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160,670 | 5bb5b4474c1dbb739cc9fea8c7c2dcbd60447313 | Whether visiting family abroad, on a business trip or jetting off for a exotic holiday, baggage allowances can be the bane of a traveller's journey. Nudging a kilo over the 15kg or 20kg restrictions could end up in a £45 fee. So no doubt the TUL self-weighing suitcase will be welcomed with open arms. Scroll down for video . Pack it in! The suitcase has hidden sensors which translate the contents weight onto a side screen . End of painful excess luggage charges?Shut the suitcase lid and press a button to see its weight . Designed by TUL Thustrelie, a Brisbane-based company, the concept is currently aiming to raise money on crowdfunding website Kickstarter. The Australian venture will be made if it receives $95,000 (£53,000). Suitcases that weigh luggage are not a new concept - with cases available to buy that allow travellers to weigh the contents after zipping it up and lifting it by the handle. An end to luggage woes? The new case weighs items as they are packed into it . Measuring 64cm x 42cm x 25cm, it comes with jacket to protect the lock and LCD screen from damage . The TUL goes one stage further. It can weigh items inside the suitcase as you are filling it, saving you the hassle of zipping it up, weighing it, unzipping it, taking a few items out, zipping it up, weighing it and so on. An external impact protection jacket to protect the sensors, LCD screen and luggage lock from potential damage while you are on the move and an in-built weighing scale that feeds its findings to a small screen at the side. To weigh the contents close the suitcase lid and, without having to entirely enclose the zips, press a button to tell you how much the insides weigh. Design team behind TUL suitcase are waiting to see if they have enough fund to make the product . Sensors are installed at the base of the suitcase to figure out the weight while hidden electronics convert it into a reading in kilograms on a small screen. It incorporates the weight of the empty suitcase into its reading, so gives a more accurate reading of what would appear on the scales at check-in. The weighing scale is powered by a rechargeable external battery pack. On its Kickstarter page, the company says: 'TUL is a suitcase with a built-in weighing function. 'Simply close the lid of the designated suitcase, and without having to entirely enclose the zips, the press of a single button will let you know the weight of your luggage.' | TUL self-weighing suitcase will cost £123 for a medium-size case .
Brisbane company is crowdfunding for the design on Kickstarter .
Luggage works by weighing items as they are placed into it . |
204,766 | 951af2013822977aa23df4dba9a99eafbd6b3c96 | A leading Islamic community leader has revealed two of the four Sydney brothers who have gone to Syria to fight for the Islamic State are 'obese' weighing in at over 140kg amid fears they might be snubbed by fellow terrorists if they eat all their rations. Dr Jamal Rifi, said the boys would not make good foot soldiers for the terror group, instead he believes they will be used for propaganda videos. The boy's from western Sydney, who all lived at home with their parents, sent their shocked mother a one line text message saying they had arrived safely in Syria, she thought it was a cruel joke. Scroll down for video . More Australians have slipped through the cracks and fled overseas to join the fight with Islamic State . The message read: 'We made it to Bilad al-Sham, we will see you in Paradise.' One of the boys who works had initially told the mother that he won dour tickets to Thailand and he was going to take his brothers with him. Dr Rifi told radio station 2UE: 'The family is distraught, their main concern is to initiate contact, the concern are not concerned how they were radicalised but that they want them to come back. 'We are hoping the fact that because two of them are quite obese they will not good foot soldiers, they are over 140 kg. Dr Jamal Rifi said he was in daily contact with the family,he revealed two of the brothers are over 140kg and would not make good foot soldiers for IS . 'People are going to realise what are we going to do with them? Are they going to eat al the food and you can't even run on the field.' Dr Rifi said the family was trying to get messages to the boys but they had not responded and had probably had their mobile phones confiscated by IS. He explained the family had given all the information to the authorities who were trying to 'put the pieces of the puzzle together'. The boy's mother is of Lebanese descent and their father is a taxi driver, they also have another brother and sister living at home. Dr Rifi added they were 'simple boys' who could not organise trip properly, he revealed the boys had missed the first flight they had booked and had to re-book one for the next day. He said: 'They have no life experience. They (the parents) had no idea what their kids were planning such a move, these are ordinary kids who live at home, they showed no sign of radicalisation.' The fifth son went to meet the flight that was coming in from Thailand on Saturday, hoping it was a joke. Dr Rizi said the family had alerted the authorities to the boy's departure and it was now up to them to 'put the pieces of the puzzle together'. It emerged on Saturday authorities had tracked the brothers - who lived in south-west Sydney - as far as Turkey and alerted the family last week. But it was believed they had crossed the border and ended up in Bilad al-Sham - a region in Syria. Family friend and Muslim community leader Dr Jamal Rifi told AAP the family had thought the message was a joke. 'The family didn't know what to make of it... They got scared and deleted the SMS,' Dr Rifi said. The mother even went to Sydney airport the next day to pick up her sons who were meant to have been on a holiday in Thailand, but they never arrived. The sons, 17, 23, 25 and 28, are believed to be the latest group of young Australians who have joined IS militants in Syria. The mother has pleaded with them to come home, 9News reported. 'My sons, you are dear to us,' she said in a statement. 'You are good at heart. You have done nothing wrong. 'We want you back. I can't stop crying day and night. We love you all.' Authorities argue they need more tools to monitor suspects and prevent them from being radicalised . It is understood the 17-year-old was studying for his HSC at a public high school and the older brothers had stable jobs before they left. Unlike some before them, the siblings were 'clean-skins' and had not been on any watch-lists that would have alerted immigration controls. Dr Rifi said the family had no inclination the boys were at risk of joining IS. 'The boys are simple boys,' he said. 'They are religiously involved but not hardline or radical.' Dr Rifi said social media was playing a big role in the recruitment of these young Sydney men but there had to be someone manipulating the situation face-to-face. '... and providing contact information through the networks and how to cross the border,' he said. Many foreign fighters have already left the country including Mohamed Elomar (pictured) The four boys, one of whom still attended school, lived at home with their teenage sister, according The Sunday Telegraph. Their family home have been searched by police. Earlier this week on Thursday, Australian Federal Police commissioner Neil Gaughan told a parliamentary committee that the group of four that managed to leave the country this week were 'not on anyone's radar', The Guardian reported. 'We got wind of it after the fact, but the fact is there are still people travelling,' said Gaughan, the national manager of counter-terrorism for the Australian Federal Police,' he said. Authorities were alerted last Saturday when the family contacted a member of a local community after they failed to hear from their boys since they fled the country, News Corp reported. On Saturday, Immigration Minister Scott Morrison confirmed the family was seeking his help but unfortunately, it was too late. Khaled Sharrouf is also fighting with IS militants in the Middle East, and made headlines when he posted a photo of his young son brandishing a severed head . 'Australia has lost yet another four young kids. This is why we are so adamant in trying to prevent people leaving to join these foreign fighters', Mr Morrison told The Daily Telegraph. It follows the disappearance of 'ginger' jihadist Abdullah Elmir from his Bankstown home in Sydney's south-west in June and made his way to the Middle East. The 17-year-old gained notoriety when he declared that ISIS will not stop their murderous campaign 'until the black flag is flying high in every single land' in the YouTube video. According to The Daily Telegraph, counter terrorism officers have been deployed to all Australian international airports. This comes just days ahead of the G20 summit to be held in Brisbane, which will be attended by a large number of world leaders. Australian Federal Police commissioner Neil Gaughan speaking at the investigation into new legislation in Canberra on Thursday . Police commissioner Neil Gaughan also told the committee he believed federal police officers needed greater controls urgently, so they were better able to track the movements and interactions of suspects. 'But the fact is there’s still people travelling and regardless of what we’re doing, we’re not stopping that so we need some other tools,' he said, according to the Telegraph. Though he did not reveal from where or to what destination the group travelled, Gaughan said officers are now virtually powerless to stop them unless they resurface elsewhere. 'Unfortunately, once they get into Syria or into Iraq, there is nothing the AFP can do except wait for them to basically pop their head up somewhere on the way back.' Gaughan was speaking at an investigation into new legislation which aims to give security agencies power to issue control orders on people who are enabling or supporting terrorism. He also revealed that authorities were struggling to keep up with the sheer number of people being radicalised in such a short time - often less than six months. Authorities said the ability to put restrictions on who suspects can communicate with and where they can go would allow them to greatly reduce the change of an attack on home soil. There are now more than 60 Australians known to be fighting in foreign conflicts. | Four brothers from Sydney's south-west left Australia to fight in Syria .
Two of the boys are over 140kg and described as 'unfit' and 'obese'
Dr Jamal Rifi said the boys will not make good foot soldiers .
He believes they will be probably be used for propaganda videos .
The boy's mother first received text that they were in the Middle East she thought it was a joke .
The boys' family is begging them to come home, promising 'you haven't done anything wrong, so please come back'
It is believed the boys crossed the Turkish border to join Islamic State . |
19,753 | 38173d6833277982ff486f60ffff73edfc5fbddf | By . Jennifer Newton . The first female captain of a frontline Royal Navy warship has been removed from her post amid claims she had an affair with another shipmate. It has been confirmed that Commander Sarah West has been 'removed from command' from the ship. However, a spokesman added that she would remain in the service and would be re-appointed to another post. The Royal Navy has confirmed that Commander Sarah West has been removed from command of HMS Portland amid claims of an affair . Divorced Commander West, 42, took charge of Type 23 frigate HMS Portland in May 2012. However, she left the vessel last month following allegations that she had a relationship with newly-wed Lieutenant Commander Richard Gray, who married his wife Melissa in December. Commander West recently described . herself as ‘single’, having been married to former Royal Navy pilot . Andrew Whitlum but the pair separated in 2006. At the time the Royal Navy said it would conduct an inquiry into whether she breached the armed forces' code of conduct, which governs personal relationships within the military. In a statement a spokesman said no details would be given of the inquiry or its outcome. However, he added: 'We can confirm that Commander Sarah West, Commanding Officer of HMS Portland, has been removed from Command. Commander West, left, left the vessel last month following claims that she had a relationship with Lieutenant Commander Richard Gray, pictured right . 'This is an internal matter between the individual and her senior officers and we will not give further details of the removal. 'Commander West will continue to serve in the Royal Navy and she will be reappointed to a post where her skills and experience can be used to best effect.' The spokesman added that Commander West's second-in-command has taken over the running of the ship, which returned to the UK on Saturday after a seven-month deployment in the Atlantic and Caribbean. After her appointment two years ago Commander West described it as the greatest achievement of her career, but in an interview earlier this year she explained how work commitments made it difficult to have a relationship. Commander West, who was captain of HMS Portland, pictured, was the first woman to be in charge of a frontline Royal Navy warship . She told the Daily Mirror: 'I'm really proud to be the first woman but I'm not reinventing the wheel. Lots of women in the services have challenging roles. It's just that I happen to be newsworthy at the moment. 'There are drawbacks though. Years at sea probably explains why I'm single. But every person in the military makes sacrifices.' Commander West, who was born and raised in Lincolnshire, studied maths at the University of Hertfordshire before joining Britannia Royal Naval College in September 1995. She was selected as a small ship navigator and joined HMS Cottesmore in 1997 and subsequent appointments included Officer of the Watch of HMS Sheffield and Navigating Officer of HMS Somerset. The ship recently returned to the UK following a seven month deployment in the Atlantic and Caribbean . In 2007 she joined the Permanent Joint Headquarters and was responsible for co-ordinating the UK contribution to operations in the Balkans, which included the period that saw Kosovo’s declaration of independence. Selected for sea command in 2008, she commanded minesweepers HMS Ramsey, HMS Penzance, HMS Pembroke and HMS Shoreham between April 2009 and December 2011. Her time on HMS Pembroke included eight and a half months deployed on operations in the Arabian Gulf. She was promoted to commander in January 2012 and assumed command of HMS Portland in May that year. Lieutenant Commander Gray is Portland’s operations officer, in charge of weapons and defence systems. | Commander Sarah West has been 'removed from command' of HMS Portland .
Comes amid claims she had affair with Lieutenant Commander Richard Gray .
Navy spokesman added she would stay in service and be given another post .
Commander West was first woman to take charge of frontline navy warship . |
122,277 | 2a0fc631e3df4e1486201eadc6eee598081c731b | By . Rob Waugh . PUBLISHED: . 08:24 EST, 29 March 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 08:24 EST, 29 March 2012 . The next PlayStation will be released at the end of 2013 - and will be capable of super-HD resolutions far beyond most televisions today. The machine is known within Sony as 'Orbis'. Gaming blog Kotaku's unnamed source also reported, more controversially, that the new 'Orbis' console would refuse to play second-hand games. PlayStation 3: The timing is right for Sony to unveil a successor to the six-year-old console . The leak, from an unnamed source . speaking to the gaming blog Kotaku, is at least partially credible - . with Nintendo set to unveil its next-generation Wii U console this year, . the timing is right. The new machine will be capable of playing games at extremely high resolutions up to 4096x2160, Kotaku reports - far above the capabilities of most televisions today. That announcement also makes sense, as Toshiba has recently unveiled a television capable of the same 'Ultra HD' resolution, and other manufacturers are set to follow suit. It's not clear whether the name Orbis is a nickname, a codename, or the final name of the console. Microsoft was expected to show of a . next-generation console at this year's E3 gaming conference in Los . Angeles, until the company annnounced it would not be unveiling . next-generation hardware. Nintendo will show off its 'next-generation' Wii U at the same conference. The new Wii U console is said to be twice as . powerful as Xbox 360, and Nintendo has already shown off ia . tablet-style controller with a built-in screen. Nintendo's Wii U console builds on the motion-controls of its predecessor, but adds a secondary controller with a screen . Nintendo's big franchises such as The Legend of Zelda remain exclusive to its consoles . The report about the console refusing to play second-hand games is already controversial. Several game companies, including the 'Call of Duty' giant Activision, have spoken out against the trade in second-hand console games - hoping instead for a PC-style system where gamers buy a 'code' which allows them to install and use the software once. Wedbush Securities analyst Michael Pachter says that the rumour of a 'block' on second-hand games is highly unlikely - and that the move would lead to a backlash not just from gamers, but from retailers. 'The anti-piracy rumors started in 2005, when Ken Kutaragi patented a technology for it prior to the PS3 launch,' said Pachter in an interview with NowGamer. 'Today’s rumor is just a re-hash of that old rumor and the recent one about the Xbox 720. It isn’t really in Sony’s or Microsoft’s best interests to block used games.' 'If Sony unilaterally did this, I could see GameStop refusing to carry their console, and sales of the PS4 would thereby suffer. On balance, it’s a dumb idea, making it a dumb rumor. Of course, you never know.' Pachter said that he considered Kotaku's source to be 'a monkey'. | Capable of 'super-HD' resolution beyond most TVs .
Known at Sony as 'Orbis' - but may be a codename .
Will debut at Christmas in 2013 .
Machine will 'block' second-hand games . |
227,574 | b2a85c53998743ee9709124355d0d8da12ddbc85 | By . Ian Laybourn, Press Association . Leeds full-back Zak Hardaker has been given a five-match ban after being found guilty of homophobic abuse. The 22-year-old England international was also fined £300 by a Rugby Football League independent disciplinary tribunal which sat for almost four hours in Leeds. Hardaker, who was represented by his club's legal team, was charged with a grade E offence, which carries a suspension of between four and eight matches, after his offensive comments were spotted on television during Leeds' 24-6 defeat by Warrington 11 days ago. Disciplined: Zak Hardaker has been hit by a five-game ban . Hardaker last week issued an apology for his comments, admitting he used inappropriate language and insisted they were aimed at Warrington captain Michael Monaghan, rather than referee James Child, which appeared to be the case. 'I have complied fully with the RFL's investigation, never looked to deny what I said and will accept their judgement,' Hardaker said in his statement. Hardaker, who was thrown out of England's World Cup squad after a breach of discipline last November, has missed only one match for his club in the last 14 months but will now by sidelined until the middle of July. However, it could have been worse for the former Featherstone player. Although there is no direct precedent, former Wakefield hooker Tevita Leo-Latu was banned for six matches in 2007 for making a racist comment to Warrington winger Kevin Penny. And Castleford were fined £40,000, which was later halved on appeal, in 2010 after a section of their fans made homophobic chants at openly-gay player Gareth Thomas. Bad boy: Hardaker was thrown out of England's World Cup squad last year after a breach of discipline . The Tigers were found guilty of unacceptable behaviour, of breaching the RFL's Respect Policy, of misconduct by their supporters and of conduct prejudicial to the interests of the sport. Hardaker, who will start his suspension when Leeds host Huddersfield in a Super League game at Headingley on Thursday night, pledged to learn from his latest mistake. 'Thankyou everyone for ur support, 5 games it is,' he tweeted. 'You live and learn and that's life, so I'll just make sure I come out better for it.' Leeds have said they will stand by their player, with head coach Brian McDermott saying: 'We welcome the fact that Zak has recognised his mistake and we will work with him to make sure that this type of incident does not happen again in the future. Support: Brian McDermott says Leeds will stand by Hardaker . 'As a club and a game, we have always prided ourselves on how inclusive and welcoming our sport is and this incident, and the reaction to it, shows how seriously we all take this matter. 'We were pleased that the panel made a particular point of saying that they did not believe that Zak had meant his comment as a homophobic remark and that they considered that Zak was not homophobic. 'The club has worked hard to raise the issue of anti-homophobia in the past and we remain committed to working against all forms of discrimination.' | England star also fined £300 by RFL independent disciplinary tribunal .
Full-back has aplogised for his actions via his Twitter account .
Hardaker thrown out of World Cup squad in November due to breach of discipline . |
165,820 | 6270fbcf8ab11e8f91a60529753560290065c19e | PUBLISHED: . 02:25 EST, 16 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 02:34 EST, 16 January 2014 . A valet driver working for Mercedes Benz of Greenwhich, Connecticut was charged after he sent sexually explicit text messages and photos to a customer. Jonathon Silva, 22, was arrested on Monday 30 days after a married female customer he 'sexted' pictures of his genitals to in December reported the unnerving messages to police. Silva is charged with disorderly conduct, second-degree harassment, and obscenity. Valet Jonathan Silva, 22, was arrested for sexually harassing a married female passenger . The woman's attorney Mark Sherman told The New York Daily News, 'Shortly after she was dropped off, she got a text message that showed a man's genitals.' She later received more texts that were 'harassing and sexually offensive.' The woman reported the incident to Mercedes-Benz and to police immediately after it happened but the man was still employed at the dealership until he was finally arrested on Monday. Silva is employed by a company called All-American Valet and was contracted for work by the auto dealership, reported News 12 Connecticut. 'We have received an apology, however, we reported this to Mercedes Benz over a month ago and they did nothing," said the woman's attorney. 'They allowed this man to continue working there without a proper investigation for 30 days until he was finally arrested.' The woman is trying to obtain a restraining order against Silva and damages which are undisclosed. 'She's a hardworking well-regarded mother and wife from Stanford who did nothing to deserve this kind of treatment,' her lawyer said. Silva is employed by a company called All-American Valet and was contracted for work by Mercedes Benz . | Jonathan Silva, 22, allegedly sent the woman sexually explicit texts after he dropped her off at her destination .
The woman immediately reported the incident but Silva was employed for 30 days afterwards until he was finally arrested .
Silva is charged with disorderly conduct, second-degree harassment, and obscenity .
The woman seeks to obtain a restraining order and undisclosed damages . |
178,606 | 7338b6c1b26e569831cc8216465315d9b9b56db2 | A British sailor hopes to break the world record for circumnavigating the globe in a powerboat shaped like a torpedo. Alan Priddy, 61, plans to beat the previous record of 60 days, 23 hours and 49 minutes held by Pete Bethune from New Zealand. The world record attempt is expected to start on November 1 next year and will stop at 10 countries around the world for refuelling including Puerto Rico, Honolulu and Singapore. Scroll down for video . The team hope to begin construction of the 80ft boat early next year so they can start the voyage in November . Mr Priddy, from Portsmouth, conceived the idea four years ago and has now secured £2.9million in funding. The project team, named Team Britannia, hope to begin construction of the 80 foot boat early next year so they can set off from Gibraltar on their 24,000 mile voyage next year. The 'floating fuel tank' has been designed to pierce waves rather than surfing across them, which the team hope will make the trip smoother than a boat with a conventional hull. Made from marine-grade aluminium - 80 per cent of which will be recycled - it will carry 7,700 gallons of what the team say is a revolutionary emulsion fuel, which reduces harmful emissions such as nitrous oxide when burned. It will have an estimated top speed of 34.4 knots and an estimated average speed of 22.5 knots. Alan Priddy, 61, conceived the idea four years ago and has now secured £2.9million in funding . Length of vessel - 80 feet . Empty weight - 16 tons . Fully laden weight - 45 tons . Estimated top speed (light) - 34.4 knots . Estimated top speed (heavy) - 18.1 knots . Gallon fuel tank - 7,700 . Design and build costs - £2.9million . Fuel saved by streamlined hull - 30 per cent . Made from recycled aluminium - 80 per cent . Mr Priddy, who has already beaten 37 world records on sea, said: 'This project is the culmination of a lifetime's work that I hope will highlight the amazing qualities and skills that we have in abundance in our country - the best sailors, engineers, boat builders and designers. 'This is why when we started this project six years ago we called ourselves Team Britannia. 'We have the finest maritime designers, builders and sailors in the world. The British boat Cable & Wireless Adventurer first set the round the world powerboat record in 1998 and held it for nearly a decade. 'When this record, the pinnacle of powerboating, was lost to the New Zealand boat Earthrace, I knew we had an amazing opportunity to once again showcase the best of British. To show why our marine industry is still the best. 'Team Britannia aims to do just that. It brings together just a few of the people who make Britain and our marine sector great.' The route will see the team head west from Gibraltar, with stops at Puerto Rico, Acapulco in Mexico, Honolulu, Guam, Singapore, Oman and Malta to take on fuel. To complete the record attempt the boat must pass through the Suez and Panama Canals, cross the Tropic of Cancer and the Equator, and start and finish in the same place. Mr Priddy will set off with a crew of seven and hopes to offer a place to injured servicemen or women on each leg of the voyage. | Alan Priddy hopes to break the world record for circumnavigating the globe .
He plans to beat the previous record of 60 days, 23 hours and 49 minutes .
The 24,000 mile voyage is expected to start on November 1 next year .
The 61-year-old has already beaten 37 world records on the sea . |
181,361 | 76c79777a13c08235145e77dd2814c0ca92ef677 | By . Press Association Reporter . Midfielder Callum McGregor insists Celtic will have put their Champions League disappointment behind them by the time they arrive at Dens Park for Sunday's Scottish Premiership clash with Dundee. The ramifications of the Hoops' 2-1 aggregate play-off defeat to Maribor - sealed by Wednesday's 1-0 second-leg reverse at Parkhead - are still being felt as it meant not only the loss of around £15million in potential revenue but also loss of face, given that the Scottish champions had two chances to reach the lucrative group stages. Legia Warsaw beat Ronny Deila's side 6-1 on aggregate in the third qualifier, but Celtic were reinstated when the Polish club were found to have fielded a player who should have been suspended in the second leg at Murrayfield. Scroll down for video... Call for calm: Celtic midfielder Callum McGregor says his team must move on from the Champions League exit . My bad! Ronny Deila (R) accepted responsibility for Celtic's exit from the Champions League . Chief executive Peter Lawwell explained the club's financial situation and reiterated transfer policy to disgruntled fans in a series of interviews on Friday in which Deila was given a vote of confidence. The Norwegian manager will have to try to recover the club's reputation in the Europa League, where they were drawn against Austrian side Salzburg, Dinamo Zagreb of Croatia and Romanian outfit FC Astra. However, McGregor, who signed a new five-year deal on Friday, maintains the immediate priority is the Premiership. 'It is back to league business and we have got to take care of that,' the 21-year-old said. 'I don't think it will be difficult. 'Obviously it was a hard knock we took during the week but we have dusted ourselves down and it is back to the league. Home disadvantage: The Celtic manager looks on as Maribor celebrate their 1-0 victory at Celtic Park . Super strike: Maribor's Tavares scored in the second leg to give Maribor a 2-1 aggregate victory . 'All the boys are focused and ready to go.' McGregor, whose displays this term have seen him called up to Gordon Strachan's Scotland squad for the Euro 2016 qualifier against world champions Germany in Dortmund on Sunday week, is aware that newly promoted Dundee are showing good early-season form. Paul Hartley's side are unbeaten in four games, with three draws and a win taking them into sixth place.. 'Dundee have started well,' he said. 'Obviously they have just been promoted and they have a new squad so they will be flying and confidence will be high. 'It is going to be a tough place to go and try to get a result so we need to be focused.' What could have been? Ronny Deila has no regrets, including leaving Kris Commons out of the starting XI . Step down: Celtic players react in the knowledge they will be playing in Europe's second tier competition . It’s not too late to play MailOnline Fantasy Football… There’s £1,000 to be won EVERY WEEK by the highest scoring manager . CLICK HERE to start picking your Fantasy Football team NOW! There’s £60,000 in prizes including £1,000 up for grabs EVERY WEEK… . | Celtic were eliminated 2-1 agg by Maribor in Champions League qualifying .
Midfielder Callum McGregor says Celtic must put defeat behind them .
Manager Ronny Deila accepted responsibility for their performance .
Norwegian said he has no regrets, including leaving out Kris Commons .
The Hoops have been drawn against FC Salzburg, GNK Dinamo and FC Astra in the Europa League . |
191,934 | 8487248c434ee5a53c75a80792654b1e631d47d1 | Iker Casillas has warned that Real Madrid are back on top form after a difficult start to their La Liga season. Los Blancos lost two of their first three matches, to Real Sociedad and Atletico Madrid, but have since gone on a four-match winning streak to return to the upper echelons of the league. Carlo Ancelotti's men have scored 20 goals in just four matches on their charge up the division, and Casillas believes that things have changed at the Bernabeu. Real Madrid have won their last four La Liga matches, scoring 20 goals in the process . Iker Casillas, Real Madrid goalkeeper, believes that his side are back to their best . 'The results could have gone differently but we were good across the park. We still have to catch up with the league leaders,' the experienced goalkeeper told FourFourTwo. 'We had been conceding a lot of goals so this is an important result. The team was full of confidence and we were solid throughout. We players at the back feel the support from the forward players.' Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema secured the points against Athletic Bilbao at the weekend, with the former scoring a hat-trick - his 13th goal of the season after just seven games. VIDEO: Scroll down to see Carlo Ancelotti speak after the Bilbao victory . Cristiano Ronaldo has continued his stunning goalscoring record, netting 13 times in seven league games . | Real Madrid lost two of their first three games of the La Liga campaign .
They have since won four in a row, scoring 20 goals in the process .
Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema secured the points against Athletic Bilbao on Sunday night .
Ronaldo's hat-trick made it 13 goals in seven La Liga games this season . |
54,506 | 9a5f28986f9a417329110c7e50434dd9a823044c | A speeding car crashed into a Swiss border barrier and then flew 45 metres over the top of a building before crash-landing the other side. The driver survived the dramatic collision on the Swiss-French border and suffered only a minor hand injury. The Audi sedan spiralled out of control after smashing into the roadside barrier. The driver of the black Audi sedan miraculously survived the crash that saw him fly 45metres through the air . The sedan flew through the air for 45metres over a five-metre high customs official's building . The car was propelled more than 5m into the air after smashing into the roadside barrier . It was then propelled into the air and soared over the customs officers' building, which is five metres high, and then flipped in mid-air. The car then crash landed on the other side after travelling a total of 75metres. It had been going faster than the 40mph speed limit. Pictures of the car after the late night crash on Friday show severe damage to the front driver's side and large dents in the bumper. The Audi then crash landed in a car park after flipped in mid air above the customs building . The red lines shows the mark left when the car left the road and where it landed 75m away (circled) However the driver was virtually unscathed and no one else suffered any injuries. The crash happened at the Thônex-Vallard border crossing between France and Switzerland. The Swiss Border Guard was quoted by The Local as saying that the car was travelling at an 'excessive speed'. The statement added: 'By a miracle, there was no serious injury to report.' The flight of the car was demonstrated by a graphic released by the guard service. The Swiss Border Guard said the car was travelling at an 'excessive speed' when it left the road . | Sedan travelled total of 75 metres in the crash on French/Swiss border .
Propelled into the air after crashing into roadside barrier at speed .
Swiss Border Guard said it was a 'miracle' no one was seriously hurt . |
130,288 | 346fe84abe49943feeb31db496fb1a702b0f0fc6 | New Orleans, Louisiana (CNN) -- The edges of the massive Gulf Coast oil slick grazed the barrier islands off Louisiana's Chandeleur and Breton sounds Tuesday as the company responsible for cleaning up the spill faced tough questions from members of Congress. With a damaged undersea well still spewing crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico, Louisiana's coastal parishes made new plans to keep the oil from moving into Lake Borgne and Lake Pontchartrain, which flank New Orleans. Winds that complicated efforts to fight the spill died down Tuesday, making cleanup work easier, Coast Guard Rear Adm. Mary Landry said. "It's a gift of a little bit of time," she told reporters. "But I'm not resting." The spill threatens wildlife, beaches and livelihoods along the Gulf Coast. Already federal officials have banned fishing in the affected area until at least May 12, curtailing a commercial seafood industry that brings in about $2.4 billion to the region every year. The leading edge of the slick was reported to be lapping at the edge of Louisiana's Chandeleur Islands early Tuesday, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal said. "Let's make no mistake about what's at stake here. This is our very way of life," Jindal told reporters. "This is our fishing communities, these are some of our coastal communities. We're talking about keeping this oil out of our fragile wetlands." But as of mid-afternoon, no oil had been found washed up on the islands, said Doug Suttles, chief operating officer for BP, which owns the damaged well. "To give you a sense of our ability to respond, we launched 22 vessels," Suttles told reporters at a news conference in Mobile, Alabama. Twelve of those vessels were shrimp boats whose skippers have volunteered to assist in the cleanup, he said. "They've been in the area ever since trying to locate that oil and make sure it actually doesn't reach shore," Suttles said. The edge of the slick was reported to be about 20 miles off the Mississippi Coast, and Landry said it was about 30 miles off the shores of Alabama. Suttles said BP workers expected to close off one of the three leaking points Tuesday, but added, "I don't believe that will change the total amount of oil that will be leaked." Stephen Herbert, chef and owner of Abita Springs Cafe on the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain, said the potential impact was "tremendous." But Herbert, who holds a degree in fish biology and lived in the marshes for 10 years before entering the restaurant business, expressed surprise that the story has become a national one. "I'm really astounded that the rest of the people in the United States really give a flip about this," he said. Louisiana's coastal marshlands have been shrinking at the rate of two football fields a day for a quarter-century, he said, "and nobody gave a flip about that." Herbert's 16-table restaurant, located 25 miles from New Orleans, specializes in Cajun food, and at least half of his orders are for meals that contain fish. In anticipation of rising prices, he ordered an extra gallon of shucked oysters and another case of shrimp, but that was all his refrigerators could store, the 56-year-old restaurateur said. The estimated 210,000-gallon-per-day flow of oil from the damaged well continued unabated Tuesday, 12 days after the drilling rig Deepwater Horizon sank off Louisiana. The break in the winds kept the slick from advancing much toward the coast, but Jindal said the weather is expected to turn unfavorably Thursday. The first oil was not expected to reach the shores of the U.S. mainland for another three days, Suttles said. As owner of the well, BP is responsible for the cleanup and its costs. It blames Transocean, which it hired to drill the well, for the failure of a critical piece of equipment that was designed to shut off the well in case of emergency. Across the Gulf Coast, emergency workers and volunteers helped string floating booms across inlets and beaches in an attempt to fend off any advancing oil. Chocolate-colored streaks of oily water could be seen off Dauphin Island, on the Alabama coast. And crew boats that normally supply oil wells were laying booms around Ship Island, off the shores of Mississippi and about 10 miles north of the spill's leading edge. But Capt. Louis Skrmetta, who runs excursions out to the Mississippi Sound barrier islands, said efforts to protect the islands and waterways were inadequate. He said Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour -- who called the spill "a manageable problem" Monday -- was doing less to combat the oncoming slick than his counterparts in Alabama and Louisiana. KNOE: Community rallies around rig families . "The governor's leaving it up to BP. They're just not doing enough," Skrmetta said. BP hopes to place a four-story-high metal container over part of the leaking drill pipe, a step it says could corral about 80 percent of the leaking oil. The oil would then be pumped to a drill ship on the surface. Suttles said the 70-ton box could be ferried out to the site of the leak by midnight Wednesday, but it will take another two days to place the device on the seabed. Then it must be connected to the drill ship. "Hopefully, we'll be operational within about about six days," he said. Hundreds of thousands of feet of booms have been strung around the estuaries of southeastern Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and far western Florida in recent days. But an aerial tour conducted by the Coast Guard on Tuesday showed some have already given way, and high winds in recent days have driven oil past others. The Deepwater Horizon caught fire April 20 and burned for two days before sinking, with 11 workers presumed dead. Executives from BP and Transocean Ltd., looked "like deer in the headlights" when they briefed members of the House Energy and Environment committee about the accident and response on Tuesday, said Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas. KATC: Gulf shrimp season to temporarily close . Barton is a strong supporter of offshore drilling, and told reporters he didn't want the accident to reverse support for more exploration off the U.S. coasts. But he said he had hoped for "more concrete" answers from the oilmen. "I have concerns in this particular case about the attention to safety, the attention to maintenance, the attention to using best available control technology and best monitoring practices," Barton said. Rep. Edward Markey, D-Massachusetts, said the situation could get dramatically worse. "One of the questions which I asked was what would happen if a worst-case scenario did unfold?" he told reporters after the hearing. "I was told that the amount of oil per day could actually rise from 5,000 to 60,000 barrels of oil a day, although in a worst-case scenario, the most likely number was in the 40,000 barrel range, which only reinforces the necessity of us acting as quickly as possible, for BP and all responsible, for shutting off this catastrophic leak of oil." But Dave Nagel, the executive vice president of BP America, said the company is "doing everything we can to respond to this incident." "That's our complete focus right now -- to stop the leak at the scene, to disperse the oil the best we can and protect the beaches and mitigate the impact," he said. "That's what we're doing." That may not be enough to satisfy lawmakers, said Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Florida. "Privately, I've gone up to some senators who have been for drilling and I have sarcastically said to them, in a whisper, 'Drill, baby, drill,' and they roll their eyes as if in mock horror at the possibilities of what could happen as a result of this disaster." CNN's Mark Biello, Dave Rust and Tom Watkins contributed to this report. | Oil laps islands that hold national wildlife refuge, says Louisiana governor .
"Our very way of life" is at stake, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal says .
The Deepwater Horizon drilling rig caught fire April 20; burned for two days before sinking .
11 workers presumed dead in incident . |
72,815 | ce7ecd6b10b0d0ab4e48f44084d86322ba433df0 | By . David Baker . PUBLISHED: . 20:04 EST, 31 August 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 07:07 EST, 1 September 2012 . These images capture the moment hammer wielding thugs raided a jewellers for half a million pounds worth of gold and diamonds - in a minute. With up to 10 members of the armed gang thought to be involved the men swiped necklaces and other goods from show stands before making their hasty getaway. The raid took place in Upton Park, London, just after 11am on Saturday and the owner of the shop, Zahid Khan, 56, said his staff were terrified and were lucky to escape without being harmed. Gone in 60 seconds: Sledgehammer gang grab 500,000 in jewels in a minute . During the blitz at Pakeeza jewellers, four members of staff, three of which were women, took cover in a back office - locking themselves in until the ordeal was over. Mr Khan said: 'They were very shaken up, it was a horrible experience. “If I had been there I may have tried to tackle the gang which is not the thing to do in such a dangerous situation, so it was lucky I was out. “The staff did well to hide from the gang, lives are much more important that what was taken.” Mr Khan said he had been told by police the raiders could be eastern European criminals who travelled to Britain specifically to carry out robberies. 'The police have told me that they think the gang is Romanian,' said Mr Khan. 'They found masks and clothing dumped nearby after the robbery. There apparently could have been 10 people involved in all.' Mr Khan said one man was at the front door waiting for customers — a woman and her mother — to leave. As the front door opened, the robber wedged a foot against it, allowing a second man to batter his way through the inner security glass shield with a sledgehammer. Smash and grab: The shops in Green Street, where the daylight raid happened at a jewellers . Shoppers outside bravely attempted to tackle the men as they escaped along a busy street, with one trying unsuccessfully to rip the mask off a robber’s face. Mr Khan, who has owned the shop for eight years, added: 'To carry out a raid like this in broad daylight is surprising with so many people around on a busy shopping day.' He added that he believed his shop had been targeted because of the high-value 22 carat gold he stocks. The shop had to be closed temporarily to repair the damage from the raid. Officers from Scotland Yard’s flying squad are understood to be investigating possible links with other raids on jewellers across the UK. A police spokesman said that an investigation into the robbery was ongoing. | Gang of up to 10 storm store in Upton Park, London, in a minute .
Four members of staff, including three women, forced to take cover in the back office during 11am ordeal . |
246,388 | cae461b24763af14b335097404143412b595e556 | A toddler born with a rare defect has made a miraculous recovery after surgeons were forced to break open her skull and piece it back together like a jigsaw. Laurie Jones was born with craniosynostosis, a condition which causes the skull plates to fuse together in the womb. It caused Laurie to have a twisted head, with one side bulging. And as well as causing the deformity, the condition threatened to create fatal pressure on her developing brain. Laurie Jones was born with craniosynostosis, a condition which causes the skull plates to fuse together in the womb. It left the newborn with a twisted head, one side bulging and her parents were warned it could cause pressure on her developing brain . But after a nine-hour life-saving operation at Birmingham's Children's Hospital the now two-year-old is back at home with her parents Sadie Roberts and Steve Jones, and her sisters Hollie and Jess . But, after a nine-hour life-saving operation, which involved a full blood transfusion, Laurie, now two, is back home with her parents Sadie Roberts and Steve Jones, and her sisters Hollie and Jess. Her mother Ms Roberts, 38, said: 'Laurie really is our jigsaw baby. 'The front of her skull was taken off, broken into pieces and then put back together. 'She was cut from ear to ear across the top of her head - it was really difficult to see. 'She had a full head-bandage and her eyes were swollen - she was very poorly. 'We were told at any time it could put pressure on her brain. 'One doctor was concerned there was not enough room for her brain to grow and it could have ended with us losing her.' Craniosynostosis is a rare condition affecting affects one in 2,500 babies. It causes babies to develop an irregularly shaped skull. It caused Laurie's head to grow abnormally, and meant she didn't have an eyebrow on one side. After the live-saving surgery at Birmingham Children's Hospital, she is just like a normal two-year-old, but she may need further surgery on her eye in later life. Ms Roberts, 38, said: 'Laurie really is our jigsaw baby. The front of her skull was taken off, broken into pieces and then put back together. She was cut from ear to ear across the top of her head' Craniosynostosis is a rare condition affecting affects one in 2,500 babies. It causes babies to develop an irregularly shaped skull. Laurie has been left with a large 'jigsaw' scar stretching from ear to ear, right . She will have checks on her head for the next 10 years, but her mother Ms Roberts added: 'It will take two years for her head to completely enclose and be like a normal child's, so we will have to be careful with her' Craniosynostosis is a rare condition, which causes babies to develop an irregularly shaped skull. The abnormal shape of a child's head can cause persistent headaches, learning difficulties, problems with vision. Symptoms of craniosynostosis result from increased pressure in the skull, called intracranial pressure. The condition causes a baby's skull to prematurely fuse, leaving it unable to grow in certain areas. Where one area is fused the skull is prevented from growing. It causes other parts of the skull to 'overgrow' to compensate and limit the pressure devleoping around the brain. The lack of growth in some areas, and 'overgrowth' in others causes the irregular head shape. Saggital synostosis is the most common type of craniosynostosis, accounting for around half of all cases. It occurs when the suture - the elastic tissues connecting the plates of bone in the skull - at the top of the head fuses. It leads to a lack of growth in width and compensatory growth in length, resulting in a long, narrow skull. Source: NHS Choices . Ms Roberts, from Richards Castle, Shropshire, said: 'Laurie is incredibly bright and mischievous as you'd expect a two-year-old to be, but it has been really hard. 'We always said if it was just for cosmetic reasons we wouldn't put ourselves through that, but if her condition compromised her future we'd have to go ahead. 'It's been really stressful on all of us, really. 'It will take two years for her head to completely enclose and be like a normal child's, so we will have to be careful with her.' Laurie will continue to have checks on her head for the next 10 years, but now she has recovered from her life-changing operation, the family have agreed to speak out to raise awareness of the condition. Ms Roberts said she is indebted to Cranio Ribbons, a support network of parents who have seen their children go through similar operations, who have a Facebook page. She said: 'I want to show other families going through the same thing there is light at the end of the tunnel, to show what it's like on the other side. 'The parents on there have been an absolute Godsend. 'You can go on there and vent any feelings you've got and there are people there who know exactly how you feel.' She said another Facebook group called Lucy's Head Start aimed to raise money for parents whose children need craniosynostosis operations. | Laurie Jones was born with craniosynostosis, which causes the skull plates to fuse together in the womb and can put pressure on the brain .
Caused the youngster to have a twisted head, with one side bulging .
After a nine-hour life-saving operation little Laurie is now back at home .
Surgeons broke her skull into pieces before putting it back together .
The now two-year-old will have checks for the next 10 years and it will take two years for her head to enclose and be like a normal child her age .
Mother Sadie Roberts said: 'Laurie really is our jigsaw baby' |
273,863 | eebeea4d3b26e28b126d06d240d1db0c0135afe5 | By . Nina Golgowski . PUBLISHED: . 17:37 EST, 20 October 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 07:32 EST, 21 October 2012 . A mysterious ground shake through parts of southern New Jersey rattled residents around 11am this morning leaving bewildered residents still without answers. Both the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Weather Service reported no earthquake having occurred in the area and the nearby military base claiming to have had no training exercises that would have caused the tremors. The USGS has since speculated that the shake felt by residents in southern counties for an estimated 15 seconds was from a sonic boom. Reports: A map by the USGS shows the coloured counties where the shake was reported on Saturday, seen the most through the southern coast . The effect would be a 'thunder-like noise a person on the ground hears when an aircraft or other type of aerospace vehicle files overhead faster than the speed of sound or supersonic,' according to NASA. An officer with the Sea Isle City Police Department said they had not confirmed it having been a sonic boom as reported by local news reports but told MailOnline it was a 'non-event.' The shake was reported in several counties including Atlantic, Cape May, Ocean, Salem and Camden. 'I'm in [Little Egg Harbor] and my basement door shook violently for 15 sec or so long enough to creep me out. Sounded like someone was trying to get out,' a resident wrote on the Facebook page for Jersey Shore Hurricane News. 'My dog whelped two times before it happened I had thought he hurt himself. Then the huge noise boomed and my house shook slightly. It felt like it came from above,' a claimed Northfield resident wrote. Last weekend Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst had advised residents of scheduled military training that could cause booms and ground tremors. Base spokesman Pascual Flores told NBC News that wasn't the case for today. 'There currently is no training of any type that would have resulted in today's incident,' he said. Eager to suggest other causes for the tremor, residents on Facebook pitched ideas consisting of: Fracking, ‘Romney dropped his BINDERS,’ Governor Chris Christie jogging, and 'Snookie fell off a barstool.' | The U.S. Geological Survey has speculated the shake was from a sonic boom .
Local military base said military training is not responsible .
Lighthearted residents speculate 'Romney dropped his BINDERS’ and Gov. Chris Christie went jogging . |
115,936 | 21a7c85ead7b06d7511ba695a6d4ed12ab3ff391 | LONDON, England (CNN) -- Nothing says true love like releasing a caged butterfly, don't you think? Wayne Rooney and Coleen McLoughlin are to be paid $5 million for the picture rights to their wedding. The butterflies are reported to be the piece-de-resistance of England's most anticipated celebrity wedding of the year. Wayne Rooney, the best English footballer of his generation, and Coleen McLoughlin, his High School sweetheart, were to marry in an estimated $10 million ceremony in Italy Thursday. As they kiss, guests are apparently meant to open boxes and release the butterflies. The moment has been pilloried widely in the British media, tacky and over the top they all think, but is it just sour grapes? It has been a long and, at times, bumpy road for the couple to the altar. One littered with fierce criticism from the British press, which has enjoyed nothing more than lampooning Rooney and McLoughlin for being 'common.' The Daily Mail once even asked: "Is this Britain's ghastliest couple?" Rooney has been dubbed "Shrek" and "Mr Potato Head" due to his looks and his background as the son of a school dinner lady who grew up on a council estate is often referred to in a disparaging way. McLoughlin, meanwhile, has been subjected to page upon page of bitter stories about her weight, shopping sprees and her lack of closeness to Victoria Beckham. There has also been fierce criticism over the fact she has managed to become a millionaire in her own right. It's all down to Rooney apparently, and nothing to do with her appearing to be quite a decent person, who did well at school and has cleverly managed to parlay some of her fame into various media and advertising projects. Anyone who has seen her television show -- Coleen's Real Women -- can see she is a decent, bubbly person, who is very good at putting people at ease. Much to the media's fury, the couple have sold the rights to cover the wedding to OK magazine for a record $5 million. However they're not pocketing all the cash themselves, with an undisclosed sum from the fee to be donated to the Claire House children's hospice in Cheshire -- where McLoughlin's disabled foster sister Rosie is cared for. The queen's grandson, Peter Phillips and his bride Autumn Kelly, recently received $1m from Hello magazine to cover their wedding but they didn't receive an eighth of the opprobrium now directed at the more generous, but lower class, Rooney and McLoughlin. Moreover, in lieu of presents, Rooney and McLoughlin have also asked guests to donate money to the Alder Hey children's hospital in Liverpool. The wedding might be over the top, with a private yacht and luxury jet for guests (they are covering the guests' costs), expensive plonk and a $200,000 wedding dress, but at least the couple have worked hard for what they have. Their success despite a working-class background appears to be the greatest source of frustration for critics. It's just not on that someone who wasn't born into privilege and didn't go to a posh school can enjoy their wealth. That would be ugly. If anything, the couple's relationship and success is a triumph over adversity. They have known each other since McLoughlin was 12, but she spent two years fending off Rooney's entreaties to go out on a date. He finally got his chance when he saw her struggling to fix a broken bicycle chain. He rode over to help, popped the question again and got a yes. Surely they should be congratulated for creating their own modern fairytale complete with butterflies? The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the writer. | English football star Wayne Rooney and sweetheart marry in lavish ceremony .
Glen Scanlon says media have launched bitter attacks on the couple .
Working-class background appears to be critics' greatest annoyance, he says . |
206,172 | 96e19109e17527466fcc060ac2476fa2a96f4e36 | The 16-year-old girl said she was too ‘upset, hurt and angry’ to go back to Camden School for Girls after it refused to allow her to wear a niqab (file picture) A Muslim teenager who was banned from taking A-levels at a leading comprehensive because she started to wear a niqab has moved schools. The unnamed 16-year-old said she was too ‘upset, hurt and angry’ to go back to Camden School for Girls after it refused to allow her to wear the full Islamic veil which only reveals her eyes. The girl reportedly left the north London state school in tears after being told she could not wear the niqab and then decided to move to one that allows it. Last night, an online petition had gathered more than 1,000 signatures demanding that ‘Islamophobia’ at the school stop and that she be allowed to wear the veil. The school is rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted and alumnae include Gordon Brown’s wife Sarah, actress Emma Thompson and former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell. It has no uniform and is famous for a liberal approach to education, but it said the niqab contravened its ‘appearance policy’. The girl, who has attended Camden Girls for the past five years and took her GCSEs there, yesterday said the niqab was not ‘un-British’. ‘I was born in Britain. I know perfect English, I enjoy doing the normal, typical things like drinking tea and eating biscuits,’ she told the Evening Standard. ‘Britain claims to be multicultural, meaning they accept different kinds of people.’ She added: ‘I feel if people knew how friendly and social we are, they wouldn’t say it’s un-British.’ The girl said the school told her that dress ‘which does not allow teacher-student interactions’ was against its rules. ‘The school has no uniform and I thought they were accepting and open-minded,’ she said. ‘To be honest a lot of people at the school wear inappropriate clothing … very provocative and revealing clothing like extremely short shorts – so it didn’t make sense that they were refusing me to wear the niqab.’ She will now study for her A-levels at a different sixth-form college, even though it takes her up to an hour to get there every day. In support of the girl, an anonymous protester started a petition on change.org, which says: ‘[Camden School for Girls] is renowned for its individuality and strong feminist views. Camden School for Girls (pictured) claimed its 'appearance policy' was ‘educational’ and said in a statement: 'Inappropriate dress which offends public decency or which does not allow interactions will be challenged' 'However, this poorly thought out decision made by the school contradicts this. What happened to freedom of expression?’ The girl’s sister told the BBC the school’s ruling had been ‘very upsetting’, adding: ‘My sister just wants to wear the niqab for her own reasons … I don’t feel like her education should be compromised or the way she dresses should affect the way anyone looks at her.’ Farhana Khanom, a former pupil, said ‘discriminating’ against those who want to wear the veil was ‘utterly disgusting’. Yesterday, Camden School for Girls claimed the policy was ‘educational’, saying: ‘Interactions between students and teachers take place in a number of ways, but one of the most important is through reading facial expression.’ In a statement, it added: ‘Inappropriate dress which offends public decency or which does not allow teacher-student interactions will be challenged.’ The school is thought to be the first to have imposed a bar on the niqab since Birmingham Metropolitan College was forced to overturn a ban last September, following a petition signed by 9,000 people. Under Department for Education guidance issued in 2007 schools can set their own uniform policies and enforce such a ban on security, safety or learning grounds. A landmark case at the High Court that year rejected a Buckinghamshire pupil’s claim that she should be allowed to wear the niqab in classes. | Teenager is 'too upset, hurt and angry' to return to Camden School for Girls .
16-year-old left 'in tears' after being told she could not wear a niqab to class .
School, rated outstanding by Ofsted, said it contravened 'appearance policy'
Online petition has gathered more than 1,000 signatures in support of girl . |
30,747 | 576e1eb1b7fba3daa9a8055c7cddfb2256fa159f | By . Alex Ward . PUBLISHED: . 04:26 EST, 27 October 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 05:51 EST, 27 October 2012 . A 61-year-old woman has given birth to twins to become one of the world's oldest mothers. Antonia Asti gave birth for the first time through artificial insemination at a hospital in Santos, near Sao Paulo in Brazil after trying to have a baby for more than 30 years. The retired secretary and her carpenter husband Jose, 55, wanted a family as soon as they got married and after years of trying and several IVF attempts, they finally have the children they dreamt of thanks to ten-year-old frozen embryos. Mum at 61: Antonia Asti gave birth to twins on Tuesday to become one of the world's oldest mothers after she and her husband Jose, 55, tried for years to have children . Twins Sofia and Roberto were born, each weighing 2lbs, on Tuesday by caesarean section, just a week after Ms Asti celebrated her 61st birthday. Ms Asti told Brazil’s Globo G1 website: ‘I'm so thrilled. All I ever wanted to be is a mother, and now my dream has finally come true. ‘I fought for this for so long. I never for one moment thought about giving up. 'We never had a lot of money but we saved a lot to achieve our dreams.’ The couple sought professional help in 1992 after years of trying and when Ms Asti was 51, they tried IVF treatment but were unsuccessful. Sofia and Roberto: The twins were born by caesarian section through artificial insemination with 10-year-old frozen embryos . Desperate to be a mother, Ms Asti then decided to adopt but was rejected because of her age. Ms Asti then tried artificial insemination using eggs fertilised with her husband’s sperm but the first three attempts also failed. When she decided to try a fourth time, doctors at the Sao Lucas Hospital in Santos warned her that the frozen embryos were nearly ten-years-old and the procedure was less likely than ever to work. Dr Orlando de Castro Neto, a specialist in assisted reproduction at the hospital, said: ‘The embryos were preserved from the first fertilisation but they have a validity of ten years, more or less, and they were reaching their end. Final attempt: Dr Orlando de Castro Neto said that frozen embryos have a validity of more or less ten years so this was their 'last resort' ‘But she said she wanted to use them for a new and final attempt, as a last resort.’ She is believed to be South America's oldest first-time mother. Ms Asti said: ‘I'm well. I'm quite capable of raising these children despite my age. ‘I don't consider myself to be 61. I think someone must have made a mistake on my birth certificate.’ A spokesman for the hospital said yesterday: ‘The mother is in good condition and well, despite the higher risk that an advanced aged can bring to a pregnancy. ‘The babies are doing well, although will stay in hospital for a few more weeks until they reach ideal weight.’ The world’s oldest mother is believed to be farmer’s wife Omkari Panwar who had twins by IVF in India in 2008 at the age of 70. Oldest ever: Omkari Panwar (right) is believed to be the world's oldest mother, giving birth to twins by IVF in India in 2008 at the age of 70 . | Antonia Asti, 61, gave birth to twins by caesarian section on Tuesday .
After failed attempts at getting pregnant, she was refused adoption because of her age .
On the fourth try at artificial insemination, she was successful .
She is believed to be South America's oldest first-time mother . |
166,015 | 62aca2c13ea93d9acc9cb41fa363032f7764f154 | Thanks to celebrities like Cara Delevingne and the Duchess of Cambridge, bold, defined eyebrows are coveted by many young women. It was a look that student Sarah, 24, from Bath, wanted but she became sick of spending hours with an eyebrow pencil to get the shape just right every day. 'Every morning was daunting - drawing them on and feeling depressed if they didn't look right,' she told Channel 4 show Bodyshockers. Scroll down for video . Sarah, 24, from Bath, became sick of spending hours with an eyebrow pencil every morning so she took drastic action and had them tattooed on . The tattoos were darker than she expected and make her look 'constantly surprised' So Sarah took drastic action by having dark eyebrows tattooed on to her face. But she now admits it hasn't given her the results she desired. She said: 'Having the tattoos was excruciating. I told the tattooist I wanted black eyebrows but I didn't think they would be this black. 'I don't know what I was thinking as I'm naturally blonde.' The student, who lives in Leicester, had to dye her hair brown and cut a chunky fringe in an attempt to make her bold brow less noticeable. The student had a fringe cut to try and hide her tattoos and had to pencil them in when they started fading and turning blue in colour . Sarah said she now finds her appearance embarrassing as her eyebrows make her look 'constantly surprised.' The move hasn't saved her time on her morning beauty regime as hoped either, as she still has to use her eyebrow pencil because the tattoos have started to turn blue as they've faded. In addition, she has to spend longer doing her hair to ensure they're not on show. She said: 'It was supposed to be a quick fix so I didn't have to do all this plucking, shaving and painting them on. 'But now before I leave the house I have to spend ages doing hair to make sure they can't be seen.' Sarah had been trying to emulate the defined brows of Cara Delevingne, left, and the Duchess of Cambridge . Sarah added that the tattoos have also made her feel self-conscious, so she's not as sociable as she used to be. She said: 'I don't tend to go out much now as I have it in my head that people are looking at me - that's most upsetting. 'I want them gone'. She is hoping to eventually achieve this by having painful laser removal surgery. Bodyshockers is on Channel 4 Wednesdays at 10pm . | Sarah, 24, from Bath, wanted bold, defined eyebrows like Cara Delevingne .
The student decided to have fake eyebrows tattooed onto her face .
But she now regrets the look and is desperate to have them removed . |
140,823 | 42186f74c19539f0d5df9397dea94234c9f59983 | Blackpool airport is facing closure unless a new buyer can be found. The regional airport will cease operation of commercial flights one week after the deadline of October 7 if no agreement is reached, its owners announced on Monday. Three airlines - Jet2, Stobart Air and Citywing - use Blackpool, flying to more than a dozen destinations including Tenerife, Lanzarote, Malaga in Spain, Faro in Portugal and Ibiza, as well as Belfast and Dublin. Facing closure: Blackpool airport will cease operation of commercial flights if a new buyer is not found by October 7 - putting 100 jobs in jeopardy . The airport's current owners are engineering company Balfour Beatty, who also own Exeter and Derry airports. The company took over the airport - previously known as Squires Gate - in 2008. A statement on the airport's website said: 'On August 28, 2014, we announced our intention to find a buyer for the airport operating company. 'The airport operations have been making a loss for a number of years and we are currently exploring a number of options in an attempt to secure the future of the airport. 'We regretfully confirm that if no agreement can be reached before October 7 2014 which ensures the viability of its operations, then it is likely that the airport operations will close. 'In this event, we expect that the last commercial flights will take place on Wednesday October 15 2014. Regional hub: Three airlines - Jet2 (pictured), Stobart Air and Citywing - use Blackpool . 'We apologise for the uncertainty this will cause over the coming weeks and we recommend that any affected passengers contact their airline to confirm travel arrangements." Balfour Beatty added: 'Balfour Beatty can confirm that Blackpool Airport is exploring a number of options to secure a viable future for the continuation of operations at the airport. 'We regret to advise that if no agreements can be reached to achieve this, then it is likely that the airport operation will close on October 16 2014. Balfour Beatty remains the owner of the Blackpool Airport site.' Around 100 staff work at the airport. Annual passenger numbers were as high as 550,000 in 2007 but had dipped to just over 235,000 by 2012, with last year's total recovering slightly to nearly 263,000. The airport is one of the UK's oldest aviation sites, dating back to 1909, when the the UK's first official public Flying Meeting was held on the site. | Owners Balfour Beatty have been trying to sell airport since August .
Deadline for agreement set for October 7 otherwise airport could close .
Some 100 airport staff face possible job losses . |
66,530 | bcb2b6861367d368fdf228d82a7b24f100867e32 | The Air Force’s new secret superspy plane is flying in the airspace above Area 51 and will likely be ready for missions by 2015. The large, classified unmanned RQ-180, developed by Northrop Grumman, is designed for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions. The secret unmanned aerial system (UAS), funded through the Air Force’s classified budget, was awarded to Northrop Grumman after a competition that included Boeing and Lockheed Martin. Stealth in the sky: The Air Force's new secret superspy plane, the RQ-180, is flying in the airspace above Area 51 and will likely be ready for missions by 2015. This is an artist rendering of what it will look like . The aircraft will conduct intelligence missions that have been left unaddressed, and under wide debate, since the retirement of the Lockheed SR-71 in 1998, according to Aviation Week. It is also set to take the place of Lockheed Martin Corp.'s RQ-170 Sentinel, which was the plane used in the operation that killed Osama Bin Laden. Although the new plane is top secret and details of it have yet to be released, it is definitely very big. Publicly available overhead imagery shows that new hangars at Northrop's Palmdale, California, site and at the Air Force's Area 51 test center in Groom Lake, Nevada, have been built to hold an aircraft with a wing span of more than 130 feet. This makes it much bigger than the RQ-170, which has an estimated wingspan of between 65 feet and 90 feet. The RQ-180 carries radio-frequency . sensors such as active, electronically scanned array (AESA) radar and . passive electronic surveillance measures, according to Aviation Week. It could also be capable of electronic attack missions. Area 51: A dirt road that leads to the restricted Area 51. The stealth plane is reportedly flying over this area already as the Air Force is making trial runs . Top secret: The classified unmanned RQ-180, developed by Northrop Grumman, is designed for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions. it is being tested over Area 51, pictured, at the moment . The Air Force nor Northrop Grumman have wished to comment on the classified airplane. Air Force spokeswoman Jennifer Cassidy said that the Air Force ‘does not discuss this program’. This aircraft’s design is key for the shift of Air Force ISR assets away from ‘permissive’ environments - such as Iraq and Afghanistan, where Northrop Grumman’s non-stealthy Global Hawk and General Atomics’ Reaper operate - and toward operations in ‘contested’ or ‘denied’ airspace, according to Aviation Week. Big plane: Publicly available overhead imagery shows that new hangars at Northrop's Palmdale, California, site and at the Air Force's Area 51 test center in Groom Lake, Nevada, have been built to hold an aircraft with a wing span of more than 130 feet . The new UAS underpins the Air Force’s determination to retire a version of the RQ-4B Global Hawk after 2014, despite congressional resistance. The RQ-180 eclipses the smaller, less stealthy and shorter-range RQ-170 Sentinel. The plane will be another to the growing fleet manufactured by Northrop Grumman. The latest was the Triton unmanned aircraft system which completed its first flight from the Northrop Grumman manufacturing facility in Palmdale on May 22. The 80-minute flight successfully demonstrated control systems that allow Triton to operate autonomously. Triton is designed to fly surveillance missions up to 24-hours at altitudes of more than 10 miles, allowing coverage out to 2,000 nautical miles. Fleet of UAS planes: The Triton unmanned aircraft system is shown completing its first flight from the Northrop Grumman manufacturing facility in Palmdale, California, in May . If the previous patterns for secret ISR . aircraft operations are followed for the RQ-180, the new UAV will be jointly controlled . by the Air Force and the CIA. This arrangement has been used for the RQ-170, which is operated by the Air Force’s 30th Reconnaissance Sqdn., according to a fact sheet the Air Force released after one of the aircraft turned up in Iran in December 2011. The Iranians proudly displayed on state television a stealthy U.S. unmanned aircraft it claimed it had downed while conducting reconnaissance overflights, which turned out to be the RQ-170. Northrop Grumman’s financial reports point to a possible award of a secret UAS contract in 2008, when the company disclosed a $2 billion increase in the backlog in its Integrated Systems division, said Aviation Week. This year, Northrop Grumman financial reports acknowledged that an unnamed aircraft program entered low-rate initial production, the Pentagon term for low-volume deliveries that begin as testing and near completion, and before the program is approved for full production. | The Air Force’s new secret superspy plane is flying in the airspace above Area 51 and will likely be ready for missions by 2015 .
The large unmanned RQ-180, developed by Northrop Grumman, is designed for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions .
New hangars at Northrop's Palmdale, .
California, site and at the Air Force's Area 51 test center in Groom .
Lake, Nevada, have been built to hold an aircraft with a wing span of .
more than 130 feet .
It is set to take the place of .
Lockheed Martin Corp.'s RQ-170 Sentinel, the plane used in the .
operation that killed Osama Bin Laden . |
137,838 | 3e41489ede3687a9de9495b07972608183137793 | A young filmmaker has remade one of the most successful movies ever - Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark - by putting his family puppy in the starring role. Zach King, 23, from Portland, Oregon, used his Boxer puppy Indy to create a short homage to Steven Spielberg's action classic called Indiana Bones and the Raiders of the Lost Bark. The five minute film recreates famous scenes from the original movie, including when Harrison Ford's character uses his whip to swing across a gap and also the moment he rescues his hat from under a closing door. It also features Indiana Bones running to escape a giant rolling boulder. But rather than facing evil Nazi soldiers looking for world domination, the canine Indy has to face a rather cuter enemy - kittens. It is the latest in a number of animal based remakes that Mr King has produced including Jedi Kittens and Jedi Kittens Strike Back. Mr King said it took him and his friend Jadon Gauthier several days to film the Indiana Bones film, which charts the puppy searching for his lost bark. They created outfits and props for the animals out of pieces of cardboard. Writing on his YouTube channel FinalCutKing, he said: 'This video was created with 3 rolls of duct tape, 108 glue sticks, 18 large boxes of cardboard, a few all nighters with an adorable puppy.' Mr King has even had a special film poster by artist Josh Kenfield made to go along with the movie. Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark, directed by Stephen Spielberg in 1981, is one of the highest grossing movies ever made and won five Oscars. Zach King's puppy Indy took the starring role played by Harrison Ford in his short Indiana Jones remake . The original Indiana Jones films starred Harrison Ford in the lead role as the whip cracking archaeologist and were some of the most successful action movies ever made by combining comedy, fantasy and adventure . Artist Josh Kenfield produced a movie poster based on the original to go with the spoof Indiana Bones film . He is already well known on Vine for his cleverly edited six second videos that appear to show him doing impossible magic tricks. A cinema and media arts graduate he won YouTube's NextUp Creators Contest in 2013. Earlier this year Mr King told the Independent that he would like to move on from short films to one day direct his own action adventure feature film. He said: 'Someday I would love to direct feature films – action-adventure titles would be the dream genre to produce. 'But I'm loving being an online content creator right now and I have a large audience so I want to keep creating content for them.' | The five minute film was created by Zach King using his Boxer puppy Indy .
Mr King and his friends spent days recreating scenes from the hit movie .
They used cardboard, glue and Duct tape to create costumes and props .
The villains, which were Nazis in the original movie, are played by kittens . |
268,637 | e7fa186e5f58023920a0683461419ab77b426d9f | By . Harriet Arkell . A masked man ran into a hotel in Northern Ireland last night, throwing a firebomb at the reception desk and telling staff they had 30 minutes to escape. The bomb detonated, damaging the reception area of the Everglades Hotel in the Prehen area of Londonderry but lives were saved by staff and police organising a mass evacuation just in time, police said. A flare-up of violence in Northern Ireland had been anticipated a month ago after Gerry Adams was arrested by police in connection with the murder of Jean McConville in 1972. Today, Northern Ireland’s new chief constable in-waiting vowed to bring to justice to the dissident republicans he held responsible for the attack. Scroll down for video . Forensics staff inspect the reception desk of the Everglades hotel in Londonerry after a bomb went off . A masked man ran into the hotel in the Prehen area of the city with the bomb and told staff to evacuate people . Terror attack: No-one was injured in the explosion which happened shortly after 11pm last night . George Hamilton, appointed to the high-profile role yesterday, said: 'I think the fact it has happened indicates some of the challenges that face us. 'These are people who are opposed to peace, they are people who are trying to use violence, who are damaging the economic well-being of the country, who are taking jobs off people and they don’t actually care about this place or about the citizens of it. I do, deeply. 'We will be doing everything in our power possible to prevent occurrences like that and when they do occur we will be doing everything possible to bring those responsible to justice.' A holdall containing the fire bomb was hurled into the reception area of the four-star hotel in the Prehen area of the city shortly after 11pm last night by a masked man claiming to be from the IRA. Witness Gary Rutherford said he had just dropped off relatives at the hotel entrance when a man covering his face with a mask and hood ran past him, tossed a bag containing the bomb at the reception desk, and warned they had 30 minutes to escape. 'Someone set off the fire alarm and I called the police. It was quite confusing at the time for most of the guests because they were in bed. It was mayhem,' said Rutherford, whose family was staying at the hotel in preparation for a relative's funeral today. Charred: Hotel manager Neil Devlin inspects the damage outside the Everglades Hotel in Londonderry today . Disruption: Guests were evacuated from the hotel and moved to hotels elsewhere in the city . A police forensics expert combs the reception area of the four-star hotel - no-one was injured in the attack . Police . praised the efforts of hotel staff and Police Service Northern Ireland . (PSNI) officers on the scene for evacuating guests before the bomb went . off. A PSNI spokeswoman said: 'Their actions have undoubtedly helped to prevent a tragedy.' Hotel guests were found alternative accommodation in the city. Foyle MP Mark Durkan said: 'People of Derry won’t see this as an attack against a particular site but an attack against the whole city. 'So many people are working hard to move the city forward, but those behind this device are trying to drag us all back to worse times. 'The nature of the device, and the manner of this reckless attack, show that they are a threat to anyone and everyone. That is why we must be united and strong in rejecting their ways.' | Hurls holdall containing device at staff and tells them they've got 30 minutes .
Witnesses say the man said he was from the IRA before fleeing around 11pm .
Staff and police evacuate hotel just in time, 'saving lives', say police officers .
Reception area at the four-star Everglades hotel in Prehen area is burnt .
New Northern Ireland police chief vows to bring justice to those responsible . |
161,985 | 5d733e18afba559c14866e2a714a6168db7d513b | Tottenham head coach Mauricio Pochettino has declared he intends to write himself into the club’s history books by getting the better of Arsenal in his first North London derby. The Argentinian says he knows exactly how significant the fixture is for supporters of both sides and has called upon his players to show bravery as well as skill at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday evening. The 42-year-old, who left Southampton in May to succeed Tim Sherwood at White Hart Lane said: 'We are ambitious. We arrived three months ago and we need to make our way but we are focused on the game and know the history. But it is also important to write the history, starting now.' Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino takes charge of his first North London derby on Saturday . Rafael Van der Vaart (left) and Gareth Bale celebrate Tottenham's 3-2 victory at Arsenal in November 2010 . The history books show that Arsenal enjoy a vastly superior record in home derbies as Tottenham’s only away victory since May 1993 was a 3-2 success in November 2010. But Pochettino’s first derby while in charge of Espanyol saw his under-dogs beat Barcelona 2-1 at the Nou Camp and he outlined the ingredients he believed his players would need to succeed on Saturday. He said: 'We need to be clear in our own way and in our performance. We need to put in a good performance from beginning to end to get the victory. We need to be aggressive and focused on our job, never give up and try to get the victory - this is the winning mentality we need to have.' Ryan Mason (centre) celebrates his goal against Nottingham Forest in the Capital One Cup on Wednesday . Roberto Soldado (left) is congratulated by Andros Townsend as Spurs beat Forest 3-1 at White Hart Lane . Tottenham have taken just a single point from their last three Premier League games, against Liverpool, Sunderland and West Bromwich having beaten West Ham and Queens Park Rangers in their first two, but did dispose of Championship leaders Nottingham Forest in the Capital One Cup on Wednesday night, coming back from a goal down to win 3-1. Pochettino added: 'It was a different competition but it was important for our confidence. But we know we need to change. The game on Saturday is different to Nottingham Forest and different to West Bromwich. We need to show our skill and we need to be brave to play against Arsenal.' | Mauricio Pochettino takes charge of Spurs in his first North London derby at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday .
Tottenham have only claimed one away victory at Arsenal since May 1993 .
The White Hart Lane club have claimed just one point for their last three Premier League games .
Pochettino's side beat Nottingham Forest 3-1 in the Capital One Cup on Wednesday . |
16,073 | 2d9107589b99b5234752cc2af4fcb329fd69006b | PUBLISHED: . 12:38 EST, 27 November 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 23:06 EST, 27 November 2012 . A four-year-old girl is recovering in hospital after falling over - and impaling her face on a screwdriver. Jiali, from Tianshui, Gansu Province, China, fell on the household tool while visiting her grandmother. She had been holding it in her hand when she slipped and fell face first, accidentally driving the implement - believed to be of the Phillips variety - up her nose. Painful: Jiali, from Tianshui, Gansu Province, China, fell on the household tool while visiting her grandmother . She fell with such force that the screwdriver wedged itself just below her eye socket, narrowly missing her brain. The little girl was rushed to hospital where medics performed a series of x-rays and CAT scans to see if any lasting damage had been caused. Ouch: X-ray pictures and CAT scans showed that the screwdriver entered from Jiali's left nostril and penetrated to the bottom of her left eye socket . Up the nose: She had been holding it in her hand when she slipped and fell face first, accidentally driving the implement - believed to be of the Phillips variety - up her nose . Indeed, the screwdriver had lodged itself so firmly and close to her brain that doctors at first were unsure whether it would be possible to remove it without causing Jiali serious long-term damage. Jiali was taken to the local hospital . but was transferred two more times because staff felt they were unable . to deal with the injury. Concern: Jiali's mother comforts her before the operation could take place . Scanned: The screwdriver had lodged itself so firmly and close to her brain that doctors at first were unsure whether it would be possible to remove it without causing Jiali serious long-term damage . A source said: 'It really was touch and go for a while. There was a genuine concern that it would be impossible to remove it safely. 'The first two hospitals that she went to had no idea what to do. They had never seen anything like it before.' But fortunately it was not Chief surgeon Yu Qin's first time removing a household implement from a child's face. Experience: Fortunately it was not Chief surgeon Yu Qin's first time removing a household implement from a child's face . In theatre: Nurses and doctors gather round Jiali to during the delicate procedure to remove the screwdriver . On the mend: Nevertheless, Dr Qin was able to remove the screwdriver while also managing to preserve the little girl's looks . But even he was apprehensive. He said: 'It's only 2-3mm from the bottom of the skull. It's very dangerous.' Nevertheless, Dr Qin was able to remove the screwdriver while also managing to preserve the little girl's looks. | Jiali, from Tianshui, Gansu Province, China, had been holding the tool when she fell, accidentally driving it up her nose .
She fell with such force that the screwdriver wedged itself just below her eye .
Jiali was taken to the local hospital but was transferred two more times because staff felt they were unable to deal with the injury .
But fortunately it was not Chief Surgeon Yu Qin's first time removing a household implement from a child's face and he removed it . |
257,306 | d902a3e79a85bbeaa859e04d495a49c5413cafb0 | Abu Dhabi (CNN) -- China's Xi Jinping, who is expected to be named president in March and likely next premier Li Keqiang will inherit a foreign policy that puts a premium on partnerships that can help China fuel its resource-hungry economy. In the world of geo-politics, symbolism goes a long way in forging lasting, strategic relations. This is certainly the case when it comes to China's role within the Middle East, specifically with Saudi Arabia, the country with the world's largest proven oil reserves. When King Abdullah took over the throne in Saudi Arabia, his first foreign visit in January 2006 was to Beijing after an invitation of President Hu Jintao. Six years later, the countries' two state-run energy giants, China's Sinopec and Saudi Aramco, inked a huge oil agreement guaranteeing the Asian nation an additional 400,000 barrels a day from a Red Sea refinery in the Saudi city of Yanbu. This is on top of the estimated one million barrels of oil a day it now orders from the Kingdom. "We need China as much as China needs us," said Khalid Al-Falih in a CNN interview right after he signed the agreement, "But the energy corridor is only part of it. We envisage an exchange of goods and services and trade in other areas that add value to the Chinese economy and to the Saudi economy as well." That deal follows a major equity investment in the Fujian province where Saudi Aramco invested in petrochemical manufacturing facilities along with U.S. energy giant ExxonMobil. In the 19th century the battle over influence of Central Asia was described as the "Great Game" as the British and Russian empires vied for control and influence in the region. In the 21st century, one may view China's influence in the Middle East in a similar vein. "Clearly there are mutual interests in terms of large energy suppliers and consumers, but there will be stress points, of course," said Ben Simpfendorfer, co-founder of Silk Road Associates, an investment advisory firm specializing on trade between the Middle East and Far East Asia. China, experts say, is keen to lock in strategic commodity supplies rather than exercise political influence at this juncture. This is reflected in its vetoes -- together with Russia -- striking down resolutions against Syria on the United Nations Security Council. This strategy of non-intervention may not be sustainable, says Simpfendorfer, "I think China's position will be challenged by the Gulf countries and that is certainly a risk the new leadership has to look out for" especially since Beijing is so dependent on the region to fuel its economic expansion. But one cannot doubt whether the world's second largest economy is instrumental in rebuilding the ancient Silk Road. China continues to go to great lengths to foster developing market trade partners -- some argue to exploit their natural resources in the case of Africa -- as part of its "Great Game" strategy. China rolls out the welcome mat on its soil, for example recently inviting Arab leaders to Yinchuan, in northern-central part of the country, for the 3rd China-Arab States Economic and Trade Forum. There are some lofty expectations for trade between China and the Arab states. The United Arab Emirates' foreign trade minister, Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, said bilateral trade between the Gulf and China could hit $300 billion by 2014. Trade between China and the UAE grew 10% last year alone, witnessing a fivefold increase in less than a decade. Some see Dubai's Jebel Ali port as an excellent gateway for China into the African continent. This keen business interest in the Middle East is not likely to change with Xi Jinping taking over the helm in 2013, but is China ready for a G-2 world dominated by Washington and Beijing? Not yet, strategists suggest. Beijing prefers the relative comfort of the broader G-20 world that brings the developed and developing world under one umbrella, with the ability for the new leaders of China to seek political alignment from BRICS partners Brazil, Russia, India and South Africa. All the while, China continues to blaze new trails beyond the Middle East in search of strategic supplies. This autumn, the country made inroads into Afghanistan with the first high level visit in more than a half century. The bounty is a promising one with more than a trillion dollars of mineral deposits estimated in the country. China's "Great Game" continues with an ever expanding footprint from the Middle East well into South Asia. | China's foreign policy values relationships to fuel its resource-hungry economy .
Oil drives strategic relationship between Middle East and China .
China's "Great Game" seeks supplies rather than political influence . |
183,147 | 79385c8935353f94c496b7f84026d6b11426dd6f | By . Ray Massey, Transport Editor . The Government unlawfully censored an embarrassing report about the controversial HS2 rail project, it is claimed. Patrick . McLoughlin, the Transport Secretary, employed a special veto used in . wartime to stop the release of a damning internal report about the . planned High Speed 2 line. In . an unprecedented move, Christopher Graham, the Information . Commissioner, has announced that he will seek a judicial review of the . veto. The Government is set to face High Court challenges after ministers used a wartime veto to censor information about the controversial HS2 high speed rail project . Mr Graham said he had ‘not taken the . decision lightly’, but added that it was a matter of principle since the . censorship was ‘unlawful’. He said ministers had acted unreasonably because there was ‘no demonstrable flaw in fact or law’ in an earlier order to publish. In . January, Mr McLoughlin used a rare emergency veto to ban publication of . a Project Assessment Report on the £50billion rail line. The . Information Commissioner had ruled six months earlier that the findings . must be published. But the Government refused to comply – first . appealing against the decision, then imposing the veto.Anti-HS2 campaigners accused the Government of censorship. They . suspect that the report undermines the case for the project and should . be published in the public interest. It is believed to contain . ‘red/amber’ warnings, which suggest the scheme could be in danger of . failing. The information Commissioner Christopher Graham and campaigners including Warwickshire GP Paul Thorton have launched legal action, with Mr Graham calling for a judicial review . But ministers argued the report on . the rail line, planned to connect London with Birmingham and the North, . was confidential advice to them from civil servants. Mr . Graham has raised the stakes, announcing in a letter to Sir Alan Beith . MP, the Justice Committee chairman, that he will challenge the veto in . the High Court. Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin told Parliament he was imposing the veto on the report which labelled HS2 in danger of failing . Mr McLoughlin has insisted it was ‘in the public interest’ to block publication of the document. Justifying . his ‘exceptional’ decision, he said that protecting the impartiality of . civil servants’ advice to ministers must take precedence over . disclosure to the public. But . furious protesters said it was the first time the secrecy laws had been . invoked since the Iraq War. They branded the gagging order ‘absolutely . disgraceful’ and said it was a ‘delaying tactic’ ahead of a . parliamentary vote on HS2. Announcing . his legal challenge, Mr Graham said: ‘The information in the HS2 . Project Assessment Report is all environmental information, and my . decision notice of 6 June 2013 (his earlier ruling on publication) was . issued in exercise of my obligations under the Environment Information . Regulations. ‘Therefore under UK law as it currently stands . . . the Secretary of State’s veto of my decision is unlawful. ‘The . reasons given for the HS2 veto do not amount to reasonable grounds, as . they merely express disagreement with the reasons given in my decision.’ He . added that he had taken into account a recent Court of Appeal decision . that it was wrong for Attorney General Dominic Grieve to prevent the . publication of 27 letters written by Prince Charles to ministers. Mr . Grieve used a veto to stop the letters – which were said to be lobbying . on climate change – being published under a Freedom of Information . request. That Court of . Appeal judgment, which is still subject to appeal to the Supreme Court, . states that using the ministerial veto on environmental information is . incompatible with European law. Campaigner . Richard Houghton, of HS2 Action Alliance, said: ‘So far as we can see, . the last time secrecy laws of this nature were invoked was during the . Iraq war. The implications are immense.’ | Christopher Graham is launching a judicial review over censored report .
Warwickshire GP Paul Thornton is taking his own legal action .
It comes after Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin overruled Commissioner's decision to publish a report stating HS2 could fail .
Veto was imposed in January prompting accusations of censorship . |
64,391 | b6d40077bdfb2625864ad0a04c3b270e7b73754d | Washington (CNN) -- The military's top brass went into damage control mode Friday after a picture of an elite Marine unit posing with a flag symbol that is similar to a Nazi "SS" logo surfaced on the Internet a day earlier. First, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta asked the Marine Corps to look into the matter and take appropriate action, according to Pentagon spokesman George Little. "Racist and anti-Semitic symbols have absolutely no place alongside the men and women of America's armed forces," Little said in a statement. Then the Marine Corps Commandant, Gen. James Amos, weighed in, apologizing to "all offended by this regrettable incident." "I want to be clear that the Marine Corps unequivocally does not condone the use of any such symbols to represent our units or Marines," Amos said. Marine Corps Scout Snipers from the 1st Reconnaissance Battalion are seen in the photo standing and kneeling with their sniper rifles in front of a blue flag with white Nazi "SS" runes. The picture was taken in 2010 in Afghanistan and the photo's description says the "SS" flag had been "adopted and used by the Marines in reference to Scout Sniper." The Military Religious Freedom Foundation was alerted to the photo by Marines who expressed their concern, said group founder Mikey Weinstein. MRFF then distributed it to news organizations. The Marine Corps said it became aware of the photo last November and the local command investigated, but found it not to be racially motivated, according to a statement released by a Marine Corps spokesman, Lt. Col. Stewart Upton. The unit's commander decided not to proceed with disciplinary action, it said, but all Marines in the unit were reminded that such behavior will not be tolerated and any further display could result in punishment. "They determined that the Marines in the photo were ignorant of the connection of this symbol to the Holocaust and monumental atrocities associated with Nazi Germany," Amos said in his statement Friday. The Marines involved were made to take a formal instructional class, however, so that they fully understood the historical use of the SS symbology, he said. In Nazi Germany, SS stood for "Schutzstaffel," the elite paramilitary force of Adolf Hitler's party. SS units were frequently involved in war crimes, including the extermination of millions of Jews. Weinstein said the Marines who spoke out were infuriated by the photo but were worried about reprisal from their chain of command. In a letter to Amos, Weinstein's foundation asked that "everyone associated with the matter, including anyone who condoned it, be the subject of immediate and public court-martial proceedings." A Jewish human rights group, which also called on the U.S. government to open a new investigation into the matter, said it received a call from Panetta's chief of staff, Jeremy Bash, informing them that the secretary shares the groups concerns that this is a very serious matter. "I feel reassured that Secretary Panetta himself has now taken charge of this matter," said founder and dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, Rabbi Marvin Hier. While the insignia has been unofficially used by Scout Snipers in the past, the Marine Corps said it is absolutely prohibited, the statement from Upton said. "Certainly, the use of the "SS runes" is not acceptable and Scout Snipers have been addressed concerning this issue," the statement said. "'SS runes are prohibited from use as a symbol or any other use." In Amos' statement Friday, the top Marine outlined the steps the service will take to make sure all Marines understand the Corps' position. Amos directed commanders to investigate the prevalence of the use of SS or other unauthorized symbols within the reconnaissance and sniper communities, and dispatched the Marine Corps' sergeant majors to meet personally with every senior staff noncommissioned officer. He asked that the commanding general in charge of training and education review the current sniper school curriculum to ensure it contains prohibitions on the use of SS and other inappropriate symbols. | NEW: Panetta orders investigation; Marine commandant apologizes .
Wiesenthal Center calls for fresh investigation of Marines' SS flag use .
Marine Snipers posed with the symbol in Afghanistan in 2010 .
An official says the Marines weren't aware of the symbol's significance . |
30,824 | 579f16eaf55685de58e1c6d1d4c0d4e41f7df719 | (CNN) -- South Sudan is in the news but not for the reasons that moved me to fly halfway around the world to the country were I was born. South Sudan, my country, has been criticized for not having done enough since its independence. The naysayers seem to have forgotten that this is a country that was mired in civil war for decades and that only a little over a year ago broke free from the chains of the North. Still it is fighting to negotiate a fair agreement for the oil on the dangerous and contentious border while generously hosting over 170,000 Sudanese refugees. Its population has bulged with hundreds of thousands of South Sudanese returning home. Imagine the U.S. in the first year of its independence. Read more: End the suffering in the Sudans . In July, I traveled home with the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) to commemorate the one-year anniversary of independence. I hadn't been to South Sudan since the peace agreement in 2005. I never thought I would see a free South Sudan. It was overwhelming. The story that is not being told is that in spite of all the challenges -- the country is teeming with hope. Opinion: President al-Bashir feels heat from 'Sudanese Spring' For instance, my nephew, who was born in England, moved to South Sudan to start a telecommunications firm. He gave up the comforts of London because he believes in South Sudan's future. He is just one of thousands with a vision for their country that only an appetite inspired by decades of bloodshed can foster. During my trip I met dozens of people from the First Lady of the country to refugees who had returned from Khartoum, most were brimming with ideas about how to restart their lives and contribute to their new home. South Sudanese people are rich like the soul of their nation. What they lack in training they make up in sheer willpower. Read related: Which countries take in most refugees? Not the West . I visited a woman UNHCR helped settle in a village near Juba. Naomi, 83, is taking care of her grandchildren. All three of her sons were killed during the civil war. Her story moved me to tears. She should be relaxing and enjoying the fruits of her labor but instead is still taking care of babies. Naomi reminded me of my own grandmother who endured the civil wars and those who lost someone to violence. Yet in spite of all this pain, Naomi exuded hope. More: South Sudan marathoner is an Olympian without a country . At the Independence Day ceremony President Kir rallied the people reminding them that they had won their freedom but the battle was not over. Now they must build their nation. What South Sudan needs to do is invest in education. Over 50% of the country is young people. I read in a report that a South Sudanese girl is three times more likely to die in childbirth than reach eighth grade. Read related: Sudan, South Sudan settle oil dispute . My father instilled in me a fierce commitment to education and that is why at the TEDx Juba conference I shared my vision for the future of South Sudan -- infrastructure development and education. As a member of the South Sudanese diaspora I hope to help continue his legacy. UNHCR, which has been helping thousands of South Sudanese who have returned rebuild their lives, is compromised by the crisis on the border. This month's rains have worsened an already dire situation for the refugees. Unfortunately, aid organizations can only do so much. They need help to work with both the returning population and the refugees at the same time. Blog: Four ways social media could transform conflict in Africa . This is why I am hope to continue to partner with UNHCR to foster education opportunities in the town where I grew up and help contribute to a successful future for my country. You can help me help South Sudan by going to www.UNRefugees.org/Alek. Charity Tooze contributed to this report. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Alek Wek. | South Sudanese supermodel traveled home for the first anniversary of the country's independence .
She says the new country should focus on infrastructure development and education .
UNHCR report says a South Sudanese girl is three times more likely to die in childbirth than reach 8th grade . |
147,514 | 4aba8c4dc4718262361064f098ac1bbc40fd7534 | (CNN) -- Ever since we saw him pop up on "The Walking Dead" last season, we've been wondering: Does Eugene really have the cure for the show's "walker virus"? Sunday night's episode gave us a definitive answer to this burning question: Eugene is a fraud; he's not a scientist and doesn't actually know how to cure the plague. We spoke to Josh McDermitt, who plays Eugene, about his time on "The Walking Dead" and what might be next for the character (that is, assuming he's OK after being beaten up by Michael Cudlitz's Abraham). Also, we talked mullets: . CNN: Were you surprised at the truth about Eugene, or were you told ahead of time? Josh McDermitt: When I booked the role, I knew that Eugene wasn't a scientist, but I didn't know it was gonna come this season. When I sat down with (executive producer) Scott Gimple at the start of the season, we started to detail everything in vague terms about what's gonna happen for the character and the season. He said, "In episode five, we'll find out he's not a scientist." I was like, wow, I didn't expect it to come that quick. I thought it would play out over the season. For it to happen that quickly, it will be fun to see where Eugene heads next -- if he's alive! CNN: What do you think of Eugene's true motivation? McDermitt: I think we'd all be scared in this apocalypse. Some people have the strength and agility to rise to the top, and then there's people like Eugene who have to improvise and figure out a different way to survive. Abraham says it's to the point where everyone still alive is really strong, and either they help you or you kill them. Eugene looks at himself as not having anything to offer to the group. It's a scary place. I will defend the guy in terms of wanting to survive. I don't know if I would lie like that, but I'm just happy I didn't get Daryl killed or anything -- then everyone would hate Eugene for sure. Now they're just upset the hope is gone. CNN: What can you tell us about his current relationship with Abraham after this huge fight? McDermitt: It's not just that, it's the relationship he has with Rosita and Tara. He and Tara feel like outsiders, and she's trying to work her way back into the group. I think that's where Eugene will want to go: "How do I get back into this group? How do I patch up the damage I've done and figure out where my place is in this group?" There's a little bit of hope for Eugene, but at this point he's a broken man, starting over. CNN: How much did you know about "The Walking Dead" going in? McDermitt: I knew the comic but hadn't read it. Once I found out who it was I was playing, I went back and quickly caught up. It was very informative to see the choices (creator Robert) Kirkman made that they didn't necessarily go with (on) the show. I was able to bring some of that from the comics into the character and that brings something to what we're doing. I had to put it down for a while, because I was afraid I would influence it too much. I was a giant fan of the show and didn't want to be the one that ruined it. (laughs) CNN: So we have to ask: How do you like having a mullet? McDermitt: In the audition they're very secretive; they won't tell you the character name. The character they had me reading had a mohawk. I got so excited that I might have a mohawk. Then when I found out it was a mullet, I was like this is the only haircut I could get better. To be able to go on TV and be instantly recognizable as this guy representing so many lost souls in our country. I don't think we've had a good mullet on TV since Uncle Jesse from "Full House," so I'm glad to bring it back. CNN: What is next for Abraham's army? McDermitt: At this moment, they're still together. We're not gonna flash-forward six months or anything. We'll see how the damage is repaired, and it's not pretty, I'll tell you that. | 'The Walking Dead's' biggest mystery: Does Eugene hold the key to curing the "walker virus"?
Eugene (played by Josh McDermitt) had a big episode Sunday night .
McDermitt describes what's up with his character as well as his infamous mullet . |
735 | 022372866822cdec460aae2f0966668096105a9c | A Nebraska toddler who repeated a slew of profanities in an online video has been taken into child protective custody, Omaha police said Wednesday. While authorities found nothing criminal in the video, officials from the Omaha police's Child Victim Unit and the Nebraska Child Protective Services took the infant and three other children into custody on Wednesday, the police department said on its Facebook page. The joint investigation found safety concerns, the statement said. CNN learned of development through Twitter. In the video, the diapered child is bombarded with obscenities and racial slurs by the adults around him. The African-American toddler knocks down a chair and gives nearly as good as he gets, responding to some of the comments with an upraised middle finger and telling one of the adults at one point, "Shut up, bitch." The adults laugh and prompt him to repeat other crudities. Just another day on the Internet -- until the police union in Omaha, Nebraska, posted the clip on its website to highlight what it called the "cycle of violence and thuggery" the community faces. Police union draws fire over swearing toddler 'thug' video . The Omaha Police Officers Association came under fire from the city's police chief, the ACLU and at least one community leader. They say the move needlessly antagonizes the city's minority communities, who make up about a quarter of Omaha's 409,000 residents. Sgt. John Wells, the union's president, said the video was "disturbing" and "offensive." "The focus here isn't on any particular ethnic group. The focus here is on the troubling behavior towards this child," Wells said. "This behavior is going to potentially lead this child down a path that is completely unhealthy." On the website where the video is hosted, the union said the clip came from "a local thug's public Facebook page." "We here at OmahaPOA.com viewed the video and we knew that despite the fact that it is sickening, heartbreaking footage, we have an obligation to share it to continue to educate the law abiding public about the terrible cycle of violence and thuggery that some young innocent children find themselves helplessly trapped in," the police union wrote in a post accompanying the video. "Now while we didn't see anything in this video that is blatantly 'illegal,' we sure did see a lot that is flat out immoral and completely unhealthy for this little child from a healthy upbringing standpoint," it added. Wells said one of the adults mentions a local street gang in the video. "That is why when we talk about the culture, the criminal culture, that this is to try to break the cycle and deal with the culture of violence and the culture of gang activity," he said. But in a city where police officers' treatment of minorities led to lawsuits, criminal charges against two officers and the firings and reassignments of several others in the past year, critics say the video is poking at raw wounds. Willie Hamilton, president of the community activist group Black Men United, said the union "crossed a line by doing this." "For them to take a video out of context -- a 2-year-old who doesn't have the brain capacity to know what's going on -- and to say that this child, because two adults acted inappropriately, is going to end up in a life of crime is totally inappropriate," Hamilton said. And the American Civil Liberties Union of Nebraska, which filed an excessive-force suit against the Omaha Police Department on behalf of an African-American family on Monday, said the union's use of "racially charged language" was "very disconcerting." Police Chief Todd Schmaderer tried to distance his agency from the controversy in a statement issued Tuesday, saying that the union's website and Facebook page are separate from those of the Omaha Police Department and that he has little authority over the public statements of union members. "With that background and understanding, I want to make it explicit and clear that the views expressed on the OPOA Facebook page do not necessarily reflect the official stance of the Omaha Police Department," Schmaderer said. "I strongly disagree with any postings that may cause a divide in our community or an obstacle to police community relations." Wells said union members have turned the video over to the department's child victim unit, which will work with child-welfare agencies to investigate the circumstances. He said the organization "didn't think we'd get this big of a reaction." "Hopefully, the impact is, it gives law-abiding citizens what law enforcement deals with on a daily basis, and it sort of throws back the blinders that these type of problems are going on," he said. "And we can have a very frank and open discussion on how to tackle these issues and come up with solutions." | Authorities say there was no crime committed, but safety concerns existed .
Video shows toddler bombarded with obscenities, coached to respond in kind .
Omaha police union says it illustrates "a cycle of violence and thuggery"
ACLU and African-American leaders blast the posting of the video . |
112,431 | 1d07e816a7a00134dd931f26a29dcec3779fe563 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 20:55 EST, 7 February 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 20:55 EST, 7 February 2014 . Property sales grew at their fastest annual rate in a decade in the six months to September 2013, according to a report. It showed that the housing market revival has spread across England and Wales – and is not just limited to London. Every town in the North, the West Midlands, Wales and the capital recorded a year-on-year increase in home sales, research by Lloyds Bank found. Boom: A new report shows the speed of property sales has increased faster than at any point in the last decade . Across England and Wales as a whole, 98 per cent of towns were found to have enjoyed an annual uplift in sales. A year earlier, just over a quarter of towns saw a year-on-year increase. The report, which used Land Registry figures, found there were 396,756 house sales in the six months to September, marking an increase of 21 per cent on the same period in 2012 – and the highest year-on-year increase in a decade. But property sales were still 41 per cent below a market peak of 673,699 sales in the half-year to September 2006 at the height of the boom. In further evidence that the market pick-up is spreading beyond London, Lloyds found that the North West and the East Midlands saw a 23 per cent rise in activity between March to September 2012 and the same period a year later. Revival: The increase is backed by a steady increase in house prices . On a more local level, the East London borough of Newham saw the largest year-on-year increase in home sales, with a 62 per cent rise in the six months to September compared with the same period a year earlier. Crowborough in East Sussex saw the biggest drop in home sales over the same period, with a 10 per cent fall in transactions. Marc Page, mortgages director at Lloyds Bank, said: 'Low interest rates, improvements in consumer confidence and Government schemes, such as Help to Buy, all appear to have contributed to the rise in home sales.' | Report from Lloyds Bank found increases have spread across the country .
Every town in the North, West Midlands and Wales recorded an increase .
But it is still 41 per cent less than the sales peak in 2006 . |
170,737 | 68fcd1b4e9e1f166fb676badc6c323d20fd4e410 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 09:25 EST, 12 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 13:15 EST, 12 November 2013 . A man has been arrested for kidnapping and sexual assaulting a 14-year-old Texas girl who was trick-or-treating with her friends on Halloween, while his alleged accomplice is still at large. Eric Bonilla, 23, was arrested on November 1, the day after Halloween, for abducting the young girl allegedly with the help of another man, Daryl Wayne Mayberry, 28. The men allegedly lured the young girl into their truck at the intersection of Las Cruces Avenue and Oak Knoll Lane in Houston, Texas, while she was trick-or-treating . Charged: Eric Bonilla, 23, left, has been arrested for kidnapping the 14-year-old girl with the help of Daryl Wayne Mayberry, 28, right, on Halloween . They were driving a red Chevrolet Avalanche and the girl noticed that one of the men was holding what appeared to be a taser gun, according to the Houston Chronicle. The two men drove her to a nearby park where Bonilla sexually assaulted her while Mayberry acted as a lookout, according to Harris County court documents. Documents state the girl was held by the pair for 10 hours before she was released in the early morning hours of November 1, after which she walked to her school where she was reunited with her parents. The girl told her parents what had happened and they began driving around their neighborhood looking for the truck she described. They found a truck matching her description and called police. A 10-hour ordeal: The two suspects took the girl to this house at 8930 Laura Koppe, East Houston, where they kept her hostage for 10 hours. She was abducted in the red Chevrolet Avalanche driven by the men . Houston police say they found a police-type jacket and police patches in the vehicle, along with a white towel and pepper spray. Bonilla initially denied having any sexual contact with the girl, but did say they had picked her up. During interrogation he later admitted to having sexual intercourse with the girl and police say he provided information to identify Mayberry. Bonilla is being held on a $30,000 bond and an arrest warrant has been issued for Mayberry, who is charged with aggravated kidnapping. Bonilla has been charged with aggravated kidnapping and sexual assault of a child. | Eric Bonilla, 23, was arrested on November 1 for abducting and sexually assaulting the young girl .
Police are also seeking Daryl Wayne Mayberry, 28, .
The two men had allegedly lured the teen into their truck on Halloween night while she was trick-or-treating with friends .
Court documents say they took her to a park where Bonilla sexually molested her while Mayberry acted as a lookout . |
261,444 | de96c6a8a755162e17b79df0ab148dd71c0bbccf | Washington (CNN) -- Karen Harned has been going to the Supreme Court every day it has met since June 11 so there would be no chance she would miss the health care law ruling. Harned is director of the small business legal center of the National Federation of Independent Business, one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit that seeks to strike down the law. She and her group have worked through all of the possibilities and are ready to react to the court's ruling immediately. "We have done a lot of work on that because we think that is critical. We are in the 24-hour media cycle. The reporting will start immediately," she told CNN. Ron Pollack of Families USA, one of the major groups promoting the health care initiative, brought activists from a dozen key states to Washington last week to help plan the various messages and reaction plans for each of the possible scenarios depending on how the court rules. "Over the numerous weeks, we knew different possibilities could occur," Pollack told CNN. "Most of our focus is on what happens if the statute is upheld or partially upheld: where do we go from here and what do we want the public to understand?" Since Barack Obama took office, no other political issue has generated as much debate, tension and argument than health care reform and the government's role. Various constituencies -- the White House, Congress and a myriad of interest groups on all sides -- anxiously wait for the nation's high court to hand down its decision on one of the most divisive political issues it has taken up in many years. Congress ready for decision -- then it gets tricky . Their task has been complicated by a great deal of uncertainty: How many rulings will there actually be since the justices are considering several different aspects of the Affordable Care Act? Will the court decide to deal with the controversial individual mandate, which requires most citizens to buy health care insurance, separately than the rest of the law? Some interest groups have differing statements ready for seven or eight scenarios. Many of the groups will either be at the court on Thursday or race there so they can go to the cameras staked outside. The big four issues: What the justices are tackling . One coalition of labor and health care reform advocates already sent reporters an e-mail saying they'll hold a conference call at 12:30 p.m. on whatever day the ruling comes with the call-in number. Obama has the most at stake politically because the health care law is considered to be his signature domestic political achievement. A ruling by the court that all or part of the law is unconstitutional would be a black mark on his administration. No president wants to see his signature achievements overturned, said Paul Begala, a former senior adviser in Bill Clinton's White House and now an adviser to the pro-Obama super PAC Priorities USA as well as a CNN contributor. The White House has steadfastly refused to speculate about what will happen if the law is struck down. However, Valerie Jarrett, a senior White House adviser, said over the weekend at the National Association of Black Journalists convention that the administration is prepared for whatever the court does. She admitted the White House and Democratic congressional allies had been outmaneuvered as the issue was being debated. "The opponents of it outorganized -- in terms of the 'death panels' -- and distorted what we were doing early on," she said, referring to some opponents' assertion that the new law contained a provision that would have bureaucrats decide who would or wouldn't be treated. The Supreme Court health care decision will again put the issue front and center for presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney, who included the individual mandate as part of the health care overhaul he pushed while governor of Massachusetts but has said he does not favor the requirement on a national scale. "Regardless of what they do, it's going to be up to the next president to either repeal and replace Obamacare or to replace Obamacare. And I intend to do both, if I'm the president at a time when the Supreme Court has left Obamacare in place, I will repeal it on day one by sending out a waiver to all 50 states to keep them from having to pursue Obamacare," the presumptive Republican nominee said earlier this month in Orlando, Florida. While Romney would make the states responsible for helping the uninsured, he has said he would make sure to keep some of the more popular provisions of the health care overhaul, such as making sure people aren't dropped from coverage if they have a pre-existing condition. Your Bottom Line: Pre-existing conditions . Romney's campaign staff has been meeting with members of Congress on how they will react, with the Republican National Committee helping to prepare. House Speaker John Boehner said in a memo to House Republicans last week that "if the court strikes down all or part of the president's health care law, there will be no spiking of the ball." He said the emphasis will still be on the economy. "We will not celebrate at a time when millions of our fellow Americans are out of work." No matter the decision, analysts on both sides predict there will be political repercussions that could have a major effect on both presidential campaigns in trying to motivate their bases. If the court upholds the law, that could fire up Romney's supporters. "It is odd -- if you lose substantively, you might win politically," Begala said. If the mandate or entire bill is ruled unconstitutional, then the president's base could get motivated. "Democratic activists are very cynical about the Supreme Court," Begala added. Overturning the law could take away a strong motivator for Romney, some analysts have noted, but the president would get the political black eye. A health care 'Judas' recounts his conversion . "It is going to be the gift that keeps giving," said one Republican consultant. "What we are seeing with independent voters they are unhappy, disenchanted with Obama. This would just reinforce that." The problem for both parties is trying to decipher what exactly the public wants on this complex and emotional issue that affects most Americans. A CNN/ORC International poll conducted last month showed 51% of Americans surveyed oppose the law -- most of them because they think it goes too far but some who feel it doesn't go far enough -- while 43% favor it. However, a recent Pew Research Center poll found a majority would not be happy with any of the possible scenarios that analysts believe are likely to come from the court. When asked if they would be happy or unhappy depending on how the court might rule, 44% said they would be happy if the entire bill is thrown out; 40% would be happy if just the individual mandate alone is discarded; and 39% would be happy if the entire law is upheld. Despite the massive protests and attention paid to the issue, the American people don't really understand what is contained in the law -- a sign the White House has not done a good job of messaging. Some 49% in the Pew survey said they understand the law somewhat well, 31% said they understand it not too well or not well at all and only 18% said they understand it very well. According to analysis by CNN's ad-tracking service Kantar Media/CMAG, those opposing Obamacare outspent proponents by a 3-1 margin -- $235 million to $69 million -- from March 23, 2010, when the law was signed, through June 17. What to know about health care reform . Some Democrats privately acknowledge they have not done a good job of articulating their message. It's one reason that as they prepare for whatever comes out of the court, they are ready to trumpet some of the act's accomplishments so far. Democratic members of Congress have been given small cards touting such facts as: 6.6 million young adults up to age 26 have health insurance through their parents' plan; up to 17 million children with pre-existing conditions can no longer be denied coverage; 54 million Americans with private insurance have received one or more free preventive service and 5.1 million seniors saved $3.2 billion on prescription drugs. Conservatives have pounced on the uncertainties of the law as well as government overreach in its opposition. Concerned Women for America, for example, last week went up with a $6 million ad in six key electoral states (Iowa, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Virginia and Wisconsin) and national cable with a doctor saying: "The truth is, we still don't know how much this law will eventually cost. I don't want anything to come between my patients and me -- especially Washington bureaucrats." As for the insurers, they have been running what they call an aggressive education campaign to try to sell what it calls an "inextricable link" between market reforms and the coverage requirement. The insurers' trade group, America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), argues that to afford the changes, the companies need a larger insurance pool that comes with the mandate. If not, then consumers could be facing larger premiums. Also in a pre-emptive move, several major insurers, including Aetna, Humana and UnitedHealthcare, have announced they will allow children of their clients to stay on until they are 26 even if the law is thrown out. "We are ready for whatever the court decides. We will have a lot more when the court announces," said AHIP spokesman Robert Zirkelbach. Basics: Health care reform issues . CNNPolitics.com Editor Bryan Monroe contributed to this report. | Various constituencies anxiously wait for the high court to hand down its decision .
Some interest groups have differing statements ready for seven or eight scenarios .
President Barack Obama has the most at stake politically .
White House has refused to speculate about what will happen if the law is struck down . |
127,786 | 312d76cf0770f41a13fc480f617911417e8e7334 | By . James Nye . PUBLISHED: . 07:36 EST, 9 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 08:09 EST, 9 August 2013 . The family of an 18-year-old Miami graffiti artist who died after being chased and Tasered by a pair of Miami Beach police officers on Tuesday are outraged after witnesses described seeing the cops high-fiving each other in celebration as he lay dying. The distraught father of Israel Hernandez-Llach has called for an investigation into what he called an 'act of barbarism and assassination' and Officer Jorge Mercado, a 13-year veteran of the force, has been placed on paid administrative leave - pending an investigation. The teenager, an award-winning artist, was stunned in the chest after officers reportedly caught him spray-painting the front of a closed McDonald's and gave chase for ten minutes before catching him. Shocking: At just 17, Israel Hernandez-Llach was already an award-winning artist, on the threshold of acclaim in Miami Beach art circles. He was a sculptor, painter, writer and photographer whose craft was inspired by Colombia . Thiago Souza, who was with Hernandez-Llach and acting as his lookout, said the chase began as soon as the officers approached them and told them to stop. Losing sight of his friend during the chase, Souza caught up to him to find Hernandez-Llach face-down on the sidewalk. 'I didn’t even know they fired a Taser. I thought they just had him down and he was arrested and was just tired,’ Souza said to the Miami Herald. 'I couldn’t believe what I was seeing,’ said Souza, 19. 'I asked the cops ‘what happened to my friend?’ Tragic: Israel Hernandez-Llach is pictured in this undated handout photo courtesy of Heather Bozzone. Miami Beach police are investigating the death of the 18-year-old graffiti artist who died after being shot with a Taser . Tribute: People view the wall where Israel Hernandez-Llach was seen performing graffiti by police in Miami Beach, Florida, August 8th, 2013 . Grief: Lilia Llach, (left a aunt) comforts Jakelin Llach, (center), mother of Israel Hernandez-Llach, who is comforted by Ilia Llach, (left), and Belisa Llach, during a news conference on Wednesday in Bay Harbor Island . Talented: Israel Hernandez-Llach is pictured in this undated handout photo courtesy of Heather Bozzone - he died following a chase with police on Tuesday . Souza then alleges that the police began to make fun of how they caught the teenage artist. 'He said ‘you should have seen how funny it was when his butt clenched when he got Tased’ he said, and they were all clapping and doing high-fives all over his body. It was almost like they were proud of what they did.’ It was then that they all noticed medics working furiously to revive Hernandez-Llach, after he lost consciousness. 'The cop told me he was dead. It was just a powerful image seeing my friend there, with the medics pumping him.’ Miami Beach Police Chief Raymond Martinez said his department was investigating the incident and expressed his condolences to the family of Hernandez-Llach, a Colombian immigrant who graduated from high school this summer. According to the police report, Hernandez-Llach fled after he was confronted by police about 5 a.m. The pursuit ended with Hernandez-Llach cornered and, with nowhere to go, he began running toward the officers, Martinez said Wednesday. To avoid physically restraining Hernandez-Llach, Officer Jorge Mercado used his Taser. Martinez said after being . stunned, the teenager began showing signs of distress and . paramedics were called . He was transported to Mount Sinai Hospital, . where he was pronounced dead about 6:15 a.m. Distraught: The parents of Israel Hernandez-Llach, Jakelin Llach, (left), and Israel Hernandez, comfort each other during a news conference in Bay Harbor Island, Florida on Wednesday . Sister: Offir Hernandez talks to the press Wednesday Aug. 7, 2013, in Bay Harbor Island, Fla., about her brother Israel Hernandez-Llach, who died after being shot with a Taser by Miami Beach police . The boy's family held a press conference with lawyers . at their Miami Beach apartment on Thursday to say they planned to file a . complaint with the FBI or the Florida Department of Law Enforcement . over what they described as excessive use of force by the officers . involved. 'We do not want Miami Beach police investigating the Miami Beach Police Department. We're calling for an independent investigation by an outside agency,' said Jose Javier Rodriguez, an attorney for the family and a Florida state legislator. 'There is no justification of this kind of action for a second-degree misdemeanor,' said Jason W. Kreiss, another lawyer representing the family. Hernandez-Llach would likely not have been prosecuted over the spray-painting and would have faced a punishment of community service, he added. Police in Miami have not made any of the reports of the incident public, but Officer Thomas Lincoln, who wrote the official incident report said that he did not see Hernandez-Llach shot by the Taser. He said that when he arrived on the scene the teen was 'sitting on the ground and against a wall.'. Martinez said Hernandez-Llach fled after being seen 'vandalizing private property' shortly before dawn on Tuesday. Bright Future: Hernandez-Llach was an awardñwinning artist known as 'Reefa,' who won acclaim for his graffiti work as well as sculpting and painting, according to The Miami Herald . Thiago Souza, 19, a friend of Israel Hernandez-Llach, shows a sketch that Israel Hernandez-Llach drew to members of the media in Miami Beach, Florida, August 8, 2013 while (right) Hernandez-Llach is pictured with an unidentified woman . He was chased by police and ignored commands to stop running, at which point an officer used his Taser, the police chief said in a statement. Once in custody, Hernandez-Llach displayed signs of medical distress and was pronounced dead soon after, he said. 'At this time, the cause of death has not been determined by the medical examiner's office. Autopsy and toxicology results are still pending as well,' Martinez added. The artist's father, Israel Hernandez-Bandera, called his son's death 'an act of barbarism' and an 'assassination of a young artist and photographer.' Friends of Hernandez-Llach who witnessed the police chase accused officers of making jokes after using the Taser. 'I saw four or five cops converge on him and hit him up against the wall,' said Felix Fernandez, 18. He said he was standing nearby acting as a lookout for Hernandez-Llach and tried to warn him when he heard police sirens approaching. Nondescript: The wall where Israel Hernandez-Llach was seen performing graffiti by police is pictured in Miami Beach, Florida, August 8, 2013. Miami Beach, Florida . 'They were making jokes about how he stiffened up when he was tased. They were congratulating each other on how they caught him,' he said, standing by a wall where friends had placed flowers and farewell notes by a solitary letter, 'R,' sprayed on the wall. Hernandez-Llach, who identified himself by the so-called tag name "Reefa," was known for his graffiti work as well as for his sculptures and paintings. 'He did it a lot,' said Hernandez-Llach's friend, Rafael Lynch, referring to his graffiti. 'He wasn't a bad person at all. The cops didn't like him or what he looked like.' The two often met at a Miami Beach skateboard shop where Lynch works. Officer Jorge Mercado has a checkered history with the Miami Beach police. Israel Hernandez-Llach is pictured in this undated handout photo courtesy of Heather Bozzone. Miami Beach police are investigating the death of the 18-year-old graffiti artist . According to his internal affairs record, Mercado has had six complaints filed against him ranging from excessive and battery to violating the department's code of respect. However, all the complaints were dismissed bar one - a violation of drug testing procedures in January 2011 for which he was suspended for 160 hours. Friends and family spoke of their horror at the death of the popular teenager. 'In my 20 years as an art teacher, Israel was one of the most unique and talented students I have ever encountered,’ said Frank O’Hare, his art teacher at Miami Beach High, where Israel was a senior. On Thursday evening, a crowd of about 100 people gathered at 71st and Collins to remember Hernandez-Llach. They spray-painted “R.I.P. Israel’’ on the boarded-up building where he had painted his last tag — 'Reefa’ — and chanted 'No Justice, no peace.’ | Israel Hernandez-Llach, 18, was Tasered on Tuesday after Miami police caught him spray painting the front of a McDonalds .
The officers gave chase for ten minutes and cornered Hernandez-Llach .
He was hit in the chest by the stun gun - lost consciousness and could not be revived .
Witnesses reported seeing the officers who caught the teen celebrating wildly with high-fives as he lay dying . |
148,171 | 4b95171a4bda12d7854d20a635dc9b24902ce802 | New York (CNN) -- A 47-year-old man was arrested Sunday in the death of a 73-year-old woman who was set on fire in the elevator of her Brooklyn apartment building, telling police the woman owed him $2,000, New York police said. Jerome Isaac faces charges of first-degree and second-degree murder, along with arson, police said in a statement. The victim was identified as Deloris Gillespie. Isaac also lives in Brooklyn, but does not live at the address where the incident took place, police said in a statement. Isaac told police Gillespie owed him $2,000 for work he claims he did for her, said NYPD Deputy Commissioner Paul Browne. He turned himself in to police overnight or early Sunday morning, he said. Neighbors said the woman was returning home to her fifth-floor apartment in Prospect Heights after a grocery store trip Saturday. A preliminary investigation showed the man was standing outside the elevator on the fifth floor and attacked the woman as she was attempting to exit, authorities said. The incident was caught on surveillance cameras inside and outside the elevator, and police have the videotapes, Browne said. Authorities believe Isaac initially sprayed the woman with a flammable liquid, presumably gasoline, and continued to spray her as he followed her back into the elevator, Browne said. The woman was first sprayed in the face, he said. Then, using "one of those long lighters that you would use for a grill, he lit a Molotov cocktail and used the burning leg on top of that to ignite her body," Browne said. The suspect stepped out of the elevator, threw the Molotov cocktail inside, then returned again to spray more liquid on the woman as she burned, he said. "This is as bad as it gets," Browne told CNN's Don Lemon. Authorities responding to a 911 call of a fire found the woman's body inside the elevator. She was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the police statement. Residents told CNN affiliate WCBS they heard screams and saw smoke -- and realized a woman was on fire inside the elevator. "Myself and someone from the sixth floor went down knocking to get people out. Knocking on doors telling people 'There's a fire, get out, get out," a resident named John told the station. He did not want to give his last name. Neighbor Carmen Martinez told the station the victim had lived in the building since the 1980s. "She used to give toys and gifts to kids all the time," Martinez told the station. "From everything we hear ... she was just this sweet 73-year-old woman," Browne said. Photos that police released of the attacker show a man dressed in dark blue clothes, white gloves, with a dust mask on his head and carrying a container on his back. The photos were released during the search for a suspect, Browne said. Isaac lived about 10 minutes away from Gillespie's apartment building, Brown said. After the incident, he apparently returned home and ignited the door to his own apartment, he said. He was concerned he had burned himself in the second incident, although no one else was injured, Browne said. He then hid out on a rooftop for a while and fell asleep, later going into a police station "reeking of gasoline" and telling officers he was responsible for a fire. During questioning, Browne said, he implicated himself in Gillespie's death. It was not clear whether Isaac had retained an attorney. CNN's Maria P. White and Susan Candiotti contributed to this report. | NEW: "This is as bad as it gets," police official says .
NEW: Jerome Isaac came to police station "reeking of gasoline," police say .
The suspect says the victim owed him $2,000 .
The victim is identified as Deloris Gillespie, 73 . |
133,346 | 386ad516aae87b94e4eb29b906cd15ba326798f2 | She's got a no-nonsense approach to buying homes. And Kirstie Allsopp has the same hard-line attitude when it comes to parenting. When children eventually leave home, she believes the number one rule is that they call their parents at least once a week. The star, 43, revealed she has also made a deal with all her children that if they take a gap year before university, they do some ‘proper work, it’s not a year off’. Scroll down for video . Miss Allsopp – who is best known for co-presenting Channel 4’s Location, Location, Location – blamed poor child rearing for a lack of respect for the elderly in this country . In return, she and her partner Ben Andersen, 55, will fund their courses. Miss Allsopp said she thinks many parents are guilty of spoiling their children and are afraid to set them boundaries to live by. She revealed she insists on kisses at the school gates from Bay, eight, and Oscar, six. And she also expects that they and their stepbrothers Hal, 14, and Orion, 11, will do work experience as it means they enter the workplace with the correct social skills. Miss Allsopp said: ‘I think we’ve spoilt our kids too much – we’ve allowed them to go months without calling their parents' Miss Allsopp – who is best known for co-presenting Channel 4’s Location, Location, Location – blamed poor child rearing for a lack of respect for the elderly in this country. Speaking at the Handmade Fair with Hobbycraft which is on at Hampton Court Palace until tomorrow, she said: ‘I think we’ve spoilt our kids too much – we’ve allowed them to go months without calling their parents. It’s not unreasonable to expect children to ring their parents once a week. ‘Older people mustn’t think they’re a burden and they must call their kids and the children should call their parents. We must respect the older generation and set store by their opinion, otherwise it will happen to us. 'We have a duty to our parents to stay in touch, and see them and know them and understand them.’ | The presenter said children should call their parents at least once a week .
She also said if her children take a gap year, they will do 'proper work'
In return, she and her partner Ben Andersen, 55, will fund their courses . |
46,641 | 836a8f57710536cb5755eb2e017a0478c03ba3d9 | A mother died after eating soup she made using one of the world’s deadliest mushrooms which she had unwittingly picked in her garden. Keen gardener Christina Hale found the death cap mushrooms beneath some mature oak and fir trees and mistook them for an edible type. In fact the fungus – Amanita phalloides – contains one of the most lethal of all toxins and is the most common cause of death in humans from mushroom poisoning. Just half a cap is enough to kill. Christina Hale, 57, accidentally picked death cap mushrooms (left, file photo) when foraging for fresh mushrooms to add to a tin of Campbell's Cream of Mushroom soup she was preparing for dinner . Mrs Hale, 57, added the ones she had . picked to a tin of Campbell’s Cream of Mushroom soup which she heated . and ate with her husband Jocelyn, an inquest heard yesterday. Shortly . afterwards they became ill with vomiting and diarrhoea. A doctor who visited their home in . Bridgwater, Somerset, the next day thought Mrs Hale had the norovirus, . and decided against sending her to hospital for fear of infecting other . patients. But the following day the couple, who . had four children between them, were taken to hospital where Mrs Hale . was put into intensive care. She died the next day after suffering . multiple organ failure. The death cap is the most dangerous mushroom, responsible for 95 per cent of all deaths from mushroom poisoning worldwide. The deaths of Roman Emperor Claudius in 54AD and Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI in 1740 are said to have been caused by eating death caps. Patients die from organ failure within a few days unless they have a kidney and liver transplant. Death caps are common across Europe and contain about 20 different poisons. The strength of the main poison, alpha-Amanitin, is not reduced by freezing or cooking. Mr Hale, a 49-year-old property . developer who had eaten less of the soup, survived. He told the inquest . in Taunton: ‘We had picked mushrooms before from the garden and put them . into mushroom soup. She hadn’t done it on her own before. 'I had a bowl . of soup that she had given me and then had stew. The wife didn’t like it . because it had butter beans in it so she had more soup. She made the . soup her main meal.’ Doctors say that even if Mrs Hale had . been taken to hospital within hours of consuming the mushrooms last . November, she had eaten so many it is unlikely she would have survived. She died at the Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton. West Somerset Coroner Michael Rose, . who recorded a verdict of misadventure, said: ‘One should never pick . mushrooms, particularly under trees, unless you know exactly what you . are picking. 'The problem with this mushroom is that if you do taste it, . it does not taste unpleasant.’ The death cap appears most commonly under oaks. It grows to between three and six inches high. Poisoning symptoms, including stomach . pain, vomiting and diarrhoea, tend to appear ten to 16 hours after . consumption, and can then ease. But the toxins continue to attack the . body and death typically occurs six to 16 days after consumption from . liver or kidney failure. | Christina Hale went mushroom-picking for the first time in November .
Husband Jocelyn Lynch also ate poisoned soup but recovered .
Doctor examined Ms Hale and misdiagnosed her illness as norovirus .
But coroner concludes that treatment could not have saved her from death . |
260,027 | dcb1721427658011c02aaa9e323b78af7bb98d7a | By . Daily Mail Reporter and Ian Garland . PUBLISHED: . 21:45 EST, 7 April 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 02:24 EST, 9 April 2012 . Tragedy: Derek Sarkar and his nine-year-old daughter Abbie, whose face has been obscured to protect her identity . A father and his teenage son were killed in a horrifying head-on collision which left his wife and young daughter fighting for their lives. The pensioner driver of the other car was also killed. The accident provoked a huge emergency services response with two air ambulances, three land ambulances and two rapid response paramedic units joining firefighters and police at the remote scene near the village of East Cowick, East Yorkshire. The investigation and clear-up operation took more than seven hours before the road was reopened. Derek Sarkar, 46, and his family, from Sheldon in Birmingham, are believed to have been on an Easter break. Mr Sarkar was driving over a canal bridge on the A614 with his 14-year-old son Ethan in the front passenger seat when their silver Volkswagen Golf collided head-on with a Volvo driven by Sheila Stavert-Lee, 70. A police spokesman said: ‘It appears the Volvo crossed on to the wrong side of the carriageway into the path of the oncoming Golf.’ Mr Sarkar and Ethan were pronounced dead after the crash shortly after 1.30pm on Saturday afternoon. Mr Sarkar’s wife, Karen, 43, and their nine-year-old daughter Abbie were airlifted to Leeds General Infirmary, where they were in a critical condition last night. Mrs Stavert-Lee’s daughter was travelling some distance behind her in another car and came across the scene. Witnesses told how they ran to the scene of the crash and could hear a child screaming. Scroll down for video . Devastation: Front seat passenger Ethan Sarkar was pronounced dead at the scene, Karen Sarkar was airlifted to Leeds General Infirmary where she is in a critical condition . Debbie Hinchliffe, who lives a short distance from the bridge over the Aire and Calder Navigation canal, said she found Mrs Stavert-Lee unconscious in the Volvo, which had smoke pouring from its front. She said: ‘I was standing at my gate and I heard the crash. I ran to the scene. ‘The old lady was unconscious and people were screaming in the back of the other car. I couldn’t get anybody out. ‘The car was going to catch fire with the old lady in. ‘So I got in the car with her to turn the ignition off. I released her seatbelt and just stuck with her. I couldn’t do anything else.’ Mrs Hinchliffe said it was clear that both Mr Sarkar and his son were already dead. Within minutes other people arrived at the scene, including emergency services, and they were able to free the occupants from the mangled wreckage. Wreckage: A badly damaged car at the scene of the crash in which three people were killed . Locals complain the stretch of road is a death trap and the scene of regular accidents . Mrs Hinchliffe said she took the . pensioner’s shocked daughter to her house. Police arrived a short time . later to tell her that her mother had died. Mrs Hinchliffe claimed the stretch of road, which has a 40mph limit, was an accident blackspot. ‘There’s . accidents every other week,’ she added. ‘We want speed cameras. You . take your life in your hands every time you pull out. ‘How many accidents and deaths is it going to take before they do something? ‘We have to live with this on a daily basis. It’s horrendous.’ Hugh Dales, a 55-year-old construction worker, said: ‘There are two or three serious accidents here each year. ‘They came out and did tests and decided the speed limit was correct. ‘My wife was told that as there had not been any fatalities there was nothing they could do. Both drivers and a 14-year-old passengers were killed when these two cars collided in Goole, Yorkshire, yesterday . ‘It’s shocking that they have had to wait for somebody to die.’ Last night a neighbour of the Sarkars said: ‘They were an absolutely lovely family, just lovely. ‘We all used to pop in and out of each other’s houses all the time, to chat and do things for each other. ‘Derek used to tease me about anything he could and the kids were really nice kids.’ n A father died yesterday while trying to rescue his son after a giant wave swept him out to sea. The two men were fishing on rocks in Cornwall when the son, aged 27, was engulfed. His 60-year-old father threw a lifebelt into the water as the younger man was swept away from Tregardock beach, near Delabole. But he was knocked into the water by another wave while he was trying to haul his son to safety. The pair, who are understood to be local, were in the sea for about 30 minutes before being rescued by a lifeboat crew. The . father was later declared dead, while his son was taken to the Royal . Cornwall Hospital at Treliske. Last night his condition was unknown. Two passengers were taken by the helicopters to Leeds General Infirmary. Officers said they had serious 'life-threatening' injuries . VIDEO: The first witness on the scene describes the horror of the crash in East Yorkshire . | Daughter of woman, 70, from York, who also died in collision in Goole, East Yorkshire, was travelling behind in another car and came across carnage .
Eyewitness who rushed to the crash scene describes the horror .
Stretch of road was known to be an accident blackspot, according to neighbours . |
23,355 | 42595bca0805bae3185fd14e8e914f490bb8eac3 | Campaign: Nigel Farage's Ukip has opened a new headquarters in London ahead of upcoming European elections . Ukip's new London headquarters is a chaotic environment where workers are sex-obsessed and volunteers frequently leave work early to go to the pub, it was claimed today. Former employees say that the office in Mayfair is often full of workers' pets, while staff regularly take their clothes off and compile lists of people they would like to have sex with. Nigel Farage's wife, who works as a secretary for Ukip, has reportedly described the office - which the party moved in to last year as part of its push to become a major political force - as a 'freakshow'. The revelations about the bizarre atmosphere inside the headquarters were revealed after The Times spoke to a number of people who have worked in the building, which is located behind Claridge's hotel. The office, which was lent to Ukip by wealthy backer Andrew Reid, is the centre of the party's push to beat the mainstream parties in this year's European elections, and to win its first MPs in the general election of 2015. However, the insider accounts suggest that the new headquarters have failed to bring about a more professional approach, with one worker describing the atmosphere as 'Carry On politics' where staff are accustomed to ending work early and going to the pub instead. One employee said: 'They are utterly chaotic. I was horrified by them. There's an element of the 70s golf club.' Another added: 'You see the most extraordinary things. Everybody has been out with everybody else. There are animals in the office, people taking their clothes off... there are no sanctions. People are used to doing their own thing.' Chaos: The office, located behind Claridge's, is said to be full of animals and half-naked employees . At one point, workers wrote a list of 'people we want to s**g' on the office whiteboard - including the name of Mr Farage, the party leader who is Ukip's only household name. His wife Kirsten reportedly has to send emails on Mr Farage's behalf, because he does not know how to use a computer and prefers to receive faxes. She has admitted that the office 'takes some getting used to' and privately described the atmosphere as a 'freakshow', according to The Times. A number of figures from the world of business have tried and failed to inject a more professional attitude into the party over the past few years. Chief executive Will Gilpin resigned . last year after just eight months in charge, saying he could not change . Ukip's 'individualistic DNA'. And . millionaire backer Paul Sykes, who is funding the party's election . campaign this year, has set up a parallel operation to avoid giving any . money directly to headquarters. Cheery: Mr Farage has a reputation as a likeable figure but is now trying to professionalise the party . The insider reports come in the wake of a number of embarrassing incidents involving Ukip candidates, most famously when MEP Godfrey Bloom referred to foreign aid recipients as 'bongo bongo land' and described women who fail to clean their homes properly as 'sluts'. It was claimed today . that the party's MEPs were being encouraged to pay a 'tithe' of £10,000 . a year to the party thanks to their 'generous expenses'. Parliamentarians were . allegedly told they had a duty to support Ukip financially, because the . party spends around £125,000 for each successful election. It . was also reported that Ukip MEPs gather for a lavish dinner in . Strasbourg once a month, with staff at the restaurant Pierre Bois et Feu . instructed to produce a special English-themed menu. Ukip director of communications Patrick O'Flynn said: 'I have been in post since the start of February and I have been hugely impressed with the professionalism and dedication of staff at Brooks Mews. 'The Times clearly would prefer Ukip to do very badly at the forthcoming local and European elections. But everyone at Brooks Mews is working flat out to ensure that the opposite occurs. Given the positive response Ukip is getting from the British public, we are very hopeful of achieving an excellent result.' | Party moved in to office behind Claridge's last year ahead of election push .
But ex-employees claim the atmosphere in the headquarters is chaotic .
Workers apparently knock off early and go to the pub, while others regularly bring their pets to work and joke about sex .
Nigel Farage's wife has admitted the HQ 'takes some getting used to' |
115,486 | 2105e0fbc6e7bb04ee69de4e43280135159f26ed | Sir Bradley Wiggins won the penultimate stage of the Tour of Britain as Holland’s Dylan van Baarle clung to his overall lead ahead of the concluding criterium race in Westminster. Van Baarle (Garmin-Sharp) had a 19-second advantage ahead of the first of two stages on the eighth and final day after soaring into the yellow jersey on Saturday’s seventh stage to Brighton. Poland’s Michal Kwiatkowski (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) was his nearest challenger, but could cut the deficit only to 10 seconds after the stage 8a 8.8-kilometre time-trial. Team Sky's Bradley Wiggins celebrates on the podium after winning stage eight of the Tour of Britain . Sir Bradley Wiggins went into third overall after winning the Tour of Britain's individual time trial stage . Wiggins won the stage in nine minutes 50.71 seconds to move up four places to third overall, effectively sealing a podium place in his title defence, to move 22secs behind Van Baarle. Kwiatkowski finished in 10mins 06.78secs, but Van Baarle’s impressive time of 10:15.21 saw him retain the yellow jersey. Intermediate and finish-line time bonuses are available on the 88.8km stage 8b - 10 laps on the same course as ridden in the time-trial - and the deficit is not insurmountable. Tour of Britain teams set up on the Westminster Bridge for the time trial stage on Sunday . Garmin-Sharp's Dylan Van Baarle retains the yellow jersey on the penultimate stage of the tour . But with Kwiatkowski likely working for Omega Pharma-QuickStep team-mate Mark Cavendish for a sprint finish it would take an unfortunate event for Van Baarle to be beaten. Wiggins, who won the 2013 Tour of Britain title, began the day 47secs behind Van Baarle in seventh, but rolled down the ramp intent on claiming a stage success from his national tour. The 34-year-old Londoner is negotiating an extension to his Team Sky contract, which expires this year, and is targeting the Road World Championships time-trial in Spain at the end of this month. Frenchman Sylvain Chavanel (IAM Cycling) was second on the stage, eight seconds behind Wiggins, with Briton Steve Cummings (BMC Racing) a second further adrift in third place. | Sir Bradley Wiggins won the time trial stage in nine minutes 50.71 seconds .
His victory in the penultimate leg moves the Olympic champ into third .
Holland’s Dylan van Baarle holds onto the yellow jersey by 19 seconds . |
184,551 | 7b093d8a6d7b5447db93944dade5ae7a0a150aa0 | LONDON, England (CNN) -- The swanky and exclusive super-yacht market is bracing itself for a storm -- off the water. Pondering his boats? Despite a softening of the super-yacht market, Roman Abramovich will likely keep his fleet. The industry has bucked trends of other sectors with massive growth in recent years, but, the current international financial woes mean the uber-rich are poised to leave the plain rich behind as the market tightens. With estimations that hundreds of billions, or even trillions, of dollars will be wiped from the assets of the world's wealthiest businessmen and women, the super-yacht industry is sure to be one market that suffers. Although it is reserved mainly for the wealthy, dire predictions for the super-yacht world should be of concern to many, given that Superyacht UK estimates the industry is worth more than £350 million and provides employment to over 3,500 people. So, could the credit crisis be enough to crunch the industry altogether? Superyacht UK's international development manager Tom Chant told CNN the answer was "no", but it could have an impact at the lower end of the market. Chant said there were some signs that demand was "softening" for smaller super-yachts -- boats in the range of 30 to 40 meters long and usually worth anywhere between £1 million and £5 million. "There has been a softening of demand for smaller super-yachts. These people are usually immune to these sorts of things. But now, maybe it has finally filtered all the way to the top," he said. The softening in this area of the market could also affect re-sale prices, which until now had been very stable, he said. The lower to middle market received a further blow recently when UK super-yacht building company Devonport Yachts, announced its closure. However, at the other end of the scale, things aren't looking so worrisome. Recent figures suggest that the top end of the super-yacht market is holding firm -- at least for now. A Super-yachting Index compiled by The Luxury Institute with yacht broker and charter company Camper & Nicholson's International, found that new orders for yachts over 130 feet are up nearly 20 percent in 2008. • See pictures of the world's top super-yachts . These figures continue a longer-term trend within the market. Last year there were 254 new orders for super-yachts over 130-feet, up from 134 orders in 2005. This increase is even more drastic when looking back a decade to 1997. Then, there were just 241 yachts longer than 80 foot being built across the globe. By 2007 this number had soared to 916 vessels. Chant said the credit crisis wasn't an issue for the attendees of the Monaco Yacht Show in September. "At the Monaco show we had the first news of the credit crunch really hitting then. People didn't really raise an eyebrow," he said. And despite the weakening in the lower end of the market, Chant said the 60 meter-plus category was still "very strong", with most of the build slots at major ship-builders still full. So, it seems likely the super wealthy owners such as Chelsea Football Club owner Roman Abramovich, Microsoft's Paul Allen, and Oracle's Larry Ellison should be shielded. There's no greater evidence of this than Roman Abramovich's latest project. Reportedly named the Eclipse, the super-yacht is expected to be about 160 meters long and become the biggest on the planet. Although no firm details have been released about the project, rumors have included a £250 million price tag, and the inclusion of two helicopter pads. However, not all super-yacht owners possess the fortune Abramovich does, and those without such giant financial backing may be forced to leave the market. Chant said some owners of smaller vessels may look to share ownership or charter their vessel out more often in order to maintain possession. "Chartering is the big way to make money ...it is a good way to get some money back," he said. Tim Wiltshire, director and sales broker at international yacht company Burgess Yachts, said the chartering market was expected to stay reasonably strong, although it could be affected by people wanting to spend less money on holidays. "We certainly haven't seen a crash. We are looking at people being more concerned about how they spend their money, so we may see a price realignment. "But the demand will be there. There are plenty of people on the planet that want to go boating. Some people may not want to buy and may charter instead," he said. So, if the financial crisis doesn't worsen too much in the coming six months, the lower end super-yacht owners may yet be able to stay in the market. | The super-yacht industry is believed to be worth £350 million in the UK .
Sales of large super-yachts are steady while the smaller yacht market is softening .
Super-yacht owners can make money by chartering or sharing their vessels . |
189,897 | 81e1604da3cda00af5455433386f4fea3e961db2 | The Essex accent has long attracted ridicule and disapproval. But primary school teachers say it also has a damaging effect on children’s spelling and grammar.So they have introduced elocution lessons in an effort to improve pupils’ written work. The children are learning to say ‘computer’ instead of ‘computa’ and ‘aren’t’ in place of ‘ain’t’ as well as being told to stop ending sentences with ‘yeah?’. Plumb in the mouth: Cherry Tree Primary School in Basildon is one of the first in the country to offer its pupils elocution lessons. Pictured are pupils Lucy Stapleton and Callum Cowan being taught by Francesca Gordon-Smith . Up to 200 seven to 11-year-olds are having weekly lessons with a private tutor at the Cherry Tree Primary School in Basildon, Essex. Teachers say there has been great progress in their spelling and writing since the lessons were introduced a year ago. Some parents are even being corrected on their pronunciation at home by their children. 'Reem': Billy Faiers filming the new series of TOWIE today. The programme has brought Essex speak to a wider audience . The spotlight has been turned on the Essex accent following the huge success of the reality TV show The Only Way Is Essex. Terri Chudleigh, the school’s literacy co-ordinator, insisted: ‘This is not about being ashamed of the Essex accent – it’s about helping the children to speak properly so they can improve their reading and writing. 'They weren’t saying words correctly and were therefore misspelling them. ‘We had lots of youngsters writing ‘sbort’ instead of ‘sport’ and ‘wellw’ instead of ‘well’. 'They now have half-hourly sessions where they get taken through exercises and learn to use the "posh voices" in their heads. 'They really enjoy the sessions. The feedback we’ve had from parents has been very positive. We’ve had them tell us their children are going home and correcting them on their speech!' Former TOWIE star Maria Fowler said of the concept: 'I think elocution lessons in schools are a good idea. 'Even if they're not a priority across the whole country, it's good to see this school doing this.' However, Billie Faiers, who currently appears in the show, today criticised the school for introducing the lessons. She said: ‘I think it is ridiculous that kids so young are being forced to act a certain way. 'Both me and my sister have never had any sort of elocution lessons and it did not do us any harm. 'I worked at a recruitment agency before TOWIE and my sister worked in a bank and neither of us had any problems with our regional accent. 'I think kids should be kids, and let creative ideas come from individuality. If everybody spoke in the same way, we'd soon all get bored of speaking like one another.' During the sessions, children run through speech exercises and are encouraged to use ‘posh voices’. Francesca Gordon-Smith, who runs the classes through her business Positive Voice, said: ‘When they’re writing, the children have their elocution voice in their head. Speaking clearly: Teachers at the school say they have seen a vast improvement in their pupils' spelling and writing since the lessons were introduced . Extra lessons: Rising numbers of schools are teaching elocution. At Cherry Tree Primary School in Essex, 11-year-olds are having weekly lessons with a private tutor (pictured) ‘They speak clearer, they’re pronouncing their Ts and generally finishing sentences.’ The classes have also improved pupils’ grammar, for example by telling them to use ‘we were’ instead of ‘we was’. Rising numbers of all ages from all over Britain are turning to elocution, according to research by the thetutorpages.com website. | Teachers say spelling and writing have improved since lessons were introduced .
'We had youngsters writing sbort instead of sport and wellw instead of well'
Star of TOWIE Billie Faiers criticises school saying 'kids should be kids'
... but ex-TOWIE actress Maria Fowler calls the lessons 'a good idea' |
234,961 | bc2511d8afa17d248cc2040de9befa0b21626efe | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 16:10 EST, 10 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 17:29 EST, 10 December 2013 . University of Oregon tight end Pharaoh Brown has been suspended from the Ducks' upcoming bowl game because of his role in leading an on-campus snowball fight that turned on unsuspecting teachers and students, which has been described as 'unacceptable and dangerous'. A YouTube video of the fight on Friday - which was organized by the UO football team and featured about 100 people - shows players and other students blocking a car before pelting it with dozens of snowballs in front of the Erb Memorial Union in Eugene. The target, retired professor Sherwin Simmons, was on his way to the campus museum to donate several of his paintings. Brown is caught on camera dumping a bucket of snow ontop of Simmons, who is attempting to exit to his car to stop the commotion. Simmons said today he does intend to press charges against Brown or anyone else involved in the fight. Scroll down for video . University of Oregon football player Pharaoh Brown (center) dumps a tub load of snow on fellow student Charley Gibson during a snow battle involving hundreds of students on campus. Brown has been suspend from playing for his role in the fight . University of Oregon football star Pharaoh Brown (right) dumps a bucket of snow inside the car of retired profess Sherwin Simmons . Sherwin Simmons, a retired University of Oregon professor, continues to be hit with snowballs as he exits his car during the fight . Retired professor Sherwin Simmons says he has no plans press charges over the snowball fight on Friday, which was organized by the Oregon football team . 'I decided maybe if I get out, they’ll see that I’m 60 years old and I’m a human being,' Simmons told student paper The Daily Emerald. 'I was blinded by people both tossing snow on the window and racking snow off the roof. 'They were out of control.' The video has attracted more almost 3.5 million views as of Tuesday afternoon. Sophomore offensive lineman Andre Yruretagoyena said on Twitter he was 'embarassed' after seeing the clip. 'Embarrassed by the video I just watched. That's not all of us, sending the sincerest apologies,' he wrote. Brown has since apologized for taking part in the fight. 'I was one of the many UO students involved in the snowball fight on Friday, and my actions escalated to an inappropriate level and, for that, I sincerely apologize,' Brown said in a statement released by the university. 'We never should have engaged innocent people, and I deeply regret my actions and will accept the consequences.' University of Oregon football player Pharaoh Brown (right) dumps a bucket of snow on a car driving through the campus on Friday during a campus snowball fight . His suspension was announced Monday by Head Coach Mark Helfrich, who has apologized to the targeted drivers. Helfrich had promised discipline during the weekend, saying the behavior shown in the video was 'completely unacceptable and dangerous'. Other players involved in the fight received unspecified punishments but will be allowed to play in the bowl game. All students involved in the fight, including non-players, are subject to further discipline from the dean of students, the university said. Brown, a 6-foot-6, 241-pound sophomore, caught 10 passes during the regular season and scored two touchdowns. Pharaoh Brown of the Oregon Ducks during the college football game against the Arizona Wildcats at Arizona Stadium on November 23, 2013 in Tucson, Arizona . Pharaoh Brown will not play in the Alamo Bowl game against Texas later this month due to his role in a snowball fight . He started five of the nine games in which he appeared, getting more playing time after starting tight end Colt Lyerla left the team in October to prepare for an NFL career following a one-game suspension for violating team rules. He was later arrested for cocaine possession and is awaiting trial after pleading not guilty. The Ducks (10-2) play Texas (8-4) in the Alamo Bowl on Dec. 30 in San Antonio. See video here ... | Oregon Ducks player Pharaoh Brown suspended from upcoming bowl game against Texas for spearheading a major snowball fight on the University of Oregon campus on Friday .
In a now-viral video, the tight end is seen dumping buckets of snow on people and cars .
One of the targets, retired professor Sherwin Simmons, 60, is hit by Brown in the face after getting out of his vehicle .
Simmons, who described the fight as 'out of control', says not press charges .
No other players have been suspended . |
24,289 | 44e905d20aea4605ac0783f1e302cc8f44b3de0e | This is the woman who looks so much like popstar Nicki Minaj that even her husband struggles to tell them apart. Make-up artist Ashlea Sherman-Wyzard has regularly been mobbed in public due to her likeness to the pint-sized singer. Ashlea, who lives in Monroe, Louisiana, was first told she looked like Minaj by Ray J - Kim Kardashian's ex - and these days the comparisons come thick and fast. Ashlea has not ruled out turning her incredible likeness to the Roman's Revenge singer into a full-time career . ''It's scary sometimes how much they look alike,' her husband says of his wife's resemblance to Whip It singer . Getting ready for the close-up: The make-up artist has appeared in several music videos . And having appeared in several music videos, she was even turned down for one in which the Superbass singer was due to star - because producers thought she looked too similar. But it isn't only strangers who have trouble telling them apart - even husband Kasheef finds it hard to spot the difference. He said: 'I had a text message from her sister and she made some kind of collage image and the faces were put right against each other and looking at it quickly I thought it was Nicki Minaj, or Nicki Minaj was her. The 28-year-old doesn't mind being stopped and will happily take photos with those shocked by her likeness . Scary resemblance: Ashlea at a Halloween party where naturally, she went dressed as the Anaconda singer . Having fun with it: Ashlea says she has ruled out Minaj-style butt implants - at least for the time being . Spot the difference: Nicki Minaj (left) doppelgänger Ashlea Sherman-Wyzard has regularly been mobbed in public due to her likeness to the pint-sized singe . 'It's scary sometimes how much they look alike.' But being a mirror image of one of the world's most lusted-after women also has its downsides. The 28-year-old was targeted by Minaj superfans, known as Barbz, after a picture comparing the two was posted online, with Ashlea receiving thousands of abusive tweets - including death threats. She said: 'A lot of Nicki Minaj's fans started to see it and when they saw my name on it, they immediately took to my Twitter and started commenting and harassing me and saying "Nicki Minaj is this fabulous person, how could you dare compare yourself to her, who do you think you are?"' But the South Carolina-born Ashlea got through the online bullying with help from her husband of two years Kasheef. The pair even played the Minaj track 'Right By Your Side' at their wedding. Startling resemblance: Ashlea is open to a career as a Nicki Minaj lookalike but she says she 'wouldn't do anything to bash her or make fun of her, or make her look bad.' 'It's been an interesting experience being compared to a celebrity,' Ashlea says . Ashlea admits that both her husband and parents have trouble telling them apart, but is keen to stress that she is her own woman. And while she isn't adverse to surgery, having had a breast reconstruction after a lump was removed, she has ruled out Minaj-style butt implants - at least for the time being. The South Carolina-born 28-year-old is regularly stopped by fans on the street who mistake her for Nicki Minaj . Ashlea is keen to stress that she is her own woman, even though she isn't adverse to having surgery . Being a mirror image of one of the world's most lusted-after women also has its downsides as Ashlea has been targeted by Minaj's fans, receiving thousands of abusive tweets . Ashlea says that despite her hyper-sexualised image, Minaj is a good role model to young children. And with Minaj's career going from strength to strength, Ashlea has not ruled out turning her incredible likeness to the Roman's Revenge singer into a full-time career. 'As far as anything pursuing any type of career related to being a Nicki Minaj lookalike, I'm open to things, but I wouldn't do anything to bash her or make fun of her, or make her look bad,' she added. | Ashlea Sherman-Wyzard is regularly mobbed due to her Nicki Minaj likeness .
28-year-old make-up artist has even used her similarities to meet with agents .
Her husband, Kasheef, admits that it's difficult to tell them apart sometimes . |
76,442 | d8d0b64c475be4e50ca452a66f8cc3010a35cd32 | (CNN) -- President Obama's Ambien finally wore off, and thus he began the second presidential debate with Mitt Romney. Obama's performance Tuesday night was stellar (but not perfect) because of two techniques that I push to my debate teams ad nauseam. The first is the primacy effect, and the second is using your opponent's language against him. If you want to win a debate, you've got to master these techniques. The primacy effect is the idea that the first things a speaker says are more persuasive than those that follow. It holds true in conversations, in 90-minute debates, and even over a series of speeches or debates. Obama came out strong. He lacked passion in the previous debate, but when answering the first question from the audience Tuesday night, Obama brought the heat. Early on he said Romney didn't have a five-point economic plan, but "a one-point plan" -- that "folks at the top play by a different set of rules." Right away we knew this was a different Obama. Yeah, I know, everyone's probably talking about that comment because it's a good sound bite. But for me, it's the primacy effect taking off. I teach my debaters that you've got to make your best arguments early in the speech. Otherwise you might not have the judge's full attention when you get to your best arguments, thereby lessening the weight of your position. Opinion roundup: Obama bounces back, dominates debate . I guarantee you this one answer -- the "one-point plan" -- will be talked about more than any other (aside from that silly "binders full of women" distraction), partially because the president was memorable here, but mostly because of the primacy effect. The second debating concept I preach is the importance of language choices. If a team I coached ever concluded a debate without using their opponents' language against them, I'd want to make them run laps. (OK, that's a terrible idea -- picture in your mind a debate team running laps. ) Obama used Romney's language against him time and time again, and it was effective. Here are some examples of Obama quoting Romney. "This plant kills" (from a Romney quote illustrating his flip-flop on coal plants); Romney's assertion that promoting a lower tax rate for the most wealthy Americans "grows the economy;" "I'll get back to you on that," his spokesman's initial response on Romney's stance on the Lilly Ledbetter bill, which makes it easier for women who have been discriminated against over equal pay to sue employers. Debaters can't easily get out of arguments when you quote their own words. It's a timeless, winning strategy. Opinion: How Obama aced comeback . Moving further forward in the debate, Romney used the same technique responding to the sixth question, when asked what the president had done or accomplished to earn our vote. Unemployment, Medicare, Social Security and immigration were all subtopics that Romney used when answering this particular question. And he began each of these issues with the phrase "He said..." when referring to Obama. He followed this by reminding the audience of Obama's perceived shortcomings on these issues. It was Romney's best moment of the debate. Unfortunately, it came almost an hour into it. In fact, it took Romney almost an hour until he had a clearly favorable exchange. That's too long. Because of the primacy effect, undecided voters won't likely remember the stuff in the middle of the debate as much as the points at the beginning. It's good for Romney that this wasn't the first debate, because Obama's performance was much stronger Tuesday night. The primacy effect over these two debates might have just saved Romney. I expect the president to get a bump in the polls from this debate, but it could have been worse for Romney. Think about it: If we simply reversed the order of the debates, the race for president would look very different right now. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Todd Graham. | Todd Graham: Obama revived himself and gave a stellar (but not perfect) debate performance .
He says Obama used "primacy effect" technique to be most persuasive first thing in debate .
He says Obama also used Romney's own words against him, a timeless, winning strategy .
Graham: Romney used that technique too, but late in debate; lost valuable time in waiting . |
164,054 | 602882ef51dbf04492ae384e0caa3f4abcc70ded | A Bolivian man born in 1890 - and still going strong - has been revealed as the oldest living person ever recorded, it was reported today. Carmelo Flores Laura turned 123 last month, according to Bolivia's civil registry. Yet the herder, from the mountain village of Frasquicia, 50 miles outside the capital La Paz, is still healthy, walks without a stick and doesn't wear glasses, according to reports. Scroll down for video . New claim: A Bolivian man born in 1890 - and still going strong - has been revealed as the oldest living person ever recorded, it was reported today . Evidence: A La Paz government photo shows the identification document of Aimara Bolivian indigenous Carmelo Flores Laura who according Bolivian authorities is 123 years old . The native Aymara, who has three children, 16 grandchildren and 39 great-grandchildren, was 24 when World War I broke out and 62 when young Queen Elizabeth ascended to the throne. Mr Laura, who lost his wife ten years ago, told Bolivia's Rede Uno TV station that he believes the secret to a long life is taking daily long walks, and never eating pasta or sugar. Instead, he said he has spent his life eating cananhua, a wild species of quinoa which is rich in protein and amino acid. History: The native Aymara, who has three children, 16 grandchildren and 39 great-grandchildren, was 24 when World War I broke out and 62 when young Queen Elizabeth ascended to the throne . Home: Carmelo Flores Laura sits outside his home in the village of Frasquia, Bolivia . Guinness World Records says the oldest living person verified by original proof of birth is Misao Okawa, a 115-year-old Japanese woman. The oldest verified age was 122 years and 164 days: Jeanne Calment of France, who died in 1997. The oldest ever man, Japanese Jiroemon Kimura, died this year age just 116. He added:'I've never been lazy. I always shared the cooking with my wife. 'We would only eat what we could find growing wild. We ate mostly skunk meat. I still go on long walks every day.' The Bolivian's biblical age means he would easily overtake the current oldest living person, 115-year-old Japanese woman Misao Okawa. And he would beat Frenchwoman Jeanne Calment, who died in 1997 age 122, as the oldest verified age on record. The oldest ever man, Japanese Jiroemon Kimura, died this year age just 116. In order to claim the title, Mr Laura's documents now need to be verified by a Guinness Book of Records official. Guinness World Records says the oldest . living person verified by original proof of birth is Misao Okawa, a . 115-year-old Japanese woman. Guinness spokeswoman Jamie Panas said it wasn't aware of a claim being filed for the Bolivian. 'I should be about 100 years old or more,' Flores says. But his memory is dim. Although birth certificates didn't exist in Bolivia when he was born, Mr Laura's birth date is confirmed on his baptism certificate, considered an authentic record of birth in the country. | Carmelo Flores Laura turned 123 last month, according to Bolivia's records .
He is still healthy, walks without a stick and doesn't wear glasses .
He has three children, 16 grandchildren and 39 great-grandchildren . |
237,913 | bfef4dc0faad6201a27a636603999323ebb06934 | By . Helen Pow . UPDATED: . 13:06 EST, 21 November 2012 . A series of disturbing cell phone videos have been released in which a Florida teen boasts about his plot to blow up a Tampa high school, vowing that his attack would be bigger than 9/11. Jared Cano was charged with plotting a massacre at Freedom High School in August 2011 after police found bomb-making material, including fuses, timers, shrapnel, accelerant and plastic tubing at his home. In the chilling, newly released footage, the teen declares: 'You don't even f***ing know terror yet, 9/11 - I don't give a f***, I'm going to outdo every single one of them...' SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO . Terror: The chilling videos show Jared Cano, pictured, describe his mass murder plot . According to ABC News, the teen filmed a series of four cell phone clips in the run up to his plot, which was thwarted after another teen tipped off police. He says: 'For those of you retards who don't know who I am, I'm the Freedom High School shooter in Tampa, Florida. Well I will be in a couple months.' He goes on to describe his elaborate killing plans. 'My plan is to set a bomb here at point A, here at point B, point C and point D. Then I got to get to the side entrance of the school by 7:24. The bombs blow at 7:26.' He is seen on the tape smoking what looks like marijuana as he explains how he intends to kill as many students as possible. Foiled: Police thwarted the Cano's plot after a tip off . Flames: Speaking over footage of burning newspaper, pictured, he gloats 'this is a symbol of what all you guys are going to feel' Speaking over footage of burning newspaper, he gloats: 'This is a symbol of what all you guys are going to feel.' The student, who was expelled from Freedom High School in March 2010, explains how he will specifically target two teachers because they had wronged him and wanted to spare the life of another teacher, who he liked. '(I'll) come through the door then shoot everybody at the front desk,' he says. 'Mr Costanzo's office is right here, I've got to kill him. Mrs Carmody is here I've got to kill her. Mr Pears is here, I've got to make sure he doesn't die, because I like him.' He then planned to retrieve a hoard of weapons he had placed near the school before coming back in and inflicting further carnage. In custody: Jared Cano, who had been expelled from school, said he wanted to 'do something that was more spectacular than Columbine' 'I'm going to come in and advance on the courtyard where there'll probably be at least sixty people,' he says. He then went on to say the bomb plot was inevitable. 'There's . nothing I can do about it, there's nothing anybody can do about it . other than wait for it to unleash. If you don't like it just find a way . to find people like me and just line us up and shoot us.' Mugshot: Former Freedom High School student Jared Cano . Police . thwarted what they called a 'catastrophic' plot by the expelled . student on the first day of school in August 2011. He was arrested at his mother's home after someone tipped off authorities about the meticulously planned plot. In his bedroom, officers found . materials to make pipe bombs, including a fuel source, shrapnel, plastic . tubing and timing and fusing devices. Officers also found a journal containing schematic drawings of rooms inside the school and statements about his intent to kill, which were shown in the videos. They also found marijuana growing operation in his home. Mr Cano had written a detailed manifesto, outlining a minute by minute guide to his planned killing spree. He is also said to have written that he 'wanted to do something that was more spectacular than Columbine'. Mr Cano was charged with possessing bomb-making materials, threatening to throw, project, place or discharge a destructive device, cultivating marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of marijuana. Authorities said he had been arrested multiple times in the past. Charges have included burglary, carrying a concealed weapon, altering serial numbers on a firearm and drug possession. All have been either dismissed or no action has been taken. When Mr Cano was arrested he repeated his plan to discharge a bomb and cause mass casualties at the school. Mr Cano has being held in secure detention since his arrest. Grudge: Mr Cano was furious after being expelled from Freedom High School, pictured . Target: The grounds of Freedom High School, where the pipe bomb would have been set off by expelled student Jared Cano, then 17 . 'We were probably able to thwart a potentially catastrophic event the likes of which the city of Tampa has not seen and hopefully never will,' Police Chief Jane Castor said after the man was arrested. She said Mr Cano had hoped 'to cause more casualties than were suffered at Columbine' in his attack. In April 1999, two students at the Columbine High School in Colorado killed 12 students and one teacher in one of the deadliest school massacres in U.S. history. Unfortunately your browser does not support IFrames. | In four separate videos, Jared Cano, then 17, describes in disturbing detail his plan to murder scores of students and teachers .
The teen planned the killing spree at Freedom High School in Tampa, from which he was expelled in March 2010 .
Details of the elaborate plot were found at his home along with materials to make pipe bombs after a fellow teen tipped off police . |
84,343 | ef3b22c8a6aff8ece00b6142d8f718844eefa28b | Filippo Inzaghi still has the full backing of the AC Milan dressing room despite a poor Serie A campaign, according to striker Jeremy Menez. Milan lost 3-1 to Lazio on Saturday, with Menez scoring the Rossoneri's only goal, and the two sides are now preparing to meet again on Tuesday night, in the Coppa Italia. 'In the dressing room we're fine, the players are always with Inzaghi,' French international Menez said ahead of the tie. Filippo Inzaghi, under severe pressure as manager of AC Milan, barks instructions at the San Siro . Jeremy Menez, AC Milan striker, has told press that the AC Milan dressing room are fully behind their manager . 'It is true we are going through a difficult time. We have to stand up and get back to working hard for a good result because we all want this.' Some claim that Inzaghi's future as Milan manager rests solely on Tuesday's cup clash. With the team sitting 11th in Serie A, the Coppa Italia is their only hope of salvaging a disastrous season. 'It is true that the match against Lazio is very important for us,' Menez continued, 'for the coach and for the fans, but we should not put extra pressure on ourselves.' Inzaghi's side currently sit 11th in Serie A after a poor first half of the season, but are still in the Coppa Italia . AC Milan lost 3-1 to Lazio on Saturday (pictured) but they face them again on Tuesday night in the cup . Milan beat Sassuolo 2-1 in the previous round, a team just one point behind them in the league, but now face a much tougher clash in the form of fourth-placed Lazio. There are still concerns over Milan's strike force, with most of Tuesday's Italian papers listing the candidates that Inzaghi is looking at. Roma's Mattia Destro remains top of their wanted list, but Sassuolo striker Simone Zaza is also on their radar. | AC Milan are currently 11th in Serie A after a bad first half of the season .
Filippo Inzaghi's job is under severe pressure after one league win in six .
Striker Jeremy Menez insists that Inzaghi still has the backing of the team .
Milan play Lazio in the Coppa Italia on Tuesday, a big game for Inzaghi . |
228,216 | b3803ffcc2d3b2d35d91e347274278fafc8e6838 | By . David Wilkes . PUBLISHED: . 20:53 EST, 13 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 20:54 EST, 13 December 2013 . The wife of the £874,000-a-year governor of the Bank of England is urging people to protect the environment by buying organic clothes. Although they are more expensive, Diana Carney argues it is better to pay more for your outfits than to wear a ‘toxic second skin’ of synthetic garments. Writing on her blog, Eco Products That Work, economist and green campaigner Mrs Carney said ‘how to green what we wear’ [sic] is a ‘huge issue in our fast fashion world’. Diana Carney, right, pictured with her husband Mark, urged people to buy organic clothes on her blog, arguing it is better to spend more money on the more expensive garments rather than wear a 'toxic second skin' of synthetic items . She favours the denim brand Monkee Genes which sells a range of trousers ‘certified organic by the Soil Association’. Mrs Carney wrote: ‘Looking at all the benefits of organic fabrics, it’s a wonder we don’t demand them more vociferously. 'Who wants to carry around a toxic second skin each day?’ Mark Carney took over his role as the new Bank of England governor in July . She said that a lot of clothing production causes a ‘trail of devastation’ in areas where cotton is grown, adding: ‘It is close to Christmas and I do not want to depress you, so let’s think about what we can all do. ‘Most obvious is to buy fewer items, though this is not what the retailers have in mind for us. ‘Second, we can try to source fabrics that are less damaging for the environment and workers. ‘But that’s not easy. Like it or not, our personalities and self-image are closely tied to what we wear. That means that making “sacrifices” in this area can be hard. ‘Low prices tempt us all in (I am by no means exempt here). 'But in the textiles world, prices are nowhere near high enough to reflect the true costs of production.’ British-born Mrs Carney, whose husband Mark is Canadian, previously suggested that reusable fabric gift wrap is preferable to wrapping paper. She also told how, instead of splashing out on new stationery for their four children’s first day at school in the UK, she recycled pencils and reused ring-binders. Mr Carney’s pay packet includes a £250,000-a-year housing allowance. After tax, this works out as £11,041 a month towards the rent on their six-bedroom £3million home. | Diana Carney has urged people to protect the environment .
She said although organic clothes cost more it is better to pay higher prices for your clothes than wear a 'toxic second skin' of synthetic material .
Expressed her views on her blog Eco Products That Work .
Mark Carney's pay packet includes a £250,000-a-year housing allowance . |
231,667 | b7f0a920ddc491b7bcc9d17f8b248447c82625dc | Loic Remy will have a scan on his damaged groin on Wednesday as Chelsea face up to a striker crisis ahead of their clash with Manchester United. The France forward, who scored Chelsea’s opener in the 13th minute against Maribor in their 6-0 Champions League victory at Stamford Bridge, limped off immediately after his goal. Blues boss Jose Mourinho, who is already without Diego Costa for Sunday’s trip to Manchester United in the Barclays Premier League, claims Remy has no chance. Loic Remy put Chelsea ahead after 13 minutes after cutting in from the right hand side and firing home . As his Chelsea team-mates celebrated, Remy was left clutching at his troublesome groin, and was replaced . Remy's injury could pose a serious problem for Chelsea, who go to Manchester United next week . Didier Drogba, who came on to score his first goal for Chelsea since returning to the club, could start at Old Trafford if both strikers are ruled out. Mourinho said: ‘Remy has a muscular injury. I don't know the dimension and I'm not worried. When a player is injured, play another one. ‘I don't expect him to play. I don't like to speak about injured players. ‘Tomorrow is our day off and the doctor is forbidden to call me to speak about injuries. I don't want to speak about injuries, Man United. I don't want to know. Remy stretches for the ball inside the Maribor box, and the striker picked up an injury early on . Didier Drogba scored his first goal for Chelsea since his return to Stamford Bridge from the penalty spot . ‘I cannot speak about Man United. I can speak about ourselves. We are playing well, we are getting good results. We don't cry on injuries. It's our philosophy, we don't cry. ‘We just think one injury means an opportunity for somebody else. We cannot hide. In this moment we have some problems with players that are not available to play. ‘We will prepare the game Thursday, Friday, Saturday to try to be at our best possible level against an opponent which we respect very, very much.’ Drogba could make a shock start if Costa and Remy fail to recover in time to face United. He scored a penalty in the 23rd minute after asking permission from regular taker Eden Hazard for the honour. Mourinho added: ‘I don’t like it, but if they ask to do it then they have to score. Kurt Zouma impressed on his Champions League debut in a game where Chelsea were rarely troubled . Mourinho insisted that Zouma is 'ready to play any match' and compared him to France star Raphael Varane . ‘I was not expecting Didier to play 75 (minutes). I spoke with him yesterday and we spoke about 30. It was circumstances. He had to go on. ‘He was comfortable to play 75 minutes. It was very, very important for Didier. The best thing for a player to improve his condition is to play. ‘His last goal for Chelsea was the most important goal in the history of the club.’ Mourinho also had kind words for central defender Kurt Zouma, and claims the youngster is ready to challenge for a first team place after making his Champions League bow on Tuesday. Zouma, who started his first Chelsea game in the Capital One Cup tie against Bolton, played the 6-0 win over Maribor in place of Gary Chaill. Mourinho said: ‘It's always better to play them when the situation is good. Zouma is in a different dimension. ‘Zouma is ready to play any match, but because I wanted to give stability to the team I played since day one with Cahill and John. ‘It is a similar situation to the one I had at Real Madrid with Raphael Varane.’ Jose Mourinho had the opportunity to introduce some of his younger squad players, including Nathan Ake . He also backed Nathan Ake, who came on as a substitute last night, and Dominic Solanke to become first team regulars at Chelsea. Mourinho added: ‘Ake's a different level, but is in the level of the almost there. ‘Solanke is in the phase of the talent that we know that is there, but is far from being there. For him it was also a perfect situation. ‘Something he never forgets and for sure he's going to play many, many Champions League matches, because he'll be a very good player.’ VIDEO We are playing with confidence - Mourinho . | French striker Loic Remy injured his groin scoring against Maribor .
Remy was replaced after 15 minutes, and Didier Drogba came on to score .
Mourinho suggests Drogba is likely to start at Old Trafford on Sunday .
Mourinho also praises young defender Kurt Zouma . |
42,606 | 7821be1fcc66c483da7f8d8963a8a7f9e6234bcb | Manchester United have been stunned after Real Madrid demanded a British record fee of £75million for Angel Di Maria. The Argentina international has made the European champions aware that Old Trafford is his preferred destination and said goodbyes to his team-mates on Saturday with United growing increasingly confident of clinching a deal but the price-tag has come as a shock. They had expected a valuation of up to £56m, similar to the figures discussed by rivals Paris St Germain last week, but Madrid, sensing United's desperation to land a stellar signing, have upped the price. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Manchester United target Angel Di Maria's career highlights . On the move? Real Madrid have raised their asking price to £75million for midfielder Angel Di Maria . Wanted man: Manchester United are keen to seal a deal for the Argentina international (right) Left out: Di Maria, pictured during the first leg of the Spanish Super Cup, did not make the squad for the second leg against rivals Atletico Madrid . Seal of approval: Gary Neville believes Di Maria is the type of player Manchester United should sign . The deal is not off but, with a week left in the window, it leaves United battling against time to barter down to a figure they believe is more acceptable. Madrid's president Florentino Perez sees Di Maria as their best chance to redress their summer spending and the 26-year-old's departure would also allow them to bring in another non-EU player in Radamel Falcao from Monaco. They know United have money to spend and want to use that to squeeze out as much as possible. It would represent a huge profit on the £20m they paid Benfica for Di Maria in 2010 and, coupled with his £180,000 a week wages, represent a huge outlay for United - smashing the current British record of Chelsea's £50m for Fernando Torres in 2011. Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed Di Maria said goodbye to his team-mates ahead of the impending move. 'Di Maria has not trained with us today and he came in to say goodbye to the players and people at the club,' Ancelotti told a news conference in Madrid. 'There is nothing official yet but it is being sorted out. The decision is his and the club has done what it could to keep him here.' Busy: United boss Louis van Gaal wants to strengthen his squad before the close of the transfer window . Time is up: Di Maria is expected to be a Manchester United player if the club can agree a fee with Real Madrid . The two clubs meanwhile are also in discussions over a deal for United's young right-back Guillermo Varela. The 21-year-old was David Moyes's first official signing from Penarol for £1.75m but Madrid want him to join up with Zinedine Zidane and their B team Castilla. They have asked for a loan which could become a permanent £4m deal. | Louis van Gaal looked set to capture Di Maria for £60m .
But Real Madrid have now increased their asking price for the midfielder .
The Argentine could earn £200,000-a-week in wages at Old Trafford .
Di Maria has expressed an interest in joining United .
PSG were also keen on the player but United are favourites to sign him .
He will be given the No 7 shirt at Old Trafford .
Fee will be a British record, surpassing £50m Chelsea paid for Fernando Torres in January 2011 . |
92,553 | 03072d3d2d0eb6d4ad9d348b71af37b9d7a99c46 | By . Beth Stebner . PUBLISHED: . 21:47 EST, 1 August 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 21:56 EST, 1 August 2012 . A freshman Republican representative said Wednesday that August 1, the day contraception coverage goes into effect, is one of the darkest days in modern American history, likening it to the attacks on Pearl Harbour and the September 11 terrorist attacks. Speaking at a press conference Wednesday, Rep Mike Kelly (R-Pennsylvania) said that America was under attack with the mandate, saying: ‘I know in your mind you can think of times when America was attacked. One is December 7th, that’s Pearl Harbour. The other is September 11th, and that’s the day of the terrorist attack.’ He continued: ‘I want you to remember August the 1st, 2012, the attack on our religious freedom. That is a day that will live in infamy, along with those other dates.’ Anger: Rep. Mike Kelly spoke at the GOP Freshman Class Press Conference Wednesday at at Capitol Hill, likening the birth control mandate to Pearl Harbour and 9/11 . Rep Kelly, who is an outspoken supporter for the pro-life movement, made the apocalyptic comparison on Capitol Hill Wednesday. NBC News originally reported the Republican’s angry reaction to the mandate going into effect. He also called it ‘religious bigotry.’ Rep Billy Long (R-Missouri) agreed with his fellow Republican, caustically throwing out more thoughts against the HHS mandate. ‘We’re not in the land of the free anymore,’ he said, ‘and we need to get that straight.’ A spokesperson to Rep Kelly’s office did not immediately return MailOnline’s request for comment. The issue of birth control has been a hot topic in Washington and across the country, with Democrats and Republicans often seeing dramatically different views. Aside from the partisan debate, many Catholic leaders in many different dioceses rallied against the Obama administration’s health care reform. Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York wrote a letter to the president in February saying the law ‘does not meet our standard of respecting the religious liberty and moral convictions of all stakeholders in the health coverage transition. The new law requires employers – including those in religious organisations – to provide health insurance plans that in turn offer free contraception to their workers, something that many religious leaders find contradictory to their beliefs. Taking control: With the mandate going into law, non-exempt employers must provide insurance which in turn must provide birth control with no co-pays . President Obama signed the historic heath care reform bill into law in March of 2010. TPM notes that Rep Kelly’s fuming response to the bill’s passing is not the only one from a Republican representative. 'I know you can think of . times when America was attacked. One is Pearl . Harbour. The other is 9/11. I want you to remember August the 1st, 2012, the attack on . our religious freedom. That is a day that will live in infamy.' Earlier this summer, Rep Mike Pence (R-Indiana) compared the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the health care law to September 11, according to several Politico sources. Immediately after making the comment, Rep Pence issued a statement saying: ‘My remarks at the Republican Conference following the Supreme Court decision were thoughtless. I certainly did not intend to minimize any tragedy our nation has faced and I apologise.’ As of Wednesday night, Rep Kelly had not offered an apology for his statements earlier in the day. Those infuriated by his comments took to his Facebook page. Historic: President Obama, surrounded by lawmakers, is pictured on March 23, 2010, signing his signature healthcare insurance reform legislation . Look back in anger: Many protestors took to Capitol Hill in protest of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; the Supreme Court later voted to uphold it . One user wrote: ‘How embarrassing for our country. I think the congressmen ought to think carefully… then think again before he sprouts this fundamentalist garbage while wrapping himself in our flag.’ The freshman representative has already been blasted by Hawaiian Senator Daniel K. Inouye, who is a veteran of World War II. He wrote: ‘I witnessed the attack on Pearl Harbour and had the privilege of serving in the United States Army during World War II and I find the comments made by the Congressman from Pennsylvania to be misguided and insulting. ‘It is complete nonsense to suggest that a matter discussed, debated, and approved by the Congress and the President is akin to a surprise attack that killed nearly 2,500 people and launched our nation into the second World War or a terrorist attack that left nearly 3,000 dead and led to fighting and dying in Afghanistan and Iraq.’ | Freshman Rep Mike Kelly (R-Pennsylvania) said Wednesday that the mandate was 'religious bigotry' and likened it to Pearl Harbour and September 11 terrorist attacks .
August 1 was day health care mandate came into law .
Kelly called it one of the darkest days in American history . |
45,781 | 80fbeb8eda0214c691f6d948518c6529cc0585ef | Liverpool are heading for Miami to do battle with arch rivals Manchester United on Monday after a comfortable 2-0 win over a dismal AC Milan side in Charlotte. Goals from Joe Allen and Suso made it three wins out of three for Brendan Rodgers' men in the International Champions Cup. Liverpool were already assured of top spot in their group following Manchester City's 5-4 defeat to Olympiacos on penalties earlier in the day after it had finished 2-2. VIDEO Scroll down to watch some of Liverpool's highlights from their pre-season US tour . Great start: Joe Allen is congratulated by Rickie Lambert after his opener for Liverpool against AC Milan . Young star: Raheem Sterling looks to take the ball of Milan midfielder Michael Essien . Spurned: Rickie Lambert missed a penalty for Liverpool, a great chance for an early goal in his Reds career . LIVERPOOL: Mignolet, Kelly (Johnson 60), Toure (Sakho 60), Coates (Skrtel 60), Robinson Enrique 60), Lucas (Gerrard 60), Henderson (Suso 46), Allen (Can 60), Lambert (Peterson 60), Ibe (Coutinho 60), Sterling (Coady 46). Goals: Allen (17), Suso (89). AC MILAN: Abbiati (Gabriel 46), Abate (Zapate 80), Bonera, Rami (Mexes 66), De Sciglio, Essien (Cristante 66), Muntari (Poli 80), Saponara, Niang, Pazzini (Balotelli 46), El Shaarway (Honda 66). Referee: David Gantar . However, they made no mistake in front of a 70,000-strong crowd at the Bank of America Stadium as they easily dealt with the challenge of Milan, who had already been heavily beaten by Olympiacos and Man City. Rodgers used no fewer than 21 players to ensure his squad is ready for the first showdown with United since Louis van Gaal's appointment as David Moyes' successor. With Daniel Sturridge ruled out with a minor knock sustained in training and £20million new boy Lazar Markovic sidelined by a tendon problem, Liverpool made five changes following the win over Manchester City in New York. Brad Jones, Jose Enrique, Steven Gerrard, Philippe Coutinho and Sturridge were replaced by Simon Mignolet, Jack Robinson, Lucas Leiva, Jordon Ibe and Raheem Sterling. Lightning-quick teenage wingers Ibe and Sterling lit up the opening 45 minutes as their pace tormented Milan's overworked backline. Liverpool were in control from the start and took the lead in the 17th minute. Big crowd: Kolo Toure lead the team out in Charlotte on Saturday . Relaxed: Already in the final, Brendan Rodgers was able to give Steven Gerrard a rest . Allen's work rate created the chance as he dispossessed former Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien and burst clear. The Wales international fired against the woodwork and Sterling's effort from the follow up was blocked by Christian Abbiati. The ball fell back into the path of Allen, who volleyed home in style. Sterling was then denied by Abbiati before Kolo Toure made a crucial tackle to thwart Giampaolo Saponara at the other end. Ibe, who enjoyed a beneficial loan spell at Birmingham City last season, showcased his exciting potential. The youngster was on the receiving end of some rough treatment from former Portsmouth man Sulley Muntari but he picked himself up and battled on. Keeping tabs: The Liverpool manager and his backroom staff observe the game . Ibe began the attack which should have yielded a second goal in the 27th minute. He raced 50 yards before linking up with Lambert and Sterling, who was pulled to the ground by Adil Rami. Lambert, who never missed in his 34 penalties for Southampton, took responsibility but his spot-kick was kept out by Abbiati. Milan did threaten just before the break but Mignolet grabbed Mbaya Niang's strike at the second attempt and Allen dealt with the danger after Stephan El Shaarawy raced into the penalty area. Suso and Conor Coady came on for Henderson and Sterling as Rodgers began to rest players with one eye on Monday's final in Miami. There were eight more changes on the hour mark with the introduction of Steven Gerrard receiving a rapturous ovation from the 70,000-strong crowd. The raft of subs dented the flow of the game and chances were at a premium. Making an impression: Jordan Ibe (left) battles with Mattia De Sciglio for possession . Ibe continued to shine with another classy burst down the left as he got the better of Rami but Milan survived. Gerrard sparked panic with a through ball to Suso which triggered a thundering collision between Gabriel and Mattia De Sciglio. The Liverpool skipper went close from long range before Milan threatened to restore parity. Mbaye Niang went clean through but Mignolet raced out and made a brave sprawling save. Muntari's strike was then deflected wide before Liverpool killed off the Italians in the 89th minute. Coutinho raced into space down the left and teed up Suso, who swept a low left-footer into the far corner. Mignolet's stunning finger tip save denied Bryan Cristante deep into stoppage time as Liverpool march on to Miami on a high. | Allen nets first-half opener against Serie A side .
Lambert also misses penalty as Liverpool dominate early on .
Suso grabs late clincher for Brendan Rodgers .
They will play Manchester United in the International Champions Cup final . |
228,775 | b4359508b364b3e7a018d4db8c3b21da1a616cc1 | An historic Welsh castle has gone on the market as the perfect hideaway for anyone seeking solitude and privacy - and glamour. Westbury Castle in Flintshire, North Wales, is on the market with a price tag of £5 million. Just two years ago it was sold for £1.8m, but since then a small fortune has been spent dragging it into the 21st century. Westbury Castle in Flintshire, North Wales - described as the perfect hideaway for anyone seeking solitude and privacy - and glamour . Built in the 1880s, Westbury Castle has had £2 million spent on it so far to bring it up to date . The 200-year-old Grade II listed property has been described as Wales’s own Downton Abbey - its West wing could accommodate 56 servants. The wing has been converted into 11 luxury apartments although only three have so far been completed. But the mock-Gothic castle’s original features have been preserved including heraldic medallions and a decorative fireplace in the hallway. It has a State Dining Room which the estate agent’s blurb says is 'an impressive space to entertain guests with original features such as an ornate stone fireplace and perimeter oak panelling'. The west wing has been converted into 11 luxury apartments although only three have so far been completed . The west wing of Westbury Castle could accommodate 56 servants . Splendour: North Wales, where the Grade II-listed castle stands in seven acres. It has its own six hole golf course . Herringbone floors and vaulted ceilings - the listed castle has many unique features . Piece of history: original features, including wooden panelling, have been polished and restored . Back in time: the historic castle retains many original features as seen in this magnificent reception hall . Chappel: The mock-Gothic castle's original features have been preserved including heraldic medallions . Another entertaining area: the hall's fireplace, seen on the right, is original . A sense of history: the table in Westbury Castle's magnificent dining room easily seats 10 people . There is a Morning Room which would have been used as an area to receive guests before they were seated for lunch. The Drawing Room is split in to two areas, one for ladies and the other for gentleman after dinner. Westbury . Castle, which was once the ancestral home of the aristocratic Mostyn . family, stands in seven acres and has its own six hole golf course. The cast from ITV's hugely popular series Downton Abbey - the hit show has sparked a new interest in grand living. Westbury Castle has been described as Wales' own Downton Abbey . In the grounds there is a small abbey, a three bedroomed detached lodge and a riding school which can be developed into a five-bedroomed house. Developer and owner Ian Ringwood, 33, said: 'I will have spent around £2m by the time I have finished restoring the property. 'The west wing was in a really poor state - the whole thing needed re-wiring and was full of damp. The roof was in a bad state. 'But the main house was okay - it just needed updating.' Plush carpets and gilded furniture: one of eight double bedrooms . A view of the bedroom from another angle: curtain pelmets, chaise longues and original fireplaces . Wow factor: another bedroom with a solid four-poster bed. More masculine and with a hint of Scotland . Panelled windows, luxurious curtains and thick carpets . Old and new: thick curtains, ornate mirror, old-style bathtub, striped wallpaper and a chandelier. And a modern walk-in shower unit . The castle stands in seven acres and has its own six hole golf course - but it was once in a poor state with damp and in need of complete re-wiring . The estate agents say the castle would make a superb home for a celebrity looking for a hideaway in the Welsh hills. But they are expecting a developer to come in and turn the castle into a hotel or exclusive wedding venue. | The 200-year-old Grade II listed property has been described as Wales’s own Downton Abbey .
It was once the ancestral home of the aristocratic Mostyn family, who built the main house in the 1880s .
Estate agents say the castle would make a superb home for a celebrity looking for a hideaway . |
151,107 | 4f61123e009a4dec2b2cd2718945374f2df7984d | By . Daily Mail Reporter . Jonas Charles is charged with attempted murder for allegedly shooting a teenage burglar . A Florida car dealer has been arrested for attempted murder after he shot a teenage burglar who broke into his car lot. Police say Jonas Charles, 34, cornered the 15-year-old at his South Florida business May 23 after standing guard all night with friends because of a previous break-in. Witnesses said the teen put his hands up and begged 'please don't shoot me!' WTVJ reports that Charles opened fire and shot the teen in the abdomen. When the boy ran, Charles fired several more shots as he gave chase, according to police. Charles . told police that he and friends camped out all night at JC Best Auto . Sales on May 23 because burglars had broken in the previous night and . stolen the keys for all of the cars on the lot. By 2am, a group of four teens arrived in a car that had bee n stolen from the dealership the night before. The burglars headed for a Nissan Rogue when Charles emerged. Police say he confronted the teens and fired several shots from a handgun. He then chased two of the burglars - a 13-year-old boy and a 15-year-old boy and cornered them. He called 911, but authorities say, he took the law into his own hands. Charles was attempting to protect his dealership, JC Best Auto Sales, from being burglarized, he said . And the 15-year-old pleaded for his life, Charles shot him, according to police. 'You shot me bro!' the teen responded about being wounded. Authorities say that because the teen was not armed and did not present a threat of harming Charles, he was not justified in using deadly force. The 15-year-old, who is expected to survive his injuries, was charged with burglary. | Jonas Charles, 34, shot a teen burglar after he threw his hands up and said 'please don't shoot me!'
Charles allegedly shot the teen in the stomach .
The boy is expected to survive . |
206,294 | 970fc6140d11020c825461d12368e17ce82ac8b5 | By . Suzannah Hills and Stuart Woledge . PUBLISHED: . 10:08 EST, 18 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 07:16 EST, 19 August 2013 . England cricketer Monty Panesar's recent drunken rampage which ended with him urinating on nightclub bouncers was sparked by a bitter divorce from his wife, it was claimed today. The spin bowler has kept his separation from his wife of three years Gursharan Rattan a secret. But friends of the star have claimed his recent troubles are a result of his heartbreak over the breakdown of his marriage to the pharmacist. England cricketer Monty Panesar, pictured left is said to have gone on a drunken rampage at a nightclub in Brighton because he was struggling to come to terms with his divorce from Gursharan Rattan, pictured right . A source told the Sunday Mirror: 'Monty was devastated by the breakdown of his marriage and is still coming to terms with his recent divorce. His personal struggles have been a direct result of that. 'He did everything he could to make it work,” said the source. But ultimately he felt there were some insurmountable family issues and this became an increasingly difficult factor within the marriage. He is still sad that they couldn’t make it work.' Panesar's spokesman confirmed the divorce. The devout Sikh, who is meant to abstain from alcohol under the Sikh code of conduct, was forced to apologise after being fined £90 for his drunken antics at a nightclub in Brighton two weeks ago. The 31-year-old, who was dropped by England ahead of the Ashes series because of his poor performance, was thrown out of Shooshh on Brighton seafront after a group of young women complained that he was bothering them. He is believed to have then gone on to the promenade above the club and relieved himself over the doormen below.Witnesses said the bouncers gave chase . and cornered the cricketer in a pizza restaurant before putting him in . an arm lock and dragging him back to the venue in tears. The incident happened at Shooshh nightclub on Brighton beach when Panesar was kicked out of the club . Shamed: Monty Panesar is a firm favourite with cricket fans, but his off-field exploits have landed him in trouble . A source added: ‘The bouncers noticed water falling on them – then realised what was happening. ‘They chased Monty into a pizza shop and he was shouting, “Help! Help!”. ‘He struggled a bit and didn’t want to go. But once they had him locked in, he gave up and walked back with them.’ The cricketer, who lives in nearby Hove, was detained for 45 minutes before the police arrived and issued him with a £90 spot fine for being drunk and disorderly. He had been to a vodka bar before moving on to the club. Panesar’s spokesman said he did not dispute being fined for his drunken antics and added that he wanted to express his ‘unreserved apologies for any offence caused by his behaviour’. The sportsman married Gursharan in a traditional Sikh ceremony and the couple moved to Hove in East Sussex when he signed a three-year contract to play for Sussex. But problems in their marriage soon began to show and he was arrested by police after reports of an argument with his wife in a pub car park two years ago. He was interviewed before being released without charge. Troubled: Monty Panesar married Gursharan in a traditional Sikh ceremony three years ago but problems soon came to light when he was arrested over an alleged car park row with his wife . | Spin bowler has divorced from his wife of three years Gursharan Rattan .
Friends claim the split is the reason behind his recent troubles .
Panesar was fined £90 for urinating on nightclub bouncers two weeks ago . |
28,061 | 4f882dea5d2d87eaf5dee567ba3be5d1bab522f9 | It is set to be the ultimate mobile phone for the paranoid, able to keep your texts and pictures away from prying eyes. A Swiss firm today revealed plans for the 'world's most secure' mobile phone. Called the Blackphone, it runs a special version of Google's Android software designed to make privacy settings far easier to use. The blackphone will run special 'secure software' and its maker say it will be completely secure . Although the exact specs have not released, the firm says the handset will: . Make and receive secure phone calls . Exchange secure texts . Exchange and store secure files . Have secure video chat; browse privately . Anonymise your activity through a VPN . 'Blackphone, powered by a security-oriented Android build named . PrivatOS, is a carrier- and vendor-independent smartphone giving . individuals and organizations the ability to make and receive secure . phone calls, exchange secure texts, transfer and store files, and video . chat without compromising user privacy on the device,' the firm said. It plans to unveil the phone in February. 'It comes preinstalled with all the tools you need to move throughout the world, conduct business, and stay in touch, while shielding you from prying eyes,' the firm's website says. 'It's the trustworthy precaution any connected worker should take, whether you're talking to your family or exchanging notes on your latest merger & acquisition.' The handset is being made by two firms, Silent Circle and Geeksphone, who have created a new Switzerland-based joint venture to sell it. They have worked with several well known computer security experts, including Phil Zimmermann, creator of PGP, a widely used system to allow secure communication via email. the Blackphone is claimed to be far more secure than current mobiles - although the firm behind it has yet to reveal exactly how it will work . 'I have spent my whole career working towards the launch of secure telephony products,' said Zimmermann. 'Blackphone provides users with everything they need to ensure privacy and control of their communications, along with all the other high-end smartphone features they have come to expect.' | Will run a special 'secure' version of Google's Android software .
Allows owners to send secure texts and emails .
Can also upload and download files securely .
Set to be formally announced next month . |
21,674 | 3d9b2165aa2747bad088c8cee4a301c11e420bbc | (CNN) -- Officials in Panama City, Florida, have beaten construction delays, permit problems and the ever-present threat of hurricanes to arrive at this day: a new airport that will open the region to the world and bring in planeloads of tourism dollars. But as regular air service begins Sunday, authorities never thought they'd have to contend with a new threat: an oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico that continues to gush thousands of gallons of crude every day. "We've been getting calls ever since the oil spill occurred," said Dan Rowe of the Panama City Visitors' Bureau. "You know, wondering about their vacation plans." Tourism, Rowe said, is the largest industry in Panama City. The $318-million Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport is the first international airport to open in the country since 1997. "It is really going to be an economic driver for all of northwest Florida's economy for years to come," he said. The new airport is expected to generate approximately $80 million in new state revenues over the first 20 years of operation. But the challenge, now, is to convince tourists that the water is clean. "We'll get through the oil spill," Rowe said. "There's no oil on Panama City Beach or any of the beaches in northwest Florida." Indeed, the spill is more than 100 miles away from Panama City Beach's coastline. Local officials have said that if it comes ashore, they will swiftly deal with it. Yet, beach towns across the Gulf coast have seen business slide precipitously as tar balls -- pieces of emulsified oil -- wash ashore along the coasts of Mississippi and Alabama. Florida Gov. Charlie Crist asked oil company BP, which owns the damaged well at the heart of the slick, to pay for a $35 million advertising blitz to reassure tourists that Florida beaches remain untarnished by the spill. Oil has been gushing into the Gulf at the rate of about 5,000 barrels a day (210,000 gallons) since late April, when the drill rig Deepwater Horizon blew up and sank about 40 miles off Louisiana. Some estimates have put the amount of oil spewing from the well far higher. Eleven workers are missing and presumed dead after the explosion and sinking, and the cause has not been determined. Efforts to shut down the well that was ripped open by the accident have failed so far, though BP says it has been able to capture some of the escaping oil and pump it to a ship on the surface. The company also said it will continue using a controversial subsea dispersant to break up the plume of oil, pushing back against a directive from the Environmental Protection Agency to find a less toxic alternative, the EPA indicated Saturday. The EPA issued the directive on Thursday, ordering BP to find within 24 hours a less toxic but equally effective chemical than its current product, Corexit 9500, and one that is available in sufficient quantities. The directive also gave the company 72 hours to stop applying it to the undersea gusher. Corexit has been rated more toxic and less effective than many others on the list of 18 EPA-approved dispersants, according to testimony at a congressional hearing Wednesday. The EPA released BP's response to the mandate on Saturday. The response, which BP submitted late Thursday night, said that the oil company identified the only other effective, less toxic alternative available in mass quantities as Sea Brat 4. However, BP said the Sea Brat product "contains a small amount of a chemical that may degrade to a nonylphenol." Nonylphenol is an organic chemical that is toxic to aquatic life and may persist in the environment for years. Corexit, however, "does not contain chemicals that degrade into NP (and) the manufacturer indicates that Corexit reaches its maximum bio-degradability within 28 days of application" and does not persist in the environment, BP's response said. "Based on the information that is available today, BP continues to believe that Corexit was the best and most appropriate choice at the time when the incident occurred, and that Corexit remains the best option for subsea application," BP said. Also Saturday, the Department of Homeland Security announced that Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano will lead a bipartisan Senate delegation to inspect the Louisiana coastline after globs of thick, heavy oil began washing into some of the state's marshlands this week. The delegation will meet with federal officials and BP representatives to discuss the ongoing response efforts. CNN's Ed Lavandera contributed to this report. | Florida Gov. Charlie Crist wants BP to pay $35 million for tourism ads .
BP says it will continue using Corexit dispersant to clean up Gulf spill .
Corexit has been rated more toxic, less effective than other EPA-approved products . |
217,755 | a5f01676f766b2a10b0218777cdd3291b2c375d5 | By . Bianca London . Many of us spend hours - and a small fortune - fretting over acne, but would you ever pay the same attention or shell out as much money on hiding your freckles? A new trend, which sees women using laser treatments to banish the small pigmentation spots, is sweeping the beauty world. While the average Brit has around 35 freckles on their body, some people have a lot more and it seems to be wreaking havoc with their self-confidence. Before and after: A new craze for having freckles removed is sweeping the beauty world. Sally Whittle, pictured left, before, and after, paid £700 to get rid of hers and says she couldn't be happier with the results . While the likes of Gisele Bündchen, Olivia Munn and Rachel Bilson embrace their freckles, for one woman, they were the subject of years of bullying and insecurity. Speaking about her self-consciousness, Sally Whittle, 21, from Cardiff, Wales, said: 'I would pile on foundation, it always looked thick and cakey. 'I would hate going on holiday where it was too hot to cover up my face, and swimming would make me paranoid as I knew it would wash off. To be honest, I would just look like a walking freckle on holiday! I hated it.' Insecurities: Sally, pictured before, left, and after, said she would hate going on holiday where it was too hot to cover up her face, and swimming would make her paranoid . Famous freckles: The likes of OC actress Rachel Bilson, left, and Olivia Munn, right, happily embrace their freckled faces but for some people, they have a lot more and it leaves them feeling insecure . Sally decided to shell out £700 to banish her freckles once and for all. She underwent RevLite - a laser treatment that promises to help with skin lightening and treating difficult conditions including acne and acne scarring, fine lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmentation and melasma. How does it work? The treatment, which costs £175 a pop, uses a pulsed beam of light and optimum power to shatter dark skin particles . The . procedure uses a pulsed beam of light and optimum power to shatter dark . skin particles, which are gradually removed by the body’s natural . processes. The . machine’s flat-top beam distributes the energy evenly over the . problematic skin area or dark pigmentation encouraging it to fade and . disappear over time. Doctors say three to four treatments are enough to sort the problem and claim that the procedure has minimal downtime thanks to how quickly the energy is pulsed through the skin, which minimises redness and recovery. Speaking about the treatment, which costs £175 per session, Dr Maria Gonzalez, who offers it at her Cardiff clinic, said: 'This treatment is a newcomer on the market as most patients have heard of Fraxel or CO2 lasers for pigmentation. 'However, even though I have a CO2 laser I believe the RevLite treatment provides a superior result with less pain and less downtime. 'It is . also much safer in patients with pigmented skin in whom we do a less . aggressive treatment known as laser toning providing safe and effective . rejuvenation and improvement in pigmentation.' After one treatment, Sally noticed a . dramatic difference in the appearance of her freckles, and by the second . the difference was significant, she said. She added: 'Four treatments later and I no longer . wear foundation and I am confident within my new freckle-free skin. 'My . friends have all commented on how flawless my skin is, I still find it . weird considering I have hated it for so long.' | Sally Whittle paid £700 to have the freckles on her face removed .
Said she hated them and would pile on thick foundation to cover .
Laser style treatment uses pulsed beam of light to shatter dark skin .
Olivia Munn and Rachel Bilson are celebrities who embrace freckles . |
276,500 | f23b99068b588806979c765b65329e3247ba44ac | By . Hugo Gye . At least 11 people were killed and dozens more trapped in rubble after a block of flats collapsed in the Indian city of Chennai yesterday. Five building firm bosses have been arrested over the disaster, which happened when the 11-storey building was still under contruction. It was the second deadly building collapse in India within a single day as the heavy monsoon rains had a devastating effect on shoddily built structures. Warning: graphic images . Disaster: 11 people died when a block of flats which was under construction collapsed . Mission: Dozens of rescuers were deployed at the scene to save workers who were trapped inside . Victim: An injured woman is removed from the rubble of the building and taken to hospital . Rescuers at the scene of the disaster in the Chennai suburb of Porur were today using gas cutters and shovels to hunt for those believed still to be trapped inside. The building came down yesterday at a time when 90 contract workers were in the basement collecting their wages. Four people were found dead in the ruins and seven more were taken to hospital where they later died. As many as 60 people could still be trapped in the rubble, according to police, with some heard crying out for help. Operation: Diggers were used to clear large concrete blocks and allow rescuers to dig deeper . Army: The volunteers donned hard hats and high-visibility jackets to help look for survivors . Tragedy: Workers remove the body of one of those killed in the collapse of the 11-storey complex . Help: One survivor who was able to stand up received the attention of the volunteers . Officials used cranes to shift concrete blocks before dozens of rescuers deployed smallers tools to dig deeper inside. One of the builders, Balaguru, suggested that the building might have collapsed after being struck by lightning. 'Usually, once the construction gets over we install the equipment to prevent the building from a thunder strike. It was nearing completion,' he said. A police officer said that five officials from Prime Sristi, the construction firm building the complex, had been arrested as part of the investigation into the tragedy. Building: The complex was located in the suburb of Porur on the outskirts of Chennai . Bystanders: Workers watch the ongoing efforts to rescue survivors . Aerial view: A worker sifts through the wreckage in an attempt to find those still trapped . Earlier on Saturday, 11 people were killed when a smaller building collapsed in a slum area of the country's capital New Delhi. The spate of building collapses has been blamed on runaway demand for housing and weak regulations, which encourage builders to cut corners and use substandard materials. Last year, India saw its worst building disaster for decades when an eight-story complex in Mumbai collapsed, killing 74 people. | The 11-storey block of flats was being built in a suburb of the Indian city .
It collapsed after heavy monsoon rains and 'being hit by lightning'
At least 11 people were killed and five official from building firm arrested .
Another 11 people died when a building in New Delhi collapsed yesterday . |
3,899 | 0b3e14ce0bd13040d81f5a21ec84ca446e37992f | New York (CNN) -- With chants and banners, opponents of the planned construction of an Islamic community center and mosque near ground zero faced off Sunday with demonstrators in favor of the facility. Hundreds of critics and supporters of the proposed center in New York showed up despite an overcast and drizzly sky to express their views amid the national debate over the facility. Police estimated that supporters of the center numbered up to 250, and critics numbered about 450 during the demonstration. iReport: See, share your images and opinions with CNN . A banner on the anti-center side said, "Land of the free. Stop sharia before it stops you," referring to Islamic law. Another sign read, "No mosque here. Preserve the dignity of our loved ones killed on 9/11." Opponent Mike Meehan said he would not be opposed to the center if it were built elsewhere in the city, "just not down here, please. ... It's just too close to ground zero." Another critic, Shawn Gilfeather, called it "a breeding ground for terrorists." "I think the people that are backing, the people that are funding it, are actually in cahoots with them ... the terrorists," Gilfeather added. "I don't think they're just people practicing religion. I think there's something more." Those in favor of the construction said freedom of religion was the main issue in the debate. "There are many Muslims who lost Muslim family members at ground zero, so when they come to visit ground zero as a memorial, they should be able to walk two blocks down and pray for their loved ones," supporter Ali Akram said. Others said Americans need to set an example of tolerance to the rest of the world. "It would be giving in to bigotry and intolerance to demand that it be moved and I think in the end, it makes us less safe because we need to show the world that we are a tolerant, open society," supporter Ruth Massie said. Lt. Col. Chris Dzubek, an Army reservist preparing to head to Iraq, agreed, saying developers have "the right and the ability to do it wherever they would like." "That's what I like about the country is the ability for people who disagree with one another to hash it out without guns," Dzubek said. At the conclusion of the protest, those opposed to the construction marched by ground zero. The Islamic center's leaders say the $100 million facility calls for a community center including a mosque, performing arts center, gym, swimming pool and other public spaces. It will be built near where the World Trade Center was destroyed by Islamic extremists on September 11, 2001. The attacks killed more than 2,700 people. Some New Yorkers say an Islamic center near the site is a painful affront. The Coalition to Honor Ground Zero organized the rally against the construction of the center. The NYC Coalition to Stop Islamophobia staged the counter-protest. Plans to build the center near the site have stirred emotions nationwide. A CNN/Opinion Research Corp. poll released earlier this month marked nationwide opposition to the proposed facility at 68 percent. "What that tells me is the wounds of 9/11 haven't healed, and I think if they haven't, perhaps we can find ways to bring about that healing by perhaps creating a situation where people will feel more comfortable," New York Gov. David Paterson said last week. Paterson said there is no local, state or federal statute that prevents the construction of the facility. On Sunday, Daisy Khan, who is heading the development of the project with her husband, said moving the project to another site is not under consideration for now. She added that a move could be considered after consultations with "all major stakeholders." "We have to be very careful and deliberate in making any move," Khan said. CNN's Susan Candiotti and Ross Levitt contributed to this report. | Protesters march by ground zero .
The planned $100 million facility includes a mosque .
It will be built a few blocks from the site of the World Trade Center .
Critics say an Islamic center near the site is a painful affront . |
229,899 | b5b72c8b26a40ace7e34a79e0ee97468eb089b01 | By . Cindy Tran for Daily Mail Australia . An Australian couple were slapped with a speeding ticket while travelling to hospital for the birth of their first child. Patrick and Mallory Stafford are pleading for leniency after they were fined $298 for driving 15km over the speed limit through the Melba tunnel in Victoria. Mrs Stafford was rushed to Box Hill Hospital after her water broke at 5.30am on June 9 and she later gave birth to their son Jonah. Scroll down for video . An Australian couple were slapped with a speeding ticket while travelling to hospital for the birth of their first child . 'It’s not as if I was going at an incredibly excessive speed,' Patrick Stafford told 9NEWS. 'You hear all these stories of people giving birth on side of road, I don’t want that to be me.' Mrs Stafford said she wanted to be at the hospital for her first child’s birth as she 'didn’t know what to expect.' The Victorian mother gave birth to their son Jonah in June . Patrick and Mallory Stafford are pleading for leniency after they were fined $298 for driving 15km over the speed limit through the Melba tunnel in Victoria . The Boronia couple requested an internal review for their infringement notice, only to have their application rejected. 'There was no one on the road, I was clearly focused on the road, I’m a good driver, you know, I wasn’t putting anyone in danger,' Mr Stafford said. 9NEWS reports Victoria police receives more than 250,000 requests each year for an internal review and with each case judged on its own merits around 20 percent are downgraded to an official warning. But with their rejection letter, the Staffords have no choice but to take it to court. Mr Stafford said there was no one on the road at the time and he wasn't putting anyone in danger . 'It is very difficult to get off these cases. Unless the emergency was immediate and exceptional, then quite often they’ll have to pay the fine,' lawyer Michael Kuzilny said. Despite the speeding fine, Mr Stafford said he has no regrets. 'I probably would speed again, because I didn't know what was happening and I would qualify it as an emergency,' he said. But with their rejection letter, the Staffords have no choice but to take it to court . Lawyer Michael Kuzilny said 'it is very difficult to get off these cases. Unless the emergency was immediate and exceptional, then quite often they'll have to pay the fine' Mrs Stafford was prompted to Box Hill Hospital after her water broke at 5.30am on June 9 . | The Victorian couple was hit with a speeding ticket while travelling to hospital to give birth to their first child .
Patrick and Mallory Stafford are pleading for leniency after they were fined $298 for driving 15km over the speed limit .
But with their rejection letter, the Staffords have no choice but to take it to court . |
156,010 | 55abec22da8ecebee9c6b26da59a45f66c209822 | (CNN) -- What applies in real estate, may also be said of free speech -- it is all about location, location, location. Now a First Amendment fight between the U.S. Secret Service and anti-Bush protesters has reached the nation's highest court, testing the discretion of those using their often split-second authority to shield the President. The government told the justices Wednesday in oral arguments that the actions of agents were related to security, while the lawyer representing the demonstrators called it unconstitutional viewpoint discrimination. At issue: legal immunity for the agents, and whether their actions violated "clearly established" law in performance of official duties. The court was at times animated, perplexed, and exasperated during a one-hour public session, but appeared ready to reject the free-speech claims, which could end a pending, decade-old lawsuit. Justice Stephen Breyer spoke for many of his colleagues when he said the job of protecting the nation's leader by this "special protective force" was especially important and unique. "Everyone understands the danger. You can't run a risk," of allowing the President to be subject to harm, he said. "At the same time, no one wants a Praetorian Guard that is above the law, and we have examples of history of what happens when you do that. So everyone is looking for some kind of line that permits the protection but denies" suppression of legitimate protest. The incident happened during a campaign stop in the final hectic weeks before the 2004 election. President George W. Bush made a last-minute decision to dine at the Jacksonville Inn in southern Oregon. Local law enforcement had initially allowed about 250 anti-Bush protesters to stand near an alleyway on the same side of the street as the restaurant and adjacent hotel where the President and his entourage were staying. Pro-Bush supporters were across the street. Bush wanted to eat on the outdoor patio and the Secret Service said the change initially forced agents to order local police and state police to move the anti-Bush crowd across the street. Fifteen minutes later, those demonstrators were moved again, about two blocks further from the inn. They claim it was done solely to put them out of earshot of the dinner guests. The pro-Bush people were allowed to stay, resulting in them being closer to Bush. Seven anti-Bush demonstrators eventually sued, helped by the American Civil Liberties Union. Among them, Michael "Mookie" Moss, an organic farmer and local activist. "In challenging the immunity and lack of constitutional accountability of individuals operating under the cover of government secrecy, this case continues to set precedent while addressing one of the darker corners of our legal system," he said in a blog post. "If those in power are actively or passively given permission to act without accountability, abuse of our most basic rights will continue to occur." Many of the facts of the case are in dispute, and a trial has not been held pending resolution of the immunity questions. In oral arguments, most of the justices appeared mildly frustrated with the lawyers appearing before them, while trying to explore the limits of when an agent's actions become impermissible. Justice Sonia Sotomayor questioned the government's assertion the anti-Bush crowd was moved to keep anyone out of range of committing violence. "In fact, the pro-Bush demonstrators were across the street pretty much at a diagonal to the President, and they were permitted to remain there the entire time. They had a throwing distance of a bomb or a shooting distance as well." Justice Anthony Kennedy repeatedly pressed the Justice Department lawyer to clarify the government's position on whether and when "subjective intent" of law enforcement should be considered. "Would you say that under your view of the case, that there is a First Amendment interest that protesters have, but that it is virtually unenforceable in the context of crowd control?" asked Kennedy. "Because it seems to me that if this complaint doesn't survive, nothing will." Ian Gershengorn tried to articulate a nuanced position, saying some kinds of free speech claims could still be pressed, even if the individual agents prevail in this particular case. He mentioned current lawsuits challenging to Secret Service policy restricting the kinds of signs displayed on a parade route. That clearly irked Justice Antonin Scalia. "I really don't understand what the government is doing here. It seems to me you want to win this case, but not too big," she said, bringing laughter. "I would think it is in the interest of the United States and the Secret Service to say there are no" broadly-applied First Amendment claims against the agents. The lawyer for the protesters came under tough questioning as well. Chief Justice John Roberts pointed at lawyer Steven Wilker with a blunt hypothetical. "You're the head of the Secret Service detail. You've got to evacuate the President right away. Do you go through the anti-Bush crowd or through the pro-Bush crowd? You've got to decide right now quickly. I'm serious. You have to make a split-second decision." Wilker looked perplexed. "I think whichever way provides the clearest egress," he said, arms outstretched. Roberts: "No, no. They are both the same. That was one of your propositions, that there is no way to distinguish there. It's too late. You've taken too long to decide." Roberts continued, "If we're trying to decide whether viewpoint can ever be a security justification, we have to consider all of the possible situations." Wilker admitted he was no security expert. "That's actually not much of an answer for lots of reasons, but the most, if you don't know, how are we supposed to know?" Sotomayor said. While the agents may win at the high court, the justices seemed torn about adopting a particular general principle to guide future such First Amendment claims. A ruling in the current dispute is expected by the early summer. The case is Wood v. Moss (13-115). | Case involves handling of protesters during George W. Bush's 2004 campaign .
Anti-Bush protesters were moved further away from President .
Justices appeared mildly frustrated with the lawyers during oral arguments . |
271,195 | eb4a7407acb4795cb7f4b6595b256022865861a6 | (CNN) -- After scouring northern Colorado by foot and air, frantically chasing a Mylar balloon for miles and repeatedly interviewing his big brother, authorities ended the search for 6-year-old Falcon Heene where it began -- at his house. 6-year-old Falcon Heene says he was hiding in a box in the attic while authorities were searching for him. He was in a box. In the attic. The whole time. "I played with my toys and took a nap," Falcon told a group of reporters outside his home Thursday afternoon. "He says he was hiding in the attic," said Falcon's father, meteorologist Richard Heene, clutching his son. "He says it's because I yelled at him." "I'm sorry I yelled at him," added Heene, tearfully hugging the boy. In a later interview with CNN's "Larry King Live," Falcon said he heard his parents call for him from the garage. When asked by his father on-air why he didn't respond, the boy replied, "You guys said we did this for the show." When the father was pressed by Wolf Blitzer, who was filling in for King, to explain what his son meant, he became uncomfortable, finally saying he was "appalled" by the questions, and then adding that Falcon was likely referring to all the media coverage. Watch the Heenes talk about the ordeal on CNN's Larry King Live » . Authorities said they believe the case was genuine. The situation grabbed the nation's attention early Thursday afternoon, after authorities reported that the experimental helium balloon was set adrift with the 6-year-old apparently riding in it. Heene said the family was in the early stages of working on the balloon -- a "3D low-altitude vehicle" -- when the contraption and the boy went missing. His brother had said he watched Falcon get into the balloon before he untied the tethers, setting it free. Heene later said Falcon was videotaped getting into the vessel by his brother, but "obviously he got out." Once it was untethered, the saucer-like craft flew eastward from the Heenes' neighborhood, though officials couldn't immediately confirm how fast it was going. Watch the balloon float thousands of feet over Colorado » . Authorities said the silver balloon, 20-feet long and 5-feet high, at times reached 7,000 feet above the ground while adrift. It was found more than 90 minutes later in a field near Colorado Springs. The story took a turn when ABC said that Falcon's parents, science enthusiasts Richard and Mayumi Heene, were featured on the 100th episode of ABC's prime-time program "Wife Swap" in March 2009. According to the network's Web site, the Heene family "devote(s) their time to scientific experiments that include looking for extraterrestrials and building a research-gathering flying saucer to send into the eye of the storm." Richard Heene is a meteorologist and former television weatherman who has submitted to CNN iReports accounts of his sons helping him chase Hurricane Gustav, among other contributions. iReport.com: Heene family chases a storm . Rescuers from several counties followed the saucer-like vessel until it made a soft landing some 90 miles away. Officials rushed to the scene of the landing, smacking the metallic balloon until it deflated. They looked inside -- no Falcon. At that point, there were two possibilities: Either Falcon never got in the balloon, or he fell out. Authorities began to fear the worst after reports surfaced that a box possibly carrying Falcon may have fallen off the balloon. A Weld County Sheriff's deputy had said he saw an object fall off the balloon somewhere over Platteville, Colorado, which is in the search area. There was no box attached when the balloon landed at 1:35 p.m. See map of balloon's trip » . The widespread worries prompted the Colorado Air National Guard to deploy a UH 60 Black Hawk helicopter, with plans to launch a second one equipped with night vision if necessary. The search, which initially focused on Weld County, covered "the entire flight plan, from the Fort Collins area down to the Denver International Airport area," Col. Mark Riccardi said. But a little while later, Falcon turned up at home. Larimer County Sheriff James Alderden said it's not uncommon for children to seek cover when they realize they're the subject of a massive search. "They hide because they think they are in trouble," he said. "What was confusing was the eyewitness who said [Falcon] climbed into the apparatus, which was not the case," Alderden said, referring to the boy's brother. The sheriff said the brother was interviewed several times by investigators and that he was consistent with his story. Marc Friedland, the family's next-door neighbor, said he saw Richard Heene working on the giant Mylar balloon in the backyard. Learn more about airborne balloons » . "Basically, the whole family was out there and they were working with it," he said. "When I came back is when I found out that the event happened." He said the aircraft was intended to hover around 20 feet in the air and was not intended to carry people. "Obviously, something went wrong with that." Friedland described his neighbors as "a great family." "They're unusual, yes, of course. He's sort of a scientist-slash-inventor. They're storm chasers -- they go after tornadoes, hurricanes, things like that," he said. "He's a great kid," Friedland said of Falcon. "We see him a lot and they come over and they're always friendly." | NEW: Falcon Heene says "we did this for the show," authorities say case genuine .
Falcon Heene's dad says son hid in attic because he had yelled at him .
Sibling said boy untethered balloon and climbed in, but no one was found aboard .
Authorities launched ground and air searches for boy after balloon landed . |
173,821 | 6ceca5422bb03baac83ce55eb931991a415a6932 | A University of California San Diego student left unmonitored in a holding cell for five days by the Drug Enforcement Administration has settled a lawsuit for $4.1 million, his attorney said. "This was a mistake of unbelievable and unimaginable proportions," attorney Julia Yoo said on Tuesday. Daniel Chong, 25, drank his own urine to survive and even wrote a farewell note to his mother before authorities discovered him severely dehydrated after a 2012 drug raid in San Diego. He was held in a 5-by-10-foot cell with no windows but a peephole through the door. It had thick concrete walls and was situated in a narrow hallway with four other cells, isolated from the rest of the DEA facility, said Eugene Iredale, another of Chong's attorneys. There was no toilet, only a metal bench on which he stood in a futile attempt to set off the sprinkler system with his cuffed hands, Chong told CNN affiliate KSWB. He kicked the door and yelled, anything to get someone's attention, the station reported. "I was screaming. I was completely insane," he told KWSB. One matter still unclear is why no one heard him. Chong told the San Diego Union-Tribune last year that he heard footsteps, muffled voices and the opening and closing of cell doors, even from the cell adjacent to his. Yet no one responded to the ruckus coming from inside his cell. Chong was detained on the morning of April 21, 2012, when DEA agents raided a house they suspected was being used to distribute MDMA, commonly known as "ecstasy." A multiagency narcotics task force, including state agents, detained nine people and seized about 18,000 ecstasy pills, marijuana, prescription medications, hallucinogenic mushrooms, several guns and thousands of rounds of ammunition from the house, according to the DEA. It wasn't until the afternoon of Wednesday, April 25, that an agent opened the steel door to Chong's cell and found the handcuffed student, Iredale said last year. Upon his release, Mr. Chong told CNN affiliate KNSD that he was visiting a friend and knew nothing about the presence of drugs and guns. He was never formally arrested or charged, the DEA said. While detained, Chong had given up and accepted death, using a shard of glass from his glasses to carve "Sorry Mom" onto his arm as a farewell message, Yoo said. Chong lost 15 pounds and suffered from severe post-traumatic stress disorder, she said. "He's the strongest person I have ever met," Yoo said. "As a result of his case, it's one of the primary reasons the DEA placed a nationwide policy that calls on each agent at satellite offices to check on the well-being of prisoners in their cells on a daily basis," Yoo said. A DEA spokeswoman declined to comment extensively about the settlement and told CNN that a review of DEA procedures was conducted and submitted to the inspector general's office at the Department of Justice. She also referred CNN to a previous statement. "I am deeply troubled by the incident that occurred here," said DEA San Diego Special Agent in Charge William R. Sherman shortly after the incident. "I extend my deepest apologies to the young man and want to express that this event is not indicative of the high standards that I hold my employees to." Since the incident, Chong has returned to complete his undergraduate degree at UC San Diego, Yoo said. "He changed his major from engineering to economics and wants to finish school, pursue his career and help take care of his mother." | "I was screaming. I was completely insane," student tells station .
College student Daniel Chong was detained after a DEA raid at a friend's house in 2012 .
He was left in a cell for five days without food or water and lost 15 pounds, attorney says .
Chong has since returned to university to earn an economics degree, attorney says . |
98,366 | 0aa908024c9e8c4bb571745e54207e4661224bb4 | Amy Winehouse's face has been printed on to a new range of Belgian chocolates. Sold as 'rock-'n-roll chocs', the treats are being sold by Brugge-based chocolatier Dominique Persoone. A box of the chocolates, which feature tattoo designs on them, costs £15, with part of the proceeds going to the Amy Winehouse Foundation. Scroll down for video . Belgian chocolate maker Dominique Persoone has designed a new range of chocolates with pictures of Amy Winehouse's face on them . Mr Persoone teamed up with the singer's tattoo artist Henry Hate, who created the designs for the chocolates . Singer Miss Winehouse died in 2011 at the age of just 27 . The box contains eight chocolates, each with a different design and flavour. One of the chocolates features an illustration of Miss Winehouse's face. Singer Miss Winehouse died on July 27 2011, at the age of 27. Mr Persoone delivers chocolates to restaurants in Belgium and beyond. The chocolatier has previously worked with artists such as the Rolling Stones. Miss Winehouse's tattoo artist Henry Hate designed images for the chocolates. East London-based Mr Hate knew the singer for a number of years before her death. The £140-an-hour artist first met the artist when she came into his shop, spending three hours getting a tattoo done. Mr Hate was filmed speaking about their relationship on Belgian television station Deredactie this week. The chocolates cost £15 for a box of eight, with part of the proceeds going to the Amy Winehouse Foundation . The chocolates come in eight flavours with different designs . Part of the proceeds from the chocolate sales will go towards the Amy Winehouse Foundation . | Boxes of eight chocolates, decorated with tattoo designs, costs £15 .
Part of proceeds to go towards the Amy Winehouse Foundation .
Sold by Brugge-based chocolatier Dominique Persoone .
Miss Winehouse's former tattoo artist, Henry Hate, helped with design . |
89,698 | feb8bca2538159f40dc5f0d0cc8dbdc710ab91ff | By . Tara Brady . PUBLISHED: . 12:34 EST, 11 June 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 13:37 EST, 11 June 2013 . A couple’s amusing eBay advert for their clapped-out family car has sparked a bidding war resulting in the price of the run-around rocketing to more than £20,000. Murdo Guy and Camilla Banks, from East Grinstead, West Sussex, decided to take a different approach to selling their beloved banger on the fiercely competitive second-hand market by turning its dents, scratches and dodgy smells into sought-after features. But the cheeky listing has sent bidders into a frenzy and the price of the silver Mercedes saloon has shot up by tens of thousands of pounds. For sale: Camilla Banks poses on top of the Mercedes which has been advertised on eBay . In a display of honesty rarely shown by your average second-hand car salesman, Mr Guy wrote on the website: 'If you are looking for an immaculate, well maintained example of a Mercedes e320 CDI...you have come to the wrong place. 'If however, you are low on self-esteem, with a strapped budget, but shooting for the stars, welcome to my auction.' In more candid sales patter, Mr Guy added: 'Standard Mercedes rust on arches etc. As expected from a vehicle of this fine vintage. Also a couple of dinks from a scrape with Bambi and the missus’s foot. On the market: Camilla Banks posted this photo of herself alongside the advert for the Mercedes . 'As you can see from the photos this car has seen things... things it cannot forget. 'I have owned this car for three years and up to then it had been lovingly cared for and maintained. 'Since owning the vehicle, it has been thrashed, raced, rallied, killed three deer, and the interior has been smashed up in a domestic, not to mention the time my wife booted the wing because I suggested she eat a salad or two (please refer to photo of foot next to dent for reference). 'The car was lovingly cleaned in preparation for the 2012 summer Olympics, and maybe in need of another one now. The couple's eBay ad for the clapped-out family car has gone viral sparking a bidding war . Rusty: The Mercedes has surprisingly started a bidding war on eBay despite showing signs of wear and tear . Battered: The eBay advert for the rusty Mercedes includes more honest than usual photos and has become an internet hit . Mr Murdo is honest about about the wear and tear his Mercedes, which has 160,000 miles on the clock, has endured. He wrote: 'As for the bad bits... there are none... just kidding there are lots. 'The CD changer in the boot doesn’t work, but the radio does (we have already preset the channels to suit our clientele). 'The air conditioning isn’t working, but the electric windows do, so bonus. The car smokes when you boot it hard. 'The rear sub frame bushes could probably do with being replaced.' Spacious: Camilla Banks was even photographed inside the boot of the car to show how big the boot is . Candid: Murdo Guy photographed his partner Camilla Banks posing with the clapped-out Mercedes . He photographed Miss Banks posing with the car in a tongue-in-cheek photo shoot. Murdo wrote: 'Boot is big enough for two small or one big person. Car sale comes with complementary hostage.' One prospective buyer wanted to know if there would be space to fit Britain’s Got Talent presenters Ant & Dec in. Miss Banks said: 'We did want to sell the car but when we were taking pictures of it and we saw how bad it was we thought lets do it in a funny way. Now it’s gone crazy. It was just meant to be a joke.' However, despite the humorous nature of the advert they requested that only people who were serious about buying should bid - and refunds are not available. | Murdo Guy and Camilla Banks from East Grinstead posted the advert .
They honestly describe the vehicle drawing attention to rust and scratches .
Camilla Banks even appears in photographs posing on top of the car .
Listing has sparked a bidding war with the price of the Mercedes now at more than £20,000 . |
256,005 | d75f8073b0186990a52bf567491dfe68f0ba4f2a | By . Kerry Mcqueeney . Last updated at 11:35 AM on 8th February 2012 . Reboot and refresh: The new Fantastic Four - Season One title will be the first in a series to include modern touches in the 1960s comic . They were stories created in an era when phones were attached to hooks, faces were in books and the only tweets were the ones coming from birds in trees. However the modern touches which are so commonplace in today's digital age are to make their debut - in Marvel Comics. The Fantastic Four comic book, which was created in the 1960s, is the first to be modernised in a makeover promising to 'blow the cobwebs off a story that's decades old'. Mobile phones, tablet PCs, the Internet and Twitter are all to feature in 'tweaked' versions of the classic comic in a bid by the publishers to connect younger generations with its 1960s titles. The Fantastic Four is the story of a science genius, his girlfriend, her hot-shot brother and a football player-turned-accomplished pilot, who are exposed to cosmic rays in space and return to Earth with super powers. The origin . of the story is being updated this week in a sleeker tale dubbed 'Season One' with a more contemporary vibe, while sticking to the roots of Reed . Richards, Sue Storm, brother Johnny, and Ben Grimm - who have otherwise been known for . the past 51 years as Mr. Fantastic, Invisible Woman, the Human Torch and . the Thing. The revision is part of Marvel's push to add modern touches to its characters. Marvel also is bringing a modern spin to the origins of its other classic characters this year in similar 'Season One' editions, including Daredevil, Spider-Man and the X-Men. Tom Breevort, who edits the publisher's Fantastic Four lines of books, said: 'The aim is definitely to continue to keep these characters relevant in an ever-changing world, but also to tell a new story set within this time frame, not merely recount or retell comics that other people have previously done. 'We tweaked elements where it made sense. Everybody in the `Season One' books has a cell phone, for example, but we tried to maintain the spirit of the seminal stories that these tales are built upon.' Roberto Aquirre-Sacasa, a playwright . and TV writer whose credits include 'Glee' along with several stories . for Marvel, said 'Fantastic Four: Season One' was not a reboot of the . classic origin, penned by Stan Lee and drawn by Jack Kirby. What a Marvel: The comic book publisher is planning on giving some of its other titles a modern spin . He added: 'It's more of a ... refresh. The world's changed over the last 50 years. How we tell comic stories, how we absorb them, so let's update a great concept by setting it in the present. By giving it a contemporary sensibility.' Artist David Marquez, whose first published comic work 'Syndrome' came out in 2010, likened it to reintroducing classic stories to modern audiences. He said: 'The storytelling techniques we use as creators and the expectations of readers have changed since the FF's origins were first told. 'And because of this, it can be hard for . people who didn't grow up accustomed to the Silver Age style to find . these stories as exciting and inspiring as those of us who did.' Aguirre-Sacasa said the idea is to . make the characters more relevant to a reader who navigates social . media, consumes information and is fluent in not just pop culture, but . entertainment of all stripes. Modern makeover: Jessica Alba in the high-tech 2005 film Fantastic Four, based on the original 1960s comic . He added: 'Another example, and it's just a little thing, but the Fantastic Four - after their ill-fated debut battling the Mole Man - are Internet sensations. 'And Johnny, annoyingly, is burning up Twitter. Again, it's little details like that, which don't alter the fundamental DNA of the Fantastic Four, but blow the cobwebs off a story that's decades old. And have a slightly more pop flavor.' Ultimately, however, no matter the year - be it 1961 or 2012 - the objective is creating a fresh and invigorating story with characters that have been a bedrock for Marvel. Marquez added: 'This was my first big project at Marvel, and it gave me a chance to draw characters I have been in love with since I first started reading comics as a kid. 'I really had to up my game to show everyone at Marvel that I could do justice to Roberto's script, not to mention the high bar set by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.' | Mobile phones, tablet PCs and Twitter to feature in 'refreshed' editions . |
77,094 | da979b0a30ed7ddfb9f3421cd0b744e4976df64a | By . Jill Reilly . Chelsea Clinton looked relaxed today as she spent the morning at a Cambodian hospital handing out donations to children affected by HIV and AIDS. The only child of former U.S. President Bill Clinton is in the country for two days, visiting projects of the Clinton Foundation. Wearing a black and white patterned skirt, a black vest top and heels, the 33-year-old toured Neak Loeang Referral Hospital. Scroll down for video . Humanitarian: Chelsea Clinton hands out her donation to children who are affected by HIV/AIDS at a hospital at Neak Loeung town, Cambodia . Visit: Chelsea is on her second day visit to an affected HIV/AIDS center in the town where Clinton Foundation projects placed . Launch: The aim of her visit was to launch the Clinton Health Access Initiative new Cambodia 3.0 Strategy, which aims to have zero new deaths, zero new infections, and zero stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS . The aim of her visit was to launch the Clinton Health Access Initiative new . Cambodia 3.0 Strategy, which aims to have zero new deaths, zero new . infections, and zero stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS. Yesterday she visited Cambodia's . National Center for HIV/AIDS, Dermatology and STDs (NCHADS), where she . praised the country for its efforts in fighting the spread of HIV/AIDS. Chelsea . met with some 50 NCHADS staff and then held a news conference where she . highlighted the progress made by the Cambodian authorities. 'I would like to thank Cambodia . for being an example and effectively a challenge to the rest of the . global community,' she said. 'I would also like to recognize Cambodia for not . mistaking progress for success and I think that is similarly a very real . and rare achievement, that Cambodia has come so far and it is still so . singularly focused on eliminating new HIV/AIDS cases by 2020 including . eliminating effectively mother to child transmission is remarkable,' she . told a news conference. Tour: She visited a hospital at Neak Loeung town, Prey Veng province, about 63 kilometers (39 miles) east of Phnom Penh, Cambodia . Aim: Her visit is being used to highlight the work of the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), which 'aims to address the HIV/AIDS crisis in the developing world and strengthen health systems there . Praise:Chelsea met with some 50 NCHADS staff and then held a news conference where she highlighted the progress made by the Cambodian authorities yesterday . 'It is a privilege to be here, it a . privilege to do the work that we do and we look forward to a strong . partnership with NCHADS, with the health ministry, with many of you in . to the future,' she added. Her . visit is being used to highlight the work of the Clinton Health Access . Initiative (CHAI), which, according to its website, 'aims to address . the HIV/AIDS crisis in the developing world and strengthen health . systems there. On Tuesday, during her time in Malaysia, said she plans . to become increasingly involved in the international health projects of . her father's foundation and to speak out for gay rights. Chelsea said on the sidelines of a women's conference in Malaysia's main city . that she hopes to return to Southeast Asia, specifically Myanmar, where . the foundation will work with authorities to distribute medicine and . health products, including HIV drugs and child vaccines, at cheaper . prices. Start of trip: Chelsea Clinton, center, arrives at the headquarters of the National Center of HIV/AIDS, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia yesterday . 'It is a privilege to be here, it a privilege to do the work that we do and we look forward to a strong partnership with NCHADS, with the health ministry, with many of you in to the future,' she said . Greetings: Chelsea shakes hands with Mean Chhi Vun (L), Cambodian director of the National Center for HIV/AIDS, Dermatology and STD, upon her arrival at his office . Chelsea visited Myanmar earlier this . week at the start of initiative to provide water purification packets to . areas with unsafe water supplies. Her mother, former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, made a . groundbreaking visit to Myanmar in 2011 and helped nudge an elected . government toward democratic reforms. 'I . hope to go back soon' to Myanmar, Chelsea said. 'My father and my . husband are quite jealous now because my mother and I both have been to . the country, and they have not.' 'My goal is always to do as much as I can in whatever area I'm working in,' she said. She . added that besides the Clinton Foundation's initiatives, she was . committed to supporting gay rights, including marriage equality. 'It just seems so fundamental to me. I'm able to marry the person I wanted to marry,' Chelsea said. 'That's the fundamental human imperative. Those of us who have been lucky enough should expand these rights to others.' Like mother, like daughter: Chelsea Clinton met with democracy reformer Aung Sun Suu Kyi during her short visit to Myanmar this week . | She is in the country for two days, visiting Clinton Foundation projects .
The 33-year-old toured Neak Loeang Referral Hospital this morning .
Handed out stationary to children at the hospital .
Praised Cambodia's efforts in tackling HIV and AIDS . |
239,112 | c1900395ab75e1896c1d4b24ff96f217ad877b1e | A stone bridge reputed to be 3,000 years old was swept away as flooding continued to bring chaos to parts of Britain yesterday. Downpours over the Christmas break and through New Year’s Eve are likely to ensure 2012 was one of the wettest years on record. As celebrations began, more than an inch and a quarter of rain was dumped on to already saturated ground and more than 200 flood alerts and 90 flood warnings were in place. Scroll down for video . Now: The iconic clapper bridge is the latest UK landmark to be hit by of weeks of relentless rain. Martin Hesp and his lurcher, Monty, (pictured here) on what remains of Tarr Steps . The bridge as it looked before the floodwater caused it to collapse . The River Barle in Somerset swelled . so much that it destroyed the ‘Tarr Steps’ – a Grade I listed ancient . monument formed of massive stones weighing up to two tons apiece. The . slabs, some measuring 8ft long, were swept away as downed trees crashed . into them. Local resident Martin Hesp said: ‘I have lived in the area for over 50 years and I have never seen anything like this before. ‘It must have been some mighty trees which were carried downstream and smashed through them.’ The bridge links the Somerset villages of Withypool and Dulverton. It was last damaged in floods in 1952 . when the stone slabs were washed up to 50ft downstream and had to be . recovered. Since then the slabs have been numbered to aid . reassembly. Gone: Two men look at the remains of the Tarr Steps clapper bridge which was washed away . Although the first recorded mention of the Tarr Steps was in the 14th century, some believe it could be far older . Millions are facing a difficult . return to work tomorrow after the Christmas break, with numerous roads . left potholed and damaged by the weather. The only good news is that . forecasters believe the first month of the new year will be considerably . drier – if colder – than November and December. The South West had been braced for . the worst of the flooding, but there were similar fears elsewhere too. Mobile flood barriers were set up in cities and towns including Oxford, . Worcester, Shrewsbury and Bewdley. Larger rivers such as the Thames, Severn and Wye are likely remain high for several days. Along Dorset’s Jurassic Coast, . sections of cliff threatened to slide towards the sea at the weekend, . threatening beach chalets and creating a risk for beach-goers and fossil . hunters. Weymouth coastguard Philip Chappell . said: ‘The amount of rain we’ve had recently is turning parts of the . cliff into a potentially dangerous porridge.’ There were fears that a woman whose . body was pulled from the sea at a ferry terminal in Southampton . yesterday had been a victim of the weather. Environment Agency flood risk manager . Katharine Evans said: ‘It is as important as ever to be prepared for . flooding, keep up to date with the latest warnings and, if you are at . risk, to move valuable items to safety.’ England has already suffered its wettest year since records began in 1910, with 43.1in falling between January 1 and Boxing Day. The Met Office said 1.8 inches of . rain on the last day of the year would set a new UK record – although . final confirmation is not expected until next week. After all the rain, however, the . start to the new year is expected to be relatively calm, with only light . winds and localised showers in the South. Met Office forecaster Dan Williams . said: ‘As of tomorrow, the weather will get nicer. There will be showers . around here and there, but because of high pressure building from the . South we can expect calmer, drier conditions from tomorrow across the . UK. 'It is sure to provide welcome respite from the unsettled weather we saw throughout December, and indeed the whole of 2012. ‘In January, the temperature will . initially be above average, before getting a little colder and moving . closer the average towards the middle of the month.’ Legend has it that the devil built the bridge at Tarr Steps and had rights over sunbathing on the stones. Anyone who tried to cross the bridge, it was said, did so at the risk that they would be killed by the devil, who swore an oath to crush anyone who passed from one side to the other. It is claimed that locals once sent a cat across the bridge to test the myth – and the animal was vaporised. Only after confrontation with the local parson is the devil supposed to have withdrawn the threat. The first recorded mention of the Tarr Steps was in the 14th century – but some experts believe the bridge could date back to 1000 BC. It is constructed of stone slabs supported on stone piers, which stick three feet out of the water when the river is at its normal level. The name ‘Tarr’ is thought to have derived from the Celtic word ‘tochar’ for causeway. VIDEO: Tarr Steps in Exmoor, Cornwall, a 3,000-year-old iconic clapper bridge . | Bridge swept away by raging river, after trees carried in flood snap cables .
Ancient construction in Exmoor, Somerset, could date back to 1000 B.C.
It has 17 giant slabs - largest being 8ft long and 5ft wide - spanning 180ft . |
147,335 | 4a7cc61df048ed467c0a18d0190723dc8f1e4ed8 | By . Kieran Corcoran . PUBLISHED: . 13:05 EST, 26 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 17:14 EST, 26 October 2013 . An award offering cash prizes for the best works of art that stir up hatred for the United States has been launched in Iran. The competition, named Marg bar Amrika, which translates to 'Down with America' or 'Death to America', has a grand prize of 100million Iranian rial, which equates to £2,500. Held in two parts, the contest invites entries on anti-American subjects including 'Why is the US not reliable', 'The US and oppression' and 'The US and global Zionism'. Award: A contest for the best anti-American work of art has been launched in Iran . Antagonism: This image of 'Uncle Sam' holding a mace features on the awards site as inspiration . The first part, eligible for the £2,500 prize, is for photographs, posters and cartoons, while the second part, with a smaller grand prize of £750, is for documentaries, hymns and blog posts. Hardline conservative illustrators and artists from Iran will judge submissions, including cartoonists Maziyar Bizhani and Mohammad Hosein Niroomand, both of whom have been published in the Keyhan newspaper. The awards are sponsored by conservative news agencies and television stations. A website promoting the awards features the iconic 'Uncle Sam' image with a medieval mace drawn into his hand. The topics encourage entrants to focus on the United States as a centre of imperialism, hypocrisy and prejudice against Islam, and Iran in particular. Judges: Mohammad Hossein Niroomand, Mahmood Abdolhosseini, and Maziar Bijani will choose the winners . 'Marg bar Amrika', the slogan attached to the awards, has been used by Iranian hardliners for decades as a focal point for their opposition to the West. Iran and and US have had a strained relationship for decades, which had looked to improve since the election of moderate politician Hassan Rouhani as president in June this year. The announcement of the award comes as . conservatives in Iran feel ignored by the government, which has recently . re-opened talks in the West over the country's nuclear programme. The country's revolutionary guard, a military organisation which protects the country's Islamic values, is also organising a series of 'down with America' rallies on 4 November. The rallies commemorate an attack on the US Embassy in Iran's capital city Tehran in 1979, when hardline students overran the building. Hatred: Hardline Iranians often chant 'death to America' and burn US flags . They took 52 Americans hostage, and they were held in the country for more than a year amid soaring tensions between the two powers, before their release was eventually negotiated. Brigadier General Seyyed Masoud Jazayeri, deputy chief of the Joint Armed Forces Headquarters, told Iranian agency Fars News: 'The crimes of leaders of America and international Zionism in their confrontation with the Iranian nation will never be erased from the public's memory'. | Contest invites entries on subjects linking the US to oppression and lying .
Will be judged by prominent Iranian artists and illustrators .
Contest name references popular slogan with anti-US activists in Iran .
Comes as US and Iran re-open talks on the country's nuclear programme . |
186,275 | 7d4351d723f3af6c256e8fb431671a875762e810 | Thirty-five years after the genocidal rule of Cambodia's Khmer Rouge ended, a UN-backed tribunal on Thursday sentenced two top leaders of the former regime to life in prison for 'extermination, inhumane acts and attacks against human dignity'. The regime's 1970s terror period left close to two million people dead. The historic verdicts were announced against Khieu Samphan, the regime's 83-year-old former head of state, and Nuon Chea, its 88-year-old chief ideologue - the only two surviving leaders of the regime left to stand trial. Scroll down for video . Guilty: Former Khmer Rouge leaders 'Brother Number Two' Nuon Chea (left) and Khieu Samphan (right) have been given life sentences for crimes against humanity . Horrific: An exhumed mass grave reveals skeletons of people executed by the Khmer Rouge . Khieu Samphan, second from right, former Khmer Rouge head of state, and Noun Chea, left, the chief ideologist and No2 leader, are seen on a screen at the court's press center of the war crimes tribunal in Phnom Penh . Khmer Rouge survivors Soum Rithy, left, and Chum Mey, right, embrace each other after the verdicts were announced in Phnom Penh . Corpses found in 1979 at a prison run by the former Khmer Rouge government, about 18 miles north-west of Phnom Penh . Victorious Khmer Rouge members pictured stacking weapons confiscated from defeated republican soldiers on the morning of April 17, 1975 in Phnom Penh . The tribunal's chief judge Nil Nonn asked both men to rise for the verdicts but the frail Nuon Chea, wearing dark sunglasses, said he was too weak to stand from his wheelchair and was allowed to remain seated. Nil Nonn said both men were guilty of 'extermination encompassing murder, political persecution, and other inhumane acts comprising forced transfer, enforced disappearances and attacks against human dignity.' There was no visible reaction from either of the accused, both of whom have denied wrongdoing. The rulings can be appealed, but Nil Nonn told the court that 'given the gravity of the crimes' both would remain in detention. The case, covering the forced exodus of millions of people from Cambodia's towns and cities and a mass killing, is just part of the Cambodian story. Nearly a quarter of the population — about 1.7 million people — died under rule of the Khmer Rouge through a combination of starvation, medical neglect, overwork and execution when the group held power in 1975-79. Tribunal spokesman Lars Olsen called it 'a historic day for both the Cambodian people and the court. A young Cambodian woman looks at the main stupa in Choeung Ek Killing Fields, which is filled with thousands of skulls of those killed during the Pol Pot regime . A tourist looks at human skulls of genocide victims at the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, formerly the most notorious Khmer Rouge prison, in Phnom Penh . Former Khmer Rouge leader Pol Pot talks to a journalist in a hide-out in Northern Cambodia - he died in 1998 . The Khmer Rouge, the communist ruling party in Cambodia between 1975 and 1979, was responsible for the deaths of almost two million people, through executions, torture and starvation. Its leader, Pol Pot, was determined for society to be transformed into classless agricultural communism – at any cost. City dwellers were marched into the countryside to become farmers in labour camps, with those refusing to move shot dead and their homes burned to the ground. Factories, schools, banks and even hospitals were shut down and the population denied medicine. Many died through starvation – after all, most people from cities had no idea how to fend for themselves in the countryside and farmers were often too terrified to help them adapt. Some died through exhaustion, because the regime severely overworked those tending the land. Many were tortured and executed for being ‘enemies of the regime’. Anyone with links to the former Cambodian government, filmmakers, writers and indeed anyone deemed to be intellectual deserved to be put to death in the eyes of Pot. Even simply owning a pair of glasses could prove fatal, because as far as the regime was concerned, it meant that books were being read instead of hard labour being carried out. Religion was outlawed, so Christians, Muslims and Buddhists were also executed in huge numbers. The victims have waited 35 years for legal accountability, and now that the tribunal has rendered a judgment, it is a clear milestone.' Many have criticized the slow justice, however, and its cost. The tribunal, formally known as the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia and comprising of Cambodian and international jurists, began operations in 2006. It has since spent more than $200million, yet it had convicted only one defendant — prison director Kaing Guek Eav, who was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2011. The current trial began in 2011 with four senior Khmer Rouge leaders; only two remain. Former Foreign Minister Ieng Sary died in 2013, while his wife, Social Affairs Minister Ieng Thirith, was deemed unfit to stand trial due to dementia in 2012. The group's top leader, Pol Pot, died in 1998. Khieu Samphan has acknowledged that mass killings took place. But testifying before the court in 2011, he claimed he was just a figurehead who had no real authority. He denied ordering any executions himself, calling the allegations a 'fairy tale.' Instead, he blamed Pol Pot for its extreme policies. Nuon Chea, who is known as Brother No. 2 for being Pol Pot's trusted deputy, had also denied responsibility, testifying in 2011 that Vietnamese forces — not the Khmer Rouge — had killed Cambodians en masse. 'I don't want them to believe the Khmer Rouge are bad people, are criminals,' he said of those observing to the trial. 'Nothing is true about that.' Because of the advanced age and poor health of the defendants, the case against them was divided into separate smaller trials in an effort to render justice before they die. Both men now face a second trial that is due to start in September or October, this time on charges of genocide, Olsen said. That trial is expected to take years to complete. Survivors of the regime traveled from across the country to witness the historic day, filling several hundred seats available to the public at the tribunal. After the verdict was read, many said they felt mixed reactions and questioned if any punishment could fit the crimes committed by the Khmer Rouge. 'The crimes are huge, and just sentencing them to life in jail is not fair,' said 54-year-old Chea Sophon, who spent years in hard labor camps building dams and working in rice fields. His brother was killed during the Khmer Rouge era . 'But what can I do? I just accept the verdict,' he said, but then added: 'Even if they die many times over, it would not be enough.' A female survivor, 58-year-old Khuth Vouern, said she felt a sense of relief that justice was finally served, even if it was generations late. 'I have been waiting for this day for many years,' said the woman, whose husband and several other family members were killed during the Khmer rouge reign. 'Now, for the first time, my mind feels at least some degree of peace.' Khmer Rouge survivor Bou Meng, left, collects the court documents after the verdicts were announced . Cambodians line up at a court entrance before a U.N.-backed war crimes tribunal delivers its verdicts . Court officer Neth Pheaktra, left, gives a court pass to participants as they line up in front of an entrance at the war crimes tribunal . | The verdicts were announced against Khieu Samphan and Nuon Chea .
Samphan was the regime's former head of state, Chea its chief ideologue .
Judge said they were guilty of 'extermination encompassing murder'
Both men, in their 80s, now face a second trial on charges of genocide . |
26,638 | 4b9f94c68e91576a65e02b9117c642e38f548fcd | By . Anna Edwards . PUBLISHED: . 06:37 EST, 5 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 09:35 EST, 5 August 2013 . Tiny and vulnerable, these puppies would melt even the hardest of hearts. But just hours after they were born, the pups were cruelly abandoned in a gas station bin with their umbilical cords still attached. The litter of ten were discovered when someone went to throw something away in the Lake Tahoe dumpster - and were taken to a rescue centre. Scroll down for video . One of the ten puppies found abandoned in a Lake Tahoe gas station last month . Volunteers have nursed the pups back to health after they were discovered dumped in a bin . Six of the pups survived and are now being cared for at the Pet Network Humane Society in Incline Village . Ripped from their mother: The youngsters survived the odds after their cruel start to life . Sadly, four of them died after their harsh start to life, leaving their six siblings to battle on. Now, two weeks after they were found, the adorable youngsters have made a swift recovery after volunteers from Pet Network Humane Society in Incline Village, Nevada, worked around the clock to feed and care for them. The centre's executive director Becky Goodman said her group of volunteers were 'traumatized' when they discovered that the newborn dogs had been taken from their mother and dumped in the bin, TribTown.com reported . 'All of us are having a very hard time wrapping our minds around that someone was willing to do that,' she said. The animals will be put up for adoption in about two months, said Becky Goodman, executive director of the Pet Network Humane Society . Nursed back to health: The puppies spend days at the shelter and nights with several foster parents . The group of volunteers were 'traumatized' when they discovered that the newborn dogs had been taken from their mother . 'That's someone who didn't care to give them a chance. In that respect, based on the helplessness of the animals involved, it's one of the worst cases we've dealt with.' The director said that the remaining pups 'are doing very, very well,' the Reno Gazette reported. 'It's blind luck that someone went to the dumpster to toss something away and found those puppies,' she said. The puppies spend days at the shelter and nights with several foster parents, who feed them every two hours, KOLO TV reported. The shelter has informed the police and animal control but believe it's unlikely they will find out who dumped the young dogs . The organization is accepting donations for care of the puppies and applications to adopt them . Pet Network Humane Society have been keeping its followers up to date eon Facebook with the puppies' progress . Foster parent Diane Finegan said. 'They are so sweet and they deserve a chance in life and we're hoping they get good homes.' The shelter has informed the police and animal control but believe it's unlikely they'll find out who dumped the dogs. The litter will soon be ready for adoption and a loving home, and the organization is accepting donations for care of the puppies and applications to adopt them. For more video of the puppies click here . | Ten puppies abandoned in dumpster with umbilical cords still attached .
Six survived after volunteers cared for them around the clock in Nevada . |
64,261 | b67b63d1da9cccd6e229d5755065d57dd1653feb | First came the 3m tall kangaroos which were so big they were unable to hop like their modern-day cousins. Now scientists believe they have discovered womba-saurus, a giant wombat-like creature that was bigger than a small family car. At four metres long and 1.7 metres across the shoulders, the Diprotodon optatum was the largest marsupial of its time, weighing up to 2800 kilograms, when it roamed what is today known as Australia until they were wiped out about 25,000 years ago. Scroll down for video . The hippopotamus-sized wombat, known as the Diprotodon optatum was the largest marsupial, weighing up to 2800 kilograms and lived to be the size of a Mini Cooper vehicle . Scientists believed the beast may have had a short trunk because of the retracted position of the nasal bones, according to Australian Museum. Another prehistoric super-sized creature was the giant marsupial lion, which was found across Australia and were even spotted soon after Europeans settled Down Under. The thylacoleo carnifex had a wide, heavy, short-snouted skull with an extra long shearing tooth, according to Australian Museum. It grew to 1.5 metres long and 75 centimetres at the shoulder and weighed between 90 to 160 kilograms. The giant marsupial lion, called Thylacoleo carnifex had a wide, heavy, short-snouted skull with the longest shearing tooth and could grow up to 1.5 metres long . Scientists revealed new research that kangaroos are descended from giant ten-foot (three metre tall) creatures that were too heavy to hop. Pictured taller than basketballer Shaquille O'Neal who is 2.16 metres tall . News of the giant creatures that roamed ancient Australia comes after scientists revealed new evidence that modern-day kangaroos are descended from giant 3m creatures that were too heavy to hop. It was only when kangaroos shrunk from 40 stone to a weight closer to their current seven-stone frame that they learned to bounce. Professor Christine Janis, from Brown University in Providence, US, said: ‘I don't think they could have gotten that large unless they were walking.’ The team, whose research was published in the journal PLOS One, analysed bones from more than 140 past and present kangaroo and wallaby skeletons, making nearly 100 measurements of each animal. Unlike modern red and grey kangaroos, the giant animals called sthenurine kangaroos lacked specialised features enabling rapid hopping. Their bone structure indicated they had an upright posture and were able to support their weight on one foot at a time. Hop-less! Kangaroos are descended from giant ten-foot (three metres) creatures that were too heavy to hop, new research suggests. An illustration is pictured. Their extinct ancestors strode around the Australian outback 100,000 years ago, walking on two legs . It was only when kangaroos shrunk from 40 stone to a weight closer to their current seven-stone frame that they learned to bounce. Modern kangaroos are thought to have developed their distinctive hopping motion as an efficient way to travel the large distances needed to find food on the arid Australian outback (pictured) Large-bodied sthenurine kangaroos - a now extinct relative to modern-day kangaroos - first appeared in the middle Miocene period and became extinct in the late Pleistocene. They were too heavy to hop and instead walked on two legs. The largest of these kangaroos weighed around 38 stone (240kg) - almost three times as much as a modern kangaroo. Larger hip and knee joints, as well as more stable ankle joints, meant the large animals were more suited to walking. It was only when kangaroos shrunk from 40 stone to a weight closer to their current seven-stone frame that they learned to bounce. Modern kangaroos are thought to have developed their distinctive hopping motion as an efficient way to travel the large distances needed to find food on the arid Australian outback. The creatures had large hips and knees and stable ankle joints that would have helped them walk on two legs. Their hands were poorly suited for moving on all fours, but adapted for foraging. Modern kangaroos are thought to have developed their distinctive hopping motion as an efficient way to travel the large distances needed to find food on the arid Australian outback. Using elasticity in the tendons of their large legs to bounce is an effective, low-energy way to move at speed for long periods. But it only remains efficient if body weight remains low. The giant ancient kangaroos would simply have been too heavy, the scientists suggest. Professor Janis said: ‘People often interpret the behaviour of extinct animals as resembling that of the ones known today, but how would we interpret a giraffe or an elephant known only from the fossil record? ‘We need to consider that extinct animals may have been doing something different from any of the living forms, and the bony anatomy provides great clues.’ Whether or not reliance on walking rather than faster and more efficient hopping led to the ancient kangaoroos becoming extinct is unknown. Professor Janis said they may have struggled to elude human hunters, or been unable to migrate far enough to find food as the climate became more arid. In July, scientists from Colorado, Sydney and Burnaby in Canada discovered that a kangaroo’s tail provide as much driving force as their front and hind legs combined. 'We found that when a kangaroo is walking, it uses its tail just like a leg,' said Associate Professor Maxwell Donelan of Simon Fraser University in in Burnaby, Canada. ‘They use it to support, propel and power their motion. In fact, they perform as much mechanical work with their tails as we do with one of our legs.' 'What we didn't expect to find was how much power the tails of the kangaroos were producing. It was pretty darn surprising,’ said Associate Professor Rodger Kram at the University of Colorado Boulder. This summer, scientists discovered that a red kangaroo's tail provides as much driving force as their front and hind legs combined. The tail skeleton of a kangaoo is pictured right . Red kangaroos are the largest of the kangaroo species in Australia. When grazing on grass, they move both hind feet forward 'paired limb' style while using their tails and front limbs together to support their bodies. 'They appear to be awkward and ungainly walkers when one watches them moseying around in their mobs looking for something to eat,' said Professor Kram. 'But it turns out it is not really that awkward, just weird.' In human movement, the back foot acts as the gas pedal and the front foot acts as a brake, which is not especially efficient, said Professor Kram. Professor Donelan said no animal other than the kangaroo uses its tail like a leg. ‘Their tails have more than 20 vertebrae, taking on the role of our foot, calf, and thigh bones.' The kangaroo tail also boosts balance when male kangaroos grab each other by the chests or shoulders, then rear back and kick each other in the stomach in an attempt to assert dominance for the purpose of reproduction. | The hippopotamus-sized wombat was the largest marsupial known .
The wombat's ancestors lived to be the size of a Mini Cooper .
Another super-size creature was the giant marsupial lion .
While scientists revealed this week that the giant kangaroos were too heavy to hop and instead walked on two legs .
Modern kangaroos are thought to hop in order to efficiently cover the large distances needed to find food on the arid Australian outback . |
25,298 | 47ab94b354415119762197461e80af78018cfa21 | By . Lucy Crossley . Shots were fired by armed officers as police arrested a suspect in the middle of a busy road during rush hour. Witnesses said they saw police in unmarked vehicles swoop on a Mercedes on the A27 in Lewes, East Sussex, as part of an operation led by London's Metropolitan Police. The firearms officers discharged breaching, or Hatton rounds, at the tyres of a car, bringing it to a 'hard stop', before a man was seen being escorted away in handcuffs, close to a nearby roundabout. Incident: This photograph, apparently taken at the scene, shows the chaos after a car was brought to a halt by armed police officers, and a man arrested on the A27 in Lewes, East Sussex . Breaching rounds usually consist of metal powder contained in a wax canister and are also used by officers to blast open locks or hinges, as they disintegrate on impact and do not ricochet dangerously, like a bullet can. The officers were part of the Trident Gang Crime Command, which works to tackle gang violence and investigates shooting incidents. The man was arrested on suspicion of possessing a firearm, and was being questioned at a police station tonight. A Metropolitan police spokesman dismissed online rumours that the arrest had been linked to terrorism, and said the claims were 'pure speculation'. He said that . armed officers had stopped the vehicle and rounds were discharged by . officers, but that no injuries had been reported. The spokesman also confirmed that a weapon had been found in the car. 'MPS detectives and armed officers from the MPS Specialist Firearms . Command stopped the car at around 15:30hrs in relation to firearms,' he . said. The operation was led by officers from the Metropolitan Police, based in New Scotland Yard, London, who were part of Trident Gang Crime Command, which tackles gang violence . 'No shots were fired during the stop but Hatton rounds where discharged to incapacitate the car. 'There were no reports of any injuries. 'A suspected firearm was recovered. 'Aman . (no further details at this time) was arrested on suspicion of . possession of a firearm and has been taken into custody at a local . police station.' The disruption caused chaos on the road, with commuters caught up in heavy delays as they tried to get home from work. Following . the incident, which took place at around 4.30pm, one lane of the dual . carriageway's eastbound stretch was sealed off, with traffic backed up . for around five miles. One witness told the Brighton Argus: 'I came through minutes after the incident and this appears to be quite a large Police operation there are approx. 'Four or five un-marked police vehicles were involved and plain clothes police officers were in the road. 'They appear to have stopped or rammed a Mercedes car and handcuffed a very large gentleman at the side of the round.' Drivers in East Sussex faced further traffic woes after a house fire in Rottingdean caused the closure of the A259 coast road. | Witnesses said they saw police in unmarked cars swoop on Mercedes .
Firearms officers discharged rounds to take out tyres .
Man seen being led away in handcuffs close to roundabout .
Operation was being led by the Metropolitan Police on A27 in Lewes . |
264,465 | e2865916ffd0af750ce5de36e2ba2022f489e68e | The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s beloved pet dog, Lupo, is set to be immortalised in a series of children’s books and toys. Featuring a picture of the pampered cocker spaniel on the cover, The Adventures of Lupo the Royal Dog: The Secret of Windsor Castle, will hit bookshelves in September - with three further stories and a range of merchandise to follow. Its author Abigail King took her inspiration from the frequent walks she enjoys with her own spaniel, Lily, in Kensington Gardens, where Lupo is also exercised. Scroll down for video . Author Aby King has written a series of books 'inspired' by the Duchess of Cambridge's own pet dog 'Lupo' The royal pedigree came from a litter born to Kate’s family dog, Ella, in 2011 and was brought back to Kensington Palace at Christmas that year. Ironically given the new book deal, William and Kate’s spokesman at first refused to even confirm their new pet’s existence, saying it was a ‘private matter’ - even though the Queen and other dog-loving members of the royal family happily release details of their animals on the royal website. ‘We don’t want to breach our own privacy,’ an aide said. There was then another month-long stand-off after royal aides also declined to reveal the puppy’s name. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have created a number of companies to protect their 'brand' from people trying to cash-in on their fame . It eventually emerged after a seven-year-old boy simply asked the Duchess when she visited a primary school in Oxfordshire. After being handed a toy dog by young Abubakr Hussain, Kate said she would name it after her own pet, Lupo, which means Lupo in Italian and is a derivative of the Latin word for the animal. The pup now has its paws firmly under the table with Kate even telling one well-wisher who gave her a gift for the dog on the family’s three-week tour of Australia and New Zealand last month that she was missing Lupo terribly. ‘Everyone gives presents for George but nobody knows how much I’m missing my own dog,’ she said. ‘This is the first present I’ve received for my dog and I’m really happy because I do miss him. He’ll be really happy to have this to play with.’ The stuffed toy was then flown back to the UK - First Class - with other official gifts. Although somewhat overshadow by the birth of Prince George, the Lupo books will bring the royal pooch back under the spotlight. The series has been acquired in the UK by international giant Hodder Children’s Books, who also publish Enid Blyton, and describe it as a ‘One Hundred and One Dalmatians for today’s readers’. It is hoped that a deal may be struck for the US rights to the book. In the first story Lupo is accused of a serious crime he did not commit - an attack on a swan, which are protected under the Queen’s charter. In his efforts to prove his innocence, he crosses paths with the dastardly corgi Vulcan - named after one of the Queen’s actual pets, a corgi-dachshund cross known as a Dorgi - who has discovered a centuries old secret which he is determined to ‘use against England and the crown’. Members of the Royal Family including William, Kate, George and the Queen, all make appearances in the book, but the focus is very much on the animals of the Royal Household and their adventures. Miss King has now trademarked Lupo with an eye to cashing in on the valuable merchandising market, putting his name on everything from action figures to bath toys, board games, cuddly toys and even scooters. The Adventures of Lupo details the escapades of the royal pets and features several members of the Royal Family . The move to capture that market is particular interesting given the Mail’s revelation earlier this year that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge had secretly set up firms to protect their own ‘brand’ and ‘intellectual property rights’. It enables the couple to sell officially-endorsed products and take action against anyone selling items that could harm their ‘image’. A Kensington Palace spokesman declined to comment on the book deal yesterday. Privately educated Miss King, 38, says she has never meet Kate or Lupo personally, although she frequently writes about walking with the royal pet or how his favourite food is toast on social media accounts such as Facebook. She insists the books were simply inspired by walking her own dog, Lilly, whom she describes as Lupo’s ‘girlfriend’, in Kensington gardens in the spring of 2012. She said: ‘I’d seen in the papers that Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge now had their very own Lilly - a black cocker spaniel named Lupo - and I started to think about what life as a royal puppy, with palaces and parks at your disposal, might be like.’ The royal family inhabits a ‘secret’, behind-closed-doors world we never really get to see. Could a series of books about a dog like Lupo help children explore it? ‘Over the next few months, the idea never strayed far from my mind. I began to see the scope for mystery and adventure - secret passageways and tunnels in royal palaces, portals to other times. A royal menagerie of characters began to form in my head. ‘ . First time author Miss King has a tragic family history. Her mother was a successful model and actress in the 1960s, who died of leukaemia when she was just 14. And in 2008 her property developer fiancée shot himself just five weeks before their wedding amid the collapse of his business empire. Miss King, who recently re-married, says her dog, Lily, was instrumental in bringing joy back into her life. Her agent Vicki Field added: ‘It is a really exciting and imaginative children’s book that draws its reader into the imaginary world of Lupo, the royal dog. ‘Abigail has included fleeting references to the Duke, Duchess and Prince George as well as other members of the royal family, but the focus is very much on the animals of the Royal Household - dogs, corgis, cats, mice and the like. We are very excited about the project.’ | Author Aby King is using the royal pets as inspiration for her new range of books .
The children's books feature the Duchess of Cambridge's own dog 'Lupo'
The first of the books is being published in September and a range of toys are planned . |
164,360 | 6087815eabf2c3926e587203a9de0e8fc6c48582 | (EW.com) -- The Kardashians are already a staple on E! Network. But they've chosen the month of November to assert their dominance on the book world. Earlier this month, "momager" Kris Jenner's released her memoir. Kourtney, Kim, and Khloé's first novel, "Dollhouse," hits shelves today. And next week fans will be treated to the re-release of "Kardashian Konfidential." "Dollhouse," the first fiction endeavor from the Kardashians, follows sisters Kamille, Kassidy, and Kyle Romero. And like all the other Kardashian books, I read it so you don't have to! Here's a short plot summary. Warning: spoilers ahead! The Romero girls live in California where their mother, Kat, owns a family restaurant. Their father, David, made some shady investments prior to his untimely death and left his family broke. Kat remarried Beau, a retired baseball player, who has two children from a previous marriage. The girls are essentially trying to make ends meet by helping out at the restaurant. Everything changes when Kamille is discovered by a modeling agent. She becomes famous overnight, and begins dating a professional baseball player she meets at one of her many red-carpet appearances. Their whirlwind romance eventually becomes a whirlwind engagement when Kamille and her fiance agree to have their pending nuptials and wedding filmed for a TV show. Kassie just adds to the family drama after she gets pregnant after a one-night stand with Kamille's fiance. Ooops! And I'd be remiss without mentioning the taboo attraction between Kyle and her step-brother. Those are just the highlights, people. I won't spoil all of the novel for you. "Dollhouse" is fiction, but there are clearly some parallels between the lives of the Kardashians and Romeros. And in light of Kim's divorce, it's entertaining to read about a celebrity fairy-tale wedding filmed for TV. (You'll have to read to see whether the marriage lasts longer than 72 days...) All in all, "Dollhouse" is just Kardashian camp packaged in a neat novel. It's completely ridiculous, but entertaining nonetheless. And with the Kardashians I wouldn't expect any less. See the full article at EW.com. CLICK HERE to Try 2 RISK FREE issues of Entertainment Weekly . © 2011 Entertainment Weekly and Time Inc. All rights reserved. | Kourtney, Kim, and Khloé's first novel, "Dollhouse," hits shelves today .
"Dollhouse," is the first fiction endeavor from the Kardashians .
There are clearly some parallels between the lives of the Kardashians and Romeros . |
249,814 | cf50c81169b83a20d6aff27bbdfe981b1425b1a3 | (CNN)Jon Stewart ripped into Mike Huckabee on the "Daily Show" Monday, saying the former Arkansas governor was being hypocritical in his recent criticism of Beyoncé. In his book that was released Tuesday, "God, Guns, Grits and Gravy," Huckabee rails against what he describes as the artist's "explicit" style and questions whether her husband, Jay-Z, is "exploiting his wife as a sex object." Beyonce, 'My Dog Skip' and cigarettes: 7 things we learned in Mike Huckabee's new book . The potential presidential contender, who recently ended his Fox News show, also argued that the Obamas shouldn't let their daughters listen to the multiplatinum singer because "what you put in your brain is also important, as well as what you put into your body." On the show Monday, Huckabee argued that Beyoncé is a "megatalent" and doesn't need to resort to being "vulgar in order to set a trend," especially given her role model status for young girls. "Do you know any parent who has a daughter and says 'Honey, if you make really good grades, someday when you're 12 or 13, we'll get you your own stripper pole'. I mean c'mon Jon, we don't do that in our culture," he said. That's when Stewart jumped in, interrupting Huckabee to say he's "diminishing Beyoncé in a way that's truly outrageous." Opinion: Why Beyonce's feminism scares Huckabee . He then played a clip of Huckabee jamming with controversial rocker Ted Nugent to the song "Cat Scratch Fever" on Huckabee's former Fox show. "I make the pussy purr with the stroke of my hand / They know they gettin' it from me," Nugent sang. "They know just where to go when they need some lovin' man / They know I'm doin' it, that I'm doing it all the time." Stewart questioned Huckabee on why Nugent gets a pass. "You excuse that type of crudeness because you agree with his stance on firearms," Stewart said. "You don't approve of Beyoncé because she seems alien to you." Mike Huckabee gets serious about a second presidential run . "Johnny Cash shot a man just to watch him die!" Stewart joked, referencing the lyrics of "Folsom Prison Blues." Huckabee responded arguing the Nugent song "is an adult song, geared for adults," but modern culture has lower standards when it comes to "things that are considered perfectly OK for kids." "That's the difference," he continued. "You can't single out a corrosive culture and ignore the one that you live in because you're used to it," Stewart retorted. | Jon Stewart called out Mike Huckabee for saying Beyoncé was too 'vulgar'
Huckabee argues that the artist should be more careful due to her role model status . |
230,839 | b6eb63a3d2d8435b04311975de1bcd4fe440bb85 | By . Mario Ledwith . PUBLISHED: . 10:37 EST, 21 December 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 03:20 EST, 22 December 2012 . Denial: Prince Andrew's ex Koo Stark appeared at Isleworth Crown Court today and denied stealing a £40,000 painting from an ex-partner's house . The Duke of York’s ex-girlfriend Koo Stark today denied stealing a painting worth £40,000 from a former partner. The 56-year-old, appearing under her real name Kathleen Stark, is accused of snatching the artwork from the flat of her former partner Warren Walker. The actress and artist is accused of stealing the Anthonie van Borssom oil painting, after a housekeeper let Miss Stark into Mr Walker's home in Kensington Park Gardens, London. After arriving with a bunch of flowers, . Miss Stark allegedly demanded a vase before taking another picture off the . wall and getting into a 'tug of war' over it. The housekeeper managed to hold onto . the picture but Miss Stark is said to have run up the staircase and . grabbed the landscape painting of a moonlit castle before fleeing the property. During the court appearance, Miss Stark claimed she was injured by a police officer after being arrested following the alleged offence. American-born Miss Stark dated Prince Andrew after his return from the Falklands in 1982. They met on a blind date during his leave from the Navy and she was later invited to Balmoral to visit the Royal Family. The couple dated for 18 months before splitting after she appeared semi-naked in soft porn film, Emily, with the Duke of York going on to marry Sarah Ferguson in 1986. Accusation: Miss Stark, 56, is accused of stealing a Anthonie van Borssom oil painting from Warren Walker's home in Kensington, London . Exposed: Miss Stark in the 1976 film Emily, which contributed to the public demise of her relationship with Prince Andrew . Miss Stark arrived at Isleworth Crown . Court wearing a silver-grey dress that matched her hair and spoke only . to confirm her name and to deny the charge from July 21. Miss Stark will return to court for her trial on June 17, which is expected to last up to four days. Mr Walker, whose painting she is accused of stealing, is father of Miss Stark's 15-year-old daughter Tatiana. The pair have had a tempestuous . relationship since and she once threatened to sue him for 'emotional . distress' after he applied for custody of their daughter when she was . 11. Stark, who is now a photographer, was in a . relationship with Mr Walker until he jilted her 10 days before their . 1997 wedding while she was heavily pregnant. Lovers: Prince Andrew and Koo Stark in conversation. The pair dated after his return from the Falklands in 1982 . Star: Miss Stark also starred in 1975 film The Adolescents where she also appeared in a string of topless scenes . Her lawyer Edward Henry told the court today: . ‘The defence in this case is a claim of right arising out of a most . troubling, unfortunate and indeed regrettable state of affairs between . the mother and father of a much loved daughter.’ During the case, Miss Stark claimed she was injured by a police officer as she was arrested two days after the alleged event, claiming there is CCTV footage of the injury. Her defence counsel, Edward Henry, told the court: 'Most regrettably, when arrested the defendant suffered physical injury. That was documented in the police station and it was also videoed in the police station.' As well as her career on the big and small screens, Koo Stark also took to the West End to perform in the play 'And Then There Were None' at the Duke of York Theatre in 1988 . Sorry we are unable to accept comments for legal reasons. | Appeared at Isleworth Crown Court under real name Kathleen Stark .
She denied stealing the painting from former partner Warren Walker .
Miss Stark dated Prince Andrew in 1980s before starring in soft porn film .
Alleges that she was injured by police during arrest . |
92,033 | 025fa49e6fb360c41adadf0035d2bb7f5b90aa1f | By . Aap . Prime Minister Tony Abbott will lay a floral tribute to the victims of Malaysia Airlines flight 17 at the military barracks in the Netherlands where their bodies are being identified by forensic experts. Mr Abbott on Monday will travel to the barracks at Hilversum where a Dutch-led team of investigators has so far identified 65 of the 298 passengers who died when MH17 was shot down over eastern Ukraine. The prime minister will leave flowers at what has become a temporary shrine to the victims before meeting with Australian forensic experts who are part of the team using DNA, fingerprints and dental records to identify victims. Scroll down for video . Prime Minister Tony Abbott speaks to the press upon arrival at the Airport in Rotterdam, The Netherlands . Mr Abbott will visit the Netherlands to discuss the progress of the investigation of flight MH17 . Family members of MH17 victims are being left to decide whether they want to publicly announce that their loved ones have been identified, and how they will be returned to Australia, The Sydney Morning Herald reported. Later in the day, he will meet with his Dutch counterpart, Mark Rutte, in The Hague to thank him for his country's role in retrieving victims' bodies from the crash site in territory controlled by pro-Russia militants. Mr Abbott will sign a condolence book to the almost 200 Dutch victims who died more than three weeks ago. The disaster also claimed the lives of 38 people who called Australia home. Prime Minister Tony Abbott will lay a floral tribute to the victims of Malaysia Airlines flight 17 at the military barracks in the Netherlands where their bodies are being identified by forensic experts . The prime minister is expected to arrive in the Netherlands on Sunday night local time (Monday 5am AEST). He's being accompanied on the trip by Australian Federal Police (AFP) Commissioner Tony Negus and Chief of the Defence Force Air Chief Marshall Mark Binskin. The party will initially travel to Eindhoven airbase on Monday morning to tour one of the RAAF C-17 transporters that has been used to repatriate bodies from Ukraine's second-biggest city, Kharkiv. Military planes have also shuttled in and out Australian and other experts who last week searched the crash site. Mr Abbott will meet with RAAF crew and have lunch with ADF personnel. He will then fly from the Netherlands to London for talks with the British government and officials about counter-terrorism operations and the deteriorating situation in Iraq. Mr Abbott on Monday will travel to the barracks at Hilversum where a Dutch-led team of investigators has so far identified 65 of the 298 passengers who died when MH17 was shot down over eastern Ukraine . | Prime Minister will visit military barracks where MH17 victims are being identified by forensic experts .
Dutch-led investigators have so far identified 65 of the 298 passengers .
Tony Abbott will leave flowers at what has become a temporary shrine to the victims before meeting with Australian forensic experts . |
13,402 | 261428951243298d00ebc007f7f4cdd066866dfd | (CNN Student News) -- June 3, 2011 . Download a PDF map related to today's show: . • Massachusetts . Transcript . THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED. CARL AZUZ, CNN STUDENT NEWS ANCHOR: Hey! I'm Carl Azuz, and you're watching CNN Student News! This is our last show of the school year, and we're gonna get things started with a little help from our friends. (BEGIN VIDEO) ROBERT ALLEN, TERRA LINDA HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT [RAPPING]: One, two, three...hit it! MRS. LONG'S STUDENTS: Start your tractor, Carl! CARMEN SMITH (DOROTHY), CARSYN WHITEHEAD (TIN MAN), ALLYSON BROWN (COWARDLY LION), STEPHANI PAYNE (SCARECROW): You are about to enter the wonderful world of the wizard. ALLEN: Ladies, fellows, girls and boys... join me please and make some noise. CENTENNIAL HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS: [DRUMMING ON DESKS] . CLAIRE BALDACCI, IREPORTER: Hi, I'm Claire. I might not be Carl Azuz, but this is an exciting edition of CNN Student News. BRYAN GARCIA, IREPORTER: [Swish]...and you're watching CNN Student News. VAL AND HALLIE, IREPORTERS: Take it away, Carl! Hey, wait up! LESTER STO. NINO, IREPORTER: You are watching CNN Student News! (END VIDEO) First Up: Northeast Tornadoes . AZUZ: First up, we're looking at some of today's headlines, starting with tornadoes in Massachusetts. Several twisters hit the state on Wednesday, and Springfield -- one of the largest cities in Massachusetts -- was hit badly. At least two tornadoes touched down there. You can see some of the damage that was left behind. At least four people were killed. Dozens of other people were injured. Rescue workers were going door-to-door early Thursday looking for survivors. This could be a record year for tornadoes, but you don't see too many of them up in Massachusetts. That's part of the reason why these storms made such an impact. SEN. JOHN KERRY, (D) MASSACHUSETTS: And magnitude, when you see those houses flattened, really hits you. In 45 years of public service, I have never seen this kind of damage or devastation in Massachusetts. And as many of the residents said to me, "This is Massachusetts, this is not supposed to happen here." And it never has to our recollection. New Food Plate . AZUZ: For a while now, U.S. nutrition standards have been based off different versions of the food pyramid. A lot of people say the pyramid was too confusing. So yesterday, officials ditched the pyramid for a plate. It's called "MyPlate," and it's the government's new standard for nutrition. About half of the plate, half of what the government says people should be eating, is made up of fruits and vegetables. Whole grains and lean protein make up the other half, with a side of dairy. Officials hope that simplifying the standards this way will help Americans eat better. A lot of health experts agree it's better than the old pyramid. But some say that the new MyPlate doesn't give people enough information to make the best choices. Shoutout . TOMEKA JONES, CNN STUDENT NEWS: Today's Shoutout goes out to all of the students and teachers who watch CNN Student News! Which of these headlines came first? Here we go! Was it: A) Earthquake strikes Japan, B) Revolution in Egypt, C) Chilean miners rescued or D) U.S. holds Midterm Elections? Three seconds on the clock -- GO! The Chilean miners were rescued before any of these other stories happened. That's your answer and that's your Shoutout! Top Stories of the School Year . AZUZ: Those were some of the biggest stories that made headlines during this school year. We're going to take a look back now at the top stories from 2010- 2011, and we're including some of your comments along the way. Set your clocks back to August, and here we go. (BEGIN VIDEO) AZUZ: From Grace: Being a military child myself, I know that many families across America have been affected by the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. It is really hard to go through a deployment when you have a loved one fighting in the war. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Daddy! U.S. VICE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN: Our goal, our goal is not just a physically secure Iraq, but an economically and prosperous and stable one as well. AZUZ: From Megan: The rescue of the Chilean miners was one of the most touching stories reported during the whole year. The rescue was so breathtaking and the reactions of everyone were so sincere. TOM FOREMAN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: August 5th; 2 in the afternoon; 2,300 feet underground, a shaft collapses in the San Jose copper and gold mine. 33 miners are somewhere behind the rubble, their condition unknown. The Chilean president promises every effort to rescue them. Finally, after more than 2 months buried alive, salvation. ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Never has a man been underground so long and gotten out alive. GROUP: Chi! Le! Chi Chi Chi ...Le Le Le! Viva Chile! AZUZ: From Ryan: During the U.S. midterm elections, I started to wish I could vote. I got excited to see who would win or lose the elections. REP. JOHN BOEHNER, (R) OHIO, HOUSE SPEAKER: Let me just say this: It's clear tonight who the winners really are, and that's the American people. SEN. HARRY REID, (D) NEVADA, MAJORITY LEADER: This race has been called, but the fight is far from over. The bell that just rang isn't the end of the fight, it's the start of the next round. AZUZ: From Danielle: In my honest opinion, I think that our country has not improved in the economy. Gas prices have continued to rise, and your everyday tools prices are soaring. Many prices on things are unbelievable. From Mo's class: We believe that the upheaval in Arab nations was a top story because it affected the whole world. After these events, our class started to pay more attention to the news. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We will die for our freedom! MOAMMAR GADHAFI, LIBYAN LEADER: We will be victorious in this fight. AZUZ: From Kazumi: I live in Tokyo, so the tsunami was really shocking to me. Japan is getting over the damage. We are so grateful for the help and prayers from all over the world. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, my God! AZUZ: From Lexi: Every night I pray that the people whose lives have been impacted from the natural disasters get better. COOPER: We're talking about the deadliest tornado season since 1953, that's what we're experiencing right now. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's something you don't want to experience. You don't want to experience nothing like this. It ain't a good feeling, it ain't nothing you can do about it. AZUZ: From Juliana: When Osama bin Laden died, I thought it was probably the biggest story reported this year. Considering he was the starter of a terrorist group and the cause of 9/11, I do think justice was done. U.S. PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA: I can report to the American people and to the world that the United States has conducted an operation that killed Osama bin Laden, the leader of al Qaeda, and a terrorist who's responsible for the murder of thousands of innocent men, women and children. (END VIDEO) Before We Go . AZUZ: Okay, before we go, you know we always like to have a little pun at the end of our show. I've chosen my top 5 favorite puns of the school year. And right now, you get to sit through every punful one of them again. Let's goose this up! When a bird joined a couple canines on their walk through the park, we had to give it wings on the air. After all, what's good for a goose is good for a gander. Okay, then, there was this zip-line over a reptile pit. To protect the people, you'd think they'd have a gate or something. To protect the reptiles, you'd need a little gator aid! When a retriever took some ducklings under her wing -- or paw -- you could see she didn't duck any responsibility. It wouldn't fit the bill. And as far as duck puns go, you've got to admit they quack you up. And after a group of presidential mascots took off running -- that's running a race, not 'running a race' -- you want a clean match. Anything less elects a commander-in-cheat. My favorite had to be this one, though. Back in August, we showed a butterfly causing a bunch of penguins to flip out. Now, we could've talked about the butterfly effect, said this was frightless versus flightless, said the butterfly ruled them like a monarch. But instead, we settled on this: the pupa becomes the master. Goodbye . AZUZ: Sure, they might bug you from time to time, but you know we larva good pun here at CNN Student News. All right. As we sign off for the summer, we want to thank all of you who watch and use our show. Especially those of you who have sent us iReports, Shoutout requests; those of you who've posted on our blog; those of you who've visited our Facebook page. We hope you'll check out CNNStudentNews.com over the summer. We'll be putting some special shows up every week while we're on break. From all of us here at CNN Student News, have an amazingly awesome summer, and take care. | Hear about the impact of deadly tornadoes that hit Massachusetts .
Find out why U.S. nutrition guidelines are getting a new icon .
Look back at some of the biggest stories from this school year .
Use the weekly Newsquiz to test your knowledge of stories you saw on CNN Student News . |
82,936 | eb2ea4100d15e4c3e3e7cb167e202e3ca733d06f | A father-of-three with motor neurone disease, whose ventilator prevents him from being able to speak, has been given the opportunity to communicate independently for the first time in 15 years. Technology and media company, Not Impossible Labs, which was founded by Melbourne born Elliot Kotek and Mick Ebeling from Arizona, made it their mission to ensure Don Moir was able to independently renew his vows on his 25th wedding anniversary with his wife Lorraine. A short documentary explaining the trials and tribulations of their project, captured the heart-warming moment the farmer from rural Canada was able to write his wife a love letter and tell her he loves her for the first time in 15 years. Scroll down for video . Don Moir, a father-of-three with motor neurone disease, was able to independently tell his wife he loved her for the first time in 15 years . Mr Moir was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in 1995. The disease forced him to rely on a wheelchair and in 1999 he was fitted with a ventilator to help him breathe. 'I'm not even sure he realised that he wasn't going to be able to speak, but I remember explaining that to him: "if you go on the ventilator, you won't be able to speak anymore",' Lorraine said. 'At that point, it was very difficult.' Don's family did their best to adapt to his progressive illness and learnt how to run the family farm according to his instructions, but they remain humble about the emotional toll it has taken on them. 'He's constantly losing abilities every week, like what he could do last week he can't do this week and next week you know it's going to be something else, but you don't know what,' Lorraine said. Technology and media company, Not Impossible Labs, which was founded by Melbourne born Elliot Kotek (left) and Mick Ebeling (right) from Arizona, designed the program to allow Don to communicate independently . Mr Moir was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in 1995. The disease forced him to rely on a wheelchair and in 1999 he was fitted with a ventilator to help him breathe . Engineer and Not Impossible volunteer Javed Gangjee was determined to help Don communicate independently after hearing his story, but was set back due to the farmer's lack of experience with technology. His wife explains in the documentary: 'Don has never touched a computer, he doesn't even know how to turn one on'. Undeterred, Mr Gangjee said: 'a year ago I made Don a promise; that I will find an answer that works for him specifically.' 'When I look at Don - that could be my uncle, that could be my dad - what right do I have to do nothing about it.' The Not Impossible team thus created an electronic version of a letter-board chart that Don and his wife had been using to communicate since he first lost the ability to speak. 'I'm not even sure he realised that he wasn't going to be able to speak, but I remember explaining that to him... at that point, it was very difficult,' his wife Lorraine said . Don's family did their best to adapt to his progressive illness and Lorraine (pictured) learnt how to run the family farm according to his instructions, but they remain humble about the emotional toll it has taken on them . 'Don had a letter board that was divided up into four quadrants that enabled him to have a bit of shorthand with his wife and kids because when he looked into the corner on the left it could only be a certain letter that fit to form a certain word,' Elliot Kotek told Daily Mail Australia. 'Due to his technology barrier, the program gave him a very familiar thing to look at because it looked just like his letter sheet and it would calibrate, so it would scroll through these letters and if he then looks to the centre it pulls the letter in to the centre. 'Not only does it speak the word or sentence for him, but it has got predictive text, just like our phones do, which continues to get smarter like our phones do, and that speeds up his communication. 'It's a new piece of technology also based on eye recognition and it's really the software that's the hero here.' After almost three years of development the program was finally complete in August 2014 and Don was able to renew his vows. Engineer and Not Impossible volunteer Javed Gangjee was determined to help Don communicate independently after hearing his story, but was set back due to the farmer's lack of experience with technology . 'Don has never touched a computer, he doesn't even know how to turn one on,' Lorraine said . 'My dear Lorraine, I can't imagine life without you. You have made the last 25 years fly by and the last 20 with ALS more bearable. I am looking forward to the next 25 years. Love Don.' 'He was pretty excited. Lorraine told us: "he's blinking like crazy!",' Mr Kotek said. But the beauty of the program does not stop there. The tech geniuses are now working on designing a voice based on Don's actual voice from old film footage of him in order to personalise the computer's voice and minimise the robotic sounds. 'The next stage they're working on is for him to be able to email from the device so that he can keep in contact with friends and people you don't get to see because you're not as mobile as you used to be. He'll be able to communicate with anyone in the world and not just the two people in the room with him,' Mr Kotek said. The Not Impossible team thus created an electronic version of a letter-board chart that Don and his wife had been using to communicate since he first lost the ability to speak . The program is based on his letter sheet and calibrates - scrolling through letters and pulling them into the centre when he looks into the centre. It then speaks the word or sentence for him and also includes predictive text which continues to get smarter and speeds up his communication . Not Impossible Labs will also have the program available for download online by anyone, for free. 'Javed wants to go around the whole country making custom interfaces for all sorts of people. Like, for someone with tunnel vision, he wants to customise the program for them,' Mr Kotek said. 'Don has Lorraine, but not everyone has a Lorraine. We want people to look at all the technology available to them and know that they can use it and adapt it to make life a lot easier and convenient. We still are a really small team of people and we manage to deliver real impact on people's lives and if we can inspire others to help someone in their community then it's huge. 'If we can make it downloadable to use for free then others can look at it and improve it so that there are local answers for people who are lacking communication tools.' Don's Voice is just one of many projects that Not Impossible currently has in the works. Their process of helping people is a simple one: find a problem, solve it by bringing together the best creative minds, get big companies involved to fund the set up costs in exchange for exposure, make it a sustainable solution and then spread the message far and wide. The program allowed Don to independently renew his vows on his 25th wedding anniversary with Lorraine . Not Impossible Labs will also have the program available for download online by anyone, for free. '[Now] others can look at it and improve it so that there are local answers for people who are lacking communication tools,' Mr Kotek said . 'What happens is, people send us stories or we find stories where access has been limited to someone,' Mr Kotek explained. 'It could be physical limitations, like an inability to communicate, it could be geographic, or it could just be financial where the solution is not available because it's just so expensive they can't afford it. As for Don and Lorraine, while his independence has bene given a boost, the technology is only another chapter in their love story. 'When he first used the program to say "I love you", Lorraine said to us: "Oh, you know, he tells me he loves me all the time",' Mr Kotek said. 'They really are amazing. Her resolve is incredible. It's hard to believe but they seem to really not have missed a beat.' Don's program will be available for download here. | Don Moir can communicate independently for the first time since he was forced onto a ventilator in 1999 due to his illness .
He was first diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in 1995 .
The computer program was created by technology and media company Not Impossible Labs, which was co-founded by Melbourne born Elliot Kotek .
It will be available to anyone online in the hope that it continues to improve peoples' lives . |
200,537 | 8f957e83d11c95283c55a771ce90f90b1eae945e | By . Lara Gould . PUBLISHED: . 15:58 EST, 11 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 15:58 EST, 11 May 2013 . Myleene Klass is embroiled in a bitter legal battle with her estranged husband as they hammer out the final details of their divorce. It is understood that businessman Graham Quinn, who provides security for pop stars including JLS and Bruce Springsteen, is demanding the entire proceeds from the sale of their five-bedroom detached property as part of the settlement. Classically trained musician and TV presenter Miss Klass, 35, is believed to have bought the house in Cuffley, Hertfordshire, in her own name for £1.2 million in December 2009. Bitter: Myleene Klass and her estranged husband Graham Quinn, are embroiled in a legal row as they hammer out the final details of their divorce. The couple, pictured in 2005, were together for 11 years but married for just six months . Legal battle: Mr Quinn is demanding the entire sum from the sale of their five bedroom home, which was believed to have been bought in her name . Neighbours in the area include England and Tottenham Hotspur striker Jermain Defoe and Sir Terry Leahy, the former chief executive of Tesco. The house was put on the market with an asking price of £2.5 million just weeks after the couple split in April last year. It was sold in January for £1.8 million. Since then Miss Klass and her daughters – five-year-old Ava Bailey and two-year-old Hero Harper – have been renting an £8,000-a-month house in Highgate, North London. Miss Klass, who shot to fame as part of the pop group Hear’Say, is said to have offered Irish-born Mr Quinn, 39, half the proceeds from the sale of the house as a goodwill gesture, but he is demanding the entire sum. Wealth: Myleene has built up an estimated personal fortune of £11 million from television deals such as her appearance on 'I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here' and promotional deals . Rise To Fame: Myleene shot to fame as part of the pop group Hear'Say with, from left to right, Suzanne Shaw, Danny Foster, Kym Marsh and Noel Sullivan . She has built up an estimated personal fortune of £11 million from her television appearances and promotional deals. A source said last night: ‘Graham is going after her money. ‘He is not going to accept that they both walk away with what they walked into the marriage, and that’s that. It’s a lot of money.’ Miss Klass and Mr Quinn were together for 11 years, but were married for only six months before he walked out. His lawyer said: ‘My client has no comment to make about matters relating to his private life.’ And a spokesman for Miss Klass declined to comment. In an interview with The Mail on Sunday last October, the singer said that going through the marriage breakdown was as painful as being shot through the heart. ‘When it first happened and I was in the middle of the storm I was just so very, very hurt,’ she said. ‘I felt that I would sooner have taken a bullet. Actually, at the beginning, every morning when I woke up, I thought that I had taken a bullet to my heart.’ Out and about: This week Myleene was seen filming an episode of Lemonade at Thorpe Park in Surrey with Leigh Francis, aka Keith Lemon . Head for heights: The pair braved the roller coasters as they filmed at the popular theme park . | Singer embroiled in legal battle with ex-Graham Quinn .
Businessman wants proceeds from the sale of their five-bedroom home .
She is believed to have bought Hertfordshire house in her own name . |
250,188 | cfcbcc2c9fbefc230d7306f7ad3c98c0ea750631 | In scenes reminiscent of the MH370 disaster four months ago, sobbing relatives of passengers travelling on Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 have gathered at airports in Amsterdam and Kuala Lumpur to learn the fate of their missing loved ones. Clutching the side of an escalator for support, one man weeps after finding out the fate of his relative at an information point set up at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam, where the doomed plane took off from at lunchtime today. At Kuala Lumpur International Airport, where flight MH 17 was due to land shortly after 6am local time on Friday morning, women cry into tissues as they hear about the fate of their loved ones. Up to 100 children were thought to be among the 283 passengers and 15 crew who died when the plane was shot down in an 'act of terrorism' on the Russia-Ukraine border. Scroll down for videos . A woman who believes that a relative was travelling on Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 cries as she waits for more information about the crashed plane at Kuala Lumpur International Airport . A relative of a passenger on flight MH17 walks past members of the press as he arrives at Schiphol airport in Amsterdam, to find out more information . A woman sobs on the phone after finding out the fate of her relative who was on board flight MH17. A full passenger list of those who were travelling on the plane has still not been published . A man clutches his head in anguish as he leaves Schiphol airport on a bus provided for the families of passengers travelling on MH17 . A woman weeps into a tissue after hearing news regarding a relative who was travelling on the plane. She was one of a group of people who gathered in Kuala Lumpur International Airport early on Friday morning local time . Nine British passengers are among the 298 feared dead after a . Malaysian Airlines plane was 'shot down' on the Russia-Ukraine border, according to Dutch authorities. There were are fears that there were up to 23 Americans on the flight, though it has yet to be confirmed that any were on board. In . one image taken from the crash site, a pile of passports can be seen . scattered amid the rubble. Witnesses say body parts are scattered over a distance of 15km, suggesting the plane broke up in mid-air. As . shocking images emerged of bodies amid the smouldering wreckage of the . Boeing 777 it raised concerns of renewed tension between the US and . Russia. A woman lights a candle in front of the Embassy of the Netherlands in Kiev on Thursday night to commemorate passengers of Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 . A young girl places her head on a teddy bear as people around her light candles at the Embassy of the Netherlands in Kiev. They gathered on Thursday night to pay tribute to those on flight MH17 . Flowers, signs and candles line the street in front of the Embassy of the Netherlands in Kiev. They commemorate the 295 passengers who died when flight MH17 was shot down . Tearful family members leave Schiphol airport in a bus provided after finding out the fate of their relatives. The crash site was littered with remains of charred passports . A tearful couple, who had loved ones on board flight MH 17, hold on to each other for support as they leave Schiphol airport on Thursday evening . Relatives, eyes red from crying, head towards the area in Schiphol airport in Amsterdam where family members of the victims are gathering to await further information . A family anxiously await news of passengers on flight MH17 at Kuala Lumpur International Airport early on Friday morning local time . Pictures and footage taken from the wreckage show the charred remains of passports and suitcases scattered on the crash site. 154 Dutch nationals . 45 Malaysians (including 15 crew members) 27 Australians . 12 Indonesians . Nine Britons . Four Germans . Four Belgians . Three Filipinos . One Canadian . 41 unconfirmed . Emergency workers are seen tackling the blazes that broke out after the aircraft crashed near Donestsk, where pro-Russian rebels have been fighting Ukrainian government forces. TV pictures from the scene showed a pall of smoke billowing into the sky apparently from the stricken aircraft. Among those feared dead is a Dutch man who posted a photo on Facebook of the plane on the tarmac just hours before the crash. Initially, . friends commented on the photo wishing him happy holidays. But their . messages turned to ones of concern once news of the crash broke. Based . on the number of flights leaving Amsterdam's Schiphol airport, and the . timing of his Facebook status, it is feared he was on the fated flight. His . cousin later posted the flight number beneath the picture and shortly . after friends began leaving messages saying 'rest in peace'. Another said that his girlfriend was on the flight with him. A relative of passengers onboard Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 from Amsterdam speaks on the phone as he waits for information outside the family holding area at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport . A couple walks towards the information point at Schiphol Airport that has been set up for loved ones of passengers travelling on flight MH17 . One passenger is believed to have posted this picture of the doomed flight on the tarmac of Amsterdam airport just hours before it was shot down over Ukraine . Prime Minister David Cameron said: 'I'm . shocked and saddened by the Malaysian air disaster. Officials from . across Whitehall are meeting to establish the facts.' In a statement on Thursday night Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said: ‘We do believe that there were British Nationals on board the flight we’re currently working through passenger data cross checking it and referencing it to establish exactly the numbers and identities of those British nationals and as soon as we have further information we will be in contact with the families.’ It is believed the plane was struck by BUK surface-to-air missile at 33,000ft around 20 miles before entering Russian airspace. Russian news footage taken from the crash site shows passports on the ground among the wreckage of MH17 . A suitcase is found among the wreckage of flight MH17. Six British passengers were killed after the aircraft was shot down, according to Dutch authorities . Suitcases and bags are pictured at the crash site of Malaysian Airways flight MH17 . A spokesman from the Foreign Office would not be drawn on whether any British nationals had been on board the plane. ‘We are aware of the reports and are urgently working to establish what has happened,’ he said. Asked . about reports that up to 10 British people had been on board, the . spokesman added: ‘Our first priority is to establish if there are any . British persons on board but we are not in a position to go beyond that . line.’ David . Cameron has summoned officials from across Whitehall for urgent talks at . 7pm to discuss the latest on the crash, and what is known about any . British casualties. The . Foreign Office is in talks with consular teams in Amsterdam and Kuala . Lumpur to obtain passenger lists to establish how many UK nationals were . on board. Malaysian Airlines said they have no information about any survivors. An armed pro-Russian separatist stands at a site of a Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 plane crash in the settlement of Grabovo in the Donetsk region . Charred plane parts litter the ground at the crash site of Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 . Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 plane crash site in the settlement of Grabovo in the Donetsk region . In . a tweet, the airline said: 'Malaysia Airlines has lost contact of MH17 . from Amsterdam. The last known position was over Ukrainian airspace. More details to follow.' A . Boeing spokesman said: ‘Our thoughts and prayers are with those on . board the Malaysia Airlines airplane lost over Ukrainian airspace, as . well as their families and loved ones. 'Boeing stands ready to provide whatever assistance is requested by authorities.' The . jet would have been flying at high altitude on an intercontinental . flight that took it over the crisis hit region of Ukraine, where the . authorities have accused Russia-backed separatists of previous attacks . on aircraft. A firefighter tackles a blaze at the site of the Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 plane crash in the settlement of Grabovo in the Donetsk region of Ukraine . Carnage: A firefighter tackles a blaze at the site of the Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 plane crash in the settlement of Grabovo in the Donetsk region of Ukraine . The crash comes four months after the . mysterious disappearance of Malaysian Airlines flight MH370 which is . thought to have crashed into the Indian Ocean. Two . weeks ago, investigators say what little evidence they have to work . with suggests the plane was deliberately diverted thousands of . kilometres from its scheduled route before eventually plunging into the . Indian Ocean. The search was . narrowed in April after a series of acoustic pings thought to be from . the plane's black box recorders were heard along a final arc where . analysis of satellite data put its last location. | Relatives gathered at airports in Amsterdam and Kuala Lumpur .
Nine Britons and 27 Australians were among those on board, according to Dutch authorities .
Fears that up to 23 Americans could have been on Malaysian Airlines flight .
Plane was shot down over territory held by Pro-Russian rebels in Ukraine . |
257,683 | d979cfa91c2aedd2c9f25af3dccf7d036b158018 | A former Oklahoma doctor has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder charges in connection with the drug overdose deaths of several patients. William Valuck, a former pain management doctor, pleaded guilty to eight counts of second-degree murder under a deal with Oklahoma County prosecutors, who agreed to drop dozens of drug charges. The deal calls for 71-year-old Valuck to spend eight years in prison. Investigators have said Valuck prescribed more controlled narcotic drugs than any other physician in the state, sometimes as many as 600 pills at a time. Valuck had originally faced first-degree murder charges, which carry up to life in prison. William Valuck, right, a former pain management doctor, is pictured in a courtroom in Oklahoma City . Nearly two dozen of the victims' relatives attended the hearing, including some who spoke to the court ahead of Valuck's plea. James Lambert, whose daughter Victoria Lambert died from a drug overdose, said her death should send a message to physicians to prescribe such narcotics responsibly. He said: 'Make sure they know what they're doing when they dispense medication. That way we don't have to go through this again.' Stephanie Beesley, whose husband Paul Beesley died from a drug overdose, tearfully described his long-term fight with drug addiction as a large color portrait of him was displayed in the courtroom. 'He had a part in his own death,' she said, but added: 'I don't understand the manner in which the medications were prescribed.' Investigators have said Valuck prescribed more controlled narcotic drugs than any other physician in the state . Michael Green, the brother of drug overdose victim Christina Green, said he felt no sympathy for Valuck. 'He knew the chance he was taking,' Mr Green said. 'Eight years doesn't seem just to me. He knew this was unethical.' Valuck, wearing a gray-striped, jail-issued jumpsuit and shackled by chains at the wrists and ankles, sat with his attorneys as the statements were made. He did not speak to the victims' family members and said nothing in his own defense. Afterward, First Assistant District Attorney Scott Rowland said he agreed to accept a plea in the case to bring it to a quick resolution. 'A plea was the best way to reach finality for the families,' the prosecutor said. Rowland also said the case should serve as a warning for physicians not to place financial gain ahead of their professional responsibility. 'Eight years doesn't seem just to me. He knew this was unethical' Michael Green, relative of victim . Valuck was charged in connection with the deaths of patients who prosecutors say died of overdoses from drugs he prescribed them. Those drugs included the narcotic painkillers hydrocodone and oxycodone, as well as alprazolam, Valium and Soma. Federal and state authorities began investigating Valuck in February 2012, after being called by pharmacies and patients' relatives concerned about the amount of narcotics he was prescribing. Investigators later 'saw vanloads' of patients pull up at Valuck's pain management clinic in south Oklahoma City, where the parking lot was always full of vehicles, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agent Mary Surovec testified during a hearing in April. Some pharmacies even faxed to authorities copies of prescriptions Valuck had written that the pharmacies refused to fill. Surovec said DEA officials were concerned that some of the controlled drugs Valuck was prescribing in large quantities were being funneled into illegal markets and sold on the street. She said Valuck accepted only cash for office visits by patients and would not bill health insurers. After charges were filed in January, Valuck's patient files were seized and later examined by another osteopathic physician, Dr. Arthur Douglas Beacham III, who testified that drugs were prescribed by Valuck although there was no record that patients were examined to determine if the drugs were actually needed. He said patient documentation, including assessments of patient complaints, was inadequate and that in some cases there was no documentation that Valuck even saw the patient on the day he wrote a prescription. | William Valuck is a former pain management doctor .
He pleaded guilty to eight counts of second-degree murder .
Oklahoma County prosecutors agreed to drop dozens of drugs charges .
The deal calls for 71-year-old Valuck to spend eight years in prison . |
249,453 | ced11f729192bf864617903ae288cf17df7d0c12 | By . Becky Evans . PUBLISHED: . 08:38 EST, 5 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 12:43 EST, 12 February 2013 . A banana tycoon repeatedly refused to call 911 after a woman he gave cocaine to began overdosing in the middle of a wild sex party at a luxurious New York hotel, a cop testified yesterday. Kimberley Calo, 41, collapsed and began 'frothing at the mouth' after consuming the high-quality cocaine during the three-way romp with Thomas Hoey Jr and his then-mistress Nicole Zobkiw at a plush $700-a-night suite at The Kitano hotel on Park Avenue. Hoey allegedly wasn't alarmed by Calo's condition and said 'he’d seen this before' and that she 'was going to be fine.' Victim: Calo, 41, collapsed and died after taking high-quality cocaine at a three-way sex party with Thomas Hoey and his former mistress Nicole Zobkiw . The banana mogul had sex with Zobkiw and then set his attention towards Calo, a personal trainer, said retired NYPD detective Edward Boyle, who investigated Calo's 2009 death. Hoey , pictured, refused pleas to call 911 even as her lips turned blue . Calo had first snorted the coke laying on a coffee table and when she went back for more, she began overdosing and 'her head dropped to the table with a thud,' Boyle told jurors at Manhattan federal court, where Zobkiw is on trial for making false statements and perjury. Zobkiw, 29, is accused of lying to a grand jury about the fatal party. Mr Hoey has not been charged. Boyle, who investigated the death, told the court that Mr Hoey had sex with both women and offered Calo cocaine using his business card, according to the New York Post. The Post quoted Boyle as saying that Calo began convulsing before 'her head dropped to the table with a thud. 'She was frothing at the mouth. Her eyes rolled back in her head. Her lips started turning blue,' he added. The court was told Zobkiw . attempted to get Hoey to call the emergency services but he refused, . allegedly telling her that Calo would be fine. She is seen in a security video going to the hotel reception three times to try and get help, Boyle said. Boyle told the court that Hoey assured Zobkiw that a 'doctor friend' was on the way. Zobkiw's lawyer Leonard Lato admitted his client had to tried to hide what happened on the night. But . she was intimidated two days before her grand jury testimony in 2011 by . a 'corrupt lawyer' allegedly linked to Hoey, Lato said. Scene: The wild sex party took place at a $700-a-night suite at The Kitano hotel on Park Avenue in Manhattan. Zobkiw ran to the reception desk three times as she tried to get help for Calo . Zobkiw was told she would not get custody of her son if she did not lie, Lato explained. The conversation was secretly recorded by her boyfriend, according to Lato, who told members of the jury 'your eyes are going to pop out of your head' when it is played. During opening statements, Manhattan federal prosecutor Margarat Garnett said Zobkiw told a 'string of lies' about the evening. She is accused of impeding an investigation into Calo's death by denying either woman had sex with Hoey or took cocaine. Federal agents launched an investigation into Hoey last year but no charges were brought. The company was founded in 1991 and employs between ten and 20 employees. According to Cortera business director, Long Island Banana has annual sales figures of under $500,000. The trial is expected to continue today. | Kimberley Calo, 41, died after consuming high-quality cocaine .
Despite her convulsions, banana importer Thomas Hoey refused to call ambulance and said the mother-of-two would be fine, a cop testified .
Hoey's former mistress Nicole Zobkiw on trial for perjury and making false statements . |
223,053 | acc225b900d87d6388a8255cdd50bcfdf15e4842 | By . Anna Hodgekiss . PUBLISHED: . 06:02 EST, 25 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 06:42 EST, 25 October 2013 . A father-to-be has spoken of his desperate desire to meet his unborn daughter before he dies from cancer. Jared Noel is battling advanced bowel cancer that has spread to his liver and his lungs. The 32-year-old doctor, from Auckland, New Zealand, was diagnosed with the disease in 2008. Jared Noel (with wife, Hannah) is battling advanced bowel cancer that has spread to his liver and his lungs. The 32-year-old doctor, from New Zealand, was diagnosed with the disease in 2008. He is now desperately hoping to live long enough to meet his unborn daughter, due in January . Since then, he has undergone a gruelling 66 rounds of chemotherapy and major surgery twice, the New Zealand Herald reported. Even though his prognosis was bleak, Dr Noel and his wife Hannah decided to try for a baby - hoping he would live long enough to meet the child and spend some time with him or her. After four rounds of IVF, they succeeded, and their daughter is due on January 21. But they have now been given the devasting news that Dr Noel's cancer has spread - and he has just months to live. Thanks to a huge online fundraising effort in New Zealand, he has managed to raise the $60,000 NZD (£30,700) to pay for ten courses of medicine to prolong his life - enough, he hopes, to meet his daughter. Since being diagnosed, Dr Noel has undergone a gruelling 66 rounds of chemotherapy and major surgery twice. But he has now been given just months to live . In a heartbreaking post on his blog, he wrote: 'More recently, the joys of Hannah’s pregnancy has dominated our life. 'Setting . up the baby room, feeling the kicks of our daughter, and choosing her . name has been such a great experience, one that has become even more . amazing when juxtaposed against our circumstance and the finite lifespan . I have…. 'I had a CT scan . on Monday, and the results from that have devastated us. I have rampant, . multiple new metastatic disease all throughout my liver, almost too . much to count. I have new disease in my mesentery and a new nodule in the right apex of my lung. 'This is the moment we have been dreading for 5 years and have been lucky to escape until now. 'This is where everything changes. I have a lifespan measured in months. 'Hannah . and I are gutted, the realisation that cancer is winning is like having . a knife hacked into the deepest part of our soul. 'The . disappointment is compounded by knowing we have a daughter waiting to . meet us, and for the first time, doubt has been cast over whether or not . I will make that meeting. 'This is aggressive cancer, doing its best to kill me, to rob our child of their father. We are devastated.' He added: 'My greatest hope is that I get to spend some time with her and enjoy fatherhood. She won't know me. She won't remember me. But I'd like to let her know how much I would have wanted to be there when she's 18, when she's 25.' Dr and Mrs Noel did not have the funds to pay for a life-prolonging drug, called Avastin. This slows the growth of tumours - hopefully prolonging his life long enough to meet his unborn daughter. The . drug is not paid for by the New Zealand agency which decides which . medicines and products are subsidised for use in the community and . public hospitals. Desperate for him to meet his daughter, the couple tried to raise $60,000 NZD (£30,700) to pay for ten courses of the medicine. Dr and Mrs Noel did not have the funds to pay for a life-prolonging drug, called Avastin. Desperate for him to meet his daughter, they tried to raise $60,000 NZD (£30,700) to pay for ten courses of the medicine. Thanks to an overwhelming response from well-wishers, they have now raised $154, 500 (around £80,000) Dr Noel said: 'If it wasn't for her [the baby], we would do our best and let nature take its course. 'But all of a sudden months and weeks are the difference between meeting my daughter or not and maybe the difference between me having a few months with her or not. 'It means a lot to Hannah, as she'll get to see me holding her. I'm doing it mainly for Hannah and my daughter now.' The fundraising response in the couple's home country has been staggering. Within seven hours of setting up a page on the site Givealittle, they had raised the $60,000. Avastin (also known as Bevacizumab) targets a protein that helps cancer cells develop a new blood supply. It blocks the protein and stops the cancer from developing new blood vessels. This reduces its supply of oxygen and nutrients so the tumour shrinks or stops growing. The drug is licensed to treat some types of cancer that have spread from where they first started (advanced or metastatic cancers). It may be used to treat an advanced type of lung cancer or advanced cancers of the bowel, breast or kidney. As of this morning, the page had raised $154, 500 (around £80,000), with many of the donations from anonymous donors. The site said it was the fastest fundraising response it had ever seen. Dr Noel will now begin the Avastin treatment and chemotherapy next week. He said the extra money raised would go towards giving his wife financial security and perhaps to a trust fund after he is gone. Writing on the fundraising page to express her gratitude, Mrs Noel said: 'The past 48 hours have been a whirlwind of love, grace and generosity, demonstrating the enormous power of a story, relationships and social media to rally around a cause. 'Jared and I have been given more than we could ever have asked or imagined toward the cost of his treatment and the care of our baby. Our target long exceeded, we just want to thank everyone so very much for their kindness. 'To all those who gave, appealed and reposted on our behalf, often with words that brought tears to our eyes... Our hope is that we will have just a little while longer together and with our baby as a result of your generosity. 'Love your partner, hug your kids, spend time with your families, laugh and cry with your friends - for none of us know how long we have.' | Jared Noel has advanced bowel cancer that has spread to his liver and lungs .
32-year-old doctor has already undergone 66 rounds of chemotherapy .
Knowing the disease wasn't curable, he and wife Hannah tried for a baby .
Their daughter, conceived after four rounds of IVF, is due on January 21 .
But last week he was given just months to live due to the cancer spreading .
Now fears he won't meet his unborn child - and has decided to try life-prolonging drug Avastin to slow tumour growth .
Well-wishers have now donated £30,000 and he begins treatment next week . |
163,974 | 600be836a222fc423957d4f414d55ec59d4569c8 | Washington (CNN) -- New rules meant to temper the civilian death toll from unmanned U.S. drones won't apply in the fight against terrorists in Iraq and Syria, the White House says. The standards, which Obama spelled out during a high profile address last year, were meant partly to allay concerns many Americans felt toward lethal drones. President Obama said at the time the drone strikes were used with far greater frequency than his predecessor in going after militants -- including in his fight against ISIS. But while officials in Washington insist there are strict standards to prevent civilians from dying in Iraq and Syria, the rules Obama said last year would stem civilian deaths aren't being applied in the new war against ISIS. "The specific standards at issue in the NDU speech apply only when we take direct action 'outside areas of active hostilities,' as was noted at the time," said Caitlin Hayden, the spokeswoman for Obama's National Security Council, referring to Obama's address at the National Defense University in the spring of 2013. "That description—outside areas of active hostilities—simply does not fit what we are seeing on the ground in Iraq and Syria right now." In addition, the strikes in Syria and Iraq are being conducted by manned aircraft in addition to unmanned vehicles, although that distinction might not be apparent from the ground. Related: Did Obama keep his promise on drones? The White House's decision to exempt the mission against ISIS from the drone standards was first reported by the investigative journalist Michael Isikoff on Yahoo News. Incidents of civilians being killed by drones have helped fuel resentment for the United States in places like Yemen, Pakistan and Somalia, where al Qaeda cells have sprouted since 2001. During his widely-anticipated remarks about drones last year, Obama said civilian deaths were a facet of every war. But he vowed to do more to prevent them in his bid to go after jihadist cells. "For the families of those civilians, no words or legal construct can justify their loss," he said. "For me, and those in my chain of command, those deaths will haunt us as long as we live, just as we are haunted by the civilian casualties that have occurred throughout conventional fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq." In new criteria for drone strikes, the White House insisted there must be "near certainty that non-combatants will not be injured or killed" before an attack is ordered. Other parameters included ensuring the terrorist target is present and certifying capture isn't a feasible option. McCain: ISIS' rise like 'watching a train wreck' While the White House says those strictures don't apply in the battle against ISIS, they do claim measures are underway to prevent civilians from dying. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Pentagon spokesman Rear Adm. John Kirby described a process of choosing targets in Iraq and Syria that takes into account the potential for non-ISIS deaths. "While we continue to hit [ISIS] where they are, it doesn't mean we can or even that we should hit them everywhere they are at every moment," Kirby said. "We must choose. We must discriminate between targets that matter more to us in space and time than others, and between those that run higher risks of collateral damage or civilian casualties." In the week since airstrikes began in Syria there have been reports of civilian deaths, though U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) has yet to verify any non-ISIS militants have died in the air campaign. On Sunday night, U.S. military forces targeted to an ISIL-held grain storage facility near Manbij. The facility was being used by ISIL as a logistics hub and vehicle staging facility, according to CENTCOM. A Syrian human rights group said the strikes in Manbij killed at least two workers at the grain silos, and a U.S. official said the military was looking into the possibility civilians were killed. Related: Syrian town fears massacre . As Obama noted during his remarks in 2013, civilian deaths happen during times of war. Military experts say that's an important fact for Americans to understand, even as the government works to prevent them. "To suggest that we can do a clean war with near certainty that we won't have civilian casualties I think simply is misleading the American people. We haven't done that in the history of warfare and I don't think that history has changed," Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt said Tuesday on "The Lead with Jake Tapper." | White House says new rules to reduce civilian deaths from drone strikes don't apply to ISIS battle .
Officials say U.S. is taking steps to prevent civilian casualties in Iraq and Syria .
Obama has said that civilian deaths are a part of every war . |
213,308 | a03cd4038a11fedad85b2aef5eeaf1bf611b15d9 | By . Darren Boyle . People in the South of England are more likely to consider themselves unhappy despite reporting far lower rates of mental illness according to a major new study. The CentreForum tank has collated information from a wide range of government and health services to produce a report on the health of the nation. Residents in the London Borough of Harrow have reported the lowest levels of mental health issues, compared with Middlesbrough where residents on Teesside are three times more likely to have a psychiatric illness. People living in the south of England report the lowest levels of happiness according to the new report despite having the lowest levels of mental illness . However, people living 40 miles up the A19 in Newcastle are four times more likely to die prematurely from a mental health issue compared with people on the Isle of Wight. Despite this, the researchers have found that people in London, Bedford, Milton Keynes, Brighton and Kent are among the unhappiest in the country. According to the researchers mental ill health costs UK employers an estimated £30 billion a year where the highest rates of working days lost is in the City of London. Holly Taggart of CentreForum said: 'This . is the first ever mental health-specific Atlas of Variation. It focuses . on unwarranted – or preventable – variations in the mental health and . wellbeing of England's population, exposing huge differences in people's . circumstances and access to services. 'One of the most concerning . findings is that people with serious mental illnesses have significantly . higher rates of premature mortality.' Paul Burstow MP, pictured said the report 'will challenge health professionals in those parts of the country which are far off the game' Ms Taggart said young people in Middlesbrough are five times more likely not to be in education, training or employment compared with those in Harrow. She said that Teesside residents were three times more likely to have a long term mental illness than those living in the London borough. 'If you have a . serious mental illness and live in Newcastle upon Tyne, you are four . times more likely to die prematurely than if you have a serious mental . health problem but lived in the Isle of Wight.' The report found that almost nine per cent of people in Stoke on Trent felt worthless compared with just three per cent in Hampshire. Paul Burstow MP who chaired a mental health commission established by CentreForum told the Sunday Times: 'This report will challenge health professionals in those parts of the country which are so far off the game when it comes to delivering anything like a decent mental health service.' | Londoners are among the least happy people in the country .
However, residents in the capital have the lowest levels of mental illness .
Newcastle has far higher death rates from mental illness than London .
People on the Isle of Wight have fewest mental health problems .
Stoke-on-Trent has the most people feeling 'least worthwhile' |
165,015 | 616162a22df0d25f8a923284919a722c76be70ff | By . James Chapman . Ed Miliband’s ‘totally dysfunctional’ leadership tonight comes under extraordinary attack from former Labour spin doctor Damian McBride. In an updated version of his sensational tell-all memoirs, Mr McBride warns Labour has ‘no clear idea’ of who it is trying to appeal to and a ‘great, steaming pile of fudge’ instead of key policies. He says Mr Miliband, with whom he worked for years in the Treasury, has ‘managed to blend the worst of Tony Blair’s “me against the world” isolation with the worst of Gordon Brown’s “they’re out to get me” paranoia.’ Scroll down for video . Savaged: Labour leader Ed Miliband, left, has come under extraordinary attack from former Labour spin doctor Damian McBride, right, whom he accuses of having no idea who his targets are, or policies to tempt them . In an apparent swipe at Ed Balls, another former ally, he says Labour has yet to persuade voters that ‘we’ve learnt our lesson’ by admitting where ‘the last government screwed up’. The shadow Chancellor has resisted all advice to concede Labour’s mistakes during its 13 years in power. Mr McBride concludes: ‘Labour currently has no clear idea who its target audience is, no positive messages to communicate to anyone about why they should vote for the party, no policies which will persuade them, and is being run in a totally dysfunctional way.’ His latest explosive intervention will infuriate his former colleagues, who are this week seeking to shut down leadership speculation by launching a ‘summer offensive’ highlighting the differences between Labour and Conservative policies. Over the weekend, Mr Miliband launched an attempt to turn his ‘weird’ public image on its head, insisting politics should not be ‘an ugly person’s showbiz contest’. Bringing home the bacon: The Labour leader tried to confront his inability to match his camera-friendly rivals, which culminated in the above image of him struggling to eat a bacon sandwich . He made a high-risk speech last week in which he tried to confront his apparent inability to match David Cameron’s camera-friendly manner and poise – saying he hoped voters would look beyond ‘photo opportunity’ politics. Opinion polls suggest that Mr Miliband is a drag on his party’s fortunes and is way behind Mr Cameron on most ratings of leadership. Mr McBride, in the paperback edition of Power Trip, his account of his years working for Gordon Brown and eventual downfall, published this week and serialised in the Daily Mail, insists he believes Mr Miliband will go on to win next year’s election. But having pulled his punches in his references to Mr Miliband and Mr Balls in the original version of the book, in the latest chapters he is unsparing about what he sees as their mistakes at the top the Labour Party. He says Mr Miliband’s policy measures, such as a promised energy price freeze and rent controls, are ‘populist enough but rarely stand up to scrutiny’. Mr Balls’s, meanwhile, are so wonkish they ‘go entirely unnoticed in the pub’. ‘If Labour currently has central, underlying messages that it is trying to communicate to the electorate about itself, its policies, and its leader, the best you could say at present is that it’s not quite coming across,’ Mr McBride writes. Learned their lesson? Mr McBride said that shadow chancellor Ed Balls has yet to persuade voters that Labour has learned from the past . Resistance: Miliband and Balls, pictured above, have staunchly resisted calls to apologise for Labour's legacy . ‘If the message is ‘We’re not the Tories or the Lib Dems, and you hate them’, that may work up to a point, but it won’t do much for those people who would happily express their antipathy by voting for UKIP or just staying at home, let alone those who hate Labour as well. 'Even the ‘cost of living’ argument – for which read "Those Tory toffs haven’t got a clue what your life’s like" – relies on the electorate accepting that Labour has some better appreciation of those realities.’ Mr McBride says Mr Miliband and Mr Balls ‘badly need to develop and stick to some underlying messages’ that will make people positively want to back Labour next year. ‘The starting point is a simple one: "We’ve learnt our lesson". From George Bush to [disgraced RBS boss] Fred Goodwin, admit where the last government screwed up, and explain why next time will be different,’ he urges. ‘That will also give Labour the licence to talk about the many good achievements of its time in office, and to point out that it’s the Tories who are now blindly repeating the mistakes of the past, especially on the economy.’ He warns Mr Miliband that he is still surrounded by many of the same advisers who attempted to address Mr Brown’s ‘image problem’ during his troubled stint as prime minister. Grin and bear it: After his attempt to turn attention away from his 'image problem', Mr Miliband was confronted with cartoons comparing him to Wallace, of Wallace and Gromit fame, by the BBC's Andrew Marr, left . They continually advised Mr Brown to counter the negative perceptions of his character by showing a ‘softer side’, Mr McBride says. ‘Ed’s advisers will tell him to be pictured doing the everyday things that normal people do to show he’s not ‘weird’; they’ll arrange opportunities for him to look all serious and statesmanlike to counter the perception that he’s not Prime Minister material; and conversely, they’ll urge him to crack jokes with Graham Norton or shed tears with Piers Morgan so that we can all begin to see the ‘real Ed’,’ he writes. ‘This will all be a colossal mistake. Not just because it leads to bad photos with bacon sandwiches, but because the blatant artifice of the whole effort risks throwing away the most important commodity any successful modern politician must possess: authenticity.’ Mr McBride advises Mr Miliband to present himself as ‘a Boris Johnson or Nigel Farage-style outsider, the opposite of the carefully-manicured modern politician designed by a committee of PR advisers’. 'Blatant artifice': Mr McBride warned Mr Miliband against taking image advice from Gordon Brown's old team . He also urges the Labour leader to ‘start involving, consulting and using the whole of his team – not just his small circle of like-minded advisers and trusted shadow ministers, but all of his shadow Cabinet, all his most talented backbenchers, and all of the variously talented staff employed by the Labour party, 99 per cent of whom could currently be forgiven for asking themselves: ‘Should we all go home?’’ Mr McBride’s book dominated last year’s Labour party conference, lifting the lid on a toxic culture of spin and feuding at the heart of New Labour. He was forced to resign as Mr Brown’s special adviser in 2009 after he was linked to a plot to smear Tory MPs via an anti-Conservative gossip website. The emails included fabricated slurs about the politicians’ health and private lives. | Labour leader failing to communicate with voters, Damian McBride claims .
Former spin doctor says Mr Miliband has no persuasive policies .
Also attacked Labour's refusal to apologise for its record in office .
Today's attack comes in updated version of McBride's tell-all memoirs .
He was spin doctor for Gordon Brown but quit over a plot to smear Tories . |
29,931 | 551963495c6cf6d4e03f765cddbc092266011551 | For the first time, someone in the Obama administration apologized for the problem-plagued Obamacare website. Marilyn Tavenner also said on Tuesday that the online troubles were being resolved and the overall program was working, albeit slower and less successfully than hoped. In the first congressional testimony from a government official on the botched launch of HealthCare.gov, the head of the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services told the House Ways and Means Committee that the "vast majority" of consumers would be able to successfully use the site by the end of November. "I want to apologize to you that the website does not work as well as it should," she said, adding that HealthCare.gov "can and will be fixed." The hearing served as a hot seat for Tavenner, whose agency has been blamed for the website troubles causing a political headache for President Barack Obama and his signature health care reforms, as well as a venting session for Republicans after their failed efforts to scuttle the reforms. Tavenner reports to Health Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, who has come under fire for the problems that plagued the introduction of the enrollment website. Some congressional Republicans demand her resignation or firing, and Sebelius will face a hearing by the House Energy and Commerce Committee on Wednesday. She is expected to tell that committee the initial experience of HealthCare.gov has been frustrating for many, and unacceptable. But she will also defend Obamacare, according to prepared remarks. "The fact is that the Affordable Care Act delivered on its product: quality, affordable health insurance. The tremendous interest shown in HealthCare.gov shows that people want to buy this product. We know the initial consumer experience at HealthCare.gov has not been adequate. We will address these initial and any ongoing problems, and build a website that fully delivers on this promise of the Affordable Care Act," Sebelius is expected to say. The health secretary will provide figures for the site, which has had more than 20 million unique visits to date. Over the past few weeks, nearly 700,000 applications have been submitted. People are also signing up through a call center, paper applications and in-person assistance. "By enlisting additional technical help, aggressively monitoring errors, testing to prevent new issues from cropping up, and regularly deploying fixes to the site, we are working to ensure consumers' interaction with HealthCare.gov is a positive one, and that the Affordable Care Act fully delivers on its promise," Sebelius will say. In an exclusive interview last week, the health secretary told CNN that Obama didn't know of the problems with the Affordable Care Act's website until after its troubled launch on October 1. This was despite the fact that insurance companies had been complaining and the site crashed during a prelaunch test run. Policies canceled . More trouble for Obama came out of the testimony, as Tavenner conceded that some people with individual health coverage -- rather than the group coverage that most Americans have -- will be forced to get new policies because of increased requirements under the 2010 Affordable Care Act. "These individuals in a small group, our individual markets, had no protections" before the reforms became law, Tavenner explained. Until now, such consumers "could be kicked out any time for pre-existing conditions" or realize too late that their policies failed to cover hospitalization or cancer treatments, Tavenner said. The reforms protect them by requiring a minimum standard of coverage, she added. For some, that means more expensive policies and any change breaks the oft-repeated pledge by Obama that "if you like your plan, you can keep your plan" when he was pushing for Congress to pass his signature reforms. Republican Rep. Aaron Schock of Illinois hammered Tavenner on that point, noting a constituent who got a letter telling her that the health care reforms caused the cancellation of her current plan with a more expensive alternative in its place. "She has health insurance that she likes. She's been paying her premium. She wants to keep it. But she can't," Schock said. "Isn't that a lie?" Tavenner responded that some insurers changed or discontinued plans that failed to meet the Obamacare requirements, even though present coverage could still be offered in some cases under a "grandfather" provision in the legislation, despite lacking the full benefits of the reforms. She advised anyone being forced to get a new policy to examine all options under the new system, including the possibility of getting federal subsidies if they are eligible. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation website, 15.4 million people had individual health care coverage in 2011, representing about 5% of the population. The vast majority of Americans -- at least two-thirds of the population in 2011 -- had coverage through their employer, Medicare, Medicaid or other public providers and will not be affected by changes involving individual coverage. At the White House, spokesman Jay Carney said "a significant portion" of the 5% of people with individual coverage will end up paying less for better policies when they shop around in the new exchanges. "One of the issues that the Affordable Care Act was designed to address was the need to provide greater security to those Americans forced to seek insurance on the individual market," Carney said. On Capitol Hill, a top House Democrat told reporters on Tuesday that his party "should have been more precise" when making the pledge about people keeping coverage they liked. "I think preciseness would have been better," said Rep. Steny Hoyer of Maryland. He added that the promise was made to try to allay the fears of the majority of Americans who get health coverage from their employers or government programs such as Medicare and Medicaid. Partisan exchanges . As expected, Tuesday's hearing included fiery partisan exchanges, with Republicans saying the website problems foreshadow deeper problems that threaten higher premiums and government intrusion in future health coverage while Democrats accused them of trying to kill reforms that benefit millions of Americans. Under GOP questioning, Tavenner said initial figures on how many people have enrolled so far for health coverage under the reforms won't be available until mid-November. She noted that the administration has expected the initial enrollment to be small, but noted that the enrollment period ends on March 31. When asked by Republicans about the expected initial low enrollment, Tavenner pointed out that a similar dynamic occurred with implementation of the Massachusetts health care law, when people waited until the final deadline approached to sign up. To GOP Rep. Dave Camp of Michigan, the committee chairman, low enrollment signals the failure of the health care reforms, which need young people, and people who are less expensive to insure, to sign up so insurers can offer affordable plans in markets that include older and people who are more expensive to cover. "I fear we can see a fundamental breakdown of the insurance market where premiums will skyrocket, pricing millions of Americans out of health care," he said. Later, Republican Rep. Kevin Brady of Texas asked Tavenner for a guarantee that consumers will be able to obtain coverage required by the health care law before the deadline. "What I can guarantee is that we have a system that is working. We are going to improve the speed of that system," she said. But Brady interrupted her. "Excuse me," he said. "You are saying the system right now is working?" Tavenner didn't budge, responding: "I am saying it is working. It is just not working at the speed that we want and at the success rate that we want." Democratic Rep. Bill Pascrell of New Jersey lambasted Republicans on the panel for choosing to pile on the website woes in their continuing attempt to dismantle Obamacare instead of working with Democrats to improve settled law. Citing the political battle last decade over the Bush administration's Medicare prescription drug benefit opposed by Democrats, Pascrell noted "we lost the policy fight" then but chose to help make the program work instead of trying to discredit or undermine it. Standing up and pointing at his GOP colleagues, Pascrell shouted: "How many of you stood up to do that? None. Zero. Zero." Website problems . Late Tuesday, officials said the data hub behind the Obamacare website was experiencing an outage, prohibiting customers from submitting new applications. Verizon, which provides some technology services behind HealthCare.gov, said federal officials asked the company to provide additional computing and storage ability. "At the request of HHS's deputy CIO, we are now undertaking infrastructure maintenance, which should be complete overnight," Verizon spokesman Jeffrey Nelson said. "We anticipate the strengthened infrastructure will help eliminate application downtimes." A key tech malfunction brought down the site Sunday. In prepared testimony for the hearing, Tavenner said private contractors hired to create the website "have not met expectations." Asked about that statement, she cited one of the contractors -- CGI Federal, which has a contract worth as much as $200 million for its work on the system. | Sebelius to testify that initial consumer experience is frustrating, unacceptable .
Data hub behind website experiencing an outage, officials say late Tuesday .
Committee hearing includes fierce partisan exchanges .
A top Democrat says his party was imprecise in selling health care law . |
84,882 | f0cab8f7a2c92c4cc2bd9c786dd34f7192b82f9d | President Obama is putting a symbolic . twist on a time-honored tradition, taking the oath of office for his . second term with his hand placed not on a single Bible, but two - one . owned by Martin Luther King Jr. and one by Abraham Lincoln. The inclusion of King's Bible is . particularly significant since the inauguration comes on Jan. 21, the . federal holiday in honor of the civil rights leader, who delivered his . 'I Have a Dream' speech 50 years ago at the Lincoln Memorial. Obama will . be facing the memorial as he takes the oath. King's Bible, which his . children say he used early in his career as a preacher, has never been . part of a presidential inauguration before. Swearing in: The First Lady Michelle Obama holds the Lincoln Bible as President Obama takes the oath of office in 2009, this time he will use two Bibles . The inclusion of MLK's Bible in President Obama's inauguration is particularly significant as it is 50 years since the civil rights leader delivered his 'I Have a Dream' speech at the Lincoln Memorial . President Obama, top hand, is sworn in as wife Michelle holds up the same Bible used by former President Abraham Lincoln during Barack's inauguration ceremony in 2009 . Though there is no constitutional . requirement for the use of a Bible while taking the oath, George . Washington began the tradition with a Bible hastily grabbed from St. John's Masonic Lodge No. 1 for his swearing-in on April 30, 1789, in New . York. Since then, presidents have typically chosen Bibles with . historical or personal significance, many using family heirlooms. Obama . is not the first president to select two Bibles - Harry Truman did so . in 1949, Dwight Eisenhower in 1953 and Richard Nixon in 1969. The selection of the pair of Bibles by . Obama is richly symbolic of the struggle for equality in America, . beginning with Lincoln's emancipation of the slaves through King's civil . rights movement and ultimately to Obama becoming the nation's first . black president. Inaugural planners say Obama plans to place his left . hand on the stacked Bibles held by first lady Michelle Obama as he . raises his right hand to repeat the oath administered by Supreme Court . Chief Justice John Roberts. Reverend Bernice King said her father would be 'deeply moved' to see President Obama take the oath using his Bible, the second Bible was used at President Lincoln's inauguration in 1861 . It hasn't been determined which will be on . top with Obama's hand actually resting on it, but King's is larger so it . may need to be on the bottom. Obama used the Lincoln Bible while . taking the oath four years ago - the first time it had been used since . the 16th president's inauguration in 1861. Obama's inaugural committee . says that the president plans to use the first lady's family's Bible for . a private swearing-in at the White House on Sunday, Jan. 20. Public . presidential inaugurations traditionally aren't held on Sundays, even . though the Constitution states that a president's new term begins . automatically at noon on the 20th. Vice President Biden will use a Bible that has been in his family for 120 years and that he's used every time he's been sworn into federal office . King's children describe their father's . King James version as his 'traveling Bible' that he took as part of a . collection of books he carried with him while constantly on the road and . used for inspiration and preparing sermons and speeches. His daughter . Bernice King says her father marked the pages with several dates from . May 1954, the same month he delivered his first sermon. 'We know our father would be deeply . moved to see President Obama take the oath of office using his Bible,' King's children said in a statement provided by the inaugural committee. 'His traveling Bible inspired him as he fought for freedom, justice and . equality, and we hope it can be a source of strength for the president . as he begins his second term.' Selling: A vendor hawks Obama merchandise in Washington, DC, ahead of his inauguration later this month . Obama also plans to honor King . throughout his inaugural weekend, beginning by asking Americans to . volunteer in their communities on Saturday, Jan. 19, to honor the civil . right leader's legacy of service. The King family plans to participate. Inaugural planners also say there will be a float honoring King in the . parade to the White House after the swearing-in ceremony. Some presidents kiss the book after . completing the oath. Sometimes the Bible is open to meaningful passages, . such as President George W. Bush's choice of Isaiah 40:31 - 'Those who . hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings . like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be . faint.' Inaugural planners say Vice President . Joe Biden will use a Bible with a Celtic cross on the cover that has . been in his family for 120 years. Biden has used the Bible every time . he's been sworn into federal office, back to his entry in the Senate 40 . years ago. Turnout: The 2013 inauguration isn't expected to draw the same crowd that flocked to the event in 2009, pictured . Crowds may have flocked to the . National Mall to see President Obama make history in 2009, but the team . behind the president's 2013 inauguration bash later this month are . bracing themselves for a ton of empty seats. The ceremony . that Washington will stage in a few weeks won't be the historic affair . it was in 2009, when nearly two million people flocked to the Capitol to watch Obama take the oath of office. This time, District of Columbia . officials expect between 600,000 and 800,000 people for Obama's public . swearing-in on the steps of the Capitol on Monday, January 21. | Presidents select which Bible to use at their inauguration based on historical or personal significance .
Obama is the fourth president to use two bibles, the first since Richard Nixon in 1969 .
This will be the first inauguration to use Martin Luther King's 'traveling Bible' which he used when preaching .
The president will once again use the Lincoln Bible, first used at the 16th president's inauguration in 1861 . |
216,066 | a3b52606fd809748f2ff49c18dcda3fa190070a9 | Police have charged a man with double murder after the death of his parents at a house in Newcastle. Eric, 64, and Carol Ruddy, 54, were found with with life-threatening injuries by officers and later died. Martin Ruddy, 28, of South Tyneside, has been charged with two counts of murder and is due to appear before North Tyneside Magistrates’ Court tomorrow. Police officers stand guard outside a house in Elswick in Newcastle where a 64-year-old man and a 54-year-old woman were found with life-threatening injuries. They have been named locally as Eric and Carol Ruddy . Police received a report from the ambulance service of three people with injuries at an address in Elswick at around 10.25pm yesterday night. Officers attended the scene and found the couple with life-threatening injuries. They were taken to the city's Royal Victoria Infirmary but were later pronounced dead. According to the Newcastle Evening Chronicle, neighbours tried to resuscitate the man as he lay injured in the house. It is believed that Mrs Ruddy was a disabled wheelchair-user and her husband was her carer. A 28-year-old man who was also taken to hospital with less serious injuries has been arrested in connection with the incident . Police cordoned off the area around Bentnick Street in Elswick while they carried out enquiries surrounding the deaths, which officers are treating as suspicious . Detective Chief Inspector Andy Fairland from Northumbria Police said: 'We want to speak to anyone who may have been in the area of Bentinck Street in Elswick between 9 and 10.30pm last night who may have seen or heard anything suspicious, or out of the ordinary, to contact police straightaway. 'Police are treating the deaths as suspicious and are asking for help from the community in order to piece together the events that led up this incident.' Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | Police were called after reports of 3 injured people at a house in Newcastle .
Two of them were found with fatal injuries and later died in hospital .
They've been named as Eric Ruddy, 64 and 54-year-old Carol Ruddy .
28-year-old also injured has been arrested in connection with incident .
Police say they believe that all three involved were known to each other . |
164,011 | 60182d9412975aa5864dfbc0b7b7092227fb9e62 | (CNN) -- Most Oscar-bound celebrities spend the better part of that Sunday prepping themselves for the cameras -- and the fashion critics. They get their hair, makeup and nails done, shimmy into the proper shapewear, adorn themselves with millions of dollars worth of jewelry, slip on a pair of stilettos, and zip up their one-of-a-kind gowns. Yet, seconds after they step onto the red carpet, we've already decided whether or not their primping paid off. While it takes a mere moment to wind up on the worst-dressed list, it takes a stunning comeback, or two, before redemption is bestowed. And with everything that goes into achieving a "best-dressed"-worthy look, attendees are lucky they have an entire season to perfect their red carpet style. "Each awards show has a different personality style-wise, and people have learned to dress accordingly," said Sarah Bernard, host of "The Thread" on Yahoo!'s Shine. The Academy Awards calls for classic, formal attire, she said, but celebrities can have a little more fun with the Golden Globes, the Screen Actors Guild Awards and the Grammy Awards, which allow for edgier ensembles. But even a classic look isn't a surefire way to keep the scrutiny at bay. See, not taking a fashion risk is a risk in itself, Bernard said, adding, "It's important to mix it up." Gallery: Golden Globe couture . That's exactly what "Bridesmaids'" actress Rose Byrne did when she showed up at the SAG Awards wearing an Elie Saab jumpsuit. "It's so great to see anybody step out of the box and do something not so traditional," said stylist to the stars Nicole Chavez, whose clients include Rachel Bilson, Scarlett Johansson and Kristen Bell. "(Celebrities) don't take as many risks on the carpet as they should. ... Because people are so quick to criticize, they're more careful about their selections." But red carpet couture isn't about setting a trend. It's about wearing something flattering in a style you love, said the new mom, who hasn't outfitted anyone this awards season. One red-carpet regular who has stunned this season, wearing gowns that complement her shape, is "The Help's" Octavia Spencer, said Yahoo!'s Bernard. And with so many nominations for best actress in a supporting role -- she won the award at the Globes and the SAG Awards, among other shows -- Spencer is being watched closely. The actress has developed a relationship with Tadashi Shoji, the Japanese designer behind the lavender gown she wore to the Globes, and the silver number she donned for the SAG Awards. "My mom always taught us to dance with the one that brung ya, and (Shoji) gave me a lot of clothes while we were on ("The Help") publicity tour," Spencer told E! It's common for a celebrity to have a relationship with certain designers, Bernard said, referencing Charlize Theron, who wore a standout pale pink Dior gown to the Globes. (Theron is a spokesperson for Dior.) Bernard anticipates that Spencer will continue her "classy and fashion forward" streak at the Academy Awards on Sunday, possibly with another Shoji creation. Gallery: Couture at the Screen Actors Guild Awards . "The red carpet is a very intense situation, and you want to be comfortable out there," Chavez said. "If you're confident and comfortable, it reads. It you're uncomfortable, no matter how beautiful your dress is, it can end up not working." The potential for discomfort is one reason footwear expert Meghan Cleary says shoes are the most important part of any red carpet look. "(Shoes) have the biggest effect on how you feel," said Cleary, the author of "Shoe Are You?" "They have an actual physiological effect on you -- the way you walk and carry yourself, and the way you stand." Even for the Academy Awards, which calls for mostly floor-length gowns, "shoes are still in the game," she said. Cleary expects most shoes on Oscar night to be delicate stiletto sandals, with jewels and metallic detail. "A lot of times the shoe becomes part of the jewelry." And with so much focus on the dress, shoes become a way for celebrities to experiment, and maybe take a fashion risk. Cleary says pairing a purple metallic stiletto with a red dress would create a fashion-forward and edgy formal look. "I say go for it. Kudos to you," she said. "But will you be excoriated on the red carpet for that? I don't know." As a celebrity stylist, Chavez says she gravitates toward the rich colors during awards season, because the hues tend to show off detail better than pastels or black numbers. Plus, she said, publications are more likely to run photos of stars wearing bright-colored gowns -- like the scarlet Valentino that Michelle Williams wore to the SAG Awards. The saturated, rich jewel tones are all over the red carpet this season, like the jade green Oscar de la Renta dress Emily Blunt wore to the SAG Awards, or the fuchsia Marchesa gown Sofia Vergara donned the same night. On the flip side, nude-colored gowns have also been all the rage this awards season -- Jessica Biel, Kristen Wiig and Piper Perabo have all tried out the trend, somewhat unsuccessfully. (Each celebrity ended up on at least one media outlet's worst-dressed list, in addition to getting burned on E!'s "Fashion Police.") A nude gown is "so incredibly stunning in real life, yet, just doesn't translate on TV or in photos," Chavez said. Just because a gown looks good in person, she added, it doesn't mean it will translate for the cameras, which is why Chavez always photographs her clients in a gown before a final decision is made. Chavez said she expects to see a mix of vibrant, nude and sherbet colors take over at the Academy Awards. But she's excited to see what some of the newcomers will pull out on the carpet. "There are a bunch of ... cool, young, beautiful girls experimenting with fashion," she said, giving a nod to Rooney Mara, who has been playing with cutouts and black and white. In the end, any celebrity can end up on a list of best- or worst-dressed stars. But the fashionistas who push the envelope are the ones we'll be talking about long after awards season. | "The Help's" Octavia Spencer has stunned in Tadashi Shoji gowns .
Fashion expert: Not taking a fashion risk is a risk in itself .
Rose Byrne's Elie Saab jumpsuit turned heads at the SAG Awards . |
265,500 | e3db95139119bddb260fff88bf619a34d1a8e8bb | (CNN) -- It's no shock that people love to hate Facebook. On Friday, for some, the emphasis shifted to hate as Facebook went public, turning its CEO into a billionaire and, as CNNMoney gracefully put it, making "thousands of millionaires" out of the rest of its staff and stockholders. "Well most Americans are bitter and hateful toward anyone and anything more successful than themselves," one commenter wrote on that story. "Just me or anyone else really hoping for Facebook stock to take a nose dive and never come back up? I want to watch it drop like a rock," one Twitter user wrote on the eve of Facebook's initial public offering Thursday. The anti-social network: Life without Facebook . Here's a rant from one financial analyst, spotted by Time.com, which shares a parent company with CNN and authored a recent post called "Sick of hearing about Facebook? You're not alone." "But do I really need to see another article about how the Ferrari dealers in Silicon Valley have brought in extra inventory in anticipation of all the new millionaires? Or how Menlo Park and Palo Alto housing prices, which were already sky-high, are soaring even higher from all the new money?" the analyst, Tracey Ryniec, wrote. "I can't wait for this week to be over so we can talk about some other companies." Some of the venom online was directed at the Winklevoss twins, those rowing-happy Harvard kids who repeatedly have been suing for part of Facebook. Dubbed "the Winklevii" in the film "The Social Network," Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss are set to make millions off of Facebook's IPO despite the fact that some courts have rejected their claims that Zuckerberg stole their idea for his blockbuster website. They could make $228 million for their 6 million shares in the company, according to a CNNMoney gallery on Facebook's new billionaires. At The New Yorker, Silvia Killingsworth writes that we all should give the Winklevii a bit of a break -- especially since they've been good sports about their anti-fame: . "Sure, the Winklevii may sound a little cheesy finishing each other's sentences -- a well-enunciated mix of locker-room pep talk and well-worn entrepreneurial Web-2.0 jargon -- and they will be subject to Al Gore-style Internet-invention jokes until the end of time. But who'd have known they'd be such good sportsmen about it? In the movie, Cameron gets frustrated at one point and hollers. 'Screw it! Let's gut the frigging nerd!' In real life, the twins seem to have become entirely content with chasing the nerd around the courts, and collecting their cut of the biggest tech I.P.O. in history." Others are teasing CEO Mark Zuckerberg himself. The comedian Andy Borowitz posted a fake letter from the 28-year-old to potential investors. It opens: . "For years, you've wasted your time on Facebook. Now here's your chance to waste your money on it, too." It ends like this: . "One last thing: what will, I, Mark Zuckerberg, do with the $18 billion I'm expected to earn from Facebook's IPO? Well, I'm considering buying Greece, but that would still leave me with $18 billion. LOL. Friend me, Mark" According to The New York Times, Facebook's new billionaires may spend their money in subtle (but still over-the-top) ways. On Thursday, the paper looked at spending culture in Silicon Valley, finding that the really rich types spend money in ways that are difficult to detect without a rich-person radar: . "Fabulous home theaters are tucked into the basements of plain suburban houses. Bespoke jeans that start at $1,200 can be detected only by a tiny red logo on the button. The hand-painted Italian bicycles that flash across Silicon Valley on Saturday mornings have become the new Ferrari -- and only the cognoscenti could imagine that they cost more than $20,000," Somini Sengupta writes for the paper. "Even at Facebook, ground zero for the nouveau tech riche, peer pressure dictates that consumption be kept on the down low." Part of the reason some people are frustrated with Facebook this week is that all of us -- the users of Facebook -- are essentially the ones making the company so much money. My colleague Doug Gross looked at this on Wednesday. If you want to make the point really personal, check out this widget, which will tell you exactly how many dollars your Facebook page is making for the company. It's an estimate, of course, but it brings the point home. Here are details on the math they're using to make the calculations, in case you're feeling brainy. Others used the opportunity to gripe about Facebook's privacy settings, which are notoriously complicated (perhaps since the company wants info to be public): . "Why is Facebook going public? They couldn't figure out the privacy settings either," wrote one Twitter user. Not all of the reaction is negative, of course. Many tech bloggers and Wall Street watchers are cheering on Facebook's run at the market, saying it's yet another Steve Jobsian expression of the American Dream. "In 2004, who could have predicted that a Harvard sophomore would be destined to lead his dorm-room creation to a gajillion-dollar IPO eight years later?" wrote Kasia Cieplak-Mayr von Baldegg at The Atlantic. "The life and times of Mark Zuckerberg are dramatic, even epic, and -- you might say -- lyrical." For more on that, check out this faux-musical about the company's rise. "I'm happy for Facebook, Zuck and others put in their own time efforts and own capital they deserve this reward," another Twitter pundit said. "American Dream!" Some people will see this post and say, "Yeah, yeah yeah. Haters gonna hate." That's the tack Facebook appears to be taking. According to the blog TechCrunch, Facebook's Toronto office created a poster that counters all the negativity by saying "Likers gonna like" -- a riff on the site's mechanism for sharing content with friends. The blog post ends with this little bit of sappy futurism: . "Facebook's mission is 'making the world more open and connected.' Sometimes that means making people uncomfortable at first. You don't have to agree with how Mark Zuckerberg does things, and you can hate if you want to. But remember, Facebook's just the messenger. The message is the future." Feel free to complain about that in the comments section. | Facebook IPO is set to create "thousands of millionaires"
That has led some to resent the site, which makes money off its users' data .
Facebook tries to counter all the negativity by saying "Likers gonna like" |
9,477 | 1adb57115809df3dc350ce4ae6f4f136693c5f11 | By . Keith Gladdis . PUBLISHED: . 07:25 EST, 30 December 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 02:45 EST, 31 December 2012 . The arrival of a first grandchild is usually a source of great celebration. And for Carole and Michael Middleton it would appear to be a good business opportunity too. Only weeks after the official announcement that the Duchess of Cambridge is expecting her first child, her parents are promoting a range of baby goods on their party supplies website. The Middleton family: Mother Carole, right, with children Pippa and James, and husband Michael . New range: The royal-themed first birthday party celebration sets available on the Party Pieces website . New Little Prince: Just one of the items available in the new range first birthday party sets for boys . The ‘Little Prince’ and ‘Little . Princess’ party packs are described as suitable for American-style baby . showers, christening parties or first birthday celebrations. Each pack – advertised on the Party Pieces website as ‘new’ – includes paper cups, napkins and plastic cutlery. They also include paper plates . decorated with a pink or blue crown and the words ‘a new little prince’ or ‘a new little princess’. A message on the site says: ‘It’s a great occasion to celebrate before the new arrival, inviting family and friends along. ‘It’s also tradition for the other mothers to share their wisdom and own knowledge of becoming a mother!’ Parents-to-be: Prince William, The Duke of Cambridge and Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, are expecting their first child . Miniature castles, ‘prince’ and . ‘princess’ banners and balloons are among the other royal baby-themed . products available on the site. Expectant parents might also be tempted . by other kits, such as a Tiny Feet Baby Shower party pack. The products leave the Middletons open to accusations that they are cashing in on the royal pregnancy. And it would not be the first time the . website, set up by Carole Middleton in 1987, has landed the family in . hot water. Earlier this year, it offered paraphernalia themed around the . Royal Wedding and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. Its street party items included state . carriage-shaped cardboard teapot vases, coat of arms cups printed with . ‘Long Live G&T’ and canape flags featuring crown-wearing corgis. The company – which Mrs Middleton . started from scratch by making party bags around her kitchen table – had . a dispute with Britain’s Got Talent after using the show’s logo on the . site without permission and on another occasion fell foul of strict . advertising laws covering the London Olympics. It also rowed with Bond . film producers Eon Productions after using the logo for the latest James . Bond film, Skyfall. Although accounts for the company are . not publicly available, it is clearly a success for the Middletons, who . recently bought a £4.7million country home and put their three children . through private school. | Middleton's Party Pieces website features royal-themed first birthday sets .
It is also selling new range of baby shower celebration accessories .
The family has previously been accused of 'cashing-in' on events . |
127,989 | 316df236462c7a7df77b768e7631de6f95ba2734 | By . John Stevens . and James Slack . PUBLISHED: . 19:05 EST, 24 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 23:12 EST, 24 January 2014 . Bankrupt and traumatised: Paul and Sandra Dunham are contemplating life in separate prisons in the US . A British couple who are the latest targets of the controversial extradition treaty with the US face dying behind bars – in a dispute over work expenses. Paul Dunham, 58, and his wife Sandra, 57, say they will consider ending their lives rather than spending years in an American prison segregated from each other. The couple, who have one son and five grandchildren, were arrested at their four-bedroom detached house in Northampton 14 months ago and are set to be extradited within weeks. They are being treated as criminals under the Extradition Act, despite campaigners saying the row is a civil matter. The couple – who are backed by the mother of computer hacker Gary McKinnon – expect to spend the next couple of years in a US prison for offences they insist they did not commit. As they wait for the case to be heard, the pair – who have been married for 35 years – will not be allowed to see each other. Speaking for the first time about the case, Mr Dunham last night told the Mail: ‘Once we are separated and incarcerated, to us, the point of life will be over.’ His wife added: ‘This has completely destroyed our lives. It is like a horror movie.’ Mr Dunham ran the UK arm of an American soldering iron manufacturer PACE, while his wife worked in sales at the company. After 25 years of service, they were asked to move to the US to take charge of the firm in 2005. Owner William Siegel promoted Mr Dunham to chief executive after removing his son Eric from the business, but in May 2009, after Mr Siegel had a reconciliation with Eric and brought him back into the business, the couple resigned and returned to the UK. Eric Siegel now claims that between 2002 and 2009, the couple embezzled more than $1million (£610,000) in expense claims that were not legitimate. In December 2011, Mr Dunham was indicted on 13 counts of fraud and money laundering by a grand jury in Greenbelt, Maryland, and faces a jail sentence of 340 years. Threat: A British magistrates' court ruled in July that their extradition to face a US prison could proceed . His wife was indicted on eight counts of fraud with a possible sentence of 240 years. They had no chance to defend themselves and, incredibly, had no idea the grand jury had even met until police arrived at their home in November 2012. A British magistrates’ court ruled in July that the extradition could proceed. An appeal hearing at the High Court on February 6 will decide if the couple can be detained and forced to return to the US within weeks. Their trial might not start for years but they will likely be deemed a ‘flight risk’ and be denied bail. Angry: Janis Sharp, mother of Gary McKinnon, who was saved from extradition, said it breaks her heart to hear the Dunhams' story . The couple have already been made bankrupt because of a related civil claim. They are surviving on £16 a week in tax credits and the wages from Mrs Dunham’s part-time job in accounts. The couple say the allegations against them are ‘without merit’. Mr Dunham said: ‘We do not want to end our lives. Nothing would give us greater satisfaction than to get back on our feet and get somewhere close to where we used to be. But once we are incarcerated that is a real possibility as we are not going to have each other. ‘If we get put on that plane and taken to the US, we are going to lose this house and everything in it as there will be no way of paying the mortgage or the bills. ‘We are going to lose our dogs. My father is 84. A year or two years later what are we going to come back to? Nothing. Sixty years of age and homeless. That is not a life I want to consider living.’ Opponents of the extradition treaty say it is lopsided, with seven times as many Britons being sent to the US as have travelled in the opposite direction. Janis Sharp, mother of Gary McKinnon, who was saved from extradition after a Mail campaign, said: ‘My heart breaks to learn of the terror that another family is going through as a result of the UK’s cruel extradition legislation.’ Melanie Riley, of campaign group Friends Extradited, said: ‘How many more lives have to be utterly destroyed before the British Government realises that all campaigners are calling for is a more humane extradition system?’ | Paul Dunham, 58, and wife Sandra, 57, say they will consider ending their lives .
Grandparents-of-five arrested after claims by former US business partner .
Would be forced to live in separate prisons after 25 years of marriage . |
118,444 | 24ed40532a00e189aad1023bd76ee00e40dfdde0 | ROME, Italy (CNN) -- Pope Benedict XVI preached and greeted well-wishers Sunday, three days after breaking his wrist in a fall. The pope celebrates mass with his broken wrist in plaster. He held the text of his speech in his uninjured left hand, then circulated among the crowd who came to hear him in Romano Canavese, pictures from the northern Italian town showed. The 82-year-old pope had surgery on his right wrist after he fell Thursday night, spokesman Father Federico Lombardi told CNN on Friday. The pope is "learning" to live with his cast, Lombardi told Vatican Radio. The most painful aspect of the incident for Benedict is having to give up writing by hand, which he had intended to do frequently during his annual vacation Italy's Val d'Aosta region, Lombardi told the official Vatican station. "I know that here, too, in the Ivera region, many families are facing economic hard times due to a lack of work," he said, referring to the now-defunct Olivetti typewriter manufacturer in the region. "Dear friend, do not be discouraged," he added, according to Agence-France Presse. "Providence always helps those who do the right thing and seek justice; it also helps those who think not only of themselves, but also think of those in worse situations than their own." | Pope preaches and greeted well-wishers, three days after breaking his wrist .
Benedict XVI had surgery on his right wrist after he fell Thursday night .
Most painful aspect for pope is having to stop writing by hand, spokesman says . |
34,360 | 61a5c061287c6b294111455f7a14d0825cf6312f | (CNN) -- The oil spill on the Gulf Coast has states and visitors bureaus working hard to keep the public updated and reassure beach-bound travelers. Here are some of the latest updates from destinations affected by the oil disaster: . Northwest Florida . Officials are advising against getting in the water in Destin, Fort Walton Beach and Okaloosa Island because of the increased presence of tar balls, according to the Emerald Coast Convention and Visitors bureau, which represents the three destinations. The beaches remain open. "Oil in the water is being skimmed and any balls that reach the beach are being removed as quickly as possible," the bureau's website said Thursday. iReport: See photos from Okaloosa Island . Dime-size to 5-inch tar balls continue to wash up in widely scattered areas of Northwest Florida, but all of the state's beaches remain open, according to Visit Florida, the state's tourism corporation. "There have been no reports of Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill-related oil products reaching the shore beyond the Northwest Florida region," Visit Florida's website said. iReport: Share your photos of affected beaches . There have been no oil effects in Panama City Beach, Florida, and the area's beaches and waters are open, the Panama City Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau website said. The water at Pensacola Beach is also open for swimming and fishing, according to the Pensacola Bay Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. "On Pensacola Beach there are reports of tar balls and sheen on less than one percent of the entire beach," the bureau's website said. Due to heavier oiling on Perdido Key, a health advisory has been issued for beaches stretching from the Florida-Alabama line to the entrance of Johnson Beach on Perdido Key, the Pensacola Bay Area visitors bureau said. Swimming and fishing in the affected waters are not advised. Gulf Islands National Seashore . All of the Gulf Islands National Seashore beaches, which are in Florida and Mississippi, are open, the National Park Service's website said. In Florida, Fort Pickens and Perdido Key had increased oiling earlier in the week. Tar balls and light oiling have affected Petit Bois and Horn islands this week in Mississippi. "Surveillance for oiling continues throughout all park areas on a daily basis. Clean-up operations continue throughout the park," the website said. Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, Alabama . Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, Alabama, have experienced significant oiling, according to the Alabama Gulf Coast Convention and Visitors Bureau. The beaches remain open for sunbathing and walking, but both cities are flying double red flags at public beaches, meaning the waters are closed for swimming or wading. The Alabama Department of Public Health has issued an advisory against swimming in waters off Gulf Shores, Orange Beach and Fort Morgan or in bay waters close to Fort Morgan, Bayou St. John, Terry Cove, Cotton Bayou and Old River. The city of Gulf Shores has suspended beach parking fees "as a way to thank visitors for traveling to the coast," the website said. Grand Isle, Louisiana . Oil is affecting more than 45 miles of Louisiana coast, according to a state emergency website, although most of the coast is unaffected. "The primary affected area is from the mouth of the Mississippi River extending east. Over 75 percent of Louisiana's coastal waters extend westward from the mouth of the Mississippi River," according to the Cajun Coast Visitors and Convention Bureau website. Grand Isle has closed its public beach, the site said. | All of Florida's beaches are open, including tourist hot spots Panama City and Pensacola .
Swimming, fishing not advised in waters from Florida-Alabama line to Perdido Key .
Health officials have issued advisory against swimming in Alabama Gulf waters .
Oil affecting more than 45 miles of Louisiana coast, but most of its coast is unaffected . |
75,996 | d789999367d1dd1cbea7a7d8a31f153a037c9645 | (CNN) -- In the cut throat world of big-time ocean racing, giant maxis are the undoubted leaders of the pack. Slicing through the water at 30 knots and more, vast distances can be covered in a few short days. But that speed comes at the price of severe discomfort for those getting the maximum out of the high tech 100 foot-plus yachts. "This is a very aggressive world. It's banging, really noisy and with each wave you have the feeling you could break a bone," sailing legend Loick Peyron told CNN's Mainsail. And 54-year-old Frenchman Peyron should know. He skippered Banque Populaire V on its record-breaking circumnavigation of the world, a 29,000 miles non-stop journey, completed in just 45 days 13 hours and 42 minutes. Set in 2012 and landing the coveted Jules Verne Trophy -- Peyron's elder brother Bruno was a twice former holder of award -- the time slashed over two days off the former record and set an incredible average speed of 26.51 knots for the entire trip. But Peyron also had assistance from 13 other crew members during their helterskelter trip around the world, which earned them personal congratulations from then French president Nicolas Sarkozy. Taking part in solo efforts at the helm of such imposing yachts requires a different level of intestinal fortitude, fitness and raw courage altogether. Peyron knew only to well of the dangers when asked at very short notice to replace an injured compatriot, Armel Le Cleac'h, in the most prestigious of all single-handed transatlantic races. Not only that, the last time Peyron had competed in the Route du Rhum in 2002 he had to abandon when his 69ft trimaran Fujifilm broke up in a "big, big, big storm" in the Bay of Biscay and he was rescued from the wreckage by a ship. In fact, in six previous attempts dating back 32 years, Peyron's best finish was fifth and he had given up hope of landing one of the only prizes to elude him in his illustrious career. And then there was his age to consider, given the physical demands. Admittedly, he's no "spring chicken," so when Ronan Lucas, the boss of the Banque Populaire team, asked him the question, Peyron's first response was an emphatic "Non." "I was not dreaming any more about doing another transatlantic (race) alone on a boat able to win it," he said. "That was the end of my dream." Peyron, who is a key member of the Swedish America's Cup team Artemis, had intended to compete in the Route du Rhum on a "little yellow trimaran" -- content to let Le Cleac'h bid for line honors with the favored Banque Populaire VII. But all that changed when Le Cleac'h injured his hand two months ahead of the challenge. Lucas had total faith in the record breaking Peyron to be the perfect substitute, given his vast experience, but there was another factor which left the coveted skipper with so much doubt. The prospect of the lack of sleep for several days and fear of losing control of the 103-foot trimaran. "Falling asleep it's really hard," he said. "A boat like that could capsize in a few seconds, as we all know. The average speed is something like 30 knots or whatever. "I'm supposed to be able to have a rest, you close your eyes, you keep the main sheet in your hand like that and you pray!" Lucas implored him to think again about his decision, but it was Peyron's wife Christine who urged him to put aside his fears. After a night spent at sea alone -- "feeding the two columns, the positive and the negative one" -- his mind was made up. He would make one final attempt to win the Route du Rhum. Two months of intensive training followed, helped by Le Cleac'h, and on November 2 the 10th edition of the famous event got underway from St. Malo in France, the fleet heading to Guadeloupe. And as the race transpired, Peyron's fears about being able to handle the boat and conditions proved gloriously unfounded. He led from the first night and after 3,542 nautical miles, he crossed the finish line in seven days, 15 hours, eight minutes and 32 seconds, comfortably a new race record. "I never imagined that I would win a Route du Rhum on a boat like this," Peyron said at the finish. But he admitted that throughout the race he was constantly on edge and his fears over falling asleep and losing control nearly came back to haunt him. "I was able to sail the boat well but was scared," he told the official Artemis Racing website. "You have to constantly manage the boat. One night I fell asleep at the helm and nearly capsized the boat." It was his 49th Atlantic crossing -- 18 of them solo -- accomplished at an average speed of over 22 knots -- and given his doubts, very special. "This is a great victory; possibly one of the nicest and breaking the record is the cherry on top of the cake," he added. Peyron, "with brilliant stories to tell," according to Artemis Racing team boss Iain Percy, will now return to his day job of helping the syndicate win the 35th America's Cup in 2017. The team is based in San Francisco -- preparing for the racing in Bermuda where it will compete with others in the Louis Vuitton Cup, with the winner of that series facing holders Oracle for the biggest prize in yachting. The team is chock full of former Olympic champions from all classes, plus sailors with previous experience of America's Cups, including Peyron. He was at the helm with the Swiss challenge Alinghi in 2010 and joined up with Artemis just before the 2013 edition, which ended with defeat to the Italian Luna Rossa Challenge. With that experience behind it, Artemis will be hoping to up its game in 2017, but the syndicate was hit by tragedy last year when former British Olympic gold medalist Andrew Simpson died while training with the team in San Francisco Bay. Simpson, 36, drowned after their catamaran capsized, leaving him trapped underneath for over 10 minutes. He had paired with Percy to win the Star Class at the 2008 Beijing Games and silver on home waters at the London Olympics of 2012. Simpson, nicknamed "Bart" after the TV character, had a foundation formed in his memory and earlier this year it held its first event. Peyron was among a number of sailing greats to support Bart's Bash, which saw over 700 sailing clubs from 68 different countries stage their own race over a standard distance to set a new Guinness World Record for mass participation. Simpson will surely stay in the thoughts of Percy and his Artemis Racing team as it eyes the ultimate prize in the sport. Peyron had been totally focused on the America's Cup bid before being handed an unexpected opportunity to resume his solo career and he proved he is not a man to let a challenge pass, however daunting. "When you know that it's part of your life to do this sort of challenge, this crazy challenge, it's normal," he said. | Yachting legend Loick Peyron wins Route du Rhum .
Sets race record on trimaran Banque Populaire VII .
The 54-year-old was a late replacement for injured Armel Le Cleac'h .
Peyron is helmsman and on Swedish America's Cup bid Artemis . |
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