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6,382 | 1216a9252e0aa66949165bc4766cfe495da5fe80 | Seventeen past and present Cronulla rugby league players have reportedly been issued with show-cause notices after meeting with the NRL and anti-doping authority. The Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) boss Ben McDevitt agreed to 17 doping notices on Tuesday night, according to News Corp Australia. The notices, which follow ASADA's anti-doping investigation into the Cronulla Sharks' 2011 supplements program, were distributed to the lawyers of players on Wednesday and signals the authority's intent to charge players. Scroll down for video . Cronulla Sharks player Wade Graham left his lawyer's office on Wednesday after reportedly being issued with a show-cause notice from the anti-doping authority . Cronulla Sharks player Anthony Tupou refused to comment as he left his lawyer in Sydney. He was one of the 17 past and present players to be given doping notices over the club's 2011 supplements program . It's believed they varied in severity, with potential bans ranging between six months and two years. Players have been given 10 days to respond and may choose to challenge the show-cause notices in the Administrative Appeals Tribunal or the Federal Court. The Sharks skipper, Paul Gallen, was one of 17 past and present players involved in the club's 2011 supplements program to be reportedly offered suspensions of six months or less, instead of the usual two years for an anti-doping offence. Among some of the other players are Kade Snowden, Luke Douglas, Matthew Wright, Jayson Bukuya, Anthony Tupou, Albert Kelly, Jeremy Smith, Wade Graham and Nathan Gardner. Sharks captain Paul Gallen is one of the majority of past and present Cronulla NRL players implicated in the ASADA scandal who have elected to accept the deal that will see them miss just three matches . The notices handed out to players, including Wade Graham (pictured), will only see players miss this season's last three games and a few weeks of next year's training before the 2015 season begins . Earlier on Wednesday Gallen said if he or any other Cronulla player accept reduced bans offered by ASADA, they'll automatically be labelled drug cheats. 'There is two ways to look at it,' Gallen Sky Sports Radio's Big Sports Breakfast. 'Obviously there's a lot of rumours going around the past couple of days - the boys have spoken about it. 'Our mind and our mood changes every 10 minutes. At one stage we're (thinking) "thank God, this is going to be over hopefully, whatever happens is going to happen and we can just get on with life". The Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority boss Ben McDevitt agreed to 17 doping notices on Tuesday night, including one for player John Morris (left) Players, including Nathan Gardner (pictured) were given 10 days to respond and could ahve chosen to challenge the show-cause notices in the Administrative Appeals Tribunal or the Federal Court . 'Because closure on this thing would just be unbelievable (after) what we've gone through the past two seasons. 'But then you say "let's stuff this, we've done nothing wrong". It's a real hard situation to be in.' Gallen was unsure if the players would be offered deals and whether it could be in anyway related to ASADA's progress in its investigation of AFL club Essendon which has been hit by court action. 'I've asked (my lawyer) about that and we're not 100 percent sure, because (my lawyer) believes that they're probably going to try and back us into a corner where we have to make a decision, basically ASAP before the Essendon thing is over,' he said. Seventeen past and present Cronulla rugby league players, including Albert Kelly, have reportedly been issued with show-cause notices after meeting with the NRL and anti-doping authority . The Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority boss Ben McDevitt agreed to 17 doping notices on Tuesday night and lawyers for players like Anthony Tupou were issued the notices on Wednesday . 'But as I said we don't know that for sure yet. 'It's what you see in a movie. But it's actually happening and we're right in the middle of it. It's pretty tough to take.' Gallen was adamant he hadn't taken any banned substance. 'I'm 100 per cent positive I've never taken anything that's been on any banned list,' he said. It was pointed out to Gallen that, if he accepted a six-month ban, he would miss only one month of next NRL season, but he would also miss out on representing Australia in the Four Nations series later this year and potential lucrative off-season boxing bouts he hoped to have. Among some of the other players offered suspensions are Kade Snowden, Luke Douglas (pictured), Matthew Wright, Jayson Bukuya, Anthony Tupou, Albert Kelly, Jeremy Smith, Wade Graham and Nathan Gardner . 'That's huge - you can't get those games for Australia back,' he said. 'But it's your reputation; it's what I've built over the last 15-plus years in training fulltime and getting to where I've got to in the game. 'It's tarnished now already, but no matter what, if we do this we're going to be labelled a drug cheat.' Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | Anti-doping agency boss Ben McDevitt reportedly agreed to 17 doping notices on Tuesday night .
Past and present Cronulla Sharks NRL players have been issued with show-cause notices .
Notices follow Cronulla's 2011 supplements program and signal authority's intent to charge players . |
118,907 | 258b2a3995a585f3a5e9215238bf316a2d012909 | The Foreign Office has warned against travel to various parts of Turkey except in cases of emergency following another day of rioting. Tens of thousands took to the streets in the country’s four biggest cities yesterday – the third day of anti-government protests – with demonstrators clashing with riot police, who repelled them with tear gas. The unrest initially erupted on Friday when trees were torn down at a park in Istanbul’s main Taksim Square under government plans to redevelop the area. But they have widened into a broad show of defiance against the Islamist-rooted Justice and Development Party (AKP). Scroll down for video . Blaze: An anti-government protester holds Turkey's national flag with a portrait of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk on it . Gas: Police use water cannon as protesters run to avoid tear gas during the third day . Choke: Turkey's prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan rejected claims that he is a 'dictator,' dismissing protesters as an extremist fringe . Riot: A protester falls down as he tries to throw back at police a tear gas canister . Prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan blamed the main secular opposition party for inciting the crowds, and said the protests were aimed at depriving his ruling AK Party of votes as elections begin next year. Erdogan said the plans to remake the square, long an iconic rallying point for mass demonstrations, would go ahead, including the construction of a new mosque and the rebuilding of a replica Ottoman-era barracks. And he said the protests – which were started by a small group of environmental campaigners but mushroomed when police used force to eject them from the park on Taksim Square – had nothing to do with the plans. Crowd: Young Turks clash with security forces in Ankara as the protest rages on . Shout: Riot police detain a protester during demonstrations against Turkey's Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan . ‘It’s entirely ideological,’ he told . Turkish television. The demonstrations have since drawn in a wide range . of people of all ages from across the political and social spectrum. Protests yesterday were not as . violent as the previous two days but police used tear gas to try to . disperse hundreds of people in Ankara’s main Kizilay Square. There were . similar clashes in Izmir and Adana, Turkey’s third and fourth-biggest . cities. In Taksim Square, the atmosphere was . more festive with some chanting for Erdogan to resign and others singing . and dancing. There were later clashes between police and protesters . near Erdogan’s office in a former Ottoman palace in the city. The main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) denied orchestrating the unrest. ‘Today the people on the street . across Turkey are not exclusively from the CHP, but from all ideologies . and from all parties,’ senior party member Mehmet Akif Hamzacebi said. Some 2.5 million Britons visit Turkey each year and it is an increasingly popular destination for holidaymakers from the UK. The Foreign Office has also warned Britons to avoid travelling to areas close to the Syrian border. Day three: Protesters gather for the third day of nationwide anti-government protest at the Taskim square in Istanbul . Riots: A protester holds a riot policeman's helmet as thousands of people gathering for another rally against the conservative government of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul on Sunday . Turkish Interior Minister Muammer Guler yesterday said more than 1,700 people had been arrested in anti-government protests that have spread to 67 cities nationwide, though most have since been released. 'A large majority of the detainees were released after being questioned and identified,' he said in remarks carried by the state-run Anatolia news agency. He added that the country had seen 235 demonstrations since Tuesday.Meanwhile Britons are being urged to avoid trips to Turkey until the ongoing riots have dissipated. The . Foreign Office said on its website: ‘Demonstrations are taking place in . Istanbul and in other cities across Turkey, including Ankara. ‘Police are using tear gas and water cannon in response. We advise British nationals to avoid all demonstrations.’ Police used tear gas on protesters in . Ankara but the clashes so far today were relatively minor compared with major . violence in Turkey's biggest cities on the previous two days. Meanwhile . Turkey's Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan accused the main secular . opposition party of provoking the wave of anti-government protests. Escalating violence: A protester picks up a tear gas grenade to throw it back at riot police in Ankara on Sunday . Turkish riot police use tear gas to disperse protesters during a rally supporting the Istanbul demonstrations against the conservative government of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara . Wreckage: A street vendor sells umbrellas in front of destroyed police cars in Taskim square in Istanbul . Calling the protesters 'a few looters', Erdogan said he would press ahead with redeveloping Istanbul's Taksim Square, a project which provoked the demonstrations that have widened into a broader show of defiance against his Islamist-rooted Justice and Development Party (AKP). Erdogan singled out the Republican People's Party (CHP) - set up in 1924 by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk who founded Turkey's modern secular state - for attack over a dispute he described as ideological. 'We think that the main opposition party which is making resistance calls on every street is provoking these protests,' Erdogan said on Turkish television. Turkey's fiercest anti-government unrest for years erupted when trees were torn down at a park in Taksim Square under government plans to construct a new mosque and rebuild a replica Ottoman-era barracks. Target: An activist takes pictures of a public bus that was damaged during the heavy clashes between protesters against the conservative government of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday night . Damaged: An activist stands on a public bus that was damaged during the heavy clashes between protesters against the conservative government of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday . Ruin: A woman takes pictures of a public bus which has been left a wreckage after violent protests in Turkey . 'This reaction is no longer about the . ripping out 12 trees. This is based on ideology,' said Erdogan, whose . conservative vision for the nation has angered more liberal Turks. Referring to the planned mosque, he added: 'Obviously I will not ask for . permission for this from the head of CHP or a few looters.' Tens of thousands gathered on Sunday . after a calmer night in Taksim Square, which saw two days of clashes . between protesters and riot police backed by armoured vehicles and . helicopters. The atmosphere was more festive with . some chanting for Erdogan to resign and others singing and dancing. There was little obvious police presence. In Ankara's downtown Kizilay district, . however, police used tear gas after a few thousand people chanted . anti-government slogans and blocked traffic. A woman talks on her mobile phone in front of a damaged shop after clashes between protesters and riot police during a rally against Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government in Istanbul . Armed officer: A police officer stands on a main boulevard on Sunday after clashes between angry Turkish protesters and security forces in Ankara . Aftermath: A Turkish woman covers her mouth and nose to protect herself from the remnant of tear gas used by security forces against protesters in the Turkish capital, Ankara . On Sunday rain appeared to keep the . crowds away from Taksim Square initially, but this did not dampen the . spirit of the protesters whose numbers later swelled. 'We will stay until the end,' said . Akin, who works in motor trade and has been in Taksim for the past four . days. 'We are not leaving. The only answer now is for this government to . fall. We are tired of this oppressive government constantly putting . pressure on us.' There were more than 90 separate . demonstrations around the country on Friday and Saturday, officials . said. More than 1,000 people have been injured in Istanbul and several . hundred more in Ankara, according to medical staff. The ferocity of the police response in . Istanbul shocked Turks, as well as tourists caught up in the unrest in . one of the world's most visited destinations. It has drawn rebukes from . the United States, European Union and international rights groups. Damage: A man attempts to use a damaged cash machine after clashes between angry Turkish protesters and security forces in Ankara . Good Samaritans: Volunteers clean up after clashes between protesters and riot police during a rally against Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government in Istanbul . Graffiti: Female shoppers take pictures of damaged store windows covered in spray paint after clashes in Istanbul . Helicopters fired tear gas canisters . into residential neighbourhoods and police used teargas to try to smoke . people out of buildings. Footage on YouTube showed one protester being . hit by an armoured police truck as it charged a barricade. Erdogan has overseen a transformation . in Turkey during his decade in power, turning its once crisis-prone . economy into the fastest-growing in Europe. On Sunday, he addressed critics who called him a 'dictator'. 'We have carried Turkey into a new . era... If they call someone who is a servant of his country, then I have . nothing to say to them,' he said. Among Turks in general Erdogan remains . by far the most popular politician, but critics point to what they see . as his authoritarianism and religiously conservative meddling in private . lives in the secular republic. Tighter restrictions on alcohol sales . and warnings against public displays of affection in recent weeks have . also provoked protests. Concern that government policy is allowing . Turkey to be dragged into the conflict in neighbouring Syria by the West . has also led to peaceful demonstrations. Turkish protesters hurl rocks at riot police near the former Ottoman palace, Dolmabahce, following a police crackdown on a peaceful demonstrations against Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's increasingly authoritarian style . Dangerous: The streets of Istanbul can be seen littered with rocks and debris on Saturday night . More than 1,000 people have been injured in Istanbul in three days of protests which started on Friday . Violence: Turkish protesters clash with riot police near the former Ottoman palace, Dolmabahce, where Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan maintains an office in Istanbul, on Sunday night . | Protests erupted again today against Turkey's conservative government .
Thousands took to the streets in rallies and demonstrations in three cities .
Britons warned to avoid all but essential travel to parts of Turkey . |
164,520 | 60bfeaac0a4213bf14534756924a18fb531c9675 | A series of photos have emerged from the ultra-secretive Abu Dhabi set of Star Wars: Episode VII and although none of the franchise’s big stars put in an appearance, the pictures offer some encouraging first signs of what fans can expect from the new movie. Director J.J. Abrams began shooting the highly anticipated film last month and while little is known about the script, the photos suggest a back to basics style to filming, shunning the unpopular CGI-heavy approach of George Lucas’ prequels. The photos reveal many encouraging signs for fans of the original trilogy. Abu Dhabi is believed to be a stand-in for the desert planet of Tatooine, Luke Skywalker’s home planet. Scroll down for video . A series of photos have emerged from the ultra-secretive Abu Dhabi set of Star Wars: Episode VII including a massive four-legged alien creature that looks like a cross between a rhinoceros, a pig and a bulldog . Director J.J. Abrams began shooting the highly anticipated film last month and while little is known about the script, the photos suggest a back to basics style to filming, shunning the unpopular CGI-heavy approach of George Lucas' prequels . Look ma I'm in the movies! The collection of photos from the set of Star Wars: Episode VII feature various extra taking selfies and revealing in being part of a major Hollywood movie . Highlights from the collection of leaked photos, obtained by TMZ, include a massive four-legged alien creature that looks like a cross between a rhinoceros, a pig and a bulldog. According to sources onset, the new alien is manned by five-man team inside its belly and is set to appear in two scenes taking place in what appears to be a market place on Tatooine. Another photo shows two busted robots, who bear a resemblance to R2D2, sitting in what could be the remnants of a pod-racer, popularized in the first episode of the prequel trilogy, The Phantom Menace. Bits and pieces of battered machinery and technology can be seen in the background of other photos, while extras dressed in a variety of muted colored costumes appear in other photos taking selfies. Two busted robots - who bear a resemblance to R2D2 - sit in what could be the remnants of a pod-racer, popularized in the first episode of the prequel trilogy, The Phantom Menace . According to sources onset, the new alien is manned by five-man team inside its belly and it is set to appear in two scenes taking place in what appears to be a market place on Tatooine . Extras pose for the camera on the set of Star Wars: Episode VII during filming in Abu Dhabi . Taking the production to Abu Dhabi marked a move away from the original desert locations used in the first six Star Wars installments . The impression made by the collection of photos is of a world eerily familiar to fans of the previous films, in particular Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope when we are first introduced to Luke Skywalker. What should be especially exciting to a lot of fans of the original trilogy is the amount of practical effects that can be seen in the photos, rather than the all-green screen ‘sets’ of the prequel movies which proved unpopular with actors and audiences alike. A crew of 600 descended on Abu Dhabi last month and started to construct the sets on a site closely guarded by security services. Filming has since been completed in the desert and filming has moved to stages in London. Taking the production to Abu Dhabi . marked a move away from the original desert locations used in the first . six Star Wars installments. May the force be with us: Extras from Star Wars Episode VII appear dressed in muted colors in some of the photos to emerge from the Abu Dhabi set . These amazing photos are an opportunity for fans to grab a sneak peek at the sets and costumes being created for the next installment which is believed to be set 30 years after the battle of Yavin . As the home planet of Anakin Skywalker and Luke Skywalker, as well as the meeting place for Obi-Wan Kenobi and Han Solo, Tatooine is one of the most iconic planets in the Star Wars universe . For Episodes I-VI, various spots in Tunisia were used to film most of the sandy scenes, including Tatooine. Additional footage was later shot in the Death Valley National Park. At the Tunisian government's request, the set for Anakin Skywalker's (Darth Vader) hometown in the Tatooine desert, Mos Espa, stil remains in the Sahara desert. Even if we are still a while away from official trailers and stills for Star Wars: Episode VII, these amazing photos are an opportunity for fans to grab a sneak peek at the planets and costumes being created for the next installment which is believed to be set 30 years after the battle of Yavin. In other Star Wars: Episode VII news, Lucasfilm has announced that Lupita Nyong’o and Gwendoline Christie have joined the cast. Although none of the franchise's big stars put in an appearance the photos offer some encouraging first signs of what fans can expect from the new movie . According to reports, producers have made a deliberate move to use less CGI in the new movies and instead are relying heavily on practical effects like this fire . Nyong’o earned an academy award for best supporting actress this year for her breakthrough performance in 12 Years A Slave. Gwendoline . Christie, currently starring in the hit television series Game of . Thrones as Brienne of Tarth, has also been cast. She . can next be seen in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2. 'I could not be more excited about Lupita and Gwendoline joining the cast of Episode VII,' said Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy. 'It’s thrilling to see this extraordinarily talented ensemble taking shape.' Star Wars' legends Harrison Ford (Han Solo), Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia), Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker), Anthony Daniels (C3PO), Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca) and Kenny Baker (R2-D2) have all returned to the franchise, but Abrams has still made room for some fresh faces. The impression left by the collection of photos is of a world eerily familiar to fans of the previous films, in particular Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, which is when we were first introduced to Luke Skywalker . Star Wars' legends Harrison Ford (Han Solo), Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia), Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker), Anthony Daniels (C3PO), Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca) and Kenny Baker (R2-D2) have all returned to the franchise . One of the most iconic planets in the Star Wars universe, Tatooine is a desert planet and setting for many key scenes in the Star Wars saga, appearing in every Star Wars film except The Empire Strikes Back, although it is mentioned at the end of the movie . British actors John Boyega (Attack The Block) and Daisy Ridley (Mr. Selfridge) have joined Adam Driver (Girls), Oscar Isaac (Inside Llewyn Davis) and Dohmnall Gleeson (Frank) in the film. Performance capture king Andy Serkis will also bring his precious talent to a number of roles and veteran screen actor Max von Sydow (The Exorcist) has also signed on. Abrams previously said: ‘We are so excited to finally share the cast of Star Wars: Episode VII. ‘It is both thrilling and surreal to watch the beloved original cast and these brilliant new performers come together to bring this world to life, once again. We start shooting in a couple of weeks, and everyone is doing their best to make the fans proud.’ Star Wars: Episode VII is being directed by J.J. Abrams from a screenplay by Lawrence Kasdan and Abrams. Bits and pieces of machinery and technology can be seen in the photos along with extras dressed in muted color costumes . British actors John Boyega (Attack The Block) and Daisy Ridley (Mr. Selfridge) are joining Adam Driver (Girls), Oscar Isaac (Inside Llewyn Davis) and Dohmnall Gleeson (Frank) in the new movie . According to Star Wars legend, Tatooine once had large oceans full of marine based life and a world-spanning jungle, but this biosphere was destroyed when the myopic Rakata razed the planet, drying up its riverbeds and boiling away its oceans . Kathleen Kennedy, Abrams, and Bryan Burk are producing, and John Williams is returning as the composer. The movie opens worldwide on December 18, 2015. J.J. Abrams last month announced an opportunity for one lucky person - and a friend - to appear in the saga’s next adventure. The competition is part of an initiative called Star Wars: Force For Change that is raising funds and awareness for the United Nations Children's Fund's (UNICEF) Innovation Labs project to help benefit the world's most vulnerable children. In a specially recorded video - unveiled on Good Morning America May 21 - Abrams talked about how excited he was to be making the movie before explaining what the competition winner will receive. What does it mean? A sign hangs on part of the set of what is believed to be part of a market on the desert planet of Tatooine . 'It is both thrilling and surreal to watch the beloved original cast and these brilliant new performers come together to bring this world to life, once again,' said Abrams after assembling his cast together . J.J. Abrams last month announced an opportunity for one lucky person - and a friend - to appear in the saga's next adventure . The competition offers one lucky person - and a friend - the opportunity to visit Pinewood Studios in London and visit the set as Abrams' VIP guests. They will have the opportunity to meet members of the cast and will be transformed by the film's makeup and costume teams, most likely into alien extras, and will appear in a scene. The competition is being run by Omaze.com a charity auction site which allows anyone to enter for just $10. There are various levels of contribution . to the campaign and for each level, participants will receive a special . Star Wars-themed item. The deadline to enter is 11:59 p.m. PT on July . 18. A crew of 600 descended on Abu Dhabi last month and started to construct the sets on a site closely guarded by security services . For Episodes I-VI, various spots in Tunisia were used to film most of the sandy scenes, including Tatooine. Additional footage was later shot in the Death Valley National Park . Disney, which now owns the iconic film franchise, has committed $1 million toward the Force For Change initiative and via this exciting competition they hope to raise a lot more. 'The Star Wars fans are some of the most passionate and committed folks around the globe,' said Abrams. 'We're thrilled to offer a chance to come behind the scenes as our VIP guests and be in Star Wars: Episode VII. 'We're even more excited that by participating in this campaign, Star Wars fans will be helping children around the world through our collaboration with UNICEF Innovation Labs and projects.' Star Wars: Episode VII is being directed by J.J. Abrams from a screenplay by Lawrence Kasdan and Abrams. The movie will open worldwide on December 18, 2015 . | SPOILER ALERT: A series of photos have emerged from the ultra-secretive Abu Dhabi set of Star Wars: Episode VII .
The pictures offer some encouraging first signs of what fans can expect from the new movie .
Abu Dhabi is believed to be a stand-in for the desert planet of Tatooine, Luke Skywalker’s home planet .
Several photos include a massive four-legged alien creature that looks like a cross between a rhinoceros, a pig and a bulldog .
The new alien is manned by five-man team .
inside its belly and it is set to appear in two scenes taking place in .
what appears to be a market place .
According to reports, producers have .
made a deliberate move to use less CGI and are .
relying on practical effects like in the original trilogy .
Another photo shows two busted robots, who bear a resemblance to R2D2, sitting in what could be the remnants of a pod-racer .
Other photos show extras dressed in muted colored costumes taking selfies on set .
Star Wars Episode VII opens worldwide on December 18, 2015 . |
144,786 | 474612218dc6277f881f99eadd007eca9aac3185 | (CNN) -- South Africa's Colin Nel went into the second round of the Nelson Mandela Championship facing an early exit after shooting an opening seven-over 77 and finished it by achieving one of golf's most elusive feats -- a round of 59. It catapulted Nel up the leaderboard from 138th into the top 20 but astonishingly his score was also matched Friday by Jorge Campillo of Spain. Campillo improved a mere 11 shots on his opening level-par 70 to be one behind leader Daniel Brooks when play was halted. England's Brooks shot a 62 in his opening round and was through 11 holes of his second at 12-under. The European Tour event has been reduced to 54 holes after being hit by thunderstorms and heavy rain. That also had implications for Nel and Campillo as their scores will not count for the record books because players were allowed to use preferred lies on the rain-sodden fairways at Mount Edgecombe. That ruling means golfers can pick up their ball on the fairway and place it -- but not nearer the hole -- to achieve a playable lie. Nevertheless, Nel and Campillo played superb golf, with the latter shooting seven birdies and two eagles to contend for overall victory. He held the clubhouse lead at 11-under 129 with Matthew Baldwin of England, who shot a second round 62. Campillo was delighted by his efforts "We play other par 70s on Tour, but you still have to shoot 59 and I'm pretty happy with the way I finished." "I was never close to 59 before, but in the KLM Open I was eight-under with three holes to go on a par 70," he told the official European Tour website. Branden Grace was tied with fellow South African Oliver Bekker on 10-under 130 -- one shot back. The tournament started a day early than scheduled so as to avoid a clash with Nelson Mandela's funeral Sunday, but has been hit by lengthy delays on all three days of play. "Mandela is one of the reasons I am here," Grace said. "Coming here you're trying to get the win for Madiba, not that it will make everything better for the country, but hopefully it will put a little smile on some people's faces." Meanwhile, Ryder Cup teammates Sergio Garcia and Justin Rose shared the lead at the halfway stage of the $1 million Thailand Championship at Amata Spring Country Club in Bangkok. Garcia, chasing his first win of 2013, shot a hole in one during his seven-under 65 for 11-under 133. U.S. Open champion Rose carded a 68 to leave the pair two clear of overnight leader Alex Cejka of Germany, France's Alexander Levy and India's Anirban Lahiri. America's Rickie Fowler shot a superb eight-under 64 to be a shot further back while in-form Henrik Stenson moved into contention with a 67 to lie joint seventh. | Two players shoot rounds of 59 at European Tour event .
Jorge Campillo and Colin Nel achieve feat at Nelson Mandela Championship .
Nel improves 18 shots on his first round effort at Mount Edgecombe .
Scores won't count for record purposes due to preferred lies rule . |
144,360 | 46b0c144bef5b0112197279b9fcab2201a8fb311 | People living in the port city where a U.S. ship is docked ahead of its mission to destroy Syrian chemical weapons say they are worried about potentially dangerous leaks. Residents of the town next to the southern Italian port of Gioia Tauro say they have been kept in the dark about the chemical weapons being shipped in. Despite official reassurances, they fear the potential impact that any leaks may have on their health or the environment and accuse the government of lumbering them with the consignment. Mayor of San Ferdinando Domenico Madafferi: He said local people had been kept in the dark over the hundreds of tons of chemical weapons being transported to their city from Syria to be decomissioned . The MV Cape Ray arrived in Gioia . Tauro today for the unprecedented transfer and destruction of about . 1,300 tons of Syrian chemical weapons. The . 648ft U.S. government cargo ship has been fitted with two machines . designed to neutralize the most toxic chemicals, including mustard gas . and the raw materials for sarin nerve gas. The chemicals were handed over by the Syrian government as part of a deal with the international community to destroy its chemical weapons. The most dangerous chemical weapons will be transferred from the Danish vessel Ark Futura to the Cape Ray, which will move into international waters for the destruction. Other material will be taken to toxic wastes sites in various countries for disposal. Kept in the dark: People sunbathe on the beach of San Ferdinando, next to the giant Gioia Tauro port . But on the eve of the ship's arrival, residents and officials from Gioia Tauro and nearby towns voiced concern about potential environmental contamination as a result of the transfer. They also complained that they hadn't been told what exactly would be taking place near their homes. 'We live this situation with uncertainty and resignation because for the last four months we continued to ask for information about it but they didn't give it,' said Domenico Madafferi, mayor of the nearby town of San Ferdinando. He told Italian paper La Stampa: 'People are fed up and it’s not true that they support it. 'We’re not even sure about the materials being transported…Some people speak about the lethal impact of iprite [mustard gas] and sarin, others are even claiming that the entire load of weapons is ready for use.' He accused the Italian government of 'making it rain on the heads' of people on Calabria, which is one of the country's poorest regions. Carabinieri patrol the port's perimeter: . Locals fear the potential impact that any leaks may have on their health or the environment and accuse the government of lumbering them with the consignment . While the disarmament process is risky from beginning to end, those in charge have insisted that equally hazardous chemicals are neutralised on a daily basis around the world. But the claims are scant reassurance to residents aware that Albania, Norway, Belgium and France had all refused to host the stockpile before their own government accepted it. Destroying chemical weapons at sea is unprecedented, but U.S. officials told the Associated Press that the process is a proven, safe way to neutralise toxic chemicals. The officials said no vapour or water runoff will be released into the atmosphere or sea as a result. Mission: The US cargo ship MV Cape Ray after it arrived docked at Gioia Tauro early this morning . Bolted into the Cape Ray's cavernous cargo hold are two machines called Field Deployable Hydrolysis Systems. They consist of mazes of tanks, tubes, cables and electronics that will mix the Syrian chemicals with heated water and a cocktail of other chemicals in a titanium reactor to render them inert. More than 60 experts needed to operate chemical destruction machinery, as well as security and support staff, are expected to be on board to oversee the process. The operation marks the first time the Nobel Peace Prize-winning Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons has overseen the destruction of a chemical weapon stockpile in the midst of a raging civil war. | Local mayor says people have been kept in the dark about the operation .
He accuses government of 'making it rain on the heads' of the poor town .
It came to Italy after rejections from Albania, Norway, Belgium and France . |
132,727 | 379ffbc6f1e789971fde512b6a12b2330fca0884 | (CNN) -- The Democratic New Jersey legislator leading an investigation into Republican Gov. Chris Christie's administration says he believes laws were broken when the governor's aides ordered lane closures at the nation's busiest bridge. "I do think laws have been broken," State Assemblyman John Wisniewski told CNN's Victor Blackwell and Christi Paul on Saturday. "Public resources -- the bridge, police officers -- all were used for a political purpose, for some type of retribution, and that violates the law." Legislators need to "make sure any violations of law are addressed," said Wisniewski, who's also deputy speaker. Christie, who had no public activities scheduled for Saturday, and his spokesman couldn't be immediately reached for comment. Meanwhile, New Jersey Assembly Speaker-elect Vincent Prieto, a Democrat, will call a special session Thursday so lawmakers can vote on extending the subpoena power of the investigation led by Wisniewski, Prieto said. The past week's revelations "clearly show the need for a continued thorough investigation by the New Jersey General Assembly," Prieto said. "Many questions remain unanswered about this threat to public safety and abuse of power." Even while Democrats call to expand the investigation, Florida Republicans confirmed Saturday that Christie will visit that state next week to raise money for the re-election effort of Gov. Rick Scott. Documents: Christie appointees stonewalled queries into lane closures . "Yes, Christie will be here next weekend, and we are looking forward to it," Florida GOP spokesperson Susan Hepworth said. In New Jersey, Wisniewski said the legislative committee's investigation into the scandal "would be made immeasurably simpler if the governor's office said, 'Please tell us what you'd like. We'll turn over all those documents.'" "If the governor really meant what he said, that he wants to get to the bottom of it ... it would only be fair for him to make those documents available," Wisniewski said. On Friday, the New Jersey State Assembly committee investigating the George Washington Bridge scandal released more than 2,000 pages of documents suggesting politics was behind the lane closures and showing top Christie aides tried to stonewall media inquiries into the matter. Read the documents . Christie, a potential presidential candidate in 2016, has strongly denied involvement in how his aides ordered the lane closures at the bridge as revenge against a neighboring Democrat mayor who refused to endorse Christie in his successful gubernatorial campaign last November. The state legislative committee has yet to find any documents indicating Christie was involved in the lane closures, Wisniewski said Saturday. But Wisniewski charged that it "just strains believability" that Christie had no knowledge of how his staff orchestrated the lane closures, which created public safety hazards in Fort Lee, New Jersey, where Mayor Mark Sokolich had opposed Christie's re-election effort. Wisniewski also suggested that retribution against the Fort Lee mayor was the motive behind the lane closures to the bridge, which connects New Jersey and New York, from September 9 to September 13. "I think anything's possible," Wisniewski said. "One thing's clear: The anger that was displayed [...] by people in the governor's circle after the lane closure was terminated. "Why are they so angry? Why are they so mad at this process being shut down," Wisniewski asked. Plenty in his own party happy to see Christie get comeuppance . Christie this week fired his deputy chief of staff, Bridget Anne Kelly, for her role in the lane closure, which was captured in e-mail correspondence that was subpoenaed by Democrats investigating the matter. The e-mail exchanges are among the most damaging evidence so far supporting their assertions the lane closures were politically motivated. The correspondence began three weeks before access lanes to the bridge were closed. "Time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee," Kelly said in an e-mail to David Wildstein, then the highest-level appointee representing the state at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which operates the bridge connecting the two states. "Got it," Wildstein replied. Wildstein resigned last month from the port authority, where he was the director of interstate capital projects. Wildstein asserted the lane closures were part of a traffic study. Legal woes lurk for Christie over scandal . CNN's Chris Kokenes and Conor Finnegan contributed to this report. | NEW: Lawmakers will hold special session Thursday to vote on extending probe .
NEW: Gov. Chris Christie will still raise money for GOP governor in Florida next week .
Christie's team used public assets for retribution, says Democrat leading probe .
It "just strains believability" that Christie didn't know of lane closures, he says . |
59,212 | a810faaed88771bb3c36165f4d4eb9c62fda03ca | (CNN) -- Like a cat playing with a mouse, former Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola teased his potential Premier League suitors on Wednesday by saying he wants to coach an English club "in the future". The 41-year-old Guardiola stepped down as Barcelona coach at the end of last season after four years in charge of one of the world's biggest clubs to take a year-long sabbatical. Even since, the Catalan has been linked with a number of English clubs -- notably Chelsea and Manchester City -- as well as a host of top European teams such as Bayern Munich in Germany and AC Milan in Italy. "I've always found English football very fascinating, just for the environment, the crowd and the supporters," Guardiola told the English Football Association's website ahead of the FA's 150th anniversary. "As a player, I couldn't realise my dream to play there but I hope in the future, I have a challenge to be a coach or a manager there and feel the experience of all the coaches and players that have been there. "It is unique, to play in that league. I want to feel the supporters, the environment, the media and the style of the players and everything. "I am still young, just 41, so I hope in the future I could be able to train there and enjoy that." Guardiola's update on his future plans is likely to make uncomfortable reading for those coaches in charge of Europe's top teams, such as Chelsea interim manager Rafa Benitez and Bayern's 67-year-old coach Jupp Heynckes -- whose contract ends in June. City boss Roberto Mancini's contract runs until 2017, though there has been speculation surrounding the Italian's future following the appointment of former Barcelona vice president Ferran Soriano as the English champions' chief executive, who took up his new role in September, and the arrival of former Barcelona technical director Txiki Begiristain as director of football at the Etihad Stadium in October. Guardiola, who spoke to the FA from New York where he is currently living, joined Barcelona as a 13-year-old and won six La Liga titles and one European Cup as a player with the club. He won that European Cup, now known as the Champions League, at Wembley as a 19-year-old when Barcelona beat Sampdoria, who Mancini was then playing for. "I played there as a player when I was 19 and it was my first Champions League as a player, as Barcelona won finally the Champions League," added Guardiola. "It was a huge honor to play there at the old Wembley. "When I was manager of Barcelona, for our second Champions League in three years in 2011, it was a real pleasure to play in the new Wembley. "I'm a lucky guy, because I had the opportunity to play two finals, both in England at Wembley and that's why my relationship with England is pretty close. "I would like to say congratulations and happy birthday for the 150 years to English soccer and all of the people around English football. "Enjoy it, because you deserve that and you have been very important in the development of our beautiful, beautiful game." As Barca coach, Guardiola presided over an unprecedented treble in his first season in charge, winning the European Champions League, La Liga and the Spanish Cup, having been promoted from his role as coach of the Catalan club's reserve side in May 2008. In 2011 he won the Champions League again and also a third successive Spanish title, followed by success at the Club World Cup for a second time, winning a total of 13 trophies during his tenure. | Former Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola wants to coach in England "in the future"
Guardiola linked with a number of top European clubs .
Joined Barca as a 13-year-old and won six La Liga titles and one European Cup . |
101,784 | 0f2ba5a7d22b253a11ba4ae4dd62f3544b72490f | (CNN) -- Marion Bartoli has retired from tennis with immediate effect, just six weeks after winning her first grand slam title at Wimbledon. The Frenchwoman, who beat Germany's Sabine Lisicki to be crowned champion at the All England Club, broke down in tears as she told reporters her body could no longer handle the strain of competing at the top level. The announcement came following the world No. 7's 3-6 6-4 6-1 defeat to Romania's Simona Halep in the second round of the Western and Southern Open. "This was actually the last match of my career. Sorry," the 28-year-old said during an emotional press conference in Cincinnati. "My body just can't do it anymore. I've already been through a lot of injuries since the beginning of the year. "I've been on the tour for so long, and I really pushed through and left it all during that Wimbledon. I really felt I gave all the energy I have left in my body. "I made my dream a reality and it will stay with me forever, but now my body just can't cope with everything. I have pain everywhere after 45 minutes or an hour of play. I've been doing this for so long, and body-wise I just can't do it anymore." Bartoli had not planned on calling time on her career prior to the match, but she knew once the contest had finished that it was time to hang up her racket. "You never know before the match that it's going to be your last match," she explained, "but I just felt that way after the match. "I felt I just couldn't do this anymore. After one set, my whole body was just in pain. "It's been a tough decision to make. I didn't make this decision easily. I've been a tennis player for a long time, and I had the chance to make my biggest dream a reality. I felt I really, really pushed through the ultimate limits to make it happen. "But now I just can't do it anymore." Bartoli turned pro in 2000 and, after battling for 13 years to win one of tennis' four grand slams, she now feels the time has earned the right to focus on other areas of her life. "As a tennis player you had to be at 100%," she added. "I'm the kind of person, when I'm doing something, I'm doing it 100%. I have to be on the practice court preparing for the next tournament tomorrow. "There are so many things to do in life rather than playing tennis, so I'm sure I'll find something. I just need a bit of time to settle down. "There is a lot of excitement as a woman. There is a lot of excitement as a wife. There is a lot of excitement as a mother. There is a lot of excitement to come up." Bartoli was taught tennis as a child by her father Walter, a doctor who coached her for most of her playing days until they split earlier this year and she began working with former world No. 1 Amelie Mauresmo. "I called him, yes. But my dad knows me enough to know it a bit when he saw me leaving home for the States," Bartoli said. "He kind of felt I was tired and I was exhausted, and he was not surprised by the decision. "He said, 'I kind of felt it somehow. I can see it in your eyes and see your body and I know all the work you've done to make it happen. I'm so proud of you. I will support you in anything you're doing.' " Bartoli first came to prominence when she reached the 2007 Wimbledon final, losing to Venus Williams. An unorthodox player with a distinctive serving style, she earned more than $11 million on the court -- $2.87 million of that this year -- with eight WTA Tour titles. "I congratulate Marion on her long, successful career," said WTA Tour chief Stacey Allaster. "She is an inspirational champion and a great ambassador for women's tennis that has dedicated her life to the sport and given so much back to the game." Courtney Nguyen, a tennis writer with SI.com, said the timing of Bartoli's decision has stunned everyone. "It is quite shocking, even before this tournament she had been making plans to play in exhibitions in Australia in January, she had been talking about still being motivated and wanting to achieve more goals in tennis," Nguyen told CNN. "I think a lot of people are either second guessing her decision or just saying 'You know what, Marion Bartoli played her tennis career on her own terms, in her own way, this is exactly the way Marion Bartoli would go out.' " Goran Ivanisevic, who was unable to defend his Wimbledon title in 2002 due to injury, said Bartoli might regret her decision when next year's tournament starts in late June. "There is nothing like playing at Wimbledon as 'Wimbledon champion.' I couldn't defend." the Croatian told the website of the senior players' Champions Tour. Guy Forget, who was Bartoli's captain in France's 2004 Fed Cup team, said she may have made a hasty decision. "Marion is a very smart girl, she is so dedicated about the sport that I'm always very cautious about someone's quote right after a defeat, and that happened right after she lost," the former world No. 4 told the Champions Tour website. "I hope she is going to change her mind. You don't want to have regrets looking back. Being a professional player is such an exceptional job and you don't want to look back in a few months or years later and think, 'Why did I stop?' "Go to the beach for a few days, go running in the park, just get your head together, spend some time with your friends. And, if you don't want to play the next week, just don't play it -- if you want to miss the U.S. Open, fine. "But just don't quit, don't take such a radical decision only a few weeks after winning the biggest tournament in the world." | Marion Bartoli retires from tennis with immediate effect .
The Frenchwoman made the announcement after losing to Romania's Simona Halep .
Bartoli won the Wimbledon title by beating Sabine Lisicki just six weeks ago .
The world No. 7 says her body can no longer take the strain of professional tennis . |
157,139 | 5729057e255a98e62f4e69941656dd161debe98c | By . Stephanie Linning . Four doctors at Colchester General Hospital are on 'special leave' after police raided a house in an online child sex offence investigation. Officers from Essex Police’s online investigation team, which deals with online child sex offences, raided an undisclosed address in Colchester earlier this month. No arrests have been made. Criminal investigations are continuing. Colchester General Hospital: Four doctors have been placed on 'special leave' after police raided a house earlier this month in an online child sex offence investigation . The four doctors - whose names, ages, . sex and roles, have not been released - were told to leave the hospital . when bosses found out. A spokesman for Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust said: 'Essex Police made us aware of an investigation into an alleged activity that had occurred outside of this organisation. 'Consequently, on the same day, the trust put four employees on special leave while police inquiries continue, which remains the position.' He said the General Medical Council, which registers doctors to practise in the UK, has been made aware. He declined to comment further. An Essex Police spokeswoman said: 'No arrests have been made at this time and inquiries are continuing.' She refused to give any more details regarding the case. The police online investigation team was created more than five years ago to deal with the increase in online child sex offences. It deals with all offences involving indecent images of children committed online, offences of inciting children to engage in sexual activity online and grooming committed online. | Doctors on 'special leave' from Colchester General Hospital in Essex .
Police raided Colchester address in online child sex investigation .
No arrests have been made and criminal investigations are continuing . |
146,696 | 49b4a633a27461331b190c340596f2dc9e58e82b | North Korea has "the world's most advantageous human rights system," the country declared in a lengthy report released on Saturday. Its political system "bestows upon (its citizens) priceless political integrity." Its economic system "ensures people an independent and creative working life, as well as affluent and civilized living standard," according to a report by the DPRK Association for Human Rights Studies. The 53,000-word report -- which repeats the phrase "human rights" over 700 times -- paints a rosy picture of the country. North Korea issued a vehement defense of its human rights record, in response to a damning U.N. Commission of Inquiry report, released in February. That report criticized North Korea's authoritarian rule and said the state "terrorizes" its own citizens. The U.N. Commission of Inquiry issued its conclusions after listening to testimonies from more than 100 victims, witnesses and experts regarding North Korea. It also examined satellite imagery and listed a stunning catalog of torture and widespread abuse "that does not have any parallel in the contemporary world." North Korea had declined to participate in the inquiry. The human rights plot . North Korea says human rights is an excuse used by the United States to interfere in its affairs. The report repeatedly takes aim at the United States, saying Washington is plotting to "eventually overthrow the social system" and also accused the Americans of invading North Korea in 1950 and starting the Korean War. The war began in 1950 after Communist forces attacked the south. The report denies the litany of the state's abuses saying these are "racket kicked up by the hostile forces" and derived from non-credible witnesses, who were paid to "cook up groundless stories." "Pyongyang frames all criticism of their human rights situation as a politicized attack from hostile forces," said Sokeel Park, director of research and strategy at LINK (Liberty in North Korea), an international NGO that works with North Korean refugees. North Korea's version of its human rights report was published ahead of Tuesday's U.N. General Assembly, where a discussion and vote on North Korea's human rights situation is expected. "Pyongyang knows they are increasingly diplomatically isolated and they are trying to reverse that tide," Park told CNN. "They see the growing international consensus on the seriousness of their human rights violations as one facet of that diplomatic isolation, so it makes sense to try to counter that explicitly too." This includes releasing their own "human rights report" to counter the U.N. Commission of Inquiry Report," he said. What the report says . Divided into five chapters, North Korea says its report was derived from institutions, NGOs and human rights experts. "The human rights mechanisms of the DPRK which have been formed and developed in the 70-year-long history is a superior system that thoroughly and practically guarantees the people's human rights in all fields of social life including politics, economy and culture," according to the report. It made no mention of its prison system, executions or food shortages. Instead, the report trumpeted its policies of "universal compulsory education, free medical care and free provision of housings." The North Korean report also boasted its "open trial and rights of defense" -- which ran contrary to the U.S. State Department's assertion that it is not given access or details on charges for U.S. defendants held in the country. On Sunday, Matthew Miller, a U.S. citizen, was convicted of "hostile acts" and sentenced to six years of hard labor. | North Korea issues its own human rights report, declares it's a "superior system"
Pyongyang issued the report in response to U.N. Commission of Inquiry report .
Timing of report's release could be linked to upcoming U.N. General Assembly .
It makes no mention of its prison system or food shortages . |
260,419 | dd3a70d78be7193842dd6f528a926ec15c26983f | By . Sean Gallagher . Sergio Aguero has been turning up the heat off the pitch ahead of the new season as his Manchester City side look to retain the Premier League title. The 26-year-old was pictured with the club's chef on Thursday with the food on display looking as good as the Argentine's goal record since joining the club three years ago. Aguero has proved to be a huge asset to City in that time scoring a number of crucial goals, none more so than the one against Queens Park Rangers which secured them their first title in 44 years. Impressive: Sergio Aguero and the club chef admire the final product on show . Lethal: Despite injury problems last term Aguero scored 28 goals in 34 games . Highly-rated: Aguero has proved to be a big hit on the club and international scene . Despite this Aguero has endured his fair share of injuries too, missing key games in both the 2012/13 and 2013/14 season, although in the case of the latter it made minimal difference as City won their second title in just three years. City are hopeful of tying up Aguero to a long-term contract at the club sooner rather than later after making it clear the 26-year-old is pivotal to their future plans. Manuel Pellegrini's side begin the defence of their Premier League crown away to Newcastle on Monday night. | The Argentine was pictured with City's chef admiring the food on display .
Aguero will be hoping his injury problems are now behind him ahead of the new season .
Despite that he scored 28 times in 34 appearances last season . |
124,872 | 2d6660ae88d460622d4194964c1d36ea683288e0 | By . Daniel Miller . Last updated at 3:54 PM on 3rd November 2011 . Police have smashed a human trafficking ring which moved more than 230 people into the UK to claim more than £2million in illegal benefits. Officers arrested 29 suspects as they gathered for a wedding in Poland while a team from Scotland Yard detained a further two people in London and carried out searches in Birmingham. The arrests came at the end of a two-year joint investigation involving Scotland Yard, HM Customs and Polish police. Operation: A team from Scotland Yard worked in conjunction with HM Customs and Polish police to smash a criminal ring which trafficked people into Britain to falsely claim benefits . The gang had promised jobs in Britain to at least 230 people, many with alcohol or mental health problems. However, once they were brought to the UK they were tricked into signing papers to open bank accounts. The fraudsters falsely applied for tax credit and other benefits using their victims' details. They then sent the money back to ringleaders in Poland, leaving the people they had trafficked destitute on the streets of Britain. Most of the victims have since returned to Poland where they have been supported by local authorities. Officers from Scotland Yard and police forces in Poland searched five addresses in south and east London today for evidence, while colleagues swooped on other gang members in Poland as they gathered for a wedding. Detective Inspector Kevin Hyland, of the Met's Human Exploitation and Organised Crime Command, said: 'These vulnerable victims were trafficked here to be exploited and satisfy the greed of these criminals. 'They were brought here under the impression they were getting a job but were left with nothing, with many ending up on the street. 'The complex international dimension to this inquiry meant that it was vital to have a close relationship with the Polish authorities, which is why they joined us on this operation today. 'These arrests are the first step in these victims getting justice in their home country and have prevented more money being stolen from the public purse.' Destination UK: The gang promised jobs to at least 230 people who they then tricked into signing papers to open false bank accounts once they arrived in Britain . Assistant . Director John Pointing, from HMRC Criminal Investigation London, said: . 'During this operation, HMRC investigated over 230 tax credit awards . with a value in excess of £2,000,000. 'We . suspect the claims have been submitted by a criminal gang trafficking . people who have then acquired their victims' identities to commit fraud . in the UK. 'The evidence HMRC gathered has played a vital role in the strategic planning of this international investigation and has directly supported the arrest of suspects in Poland and the UK.' Police Major Monika Sokolowska, of Poland's Central Unit for Trafficking in Human Beings, said: 'This form of trafficking is a new phenomenon in Poland. 'In the past we were used to dealing with cases where people were trafficked for prostitution or for slavery but this new form of trafficking is becoming ever more prevalent. 'This is a big case for us with over 200 statements taken from vulnerable witness who were exploited. 'These people were trafficked to the UK by criminals and did not receive any of the social benefits that were fraudulently claimed in their name.' | Fraudsters stole benefits and left vulnerable victims destitute on the street .
29 arrested as they gather for wedding in Poland . |
94,370 | 054b7969529c50673be1fd9aa67bcebbe2e9a4c0 | By . Matt Chorley, Mailonline Political Editor . Nick Clegg today risked derailing a major visit from the Chinese Premier Li Keqiang by accusing Beijing of 'systematic human rights abuses' and claiming he would happily meet the Dalai Lama again. The Deputy Prime Minister said he was 'honoured' to have talks the Tibetan spiritual leader in 2012, despite the meeting plunging relations with China into the deep freeze. Ahead of his visit, Mr Li struck a diffident tone, insisting he wants to show the ‘real China’ and tackle ‘misperceptions and ease misgivings’ about his country. Relations between China and Britain were plunged into the deep freeze in 2012 after Mr Cameron and Deputy PM Nick Clegg met the Dalai Lama . Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said he wanted to use the visit to Britain to change perceptions of his country . His three-day visit, including a rare meeting with the Queen, is expected to focus on trade, investment, commercial opportunities, energy and cultural ties . Relations between China and Britain were strained two years ago after Mr Clegg and Prime Minister David Cameron met the Dalai Lama in London. China has always warned foreign governments from holding talks with the Tibetan spiritual leader, who wants his homeland to enjoy self-rule free from Chinese control. Mr Li's visit is seen as an attempt to repair relations, and secure major Chinese investment in the UK. However, speaking at a press conference today, Mr Clegg insisted he had no regrets about meeting the Dalai Lama. 'I have no regrets at all about when David Cameron and I met the Dalai Lama,' he said. 'There are no plans for the Dalai Lama to be met by either David Cameron or myself again but I would be more than honoured to meet him again. 'I would hope that I can meet someone of his distinction some time in the future.' 'Of course we can’t agree on large scale and systematic human rights abuses which still continue in China to this day' While Mr Clegg acknowledged the importance of developing commercial ties with China, he said that did not mean human rights would be ignored during Mr Li's visit, despite Beijing's notorious sensitivity on the issue. 'That doesn't mean that we cannot in a respectful but firm way - as we do, as the Prime Minister did when he was in China recently - point out that we remain deeply, deeply concerned about the very large-scale abuse of human rights that still continues,' he said. 'Of course we can’t agree on large scale and systematic human rights abuses which still continue in China to this day. 'The many journalists who are persecuted. The very widespread use of the death penalty. 'This is a country which is going on an extraordinary journey. We’ve seen economic transformation on a scale possibly unheard of in the modern world, with millions of people have become economically emancipated, although they are still politically shackled to a doctrine which is a one party state, a communist state, which is the antithesis of the kind of open, democratic society I believe in.' Downing Street would only say that 'all issues are on the table in these discussions and there will be no exceptions to that'. David Cameron, who met Mr Li in Beijing last year, has sought to rebuild relations after meeting the Dalai Lama in 2012 . Mr Li has played down China’s global power and says he wants to change the way his country is viewed around the world. Stressing the UK as an ‘important partner of China’, he added in an article in The Times: ‘My visit has a threefold purpose: first, to discuss ways to deepen co-operation in various fields and thus spur the growth of our respective economies; second, to present the real China so as to change misperceptions and ease misgivings; and third, to draw on British perspectives and experience.’ Mr Li stressed that ‘China is a beneficiary and a contributor to peace’ and ‘as a major country on the world stage, China would dedicate itself to securing peace and co-operation’. ‘China is eager to learn from other nations, will keep abreast of the trend of the times, will actively engage in global dialogue, and will promote the 21st century as an era of peace and co-operation.’ He is also unusually frank about China’s process in modernisation, compared to other countries. ‘A latecomer to modernisation and weighed down by weak economic foundations, China lags far behind the United Kingdom and other western countries in many areas’, he added. ‘Its quest for modernisation remains a long and arduous one. As premier, my highest priority is to pursue modernisation through urbanisation and industrialisation.’ In the latest sign of UK attempts to win back the support of Beijing, ministers announced a relaxation of visa restrictions to attract lucrative trade links. Beijing has made clear that difficulties for business leaders and students getting into the UK are contributing to Chinese firms increasingly switching their attention to rival European economies. Ambassador to London Liu Xiaoming recently complained that progress on making it easier for his countrymen to visit Britain had been 'far from enough'. Home Secretary Theresa May will unveil reforms designed to help the UK compete better with France and Germany for deals with firms from what has now become the world's second largest economy. | Chinese Premier says he wants to show Britain the 'real China'
Three-day visit begins to repair relations between London and Beijing .
Tensions mounted after David Cameron met the Dalai Lama . |
100,415 | 0d5f9667db4824668c28adcabc10fe19388bc89a | By . Tammy Hughes . PUBLISHED: . 05:41 EST, 15 May 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 05:57 EST, 15 May 2012 . The . number of men doing part-time work because they cannot find a full-time . job has more than doubled in the last four years, according to a new study. The . Trade Union Congress (TUC) said almost 600,000 men were working part-time in December while . looking for full-time positions, compared to 293,000 at the end of 2007. Latest . official figures have shown that 1.4 million workers and self-employed . people work part-time because they cannot find full-time employment, the . highest figure since records began in 1992. A TUC graph shows that the East of England has the highest percentage rise of involuntary part-time workers . The number of people settling for part-time positions has sky-rocketed with the highest number of disgruntled workers based in London . People living in the . east of England have been hit by the biggest increase in . under-employment over the past four years, with the number of men . “trapped” in part-time jobs more than trebling to almost 60,000, said . the TUC. Its analysis of official figures showed that the North East, . Northern Ireland and London also experienced sharp rises in involuntary . part-time work. The report, published ahead of the latest . unemployment figures tomorrow, also revealed that the number of women . working in involuntary part-time jobs has more than doubled in London . and Northern Ireland over the past four years. More employees in Britain have been forced to work part-time than anywhere else in Europe - according to figures released by the European Union. Unemployment fell by 35,000 to 2.65million between December and February this year - the first quarterly since last spring. But experts suggest that this fall was fueled by the rise in part-time workers. There are 1.77million Britons classed as ‘underemployed’, which means they want to work longer hours but cannot find any available jobs. As a result, these workers said they had no choice but to take a part-time job despite needing the money from a full-time job or extra shifts. The average worker with a full-time job is paid an annual salary of £26,000 while a part time worker gets only £8,000 on average. TUC general secretary . Brendan Barber said: “Last month’s fall in unemployment was a welcome . surprise. No-one should be under any illusion however that the jobs . crisis is over. “Virtually all employment growth is coming from . part-time and temporary jobs but most of the people taking them want and . need permanent, full-time work. “Any job may be better than no job . at all but people are having to make huge salary sacrifices to stay . working. This is bad news for family finances and it is holding back our . economy. “Any hope of an economic recovery that benefits everyone . rests on the growth of well-paid, skilled, full-time jobs. It is the . only way for people to increase their incomes and get back to working to . the best of their ability. “Proper jobs growth, rather than . self-defeating austerity and making work even more insecure by attacking . basic employment rights, must be the Government’s top priority.” Areas . of the UK with the most people doing part-time work because they cannot . find full-time jobs include London (198,000), the North West (152,000), . the South East (141,000) and the West Midlands (132,000), said the TUC. Last month it was revealed that . overall unemployment has fallen for the first time in almost a year. But that still leaves 2.65 million people out of work. The total dipped by 35,000 in the three months to the end of February, giving a jobless rate of 8.3 per cent. Employment minister Chris Grayling said the figures were a 'step in the right direction'. Trapped: Men are are struggling to find full time employment . But as Britain fears a double dip-recession its wealthiest 1,000 people became even richer over the past year. Bucking the economic downturn the super-rich have so far enjoyed a great 2012, with the combined wealth of the richest 1,000 now standing at a record £414.26 billion, up 4.7 per cent. The previous high of £412.85 billion in 2008 was set months before the financial crash from which the rest of Britain has yet to fully recover. | Official figures show that 1.4million men are taking on shifts and casual work because they cannot find a full-time job .
600,000 men were working part-time in December while .
looking for full-time positions, compared to 293,000 at the end of 2007.
The east of England has shown the biggest increase under-employment . |
232,230 | b8b6c42d6a2a497f341a3c75e81ef458de9f1837 | TBILISI, Georgia (CNN) -- Russian forces appeared to be in control of two key Georgian cities early Friday, and there were reports of tanks on the move again. A woman outside a bombed apartment block in Gori, Georgia, on Thursday. Russia said Thursday that its withdrawal of Gori would be complete within hours, and the U.S. said it looked like the Russian military was gearing up to leave, but CNN's Michael Ware confirmed that Russian troops were comfortably in control of Gori in the early hours of Friday. The town was a base for the Georgian military and is near the breakaway South Ossetia province where the conflict began. Meanwhile, there are reports of Russian vehicles on the move towards Poti, a port city in the west of Georgia. Georgia's President Mikheil Saakashvili said that more than 100 tanks and other vehicles are traveling in convoy between the cities of Senaki and Kutaisi. CNN has not independently confirmed the claim. "I appeal for the help of every civilized person in the world to stop this uncivilized, barbarian, inhuman, treacherous, absolutely outrageous behavior, and to save innocent lives," Saakashvili said. He estimated that Russian soldiers control about one-third of his country and said his government has received 1,400 reports of brutal attacks. On Thursday, about 200 Russian troops were in Gori, just outside South Ossetia, the U.S. defense official said. A Russian general confirmed troops were in Gori, but said they should be withdrawn within hours. Watch Russian troops on the road to Tbilisi » . The U.S. official said there were also troops in Poti, having been put ashore in the Black Sea port several days ago. Russians have been accused of bombing targets in Poti, including a military installation and ships. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov denied Wednesday that there were Russian troops in Poti. But a CNN crew that tried to drive to Poti on Thursday found the road blocked by Russian soldiers. U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who has been charged with a major humanitarian mission to Georgia, warned that U.S.-Russian relations could be hurt "for years to come" but ruled out any U.S. military action in the region. The conflict in Georgia began late last week, when Tbilisi launched a military incursion into South Ossetia in an effort to rout separatist rebels. Watch some of the destruction in South Ossetia » . Russia -- which supports the separatists, many of whom claim Russian citizenship -- responded the next day, sending tanks across the border into the province. The conflict quickly spread to parts of Georgia and to Abkhazia, another breakaway region. Concern beyond Georgia's borders prompted European leaders, spearheaded by French President Nicolas Sarkozy, to mediate a cease-fire deal and U.S. President Bush to offer humanitarian support. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is in France. A senior State Department official familiar with the negotiations said she will be going to Tbilisi with a cease-fire document that allows Russia to keep some troops in Georgia, but it will not be the final version of the document. Watch the latest on Rice's mission » . International agreements signed in the early 1990s allow Russian peacekeepers to maintain a presence in South Ossetia and Abkhazia as part of a force including Georgians and South Ossetians. Analysts see the conflict as a gamble initiated by Georgia, which is seeking EU and NATO membership, to test the strength of its Western allies in the face of Russia's unwillingness to see the West encroaching on its doorstep. In five days of fighting, both sides accused the other of targeting civilians, with casualty reports in the thousands. Many more people have fled the fighting into Russia and Georgia, leaving heavily bombarded towns and cities deserted. Despite Tuesday's cease-fire deal, accusations of ongoing hostilities have continued on both sides, and Russia's incursion into undisputed Georgian territory has adding to confusion fueled doubts that a quick solution to the conflict can be found. Watch as a reporter is grazed by a bullet » . Russian Gen. Nikolai Uvarov said Russia had invaded Gori because it is Georgia's main military base and an arms munition storage there had been left unattended. iReport.com: Ask ex-Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev about the crisis . Meanwhile, Russia's deputy chief of general staff, Col. Gen. Anatoly Nogovitsyn, said that a withdrawal plan to pull troops from the breakaway region had yet to be approved by Russia's defense ministry or its president, Dmitry Medvedev. During a Moscow visit by the leaders of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, Lavrov said that Georgia's current borders were "limited," an indication that the two breakaway regions may never agree to rejoin it. All three voiced their unity against what Abkhazian leader Sergey Bagapsh called "those aggressors from Georgia." South Ossetian leader Eduard Kokoity compared Georgia's initial assault on the region's capital Tskhinvali, which prompted the Russian invasion, to Germany's attempt to seize Stalingrad during World War II. iReport.com: Are you reminded of past wars? Do you remember the Cold War? "Tskhinvali has become the Stalingrad of the Caucusus," Kokoity said at a joint news conference. Saakashvili suggested earlier that Russia invaded his country to establish control over the former Soviet republic, where a major oil pipeline passes through. View a map of the region » . "The fact that the biggest number of bombs fell on purely economic and civilian targets clearly indicated that was a premeditated thing and it had nothing to do only with Abkhazia or South Ossetia," Saakashvili said. Russian peacekeeping troops were also in the western Georgian city of Zugdidi, just outside Abkhazia. Video showed the Russians, clearly wearing the blue helmets that signify their peacekeeper status, at the official government residence in the town. iReport.com: How is the Russia-Georgia conflict affecting you? U.S. officials said Russia is thought to have 15,000 or more troops in the region, between 5,000 and 7,000 more than when the fighting began. Russia's Lavrov said Russia's operations were about "peace enforcement" in respect of Georgia, which "violates all of its obligations." Copyright 2008 CNN. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Associated Press contributed to this report. | Russian military appears in control of two key Georgia cities .
Georgia says more than 100 tanks, vehicles moving between Senaki and Kutaisi .
Source tells CNN draft peace deal could see some Russian stay in Georgia .
Conflict began when Georgia launched action against rebels in South Ossetia . |
144,317 | 46a18cd67bd551ad5b1ff4262e948dbe7123fa4b | A fascinating 18th Century ‘prenup’ between Napoleon Bonaparte and his first wife Josephine is set to be auctioned in Paris. It suggests that the legendary couple, who married in 1796, were just as concerned about protecting their personal wealth as any rich man and wife living today. The contract will be auctioned in the French capital on September 21th, and is expected to go for up to £80,000. I aint sayin' she a golddigger: A ‘prenup’ between Napoleon Bonaparte and his first wife Josephine de Beauharnais is set to fetch £80,000 at auction . Not only did both Josephine and Napoleon lie about their age in the documents, but they failed to disclose assets in case they had to divide them following a separation. The contract states that the pair will ‘in no way be responsible for the debts and mortgages of the other’ and that there will be ‘no common property’. Josephine was six years older than her lover – something that was likely to provoke a scandal at the time, because she would have been expected to produce an heir. Josephine de Beauharnais was also a widow well known for her passionate affairs with a number of men when she became Napoleon’s mistress in 1795. Older women: Napoleon was 26 when he married Josephine - a 33-year-old widow . He was 26 at the time, and already a brilliantly successful military commander who would go on to become Emperor of France. The national hero was very wary of . losing his growing wealth, as was Josephine, who had been married to . Alexandre de Beauharnais, an aristocrat guillotined during the French . Revolution. A law of 1795 . allowed Josephine to reclaim her dead husband’s assets, and she was . determined to hang on with them, along with her two children. Napoleon's . mother and sisters were particularly resentful of his marriage to . Josephine, because she made them feel unsophisticated. It . was for these reasons that an old fashioned version of the prenuptial . agreement was signed by both on March 8, 1796, the day before their . wedding. Although nothing . like as complicated as it would be today ‘it is a contract which is full . of anecdotes,’ said Jean-Christophe Chataignier, of auctioneers Osenat. ‘It may look simple - you . have all the normal artefacts you'd find in a marriage contract, but . when you study it closely it gives us lots of information about how . things might be divided.’ As . it turned out, the marriage lasted less than a decade and was annulled . by the Pope when Josephine failed to give Napoleon children. The relationship was often used by the British to mock Napoleon, along with his relatively small height. ‘Boney’ was meant to have regularly said ‘Not tonight, Josephine’ because he . could not keep up with Josephine's sexual demands, but this is in fact a . myth. | Prenup between Napoleon and his first wife Josephine goes on sale .
Agreement was signed on March 8, 1796, the day before their wedding .
Contract will be auctioned off and is expected to go for up to £80,000 . |
5,241 | 0ed7f79d2c4d9135f8b6cfc6835b034b1350c9ab | (CNN) -- After dealing with porcupine creatures, shape-shifters and planes full of crystallized bodies over five seasons, star John Noble is still having the time of his life on "Fringe." The cult favorite sci-fi series is in the midst of its final season on Fox, and classic episodes premiere Tuesday night on the Science Channel. Noble, who plays the brilliant (and occasionally mad) scientist Walter Bishop, recently spoke with CNN about his experience with the show and what fans can look forward to in the remaining episodes, leading up to a January 18 series finale. CNN: Are you nearing the end of filming now? Noble: My goodness, yes. We start filming our penultimate episode Tuesday morning. We're very close to the end, mate. CNN: And what's that feeling like? Noble: It just feels like an awful lot of work (laughs). We've still got a bit to do. It's an exciting thing feeling it all come together. There's a sense of closeness among the crew. We're here in Vancouver; it's our fourth year and, for the cast, our fifth year together. It's a bit odd. We are friends, so it's a bit sad. CNN: Meanwhile, you're getting a second life on the Science Channel. Noble: The thing about Science Channel is that they know "Fringe," and they love it. The people I know there have watched from the beginning. It's not just another product. They've brought people in to talk about the science of it. We're in a very good second home. CNN: This season, do you feel that Walter is bearing the weight of a tremendous amount of pressure to put together this plan to fight the Observers? Noble: Yes, but I think the pressure's on everyone. All the key players have to come to some sort of conclusion, and that's the gift of these last 13 episodes. Every character is under pressure, if you can call it that. But it's a good journey. Every episode takes us further on the track to the finale. It's like writing a novel and having the chance to write the final chapter. The stakes are lifted every week for us. It's kind of exciting. CNN: We've seen so many major twists just this season. What was your reaction to learning that Peter was going to utilize the tech of an Observer and sort of become one himself? Noble: Well, it's pretty inspired, really. If you can't beat them, join them. Peter realized to combat these people, he would have to be on equal terms with them. It also gave Joshua Jackson a marvelous journey, which I think he's done splendidly. The fun thing is that both men are struggling with their arrogance and hubris in different ways. It's a very interesting story arc to play as well. You have Walter not trying to be so smart and cruel, and Peter wanting to be more so. So that's playing out really well. CNN: The show took a short break in shooting this season, as you had to take some time to take care of yourself. Are you doing better now? Noble: I'm doing very well, mate. We decided we needed to address an ongoing issue, which been going on a long time for me, which is that I don't sleep. Ultimately, given the load of travel, I was starting to hit a wall. We did what we could to correct that. We probably really didn't need to take as much time as we did. The management was terrific and said, "Get it sorted out." We're still going strong at this stage, so something worked. CNN: Have you enjoyed discovering Twitter? Noble: I thought it was time I got with it. (Laughs) I resisted for so long. I have no idea, to be honest, what I'm doing. I just go on every once in a while and say something, and it gets retweeted 6,000 times. It's an astonishing way of communicating. Thank God for that, because it takes away the tyranny of those who would withhold information. I remember I tweeted, "Just saying g'bye to Georgina Haig. Lovely woman!" I just had afternoon tea with Georgina (whose character died in a recent episode). That was taken as, she's gone forever. At that stage, she was still on the show, so I thought "What have I done?" I knew she was gone! You've gotta be careful! (Laughs) CNN: Walter is famous for his love of junk food. Do you have a favorite junk food on or off set? Noble: To survive, I try not to eat junk food. I hate to destroy the myth! On a film set, if you eat junk food, you'd finish around 400 pounds at the end of the first season. That's just the nature of the work. To destroy another myth, we don't actually eat it, because we can't. In 40 takes, you'd be absolutely bloated with Red Vines or whatever else you're having. We go through the motions of it and then have to get rid of it to so we can do another take. There was a bacon sandwich I thought was rather nice ... CNN: And what can fans expect as it comes to a close? Noble: I haven't read the final episode yet, but I know that (executive producer) Joel Wyman has put everything, and I mean everything, he's got into this. He's directing the last episode. I think it will be a masterpiece. I haven't read it, but I can't imagine anything less with the amount of heart he's put into it. Fingers crossed, but that's my prediction. I think it will be a masterpiece. | John Noble's cult show "Fringe" is nearing the end of its run .
Noble addressed his sleep disorder treatment, which briefly halted production .
He's not as much of a junk food fan as his character; he recently discovered Twitter .
Noble shared his prediction for the final episode: "A masterpiece" |
169,419 | 67371cfe93a75d7d45070ab2b125a49e2907bfe9 | By . Ashley Collman For Mailonline . Daniel Colman won the second-highest prize in poker history last night, but his face gave no clue. The 23-year-old poker sensation took home $15.3million when he beat out card-playing veteran Daniel Negreanu at the final table of the Big One for One Drop tournament in Las Vegas on Tuesday. But after the final card secured his win, he kept his poker face on and refused to even grant interviews. Scroll down for video . Reserved: Daniel Colman, 23, won the Big One for One Drop tournament in Las Vegas Tuesday night but refused to smile after the victory . Unimpressed: Colman's $15.3million prize is the second-highest in poker history, but he didn't want to talk about it with reporters after the event . Don't spend it all at once: Colman pictured posing with his winnings before leaving the tournament . Colman, from Boston, Massachusetts, beat out 41 other players in the tournament to benefit the One Drop Foundation but he had to be persuaded to even pose with his cash prize and bracelet. Five minutes after the victory, he left the Rio Las Vegas hotel with a handler telling a Las Vegas Sun reporter he had 'no interest in promoting poker'. Colman's behavior was quite a contrast to that of his competitor, Negreanu, who stayed on the stage for 30 minutes after the event to talk to reporters. He holds no ill-opinion of Colman for his behavior after the win though. 'I respect it completely,' Negreanu said of Colman. 'To each his own. If it’s not something he wants to do then I think we should all give him a break.' Colman's opponent Daniel Negreanu was much more livelier during the event, before Colman won . No big deal: Colman pictured going all in on the last hand . Negreanu certainly wasn't grieving the loss too much, since placing second in the tournament earned him $8.3million - making him the new all-time winningest player with a $29.8million poker fortune. Colman's behavior should be understood considering the difference between professional poker players and athletes when it comes to TV. While athletes have TV contracts included in their pay, poker players do not and have to front their own entrance into tournaments - therefore getting nothing from a network like ESPN televising their game or interview. It is also rumored that Colman may have only invested 10 per cent of his $1million entry into the tournament, meaning his actual winnings from Tuesday are just $1.53million. | Poker player Daniel Colman, 23, won the Big One for One Drop tournament in Las Vegas on Tuesday, but refused to get emotional about the victory .
His $15.3million prize is the second-highest in poker history . |
202,645 | 925b1756065eef7ffd03b9073730d78e005a8d36 | The world's oldest working barmaid has died aged 100 after pulling more than two million pints during her 74-year career behind the bar. Great-great grandmother Dolly Saville began her first job at a Buckinghamshire public house in 1940, when a pint cost just eight pence. Over the last seven decades she has pulled millions of pints and served many famous faces, including James Bond actor Pierce Brosnan, former Prime Minister Ted Heath, footballer Stanley Matthews, singer Vera Lynn, ballet dancer Margot Fonteyn and actress Elizabeth Taylor. Mrs Saville at work in the beer garden in The Red Lion in 1949 (left) and last year still working three days a week (right) has sadly passed away . Until six years ago, she was still working at least six hours a day, six days a week at The Red Lion Hotel in Wendover and has only ever had two weeks sick leave her entire life. She had to reduce her shifts to three hours a week, but still spent time working on her feet clearing tables, serving customers and polishing glasses. At her 100th birthday party in April last year, she'd had no plans to stop working. 'They will have to carry me out from the Red Lion,' she said. 'I love the people, that's what keeps me going. Dolly Saville had served a number of celebrities in her 74-year career including with James Bond actor Pierce Brosnan, pictured at the Red Lion . 'I didn't think I would stay for such a long time but I've never thought about leaving.' Sam Hughes, the pub's deputy manager, said at the time: 'She's full of energy and has a good sense of humour. She keeps us all in check half the time. 'It's a shame we don't have more people like her.' The pensioner, who leaves behind three grandchildren, three great-grandchildren . and one great-great granddaughter, even had the bar she works at . named 'Dolly's' in her honour. Mrs Saville, whose two children are both retired, said last year: 'I love my work and I love the people, it keeps me going and it's better . than sitting around. 'I . never thought I would be here this long, but I've loved every minute of . it. My family keeps asking if I want to stop, but I have no plans to . retire. 'My boss is lovely and if he asked me to work an extra shift I would say yes as he has been so kind to me.' Born in Eton, Berkshire, Mrs Saville left school at 14 and went into service as a house maid. She married in her late teens and her daughter Anne was born soon after, followed by her son Roland. When war broke out several years later, her husband joined the RAF and Dolly had to get a job to support the family. Despite the fact that both her children are both retired, Mrs Saville had not wanted to give up work at the Red Lion in Wendover . She . had never done bar work before but was offered a job in the hotel by . the landlord who spotted her walking past one day with her children. She said: 'The . landlord asked if I would like to work there, but I said no as I hadn't . worked in a bar before and I never thought anymore about it. 'Then . he saw me up the High Street and asked if I'd thought anymore about it. I said I hadn't but he said 'why don't you give it a try' so I said I . would. 'I started just washing up glasses in the saloon bar. Then, . after I'd been there about five or six weeks he said I think you could . serve. 'I said 'Oh I don't think so, I'd give them the wrong change!' But I did, and I got on very well.' When Mrs Saville first started the 16th Century hotel had three bars, a public bar, a saloon bar and a cocktail bar, and she would work in all three. Her children, who were three and five at the time, would be left to play in the staff room or the beautiful hotel gardens. Dolly Saville, aged 3, in 1917, with her mother (right) and her brother Fred . Another celebrity pal: Dolly Saville with footballer Sir Stanley Matthews in 1982, one of the many celebrities she met during her time as a barmaid at The Red Lion . She said: 'I worked in all three bars and over the years I've also cooked in the kitchen, done the bedrooms, the reception and the teas. I've done the lot. 'It has always been great fun and sometimes after a long shift I would be tired but we would go out dancing.' 'Even after the hotel, which has historical links with Oliver Cromwell and Robert Louis Stevenson, was closed five years ago for six months refurbishment Dolly refused to give up work. Instead she went to the nearby King and Queen pub in Wendover, and continued working at the bars. She said: 'I was so sad when they closed for six months. 'But I went to the King and Queen instead, they asked me if I would go there and I quite enjoyed that I must say! (Left) Dolly Saville in 1979, the year that the smallpox virus was eradicated, and Dolly Saville aged 27 in 1941 (right) Mrs Saville's granddaughter Kim Leemans said: 'We tried to get her to retire years ago but she said no, so we gave up the fight and let her carry on' 'I get very bored if I'm sitting too long. I must be doing something and working keeps my brain active. 'I think that comes from when I left school at 14 and I went into private service. You had to work then, there was no nonsense, and if you didn't do it properly you did it again.' The pensioner had just started working at the bar and was just 26. King George VI was on the throne, Winston . Churchill was Prime Minister and Britain was in the grip of World War . Two. The battle of France began, and the Dutch official surrendered to the German forces. Paris was eventually bombed and invaded, while the French Resistance began their preliminary planning for guerrilla counter-attacks. Later, the 'Battle of Britain' began, with the Nazi Luftwaffe consistently bombing London, and several parts of England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland, at strategic points, such as docks and aeronautical manufacturing plants. This led to a period called the Blitz (a result of the British 'blackout') a pattern of strategic bombings by Nazi planes over populated areas. The draft of around 16 million men began in the U.S, prior to their involvement in the war. Also, Bugs Bunny made his debut in the Oscar-nominated cartoon short, A Wild Hare. Mrs Saville, who became famous herself for being such a long-serving bar maid, also served many celebrities. 'I served Pierce Brosnan when he had lunch at the hotel while he was filming one of the Bond films,' she said previously. 'I also made tea and toast for Ted Heath when he came in on a chilly afternoon. 'Vera Lynn has also popped into the hotel several times for lunch. I think everyone in the village knows me now.' Mrs Saville's daughter Anne Edwards, 79, from Wendover, said until she was 94 her mother would work a morning shift, come home for lunch, then go back again in the evening. 'When she started the job it was out of necessity, but I think it gradually became her life,' she added. Mrs Saville's granddaughter Kim Leemans said the family had tried to get her to retire but she would hear none if it. Robert Hynes, deputy manager, said last year: 'She is amazing and the customers absolutely love her. She has told me she doesn't want to leave until the day she dies. 'The younger members of staff aspire to be like her and think she'd brilliant. I think the job keeps her going and gives her something to look forward to. 'We get regulars who come in especially to see Dolly and in the run up to her birthday they've been travelling from further afield to see her.' Hideko Arima, from Japan, was formerly the world's oldest bar maid. She worked at her tiny bar, Gilbey Ai in Tokyo's Ginza district for 52 years until she was 101, and died in 2003. | Dolly Saville, from Buckinghamshire, had been a barmaid since 1940 .
During her long career she pulled millions of pints and served celebrities .
At her 100th birthday last year Mrs Saville said she'd had no plans to retire . |
160,940 | 5c10de06ae724463675d79ea4006c4fe76b928ea | (EW.com) -- It's a great day to be a Marvel superhero. "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" took the No. 1 spot for the third weekend in a row, earning $26.61 million this holiday weekend, allowing it to cross that magical $200 million finish line. For comparison's sake, this sequel — directed by Anthony and Joe Russo — has already out-earned 2011′s "Captain America: The First Avenger," which ended its run with $176.65 million. What's the real takeaway from all this? That for all the idle chatter of audience superhero fatigue, no one is going to be putting away the spandex just yet. It will be interesting to see how "The Amazing Spider-Man 2" — already healthily earning overseas — fares when it opens domestically on May 2. Will Christian audiences turn out for 'Heaven Is for Real'? Initially it seemed like this weekend would be a tight race between holdover sequels "Captain America" and "Rio 2," but it turned out to be less so, with Fox's animated avians coming in at $22.5 million this weekend, bringing its domestic totals to $75.36 million. How the lure of a blue macaw voiced by Bruno Mars didn't succeed in nabbing the No. 1 spot is hard to say, but keep an eye on this one over the next few weeks to see what kind of staying power it may have. Meanwhile the faith-based "Heaven Is for Real" continues to pleasantly surprise during its first weekend in wide release: TriStar's film brought in $21.5 million this weekend, bringing its five-day total to $28.5 million. The demographics for the film broke down to 62 percent female and 38 percent male and, interestingly, 49 percent of the audience under the age of 35. The movie stars Greg Kinnear and Kelly Reilly as real-life couple Todd and Sonja Burpo, whose son claims to have seen Heaven while unconscious. Review: 'Transcendence' Much less happy news is the $11.15 million opening of Warner Bros.' "Transcendence." This cyber-thriller starring Johnny Depp opened to lackluster reviews (such as ours by Chris Nashawaty) and a meh Cinemascore of C+. Does this mean, finally, that we can stop with movies about sentient computers? Probably not. And don't expect the stink of this flick to stick to Depp or his co-stars, Rebecca Hall, Morgan Freeman, and Kate Mara — we're guessing they'll be just fine. Hopefully this will not deter longtime Christopher Nolan cinematographer Wally Pfister from getting back in the director's chair either. Another new release this weekend, "Haunted House 2," came in fifth place with $9.1 million. With a reported $4 million budget, this is good news for the Marlon Wayans-led comedy (tagline: "It'll scare the #2 out of you"), which may not have delighted critics but received a B- Cinemascore. Review: 'Haunted House 2' Here's the final breakdown on this weekend's top five: . 1. "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" — $26.61 million . 2. "Rio 2" — $22.5 million . 3. "Heaven Is for Real" — $21.5 million . 4. "Transcendence" — $11.15 million . 5. "A Haunted House 2" -- $9.1 million . See the original story at EW.com. CLICK HERE to Try 2 RISK FREE issues of Entertainment Weekly . © 2011 Entertainment Weekly and Time Inc. All rights reserved. | "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" was No. 1 for a third weekend .
The movie has now crossed the $200 million mark .
In second place at the box office was "Rio 2"
Johnny Depp's new movie "Transcendence" opened in fourth place . |
57,142 | a1f4b54757cc0a944307f212cb7067e1b9b04856 | By . Kerry Mcqueeney . PUBLISHED: . 04:02 EST, 26 July 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 01:47 EST, 27 July 2012 . The war-torn Afghan capital of Kabul was once a place where cinema was outlawed under the fanatical rule of the Taliban. However, a decade after the brutal regime fell, film makers from Afghanistan have created a celluloid tribute to their battle-scarred city. Kabul, I Love You has been described as a love letter to the capital, rooted in the grim reality of everyday life for its citizens. Film-makers on the set of Kabul, I Love You, created a decade after the fall of the cinema-hating Taliban . Issues . such as forced marriage, people smuggling, illegal land grabs, land . mines and ethnic conflict is explored through 10 interwoven stories in the film. Afghanistan's film industry was hammered by 17 years of war after the Soviet invasion in 1979 and was snuffed out entirely under the extreme rule of the Taliban. During their 1996-2001 regime, the extremists closed cinemas and hung televisions from lampposts, regarding all images as un-Islamic. Even sculptures were targeted, with the famous giant Buddhas of Bamiyan paying the price. Now Afghan cinema is struggling to . re-emerge amid a wrecked economy and an ongoing insurgency against the . Western-backed government of President Hamid Karzai. According . to documentary-maker Malek Shafi'i, Afghanistan produces about 100 . films a year but they are usually shot on small budgets and are often . very poor. Kabul, I Love You has been funded by the UN mission in Afghanistan, UNAMA, as a means of giving the country's cinema a boost. Ario Soltani, from UNAMA, says the idea was to encourage film-makers to develop their own ideas. Afghan cinema is struggling to re-emerge amid a wrecked economy and an ongoing insurgency against the Western-backed government of President Hamid Karzai . Young men watch crew members from Kabul, I Love You working on set. Afghanistan produces about 100 films a year but they are usually shot on small budgets and are often very poor . He said: 'We wanted to reach the film-makers, to support them, to communicate with Afghan people. 'Not with our messages but with theirs. We hope they reflect the Afghan society and the Afghan ideas of that time.' However, funding the project was not without its problems. One of the 11 directors chosen from 200 applicants fled the country as soon as he got his hands on UNAMA's $8,000, while another left for Iran after being threatened. However, despite these setbacks, . shooting for the film was completed and it got a warm reception when it . was screened at the French cultural centre in Kabul in May. While . some of the entries betrayed the directors' lack of experience - with . exaggerated characters, hammy dialogue and a deathly slow pace - other . showed real flair. Critics particularly liked the modest and restrained dialogue of Farhad Razae's bitter denunciation of forced marriage. In the short section - titled Virgin . Towers - the caretaker of a mosque learns that a pretty young woman in . his place of worship has fled her family to escape marrying one of her . relatives. In the last five years, writers and artists have been pushing boundaries in what remains an extremely conservative society in Afghanistan . The young woman, denounced by a neighbour, ends up running from the police. Her heavy breath and field of vision restricted by the burqa she wears to hide herself allow the viewer to feel the horror of the condition of women in Afghanistan. Rezae said he based the film on experiences he had as a young man looking after a mosque. He said: 'During that time, a girl was coming for prayers. She would rest in the mosque two hours after the prayers. I wanted to know who this girl is, but I was ashamed and because of religion, I never asked her what her problems were.' Shafi'i hailed Rezae's achievement, saying he had 'managed to get closer to Afghan realities' than other film-makers. Shafi'i added that, in the last five years, writers and artists have been pushing boundaries in what remains an extremely conservative society. He said: 'Now, people have started to realise that if they cross borders, nothing will happen to them.' NATO forces are due to depart Afghanistan by the end of 2014 and the precarious security situation they will leave behind is not likely to be conducive to this dream of artistic growth. It is hoped Kabul, I Love You will send out a message of hope to budding film-makers and other citizens of Afghanistan. | Film is described as a love letter to the Afghan capital a decade after the fall of the brutal regime .
Ten interwoven stories explore issues such as forced marriage, people smuggling and ethnic conflict . |
84,759 | f07e5a094046a6c23aa942e41041de9ce5157a9d | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 08:31 EST, 26 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 08:31 EST, 26 December 2013 . These hilarious photos show how everyday objects can be turned into friendly faces with the simple addition of a pair of stick-on googly eyes. The craze, known as 'eyebombing', is considered by fans to be an easy way of brightening up the world around them. And two visionary Danish designers have set up a website for eyebombers across the world to share images of themselves joining in with the craze. Hilarious: This is an example of 'eyebombing', where web users attach googly eyes to everyday objects . Iconic: A happy face on a telescope looking from the top of the Eiffel Tower over the rest of Paris . Festive: A Christmas tree decorated with giant googly eyes to celebrate the holiday period . Eerie: Attaching eyes to this chayote squash makes it look like a snake or deep-sea creature . Smiling: Two Danish designers who set up a website dedicated to eyebombing say they want to make the world a cheerier place for all their users . Eyebombing has been going on for years, thanks to the comic potential of applying googly eyes to objects such as postboxes, drainpipes and bins. But more recently Peter Dam and Kim Nielsen decided to celebrate the practice with their site, Eyebombing.com, whose motto is: 'Humanising the world, one google eye at a time.' They have imposed two strict rules on wannabe eyebombers - the eyes can only be put on inanimate objects, and it must be done in a public place. Dignified: Fans say the practice shows almost any inanimate object can be turned into a face . Rusting: But this plug was given a new lease of life with the addition of a pair of comic eyes . Shock: A water pipe is transformed into an open mouth with the temporary addition of a pair of eyes . Open wide! This barcode scanner is yet another candidate for the eyebombing treatment . Vandalism? The founders of the eyebombing website say that because it is anonymous it is very different to graffiti . What's going on? The comic craze has been cheering up web users for several years now . While the practice may seem frivolous and silly, the website's founders insist they have an important purpose in helping to cheer up the whole world. 'The goal is simple - it is just to bring more chuckles, smiles and laughs to the world,' the pair told BBC News. 'It gives us the opportunity to create a smile in people's very busy lives.' Putting a smile on the face of the world: Kim Nielsen and Peter Dam are adamant that eyebombing serves a social purpose by increasing people's general happiness . Crowded: But the end of a rail is just about large enough to fit a pair of googly eyes . Monstrous: An old ventilation grate in Cornwall is transformed into a fearsomely gaping mouth . Hygiene: A hand soap dispenser becomes an alarmed-looking face after an eyebombing . Wacky: An official metal tag becomes a bear's muzzle thanks to some creative editing . Outside: These fire hydrants obey the rule that all eyebombings must take place in public . Some may compare eyebombing to graffiti, but Mr Dam and Mr Nielsen say that because it is anonymous it is far more selfless than painting your own name on the side of a building. 'Graffiti and tagging are all about you,' they said. 'Eyebombing is only about giving something to others.' In addition, they insist that fans should only use removable sticky eyes, rather than gluing them on, so that they do not do any damage. Subtle: Eyebombing can often be a particularly unobtrusive form of public artwork . Shifty: The peculiar alignment of these googly eyes makes the plug look particularly guilty . I eat your coins: This payphone becomes a gluttonous individual with the addition of a pair of eyes . Looking grate: Another face set into a brick wall thanks to the magic of eyebombing . Gigantic: An unusually large pair of googly eyes was required to eyebomb this bucket over a well . | Danish designers have set up website which celebrates the internet craze . |
24,340 | 4508e50e595f691b68f0824d64008b3bb903f469 | Argan oil is something of an all-round beauty superhero: the skin, hair and nail saviour is beloved by stars Kim Kardashian, Madonna and Selena Gomez for its rich, moisturising properties. And the oil, often dubbed 'liquid gold' due to its rarity and expense, is also . providing a lifeline for Berber women and their families in the . semi-desert Souss valley of south western Morocco, one of the only regions in . the world where the argan tree grows. Long used as a traditional remedy by Berber women to treat wrinkles, scars, and acne, argan oil is renowned for being incredibly moisturising, highly anti-inflammatory and easily absorbed. It's recently become one of the beauty world's biggest new breakthroughs, despite being known to Moroccans since the thirteenth century. Beauty secret: Radiant beauties Kim Kardashian, left, and Eva Mendes, right, swear by the power of argan oil - and the production of it in Morocco is helping women earn a living in a remote desert where work is hard to find . A relatively small geographical area - 9,900 square miles in southwestern Morocco - produces nearly all of the world’s argan oil. Because the trees are under threat, UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) has declared the region a biosphere (an artificial structure enclosing a self-contained ecosystem) reserve in 1998. One large French company makes just over . half of the argan oil, and then there are lots of smaller cooperatives. One of the biggest companies to reap the oil is Neal's Yard Remedies, who support the Tighanimine Cooperative, the world’s first Fairtrade certified women’s Argan Oil cooperative. They the first women’s only argan cooperative and the first Fairtrade argan cooperative. NYR as a company were awarded 100 per cent for it’s ethical standards. Established in 2007 by women who met at a literacy class, it has now become a hugely successful cooperative providing women in the region with work to support their families. Today, the 60 members of the cooperative work in every area of the business, from collecting, transporting (by donkey), hand-cracking and pressing the nuts, and all have access to top administrative positions. Neal's Yard say is an incredible achievement anywhere, but particularly in the traditionally male-orientated Berber community. Hard at work: One of the biggest companies to reap the oil is Neal's Yard Remedies, who set up the Tighanimine Cooperative - a team of 60 Berber women who collect and harvest the nuts - all whilst clapping and singing . Where it all begins: Fatima and her team produce 1,000 litres of oil every month by hand cracking each and every nut to produce thousands of litres of argan oil . The income is helping to change not only the women’s lives, but also their family’s too. Once completely financially dependent on their husbands, the women can now contribute to the household income; many providing the family's only regular salary. They have money to send their children to school beyond primary school, giving them to opportunity to progress to high school and even university; and the women have access to literacy and health care training. Not surprisingly, the women’s self-esteem has had a massive boost. According to a spokeswoman at the cooperative, women now have more confidence in themselves because they feel important in their home. Making a living: A relatively small geographical area - 9,900 square miles in southwestern Morocco - produces nearly all of the world's argan oil . Lifeline: Susan Curtis, Natural Health Director at Neal's Yard Remedies with Nadia, President of the Tighanimine Cooperative . Fatima, 37, is married with four boys under 13 and was one of the original cooperative workers when she joined seven years ago. Fatima, who is the main breadwinner in her family, said: 'We speak together, dance together, work, joke and enjoy life together. 'Here in the countryside there would be no other work without argan. In the city you can do cleaning, but nothing else here.' Fatima and her team produce 1,000 litres of oil every month. A spokesperson for Neal's Yard Remedies said: 'In 2012 we were ordering one kilo of argan oil, since its popularity . has grown so rapidly in last couple of years, we are now ordering 900 . kilos. Finished product: The women collect, hand-crack and press the nuts to create this £17.50 Neal's Yard Remedy argan oil . 'At NYR we sell the oil on its own as part of our base oil . collection, as well as including it in other products, such as our organic lipsticks, mascara and body care products for its nourishing . properties. 'We have always strived to go above and beyond to be as ethical as possible, and recently we were awarded the first Health & Beauty company to achieve 100% under the Ethical Company Organisation's 'Ethical Accreditation' scheme.' And it seems the A-listers can't get enough of the beauty weapon. Supermodel Gisele Bundchen has long said that argan oil is an essential part of her beauty routine, while Eva Mendes said that the oil is her 'total skin secret' and described it as 'spectacular'. Katy Perry counts it as a huge part of prepping for a photo shoot and celebrities stylists say that when Salma Hayek and Taylor Swift prepare themselves . for photoshoots, they douse a few drops of argan oil into their skin and hair. Other fans include Charlize Theron, . Madonna, Kim Kardashian, Scarlet Johansson and French beauty . Marion Cotillard. Supermodel secret: Supermodel Gisele Bundchen has long said that argan oil is an essential part of her beauty routine, left, and Katy Perry, right, uses it to prepare for shoots . | Souss valley of south western Morocco is only region argan tree grows .
Neal's Yard Remedies support the Tighanimine Cooperative .
60 women collect, hand-crack and hand-press the nuts to collect oil .
Celebrity fans of argan oil include Eva Mendes, Taylor Swift and Madonna . |
195,669 | 89434c91be72c1f5699d2661ec67ec37e852f0c8 | (CNN) -- Georgian leaders may be blaming Russia for the conflict raging in South Ossetia, but former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev said Thursday "there is no doubt" that Georgia provoked the clash. Mikhail Gorbachev told CNN's Larry King that Russia called extra troops into Georgia to stem violence. Gorbachev told CNN's Larry King that Russia moved additional forces into South Ossetia in response to "devastation" in the South Ossetia city of Tskhinvali. "This was the use of sophisticated weapons against a small town, against a sleeping people. This was a barbaric assault," said Gorbachev, the last president of the former Soviet Union. But Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, who also appeared on CNN's "Larry King Live" Thursday, said he was "profoundly shocked" that Mikhail Gorbachev would use a television appearance "for basically vindicating lies and deceptions." Last week, Georgia said it launched an operation into South Ossetia after a cease-fire was broken with artillery fire from Russian separatists that killed 10 people including civilians and peacekeepers. It accused Russia, which also has peacekeepers in the region, of backing the separatists. Hours later, the Russian news agency Interfax reported that Russian authorities said 10 Russian peacekeepers had been killed and 30 wounded in an attack by Georgians. "Western television didn't show what happened in Tskhinvali," Gorbachev said. "Only now they're beginning to show some pictures of the destruction. So this looks to me like it was a well-prepared project. And with any outcome, they wanted to put the blame on Russia." Watch Gorbachev discuss "barbaric assault" » . He called Georgia's claims that Russia is attempting to dismantle its democracy "all lies from beginning to end." In response, Saakashvili expressed disappointment with the sentiments from Gorbachev, who he said he once respected. "This is the man, Mr. Gorbachev, who helped to, you know, bring down KGB kingdom. And he is the one who is, you know, justifying what the KGB people are doing right now in my country," Saakashvili said. "Shame on him. Shame on you, Mr. Gorbachev, for perpetuating the very regime you helped to defeat and you fought against as the head of the Soviet Union." Gorbachev also said the United States is jeopardizing its fragile relationship with Russia by backing Georgia. Watch Gorbachev discuss U.S.-Russia relations » . "There is a chance for our two countries to develop a new agenda for cooperation so as to promote both U.S. and Russia interests, and the interests of other countries, and the interests of stability, particularly in the hotspots in different continents," said Gorbachev, who won the Nobel Peace Price in 1990. | NEW: Georgian president criticizes Gorbachev for "vindicating lies and deceptions"
Gorbachev says Russian called up forces in response to violence in Tskhinvali .
Georgia says Russia backed separatists who broke cease-fire and sparked violence .
The former president says U.S. is jeopardizing ties with Russia by backing Georgia . |
177,902 | 724d75d73990f8e6cf40568a52ef1832ca47abc1 | By . Katy Winter . The traditional two-week annual holiday could become a thing of the past within ten years as families increasingly opt for several 'mini-breaks' instead, according to new research. A study of Britons' changing holiday habits also predicted that by 2023 the majority of the British people will travel with multiple generations of their family including parents, grandparents and children. And rather than head abroad to the sunshine, twice as many will have 'staycations' in the UK, taking an average of two or three trips each year for four days. The traditional family vacation of two weeks abroad, is often now unpractical for busy modern families . Accommodation preferences are also set to transform, with many Brits choosing to stay in unusual locations such as lighthouses and windmills. The report, which examined the holiday habits of over 10,000 people, also showed that staycations have jumped by more than 61 per cent this summer, compared to 2012. A separate study from Mintel has shown that overseas holidays have continued to fall since 2010, dropping an estimated five per cent in the last year. Recent figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) also show that travel to long-haul destinations fell by five per cent in 2012. The cost of overseas trips, and environmental issues concerned with flying, are the leading cause of the fall in Brits travelling abroad. The report also revealed that . savvy Brits are searching for better value breaks, and there is a . growing demand for interesting destinations closer to home. Charles Millward, chief executive of . luxury cottage rental firm Rural Retreats which produced the report, . said: 'More and more of us . are enjoying holidays with our extended family. The good weather this summer has seen people taking advantage of England's natural beauty spots such as The Durdle Door at Jurassic Coast, near West Lulworth in Dorset . 'Our . hectic lifestyles also mean the typical two-week trip is no longer . practical for most families, and as a result it is being phased out in . favour of the four day mini-break. 'Many families, because of university or work commitments, also find that increasingly they live apart. 'Mini-breaks . provide an opportunity for relatives to get together at short notice, . and it seems that this trend will become even more of a popular option . for holiday-goers over the next decade.' Charles added:'With the economy still fluctuating and money tight, UK travellers are increasingly swapping long-haul flights and trips aboard to favourite destinations in the UK. Rural Retreats has seen a r40 per cent increase n bookings in their converted lighthouse properties . 'The trend for staycations has been increasing year on year, and the great weather this summer has been a watershed. 'The weather has caused Brits to flock back to UK's beaches, attractions and heritage; some of the finest in all of Europe. 'This year in particular has shown that the UK can be a fantastic holiday choice, and may provide a boost to the UK tourism industry which will see many more Brits choosing to explore UK shores over the next decade rather than holiday abroad.' Charles explains: 'There has been a large increase in people holidaying in unconventional accommodation, from railway carriages, to windmills and even lighthouses. 'We've witnessed a 40 per cent increase in people staying in our lighthouse properties in the last year, with Cornwall in particular proving popular. 'The next ten years for the UK travel and tourism industry is looking increasingly healthy, with the holiday habits of Brits suggesting that in a decade's time many more of us will be content to holiday at home.' | Traditional two-week annual holiday no longer practical for many families .
Britons instead choosing to take 2-3 shorter trips a year .
Staycations are up by 61% and long-haul flights have fallen by 5% .
Eccentric accommodation such as lighthouses and windmills more popular . |
197,713 | 8be8014bb9d408ff4a1930e2a8380c6b18d67bf1 | (Financial Times) -- Bull markets in Japan tend not to last long. Over the past two decades, in an environment of low growth and persistent deflation, the best strategy for globally minded investors has been to get in early and then get out again, once the index has risen about 20 per cent. "Normally we get our moment in the sun once every 18 months," chuckles Jesper Koll, head of equity research at JPMorgan, now in his 27th year of tracking the Tokyo market. Last year was a good one, with a rally in early spring and another still in progress, set off by expectations of more aggressive monetary and fiscal stimulus under Shinzo Abe, the country's returning prime minister. From the time former premier Yoshihiko Noda called an election in mid-November, to the close of the Tokyo market for the new year holidays, the Nikkei 225 stock average rose by a fifth, outperforming 92 of 94 equity benchmarks around the world. Foreigners led, snapping up a net Y1.8tn ($21bn) of stocks in the six weeks before Christmas. But as the Japanese market reopens on Friday, investors should not necessarily be eyeing the exits, say strategists. While it is too early to judge whether Mr Abe's reflationary policies will be successful, they say, the stage he has set -- featuring a weaker yen and a looser central bank -- should support stocks for a while yet. "Look around the world," says Kathy Matsui, chief Japan strategist at Goldman Sachs in Tokyo, paraphrasing a recent comment from one of her clients. "The US still has its fiscal cliff problem, Europe keeps muddling through and China's direction under its new leaders is uncertain." In that context, "Japan is the clearest macro game in town". More inflows from abroad seem likely, say analysts. For one thing, valuations are inexpensive. Of the five cheapest holdings of Global Special Situations, an Investec Asset Management fund which seeks out companies with low enterprise values but strong cash flows, four are Japanese. "We'd never say this is the start of a multiyear bull run but we do know the stocks we own here still look attractive," says Mark Wynne-Jones, the fund's co-manager. The yen is on track to record eight consecutive weeks of losses against the US dollar, which is something it has not achieved since 1989. A weaker currency should improve sales volumes and profit margins for exporters, which have become the primary engine of extremely cyclical growth in the world's third-largest economy. But perhaps the strongest reason for continuing to put on the so-called "Abe trade", say analysts, is the desire of the new prime minister to consolidate his hold on power. Last month's victory in the lower-house elections has given the Liberal Democrat party a two-thirds "supermajority", in tandem with its alliance partner. However, the coalition is short of a majority in parliament's upper house, where the Democratic Party of Japan still holds sway. If Mr Abe can steer his party to victory in July, when half the upper-house seats are up for grabs, he could, in theory, enjoy an election-free reign stretching out to 2016. For the next six months, Mr Abe's government will be "using all its political power" to push stocks up and the currency down, says Satoshi Okagawa, senior global markets analyst at SMBC in Singapore. After that, say analysts, gains may be harder to come by. In the absence of real structural reforms to increase Japan's potential growth rate, the market may not take off like it did between 2003 and 2005 under the administration of Junichiro Koizumi, says Ms Matsui of Goldman Sachs. In the past couple of months Japan has been "a 'close-your-eyes-and-buy' market", says Sean Darby, chief global strategist at Jefferies in Hong Kong, noting that stocks that had been "priced for technical insolvency", such as Sharp, have rallied the hardest. But most feel that Mr Abe deserves a little faith. Dean Cashman, a Singapore-based director at Eastspring Investments, the Asian asset management arm of Prudential, has seen 14 prime ministers come and go since the early 1990s. He says he runs his $80m portfolio by focusing on what companies do "in spite of politics -- not because of it". But with Mr Abe, "at least you have a party with an agenda and a fairly clear mandate. If nothing else, this opens the door to a better policy making process." Jeff Atherton, senior portfolio manager at GLG Partners, which runs one of the biggest Japanese equity funds outside Japan, says it will take months, if not years, to judge the success of Mr Abe's "great reflation experiment". But for the time being "it feels much too early to be too cynical," he says. © The Financial Times Limited 2013 . | The Nikkei 225 has outperformed 92 of 94 equity benchmarks around the world since November .
Expectations high of more aggressive with Shinzo Abe, the country's returning prime minister . |
169,009 | 66a67a55a2eb962871ceb857786098fbd3904e07 | By . Ray Massey, Transport Editor . PUBLISHED: . 10:56 EST, 5 March 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 21:15 EST, 5 March 2013 . Volvo has launched a revolutionary safety device that scans for cyclists and automatically brakes if a collision is imminent. The Swedish car firm says the camera and radar-guided technology, which is being introduced into cars from May, could save hundreds of lives. The system comprises a radar scanner in the grille, a camera fitted in front of the rear-view mirror, and an onboard computer. It allows the car to identify cyclists who swerve into its path and reacts by slamming on the brakes. Scroll down for video . How it works: The camera and radar combine to identify and differentiate between pedestrians and cyclists . Radar: Computers calculate any possible collision and - if the driver ignores initial warnings - apply the brakes . The driver is given a loud audible warning and a visible warning of a row of red lights flashing up on the windscreen. This is how Volvo's amazing new technology works: . The new cyclist detector system comprises a radar scanner set into the car’s grille, a camera fitted in front of the rear-view mirror, and a computerised central control unit. The radar measures the distance to any suspicious object while the camera compares its shape and size against an electronic visual catalogue of thousands of images – including bicycles and cyclists. It can even differentiate between a pedal cyclist and a motor cyclist. Volvo spokesman Duncan Forrester said: ’The high-resolution camera makes it possible to spot the moving pattern of pedestrians and cyclists. ‘The radar scans the area in front of the car. Once it has detected an object, the camera confirms that it is a vehicle, a bicycle or a pedestrian and it "keeps an eye" on the object. ‘If the situation becomes critical and in collision-course with the object a red warning flashes in the windscreen and the car activates full braking power automatically.’ The system is called ‘Cyclist Detection with full auto brake’ – but has already been dubbed ’cycle scan’ - and was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in Switzerland today. Danger: Should a cyclist suddenly swerve, warning lights flash up on the windscreen (shown on the left) Detection: Pedestrians, cyclists and parked vehicles are all recognisable to the car because it compares them to thousands of images stored on its computer hard-drive . Doug Speck, senior vice president of marketing, sales and customer service at Volvo Car Group, said it was ‘a major advance’ in road safety. All Volvo cars equipped with pedestrian detection will now also be fitted with cyclist detection, he said. Volvo cited accident data showing that around half of all cyclists killed in European traffic have collided with a car – a situation which the firm’s new technology aims to counter-act. Volvo, which sold 40,000 new cars in the UK last year, said it will be available ’from Mid May in 2013’ in the Volvo V40, S60, V60, XC60, V70, XC70 and S80 models as part of a more general ‘driver support’ safety package costing £800. A Volvo spokesman said the system was designed to deal with scenarios such as ‘a cyclist in the same lane swerving out in front of the car’, someone wobbling and not paying attention, or taking evasive action to avoid a pot-hole. Safety: The package will be available in models including the V60 from May . Volvo stressed that the automatic brakes kick in only ‘as a last resort’ and that the driver otherwise retains ultimate control of the car and brakes. Deaths and serious injuries among cyclists, children and pedestrians have soared on Britain’s roads amid a summer of sporting spectaculars, school holidays and unseasonal wet weather. Road safety experts say the Olympics and a ‘Bradley Wiggins’ effect may have contributed to an alarming rise in child pedestrian and cyclist casualties last summer as youngsters sought to emulate their sporting heroes. Last year, 122 cyclists were killed on British roads - the highest toll for five years. Previous studies have found that the number of cyclists killed rises during recessions as more people take to their bikes to save money on running a car. | Gadget warns drivers and applies brakes if the motorist fails to take action .
Radar in the grille is used in conjunction with camera in rear-view mirror .
The system will be available in various Volvo models from May . |
2,680 | 07db45725c3ea0d9e7481261a941d31fc081b153 | By . Mia De Graaf . and Rebecca English . He may be just 10 months old, but Prince George is already gearing up to fly a plane like his father. And it seems granddad Prince Charles - who was handed a mini flying jacket for the royal infant - didn't know what to think of the prospect. Holding up the gift from Stevenson Campus Air Hanger in Winnipeg, Canada, the Prince of Wales stared for a few moments before finally breaking out into a chuckle. Nervous? Prince Charles stares at the mini jacket for George handed to him by Stevenson Campus Air Hanger . He then breaks out into a chuckle clutching the gift before setting off for a day of activities with Camilla . George's father, Prince William, has been an RAF pilot for five years, and is now training to pass his commercial flying licence. And with his new jacket, it seems the little infant is all set to carry on the tradition. Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, received the gift on the fourth and final day of their Royal tour of Canada. Earlier, the couple celebrated the centenary of Winnie the Bear - the inspiration for AA Milne's Winnie the Pooh stories - in the Pavilion Gallery Museum. Later, the couple were treated to a game of paper aeroplane-throwing with Prime Minister Stephen Harper . Camilla laughed as her aeroplane flew towards the cameras, while Charles deliberated on his target . The prince joked with photographers after his aeroplane went flying in their direction . The original Winnie was a female black . bear who was bought as a small cub for $20 in Ontario by a Lt Harry . Colebourn of The Fort Garry Horse, a Canadian Cavalry Regiment, en route . to the Western Front during the First World War. The . bear was smuggled into Britain as the regiment's unofficial mascot with . veterinarian Lt Colebourn naming her after his home city of Winnipeg. Before leaving for France he decided to leave her at London Zoo where she become something of a local star and much admired, among others, by AA Milne's son, Christopher Robin. Christopher Robin subsequent changed the name of his own teddy from Edward Bear to Winnie the Pooh, providing the inspiration for his father's much loved books. Rounding off the visit, they celebrated the bear that inspired Winnie the Pooh and received this gift for George . The original Winnie was a female black bear who was bought as a small cub for $20 in Ontario during WWI . Beaming, Charles and Camilla were then shown a drawing of the famous fictional character at the gallery . On the final day of their four-day tour, Charles and Camilla managed to fit in feeding polar bears at Assiniboine Park . Stare-off: He held his gaze with a glint of a smile as the creature stared back at him seemingly wanting more food . The prince then gleefully obliged, pushing a piece of fish through the wire gate for the hungry bear . An exhibition devoted to the original . Winnie and her AA Milne's character had Camilla cooing over some . original EH Shephard drawings. 'They are just so charming, really charming,' she said. Prince Charles looked genuinely delighted as he was presented with a toy cuddly black bear dressed in army fatigues for his own grandson, Prince George. 'It was worth coming just for that,' he said. | Handed gift from Stevenson Campus Air Hanger in Winnipeg, Canada .
Stared at little jacket for a few moments before breaking into a chuckle .
Charles and Camilla are three days into Royal tour of Canada . |
142,822 | 44b38e78591e4bc794690e208c94b6275df03cf4 | By . Reuters Reporter . A pregnant California professor will face charges for allegedly shoving a 16-year-old anti-abortion protestor and stealing another picketer's sign during a campus demonstration earlier this month, a prosecutor said on Friday. Mireille Miller-Young, an associate professor who teaches feminist studies at the University of California at Santa Barbara, faces misdemeanor charges of theft, battery and vandalism, Santa Barbara County District Attorney Joyce Dudley said in a statement. Miller-Young was seen in a YouTube video viewed over 66,000 times clashing with members of the 'Survivors of the Abortion Holocaust' group who organized an anti-abortion event on the university campus in early March. Scroll down for video . Charged: Mireille Miller-Young, an associate professor who teaches feminist studies at the University of California at Santa Barbara, is said to have been offended by the anti-abortion imagery and took the protestors sign, with the help of two of her students (pictured) On camera: After Miller-Young allegedly took the sign, protestors started filming . The protestors: Anti-abortionist Thrin Short (right), pictured with her sister and fellow protestor Joan Short, claims to have been assaulted by Mireille Miller-Young . One of the members of the 'Survivors of the Abortion Holocaust' group claims to have had a clash with Miller-Young and been left with minor scratches . Mireille Miller-Young, Ph.D., is Associate Professor of Feminist Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Her research explores race, gender and sexuality in visual culture and sex industries in the United States . The video posted by the group begins with a written statement saying that a group was carrying signs showing 'images of abortion victims' and distributing pamphlets to provoke a dialogue among students. It then claims a professor grabbed a sign from one of the protestor's, Thrin Short, 16 gave it to some of her students that were walking with her, and then walked off, with the protesters following her through several campus buildings. 'Before she grabbed the sign, she was . mocking me and talking over me in front of the students, saying that she . was twice as old as me and had three degrees, so they should listen to . her and not me,' Short told Fox News. The protesters, who cannot be seen on camera, can be heard saying, 'She's a thief. She's a professor'. In response, Miller-Young turned around and said, 'I may be a thief, but you're a terrorist'. When the protesters attempt to enter an elevator with Miller-Young, the group claims the professor shoved a protester several times and scratched her. 'It is ironic that a female professor, who claims to be pro-woman, would resort to theft and violence against another woman in her attempt to silence a different point of view,' the group said in a statement on its website. Mireille Miller-Young allegedly called the protestors 'terrorists' as she made off with their picket sign . The university did not immediately return phone calls and an email on Friday seeking comment. Miller-Young's attorney declined to comment. In an interview with the Santa Barbara Independent newspaper on Friday, Miller-Young said she was 'triggered' by the graphic images on the sign and pamphlets carried by the protesters. She added that she was especially offended by the protesters' cause because of her focus of study and because she is currently pregnant. Thrin's father, William Short, who met with prosecutors, said he would have expected an academic to engage in thoughtful debate with someone she disagreed with. 'She was free to engage in a rational dialogue with them,' Short said after learning the professor had been charged. 'Instead, she chose to bully them, steal and destroy their property, and hit and scratch my daughter. After doing so, she said she thought she was setting a good example for her students. 'I think the goal of this prosecution should be to set a good example for her students, one that will not only deter her from repeating this conduct, but will also deter those who approve of her actions from imitating her appalling behavior.' Miller-Young is scheduled for arraignment in Santa Barbara Superior Court on April 4, it said. Her research explores race, gender and sexuality in visual culture and sex industries in the United States. In a previous interview, she described herself as a 'porn scholar' when discussing her manuscript, called A Taste for Brown Sugar: Black Women, Sex Work and Pornography. It's a study of African American women’s representation and labor in pornographic media. | Mireille Miller-Young, an associate professor who teaches feminist studies at the University of California at Santa Barbara .
She specializes in race, gender and sexuality in visual culture and sex industries in the United States and also calls herself a 'porn scholar'
On March 4 she is alleged to have had a clash with an anti-abortion group, 'Survivors of the Abortion Holocaust'
Miller-Young, who is pregnant, said she was 'triggered' by the graphic images on the protestors sign .
She is alleged to have taken one of the picket signs with the help of two of her students and called the protestors 'terrorists'
One of the demonstrators, Thrin Short, 16, claims Miller-Young scratched and shoved her when she attempted to get her sign back .
Miller-Young faces misdemeanor charges of theft, battery and vandalism . |
154,914 | 543300ba1862e5e5621d073689fd19e35b73b569 | (CNN) -- House Speaker John Boehner dampened prospects for emergency action by Congress addressing the immigration crisis on the southern border before lawmakers break for their August recess. "I don't have as much optimism as I'd like to have," Boehner told reporters on Thursday. The Obama administration has warned that some federal agencies dealing with the surge of minors crossing the border, many of them unaccompanied, will run out of money sometime in August. The House and Senate will return after Labor Day. The major sticking point is whether Congress should change a 2008 law requiring that child migrants from Central America receive a hearing before any decision is made to deport them. Critics say the Bush-era law has made the United States a magnet for children fleeing Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras. They argue there should be an accelerated process to deport them, just like there is for children who enter the country illegally from Mexico or Canada. Sen. John Cornyn and Democratic Rep Henry Cuellar, both of Texas, have introduced a bipartisan bill to modify the 2008 law and some version of their plan is expected to be attached to any House GOP package that includes emergency funding for border efforts. But top Senate and House Democrats, and virtually all Hispanic lawmakers, are balking at the change. House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, who recently said she was open to accepting a change now opposes tying that to new funding. Pelosi told reporters Thursday that any debate to reverse the law should be done separately, as part of comprehensive immigration reform. President Barack Obama has proposed $3.7 billion in emergency funding to address the matter. He also does not advocate changing the 2008 law. Boehner insisted, however, that that the law in question must be addressed. "I don't know how Congress can send more money to the border to begin to mitigate the problem if don't do something about the '08 law that's being abused, and it is being abused," he said. House GOP aides say Republicans are working on a package smaller than the one proposed by Obama with some policy changes. They expect to vote on it before the end of July. Boehner's office said it has been involved in some bipartisan negotiations addressing the 2008 law. Referencing her own shift in position, Pelosi said she never likes "to draw a line in the sand," noting that she was open "to seeing what's there" two weeks ago. But now "what we've seen so far is going in the wrong direction and if they want Democratic votes it's got to go in the right direction," Pelosi said. In the House, Boehner will need some Democratic support to pass a bill because there is a contingent of House conservatives who don't want to approve any more money for Obama administration's efforts. If Pelosi and other top Democratic leaders stand firm, and Hispanic and progressive lawmakers vote no on a GOP package it could complicate getting something out of the House. Immigration crisis is a political conundrum . Over to the Senate . According to senior Senate Democratic sources, the caucus is fairly evenly divided between those who can accept proposed changes to the 2008 law in order to help speed passage of the funding and those who are unwilling to alter a law that was designed to provide due process to children who may be victims of crimes related to human trafficking. Another wrinkle in the push to finalize a deal is a proposal from conservative Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz. Cruz introduced legislation to prevent Obama from granting deportation deferments in the future. Obama signed an executive order two years ago allowing many young people who were brought to the United States illegally when they were children to stay. Cruz said such acts of "amnesty" are deepening the current crisis by creating the impression that the children coming across the border now will eventually be allowed to stay. Cruz told reporters the focus of his bill is solving the problem. "What is causing this humanitarian crisis is that these children believe they will be granted in the future amnesty. So this legislation directly addresses that problem by prohibiting the President from granting amnesty from this day forward," Cruz said. Boehner sidestepped a question about Cruz's proposal saying there are lots of discussions going on about how to address the border crisis. Cornyn seemed to embrace the idea, although he told reporters he needed time to think through the ramifications. Asked about Boehner's pessimism about getting a deal done this month, Cornyn worried about the situation worsening because of the impasse in Washington. "What happens if nothing happens is that the problem continues and continues to escalate. We're already seeing backlash from communities all over the country where these children are being placed and people are starting to realize they need to educate, house and raise these children," he said. "I think there will be more negative reaction directed at the President and Congress if we don't act," he said. Immigrants or refugees? A difference with political consequences . Senate GOP confident congress will pass bipartisan border remedy . Not in my backyard: Communities protest surge of immigrant kids . | House Speaker John Boehner dampens chances of legislation passing soon .
Competing proposals floating around both the House and Senate .
Obama has proposed $3.7 billion in emergency funding, others want to change migrant law .
It's all about the surge of kids at the southern border from Central America . |
252,169 | d25c022ef817260b2d7b53e471d92094ae38d6a8 | These are the videos that Syrian President Bashar Assad does not want the world to see. The lifeless corpse of four-month-old Afaf Mahmmod Al-Sarakb lies limp and motionless in a chair - tortured to death by government security officers after her parents were arrested. The disfigured body of a tortured taxi driver is seen dumped in the street, while a third video shows blood pouring from the arm of a woman gunned down by a sniper. GRAPHIC CONTENT WARNING: Scroll down for video... Tortured to death: Four-month-old Afaf Mahmmod Al-Sarakb was killed by Syrian security forces after her parents were arrested . Anger: What life is really like in Syria is being released in a series of videos, day by day, on YouTube . In just 24 hours anti-government protesters have defied strict censorship laws more than 110 times to publish the series of brutal and shocking videos on YouTube. Hundreds more hours of the brutal scenes have been released in the last two months. They all show a country which has slowly descended into chaos - sparking fears there will be a civil war and floods of refugees fleeing across the border into Israel. It is in stark contrast to the kind of society Assad's regime tries to portray - one where there are small pockets of unrest, but in the majority are happy with his rule. While none of the footage has been independently verified, the content is so compelling and realistic that there is little reason to doubt its veracity. The release of the videos mirrors those leaked during the Libyan conflict, the most gruesome of which showed the capture of ousted leader Colonel Muammar Gaddaafi. They were ultimately proved to be real. Battered: A video of this Syrian showed how his back had been torn to shreds after a series of torture sessions by security forces . Wounded: One of the many videos being released each day showed a woman screaming in pain as blood drips from her arm after she was shot by a sniper . But, while Libyan rebels tentatively dipped their toes into the world of internet publishing, the Syrian conflict is widely regarded as the first YouTube war - where events are played out through its channels on an hourly, if not minute-by-minute, basis. Much of the filming is being released on a daily basis via the Syrian Revolution General Commission, a coalition movement covering most of the country which, according to its Facebook page, is preparing for the overthrow of the regime. In its coverage of yesterday's events the group, based out of the Turkish capital of Istanbul, chronicled attacks, murders, fake rallies of support and crackdowns in the northeastern province of Deir Ezzor, the northwestern city of Idlib, the western city of Hama, and the central city of Homs. The 40-group strong coalition, which is playing an important role in highlighting the truth during the 10-month-old uprising against Assad, also alleged how security forces covered-up 'abuses' as the Arab League monitors visited various areas of the country. To garner favour with observers, the SRGC said 'fabricated marches' in support of the regime took place in Deir Ezzor as they arrived. Protest: There is also several videos containing footage of rallies which, according to President Assad, do not occur very frequently . Dead: Several of the videos show protesters who have allegedly been beaten to death by security forces . Security forces also 'curtained off' various areas of a jail containing political prisoners so monitors did not 'really see' what was going on. The SRGC said it was all to shield observers, in Syria to see where Assad's troops are keeping their word on ending a violent and repressive crackdown, from what was happening. And, elsewhere in the area and in complete contravention of that deal, security forces were seen opening fire on protesters, leading to large numbers of arrests. In the Sahl Al-Ghab region, where electricity is cut off for 15 hours each day, it said security buses and army vehicles routinely roamed the streets raising weapons at residents. In Jaer Al-Shoghour the sound of the security forces' heavy firing is constantly heard, Assad-sponsored gangs ran riot through Darkoush vandalising public property, and in Hama 28-year-old Nabhan Ahmad Al-Mustafa was shot dead while out with friends. The increase in violence, and its release through the SRGC, comes as many believe Assad is losing his grip on power. But despite foreign observers saying his rule could be coming to an end, he re-iterated today how he would not be stepping down. He insisted he still had his people's support and repeated claims that a foreign conspiracy and terrorists were behind the 10-month-old uprising against him - and not true reform-seekers. | Hundreds of videos uploaded to YouTube by protesters each day .
Syrian Revolution General Commission preparing for regime change . |
146,916 | 49ff4594f2bc39c3e9e44f60f337bdd77b775353 | By . Rebecca English . PUBLISHED: . 12:01 EST, 5 June 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 04:45 EST, 6 June 2012 . The Queen said last night that she was ‘humbled’ by the reaction to her Diamond Jubilee celebrations, as more than a million cheering wellwishers surged into The Mall to pay their respects. Indeed, so moved was the monarch by the unbridled public euphoria surrounding four remarkable days of national festivities, that she chose, almost on the spur of the moment, to make a rare public address. Filmed just before the start of Monday night’s Diamond Jubilee concert and broadcast around the globe yesterday evening, the Queen said she was ‘deeply touched’ at the way the celebrations had brought communities around the country together. Scroll down for video of the Queen's speech . 'Deeply touched': The Queen delivers a rare address to the nation and the Commonwealth from Buckingham Palace to thank all those behind her Diamond Jubilee celebrations . ‘The events that I have attended to mark my Diamond Jubilee have been a humbling experience. ‘It has touched me deeply to see so many thousands of families, . neighbours and friends celebrating together in such a happy atmosphere,’ she said. The Queen's speech in full: . The events that I have attended to mark my Diamond Jubilee have been a humbling experience. It has touched me deeply to see so many thousands of families, neighbours and friends celebrating together in such a happy atmosphere. But Prince Philip and I want to take this opportunity to offer our special thanks and appreciation to all those who have had a hand in organising these Jubilee celebrations. It has been a massive challenge, and I am sure that everyone who has enjoyed these festive occasions realises how much work has been involved. I hope that memories of all this year’s happy events will brighten our lives for many years to come. I will continue to treasure and draw inspiration from the countless kindnesses shown to me in this country and throughout the Commonwealth. Thank you all. She also expressed her gratitude to all those who had helped to organise events, including Sunday’s River Pageant, and concluded: ‘I hope that memories of all this year’s happy events will brighten our lives for many years to come. ‘I will continue to treasure and draw inspiration from the countless kindnesses shown to me in this country and throughout the Commonwealth. Thank you all.’ The last time the Queen addressed the nation outside her annual Christmas speech was following the death of Princess Diana in 1997. Filming took place in the private Presence Room at Buckingham Palace, with one of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s official engagement portraits behind her. The Queen wore a pale blue day dress by Karl Ludwig Couture and her stunning Cartier aquamarine and diamond clips, which were an 18th birthday present from her parents in 1944. Aides said she made the decision to film her address only last Wednesday after witnessing the groundswell of public support in the run-up to the Jubilee weekend. She also stoically chose to go ahead hours after her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, was taken to hospital with a bladder infection. The couple have been married for 64 years and the Queen openly credits him as being her ‘strength and stay’ for the six decades of her reign. Her husband was clearly on her mind throughout yesterday’s Jubilee Ceremonial Day which saw her attend a National Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral before a carriage procession through the streets of London and a fly-past over Buckingham Palace. As she stepped on to the balcony at the palace to a deafening roar of applause, she turned to her grandson Prince William and said wistfully: ‘I wish Philip were here.’ 'Countless kindnesses': The Queen is joined by Prince Charles and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge after the service of thanksgiving at St Paul's Cathedral, one of several events held today to end the celebrations . Awash with royalists: Lines of police officers lead thousands of revellers up the Mall to the gate of Buckingham Palace to watch The Queen appear on the palace balcony . Grand finale: The Red Arrows perform a flypast for the Queen over Buckingham Palace watched by a thrilled crowd below . Then, as the National Anthem echoed out, the normally restrained sovereign appeared to blink back tears. Yesterday’s balcony scene was a tight-knit affair with just the Queen, the Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry present. It was markedly different from the Queen’s Golden and Silver Jubilees, when more than 30 royals appeared with her at the palace. Sources suggested it was a conscious effort by the sovereign to focus attention on her immediate successors. Prime Minister David Cameron summed up the mood of the nation when he said the celebrations had shown the ‘best of Britain’. He hailed the Queen as ‘a real . inspiration’, and, in a reference to the Duke of Edinburgh’s illness and . the wet weather, praised the ‘great resilience’ of both the sovereign . and her subjects. He said: . ‘I think what we’ve seen, frankly, is the best of Britain. We’ve seen . people coming together in tremendous unity and spirit to celebrate the . Queen’s jubilee, but we’ve also seen a great resilience; people wanting . to celebrate, even though the weather’s been pretty bad, and an . extraordinary resilience on behalf of Her Majesty, who in spite of all . the problems and difficulties has kept going, and with such incredible . spirit. She’s a real inspiration.’ US . President Barack Obama, with whom the Queen has developed a warm . relationship, sent a video message from the White House, saying: ‘While . many presidents and prime ministers have come and gone, Your Majesty’s . reign has endured.’ The . Queen was due to stay at Buckingham Palace last night because she has a . lunch with Commonwealth heads of government at Marlborough House in . London today. In the absence of the Duke of Edinburgh she will instead be escorted by one of her ladies-in-waiting. Appreciation: A fan shows their support for the Queen with a banner reading 'Elizabeth The Great: She's a diamond!' during the Jubilee procession along the Mall . Her loyal subjects: In her message from Buckingham Palace, the Queen said she hoped memories of the Jubilee celebrations will brighten people's lives for many years to come . Much-loved: The Queen receives a kiss on the hand by Prince Charles after her son paid a moving tribute to her at the end of the Jubilee concert on Monday night . Lighting up the capital: A spectacular fireworks display brings the curtain down on the Jubilee concert, which attracted around 500,000 people to the streets and parks surrounding Buckingham Palace . 'Massive challenge': The Queen has shown her appreciation to the organisers of Jubilee events, which included the 1,000-strong flotilla (above) which sailed along the Thames on Sunday for the river pageant . | 'It has touched me deeply to see so many .
thousands of families, neighbours and friends celebrating together in .
such a happy atmosphere'
'I hope that memories of all this year's happy events will brighten our lives for many years to come'
Two-minute broadcast recorded at Buckingham Palace yesterday before the Jubilee Concert .
Broadcasts other than traditional annual Christmas message are uncommon . |
176,952 | 710de0679e5c56c47ee2480a14788536d0372c15 | Prince Harry has spoken for the first time about his notorious romp in a Las Vegas hotel suite when photographs were published around the world of him nude, just weeks before he began his tour of duty in Afghanistan. The prince was photographed during a game of strip billiards in his hotel suite with friends and a group of women they had met. The prince said he had "probably let myself down, I let my family down, I let other people down." "But at the end of the day I was in a private area and there should be a certain amount of privacy that one should expect. "Back home all my close friends rallied round me and were great." He added that it was "probably a classic example of me you know probably being too much army and not enough prince. It's a simple case of that." No action over naked Prince Harry photos, palace says . His deployment with 662 Squadron, 3 Regiment Army Air Corps allowed him to withdraw from the public eye, but speaking while stationed at Camp Bastion in Afghanistan he allowed his frustration with the media to show through. Harry received news that the Duchess of Cambridge, was expecting a baby while he was on his tour of duty and, from afar, he expressed sympathy at his sister-in-law's treatment at the hands of the press. "I can't wait to be an uncle. I think it's very unfair that they were both forced to publicize it when they were, but that's just the media for you. I just only hope that she and him, but mainly Catherine, hopefully that she gets the necessary protection to allow her as a mother-to-be to enjoy the privacy that that comes with." Harry's own privacy is clearly a concern for the prince as well, and he made little attempt to hide it. Referring to the TV producer whom he was addressing, he said: "I never wanted you guys to be out here, but there was an agreement made to invite you out on the deal that the media didn't speculate before my deployment. That's the only reason you guys are out here." Back home the media glare will inevitably be brighter than it has been on him for the last four months. And the pressure will be back on the 28-year-old to settle down. "If you find the right person and everything feels right, then it takes time, especially for myself and my brother. You ain't ever going to find someone who's going to jump into the position that it would hold. Simple as that." Harry said he now put his military role ahead of his royal duties. "Once you are wearing the uniform you are part of the gang and you know, fine, I am the queen's grandson and all that good stuff. "I love representing her, but to be honest with you ... and as far as I see it ... and as far as William sees it as well -- our service towards our country in the military in whichever shape or form it takes -- will always come first. I know some people look at it thinking it's all a big bluff -- and the only reason they are doing all this is to keep themselves out of public duties -- well to a certain extent yes. There is no reason for us to do public duties, because we are doing public service." Harry on Afghan mission: 'Take a life to save a life' Life in the army is "as normal as it's going to get" for Harry and he said relishes having the chance to be hang out and be treated as "one of the guys. Asked if he was more comfortable being Captain Wales than Prince Harry, he answered: "Definitely. I've always been like that. My father's always trying to remind me about who I am and stuff like that. "But it's very easy to forget about who I am when I am in the army. Everyone's wearing the same uniform and doing the same kind of thing." Harry admitted that he was more at home in an aircraft cockpit than a classroom. "I don't know ... I am one of those people that during my flying course especially ... I would be fine at flying, probably should have done a lot more reading. But I was fine at flying. Then every now and then a written test would come up and I would be absolutely useless ... exams were always a nightmare. Anything like kicking a ball around and playing Playstation or flying, I do ... I genuinely find a bit easier than walking sometimes. "My brother (was) probably exactly the same, my father flew, my uncles have flown all, all sorts of people have flown in my family, I wouldn't suggest that is where it comes from it is, it's great fun. I was given the opportunity and I couldn't say no to it." What do you think about Prince Harry's comments? Leave your comments below. | Prince Harry has spoken for first time about his notorious romp in Las Vegas hotel suite .
Harry: "I probably let myself down, I let my family down, I let other people down"
Prince was speaking to reporters during his military tour of Afghanistan .
He expressed frustration with media, adding he never wanted journalists to be there at all . |
87,329 | f7c5540aad7f0a49ff49883ee918bb817d623456 | Ukrainians stood in long queues in the bleak snow as they waited to receive humanitarian aid in Donetsk yesterday. Lined up outside Donbass hockey stadium, hundreds of mainly elderly residents waited for the distribution of the aid packages, shipped across the border by Russia. Kiev has cut aid to the eastern regions held by pro-Russian rebels since soon after Western-backed protesters toppled Ukraine's pro-Moscow president in February. Humanitarian: People wait for aid packages in front of the Donbass hockey stadium in Donetsk, east Ukraine . Wrapped up warm: Those waiting for the emergency food packages were largely older residents . Life line: An old woman stands in the snow as she waits for the food aid shipped in by Russian agencies . Long queues: The east has been cut off since people refused to accept the new government in Kiev . Emergency packages: A woman picks up a bag of food aid as officials look on inside the stadium . Donetsk is a stronghold of resistance to the country's new government and has been under daily shelling despite a fresh truce hammered out this week between government troops and militants. Pictures from Donetsk have shown residential and official buildings alike shattered by artillery strikes, while Ukrainian officials accuse rebels of launching constant attacks from the city. Russia's aid convoys are a lifeline for civilians and militants alike. Kiev and Nato accuse them of being cover for material support for the insurgency, claiming that weapons are being shipped along with food supplies. Moscow denies using humanitarian convoys to transport weapons and rejects Western and Ukrainian accusations that it is arming the rebels and sending fighters to aid them. It accuses the West and Kiev of pressing a campaign of indiscriminate violence in the eastern territories of Luhansk and Donetsk. Today Russian President Vladimir Putin in a keynote speech said Ukraine had 'an inalienable, sovereign right' to its own path, but condemned what he described as a 'coup' that has brought the current government to power. 'What we are seeing now in Ukraine, the tragedy in the southeast, fully confirms that our position is right,' Mr Putin said. 'How can one support an armed seizure of power, violence, murder? 'How can one support the attempts that followed to suppress with the help of armed forces the people in the south-east who did not agree with this lawlessness? 'This is pure cynicism. I am sure that the Ukrainian nation itself will judge these events in a just way.' A Ukrainian army APC rolls into the village of Pisky, close to Donetsk airport - the scene of heavy fighting . Ukrainian army soldiers carry an ammunition belt with shells for the APC's armour-piercing gun . The men load the shells onto the back of a flat-bed truck decorated with the flag of Ukraine . Today U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said Russia could rebuild its relations with the West 'if it simply helps to calm turbulent waters' on its border with eastern Ukraine. Mr Kerry spoke at a meeting of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, which includes both the United States and Russia as partners. He met briefly - and separately - with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Georgian Foreign Minister Tamar Beruchashvili. The OSCE has sought to help broker an enduring cease-fire in eastern Ukraine, where the West says Moscow is supporting the separatists with weapons and troops in their quest to secede from Ukraine's central government. Mr Kerry called it a 'very turbulent year' and noted that when the 57-state OSCE met last year, Ukraine protesters were in the throes of demanding a new government in Kiev. 'They were warmed by a simple desire - to live in a country with an honest government,' Mr Kerry said at the start of the OSCE meeting. Over the past year, however, the fledgling leadership in Kiev has been beset by separatists in the eastern provinces of Donetsk and Luhansk, and has seen the Crimea region vote to secede. Women stand outside their damaged houses after overnight shelling in Donetsk's Makievsky district . Mr Kerry said Kiev has been 'tested by external aggression' yet still is 'casting off the shackles of repression and opening a new and promising chapter in their nation's history.' He called on Moscow to uphold an earlier cease-fire agreement, which calls for withdrawing its support for the separatists and persuading them to release hostages. The U.S. and European Union have imposed sanctions on some Russians and separatists as punishment for their actions. Russia accuses the U.S. and other Western nations of having backed the coup in Ukraine. This week a U.S. citizen was incredibly appointed as the country's new finance minister. Natalie Jaresko, who has worked in Ukraine for more than 20 years after holding various economic positions in the U.S. State Department, was approved in her new role on Tuesday. Ukraine has been offered billions by international lenders if it carries out economic reform and President Petro Poroshenko said the administration would benefit from international specialist input. Mr Kerry said it was the U.S. and its allies that supported Ukraine's sovereignty. 'It is not our design or desire that we see a Russia isolated through its own actions,' he said. 'No one gains from this confrontation.' | Donetsk has been under almost constant shelling attacks for months .
Russian humanitarian aid convoys come regularly from across the border .
Kiev and Nato accuse Russia of using convoys to smuggle weapons over . |
250,058 | cf9ab28474a14aa3d864f675a122902db15652a1 | 'Can't expect protection': Celebrities like Oscar-winner Jennifer Lawrence (above) who had naked pictures leaked online by hackers have been branded 'dumb' by the EU's new digital head for having taken the images in the first place . The European Union's new digital head has accused celebrities whose naked photos have been leaked online of being 'dumb' for having taken them in the first place. Images of more than 80 stars including Oscar winner Jennifer Lawrence, singer Rihanna and reality queen Kim Kardashian were stolen and posted online a month ago by mystery hackers. The images, which were taken on the stars’ mobile phones, appear to have been obtained by accessing private accounts on the ‘cloud’. Gunther Oettinger, who will become the European Commissioner for digital economy and society next month, today refused to apologise after saying that what had occurred was the fault of celebrities for having nude photos. ‘Stupidity is something you can only partly save people from,’ he told MEPs at a meeting on Monday. The German politician said: ‘The fact that recently there have been an increasing number of public lamentations about nude photos of celebrities who took selfies – I just can't believe it. ‘If someone is dumb enough as a celebrity to take a nude photo of themselves and put it online, they surely can't expect us to protect them.’ When asked to clarify his comments, Mr Oettinger told the BBC: ‘Everybody has a right to privacy. 'The EU Commission wants to make cloud computing safer.’ Asked if he would like to apologise for his comments, his spokeswoman said: ‘No.’ Appalled critics said that while the images were technically online, they were in fact kept private. The images were stolen from private cloud accounts belonging to the celebrities. A German MEP, Julia Reda from the Pirate Party, said of Mr Oettinger’s comments: ‘The statement is unbelievable. ‘The person applying to be in charge of shoring up trust in the internet so that Europeans do more business online just blamed people whose personal data was accessed and spread without authorisation. ‘He placed the moral blame for that crime squarely on the victims rather than the perpetrators.’ She added: 'By making a mockery of what he should recognise as a serious problem and by doing it in this aloof and insulting tone, Günther Oettinger is seriously calling into question whether he is qualified for the job of shaping our digital society for the next five years.’ The German magazine joined the attack on the commissioner, saying the comments demonstrated that he had ‘no clue about current events and issues at the core of his new resort’. Meanwhile, Google is being threatened with a £60million lawsuit from female celebrities for allegedly profiting from the biggest nude photo-hacking scandal in history. Scroll down for video . Gunther Oettinger (left), who will become the European Commissioner for digital economy and society next month, refused to apologise for saying that the leaked images were the fault of celebrities like Rihanna (right) The search giant has been accused of failing to remove the private images and ‘making millions from the victimization of women’, according to a legal letter obtained by the New York Post. Top Hollywood lawyer Marty Singer, said to be representing 12 of the women whose privacy was invaded, has now reportedly written to Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin as well as executive chairman Eric Schmidt accusing them of ‘blatantly unethical behaviour’. He claims Google has failed ‘to act expeditiously and responsibly to remove the images, but in knowingly accommodating, facilitating, and perpetuating the unlawful conduct. Google is making millions and profiting from the victimization of women’. Mr Singer claimed his law firm, Lavely & Singer, first sent notice to Google a month ago demanding the images were removed but many remain on sites like YouTube and BlogSpot. Two topless pictures of Rihanna and as many as 50 nude snaps of Johnny Depp’s fiancé Amber Heard were reportedly among those leaked online. Naked photos of Kim Kardashian, Vanessa Hudgens, Kate Bosworth and soccer star Hope Solo were also among those hacked last month. Speaking recently on ITV’s This Morning, actress Cameron Diaz – who was not hacked – was convinced the perpetrators would be punished. 'Whoever has done it, they will be caught and made examples of,’ she said. ‘This can happen to anyone. If these guys can do it to this group of people then everyone's vulnerable to it. 'I think that people really need to look at... how would they feel if it happened to them?' | Stolen images of more than 80 stars were posted online by mystery hackers .
EU chief Gunther Oettinger has blamed the leaked images on the celebrities .
He told MEPs: 'Stupidity is something you can only partly save people from'
Furious critic: 'He placed moral blame on victims rather than perpetrators' |
9,456 | 1acc3b8897c044fc2ba4ab668494da14774d7e34 | President Barack Obama on Wednesday outlined a foreign policy vision of "might doing right," arguing that modern pragmatism requires both a strong military and the diplomatic tools of alliances and sanctions to exert influence and provide global leadership. He told graduating cadets at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point that after the nation's "long season of war and divisions about how to move forward," they now would represent America with the duty "not only to protect our country, but to do what is right and just." Under fire from the political right for what critics call diminishing U.S. global influence, Obama offered a robust defense of his foreign policy as the pragmatic and most effective expression of America's leadership role in the world. "I believe in American exceptionalism with every fiber of my being," he said, referring to a tenet of conservative ideology. "But what makes us exceptional is not flouting international norms and the rule of law; it's our willingness to affirm them through our actions," Obama said in arguing that true leadership involves not only having the world's most powerful military, but in doing the right thing. "America must always lead on the world stage," Obama said, and the military "always will be the backbone of that leadership," but U.S. military action "cannot be the only -- or even primary -- component of our leadership in every instance." In a direct jab at his detractors, the President said those "who suggest that America is in decline, or has seen its global leadership slip away, are either misreading history or engaged in partisan politics." One of the most strident critics, Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona, responded Wednesday by telling CNN that America remained mighty but Obama has failed to follow through on threats such as his "red line" for U.S. military strikes if the Syrian government used chemical weapons. "We are unreliable, and all our allies and our enemies believe that," said McCain, who lost to Obama in the 2008 presidential election. To George Mitchell, the former Senate leader who served as Obama's Middle East peace envoy, the President "made a persuasive case to the reality that we cannot intervene militarily everywhere." However, Mitchell said the United States should have done more to help the Syrian opposition without sending U.S. troops. Read the President's speech . In a sign of the sentiments of the cadets and those attending their commencement ceremony, Obama got big applause when he noted they were the first West Point graduates in more than a decade unlikely to be stationed in a war zone. Since he took office, Obama noted, America had ended the Iraq war and was preparing to end the Afghanistan conflict, decimated al Qaeda's leadership in the border region between Pakistan and Afghanistan, and eliminated Osama bin Laden. Now it was time to shift foreign policy to combat a continuing terrorist threat that "no longer comes from a centralized al Qaeda leadership," but from "decentralized al Qaeda affiliates and extremists, with agendas focused in the countries where they operate." "This lessens the possibility of large-scale 9/11-style attacks against the homeland, but heightens the danger of U.S. personnel overseas being attacked, as we saw in Benghazi," Obama said in reference to the 2012 assault that killed four Americans at a U.S. compound in Libya. "It heightens the danger to less defensible targets, as we saw in a shopping mall in Nairobi," he said of the attack last year in Kenya. "So we have to develop a strategy that matches this diffuse threat; one that expands our reach without sending forces that stretch our military thin, or stir up local resentments." Obama also spoke of his personal burden as a wartime leader, saying he was "haunted" by the dead and wounded among troops he ordered to Afghanistan. "I would betray my duty to you, and to the country we love, if I sent you into harm's way simply because I saw a problem somewhere in the world that needed to be fixed, or because I was worried about critics who think military intervention is the only way for America to avoid looking weak," he told the graduating cadets. Returning to a theme he's visited throughout his presidency, Obama said he would continue to push for closing the terrorist detention facility at Guantanamo Bay "because American values and legal traditions don't permit the indefinite detention of people beyond our borders." Overall, Obama said, "America has rarely been stronger relative to the rest of the world," and he contended that "those who argue otherwise -- who suggest that America is in decline, or has seen its global leadership slip away -- are either misreading history or engaged in partisan politics." "The question we face -- the question each of you will face -- is not whether America will lead, but how we will lead, not just to secure our peace and prosperity, but also extend peace and prosperity around the globe," Obama told the cadets. The President's speech came a day after he spelled out a plan that would leave nearly 10,000 troops in Afghanistan at year's end but essentially end the broader U.S. military commitment there by the end of 2016. "We can not only responsibly end our war in Afghanistan and achieve the objectives that took us to war in the first place, we'll also be able to begin a new chapter in the story of American leadership around the world," Obama said in the White House Rose Garden on Tuesday. Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai welcomed Obama's announcement of planned troop levels, saying in a statement posted Wednesday on his official website that his government was "grateful to the international community for its assistance and remains confident" in the ability of the expanded and NATO-trained Afghan forces to protect the country and its people. 5 foreign policy headaches for Obama . Although Obama enjoyed high-profile foreign-policy successes at the beginning of his time in office, including the military mission to find and kill bin Laden, he's come under harsh criticism recently for what opponents say is a passive approach abroad. They cite his record in Syria, where he backed away from airstrikes after President Bashar al-Assad's regime was reported to have used chemical weapons on citizens. Congress balked at approving the military force, leaving Obama to instead negotiate a deal that would remove the chemical stockpiles from al-Assad's control but keep al-Assad himself in power amid an ongoing civil war. While the administration has provided non-lethal aid to the Syrian opposition, it has stopped short of supplying weapons and ammunition called for by McCain and other critics. In his speech, Obama said there was no military solution to the Syrian civil war, and added that he will "work with Congress to ramp up support for those in the Syrian opposition who offer the best alternative to terrorists and a brutal dictator." National Security Adviser Susan Rice told CNN that sending weapons and ammunition to Syrian opposition groups would need "the authority and blessing of Congress." Earlier, Secretary of State John Kerry defended U.S. policy for Syria, including the deal struck to get chemical weapons out of the country. Speaking to CNN's "New Day," he said he found it difficult to believe that critics would have preferred a military strike and hurting the al-Assad regime temporarily. He said that 92% of Syria's chemical weapons have been removed, and the other 8% are under control, waiting to be removed. "It's remarkable to me that people simply want to refuse to accept that we're better off getting all of the weapons out than striking for one or two days and doing damage to some of them," Kerry said. McCain argued that the result of the administration's response meant that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad consolidated his grip on power, Hezbollah fighters and Iran's Revolutionary Guard were helping him out, Russia was increasing support for his regime and the war has become "a regional conflict and a tragedy of monumental proportions for which we will pay a heavy price in years to come." Critics of Obama's foreign policy also have said the President's clear assertion that military force is off the table in Ukraine sends the wrong message to other countries -- namely China -- that have their own territorial disputes with neighbor states. The United States and its allies have imposed economic sanctions on Russia for its incursion into Ukraine, though that step hasn't done much to quiet the arguments coming from Obama's detractors. On Wednesday, Obama reiterated his policy that the United States will used military force, "unilaterally if necessary," when its people are threatened, its livelihood is at stake or allies are in danger, but he said the threshold was higher when global issues "do not pose a direct threat" to the nation. "In such circumstances, we should not go it alone," he said. "Instead, we must mobilize allies and partners to take collective action. We have to broaden our tools to include diplomacy and development; sanctions, isolation; appeals to international law and -- if just, necessary, and effective -- multilateral military action." Such a collective approach "is more likely to succeed, more likely to be sustained, and less likely to lead to costly mistakes," Obama said. Obama last spoke broadly about his foreign policy during a trip to Asia in April, defending himself against those who say his policy lacks a discernible direction. "You hit singles; you hit doubles; every once in a while we may be able to hit a home run," Obama said in Manila, lashing out at those who argue for greater use of military force in conflicts abroad. "Why is it that everyone is so eager to use military force?" he asked then. "After we have just gone through a decade of war at enormous costs to our troops and our budget. And what is it exactly that these critics would have accomplished?" According to aides, Obama's West Point speech kicks off a broader foreign policy push that will carry into his upcoming trip to Europe that includes a G7 summit in Brussels and a visit to Poland, designed to reassure Eastern European allies after Russia's intervention in Ukraine. | Sen. McCain says Obama has failed to properly exert America's might .
President Obama presents a broad vision designed in part to rebuff critics .
Obama has come under criticism for what opponents say is a passive approach .
He argues global leadership requires military might, alliances and diplomatic tools . |
48,624 | 8941b116bcfe25e0ae390fb0745de59f0e90c0f4 | (CNN) -- The space shuttle Endeavour undocked from the International Space Station for the last time late Sunday, as the craft nears the end of its final mission. The scheduled 16-day mission began two weeks ago after multiple delays. When Endeavour pushed away from the space station just before midnight, it had been docked for 11 days, 17 hour, 41 min, according to NASA's website. The shuttle is scheduled to land at 2:35 a.m. ET Wednesday at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Space shuttle Atlantis will make NASA's final shuttle voyage July 8 on a mission to deliver supplies and spare parts to the International Space Station, the agency said. | NASA's final shuttle voyage is scheduled for July 8 .
Endeavour spends more than 11 days docked at the International Space Station .
The shuttle is scheduled to land early Wednesday . |
108,411 | 17ca1470986faac5115d246d3f9b78244b7215eb | Editor's note: Ed Rollins, who was political director for President Reagan, is a Republican strategist who was national chairman of former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee's 2008 presidential campaign. Ron Silver, seen in a 2006 photo, was an actor with a strong interest in justice and peace, Ed Rollins says. NEW YORK (CNN) -- The lights on Broadway were dimmed Wednesday night to honor Ron Silver, the Tony-award winning actor who was buried Wednesday after a courageous battle against cancer of the esophagus. Ron was a lifelong social liberal and a Democratic activist, but you couldn't narrowly define him. And to those of us privileged to be his friend, he was an extraordinary pal. In the 25 years we were friends, he and I faced off most of that time on opposite sides of the political spectrum. In this era when people want bipartisanship, Ron was the role model. Our earliest encounters began when I was managing Ronald Reagan's campaign and he was a Dukakis supporter. He was passionate and a true intellectual. I have spent much of my life around smart people (fortunately a lot smarter than I) and Ron was one of the smartest. Whatever the topic, he had an opinion on it and probably had just read a book or two on the subject. Ron was a Chinese and international relations scholar and had no casual thoughts, only deep convictions. He backed up his opinions with empirical evidence and could rattle off facts like a baseball statistician. "Eddie, why do you think that way?" (Only my mother and wife have called me Eddie.) "Why would a smart man like you ever come to that conclusion?" And then we would proceed to discuss the topic for hours. I don't think we ever changed each other's opinions, but after a bottle or two of wine or a bottle of Scotch had been emptied, we still respected each other. We never had a cross word and no discussion ever ended in anger. After a while I learned it wasn't personal and it wasn't because I was Republican. Ron argued with everyone -- even those on his side in an issue -- because he had great curiosity and always wanted to know more. The closest we ever came to harsh words was when I teased him on his Emmy nomination for a recurring role as a slick campaign strategist on the TV show "The West Wing." "You would have won if you asked me how to play the part," I declared. "After all you're just an actor. I am the real thing. I worked in the real West Wing and I managed a real campaign that won 49 states," He quickly replied with a big grin: "Why the hell would I want the input of a guy who lost Minnesota [the only state Reagan lost]? And remember, you only won because you had an actor named Ron making you look good!" Our discussions often ended in laughter. Because for Ron, politics was serious but it was also fun. I don't think he enjoyed anything more than a great political debate. To Ron, debate was an educational experience. To those of us on the opposite side it was like a combat sport. Several years ago, I was approached by one of the planners for the 2004 Republican Convention in New York. He wanted to know if I could recommend any movie or entertainment stars who would be willing to participate in the convention. Since the passing of the Reagan era, Republicans haven't had a long list of entertainers to choose from. From our discussions, I knew that Ron supported President Bush's battle against Islamic terrorism and the war in Iraq and he had been profoundly affected by 9/11. I asked him would he be willing to participate if asked. He said yes, but emphatically stated he was remaining a Democrat. But he also knew that when he publicly supported Bush on the war, it would affect his long relationships in Hollywood and could cost him future work. Ron's Monday night convention speech was short, less than five minutes and only 429 words in length. It wasn't covered by any of the major networks, but it was still one of the best of the night. When he stated: . "I am grateful for the chance to speak tonight to express my support for our commander-in-chief, for our brave troops and for the vital cause which they have undertaken," his career as a major Hollywood player was over. Even though he had been a president of both the Actor's Equity Guild and the Creative Coalition that he co-founded, he challenged the entertainment industry with these spoken words: . "Even though I am a well-recognized liberal on many issues confronting our society today, I find it ironic that many human rights advocates and outspoken members of my own entertainment community are often on the front lines to protest repression, for which I applaud them, but they are usually the first ones to oppose any use of force to take care of these horrors that they catalog repeatedly." Ron was disappointed when he did lose future work and even a few "so-called Hollywood friends," but not surprised. But he said what he believed and never regretted doing it. Ron was always determined to give back something to his country and New York, the city where he, his parents, grandparents and great grandparents were born and loved. Whether he was fighting for the cause of Israel or social justice for the poor or for more funding for the National Endowment for the Arts or AIDS research, he was passionate about his causes. Even though he was close to death, he attended President Obama's inauguration because he thought it was a great day for the country and he didn't want to miss it. And just a few weeks ago while still undergoing chemotherapy, Ron attended the latest board of directors meeting in Washington of The United States Institute of Peace. The Peace Institute is an independent, nonpartisan institution established and funded by Congress whose 12 members are appointed by the president. The organizational goals are to help prevent and resolve violent international conflicts. Ron was appointed in 2007 and was confirmed by the Senate for a four-year term. He told me it was his most important role and a part he was never prouder to play. As the dimming of the lights on Broadway signaled Wednesday night, Ron's voice is now quiet -- and missed. His life's work not only lit up Broadway and filled the big screen, it also inspired others to action. The many roles he played on the stage, in movies and on television pale in comparisons to the real roles he lived in his life. Ron was a great friend, a great father and a great American. We will miss you, my friend. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Ed Rollins. | Ed Rollins: Ron Silver was a liberal Democrat, but impossible to narrowly define .
He says Silver was passionate and knowledgeable about current events .
He says Silver faced a backlash in Hollywood because he supported Bush on war .
Silver's work lit up Broadway, television and films, Rollins says . |
130,605 | 34e82e3480c344a408b36e7d03e31bc2eea7c8fd | By . Associated Press . PUBLISHED: . 09:57 EST, 10 July 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:11 EST, 10 July 2013 . Sen. Claire McCaskill (pictured) said the Pentagon will take a 'second look' at how it accounts for MIA soldiers . The Pentagon is set to take a 'second look' at how it goes about accounting for missing Americans on foreign battlefields, as they try to account for tens of thousands of MIA soldiers from previous wars . The U.S. estimates there are more than 83,000 Americans missing from World War II, Korea and Vietnam. The disclosure of an internal assessment revealed that the current accounting of MIA soldiers is 'acutely dysfunctional' and at risk of failure, The Pentagon said yesterday. 'We have a sacred obligation to perform this mission well,' Pentagon press secretary George Little told reporters, referring to the Joint POW-MIA Accounting Command, or JPAC, which is based in Hawaii and run by a two-star general. Over the past three years, JPAC has reported an average of 69 identifications of recovered remains per year, down from 85 per year over the previous three years. Congress is demanding that it make at least 200 identifications per year starting in 2015, a target it is widely expected to miss. The Associated Press reported on Sunday that a 2012 internal assessment of JPAC's field operations - including the search for and recovery and identification of remains -- found it suffers from ineptitude, waste and mismanagement. JPAC leaders suppressed the study but the AP obtained a copy after it had been denied to others who requested it under the Freedom of Information Act. 'We're going to review the concerns raised in the report to see how JPAC is or isn't functioning well,' Little said. 'And if steps need to be taken to remedy what's happening inside JPAC, then we'll take action. This is an important mission.' The Government Accountability Office, the investigative arm of Congress, also has examined JPAC. Members of the JPAC, Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command, right, and South Korean Army soldiers search for remains of U.S. soldiers killed during the 1950-53 Korean War in South Korea (pictured in 2009) A Pentagon spokesman, Lt. Col. Jim Gregory, said the Pentagon has responded to the GAO's findings and recommendations and expects the results to be made public shortly. Separately, members of Congress pressed the Pentagon and JPAC for answers. Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., wrote to JPAC's commander, Maj. Gen. Kelly K. McKeague, to request a copy of the internal report and other documentation. 'We've got a responsibility to make sure this program is being run in a responsible manner, and I will not rest until we have answers,' McCaskill said. She is chairman of a subcommittee that focuses on government waste and fraud. Little said the Pentagon's review would be undertaken by the office of James Miller, the undersecretary of defense for policy, who oversees JPAC and other aspects of the Pentagon's efforts to resolve the cases of missing service members. He said he could not yet spell out the exact parameters of the review. Asked why Miller acted now, Little said not all of the problems cited in the internal JPAC report had been brought to the attention of senior Pentagon officials until after the AP wrote about them. 'Some of these concerns, quite frankly, didn't bubble up,' Little said. 'And it's important when these concerns are raised to take a look, so I think it's the prudent thing to do.' The issues were not fully aired because the report, which was written by Paul M. Cole, a JPAC employee who studied the organization's inner workings for more than a year, was essentially buried by JPAC commanders. In an internal memo to his staff, the JPAC commander at the time, Maj. Gen. Stephen D. Tom, wrote on Feb. 3, 2012, that his organization would 'not consider any allegations, findings or recommendations from the report,' which he said would 'not be considered in future planning efforts' aimed at improving operations. He 'disavowed' the study and said it was 'rejected in its entirety.' Tom said some parts of the study were 'poorly written, reflect a bias and contain findings and recommendations that go beyond the intended scope of the report.' He demanded that it not be further shared or even copied. Little was asked whether JPAC's handling of the contentious report will be part of Miller's review. 'This review hasn't even been initiated, but it will be started shortly. And I would imagine that those and other questions will be asked as part of it,' he said. | Internal assessment revealed that the current accounting of MIA soldiers is 'acutely dysfunctional' and at risk of failure . |
95,767 | 071e0a9a6a617cd5b7e6440f28c5cba30e4899bd | Condition: Caroline Kinsey, who was raised as a man called Carl, only found out she had both male and female sex organs aged 19 . A woman with both male and female sex organs lived as a man for over 40 years because her parents didn't tell her she was born a hermaphrodite for two decades. Caroline Kinsey has lived almost all her life as a man as her parents hid her intersex medical condition from her until she was 19. She underwent surgery as an infant and was brought up as Carl John Baker. But after years of mockery at school and assuming that 'everybody's body looked like hers', her parents finally revealed the truth about her condition when she was 19. After a short, failed marriage to a woman and a period suffering depression, Caroline decided to dress as a woman two years ago and now wants to take on a permanent 'female persona'. She revealed her condition was kept from her 'for as long as possible' by her parents on medical advice and because her mother and father 'didn't know any better'. She said: 'From being young I have always known I was different. I could never quite put my finger on why. 'A doctor told my mother they should deny me my first birthright, the chance to be a woman, in favour of my second birthright, being a man, . 'The doctor said it would be easier to hide my female genitalia than the male one, so knowing no different that is what they did. 'They were also advised to keep my secret from me and the rest of the world for as long as possible.' Caroline was born in Bull Hill Hospital, Darwen, Lancashire, in 1968 to Monica and Rudolph Baker. But, after her delivery, their good news was shattered when a nurse said their new baby daughter also had male genitalia. Caroline was brought up as Carl John Baker in the family home, in Darwen. In 1970, she and her younger brother Martin were taken into care after social workers discovered they had been left alone at the family home. She added: 'I had a really feminine sounding voice, but I was never told I was different to anyone else and I assumed everybody’s body looked like mine. 'As soon as I got to school I realised I didn’t fit in. The boys called me horrible names and the girls thought I was weird. School was a really hard time for me and I never really had a girlfriend.' Scroll down for video . Living a lie: Caroline, pictured as Carl on her . wedding day (left) has since decided to adopt a 'female persona' after . learning of her condition . Abandoned: Caroline lost contact with her mother . Monica Baker (left) after being taken into care as a youngster (right) when she was left home alone . After turning 19, Caroline got back in touch with her family. She said: 'I hadn’t been back long when mum said she was going to share something important with me. The . condition of being 'Intersex' affects one in every 2,000 births in the . UK (although figures may be much higher) and there are an estimated . 30,000 intersex people in the UK. There are several known abnormalities that can lead to specific sexual ambiguity. So called 'XX male syndrome' occurs . in people who have two X chromosomes - one of which contains a . significant amount of genetic material from a Y chromosome. These people appear to be male, but . are, in fact, genetically female. Typically, they will possess male sex . organs, but these will often be underdeveloped. They will also often develop breasts and maintain a high-pitched speaking voice. In fact, biologists now recognise a . host of conditions, both genetic and otherwise, which are labelled . under the umbrella term 'intersex' - which replaces older terms such as . 'hermaphrodite'. Intersex people may be genetically . female, but physiologically male. Some will be true hermaphrodites, . producing both eggs and sperm. Many will have been subjected to 'gender reassignment surgery' after birth, sometimes successfully, often not. 'She told me to sit down and she went and fetched my baby book. In there were pictures of me as a baby and details of my birth. 'She started to tell me about the day she gave birth to me and the reaction by the nurse. 'Everything all of a sudden started to make sense. My whole life people had sensed I was different. 'She told me they went with the doctors’ advice because they didn’t know any better.' Caroline continued to spend her life as a man, working in restaurants and pubs as a kitchen porter. For a short period she also married, but the relationship broke up not long after they wed. She found herself sinking into . depression and, in a desperate act to feel better, she decided to try . dressing as a woman two years ago. She . said: 'To start off, it was really strange as I had only ever known how . to dress as a man. But very quickly I realised it was the right thing . for me.' Caroline added that even now she struggles for acceptance in her new persona. She said: 'I grew up as a boy, which I shouldn't have because secrets were kept from me. 'I didn't feel right in men's clothes so after 41 years I decided to take a challenge and put women's clothes on. 'The first dress I wore was a pink dress when I walked to the job centre, a people started to stare and say, 'what an idiot'. 'But since that year I've started to wear women's clothes because I knew I was a real woman. 'I feel happier than ever now. I feel healthy and don't even look back into my past because I don't want to remember it.' New start: Caroline, 42, says she now wants surgery to remove her male genitalia so she can officially become a woman . 'But even now, two years on, not everyone accepts me. I do a lot of volunteer work and visit the Salvation Army. 'Many of its members accept me for me and can see how taking on my female persona has made be a more happy and balanced person, while others just want to be nasty all the time. 'I am now looking into having surgery to remove my male genitalia forever. 'Hopefully, this will enable me to put the past behind me and help me move on and find love.' Campaigners for intersex groups say there are often public misunderstandings about the condition. Dr Jay Hayes-Light, director of the UK Intersex Association, said: 'Being intersex is not a lifestyle choice, but a medical condition. 'Caroline’s case is typical of that of an a intersex child who had no idea about their condition. 'The public often confuse intersex people with those who are transgender because of a lack of understanding.' 'Discrimination against intersex . people is often the unreported abuse of a minority, which has for . generations been kept a secret by parents and other family members. 'Gay . people are now, rightly so, accepted into society and have a right to . live as part of the community. Intersex people also deserve these same . rights. 'I back Caroline’s appeal for people to be more tolerant and hope people realise her condition has been inherited, not chosen.' | Caroline Kinsey, 42, was born with both male and female sex organs but was raised as a boy .
She didn't find out she had Disorder of Sex Development until she was 19 .
She began dressing as a woman two years ago and now plans gender surgery . |
199,797 | 8ea5c16439668c7fe923e05041ffc697413c427a | Taking the trip to the top of Falcon’s Fury, the new tower ride at Busch Gardens in Tampa, is one of the most scenic experiences in Florida. It is 335ft tall and the outward-facing seats provide a stunning view over the park and its surroundings, all the way to the distant sunshine-laden horizon. But then the Fury kicks in. Riders are tilted forward, 33 storeys above the ground, and you realise the only way down is, well, down – at 60mph. On top of the world: Falcon’s Fury is the first drop tower of its kind in the world and it offers breath-taking views of the Tampa area . That, of course, is the full adrenaline-filled purpose of Busch Gardens’ brand new attraction, which soars into the sky like a multi-coloured colossus and offers those brave enough to try it the most thrilling ride in the Sunshine State. It’s brief, but absolutely exhilarating. Falcon’s Fury is the centrepiece of the park’s revamped Pantopia area. It used to be called Timbuktu but everything has been freshened up, with new buildings, new architecture, landscaping, dining options and a hilarious show, Opening Night Critters, featuring a variety of creatures rescued from local animal shelters. Not everyone will be brave enough to face the Fury, so Pantopia features rides and games for the less adrenaline-inclined. But even if you don’t ride it, Fury offers great entertainment as it’s almost as much fun to watch people’s reactions as it is to plunge face-first on the ultra-smooth scream machine yourself. Taking the plunge is also the signature experience of SeaWorld’s Orlando water-park, Aquatica, which debuted another high-level fright-fest this summer in the shape of Ihu’s Breakaway Falls. Drop zone: Falcon's Fury gives thrill-seekers the chance to fly like a bird with a face-first dive toward the ground at breakneck speed . Falcon’s Fury is the centrepiece of the park’s revamped Pantopia area . Aquatica features all manner of family rides and flumes, but Breakaway Falls is another one for thrill junkies. It consists of a set of three capsules that drop riders vertically into enclosed body-slide water chutes. It is imaginatively set up so all three pods face each other, and there is a 3-2-1 countdown – complete with pounding-heartbeat sound effect before riders take the plunge in random fashion, one after another. You never know who will be first to drop, which adds to the excitement. After the breathtaking initial drop, during which everyone screams hysterically, there is then another 400ft of high-speed slide to enjoy on the way to a final splashdown. Not everyone will be brave enough to face the Fury, so Pantopia features rides and games for the less adrenaline-inclined . This is a ride that’s unique in Florida – and one that is also fun just to watch. This year marks SeaWorld’s 50th anniversary as the most popular marine park in the world. The milestone is being marked with a Sea Of Surprises celebration all year, which includes new live entertainment, special animal encounters (notably with some of their rescued animals) and their own Surprise Squad, handing out prizes and special gifts for different park experiences. The major announcement for the future involves a redevelopment of their killer-whale habitat to create a vast environment – the Blue World Project – that will showcase whales in an engaging new way, and create the world’s largest underwater viewing area. At the same time, SeaWorld is extending its array of marine rescue and conservation programmes with a $10 million fund into killer-whale research that will promote ocean health and eco-awareness. | Busch Gardens Tampa's newest attraction is perfect for adrenaline junkies .
Park also features less-scary Pantopia with more sedate rides and games .
Ihu's Breakaway Falls in Orlando provides another high-level fright fest . |
38,449 | 6cb051cf263be86563973d5a4d6d27dcae0bd2e6 | By . Phil Vinter . PUBLISHED: . 15:14 EST, 7 June 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 04:13 EST, 8 June 2012 . A life of crime: Simon Berkowitz has been jailed for five and a half years for his latest of more than 250 convictions that date back more than five decades . A prolific burglar who stole notes revealing intimate details about Paddy Ashdown's affair with his personal assistant is facing yet another term in jail. Pensioner Simon Berkowitz, 65, who has more than 250 convictions for burglary is about to start a five and a half year prison sentence after admitting a string of offences in the New Forest area of Hampshire. Berkowitz pleaded guilty to five burglaries, including one count of going equipped to burgle and two counts of fraud which earned him more than £30,000. He is now thought to be one of Britain's most prolific thieves with his convictions spanning more than 50 years. Police . said what he has been convicted of is only 'the tip of the iceberg' and . it is believed he has committed thousands of burglaries over the years. He . also has scores of other convictions to his name for handling stolen . goods, going equipped to burgle and fraud since he first appeared at . Worthing Juvenile Court aged 14 in 1961 on the charge of larceny. He is now thought to be one of Britain's most prolific thieves with his convictions spanning more than 50 years. Police said what he has been convicted of is only 'the tip of the iceberg' and it is believed he has committed thousands of burglaries over the years. He also has scores of other convictions to his name for handling stolen goods, going equipped to burgle and fraud since he first appeared at Worthing Juvenile Court aged 14 in 1961 on the charge of larceny. He was then given a two-year probation order and ordered to pay 38p in costs. Since then, his criminal record has become 10 pages long and has included sentences totalling more than 40 years from Scotland to the Channel Islands and including Nottingham, Somerset, Wiltshire, Oxford, Devon and London. Many of his offences were committed when he was released early on licence from previous jail terms. But it was the Paddy Ashdown court case in August 1992 that Berkowitz was most infamous for. Ironically, he was found not guilty at the Old Bailey of burgling the City of London offices of solicitors Bates, Wells and Braithwaite in January 1992 where an aide memoire detailing Mr Ashdown's affair with his former secretary Patricia Howard was stolen from a safe. Impact: Berkowitz stole notes revealing intimate details about Paddy Ashdown's relationship with his personal assistant Patricia Howard in 1992 . Berkowitz, who was at the time a Conservative Party member, tried to sell the document to the News Of The World for £30,000 and during his trial said a Labour Party supporter gave it to him. He was convicted of handling stolen goods and sentenced to 30 months. The jury was told afterwards he then had 230 convictions for burglary. Rumours about the contents of the stolen document spread and Mr Ashdown was forced publicly to admit his affair with Ms Howard - prompting the famous Sun headline on February 6 1992: It's Paddy Pantsdown. Berkowitz, an unemployed painter and decorator formerly from Hove in East Sussex, showed no emotion at Winchester Crown Court as the judge described him as a career burglar with no remorse for his victims, many who on this occasion were elderly. Described by police as 'cold and calculated with no conscience whatsoever', Berkowitz also goaded his probation officers with a Christmas card he sent to them just before his arrest for the latest offences in late 2011. The car depicted Santa Claus as a convict and said: 'Have a super Xmas and remember: crime does pay, ask any MP or bent copper.' But an 'eagle-eyed' policeman, Pc Dean Miller, brought Berkowtiz's latest crime spree to an end when he saw him in Milford-on-Sea in Hampshire carrying a holdall. He had been sent on patrol in plain clothes in December last year as the burglary rate in the Lymington, Brockenhurst and Milford-on-Sea areas of the New Forest soared as Berkowitz plied his trade. When asked what was in the holdall, the burglar, born in Enfield, north London, replied: 'I'd rather not say'. Police found inside two crowbars, a . gas-operated blow torch and a magnifying glass to examine the jewellery . and silverware - often of great sentimental value - Berkowitz liked to . steal from homes in affluent areas when the owners were away. He was even living in one empty home in Milford-on-Sea so he did not have to travel or spend money on hotels. Repeat offender: Berkowitz goaded his probation officers with a Christmas card he sent to them. It read 'Have a super Xmas and remember Crime does pay, ask any M.P. or bent coppper' The flat he owned outright in Hove was searched and property from three of the burglaries was found there. Berkowitz had also stolen cash cards he used at ATMs to draw cash dressed in clothes and hats to make him look much younger in an attempt to fool police. In mitigation, the court heard that Berkowitz got 'a buzz' from burglaries and he was obsessive about silverware and jewellery and he liked to value them. The court was also shown a letter to the court that said after seeing witness impact statements from his victims telling of the hurt he had caused he was now remorseful. But prosecution barrister David Reid said that Berkowitz had written exactly the same words when he was jailed for 40 months on the Isle of Wight in 2010 for a series of burglaries and ordered to pay back nearly £83,000 in a confiscation order that has forced him to sell his flat. Jailing him, Judge Jane Miller QC mentioned the fear of his victims, including one recently widowed woman who had only just moved back to England when Berkowitz stole jewellery of great sentimental value to her worth thousands of pounds. Speaking outside the court, Detective Constable Robert Cox, who led the investigation, said: 'Berkowitz is a man who is a cold and calculated burglar who has no conscience whatsoever. 'For years he has inflicted anguish and hurt by invading the homes of his countless victims and stealing from them valuables that were often of great sentimental value. 'In these latest evil offences the victims were mostly elderly and were left in fear of living in their own homes after they had been ransacked by Berkowitz.' Berkowitz was also given a two-year concurrent sentence for going equipped and a further one year each, again concurrently, for the two fraud offences. | Pensioner has been convicted of more than 250 offences .
Police say they have only uncovered the ‘tip of the iceberg’
Latest burglaries netted Simon Berkowitz £30,000 .
First conviction was in 1961 at Worthing Juvenile Court aged 14 . |
271,674 | ebe7272f6301dad1ba72dd31cae44f9997377826 | By . Alexandra Klausner . A 10-month-old baby died on Friday night after his mother's boyfriend allegedly beat him. Eddie Widdick, 23, of Jermyn, Pennsylvania was charged with aggravated assault and endangering the welfare of his girlfriend Ashley Nelson's child on Wednesday for allegedly bludgeoning the boy so badly he suffered deep brain injuries, hemorrhages in both eyes, bruises on the head and torso, and a rib fracture. An autopsy will be performed on the baby Silas on Monday and more charges will be filed against Widdick following the autopsy, First Assistant District Attorney Gene Talerico said Saturday. He also said that homicide charges are likely. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO . Eddie Widdick, 23, is pictured here with his girlfriend's son Silas whom he allegedly beat to near death on Wednesday . Widdick frantically called Ashley Nelson on Wednesday morning to say 'he didn't do it' but that Silas was not 'breathing right.' Seven minutes after he called his girlfriend, Widdick called 911 to tell police that the baby had fallen out of his crib, reported The Times Tribune. The baby was taken from Rear Delaware Avenue in Olypahnt and was flown to Geisinger Medical Center in Danville. Widdick later admitted that he dropped baby Silas down a flight of stairs and 'forcefully put him in his crib.' Silas had a twin sister, whom Lackawanna County Children and Youth Services removed along with 6 other children under the age of 13 who had bruising and signs of possible abuse. Ms. Nelson has not been charged and Mr. Widdick is being held at Lackawanna County Prison with a bail of $150,000. Eddie Widdick (pictured here) admitted to throwing the baby down a flight of stairs and forcibly putting it in his crib . The baby's mother, Ashley Nelson, has not been charged in the death of her son . A day after the arrest, Nelson's landlord, Kevin Cavanaugh, and a code enforcement officer from Olyphant went through the home he rents to Nelson and her children. Even though the landlord never saw any signs of abuse on Nelson's children he did notice that the children often appeared dirty and that the home was in an unhealthy condition. The landlord and another neighbor on Delaware Avenue called Lackawanna County Children and Youth Services because of the conditions of the house. 'As time went on over the last three or four weeks I became more concerned with the children’s welfare because I kept seeing dirty, dirty diapers, children crying upset all the time. When I went in there those kids ran right to me, and they didn’t even know me,' said Cavanaugh to WNEP. He said he held the baby just one week before the incident occurred and that he wished he could have done something to prevent it from happening. Widdick is pictured here with Silas and his twin sister who was taken away by child services following the incident . Ashley Nelson's landlord Kevin Cavanaugh said that he never saw signs of abuse on the children but he noticed that they looked dirty and that their home was in poor condition . Eddie Widdick will likely face homicide charges after the baby's autopsy on Monday . | Eddie Widdick, 23, was charged with aggravated assault and endangering the .
welfare of his girlfriend Ashley Nelson's baby Silas on Wednesday .
Ms. Nelson has not been charged and Mr. Widdick is being held at Lackawanna County Prison with a bail of $150,000 .
The baby suffered deep brain injuries, hemorrhages in both eyes, bruises on the head and torso, and a rib fracture before dying at the hospital . |
33,280 | 5e98a884663b761f38a650b1607bb671258adad2 | Leeds United were embroiled in fresh controversy this weekend amid claims the club takeover in 2012 may have been partly financed by a fund co-owned by the Iranian government. If Iranian money did help finance the takeover, that could contravene international sanctions, sources familiar with the deal have told Sportsmail. The alleged Iranian funding may defy a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution and is the latest extraordinary twist in the recent history of Leeds, although this publication has seen no evidence to verify such claims. Massimo Cellino is the current Leeds owner having bought the club earlier this year . Sportsmail can also reveal further turmoil lies ahead - entirely separate from the Iranian issue - as the Football League attempt to obtain a copy of an Italian legal judgment that could result in the club’s current majority owner, Massimo Cellino, being deemed unfit to retain his shareholding. Cellino bought 75 per cent of Leeds from Bahraini bankers Gulf Finance House (GFH) earlier this year. GFH and related parties retain 25 per cent of the club. It is GFH’s original purchase of the club in 2012 that allegedly involved Iranian money, sources say. GFH bought Leeds from Ken Bates in December 2012 via a Dubai-based subsidiary GFH Capital and insiders say they were so strapped for cash to complete the deal, they suspect money was temporarily borrowed from another company it co-owned, the Injazat Technology Fund, to get the buyout across the line. Cellino bought 75 per cent of Leeds from Bahraini bankers Gulf Finance House (GFH) The Injazat Technology Fund is co-owned by an investment vehicle in turn owned by the Iranian Government, who, under UNSC sanctions, have been prohibited from various aspects of international trading in an attempt to stop Iran developing a nuclear weapons programme. There is no suggestion Bates knew any money from GFH was ultimately owned by any party other than GFH or has done anything wrong. The UNSC have yet to respond to Sportsmail about enquiries on the subject. Senior GFH officials in Bahrain and Dubai, as well as two spokesmen for the firm, have also failed to answer any questions. The Football League will not comment on any private transaction in a takeover. In laymen’s terms, the League cannot be certain and they do not even necessarily have the remit to discover how money is sourced for a club takeover. On-the-pitch Leeds drew 1-1 at home to Sheffield Wednesday in their Yorkshire derby on Saturday afternoon . The League’s chief executive, Shaun Harvey, finds himself in a particularly uncomfortable position. He was the Leeds CEO when GFH bought the club. He is understood to have had no knowledge of any potential contravention, alleged or otherwise, of rules during the time he worked under GFH. He left the club in 2013. Sources believe GFH ‘borrowed’ the Injazat money to make up a shortfall needed to pay Bates for his stake in Leeds and later put money back into Injazat’s account. Yet GFH’s ownership of Leeds turned out to be an unmitigated failure, as promised funds failed to materialise. The club haemorrhaged money under their ownership, and GFH eventually sold 75 per cent of Leeds earlier this year to convicted fraudster Cellino. No other prospective buyer aside from the maverick Italian millionaire was willing to meet the £35million price tag GFH wanted. Giuseppe Bellusci rescued a point for Leeds in the 79th minute at Elland Road . Cellino was initially prevented from completing his own takeover after the League ruled he was not a ‘fit and proper person’, following a tax evasion conviction relating to a yacht. He won an appeal on that decision, pending the release of a detailed judgment which should clarify whether he had been guilty of a crime of dishonesty, or not. If the full verdict says he is dishonest, the League will attempt to force him to sell Leeds. The League’s problem is that they have no right to access the full verdict. Cellino’s Italian lawyer is the only person, aside from the court, with a full copy. Bellusci (bottom) celebrates his goal with his Leeds team-mates, with the club 14th in the Championship . It has been reported that in the full tax case ruling, Sardinian judge Sandra Lepore said there was ‘elusive intent’ and ‘Machiavellian simulation’ by Cellino. The problem for the League is accessing the document. Lawyers for the League and Cellino have spoken in the past few days and the Leeds owner believes the League are considering some kind of misconduct charge for not giving it to them. The charge, theoretically, would be that Cellino has failed to notify the League of a change in declarations about his ‘fit and proper’ status. Cellino’s lawyers would mount legal challenges to any charge. The League declined to comment. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | Leeds takeover in 2012 may have been partly financed by a fund co-owned by the Iranian government .
The alleged Iranian funding may defy a UN Security Council resolution .
Massimo Cellino bought 75 per cent of Leeds from Bahraini bankers GFH . |
233,848 | babf4017aad384e5b17d3973058bf84f87f29d1f | (CNN) -- Amid heightened tensions with North Korea, the United States and South Korea on Sunday began joint military exercises. The military exercises, dubbed Invincible Spirit, are scheduled to run through Wednesday in waters off South Korea to demonstrate the alliance's resolve. In addition to the 8,000 personnel involved, military officials say, the exercises will include 20 ships and submarines and about 200 aircraft. The U.S. Defense Department said the drills are in response to the sinking of the South Korean warship Cheonan and are intended to send a strong message to Pyongyang to stop "provocative and warlike acts." The drills will include anti-sub infiltration exercises, said Cmdr. Jeff Davis of the U.S. 7th Fleet. "The anti-sub-infiltration exercise works like this: if a sub is coming in to attack a ship, the military finds it and prosecutes it," he said. Davis said there was a "renewed desire" and urgency to focus on the exercise after the Cheonan sinking. North Korea criticized the exercises, which began at 6:30 a.m. (5:30 p.m. ET). "The U.S. provocations amount to trespassing on the off-limits fixed by the DPRK and it, therefore, feels no need to remain bounded to the off-limits drawn by the U.S.," the state-run Korean Central News Agency quoted a North Korean foreign ministry spokesman as saying. It continued, "It is the mode of the DPRK's counteraction to react to sword brandishing in kind. The DPRK is prepared for both dialogue and war. It will remain unfazed by military threat and sanctions." North Korea on Saturday heightened its threats against the military exercises after talks over the sinking of the Cheonan. North Korea "will legitimately counter with [its] powerful nuclear deterrence the largest-ever nuclear war exercises to be staged by the U.S. and the South Korean puppet forces," KCNA reported. Two U.S. military officials told CNN there was no sign of significant troop movement in North Korea. Democratic Sen. Carl Levin of Michigan, the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, answered "no" when asked if there was a real threat of a North Korean military attack over the U.S.-South Korean exercises. "I think North Korea is just too interested in their own survival to do anything that could end that regime," Levin said in an interview broadcast Sunday on C-SPAN's "Newsmakers" program. Meanwhile, Friday, in the demilitarized zone between the two Koreas, officers from the North sat down for talks about the Cheonan incident with their counterparts in the U.S.-led United Nations Command. During the almost two-hour meeting in the international truce town of Panmunjom, the U.N. Command reminded the North Koreans of the Security Council's condemnation this month of the Cheonan attack. The Security Council did not mention North Korea by name but condemned the attack strongly, called for "full adherence" to the armistice agreement that halted fighting in the Korean War in 1953 and encouraged "the settlement of outstanding issues on the Korean peninsula by peaceful means." An international inquiry found North Korea culpable for the March attack that killed 46 South Korean sailors. But North Korea denies a role in the incident, which elevated tension between the two enemies. North Korea demanded again Friday that it be allowed to conduct its own investigation of the Cheonan's sinking and said the upcoming war games are being conducted under false pretext. "The U.S. forces side would be seriously mistaken if it calculates it can browbeat [North Korea] through large-scale war exercises," KCNA said. "It should immediately stop the [anti-North Korean] nuclear war racket." At an Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) meeting last week, nation after nation expressed deep regrets and offered condolences to the South Koreans. The United States has accused North Korea of aggressive behavior and imposed new sanctions Wednesday. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton reiterated U.S. support for South Korea on Friday. "Here in Asia, an isolated and belligerent North Korea has embarked on a campaign of provocative, dangerous behavior," she said in Hanoi, Vietnam. Later, after a repatriation ceremony for the remains of three soldiers who died in the Vietnam War, Clinton said the door remains open for dialogue if North Korea commits to abandoning its nuclear weapons program. "We would love for them to have the same opportunities that the people of South Korea have been able to enjoy for the last 60 years," Clinton said. "So, it is distressing when North Korea continues its threats and causes so much anxiety among its neighbors and the larger region." CNN's Barbara Starr, Kyung Lah and Eve Bower contributed to this report. | Sen. Levin says North Korea won't go to war over military exercises .
South Korea, U.S. begin joint exercises .
The exercises are scheduled to run through Wednesday .
North Korea says it will demonstrate its might . |
60,672 | ac74a1638f5958935e352e8b1aa059514e60027f | (CNN) -- Hours after Libya's former interior minister said he resigned to support anti-government protesters, the Libyan government said he had been kidnapped. Abdul Fattah Younis al Abidi told CNN Wednesday that he resigned Monday after hearing that 300 unarmed civilians had been killed in Benghazi, Libya's second-largest city. He accused Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi of planning to attack civilians on a wide scale. But the same day, Libyan state media reported that "gangs" in Benghazi had kidnapped him. Witnesses have reported that Benghazi has essentially been taken over by the opposition. Witnesses also told CNN they saw Younis on Sunday and Monday in Benghazi, where he was siding with the protesters. CNN could not immediately confirm reports for areas beyond Benghazi. The Libyan government maintains tight control on communications and has not responded to repeated requests from CNN for access to the country. CNN has interviewed numerous witnesses by phone. Libyan state television added that Libyan forces have warned those responsible for the kidnapping that they "will be chased in their hiding places." Earlier Wednesday, al Abidi said he had quit the government and is supporting the protesters, who he predicted will achieve victory in "days or hours." "Gadhafi told me he was planning on using airplanes against the people in Benghazi, and I told him that he will have thousands of people killed if he does that," al Abidi said in an Arabic-language telephone interview Wednesday. He called Gadhafi "a stubborn man" who will not give up. "He will either commit suicide or he will get killed," said al Abidi, who said he has known him since 1964. Al Abidi called on Libyan security forces "to join the people in the intifada." Already, he said, "many members" of the security forces had defected, including those in the capital, Tripoli. Since the recent protests in Libya started February 15, a growing number of Libyan officials have reportedly resigned. Libya's ambassador to Bangladesh, A.H. Elimam, resigned to side with pro-democracy protesters, said BSS, the official news agency of Bangladesh, citing a Foreign Ministry official Tuesday. iReport: Are you there? share photos, video . Justice Minister Mustafa Abdul Jalil also resigned, saying he was protesting the "bloody situation" and "use of excessive force" against unarmed protesters, according to the Libyan newspaper Quryna. CNN's Waffa Munayyer contributed to this report. | Libyan state TV reports "gangs" in Benghazi kidnapped Abdul Fattah Younis al Abidi .
Earlier Wednesday, al Abidi said he quit the government and supports protesters .
He predicted protesters will achieve victory in "days or hours" |
197,630 | 8bcbd16c01064baceb26a2b6d6d635eeee7ee865 | (CNN) -- Campaign 2014 is in full swing with primary voting, and incumbents and challengers busy raising money. Now the first task for every federal candidate in this midterm election year will be to read the Supreme Court's ruling on campaign finance for a reality check. The 40-page decision handed down on Wednesday promises to continue a transformation over how donations and spending on elections are conducted. The court's 5-4 ruling threw out congressionally mandated limits on the total one can give to all federal candidates in an election cycle. The practical effect: it would allow well-heeled donors to spread the wealth to give to more candidates and political groups. Toobin: High court gives rich more say in elections . But current limits on giving to an individual candidate -- $5,200 -- remain in place and were never at issue before the justices. There is disagreement on how much of an impact this narrow decision will have in money terms as billions of dollars fuel today's campaign process overall. But the larger implications could be huge, played out for years to come in a variety of continuing challenges to current restrictions. "Every time this current Supreme Court has confronted a campaign finance restriction, it's struck it down," said Thomas Goldstein, publisher of SCOTUSblog.com. "It has been on a slow but steady march towards deregulation, towards saying that restrictions on your spending money -- say, in expenditures or in contributions to candidates -- that is a free speech right." Breyer's lament . Justice Stephen Breyer sounded forlorn Wednesday, lamenting in sad tones the effect of the Supreme Court ruling. Speaking from the bench, Breyer -- supported by his three more liberal colleagues -- criticized the conservative majority for ignoring a century of efforts to blunt political corruption -- or its appearance. "The threat to that integrity posed by the risk of special access and influence remains real," he said. The ruling "eviscerates our nation's campaign finance laws, leaving a remnant incapable of dealing with the grave problems of democratic legitimacy that those laws were intend to resolve," he added. But Chief Justice John Roberts, in his majority opinion, acknowledged what many a smart election lawyer knows: . "Because individuals' direct contributions are limited, would-be donors may turn to other avenues for political speech" than direct contributions to office-seekers, said Roberts. "Individuals can, for example, contribute unlimited amounts to 501(c) organizations, which are not required to publicly disclose their donors. Such organizations spent some $300 million on independent expenditures in the 2012 election cycle." Roberts emphasized the free-speech rights of donors and downplayed the concerns the ruling would further erode public confidence in the political system. "The government may no more restrict how many candidates or causes a donor may support than it may tell a newspaper how many candidates it may endorse," he said. The man behind the ruling . Shaun McCutcheon is an electrical engineer by trade, but grassroots politics may be his true passion. The Alabama native has worked for years with his local Republican Party in Birmingham, and is chairman of Conservative Action Fund, a so-called "super PAC" that "promotes conservative Republicans' time-proven messages and effective solutions." His success in business and a willingness to put his money into GOP coffers set him at the center of the politically tricky Supreme Court fight. He equates his donations to "core political speech." McCutcheon says he has a constitutional right to donate more than that amount to as many office seekers as he wants, so long as no one candidate gets more than the $2,600 per election limit. He supports those individual controls, but "what doesn't make any sense is that you can only give that amount of money to a few candidates, because somehow my giving money to (U.S. Rep.) Martha Roby of Alabama could corrupt (former Rep.) Allen West of Florida," he told CNN. "That's just nutty, but that's what the powers-that-be want: to prevent folks who want to get involved from having the same ability to get involved and support candidates that big union PACs have," he said. But backers of continued congressional regulation do not see it that way. "The reason we have limitations on the dollars an individual can give is to create some sense of fairness, so that if we do have a campaign finance system driven by donations, we have as many opportunities for as many people as possible to participate," said Robert Zimmerman, a prominent Democratic fundraiser. "That's why there are limitations, so that everyone has an equal or fair voice in the process. Not only are our elections being put up for auction, these donors are making an investment in the democratic system for their own agenda and we taxpayers have to foot the bill," he said. Fundamental debate . The competing arguments are stark: supporters of campaign finance reform say current federal regulations are designed to prevent corruption in politics. Opponents said it would criminalize free speech and association. The current case deals with direct political contributions. But it continues a trend that culminated in the separate "Citizens United" high court ruling from 2010, easing long-standing restrictions on "independent spending" by corporations, labor unions, and certain non-profit advocacy groups in political campaigns. Its impact put corporations on the same free-speech footing as wealthy individuals, who have long enjoyed the ability to spend freely and independently on behalf of federal candidates. That and a subsequent decision from a federal appeals court in Washington have led to a proliferation of so-called "super PACs"-- separate political action committees that can raise and spend unlimited amounts of cash from businesses, unions, and advocacy groups. These super PACs are independent political organizations operating as "527s," named after the tax code governing their operation. They cannot contribute directly to a federal candidate or political party. Limits on direct contributions to candidates by corporations and individuals remain in place, the focus in part of the current McCutcheon appeal. Some political experts say a ruling in favor of increased, or even unlimited, aggregate individual donor contributions could put party committees and political action committees on a greater competitive track with the "super PACs." All PACs are organizations that campaign either for or against candidates, legislation, or ballot measures. The difference is in how they are organized for regulatory and tax purposes, and by the amounts of money they are allowed to spend. Regular PACs may also give limited donations to federal candidates and political parties, while super PACs cannot. With a resounding win at the high court, wealthy donors like McCutcheon -- whether Democrat, Republican, or Independent -- could in theory contribute a maximum $3.6 million to the national and state parties, and the 450 or so Senate and House candidates expected to run in 2014. Key for the conservative majority court was rejecting claims by the law's supporters that it had a permissible goal of preventing political corruption or the appearance of it. Another point of contention is whether the aggregate spending limits are really having a pervasive effect, or only involve a relative few well-heeled givers. Figures from the Center for Responsive Politics for the 2012 race showed about 600 donors leveraged their money to each give the maximum of about $48,000 total -- benefitting no more than 17 presidential or congressional candidates. Almost 1,700 contributors forked over the maximum limit to party committees, which added up to more than $100 million. Loosening those limits, say opponents of the law, would benefit wealthy liberals and conservatives equally. Lax enforcement . But the Supreme Court has never in its history overturned a federal contribution limit. And critics accuse regulators of having a generally lax enforcement stance, particularly for independent advocacy groups. The FEC will now be tasked with taking this high court opinion and crafting new rules to ease limits on aggregate spending. Unlike in "Citizens United," the big winners may be harder to discern. Certainly individual donors seeking to expand their election portfolio have more choices. But as Roberts noted, other big-move avenues exist to funnel money to outside groups willing to spend freely. And political parties certainly will have more money to spend. That worries many supporters of more regulation. "The court opens another loophole by allowing our political parties to be further corrupted by big-money contributions from special interests," said Elisabeth MacNamara, president of the League of Women Voters of the U.S. "The party and PAC systems now become a huge funnel for corrupting elected officials across the country." But McCutcheon argues that characterizing the legal fight as between "good" and "bad" simply blurs the truth. "Getting rid of the aggregate limits is not about corrupting democracy -- it is about practicing democracy," he said. "This case is about freedom-- your freedom and my freedom-- to express ourselves openly and fully within our political system. And if there is one thing that we Americans believe with all our hearts, it is that freedom never corrupts." The case is McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission (12-536). | A campaign finance reality check for candidates running in this year's midterms .
The Supreme Court's 5-4 ruling through out congressionally mandated limits .
Critics accuse regulators of having a generally lax enforcement stance . |
145,881 | 489feedb3070460c790df512e29ca8a0b37b366a | We all know what makes a great beach bar. Killer ocean views, sunset exposure and a creative menu from which, for once, you don't have to feel ashamed about drinks that come in coconut shells garnished with pink umbrellas. In Hawaii, though, perfect beach drinkeries also have to be imbued with that distinctive mahalo spirit. These 10 waterfront watering holes have all that, and then some. The Edge of Waikiki (Oahu) The Edge of Waikiki almost seems too obvious, with its prime Waikiki Beach location and unobstructed views of Diamond Head. As the name suggests, it sits right on the edge of the Sheraton Waikiki's infinity pool -- happy souls occasionally float past you on orange bean bags. Every morning between 10 a.m. and noon, bartenders serve $3 draft beers and $7 cocktails; in the afternoon, there's live acoustic music and umbrella-topped pina coladas. For all the cliches, the bar remains quintessentially Waikiki, frequented by visitors and locals alike. The Edge of Waikiki, 2255 Kalakaua Ave. on Waikiki Beach, Honolulu; +1 808 922 4422 . Lava Lava Beach Club (Big Island) Lava Lava might be your textbook Hawaiian beach bar -- tiki torches, swaying palms, hula dancing and a live band -- but its kitschy charm works. The location helps -- it's on quiet Anaeho'omalu Bay on the Big Island's northwestern coast. Though its decor can be described as casual, at best -- basic rattan chairs and tables on the sand -- the drinks are strong and cheap, with $5 cocktails during happy hour, and service is attentive and energetic. Lava Lava Beach Club, 69-1081 Ku'uali'i Place on Anaeho'omalu Bay, Waikoloa Village, Big Island; +1 808 769 5282 . Bumbye Beach Bar (Maui) Though Bumbye is located just steps from low-key Mokapu Beach on Maui's southwest coast, it's not exactly what you'd call low key. Its beechwood exteriors, surf-inspired art and artisan cocktails attract a largely young clientele, mainly guests at the Andaz Wailea. But there's no attitude here: bartenders are chatty and easygoing and there's a solid local presence, particularly during football season when drinks are half-price during games. The signature Honua'ula cocktail, a mix of Amaro, tequila, rum, pineapple and lime, is a crowd favorite. Bumbye Beach Bar, 3550 Wailea Alanui Drive on Mokapu Beach, Wailea, Maui; +1 808 573 1234 . House Without a Key (Oahu) Sheltered beneath the sprawling branches of a century-old kiawe tree behind the Halekulani's orchid pool, House Without a Key feels tucked away despite its central Waikiki Beach address. Each night on a small, oceanfront stage, live Hawaiian music is paired with traditional hula dancing performed by former Miss Hawaii winners as the sun sets over Waikiki. The signature cocktail is a mai tai -- more than one call it the best on the island -- served over crushed ice and a sugarcane stick, and garnished with a mint leaf and a Vanda orchid. House Without a Key, 2199 Kalia Road on Waikiki Beach, Honolulu; +1 808 923 2311 . Nalu Kai (Kauai) Quite possibly the only true beach bar on Kauai's north shore, Nalu Kai pairs barefoot appeal with strong drinks and views over Hanalei Bay, Pu'u Poa Beach and Bali Hai. Though the bar is part of the St. Regis Princeville Resort, it's more minimalist than posh. Its clientele skews young and moneyed. Drinks are typically priced for a five-star resort bar -- $10 for a local beer, $16 for a margarita -- but cocktails are served with flair and made with the fresh juice of local fruit like lilikoi and lychee. Nalu Kai; 5520 Ka Haku Road on Pu'u Poa Beach, Princeville, Kauai; +1 808 826 9644 . Serenity Pool Bar (Maui) Though the Serenity Pool Bar at the Four Seasons Maui is known more for its swim-up appeal -- it's on the edge of a 120-foot infinity pool -- it's also located beachfront, directly overlooking Wailea Beach. An ocean-facing terrace with lounge chairs offers views over the West Maui mountain range and the island of Lanai. The bar offers a substantial selection of local and organic beer and 18 cocktails, the most popular being the mai tai, which can be served in a pineapple upon request. Serenity Pool Bar at Four Seasons Maui, 3900 Wailea Alanui Drive, Wailea, Maui; +1 808 874 8000 . Mai Tai Bar (Oahu) Heather Graham and Ellen DeGeneres (for whom a cocktail has been named) are said to frequent the Waikiki Beach institution that is the Mai Tai Bar. Though the outdoor bar is encircled by a low barricade, the separation of bar and beach feels imperceptible thanks to the proximity of the sand -- you can reach over in your seat and grab a handful. A contemporary Hawaiian musical trio plays six nights a week. Their sunset rendition of Israel Kamakawiwo'ole's "Over the Rainbow" is predictable but never tired. Mai Tai Bar; 2259 Kalakaua Ave. on Waikiki Beach, Honolulu; +1 808 923 7311 . Ohia Bar at Duke's Beach House (Maui) Located on North Ka'anapali Beach, the lower-key Maui outpost of Duke's Waikiki is an easy stroll from Black Rock, but far enough away from the Whaler's Village beach bar crowds to feel somewhat secluded. Its thatched umbrellas and tiki torches are proudly kitsch -- this is Duke's, after all. Half-price happy hour kicks off at 3 p.m. and ends at sunset. Local crooners hop on the mic shortly after to set the aloha vibe in full swing with renditions of "Aloha Oe" and "White Sandy Beach." Ohia Bar at Duke's Beach House, 130 Kai Malina Parkway on North Ka'anapali Beach, Lahaina, Maui; +1 808 662 2900 . Oasis on the Beach (Kauai) Just 15 minutes from Lihue Airport, this Kapa'a coast bar is perfectly situated for a pre- or post-flight drink. Its outdoor dining deck overlooks the long expanse of Waipouli Beach, and the bar menu is large and interesting. Popular drinks include macadamia hot-buttered rum with cloves, and the spicy Thai martini. On Wednesday evenings the entire bar menu is half price. The small plates are made with 90% local ingredients. Oasis on the Beach; 4820 Kuhio Highway at Waipouli Beach, Kapaa, Kauai; +1 808 822 9332 . Beach Tree Bar (Big Island) Located on the sands of Kumukea Beach on the Big Island's Kona-Kohala coast, the Beach Tree Bar is good for sunset cocktails and turtle-spotting -- sometimes simultaneously. Though the thatched-roof bar has an informal vibe, it's got a sophisticated beer and wine menu (more than 60 wines by the glass) and 19 cocktails, including the popular limoncello-pear concoction that's the signature Beach Tree Smash. Bartenders and wait staff avoid cheesy aloha shirts for casual blue tees and share local knowledge freely. Beach Tree Bar at Four Seasons Resort Hualalai, 72-100 Kaupulehu Drive, Kaupulehu-Kona; +1 808 325 8000 . | Edge of Waikiki borders the Sheraton hotel's infinity pool .
Live music and hula performed by former Miss Hawaii winners are featured at Honolulu's House Without a Key .
Maui's Serenity Pool Bar is a swim-up on the edge of a 120-foot infinity pool overlooking Wailea Beach . |
107,194 | 16419dce1dc1fe06d6a6d52e078c6e52896db3e3 | Kitten, called Nightmare, taken in by animal welfare and put up for adoption . A pet owner has been charged with animal cruelty after he charged at his kitten and kicked it 18 feet in the air through football goal posts before raising his arms for a field goal. Percy Love, 22, laughed as he was arrested after the assault on the black cat on Monday afternoon. The man was picked up by police, who witnessed the attack, on the south side of Chicago and was being held on a $50,000 bond. Deplorable cruelty: Percy Love (left) kicked his pet kitten (right) 18ft in the air through a field goal in Chicago . According to the Chicago Sun-Times, Love told arresting officers: 'This is my cat, Nightmare. He is tough, we play like that all the time. It’s just a cat.' Nightmare the kitten was being looked after by the Animal Care and Control workers on the southwest side of the city. Cherie Travis, executive director of the Chicago animal centre, told CBS Chicago: 'He seems to be doing fairly well. He’s a very, very friendly cat… which somehow makes it all the more unbelievable that somebody would do that.' Vets were trying to determine if the kitten had any broken bones and then the animal would be put up for adoption. Love is set to appear in South Misdemeanor Court on February 1 on a charge of animal cruelty but was being held at Cook County Jail because he violated his parole for a burglary three years ago. Scored: Love raised his arms like he had made a field goal after kicking his kitten through the posts (posed by model) | Kitten, called Nightmare, taken in by animal welfare and put up for adoption . |
240,656 | c38d144b25eabab9ef623b64d151ce3d7e716a74 | By . Daily Mail Reporter and Associated Press . PUBLISHED: . 12:22 EST, 8 August 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 12:22 EST, 8 August 2012 . Several U.S. Olympians are crying foul over a few violent incidents in competition, arguing that some of their opponents should be awarded a gold medal for cheap shots. It's part of a grueling back-and-forth between American athletes and their international rivals, particularly in men's basketball and women's soccer. Forward Carmelo Anthony was shooting a three-pointer in the closing seconds of a game against Argentina on Monday night when guard Facundo Campazzo struck him in the groin. Low blow: Carmelo Anthony was left howling in pain on the court after he was struck in the groin by Argentinian guard Facundo Campazzo . Attack: Campazzo can be seen hitting Anthony in this footage from the game on Monday . The ball landed in the basket, but Anthony, who plays for the New York Knicks stateside, hit the floor. Speaking at a team practice on the day after the Americans' 126-97 victory, Anthony said: 'It was definitely a cheap shot. 'Something like that, I don't play like that, I don't agree with that.' He added: 'If you're going to foul . somebody ... foul them hard, but you don't take a shot like that. So I . don't agree with that, but at this point there's really nothing that . nobody can do about it.' The play happened in front of the U.S. bench, and Anthony's teammates were irate as he fell to the court in pain. Backing: Anthony's teammates rushed to his defence after the incident . Fight: An altercation erupted on the court as Team USA reacted to the 'cheap shot' Anthony said they were angry because they knew it was 'uncalled for' and wouldn't happen in the NBA. 'Nobody takes cheap shots like that,' Anthony said. 'That was a cheap shot. He got one, he took it, he got away with it. There's nothing we can do about it.' Campazzo said after the game he apologized to Kobe Bryant but not to Anthony, because Chris Paul hadn't apologized for punching him earlier in the game. Anthony and coach Mike Krzyzewski said they hadn't watched a replay but were putting the incident behind them and looking toward Wednesday's quarterfinal game against Australia. Also on Monday, the U.S. victory in the . women's soccer semi-final against Canada was marred by a similar cheap . shot when a Canadian player appeared to stomp on midfielder . Carli Lloyd's neck. A kick in the head: Carli Lloyd appeared to have been stomped on by Canadian forward Melissa Tancredi during the women's soccer semi-finals on Monday . Agony: The shot left Lloyd writhing on the field in pain, and no whistle was blown . It was the latest in a string of incidents that have created bad blood between the U.S. team and their neighbours to the north, as Canadian forward Melissa Tancredi made the startling assault. The attack came after numerous pre-game remarks by Canadian players and their coach, John Herdman. Prior to the match, which the U.S. won 4-3, Herdman accused the U.S. of using 'highly illegal' blocking tactics on their corners and free kicks. The Canadians claimed it was Team USA . who were playing dirty and Tancredi herself addressed a referee . when she said: 'I hope you can sleep tonight and put on your American . jersey because that’s who you played for today.' Winning: The U.S. women's soccer team defeated Canada 4-3, thanks to an overtime goal by Alex Morgan . It's wasn't the first time the U.S. has been accused of playing dirty during the London games. Colombian soccer player Lady Andrade, who was suspended last month after 'sucker punching' Wambach, said that it was the Americans who struck first. 'The whistle always goes in their favour,' she insisted. 'They were hitting us and hitting us, but there was never a whistle.' | No call on Argentinian guard Facundo Campazzo, who struck U.S. forward Carmelo Anthony in the groin on Monday night .
Anthony called it a 'cheap shot' that Capazzo 'got away with'
Came on same day that Canadian player stomped on U.S. midfielder Carli Lloyd's neck .
Incident was the latest in a string of 'bad blood' incidents between North American rivals . |
88,160 | fa30eaa334b88faea0033db7b0b269aa80c0a132 | By . Amanda Williams . PUBLISHED: . 13:09 EST, 12 March 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 15:55 EST, 12 March 2014 . After more than two million cones, and 50 years of bringing joy to hundreds of thousands of children, the world's longest serving ice cream man is finally hanging up his scoop. Paul Salamone, 75, has been behind the wheel of his distinctive blue ice cream van since he emigrated to Britain from Italy in 1965. His half century long career has seen him build an empire of six vans and his own ice cream manufacturing plant, in Watford, and earn a place in the Guinness World Record for 'Longest Career As An Ice Cream Man'. After more than two million cones, and 50 years of bringing joy to hundreds of thousands of children, the world's longest serving ice cream man Paul Salamone is finally hanging up his scoop . Dedicated Mr Salamone, 75, has been behind the wheel of his ice cream van since he emigrated to Britain from Italy in 1965 . But after a career spanning nearly . half a century the world's longest serving ice cream man is finally . putting his career on ice and retiring. He opened his own firm Tonino & Son in 1971 after emigrating from Italy, when his first cones cost just 4d. Mr Salamone has since served up more than two million ice creams and lollies. Mr Salamone, of Watford, said: 'I have had the best 48 years in the business - starting in 1965 when I moved here with my wife from Italy. 'As soon as I came over to the UK I saw an ice cream van and knew that was what I wanted to do. 'I worked for someone else at the start, but I eventually managed to save up enough and bought my own van in 1971 and haven't looked back since. ' I picked the name Tonino & Son because it's an Italian name but it's a bit easier to pronounce than mine. 'I'll never forget that I used to charge 4d for a cone with a flake. Now it's £1.50, but I think that's pretty reasonable. 'I must have sold more than two million ice creams during my career. I've had a blast, I really have.' He said: 'We used to be out all year but things have changed. We have had hard times and good but have survived them all and are still going. Mr Salamone, pictured in the early days of his beloved ice cream empire. His half century long career has seen him build a fleet of six vans and his own ice cream manufacturing plant, in Watford . He opened his own firm Tonino & Son in 1971 after emigrating from Italy, when his first cones cost just 4d. Mr Salamone has since served up more than two million ice creams and lollies . 'I am so thankful to all the customers I have served over the years. 'There are some streets on the route where I've served four generations of the same family.' Ms Salamone was hailed by the Guinness Book or Records after his ten-year-old grandson Ethan Edwards spotted he had beaten the previous record-holder beat by a decade. He is now handing over the keys to his fleets of vans to son Alberto and Neil Edwards and Pierro Lerede, the husbands of his two daughters Santy and Adriana. The grandfather added: 'I will miss the people - I have been here since the 60s and have served grandmothers, mothers, children and their children. It has been a pleasure.' Mr Salamone, of Watford, said: 'I have had the best 48 years in the business - starting in 1965 when I moved here with my wife from Italy' Ms Salamone was hailed by the Guinness Book or Records after his ten-year-old grandson Ethan Edwards spotted he had beaten the previous record-holder beat by a decade . Proud son-in-law Neil Edwards said: 'Retiring is something Paul has been talking about for a while, but he'll never completely stop. 'He shared his secret ice cream and iced lolly recipes with me, which I think was a big step. 'Ice cream may not be as popular as it once was, but the fact that our family company is still going is testament to the love the British public have to reliable service with a friendly smile - something Paul prides himself on very much. 'We'll still let him out in a van every now and again. He loves the people and they love him.' Their tinkling chimes once brought armies of children running from their homes, pocket money at the ready to buy their favourite frozen treat. But after feeding generations of confectionery hungry youngsters, the fortunes of Britain's ice cream vans seems to be stalling. The rise in popularity of the home freezer - introduced in the 1950s - and new EU rules insisting on lower emission limits means that many of the country's 5,000 ice cream vans have been frozen out and consigned to the scrap heap. The costly amendments to keep them on the road add to the already expensive trade which includes insurance and a trade licence costing around £800 annually. A recent report claimed that there are only 500 ice cream vans left on the roads. In their 1970s heyday, there were 250,000. | Paul Salamone, 75, has been behind wheel of ice cream since 1965 .
His first cones with a flake cost just 4d - now they cost £1.50 .
Iced empire stretches to six vans and own ice cream manufacturing plant . |
271,761 | ec01673a676c607cea8b0b022bed4159d6fd41c2 | Alexandria, Virginia (CNN) -- A former Marine Corps reservist pleaded guilty Thursday to shooting at the Pentagon and other military-related buildings and to trying to desecrate graves at Arlington National Cemetery containing the remains of veterans who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan. Yonathan Melaku entered a guilty plea to three counts: damaging U.S. property with a firearm, using a firearm in a crime of violence and attempting injury to veterans' memorials on U.S. property. Melaku, a 23-year-old naturalized U.S. citizen who was born in Ethiopia, was arrested June 17 at the cemetery. He had a backpack with four plastic bags each containing 5 pounds of ammonium nitrate, material commonly used in homemade explosives. He also had numerous 9 mm spent shell casings; black paint and a notebook with Arabic statements mentioning al Qaeda, Osama bin Laden, the Taliban and the "Path to Jihad." In the statement of facts document signed by Melaku, he admitted he "intended to desecrate and injure grave markers by spray-painting the markers with Arabic statements and by leaving the ammonium nitrate he was carrying at the sites of these grave markers." Melaku did not have all the components needed to make a bomb. In a search of his home, investigators found a typed list that included various components including batteries, wire and a "digital kitchen countdown timer." But he had not obtained all of those items. Melaku admitted to five shootings with a legally owned handgun at military buildings in Northern Virginia between October 17 and November 2 of 2010. He said he attacked the Pentagon, Marine and Coast Guard recruiting offices and he twice fired at the National Museum of the Marine Corps. The government released a video Melaku made showing his second attack at the Marine Corps museum in Quantico, Virginia, on October 29. Recorded Arabic music is heard in the background as Melaku drives down an interstate talking about his target. "Last time I hit them, they turned off the lights," Melaku is heard saying. "Punks! Now, here we go again. This time, I'm going to turn it off permanently." Melaku then says, "That's the target. That's the military building that's going to, gonna get attacked." Melaku's face is shown on part of the video but he's also seen wearing a black hood as he prepares to shoot at the museum, although the building is not visible on the video. Shots ring out in rapid succession. Then Melaku excitedly yells, "Allahu Akbar" several times and also sings along with the recorded music playing in his car. According to court documents, the five military building shootings caused more than $100,000 in damage. Melaku, wearing a green jail jumpsuit on Thursday, spoke only to respond to questions from U.S. District Judge Gerald Bruce Lee. Asked how he was pleading to the three counts against him, Melaku replied, "Guilty, sir." After the hearing, Assistant U.S. Attorney Dana Boente said Melaku indicated in the video he made at the Marine museum shooting that his intention was to "create fear and terror, which is what terrorists do" and that he wanted to shut down the building. Boente also said Melaku had "a large amount of jihadist material on his computer." FBI Supervisory Special Agent Jacqueline Maguire would not list which websites Melaku used, but said a search of the computer showed he was "conducting research" relating to the list of needed bomb components found at his home. U.S. officials have said Melaku has no ties to any terrorist groups and appears to have acted alone. Prior to the plea deal, Melaku faced the possibility of life in prison if convicted on all charges. But the plea agreement calls for him to serve 25 years followed by five years of supervised release. He will be sentenced on April 27. Melaku offered no explanation for his actions at Thursday's hearing. His defense lawyer, Gregory English, asked that his client receive a mental examination and suggested he might need treatment while in prison. English emphasized Melaku was competent and understood the legal proceedings, but said his parents were concerned he might have problems with anger management or post-traumatic stress. Judge Lee said it was an unusual request since no mental issues were raised before the guilty plea, but he said he would consider the matter. Melaku joined the Marine Reserves in August of 2007 but was never deployed overseas. At the time of his arrest in June last year, a military official told CNN that Melaku had failed a combat fitness test about a month before the first military building shooting. The official said he later did poorly on a physical and was listed as non-deployable. | Yonathan Melaku pleads guilty to charges including damaging U.S. property .
He was accused of shooting at the Pentagon and other military-related buildings .
He agrees to a sentence of 25 years in prison; sentencing will be in April . |
73,676 | d0e45e4796f9ce8e9b013612ea5bb960d0c1650e | Two Al Jazeera journalists being held in an Egyptian jail are set to go on trial again later this week after spending more than 400 days in prison. Baher Mohamed, an Egyptian national and Canadian-Egyptian Mohamed Fahmy, were sentenced to between seven and 10 years in jail last year on charges including spreading lies to help a terrorist organisation - a reference to the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood. They were arrested along with Australian journalist Peter Greste in Cairo on December 29, as they covered the aftermath of the army’s removal of Mohamed Morsi from the presidency in July 2013. Scroll down for video . Baher Mohamed and Mohamed Fahy at a previous court appearance alongside freed colleague Australian Peter Greste . Last week Mr Greste was freed by order of Egypt's president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, under a new law that allows foreign prisoners to be deported. However, his two colleagues remain in prison and today one of the men's lawyers confirmed that their retrial would be on Thursday. Mostafa Nagy, a lawyer for Mr Mohamed said: 'The session has been set for February 12, 2015. It is the new session for the retrial. Al Jazeera English also reported the date on its website. Last week, there had been reports that Mr Fahmy was due to be imminently released from prison after reportedly relinquishing his Egyptian citizenship in exchange for his freedom. John Baird, Canada's foreign minister, told the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation he expected Fahmy's release, but gave no specific timing. Producer Baher Mohamed, left, and Mohamed Fahmy, bureau chief, right, are set to go on trial again later this week after spending more than 400 days in prison . Australian journalist Peter Greste was released from an Egyptian prison last week by order of Egypt's president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, under a new law that allows foreign prisoners to be deported . However, his finacee said today that she had no information about his possible release. Egyptian authorities accuse Qatar-based Al Jazeera of being a mouthpiece of the Brotherhood -- the movement the army removed from power in 2013. Al Jazeera denies the allegations. The journalists were detained in December 2013 and they say they were doing their jobs. Their imprisonment reinforced the view of human rights groups that the government was rolling back freedoms gained after the 2011 uprising that toppled autocrat Hosni Mubarak. Baher Mohamed was given an extra three years for possessing a single bullet. Upon his release last week, Mr Greste revealed it was traumatic leaving his colleagues behind in a Cairo prison and he didn't truly believe he was being freed until he was seated on a plane bound for Cyprus. He used his first interview since being deported from Egypt to call on the country to his colleagues the Cairo bureau chief Mr Fahmy and Mr Mohamed, a producer. Demanding release: Lawyer Amal Clooney waits on January 28, 2015 for the start of a hearing before the European Court of Human Rights in the eastern French city of the Strasbourg . 'You spend 400 days in such close proximity with people and you really get to know them very, very well,' the 49-year-old told Al Jazeera in Cyprus on Monday. 'So it was a very difficult moment walking out of that prison, saying goodbye to those guys, not knowing how much longer they will have to put up with this.' Meanwhile prominent lawyer Amal Clooney has requested a meeting with Egypt's president to push for the release of Al-Jazeera reporter Mohamed Fahmy, a letter obtained by AFP on Saturday shows. Mrs Clooney, who married Hollywood star George Clooney last year, has thrown her legal clout and celebrity behind Mr Fahmy to secure his release. Rights groups and several media outlets condemned the verdicts as political, saying the three were doing their job during a tumultuous time. According to a law passed late last year, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi has the power to deport foreign defendants or convicts if it's considered to be in the interest of national security. The law was seen as providing a potential legal instrument with which to free the journalists. | Baher Mohamed and Mohamed Fahmy set to go on trial again on Thursday .
They were arrested alongside Australian Peter Greste in Cairo last year .
Were charged with spreading false news to 'help a terrorist organisation'
Mr Greste was released but colleagues were sentenced to 10 years in jail .
Authorities accuse Al Jazeera of being a mouthpiece for the Muslim Brotherhood . |
278,556 | f4d4acc3adfd29b72b7223451194af2432e7fbbe | (CNN) -- I first saw the headline early Tuesday on Real Clear Politics, a political news site where I generally start my morning. It's not where I expect to see a story on breast cancer. Then I checked my e-mail messages -- they all seemed to be about Angelina Jolie's op-ed. Students in my undergraduate class wanted to discuss it in our next session. Colleagues expressed concern and wondered what the right response was. People I don't even know sent e-mails. One, from a research fellow at the International Agency for Research on Cancer, nicely summed up the general concern: "I fear that this disclosure will motivate other women to undergo preventive mastectomy, even though they do not need it." Wow. Maybe I should read it. I did. I found it to be a moving story and understood her choice. What I couldn't understand initially was the concern expressed by others. As the day wore on, the story dominated the news. I didn't fully appreciate how much Ms. Jolie is admired and respected and had neglected to consider just how powerful a celebrity personal anecdote could be. If American women saw themselves in Angelina Jolie -- then that would be a problem. Because the logical next question is: Should I get a preventive mastectomy? Then I realized something was missing in her piece; something that should have been printed in big black letters: . NOTE: This story is not relevant to more than 99% of American women. Why? Because more than 99% of women do not have the BRCA1 mutation -- or the BRCA2 mutation, for that matter. Let's be clear, the BRCA1 mutation is a bad thing. Although I might quibble with the exact numbers in the piece, the big picture is this: the mutation increases the risk of developing breast cancer about five fold and increases the risk of ovarian cancer more than 10 fold. It is a powerful risk factor for these cancers -- almost as powerful as cigarette smoking is for lung cancer. When people are at very high risk for something bad to happen, preventive interventions are more likely to be a good deal; that is, the benefits are likely to exceed the harms. I'm not saying that prophylactic mastectomy is the right choice for a woman with BRCA1, simply that it is a reasonable one. When people are at average risk, the deal changes. The opportunity for benefit is less, simply because the bad event is less likely to happen. But the harms of preventive intervention remain roughly the same. It is a fundamental precept of medicine -- one I hammer home with undergraduates (future patients) and medical students (future doctors): Patients with severe abnormalities stand to gain more from intervention than patients with mild ones. Patients with mild abnormalities are more likely to experience net harm from intervention, simply because they have less opportunity to benefit. The vast majority of women don't have the BRCA1 mutation. They are at average risk for breast cancer. They are not Angelina Jolie. They should not have a preventive mastectomy. A few weeks ago, in a New York Times Magazine piece, Peggy Orenstein related her first instinct when facing breast cancer recurrence: take the other breast too. Her oncologist responded with a simple question: "Would an average woman cut off her breasts?" I hope not. But there is a second question for women raised by Ms. Jolie's piece: Should I be tested for BRCA1? She seems to believe the answer is yes, pointing to the half-million women who die from breast cancer worldwide each year. But she neglects to point out that 90% of these deaths have nothing to do with the BRCA1 mutation. That's because most women don't have the mutation and because most breast cancer is sporadic. Opinion: Jolie's choice: Risks and benefits . The few women who are likely to have the mutation are also likely to know they may have it based on the oldest genetic test of all: a strong family history of cancer. Population-wide screening raises complex issues. We would want to know more about how often the test is wrong, particularly how often the test is falsely positive. That's important because women falsely diagnosed as a mutation carrier might undergo prophylactic mastectomy unnecessarily. Then there are the psychological effects, not only for the patient but also for her siblings and offspring. We'd also need to know more about what a BRCA1 mutation means in the absence of family history. Ms. Jolie's mother died of ovarian cancer at age 56. I'm no geneticist, but I can guess that puts her at higher risk -- both for having the mutation and for developing a bad cancer. And we'd certainly want an answer to the question: Must the test cost so much? There's no one right choice for a woman in Angelina Jolie's position, but she may well have made the right choice for her. Luckily it is a choice most women don't have to face. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of H. Gilbert Welch. | Professor of medicine Gil Welch surprised by huge reaction to Angelina Jolie's op-ed .
Welch fears women might wonder if they, too, should have preventive mastectomies .
Welch: But 99% of women do not carry the BRCA1 mutation that raises the risk of breast cancer .
He says women should look at family history before getting tested for the mutation . |
248,061 | ccfbe8fc9ba115599cf628c667d19033175df0b1 | Arthur Oszek, 86, was admitted to Ayr General Hospital hospital after a fall. He was put on the Liverpool Care Pathway and had his food and fluids removed for several days . A woman has spoken of her heartbreak after her father died - she believes after being put on Liverpool Care Pathway. Arthur Oszek, 86, was admitted to Ayr General Hospital hospital after a fall. But for several days Mr Oszek, a diabetic, had his food, drink and some of his medication removed, his stepdaughter claims. Ann Murdoch was told her father had been put on the Liverpool Care Pathway in a bid to let his body focus on medication to make his final days as comfortable as possible. But Ms Murdoch, 65, was furious that doctors hadn't asked for permission to put him on the pathway and demanded he be taken off it. After 20 hours of discussions, doctors agreed to restore his food and drink. But by then it was too late and his body gave up the fight, his feet turning back. He died just 17 hours later on August 25 last year. Ms Murdoch said it took her months to come to terms with her father's loss and . it was only when she heard of similar cases where people were put on the . Liverpool Care Pathway without consent that she felt she couldn't hold . back her anger any more. Last month a major review was announced into the Liverpool Care Pathway, by the Association for Palliative Medicine. The group, which represents 1,000 doctors who work in hospices and specialist hospital wards, will 'identify and explore concerns' over the system of caring for patients in their final days. The review comes as several families have said their loved ones were put on the pathway without their consent. Speaking from her home in Kirkcaldy, Fife, Ms Murdoch claimed NHS doctors had robbed her father's right to live. Mr Oszek's daughter Ann Murdoch (right) said her father had begged for water and his cracked lips showed he was severely dehydrated . The retired shop manageress said: 'It was dreadful, he was taken into the hospital because he had a couple of falls and at first he was put on the drip. 'But then after a number of days he was suddenly taken off it and he was just begging for a drink, saying "I'm so thirsty".' 'We asked the doctors why he was taken off his drip and we were told he was on the Liverpool Care Pathway. 'We didn't even know what is was, there's no way that should have happened without asking us. 'We kicked up a fuss and demanded he be put back on his medication, and eventually they agreed about 20 hours later.' But Mr Oszek, a former miner, died within 24 hours as his body was unable to recover from his frail state, his family claim. Although the great-great-grandfather-of-one was surrounded by Ms Murdoch and his other daughter Helena when he passed away, it was an uncomfortable end to his life, they say. Ms Murdoch added: 'He was left dying there for 17 hours until the inevitable happened. No one should have to see their loved one needlessly die like that in front of them. 'You wouldn't even make a dog die like that, he was just left to die on his own - none of the doctors came in to check on his condition, in the end we were dabbing a damp cloth over his cracked lips. 'My granddaughter had a camera with her and she took a few photos of him when his feet turned black - it was so distressing.' After 20 hours of discussions with the family, doctors agreed to restore Mr Oszek's drip, but his feet began to turn black and he died shortly afterwards . She said: 'Our dad wanted to live, the nurse even said "you want to live, don't you Arthur", but the doctors denied him that right. 'We don't want anyone else to suffer what we have suffered. My father was a character and a very caring person, he looked after my mother in her final years when she had cancer - he didn't deserve what happened to him. 'He was on a lot of medication, but he was living at home, he was able to look after himself with the aid of a care worker from the council. 'He was fully aware of what was going on around him and he was happy. He should have lived a lot longer.' Mandy Yule, Director of Integrated Care and Partner Services at NHS Ayrshire and Arran said although they could not comment Mr Oszek's case until an official complaint was received from his family, she insisted they always consult families before proceeding with the Liverpool Care Pathway. She said: 'The Liverpool Care Pathway is an end-of-life care plan to ensure that patients in the last few days of life receive the quality of care needed. 'The patient's condition is continually monitored in order to assess the patient's needs and to provide support to their relatives or carers. 'Communication with patients and their families is central to end-of-life care. The Liverpool Care Pathway does not preclude the use of clinically assisted (artificial) hydration or nutrition and all clinical decisions are made with the patient's best interest and comfort in mind.' A former version of the article described the Liverpool Care Pathway as “a withdrawal of food and fluids”. We are happy to make clear that the LCP is intended to ease the final hours of patients who are close to death and to spare them the suffering associated with invasive treatment and the needless prolonging of life. Once a patient is no longer able to eat or drink, consideration is given as to whether fluids and nutrients should continue to be provided. | Arthur Oszek, 86, was admitted to Ayr General Hospital hospital after a fall .
Taken off drip a few days after he arrived and was begging for water .
Family told he was on Liverpool Care Pathway - something they hadn't consented to .
Eventually taken off it after family intervened but died less than a day later .
'He was left to die on his own,' claims distraught daughter . |
183,151 | 793a1c2bd9a560f1e7eb85707a156b39247ceb82 | By . Allan Hall . PUBLISHED: . 11:49 EST, 4 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 18:36 EST, 4 December 2013 . A boy in a coma can keep his beloved American Staffordshire dog who has cared for him since birth despite German authorities previously threatening to put the pet down. Loyal Tascha goes into 10-year-old Dylan Gerzmehle's room every morning and pulls back his blanket with her teeth. She then licks his feet and snuggles up to his face and remains by his side all day. 'A bond that should never be broken': German authorities are threatening to destroy a Staffordshire Bull Terrier who has been 'caring' for comatose boy Dylan Gerzmehle for the last six years after it bit a neighbour's dog . Devoted: Every morning, Tascha comes into Dylan's room, snuggles up to him and remains by his side all day . But Tascha is a breed classified as a . fighting dog in the state of Brandenburg near Berlin where Dylan lives . and last month bit a neighbour during a scrap with another dog. Authorities said the pet had to move out or be destroyed. But following huge public outcry and a social media campaign on Facebook which was supported by 100,000 people, they have allowed Tascha to live. Dylan's parents Eckhard and Barbara were told to . de-register Tascha in Brandenburg and re-register her in Berlin where . Staffordshire Terriers are allowed. Lobbying the mayor: Dylan's father Eckhard (pictured) says Tascha brings his son 'little sparks of happiness' Dangerous breed: Brandenburg state had turned a blind eye to a law banning Staffordshire Bull Terriers, but it is now ordering Tascha to be relocated or be destroyed . Tascha is now undergoing training as a therapy and companion dog for disabled people. 'We are so happy and thankful, also for the support,' said Dylan's parents after the meeting according to The Local. Dylan was born into a vegetative state but his condition improved since Tascha arrived as a puppy six years ago. The family moved to the small town of Schonwalde in Brandenburg from Berlin to give Dylan more peaceful surroundings. But unlike Berlin, Brandenburg has a dangerous dog breed law that does not permit Staffordshire Terriers. Until recently, the district had not objected to Tascha as she has been neutered, properly reported and has received training from certified dog trainers. She also has passed temperament tests. But due to her dogfight with involving the neighbour’s pet the authorities felt that the law should be imposed. Outrage: More than 94,000 people have signed a petition on Facebook demanding the decision be reversed . | Staffordshire Bull Terrier stays by Dylan Gerzmehle's side every day .
Machines show ten-year-old's condition improves in Tascha's presence .
Boy's parents and doctors say it is a bond that must never be broken .
State had turned a blind eye to law banning Staffordshire Bull Terriers .
But it ordered dog to be relocated after it bit neighbour's dog .
Nearly 100,000 signed petition demanding decision be reversed . |
161,559 | 5ce036c3eff47ab43a7f8dc799667b721736f0de | By . Leon Watson . PUBLISHED: . 05:43 EST, 20 August 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 06:25 EST, 20 August 2012 . Former soldier Ricardo MacKenzie was jailed for 10 years for smuggling a cache of guns and ammo into the UK from Iraq in a tank . A former soldier has been jailed for 10 years after smuggling a cache of guns and ammunition from Iraq into the UK in a tank. Ricardo McKenzie joined the Army in April 2001 as a private in the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment, 1st Battalion, but sneaked the weapons into the UK in 2006. The 35-year-old served in Iraq before being discharged from duty in September 2008, but was arrested on October 28, 2011, after a police raid on two homes in south London. Inner London Crown Court heard last week how the first cache - a Hungarian-made FEG SA 85M semi-automatic assault rifle rifle - similar to an AK-47 - and a Colt 45 self-loading handgun - was found by cops during a raid at address in West Norwood. The raid was planned by Operation Trident - a specialist unit in the Met set up to tackle gun crime in the black community. After McKenzie's arrest at the first address, officers searched his home in Balham, south London, where they found a Dirty Harry-style Magnum revolver and bags full of ammunition, including deadly dum-dum bullets - which expand on impact. McKenzie told the court that he had smuggled the weapons back from Iraq in 2006 in a tank and hid them in his barracks before being discharged in 2008. He told the court he wanted to keep them as 'collectors items'. He had admitted three counts of possessing a firearm and a further five counts of possessing ammunition at a previous court hearing, but on August 16 was found guilty of three counts of possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life. He was jailed for ten years for the possession of firearm offences and seven years for the possession of ammunition offences, to run concurrently - meaning he will serve 10 years inside. A spokesman for the Met said: 'On Friday, October 28, 2011, officers executed a search warrant at an address in West Norwood and McKenzie was arrested leaving the premises. 'Found inside the premises was a Colt .45 self-loading handgun with ammunition, and a Hungarian FEG SA 85M semi-automatic rifle, together with a quantity of 7.62mm ammunition. 'Upon searching McKenzie's home at Balham, a Weihrauch Magnum .357 revolver was found in his bedroom, together with .38 ammunition, some of which was of an expanding type. Police found this Magnum and dum dum bullets in a raid on Ricardo McKenzie home in south London . A Colt handgun and ammo recovered by police. McKenzie told the court that he had smuggled the weapons back from Iraq in 2006 in a tank and hid them in his barracks before being discharged in 2008 . MacKenzie admitted three counts of possessing a firearm and a further five counts of possessing ammunition and was found guilty of three counts of possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life . 'McKenzie initially told police that the Colt handgun, together with ammunition, had been brought back from Iraq as a collector's item some time in 2006. 'The gun was then supposedly brought back into the UK hidden inside a tank. 'He claimed to then have hidden the gun at his army barracks before he left the army in 2008.' Detective Chief Inspector Gary Bruce, from Trident, said: 'The conviction of Ricardo McKenzie is the culmination of a great deal of hard work by DI Chris Jones, Trident North-East Team and the CPS. 'It has led to the imprisonment of a dangerous offender and removal of three lethal firearms and ammunition from the streets of London, weapons which would undoubtedly have been used to commit acts of serious violence. 'Trident operations such as this one help to ensure that it is still difficult for criminals to obtain guns and that those who do are arrested.' | Ricardo McKenzie served in Iraq before being discharged in 2008 .
He was arrested in October after a raid on two homes in south London . |
195,840 | 897b7d357ad857812703a73674f24bd27caaca3c | Ontario's top court has legalized brothels, saying Canadian prostitution laws unfairly discriminate against prostitutes and their ability to work in safe environments. A panel of five judges wrote that the law banning common bawdy houses "is grossly disproportionate" if all it aims to do is keep public order in a neighborhood and maintain public health standards. "The record is clear that the safest way to sell sex is for a prostitute to work indoors, in a location under her control," the judges wrote in a much anticipated ruling. "The impact on those put at risk by the legislation is extreme," the judges added. However, the court stopped short of allowing prostitutes to openly solicit customers on the streets. The court ruled that prohibiting solicitation remains a "a reasonable limit on the right to freedom of expression." "It is so nice to see that we are now brought out into society. I feel a debutante at a ball. We're almost full citizens, so this is wonderful," said Valerie Scott, a former prostitute. Supporters of the ruling said the laws governing prostitution in Canada would now have to change. "Any form of criminalization pushes the industry underground and gives opportunities to predators. You can see it through the world," said Nikki Thomas, executive director of Sex Professionals of Canada. The judicial panel ruled that the changes should not take affect for at least one year, allowing the government to amend its criminal code. Any of those changes would apply to the entire country, not just the province of Ontario. But the Canadian government released a statement saying it was now weighing its legal options. "As the Prime Minister (Stephen Harper) has said, prostitution is bad for society and harmful to communities, women and vulnerable persons," Rob Nicholson, Canada's justice minister, said in a statement released by his office. The government indicated it would review the decision, but an appeal to Canada's Supreme Court is also a possibility. | Ontario court rules federal prostitution laws unfairly discriminate against prostitutes .
A prostitute should be able "to work indoors, in a location under her control," the judges write .
The ruling does not allow prostitutes to solicit customers on the streets .
Supporters of the ruling say federal laws will now have to change . |
277,715 | f3c1578e200caa13bcbf63efc842e5999cd436e5 | Former head of MI5 Dame Stella Rimington has called for British people to inform security services if they suspect their neighbours maybe extremists . The former head of MI5 Dame Stella Rimington has called for British people to inform security services if they suspect their neighbours maybe extremists. Dame Stella, who supports the Government’s controversial ‘snoopers’ charter’, said people need to be more alert because it is impossible for security services to spot every threat.She called for a wartime vigilance and for people to be the Government’s ‘eyes and ears’ following the killing of Lee Rigby.The 78-year-old, who was MI5’s first female Director General, said: ‘The community has the responsibility to act as the eyes and ears, as they did during the war … where there were all these posters up saying the walls have ears and the enemy is everywhere.‘There have often been indications in the community, whether it’s Muslim or anywhere else, that people are becoming extremists and spouting hate phrases.’ Dame Stella said security services had to prioritise the most dangerous threats because ‘thousands’ of people were being radicalised in Britain.She said further terror attacks on the UK were inevitable unless the country became a ‘police state’. Her comments, made at the Hay Festival, were prompted following the killing of 25-year-old soldier Lee Rigby by alleged Islamist fanatics Michael Adebolajo, 28, and Michael Adebowale, 22, in Woolwich last Wednesday. Radicalised: Michael Adebolajo brandishing bloodied knives after the murder of Lee Rigby last week . Arrested: In 2010 Michael Adebolajo, second from right, was among nine suspected members of the Al-Shabaab movement captured by Kenyan police . Dame Stella said the Woolwich killing was classified as a ‘terrorist attack’ because of the ideology behind the attack. It has now emerged that Adebolajo made a second attempt to travel to Somalia to join extremist groups after failing in 2010. The killing has raised questions about MI5 after it also emerged the two suspects were known to them. Adebolajo was detained in Kenya in 2010 after trying to join a terrorist group. An investigation by parliamentary intelligence is being carried out to determine whether there were intelligence failings. | Dame Stella Rimington said members of the public have to be the Government's 'eyes and ears'
78-year-old, who spoke at the Hay Festival, was MI5's first female director . |
277,478 | f37e269da080b04339c8983ed598887957e0e232 | Los Angeles (CNN) -- Basketball star and Kardashian spouse Lamar Odom settled his drunken driving charge with a no contest plea Monday. Odom, 33, must serve 36 months' probation, attend three months of alcohol counseling and pay a total of $1,814 in fines and fees for the DUI charge, according to Los Angeles City Attorney spokesman Rob Wilcox. The California Department of Motor Vehicles will hold a hearing later to decide how long Odom's driver's license will be suspended. It was automatically suspended when he was arrested. Odom, who is married to reality TV star Khloe Kardashian, changed his not guilty plea, entered before a Los Angeles County judge two months ago to a no contest plea, Wilcox said. He was arrested on a driving under the influence charge in the early morning hours of August 30 by a California Highway Patrol officer who reported seeing Odom, 34, driving his white Mercedes SUV in a "serpentine manner at 50 mph." Odom "showed objective signs of intoxication and he was unable to perform his field sobriety tests," a CHP news release said. In 2001, Odom admitted to having violated NBA drug policies twice. "I've made a couple (of mistakes) and I may make a couple again, but hopefully they won't be as big as this one," Odom told reporters then. Odom is a free agent who has played in the NBA for 14 years, including for the Los Angeles Lakers, the Dallas Mavericks and, most recently, the Los Angeles Clippers. | The DMV will hold a hearing to decide when Odom can drive again .
Odom, who is married to reality TV star Khloe Kardashian, pleaded not guilty in October .
The basketball star was arrested in the early morning hours of August 30 .
The California Highway Patrol said he "showed objective signs of intoxication" |
61,193 | add21c7cbb2949d68385c03679dcca7bf6409083 | Not content with world domination, California-based Google is ramping up its efforts to expand its business into the cosmos. After purchasing satellite maker Skybox earlier this week for £300 million ($500 million), the tech giant is now said to be preparing to buy a stake in Sir Richard Branson’s space tourism company Virgin Galactic. The £18 million ($30 million) deal would give Google access to Galactic’s LauncherOne, capable of launching satellites into space within a few years. Google is apparently in advanced talks with Virgin Galactic to buy a 1.5 per cent stake in the company at £18 million ($30 million). This would value the firm at £1.2 billion ($2 billion). The deal would give Google access to Galactic's cargo spacecraft LauncherOne, the sibling to the passenger-carrying SpaceShipTwo (pictured) The deal would give Google a 1.5 per cent stake in New Mexico-based Virgin Galactic, and value the company at £1.2 billion ($2 billion), reports Sky News. In June 2013 Google announced Project Loon, an endeavour to send balloons high into the atmosphere that would provide internet coverage to remote areas. Then in April this year, Google acquired Titan Aerospace, a drone startup company that makes high-flying robots. This was followed in June by the £300 million ($500 million) acquisition of Californian satellite maker Skybox, which will boost the quality of images in Google Maps. And now the merger with Virgin Galactic will allow Google to start launching its own satellites into space, with the goal of expanding its influence around the world. This would allow them to begin launching a fleet of satellites - an apparent goal for the company needed to expand their influence around the world. The talks are also expected to have a second outcome, in which Google will invest hundreds of millions of dollars in Virgin Galactic, with a view to building the world’s first space tourism business. LauncherOne is perhaps lesser known than the main ship of Galactic’s business, SpaceShipTwo. The latter is a passenger-carrying spaceplane that, beginning later this year or early next, will take six paying customers on brief six-minute forays into space. To reach beyond the official ‘line’ of space (known the Karman line, 62 miles or 100 kilometres up) SpaceShipTwo is carried to an altitude of 50,000 feet (15,500 metres) by the WhiteKnightTwo mothership before detaching and using its rocket to reach space. In the past year Google (headquarters in California pictured) has begun to take giant leaps towards space. It began last year with the announcement of a high-altitude balloon project called Project Loon. In the last two months the tech giant bought a drone company, acquired a satellite firm and is now investing in Virgin Galactic . Virgin Galactic is expected to begin commercial flights of its SpaceShipTwo vehicle later this year or early next, with flights of its cargo-carrying LauncherOne vehicle to begin at a later date. Pictured is a powered test flight of SpaceShipTwo over the Mojave Desert in California on 29 April 2013 . Tickets to ride into space are now valued at £150,000 ($250,000) with celebrities including Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hanks and Justin Bieber apparently already stumping up the money for a ticket. Crew: 2 . Capacity: 6 passengers . Length: 60 feet (18.3 metres) Wingspan: 27 feet (8.3 metres) Height: 18 feet (5.5 metres) with rudders down . Loaded weight: 9,740 kilograms (21,428 pounds) Alongside SpaceShipTwo Branson is developing LauncherOne, an unmanned payload-carrying rocket that would be sent into space from the same WhiteKnightTwo plane. On board it will be capable of carrying experiments paid for by various companies around the world. The rocket, after detatching from WhiteKnightTwo, will then accelerate to speeds that will enable it to enter low-Earth orbit, where it can then release the satellites it is carrying. And Google has clearly seen the potential of this technology to launch satellites into orbit for a relatively low cost with its latest moves. Earlier this week it bought satellite firm Skybox as . the first step in its project to improve its maps and bring the internet . to developing countries. The acquisition will initially be . used to boost the quality of Google's maps images as it battles Apple. Skybox . has previously hit the headlines for capturing the first HD video footage . of Earth from its tiny satellite - which many dubbed at the time as . being 'like live Google maps.' Google is buying Skybox Imaging in a deal that could serve as a launching pad for the company to send its own fleet of satellites in to space. These satellites would take aerial pictures and provide online access to remote areas of the world. This photo of Kiev, Ukraine was taken by Skybox on 18 February 2014 . SkySat-1, which was launched in November, captured up to 90-second video clips at 30 frames per second. Satellites . today are capable of taking imagery better than a metre in resolution, . but they weigh thousands of kilograms. SkySat-1 is 20 times smaller than . traditional satellites. The circuitry that drives it is about the size of a phone book and consumes less power than a 100-watt light bulb. The . US group, Skybox Imaging, is now planning a constellation of 24 . satellites that will be able to cover almost the entire expanse of Earth. SkySat-2, an identical version of SkySat-1, is scheduled to launch later in 2014. Google . plans to use Skybox's satellite already in orbit to supplement the . material it licenses from more than 1,000 sources, including other . satellite companies such as DigitalGlobe and Astrium. Eventually, . though, Skybox could turn into another Google 'moonshot' - a term that chief executive Larry Page has embraced for describing ambitious projects that could . take several years to materialise. Google hopes to build more satellites that could be used to beam internet access to points around the world. 'Skybox’s satellites will help keep Google Maps accurate with up-to-date imagery,' the firm said. 'Over . time, we also hope that Skybox’s team and technology will be able to . help improve Internet access and disaster relief - areas Google has long . been interested in.' Satellites today are capable of taking imagery clearer than a metre in resolution, but they weigh thousands of kilograms. SkySat-1 is 20 times smaller than traditional satellites. Shown here is a view of Abu Dhabi . Google . has made around 250 acquisitions during the past decade, using many of them . to expand into new markets including maps and mobile devices. To . the frustration of some investors, Google also has been spending . billions of dollars exploring new frontiers of technology, including . driverless cars, internet-connected headwear, robots and a startup . called Calico striving to find ways to slow the aging process. Other . investors have applauded Google for having the vision and audacity to . make big bets on bold ideas that analysts say could hatch lucrative . products in the rapidly changing technology industry. | California tech giant is planning to invest in Sir Richard Branson's Galactic .
Reports claim the firm will buy a 1.5% stake for £18 million ($30 million)
This would give it access to a rocket capable of launching web satellites .
The deal would also see hundreds of millions more invested in the space tourism company over the next few years .
Move follows Google's acquisition of satellite maker Skybox . |
244,132 | c7f56177699b7777c19e8ae7911efcaec6c46a4e | By . Associated Press . PUBLISHED: . 00:58 EST, 8 June 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 00:58 EST, 8 June 2012 . A poet-historian representing a younger generation of writers will soon take office on Capitol Hill, overlooking the politicians, in a lesser-known post enshrined in federal law. The Library of Congress named Natasha Trethewey on Thursday to be its 19th U.S. poet laureate with a mission to share the art of poetry with a wider audience. The 46-year-old English and creative writing professor at Atlanta's Emory University distinguished herself early, winning the Pulitzer Prize in 2007. Great honour: Author Natasha Trethewey has been named the 2012-2013 US Poet laureate . Overcome: Pictured Thursday, Tretheway hugs friend Joshilyn Jackson (right), after she was named the 19th U.S. poet laureate . Trethewey will be the first poet in chief to take up residence in Washington to work at the library's Poetry Room for part of her term in 2013. As one of the youngest poet laureates ever selected, she also brings fresh perspective to an office more recently held by poets in their 80s. Part of her work has focused on restoring history that has been erased or forgotten from the official record and the nation's shared memory. She has researched in the library's Civil War archive to inform some of her writings. Trethewey won the 2007 Pulitzer Prize for her collection of poems, 'Native Guard.' She wrote of the Louisiana Native Guard, a black Civil War regiment assigned to guard white Confederate soldiers held on Ship Island off Mississippi's Gulf Coast. The Confederate prisoners were later memorialized on the island, but not the black Union soldiers.A stanza reads: . 'Some names shall deck the page of history'as it is written on stone. Some will not.' Librarian of Congress James Billington, who chose Trethewey after hearing her read at the National Book Festival in Washington, said her work explores many tragedies of the Civil War. 'She's taking us into history that was never written,' he told The Associated Press. 'She takes the greatest human tragedy in American history - the Civil War, 650,000 people killed, the most destructive war of human life for a century - and she takes us inside without preaching.' Cause for celebration: The English and creative writing professor is, at 46, one of the youngest U.S. poet laureates . Range of emotions: The professor was moved to tears during the ceremony, but looked happy as she chatted with friends after she was named poet laureate . It's a 'happy coincidence,' he said, that Trethewey was chosen during the 150th anniversary of the War Between the States. He was also impressed with her skill in translating a visual image into words and moving from rhyme to free verse - but always keeping her poems accessible. Trethewey began writing poems after a personal tragedy. While she was a college freshman, her mother was killed by a stepfather Trethewey had long feared. 'I started writing poems as a response to that great loss, much the way that people responded, for example, after 9/11,' she told the AP. 'People who never had written poems or turned much to poetry turned to it at that moment because it seems like the only thing that can speak the unspeakable.' She is the nation's first poet laureate to hail from the South since the first federal poet - Robert Penn Warren - was named by the Library of Congress in 1986. She is also Mississippi's top poet and will be the first person to serve simultaneously as a state and U.S. laureate. Proud papa: Father Eric Trethewey kisses her daughter as she is named the nation's 19th poet laureate; her father is also a poet . Her term, beginning in September, also coincides with the 75th anniversary of the poetry centre and a dedicated poet-consultant position at the world's largest library. Trethewey said she hopes to promote national activity around poetry and to engage with the library and people who visit the nation's capital. Past poet laureates have included W.S. Merwin, Kay Ryan, Stanley Kunitz, Robert Pinsky, Rita Dove and Warren - the Southern native who was an inspiration for Trethewey. 'The biggest thing that I learn each time is that I can find, I hope, the best words in best the order to convey what seems to me, often, so difficult to speak, what must be spoken.' Their agendas as the nation's chief poets have included readings across the country, newspaper syndication of poems and poetry readings over high school public address systems. Poetry lives in the Trethewey family. Her father, Eric Trethewey, is a poet and college professor. But when she went to graduate school, she was more interested in telling stories and studied fiction writing. 'On a dare that first semester, a poet friend of mine got me to write a poem. I did it because I thought I would prove that I couldn't do it,' she said. 'It was at that moment that something really clicked.' Her Pulitzer-winning poems also included her personal history as the daughter of interracial parents - and the story of her mother, who died at the age of 40. In 'Miscegenation,' a poem in 'Native Guard,' she wrote about her parents' journey to Ohio in 1965 for a marriage that was illegal at home in Mississippi. 'They crossed the river into Cincinnati, a city whose name begins with a sound like sin, the sound of wrong - mis in Mississippi.' Trethewey's next collection of poems, 'Thrall,' will be published this year. It explores her relationship with her white father and shared and divergent memory within families, along with poems about paintings and the history of knowledge from the Enlightenment. | Natasha Trethewey named 18th U.S. poet laureate by Library of Congress .
Trethewey, 46, is one of the youngest laureates named and comes from rich background of poetry .
She teaches English and creative writing at Emory University in Atlanta . |
114,833 | 2031f647ee5005768942a92abdefa016ac400c64 | (CNNGo) -- Check out these five standout watering holes around the globe. No card key required. Rock Bar, Ayana Resort & Spa in Bali, Indonesia . Guests ride a special cable car down a dramatic cliff face to get to this brilliantly engineered bar, above, perched just 46 feet above the Indian Ocean. Once there, the experience is dramatic. Bartenders pour creative cocktails set to beats spun from a DJ booth carved into the stone. The minimalistic space, designed by Yasuhiro Koichi of Japan's Design Studio SPIN, is one of the best places to watch the sunset in Bali. (Ayana Resort and Spa, Jimbaran, Bali, tel: +62 361 702222, website: ayanaresort.com/rockbarbali.) What to drink: A martini -- on the rocks, of course. Red2One, W Santiago, Santiago, Chile . Red2One is Santiago's most exclusive bar. Designed by Chilean Sergio Echeverria and New Yorker Tony Chi, the space puts a modern twist on traditional Chilean décor. Pops of red are juxtaposed against clean white sofas and natural wood floors. The views of the snow-capped Andes are unmatched amongst its Chilean bar brethren. (Isidora Goyenechea 3000, Las Condes, Santiago, Chile, Tel: +56+ (2) 770 0000, website: starwoodhotels.com.) What to drink: A virgin strawberry mojito. That's what Beyonce and Jay-Z sipped on a recent stop there. Check out other great travel tips and destinations at Five To Go . Icebar, Icehotel, Copenhagen . A novelty, no doubt, but Icebar is still a marvelous place to, well, chill out. Everything, and we mean everything, is made of ice, from the furniture to the cocktail glasses to the gleaming art. Check out the raven in a cage, the full scale Harley Davidson and the boxes filled with miniature treasures -- all made of frozen H20. (Hotel Twentyseven, Løngangstræde 27, Copenhagen, Tel: +45 7027 5627, website: icebarcph.com.) What to drink: A vodka shot warms the body and soul. Blu Bar on 36, Shangri-La Hotel in The Rocks, Sydney, Australia . Set on the 36th floor of the Shangri-La Hotel in The Rocks, the New York-inspired bar offers views of Darling Harbour, Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House. A marble hallway entrance opens to two distinct chambers, a fluorescent blue bar and a lounge. The latter features minimalist décor, plush seating, dim lighting and floor-to-ceiling glass windows. (176 Cumberland St, Sydney, Tel: +02 9250 6013, shangri-la.com.) What to drink: The Holy Amigo, a blend of Herradura tequila, Crème de Peche and peach bitters packs a punch. Bemelmans Bar, Carlyle Hotel, New York City . Dark and decadent, Bemelmans competes for the city's most dapper nightspot. No detail has been left un-fancified: White-jacket waiters, nickel-trimmed glass tables, chocolate-brown leather banquettes and a 24-karat gold leaf-covered ceiling. But the most interesting aspect of Bemelmans is the wall art by Ludwig Bemelmans, the creator of the Madeline books and the bar's namesake. (35 E. 76th St., at Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10021, Tel: 1 (212) 744-1600, thecarlyle.com.) What to drink: The Old Cuban, a mojito topped with champagne. CNNGo.com: See even more great hotel bars . © 2011 Cable News Network Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved . | Hotels around the world offer unforgettable bars for guests and visitors to relax in style .
Red2One in Santiago, Chile, has modern decor and views of the snow-capped Andes .
Everything from the furniture to the cocktail glasses is made of ice at Icebar .
See the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House when you sip a drink at Blu Bar . |
223,201 | acf208a87a597f6c9adb0cc7e83954aefc6c3eee | Jermain Defoe wants to lift the FA Cup in his club’s colours one day – as opposed to a designer suit. The 32-year-old was cup-tied when Portsmouth beat Cardiff in the final in 2008 but still made his way up the Wembley steps to get his hands on the trophy. On Saturday, Defoe makes his home debut for new club Sunderland when they entertain Fulham in the fourth round of the competition. Jermain Defoe trains with his team-mates on Thursday ahead of the FA Cup fourth round tie against Fulham . Defoe is desperate for FA Cup success after missing out on Portsmouth's triumph in 2008 . And he is already setting his sights on a return to Wembley. ‘I was gutted when I was cup-tied, it was really hard to be honest,’ he said. ‘I was in my suit and I still went up and lifted the trophy though. That kind of thing makes you more hungry to do well and get back there. ‘I was happy for the boys, happy for the team and I was a part of it, even though I didn’t play. The whole day was special but you want many more of those days. I look forward to this game now against Fulham and hopefully we can win and progress. ‘From there you never know, Sunderland got to Wembley last year and were unlucky to lose. If we can do that again it would be great.’ Defoe is perhaps a dying breed of player who still holds the cup in the highest regard. Indeed, rather than being rested, the striker has told manager Gus Poyet that he is desperate to step out at the Stadium of Light for the first time as a Sunderland player. And he added: ‘The FA Cup has always excited me. It’s a special competition - one of the best in the world. Defoe made his debut for Sunderland against Tottenham last weekend . Defoe was part of the Portsmouth squad that won the FA Cup in 2008 but was cup-tied . ‘I’ve always loved coming in and seeing the other results, but it’s been a long time for me since I’ve played in the FA Cup, so I’m looking forward to it. A big game, at home, it’s important that we approach it like every other game and try to win.’ Defoe, meanwhile, cannot wait to sample the Wearside atmosphere as one of their own. ‘Even before I signed I knew that it was a special club with special fans,’ he said. ’You speak to other players that have played for this club and they have always said that it’s a special place, and although I only played for 70 minutes the other day (at Spurs) the fans were fantastic. ‘I spoke to my mum after the game and she couldn’t believe it, she said she couldn’t stop looking at the supporters and talking about how they didn’t stop singing throughout the whole game. ‘I have always known that it’s a special club with special people and now I’m really looking forward to making my home debut.’ | Sunderland take on Fulham in the fourth round of FA Cup on Saturday .
Jermain Defoe set for home debut and is desperate for Cup success .
The striker got his hands on the trophy in 2008 with Portsmouth .
But couldn't play in the Cup campaign because he was cup-tied . |
227,937 | b326057f66407030efc6bee1dc9dd534abf10849 | QINGDAO, China (CNN) -- Another round of toasts and exclamations of "hajiu" sounded out around me. I took a sip and set down my small glass of Tsingtao beer as my new friends downed theirs and refilled. Our seafood dinner, perched on the single cluttered table of a tiny antique shop, was punctuated regularly by such moments. A worker operates the giant fermentation units at the Qingdao Brewery plant in Qingdao. I joined in happily, although somewhat bemused, at each increasingly beery celebration of our host, the worldly Captain Jau. My company, a gathering from four regions of China, was engaging me in Chinese drinking etiquette, in the city of Qingdao. A few drinks in the People's Republic of China led me to discover European delights and other unexpected finds in this modest city. You'd be forgiven for not knowing where Qingdao (pronounced Chingdao) is. The Chinese city in Shandong province doesn't roll off the tongue as easily as Beijing, Shanghai, or even Xi'an. The 2008 Olympics gave it a place on the map as China's sailing hub; no longer a secret that holiday-making officials could keep for themselves. But my American spell-check doesn't recognize it (which says more about my spell-check), and you can still find pre-Cultural Revolution manhole covers. So what is it about this city that seduces the unassuming traveler? Nestled on the coast of Shandong province, almost exactly halfway between its big sisters, Beijing and Shanghai, Qingdao features as a handy pit-stop on East coast itineraries. It boasts great infrastructure, a charming climate, alfresco eateries, good coffee, sandy beaches, German history, international hotels, a brand new airport and even a famous brewery. Qingdao could pass itself off as a miniature Seattle if it weren't for the fact that pretty much no one outside of the five-star hotels speaks English, and that communism still articulates itself through the tourist beaches, stoically named Number One to Number Six. "In mainland China, Qingdao's history is uniquely international; in fact, more of the city's cultural identity is wrapped up in its German colonial past than even its prominent role in the emergence of Daoism" said Eric Blocher, editor of the English-language magazine Red Star. "The local culture bureau once joked to us that Qingdao is a 'cultural desert', because it doesn't have the dynastic lineage of Nanjing or Xi'an, or opera for that matter," Blocher said. "But that's not what makes a city livable, or even fun -- if your office is in downtown, you're never more than five minutes from a protected beach; there's always excellent seafood close at hand; you can buy China's best beer fresh, for 10 cents a pound, and walk around drinking it out of a plastic bag." Following this key advice, I visited Qingdao during the International Beer Festival in late August, an event aimed largely at a domestic Chinese market. The West knows beer. China does not. The annual Beer Festival aims to change this. While the bright lights and myriad beers flowed, one thing was obvious: this was for the tourists. True Qingdaonese people are fiercely proud of Tsingtao beer, produced just down the road on Beer Street, and little else is drunk here in homes or bars. Pijiu, beer in Mandarin, is hajiu in Qingdaonese, the regional dialect. When in doubt, this does as well for a toast as anything else. Indeed, there is no better way of celebrating an occasion than by toasting the guest of honor with a bag of fresh beer. If I was the guest of honor at Captain Jau's table, I certainly wasn't living up to expectations. Particularly not for my self-appointed etiquette guardian and "pure Qingdao boy," Loukas. As I raised my glass for a sip and Loukas jumped to toast the good weather for the nth time, it all became clear. In Qingdao, a beer glass is never raised without a toast. This serves three (frankly ingenious) purposes; beer is drunk in unison; beer isn't consumed too rapidly, since constant toasting would ruin conversation; and everyone finds ways to honor each other for the purposes of toasting. Captain Jau was particularly in favor of the latter as our eccentric host was made subject of most cheers, likewise teaching us the salutations he had learned from the many foreign guests he had cooked for. From the French "salut!" to the German "prost!" to the Turkish "serefe!" Most popular of all was homegrown "hajiu!" Alcohol is enjoyed throughout China. Microbreweries are yet to catch on here like they have in Japan and Singapore. For now Tsingtao holds the monopoly, and Qingdao's people aren't complaining. The Tsingtao Brewery, founded in 1903 by German settlers, confiscated by the Japanese in 1915, turned over to state ownership in 1949 and finally privatized in the early 1990s, has witnessed a colorful history. The largest stakeholder, Anheuser-Busch, recently sold majority ownership to Japanese Asahi Breweries. Residents are the first to introduce you to their biggest export. Outside every shop is a barrel or two of Tsingtao, with a ream of clean plastic bags ready to be filled with cheap 3.5 percent beer. Tsingtao beer tastes crisp and sweet (most likely from rice mixed in to cut down on the cost of barley. It is bought by the pound and weighed to prevent gaseous volume manipulation. A pint, when sold in this method, costs around 1.5 renminbi, or 22 U.S. cents. Beer is a way of life here and has been ever since the Germans arrived and erected tree-lined avenues, red-roofed houses and a brewery. The Germans are gone but the beer stayed. And with it, three hajiu-loving generations tell you about their happy memories. "When I was little, buying beer was one special job I did for my dad every summer day," explained Irene Cheung over a fresh bag of beer. "I was the little girl proudly and carefully carrying the plastic bag home." It is easier to identify Qingdao by what it is not -- smoggy, crowded Beijing, or nightlife hub Shanghai -- than what it is or hopes to be. This may be the very reason why Qingdao remains largely unvisited by the West. And while there may not be much more than good weather, food and beer to keep you content, that may just be enough to hop on the three-hour flight from Hong Kong, or the one hour 20 minute-journey from Beijing or Shanghai. Following Olympic-based investment, more than 3,000 factories have sprung up in the airport suburbs. You can source anything from shoes to jewels to Durex condoms among the largely Korean-owned industries. If these things aren't up your street, head elsewhere; like functionally named Beer Street, Bar Street, or my personal favorite, Coffee and Tea Craft Street. "We used to have to put on parties so that there would be material to justify an English-oriented lifestyle magazine," editor Blocher said. "Now we have trouble keeping track!" Check out English-language newspaper Red Star, for informative listings and an insight into the growing English-speaking population that has stumbled upon and stayed in Qingdao. | Qingdao is located in northeast China, north of Shanghai .
The city hosts a beer festival and is home to distinctive European architecture .
The Tsingtao Brewery was founded in 1903 by German settlers . |
120,285 | 277749f1ce30dd73426e07b6ff8adb10e6e9b8d1 | Would you choose to cruise on a ship that is owned by Germans, crewed by Germans and almost exclusively filled with Germans? Not sure? I had my doubts, too. Would the food be super-sausaged, schnitzeled and sauerkrauted, the entertainment a mix of oompah bands and the slapping of bottoms in lederhosen? Would I be ‘Herr Villy No Mates’, afloat in a sea of Teutonic banter? Would anyone speak English? Not a sauerkraut sort of place: Europa 2 has been ranked as the world's best cruise ship . Maybe it was time to shake off all those deeply embedded prejudices and step on board Europa 2. One good reason for choosing to cruise on Europa 2 is that she is now rated the world’s best by the authoritative Berlitz Guide To Cruising, with five-plus stars. Guess who Europa 2 knocked off the No 1 perch when she arrived in 2012? Her older sister, Europa 1. That’s sibling rivalry for you. Europa 2 is a space ship. She has the highest ratio of space per passenger than any ship afloat, with wide corridors, high ceilings and floods of natural light. Designed to appeal to a younger market, her look is gently contemporary. There is even a Damien Hirst and a Hockney among her 1,000 original works of art. Other high-spec components include a 15-metre heated pool with a fully retractable roof, an excellent spa, a cookery school, seven different restaurants, a jazz club, a plush theatre and a cigar bar with 37 different varieties of gin. All very elegant: The ship's atrium comes with its own grand piano and a definite air of refinement . Like everyone else in the mainly German crew, Alex the barman could not only speak English but could even do a convincing range of accents, Brummie to Scouse. Luxury is all pervading. Each of the 250 suites comes with a verandah and a bed that can be hardened or softened at the touch of a button. I soaked in a proper, full-size tub while watching a TV screen embedded in the bathroom mirror. To my right, I could see global atrocities on BBC World News, then, turning the other cheek, I tuned into a view of the ocean, framed by the arid landscapes of the Moroccan coast. More than a simple ship: Step on board, and you feel that you are checking in to a luxury hotel . I had joined the ship in Lisbon and sailed due south to Casablanca, home to the immense mosque of Hassan II, a hassle-free souk with the usual spread of pouffes, banana slippers, mint tea sets and fashionable candle lamps, and Rick’s Cafe, owned and hostessed by ex-U.S. diplomat Kathy Kirker - and modelled on the one created in Hollywood for the Bogart/Bergman movie. At Agadir, I went to the beach. An odd thing about cruising is that while the focus is all about the sea, you rarely get a chance to dip you toes in it. Luxury on Europa 2, curiously, is as much about what it doesn’t have as well as what’s there. You won’t find a casino, entertainment overload, set times or places for dining or formal nights. I didn’t see a tie all week, let alone a black one. And another thing missing was noise, with none of the usual barrage of announcements telling you what the weather is like and where the napkin-folding lessons are taking place. It was also easy being a Briton on board. Inga, a waitress from Wuppertal, told me that in the crew’s quarters there is a huge photo collage of every passenger, which helps them put names to faces before we try to order our first breakfast of haferflocken (porridge) or hoppel poppel (scrambled egg with bacon and sausage). Night time attractions: The ship has a host of restaurants and bars where you can while away the evening . Of course, the most luxurious ship in the world doesn’t come cheap. Reckon on £500 a day, including gratuities, but excluding shore excursions, drinks and flights. But perhaps the biggest surprise was finding that Europa 2’s owner, Hapag-Lloyd, is now part of the vast TUI family, making her a cousin, once removed, of Thomson, First Choice and the rest of that familiar clan. The Cruise People (020 7723 2450, www.cruisepeople.co.uk) offers a seven-night cruise aboard Europa 2 from £3,570 per person, departing Kusadasi, Turkey on October 10, 2015, and sailing to Piraeus, Athens. Ports of call include Bodrum, Rhodes, Santorini and Mykonos. Price includes full board, mini-bar in the suite, entertainment, port fees and basic gratuities. More information at www.hl-cruises.com. | Europa 2 has been ranked the world's best cruise ship by the Berlitz guide .
Like her sibling Europa 1, the ship is German-owned, -built and -crewed .
Amenities on board include a cigar bar with 37 different varieties of gin . |
7,492 | 153790aa8ecf657b9f9c49a98f3c21dcd84c69fb | TOKYO, Japan (CNN) -- Japan has joined the growing number of major economies that are back in black. Japan's Prime Minister Taro Aso's $150 billion stimulus helps nation out of recession. Japan's economy grew 3.7 percent on an annualized basis from April to June this year, the first time the world's second largest economy has seen positive growth in 15 months. The announcement of preliminary figures by Japan's Cabinet Office comes after France and Germany surprised economists last week by posting 0.3 percent growth for the second quarter of the year. The news that Japan has rebounded -- the hardest hit of the major economies because of its reliance on exports -- gives economists cautious optimism that the worst of the global recession is over. "The economy has seen a bottoming out of global demand, which has pushed out net exports ... especially in high tech industries and basic materials, such as chemical, steel and so on because of Chinese demand," said Hiromichi Shirakawa, chief economist in Japan for Credit Suisse. Japan's GDP grew just under 1 percent during the three-month period and trade increased 1.6 percent. The uptick marks the end of the worst recession in Japan since the end of World War II. Japan's GDP fell at a record pace during the January-March quarter, when GDP was 15.4 percent lower than the same time period last year. The Japanese economy was buoyed by a historic ¥15 trillion ($150 billion) stimulus package in May, which included unemployment benefits, aid to struggling companies, promotion of green industries and a variety of tax breaks. "There are many times in the past when tax breaks and fiscal stimulus were offered and failed, but this time around, it worked," Shirakawa said. Economists expect GDP to continue modest growth through the rest of the year, especially with an expected rebound in global auto sales this quarter. But whether the recovery can continue into the new year after the stimulus package runs its course remains a question. "Japan's economy still is quite sensitive to global demand ... and for consumer demand to grow on a self-sustained basis still seems unlikely," Shirakawa said. | Japan's economy grows by 3.7 percent on an annualized basis .
First growth in the world's second largest economy in 15 months .
Ends the nation's worst recession since World War II . |
186,980 | 7e27d8897e37cc577094b50b9cb9cd7f59de332e | (CNN) -- German billionaire Adolf Merckle, one of the richest men in the world, committed suicide Monday after his business empire got into trouble in the wake of the international financial crisis, Merckle's family said Tuesday in a statement. Merckle, 74, was hit by a train in the southwestern town of Ulm, police said. His family said the economic crisis had "broken" Merckle. He was number 94 on the Forbes list of the world's richest people. He had fallen from number 44 on the Forbes 2007 rich list as his fortune declined from $12.8 billion to $9.2 billion in 2008. Merckle's business empire included interests as diverse as cement-maker HeidelbergCement and generic drug-maker Ratiopharm. But he lost hundreds of millions of dollars, including company capital, betting against Volkswagen stock last year. The state government of Baden-Wuerttemberg rejected his petition for financial assistance, and he entered bailout talks with several German banks. "The financial troubles of his companies, induced by the international financial crisis and the uncertainty and powerlessness to act independently which the financial problems brought about, broke the passionate family business man, and he took his own life," his family wrote in the news release. An employee of Germany's railroad company found the body on the tracks at about 7 p.m. Monday and notified authorities. Merckle's family had already reported him missing earlier in the day after he walked out of the house and did not return. Authorities are currently conducting DNA tests to confirm his identity. CNN's Frederik Pleitgen in Germany and Alysen Miller in London, England, contributed to this report. | Adolf Merckle was No. 94 on Forbes list of world's richest people .
Merckle's net worth estimated to be $9.2 billion .
Billionaire was killed by a train in German town of Ulm .
Family says financial woes "broke the passionate family business man" |
259,270 | dba19ff971785491941f95512dadd3ff82a601eb | Britain’s first gay fathers have have spent £65,000 travelling to the U.S. so they can undergo IVF treatment which will ensure their next child is a girl. Barrie and Tony Drewitt-Barlow, from Chelmsford, Essex, hit the . headlines 12 years ago when they they . became they became the first same-sex couple to be legally recognised in the UK. They have used a surrogate mother and egg donors to father four boys and a girl, spending more than £1 . million in the process, but they are now desperate for another daughter and have looked to overseas fertility specialists so they can choose the baby's sex. Happy brood: The family laugh while dressing up as the Von Trapps for Closer's Sound Of Music-inspired shoot . It is currently illegal to use IVF in the UK for sex selection purposes other than for medical reasons. Two . weeks ago, three embryos were implanted in a surrogate mother in . California that the pair chose to provide their new baby. Now they are waiting to hear whether she is pregnant with their sixth child. This . time the two men have used a controversial method, costing . £65,000 that is allowed in the U.S. but banned in Britain - to . make sure the baby will be a girl. Barrie and Tony Drewitt-Barlow with children (from left) Aspen, Dallas, Saffron, Jasper and Orlando . As three embryos have been used, there is even a chance that the surrogate could give birth to triplet daughters. They already have two sets of twins Aspen and Saffron and Jasper and Dallas. Barrie, . 42, told Closer magazine: 'We would love to have three more girls. Saffron would love to have little sisters to play with.' The millionaire dad added: 'We can’t wait to spoil our new daughters. I want to buy them pink Prada dresses and babygros. 'We . will recycle too. We are going to use Saffron’s old wicker crib from . Harrods, which cost £5,000, and divide one of the £100,000 . diamond necklaces she does not wear any more into individual pieces for . the babies. 'And we want to decorate the nursery as a rainforest!' Barrie and 47-year-old Tony say that the sex selection technique is only available in the U.S., Mexico, Italy and Thailand. Tony said : 'If sex selection was not possible, we would still have more children and love them, whatever their gender. 'But . the technology is available and we wanted girls to balance our family. It causes outrage but I bet most people would do it.' Tony . added: 'The kids love the idea of getting sisters. They are so close. They are all such different characters, but get along so well.” Barrie . says they will adopt overseas if the current attempt at surrogacy fails . to work. Whichever way they achieve their dream of a new daughter, they . have promised to spoil the newcomer. He said: “Saffron’s clothes come from every designer from Gucci and Karen Millen and she has 500 pairs of shoes. 'We spent £50,000 having her room designed like a swanky London flat with a 39-inch plasma TV and furniture from Harrods. The boys are not as bothered about clothes, but we get them the latest iPads and laptops. The Drewitt-Barlows were the first British homosexual couple to be named on their children's birth certificates . 'People say we should not spoil them, but they deserve it. The . pair became famous in 1999 when they became the first British same-sex . couple to be named on their children’s birth certificates. Read the full story in this week’s Closer magazine on sale now . Twins Aspen and Saffronwere born to a surrogate mother in California. After a ruling by an American court, they became the first British . children to be registered as having two fathers and no mother. Four years later, they used the same egg donor and a different surrogate to have Orlando.In 2010, the couple welcomed their fourth and fifth children, twins Dallas and Jasper, into the world. They were born to the same surrogate mother who carried Orlando. The couple entered into a civil partnership in 2006. The couple sold a clinical testing business in 1998 and found themselves swamped by same-sex couples seeking advice. With Tony’s clinical expertise, they set up the British Surrogacy Centre in Maldon, Essex, in February 2011. Last year, the couple, who have made millions from cosmetic research, were accused . of fabricating the test results in clinical trials. They were also accused of lying to an ethics committee by saying that Barrie . was a nurse when he did not hold the appropriate qualifications. Euroderm Research, which went into liquidation in March 2008, conducted tests for dermatological and cosmetic products. They pleaded not guilty to the allegations. | Barrie and Tony Drewitt-Barlow already fathers to four boys and a girl .
Have travelled to the U.S. to seek specialist IVF treatment .
'We wanted girls to balance our family,' says Tony . |
26,388 | 4ad7818e263ee039e38d4dafb4265cab14c79e7f | By . Mark Duell . A daredevil great-grandmother has celebrated her 100th birthday by riding a Segway around an obstacle course in front of her family. Sylvia Frankton, of Holbeach, Lincolnshire, who was clocked speeding three years ago by police - hopped aboard the two-wheeled machine to commemorate the milestone. The great-grandmother-of-17 had her entire family gathered, including all her great-grandchildren and her five grandchildren, and her relatives had hired a Segway for the younger attendees to use. Scroll down for video . 'Amazing' experience: Sylvia Frankton, a 100-year-old great grandmother who was clocked speeding in her car three years ago, has celebrated her centenary by taking to a Segway . Big occasion: Mrs Frankton with her 100th birthday greeting from the Queen (left), and on the Segway (right) But Ms Frankton insisted she took a turn. She is no stranger to speed, having been caught driving at 40mph in a 30mph zone in 2011, but spared punishment after writing a letter of apology to police. Originally from Hartley, Kent, Ms Frankton moved to her £225,000 detached home in Holbeach 17 years ago to be closer to her daughter. She said: ‘I had never even seen a Segway before. ‘But I just wanted a go as soon as I set eyes on it - it was amazing. My legs struggle to walk these days, so just having to lean with the handles was so easy - I wish I could get one of my own. ‘I didn't realise I could have had another go afterwards, I wouldn't have got off if I had known that At first I tried to drive it like a car, but once I got the hang of it I loved the speed. Impressive: The great-grandmother-of-17 had her entire family gathered, including all her great-grandchildren and her five grandchildren, and her family had hired a Segway for the younger relatives to use . Obstacles: Ms Frankton is no stranger to speed, having been caught driving at 40mph in a 30mph zone in 2011 . ‘I still love driving my own car you know, I love that freedom - and you can't beat a bit of speed, can you? My whole weekend was marvellous, I have no idea how my children managed it.’ 'My legs struggle to walk these days, so just having to lean with the handles was so easy - I wish I could get one of my own' Sylvia Frankton . Daughter Janet Dougill, 71, said: ‘We hired a company to organise an event that would keep all ages entertained. ‘I couldn't believe it when I saw mum - not because she was having a go on the Segway but because no-one was holding on to her. Everyone was shocked when they saw her. ‘I don't think she can quite believe it yet. Mum's birthday was on Tuesday but we were so pleased we had the party on Sunday because the weather was lovely and everyone could get outside. ‘Watching her enjoy herself on the Segway was amazing but she wasn't going too fast this time. ‘She was stopped by police for speeding three years ago but she wrote a letter to Lincolnshire police and said sorry and wasn't charged. We are really proud of her.’ | Family hired Segway for younger relatives but Sylvia Frankton wanted a go .
Great-grandmother-of-17 from Lincolnshire had her entire family gathered .
Says she found vehicle 'easy' to use - and it was an 'amazing' experience . |
115,726 | 215adfa1c6e78d6650aaa9f3f15a9bb215536a7d | Families in Tory-supporting constituencies outside London have seen their homes soar in value eight times higher than those in Labour areas under David Cameron. House prices in towns and villages outside the capital with a Conservative MP have increased by 16 per cent over the past five years, new figures reveal. But in Labour seats, property prices have risen by just 2 per cent since 2009 – far below inflation. Homes in Liberal Democrat areas have increased by 8 per cent. House prices in areas outside the capital with a Tory MP have increased by 16% over the past five years. The Conservatives hold only one seat in Scotland - where house prices have fallen 10%. In the 40 Labour-held seats property prices have stagnated over the past five years - registering 0% growth . The figures, compiled by estate agents Savills, also reveal that homes in Tory constituencies are worth 64 per cent more on average than those in Labour seats — a gap of nearly £100,000. A typical home in a Tory area is now worth £252,083 compared to £153,843 fetched by an average property in a Labour-held seat, the Financial Times reported today. The revelation will spark fresh accusations that the economic recovery has not been felt equally across the country. Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has accused the Tories of ‘looking after their own’ – while Labour have hammered home the message that Mr Cameron is out of touch with ordinary families. Across Britain’s 100 most marginal constituencies, Tory seats have seen house price rise much faster than Labour constituencies, Savills found. Properties in the 20 most expensive constituencies in the UK are worth 13 times more than those in the 20 cheapest. The top 20 seats by value, of which 11 are held by Conservative MPs, have property worth a total of £741billion. The cheapest 20 seats, of which 15 are represented by Labour, are collectively worth just £57billion. Figures for the last four years show the average monthly house price change, including seven towns when properties have fallen in value . By comparison, some properties in the Home Counties have risen by almost £2,000-a-month since David Cameron came to power . It comes after MailOnline revealed families in booming towns in the South East had seen their homes soar in value by up to £2,000 every month since Mr Cameron became Prime Minister. Home owners in Surrey, Hertfordshire and outer London have enjoyed a four year property boom far outstripping the rest of the country, research by the property website Zoopla revealed. But over the same time, deprived towns in West Yorkshire, Country Durham and Northumberland have seen house prices fall by thousands of pounds – trapping families in negative equity. Outside prime central London Britain’s biggest boom towns are Harpenden and Radlet in Hertfordshire, Esher in Surrey and Stanmore in north west London. David Cameron has overseen a house-price boom for families living in Tory areas . Homes in Harpenden were worth £576,554 in May 2010, but have risen in value to £732,059 – a 26.97 per cent increase. Nearby Radlett has seen average prices jump from £668,148 to £842,679, while properties in Esher have increased by £198,167 to £952,421. Homes in Stanmore meanwhile have jumped 34.16 per cent to an average of £610,074 – an increase of £155,326 from May 2010. However, families in towns away from the south east have seen the values of their homes stagnate – or even fall – under the Coalition. Properties in Shildon, County Durham, were worth an average of £81,367 in 2010. But by November they had fallen back to just £77,540 – a fall on £3,827, or 4.7 per cent. Close-by Ferryhill, in Tony Blair’s former constituency of Sedgefield, has seen properties fall by 3 per cent on average – down from £92,459 to just £89,678. Further north in Prudhoe, Northumberland, houses have fallen £2,573 – from £180,377 to £177,804. Castleford and Heckmondwike in West Yorkshire have also struggled over the past four years, while southern towns boom. In Castleford homes have fallen £4,419 to £124,082 while in Heckmondwike the average property is now worth just £115,439 – down from £118,475 in May 2010. Sedgefield MP Phil Wilson said the figures revealed that large areas of the country were being left behind. 'This just goes to prove that there is a major north-south divide in the country and the recovery has clearly not been for everyone. ‘Hard-working families in places like Ferryhill in my constituency are not seeing the benefits of the economic recovery. The growth we’re seeing is benefiting the few and not the many.’ | House prices areas with a Tory MP outside London are up 16% in 5 years .
But in Labour seats, property prices have risen by just 2% since 2009 .
Homes in Liberal Democrat constituencies have increased by 8% .
Houses in Tory areas are worth £100,000 more than in Labour seats . |
19,950 | 38a50a937421b8c32c2c6a4cb1b0e88f91963cf9 | For those who prefer the comfort of breakfast in bed, as oppose to getting up to go sight-seeing, now you can do both! Order a glass of champagne and get the best view without leaving your hotel room, with our best selection of perfectly situated hotels. Whether it is a cosy cabin in the a national park, at the base of a world famous landmark , or overlooking a dazzling city skyline, these rooms have one thing in common; a perfect room with a view. See the Taj Mahal without ever leaving your bed at Oberoi Amarvilas. Enjoy a romantic evening meal in the breathtaking silhouette of the Taj Mahal, just 600m away . Parisian luxury: The old-world elegance of the room is mirrored in the city that lies just below . Enjoy an early morning croissant whilst gazing on the Eiffel Tower, all from the comfort of the five-star Shangri-La Hotel located just 600m from the base of the monument . Each room and suite of the magnificent Shangri-La in Paris has a marble bathroom with heated floors, separate bathtub and rainfall shower and double sinks above which a flat-screen television is integrated into a large mirror. The majority have exterior windows to let in natural light and certain rooms offer a direct view of the Eiffel Tower from the bathtub. The Shangri-La was awarded a Traveller's Choice 2015 - in the Luxury Category on TripAdvisor. The palatial Mena House Hotel is located in the shadows of the Great Pyramids of Giza in Cairo. Guest can enjoy the pyramids lit up at night . The Mena House in Egypt is located 700 metres from the pyramids providing guests with unparalleled views of the magnificent Giza landmarks. Visitors can enjoy the view at all times of the day, as the famous wonders are lit up at night. The luxury hotel has played host to numerous celebrities, royal families and heads of state. For those who prefer an urban landscape, enjoy one of the most spectacular sky-lines from your bed at the Ritz-Carlton. Why not go a step further and take in the view from an oversized bath tub with a glass of bubbly – heaven! Enjoy the stunning views of the Singapore skyline from the 608 Ritz-Carlton's luxury rooms . At the five-star Ritz-Carlton in Singapore guests are immersed in visually stimulating surroundings, as the hotel boasts a 4,200-piece contemporary art collection and spectacular views are afforded of the urban skyline from each of the 608 rooms. For those who do want to venture out and explore, the hotel is centrally located in the heart of Marina Bay and guests can easily explore the Singapore Flyer, ArtScience Museum and Esplanade -Theatres on the Bay just steps away. The stunning hotel building design was created by Pritzker prize-winning Kevin Roche. See the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco at Cavallo Point Hotel. This hotel is located in the Golden Gate National Park and ideally situated at the foot of the world famous bridge . See the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco at Cavallo Point Hotel. This hotel is located in the Golden Gate National Park and ideally situated at the foot of the world famous bridge . Cavallo Point - the lodge at the Golden Gate, was created by the Fort Baker Retreat Group, a project of Passport Resorts, Equity Community Builders and Ajax Capital Group. The Fort Baker Retreat Group is working with the National Park Service and the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy in a unique private/public/non-profit alliance to restore, enhance and preserve Fort Baker as a National Park for generations to come. Enjoy the spectacular views of the San Franciscan bridge from your comfortable lodging. The Presidential Suite in the Four Seasons Hotel Sydney offers spectacular views of the architectural wonder, the Sydney Opera House from its windows . The luxury five-star Four Seasons Hotel in Sydney has 531 rooms and is close to 37 beaches. Ask for a room which includes views of Sydney skyline, George Street or Walsh Bay. The hotel features include a pool, steam room, spa, sauna as well as a gymnasium. If you want to leave the room, but not the hotel, get the perfect photos of New York’s tallest landmark, the Empire State, from the cocktail bar on the roof at The Strand. This chic boutique hotel is nestled on quiet 37th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues . Creative design: The founder of the spectacular The Strand in New York, Don Glassie, was a buyer and manufacturer, who owned a full-line of women’s clothing. His artistic hotel boasts prime views of the popular New York monument . The stunning decor of The Strand, in New York, is no surprise as the founder, Don Glassie, was a buyer and manufacturer, who owned a full-line of women’s clothing. In the 1960s he was known for his unique design of legendary sweater dresses and hot pants under his own label, Popkins Lane, and the business was based in New York City’s garment district, steps from today’s Strand Hotel. The chic boutique hotel is nestled on quiet 37th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues. Wake up in your own cosy cabin in the stunning Torres del Paine National Park at Hotel Salto Chico, in Patagonia . Enjoy the view of paradise from your ideally located room at the beach front resort of Anse Chastanet, Jade Mountain in St. Lucia. Enjoy views of the ocean and Piti and Gros Piton mountains . | Hotels offer guests a spectacular view of famous landmarks and scenery, without needing to go out the room .
The hotels’ locations take ‘a room with a view’ to another level .
Sights include the Giza pyramids, Golden Gate Bridge and Singapore skyline . |
73,835 | d15e327ba60d851d4c12d03ee1de3eb456285314 | Jamaal Charles returned from an ankle injury and scored three touchdowns to guide the Kansas City Chiefs to a thumping 41-14 win over the New England Patriots on Monday. The running back, who missed last week's win in Miami with a sprained ankle, rushed for 92 yards and a score and also caught two touchdown passes from quarterback Alex Smith. Smith finished with 248 passing yards and three touchdowns at Arrowhead Stadium, but his opposite number Tom Brady was picked off twice on a miserable night for the Patriots. 'Coach said he was going to look for me, and see how it feels during the game,' Charles said, 'and I guess I started feeling like myself. He didn't want to take me out.' Jamaal Charles scored three touchdowns as the Kansas City Chiefs smashed the New England Patriots . Jamaal Charles (25) returned from injury and ran the Patriots defense ragged at Arrowhead Stadium . The Chiefs (2-2) ended a four-game losing streak at their Arrowhead Stadium home dating to last season. Patriots quarterback Brady saw one of his two interceptions returned for a touchdown and finished 14 of 23 for 159 yards and a touchdown. 'It was just a bad performance by everybody,' Brady said. 'We need to make sure we never have this feeling again. We've got to figure out what we have to do better.' With the game out of hand, the Patriots gave rookie quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo a chance to play. He threw a late touchdown pass to Rob Gronkowski to complete the scoring. 'Just wanted to play everybody,' Patriots coach Bill Belichick said. The Chiefs forced the Patriots to air it out by stuffing running backs Shane Vereen and Stevan Ridley. And when Brady dropped back, their front seven ran roughshod over New England's suspect offensive line. Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith finished with 248 passing yards and three touchdowns . It hardly helped the Patriots' offense that it was trying to operate on the same night Chiefs fans were trying to reclaim the record for loudest outdoor sports venue. The record was set in the first half, when Guinness World Records noted a noise level of 142.2 decibels — breaking the mark of 137.6 that the Seattle Seahawks' fans had set last season. 'My ears are still ringing,' Reid said with a smile. The crowd included several members of the Royals, who made the walk across the parking lot from Kauffman Stadium to watch the start of the game on the sidelines. The Royals will play their first postseason game since 1985 against the Oakland Athletics on Tuesday night. Knile Davis added 107 yards rushing for Kansas City, forming a potent one-two punch with Charles in the backfield. Tight end Travis Kelce had eight catches for 93 yards and a score. 'Some nights things come together,' Smith said. 'Guys execute and you take advantage.' Tom Brady was sacked twice on a miserable Monday night for the New England Patriots . The Kansas City Chiefs cheerleaders perform for the crowd gathered at Arrowhead Stadium . Charles was executing right from the start, giving the Chiefs a lead with his first-quarter touchdown plunge. He then extended the lead with a 5-yard TD catch in the second quarter. Cairo Santos added a 22-yard field goal just before halftime for a 17-0 lead. The field goal came after the Chiefs were bailed out by a defensive penalty. They had been stopped short on a pass play with 8 seconds left, but the penalty gave them a second chance. Kansas City had 303 yards of first-half offense, the most against any Belichick-coached team. Charles added his third touchdown of the game early in the second half, taking a short pass in the flat and stumbling into the end zone. He appeared to grab his hamstring on the way down and was met by trainers as he exited the field. After a brief trip to the locker room, Charles logged a few more carries before his night was done. By that point, the game was pretty much done, too. Brady threw a 44-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter to Brandon LaFell, who slipped the grasp of cornerback Marcus Cooper to reach the end zone. But he was picked off by Husain Abdullah later in the half, and Abdullah returned the interception 39 yards for a touchdown. Abdullah was flagged afterward for unsportsmanlike conduct, but the devout Muslim said it had nothing to do with dropping to his knees in prayer. He said the penalty came because he slid to his knees. The lesson learned? 'Stop before you drop,' Abdullah said. VIDEO Ross Tucker: Which coach is on the hottest seat after Week 4? | Kansas City Chiefs beat New England Patriots 41-14 .
Jamaal Charles returns from injury with three touchdowns for Chiefs .
Alex Smith throws three touchdown passes for Kansas City .
Patriots quarterback Tom Brady intercepted twice on disastrous night . |
22,626 | 40391f41783567fec6fd2b060abe2fce0a60174f | The two men arrested are aged 24 and 25, a police spokeswoman said . By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 15:51 EST, 29 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 04:45 EST, 30 December 2013 . Adam Pickup was with friends in Manchester city centre before he left Fab Cafe in Portland Street at around 3.20am . Two men have been arrested after a 17-year-old boy who failed to return home after a night out on Saturday. Adam Pickup was with friends in Manchester city centre before he left Fab Cafe in Portland Street at around 3.20am. The teenager from Stockport was last seen on CCTV walking along Oxford Street at about 3.30am. Footage appears to show him speaking with a man and woman. Adam . is described as white, 6ft 2in tall, slim with mousey brown hair. He . was wearing a maroon long-sleeved collared shirt, black jeans and black . leather Nike trainers with white soles. The . man and woman are described as being white, both with dark hair and . wearing dark clothing. The man appears to be wearing glasses and a blue . scarf. The two men arrested are aged 24 and 25, a police spokeswoman said. Tonight, a Greater Manchester Police (GMP) spokeswoman said: 'Police have arrested two men as part of their inquiries to locate the missing man Adam Pickup. Scroll Down for Video . 'They are currently in police custody for questioning. Inquiries are ongoing to find Adam and police continue to appeal to anyone who may have seen him or knows of his whereabouts.' Police have appealed for the public's help to trace Adam and have urged the man and woman to contact them. Chief Superintendent Chris Sykes said detectives were still treating Adam's disappearance as a missing person investigation. 'As part of our inquiries to locate Adam Pickup we have made two arrests,' he said. 'At . this stage, it is not clear what involvement, if any, they may or may . not have had in relation to Adam so we would ask the public not to . speculate. A PCSO stands behind police tape next to the River Medlock off Oxford Road in Manchester City Centre as two officers search the footpath . Greater Manchester Police say they have arrested two men in connection with the teenager's disappearance . 'Having said . that, these two men will be interviewed so we can find out if they know . anything about Adam's movements on Friday night into Saturday. 'This . very much remains a missing person investigation and would urge the . public to get in touch if they have any information about his movements . that night or his current whereabouts.' Superintendent John Berry said: 'We are extremely concerned for Adam's welfare and we are stepping up our searches. Adam was described as white, 6ft 2in tall, slim with mousey brown hair. He was wearing a maroon long-sleeved collared shirt, black jeans and black leather Nike trainers with white soles . 'If you have any information about his whereabouts or you remember seeing Adam we would urge you to get in touch and tell us where you saw him or where he may have been going. 'In particular, while he was walking up Oxford Street Adam appears to be walking alongside a couple and speaking to them. 'If this was you please get in touch and tell us what you know. We are trying to trace Adam's movements and at this point it is not clear what direction he goes in. This couple may have vital information to help us find him.' Anyone with information about Adam's movements or whereabouts should contact police on 0161 856 9675, or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111. | Adam Pickup disappeared from Manchester city centre on Saturday .
Was last seen on CCTV walking along Oxford Street at about 3.30am .
The two men arrested are aged 24 and 25, a police spokeswoman said . |
173,722 | 6ccf3019dbdee696f67780b391f01b969a4f0ae4 | Council boss Joanna Simons, 55, whose staff failed scores of girls abused by a sex grooming gang, is in line for a payoff worth nearly £600,000 . The council boss whose staff failed scores of girls abused by a sex grooming gang is in line for a payoff worth nearly £600,000. The bumper redundancy package for Joanna Simons has been drawn up on the eve of a scathing report into the paedophile scandal. Officials insist the 55-year-old chief executive is leaving Oxfordshire County Council for cost-cutting reasons. But there is anger from victims that the deal will allow Miss Simons to dodge any blame. Catastrophic failings by the police and social workers meant the abuse carried on for years. In a further development, the chief constable whose force will be lambasted in the same report has been promoted to a new £185,000 a year job. Sara Thornton will step down next month as head of Thames Valley Police – after eight years in charge – to lead the new National Police Chiefs Council. Like Miss Simons, the 52-year-old refused to resign two years ago despite the failings of her officers in the Oxford sex grooming case. Police failed to act even though victims had repeatedly told officers they'd been raped or abused. Staff at care homes would simply watch while the girls went missing at night with men. Five of the victims were even abused while in the care of social services. The Mail has learned the serious case review report out next month will highlight appalling blunders, including how: . A witness in the trial, who grew up in care with girls who were abused, said: 'The officers and officials did not protect us and now those who were in charge of them have walked out the door. 'They know that by walking out they haven't got to answer any questions. How are they able to take responsibility if they no longer work for them?' Sara Thornton will step down next month as head of Thames Valley Police – after eight years in charge . Abuse was carried out at the Nanford Guest House in Oxford. Pictured is a room at the guest house . Miss Simons is due to leave her £186,000-a-year role at the council in June with a £151,000 severance payment and a pension package worth £423,000. She has been in her post for ten years. Council documents say her severance payment is line with its redundancy policy, and the early payment of the pension is a contractual requirement. The way to stop sexual exploitation of children by gangs is to have more sex education in schools, the Deputy Children’s Commissioner said yesterday. Her report claimed the lessons should tell young people ‘how to negotiate sexual consent’ and it criticised ministers for failing to compel schools to put it on the curriculum. The report from Sue Berelowitz continued to insist that the men who exploit young women come from all ethnic backgrounds and suggested that most of the perpetrators are white. Her verdict came despite damning reports that found gangs of Pakistani men have been overwhelmingly behind the abduction and rape of girls in a series of English towns. The victim, who is now a mother of one, said the council should carry the most blame for the scandal, making Miss Simons' departure 'very suspicious'. She said Miss Thornton had apologised to her family in person on behalf of police, but she was still waiting for a proper apology from the council. Labour Oxford East MP Andrew Smith said the victims were 'let down terribly' and deserved a full explanation for why things went wrong. 'If the serious case review fails to do that, there will need to be a public enquiry,' he added. Thames Valley Police's investigation into the child sex ring led to an Old Bailey trial in 2013 which saw seven men being jailed for a total of 95 years for crimes including arranging child prostitution, sex trafficking and child rape. Three more men have since been convicted for child sex exploitation crimes linked to the case. A man was convicted last month of sexually exploiting girls in Oxford as far back as 1996. Citing 'data protection' laws, a council spokesman declined to say whether it had paid compensation to any victims. A Thames Valley Police spokesman said: 'Sara Thornton applied for the position of chair for the National Police Chiefs Council and was offered the position in November last year. 'Sara will take up her new post on April 1 when the NPCC formally replaces the Association of Chief Police Officers as the body responsible for influencing policing at a national level.' A similar abuse scandal in Rotherham has led to a string of senior resignations including that of former police and crime commissioner Shaun Wright, council leader Roger Stone and chief executive Martin Kimber. This month the entire council cabinet resigned when another report revealed the authority was 'not fit for purpose'. The report into the Oxford child sex ring scandal is expected to throw the book at police, social workers, teachers and NHS staff. The Crown Prosecution Service is also expected to be criticised. All the victims were known to social services and five were living in council care while they were repeatedly raped and sold for sex. Police and social services had several warnings about the activities of a group of men in Oxford as far back as 2006, including at least six complaints from victims. But no one linked the intelligence together and there were no successful prosecutions. Detectives now believe there could be more than 50 victims of the gang. One source, who has knowledge of the report due to be published in a fortnight, said: ‘It will make very uncomfortable reading for police and social services, who didn’t deal properly with out-of-control girls who were repeatedly abused. One of the victims went missing from a children’s home on more than 100 occasions, but police who picked her up on the streets did not ask questions or act on any suspicions.’ One private children’s home was charging Oxfordshire county council an average of £3,500 a week, yet two victims living there would go missing for days on end. Social workers at the home in Henley were told by a girl in 2006 that she was having sex in exchange for alcohol and she was also taking cocaine. Another girl told them she was having sex with men she was afraid of. | Council boss Joanna Simons, 55, in line for payoff worth nearly £600,000 .
Her staff failed scores of girls abused by a sex grooming gang in Oxford .
She refused to quit and package was drawn up on eve of scathing report .
Failings by Oxfordshire County Council and police meant abuse continued .
Five of the victims were even abused while in the care of social services .
Sara Thornton will step down next month as head of Thames Valley Police .
Police missed several chances to stop the sex gang's six-year reign of terror; .
Officers failed to spot that a vulnerable girl was being abused even after she vanished from a children's home more than 100 times; .
Health workers sent underage victims away with contraceptives when they came to them with sexually transmitted diseases; .
Social workers and teachers did not bother to investigate what had happened to victims after they had been excluded from school. |
162,918 | 5eac76e3ef2ae68b05d0f4fc43ef2a6e6512010b | By . Wills Robinson . On the last night of his stag do, Chris Holland received a blessing in disguise. The 30-year-old fell through a table while dancing with friends - and woke up with a bruise in the shape of an angel. Now the administrator claims he feels lucky because, if the impact had been any higher, he could have suffered a serious spinal injury, . Chris Holland fell backwards through a table in a Polish nightclub and ended up with a wing-shaped bruise on his lower back . The 30-year-old administrator from London said his fiancee was 'livid' when he returned from his stag do . Mr Holland from London was accidentally . nudged and tumbled backwards while celebrating with friends at Dream . Club in Sopot, Poland, on Saturday. The next morning he was stunned to find he had a winged-figure on his lower back. He said: 'I couldn't believe it when I looked in the mirror - there was an angel. I felt really lucky as if it was a bit higher I could have had a spinal injury.' The administrator from London is now praying the swelling subsides before his wedding on May 24. He added: 'My fiancée was livid when I got home and showed her - but she's glad I'm okay. It was an amazing weekend but now the adrenaline has worn off the bruise is starting to smart a bit.' Mr Holland hopes the bruise will subside before he ties the knot on May 24 . He was in Dream Club in Sopot, Poland, when he was nudged and suffered the wing-shaped injury . | Chris Holland, 30, fell backwards through a table after being nudged .
Was celebrating with friends at Dream Club in Sopot, Poland .
Next morning was stunned to find wing-shaped bruise on his back .
Administrator from London said his fiancee was 'livid' when he returned . |
97,830 | 09f39cf3f61ba30735d629f77e823f611ee4dcf3 | An Egyptian court sentenced several dozen workers for non-governmental organizations, including Americans, to jail Tuesday in a case that has infuriated the U.S. government and democratic activists around the world. The workers were accused of having illegal foreign funding. They denied any wrongdoing. All but one of the Americans were sentenced in absentia, having left the country after posting $132,000 each in bail money. In all, 43 NGO workers, including several Americans and other foreigners, were charged. The court sentenced 27 NGO workers in absentia to five-year sentences; 11 defendants to one-year suspended jail sentences; and five others to two-year sentences that were not suspended, the state-run Al Ahram newspaper reported. The court also ordered the closure of five NGOs -- the U.S.-based Freedom House, the International Democratic Institute, the National Democratic Institute, the International Center for Journalists and Germany's Konrad Adenauer Foundation -- and confiscation of their funds. "Freedom House condemns in the strongest possible terms the conviction of 43 NGO workers, including six currently with Freedom House and a former staff member, after a government-led witch-hunt intended to strangle civil society activity and limit free expression in post-revolutionary Egypt," the agency said in a prepared statement. Robert Becker of the National Democratic Institute was the only American who stayed behind to fight the charges, along with one German and 13 Egyptians, he said. It was not immediately clear which sentence he was given. "Thank you everyone for the kind words. Reviewing my legal/appeals options with lawyers," he tweeted, adding that he is maintaining his innocence "on charges of starting NGO six years before I actually arrived in Egypt." On Monday, he wrote on his blog that if "evidence matters in an Egyptian court, tomorrow's verdict will be not guilty." But, he added, "this case has been political from the very beginning; so guilty is also real possibility, despite the lack of evidence." U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said the United States is "deeply concerned" about the result of "a politically-motivated trial." "This decision runs contrary to the universal principle of freedom of association and is incompatible with the transition to democracy," he said in a statement. "Moreover, the decision to close these organizations' offices and seize their assets contradicts the government of Egypt's commitments to support the role of civil society as a fundamental actor in a democracy and contributor to development, especially at this critical stage in the Egyptian people's democratic transition." He called on Egypt to "work with civic groups as they respond to the Egyptian people's aspirations for democracy as guaranteed in Egypt's new constitution." Yehia Ghanem, an Egyptian who worked for the International Center for Journalists -- an American NGO -- received two years in jail and vowed to appeal. "For me and everyone it was clear the prosecution failed to produce a shred of evidence on all the allegations," he said in a statement Tuesday. "We were planning on a training course for journalists but we never even had the chance to launch it," he said. "So it's amazing to be tried on something that never even happened -- it's a trial on intentions. We didn't even have a chance to do anything from our good intentions. " Egyptian officials said the NGOs' work contributed to international interference that was stoking continued protests against the government. In December 2011, authorities raided the offices of 10 NGOs. The general prosecutor's office said the raids were part of an investigation into allegations that the groups received illegal foreign financing and were operating without proper licenses. The case sparked a crisis in relations between the United States and Egypt. The U.S. State Department called the charges "politically motivated." One of the Americans charged and sentenced in absentia is Sam LaHood, the country director of the International Republican Institute and the son of U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. Human Rights Watch called on Egypt last year to drop the charges against the NGO workers, calling the case "a politicized saga." And the organization Human Rights First said it was "disturbed." "This prosecution had a chilling effect on the work of independent human rights and democracy promotion organizations in Egypt," said Brian Dooley, director of the organization's defenders program. "The fact that the court issued convictions in the case means that independent NGOs that wish to work in Egypt must do so under the threat of prosecution for exercising their basic human rights." | Kerry: The U.S. is "deeply concerned" about the result of "a politically-motivated trial"
Becker, the one American who stayed to face charges, says he's reviewing appeal options .
Prosecution "had a chilling effect" on human rights groups, activist says .
In all, 43 NGO workers, including several Americans, were charged . |
25,810 | 49239a6ff3e86a70b77ff082e4203900b608df7e | By . Daily Mail Reporter . The number of people with diabetes in Britain has reached an all-time high – with over four million people now living with the disease. Currently, 3.2million have been diagnosed with diabetes – over 90 per cent with the obesity-related Type 2 – but over 850,000 more are unaware they have the deadly condition. However, this is only set to get worse as the country fails to tackle the ‘epidemic’ rates of obesity, the NHS warns. Record: The number of people with diabetes in Britain has reached an all-time high - at more than four million . The Department of Health predicts that the proportion of people with diabetes will jump from 7.3 per cent of the population in 2012 to 8.8 per cent by 2030. Now, people aged between 40 and 74 in England are being urged to have an NHS Health Check to spot the first signs of the disease. The checks could also highlight certain diets or lifestyles that may lead to diabetes, or spot other illnesses, such as heart disease or kidney failure. Since the programme was launched in 2009, the Department of Health estimates it has prevented 1,600 heart attacks and strokes, at least 650 premature deaths and more than 4,000 new cases of diabetes each year. Concern: The number is only set to get worse as the UK fails to tackle the 'epidemic' rates of obesity, the NHS warns (file picture) Early detection of diabetes allows patients to respond by managing the illness to stop it from getting worse. But campaigners argue prevention is better than a cure - and efforts must be made to stop people developing the disease in the first place. Last year, more than 1.3 million English patients people took an NHS Health Check. Public Health England (PHE) is trying to raise awareness of the programme to mark Diabetes UK’s annual Diabetes Week. Patient Rashmikant Joshi was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes after his GP carried out the check. He said: 'Through the NHS Health Check I received an early diagnosis and treatment. I was encouraged to take control of my own health and now no longer need insulin, thanks to a healthy diet and regular exercise. 'Communities that may be at a higher risk of certain conditions, like diabetes, may not be aware of the benefits a simple NHS Health Check can have.' Professor Kevin Fenton, the PHE's director of health and wellbeing, said: 'With Type 2 diabetes becoming more common, the NHS Health Check presents an opportunity for individuals to take steps earlier, such as weight control, to prevent or even reverse diabetes in its early stages. 'It is important that those eligible take up the offer of an NHS Health Check so their risk of serious, but potentially avoidable conditions, can be assessed, leading to early intervention. 'PHE is committed to increasing physical activity and reducing physical inactivity across England and these aims are prominent in a number of public health campaigns.' Barbara Young, Diabetes UK Chief Executive, said there are currently 630,000 people living with undiagnosed Type 2 diabetes. 'The sooner we can identify them, the sooner they can start getting the support and healthcare they need to manage the condition,' she said. Support: People aged between 40 and 74 in England are being urged to have an NHS Health Check to spot the first signs of the disease, or other deadly illnesses such as heart disease and kidney failure (file picture) 'At the moment many people who could benefit from the NHS Health Check are missing out on the opportunity, we would urge anyone aged 40-74 to get one. It could be one of the best things you ever do for your health.' But Neville Rigby of the International Obesity Forum said: 'It’s important that everyone wakes up to the real risk of diet-related diseases like diabetes and heart disease, not just for the overweight and obese who are at greater risk. 'We won’t solve this growing epidemic of non-communicable diseases until we have tackled the fundamental problem of providing affordable healthy food and break the junk food habit generations have grown up with. 'The urgent challenge is not simply to tell the over 40s to have a health check to get treatment for the rest of their lives, but most importantly to deal with prevention early in life. 'There is a lag between weight gain increasing the risk for type 2 diabetes, the disease taking effect and then being diagnosed and treated. 'There is a real price to pay for having failed over so many years to address this. 'We know that researchers found remarkable differences in the number of adults under 80 already dying from diabetes - 50 per cent more in London than in some others parts of the country. 'And the 3.2 million diagnosed with type 2 diabetes is just the tip of the iceberg given Britain continues to have an unhealthy diet and little is really being done to introduce effective measures to combat this.' | Number of people living with diabetes in Britain has reached all-time high .
Currently, 3.2million in country have been diagnosed with deadly disease .
However, more than 850,000 people are unaware they have the condition .
And this is only set to get worse as UK fails to tackle obesity, NHS warns . |
216,687 | a487fdb4b231fcec091edf43fc0158075240dbfa | (CNN) -- Five men in El Salvador, including a police officer, were arrested Wednesday in connection with the killing last week of French filmmaker and photographer Christian Poveda, the country's attorney general's office said. Two of five men arrested Wednesday in connection with the killing of French filmmaker Christian Poveda. A sixth man who allegedly ordered the murder was already in prison, according to a statement from the agency. Poveda -- who recently finished a documentary about a violent street gang, part of the Mara 18 gang in El Salvador -- was found shot dead in the town of Tonacatepeque, about 10 miles northeast of the capital, San Salvador, on September 2, authorities said. Four of those arrested were members of the same Mara 18 gang that was the subject of Poveda's film, the attorney general's office said. National Civil Police Officer Juan Napoleon Espinoza also was arrested, it said. Poveda's documentary, "La Vida Loca," which follows the lives of members of the Mara 18 gang, had been screened at a handful of film festivals and is slated for wider release later this month. His body was found in an area controlled by that same gang, local reports said. | 5 men in El Salvador arrested in killing of French filmmaker Christian Poveda .
A sixth man who allegedly ordered the murder was already in prison, officials said .
Poveda recently finished a documentary about a violent street gang in El Salvador .
Poveda found shot dead in town of Tonacatepeque, on September 2, officials said . |
47,814 | 86eaa90c419d5ed93341248fecd8c25d820f2b82 | By . Helen Collis . PUBLISHED: . 11:24 EST, 3 September 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 14:17 EST, 3 September 2013 . A grandmother involved in a fatal crash in Germany and taken to the morgue was seen still breathing hours after and is now in intensive care. An observant morgue worker noticed the 72-year-old woman was breathing and she was immediately transferred to hospital. The woman had hours earlier been dragged from the wreckage of a five-seater Audi A4 estate which had crashed near Itzehoe, Schleswig-Holstein on Monday, killing her daughter and one of her grandsons. Three of the seven family members travelling in this vehicle were taken to the morgue, but one was rushed to hospital hours later after she started breathing . Medics are baffled as to how the woman survived, saying she suffered severe head injuries and showed no signs of life. Quoted in The Local, Arno Deister, a spokesman for Itzehoe Hospital, said paramedics thought she had died and took her to the morgue. 'What exactly happened next, no one knows,' he said. When she arrived at hospital, doctors operated on her for four hours, before she was transferred to intensive care. She remains in a coma, the Local said. The tragic incident happened on Germany's A23 on Monday. The woman's 18-year-old grandson was driving the Audi, which carried seven members of the same family from the coastal town of Husum. Crash scene: The crash happened in Itzehoe in northern Germany . He was one of four grandsons of the 72-year-old woman travelling in the vehicle. His youngest brother, aged six, died in the crash, as did they boys' mother. The other family members survived with serious injuries, the news service said. The driver of the other vehicle survived. The Local reports that the two cars collided head on. | The 72-year-old woman was pulled from the wreck and taken to the morgue .
But hours later a morgue worker noticed she was still breathing .
She was rushed to hospital and underwent four hours of surgery .
Two other family members, her daughter and youngest grandson, also killed .
Woman remains in a coma at Itzehoe hospital, in Germany . |
99,532 | 0c3db1680f1696ec16c1aadcdcece97dfe8028b4 | By . Sean Gallagher for MailOnline . Harry Redknapp has confirmed he will sign a new two-year contract extension at QPR. The 67-year-old, who has been at the club since November 2012, led the club back to the Premier League at the first attempt following relegation last season, and despite a poor start this time around chairman Tony Fernandes is set to offer him a new deal. He said: 'I've been offered a new contract and it's just a case of me signing it now - which I will. I probably won't read it anyway - I'll just sign it. New deal: Harry Redknapp will sign a two-year contract extension at QPR imminently . 'It'll probably get signed either today or tomorrow, but if not next week. Either way it'll get done as Tony has been asking me about it for a while. 'I'm happy at the club and want to stay here. The Premier League is where I want to be and it's where we will be next season as we will stay up.' The former Tottenham boss also quashed rumours he was set to leave the club following reports Tim Sherwood was being lined up to replace him adding: 'It's absolute rubbish, we've played two games, he (Fernandes) wants me to sign a two-year extension. 'I knew it was going to be a difficult start. We have bought good players in but we need time to gel. It takes time.' Redknapp also confirmed that unsettled midfielder Adel Taarabt will be involved against Sunderland on Saturday with his future still very much up in the air. He said: 'Adel will be involved tomorrow. He done well on Wednesday at Burton so he'll be in the squad for the Sunderland game.' The maverick playmaker has been pushing for a move away from Loftus Road all summer with AC Milan his preferred option, but so far a move has failed to materialise with his £65,000-per-week wage packet and buy-out clause proving to be the stumbling blocks. Happier days: Harry Redknapp and Adel Taarabt embrace after QPR's shock 1-0 win at Chelsea in 2013 . Reprieve? Adel Taarabt could prove to be a key player for QPR if he stays beyond the transfer window . Departing: Danny Simpson and Armand Traore look to be on their way out of QPR . Elsewhere Redknapp confirmed that Eduardo Vargas will be unavailable for the game against Gus Poyet's side, with him yet to receive international clearance. 'We're still waiting to hear about Eduardo Vargas's work permit. He's still in Italy sorting out his passport so he won't be available for Saturday's game,' said Redknapp. The former Tottenham boss has also revealed that the club have accepted bids from Leicester City and Crystal Palace for defensive duo Danny Simpson and Armand Traore respectively. On a potential deal concerning the latter Redknapp added: 'Palace have made a good offer for Armand and it's up to him now if he wants to go, so we'll see what happens with that.' Neil Warnock, who re-joined Crystal Palace for a second spell as manager earlier this week, is keen on a reunion with Traore, who he signed when he was QPR boss in 2011. | Redknapp will sign a two-year contract extension at Loftus Road .
He insists he is happy at the club and quashes exit rumours .
The R's boss also says Adel Taarabt will be involved against Sunderland .
Eduardo Vargas still yet to receive international clearance .
Club have accepted offers from Leicester and Crystal Palace for Danny Simpson and Armand Traore respectively . |
145,108 | 47ad405ef0db4702c7006e65c52c12d8ca18b0a7 | (CNN) -- Welcome to the new cool. The dreadlocks. The headphones. The beats. The fist-bumping. Forget pumped up, chiseled athletes focused on nothing more than winning. If snowboarders were the Olympics' introduction to a younger, hipper, "slacker" generation of competitors, the next wave of adrenaline junkies has taken it back to the new old school. "It's like playing," Jamie Anderson said after winning gold in inaugural women's slopestyle snowboarding event in Sochi. "We're pretty much snowboarding on a playground up there." Slopestyle, which also has a ski discipline, is one of 12 new categories at 2014 Winter Games -- eight of which have their origins in extreme sports. It's part of the International Olympic Committee's bid to attract younger audiences, a mission shared by its broadcast and advertising partners. Short-track speed skating was added in 1992, and snowboarding came six years later. But forget the idea of 10,000 hours of repetitive practice -- as Anderson says, these new sports are all about playing. All playgrounds have their own vocabulary, and expressions like "stoked," "corked" and "stalefish" are rapidly becoming part of the sporting lexicon. As is the idea of fun, which the winner of the men's slopestyle skiing event, Anderson's fellow American Joss Christensen, was keen to reference. "I didn't try to put any more pressure on myself, I just tried to ski a normal contest and just do my best and have fun with it. I thought it worked out," said the 22-year-old in trademark understatement. His comments underplayed the reality that the U.S. team annihilated the competition, claiming all three men's medals to end Canada's monopoly of freestyle golds at these Games. Christensen had never won a major competition, and only qualified for the Olympics two weeks ago. "I am shocked," he conceded. "I am stoked to be up here with my friends. America, we did it." With Gus Kenworthy and Nick Goepper winning silver and bronze, it was a historic moment -- the U.S. had previously achieved such a clean sweep of medals on just two occasions: the 2002 men's halfpipe snowboard competition, and the 1956 men's individual figure skating singles. But there was a serious undertone for Christensen, who has been mourning the loss of his father last year. "I hope I made my father proud," he said. "Through all the injuries I've had, he's always supported me and never said stop. I hope he's looking down and smiling. Did it for him." As part of the slopestyle "playground" there is a "kiss and cry" area, where the competitors wait to see their results. Not that there was any signs of tears at the Rosa Khutor Extreme Park on Thursday. All the competitors look relaxed as if they were hanging out with their friends on the slopes of their backyard ski resort -- which is not so far-fetched, given they train together and meet at events several times a month. The glory and seriousness of the Olympics seems something of a culture shock to these new Olympians. Their main event, the X Games, is all about showing off new tricks in fairly relaxed, showbiz atmosphere. And it's not just spectators and television viewers who have been impressed by their performances. "It looks very spectacular," IOC president Thomas Bach told reporters after Christensen's win. "I just met the three medalists and they are cool guys." "They found it (the competition) cool and now they wait for the party. When you win you have the party." Perhaps the Winter Olympics' new breed is best encapsulated by Henrik Harlaut. The 22-year-old Swede might not have made it up on the podium, but he definitely garnered plenty of attention with his very, very low-cut pants -- which, by the end of his run, revealed much of his colorful underwear. Along with the incredible tricks, style is a big part of these competitions. "I don't think skiing with my ski pants so low is an issue," Harlaut insisted. "I have been skiing like this for 10 years now. It is my style and has been for a while. I feel really comfortable." Not everyone has been impressed by the tricks and a more relaxed of sporting competition . "I think the president of the IOC should be Johnny Knoxville, because basically, this stuff is just 'Jackass' stuff that they invented and called Olympic sports," commentator Bob Costas said on NBC said before the Games began, referring to the comedic daredevil who was known for crashing into things. That's not a view shared by the U.S. Olympic Committee, which has specifically targeted invested in these new sports, primarily because they deliver medals for America. "We've been able to really customize and drill down where we can have the greatest impact," Alan Ashley, the USOC's chief of sport performance, told the Washington Post. "I'd like to try to get as many athletes as possible opportunities to become Olympians, then become successful Olympians as well." So behind the cool exterior, there is some bottom-line accounting going on. | Eight of the 12 new events at the Sochi Olympics have their origins in extreme sports .
Incredible tricks, style and a relaxed atmosphere are a big part of these competitions .
But the seriousness of the Games seems a culture shock to these new Olympians . |
239,543 | c22459c24f94c04be33ffabd7febe765755b3907 | By . Ashley Collman . PUBLISHED: . 01:37 EST, 5 March 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 07:48 EST, 5 March 2014 . The Bush family doesn't waste any time indoctrinating the next generation into the world of politics. George H.W. Bush's baby great-grandson Prescott joined his father George P. Bush in the voting booth yesterday as daddy runs for Texas land commissioner. Baby Prescott was swept up by his mom Amanda just as dad went into the booth - but he still got an 'I Voted' sticker. Starting them young: George P. Bush holds son Prescott while he votes in the Texas land commissioner primary on Tuesday . Baby's first vote: While Prescott is still many years away from being a voter, he still got a sticker that said 'I voted . Continuing the dynasty: George P Bush is the grandson to former president George H.W. Bush and nephew of former president George W. Bush . First political foray: He is currently running for Texas land commissioner and easily won the Republican nomination on Tuesday. Wife Amanda (left) picked up Prescott just as he started to vote . Bush easily won the Republican nomination for the position, and will face former El Paso Mayor John Cook in the general election in November. Either Bush or Cook will replace outgoing Commissioner Jerry Patterson, who is running for Lieutenant Governor. This is the 37-year-old attorney's first foray into politics ,spearheading a fourth-generation of the Bush dynasty. Bush's great-grandfather Prescott was a senator from Connecticut. On the campaign trail, Bush has addressed voters in both English and Spanish - having learned the second language from his mom Columba who is from Mexico. White House connections: George P. Bush is the son of former Florida Governor Jeb Bush (right), nephew of former president George W Bush (center) and grandson of other former president George H.W. Bush (left) Gearing up: Bush will go up against former El Paso Mayor John Cook in the November general election, Pictured above campaigning in El Paso on Monday . If he wins, Bush will be responsible for managing billions of dollars in state assets, investments and mineral rights and will also serve as chairman on several boards and commissions. Like the conservative Bush he is, the candidate identifies as pro-life, pro-gun and pro-energy. So far, Bush has raised more than $3.5million for his campaign - an unheard of amount for the political seat. Opponent Cook has put $20,000 of personal money into his own campaign. Bush accepted the Republican nomination at Joe T Garcia's restaurant in Fort Worth on Tuesday in which he made a brief speech. 'We don't need to change out conservative principles to win...we just need to change our tactics,' he said. | George P. Bush is the son of former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, and the nephew and grandson to two former U.S. presidents .
He was accompanied by son Prescott in the voting booth Tuesday as he runs for Texas land commissioner .
Bush easily won the Republican nomination and goes up against former El Paso Mayor John Cook in the November general election . |
269,533 | e91f028e6bf7b17b1cb560790d2e7dcc1ffbbf64 | PUBLISHED: . 10:13 EST, 4 June 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 16:04 EST, 4 June 2013 . Jubilant:Winner Yoo Ye-bin, a college student took the crown in Seoul today . After months of preparation there can only be one winner and today a 21-year-old student beat 54 other participants to win Miss Korea. Winner Yoo Ye-bin, a college student took the crown in Seoul today. She will now go on to represent South Korea for this year's Miss Universe beauty pageant. The 20 finalists already hit the headlines this year when their photos were posted on Reddit fuelling . speculation that many of them had undergone surgery and prompting users . to criticise the Asian nation's growing trend to go under the knife. South Koreans currently have more plastic surgery than in any other . country according to recent figures, with the craze particularly popular . among 19 to 49-year-olds. The popularity of surgery, . particularly among the young, has been blamed by some on a desire to . look more 'western' fuelled by an obsession with celebrity culture. All . of the women vying for the crown of Miss Korea 2013 have dark, . perfectly trussed hair, either tumbling over their shoulders or neatly . tied up, pale skin, bright eyes and a perfect bright white smile. And . their apparent similarity prompted Reddit user ShenTheWise to post . their pictures online, suggesting that many of those vying for the Miss . Korea title this year have had similar surgery. He captioned the image: 'Korea’s plastic surgery mayhem is finally converging on the same face.' The post saw more than 3,000 people comment in response, debating the merits of widespread plastic surgery. Scrolll down for video . Hopefuls: South Korean contestants pose during the 2013 Miss Korea beauty contest in Seoul . Strike a pose: South Korean contestants perform during the 2013 Miss Korea beauty contest in Seoul today . Reddit . user HotBrownie, who claims to hail from Seoul, said: : 'Those women . in fact do look unnervingly similar and yes, Koreans think so too. 'This . is called the Korean plastic face look. In certain areas of Seoul, you . would think all the women are sisters because they look so similar due . to same surgeries. 'Without the plastic surgery, korean women are very diverse looking and easily can be told apart. 'The surgery takes away their . individuality and uniqueness and its sad. Most are beautiful without it . but telling them that their Korean ethnic features are in fact lovely is . as effective as screaming at a brick wall. 'They . wont believe you because they've been brainwashed to think . westernization of their features is superior, I don't think they want to . look white, but a mix of white and Asian and definitely less Korean.' Another . Reddit user, Forevertraveling, added: 'I live in Korea and older women . complain how girls don't look Korean anymore because of all the plastic . surgery. 'It's so common to the point if I meet a girl, I just assume she has had something done. 'Girls here consider eye surgery just like using make up. ' Competiton: All of the women vying for the crown of Miss Korea 2013 have dark, perfectly trussed hair, either tumbling over their shoulders or neatly tied up, pale skin, bright eyes and a perfect bright white smile . Represent: Winner Yoo Ye-bin, a 21-year-old college student, poses. Yoo will represent South Korea for this year's Miss Universe beauty pageant . Victorious: After winning first place Yoo Ye-bin was given a tiara, sash and flowers . But . others on the social networking site said that all the pictures served . to prove was that there is a 'cultural divide' between the east and west . in terms of plastic surgery. HerpDerpDrone . commented: 'Western women want to exaggerate their features with . plastic surgeries (fuller lips, bigger boobs, bigger butts) while Asian . women want to refine their features (smaller chins etc) so there is . definitely a cultural divide when it comes to plastic surgery.' The pageant sparked controversy last . year when pictures emerged of winner Kim Yu-Mi before she had undergone . plastic surgery, with many claiming that cosmetic procedures give . contestants an unfair advantage. The . student revealed her plastic surgery secret after photos emerged of her . looking very different at school, but she said she hadn't misled . anyone. But she defended her crown telling the Korean media: 'I never said I was born beautiful.' South Koreans have more plastic surgery than any other nation according to figures released in January. Congratulations: Yoo Ye-bin is congratulated by contestants during the contest . Those . in the Asian country have more treatments per members of the . population, with one in every 77 turning to the knife or needle. The . figures, from the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons . (ISAPS), show that in 2011, 15 million people across the globe turned to . plastic surgery to enhance their looks. While the popularity of cosmetic surgery in South Korea may come as a surprise to many, the industry there is in fact booming. Last year, 20 per cent of women aged 19 to 49 in the capital city of Seoul admitted to going under the knife. One . of the most popular surgical procedures is double eyelid surgery - . which reduces excess skin in the upper eyelid to make the eyes appear . bigger and make them look more 'Western'. It . is believed that the rise of the country's music industry is behind the . boom, and many patients visit clinics with photos of celebrities, . asking surgeons to emulate American noses or eyes. Singer PSY, whose song 'Gangnam Style' became a global hit, said his record label had urged him to get plastic surgery. Back to basics: The girls take part in the swimwear part of the competition . Pick me! The contestants all smile and wave in the hope of winning the coveted title . | Winner Yoo Ye-bin, a college student won the crown in Seoul today .
Beat off 54 other participants to win and will now represent in Miss Universe . |
94,812 | 05d603f1a10c1578d1dda032c77c719c3aa874a9 | By . Ray Massey, Transport Editor . One of France’s top bosses has praised Britain’s business-friendly policies – and claimed his homeland has lost its ‘culture of entrepreneurship’. Maxime Picat, the chief executive of Peugeot, praised the recovery in this country and said there were ‘great opportunities’ in the UK for business. ‘Entrepreneurship is a French word,’ he said. ‘But it is the British who put it into practice. Vive l’Angleterre.’ Maxime Picat, the chief executive of Peugeot, has praised Britain¿s business-friendly policies ¿ and claimed his homeland has lost its 'culture of entrepreneurship' Mr Picat praised the recovery in this country and said there were 'great opportunities' in the UK for business . Mr Picat, one of France’s most influential industrialists, also criticised his country’s inflexible labour market and the number of strikes there. He was speaking just before the international launch of Peugeot’s latest model in London. Asked why he thought the British economy was performing better than the French, Mr Picat told the Mail: ‘There is a culture of entrepreneurship in Britain…we’ve lost that. ‘Then there are great opportunities. It’s easy to find a job. You have a flexible labour market. We don’t. There are strikes in France.’ He said the UK was better at ‘managing unemployment’ and had more ‘flexible labour policies’ which allowed the economy to thrive. ‘When the market is recovering, the UK is able to recover faster,’ he said. ‘Economic growth in the UK is proof of that. The UK grabs opportunities faster.’ Militant: Workers from the French national railway SNCF march through Marseille yesterday as part of a national rail strike . Criticism: Mr Picat, one of France's most influential industrialists, also criticised his country's inflexible labour market and the number of strikes there . While the UK economy has gone from strength to strength in recent months, France’s has all but ground to a halt under Socialist President Francois Hollande, who now has the lowest approval rating of any French president on record. The IMF has predicted French growth would be only 1 per cent this year and 1.5 per cent in 2015. It expects growth of 2.9 per cent and 2.5 per cent in Britain. French public spending is among the highest in the world and is due to hit 57 per cent of national output this year. Its six million state employees make up a fifth of the workforce, while their salaries account for a quarter of public spending. 'The UK has a flexible Labour market. We don't. It is recovering faster. It grabs opportunities. It is dynamic' Maxime Picat . Peugeot chief executive . The IMF has told the government to start cutting the bloated public sector, saying France’s tax rises had ‘weighed on the capacity of the economy to grow’. The high tax rate of 75 per cent for top earners in France has led to many of them coming to the UK. Some 300,000 ambitious French people now live in Britain – many in London. Mr Picat added: ‘London and the UK is a great place to live, work and study. It is particularly dynamic.’ Mr Picat also said he thought Britain’s position on the EU was ‘more realistic’. He suggested that the lack of democratic accountability of the ‘Brussels administrators’ was partly responsible for the success of the far-Right Front National in France in the European elections. ‘Only two weeks after that very strong signal, they think that European politics is back to business as usual. It’s not,’ he said. Mr Picat made his comments as Peugeot held its first ever global international car launch in the UK – that of the new, more upmarket, 508. The UK is Peugeot’s third largest market after France and China. Peugeot bosses said the London launch date of June 18 was ‘significant’ – chosen because that was the date in 1940 on which exiled Free French wartime leader General De Gaulle used the BBC to broadcast his call to arms to fight on despite the French government’s impending armistice with the Nazi invaders. Launch: Tennis star Novak Djokovic with the new Peugeot 508 at the car's London launch . Market: Mr Picat made his comments as Peugeot held its first ever global international car launch in the UK ¿ that of the new, more upmarket, 508 . Peugeot stopped building cars in Britain in December 2006 when it closed the Ryton plant in Coventry, though its UK headquarters remain in the city. Nevertheless, UK car production has now overtaken that of France for the first time since the 1960s. Latest figures show that the UK last year built more than 1.5million vehicles, compared to 1.46million in France. It means the UK is the third largest car manufacturer in Europe after Germany and Spain with vehicles are rolling off a UK production line every 20 seconds. Analysts predict UK output will hit a record of around 2million by 2017. | Peugeot CEO Maxime Picat says there are 'great opportunities' in UK .
UK better at 'managing unemployment', says Mr Picat ahead of car launch .
IMP predicts French growth would be 1% this year, and the UK 2.9% .
UK car production has overtaken that of France for first time since the 1960s . |
12,086 | 224eb179f79c0ca4859028c2edd427ba840b7c17 | The husband who shot himself dead at a shooting range after his model wife was pictured cozying up to Leonardo DiCaprio was 'devastated' when his marriage to the 'love of his life' fell apart, a friend has revealed. Katie . Cleary was pictured cuddling up to DiCaprio and Entourage star Adrian . Grenier last month in Cannes, before her husband Andrew Stern killed . himself at a California shooting range on Sunday. Now his loved ones are trying to come to terms with the death of the 40-year-old businessman, who had filed for divorce just weeks before the tragedy. 'Andrew was an amazing man and husband who believed Katie to be the love of his life,' his friend Pace Lattin told MailOnline. 'He . made it clear that he would do anything to make her happy... He saw . that he put all he could into his marriage and his wife, and when she . wanted more, it devastated him.' Together: Stern, who appeared on Millionaire Matchmaker, was the one who petitioned for divorce in April . Tragic: Andrew Stern, who is married to model Katie Cleary, shot himself dead at a shooting range on Sunday . Another friend told MailOnline that he was already on a dark descent when he realized he couldn't hold on to his 'dream girl'. 'Andrew changed at the beginning of the year,' the source told MailOnline. 'He worked more and socialized less. He began investing even more money and more time into his charity and fundraising work... He got sad. Sadder.' The friend explained that something was 'broken' in him and no matter how he tried to fight it - with eating well, exercise or counseling sessions - he couldn't shake it. His struggling married to Cleary was not to blame for his suicide but just added to his pain because of the fantasy he had about their life together, the friend said. 'But the marriage wasn't based on pure, unadulterated, love. Wasn't solely based on the forever do us part love,' the source said. 'He knew what he was getting into when he started even dating Katie. She's too pretty. She's just too pretty. And she's just too charismatic and affable and kind that Andrew knew he couldn't keep her to himself. 'I'm not saying Katie did anything. If she did, I didn't know about it. But he couldn't really have her like he wanted her. Like his fantasy of her. He would talk about her in ideal terms. He idolized her and wanted her to himself, maybe a little too much. He wouldn't show it. He gave her all the freedom she wanted for her career. But he realized he wasn't the only one with eyes for her and wanting her and it deepened his pain.' Spotted: Leonardo DiCaprio was spotted out in NYC Tuesday night attending the Jeff Koons Retrospective at the Whitney Museum . Always going somewhere: The star hit the event after running errands that afternoon . 'I do . remember him sharing that a very famous actor that Katie was working . with was calling her cell and he saw her phone,' the source said. 'So he knew that he was in for a downhill plummet.' Cleary's father, Thomas, who lives just outside Chicago in Illinois, told MailOnline that his daughter was devastated by her husband's death. 'This is a terrible loss for my daughter Katie and obviously she is devastated,' he said. 'We are all grieving for her and for my son-in-law.' Mr Stern . had filed court papers to end the couple's less-than-four-year marriage . just weeks before the images emerged, according to court documents, and . Cleary and Stern were still in the process of dividing up their assets when he took his life. Cleary . and Stern, who had appeared on . Bravo's dating show Millionaire Matchmaker, married the model on July . 31, 2010. The court documents state the pair separated on April 3, 2014. The . divorce papers read: 'The exact nature and extent of [Stern's] separate . assets including, without limitation, funds and/or other property . interests due to [Stern] from [Cleary] by way of recoupment, . misappropriation... are presently under determination.' Cleary's rep told TMZ the . couple broke up eight months ago and that the pictures of Cleary getting close to DiCaprio and Grenier were harmless. Lady in red: Cleary was pictured getting close to Leonardo DiCaprio at a club in Cannes last month . Getting acquainted: Sources said that Cleary and Stern were going through a divorce, which added to his stress . The rep explained that Cleary and Grenier had been . friends for sometime, while Cleary and Dicaprico had only . met the night they were photographed - but the rep insisted they were innocently . discussing animal conservation and nothing else. However, the celebrity website cites sources as saying Stern felt embarrassed by the pictures and was suffering depression. Interviews . with the couple's friends revealed he was stressed over his marital problems and had a history of depression, TMZ earlier reported, while others said he had financial strains. But . his friend Pace Lattin denied Stern was in serious financial trouble, . saying that the couple's house was paid for and his family was 'well . off'. 'Maybe . he wasn't as rich as some of the Stars his wife was fooling around with . but he was rich with real friends,' Lattin said on Facebook. He . added to MailOnline: 'While he did fight with depression his entire . life, it's partially because he put so much passion into everything he . did.' Just friends? Cleary was also pictured stepping out in Cannes with Entourage actor Adriran Grenier . In addition, fresh claims have emerged on TMZ that . Stern had a history of injecting human growth hormones and the male . hormone testosterone in a bid to boost a waning libido. Friends . said the treatment, prescribed by a health and wellness centre in . Beverly Hills, made him irritable and prone to drastic mood swings. Stern was said to have kept it up for a year until stopping using the treatment suddenly. But . after going cold turkey from the drugs, he was said to have sunk into a . deep depression, which was only made worse after the failure of his . business and his marriage problems. On Tuesday it emerged that two other men had taken their lives at the same shooting range in the past five years. Stern shot himself in the head at the Target Range in Van Nuys, Los Angeles, and according to local reports another man killed himself there just 10 weeks ago. The unidentified man in his 50s shot himself in the chest at the indoor shooting range on April 6. Stunning: The couple became engaged in 2009 and married in California in 2010 . Glamorous: Cleary, 32, works on Deal or No Deal and has featured in a handful of movies and TV shows . Paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene, according to CBS LA. And . in November 2009 a man in his 30s was reportedly wounded at the range . and died at hospital about two hours later, an archive Los Angeles Daily . News report says. The latest tragedy . comes just four weeks after 32-year-old Cleary was pictured getting . close to DiCaprio at the Gotha nightclub in Cannes. The . pair were seen chatting and dancing closely, while DiCaprio was . pictured whispering into the model's ear. The apparent closeness came . even though DiCaprio is dating Victoria's Secret model Toni Garrn. Katie, who . is from Glenview, Illinois, appeared on the first series of America's . Next Top Model while she was still a college student, before landing the . role of 'briefcase beauty' on popular game show Deal Or No Deal. The . brunette beauty has since had minor roles in The Break Up, Iron Man 2 . and Entourage, while appearing in advertising campaigns for Sketchers, . Nike and Elastiderm. She was also spotted out and about with Entourage cast member Adrian Grenier while in Cannes. Early days: Cleary is pictured second from right with the cast of the first season of America's Next Top Model . Video Source YouTube . Stern had set up his own successful marketing firm after graduating from Miami University in Oxford, . Ohio and moving to Los Angeles. Initially . working for other companies, he started his career with the Los Angeles . Lakers, Taco Bell, Southwest Airlines and Pepsi, according to an obituary posted on Performance Marketing Insider by a business friend, Pace Lattin. After . working with professional athletes including Kobe Bryant and Anna . Kournikova at Broadband Sports, he joined L90 Worldwide as a sales and . media planner, it noted. In 2002, he founded Seed Corn Advertising and went on to produce movies, launch . restaurants, real estate and 'brokering exotic cars', the obituary said. He also featured on Season 2 of the hit TV show 'Millionaire Matchmaker' before marrying Cleary, 'the love of his life', Lattin wrote. 'Andrew kept his original company, never sold out, always was making money and working hard,' he wrote. 'We both started in the industry at the same time, and his passing makes me extremely sad. We were both young kids in this industry, and grew up making money in this industry - and everyone I know did business with him at one time or another.' Happier times: Cleary is pictured kissing her husband at an event in Los Angeles in September 2011 . Successful: Friends paid tribute to Stern as a hard-working businessman 'who never sold out' | Andrew Stern, 40, the entrepreneur husband of model Katie Cleary, 32, shot himself in the head at a shooting range on Sunday .
Friends claim that he spiraled into deep depression after suddenly stopping using hormone-replacement therapy to boost libido .
They call Cleary the 'love of his life' who sent him further into darkness when he realized he was losing her .
Court documents show he had filed for divorce on April 9, 2014 .
They were still in the process of dividing up their assets .
Sources said Stern was under significant stress because the couple 'were going through a divorce and he had a history of depression'
Cleary was pictured getting close to Leonardo DiCaprio, who is dating Victoria's Secret model Toni Garrn, in Cannes last month .
She was also seen out with Entourage star Adrian Grenier .
Cleary appeared in the first series of America's Next Top Model and went on to appear in Deal Or No Deal and small movie parts . |
180,123 | 7535feaa7e211d536d9fa07867a6c27acd8d2630 | Silverstone has come to the aid of Circuit of Wales and will stage the British round of MotoGP for the next two years. The Northamptonshire venue ran the event from 2010 to 2014 until CoW negotiated a deal with rights holders Dorna to stage the race for five years from this season. That was despite the fact construction work had yet to commence on the troubled facility at Ebbw Vale. The British Grand Prix in the MotoGP championship was left in turmoil after Donington Park pulled out of hosting the 2015 race. Above is the start of the 2014 Grand Prix which took place at Silverstone . With ongoing difficulties regarding planning, CoW bosses turned to Donington Park initially to host the 2015 GP, much to Silverstone's dismay. But on Tuesday, Donington Park chiefs withdrew from the opportunity to play host after neither party could agree terms to form a legal contract. Donington, which last hosted MotoGP in 2009, claimed difficulties arose with CoW regarding funding arrangements to help them stage the event. In a catch-22 situation, CoW countered by stating it was unwilling to provide the funding without a signed contractual agreement in place. CoW has now turned to Silverstone, whose new management team led by Patrick Allen has welcomed the approach. To accommodate the August 28-30 race, Silverstone has been forced to switch the World Series by Renault event scheduled for those dates to September 5-6. Donington Park had previously held the British Grand Prix from 1987 through to 2009, with Australia's Casey Stoner (above) winning on a Ducati in 2008 . Silverstone managing director Allen said: 'A lot of work has been done over recent years to ensure MotoGP fans enjoy what Silverstone has to offer, and it was devastating for the venue to lose the event last autumn. 'I welcomed the opportunity to meet with both Dorna and the Circuit of Wales recently so we could try and find a way to keep MotoGP in the UK and racing at Silverstone. 'Two-wheel racing is as much a part of Silverstone's heritage as four-wheel racing and I am obviously delighted to be in a position to announce we are hosting both the F1 and MotoGP Grands Prix in 2015. 'We have recently introduced a family-friendly pricing policy for the Formula One British Grand Prix which is proving extremely popular. 'Over the next two weeks I will be working closely with my team at Silverstone to launch a ticket model for MotoGP I hope will be equally well received by fans.' Regarding the two-year deal, CoW chief executive Michael Carrick has expressed his gratitude to Silverstone for stepping into the breach. The British round of the MotoGP calendar for the next two years will be held at Silverstone . 'We want to thank the new management at Silverstone, our partners at Dorna and our investors for the rapid response needed to support the 2015 event when it became clear we would be unlikely to conclude the contractual arrangements at Donington,' said Carrick. 'We are delighted to secure the future of the event for the next two years while our circuit in Wales is under construction.' CoW first faces a detailed public inquiry before construction can be allowed to begin, with Carrick confident it will be the final hurdle. Carrick added: 'We continue to advance our development activity on the Circuit of Wales and are focused on the upcoming public inquiry into the deregistration of the common land. 'We expect construction to commence once this inquiry has concluded.' | Donington Park was set to hold British Grand Prix in 2015 .
But agreement with Circuit of Wales (CoW) fell through .
Silverstone will now hold the British MotoGP round in 2015 and 2016 .
CoW previously negotiated deal to hold race for five years from this year . |
282,936 | fa7e987398d81db5be57ba5afcdc2537aa05dc4a | By . Associated Press Reporter . A vendor accidentally shot a woman in the leg while demonstrating a gun and holster at a central Pennsylvania gun show, police said. The Columbia County district attorney's office will determine whether the vendor, Geoffrey Hawk, will face criminal charges stemming from the shooting on Saturday at the Bloomsburg Fairgrounds, Officer Brad Sharrow said. Hawk, 44, of Warminster, didn't immediately return calls Sunday to his cellphone and business, In Case of Emergency Enterprises. The shooting took place at a stall belonging to a business called In Case of Emergency Enterprises at the Eagle Arms Gun Show at the Bloomsburg Fairgrounds . He was manning a booth for his business at the Eagle Arms Gun Show at the time of the shooting. Hawk told police he thought the gun was unloaded when he demonstrated a concealed-carry wallet holster to the woman, Krista Gearhart, 25, of Orangeville. Gearhart was treated and released for a thigh wound at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville. Hawk told police he had done the same demonstration about 20 times without incident before the shooting, 'racking' the gun's slide to clear it of bullets each time, Sharrow said. The show has an entrance sign that says 'No Loaded Weapons' and Koehler said his staff checks all guns to ensure they are unloaded before they are brought in for display . Hawk told police he thought the gun was unloaded when he demonstrated a concealed-carry wallet holster . Somehow, the gun was loaded when Gearhart was shot. Police said Hawk told them he had left the gun on display when he completed background checks on some customers and believes it's possible someone loaded the gun when he was busy. Joel Koehler, the gun show organizer, said Hawk was asked to close his booth and leave the show, which continued Sunday. The show has an entrance sign that says 'No Loaded Weapons' and Koehler said his staff checks all guns to ensure they are unloaded before they are brought in for display. Koehler said Saturday's shooting was the first at any show he has held at the fairgrounds or anywhere else. Video: Woman shot at gun show . | The shooting took place on Saturday at the Eagle Arms Gun Show at Bloomsburg Fairgrounds, Pennsylvania .
Vendor Geoffrey Hawk is waiting to find out if he will face criminal charges .
Victim Krista Gearhart, 25, was treated and released for a thigh wound at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville . |
200,995 | 90381fbddd0db3e508a9b75e024dac48294fb470 | Scientists have undermined a central plank of the anti-fracking lobby’s case by showing that the controversial drilling process does not poison drinking water. Vociferous protesters against hydraulic fracturing in Britain base much of their opposition on claims that the process poses an environmental danger. Fracking involves injecting water, sand and chemicals at high pressure into shale rock deep underground, releasing rich deposits of oil and natural gas trapped inside. It has transformed the US energy industry. Scientists claim that there is no evidence that fracking has caused contamination of water sources . But green campaigners in Britain have brandished reports from America saying that methane from the drilling has frequently contaminated groundwater supplies. Now, however, a study by researchers at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, shows that the contamination in these highly publicised cases was not due to the fracking but to leaky drilling wells. The distinction is crucial, say industry experts, because it means that the environmental risks of fracking can be pretty much eliminated by ensuring the well is properly sealed with concrete and that there are no leaks in the steel pipes used to take the gas to the surface. A separate report by the US government, published yesterday, provided further gloom for anti-fracking campaigners in the UK. The study at a Pennsylvania gas well found that the chemical-laced fluids used to free gas stayed about 5,000ft below drinking water supplies. In the Duke study, researchers analysed 131 drinking water wells in Pennsylvania and Texas that had been contaminated by methane and other toxic gases. However, there is strong opposition to the introduction of fracking in Britain despite scientific safety studies . They found no evidence that fracturing shale led to the water contamination and said their findings are also likely to apply to thousands more wells across the country. Dr Thomas Darrah, one of the study’s authors, said: ‘In all cases, it basically showed well integrity was the problem. The good news is, improvements in well integrity can probably eliminate most of the environmental problems with gas leaks.’ Professor Avner Vengosh, who also worked on the study, said they could ‘say categorically’ that they had not seen gas escaping from the drilled shale rock and getting into aquifers [rock containing water]. Natural gas on its own is not poisonous but in high concentrations it can lead to explosions and fires. | US researchers claim that fracking does not contaminate water sources .
Green campaigners claim the process is dangerous and should be banned .
Researchers from Duke University say a properly sealed well is safe .
Experts claim that concrete could prevent any leakage and contamination . |
66,198 | bbd3f6182310b315b2191861589e18d37cdf1792 | A hospital in Canada is treating a patient with flu-like symptoms similar to what an outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus would look like. The patient is being held in isolation at the Brampton Civic Hospital in Ontario after returning from a trip to Nigeria, which on Friday declared a state of emergency because of the disease. 'Initial signs and symptoms of Ebola are . similar to many more common diseases,' cautioned Ontario's health minister, Eric Hoskins. 'One such disease relevant to . African travel is malaria. There are currently no confirmed cases of . Ebola in Ontario.' Doctors at Brampton Civic Hospital, in Ontario, have isolated and continue to monitor a patient whose flu-like symptoms are similar to those in an Ebola outbreak . Travel officials throughout the world have stepped up monitoring the spread of the disease, such as this South Korean quarantine officer checking the body temperature of a traveler . Health professionals in Canada have closely monitored the outbreak of the disease and are watching for passengers returning from West Africa. Some 1,000 people have been killed since the virus emerged in Guinea in March, quickly spreading to Sierra Leone, Liberia and Nigeria. There is no licensed treatment or vaccine for Ebola. This is the largest and longest outbreak ever recorded of Ebola, which has a death rate of about 50 percent and has so far killed at least 932 people. The World Health Organization declared similar emergencies for the swine flu pandemic in 2009 and for polio in May. The WHO chief, Dr. Margaret Chan, said the announcement is 'a clear call for international solidarity' although she acknowledged that many countries would probably not have any Ebola cases. Nurses in Liberia, where Ebola has been spreading, remove the bodies of victims of disease from a home outside of Monrovia . 'Countries affected to date simply do not have the capacity to manage an outbreak of this size and complexity on their own,' Chan told reporters in Geneva. 'I urge the international community to provide this support on the most urgent basis possible.' In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have already elevated their Ebola response to the highest level and have recommended against traveling to West Africa. On Thursday, CDC director Dr. Tom Frieden told a Congressional hearing that the current outbreak is set to sicken more people than all previous outbreaks of the disease combined. Director Margaret Chan speaks to reporters after the World Health Organization declared a state of emergency following the spread of Ebola throughout West Africa . | Patient is being held in isolation at Brampton Civic Hospital in Ontario after returning from Nigeria .
Health minister cautions that the initial symptoms of Ebola are similar to more common diseases, such as malaria . |
207,081 | 9823bbc4b6a5822634362899ea8f0e47e6fa65ca | A fraudster who pretended to be in a coma for two years was caught by police going on shopping trips and holidays with his family. Conman Alan Knight of Swansea, South Wales, faked being in a vegetative state after he scammed his next door neighbour out of £40,000. The 47-year-old tried to beat justice by claiming he was a quadriplegic - his family said he was hooked up to oxygen and had no movement from the neck down. Scroll down for video . Conman Alan Knight (pictured) of Swansea, South Wales faked that he was in a vegetative state after he scammed his next door neighbour out of £40,000 . But a court heard how he was caught out after CCTV captured him walking around the Tesco supermarket (pictured) in Bishops Cleeve . But a court heard he was caught out after CCTV captured him walking around Tesco and driving his car to Dorset. Knight was then hauled before Swansea Crown Court where he admitted scamming the pensioner who lived next door to him out of thousands of pounds. The fraudster had been living off benefits after claiming he had suffered a massive neck injury. The court heard that he claimed his injury had caused him to have seizures which left him in a comatose state. His wife Helen, 33, claimed she had to care for her husband who had snapped his neck after falling backwards as he pulled down a garage door. But the whole time he was carrying out an elaborate three-year fraud targeting neighbour Ivor Richards' life savings and shares, the court heard. Alan Knight was pushed into Swansea Crown Court in a wheelchair by his wife Helen . The 47-year-old, pictured with wife Helen, tried to beat justice claiming he was a quadriplegic, was even hooked up to oxygen and that he had no movement from the neck down . The court was told how he 'systematically' funnelled £41,570 out of the pensioner's bank account which he used to pay for holidays and to buy a caravan in Dorset. The father-of-three was caught on CCTV at the Severn bridge toll on the M4 as he travelled back from the south coast. He was also captured on CCTV in Tesco stores across the country after police traced the use of the family's loyalty club card. Officers tried 'at least twice' to bring him to court but each time he admitted himself to hospital claiming his condition had worsened. Swansea Crown Court was told he had 'pulled the wool' over his GP's eyes but he was unable to fool doctors at the hospital. While he was on 'observations' they spotted him eating, wiping his face and even writing. Knight was told he would have to stand trial even if he did not attend, and he finally appeared in court in a wheel chair and wearing a neck brace. CCTV images showed Alan Knight (pictured left in a blue t-shirt) entering Tesco supermarket in Trostre, Llanelli, west Wales with his wife Helen . He was captured on CCTV in Tesco stores across the country after police traced the use of the family's loyalty club card . Officers tried 'at least twice' to bring Alan Knight (pictured in the wheelchair) to court - but each time he admitted himself to hospital claiming his condition had worsened . He admitted theft and forgery charges and was told he is 'likely' to be jailed in order to put other people off from trying his scam. Judge Thomas added: 'His appearance in court now is at variance with his appearance in CCTV footage. 'Aspects of this case in my experience are unique, and a strong message needs to be sent out to anyone who seeks to adopt similar tactics. 'Having seen the CCTV evidence from Tesco and driving the car, I have come to the conclusion he is putting it on. 'Attempts to make progress have been thwarted by Mr Knight pretending to be ill. 'Although a very accomplished and determined actor, he is nothing like in the condition he claims to be, and the conditions he claims to be suffering from are simply non existent. 'His illnesses coincide with impending court appearances. I do not believe the symptoms are genuine. 'He has been monitored, despite attempts to maintain the fiction. He was seen wiping his face and writing things down, which are inconsistent with being paraplegic or in a coma.' The fraudster pretended to be in a coma for two years but was caught by police going on shopping trips and holidays with his family . Alan Knight (pictured) admitted theft and forgery charges and was told he is 'likely' to be jailed in order to put other people off from trying his scam . The court was told that it was believed the bank had reimbursed his victim and a date was set next month for sentencing, after a probation report had been prepared. Previously, he had escaped standing trial twice, in September 2012 and July 2013. A third trial was due to start today with a judge at Swansea Crown Court signalling it would go ahead in his absence. The decision came after a day of discussions at the court yesterday during which expert evidence demonstrated conclusively that Knight was a fraudster. Today Knight avoided a trial as he admitted 19 separate charges of forgery, fraud and theft over more than a year from November 2008. He will be sentenced next month. Detective Constable Harry Paul, who led the case, said: 'In my entire career this is the most calculated, long-term deception of a vulnerable, elderly neighbour I have ever seen. 'He had constantly avoided court for two years, costing police, the NHS and the court system thousands of pounds'. | Alan Knight scammed neighbour out of £40,000 but refused to go to court .
For two years he claimed to be quadriplegic and even pretended to be in a vegetative state with no movement from the neck down .
But he was caught by police going on shopping trips and holiday with family .
Had been living off benefits after claiming he suffered massive neck injury .
CCTV showed him walking around Tesco and driving his car to Dorset .
He admitted 19 charges of forgery, fraud and theft over more than a year .
Judge calls Knight a 'very accomplished and determined actor' saying that he was 'nothing like in the condition he claims to be' |
151,678 | 5010f9fc5db9511198a4f276d2f097401a2f8ff8 | Carl Frampton will have to put his hopes of a money-spinning unification clash on hold, even if he beats world champion Kiko Martinez on Saturday night. Frampton faces the Spaniard for the second time in front of 16,000 fans at a specially built arena in Belfast’s Titanic Quarter. But even if he delivers a repeat of his knockout early last year, the Norther Irishman must face mandatory challenger Chris Avalos, rather than the likes of Leo Santa Cruz or Scott Quigg. Centre stage: The IBF super-bantamweight world champion Kiko Martinez (second left) and the number one contender Carl Frampton (second right) pose with Barry McGuigan during a press conference in Belfast . Overlooking: Frampton will fight Martinez at the Titanic Quarter (background) in Belfast . Anticipation: Frampton and Martinez were at the Titanic Building for their pre-fight press conference . American Avalos has teamed up with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom company and must get his shot at the winner within 90 days. Ironically, Hearn promoted Frampton until they split last year. But the 27-year-old is firmly focused on winning a world title after two decades in the sport. ‘It’s going to be a dream come true to win the world title. I started this long journey at seven years old and had my ups and downs, so to become a world champion in my 20th year of doing this sport, in a stadium built for myself - it’s what dreams are made of,’ said Frampton. ‘I don’t think you’ve seen the best of me. I’m 27, in the prime of my life but there’s still plenty more to come. I can see and feel the improvements everyday in training and after sparring. The best is definitely yet to come.’ Getting in the swing: Frampton entertains the crowd at an event in Victoria Square before the fight . Stare down: Crowds gathered to catch a glimpse of Frampton before his Belfast fight . Thumbs up from me: Frampton poses with fans at a public workout in Victoria Square . In the other corner: Martinez will be looking to defend his world title when he faces Frampton . Sign here please: Martinez signs an autograph for a fan in Victoria Square as he prepares to defend his title . Martinez bounced back from his loss to Frampton in stunning style by stopping the undefeated Colombian Jhonatan Romero, stripping him of his IBF belt. Frampton, though, isn’t expecting anything different this time around from the 28-year-old Spaniard. ‘I think this is his 35th or 36th fight and every single one of his fights he has boxed the same way. He comes-forward, he’s aggressive and has an exciting style that the crowds like,’ he added, ‘I think our styles clash well and make for a good fight but I don’t see him doing anything different and expect him to come head first, trying to knock me out. ‘But it’s up to me to remain smart and switched on for the twelve rounds and as long as I stay focused there’s only going to be one winner. ‘I’m preparing for a hard, gruelling fight, that may take 12 rounds but no matter what happens I’m going to win. I also know I have the power to knock any super-bantamweight in the world out. ‘So it could be a 12-round points decision or it could be over in the first round. Nevertheless, I’m preparing for a very hard and brutal fight then we can talk about future fights.’ Frampton vs Martinez is live on BoxNation this Saturday at 7pm. Visit www.boxnation.com to subscribe. | Carl Frampton faces Kiko Martinez in Belfast's Titanic Quarter .
Brit hoping to win world title in second meeting with world champion .
Winner must face Chris Avalos within 90 days of bout . |
273,020 | eda28cef4ef5be65e3a5a5d021001086a860a1ba | The debate over refereeing standards in the Barclays Premier League has taken a new twist after it emerged Phil Dowd has admitted to getting his decision wrong in the Wayne Rooney penalty incident at Preston North End. Officials in the top flight are under more scrutiny than ever as the season approaches a crucial stage with Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho piling on the pressure after the controversial sending-off of Nemanja Matic in the game against Burnley at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. And now Sportsmail can reveal that Dowd – one of the game’s top referees – has admitted privately that he got the week’s other big controversial call wrong when he awarded Rooney a late penalty after he fell under a challenge from Preston goalkeeper Thorsten Stuckmann at Deepdale last Monday. Phil Dowd has admitted his decision to award Wayne Rooney a penalty against Preston North End was wrong . Rooney ran past goalkeeper Thorsten Stuckmann at the edge of the penalty area with the ball . The England forward takes a step over the goalkeeper's outstretched legs to chase the ball late on in the game . Rooney falls to the ground but it later emerged from replays that there was no contact with the striker . Rooney was criticised by many for allegedly diving after he had hurdled Stuckmann’s challenge late in Manchester United’s 3-1 win in the FA Cup. It was argued that the United captain had received no contact from the Preston goalkeeper and should have been booked. Dowd awarded the penalty – that Rooney scored – without hesitation but it is now understood that he has told a colleague that he realised after analysing the post-match video that he had got it wrong. A source told Sportsmail: 'Phil said that he was adamant at the time that he had got the decision right. Stuckmann already begins to plead his innocence as Rooney hits the deck at Deepdale last Monday . The England and Manchester United skipper dusted himself down to smash in the penalty for United . 'But he is a very honest bloke and, like all referees, he looks back on his games on TV. 'With this one, he has realised that he probably shouldn’t have awarded a penalty. It was a mistake.' The incident was so tough to call at the time that it split the game’s pundits with Stan Collymore calling Rooney a cheat but Jamie Carragher and Gary Lineker both suggesting that penalty may have been the right call. Rooney sent Stuckmann the wrong way and made it 3-1 to United, effectively sending them through in the cup . Angel di Maria joins the celebrations with his captain after he scored controversially from the spot . | Premier League referees are under scrutiny after a series of alleged errors .
Phil Dowd has admitted to mistakenly giving a penalty in the FA Cup tie .
Wayne Rooney went down without any contact to win a late penalty . |
64,952 | b86d10c26bc815cb8d6f53287ef35e8651dc4175 | By . Matt Chorley, Mailonline Political Editor . PUBLISHED: . 11:05 EST, 12 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 12:38 EST, 12 December 2013 . What would make the perfect Christmas present for the Prime Minister after the week he has had? A photo frame for the latest selfie? A beginner’s guide to contempt of court? A shopping spree to spend his £7,400 MP’s pay rise? In fact David Cameron has revealed he has much simpler tastes and is looking forward to some peace and quiet over the festive break. And some squidgy tennis balls. New balls please: Tennis fan David Cameron has revealed he wants squidgy tennis balls for Christmas . In recent days Mr Cameron has found himself making headlines for all the wrong reasons. News outlets around the world carried pictures of him posing for a selfie with the Danish Prime Minister and US President during Nelson Mandela’s memorial service. And today he has been rebuked by a judge for backing TV cook Nigella Lawson in an ongoing court case. But as he come under fresh pressure to reject a planned 11 per cent pay hike for MPs, the Prime Minister has admitted that he hopes that the Christmas holidays will bring some respite from his frantic schedule. Mr Cameron, a keen tennis fan, said he had started playing the sport with his son Elwen, seven, and wanted balls that would not travel too far when you ‘really whack’ them. The Prime Minister is looking forward to a festive break from the cut and thrust of political life . Speaking to BBC Coventry and Warwickshire about what he wanted for Christmas he said: ‘A bit of peace and quiet would be quite a nice thing but you can never bank on that in this job.’ He added: ‘I want some squidgy tennis balls. I have started playing tennis with my son. ‘I would like those ones which you can really whack and they don't go very far. ‘If Santa's listening, you can get them down the chimney pretty easily and there will be a very happy recipient at the other end.’ Mr Cameron was yesterday forced to . defend his decision to pose for a light-hearted ‘selfie’ in the middle . of Nelson Mandela’s memorial service – by claiming he was only being . polite. The . Prime Minister said the snap with U.S. President Barack Obama and . Danish leader Helle Thorning-Schmidt was proof that even in death . Mandela was ‘bringing people together’. Miss . Thorning-Schmidt is the daughter-in-law of former Labour leader Neil . Kinnock, and when she asked for a group photo it was ‘it was only polite . to say yes’, Mr Cameron told MPs. Mr Cameron was challenged over the . photo at Prime Minister’s Questions by Liberal Democrat MP Martin . Horwood, who asked him: ‘Has the Prime Minister had the opportunity to . discuss international mobile phone usage with any other European heads . of government over the last day or so?’ To laughter from MPs, Mr . Cameron replied: ‘You could say, in a roundabout way. Perhaps in my . defence, you should always remember that the television cameras are . always on. ‘But in my . defence I would say that Nelson Mandela played an extraordinary role in . his life and in his death in bringing people together. 'So of course when . a member of the Kinnock family asked me for a photograph, I thought it . was only polite to say yes.' The polite thing to do: David Cameron has defended posing for this selfie during Nelson Mandela's memorial service, saying it was proof the late leader was still 'bringing people together' Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg also came to Mr Cameron's defence today. Speaking on his radio phone-in on LBC . 97.3, Mr Clegg said: 'I know some people aren't happy about it. I think it was . a bit of friendly light-hearted joking around by the three of them. I . personally don't feel that people should be too censorious about it at . all.' He added: 'It was a . very celebratory atmosphere, it was a real celebration of the man's . life. There was dancing, there was singing, the crowd was in a very . jubilant mood. 'So it wasn't as out of keeping with the setting as I think some people have suggested.' | Prime Minister reveals he is looking forward to a festive break .
Comes after Mandela memorial 'selfie' row and being rebuked by a judge .
Mr Cameron says he has started teaching son Elwyn, 7, how to play tennis .
Jokes that 'squidgy tennis balls' will be easy to get down No.10 chimney . |
228,555 | b3efbcbc3558eb4753c2b8230c819cc0c220f1bc | Eden Hazard may be the best player in the Premier League ‘by a mile’, according to one full-back tasked with shackling the 23-year-old — but Wales would not swap Gareth Bale for even the most gifted of Belgium’s golden generation. Swansea’s Neil Taylor will face Hazard in an important game on the path to Euro 2016 qualification at the King Baudouin Stadium on Sunday night, aware the Chelsea forward can go past defenders ‘like a ghost’. Belgium forward Eden Hazard attempts an acrobatic volley during training on Saturday . But Taylor says Hazard cannot compare to Bale, who thrives under the Welsh spotlight after dealing with the pressure at Real Madrid. ‘Hazard has developed under Jose Mourinho,’ said Taylor. ‘He’s the best player in the Premier League by a mile, I’d say. Mourinho has done that — he’s on a player if they don’t perform. Hazard is doing it week in, week out. He’s a ball carrier, he can take Chelsea from the edge of their box to the opposition area and go past you like a ghost. He can go outside or inside, shoot, or make you foul him. ‘He’s a great player. But we have one of our own. Of course, I’d always have Gareth in my team before Hazard. No question. I played against him when he was at Spurs, but played with him throughout the Welsh age groups. He is one of those freaks of nature who come along every now and then, technically and athletically. He’s world class like the Messis and Ronaldos. They were born to play football. Hazard will line up for Belgium against Wales in Euro 2016 qualifier on Sunday night . ‘The pressure is on him at Real just to train properly, let alone win every game. He’s matured, and physically grown into a proper man. It seems as if he’s learning off Ronaldo and others at Real, how they work day to day. I’m sure England and other nations wish he was their player. But he’s so proud to be Welsh and he wants to be a part of this squad. He has grown in confidence in the last year. He knows the onus is on him now and that he’s our biggest player.’ Bale did not score in the last two qualifiers against Bosnia and Cyprus, which yielded four points to send Wales top of Group B, but he performed superbly in the absence of Aaron Ramsey and Joe Allen. And it is not just his Welsh team-mates who value Bale — so too do his former colleagues at Tottenham, who Bale left behind when he joined Real for a world-record £86 million fee. Nacer Chadli, who should appear alongside Hazard for Belgium, is having a fine season for Spurs and has scored six Premier League goals but his club have struggled and lie 12th in the table. Premier League stars Romelu Lukaku, Eden Hazard and Marouane Fellaini training on Saturday . ‘I feel like the ghost of Bale is still present at Tottenham,’ he said. ‘That’s not strange when you look at how much he meant to the club and the fans. It’s not easy to replace him.’ Belgium’s Jan Vertonghen, another of Bale’s former club mates, will not be man-marking the Real star. ‘It’s very difficult to mark him,’ he said. ‘You mark him as a team. Space is the most important thing for him so communication is important between our defenders and central midfield. He’s an unbelievable player.’ Bale is under no illusions of the task but he remains confident. He said: ‘They’re fourth in the world so they’re a very good side. We know what qualities they have, but we also know what weaknesses they have. We’ll be giving it our best go and hopefully we’ll get the three points.’ Gareth Bale thrives under the Welsh spotlight after dealing with the pressure at Real Madrid . | Eden Hazard may be the best player in the Premier League ‘by a mile’, says Neil Taylor .
Wales defender will face Hazard in an important game on the path to Euro 2016 qualification on Sunday night .
Gareth Bale Bale performed superbly in the last two qualifiers against Bosnia and Cyprus . |
173,456 | 6c7795036466fc468ade6751b3f00c32db33fb6b | The world has received its first glimpse of a gigantic airplane that will serve as an airborne launch pad for putting satellites - and eventually people - into orbit. The aircraft, which has a wingspan of 385 feet (117 metres) and will be powered by six 747-class engines, is currently being assembled at Mojave, California. Dubbed the Roc, the megaplane is the brainchild Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, who is creating it under start-up firm Stratolaunch Systems. Scroll down for video . The world has received its first glimpse of a gigantic airplane that will serve as an airborne launch pad for putting satellites - and eventually people - into orbit. Picture is its twin fuselage sections under assembly . The plane will climb to 30,000 feet and launch a rocket at high altitude, avoiding the huge fuel costs of launching from Earth. This will then go into orbit as normal and deliver a satellite. Initially, the system is intended to deliver satellites weighing up to about 13,500lbs (6,124 kg) into orbits between 112 miles and 1,243 miles (180 km and 2000 km) above Earth. Rare stills taken from footage shot for a recent news story by KGET 17, a Bakersfield TV station, show its huge size, according to a report by Guy Norris in Aviation Week. The images show one of the two twin fuselage sections under assembly. Initially, the system is intended to deliver satellites weighing up to about 13,500lbs (6,124 kg) into orbits between 112 miles and 1,243 miles (180 km and 2000 km) above Earth. The plane will climb to 30,000 feet and launch a rocket at high altitude, avoiding the huge fuel costs of launching from Earth. In the news report, Scaled Composites president Kevin Mickey says the company has so far built 'roughly 200,000lbs of composite structure' for the vehicle. A debut test flight is expected in about a year with launch operations beginning in 2018. Instead of a satellite, the Stratolaunch airplane could launch a Dream Chaser spaceship, which would be outfitted with an as-yet-unspecified upper-stage rocket motor. 'Dream Chaser seemed to be the logical way to go,' Stratolaunch Executive Director Charles Beames said in October. In November, Sierra Nevada Corporation confirmed that it was working with Stratolaunch Systems to launch a the scaled-down version of Dream Chaser launched into orbit. Rocs 385 feet (117 metres) wingspan compares to 320 feet for H-4 Hercules and 225 feet for Boeing 747-8 . The Roc's 385 feet (117 metres) wingspan compares to 320 feet for the Hughes H-4 Hercules and 225 feet for the Boeing 747-8. Each of the twin fuselages of the Roc is 238 feet long and, when complete, will be supported by 12 main landing gear wheels and two nose gear wheels. Stratolaunch has produced computer-generated images and videos of the Roc, but the TV footage is the first time images of the real vehicle have been shown. Allen has previously said his Rock project would 'keep America at the forefront of space exploration and give a new generation of children something to dream about'. Wingspan: 385 feet (117 metres) Engines: Six 747-class engines . Fuselage length: 238 feet (72 metres) Weight: 1,200,000 lb (544,311 kg) Maximum speed: 460 knots, 530 mph (850 km/h) Maiden launch: Flight testing will begin in 2016. The first launch of the space launch vehicle is likely to take place in 2018. Satellite delivery: Initially, the system is intended to deliver satellites weighing up to about 13,500lbs (6,124 kg) into orbits between 112 miles and 1,243 miles (180 km and 2000 km) above Earth. Launch sites: Several sites are under consideration, including Kennedy Space Center, Wallops Island and Vandenberg AFB. An animation of the moment Roc delivers a rocket high into Earth's atmosphere before it goes into orbit . Several companies are competing to develop spacecraft to deliver cargo and astronauts to the International Space Station. The Microsoft billionaire criticised the fact that government-sponsored space programmes are waning. Nasa is paying Boeing and SpaceX to build the capsules and fly them from Cape Canaveral, which hasn't seen a manned launch since the shuttles retired in 2011. Each of the twin fuselages of the Roc is 238 feet long and, when complete, will be supported by 12 main landing gear wheels and two nose gear wheels . Its 385 feet (117 metres) wingspan compares to 320 feet for the Hughes H-4 Hercules and 225 feet for the Boeing 747-8. Pictured is one of its twin fuslage sections . Rare stills taken from footage shot for a recent news story by KGET 17, a Bakersfield TV station, show its huge size. Stratolaunch has produced computer-generated images and videos of the Roc, but the TV footage is the first time images of the real vehicle have been shown . Flight testing beginning in 2016, and the first launch of the space launch vehicle will likely occur in 2018 . In the news report, Scaled Composites president Kevin Mickey says the company has so far built 'roughly 200,000lbs of composite structure' for the vehicle . | Roc by Stratolaunch Systems has a wingspan of 385 feet (117 metres)
It will be powered by six 747-class engines during first flight in 2016 .
Will deliver satellites weighing up to about 13,500lbs (6,124 kg) into orbits between 112 miles and 1,243 miles (180 km and 2000 km) above Earth .
Stills taken from footage shot for a news story shows its huge fuselage .
Microsoft, Paul Allen, says it could eventually take humans into space . |
272,699 | ed3153467b35e3810aef3959e7f9ce54f9710cbe | By . Julian Robinson . A wargamer dressed as a soldier and carrying a fake gun nearly died when he strolled into a packed subway station in a country on high alert after a series of public killings. Ming Shao, who was off to join friends playing survivalist games in Taiwan, said he couldn't be bothered to pack his uniform and imitation weapon. So the 29-year-old walked on to the underground train in the city of Taipei in Taiwan in south-eastern China in his military-style outfit sparking fears he was a gunman about to open fire. He even had a helmet fitted with night vision. Ming Shao, pictured on a train in his military outfit and carrying a fake gun, was on his way to play wargames with friends when armed police were called in . Ming Shao was carrying a fake gun and imitation hand grenades at the subway station in Taipei. Just a week earlier a man had gone on a killing spree at the same station . The incident came just a week after a man went on a stabbing spree at the same station, killing three people. 'This man doesn't realise how close he came to losing his life,' said an officer called to assist in the latest incident. 'Armed specialists were poised to open fire and ask questions later. If he had twitched or looked the wrong way he would have been dead because our priority was to protect the innocent civilians on that train.' According to the man he was on his way to a wargaming afternoon with friends and later told police: 'I didn't mean any harm.' Officers eventually let him off with a caution - and told him to go home and change. Ming Shao, pictured left as he was stopped by armed police, and right, carrying his luggage near the station, later told police he 'did not mean any harm' by wearing the soldier outfit . China has experienced a number of attacks on innocent people in public places in recent times, making the population fearful when they see strangers behaving unusually. Last week at the same station in Taipei a man went on a stabbing spree aboard a subway train, killing three people and wounding 25 others in the worst such incident on the island. Cheng Chieh, a 21-year-old college student, was immediately arrested after the incident, the first fatal attack on the city’s subway system since it began operating in 1996. Three people died during the attack and a fourth victim, a 62-year-old woman, died later in hospital. The other three victims were a woman and two men. After ordering him to lie flat on the floor, police let Ming Shao off with a caution - and told him to go home and change . The police swoop, pictured, came a week after a man went on a stabbing spree aboard a subway train at the same station, killing three people and wounding 25 others . Cheng spoke of his motives during police questioning. 'He told the police that he had wanted to do a ‘big thing’ such as this since his childhood,' Chen Kuo-en, chief of the New Taipei City police bureau, told reporters. 'He said he had planned to do this after his graduation, but last week decided to act ahead of his schedule,' the police chief said, adding that the attacker had no medical record of mental disorder. The student bought two knives, including a 30-centimetre-long knife and a smaller one at a supermarket in Taipei in preparation for the attack. After being alerted to the attacks, authorities immediately reinforced police deployment on the busy subway system, which transports around 1.85 million visitors per day. | Ming Shao wore outfit on his way to play 'survivalist games' in Tapei, Taiwan .
Armed police revealed they were 'poised to fire' if he made the wrong move .
Officers were called in amid concerns he was a gunman ready to open fire .
29-year-old released with a caution after saying he 'didn't mean any harm'
Incident came a week after stabbing spree at the same station a week ago . |
50,632 | 8f4231d56caf3b5fb00041d5df9e97fc499bb37f | (EW.com) -- Why did Sienna Miller fall off Hollywood's radar shortly after the 2009 release of G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra? The answer's simple, according to Miller herself: "I sabotaged things," she says. "I burnt a lot of bridges." There's more blunt honesty where that came from in Miller's big Esquire UK interview, the magazine's latest cover story. (And yes, the article also includes a very tasteful, black-and-white topless photoshoot.) In between a fair amount of purple prose ("[we] talked to each other, and at each other, and occasionally over each other about feminism and social media and the press and public morality and twerking, obviously...Some of this into my voice recorder, some of it into the wind"), Miller gives a lot of insight into her rocky career, which started to slump when her private life became more interesting than her professional life — and Miller freely admits that she's got nobody to blame for that but herself. (Although according to interviewer Alex Bilmes, Miller does concede "that she certainly wouldn't have been treated in this way were she a man." Maybe there's a Katherine Heigl comparison to be made here?) The trouble began when 2004′s Alfie remake was released — and 22-year-old Miller suddenly skyrocketed to fame, due to her roles as both the film's costar and Jude Law's girlfriend. "I was really naive," she recalls to Bilmes. "Not green as grass — I was by no means an innocent — but I had faith in the goodness of everyone. I was very open. And that led me into all sorts of situations that backfired." Namely, Miller never really learned how to play the PR game: "I was English. I was, 'Let's be who we are! I'm not going to have my hair done every morning and yes: I smell of fags!' And so I would walk into studio heads' offices and we'd crack up laughing." And while she claims that she was always "totally professional" on movie sets, offset, the actress "had no business sense whatsoever": "I never read a review or paid any mind to what anyone said," Miller admits. She also ruffled feathers with her off-the-cuff remarks, as when she memorably called Pennsylvania's second-largest city "Sh--sburgh." And of course, she got caught in one tabloid scandal after another, first due to her tumultuous relationship with Law and later when she had an affair with the married actor Balthazar Getty. As a result, Miller says roles dried up — because "people don't want to see films with people they don't approve of in them." (You know, unless they're men.) So Miller "deliberately disappeared" from the spotlight, and from the nasty reputation she'd developed. "I was sick of myself, to be honest, or sick of that perception of me," she says. "It all felt so f—ing dirty." Since Miller's now doing a huge confessional interview in a big glossy magazine, it's safe to say that things are looking up for her. After the disaster that was G.I. Joe, she found refuge on the stage and with a well-received turn as Tippi Hedren in the 2012 TV movie The Girl. Two years later, Miller is staging something of a film comeback with roles in three movies, including the Vince Vaughn comedy Business Trip (which... maybe she shouldn't get too excited about) and the true crime drama Foxcatcher (which was originally set to open Dec. 20 but has been pushed to an unspecified date this year). Her personal life, too, is finally stable: Miller and fiance Tom Sturridge welcomed their first daughter in July 2012. And maybe most importantly, the tumult of the past 10 years has helped Miller understand what really matters — or, more specifically, what doesn't. (Hint: Everything.) Take it away, Sienna: . "When you're in some massive crisis and you look at yourself in a close-up and then if you visualize pulling back and seeing England and then pulling back and seeing the world, you realize how f—ing insignificant you are. I think that's really the greatest thing I've learned recently: that I don't matter. Nothing matters. It's such a relief to know that. I didn't get that job -- it doesn't f—ing matter. Whatever I achieve, or don't, will be forgotten, it's not important." Read the full interview at Esquire UK. See the original article at EW.com. CLICK HERE to Try 2 RISK FREE issues of Entertainment Weekly . © 2011 Entertainment Weekly and Time Inc. All rights reserved. | Miller says she "burnt a lot of bridges" in Hollywood .
The actress also says she was extremely naive .
She will next be seen in "Foxcatcher" |
63,410 | b408d78fb8bda7f9d04a0391529437807bd8911d | The requirements of a knowledge test which caused controversy after 99 percent of the participants failed have been amended, giving aspiring taxi drivers taking the exam four times as many chances to pass. The exam is compulsory for all new drivers or those who have been driving for less five years. Taxi drivers now have eight chances a year to successfully complete the test, following complaints the examination was too difficult, the ABC reported. Scroll down for video . Changes to a taxi driver knowledge test means participants will have eight chances to pass the exam . The industry's driver knowledge test was introduced in the Melbourne metropolitan area in July last year but after only six out of 444 driver passed the exam's three modules, the number of times they can take the assessment was increased four times. Equivalent driver knowledge tests exist in NSW for Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong. The exam contains components relating to geography and general knowledge. So far 17 existing taxi drivers in Melbourne have lost their licence for failing to achieve passable results on the exam. Describing the results earlier this month as 'very poor' Victorian Taxi Services Commissioner Graeme Samuel told the ABC the difficult and expectations of the test remain the same. So far the examination has a 99 per cent fail rate, with just six of 444 people who took the test passing . 'The test itself hasn't changed, nor has the standard we're requiring of the drivers - those standards remain the same,' Mr Samuel said. 'What we're doing though is giving the drivers four chances to sit the test and we're giving them some assistance in the training by producing a training manual.' Consisting of three modules, the examination takes in general and geographical knowledge, customer service skills and driver behaviour. Participants are required to answer 55 questions in an hour per module. Consisting of three modules, the examination takes in general and geographical knowledge, customer service skills and driver behaviour . Other requirements of success include the driver possessing a 'satisfactory degree' of understanding of the English language. The test will now go hand-in-hand with the training manual which is available in addition to any other training provided by the cab companies themselves. The changes in the exam were not an confirmation that the bar was set so high, Mr Samuel told the ABC, and the requirements of the test had not changed. 'What this is doing is saying to drivers that we'll give you greater opportunity to be able to sit for the test,' he said. | Cab drivers in Melbourne are being given eight chance to pass the exam .
Only six out of 444 people have passed the entire three modules so far .
The driver knowledge test was introduced for new drivers in July 2014 .
So far 17 existing taxi drivers have failed and lost their licence . |
181,952 | 7798e5ac4f725c9a434d7126cb054f05893b7966 | Police have released names and pictures of the two people who fled the scene of a fatal stabbing on Sunday night. Luke Berg, 28 and Alicia Schiller, 25, are wanted for questioning over the death of Tyrelle Evertsen-Mostert, 31, who died following an argument with two lodgers at her home in Norlane, north of Geelong. Officers have warned that the duo could be armed and are advising anyone who sees them to avoid approaching them and instead call police. Scroll down for video . Luke Berg (left), 28, and Alicia Schiller (right), 25, are wanted by police for questioning over the death of Tyrelle Evertsen-Mostert . Ms Evertsen-Mostert, 31, was stabbed to death following an argument with two lodgers at her home in Norlane, north of Geelong, on Sunday night . 'I am appealing for Luke and Alicia to come forward to us or make contact with us so we can speak to them about what occurred on Sunday evening,' homicide squad detective inspector Mick Hughes said. Mr Hughes said that the stabbing occurred following an argument between a number of people in the Geelong home. 'They went into the bedroom, there was a discussion in the bedroom, that escalated and the female we believe has been stabbed,' he told the ABC. Police would not give a description or detail Luke and Alicia's involvement in the investigation, but said the group was known to each other. The 31-year-old's mother said she called her moments after she had been stabbed on Sunday . 'They were all in the house just prior to the assault,' Det Insp Hughes said. 'They went into the bedroom and there was a discussion in the bedroom that escalated.' Police do not know what the argument was about. The victim, a mother-of three who was stabbed while her four-year-old son was in the other room, made a final phone call to her mum as she lay dying inside her home. Victorian homicide squad detectives are searching for a man and woman in their 20s who left the home in Norlane shortly after the incident . 'Tyrelle got on the phone and said 'mum I can't do this any more.' Johanna said. 'I got there and the ambulance crew were working on her, but I could see she was already gone. 'She had a big heart. Sometimes I would even say to her she has a halfway house because anyone that wanted to stay, she'd let them stay.' Tributes have flown for the mother over social media, where friends have describe her as ' a beautiful woman with the biggest heart'. Ms Evertsen-Mostert's partner, Jason, was also injured in the attack and was taken to hospital with minor injuries . 'She was outgoing caring and full of love, she was well known for helping anyone who needed anything and always put a roof over people's heads even if she didn't know them. She gave everything to everyone and never asked in return.' Two other men who were at the house at the time were questioned by police, but have been cleared as suspects. Ms Evertsen-Mostert's partner, Jason, was also injured in the attack and was taken to hospital with minor injuries. | Tyrelle Evertsen-Mostert was stabbed following an argument with two lodgers at Norlane, north of Geelong, on Sunday .
Police are on the lookout for Luke Berg, 28 and Alicia Schiller, 25, who are wanted for questioning over her death .
Officers warn they could be armed and advise anyone who sees them to avoid approaching them and call police .
The 31-year-old victim made a final call to her mum moments after being stabbed .
Tyrelle's partner, Jason, was also injured and was treated in hospital . |
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