'The price contains all buildings, vehicles, furniture and animals. The sprawling site comes with a three-bedroom family home, and the price includes all furniture, vehicles and animals . A circular bush walk is part of the camp along with native plant varieties including Nikau Palms, Matai trees, ferns and a 700-year-old rimu tree . The farm is currently owned and run by Craig, Lyn, Doug and Sean Macdonald, and comes complete with livestock including 40 cattle, 20 llamas and alpacas and a pig . 'Marahau is a tranquil seaside resort at the commencement of the beautiful Abel Tasman National Park. 'From this recreational boundary a multitude of outdoor pleasures are at the water's edge including sea kayaking, boating, fishing and nature walkways.' The entrance to the farm is located just 400 meters away from the edge of the 22,530 hectare Abel Tasman National Park, renowned for its golden beaches, sculptured granite cliffs, and its famous coastal track. There are currently 20 llamas and alpacas living on the farm, which are all being sold along with the grounds and buildings on the property . A spokesperson for Vladi Private Islands who are listing the property, described the settlement as 'a melange of a rustic Kiwi camping ground, and untouched country pastures' Anyone thinking of continuing to run the farm as a business can expect a revenue of around £350,000, which is currently what the property earns from tourists who come to stay on the settlements campsite . The 100-acre settlement features a full-sized sand volleyball court, a secure car park and a mini orchard filled with almond, apricot, plum, persimmon and loquat trees . The climate in Marahau is said to be 'mild' and described as 'a good place to visit at any time of the year'. Anyone thinking of continuing to run the farm as a business can expect a revenue of around £350,000, which is currently what the property earns from farming and the groups of tourists who come to stay on the settlement's campsite each year. Visitors are said to flock to the site to indulge in the multitude of outdoor activities including sea kayaking, boating, fishing and trekking on the local walkways. For more information on the listing, visit vladi-private-islands.de. | Old Macdonald's Farm is situated in Marahau, on the northern coast of New Zealand's South Island .
The 100-acres site boasts panoramic views of the Abel Tasman National Park and overlooks Tasman Bay .
It currently brings in £350,000-a-year, mostly through its popularity with tourists who come to camp in the grounds .
The farm has a full-sized volleyball court, car park and fully-licensed cafe in addition to a three-bedroom house . |
248,522 | cd8f922eb01f9f042a1e381472e34210849aa37b | US aviation officials have launched an investigation after a JetBlue passenger jet was forced to abort its take-off when another plane filled with holidaymakers suddenly crossed the runway. After being given clearance to depart, JetBlue flight 1295 was rolling down the tarmac at full speed at New York’s John F Kennedy International Airport when a Caribbean Airlines plane crossed into its path without authorisation, said officials. The JetBlue captain hit the brakes to avoid a collision with the Caribbean Airlines Boeing 737 which had just landed from Cheddi Jagan International Airport in Guyana on Saturday night. JetBlue flight 1295 was rolling down the tarmac at full speed when the pilot was forced to hit the brakes . Jet Blue passenger Brandon Card told WABC-TV: ‘We were headed full steam down the runway and the plane came to a screeching stop.’ Passenger Krista Hollis added: ‘When they said a collision was inevitable if the pilot hadn’t braked, I said “What?”’ JetBlue spokesman Rick Clark said no one was injured. The Caribbean Airlines flight crew were on the wrong frequency when they landed, WABC-TV reported . An FAA spokeswoman said 'the closest proximity of the two aircraft was more than 2,800 feet' The Caribbean Airlines flight crew did not answer air traffic controllers because they were on the wrong frequency and never heard tower instructions to stop, WABC-TV reported. Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen toldNewsday that air traffic controllers immediately ordered the JetBlue crew to cancel its take-off and stop. She said: ‘The closest proximity of the two aircraft was more than 2,800 feet.’ The Jet Blue plane, an Airbus A320, returned to the gate at about 10:30pm and took off for Austin, Texas, three hours late. | JetBlue plane heading to Texas had been given clearance to depart .
It was rolling down the tarmac at full speed when Caribbean plane landed .
JetBlue pilot hit the brakes at tower's request to avoid a collision . |
1,057 | 02fd4a71b183595d73eea9bfb3afb250d515eec7 | Thousands of people having keyhole knee surgery could be wasting their time, claim researchers. New research suggests that middle-aged people with mild osteoarthritis get little, if any, benefit as a result. A study investigated how best to treat torn meniscus, crescent-shaped cartilage that helps stabilise knees. In the UK many patients have arthroscopic procedures either on the NHS or privately to reduce knee pain. Thousands of people having keyhole knee surgery could be wasting their time, researchers have claimed . This involves a procedure called debridement, which involves tidying up damaged cartilage and ligaments or removing loose debris from the joint. But a study published in the Canadian Medical Journal found surgery is not more effective in the short or long-term than doing nothing. Arthroscopy involves two small stab wounds made on either side of the front of the knee. One is for a telescope called an arthroscope, enabling the surgeon to see directly inside the area, and the other is for an instrument to carry out the surgery. Surgeons typically smooth damaged cartilage surfaces on the end of bones, which can cause stiffness and pain, and flush out bone chips. The minimally invasive procedure allows for quicker healing than traditional surgery, but can still trigger complications such as blood clots, infection and nerve or blood vessel damage. During keyhole surgery, an arthroscopy, surgeons can smooth damaged cartilage surfaces on the end of bones, pictured is a computer generated image of cartilage . Canadian researchers analysed seven good quality trials, involving 811 knees in 805 patients, with an average age of 56 years. The procedure was carried out for symptom relief in patients with mild or no osteoarthritis, compared with similar patients who did not have arthroscopy for meniscal tears. In four trials there was no short-term pain relief in the first six months after surgery for patients with some osteoarthritis. There was no improvement in long-term function up to two years later in five trials. Study leader Dr Moin Khan, Division of Orthopedic Surgery, Department of Surgery, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, said: ‘Arthroscopic surgery for degenerative meniscal tears in the setting of mild or no concurrent osteoarthritis in middle-aged patients may have little, if any, effect on short-term and long-term outcomes in comparison with nonoperative management.’ He said doctors need to carefully weigh the costs and benefits when deciding which middle aged patients should undergo surgery. ‘With limited evidence supporting arthroscopic meniscal débridement for degenerative meniscus tears in the setting of mild or no osteoarthritis, an initial trial of nonoperative interventions should play a large role for middle-aged people,’ he added. A 2008 Canadian study found that patients undergoing surgery for knee arthritis did no better than those having physical therapy and taking medication. Experts believe arthroscopy should not be used routinely to treat osteoarthritis, but say it may still help patients with mild symptoms or a recent injury. NHS guidelines recommend GPs only refer arthritis patients for arthroscopy when they suffer locking of the knee, not other symptoms. | New research suggests middle-aged people with mild osteoarthritis get little, if any, benefit from surgery .
Study investigated how best to treat torn meniscus - cartilage in the knee .
In the UK many patients have arthroscopic operations to relieve pain . |
250,511 | d0327e1692aa5358d10ce354ca9f148db7b4c44c | A judge in Kansas City, Missouri, has sentenced a Catholic bishop to two years on probation for failure to report suspected child abuse, officials said Thursday. Bishop Robert W. Finn, 59, is the highest-ranking Catholic official to be convicted during the church's long sexual abuse scandal. Finn won't serve any jail time or pay a fine, the Jackson County Prosecuting Attorney's office said. The misdemeanor charge had a maximum penalty of one year in prison and a fine of as much as $1,000. One other misdemeanor against the bishop and two against Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph were dropped. The case stemmed from the diocese's slow dealing with Shawn Ratigan, a priest from Independence, Missouri, who pleaded guilty in August to five charges of child pornography. Missouri priest accused of taking sexually explicit photos of kids . Prosecutors said it took nearly five months for church officials to notify police that disturbing images of children had been found on Ratigan's computer. During that time Ratigan continued to work for the church. "I truly regret and am sorry for the hurt these events have caused," Finn said, according to CNN affiliate KCTV. Terms of Finn's probation include starting a $10,000 fund for sexual abuse counseling and mandatory training for church officials on how to report abuse. "We can be assured now that if an allegation of child abuse comes to the attention of the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, there will be no hesitation to report it immediately to the proper authorities," Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker said in a written statement. The case was tried by a judge instead of by jury because prosecutors wanted to protect the young victims' anonymity. Kansas City bishop indicted on child endangerment charge . | Bishop is highest-ranking Catholic official sentenced during sex abuse scandal .
Robert Finn failed to immediately report a priest involved in child pornography .
The priest, Shawn Ratigan, pleaded guilty in August .
Trial by judge protected the children from having their names disclosed . |
207,443 | 989a6e6f93b85843b8c338255c12a4d36d4d9cdf | Soldier helped . burn evidence spattered with blood and brain matter . Will testify against other Georgia militia members who planned terrorist acts, including killing U.S. President . Militia group had stockpiled more than $87,000 worth of guns and bomb materials . By . Associated Press . PUBLISHED: . 22:23 EST, 15 October 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 02:03 EST, 16 October 2012 . Former Army medic Christopher Jenderseck pleaded guilty Monday to charges that he burned bloody . clothes, spent shotgun shells and a cellphone to help his fellow soldiers . cover up a double murder linked to a militia group . plotting several terrorist attacks. Jenderseck told a Liberty County . Superior Court judge he built the backyard bonfire used to dispose of the items . last December. He said his fellow soldiers did not tell him was he was . destroying evidence to cover up a killing, though he figured it out as the fire . burned. Brett Roark, father of Michael Roark and Brenda Thomas, mother of Tiffany York, and Morgan York, sister of Tiffany York, from left, listen to Former Pfc. Christopher Jenderseck give testimony Monday. Jenderseck also admitted he did nothing to stop them. “I was ashamed of myself that I let myself become a part of this,” the . 26-year-old Iraq veteran told the judge. Jenderseck was the second defendant to plead guilty in a case that’s stunned . this military community near the Georgia coast. Ten people, including eight current and former Fort Stewart soldiers, have . been jailed on charges that they belonged to an anti-government group that . prosecutors say plotted several terrorists acts and ultimately had plans to assassinate the President of the United States. According to Jenderseck, Michael Roark, 19, and girlfriend Tiffany York, 17, were killed when because Geroegia militia members thought they knew too much about their terrorist plans. Authorities began investigating the group last December . after local fishermen discovered the bodies of recently discharged soldier . Michael Roark,19, and his 17-year-old girlfriend, Tiffany York. Both had been shot . in the head and their bodies left in the woods. Christopher Jenderseck admitted to destroying clothing, shotgun shells and a cellphone after the December killings of Roark and York. He agreed to testify against other defendants. Four Fort Stewart soldiers were soon arrested in the slayings, and to being part of a militia group that had stockpiled more than $87,000 worth of guns and bomb materials. Prosecutors say Roark and York were killed because they knew about the militia . group. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty. But prosecutors said Jenderseck’s only involvement was helping the others . burn a cellphone, spent shotgun shells used in the killings and clothing the . shooters wore that was spattered with blood and brain matter. Investigators . later found charred remains of those items in the backyard of Army Sgt. Anthony . Peden, who’s charged with being one of the shooters. “Mr. Jenderseck was not present” during the killings, Durden told reporters . after court. “Although he was a member of the group, he was not involved . directly in the homicides.” That’s one reason why prosecutors agreed to let Jenderseck, who had been . jailed since mid-September, serve the rest of his seven-year sentence on . probation. His defense attorney, Jarrett Maillet, said Jenderseck planned to . return to Fargo, N.D., where he enrolled in college after his enlistment with . the Army ended in April. Jenderseck’s plea deal requires him to testify against the other defendants . in the case and against any new suspects who may be charged later on. Prosecutor Isabel Pauley told the judge Monday that Aguigui recruited . Jenderseck into his militia group last year at a time when he was . psychologically vulnerable -- Jenderseck had recently finished a tour in Iraq and . had problems at home including the death of his grandfather, a failed marriage and the suicide death of a friend and fellow soldier. Aguigui, Pauley said, was interested in recruiting Jenderseck because he was . a trained combat medic. “Aguigui questioned this defendant and asked him, ‘If I were to bring you . someone filled with holes, could you fix him up?’ Jenderseck¿s plea deal requires him to testify against the other defendants in the case and against any new suspects who may be charged later on. Jenderseck ended up getting a tattoo on his right shoulder — the Greek . letters alpha and omega intersecting to form an anarchy symbol — that . prosecutors say members of Aguigui’s group wore. Jenderseck said he had the . tattoo covered up with another after the killings because he was ashamed. His attorney said that while Jenderseck may have been disgruntled with the . military when he joined up with Aguigui, he wasn’t on board with carrying out . terrorist attacks and knew little of such plots. 'The leader of this group would kind of keep them in the dark and the right . hand didn’t know what the left had was doing,' Maillet said. 'What he did know . about it he thought was a bunch of talk, and not so much action,' Maillet added. Investigators say that the Georgia militia had terrorist plans for Fort Stewart (pictured) outside Savannah, Georgia. | Soldier helped .
burn evidence spattered with blood and brain matter .
Will testify against other Georgia militia members who planned terrorist acts, including killing U.S. President .
Militia group had stockpiled more than $87,000 worth of guns and bomb materials . |
170,882 | 692ad3443a2f814a8d78242efe5b66189c8e4ac4 | By . Anna Edwards . PUBLISHED: . 03:31 EST, 26 July 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 05:56 EST, 26 July 2013 . Lead exposure can damage a child's developing brain . A study has found that there is more than just chilli lurking in hot sauce - high amounts of poisonous lead are also contained in a range of spicy relishes. A variety of piquant sauces were tested, and discovered to exceed 0.1 ppm lead - the U.S Food and Drug Administration standard for unsafe levels of the chemical. Out of 25 bottles of imported hot sauces, four - all from Mexico and made by different manufacturers - were found to have a high amount of the metal. Lead exposure can damage a child's developing brain and lead to a lower IQ. Overall, lead poisoning in the U.S. has declined significantly since it was removed from paints and gasoline formulas. University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) researchers Jennifer Berger Ritchie and Professor Shawn Gerstenbergera subjected the variety of sauces to the tests as hot relishes have long been suspected of containing lead. Their study, published in the Journal of Environmental Science and Health, explained how the products were shaken for a minute and then analyzed for lead concentrations and pH levels, the UNLV website reported. They also tested the lead content of the packaging, as that has a history of seeping into products and contaminating them. It was then that they found that 16 per cent of the Mexican and South American products contained the high levels - but did not specify which ones they had tested. University of Nevada, Las Vegas researchers Jennifer Berger Ritchie and Professor Shawn Gerstenbergera subjected the variety of sauces to the tests (posed) They warned that if hot sauce is a . regular feature of someone's diet - particularly a child where spicy . food is part of their culture - they could be at risk. Following the shocking find, researchers have demanded a more demanding testing process. Prof Gerstenberger told the UNLV: 'The results indicate the need for more rigorous screening protocols for products imported in Mexico, including an applicable standard for hot sauce. 'Without enforceable standards for hot sauces and condiments, manufacturers will not be encouraged to improve quality control measures designed to reduce the amounts of lead and other toxic elements before exporting.' Lead had long been considered a threat to a child. In January, research found that cities where . lead pollution was reduced experienced falling levels of robbery and . violent crime around 20 years later. Similarly, an increase in lead pollution prompted an increase in violence two decades later, scientists found. Researchers . believe that exposure to toxic lead in the environment damages . children’s brains and could make them more likely to commit violent . crime when they grow up. Professor Howard Mielke, of Tulane University in New Orleans, who has studied the effect of lead on children, said there was a ‘strong association’ between criminal activity and lead. Dr Alastair Hay, professor of . environmental toxicology at Leeds University, said: ‘We know that lead . exposure in children and infants, when the brain is developing, damages . the brain, and we know that children who are exposed to lead have a . lower IQ. ‘These children tend to be more . impulsive and find it more difficult to concentrate. What these studies . are saying is that following exposure in infancy the effect on the body . seems to predispose, or is certainly strongly linked, with violent . behaviour in adulthood.’ | Out of 25 tested bottles, four were found to exceed 0.1ppm lead .
Chemical can damage a child's developing brain and lower IQ .
Nevada researchers demand more rigorous screening tests . |
68,170 | c1658f8494b688ba1b558b246c223727bb1f77d8 | (CNN) -- Grammy-winning guitarist Jeff Hanneman, a founding member of the heavy metal band Slayer, died Thursday of liver failure in Southern California, the band said in a statement. He was 49. "Slayer is devastated to inform that their bandmate and brother, Jeff Hanneman, passed away at about 11 a.m. this morning near his Southern California home. Hanneman was in an area hospital when he suffered liver failure," the band said in a statement posted on its website and Facebook page. Hanneman leaves behind his wife, Kathy, a sister and two brothers. "He ... will be sorely missed," the band said. The guitarist was with Slayer from its founding in 1981. Its breakthrough came five years later with the release of "Reign in Blood," an album that included two songs -- "Angel of Death" and "Raining Blood" -- co-written by Hanneman. That was one of 10 studio albums that the band put out over three decades together, during which they performed thousands of shows. On Slayer's official website, Hanneman said that the last one -- "World Painted Blood" -- came together quickly because the band's members worked seamlessly. "The interaction between all of us on this record was really something special," he said. "... The chemistry was just good." In 2006 and 2007, Slayer won Grammy awards for best metal performance. The metal world -- in tweets from, among many others, the bands Rancid, Hatebreed, In Flames and Testament -- reacted to Hanneman's death with sadness and appreciation, referring to him as a "true heavy metal legend" and a "brother in thrash." "Jeff Hanneman will always be a metal god," wrote rocker Andrew WK. "A true master, he gave energy and excitement to millions, and will continue to. #PartyForSlayer." The news also spurred thousands of diehard fans to comment about Hanneman on Slayer's Facebook page. Wrote one: "One of the best shredders ever to walk Earth. RIP, good sir." CNN's Denise Quan, Amanda Watts and Chelsea Carter contributed to this report. | NEW: Musicians describe Hanneman as a "true master," "metal god" and "legend"
Hanneman was among those who founded the heavy metal band Slayer in 1981 .
He co-wrote two songs on Slayer's landmark 1986 album, "Reign in Blood"
He was at a California hospital when he suffered liver failure, his band says . |
119,197 | 25f558b8aba50297f7a15ad0ed250d3b4b125685 | (CNN) -- Thierry Henry made a sensational scoring return for English club Arsenal as his goal sealed a 1-0 win over Leeds United in the third round of the FA Cup. The French striker came on as a substitute and sealed the match with a trademark finish after less than ten minutes on the pitch to enhance his legend at the London club still further. Arsenal's highest ever scorer left the club for Spanish side Barcelona in 2007 and was making his first appearance since sealing a two-month loan move from Major League Soccer side the New York Red Bulls. The 34-year-old received a huge ovation when he came on a replacement for Moroccan forward Marouane Chamakh in the 68th minute and he found the net ten minutes later. Who are football's top January transfer targets? He finished emphatically past Leeds goalkeeper Andy Lonergan to send the Emirates Stadium into raptures and register his 227th goal for the club. It sent Arsenal through to the fourth round at the expense of Leeds, who play in the second tier of English football. Arsenal will now face fellow Premier League side Aston Villa in the next round. Rooney defiant as Man City appeal Kompany red card . After his perfect return Henry told ESPN: "It's kind of weird. I came back from holiday 15 days ago. I never thought I was going to play for Arsenal again or score a winner. "I don't know what to say. I love the club and I hope I can do more. I hope it won't be the last one. The feeling I had when I scored was amazing. "I rejoined the club as a fan; before I wasn't. Scoring a goal when you support the team, now I know how some of the guys who played for Liverpool or Man United or Chelsea felt when they scored a goal for the club they support. "With one opportunity, it's very important -- you don't know if you'll have a second. You have to make sure you take it. I took it well." Henry's goal was his 12th in 12 games against Leeds United, who were relegated from the Premier League in 2004. "I didn't even think about that but I think I will always remember tonight," he said. "When it comes to Arsenal something happens with me, sometimes in a bad way but most of the time in history in a good way." Henry was named man of the match despite being on the field for just 22 minutes. He added: "I think it's a joke, but I'll take it." Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger added: "You could see Thierry brought his class but also how much it means to him to come on and make the difference. It was something you couldn't even predict before the game. "It's great that he's back here and got the goal that qualifies us. You see that when he gets in these kind of positions, we've seen it so many times, him finishing at the right moment. It looks easy but it's not." | French striker Thierry Henry scores the winning goal on his return for Arsenal .
Henry comes off the bench to settle Arsenal's third round FA Cup tie with Leeds .
The 34-year-old has signed a two-month loan deal from the New York Red Bulls .
Henry says he is speechless at scoring in his first appearance for the club in five years . |
72,380 | cd3292aec765df6db21bf8401c3db7196ae20a75 | By . Beth Stebner . UPDATED: . 12:54 EST, 24 February 2012 . A seasoned television anchor who was bitten in the face by an 85-pound dog during a live broadcast earlier this month has spoken out about the frightening experience two weeks after her attack. Kyle Dyer of Denver’s KUSA-TV gave her first interview yesterday, bravely showing scars on her face, which include a V-shaped scar on her upper lip where skin had to be grafted. The anchor told the Denver Post that the first thoughts that went through her mind after the Argentine Mastiff bit her was: ‘I’m bleeding, and it had to be on television!’ Scroll down for video (Warning: Graphic content) In good form: TV anchor Kyle Dyer has had two surgeries since she was attacked by a Mastiff February 8 but looks to be healing quickly . Battle scar: A V-shaped scar can be seen on the anchor's top lip, as well as bite marks on her nose and lower lip . Despite the painful weeks of recovery, two surgeries, and the long road ahead, Ms Dyer said she feels lucky and calls the attack ‘a fluke.’ ‘It could have been so much worse,’ she said. She was bitten in the face during a live taping of her show February 8. ‘It may seem like a superficial business, but the people out there in Colorado are not superficial,’ she told the Post. She said she’s received an outpouring of support from people who have also been bitten by dogs and who are wishing for a speedy recovery. ‘I just keep reading those letters and know that I’m going to heal. I’m going to be better than ever,’ she said. The news of the attack spread like wildfire around the world. Ms Dyer said she personally witnessed the breadth of the news by way of her niece, who lives in Lithuania. On TV: Kyle Dyer, right, had knelt down to pet Max when he attacked. He is seen here with his owner, Michael Robinson, and the firefighter that rescued him . Attack: In a flash, Max bares his teeth and lashes out at Ms Dyers face. Animal control officers called it a 'pretty major bite.' Ferocious: Though immediate reports said that he was not properly vaccinated, the owners of the dog have put out a statement saying that he was up-to-date with all of his shots . She said her niece read about the attack in the town’s local newspaper. ‘There’s so many different learning things that have come out of this,’ she said. She was injured February 8 while doing an on-air segment with the dog’s owner and a fire-fighter who had rescued the Mastiff from an icy pond in suburban Lakewood the day before. She was petting the dog’s head seconds before it bit her.’ 'I know that I’m going to heal. I’m going to be better than ever.' -Anchor Kyle Dyer . Over Valentine’s Day weekend, the anchor wrote on her Facebook page that her mouth was stitched shut so the graft over her lips could receive better blood circulation. While more surgeries may be in her future, Ms Dyer won’t know for certain until this summer, as doctors asses her progress. Ms Dyer, who had been working at the Denver station for over 15 years, underwent reconstructive surgery and over 70 stitches after the attack. She said she harbours no ill will toward the dog. ‘It was just an accident,’ she said, saying that she’s glad he is back with his owners. Part of the team: Ms Dyer (left) has been . working for the station for over 15 years, many of which she has . co-anchored with Gary Shapiro (right) Struggle: Max the dog was filmed swimming around in an icy pool, unable to escape . A number of viewers expressed . concern that the dog would be euthanized as a result of the incident, . which was something they appeared angry about. 'It was clearly human fault. Why should the animal be blamed for both the owner an kyle's mistake? Argentine mastiffs, also known as the . Argentine Dogo, are known as big-game hunters and historically have . gone after wild boars and pumas. While they are now used as pets, they were bred from a rather violent group of dogs. Because of the dogs' violent nature, several areas have banned the breed, including Aurora, Colorado. Aurora borders Denver, where the broadcast took place. The . animal is also banned in New York City public housing, and laws in the . UK allow police to take the dogs away from their owners and prosecute . them. Hope he isn't put down, it would be a crime,' wrote Bruno Naletto. Brendan Flynn echoed that sentiment, writing: 'Lord knows 9News will hear from all of us and alot more if Max is put down.' Unless the dog has rabies - which it is not showing signs of - it will not be put down. Even if the vaccinations are current, the owners will definitely face two charges from Denver Animal Care and Control: a penalty for having the dog bite someone and a second penalty for having the dog off its leash at the time. 'While we normally walk Max on-leash, we understand that by letting him off-leash in an open area away from anyone was still a mistake. We will never walk him off-leash in public areas after this,' the Robinsons said in their statement. Max was brought into the studio after the station's news chopper captured . video footage of a firefighter rescuing Max from a freezing pond Monday . after he fell through the ice and couldn't make it out. 'I know that she is a great journalist . who loves happy stories - this was a happy story,' her co-anchor Gary . Shapiro said in a note to fans. 'Kyle was glad she got assigned to it, because she loves animals,' Mr Shapiro said. Though she is out of the hospital, her recovery is just beginning. Ms Dyer, who is married and has children, is expected to take several weeks to return to work. 'She's . doing well, and will make a recovery, and we're all thinking about her . and her family,' said 9News vice president Patti Dennis. 'Kyle- . of all people!- is the biggest dog lover and even yesterday we were . talking about how, as dog lovers, we think every dog belongs to us. 'Kyle will be back in a period of weeks- probably several but she will be back.' Watch video here (Warning: Graphic content) | Local TV anchor Kyle Dyer says she feels lucky and attack 'could have been so much worse'
Was gracious for outpouring of support; does not blame dog or his family .
Was petting Argentinian Mastiff on show February 8 when he snapped and bit her in the face . |
143,227 | 453a29a4880a2db1ce17e8e55c3b7c84981da793 | Apple is turning its retail stores into art galleries featuring the work of photographers and other artists who use iPads, iPhones and Mac computers to create. They include paintings, photographs and short films by both professional and amateur Apple fans. The firm is set to install the artworks in all of its stores in an unprecedented move, saying it hopes to inspire others. Scroll down to see all the artworks and videos . Artwork from artists Craig Redman and Karl Maier is on display on the wall of an Apple Store in New York. The pairs both used iPad Air 2's to create the piece through apps iDraw and waterlogue. The also used FaceTime to chat about the work. 'Every piece in this gallery was created on an Apple product,' Apple said. 'Every brushstroke, every pixel, and every frame of film was brought to life by talented Apple users from around the world. 'As you explore their work, we hope it inspires you to create something new.' Travel photographer Austin Mann told MailOnline he used an iPhone 6 to take otherworldly panoramic photos of an Icelandic glacier. He said it was 'surreal' seeing the artwork blown up in the firm's Soho store in New York. He originally began taking pictures as a way to help review Apple products for a website. He said the larger screen was a major change. 'It's so nice to shoot with a big screen - it's almost like the old medium format cameras,' he said. Mann, who recalls mowing lawns for a summer as a 7th grader to save up for his first, bright green iMac in 1998, says his use of an iPhone and high-end cameras is 'split pretty even' when it comes to professional work. 'In the photography industry especially, when you are getting started you are always seeking gear, 'If I could only get this $1,000 lens,'' he said. Using just an iPhone to take great photos encourages people to 'shift away from focusing on gear and equipment.' Austin Mann told MailOnline he was driving along the Icelandic coast when a bank of fog lifted to reveal the biggest glacier he had ever seen. To reach it and get the shot, Mann left all his gear in the car, put his iPhone 6 Plus in his pocket, and climbed down a steep rock face to capture the photo in panorama mode. He then used the VSCOCam app to edit the image in the car on his way back to a hotel. Apple commissioned the work of 12 artists at various stages of their career to create works meant to inspire. Showcasing the people who use its technology - in this case, painters, photographers, filmmakers and other visual artists — is a shift for a company long focused on making its products front and center. The artwork, done on iOS devices and Macs using various apps, is displayed on Apple's website as part of an ad campaign called 'Start something new.' And the Cupertino, California-based company is replacing all product signage in its retail stores with the artwork. Just as technology has transformed the way we work and interact with one another, it has also changed the way we create. Jules Julien used iDraw on an iMac to create the modern interpretation on emoji . Jimmy Chin, a professional photographer, used and iPhone 6 and Pixelmator app to capture these stunning mountain scenes . For painter Roz Hall, that's meant shifting away from the canvases and acrylic paint he started out using in art school to an iPhone app called Brushes. After not painting for many years, Hall in 2010 read about a group of artists who started using their iPhones and sometimes iPads, which had just come out. 'I had an iPhone at home and I downloaded the Brushes app,' he says. 'That was a wonderful, simple application.' It was also challenging. When he painted on a canvas, he painted life-size works. Painting on a 3.5 inch-screen was an entirely different thing. 'What I liked about it was that there was no setup,' Hall says. With all the prep work that comes with traditional painting, he says, 'by the time you have everything out the moment has (often) passed.' Roz Hall used the app Procreate to paint with his fingers on the iPad . Brazilian artist Marcelo Gomes shot handfuls of colorful paper from different angles with an iPhone 6 Plus. He slowly moved the camera as a painter might move a brush, while using the Slow Shutter! app to lengthen the exposure time . Hall, whose website lists exhibitions in cities from San Francisco to New York to Shanghai, says he has not painted traditionally for many years. And he prefers painting on the iPad to using a traditional computer. Using the app Procreate to paint with his fingers on the iPad, 'you don't feel like you are fighting a computer to create your art. 'You feel connected to the artwork,' he says. 'When I first used an iPad, it made me think of cave paintings, or when a child first paints using their finger.' While some artists may look at digital painting as 'cheating' — after all, you can delete mistaken brush strokes — Hall, who lives in Britain, thinks it actually makes artists more daring. 'If you spent 50 pounds ($75) on canvas and another 50 pounds on paint, at some point you are going to get careful. You don't want to waste what you spent,' he says. For Apple's display, Hall used Procreate to paint portraits of people he encountered at the university where he lectures. Alistair Taylor-Young took photos of rainy cityscapes from behind a sheet of glasswith the iPhone 6 for Apple's project. 'Crystal Mosaic' uses the phone's own camera app to bring drops of rain on glass into focus, showing ordinary scenes through a different perspective. Chad Riley used the burst mode funtion of the iPad Air 2 to capture the swimmer . They include a bearded, mustached young man with bright yellow glasses and an intense stare, and a woman in a floppy black hat lost in thought. Alistair Taylor-Young, whose photography career spans two decades and has shot for fashion icons such as Armani and Fendi and magazines ranging from Conde Nast Traveler to French Vogue, took photos of rainy cityscapes with the iPhone 6 for Apple's project. 'Crystal Mosaic' uses the phone's own camera app to bring drops of rain on glass into focus, showing ordinary scenes through a different perspective. Jingyao Guo used iDraw on an iMac to create this image of Chinese New Year. she also used the Photo Booth app to capture her own facial expressions, which were then transposed onto the figures in the artwork. Taylor-Young bought an iPhone in 2007, when they first came out. Having worked with Polaroid cameras early in his career, he found the quality of the original iPhone's camera very similar. 'It was quite soft and the colors were muted and distorted,' he says. 'The moment I picked up the phone and started taking pictures, it reminded me of photography in its infancy. 'You couldn't focus, change exposure. 'You just saw something and took a photo.' The artist known only as Nomoco used an iPad Air 2 and the Brushes 3 app, painting with her fingers . Photographs from photographer Christian Weber are on display on the wall of an Apple Store in New York, as seen through a glass staircase. The artist used an iPhone 6 and the VSCO app to create them . The quality of phone cameras has certainly improved in the last several years. But more importantly, the ease of use and always-in-hand nature of a smartphone camera has in many ways democratized photography, encouraging anyone to make a photo diary of daily moments, not just special events or trips. 'Digital hasn't made any nicer pictures,' Taylor-Young says. 'But they have opened up the world to people who would have not necessarily thought of taking pictures, or sharing them.' Artwork from artists Jared Chambers, left, Jules Julien, center, and Alistair Taylor Young is on display on the wall of an Apple Store in New York, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2015. Artwork from artist Roz Hall is on display on the wall of an Apple Store in New York, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2015. Apple is turning its retail stores into art galleries featuring the work of professional photographers and other artists who use iPads, iPhones and Mac computers to create. | Images and video created entirely using Apple products from the iPhone to iPad and Mac .
Firm is set to install the artworks in all of its 444 stores in an unprecedented move, saying it hopes to inspire others . |
196,407 | 8a2ff9d236e9e8c11c34f564d490e878a25241ba | Andrew Flintoff will finally make his much-hyped return to professional cricket in Lancashire's NatWest T20 Blast clash against Worcestershire at New Road. Flintoff sensationally announced his return in May for Lancashire's Twenty20 campaign, almost five years after hanging up his boots following England's 2009 Ashes triumph at the Oval. Look who's back: Andrew 'Freddie' Flintoff practises his bowling prior to his return to Lancashire in T20 . Comeback: The former England star announced his return to cricket in May after five years away . Back in the groove: The 36-year-old has not been needed by the Lancashire Lightning until now . The 36-year-old all-rounder has made a couple of appearances for the second XI side since confirming his return, even playing a 50-over match against Nottinghamshire where he thumped 40 off just 23 balls to help his side to victory. Up until now, he has not been needed by the Lightning, who lie second in the North Division, but has now been given his chance to shine. Flintoff, eighth in the order, did not have to bat as Lancashire posted a good total of 229-4 in their 20 overs, with Ashwell Prince top scoring on 68. | Former England star named in Lightning team for first time since comeback .
Will play in Natwest T20 Blast match with Worcestershire at New Road .
Flintoff, 36, announced comeback in May after five years away .
He did not bat as Lancashire posted 229-4 in their 20 overs . |
253,823 | d487e5e3f52ebb1800f772c5ec6d13754fdd06ff | Manchester City have revived their bid to sign Malaga goalkeeper Willy Caballero. The 32-year-old is a firm favourite with coach Manuel Pellegrini who wants Caballero to provide top class competition for Joe Hart following the departure of Costel Pantilimon to Sunderland. City have considered Brighton target Keiren Westwood who is a free agent but Caballero will cost around £7million. VIDEO: Scroll down to watch an interview with Willy Caballero . Target: Manchester City want to sign Caballero from Malaga as competition for England keeper Joe Hart . Star keeper: Cabellero has long been regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in Spanish football . Alternative: Sunderland's Keiren Westwood is also a potential target for City and would be available for free . Gone: Manuel Pellegrini is short of cover for Joe Hart since Costel Pantilimon (above) left this summer . The Argentine is Malaga's highest earner and his buy-out clause is £16.5m yet the relationship between the two clubs means they will negotiate a more sensible price for a goalkeeper regarded as one of the best in La Liga over recent seasons. City remain in the market for further additions with Eliaquim Mangala of Porto their main objective although they know Manchester United and Chelsea have registered an interest. Still wanted: Porto's French defender Eliaquim Mangala is still a target for City who want to improve their squad . On their way: Barry (right) is expected to join Everton but Toure (left) has not told City he wants to leave yet . Although reports in Spain say that Yaya Toure wants to leave they have yet to have any confirmation from the player or his represntatives. City expect free agent Gareth Barry to finalise his permanent move to Everton this week after the Goodison club agreed a three year contract with the 33-year-old. | Caballero is one of the best keepers in Spain .
City also considering a move for Keiren Westwood on a free .
Costel Pantilimon left the Etihad this summer for Sunderland . |
32,415 | 5c28e464ed36476b0949ec19f90c9094759a1147 | Washington (CNN) -- A Senate committee will expand its probe into the U.S. Secret Service this week following a scandal involving prostitutes in Colombia in advance of a recent trip by the president. The Homeland Security Committee will send the Secret Service "some questions this week, as the beginning of our broader investigation, asking whether... this was an exception, or is there anything in the records that show this is a pattern of misconduct that has gone on elsewhere by Secret Service agents on assignment, but off-duty?" Sen. Joe Lieberman, the committee chairman, told "Fox News Sunday." "Why wasn't it noticed if that was the case? What's the Secret Service going to do to make sure it never happens again?" Some Secret Service members and agents allegedly brought back several prostitutes to a hotel in Cartagena, according to sources familiar with the U.S. government's investigation. The Secret Service says 12 members of the agency have been implicated in the incident. Across the Sunday political talk shows, officials expressed confidence in Secret Service Director Mark Sullivan, saying they believe he has handled the scandal well and will get answers. "History is full of cases where enemies have compromised" people with security or intelligence information through sex, said Lieberman, I-Connecticut. He added that based on what he has been told so far, "there is no evidence that information was compromised" in this case. Down the road, the committee will hold a public hearing on the matter -- perhaps more than one, Lieberman said. "Anyone who's found to be guilty" will lose his job, Rep. Peter King, Chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, told NBC's "Meet the Press." King told CNN last week that four investigators were assigned to his committee's probe. One person who was "partially exonerated" will instead likely face administrative action, King said. In a letter sent to Sullivan on Friday, King listed a series of questions, including how many employees were aware of the alleged incident and how many total employees were in Cartagena in support of President Obama's trip to the Summit of the Americas when the incident occurred earlier this month. "Please provide a comprehensive, minute-by-minute timeline of all known actions, locations, and possible violations of U.S. or Colombia law," codes of conduct, and directives, King wrote in the letter. But King and other officials are quick to emphasize that those allegedly involved in cavorting with prostitutes at a hotel in Cartagena are the exceptions. "In any organization things can go wrong," President Obama's chief campaign strategist David Axelrod told CNN's "State of the Union" Sunday. "I must say that in my experience the Secret Service has been completely professional, so impressive. I always felt like they were ... willing to do anything to protect the president and the people around the president. And so this was really disappointing. "Obviously we have to get to the bottom of it, but those problems should not denigrate the efforts of so many who do such a good job." Sen. Susan Collins, ranking member on the Homeland Security Committee, and Rep. Carolyn Maloney of the House Oversight Committee suggested having more female agents could help avoid such scandals. "I can't help but wonder if there'd been more women as part of that detail if this ever would have happened," Collins told ABC's "This Week." Maloney agreed, and added that she was told 11% of agents in the Secret Service are women. The agency did not immediately confirm the figure to CNN Sunday. "We probably need to diversify the Secret Service and have more minorities and more women," she said. Six Secret Service members have left their jobs in the wake of the incident in Cartagena, Colombia, which came while they were on a security detail in advance of President Obama's trip for the Summit of the Americas. One employee "has been cleared of serious misconduct, but will face administrative action," the Secret Service said. Five employees are on administrative leave and have had their security clearances temporarily revoked. In addition, the U.S. military is investigating 11 of its own troops for possible heavy drinking and consorting with prostitutes. White House staff have not been implicated in the controversy. After the scandal broke, President Obama called for a "thorough" and "rigorous" invsetigation. "If it turns out that some of the allegations that have been made in the press are confirmed, then of course I'll be angry," he said. | Senate committee Chairman Lieberman asks whether there's a pattern of misconduct .
House committee Chairman King asks for minute-by-minute timeline .
The actions of a few should not denigrate the many professionals, Axelrod says .
Collins and Maloney suggest more female agents could help avoid such a scandal . |
260,352 | dd2663c586a8d8441b29d0d547c113730e5ab3c5 | By . Snejana Farberov . Angi Fiege believes that her beautiful 19-year-old daughter, Rachael, would have been alive today had her friends bothered to call for help after she fell down the stairs during an alcohol-fuelled party last summer. Speaking to seniors at her daughter's high school this week, Angi Fiege said Rachael's college friends at Indiana University looked out for her, 'but they looked out for her the wrong way.' The 19-year-old college freshman passed away last August from a severe head injury a week before she was to start school. Scroll down for video . Tragic: Rachael Fiege, 19, moved to . Indiana University in August 2013 and was set to start class in a week when she sustained a head injury during a house party where alcohol was served and died . Off-campus: This is the house, just a block from the edge of the Indiana University campus, where Miss Fiege fell down a flight of basement stairs and died . Rachael Fiege was likely drinking at an off-campus event when she slipped and fell down a flight of stairs. Other party-goers thought the girl was drunk and left her to sleep it off on a sofa, but she never woke up. By the time paramedics were called more than six hours later, the teenager's heart had stopped. 'I know she'd be alive if they called 911,' Mrs Fiege said, referring to her daughter's friends, according to Indianapolis Star. Nine months after the tragedy, Angi Fiege is speaking out for the first time about her daughter's passing. The married mother of two, who works as an ER doctor in Indianapolis, recalled the terrible moment she got the call about Rachael and rushed to the hospital. ‘I saw my baby lying on the bed, on the ventilator, unconscious, with all the signs of lifelessness, except for a pulse,’ she told the station WTHR. Mother's grief: Angi Fiege (left and right) is convinced that her her daughter's friends called 911 right away, the girl (right) would have been alive today . Regret: Rachael's best friend, Mary Baluyut, says she left the August 2013 party 15 minutes before the teen's deadly accident . Rachael's best friend, Mary Baluyut, went to the fateful party with the freshman but left 15 minutes before her accident because she had an early meeting the following day. In retrospect, the young woman has come to regret her decision. ‘I really believe that had somebody recognized this was a serious event and called for help right away, my daughter would be here and we wouldn't be having this conversation,’ Angi Fiege said. In the aftermath of the girl's untimely death, Rachael's family and friends launched a new program called Rachael's First Week to educate high school seniors about some of the risks they might face in college. On Friday, Rachael's loved ones accompanied by IU emergency medicine residents met with 430 graduating seniors at Zionsvlle High School. ‘When you go out, you have to watch out for yourself,’ Ball State student Hanna Elliott, 19, told the high school kids in the audience. ‘You don't have your Zionsville bubble anymore. ‘Don't let us scare you. We want you guys to live it up, have fun — and be careful.’ Silver lining: The fiege family, Rachael's friends and medical residents teamed up to create Rachael's First Week program to educate high school seniors about the risks they would face in college . As part of the presentation, the seniors were shown a video featuring highlights from Rachael’s painfully short life set to Beyonce’s ‘I was here,’ followed by a Q & A session. Angi Fiege, Rachael’s friends on stage and many of the seniors in the crowd sobbed and wiped their eyes as the vivacious 19-year-old girl smiled at them on the screen. ‘Maybe highlighting what happened to Rachael, because she was so well-known, attaching a face and a name to those experiences will hopefully help prevent those tragedies that happened to my daughter,’ Mrs Fiege said. The overarching message that the team behind Rachael’s First Week wanted the seniors to take away from Friday’s event was: watch out for yourself, don't leave your friends behind and help one another. ‘Quite frankly, what happened to Rachael could happen to anybody. It was an accident,’ her mother pointed out. ‘They need to know what to do if they get into situations like this and not to be scared and to call for help, because seconds do count.’ Terrible choice: Miss Fiege was taken off life support by her parents, pictured, after a doctor told them that she was brain dead and would not recover from her injuries . The group used Friday’s program to promote Indiana's Lifeline Law, which provides immunity for minors who had been drinking if they seek medical help for a person suffering from an alcohol-related emergency. Angi said that while it is difficult to watch the presentation, she knows that it could potentially make the difference between life and death for some college freshman. The goal is to make sure Rachael's first week is never repeated. After the gathering, Zionsville seniors received a card with some helpful safety tips and a medallion honoring Rachael’s legacy. The Fiege family are planning to expand the initiative to schools across the state. At the time, police in Bloomington said Rachael Fiege fell down the basement stairs at an off-campus house and passed out sometime between 1 and 2am on August 24, 2013. Her fellow students helped her up, but did not call an ambulance until nearly 8am - seven hours later, because they didn't realize she was badly injured and thought she had just passed out. Fiege's tragic death came just two days after she arrived at Indiana University and before she had a chance to even attend her first class. Close friends: Miss Fiege's high school soccer teammates traveled to Bloomington for a chance to say goodbye to their friend before she was removed from life support . The campus newspaper, the Indiana Daily Student, reported that her parents took her off life support just hours later after doctors advised them that she was brain dead. Miss Fiege, who hoped to be a nurse, moved on campus August 21. The following night, she attended a boozy party at a house just one block from the edge of campus. After she tumbled down the stairs in the basement of the home, students helped her up and had her lay down in a different part of the house about 2am. 'The thought initially was probably that the injury was not as serious as it was,' IU Police Chief Laury Flint told the Daily Student at the time. It was not until 7.45am Miss Fiege's fellow students realized she would not wake up and called authorities. 13 WTHR Indianapolis . | Rachael Fiege, 19, was due to start class at Indiana University last August, but died after taking a spill at off-campus party .
Freshman sustained a severe head injury, but fellow students didn't realize she was hurt and didn't call an ambulance until seven hours later .
Rachael's mother and her friends launched the program Rachael's First Week to educate high school seniors about risks they will face in college .
Family gave presentation Friday to 430 graduating seniors at Rachael's alma mater, Zionsville High School . |
237,270 | bf1729f84a6ab3bc65482261f10178cdd20afd48 | Shoppers face an anxious wait over whether Christmas gifts bought on the web will arrive after delivery networks buckled under the weight of orders. The spending binge around Black Friday and this week’s Manic Monday overwhelmed some of the country’s biggest internet retailers, forcing them to tear up their delivery promises. The problem has been made worse by the fact the transport industry faces a drastic shortage of drivers. An estimated £810million was spent online on Black Friday which was 50 per cent higher than expected and effectively broke the delivery systems . It emerged earlier this week that Marks & Spencer was unable to cope with the scale of orders with the result that some shoppers have faced delivery delays of ten days and even longer. However, it is now clear there were problem at other household names such as Amazon, Tesco, Asos, Argos, Ao.com, Currys PC World, River Island, Very, Littlewoods and Debenhams. An estimated £810million was spent online on Black Friday which was 50per cent higher than expected and effectively broke the delivery systems. Added to this was another £666million on Manic Monday, which meant many thousands of new orders poured into the system. Many of the companies suffering delays use the Yodel courier firm, which has been unable to cope with the weight of orders. The firm set a target of hiring 2,830 self-employed couriers, 470 self-employed van drivers and 760 employed drivers to cover Christmas. The company claims to have met this target, however it is still frantically recruiting across the UK, promising to pay around £140 a day to people who use their own cars. The Yodel website carries the warning: ‘We are continuing to receive extremely high numbers of parcels as a result of the seasonal sales. We’re working hard to get your orders to you asap, but some may experience a slight delay in arriving.’ Jonathan Smith, chairman of InPost UK, which offers click and collect lockers for web purchases, said: ‘The trend towards seasonal discounting and last-minute sales is making the Christmas peak even peakier. Further pressure was added on transport services by another £666million being spent on Manic Monday . ‘The increase in online sales and orders as a result of the surge in demand over ‘Black Friday’ Christmas offers has clearly put a large amount of pressure on the ability for retailers to deliver and has presented a series of logistical challenges, shown by the large number of retailers currently experiencing severe delivery delays.’ Amazon recorded 5.5million orders on Black Friday, an average of 64 items every second. As a result there were delays for people who expected next day deliveries under the Amazon Prime service. Some of the company’s deliveries are handled by Yodel, which has been the target of complaints on the web giant’s Facebook page. Yesterday, customer Roland Keates complained: ‘You have some great deals at Amazon, just change carrier. Yodel are rubbish, post a ‘while you were out card’ through the door, without ringing the doorbell or knocking on the door. They really let your side down.’ Pebbles Bayliss added: ‘Yodel are atrocious. One of them threw my delivery onto my car port roof thinking it was just a gate not a door, it’s 7ft high. They also give you a delivery window of 08:00 to 21:00 as if I don’t have a life.’ Andy Shaw wrote: ‘Amazon have debited my bank account then said they can’t deliver item and won’t refund my account for up to 10 days!!’ Another customer, Nicola Milton, complained of Amazon delivery ‘dirty tricks’. She wrote: ‘I’d like to warn people about what Amazon are up to this year. Bought tons of Xmas presents which hadn’t been delivered and when I checked my Amazon account turns out they had mysteriously been returned. ‘Suddenly my stuff which I wanted is returned and now if I want to buy again the prices have mysteriously gone up.’ Amazon whose Swansea, Wales, warehouse is pictured above, said: ‘As a result of the unprecedented number of orders we received during Black Friday Deals Week, the delivery date we promised to some customers was a little longer than would normally have been expected. Normal service has now resumed . Other companies that use Yodel include Argos, River Island, Very and Littlewoods. Argos admitted it was forced to extend delivery times from four to seven days in order to rebuild stock levels after the Black Friday promotions. It says deliveries are back to normal. However, Ray Hamill wrote on its Facebook page: ‘How about you just deliver your paid for orders on time? As opposed to making me use two days of leave for nothing.’ Another customer, Paul Fleming, wrote: ‘What’s the point of ordering anything from Argos when you clearly can’t fulfil your delivery obligations. There are websites packed full of disappointed Argos customers due to non-delivery and poor customer service.’ Amazon said: ‘As a result of the unprecedented number of orders we received during Black Friday Deals Week, the delivery date we promised to some customers was a little longer than would normally have been expected. Normal service has now resumed. Argos said: ‘Home delivery service is now running at normal levels and customers placing orders today will receive deliveries within our usual timeframe. ‘We apologise to any customer whose recent home delivery order was affected by a temporary delay caused by very high demand for a limited number of home delivery items on Black Friday.’ Yodel describes itself as the UK’s leading parcel carrier. It handles over 135 million parcels every year and claims to work with 80per cent of the UK’s top retailers. The firm said it has hired all the staff it thought were needed. ‘We worked closely with our clients to set our resource targets. Recruitment began in September and the targets successfully met,’ said a spokesman. Shop Direct’s Very and Littlewoods brands apologised to customers on Twitter for delays to deliveries as a result of Black Friday. It changed the delivery promise on the Thursday before Black Friday from 24 hours to 48 hours, and extended it to 72 hours. It reduced the delivery window back to 48 hours and is hoping to get back to 24 hours. River Island was so worried by the backlog that it told customers on Twitter that ‘couriers have had massive delays as a result of Black Friday’. Sources at the firm say these have been resolved. Currys PC World postponed its next-day delivery promise on small-box items for a period, but this was restored yesterday(wed). Debenhams admitted its delivery services had suffered temporary delays, but it said they are back to normal. The specialist household appliances website, Ao.com, said its same-day delivery service and free next-day delivery was out of action for a period because of the ‘increased demand over the Black Friday weekend’. Tesco suffered delays in its click and collect service for a time and the online fashion brand ASOS suspended a large part of its next day delivery system. However, both appear to be back to normal. | About £810m was spent online on Black Friday - 50% more than expected .
A further £660m was spent on Manic Money, adding to delivery woes .
A shortage of drivers in the transport industry compounded the problem .
Shoppers complain of Amazon returning goods they then have to buy over . |
152,340 | 50e13ae7d6c0d351739fd24f2507c99b979e6f79 | By . Louise Eccles . PUBLISHED: . 19:45 EST, 6 May 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 20:27 EST, 6 May 2012 . If events on the pitch proved disappointing for the LA Galaxy fans, there was always the Beckham clan’s executive box to provide some entertainment. Watching David in action were several members of his family, a minor royal, a Hollywood star and a Python. Not to mention Stuart Pearce, assessing 37-year-old Beckham’s form before choosing the Great Britain football squad for the London Olympics. Beckhams' box: Watching David in action were several members of his family, a minor royal, a Hollywood star and a Python . On the front row are, from left, British- born actor Jim Piddock, who has appeared in movies including The Prestige; Prince Michael of Kent’s son Lord Freddie Windsor; Monty Python star Eric Idle; Beckham’s sons Romeo, Cruz and Brooklyn; and a member of the family entourage. Behind them are the footballer’s mother Sandra and sister Joanne, and in the right corner a pensive Pearce. Beckham’s wife Victoria can be seen indoors, playing with nine-month-old daughter, Harper. Star player: David Beckham during the LA Galaxy match . Before heading to the US, Pearce said there was no guarantee that the former England and Manchester United player would be selected. He added: ‘I will pick solely on merit. I will know a bit more when I see what form Beckham is in.’ Sadly for the object of his attentions, pictured right, he failed to inspire Galaxy and they lost 1-0 to the New York Red Bulls. | Watching the footballer were several members of his family, a minor royal, a Hollywood star... and a Monty Python . |
14,420 | 28e5ba109ae6792840e2f6fc52d9887340f4e510 | (CNN) -- I'm fairly certain there's nothing haunting my house, save maybe the leftover Super Bowl cheese dip still in the fridge. But so far, its intentions seem friendly. You just have to ignore the constant paranoid screams from the tofu. "It wants my soul!" "Shut up, tofu." It's not entirely uncommon for me to have these lively conversations with my food. I probably need a girlfriend. Or a hobby. Or years of therapy. Fortunately, though, since the worst of my supernatural household concerns is confined to the lingering spirit of old Velveeta, I do sleep fairly well at night in the 2 square feet of bed space kindly allotted to me by my dog. Quite simply, I respect the demon cheese. The demon cheese respects me. And my dog respects nobody. Which is far better than what could have been said of two flatmates in London who recently sold an antique mirror on eBay because they were convinced it was haunted and willfully endangering their lives. "I'm going to murder both of you. Probably tonight." "But, Mirror, we saved you from the trash heap!" "Meh." According to their eBay listing, it all started when one of them saw that the building's landlord had put the old hallway mirror out on the lawn as rubbish. So, being resourceful, he retrieved it, added some silver paint and leaned it up against their wall above the radiator. Soon after that, things supposedly got weird. "We both experienced what I can only describe as intense sharp stabbing pains," the sellers wrote to prospective buyers. "They would strike us both at the same time." The two flatmates also complained of waking up completely drained of energy, screaming in the early morning hours with horrible feelings of impending doom. Though, to be fair, that kind of sounds like my typical weekday. Only with fewer tears and significantly less self-doubt. Regardless, this is the point where one of them should have turned to the other and asked, "How about we just ... throw it away?" But, that would be too logical. And, besides, the sudden emergence of blood was sort of interesting and new. Yes. Blood. You see, in addition to growing increasingly sick and depressed from all the evil hauntings, one of the flatmates even claims to have woken up with deep body scratches, for which he blamed the mirror and kindly provided a link on eBay for photographic proof. It's also entirely possible that he just has a pet cat. Or, perhaps, an amazing lover. Or both. (But not like that.) Of course, any potential buyer would need to believe such humorous nonsense as haunting pains and bloody scratches in the night. They, presumably, would also require an itchy Paypal trigger finger. The kind that leads you to bid on a used toilet brush at 3 in the morning. Click. "Booya! Who's the wild man now?" With the mirror, it was all about finding that absolutely perfect buyer, and the sellers noted that they "would ideally like it to go to somebody who has experience with the paranormal/supernatural and knows what they are getting themselves in for." Amazingly, thanks to the powers of the interwebs, there was no shortage of interest. And for everyone's amusement, a few potential bidders began asking entirely reasonable questions of the sellers: . "I'd like to buy this as a present. If I win the auction is there any way you could deliver it to my ex for me?" Eventually, the mirror sold for £100, or a little over $150. So, good on them. Well-played. As a result, I plan to list everything I sell in the future as potentially haunted. "But this isn't just any Bell Biv DeVoe CD. It's a *haunted* Bell Biv DeVoe CD." In the end, it doesn't really matter whether the mirror was evil or if their stories were even mildly believable. What matters is that somebody paid for the simple possibility. And I love that. It's important to have a few good conversation pieces sitting around the house, and nothing sounds better than explaining how you bought a haunted mirror off two random guys on eBay. The story counts. Which is why, if anyone's interested, I now have some leftover Super Bowl cheese dip for sale. It comes with a free Bell Biv DeVoe CD. | "Apparently This Matters" is CNN Tech's weekly, offbeat look at stories trending on the Web .
This week, Jarrett considers the eBay sale of a "haunted" mirror .
Sellers said they were scratched, stabbed after pulling mirror from trash .
So, of course, somebody paid good money to bring it into their own life . |
164,376 | 608cc813959e3e24c15cdd9d24c4904c2263e8d2 | By . Rachel Quigley . PUBLISHED: . 15:52 EST, 28 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 15:55 EST, 28 August 2013 . A publishing giant is accused of sexually assaulting his ex-girlfriend in the middle of New York restaurants on two different occasions. Amazon publishing head Laurence Kirshbaum, 69, is being sued by Teresa McCoy, 55, for unspecified damages after she claims he assaulted her when she came to him about a job. He denies all allegations against him. In papers filed on Monday in Manhattan Supreme Court, McCoy said she'd had a personal relationship with the married Kirshbaum in the early 2000s when he was the head of the Time Warner Book Group. They parted ways in 2005 but reconnected again in 2010. Kirshbaum contacted her about a job he thought would be suited to her, the suit alleges, and the two met in a Manhattan deli to discuss it. Suit: In papers filed in Manhattan . Supreme Court, Teresa McCoy said she'd had a personal relationship with the . Kirshbaum in the early 2000s and though they parted ways in . 2005, they reconnected again in 2010 . While she was looking at the salad counter, he allegedly attacked her. 'The much physically larger Kirshbaum suddenly swooped down, grabbed her and forcibly stuck his tongue in her mouth, causing (her) neck to jerk back in excruciating pain', the suit states. He then 'thrust a hand into her pants and panties' and groped her, the suit says. When she pushed him off he 'apologized profusely', only to stick his tongue in her mouth again, according to the suit. He also allegedly told her she would always be the love of his life and that he wanted to leave his wife for her, the New York Post reports. About two months later, they met again in a coffee bar when he told her he wanted to give her money for a documentary she was working on. When they were there he shoved his hand up her skirt, according to the suit, and when she pushed him off said, 'I'm not done yet'. 'I don't want to hurt you, but I will if I have to,' he allegedly said before putting his head in her crotch and performing oral sex on her in the restaurant. When he stood back up, he jammed his tongue down her throat again and twisted her nipple, the suit claims. McCoy never filed a complaint with police, according to the New York Daily News. The suit seeks money damages for 'psychological and emotional injuries' stemming from Rape Trauma Syndrome from the sexual attack. The 69-year-old signed an agreement in 2005 promising that he would only have professional contact with her in the future, according to the New York Post, but he denies any sexual assault. Kirshbaum’s attorney Catherine Redlich, . admitted her client had a consensual relationship with McCoy ten . years ago, but called the assault allegations 'baseless' saying they stemmed from a consensual relationship turned sour. | Allegations made against Laurence Kirshbaum - formerly head of Time Warner Cable Book group .
Former girlfriend Teresa McCoy seeking unspecified damages for psychological and emotional injuries .
He denies the sexual assaults and lawyer says they are allegations made after their relationship turned sour . |
75,595 | d662027217beed804fe9735d451b580f504ba74f | By . Stephen Fisher . Labour has been ahead in the opinion polls since 2011. But it has never taken the commanding lead necessary to be sure of winning the next Election. Instead, its lead has been narrowing in recent months, and this week saw the publication of the first polls since 2012 showing a Tory lead. This comes as no great surprise. It is more of a wonder that Labour had the lead in the first place.Voters have consistently thought David Cameron makes a better prime minister than Ed Miliband would do. Labour is still being blamed by the electorate for the 2008 financial crisis, which is why Ed Miliband will never move into Number 10 Downing Street . They blame the Labour Party for the 2008 financial crisis, and now that the economy is recovering people have increasing confidence in Conservative economic management, which they have nearly always preferred to the alternative offered by the two Eds. The diminishing Labour lead is also unsurprising, because usually governments rally and oppositions fall back in the final months before a general election. If past election cycles are a good guide, recent polls suggest the Tories are likely to get the largest share of the vote in 2015, with a two-thirds chance of winning the most seats. While the chances of another hung parliament or a Tory majority are each about 2 in 5, Labour’s chances of a majority are looking increasingly thin at less than 1 in 5. The numer of people intending to vote Labour has fallen dramatically since the beginning of the year . But maybe the past is not such a good guide to the future. This time things might be different. Now that we have the first post-war Coalition government, will both governing parties recover from their mid-term doldrums? While the Liberal Democrats have been flat-lining at about ten per cent, the Tories, as expected, are doing better now than at this time last year. The unprecedented rise of UKIP is also important. For Cameron to recover his mid-term losses he needs to turn around former Tories who have defected to UKIP. Surveys suggest this will be harder in 2015 than it was in 2010. Cameron’s challenge is on the right. Ed Miliband’s is in the centre. Hanging on to the former Lib Dem voters who switched to Labour after the Coalition formed will be particularly hard in the many constituencies where the Lib Dems, not Labour, are the main competitors for the Tories. Ultimately though, Miliband’s biggest challenge is to convince more people they want him to be prime minister. After years of the public consistently preferring Cameron, it will be hard to change their minds now. *Stephen Fisher is a Fellow and Tutor in Politics at Trinity College, Oxford . | Voters believe that David Cameron is a better Prime Minister than Ed Miliband .
Labour still being held responsible for the 2008 financial crisis by voters .
Tories now ahead of Labour in the opinion polls for the first time since 2011 . |
28,838 | 51e06350b7c205c4a7edf3745e6eefd4e78826ff | What a difference a year makes. As he claps and toddles happily, few would suspect that little Dennie Dolan almost lost a finger when he was attacked in his home by a fox just a year ago. Dennie was just five weeks old, when the urban fox sneaked inside, dragged him off a sofa and tried to pull him out of the house. He was saved when his mother Hayley Cawley heard his screams and frantically followed a trail of blood to find the animal trying to drag him out through the front door. Hayley kicked out repeatedly until the fox released her son and ran away, never to be found. Healing process: Dennie's hand now after a plastic surgeon reattached his finger in a five-hour operation after he was attacked by a fox at just five-weeks-old . Amazingly, Dennie – then just 10lb – has grown into an active and mischievous toddler, blissfully unaware of how close he came to death. Nor does he know he owes the use of his tiny hand to the skill of surgeons who performed an emergency five-hour operation to save his finger. Today, the only clue to his ordeal are two tiny scars on his hand. Hayley, 29, said: ‘Dennie is my little miracle boy. I can’t count the number of times each day I think about how blessed we’ve been. ‘He’s lively and charming with . sparkling blue eyes. But his birthday brought up a lot of emotions. It . was hard not to be reminded of how close we came to losing him.’ Hayley . shivered as she recalled the day in February when she put her infant . son on the settee and went upstairs. Moments later, she heard him cry . out and dashed down to soothe him – only to find he was no longer on the . sofa. Operation: Dennie in hospital after the fox pulled him off a sofa and tried to drag him outside . 'Hero': Dennie with mum Hayley, dad Paul and siblings Ellouise, 10, and Lee, six . In . a panic, Hayley spotted her baby’s blood and then the fox – with . Dennie’s arm in its mouth – moving towards the front porch of their home . in Bromley, South London. Dennie had gashes, weals and bruises on his . head and was bleeding heavily from his hand. ‘Dennie’s finger was literally dangling backwards on to the back of his hand,’ she added. ‘The . fox had not cut through the bone but there seemed to be very little . skin – or anything else – left keeping the finger attached to his hand. I . couldn’t look at it so I covered his hand up with his jumper until . paramedics came. The Mail on Sunday's report of the attack . ‘It was the most horrible experience of my life. ‘I still have nightmares about it and to this day I can’t let Dennie out my sight. He even sleeps in my bedroom in a cot so I can be nearby at all times. ‘If that fox had been able to get him through the door, we might not have seen him again. People would have suspected that I’d killed him.’ Dennie was rushed to the Evelina Children’s Hospital in South London, where plastic surgeon Jian Farhadi and his team operated to re-attach the third finger on his left hand. Hayley said: ‘For several days afterwards the finger was black. ‘We . spent a week in hospital and were delighted when we started to see the . colour coming back into Dennie’s finger. When the bandages came off in . May, his finger was working perfectly. ‘For . Dennie, it was like nothing had happened. He was waving his hands . around and not long after that he was using them to crawl. ‘He’s . regained all feeling. The only reminder we have is the scar at the base . of his finger and some scarring above his wrist from a fox bite. An urban fox pictured on a nearby road to Dolan family home shortly after Dennie was attacked . ‘All the marks on his head have healed, but Dennie has a lot of trouble sleeping on his own. He screams if I leave him in his bedroom and will cry even if leave him in his pushchair. I do wonder if the attack has left him scared of being alone.’ Hayley believes the fox got into their home after her fiance Paul Dolan, 28, went out to collect their other children, Ellouise, ten, and Lee, six, without checking whether the door was closed correctly. ‘We felt so responsible for what had happened as parents,’ she said. ‘I don’t think that will ever go away, but we realise now that it was a freak accident. ‘We don’t even blame the fox – it was an animal doing what animals do. As for Dennie, he’s my little hero. He’s 23lb and is very strong. He keeps me on my toes all day – but I wouldn’t have it any other way.’ | Dennie Dolan was just five-weeks-old when he was attacked by the fox .
The animal sneaked into his home and dragged him off a sofa .
His middle finger was left dangling onto the back of his hand .
Surgeons performed emergency five-hour operation to reattach it . |
102,804 | 1080aa037850fe79b674f690bac30ca93cbcc22a | By . Sarah Michael for Daily Mail Australia . Tamara Ashley was in the middle of a normal phone conversation with her step-mother Kirsty Ashley, chatting about their kids and a trip Kirsty was planning to visit her in Adelaide. Then her step-mum let out a blood-curdling scream. Tamara tried to stay positive, telling herself Kirsty could have just tripped and fallen, but in her gut she knew something was wrong. It was May 15 2012 and Tamara's father Darren Ashley had recently split from Kirsty after 16 years and two children together. She was in the process of taking out a domestic violence order against him. Two weeks earlier, Kirsty, 35, had given Tamara, 27, her mother and brothers' phone numbers just in case anything went wrong. Tamara Ashley, 27, was on the phone to her step-mother and heard her murdered by her father in May 2012 . Darren, 49, had always been manipulative and controlling, but in the six weeks since his split from Kirsty things had gotten worse. 'She'd ring me in the morning and tell me what he'd done day before,' Tamara told Daily Mail Australia from her home in Adelaide. 'There was always something he was doing every day to stop her moving on. 'She lost her job because he'd gone in and accused her of having an affair and her boss didn't want the drama.' There was another incident where he had choked her, which made Kirsty decide to apply for the DVO. On May 14, Kirsty was dropping her and Darren's daughter off at school in Alice Springs when she saw him waiting across the road. Darren Ashley, 49, was sentenced to a minimum of 22 years in prison for the stabbing murder of Kirsty Ashley . Tamara, pictured with Darren, has always known her father was manipulative and controlling, but in the six weeks since his split from Kirsty things had gotten worse . He then tried to cut her car off with his motorbike. When she returned home to her brother's house, where she was staying, he was waiting in the front yard. 'I told her to go straight to the police station, and that night police went to his house to serve the DVO,' Tamara said. The matter was due to be heard in court two days later, but that moment never came. The following day, in the middle of Tamara and Kirsty's two-hour phone conversation, Kirsty noticed her dog Chino had escaped the fence and was wandering around on the street. She thought it was odd, and went outside to get the dog, leaving the door to the house open and unattended. Kirsty came back inside and they continued chatting for another 45 minutes while she checked her Facebook and they discussed the possibility of Kirsty and her daughter visiting Adelaide for a while to get out of Alice Springs and 'clear her head'. Tamara, pictured with Kirsty when she was younger, grew up with her father and step-mother and said she was more like a 'best friend' Then Kirsty screamed and the line went dead. 'You can't describe that scream,' Tamara said. 'I tried to call her back but there was no answer.' Tamara called Kirsty's mother who immediately raced over to the house. 'It was about 25 minutes before I got through to her mum again,' she said. 'She was just screaming saying "They cut her throat!" 'Then it's kind of a bit of a blur from there.' Tamara's immediate reaction to her step-mum's murder was that her father couldn't be responsible. 'My subconscious said "That's my dad, he couldn't do this",' she said. Weeks before the murder Darren had choked Kirsty, which made her decide to apply for a domestic violence order . 'But when the police called me and asked me questions about where he could be, who were his friends, where did they live - I just knew then.' Darren was charged with Kirsty's murder and two years later he appeared in Alice Springs Supreme Court. In May of this year the court heard Kirsty was stabbed with six different knives, suffering 26 wounds including the slit to her throat. Crown Prosecutor David Morters said some of the knives had the blood of bother Darren and Kirsty on them. In June, Darren was found guilty and was sentenced to a minimum of 22 years in prison. In sentencing, Justice Jenny Blokland said: 'In the face of evidence against you it is very difficult to see how you could possibly have thought you could have fooled investigating police. Darren and Kirsty pictured with their children. The crime has divided the family with many believing Darren is innocent . 'Your attempts to deflect responsibility from yourself were childlike. 'It was a frenzied brutal attack, clearly driven by anger. 'It is a sign of the particularly grotesque violence that towards the end of the attack you drew the knife across the deceased's throat cutting her trachea. 'Despite weeks of evidence that established beyond doubt that you were the perpetrator, you appear to have a distorted view of, or cannot accept the reality of what you have done.' Darren is appealing the guilty verdict. Tamara says the verdict has a caused a rift in her family. Her three full-siblings from her father's marriage to her mother and her half-siblings, who are Darren and Kirsty's children, do not believe he is guilty. Darren was 32 and Kirsty was 19 when they got together. They had two kids of their own . 'It's hard for me in the middle of all this because my siblings all believe he is innocent,' Tamara said. 'According to them I'm an outsider. 'Their son was only 12 when it happened and their daughter was 14. 'It's going to take a while I just have to take a step back and let them accept it.' Tamara says she has struggled to come to terms with the death of Kirsty – who she was closer to than her own mother and father. 'There was only 11 years between me and Kirsty, she was like my best friend rather than my mother,' she said. 'When my mother and father separated I stayed with my dad - I was nine and my mum left all four of us kids with him and I was upset with her so I chose to live with him. 'I look at family photos of us and just see those good times and then just try and override it with what he's done,' Tamara said . 'Then of course Kirsty came on the scene and me and her just had this bond.' Kirsty was a devoted mother and step-mother, a tomboy who loved drag racing and motorbikes and who worked hard running her own commercial cleaning business. Every now and then Tamara's subconscious kicks in telling her her father couldn't have killed her step-mum. 'I look at family photos of us and just see those good times and then just try and override it with what he's done,' she said. 'The facts and evidence I know and I've seen just overrides it. 'Basically he's just divided the family in half, he's making us pay for his mistake.' | Tamara Ashley's father was found guilty of murdering her step-mother .
Darren Ashley, 49, will spend a minimum of 22 years in prison .
Tamara, 27, from Adelaide was on the phone to her step-mum Kirsty when she heard her scream .
She described her father as 'controlling and manipulative'
The crime has caused a major rift in her family, with many of her siblings and half-siblings believing Darren is innocent . |
231,554 | b7cd6e7c3b568b0d02d50df043f372664010ca64 | By . Harriet Arkell And Leon Watson . Murdered: Jane McRae, 55, died after her husband, Kenneth, 52, smashed a perfume bottle into her head in their home in Rowley Regis, West Midlands . This is the woman who was bludgeoned to death in bed by her husband before he killed himself over fears their home was blighted by Japanese knotweed. An inquest heard how nature-lover Jane McRae, 55, was battered by her husband Kenneth, 52, with a bottle of perfume as she lay in their bed, suffering fatal head injuries. In a suicide note, he said he killed his wife because the balance of his mind had been 'disturbed' by knotweed at their home in Rowley Regis, West Midlands. He wrote: 'I believe I was not an evil . man, until the balance of my mind was disturbed by the fact there is a . patch of Japanese knotweed which has been growing over our boundary . fence on the Rowley Regis Golf Course.' The doctor claimed golf course managers had been made aware of the problem but nothing had been done. After . trying to curb the weed's growth unsuccessfully, he said the risk of . structural damage and legal battles 'led to my growing madness.' He added: 'Jane and I were a very private couple, we chose to have no real friends, just enjoying each other. 'But the despair has got so bad that . today I have killed her, as I did not want her to be alone without an . income when I killed myself.' Today the couple's adopted son, photographer Mark McRae, said he did not know what drove his adoptive father to the crime. The 27-year-old told the Express and Star: 'The police told me about the note, but I spoke to a neighbour and knotweed has not been an issue noticed. I have also lived here since August, and it has not been a problem. 'I don’t understand it, no-one understands it. They had a successful life, they had money – something else could have been going on.' An . inquest at Smethwick Council house ruled Dr McRae, who worked at Solvay . chemicals plant three miles away in Langley, unlawfully killed his wife . before committing suicide. A police investigation found she may . have lain dead in bed on the second floor of the three-storey house for . up to a week. Dr McRae had been found with injuries on the first floor . of the home. Police had broken into the reclusive couple's home after concerns were raised by the lab technician's colleagues. Happy memories: Mrs McRae, pictured as a girl and later in a sombrero, was friendly to her neighbours . The house in Rowley Regis, West Midlands, where the bodies of Kenneth, 52, and Jane McRae, 55, were found . Order of service: An inquest heard that Mrs McRae's husband was worried about Japanese knotweed, right . Black . Country coroner Robin Balmain said it appeared Dr McRae had suffered . from paranoia over the knotweed, which was not found on their property, . although a patch of the invasive plant had been discovered nearby. Neighbours also later claimed the area had suffered from knotweed before homes were built on the site. Mr . Balmain said: 'This is clearly a tragedy. They appeared for whatever . reason to keep themselves to themselves, they were perfectly entitled to . do that. 'The impression is Mr McRae was possibly becoming paranoid, there is no direct evidence of that of course.' He . had got a responsible job as a lab technician, his own home free from . mortgage. It appears he became obsessed with Japanese Knotweed in the . vicinity, which was not even on his property. Street: A neighbour of the McRaes in Rowley Regis said they were a 'reclusive but very devoted' couple . 'It . is perfectly clear he chose to kill his wife. It is difficult to . understand what was going on in Mr McRae's mind. For whatever reason he . killed his wife and then himself.' The . court heard the couple were estranged from their family and had not . even spoken to their adopted son, Mark McRae, for over a decade. Their . family declined to comment after the hearing. A neighbour of the McRaes' described the couple as 'reclusive but very devoted'. Avril Cowdell, 70, said: 'I have lived opposite them for years and I've never seen a visitor go into their house. 'They . were reclusive but seemed very devoted to each other. Jane was very . friendly - she would cross the street to say hello to me if she saw me . out walking my dog, and was a lovely lady.' She said the only note of discord she noticed between the couple was that Mrs McRae loved the house and said she would never leave it, while she told neighbours her husband was worried about knotweed and wanted to sell up. 'He wanted to sell and she didn't,' she said. 'She said: "I'll never move from here - I love it."1 . Kenneth McRae, 52, battered his wife with a bottle of perfume as she lay in their bed, causing fatal head injuries . The neighbour continued: 'Jane said she had OCD [obsessive compulsive disorder], and was always out sweeping the front path, dusting and cleaning. 'Once she even repainted the whole house - she said she had to go to the doctor as she had repetitive strain injury from emulsioning every room.' Mrs Cowdell said that while Mrs McRae, whom she described as a nature lover, was originally from Birmingham, her husband came from Scotland, and the couple frequently went there for weekends away. She added: 'I never saw them arguing. They seemed very happy, although the husband would never say hello to me or anyone else.' She said they had adopted a son, who is now a photographer, when he was around three, and he lived with them until he was about 17, and their relationship apparently cooled. Mrs McRae had a keen in interest in the environment, the neighbour said, while her husband, who had a PhD in a science discipline, worked night shifts at a local laboratory and often had trouble catching up on his sleep during the day. She also said he was a keen runner, going out for up to one and a half hours at a time. | Kenneth McRae, 52, battered partner Jane, 55, as she lay in their bed .
The laboratory techician, from West Midlands, then committed suicide .
In a suicide note, he said the balance of his mind was 'disturbed'
Coroner said Dr McRae had suffered from paranoia over the knotweed .
But he said the weed had not been found on their property in Rowley Regis .
Neighbour said couple, who had adopted son, were 'devoted but reclusive'
Said Mrs McRae had OCD and was always cleaning but was very friendly .
Said the husband was obsessed by running and never said hello to people .
For confidential .
support call the Samaritans in the UK on 08457 90 90 90, visit a local .
Samaritans branch or click here for details . |
16,247 | 2e166cd95cf54e606bc8eeec227d41af06c5a881 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . A man who allegedly admitted to molesting his cousin when she was 13 is now suing her for defamation and stalking. James Rashawn Johnson is petitioning for a civil injunction to stop his cousin Ashley Foster using his name or photographs when she tells her story of how she was molested. Foster, 23, claims Johnson molested her for six years until she was 19, but he was never prosecuted because when she reported him two years ago, too much time had passed since the alleged offense. Refusing to back down, Foster launched an online campaign to eliminate Florida's statute of limitations in cases like hers, and used her cousin's name and pictures. Johnson wants her to stop identifying him because he has never been charged. Scroll down for video . Alleged victim: Ashley Foster, 23 (pictured), claims her cousin molested her for six years and has fought to have Florida's statute of limitation for child molestation lifted . Accused: James Rashawn Johnson (pictured left and right), a father, allegedly admitted to molesting his female cousin for six years . 'My picture appeared on Facebook as 'a predator', which I have never been arrested, prosecuted, or convicted of,' he wrote in a statement filed in Broward County court, according to WPTV. Johnson, a father, has not commented publicly on the case. Foster, however, said she refuses to be silenced and would only stop using Johnson's image and name if ordered by a court. 'I felt re-victimized now,' the Boynton Beach woman told WPBF. 'I have a First Amendment right to tell my story. And he made my story.' Her mother, Darlene Foster, added: 'She's not shutting up. She's not going to back down. And that's the Ashley I'm proud of.' Campaign: Ashley Foster created a Facebook page 'Ashley's Law' in October 2013 campaigning for Florida's statute of limitation on child molestation to be eliminated, to enable alleged offenders to be prosecuted . Show of strength: Ashley Foster told her story to Florida legislators in February. In March, 'Ashley's Law' passed, eliminating the state's three-year statute of limitations on child molestation . Foster said she kept her alleged abuse a secret until two years ago because she was afraid of her family's reaction. After telling her mother, she allegedly recorded Johnson admitting his crime and apologizing. She took the recording to Boynton Beach Police who, according to WPTV, had a strong case against Johnson but couldn't prosecute because the statute of limitations had run out just 60 days before. 'I was like, 'Oh, you've got to be kidding me',' Foster said. 'We're going to have to change this.' Last year, she started a Facebook page, Ashley's Law - and an online campaign - to change state law to eliminate the statute of limitations in cases like hers. It worked. Heartbreaking: Ashley Foster, 23 (left) claims she was molested from the age of 13 to 19, but only told her mom Darlene Foster (right) about the alleged abuse two years ago . She told her story to Florida lawmakers who passed the bill, with the governor signing Ashley's Law on April 1. 'She has a right to say his name and talk about it and warn people of it and that's exactly what she did,' Darlene Foster, Ashley's mother, said. But now Johnson claims he is being defamed by the Facebook page and fliers all around his neighborhood and workplace accusing him of molesting his cousin. The court will hear the case next week. | Ashley Foster, 23, claims her cousin James Rashawn Johnson molested her for six years until she was 19 .
She reported it to police two years ago after recording Johnson allegedly admitting his crime .
Police couldn't prosecute because the three-year statute of limitations had just run out .
Foster started a campaign to change the law - and won .
She labelled Johnson a predator and child molester on campaign fliers and Facebook .
Now Johnson, a father, is suing Foster for defamation because he has never been charged .
The case goes to court next week . |
268,378 | e79fce517405827b7bb099fe465f47f95c775b6d | If you are someone who types a furious text message, only to reconsider and edit it before hitting ‘send,’ you may be in trouble. The Beam Messenger app shows everything another person is typing in a text message as they type it. This means that if your friend has the app, they could see the keys you press, including corrections and everything you choose not to send. Scroll down for video . The free Android app (pictured) shows users what their friends are typing in real time. The words, and any corrections, appear in the message window before they are sent, meaning users can interject mid-conversation, or plan a reply. An iOS app is 'coming soon' The Californian firm behind the free Android app claim it is ‘a first of its kind true real-time communications app’ that more closely mimics the way people to chat in person. For example, it lets people interject or comment in real-time, without having to wait for the other person to hit send. And, if the recipient already knows a story that the sender is typing, they can tell them so they don’t waste time finishing the text. Elsewhere, the app also means people can have conversations without ever hitting send, making them secure because no data is ever transferred and stored on a network. On the web, sites can determine that a post is being typed by tracking code in the HTML form element of the post. This form element is made up of HTML code that controls the boxes users type in to. Each time characters are entered into one of these boxes, the app can track the changes in the HTML code. Facebook uses this technology, for example, but the social network has stressed it can’t see the exact keys pressed, and it doesn’t monitor keystrokes. This means the code doesn’t reveal what is being typed. However, Facebook can track when characters and words are typed, how many are typed, and if the typed characters are deleted or abandoned. Beam Messenger uses Text Watcher from Android that monitors HTML elements in a similar way. For every sentence, Beam also has an error checking mechanism to ensure the readability of the sentence. Beam's boss Alec Gordon told MailOnline the app does not monitor any messages that are being sent by the users. Only messages that ever go up in database are those that cannot be currently delivered, thus waiting for the client device to reconnect, and then it's delivered and wiped. The app is currently working on the encryption part of the error checking, among other things, to ensure no information will be leaked if it's intercepted by a third party. Beam Messenger uses Text Watcher from Android that monitors HTML elements behind the scenes, as users type. For every sentence, Beam also has an error checking mechanism to ensure the readability of the sentence. Beam's boss Alec Gordon told MailOnline the app does not monitor any messages that are being sent by the users. Only messages that ever go up in database are those that cannot be currently delivered, thus waiting for the client device to reconnect, and then it's delivered and wiped. The app is currently working on the encryption part of the error checking, among other things, to ensure no information will be leaked if it's intercepted by a third party. The Toronto-based developers added there is no delay between typing and seeing the words appear in the message window. It calls this ‘beaming in’, and said it gives users the ability to ‘interrupt, interject, comment, and the like’. ‘While you are texting inside a bubble, without breaking, you are allowed to backtrack and jump forward at will. ‘Also you may delete the whole text altogether, gone from both devices in true real time fashion.’ An iOS app is 'coming soon.' A similar app, launched earlier this year called Ansa, lets users delete messages from other people’s phones. Ansa works in a similar way to Snapchat, by automatically deleting messages, photos and videos seconds after they’ve been viewed. However, unlike Snapchat, Ansa lets users also delete messages remotely, before they get a chance to read it. Facebook research in December found that 70 per cent of users regularly write a comment or status, before deciding not to post it. The study found that men are more likely to 'self-censor' their social network posts, compared to women, and this is especially the case if they have a lot of male friends. The app (pictured) also means people can have conversations without ever hitting send, making them secure because no data is transferred and stored on a network. But, it is not known how the app itself tracks what is typed, and how much it stores on its own servers. MailOnline has contacted the firm for more information . Data scientists, including those at Facebook, can determine that a status or comment has been typed by tracking code in the HTML form element of each page. This form element is made up of HTML code that controls the boxes Facebook users type in to, including the status update box. Each time characters are entered into one of these boxes, scientists can track the changes in the HTML code. The researchers were also able to track typing in the comment box on statuses, photos and other posts. To be clear, Facebook can’t track the exact keys pressed, and it doesn’t monitor keystrokes. This means the code doesn’t reveal what is being typed. However, Facebook can track when characters and words are typed, how many are typed, and if the typed characters are deleted or abandoned. | Beam Messenger shows users what their friends are typing in real time .
The words, and any corrections, appear in the window before they are sent .
This means users can interject mid-conversation, or plan a reply .
In theory, messages never need to be actually sent - only previewed .
Using the app in this way means no data is sent, potentially making messages secure .
MailOnline has contacted the app's makers to find out more information . |
36,427 | 67405c267c5bb2a8cf4d373e18ea7830f39f021a | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 14:27 EST, 9 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 14:27 EST, 9 January 2014 . Magma in the depths of a super-volcano will eventually burst out like a beach ball held under water, scientists have said. Such a scenario would cause a massive eruption that could happen sooner rather than later and more frequently than previously thought. Swiss researchers have simulated 1.2 . million eruptions to work out the change in pressure required to cause a super-volcano to blow its top, New Scientist reported. Magma in the depths of a super-volcano will eventually burst out like a beach ball held under water, scientists have said. Such a scenario would cause a massive eruption that could happen sooner rather than later and more frequently than previously thought, they warned. A standard volcanic eruption is pictured . Super-volcanoes can eject more than 1,000 cubic kilometres of material at once, covering a continent in ash, but the last time this happened was around 75,000 years ago. These rare events represent the biggest natural catastrophes on Earth except for the impact of giant meteorites. Normal volcanic eruptions are powered by magma entering the volcanic chamber, which increases pressure building up inside and leads to an explosion. However, super-volcanoes’ much larger chambers have flexible walls so that they can expand without exploding as magma enters. Super-volcanoes' large chambers have flexible walls so that they can expand without exploding as magma enters. A super volcano of the magnitude of the eruption that happened 600,000 years ago that shaped Yellowstone Park (pictured) could lead to a 10°C drop in temperature across the globe for 10 years . To find out the pressure change and flow of new lava needed to trigger a super-volcano eruption, a team led by Luca Caricchi of the University of Geneva in Switzerland simulated 1.2 million eruptions. Their model showed that the chamber is gradually filled with magma, which is less dense than the cooler crust around it, but it eventually bursts though the top in a dramatic eruption. Professor Caricchi believes that scientists could estimate the risk of a blast by monitoring the magma in super-volcanoes. The research predicts that a super eruption will occur between 10 and 100 times more often than previously estimated. Another study, by the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich recreated these conditions in a lab to see what it takes to trigger a super-volcano explosion. They squeezed silicates to pressures of 36,000 atmospheres and heating them to temperatures of almost 1,700 °C to do this. A super-volcano eruption could have a major impact on the global climate. The Mount Pinatubo eruption in 1992 (pictured), which was 100 times weaker than the a super-volcano eruption, decreased the global temperature by 0.4°C for a few months . Super-volcanoes represent the biggest natural catastrophes on Earth except for the impact of giant meteorites. Scientists . from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich, have discovered . that the spontaneous eruption of a super-volcano could be driven solely . by magma pressure without the need for an external trigger. Super-volcanoes . have a much larger magma chamber and are always located in areas where . the heat flow from the interior of the Earth to the surface is very . high. Consequently the magma chamber’s shape changes as it fills with . hot magma, allowing the pressure to dissipate so that the . super-volcanoes don’t erupt very often. But an extra pressure caused by different densities of solid rock and liquid magma could cause an eruption. The . researchers’ measurements showed the pressure resulting from the . different densities of rock and magma could crack more than 10km of . the Earth’s crust above the chamber. The silicates became less dense than solid rocks at the surface so that large volumes of them could breach the crust, just as Professor Caricchi’s team suggested. Wim Malfait, who led the Zurich research said: ‘They come more or less to the same conclusion – that buoyancy is the only real trigger that can work in very large magma chambers.’ He said that super-volcano eruptions may occur spontaneously, driven only by magma pressure without the need for an external trigger, according to the study published in Nature Geosciences. A super-volcano eruption could have a major impact on the global climate. The Mount Pinatubo eruption in 1992, which was 100 times weaker than the well-known super-volcano eruption that occurred 600,000 years ago in what is now Yellowstone National Park, decreased the global temperature by 0.4°C for a few months. The predictions for a super volcano are a fall in temperatures by 10°C across the world for 10 years. However, eruptions only take place every 100,000 years or so and Dr Malfait said: It's not something that we should worry about in our personal lives. | The University of Geneva in Switzerland simulated 1.2 million eruptions to work out the pressure change required to cause a super volcano to explode .
A study, by the Swiss Federal .
Institute of Technology, Zurich, recreated these conditions in a lab to .
see what it takes to trigger an explosion .
Massive eruptions could happen more frequently than previously thought . |
53,091 | 969939654ce7a3a73d3875262cabca07be5e61df | Britain is issuing the largest number of 'landlord loans' since records began, official figures have revealed. One in eight mortgages now a buy-to-let loan deal - an all-time high, the report said. Of the 11.3million mortgages in this country, 1.44million are buy-to-let loans, rather than standard residential mortgages. Out of 11.3million mortgages in Britain 1.44million are buy-to-let loans . A decade ago, there were only 275,500 buy-to-let loans, equal to just 2.4 per cent of the entire market. Today the number of buy-to-let loans is equal to 12.7 per cent, according to the figures from the Council of Mortgage Lenders. The change is partly because a generation of young people have been locked out of the housing market by soaring house prices. With an average house price of nearly £160,000, which is more than six times higher than the average salary, a generation of young people cannot afford to buy their own home. To make matters worse, the average monthly rent has climbed to £741 per month, which inhibits their ability to save money every month towards a deposit. Last month, a report from the Financial Services Authority, the City regulator, said the buy-to-let boom has added to the problem of people trying to buy. News of the boom comes just a day after the Housing Minister slammed the country's housing market as 'dysfunctional', citing its impact on young people. Mark Prisk, a Tory MP, said it 'cannot be right' that large numbers of people in their 20s and 30s cannot afford to buy their own home. In his first speech to the country's mortgage lenders, he warned of a generation of young people who have no choice but to live at home unwillingly. Mr Prisk, a former chartered surveyor, said the coalition Government has inherited 'a dysfunctional housing market whether it is freehold or leasehold.' He said: 'We see 1.6million young people – people in their 20s and 30s – still living with Mum and Dad because they can't afford their own place. 'That cannot be right.' It said: 'The increase in the prices of properties attractive to first-time buyers may have been fueled by buy-to-let investors who targeted the same type of properties.' Tory MP Mark Prisk claims the government has inherited a 'dysfunctional' housing market . The FSA said the average age at which a young person manages to buy their first home is 31 and they earn an average salary of around £34,000. By comparison, a typical buy-to-let investor is between the age of 45 and 64 and is a higher rate taxpayer, which means they earn more than £42,475. Dan McLeod, a director of the estate agency Atkinson McLeod, said: 'The demand from investors for buy-to-let has never been stronger.' With the base rate at an all-time low of 0.5 per cent, which means savers get pathetic rates close to zero, many decide to put their nest egg into property as an alternative to saving. Yesterday the Bank of England's interest-rate setting committee voted to keep the base rate at 0.5 per cent for the 44th consecutive month, the longest period during which rates have not been changed since the aftermath of the Second World War. One economist, Stephen Boyle, from the Royal Bank of Scotland, said: 'It currently feels as if the Bank is unlikely to change rates until most of us are well into our retirement. ' ark Harris, chief executive of mortgage broker SPF Private Clients, said: 'The rise in buy-to-let lending comes as no surprise, with low interest rates and rising demand for rental property from tenants making the private rental sector an attractive investment proposition.' One economist yesterday raised his fears for the future, if the Bank's funding for lending scheme, aimed at boosting money available to businesses and homeowners, does not work. With rates at rock-bottom levels and its money-printing programme, known as quantitative easing, hitting £375billion, it is not clear what more it can do to kick start the economy. Chris Williamson, chief economist at Markit, the consultancy, said: 'The danger is that the Bank of England is looking increasingly helpless, working with ineffectual policy tools in an economy that looks set to worsen, which will do nothing to boost business and consumer confidence.' | Of the 11.3million mortgages in UK 1.44million are buy-to-let .
Analysts believe young people have been locked out of housing market by property prices .
Average salary 6 times higher than the average salary .
1.6million 20-30 year-olds still live with parents . |
281,673 | f8e21b89c09d8945f28950b653fed5df786853a0 | By . Pete D'amato . Sergio . Garcia is off the hook after fans find the diamond he knocked off a . woman's engagement ring with a wild drive in the WGC-Bridgestone . Invitational. Garcia bagged $900,000 for finishing second behind Rory McIlroy, some . of which might have gone to pay for the ring he broke with a wild shot . off the third tee on Sunday. Garcia . was up three shots over McIlroy going into the final round at . Firestone, when his tee shot veered off course and hit a spectator's ring finger. Scroll down for video . Rough riding: Sergio Garcia's drive broke a woman's engagement ring on a hole he went on to bogey . Diamond exchange: Sergio Garcia autographed a ball for a fan after breaking her engagement ring . Lost: Sergio Garcia paused to search for the diamond he knocked off a woman's engagement ring . CBS coverage showed Garcia gamely giving a look for the stone in the grass before leaving the woman with a . signed ball and finishing the hole with a bogey. As he headed away from the crowd Garcia asked to get the woman's contact information if the gem couldn't be found. CBS commentator David Faherty remarked that, 'This could be the most expensive tee shot of all time.' 'A diamond in the rough,' he added, followed up by a few faked laughs of his own. Another . spectator located the diamond in the grass, but the errant drive still . cost Garcia, as McIlroy shot a birdie on the par-four and took over at the top of the leaderboard. Lost and found: Another spectator (right) recovered the diamond knocked loose by Sergio Garcia . Off the hook: Fans found the diamond knocked loose by Sergio Garcia's errant tee shot . The Northern Irishman held onto the lead to secure a follow-up victory to his win at the British Open last month. McIlroy . returns to the top of the world rankings and heads for this week’s PGA . Championship as the bookies’ favorite - with odds as short as 9/2 at . some firms. Garcia is available at 20/1 as he looks to break a string of second-place finishes. | Sergio Garcia accidentally broke a spectator's ring at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational on Sunday .
Garcia gave the woman an autographed ball and was prepared to replace the diamond if it wasn't found .
Another fan discovered the gem in the grass a short time later .
Garcia bogeyed the hole and gave up the lead to Rory McIlroy, who went on to win by two shots . |
110,312 | 1a38ad47acd80649feec3eeb89cc1fc715563177 | By . Damian Spellman, Press Association . Sunderland's sporting director Lee Congerton is hoping to avoid wholesale change once again this summer. The Black Cats made 14 signings during the last closed-season as then director of football Roberto De Fanti and manager Paolo Di Canio opted for revolution rather than evolution. It was a policy which ultimately proved ill-founded as the club fought a season-long battle for Barclays Premier League survival which eventually cost both men their jobs. VIDEO Scroll down for Poyet: Sunderland's Great Escape is my proudest achievement . Upheaval: Jack Colback and Fabio Borini are two players to have left the club this summer . Lap of honour: Gus Poyet kept the club up following an incredible escape from relegation . Deserved break: Manager Gus Poyet, pictured with Fabio Cannavaro, is currently with ITV at the World Cup . Twelve months on, replacements Congerton and Gus Poyet are attempting to rebuild a squad decimated by the departure of out-of-contract players and loan signings without the same kind of upheaval, and that is proving challenging. Asked if he envisaged a similar influx, Congerton told BBC Sport: 'I want to say no, but when we look at the team ourselves... 'I'm sure any fan can say we need a left-back, we probably need a centre-half, we probably need some midfield players, we probably need to replace Fabio (Borini), maybe a centre-forward, so all of a sudden, the numbers are going up into double figures again, and that's the last thing I want, and Gus as well. 'But we need to improve the quality. The starting 11 is very important, we need to have a squad. 'But first of all, we need to have a starting 11 that can be competitive week in, week out in the Premier League, so we do need more players. 'But for me, it's not so much about the quantity, it's also about the quality. I don't want to sign players just for the sake of it.' Moving on: Craig Gardner has moved to West Brom and Colback has moved to rivals Newcastle . Gone: Phil Bardsley is another one to have moved on . Sunderland's problems last season were compounded by the fact that 13 of their 14 new arrivals were overseas players, many of whom had never before played in the Premier League. Some managed to adapt, but several did not, and that is an error the club hopes to avoid this time around. Congerton said: 'Currently, we are trying to get players who are already established in the Premier League. 'That's difficult because they have a premium, they cost more money and maybe they are already happy where they are. 'Then we have to open ourselves up and go a little bit further afield, and maybe we are not set up for that at the moment. Maybe that was one of the difficult points last season, so many players coming from different countries. 'Maybe we take one step back and try to concentrate on what we know a little bit better than what we don't know.' Arrival: Costel Pantilimon has joined the club on a free transfer from Manchester City . Stepping up: And Jordi Gomez (right) has signed from Championship side Wigan . Free agents Billy Jones, Jordi Gomez and Costel Pantilimon have already arrived at the Stadium of Light, but the recruitment process has only just started with Swansea defender Ashley Williams among the club's remaining targets. Congerton said: 'We are trying our best, we are working every day and hopefully before the season starts, we have our squad together. 'But given that we haven't got vast amounts of money, it will probably go to the last day of the transfer window.' | Sunderland hoping to stabilise this summer, according to sporting director .
Black Cats made 14 signings before last season under Paolo di Canio .
Italian was then sacked after just just five games of the campaign .
Gus Poyet took charge and led the team to Premier League safety . |
205,569 | 961aa567a79d9f53af472e1d820d77aaf4969be5 | Alex Salmond has stepped down as SNP leader with a prediction that his successor, Nicola Sturgeon, will 'make history' and secure independence for Scotland. The outgoing First Minister made the forecast as he addressed the SNP annual conference in Perth shortly after Ms Sturgeon took over the reins as head of the party. Ms Sturgeon will use her keynote speech today to suggest that her party will prop up a Labour government after the next General Election. And she will pledge that her party will not do a deal with the Conservatives if David Cameron fails to win an overall majority at Westminster next year. Alex Salmond (right) has stepped down as SNP leader with a prediction that his successor, Nicola Sturgeon (left), will 'make history' and secure independence for Scotland . With a hung parliament being one possible outcome in May's general election, Ms Sturgeon said the nationalists - who have seen their support rise since the independence referendum - could hold the balance of power in the UK parliament. As she makes her first speech as party leader at the SNP annual conference in Perth, she will say: 'The SNP will never put the Tories into government.' In the general election, Labour will 'fall back on the same desperate mantras as before' and tell voters north of the border the only way to keep the Conservatives out of Downing Street is to back Ed Miliband's party. But she will claim that is 'the biggest con trick in Scottish politics' and say voters must 'not fall for it again'. Ms Sturgeon will recall: 'Scotland did vote Labour at the last general election, but we still ended up with the Tories. 'And if the people of England vote Tory next May, it won't matter how we vote, a Tory government is what we'll get. Or worse a Tory/Ukip government.' If that happens, she will say Scotland will need 'strong SNP MPs who will stand up to the Tories, challenge the despicable politics of Nigel Farage and fight Scotland's corner'. She will add: 'Perhaps this time Scotland's votes will count. Scotland could well hold the balance of power in a Westminster parliament with no overall majority.' Ms Sturgeon will vow: 'If that happens, I promise you this - you won't need to have voted Labour to keep the Tories out, because that's what we'll do. The outgoing First Minister made the forecast as he addressed the SNP annual conference in Perth shortly after Ms Sturgeon took over the reins as head of the party . 'My pledge to Scotland today is this - the SNP will never put the Tories into government.' Mr Salmond announced that he would be resigning as both SNP leader and First Minister within hours of the referendum defeat in September. Scotland has now 'changed utterly' as a result of that vote, he said. He hailed Ms Sturgeon - who will be Scotland's first female First Minister - as a 'woman of extraordinary talent'. Her mother, Joan Sturgeon, could be seen wiping away tears as she sat in the audience. Mr Salmond told his successor: 'Nicola, your contribution to where this party now stands has already been immense. 'Your future contribution - I have no doubt - will be to make history.' He told the conference the 'dream' of independence was 'alive and well and will succeed'. Mr Salmond said that in the referendum - in which the Yes campaign secured 45% of the vote - Scotland had risen to 'the challenge of change'. He said: 'The people will not disappear back into the political shadows and the nation will not fade into the dark. This country has changed and changed utterly. 'That is the change which will carry us forward - forward to independence.' Joan Sturgeon, Nicola Sturgeon's mother, could be seen wiping away tears as she sat in the audience . While a majority of voters did not back independence in the referendum, Mr Salmond said he knew 'with a greater certainty than ever before' that the country would one day leave the UK. 'At various times in our national story, Scotland has managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory,' he said. 'This time, out of defeat will come future success.' He insisted that September 18 would in future 'come to be seen as the day Scotland started to take control of our own destiny'. He said that many No voters had been won over by the vow of substantial new powers made by David Cameron, Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg in their 'last-minute promise of radical constitutional reform within the union'. Mr Salmond told SNP activists: 'Be in no doubt - without that last-gasp concession, the No campaign would have had its just deserts.' He went on to warn the leaders of the UK parties: 'If the Westminster gang reneges on that promise made in the campaign, they will discover that hell hath no fury like this nation scorned.' Former Labour prime minister Gordon Brown promised 'home rule' for Scotland when he made a 'brief cameo appearance as leader of Better Together' - the cross-party campaign for the union. Ms Sturgeon will formally replace Alex Salmond as First Minister next week after a vote in Holyrood . While Mr Salmond said both the Conservatives and Labour would try to renege on the commitment, he stressed that 'Scotland expects the vow to be redeemed'. Despite the referendum result, he said the SNP was 'invigorated as never before' as he set his party the challenge of winning a majority of Scottish seats at Westminster for the first time in next May's general election, and amassing 100,000 members by then. 'We have never been an ordinary political party,' Mr Salmond said. 'Now we are an extraordinary political party with a great task to be completed.' While the SNP had 25,000 members at the time of the referendum, that membership has now swelled to more than 85,000. Setting the target of increasing that further, Mr Salmond said: 'Let us ensure that by next May's election the SNP reaches a level which has never been seen before in any political party in the history of Scottish politics - 100,000 members to argue for the national cause.' He also said the nationalists should set out to win 'our first UK general election in Scotland' in less than six months' time. To help achieve that, he said the party should be 'open and generous', and allow 'some shining stars of the Yes movement to stand under the SNP banner'. | Alex Salmond made forecast as he addressed SNP conference in Perth .
Came shortly after Nicola Sturgeon took over the reins as head of the party .
She is due to replace him as First Minister next week after vote in Holyrood .
Mr Salmond announced he would resign from role after referendum defeat .
Hails Scotland's first female First Minister as a 'woman of extraordinary talent'
Her mother, Joan Sturgeon, could be seen wiping away tears in audience .
Ms Sturgeon will pledge not to do a deal with Conservatives if David Cameron fails to win an overall majority at Westminster next year . |
65,432 | b9d3056563942952a9311fe60f54f11f31696ca1 | (CNN) -- Israeli warplanes took to the air overnight Thursday, striking back after rockets were fired into territory from Gaza, Israeli and Palestinian officials said. Hamas security sources said that two Palestinian rockets were fired into Israel on Thursday night. The Israel Defense Forces said in a news release that one such rocket caused damage to an abandoned building. In response, an Israeli military aircraft targeted what the IDF described as a "terror activity site" in the central Gaza Strip overnight. "A direct hit was confirmed," the statement added. Around 1 a.m. Friday, an Israeli missile hit a Hamas military base located east of the al-Maghazi refugee camp, said Hamas security sources. They added that Israeli warplanes remained in the skies at least 40 minutes later. There were no related injuries, local medical sources said. CNN's Kamal Ghattas contributed to the report. | Two rockets are fired from Gaza into Israel, Hamas security sources say .
One strikes an abandoned building, the Israel Defense Forces reports .
Israeli warplanes target a "terror activity site" in response .
There are no related injuries, local medical sources say . |
241,288 | c4591ce52590d230e518b682bda2a2853518e0ec | By . Ashley Collman . PUBLISHED: . 15:42 EST, 2 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 16:54 EST, 2 August 2013 . A 14-year-old girl about to start her first year of high school unexpectedly died Thursday during cross country practice. Incoming freshman Joy Meyer was running during the first official day of cross country practice for Menchville High School in Newport News, Virginia. She had just finished up a run at Mariner's Museum park when she said she felt dizzy and then collapsed. Before her time: 14-year-old Joy Meyer died suddenly during cross country practice Thursday . Michelle Price told WAVY that paramedics were called and Meyer was transported to a local hospital where she was pronounced dead. In order to participate in cross country practice, Meyer had to complete a physical and there were no medical conditions noted on it. After the incident, her coaches Chis Chappell and Dennis Zollicoffer issued a statement. Healthy: Meyer's coaches said that the girl had recently passed a physical exam and that there were no medical conditions noted on her file . 'Joy Meyer was a young lady that truly embodied her name. She was joyful. She always had a smile on her face. She was a great encouragement to her team. Joy was a very hard worker and dedicated to her sport. We will miss her and the joy she brought to our team,' they said. Meyers other friends and family expressed their sadness on a quickly constructed memorial Facebook page upon hearing about the girl's untimely death. 'She will be forever missed,' wrote Brendan Mitchell. Too soon: Meyer was set to start her first year of high school in Newport News, Virginia . Gildersleeve Middle School, the school Meyer recently attended as an eighth grader, posted a statement on their own page. 'The Gildersleeve Family is very saddened to learn of the loss of one of our students,' the statement read. 'Joy was a rising 9th grader, preparing to begin her first year at Menchville High School. Please keep her family, friends, and all who knew and loved her in your thoughts and prayers.' The school wrote that they would post information on funeral arrangements once they knew the details. Friends of Meyer have even designed a shirt in tribute to the runner. The front bears a picture of Meyer with the words: 'Find Joy in the Ordinary.' | Joy Meyer, 14, was running in her first cross country practice Thursday when she said she felt dizzy .
She fainted and medics rushed her to the hospital where she was pronounced dead .
Before participating in practice, Meyer was cleared in a physical exam and no medical conditions were noted on her file . |
45,726 | 80da7f6d4f3c982fffc4b5f07e57925a0197c14e | When he was on the baseball field, Ryan Freel was unafraid to fling his body, and his head, into plays -- diving after balls and crashing into outfield walls. That fearlessness earned the undersized Freel a spot in the big leagues, as well as a raft of concussions. Now, nearly a year after his death, Freel has the distinction of being the first Major League Baseball player to be diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), according to researchers at the Boston University School of Medicine. "The real important issue is that he hit his head multiple times -- small hits, big hits, in baseball and outside of baseball," said Robert Stern, co-founder of the Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy at BU. "When it comes to the development of CTE, our current sense is that it requires repetitive brain trauma and not just a couple of big concussions." Freel committed suicide last December at the age of 36. Testing of his brain tissue after death -- the only way to definitively diagnose CTE -- found that he had Stage 2 CTE, which is associated with erratic behavior and memory loss. Stage 4, the worst possible expression of the disease, is associated with full-blown dementia, aggression and paranoia. The brain tissue of people found to have CTE displays an abnormal build-up of tau -- a protein that, when it spills out of cells, can choke off, or disable, neural pathways controlling things like memory, judgment and fear. Freel's stepfather Clark Vargas said on Sunday that the new diagnosis confirmed what he suspected already. "It provides some solace that there is a reason now for Ryan having done what he did," Vargas said. "Knowing that he's been suffering for 11 years and that CTE is a progressive disease, it gives explanation (for) some of the irrational things that he may have done. You know, he had a reason." The disease tends to be associated with bruising sports like football and hockey, where repetitive brain trauma is part of the game. But Freel's case suggests that professional baseball, a somewhat punishing sport in its own right, may have a growing concussion problem. "We count everything else. We count the at-bats. We count the .300 hitter. We count the number of pitches and the pitcher cannot go more than a certain number of pitches. Why not count the number of concussions and pay special attention to this like everything else?" his stepfather said. This season, 18 baseball players were placed on the disabled list after concussions -- 10 of them were catchers. In 2012, 13 players were placed on the DL after a concussion, and in 2011, the number was 11, according to MLB data. "I think people don't realize that baseball players get hurt as much as they do," said Freel's mother, Norma Vargas. "Baseball is just as dangerous" as other sports and, she added, affords players less protection. "It's just a helmet and that's it." And players wear the helmet only when batting. Report: Former NFL player's body exhumed for brain study . "I cringe when I see two guys going after the same ball," said Stern, a professor of neurology and neurosurgery at BU's School of Medicine. "Is baseball as significant a concussion sport compared to others? No. Is it a concussion sport? Yes." In a statement issued Sunday evening, Major League Baseball said it was working with experts "to remain proactive on concussions and head injuries." "Major League Baseball's thoughts remain with Ryan Freel's family, friends and all those he touched throughout his life," the league said. "Ryan played baseball with love and passion and made a lasting impression on and off the field. We recently met in person with Ryan's mother and stepfather and expressed to them our feelings about Ryan and discussed MLB's continued efforts to provide a safe environment for our players." In response to increasing concussion diagnoses, the sport is instituting educational programs and rules changes, like a ban on home plate collisions beginning as early as 2014. "Ryan's life and death ought to mean something, and because of him, we can institute changes how baseball is played," Clark Vargas said. "It's going to take some time to do it in the major leagues, but certainly we can do something about it next year ... about the kids playing Pop Warner and Little League." Freel's mother is unsure whether those types of changes, had they happened sooner, might have altered her son's fate. "It could have," said Norma Vargas. "I think it would have been a good idea if they would have (educated players)." However, she said, "I don't think that would have changed his style of play." Freel's style was relentless and fierce. During his eight-year career with five MLB clubs, Freel estimated that he had 10 concussions. Family members say it was likely higher than that. His concussion history started young. He was only 2 years old when he ran into the side of a moving car. Age 4 marked the first time that he lost consciousness after a concussion, when he injured himself jumping from a bed. He lived life at "one speed, and that was a fast speed," said his mother. Suspicions that he could have CTE began percolating among family and friends after Freel killed himself a year ago. But he had had problems for a long time before he died. Former NFL player wants brain studied . For several years, he struggled with depression, and drug and alcohol abuse. And only months before his death, he and his wife of 11 years divorced. These types of problems -- which are echoed in other CTE cases -- raise questions about how big a role the disease plays in suicides among players, and how things like pre-existing mental health problems, or post-career adjustment issues, influence the cause of death. Among the football players who showed signs of the disease and took their own lives are former Philadelphia Eagles defensive back Andre Waters, who shot himself in 2006; Terry Long, a former Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman who killed himself by drinking antifreeze; and Junior Seau, the former linebacker who killed himself last year at the age of 43. Former NFL players Dave Duerson, Shane Dronett and Ray Easterling also committed suicide and were later diagnosed with CTE. "If you hit your head a lot, it may increase your risk for this disease," said Stern. "Whether or not the disease was the cause of or accentuated the depression and substance abuse and impulse problems (Freel had), we don't know. "But he required more attention and treatment than he got." Because of limited data, and a study population that is skewed toward people exposed to repetitive brain trauma, scientists -- including BU researchers -- caution against over-interpreting case studies like Freel's. "We can learn a lot about diseases by studying these higher-risk populations," said Dr. J. Clay Goodman, professor of pathology, immunology and neurology at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. "Until we know much more about CTE, however, it is not possible to generalize about the risk of development even in elite athletes, much less more casual athletes or the population at large." Freel's family, including his ex-wife, had said that a CTE diagnosis would tie up loose ends emotionally -- and give them much-needed closure. Norma Vargas says a big concern for her is how the CTE diagnosis will affect the narrative of Freel's life for his three young daughters. "He's gone no matter what," she said. "But I want that closure for his daughters." She wants them to know that he didn't kill himself "because he didn't love them or he did it because he was mad at the world. "It was not that way, he was killed (by the disease)." Paul Oliver's suicide is latest in a string among former NFL players . | MLB says it's working with experts to prevent concussions and head injuries .
Ryan Freel's family says knowing he had CTE "provides some solace" after his suicide .
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy is believed to be a result of repetitive brain trauma .
The disease is associated with memory loss, erratic behavior, aggression and paranoia . |
51,423 | 9191ba7ad9949e0a15a3db5997f3461faac3bd8c | The father who raised over $500,000 to help raise his Down syndrome son after claiming his wife abandoned the little boy because of the 'shame' he brought on her family, was previously charged with assaulting his first wife's father, it has been reported. Almost 18,000 people donated money to Samuel Forrest who said he was trying to bring his son Leo to his native New Zealand after his wife, Ruzan Badalyan, filed for divorce just one week after their son's birth in Armenia on January 21. Earlier this month, it was revealed Mr Forrest travelled to Armenia four years ago after divorcing and his first wife Kylie Forrest, and losing contact with the three daughters and one son they had together in Whanganui on New Zealand's north island. Reports have now emerged that in March of 2010, Mr Forrest - who has not yet left Armenia - was fined $530 after being convicted of assaulting his then father-in-law before he fled the country, according to The New Zealand Herald. Samuel Forrest, who split from his wife just a week after their son Leo was born with Down syndrome in Armenia on January 21, was convicted of assaulting his first wife's father in 2010 . A former housemate of Mr Forrest's told the newspaper: 'He told me why he did it. [His father-in-law] was making some physical changes, meddling in his house, and yet Sam was not allowed to go there.' His ex-wife has denied earlier reports that their youngest daughter was born with Down syndrome, clarifying that she had been born with medical complications after a premature birth. She also slammed claims by her ex-husband that, as a member of the Exclusive Brethren church, he was ex-communicated when he divorced her and was banned from seeing his four children, now aged between six and 15 years old. 'He chose to leave the marriage and the church…and he has put it around the other way,' Ms Forrest told The New Zealand Herald. 'He still has legal access arrangements, it was his choice not to see them,' she said of their children. Mr Forrest left New Zealand four years ago after divorcing his wife Kylie Forrest, who claims he abandoned his four young children (pictured). She denied earlier reports that their youngest daughter was born with Down syndrome, clarifying that she had been born with medical complications after a premature birth . Mr Forrest, said his second wife abandoned their son Leo (pictured) because her family were ashamed of his condition, has made global headlines since he started crowd fundraising to bring Leo to his native New Zealand . In a series of emails around the time he left the church, Mr Forrest repeatedly says he 'lost four innocent children' and blames the Exclusive Brethren for the 'deliberate break-up of a family'. Daily Mail Australia has obtained a photo of Mr Forrest with his four children before he lost contact with them in 2011. 'All his extended family are also members of the Exclusive Brethren and are still forbidden by their religion to have any contact with him,' a source said. 'It was one of the reasons why he left in the first place and went to Armenia. He had no contact with his children and saw no future for himself in New Zealand. It was all very sad.' Mr Forrest married his Armenian wife Ruzan Badalyan 18 months ago and they divorced a week after baby Leo was born on January 21 . Mr Forrest's crowd funding website has already raised more than $600,000 in his bid to bring up baby Leo in Auckland where he can have access to established disability services . Mr Forrest married his Armenian wife Ruzan Badalyan 18 months ago and they divorced a week after baby Leo was born. At the time, Mr Forrest said his wife refused to look at or even touch Leo because Armenian culture believes a child with a condition like Down syndrome brings shame on the entire family. She has been under scrutiny since her decision to give up Leo was made public. Mr Forrest, who was brought up as a member of the Exclusive Brethren church in New Zealand. His ex-wife denied that he was ec-communicated after he divorced her, saying: 'he chose to leave the marriage and the church…and he has put it around the other way' Mr Forrest wrote on his crowd-funding website on Monday that he 'still feels a great deal of love' for his ex-wife despite her decision to give up their son. 'I can assure you that I have tried my best to convince my wife we could keep the baby, but in her family, an orphanage seemed a safer option for Armenia,' he wrote. 'I did everything I could to keep our family together, including suggesting we all go to New Zealand together. Her family also spent time trying to persuade me to surrender our son to an orphanage. 'Ruzan should not be the target of all of the frustrations that this situation has created. Our paths may be moving in different directions, but she is Leo's mother and I still feel a great deal of love for her.' It comes after Ms Badalyan hit back at her ex-husband's claims she abandoned her baby, instead saying she had to make a 'ruthless decision' in the best interests of Leo. She released a statement via Facebook saying the long-awaited birth of her son was the happiest day, but when she woke she could only see alarmed faces around her. 'My first question was about the whereabouts of my child. I remember the sad faces of my relatives and the doctors and the diagnosis that sounded like a verdict: 'Your child was born with a Down Syndrome.' One can never imagine my feelings at that moment,' she wrote. 'Hardly had I recovered from the first shock, when the doctor approached me and told me to voice my decision whether I was going to keep Leo or not. I had to make the most ruthless decision in my life within several hours. At the time of Leo's birth, Mr Forrest said his wife refused to look at or even touch Leo because Armenian culture believes a child with a condition like Down syndrome brings shame on the entire family . Mr Forrest wrote on his crowd-funding website on Monday that he 'still feels a great deal of love' for his ex-wife despite her decision to give up their son . 'The first thing that came to my mind after the diagnosis was that I don't want my child to live in a country where certain stereotypes dominate the lives of people with DS and no opportunities at all. I want him to be involved and well-received in society, an integration that will require years and years for our society to adjust to. 'I saw the evasive looks of the doctors, my relatives' tear-stained faces, received calls of condolences and realised that only a move to a country with such standards as New Zealand would entitle my son to a decent life.' Leo's mother said the cost of raising a children with a disability also weighed on her. 'In Armenia every child is loved and respected and family is a high value, but in this country children with special needs do require special attention, huge financial resources and dedication,' she said. 'In the hardest moment of my life when my husband should be next to me and support and help to take the right decision, I could not find any support from his side. 'After that incident, he left the hospital notifying me hours later that he was taking the kid with him, that he is going to leave the country for New Zealand and I do not have anything to do with the situation.' Ms Badalyan (pictured here on her wedding day) hit back at her ex-husband's claims she abandoned her baby, instead saying she had to make a 'ruthless decision' in the best interests of Leo . Leo's mother said the cost of raising a children with a disability also weighed on her and described the decision as the 'hardest moment of my life' Ruzan Badalyn (left) pictured at her wedding alongside her sister Arevik will remain in Armenia after filing for divorce for her New Zealand husband . Mr Forrest's crowd funding website has already raised more than $490,000 in his bid to bring up baby Leo in Auckland where he can have access to established disability services and adequate support. But it is unclear how much family support he will receive when he returns. 'It's well known within the Exclusive Brethren community that Sam has been cut off by everyone because of divorcing his wife. He has no one to come back to,' a source said. 'You would hope that he'd get some support but it's very unlikely.' Mr Forrest has been left stunned by the outpouring of support since he first shared his story. The outpouring of kind emotions and great wishes has been overwhelming. Leo is one lucky guy,' he said. 'He is doing well and is very healthy. He gets visitors daily who shower him with love and affection. Leo is the number one priority for me right now and needs all my attention.' He said the money raised was far beyond what they expected or needed. The money will be used find a house in Auckland and to give Leo education opportunities. There are also plans to use some of the funds to support parents in Armenia who are raising children with disabilities. For more information on Leo's cause, visit www.gofundme.com/bringleohome. Daily Mail Australia made several attempts to contact the Exclusive Brethren. | Samuel Forrest and his wife Ruzan Badalyan split just a week after their son Leo was born with Down syndrome in Armenia on January 21 .
He says she abandoned Leo because her family were ashamed of his condition and has been fundraising to bring Leo to his native New Zealand .
Mr Forrest's ex-wife from NZ has now claimed he abandoned their four children before he left to Armenia .
He was also convicted and fined for assaulting his father in law in 2010, it has been reported . |
70,994 | c94b62b343980bd1af2e1cf735c3eb9882f12d60 | (CNN) -- The LPGA have confirmed that 25-year-old golfer Erica Blasberg has been found dead. Blasberg has played on the LPGA Tour since 2004, and had recently participated in her first event of 2010 in Mexico where she tied for 44th in the Tres Marias Championship. A native of California, Blasberg turned professional in 2004 and claimed one victory on the Duramed Futures Tour before qualifying for the LPGA Tour in 2005. Blasberg's best performance was in 2008 when she recorded a joint eighth position at the SBS Open in Hawaii -- a career-best -- and claimed over $113,000 prize money. The details of her death are not yet known, according to the LPGA. Blasberg's agent, Chase Callahan of REP 1 Sports Group told the LPGA's official Web site: "We are devastated to learn of the passing of Erica Blasberg. "To most of the world, Erica was known as a professional golfer, but she was more than that. She was a loving daughter to her parents and a compassionate and loyal friend. "Erica had a good heart, was extremely kind and very thankful for what she had in her life. She lived out her dream of playing professional golf on the highest level on the LPGA Tour, allowing her to help inspire others. "We are proud of Erica for everything she accomplished. This is a painful loss, we feel it in our hearts and we will miss her. Erica would want those close to her to celebrate the life she lived. We ask that you keep Erica and her family in your prayers." | LPGA Tour golfer Erica Blasberg has been found dead .
25-year-old Blasberg joined the LPGA Tour in 2005 .
Blasberg's agent says he is "devastated" by the news . |
136,090 | 3c13a305e2a21c0947eac464e8d70b2c0b6b5ab4 | By . Ruth Styles . PUBLISHED: . 08:37 EST, 26 September 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 03:37 EST, 27 September 2013 . Are you a Geordie girl with a penchant for clutch bags or a Londoner toting a gargantuan piece of designer arm candy? If so, you're inadvertently telling people where you come from, according to a new study which revealed that your choice of bag corresponds with your postcode. According to the research, more than 60 per cent of northern fashion followers 'glam it up' throughout the day and into the evening, while for southerners, bigger is always better. Southerners such as Victoria Beckham prefer big bags while Cheryl Cole inspired northerners prefer clutches . Three out of four London ladies choose oversized tote bags, perhaps inspired by the likes of style guru Victoria Beckham, who is regularly pictured with Hermes Birkins and Louis Vuitton over-sized Speedys. Debenhams, which conducted the research, put the trend down to women who live in London working longer hours, many without access to a car therefore needing an extra-large handbag. Natelle Baddeley, head of accessories at Debenhams, said: 'We are noticing a new trend among Londoners known as the "24 hour" handbag. 'Size is everything so it's the bigger the better. Northerners are all about the sexy clutch bag, channelling their inner Cheryl Cole and packing all their essentials into a small bag that can take them from desk to dance floor.' Meanwhile women in the Midlands are more practical with 72 per cent of them investing in a long lasting, mid-sized handbag that works for every occasion - much like local girl Cat Deeley. The handbag map of the UK: Northern Ireland likes hobo bags while the Midlands are all for mid-sized totes . Practical: Scottish women love a stylish satchel while their Cambrian cousins prefer a sporty rucksack . Safety-savvy Scots opt for a crossbody bag - a female version of the wallet chain - which allows them to carry no more than a credit card and a lip gloss. Women in Ireland have been buying 'fuss free shoulder bags' which are perfect for busy first-time mums such as The Saturdays singer Una Healy. Debenhams say the shoulder bag is a more compact version of the '24 hour Londoners' choice, acting as a bottomless pit stashed full of almost every essential. Welsh women cut the fittest figures with two-thirds (68 per cent) leaning towards sport bags and backpacks like marathon loving local Katherine Jenkins. Professor Karen Pine, of the University of Hertfordshire, said: 'In recent times the handbag seems to have become the ultimate statement piece for women. 'Ladies are signalling their status, and many do that via the handbag they choose. This research also demonstrates how the bag we carry, like the clothes we wear, reflects our personality. 'The handbag has become an integral part of a woman's wardrobe and a significant part of her identity. 'The contents of her bag are highly personal and the style of bag is a shorthand way of saying, "This is who I am", whether that's career woman, sporty or practical type.' SCOTLAND . Bag type: Crossbody bagWhat your bag says about you: Safety-savvyStyle icon: Emeli Sande . NORTH . Bag type: Clutch bagWhat your bag says about you: Dressed up and ready to goStyle icon: Cheryl Cole . MIDLANDS . Bag type: Medium-sized toteWhat your bag says about you: Classic and practicalStyle icon: Cat Deeley . SOUTH AND LONDON . Bag type: Oversized toteWhat your bag says about you: Busy 24 hours a dayStyle icon: Victoria Beckham . IRELAND . Bag type: Shoulder bagWhat your bag says about you: No fuss and a bit self-containedStyle icon: Una Healey . WALES . Bag type: Gym bags and backpacksWhat your bag says about you: The Mt. Snowdon effect - sportyStyle icon: Katherine Jenkins . | Those living in the north of England are most likely to carry clutches .
Londoners, by contrast, rely on gargantuan '24-hour' tote bags .
Practical Scots plump for crossbody bags and satchels .
Most sporty are the women of Wales who love rucksacks . |
1,741 | 050207715f9f739efa0f4f8495bd633ce6ce727f | (CNN) -- A day after an explosion rocked its offices in Mexico City, Mexico's state-run oil giant Pemex says it's too early to speculate on the cause of the deadly blast. At least 33 people -- mostly women -- were killed in the explosion, Pemex chief Emilio Lozoya said at a news conference Friday. More than 100 were injured, including 52 who remain hospitalized. Watch: Blast rocks Mexico City . Lozoya was asked if he believed Pemex, the powerful but often criticized state oil monopoly, was the target of a bombing, but he declined to speculate. Experts from Mexico and abroad are investigating the scene to determine the cause, he said. Mexican Attorney General Jesus Murillo Karam similarly refused to rule out possibilities. "We have experts in everything, absolutely everything," he told reporters, adding that investigations are under way to determine whether the blast was the result of an accident or an attack. Some witnesses have reported smelling a strong odor of gas after the blast. It is a complicated investigation that "cannot be explained in a few hours," Lozoya said. The priority, Lozoya said, is providing support to the victims' families and rescuing anyone who may remain trapped. Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto visited victims in the hospital Friday, offering condolences and promising help. The explosion happened Thursday afternoon at an administrative building in the Pemex office complex. "People were screaming. ... You could see pieces of the wall falling to the ground," said Joaquin Borrell Valenzuela, an attorney for the Pemex comptroller's office, who was in a courtyard outside the building at the time of the blast. Paramedics quickly arrived and started pulling people from the rubble. Thousands of people work at the Pemex headquarters, which includes a 54-story building that is nearly 700 feet tall. The annex where the explosion happened is adjacent to the tower. The oil company's production capabilities have not been harmed, and operations and oil production will continue Friday as normal, Lozoya said. Employees at the Pemex annex said that the basement of the building, where he explosion is believed to have originated, housed a water treatment facility, storage areas and archives. The first floor, which also was heavily damaged, is where the company's human resources team worked. One employee, Silvia Hernandez, recounted how she was finishing up her workday at another building and standing in line to clock out when she heard a blast. "I saw the explosion of glass, people bleeding; it was something very shocking," she said. "I can't say more because the memory makes me nervous. I was terrified, anxious." A bridge that connected her building with the annex collapsed, likely trapping employees, she said. Another employee, who declined to give his name for fear of retribution, spoke about his failed attempt to locate his brother within the rubble. The man smoked cigarette after cigarette in the predawn hours of Friday as he waited at the medical examiner's office to claim his brother's body. More than 100 relatives waited outside the offices with him. The man said he was among the employees who began rescue efforts in the immediate aftermath of the explosion. He knew his brother worked in the human resources area, which had been damaged, so the man covered his face with a rag and ran there to search for him. The man said he removed debris and helped rescue others, but never reached his brother. By then, professional rescuers arrived and took over the job of looking for survivors. CNNMexico's Juan Pablo Mayorga and Arturo Ascención contributed to this report. | NEW: The country's attorney general similarly refuses to rule out possibilities .
NEW: President Enrique Pena Nieto visits victims in the hospital .
The death toll rises to 33 .
Employee: "I saw the explosion of glass, people bleeding; ... I was terrified" |
279,000 | f575c724a6331b7386ee577699173fc39dfb3528 | Ciro Immobile scored a late equaliser as Borussia Dortmund came from two goals down to earn a 2-2 draw at home to Stuttgart in the Bundesliga on Wednesday. Stuttgart’s point in an encouraging display lifted the team from the bottom of the table only hours after the club fired director of sports Fredi Bobic. Bayer Leverkusen rose to second by narrowly defeating Augsburg 1-0 in a match that was interrupted for seven minutes in the first half by a heavy storm. Ciro Immobile celebrates his late equaliser for Borrusia Dortmund . The Italian striker hooks in from close range to clinch a last-gasp point for Borussia Dortmund . Daniel Didavi is congratulated by his Stuttgart team-mates after making it 2-0 . VIDEO Borussia Dortmund 2-2 Stuttgart . Meanwhile, Hannover continued their best start to a season by beating Cologne 1-0 and Borussia Monchengladbach sent Hamburg back to the bottom of the table with a 1-0 victory. Hertha Berlin notched its first win of the season by beating Wolfsburg 1-0. Bayern Munich went top of the standings by defeating Paderborn 4-0 on Tuesday. Bayern have 11 points, with Leverkusen and Hannover a point further back. Daniel Didavi pounced on mistakes by Dortmund’s defense in either half to put the visiting team 2-0 up. But the speedy Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang rounded Stuttgart goalkeeper Sven Ulreich in the 73rd to pull one back for Dortmund and Immobile four minutes from time. Salomon Kalou scores on his first start for Hertha Berlin . There was plenty to celebrate for Hannover matchwinner Joselu . 'When you are up two goals, you should go home as the winner,' Stuttgart coach Armin Veh said. Shinji Kagawa had Dortmund’s best chances. In the first half, he controlled the ball with his chest before hooking a shot past Ulreich but onto the bar and narrowly missed the target with a second half header. Dortmund are now eighth, four points behind Bayern, and have already conceded nine goals - 'way too many,' according to defender Mats Hummels. In Leverkusen, Son Heung-min scored the only goal in the 33rd minute, before the match was interrupted by the storm five minutes later. Bayer Leverkusen players flock around goalscorer Son Heung-min . Max Kruse found the net for Monchengladbach and Hamburg have still has not scored a goal in five league matches this season. The club slipped below Stuttgart to occupy the bottom spot. Striker Joselu scored in the sixth minute for Hannover to hand Cologne a first defeat of the season. And newly arrived Salomon Kalou scored on his first start for Hertha Berlin with a powerful first half header against Wolfsburg. | Struggling Stuttgart four minutes away from victory at Borussia Dortmund .
Daniel Didavi's double put the visitors in command .
But Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Ciro Immobile struck to salvage a point for Jurgen Klopp's team .
Bayer Leverkusen beat Augsburg 1-0 to go second .
Narrow victories for Borrusia Monchengladbach and Hertha Berlin, with former Chelsea star Salomon Kalou scoring the winner .
On Tuesday Bayern Munich thrashed early Bundesliga leaders Paderborn to go top . |
115,005 | 206bf411bfff64b1d72c0c29e9be8e5675732659 | By . Associated Press . and James Rush . Kevin Sutherland has been accused of knowingly peddling phony examples of some of Damien Hirsts's signature themes . Prosecutors have accused a Miami pastor of knowingly peddling phony examples of some of artist Damien Hirst's signature themes. But Kevin Sutherland's defence claims he was just an art-market novice who couldn't read red flags about the pieces' authenticity. Jury deliberations were due to resume today in Sutherland's attempted grand larceny trial following the summing up yesterday. The case is one in a series of prosecutions surrounding counterfeit works by Turner Prize-winner Hirst. Sutherland, 46, leads the nondenominational, 200-members Mosaic Miami Church. According to his lawyer, he began dealing in cowboy-related art in 2010 and soon began buying Hirsts, or what appeared to be Hirsts. Part of a group dubbed the Young British Artists in the 1990s, Hirst is known partly for dotted, pharmaceutical-themed 'spot' paintings and circular, sometimes kaleidoscopic 'spin' paintings. Sutherland tried last year to sell two counterfeit spin paintings and three bogus spot prints for $185,000 to an undercover officer posing as a 'buyer', though Sotheby's auction house had told the pastor the authenticity of one of the paintings was in question, the Manhattan district attorney's office says. When the undercover officer asked about potential problems with the artworks, Sutherland said he wasn't aware of any issues, authorities said. Sutherland's defence claims he was just an art-market novice who couldn't read red flags about the pieces' authenticity. Pictured is the front and back of a counterfeit Damien Hirst spin painting in a photo provided by the Manhattan District Attorney's Office . 'He had choices he could have made that . would have brought him to a very, very different place,' Assistant . District Attorney Rachel Hochhauser said in a closing argument Monday. But Sutherland said Sotheby's never clearly told him the artworks were fake. He said he didn't ask Hirst's studio for clarification, as Sotheby's suggested, because the authentication process was pricey and because he believed he had an authenticity guarantee from the man who'd sold him the works — an admitted art scammer who testified against him. 'Kevin Sutherland believed the art to be real,' his lawyer, Sanford 'Sam' Talkin, said in his summation. British artist Damien Hirst is known partly for dotted, pharmaceutical-themed 'spot' paintings and circular, sometimes kaleidoscopic 'spin' paintings . The case against Sutherland grew from a Manhattan DA's office investigation that also ensnared three other men. The Laguna Beach, California, gallery owner accused of selling Sutherland the fakes, Vincent Lopreto — who had already served prison time in another phony-Hirst case — and business partner Ronald Bell pleaded guilty to charges including identity theft. They are awaiting sentencing. Richard Silver, a part-time art dealer who said he unwittingly bought phony Hirst prints from Lopreto but then doctored appraisals to resell them, pleaded guilty to misdemeanor forgery charges, in exchange for a 60-day jail sentence. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | Miami pastor accused of knowingly peddling phony Damien Hirst pieces .
Defence claims he was an art-market novice who was unaware .
Sutherland tried last year to sell two counterfeit paintings and three bogus prints to an undercover officer posing as a buyer . |
247,198 | cbe582129d0b104bc329c544a9f7630beefa84b5 | By . Damien Gayle . PUBLISHED: . 03:14 EST, 8 April 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 09:01 EST, 8 April 2013 . Three men are set to go on trial accused of the murders of a wealthy American couple killed in their holiday home of the Caribbean Island of St Maarten. Michael King, 53, and his wife Thelma, 57, from South Carolina, were last September found stabbed to death in their beachfront apartment on the Dutch Caribbean territory. The suspects - identified only by their initials - are J.J.W, who was arrested on St Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands, J.C.M., who is just 17, and 28-year-old M.K.J., who prosecutors say has confessed to the crime. Murdered: Michael and Thelma King were found . murdered in their holiday home on the Caribbean Island of Saint Maarte. Three men will tomorrow go on trial accused of their murders . Horrifying: The South Carolina couple, who were . starting a rum business on the island of Saint Maarten, were found in . their beachfront home with several stab wounds. Thelma King was found . bound to a chair . The trial, which begins tomorrow, is . expected to last just two days, but the judge is not expected to issue a . ruling until early next month. If found guilty, the three suspects face life in jail. Successful entrepreneurs, the Kings . owned several homes, including their property on St Maarten, and owned . numerous restaurants there. They were found dead on September 21 last . year after friends on the island became suspicious when they didn't . respond to calls. Mr King's brother, Todd, told CNN he and his entire family will be travelling to St Maarten to attent the trial. 'Everybody's coming,' he told the U.S. news network. 'Everybody loved Michael, he was just one of the nicest . guys you would ever meet.' Slain: Local businessman Michael King, right, and his wife, Thelma, right, were killed at their beachfront holiday home; their bodies were found with fatal stab wounds on Friday, September 21, 2012 . Taco Stein, St Maarten's Solicitor General, said the killings appeared to be the result of a burglary that went 'out of hand'. According to local officials, the . couple were repeatedly stabbed. Mrs King was discovered bound to a . chair. 'I'm confident they [the suspects] will be found guilty,' Mr . Stein said. But Brenda Brooks, the lawyer . representing J.C.M., the youngest of the accused, told CNN she thinks . the prosecution's theory 'doesn't add up.' 'I don't believe it, that these guys . kind of went on a joyride with someone else's car, and then went out . drinking and ended up coincidentally by the Kings, and it was initially . said to be a robbery and they end up killing the couple,' she said. 'I think there is something else to that story.' Tragic: Local restaurant owner Topper Daboul . described Thelma King, far left, and Michael King, rear right, as . 'beautiful' people who 'probably had to hang their wings up at night' The killings have shocked the . close-knit ex-pat community on St Maarten, which has a population of . just under 38,000 and a land mass of only 13 square miles. Terry Tamblyn of Isle of Palms, South . Carolina, who was a partner with King in St Maarten rental property, . said last year: 'It's beyond me. It was such a shock. 'I can't figure any reason. It was crazy to me. Everybody loved Mike and Thelma.' Mr Tamblyn added: 'He'd give you the . shirt off his back. They were just the greatest people in the world. I . can't think of any enemies.' Mr King was a retired insurance . executive who later started a successful printing business that he sold, . Mr Tamblyn said. He said Mr King owned a couple of restaurants on the . island and was about to start a new spiced-rum business. Holiday home: The couple, both in their 50s, . were found dead at their home in the Ocean Club Resort in Cupecoy. The . entrepreneurs ran several restaurants on the island and were starting a . new rum business . Local restaurant owner Topper Daboul said that he was a friend of the couple and was building a rum factory with them. 'These two people probably had to hang their wings up at night. That's how beautiful they were,' Mr Daboul said. 'Their life was pretty successful ... They had oodles of dollars. They had everything they ever wanted in life.' Mr Daboul, speaking just after the Kings' bodies were found, said he last saw Mr King on the afternoon of Wednesday, September 19. 'I knew some other friends had drinks with them that night,' he said. 'We weren't able to reach them on Thursday. We called all day on Thursday. The fact that he didn't call made me a little suspicious, but not a lot.' Mr Daboul said he drove over to the King's home at the Ocean Club Resort in Cupecoy on Friday, September 21, and banged on the door. He said he asked a person who had been on the premises at the time to climb over a fence and see if they saw anyone in the house. Mr Daboul said the person told him that he saw a dead man leaning over a chair. Following the murders, the island's hospitality and trade association released a statement expressing outrage at the attack and offering condolences to friends and family of the couple. 'St. Maarten is a small, diverse and close knit community. This tragedy pains everyone in the community deeply,' the statement said. The Kings' South Carolina, Mount Pleasant condominium is at the end of a cul-de-sac in Tolers Cove on the Intracoastal Waterway next to the Ben Sawyer Bridge. Neighbour Harry Murray said everyone loved the Kings. | Michael and Thelma King were found stabbed to death at their home .
Trial of two men and a teenager set to begin tomorrow and last two days .
Grieving family of Mr King say they will attend . |
167,283 | 645835d8621b3c5e5ea0b01f3dd09f4d3f9ae8d6 | Hong Kong (CNN) -- If there's one thing that would have struck a chord with seven million Hong Kongers this election season, it was U.S. President Barack Obama and his challenger Mitt Romney using China as a political punching bag during the recent televised debates. America blames China for many of its economic woes, while Hong Kong has a more complex relationship with the mainland, one that is rooted in historical, cultural and political differences. Beijing has long been accused by Washington of keeping its currency artificially low, giving Chinese exporters an advantage over their competitors. Last month, Romney accused China of manipulating its currency "for years and years," while taking American jobs. He even repeated his vow to declare Beijing a currency manipulator on his first day in office. China rejects this. A recent report from the state-run Xinhua agency warned that this mud-slinging, if converted into policy, would trigger a trade war "catastrophic enough to both sides and the already groaning global economy." This is a struggle that matters to Hong Kong, arguably Asia's leading financial center and a key bridge between China and the rest of the world. For one thing, Hong Kong's currency is pegged to its American counterpart, so when the greenback weakens, the Hong Kong dollar is affected. This can force the Hong Kong government to intervene, often by selling or purchasing the local currency. "Hong Kong is part of China so tensions between the two countries will obviously affect it," said Richard Hu, an associate professor and China specialist at The University of Hong Kong. "But there is particular concern about how Obama, or Romney if he's elected, handles the Chinese exchange rate issue because it will have a big impact here." Yet the U.S. election razzmatazz hasn't exactly caught on at a grassroots level here -- most people are more concerned about issues closer to home. Unlike 2008 when Obama claimed his first election win, coverage has generally been more muted and kept to the "World" section of local newspapers, with China's own leadership change more likely to dominate front pages. "People find America's election interesting, especially the debates between Obama and Romney, but they don't think too much about their policies because U.S. politics does not seem to bring much direct effect to our lives in Hong Kong," Vivian Kam, a local journalist, told CNN. "Some wouldn't even know who Mitt Romney is," opined Tip Wan Mon Leung, a local teacher. "Most Hong Kongers are not that political, though they do get angry about Chinese interference or expensive house prices." When the city was handed over to China by its former British colonial rulers in 1997, Hong Kong -- now a Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China -- retained many of its characteristics under the principle of "one country, two systems": its own currency, an independent judiciary and a separate border requiring a visa to travel between the two territories. But 15 years on, many ordinary Hong Kongers have an uneasy relationship with Beijing, fearing a gradual loss of their civil liberties. They are fiercely proud of their Chinese heritage, but many would rather keep their mainland cousins at arm's length. Hong Kong celebrates China's National Day and Chinese sporting achievements, but its citizens reject Chinese attempts to influence the city's affairs, as recent demonstrations against plans to integrate "patriotic" Chinese history into local schools showed. In July, an estimated 90,000 people took to the streets to protest what critics described as an attempt to "brainwash" impressionable young minds with pro-mainland propaganda. For all intents and purposes, Hong Kong enjoys the same freedoms Americans enjoy: free speech, a free press and a rule of law compatible with most democracies. However, Hong Kongers cannot vote for their leaders in a U.S.-style election. The city's most senior politician -- known as the chief executive -- is "voted" in by an electoral college of 1,200 influential but unelected figures in Hong Kong, with Beijing's approval. Earlier this year, hundreds of thousands of protesters flooded Hong Kong's streets shortly after C.Y. Leung was sworn in as the latest chief executive during a ceremony with Chinese President Hu Jintao on the 15th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to Chinese sovereignty. They were demanding a say in who runs the city. Significantly, the ceremony was conducted in Mandarin rather than the local Cantonese language, viewed by many as another example of Chinese encroachment. While China doesn't overtly decide who leads Hong Kong, it does have favored candidates and says the outcome should be "acceptable" to the city's people even though they have no say in the process. These simmering tensions regularly expose fault-lines at a grassroots level with growing resentment against the influx of mainland visitors. Of the 41.9 million visitors to Hong Kong in 2011, the majority -- more than 28 million -- hailed from mainland China, according to the Hong Kong Tourism Board. Earlier this year, a full-page advertisement decrying a so-called invasion of "locusts" from across the border appeared in a local newspaper. The ad in the Apple Daily asked if Hong Kongers approved of spending HK$1,000,000 (US$128,925) every 18 minutes to take care of children borne by mainland parents and declared that "Hong Kong people have had enough!" It referred to the recent surge in the number of pregnant Chinese women crossing into Hong Kong to give birth, which has put a growing burden on the resources of local hospitals. In addition to the perception of better medical services, many mainland women choose to give birth in Hong Kong so their children have the right to stay here. But Hong Kongers also lay the blame for many of the city's problems with their own government. It is frequently accused of not doing enough to address rocketing property prices, a growing wealth gap and worsening pollution. "I feel terribly sad about the future of Hong Kong. Too many problems, too few right people to make the right decisions," added Leung, who teaches high-school students. The city's famed skyline projects an image of wealth and prosperity, yet more than one million Hong Kongers live in poverty, according to the Hong Kong Council of Social Service (HKCSS). Hidden amid the city's multi-million dollar high-rise apartments and chic shopping malls are scores of tiny, unseen tenements -- some no bigger than cupboards -- that many people call home. At the other end of the scale, Hong Kong is also one of the world's richest cities, with the world's highest concentration of U.S. dollar billionaire households relative to its small size, according to a report this year by the Boston Consulting Group. Analysts estimate the government also sits on a cash pile of about US$80 billion. Yet Hong Kongers are choking on the city's success as the quality of the air at roadside level in Hong Kong deteriorates, often creating a haze that obscures one side of the city's Victoria Harbor from the other. According to research earlier this year from Hong Kong University, there are 3,200 avoidable deaths a year here due to air pollution -- more than three times higher than previous estimates. The battle for the White House will hardly go unnoticed here but it's just one strand in a China-dominated narrative. | China has been a key issue in the U.S. election campaign for both candidates .
U.S.-China relations important to Hong Kong, particularly in economic terms .
Hong Kong has uneasy relationship with China despite considerable autonomy .
Many Hong Kongers resent what they believe is Beijing's growing influence . |
59,441 | a8c041bdd32eb2e9405fd1e15fe0c5dd2b42921f | His party has been rising in the polls. And now Nigel Farage hopes Ukip will enter the pop charts with a song by former Radio 1 DJ Mike Read. The party leader called on supporters to buy the party anthem, which warns of ‘illegal immigrants in every town’ and looks forward to ‘when Nigel is at Number 10’. Scroll down for video . Mike Read attended the 2014 UKIP Conference at Doncaster Racecourse last month and has now recorded a song for the eurosceptic party . But Mr Read was yesterday forced to defend the track sung in a mock Jamaican accent against claims that it is racist. The song raises the issue of immigration with the lyrics: ‘Leaders committed a cardinal sin, open the borders let them all come in, illegal immigrants in every town, stand up and be counted Blair and Brown.’ It continues: ‘Oh yes, when we take charge, and the new prime minister is Farage, we can trade with the world again – when Nigel is at No 10.’ Other lyrics include digs at the European Union such as ‘With the EU we must be on our mettle, want to change our lawnmowers and our kettles. The EU live in wonderland, tried to ban bent bananas and British jam, we don't want jam the EU way, jam yesterday tomorrow but never today.’ Mr Read, a former Conservative supporter, also warns against trusting the Prime Minister, singing: ‘The British people have been let down, that's why Ukip is making ground. From Crewe to Cleethorpes, from Hull to Hendon, they don't believe Cameron's referendum. ‘The other parties will count the cost, in Eastleigh, Thanet, Thurrock and Boston, Labour and Tories shaking in their boots when Ukip kick them up the grass roots.’ Mr Read's song has sparked accusations of racism for using a mock Jamaican accent . The song raises the issue of immigration with the lyrics: ‘Leaders committed a cardinal sin, open the borders let them all come in' Mr Read has launched a bid for chart success with a song singing the praises of Ukip and its leader Nigel Farage . The song also mentions Mr Farage’s love of ‘fags and beer’ and jokes about the frequency of his appearances on the BBC’s Question Time. Mr Read yesterday said there was ‘nothing remotely racist’ about the song and said critics had ‘lost their sense of humour’. He told Sky News: ‘It's a satire and a bit of fun. It's not terribly serious. It wouldn't have sounded very good sung in a Surrey accent.’ He said that if he had done an Australian song he would have put on an Australian accent. Ukip’s Commonwealth spokesman Winston McKenzie defended the song. Appearing on Newsnight last night he said: ‘Ever since the beginning of time – the Beatles, Elvis, the Rolling Stones – they have taken off the black man. ‘What he has done is fantastic and the PC brigade have to grow up and get with it. The guy has made a song.’ Ukip leader Nigel Farage has called on the party's supporters to get the song to Number 1 in the charts . Ukip's Commonwealth spokesman Winston McKenzie attacked the 'PC brigade' which had criticised the song . Mr Read, who currently hosts an afternoon show on BBC Berkshire, spent more than a decade at Radio 1. He hit the headlines in 1984 when he refused to play the Frankie Goes to Hollywood single, Relax, because he objected to its lyrics. A BBC spokesman said he had not breached the corporation's guidelines on impartiality by recording the song in support of the anti-EU party. The song, which is being sold for 79p, yesterday reached as high as number 17 on the iTunes chart. Some bookmakers put the track at 50-1 to go straight into the charts at Number 1 on Sunday. Mr Farage posted on Twitter: ‘Help get the UKIP Calypso by The Independents to Number 1.’ The song had mixed reviews on Amazon. One wrote: ‘My god, the musical equivalent of the Ebola virus. Anyway, isn't calypso music a bit foreign for Ukip?’ Another review said: ‘A triumph. What a blend of cultures, using a Jamaican style to highlight some very British issues, and I would never have guessed the signer wasn't a native of the Caribbean but top pop DJ Mike Read.’ A further comment said: ‘John, Paul, George, Ringo, Farage.’ Some criticised Mr Read’s accent on the song. One wrote: ‘Surely we should have moved on from white men singing in funny accents? I found this song a sad reflection of a sick society.’ ‘Pretty sick with faux Jamaican accent. Shows UKIP in its true light as a nasty racist party,’ added another. In May, Ukip had to cancel a ‘carnival of colour’ with a steel band in Croydon after it descended into farce. The event was supposed to demonstrate the party welcomed members from all ethnic minorities, but rows broke out between supporters and demonstrators. The steel band stopped playing and packed up after they found out the event was in support of the party. Taxpayers’ money where does it go? Not even George Osborne knows, when we're in power and we engage, there will be no tax on the minimum wage. Leaders committed a cardinal sin, open the borders let them all come in, illegal immigrants in every town, stand up and be counted Blair and Brown. Oh yes, when we take charge, and the new prime minister is Farage, we can trade with the world again when Nigel is at No. 10. The British people have been let down, that’s why Ukip is making ground, from Crewe to Cleethorpes, outer Hendon, they don't believe Cameron's referendum. Coalition could be a fact, with any party we could make a pact, stop telling lies about us do, and we’ll stop telling the truth about you. Oh yes, when we take charge, and the new prime minister is Farage, we can trade with the world again when Nigel is at No. 10. Though our pensions scheme is in a mess, we need money for the NHS, to Jean-Cleade Juncker we’re giving away £55m a day. Oh what a farce he won the vote, this is my favourite Juncker quote, he looked a reporter straight in the eye and said “when things get serious it's time to lie”. Oh yes, when we take charge, and the new prime minister is Farage, we can trade with the world again when Nigel is at No. 10. The EU live in wonderland, tried to ban bent bananas and British jam, we don't want jam the EU way, jam yesterday tomorrow but never today . The daily polls suggest somehow, Ukip are the third party now, in the euro elections we were so immersed, we weren't the third party we were the first . Oh yes, when we take charge, and the new prime minister is Farage, we can trade with the world again when Nigel is at No. 10. With the government sitting on the fence, Ukip policy makes more sense, to get out of Europe is our target, Commonwealth not common market. Other parties please take note, Ukip is not a protest vote, so mark your cross and by word of mouth, tell them what to do in Thanet South. Oh yes, when we take charge, and the new prime minister is Farage, we can trade with the world again when Nigel is at No. 10. With the EU we must be on our mettle, want to change our lawnmowers and our kettles, our hairdryers, smart phones and vacuum cleaners, but Ukip is wise to their misdemeanours. Farage likes his fags and beer, but there is one thing I want to get clear, now I like Nigel, he’s a friend of mine, but he appears more than Dimbleby on Question Time. Oh yes, when we take charge, and the new prime minister is Farage, we can trade with the world again when Nigel is at No. 10. The other parties will count the cost, in Eastleigh, Thanet, Thurrock and Boston, Labour and Tories shaking in their boots when Ukip kick them up the grass roots. Meanwhile down at Clacton-on-Sea, Ukip are making history, Douglas Carswell, we're quite adamant, will be the first MP in parliament. Oh yes, when we take charge, and the new prime minister is Farage, we can trade with the world again when Nigel is at No. 10. | DJ has recorded a Caribbean pop song hailing Nigel Farage as the next PM .
Ukip leader has urged party supporters to get the song to Number 1 .
Song sitting at number 17 in the iTunes top 100 song download chart .
Lyrics include: 'Leaders committed cardinal sin, opened borders let them in' |
197,992 | 8c4a33ff485961aaadb2a994de0552ac0163b57b | West Ham striker Andy Carroll admits he can't wait to return to action, and believes he can help the club push on for Europe. Sam Allardyce's side are currently sitting in fourth in the Premier League after beating champions Manchester City 2-1 at Upton Park on Saturday. Carroll missed that game, and has indeed been absent all season with an ankle injury, but says it is 'unbelievable' to be training again with a team that is playing 'fantastically'. Andy Carroll is back in training after missing the beginning of the season with an ankle injury . West Ham tweeted to reveal Carroll or 'The Big Man' as they refer to him is back in training . ''It's unbelievable. I've been out for so long that to be back training with the lads again is a fantastic feeling,' Carroll told West Ham's official website. 'It has been a difficult few months, being in a dark gym by myself training every day. 'We're playing fantastically. The gaffer has signed some great players and we're showing the quality we've got with the goals we're scoring. That's why we are where we are in the league, so for me to be a part of that - I cannot wait. 'I think we can push right on for Europe. I don't see why not - I think all the lads are positive about that and I know the gaffer is too.' West Ham play Stoke in their next Premier League fixture at the Britannia Stadium. West Ham striker Carroll has been impressed with the early form of the east London outfit . | Andy Carroll is yet to play for West Ham so far this season due to injury .
The Hammers ace says it is 'unbelievable' to be back in first team training .
Carroll has been impressed with his side's start to the campaign . |
123,184 | 2b3c6cdf9187e9dfbf181cf454c4157ea1d57687 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 10:23 EST, 28 January 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:53 EST, 28 January 2013 . A mother whose daughter mysteriously vanished 30 years ago has revealed that she has kept her home's porch light on every night since in case the woman returns. Darlene Webb was 20 years old when she failed to return to the family home in Ormond Beach, Florida after an evening out with friends at a local bar in 1983. Now, as her family marks three decades since that night, her mother Frances Webb, 74, has revealed she has never given up hope that Darlene is alive and well, and will someday return. 'The front porch light still burns, and it's on every night because the last child is not home,' she told the Daytona Beach News-Journal. Missing: Darlene Webb was 20 when she failed to come home after a night out with friends in 1983 . 'If she's passed on, then I'll close . the book on it, but until then I'm not closing the book. Mother's gut instincts? She's alive somewhere, and I know she is. I just gotta find her.' Darlene, who would now be 50, was a student at Daytona Beach Community College and was working at a Chick-fil-A restaurant in the Volusia Mall at the time of her disappearance. On January 22, 1983, she went out with friends but told her mother she would not be having a late night as she was opening the restaurant the next morning. But the next day, Frances received a call from the manager to say the Chick-fil-A had not opened on time, and asked where her daughter was. Fighter: Her mother, Frances Webb, says she believes Darlene is still alive and lost her memory . The concerned mother raced to where Darlene's friends said she had parked her car, and there she found her daughter's coat, purse, money and glasses, but no sign of her daughter or her car keys. The front passenger-side window was also . halfway down, the front passenger seat was leaning back and the ashtray . was full of cigarette butts - even though Darlene did not smoke. There were no signs of any struggle at the scene. Friends said that after leaving the bar at 1.30 a.m., they had parted ways and left Darlene, whom they called Dee Dee, to walk to her car alone. '(Police) think, which I agree with, . whoever took her probably, maybe drugged her enough that she lost her . memory and she doesn't know who she is,' Frances Webb told the News-Journal. Detectives turned up only a few leads - . but they never amounted to anything. Her Social Security number and . birth certificate have not been used since 1983, and the case remains . unsolved. Search: A drawing, left, shows how Darlene might look. She is pictured right before her disappearance . One tip came from a woman who worked at a beer garden close to where Darlene had parked. She told Frances that she heard screams and saw a car driving away with its lights off. Police admit that the case was complicated by the fact Darlene was an adult, and could have chosen to leave. The family said they often wonder what the outcome of the investigation would have been if Darlene had vanished today, rather than 30 years ago. 'What bothers me the most is the amount . of things that have changed over 30 years,' Darlene's older sister Karen Webb, 51, said. 'Back then, . police wouldn't even take a report for 72 hours because at that point, . you were an adult, you had a right to disappear. Nowadays, if somebody . disappears, you see it on TV immediately.' Waiting: Frances Webb leaves the porch light on every night outside her Ormond Beach home, pictured . They also believe social media could have played a part in tracking her down, and regularly scour Facebook for any users resembling Darlene. They also regularly update a page they have made for Darlene and their ongoing search to find her. But they still employ traditional tactics too, putting up posters across the country. 'We still put up pictures and stuff . and hope that maybe someday either she or somebody who has seen her will . go "oh wait a minute, isn't that you?"' Karen said. Whatever their method, the family has no plans to give up their search. 'As far as I'm concerned she's not gone,' Frances said. | Darlene Webb vanished after night out with friends in 1983 .
Detectives received few leads and her case remains unsolved .
Her mother: 'She's alive somewhere and I just need to find her' |
187,515 | 7ed4a7c357b05e8d79b734ca9c85bd8702dad80a | A pregnant mother who spent weeks in a coma after she suffered 50 fractures following a serious road accident is miraculously walking again. Shelli Eldredge, 40, of South Jordan, Utah, was left wrapped around a pole after a moped accident while on holiday with her family in Hawaii in June. Her legs and hips were seriously disfigured and she miscarried her baby after shattering her pelvis, fracturing her skull and falling into a coma. Scroll down for video . Recovered: Shelli Eldredge, 40, of Utah, was left wrapped around a pole after a moped accident while on holiday with her family in Hawaii in June . In hospital: Her legs and hips were seriously disfigured and she miscarried her baby after shattering her pelvis, fracturing her skull and falling into a coma . Her heart had stopped beating by the time she got to hospital and she had thousands of small strokes in her brain, reported the Salt Lake Tribune. ‘It became pretty apparent she wasn't going to wake up,’ her husband, a physician, told MSNBC. ‘Our whole worlds had been turned upside-down.’ But Stephen Eldredge, 50, a Mormon like her, refused when a doctor recommended that her life support should be turned off. Then a turning point came when Dr Elie Elovic walked from her right to left side and was amazed as she tracked his movement. Husband and wife: She had only married Stephen Eldredge six months before - and he refused to turn off life support when recommended to do so . Soon after Mr Eldredge told her a . joke and she laughed by raising her eyebrows - before she started to . speak and move in the following days. 'My doctors were so great - they were so good. But, everyone, even the doctor said: "She doesn't have a chance of coming back"' Shelli Eldredge . She still needs a wheelchair to move around but she can stand up and walk - and now wants to be able to walk without any help. ‘I don't remember being in Hawaii at . all in the hospital,’ she told MSNBC. ‘Once I got back and woke up from . the coma I remembered that. 'My doctors were so great - they were so good. But, everyone, even the doctor said: "She doesn't have a chance of coming back".' She had only married Mr Eldredge just six months before the incident and they had been to Hawaii on holiday in the past. Family: Mrs Eldredge is pictured with her sons Jordan, left, and Alex, right. Jordan said the incident proved she was stronger than he thought she was . ’It was very disheartening to face the possibility or likely possibility of her never being able to wake up or function,’ Mr Eldredge told MSNBC. 'It was very disheartening to face the . possibility or likely possibility of her never being able to wake up or . function' Stephen Eldredge . But after 17 surgeries in just two months, she is expected to make a full recovery, reported the Salt Lake Tribune. Mrs Eldredge has now finished speech therapy and has three two-hour occupational and physical therapy sessions every week. ‘She’s a lot stronger than I thought she was,’ her son Jordan told MSNBC. ‘She's pulled through a lot of stuff.’ See video here . Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy . | Shelli Eldredge, 40, of Utah, suffered crash on holiday .
Legs and hips disfigured and heart stopped beating .
Doctors recommended her life support was turned off .
But husband Stephen said 'no' and she later woke up . |
250,664 | d067c66194e950f6aaafc4d2e74fe29182be0f3d | (CNN) -- The United States operates an air base in Kyrgyzstan. The keystone of the Pentagon's Northern Distribution Network, it keeps essential matériel moving into Afghanistan for NATO troops, notwithstanding steady disruption on the roads out of Pakistan. Russia, which insists that Kyrgyzstan is in its "sphere of influence" and claims a special right to protect ethnic Russians living there, has its own air base only a few miles away from the one used by the Americans. In theory, both of these installations serve the mutual security interests of Kyrgyzstan and its great power allies. In theory, the bases demonstrate shared security interests between Russia, the United States and Kyrgyzstan. Today Kyrgyzstan faces the most severe crisis of its history -- and the United States and Russia should act together to help alleviate it. Perhaps as many as 2,000 of Kyrgyzstan's citizens have perished in acts of unspeakable terrorist depravity and violence. Perhaps a half million have suddenly lost their homes and possessions. Kyrgyzstan's government lit an urgent beacon calling on its allies for help. It had fair expectations of getting it. Franklin Roosevelt, after all, reminded Americans that a good neighbor comes rushing when the house next door is on fire -- so how would a neighbor respond if he actually occupies a room in that burning house? But so far America and Russia have offered little beyond token gestures. When President Obama and Russian President Dmitri Medvedev hold their summit this week in Washington, the situation in Kyrgyzstan will certainly figure on their agenda. Will they offer the world leadership in resolving it? Over the last week, acts of horrendous violence occurred in and around the 2,000-year-old city of Osh in southern Kyrgyzstan. The acts were methodical and clearly well planned. They involved waves of assault by attackers wearing military and police uniforms, operating armored personnel carriers and other military equipment, followed by gangs of young toughs armed with clubs, rifles and knives. Video: Refugees say Kyrgyz troops shot at civilians . The attackers killed without hesitation or remorse, looted entire neighborhoods, and torched what could not be carted off. Because in many cases the attackers appeared to be ethnic Kyrgyz and the victims ethnic Uzbeks, many observers were quick to characterize these events as acts of ethnic violence between groups with a long history of mutual animosity. But scholars with depth in the region warned against these characterizations. "I don't believe in a narrative of long-simmering ethnic tension," said Columbia University's Alex Cooley. In an appearance on PBS's "Newshour," the Brookings Institution's Fiona Hill made a similar point, cautioning against the "ethnic tension" narrative and noting that "there's a really strong political component to this." Cooley and Hill are correct. There were interethnic clashes in 1990, in the waning days of the Soviet Union, but even then the circumstances were suspicious. The pogroms that began in Osh a week ago reflect careful coordination and organization. The major question is: Who is behind this? The interim government in Bishkek lays a charge at the feet of the deposed dictator, Kurmanbek Bakiyev, who hails from the South and still has support there. Moreover, many of the police and military leaders in this region were appointed by Bakiyev and do not appear to be particularly loyal to the new government. The government's charges are credible, but it's likely that the initial waves of violence also provided cover for score-settling, and it seems that criminal elements, particularly narcotics traffickers, have exploited the situation with zeal. Here are some points on which Medvedev and Obama should be able to agree: . • Restraint: At present both Uzbek and Kyrgyz armed groups are involved in random shootings designed to reinforce perceptions of their group being persecuted. Rape and crimes involving sexual violence have been a particularly worrying aspect of the troubles. A strong appeal for restraint and respect for the security measures imposed by the Kyrgyz government should be issued. • Protecting civilians at risk: At least 400,000 people have been forced to leave their homes, according to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. In many cases the homes have been incinerated with all their possessions, leaving them nothing to return to. Protecting those who have lost their homes and loved ones from further acts of violence must be a top priority. Security must be established at their camps; bedding, sanitary facilities, food and medical care must be arranged urgently. • Humanitarian security/policing operation: Because thousands of people have been traumatized after being attacked by people they greeted as policemen or soldiers, heightening anxiety along an ethnic fault line, outsiders can provide an important measure of confidence. International monitors can patrol with the local police and army, and international security can protect those delivering humanitarian assistance. But further steps may be necessary if the local security arrangements collapse and another plea for foreign troops is issued. • An investigation: The best way to avoid a repetition of the events of last week is to make clear that those who committed acts of murder, looting, rape and arson will be identified and punished for what they did. A broad, credible, independent investigation should be undertaken into the events and their origin, led by a person of international prominence with prosecutorial experience and a mandate to establish the facts and lay the foundation for criminal prosecutions of the perpetrators. • Reconstruction: The devastation in central Osh and in numerous villages is reported to be near total. The international community, under U.S. and Russian leadership, should provide generous support to jumpstart the reconstruction process, prioritizing its assistance to those most directly injured by the violence. • Elections: Kyrgyzstan's dictator was toppled by a violent uprising in April. The country still has no democratically elected government. Establishing a legitimate elected government is therefore essential to restoring stability. The international community should mobilize observers to help assure that the elections are fair and free. Special efforts need to be made to insure that those who lost their homes and property in the violence are able to fully participate in these elections. Obama and Medvedev have taken laudable steps to reshape the Russian-American relationship, systematically eliminating points of conflict and developing new points of cooperation. But the crisis in Osh invites them to show joint leadership, providing examples for the entire world community about how to address a humanitarian crisis on the territory of an allied state. The lives of hundreds of thousands depend upon it. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the authors. | Kyrgyzstan violence has claimed many lives, forced many from their homes .
Scott Horton, Baktybek Abdrisaev say U.S., Russia have done little in response .
They say the two nations have responsibility to help ease the suffering .
Coordinated action could end the humanitarian crisis, they say . |
110,320 | 1a3c5b59fe2084b3e1dec6954ae101403e888b74 | By . Nick Enoch . Drug dealer Craig Allen, from Sheffield, South Yorkshire, had convictions dating back to 1975 and 'thought he was above the law'. He now faces 20 years in jail . An ‘untouchable’ drugs baron who ran a worldwide heroin and cocaine dealing ring from a mansion in Thailand is facing prison today after being arrested at IKEA. Craig Allen, from Sheffield, South Yorkshire, had convictions dating back to 1975 and 'thought he was above the law'. But now, the 50-year-old - nicknamed the 'ginger ninja' and 'little fella' - has been jailed for 20 years. His drugs operation made him £5,000 a week, which was used to fund a lavish lifestyle at the luxury estate he shared with his Thai wife and child. However, his empire crumbled when he was arrested at gunpoint - outside IKEA in Amsterdam - by Dutch police last October, and then extradited to the UK. When police searched his Dutch flat, they found 3kg of cocaine, 1kg of heroin, €425,000 (£350,000) in cash, scales, a cash-counting machine, rubber gloves, a vacuum-packing machine and other drugs paraphernalia. DI Craig Jackson from South Yorkshire Police, who led the investigation, said: 'Craig Allen is a sophisticated and determined drug trafficker who was directly responsible for the supply of Class A drugs onto the streets of South Yorkshire and across the UK. 'Much of Allen’s criminality was orchestrated from Thailand and the Netherlands and was undertaken by his UK-based co-defendants in a highly organised manner. 'He thought he was above the law, untouchable, and operating in a jurisdiction like Thailand gave him a degree of anonymity. 'But South Yorkshire and England will be safer places with Allen behind bars, there is no doubt. When police searched 50-year-old Allen's Dutch flat, they found 3kg of cocaine, 1kg of heroin, 425,000 euros (£350,000) in cash, scales, a cash-counting machine, rubber gloves, a vacuum-packing machine and other drugs paraphernalia . The 'untouchable' drugs baron ran a worldwide heroin and cocaine dealing ring from a mansion in Thailand he shared with his Thai wife and young child. Above, large wads of cash found at his flat in the Netherlands . David Brooke, prosecuting at Sheffield Crown Court where Allen pleaded guilty on the first day of his trial to conspiracy to import and supply heroin, and conspiracy to supply cocaine, said Allen was caught after five police operations in 2010 and 2011 which linked him to heroin and cocaine supply. In total, 24kg of Class A drugs worth around £1.85million were seized at locations around South Yorkshire and from two drugs mules who flew into Liverpool from Amsterdam with drugs hidden in their bodies. Allen was caught after South Yorkshire Police linked five Class A drugs operations to him primarily through mobile phone evidence. They discovered that in each case, Allen was at the helm, directing the delivery of drugs and exchange of cash in the UK to organised crime groups from his Thai mansion. He used up to 20 mobile telephones to conduct his operation. In the period covered by the police operations, nearly £200,000 was wired to Thailand. Officers linked each of Allen’s co-defendants back to him. Allen was caught after South Yorkshire Police linked five Class A drugs operations to him primarily through mobile phone evidence. Above, a bag of money found in Allen's Dutch flat . The court heard Allen has previous convictions dating back to 1975 when he was a juvenile. Between then and 1988, he committed dishonesty offences and in 1991 he was one of eight men who broke out of a prison bus in Sheffield while on remand for armed robbery and deception. The guards were manacled inside and the prisoners fled, sparking a national manhunt. Allen was captured after four months. In 1993, Allen was jailed for 12 years and six months for supplying heroin and amphetamines. He was jailed again in 2001 for two years for conspiracy to supply cannabis. Then in 2003 he was acquitted of involvement in the murder of Sheffield music promoter Lester Divers, who was shot dead at the wheel of his car. Allen fled to Spain with his then wife and son to make a 'fresh start' due to 'serious threats against him'. Allen’s barrister Adrian Waterman, QC said he tried to make a fresh start and worked as a painter and decorator - a profession in which he was formally trained. His wife returned to the UK with their son, but Allen was unable to go with her because of the threats against him and visited a friend in Thailand where he settled. 'It was irresistible to him not to stay away from a return to his old ways,' said Mr Waterman. 'He was safer associating with other drug dealers than living a more conventional life. He fell back into the drug-dealing world.' Allen's empire crumbled when he was arrested at gunpoint - outside IKEA in Amsterdam - by Dutch police last October, and then extradited to the UK. (File picture) He said Allen became a 'middle man' arranging the transportation of drugs on behalf of others. He left Thailand in 2010 for Amsterdam because he owed money to drug dealers, leaving behind his new Thai wife Kanya Plaengdee, whom he married in 2010, and their young child. Det Insp Jackson added: 'Craig Allen was directing and controlling the supply of Class A drugs into the UK for distribution in England and Wales from the other side of the world. 'He was Sheffield born and bred but his reputation extends far beyond Sheffield. He’s a very well-known figure. 'We worked with Dutch colleagues to identify his whereabouts and arrest him. He certainly wasn’t expecting it. He had no idea that we were on to him at all.' He said Allen’s arrest had been ‘a long time coming’. 'The investigation team have worked long and hard to see Craig Allen sentenced for his extensive criminality,' he added. 'I wish to personally thank the team of officers involved in this complex and protracted investigation for their tenacity, professionalism and drive to produce a methodically prepared case.' Allen and three co-defendants were jailed for a combined total of 61 years after admitting conspiracy to supply Class A drugs. O’Neil Richard Davidson, 36, of Stockport, Greater Manchester, was sentenced to eight years in prison. Steven Hudson, 43, of Sheffield, received a nine-year jail term. Selena Nickels, 45, of Sheffield, was sentenced to six years behind bars after she pleaded guilty on February 27. Leroy Grant, of Manchester, was found guilty of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs following a two-week trial. He was sentenced to 18 years. Brian Saunders, 48, of Sheffield, will be sentenced at a later date. | Craig Allen, 50, from Sheffield, S Yorks, sentenced to 20 years .
Dubbed 'ginger ninja' and 'little fella', he made £5,000 a week dealing drugs .
Arrested at gunpoint outside IKEA in Amsterdam last October .
In his Dutch flat, police found 3kg cocaine, 1kg heroin, €425,000, cash-counting machine, scales and rubber gloves . |
228,213 | b37fa40876f52963f0a7eb00551abcb683b02e2e | By . Bianca London for MailOnline . With her glowing skin and toned physique, Millie Mackintosh is a walking advert for the healthy lifestyle she preaches. And the nutritionist who sparked Millie's interest in all things green and clean says you too can emulate Millie's lifestyle in a few easy steps. Madeleine Shaw, Millie's best friend and go-to health guru, shared her healthy living tips with FEMAIL and believes that the first port of call is introducing a daily green juice into your diet. Scroll down for video . Health guru: Madeleine Shaw is the nutritionist best friend of Millie Mackintosh and believes that by adding one juice into your daily diet, your body will benefit hugely . While many glossy A-listers embark on gruelling three-day juice cleanses, Madeleine, who was one of Millie and Professor Green's bridesmaids, says that having a juice a day alongside your regular diet can have lots of health benefits. 'Juicing for me is a way of life. It's amazing how all of the goodness contained within a freshly made juice can fuel a workout, beat that afternoon slump or to help you sleep,' she said. 'Freshly made fruit and vegetable juice is packed with nutrients, making it a simple step towards getting your five-a-day.' She does, however, warn that shop bought juices aren't as beneficial. 'If you are always on the go then it may seem like an easy option to grab a bottled juice. However, shop bought juices actually lose many of their nutrients over the course of their long shelf life due to the pasteurisation process. Plus they tend to be fruit-based making their sugar content higher,' she said. Health pals: Millie and Madeleine have been friends for years and it was Madeleine who introduced the former Made In Chelsea star to her healthy way of life . Clean living: Madeleine says it's amazing how all of the goodness contained within a freshly made juice can fuel a workout, beat that afternoon slump or to help you sleep and she's shared seven recipes for achieving optimum health . Madeleine, who is working with Philips on its campaign for real juice, starts the week by bagging up all of the ingredients for each juice she plans to make that week in a zip-lock bag with a label on it. 'When I come to juice I grab the right bag and just put everything through the juicer. I love to have a juice containing beetroot with leaves to cleanse the system before the start of busy week. This has been used for decades to cleanse and support the liver, she said. Her 'classic cleanse' juice is packed with carrots, a beetroot, an apple and two stalks of celery. 'Monday morning means it's a fresh new start. I like to sip on a glowing greens juice for breakfast. This is loaded with silica from the cucumber, which helps the elasticity of the skin. It helps you glow even brighter thanks to the vitamin C in the pear, which fights free radicals to help keep your skin fresh all week long.' Juice is served! Madeleine has teamed up with Philips and launched a campaign for real juice because, she says, shop bought juices actually lose many of their nutrients over the course of their long shelf life due to the pasteurisation process . Before hitting the gym, Madeleine recommends sipping on a carrot juice with beetroot, parsley and ginger. 'It is a great source of beta-carotene, the famous antioxidant that protects against the damaging effects of stress and increases oxygen in the blood, tissues and brain. 'This juice is the perfect pre workout fuel; I find drinking it so beneficial to my workout, it makes me work harder. Having a big meal can make you feel heavy so something lighter works perfectly, try this recipe before starting some exercise,' she said. When the clock hits 4pm, we can often get that mid-afternoon crash and crave sugar but instead of reaching for the biscuit tin, Madeleine recommends whizzing up a juice filled with a handful of spinach, romaine lettuce leaves, cucumber, celery, lemon, apple, ginger and ground cinnamon. 'I always make my 4pm pick-me-up juice and soon feel back to normal without having to reach for an unhealthy snack,' she said. 'This juice has a little dusting of cinnamon which is great for regulating the blood sugar levels reducing that mid-afternoon slump.' Healthy lifestyle: Madeleine, who follows a clean diet, says that Sunday is her prep day when she gets all of her shopping done at the local farmers market . Having trouble sleeping? Avoid the Night Nurse and make yourself a bedtime juice filled with green apple, strawberries, cherries and a cucumber, says Madeleine. 'This juice contains cherries, which contain melatonin, a hormone that regulates the sleep cycle. I drink it an hour before bed then curl up with a book before I hit the hay,' she said. She continues: 'Approaching the end of the week I often feel like something a little less green, fruitier and with a kick. So, I grab a quarter of a watermelon and make my watermelon juice. This is a total fat buster. The citrulline in watermelon has been shown to reduce the accumulation of fat in our fat cells. Amazing for getting ready for the weekend ahead! It also tastes so fresh, nothing at all like a store bought juice.' She's also created a hangover juice, which she describes as a tamer approach to the Bloody Mary. 'It is loaded with tomatoes, which contain inflammation fighting lycopene and are seriously hydrating for the body if you've had a heavy Friday night!' Madeleine, who also works with Caggie Dunlop, concludes: 'Juices are great ways of getting a whole host of veggies into your body quickly and tastily. Many people can find it hard to digest a lot of raw veggies but this makes it much easier on the gut. Happy juicing!' SUNDAY: Classic cleanse juice - 3 carrots, a beetroot, an apple and two stalks of celery . MONDAY: Glowing greens juice - 3 stalks of celery, 2 handfuls of spinach, 1 pear, 1/2 cucumber, 1 peeled lemon (or less according to taste), 1 handful of parsley . TUESDAY: Pre-Workout juice - 3 carrots, 1 beetroot, 2 handfuls of parsley, 2cm of ginger . WEDNESDAY: 4pm Pick me up juice - a handful of spinach, 5 romaine lettuce leaves, 1/4 a cucumber, 4 stalks of celery, 1 lemon, 1 apple, 2cm of ginger and 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon . THURSDAY: Stir & purr sleep tonic juice - 1 green apple, 7 strawberries, 15 de-stoned cherries, 1/2 a cucumber . FRIDAY: Watermelon cooler juice - 1/4 of a watermelon, 1 peeled lime (or less according to taste), 1 handful of fresh mint Saturday . SATURDAY: Hangover helper juice - 3 medium-size tomatoes, 3 stalks of celery, 1 peeled lemon (or less according to taste), 2cm of ginger, 1 jalapeño pepper (seedless), 1/2 a cucumber . Get the glow: Madeleine's glowing greens juice, left, and classic cleanse, right, are packed with plenty of nutrients, she says . | Madeleine Shaw introduced Millie to the healthy lifestyle she loves .
Nutritionist says by adding one juice to your diet can be very beneficial .
Emphasises importance of making your own fresh juices .
Has shared seven recipes with FEMAIL, including hangover cure . |
111,792 | 1c2ce4eea5869031eb4433a5ccee2b28eee3e621 | By . Manoj Joshi, Gyanant Singh and Gautam Datt . Last updated at 1:11 AM on 11th February 2012 . It was said of another general several millennia ago that he came, he saw and he conquered. Army chief General V.K. Singh will probably realise too late, that living in a democratic polity the choice of the outcome depended not on his military skills, but the decision of two wise men who had probably never heard a gunshot fired in anger. In the process, he not only failed to get any redress from the Supreme Court in his dispute over his age, but also lost the moral confidence to continue in office. Losing battle: General V.K. Singh could now be forced to resign after his claim against the government was rejected . Justice R.M. Lodha and Justice H.L. Gokhale compelled him to withdraw his age row petition before the Supreme Court after saying that it was not inclined to interfere with the government's decision to consider his date of birth in the service records to be May 10, 1950, as against May 10, 1951. They said that unless the decision was 'perverse or grossly erroneous' it could not be interfered with in a petition under Article 32, which the General had invoked to directly move the apex court against the alleged injustice. The fact that the age issue had gained such public currency, the question being asked all around was whether the General would now step down. Speaking to Headlines Today, Lt Gen (retd) Raj Kadyan said that the army chief's position was diminished in the eyes of his contemporaries and his men and it would be best if he resigns. 'I am dejected that he gave up the fight,' he said. 'He should not have withdrawn his petition [and fought on].' General V.K. Singh with Defence Minister A. K. Antony. Despite the army chief withdrawing his petition, the ties between him and government have become frosty . His words were echoed by Major General (retd) G.D. Bakshi who felt that General Singh ought to resign. He said that the army chief had done the right thing by fighting the issue to the bitter end and that he would not be surprised if indeed he resigned. It is a fact that the entire community of retired military personnel had strongly supported General Singh's petition and that the Supreme Court decision will have major reverberations, especially if General Singh does not step down from office. Many former military personnel have seen . the controversy as being akin to that faced by the revered Army chief, . General K.S. Thimayya, in 1959. The then army chief had resigned because . of the interference by the then defence minister, Krishna Menon. But . Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru had persuaded him to withdraw his . resignation, but later humiliated him by refusing to act on the issues . Thimayya had raised. For the ex-servicemen fraternity, the Thimayya (who served as chief from 1957- 1961) issue is not history, but a contemporary comment on the shoddy manner in which the political and bureaucratic community has dealt with the uniformed personnel. The court's position clearly indicated its unwillingness to delve into a quarrel between two important arms of the government - the army and the ministry of defence. 'If it has come to the stage of washing dirty linen, you can do so,' Justice Lodha told the defence counsel at one point. 'But we thought both sides had been dignified and would not cross the line.' The apex court's position echoed by many in the country was that this was a quarrel that should never have seen public light, and now that it had, it should be swiftly brushed under the carpet. But it was not just a matter of appearances, but of the fact that any order or decision by the court would have become a precedent and could have roiled the issue of the selection and tenure of the army chief. In that sense, the court felt that it was best if it said nothing. This was, after all, a personal matter relating to a claim of a date of birth. It was not a charge relating to corruption or some other act of criminality which the court would have found difficult to sidestep. General Singh left for the South Western Command in Jaipur soon after his petition on the date of birth row was withdrawn, signalling that it was business as usual for him and it was left for his aides to speculate that 'anything can happen' on the question if he was contemplating resignation. Brothers in arms: General Singh with Lt Gen KT Parnaik . Though the government withdrew the order which had been objected to by the court during the last hearing, it seemed to be a lost case for the General the moment proceedings started on Friday. The Bench kept the General's counsel on the back-foot throughout the hearing by seeking explanations on Singh having himself mentioned the wrong date of birth on more than one occasion, on several documents recording 1950 as his date of birth, on not getting the error rectified within the time-frame set out in the rules and on not abiding by his repeated commitments to treat the matter closed. The court pointed out that the General had himself given a commitment to accept the decision by the government on the controversy and had accepted 1950 as the year of his birth. Referring to three letters by the General undertaking to abide by any decision in the interest of the organisation, the court said it was a well thought decision by him as he 'stated, restated and further reiterated' his commitment. 'There may be many explanations for retracting from the commitment…But I do not think it would behove such a meritorious officer to take that position,' Justice Lodha said. Justice Gokhale, who was harsher, . said: 'You could have gone to court (instead of agreeing to accept May . 10, 1950, as your date of birth). But you did not and became the chief . of armed staff. 'You may be . justified in raising a grievance. But this date (May 10, 1950) has been . there over a period of time and last three promotions had been on this . date,' the Bench said. He said the court had no doubt he was honestly pursuing the matter and being the army chief he had every right to agitate his grievance before the highest court. He said everyone was proud of him defending the country. 'Judges do what others avoid. We have to take a decision ultimately,' he said, sympathising with him. The only positive outcome of this sad controversy is that it may compel the government to pay serious attention to the dysfunctional relations between the civilians and the armed forces personnel in the ministry of defence. Though the government claims that everything is fine, there is a gap which is getting worse by the day. A great deal of responsibility for this lies with the arrogance of the bureaucracy, which lacks the expertise to deal with military subjects and simply lacks an understanding of the military culture and ethos. By GYANANT SINGH . Out of time: General V.K. Singh was told that the record of his age had been on file for some time and he had not previously challenged it . Army chief General Vijay Kumar Singh on Friday withdrew his petition on the age row after the Supreme Court indicated that it was not inclined to interfere with the government's decision to consider his date of birth in the service records to be May 10, 1950 as against May 10, 1951. A bench comprising Justice R.M. Lodha and Justice H.L. Gokhale said unless a decision is 'perverse or grossly erroneous' it could not be interfered with in a petition under Article 32, which the General had invoked to directly move the apex court against the alleged injustice. The bench, however, observed that it had the highest regard for General Singh and its order should not come in way of the assignment he was holding. 'As the chief of armed services, you continue to serve the way you served (the army) for the last 38 years,' it said. Referring to other assignments that he might get after retirement, Attorney General G.E. Vahanvati said he hoped and prayed that this was not the end of General Singh's service to the nation. Though the General withdrew his petition, the decision should not be interpreted as a thaw in the relationship between him and the government. This was evident during the fag end of the hearing itself. On someone suggesting that the court could record in its order that the matter had come to an end following an amicable settlement, Vahanvati said: 'No. There is no amicable settlement.' Earlier, General Singh's counsel U.U. Lalit, having been pushed to the wall with the court rejecting most of his arguments, stressed that the controversy had arisen because the government perhaps had some succession plan in mind. 'As a counsel, I cannot say certain things that have happened,' he said. 'If it has come to the stage of washing dirty linen, you can do so... But we thought both sides had been dignified and would not cross the line,' Justice Lodha said. Though the government withdrew the order which had been objected to by the court during the last hearing, it seemed to be a lost case for the General the moment proceedings started on Friday. The bench kept the Singh's counsel on the backfoot throughout the hearing by seeking explanations on the General having himself mentioned the wrong date of birth on more than one occasions, on several documents recording 1950 as his date of birth, on not getting the error rectified within the time-frame set out in the rules and on not abiding by his repeated commitments to treat the matter closed. The court pointed out that the General had himself given a commitment to accept the decision by the government on the controversy and had accepted 1950 as the year of his birth. Referring to three letters by the General undertaking to abide by any decision in the interest of the organisation, the court said it was a well thought decision by him as he 'stated, restated and further reiterated' his commitment. | Singh's future now in doubt after petition is thrown out . |
42,161 | 7700e1adf12da0948186b4edbbea6fe5de8e5e76 | Police arrested 173,0000 foreign crime suspects last year – one in every seven people who were apprehended nationwide. The figures from Association of Chief Police Officers Criminal Records Office reveal the extraordinary strain being placed on the justice system by overseas criminals. In many cases, the suspects have lengthy criminal records back home which should have prevented them from entering the UK – or would allow for them to be deported. Police arrested 173,0000 foreign criminals last year – one in every seven suspects who were apprehended nationwide . But, alarmingly, police are only bothering to carry out checks in only 30 per cent of cases and in some force areas it is as low as six per cent. It means offenders who should have been detained are being bailed or, when they appear before the British courts, are not being sentenced properly because judges do not know about their criminal past. Keith Vaz, chairman of the Home Affairs select committee, said: ‘It is simply unacceptable that people with serious convictions could be allowed to enter the UK in the first place. ‘We need to tighten up our borders and get as much information as possible from our EU partners.’ The figures, released by ACRO to a BBC Five Live investigation, showed 14 per cent of all arrests in England and Wales last year were foreign nationals. (MUST) The National Audit Office told the BBC that the failure to carry proper checks is the result of the Home Office not having access to up to date computer and information sharing systems. In 2006, the Labour Government declined to join up to a Europe-wide information sharing regime, known as the Schengen Information System that would have given access to alerts on known criminals. It leaves Britain as one of only four countries out of 32 in the European Economic Area that cannot access the data. Under the Schengen arrangement, 2.5million alerts about EU criminals are issued every year. The UK does receive some information under separate data sharing arrangements – but missing out on half, or a disturbing 1.25million. There is a separate computer system, known as ECRIS, which the UK does have access to – but can only be used when a suspect is already inside the UK’s borders. Keith Vaz, chairman of the Home Affairs select committee, said the revelations were 'simply unacceptable' In only three out of every ten cases are officers bothering to use it. During October, there were huge differences between the number of checks carried out by individual forces. London’s the Met – which is running a specific operation to deport more foreign offenders – did checks in 100 per cent of cases. But for Greater Manchester Police the figure was only eight per cent. For Cleveland and the British Transport Police, it was just six per cent. The NAO said the system for tracking foreign offenders was in chaos. The Home Office has lost track of 760 of the 4,200 criminals who have been freed back on to our streets, including 58 ‘high harm’ individuals – a category that includes rapists, killers and drug dealers. Despite a ten-fold increase in case workers, the number of foreign prisoners has gone up by four per cent, to 10,649. Meanwhile, one in six overseas inmates freed from jail has absconded . The row follows a devastating report last week by the Chief Inspector of Immigration which revealed how foreign criminals – including a killer – had been able to obtain British citizenship. Home Office staff are not bothering to check for criminal records in a person’s homeland which could lead to their application being turned down. Yesterday, shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper claimed that, under Labour, ‘stronger checks’ will be carried out. Anyone seeking citizenship would have to produce the equivalent of Criminal Records Bureau documentation from their homeland. She told BBC One's Andrew Marr Show: ‘I think it's shocking that we have had people including serious criminals and killers being given British passports and British citizenship because the Home Office failed to do basic checks.’ Conservative backbencher Peter Bone blamed EU rules on free movement for allowing criminals into the UK. He said: ‘If someone is coming from the European Union, and we're talking about hundreds of thousands each year, there are no controls. They're not allowed to have controls, the EU won't let you.’ ACRO Chief Executive Ian Readhead said that, while criminal record checks had been carried out on only 30 per cent of suspects in 2013/14, progress had since been made. For the single month of October 2014, checks were made in 67 per cent of cases. | Figures from Association of Chief Police Officers Criminal Records Office .
In many cases, the suspects have lengthy criminal records back home .
Overall, the police arrested 173,0000 foreign criminals last year . |
103,544 | 1186c0e7794b0f736877aae9009cd132ac4105cc | A 26-year-old man who was caught bashing another man on video in Canberra has dodged prison time. The moment Ben Burnell punched and kicked a man in the head until he passed out in Civic in Canberra's inner city was recorded on CCTV. Prosecutors told ACT Magistrates Court that the July attack was 'short but sustained and very vicious', according to the ABC. Scroll down for video . Ben Burnell punched and kicked a man until he passed out in Canberra over a comment about his hair do . The 26-year-old man was caught bashing another man on CCTV in Civic in Canberra's inner city . Magistrate Peter Dingwell said the assault launched by Burnell, from Canberra, was a serious offence and was a knee jerk reaction to comment made about a hair do. 'The reason he committed the offence remains a mystery,' Mr Dingwell said. 'It was a somewhat spur of the moment action, a disproportionate response to a jocular remark.' The magistrate said he believed Burnell regretted his actions because he had entered a guilty plea, and due to his age and his previous criminal history, he did not think prison was an suitable punishment. Burnell dodged prison time and was sentenced to a 12-month good behaviour order . The magistrate said he believed Burnell regretted his actions because he had entered a guilty plea . The court had previously heard from Burnell's lawyer that the defendant would like to pursue youth work and pushed for a conviction not to be recorded. Lawyer James Maher said Burnell would be required to undergo a background check for work and a conviction would make it more difficult for him to pass one. But Mr Dingwell knocked back the suggestion as the assault 'was a prolonged and serious assault on a defenceless man'. Burnell was given a 12-month good behaviour order and required to perform 80 hours of community service. The court had previously heard from Burnell's lawyer that the defendant would like to pursue youth work and pushed for a conviction not to be recorded . | Ben Burnell was caught on CCTV kicking and punching another man .
The attack was described as a 'short but sustained and very vicious'
The Canberra man was sentenced to a 12-month good behaviour order .
Magistrate Peter Dingwell said Burnell showed remorse after guilty plea . |
161,590 | 5ceba4b6afb49d12265934f081d70fddc4b99227 | By . Emily Davies . PUBLISHED: . 21:05 EST, 1 March 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:57 EST, 2 March 2013 . Apprentice presenter Lord Alan Sugar had a blazing row with Channel 5 owner Richard Desmond over his decision to quit television company YouView, ending with cries of: 'You're fired'. The heated exchange between the two television heavyweights took place in a glass-walled YouView boardroom, located at Desmond's Northern & Shell Thameside skyscraper and was seen by around 100 employees. Their argument ended with Lord Sugar advancing towards Desmond with fists clenched, and the Channel 5 owner shouting the Apprentice catchphrase, 'You're fired' at him, according to sources. 'Fistycuffs': Lord Sugar (left) was said to move towards Richard Desmond (right) with clenched fists in the row . Both men are known for their straight-talking and taking no prisoners when it comes to business. A source told The Guardian Desmond 'went mad and shouted' when Sugar revealed he was resigning. 'Desmond lost it, then Sugar definitely lost his temper and chased him . around the floor.' YouView confirmed yesterday that Lord Sugar is leaving his role, which saw him bring his commercial expertise to the project before overseeing the launch of the much delayed internet television service in 2012. In a statement Lord Sugar said: 'When I joined YouView in 2011, my . brief from the shareholders was to use my experience in the electronics . industry to get the product to market and into the homes of consumers. 'Having done that successfully, my job is complete and I will now focus my time and attention into my other businesses.' Referring to the argument, Lord Sugar's statement said: 'I told him I have finished with YouView and the row increased and he ran away from me because he was frightened and then to play-act he shouted "You're fired."' A spokeswoman for Desmond declined to comment. Desmond's net worth is estimated at £1billion, Sugar's at £800m by the Sunday Times Rich List. Other stakeholders in the YouView include BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Five and telecoms businesses BT and TalkTalk. | Bust up witnessed by 100 staff and Tim Davie BBC acting director general .
Lord Sugar clenched his fists and reportedly 'chased' Channel 5's Desmond . |
242,755 | c634067d964961acb63bba81a74757c8e62c544c | Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Matthews Burwell met privately with dozens of governors Sunday as the Obama administration tried to get support from the leaders of states that will host thousands of the Central American children who have crossed the Mexican border on their own since Oct. 1. Governors of both parties expressed concerns about the cost to states, including providing public education for the children, according to those who attended the meeting. Burwell left the meeting through a side door without talking to reporters. 'Our citizens already feel burdened by all kinds of challenges. They don't want to see another burden come into their state,' said Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper, a Democrat. 'However we deal with the humanitarian aspects of this, we've got to do it in the most cost-effective way possible.' Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad were among the most vocal Republican critics. They seized on the administration's plans to place the children with friends or family members without checking on their immigration status. Scroll down for video . Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper (L), joked with President Joe Biden at the National Governors Association convention on Friday, but was starkly critical two days later of the Obama administration's request to house illegal immigrant children in hist state . Drink but don't dump: Obama and Hickenlooper shared a beer-and-billiards afternoon on July 8, but the Democratic governor was cold to the idea of opening up the Rocky Mountain state to an influx of kids streaming across the southwest U.S. border . Under current law, immigrant children from countries that don't border the United States and who cross into this country by themselves are turned over to HHS within 72 hours. From there, they often are reunited with parents or placed with other relatives already living in the country, while they wait for an immigration court to decide their future. The court process can take years. Neither Burwell's agency nor immigration officials check the immigration status of relatives who take custody of the immigrant children. Since Oct. 1 more than 57,000 children have crossed the border alone. Most are from Honduras, El Salvador or Guatemala. 'We want to make sure they're placed in a safe and supportive home or placement, but also, it should be somebody that is legal and somebody that will be responsible to see that they show up for the hearing,' Branstad said. According to data from the Justice Department's Executive Office for Immigration Review, about a quarter of immigrants facing deportations hearings don't show up as ordered. The no-show rate for the juvenile immigration court docket is about 46 percent. Amid the debate of what is causing the ongoing crush of child immigrants and how the government can stem the flow, two key lawmakers said President Barack Obama can take administrative action to relieve much of the crisis without waiting for what is likely to be a contentious and lengthy Congressional battle. At issue is a provision in a 2008 human trafficking law that puts the fate of these immigrants in the hands of immigration judges. The Obama administration has expressed some interest in asking Congress to change the law to give the administration more leeway in dealing with the crisis. Four hundred child immigrants now enter the U.S. illegally every day as authorities liken growing humanitarian crises in makeshift centers to the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina . But Rep. Mike Rogers, a Michigan Republican and chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, said Sunday that wholesale changes by Congress may not be necessary and that Obama has the authority to return the children to their native countries. Obama 'has tools in his toolbox' to deal with humanitarian issues and deter more children from coming to the U.S., Rogers said. 'We can safely get them home,' Rogers said on NBC's 'Meet the Press.' He said, 'And that's where the president needs to start. So he needs to re-engage, get folks who are doing administrative work on the border. They need to make sure they send a very clear signal.' Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California, the author of the provision in the human trafficking law, said a change in regulations, not the law, could speed the children's return. The law already allows HHS and the Homeland Security Department to write regulations to deal with 'exceptional circumstances' that would allow officials to return the children more quickly to their home countries, Feinstein said Thursday at a hearing on a $3.7 billion emergency budget request from the White House to deal with the growing crisis on the border. Some of the money would go to help fund about 40 additional immigration judge teams. Federal immigration courts have a backlog of more than 375,000 cases. | HHS secretary met with dozens of governors on Sunday to pitch them on relocating thousands of illegal immigrant kids to their states .
Colorado Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper said his state's taxpayers don't want 'another burden'
He helped President Obama just last week with a series of photo ops while he was fundraising in Denver, including a beer-and-billiards meeting .
GOP governors from Wisconsin, New Jersey and Iowa are angry at the administration for failing to check the immigration status of adults who claim the children after their illegal border crossings . |
109,898 | 19a59a1b018a6709802f8eca6fcd77df0916e98b | By . Daniel Mills . Four Victorian thieves who forked out the cash to pay for their pizza order only to steal the store's delivery vehicle - and allegedly burn it - have been nabbed on CCTV. The four men, described as Middle Eastern appearance in their early 20s, were filmed dancing inside the Victorian store after one of the men reached behind the counter and stole the keys to the delivery car. The main offender, wearing a white shirt and backwards blue cap, can be seen plotting the getaway while staff have their back turned and are absent from shot. Scroll down for video . The impromptu dance moves performed by two of the four alleged thieves in the Craigieburn pizza store . The main offender in white, who was caught taking the keys behind the counter while the store staff had their backs turned . Police are hunting for the four men who allegedly stole a Suzuki delivery car from the store and burnt it out . Seconds into the video he reaches around the side of the counter where he appears to take the keys to the Suzuki delivery vehicle off the desk. He is well aware that he is being filmed when he gestures directly to camera, before breaking into an impromptu dance on the store's floor. More... Shocking moment PC clinging to thieves' getaway van is thrown to the ground as he tries to prevent them escaping from burglary . Two male suspects arrested for fatal carjacking that killed three children working at a church charity store and left their mother clinging to life . In a fit of excitement about his friend's new acquisition to their getaway car, his friend then joins in and the man in the white shirt encourages his texting mate, who is sitting to down, to join them. Police said the four men walk out to the parked Suzuki about 10pm, and drive off before allegedly ditching the car and burning it about midnight in the Victorian suburb of Craigieburn. Police released the CCTV footage of the men dancing in the store, in a bid to identify the 'late teens or early 20s' who they said appeared to be of Middle Eastern appearance. Unimpressed, the man in the hoodie retaliates by hitting his friend after he eggs him on to join in on the fun . Clearly aware he is on camera the men gestures using his fingers . The moment the main offender, the main in the white shirt and blue cap, appears to take the keys to the Suzuki deliver car behind the camera . Completely unaware to what is going on a man sits at a computer at the back left while the alleged offenders plot their getaway . Write caption here . Only three offenders are seen in the store at any one time however police believe there were four offenders . | Four men walked into a takeaway store in Melbourne and ordered a pizza .
One man appears to take keys to the delivery car from behind the counter .
He and another friend then perform an impromptu dance inside the shop .
The men allegedly stole the delivery car before dumping and burning it .
They are late teens, early 20s and of Middle Eastern appearance, police say . |
206,094 | 96c97fb7adb6b20a93b54d1ae69b8542a4889192 | Fights started outside French town halls tonight as they came under the control of the far-right National Front for the first time following dramatic gains in local elections. Exit polls suggested that the anti-immigration and anti-Europe party had roundly beaten the governing Socialists in a number of key constituencies. 'Demonstrators are trying to get at the Front representatives and starting fights,' said a police spokesman in Frejus, the picturesque Mediterranean town which is hugely popular with British tourists. Riot police are tonight guarding the offices of David Rachline in Frejus, one of the areas where the right-wing National Front have won local elections . There are reports of fights breaking out between demonstrators following heavy defeats in the local elections for France's ruling socialists . The town of Frejus and Beziers in the south of France are now expected to sign in their first National Front mayors following the elections . Frejus and nearby Beziers are now expected to have National Front (FN) mayors sworn in, along with around five other towns, following a nationwide drubbing for President Francois Hollande's Socialists. Riot police were also out in force in other parts of the country as anti-fascist demonstrators threatened FN candidates with violence. It meant further humiliation for Mr Hollande, whose disastrous tax and spend policies have led to economic stagnation, so opening the electoral door to the FN, which is regularly accused of being racist, anti-Semitic, and anti-Muslim. David Rachline, who is expected to become the FN mayor of Frejus, is a former head of the party's youth movement, and still just 26. Mr Rachline said: 'The political establishment has failed the people - it has ruined the town and filled its pockets. 'You can't talk about a protest vote any more - the Front's scores show that people are backing its ideas.' In a deeply humiliating blow for the Socialist government, finance minister Pierre Moscovici was unseated from the town council in Valentigny in the Doubs department. In a dire night for French President Francois Hollande the conservative UMP party have also made gains, including for Roger-Emile Lombertie who was elected in Limoges . Another UMP candidate, Christian Estrosi, celebrates winning his election at campaign headquarters in Nice . Mr Moscovici, who was tasked by Mr . Hollande with leading the French economy out of recession, is deeply . unpopular with the French people. There . were also gains for the UMP conservative opposition, as Najat . Vallaud-Belkacem, the spokesman for Mr Hollande's government, said: . 'These are bad results for the Left. Disappointing.' The FN took 50.26 per cent of the vote in the northern town of Henin-Beaumont last Sunday, giving it an instant majority and meaning it already has its first mayor there. As polls closed in the two round municipal elections tonight the FN said it was on track to claim 1,200 municipal council seats. 'We have moved on to a new level,' said Ms Le Pen. 'There is now a third major political force in our country.' The Socialists only consolation they have provided Paris with its first ever female mayor. Anne Hidalgo is expected to beat her conservative rival, Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet in the French capital. Miss Hidalgo claimed 54.5 per cent of second round votes in the capital, comfortably beating her centre-Right rival, who won 45.5 per cent. Marie Le Pen, National Front president, says the party has moved 'on to a new level' Socialist President Francois Hollande is expected to announce a government reshuffle in response to dire results . The Spanish-born civil servant hailed a 'great victory' even before the full results were announced. Mr Hollande's response to the expected nationwide drubbing is said to be a major reshuffle, replacing Prime Minister Jean Marc Ayrault with Interior Minister Manuel Valls. The despairing Mr Hollande is also expected to bring his former girlfriend, Segolene Royal, back into government. This is now possible because Mr Hollande's ex-first lady, Valerie Trierweiler, who hates Ms Royal, has disappeared following the President's alleged affair with the actress Julie Gayet. | Far-right National Front has beaten governing Socialists in key elections .
National Front president Marie Le Pen says party moved to a 'new level'
Riot police have clashed with demonstrators outside regional town halls .
Police in holiday towns of Frejus and Beziers report outbreaks of violence .
French President Francois Hollande now expected to reshuffle government . |
54,688 | 9af268c510695f146d59a285f3bfa79705b2c643 | By . Phil Gradwell . Follow @@GraddersOnline . When a young footballer receives his first wage packet, you would expect them to treat themselves to something nice and maybe expensive. But Bolton midfielder Stuart Holden did something a bit different - he paid for his dad Brian to have cancer treatment. In a Facebook Q & A with fans on Thursday night, the 28-year-old was asked what he did with his first wage. Generous: Stuart Holden, pictured as a Houston Dynamo player in 2006, gave his first wage packed to his father to fund his cancer treatment . Fans' favourite: Holden (left) is well liked by supporters at Bolton . Joy: Just after his latest injury, Holden announced his engagement to Karalyn West . His answer was: 'Gave it all to my dad for his cancer treatment', which elicited the response 'God bless you Stuart Holden'. Holden's father Brian battled pancreatic cancer for six years before his death in 2009, which prompted the USA star to say: 'He was my best friend. It’s such a cliché, but if I could be half the man he was, I will have lived a good life. He always put his family first no matter what.' It wasn't all sweetness and light in the Q & A, however, as the midfielder did manage to have a sly dig at Manchester United defender Jonny Evans, who broke his leg with a reckless challenge in 2011. Despite having previously said he forgave the Northern Irishman for the tackle which put him out for six months, when asked if he liked Evans, Holden replied: 'Hmmmmmmmmmm!' Holden, who has played just nine matches since that tackle at Old Trafford, is currently out for six to nine months after a knee operation for an injury sustained in a reserve match against Everton. However he has rejoined the Bolton first team for training and will hope that his contract, which is up in the summer, will be renewed. Horror: Holden (on ground) was injured after a reckless challenge by Jonny Evans (right) in 2011 . | Holden's dad Brian battled pancreatic cancer for six years until 2009 death .
Bolton midfielder also asked if he 'liked' Manchester United defender Jonny Evans, his reply was simply 'Hmmmmmmmm!'
Evans broke Holden's leg in 2011 with reckless challenge . |
1,534 | 046dcbc9fd2ebeee26374ebd44c97d9a84d2ec60 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 23:06 EST, 14 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 07:46 EST, 15 August 2013 . A photographer with a special knack for aerial shots has put New York City into perspective by only looking down on it from above. Jason Hawkes boasts a portfolio of hundreds of thousands of aerial shots from all over the world and has produced 40 books of aerial photography. But there is something especially stunning about the City that Never Sleeps when seen from the top down and Hawkes’ method of getting his birds-eye-views are equally inspiring. The intrepid photographer takes most of his shots from the passenger seat of a helicopter. While tethered in for dear life, he leans out the window and...voila. From his vantage, sunsets in the city are even more riveting, the nightlife looks all the more exciting, and a walk in the park becomes an adventure into urban wilds. Scroll down for video . Burning brightly: Aerial photographer Jason Hawkes has caught New York City in action many times of over the years. Here, Manhattan is seen at dusk from its southernmost tip . Splashing around: A pool in Central Park shows how many locals take advantage of the massive public pools on hot days. And how great the orange umbrellas look from above . Urban jungle: A tree-topped building in Manhattan's Upper East Side looks down on even more trees in Central Park . Cooling off: Lucky summer revelers swim atop a highrise in Manhattan's Kips Bay neighborhood . The new towers: One World Trade Center (center left) is topped by cranes set off by a Lower Manhattan sunset . Bustling hub: The piers along Manhattan's west side at dusk with One World Trade Center in the distance at far right . The Staten Island Ferry dutifully chugs along carrying commuters in waters below Manhattan . Standing tall: The curving lines of the art deco Chrysler building are a welcome change from rectangular boxes of most newer Manhattan construction . Urban reprieve: Stretching all along the middle of otherwise hectic Manhattan are the serene wilds of Central Park . Stunning: One World Trade Center catches the last hints of sunset on an evening in Lower Manhattan . Picnic time: Park goers lay out in the Chelsea sun on the west side of Manhattan . Technicolor: Hints of purples and reds offset the incandescent yellows as the lights of New York City switch on for the night . Towering: The iconic Empire State Building greets a new day . Anything but square: Times Square makes for an even brighter oasis of light in the city that never sleeps . Defiant: As the night darkens, the lights of the city skyline become ever brighter . Midnight sun: In Midtown Manhattan, the vibrant, neon stretches of Times Square light up the night . Light bulb built on light bulbs: The GE building's famous sign . Birds-eye-view: Hawke's name is apt. His photos could pass for the view of a bird swooping through Manhattan's most famous buildings . | Jason Hawkes has taken hundreds of thousands of aerial photos and clocked innumerable hours in the sky above Manhattan . |
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