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271,097 | eb23fce02934b2e1c5f172082c16948a31227609 | By . Rob Cooper . PUBLISHED: . 05:56 EST, 7 June 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 17:06 EST, 7 June 2013 . Out of favour: Southampton stiker Lee Barnard spent time on loan at Oldham Athletic last season . A Premier League footballer told his tenants they would have their gas and electricity cut off if they did not leave his property within two weeks. Southampton forward Lee Barnard, 28, and his fiancee Tonya French who he is due to marry today, bought the 14-bedroom townhouse in Chelmsford, Essex recently. Barnard, the landlord, wrote to the 11 residents telling them to get out because he wants to renovate the property. The former Tottenham player offered a £100 'incentive' to the . tenants - including vulnerable people as well as those on housing and . disability benefits - to move out quickly. The tenants, who have individual flats in the large detached house, should legaly have been given two months to quit. Sandra . Keeble, who has been living in the property for five years, said: 'We . are being completely bullied. I think it is abhorrent and horrible. 'We were told to get out with our belongings but there was no chance of us finding the money within two weeks. 'Nobody . has a way to contact the new owner - we tried the number at the bottom . of the letters but it goes straight to voicemail and no-one replies to . the e-mails we have sent.' A charity which helps people who have been made homeless has been helping the families look for new accommodation. Ray Ellis, 52, is on disability benefits and was shocked by the demand to leave so suddenly. Fiancée: Barnard is engaged to marry model Tonya French, pictured, who has posed for Playboy . He said: 'I have asked for more time to find somewhere else to go - we are not finding it easy to find an alternative.' Three of the residents have moved out since the demands were made last month. Officials from Chelmsford Borough Council have told the residents they are legally allowed to stay. Barnard blamed the situation on a 'mix up' and said he had been cooperative throughout. 'We wrote to the tenants when we found out that the notice period was not long enough,' he said last night. 'We were happy to extent the notice period and have been in regular contact with the council as well. 'I . have not been trying to bully the tenants - I bought the property, I . think it is quite run-down and needs a lot of work and I am within my . rights to serve the notice period and that is now a sufficient one. 'It's . just a misunderstanding with the handover from the previous owner who . said we only had to give them notice of a day, so with the rent-free . period and £100 we felt it was a good offer. 'The . council are fully aware of the situation and are happy with the . arrangements - the first letters were just sent out with the wrong . date.' Facing eviction: Lee Barnard has recently bought this 14-bedroom property in Chelmsford, Essex, and has tried to evict his 11 tenants . A Chelmsford City Council spokesman said: 'I confirm tenants did contact us and they were advised they have been served an illegal notice and that they don't have to leave by June 1. 'We informed them of their rights and offered our help and support in finding new housing when the tenancy ends. 'The new owner has been advised of their legal obligations and the new owners have been completely compliant and are now following the correct legal process.' | Lee Barnard ordered 11 tenants out of the property in Chelmsford, Essex .
He bought the 14-bedroom townhouse recently and wants to renovate it .
Footballer should legally have given the tenants two months to go .
The Southampton player blamed the situation on a 'mix up'
Barnard is due to marry his model fiancee Tonya French today . |
113,325 | 1e44ff6cf8c6c879ae15feef97c641b0236f8fc2 | Security camera footage from inside homes, offices and shops across Britain is being intercepted and broadcast live on the internet – without the owners’ knowledge. A Mail on Sunday investigation can reveal that ‘home hackers’ are easily able to spy on people going about their daily lives through cameras that were installed in homes to improve security. During a two-hour period last week we watched an internet website – available to anyone in the world – and saw footage from British locations of: . Scroll down for video . A baby in her cot: These personal webcam images were all easily accessible online last week . If you have installed a camera of the type that can be hacked in this way, you could be being watched now. Vulnerable devices include baby monitors, domestic security cameras and CCTV units that monitor offices, shops and factories. Hacking can be prevented simply by changing the factory-set default security codes that every camera comes with. Last night Liberal Democrat MP Julian Huppert, who sits on the influential Home Affairs Committee that scrutinises internet crime, said manufacturers had to do more to protect customers. ‘It’s absolutely shocking. We should get the companies which sell this to force customers to change default passcodes,’ he said. ‘This should be a wake-up call to anyone who has a camera in their home or business.’ Some 350,000 individuals and businesses buy such cameras every year in the UK and many fail to change the default passcode – leaving them exposed to hacking. A large number of buyers will be parents who use the devices to monitor babies and young children. They will be horrified to learn that footage they assumed could be accessed by them alone has, in some cases, been made available by hackers for the world to see. A young child asleep: Parents using home security cameras often fail to reset factory setting codes . An old lady relaxing: Not resetting passwords makes it easy for hackers to seek out and broadcast live film on the internet . Our investigation found that nearly 60,000 hours of live feed from UK surveillance cameras can be viewed every day on one website alone. As well as raising a number of security concerns, experts said it also represented an appalling invasion of privacy. Professor Alan Woodward, a cyber security specialist, said: ‘The really scary thing is that people buy these cameras for their own security. But they have no idea that thousands of people might be spying on them at any one time.’ Much of the footage is mundane and reflects the enormous growth in home security systems, but there are also huge amounts of live feed from offices, restaurants, bars, swimming pools and gymnasiums. Cashiers and hotel receptionists are observed in close-up from cameras fixed to walls behind them; there is footage from inside a London hair salon; women can be seen having their nails manicured in Eastleigh, Hampshire; and another stream shows men lifting weights in a Manchester gym. Technology expert Shawn Day said there was worrying potential for the footage to be exploited by criminals. He said: ‘There was one camera in an office and I could actually read the screen of the computer where they could be entering private information such as passwords, but it’s fully displayed to the world. ‘It’s not just the creepy feeling that you are being seen, which is the main concern, it’s also the content of what is being seen. We’re talking about financial information, private information – exactly the sort of stuff the camera is designed to protect, but is doing the opposite.’ Many home webcams, such as these, are easy targets for hackers, and 350,000 are bought in the UK everyday . The Mail on Sunday was able to watch footage showing scores of people inside their homes, who were oblivious to the fact that they were being observed. Many cameras were fixed on babies and small children sleeping in their beds. There was also close-up footage of an elderly lady relaxing in Aberdeen. Another camera in a London home filmed a schoolboy texting on his mobile phone. A man in Crawley was seen on a sofa with a cup of tea, with family photographs on the wall behind him. In the past there have been some incidents of computer hacking to seize control of built-in webcams. That process is called ‘ratting’, as the hackers send out a virus that allows them access to a person’s desktop computer or laptop without their knowledge. But we discovered that the hacking of stand-alone security cameras – IP (Internet Protocol) cameras – is a much simpler process and more widespread. Most cameras that connect to the internet come with a default username and password which most people do not realise they can – and must – change. If owners fail to do so, their live feed, which they can access from smartphones, could also be picked up by hackers who scan addresses on the internet until they find an exposed IP camera. Experts fear large numbers of such cameras are vulnerable to hacking. The Mail on Sunday visited a travel company, pictured, which had no idea its security camera images were being streamed online . Our reporter, right, showed staff how their meeting was being shown live on the internet . A computer showing the reporter waving at the camera after revealing to the office workers that their footage was available online . The hackers then input a number of commonly used default passwords until they gain access. Finally they stream the results on to their own websites for all to see. For security reasons, the hacking website is not being named by The Mail on Sunday. The site keeps the exact locations of the cameras deliberately vague, providing only names of cities and towns. During our investigation we discovered footage being beamed from a travel agent’s office in London. Our reporter visited the office to alert the owner, who had no idea his daily business was being broadcast to the world. As our reporter helped him log on to the hackers’ website, staff at The Mail on Sunday’s office we were also monitoring it. We saw the reporter walk into the shop and explain that the six CCTV cameras had been hacked. Our reporter waved at the camera and the businessman was astonished to see it broadcast on his computer. 1. Ensure the camera you buy allows you to change the default password. 2. If manual doesn't explain how to do this, call manufacturer and get clear guidance. 3. Take time to set up a strong password and change it regularly. The shop could easily be identified to any criminal watching because one of the hacked cameras partially revealed its address on a hoarding. ‘This is absolutely appalling,’ said the manager, who asked not to be named. ‘The system was installed three months ago and they didn’t tell us anything about passwords. I can assure you they will be changed.’ His cameras were manufactured by China-based Hikvision, which insisted last night that it does ‘everything possible’ to warn of the need to change default passwords. In another case, we identified a house in Southend, Essex, because the Hikvision cameras at the property – fixed on the drive, back door and side gate – included the owner’s name and address on screen. The owner said: ‘We got these cameras to try to keep our property safe but we never imagined that people are looking at our house and what we’re doing. Burglars could see when we’re out.’ After being alerted, the travel agent and homeowner both changed their passwords. Their footage is no longer available online. Many of the hacked cameras used by parents are made by another Chinese company, Foscam. A spokesman said it was aware of hacking and will now ‘force’ users to change passwords. It is not clear who is behind the hacking website, but The Mail on Sunday established that it is ‘hosted’ by a company called MediaNet based in the Moldovan capital, Chisinau. A spokeswoman said: ‘We were not aware of this. Thank you for letting us know.’ She could not say what action, if any, would be taken. Tony Neate, of the Government’s Get Safe Online campaign, said: ‘The most important thing to take away from this is how important it is to change the default password on the device. Camera instruction manuals should explain how to do this, and if not, then you should contact the manufacturer for guidance.’ It is unclear what can by done by police, who have spent more than £20 million investigating phone hacking. The National Crime Agency said: ‘It is vital that individuals and businesses take all possible steps to protect themselves from having personal or financial information compromised, making sure operating instructions are followed, security software is up to date, and passwords are strong and regularly changed.’ | Investigation reveals 'home hackers' are spying on people through webcams .
Vulnerable devices include baby monitors and domestic security cameras .
350,000 such cameras are bought every year in the UK by individuals .
Many fail to change the default passwords leaving them open to hackers .
Experts say thousands may not be aware hackers are able to spy on them .
Babies in cots .
A schoolboy playing on his computer at home in North London .
Another boy asleep in bed .
The inside of a Surrey vicar's church changing room .
An elderly woman relaxing in an armchair .
Two men in a kitchen sharing a meal .
Information on staying safe online can be found at cyberstreetwise.com and getsafeonline.org. |
240,325 | c31e74c1f7908dcbe924de359bf818be5ddb494a | BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (CNN) -- President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner repeated her call this week to decriminalize personal drug use and crack down on traffickers and dealers. President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner says she doesn't like to "condemn someone who has an addiction." "I don't like it when people easily condemn someone who has an addiction as if he were a criminal, as if he were a person who should be persecuted," she told a meeting of the National Investigation into the Consumption of Alcohol, Tobacco, Psychopharmaceuticals and Illegal Drugs. "Those who should be persecuted are those who sell the substances, those who give it away, those who traffic in it." A poll shows 2 percent of Argentines have tried cocaine, but some people believe decriminalization of drugs could result in wider drug use. Regardless, the Argentine government is pushing Congress to pass the decriminalization legislation by the end of the year. "Decriminalization of the consumer should include what are called second-generation human rights, but at the same time there should be a strong policy of prevention, so that no one falls in the situation of consuming any substance," said Anibal Fernandez, the minister of security and justice. Ethan Nadelmann, founder and executive director of the New York-based Drug Policy Alliance, said such policies have been adopted throughout Europe and other parts of Latin America. "The evidence generally shows that the decriminalization of possession is not clearly associated with any increase in illicit drug use," he said. A few years ago, then-Mexican President Vicente Fox proposed decriminalizing possession of drugs combined with a crackdown on traffickers, but a harsh reaction from the Bush administration caused him to retreat, Nadelmann said. Brazil and Colombia have passed laws decriminalizing drug use in an effort to combat the spread of HIV among injecting drug users, he said. Politicians recognize that "you basically need to get those people out of the underground and into health systems," Nadelmann said. "This would be part of a growing number of countries in Latin America where there is, either for political or judicial reasons, a push toward decriminalization of personal possession, sometimes combined with initiatives to crack down harder on bigger drug traffickers," he said. "It typically involves both lessening the criminal sanction for possession of cannabis while also providing for alternatives to incarceration for people addicted to drugs who are arrested for drug possession or other minor offenses." The concept has gained followers in the United States, too, he said, citing statistics that show two-thirds of Americans support drug treatment instead of jail time for first-time drug offenders. On Wednesday, Rep. Barney Frank announced a proposal to end federal penalties for Americans carrying fewer than 100 grams, or almost a quarter-pound, of marijuana. "The vast amount of human activity ought to be none of the government's business," Frank said on Capitol Hill. "I don't think it is the government's business to tell you how to spend your leisure time." CNN's Javier Doberti contributed to this story. | President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner says addicts should not be persecuted .
Argentine government wants Congress to pass legislation by end of year .
Measures could lessen sentences for users, crack down on dealers and traffickers .
Rep. Barney Frank proposes similar legislation this week on Capitol Hill . |
105,964 | 14a814a24265a80a10b177e9feb3a948f4a6ab8e | (CNN) -- Tropical Storm Claudette is expected to make landfall in the Florida Panhandle by early Monday, and the storm's outer bands already were pounding the area with heavy rain Sunday evening. Tropical Storm Claudette is seen off the coast of Destin, Florida, on Sunday afternoon. Claudette appeared on track to hit somewhere between Destin, Florida, and Panama City Beach, Florida, late Sunday or early Monday before moving through the panhandle and into southern Alabama, CNN meteorologist Jacqui Jeras said. Heavy rain from Claudette was hitting some of the Florida Panhandle counties Sunday, and some coastal areas there had the potential for localized flooding, said John Cherry, spokesman for the Florida Division of Emergency Management. "What we're just mainly asking is residents to stay off the roads tonight, and if you do approach a flooded area on a roadway, turn around," Cherry said. Shortly before 11 p.m. ET, the center of Claudette, with maximum sustained winds near 50 mph, was in the Gulf of Mexico about 25 miles west of Panama City, Florida, and about 70 miles east-southeast of Pensacola, the National Hurricane Center said. It was moving northwest at about 12 mph. A tropical storm warning was in effect from the Alabama-Florida border east to the Aucilla River. A tropical storm warning means tropical storm conditions are expected in the warning area in the next 24 hours. The storm could bring 3 to 6 inches of rain, with isolated amounts up to 10 inches, across portions of the Florida Panhandle, central and southern Alabama and extreme southwestern Georgia. Storm surges and isolated tornadoes also were possible across portions of North Florida. Authorities urged voluntary evacuations in the low-lying Alligator Point area of Florida's Franklin County because of concerns about possible flooding, said Mike Stone, spokesman for the Florida Emergency Operations Center. He said he knew of no other evacuations in the state. Mariners in the Panhandle and Big Bend areas of Florida should stay at harbor, the Florida Division of Emergency Management said in a statement. Meanwhile, two other severe storms were in the Atlantic Ocean on Sunday. Tropical Depression Ana, which was downgraded from a tropical storm Sunday afternoon, was moving across the Leeward Islands late Sunday, while Tropical Storm Bill was gaining strength as it followed behind Ana. iReport.com: Are you in Claudette's path? Ana was about 25 miles (40 kilometers) southeast of Guadeloupe shortly before 11 p.m. ET Sunday. It was expected to enter the northeastern Caribbean Sea and weaken as it approaches the Dominican Republic on Monday, the center said. It was moving east near 26 mph, and its maximum sustained winds were close to 35 mph, the center said. Tropical storm watches were in effect for Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the British Virgin Islands, Montserrat, Antigua, Barbuda, St. Kitts, Nevis, Anguilla, St. Maarten, Saba, St. Eustatius, Guadeloupe, St. Martin, St. Barthelemey, and part of the Dominican Republic. Ana was expected to drop 2 to 4 inches of rain over the Leeward Islands, with isolated maximum amounts of 6 inches possible over mountainous terrain, the hurricane center said. Tropical Storm Bill -- which is forecast to become a hurricane on Monday -- was in the Atlantic heading west-northwest with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph. The storm's center was about 1,320 miles (2,120 kilometers) east of the Lesser Antilles shortly before 11 p.m. ET Sunday. | Tropical Storm Claudette expected to hit land by Monday morning .
Storm's maximum sustained winds near 50 mph .
Voluntary evacuations urged in part of Franklin County, Florida, for flooding concerns .
Tropical Storm Bill forecast to become a hurricane Monday . |
118,579 | 251ca0423f0c989338e3e7d58a61b9ed84254d00 | By . Sophie Borland . PUBLISHED: . 19:58 EST, 11 November 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 02:59 EST, 12 November 2012 . Risks: Common allergy medicines have been found to cause memory and concentration problems in older people, researchers say. Picture posed by model . Allergy pills taken by thousands of Britons could be causing memory problems, researchers claim. Common treatments including Benadryl for hayfever have been found to increase forgetfulness and concentration difficulties in pensioners. Canadian scientists have also found a link with popular sleeping pills and antidepressants. They are now urging doctors to consider whether their patients should really be taking these medications in light of the possible side-effects. Although the researchers did not look at the risk of dementia, there is some evidence having mild memory problems makes you far more susceptible to the devastating illness. Academics from Montreal University in Canada looked at 68 studies which had examined the potential health risks of certain medications. They found that treatments for allergies, insomnia, depression and for overactive bladders were all linked to memory and concentration problems. These drugs include Benadryl, for hayfever, benzodiazepines such as the sleeping pills diazepam and temazepam and the antidepressant amitriptyline. Lead researcher Dr Cara Tannenbaum warned that the potential effects of such drugs on memory problems, or cognitive decline, is ‘undervalued.’ She said: ‘Patients need this information so that they are more comfortable talking to their doctors and pharmacists about safer pharmacological or non-pharmacological treatment options. ‘Each individual has a right to make an informed choice based on preference and a thorough understanding of the effects the medications may have on their memory and function.’ The study, published in the journal Drugs and Aging, concluded: ‘Patients are increasingly concerned with perceived memory and attention deficits that may signal early dementia. ‘The impact of medications on cognitive function and their ability to affect the results of neuropsychological test scores during the clinical assessment of memory complaints is undervalued. Recall: Having mild memory problems can make elderly people more susceptible to dementia, evidence suggests . ‘There is a consistent body of evidence suggesting that drug-induced mild cognitive impairment can occur with episodic use of medications for insomnia, anxiety or allergy symptoms.’ Experts think the drugs interfere with chemicals in the brain called neurotransmitters, which are responsible for passing on messages. This may result in forgetfulness, concentration problems and there is some evidence it leads to dementia. Earlier this year Harvard researchers found that benzodiazepines increased the risk of developing the devastating illness by up to 50 per cent. Most antihistamine tablets are sold over the counter and there are no figures for the numbers of patients currently using them. But as many as 15 million Britons suffer from some form of allergy in their lives, including hayfever, although not all will seek treatment. Figures also show that around 1.5 million are on sleeping pills and 6 million on antidepressants. | Canadian scientists say allergy pills can hit memory of older people .
Drugs for depression and insomnia also linked to concentration loss . |
238,017 | c011159cb493eb5c09c4e2cb0311d7b270b5f076 | (CNN) -- Our democracy is endangered. Not by the Russians, North Korea, the Iran regime, or even terrorists. To quote Pogo: "We have met the enemy and he is us." Inside the beltway, the fingers point and the media tuts and struts in glee, and we, the American public, respond by becoming more rigid and divided ourselves. No more "truth springing from argument amongst friends," as David Hume said. A recent nonpartisan Pew Research Poll finds our knee-jerk partisanship has increased dramatically. This road we're on will lead us step-by-step to an extreme: either an autocratic government that functions, or a dysfunctional anarchy. The petty squabbles, bilge in the name of party or principle, will dissolve our self-government. Abraham Lincoln felt no foreign power could ever defeat the United States. He said, "From whence shall we expect the approach of danger? Shall some trans-Atlantic military giant step the earth and crush us at a blow? Never...No, if destruction be our lot we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of free men we will live forever or die by suicide." We're pointing a pistol at our heads. A government of, by, and for the people requires that people talk to people, that we can agree to disagree but do so in civility. If we let the politicians and those who report dictate our discourse, then our course will be dictated. Why am I alarmed? Because two "scandals" -- the IRS tax-exempt inquiries and the Department of Justice's tapping of reporters' phones -- have become lynch parties. And the congressional investigation of Benghazi may become a scandal in itself. The IRS scandal has sparked bipartisan outrage that should require a bipartisan solution. The director who oversaw this was a Bush appointee who was confirmed by a Democratic Congress. Even Watergate reporter Carl Bernstein says he doubts very much that Obama was involved . We, the people, need to stay focused on facts, causes and solutions. Let's begin with the findings of the Treasury's inspector general who uncovered it: That it was bureaucratic mismanagement, but that there was no evidence of any political motivation or influence from outside the IRS. And that, according to acting Commissioner Steven Miller, who just resigned, the problem started because the Supreme Court's Citizens' United decision created a surge of requests by political groups for tax-exempt status. Democrats and Republicans agree there's a problem. Maybe they should focus on solutions. Let's demand an end to partisan sideshows or media witch hunts: It turns out that the leaked White House Benghazi e-mails which allegedly show a coverup of a terrorist attack were themselves altered. Those e-mails are, in a word, bogus . Next up on the playbill: The Department of Justice secretly obtained dozens of reporters' phone records because of a serious security leak. The double contradictory shell game we're supposed to believe: Obama is not in charge and he has his finger in every pot. This bamboozling of the American people obscures the main point: How do we safeguard American lives and respect our freedoms at the same time? Maybe working together -- Republicans and Democrats, conservatives and liberals -- the Media Shield Law, a solution to the problem, can be passed. Both the Democrats and Republicans have run roughshod over our separation of powers. Both parties have misused and abused their constitutional powers. Democrats blocked, again and again, President Bush's nominees for federal judges. Today, Republicans aren't just blocking Obama's judicial nominees, they're blocking the Senate from considering laws and blocking Cabinet appointees necessary for the federal government to run. Why should we allow any political party or personality to render our government unable to govern? On 9/11 terrorists attacked the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and tried to attack the U.S. Capitol building in order to destroy our institutions, our economic strength, our military and our democratic Congress where "the people rule." But in our partisan self-righteousness, we're destroying our foundations of government more effectively than al Qaeda ever could. Whether it's the media or the politicians, the churning of partisan passion into anger, indeed hate, has an ulterior purpose: If Obama's administration is constantly engaged in fighting for its existence, the governing comes to a halt, and his agenda will go nowhere. Aiming for that and little if nothing else weakens and harms our democratic institutions, both Congress and the presidency. Remember, Obama was elected by a bigger margin than George W. Bush. He deserves to have his appointees, and he deserves to have votes on the issues, to have the government function, and to fight for the policies on which he was elected. By allowing problems to become scandals and scandals to become demagoguery, we're shooting ourselves in the foot. If it keeps up, we will all be complicit in weakening our democracy. The opinions in this commentary are solely those of Donna Brazile. | Donna Brazile: Knee-jerk partisanship is worse than ever in politics and public discourse .
Brazile: Democracy endangered without civil discussion among people who disagree .
IRS and Justice Department "scandals" have become lynch parties, she says .
Brazile: Both parties and the public must stay focused on facts, causes and solutions . |
62,777 | b24f28b69e9aecd260d43d0d19cf7139f4371468 | (CNN) -- The singer Gil Scott Heron once declared that "the revolution will not be televised." Em Hall, the "D.C. Goodwill Fashionista," transformed Goodwill's image with a witty blog. It is, however, going online. Social activism is being transformed by the Web. Some of the most creative forms of protest and philanthropy are taking place online. Activists are conducting demonstrations on YouTube, holding virtual fundraisers and using social network sites like Facebook to change the world -- one mouse-click at a time. These cyber-pioneers include a nonprofit group that uses animated 3-D characters to protest the global shortage of drinking water; a Web company that allows ordinary people to create their own personalized charity; and a Goodwill blogger who reshaped the thrift store's image so thoroughly she was invited to New York Fashion Week. Ted Hart, co-author of "People to People Fundraising: Social Networking and Web 2.0 for Charities," says the Web has already become a crucial source for nonprofit fundraising. Americans donated $550 million online in 2001, but that number grew to $10.4 billion in 2007, he says. "It's a new world for a lot of nonprofit organizations," Hart says. "No longer is it good enough to say give us some money. The rules have changed." Yet some people warn that this new world offers people an excuse to engage in "drive-by activism," superficial forms of cyber-activism that require little commitment. "The Internet makes it very easy for people to jump in and out of social activism," says Matthew Hale, assistant professor at Seton Hall University's Center for Public Service. "If all the activism is online, it is easier to quit than going to meetings every week." Real change: online or in-person? Yet the Web makes it easier for a nonprofit group to reach more people than a meeting ever could, one nonprofit group says. WaterPartners International is a U.S.-based nonprofit group that created a global campaign to create safe drinking water. Another company may have flown a spokesperson to an impoverished village and hired a film crew to promote their campaign. But WaterPartners says it saved money and time by putting its campaign online -- through animated, virtual characters built from actual people, says Nicole Wickenhauser, a company spokesperson. Daily Web traffic doubled to WaterPartners' Web site during the campaign and the campaign attracted support from around the globe, Wickenhauser says. "Real change is most often accomplished by committed individuals working together for a cause they feel passionately about," Wickenhauser says. "Whether they work together virtually or in person is less important." Web-based activism not only enlarges the reach of social activists, it empowers ordinary people, its advocates say. In another time, a person had to find a charity to give their time and money to. Now they can create their own charity through Web sites like "YourCause.com." YourCause.com has been described as a MySpace for do-gooders. The new site allows a person to do everything a charity traditionally does -- raise money and awareness and recruit support -- all from a Web page designed especially for their needs. Matthew Combs, the site's co-founder, says his site designs Web pages and vets charities for people who don't have the time or expertise to do it themselves. "It's for people like the 73-year-old woman from New Jersey who created her own page to help out with a rare genetic defect she's suffering from," Combs says. "There's not a lot of 73-year-olds on MySpace. How do we make it easy as possible for them, but credible?" Social network sites like MySpace are also throwing their support behind Web activists. MySpace has an "Impact" page that connects users with political and charitable causes. YouTube recently launched a "Nonprofits and Activism" channel. 'The reaction was priceless' One of the most audacious forms of Web-based activism comes courtesy of Em Hall, also known by her blog name, the DC Goodwill Fashionista. When Goodwill of Greater Washington wanted to expand its customer base, its leaders devised a campaign to reach out to a younger, hipper crowd. The campaign's centerpiece was Hall. In her witty blog, She dispensed fashion advice, conducted an online virtual fashion show and sold Goodwill clothing on eBay (she once sold an $11.98 suit for $175 on eBay.) Hall's blog averages 1,500 readers a week and has attracted readers from at least 100 countries, says Brendan Hurley, a Goodwill spokesman. Hall's blog became so popular she was invited in September to Fashion Week, a high-octane fashion show that features the world's most popular designers. Hall still recalls how Fashion Week officials acted when she told them what clothing label -- Goodwill -- she represented. "The reaction was priceless," she says. "A look of confusion came across people's faces as they desperately tried to figure out why Goodwill was at Fashion Week." Despite the possibilities created by the Web, calling people to action still depends on people putting their bodies -- not just their mouse-clicks -- on the line, says Hale, the Seton Hall professor. "All of the stuff you can do online ultimately has to show up in the real world," Hale says. "I don't see the Internet as a substitute [for social activism] but as a complement to it." Paul Loeb, author of "The Soul of a Citizen,'' a book that examines the psychology of social activism, also says online activism can be powerful but limited. He tells a story from his book to make his point. He says a friend took her kids to a protest against nuclear testing in front of the White House during the early 1960s. But she became dejected because only a few people joined her demonstration and then it rained. Years later, the same woman attended a major march against nuclear testing. Benjamin Spock, the best-selling author and pediatrician who opposed the Vietnam War, was a featured speaker. He told marchers that he was inspired to join the march after seeing a small group of women huddled with their kids in the rain while marching in front of the White House years earlier. "I thought that if those women were out there," Spock said, "their cause must be really important." "He's seeing these ragged women in the rain and it touches his heart and he ends up getting changed by that," Loeb says. "That story couldn't exist in the virtual world." | The Web unleashes new wave of cyber-activism .
Activists changing the world one mouse-click at a time .
The Web "changes the rules" for nonprofit groups, expert says . |
134,149 | 39741202f8d8ccf8e5ce50e6471dc52b7c0ecce6 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 00:37 EST, 5 June 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 00:43 EST, 5 June 2013 . The alleged video of Toronto mayor Rob Ford smoking crack cocaine has apparently ‘gone’ according to one of the men involved in attempts to purchase it. News website Gawker launched a campaign last month to raise $200,000 from readers to purchase the footage from its Canadian proprietor. Ford was consumed by a . sea of media speculation after rumors of the video surfaced last month, . but he adamantly claimed that it didn't exist. Off the hook? The alleged video of Toronto Mayor Rob Ford smoking crack has apparently disappeared . The website opened a ‘Crackstarter’ page on crowdfunding platform Indiegogo and had raised the money by May 27, but days earlier had lost contact with the video’s owner. A still image - allegedly taken from the video - purportedly shows Ford with three men. On Tuesday Gawker Editor-in-Chief John Cook confirmed that the video might really be ‘gone’ after he received a call from a man who had been acting as his intermediary with the owner of the tape. ‘The owner was trying to sell the video,’ wrote Cook, ‘but he apparently didn't want or anticipate the media circus that erupted after the story broke.’ Scandal: A still image allegedly taken from the video given to the Globe and Mail and Gawker.com purportedly shows Ford with two men, one of whom is believed to have been murdered over the video . It was Ford who on May 16 claimed to have seen video of Ford smoking a crack pipe, which he said belonged to drug dealer linked to Ford. The owner of the video had been identified as a Somali man by the Toronto Star and according to Cook the man was also being pressurized by Toronto's ethnic Somali community to make the video disappear. Cook had been dealing with an intermediary who called him last Friday to say he had finally heard from the owner. Cook wrote: ‘And his message was: "It's gone. Leave me alone." It was, the intermediary told me, a short conversation.’ If the video . fails to turn up 'soon,' Gawker will donate the money raised to 'a Canadian nonprofit that . addresses substance abuse issues.' Pout: Vacated by his communications staffers and facing drug allegations, Ford has clearly seen better days . Rumors: Toronto Mayor Rob Ford (right) said on a talk show hosted by his brother City Councillor Doug Ford that a video of him allegedly smoking crack cocaine does not exist . On May 24, Ford denied during a press . conference that he smoked crack cocaine, and insisted that video of him . engaging in the illicit act did not exist. However, . the Toronto Star reported that Ford had earlier met with staffers to . assure them such a video was no cause for concern because "he knew where . it was." Speaking two weeks ago on a weekly radio show that he hosts with his brother Doug Ford, a city council member, Rob Ford reiterated that the allegations were ridiculous, but he didn't say whether he has ever used crack. Reports on Gawker and in the Toronto Star claimed the videoo was taken by men who said they had sold the drug to Ford. The Star reported that two . journalists had watched a video that appears to show Ford, sitting in a . chair, inhaling from what appears to be a glass crack pipe. The Star said it did not obtain the video or pay to watch it. Fundraising: On Monday, Gawker successfully raised more than $200,000 in its 'Crackstarter' campaign to purchase the video . When asked by a caller to the show if it was him in the video, Ford responded: 'Number one: There's no video, so that's all I can say. You can't comment on something that doesn't exist.' Ford called the allegations false and said good journalists are 'few and far between'. 'A bunch of maggots," Ford said, quickly adding that he shouldn't have said that. In a press conference today, he apologized for the remark. Some critics called on Ford to step down, but he has vowed to seek re-election next year. 'I'll be the first putting my name on that ballot,' he said. Doug Ford is also facing drug allegations after another leading Canadian newspaper published Saturday the results of what it called a lengthy investigation into the Ford family's past that revealed 'a portrait of a family once deeply immersed in the illegal drug scene'. The Globe and Mail, citing anonymous sources who were involved in the drug trade, alleged that the mayor's older brother sold hashish for several years in the 1980s in the Toronto suburb of Etobicoke, where the family grew up. Doug Ford, 48, is an influential adviser to the mayor. 'I was not a dealer of hashish in the 1980s,' Doug Ford said on Sunday's radio show. Standing tall: Ford, with his wife, second left, and two friends, said he will be the first to put his name on a ballot for re-election . The mayor has been embroiled in almost weekly controversies about his behavior since being elected in 2010. The Toronto Star reported earlier this year that the mayor was asked to leave a gala fundraiser for wounded Canadian soldiers because he appeared intoxicated. During his campaign for mayor, Rob Ford vehemently denied a 1999 arrest for marijuana possession in Florida, but later acknowledged it was true after he was presented with evidence. He pleaded guilty to driving under the influence and failing to give a breath sample to police. While in office, he has been accused of flouting conflict of interest rules and making obscene gestures at residents from his car. The controversy has drawn comparisons to the 1990 arrest of then-Washington Mayor Marion Barry, who was videotaped smoking crack cocaine in a hotel room during an FBI sting operation. Barry served six months in federal prison on a misdemeanor drug possession conviction but later won a fourth term as mayor in 1994. | One of the men involved in attempts to purchase the video says he has been told that it is no longer available .
John Cook claims the drug dealer who owns the tape has been put off selling by the publicity surrounding it .
He also said the Somali community in Toronto had put pressure on the man .
Toronto Mayor Rob Ford has denied ever using crack cocaine after scandal over the alleged video of him smoking the drug . |
277,408 | f36707c5e30c8f019f1990215eb5be6aeecc8a11 | He is familiar to viewers of Watchdog as one half of the motorbike-riding team of investigators who chase down unscrupulous tradesmen and bring them to justice. But Dan Penteado, who co-hosts the Rogue Traders part of the programme with presenter Matt Allwright, ended up as a wanted man himself this week. The 40-year-old has been accused of pocketing more than £24,000 in benefits that he wasn’t entitled to while he worked for the BBC. Hoewever, he denies and wrongdoing and says they whole thing is a 'misunderstanding'. Scroll down for video . Rogue Traders' Dan Penteado (left) who is wanted by police for alleged benefit fraud while working for the BBC. Pictured right is co-presenter Matt Allwright (right) Penteado, from Bournemouth, failed to respond to letters of inquiry sent to him by Bournemouth Council. As a result he was sent a court . summons to appear before magistrates on Wednesday to answer several . charges of fraud – but he failed to show up and a warrant was issued for his arrest. Yesterday, however, police said the warrant was no longer outstanding. It is understood Penteado got in contact with officers and he has been bailed to appear in court at a later date. He told The Mirror: 'It’s all a misunderstanding that’s causing a lot of grief for my family. 'There is no arrest warrant. I’ve been to the police station and I’ve not been arrested.' Penteado (left) is accused of pocketing more than £24,000 of government payouts he wasn't entitled to . Rogue Traders sees the camera-wielding, motorcycle-riding presenters go in pursuit of the conmen who take people for a ride . Penteado was understood to be facing 10 charges of benefit fraud from 2008 to 2012 but has not yet been formally charged. The offences relate to Penteado allegedly failing to disclose a bank account his wages were paid into and failing to declare a change of circumstances after being hired by the BBC. Dorset Police said they were not involved in the case and that it was a matter for Bournemouth Borough Council. A spokeswoman for the council would not comment. Portuguese-born Penteado started working with Mr Allwright in 2001. In the last series of Watchdog, the pair confronted eight business owners who they felt were ripping off the public. Dan Penteado's house in Bournemouth, Dorset. There was no answer at his door yesterday . Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | Dan Penteado has been charged with benefit and council tax fraud .
Rogue Traders star allegedly pocketed payouts while working for the BBC .
Warrant issued for his arrest after he failed to turn up for court hearing .
He claims it is all a 'misunderstanding' |
68,276 | c1ab692bf2daaab542f0ed27552af6acf4db9132 | (CNN) -- In Russian, there is an old saying: "An uninvited guest is worse than a Tatar," referring to the country's medieval invaders from the East. Although Edward Snowden's lawyer calls him "the most wanted man on the planet," it's clear that Russia's president, Vladimir Putin, would rather he were just about anywhere else. After five weeks in Sheremetyevo Airport's transit zone, the NSA leaker was allowed to leave on Thursday under a grant of temporary asylum valid for one year. A taxi spirited him to an undisclosed Moscow location, where Putin's Federal Security Service will undoubtedly be watching him closely. To some in the U.S., Snowden's Sheremetyevo escapade seems to have Putin written all over it. The Russian president, who once compared the U.S.'s behavior abroad to that of the Third Reich, seems to rarely miss an opportunity to score points at Washington's expense. Yet the reality is that Putin did not seek out this problem, and now that his agents have presumably debriefed Snowden, he would much prefer for it to disappear. Snowden was -- and remains -- an uninvited guest. Russia's intelligence agencies did not lure the NSA contractor to Moscow. It is not even clear how much they will have learned from him. Russian intelligence must have known already that the NSA was comprehensively monitoring telephone and Internet traffic. Putin, who has never shown a soft spot for whistle-blowers and civil libertarians, is certainly not sheltering Snowden on humanitarian grounds. As a former KGB colonel, he understands the U.S. intelligence community's desire to get the leaker back. But Putin is stuck. He cannot extradite Snowden to the U.S. without looking subservient. At the same time, he has no real interest in further damaging relations with Washington. That might seem strange given the angry rhetoric that regularly issues from Moscow, in particular from the Parliament, where Putin's United Russia party dominates. Just in December, Putin signed a bill banning the adoption of Russian orphans by Americans. However, anti-Americanism has always been a complicated game for the Russian president. On the one hand, it plays well in the provinces. Since December 2011, when Moscow's boulevards erupted into protest, Putin has faced the most serious political challenge of his career. Having lost the support of sophisticated urbanites, his priority has been to shore up his provincial base. One key strategy has been to appeal to more traditional and nationalist constituencies. Kremlin operatives attempt to discredit Putin's critics by portraying them as stooges for an interventionist Washington that seeks to interfere in Russian domestic life. In 2007, Putin compared his opponents to "jackals," scrounging around outside foreign embassies for handouts. Although exploiting xenophobia may seem crude, it works with some segments of the population. Putin wins widespread credit for standing up for Russia's rights and restoring the country's position in the world. Still, while insisting on Russian sovereignty, Putin loses the aura of a skilled statesman if his policies provoke genuine crises. Behind the scenes, and even in public, he has sought accommodation on certain international issues. Putin, the anti-American in chief, personally faced down communist protesters to permit NATO to build a transit hub in the city of Ulyanovsk. Some in Washington have urged President Obama to skip the G20 summit in St. Petersburg in September. Sen. Lindsey Graham even suggested boycotting the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics. Putin would clearly like to avoid such snubs. But were they to occur, he would cast them as yet another show of U.S. arrogance, a slap in the face not for him personally but for Russia. Assuming the leaders of Western European countries -- where many sympathize with Snowden -- do come to St. Petersburg, the final impression produced by Obama's empty chair might be less of Russian humiliation than of U.S. isolation. For this and other reasons, the White House would probably also prefer to move beyond the Snowden issue. The U.S. public appears ambivalent at this point, uncomfortable about both Snowden's law-breaking and the scope of government snooping. Yet the longer the issue remains in the public eye, the more embarrassing it is likely to become for the administration. For a U.S. attorney general to have to guarantee that a suspect would not be tortured if returned shows how much has changed over the past 12 years. The more officials turn out to have "misspoken" in denying existing surveillance programs, the lower trust in government is likely to sink. At the same time, the U.S. has a broader agenda on which it needs to negotiate with Moscow. Syria continues to bleed. Although odds of a breakthrough are low, a joint U.S.-Russian peace conference is supposed to take place in Geneva this fall. The Iranian and North Korean nuclear programs remain urgent challenges. On these and other issues, Russia's U.N. Security Council seat makes it a crucial player. Through 2014, as U.S. troops withdraw from Afghanistan, the NATO transport route across Russian territory will remain important. If Secretary of State John Kerry's latest attempt to revive Middle East peace talks is to bear fruit, the U.S. will at least need to persuade Russia not to become a spoiler. Finally, even on Snowden, the White House may not want to push the Russians too far. As Andrew Kuchins, director of the Russia and Eurasia Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, points out, the U.S. could do worse than to have Snowden remain -- under tight control -- in Moscow. If Putin honors his pledge to stop Snowden harming what Putin called his "American partners," then at least further leaks will be prevented. Were the Russians in frustration to put their uninvited guest on a plane to Ecuador or Cuba, the next morning's newspapers might contain additional revelations. Follow CNN Opinion on Twitter . Join the conversation on Facebook . The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Daniel Treisman. | Daniel Treisman says Putin often takes anti-American stances to shore up his support .
He writes that the Snowden affair has put Putin in a difficult bind .
He says Putin can't be seen to be subservient to U.S. but doesn't want a fight .
Treisman: U.S. needs Russian support on some key international issues . |
105,766 | 1469706db52218c705b857ebf4be703a3c833089 | By . Alex Gore . PUBLISHED: . 05:05 EST, 21 January 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 07:23 EST, 21 January 2013 . Bombarded: Broadcaster Andrew Marr has thanked viewers for their 'truly wonderful' messages of goodwill following his stroke two weeks ago . Broadcaster Andrew Marr has thanked viewers and friends who have 'bombarded' him with 'truly wonderful' messages of goodwill as he continues to recover in hospital following a serious stoke. The BBC's political editor, who was admitted to hospital after falling ill at his south west London home two weeks ago, is said to be 'on the mend'. But a BBC spokesperson told MailOnline today that his return to work is 'not expected to be imminent' and that a new line-up of guest hosts for his Sunday morning show is being organised. Radio 2 host Jeremy Vine yesterday filled in for the 53-year-old on BBC One's weekly Andrew Marr Show, and told viewers his colleague had spoken to the programme's producers. Mr Vine said: 'He's on the mend and he does send a huge thank you to friends and viewers who've bombarded him with goodwill messages. 'He says that's been truly wonderful, he's really looking forward to retuning to work in due course and resuming duties on a Sunday morning. He added: 'Andrew, I gather you are watching right now so good luck from all of us here with your recuperation.' The previous week's show, which regularly features interviews with leading politicians, was presented by BBC News deputy political editor James Landale. On Sunday, BBC newsreader Sophie Raworth will stand in for the father-of-three, who has been married to journalist Jackie Ashley for 25 years. Mr Marr is considered young to have . suffered a stroke, with the majority of the 150,000 people who suffer . the attack every year in England over the age of 65. A fitness fanatic, Mr Marr is a keen runner and is known to exercise regularly wherever he is filming. He is shown on the opening titles of his weekly show riding a moped through the capital and parking outside the studio. The . acclaimed journalist, broadcaster and author wrote and fronted the . award-winning History of Modern Britain and The Making of Modern Britain . for BBC2. 'On the mend': Mr Marr shown driving his moped through London during the opening titles of his weekly show . Stand in: Jeremy Vine interviewing Foreign Secretary William Hague yesterday as he filled in for Mr Marr . His documentary Diamond Queen was also extremely popular, as is his most recent offering, History of the World. Last week a BBC spokesman said he was making 'good progress' and was working on physiotherapy with 'his customary determination'. The statement at that Mr Marr and his family would like to thank everyone for the 'fantastic support they have received 'in terms of cards, e-mails, texts, tweets and flowers.' The veteran journalist has reportedly . been requesting old editions of his favourite programme, including . episodes of Radio 4's Desert Island Discs from the last 20 years, to . enjoy from his hospital bed. Fitness fanatic: The 53-year-old BBC BBC political editor is known to be a keen runner . Recovery: Mr Marr, pictured with wife Jackie Ashley, has been watching his Sunday show in hospital . Mr Marr, who lives in East Sheen and always abstains from alcohol in January, also presents Start The Week on Radio 4, which is being hosted by guest presenters. He interviewed Prime Minister David Cameron on his show the week before falling ill and received messages of support on Twitter from the likes of Labour leader, Ed Miliband, and author Salman Rushdie. His career in journalism began at The Scotsman newspaper in 1981, and he later moved to London to become its political correspondent. He was part of the team which launched The Independent in 1986 and returned as its editor, after a stint at The Economist magazine. Mr Marr also worked as a columnist for The Express and The Observer before moving into television, joining the BBC as political editor, in May 2000. Guests: James Landale filled in for Mr Marr earlier this month, while Sophie Raworth will be Sunday's stand in . | Stand-in host Jeremy Vine said his 53-year-old colleague is 'on the mend'
Mr Marr had spoken to producers and was watching from his hospital bed .
He said messages are 'truly wonderful' and he looks forward to returning .
But his return to work is 'not expected to be imminent', the BBC has said .
Newsreader Sophie Raworth will present Andrew Marr Show this Sunday .
The married father-of-three had fallen ill at his London home two weeks ago . |
218,553 | a6ecdd54175f43dfd862c4eda13e8e333776489d | By . Stephanie Linning . Seizure: Maggie O'Connor, 26, was walking her dog Dillion when she had the fit. She said the men were laughing at her because she had wet herself . An epileptic woman who suffered a severe fit woke up to find two strangers laughing at her and filming the ordeal on their mobile phones. Maggie O’Connor, 26, was walking her dog in the grounds of St Botolph's Priory in Colchester, Essex, when she had a fit. She woke up to find two men standing over her filming her as they laughed about how she had wet herself during the seizure. Miss O'Connor explained that she was covered in blood after having bitten her tongue and had also wet herself - both of which are common occurrences for some sufferers of epilepsy during a fit. One of the men, who Miss O'Connor described as being in their 20s, put a mobile phone inches from her face in order to get a close-up, she said. He only stopped filming when her Staffordshire bull terrier Dillion growled protectively. Miss O'Connor, who has had epilepsy since she was 16, wrote about her shocking experience on Facebook in a bid to 'find the boys'. The post has been shared more than 3,000 times but the pair have not been traced. Essex Police have said they won't investigate the incident because a criminal offence has not taken place. Miss O'Connor said: 'With a seizure, you can wet yourself and bite your tongue and these were the two facts that they seemed to find most hilarious as I had wet myself and I had blood down my front. 'They continued filming whilst I was awake and conscious but because I had had the seizure I was in a really vulnerable position. 'There was nothing I could do - my legs were too jelly to move and I could not string a proper sentence together so I just had to sit there whilst they tried to humiliate me by videoing me. 'Even though I had woken up, they only stopped filming because Dillion started growling. One even took the time to do a close up of my face. The last thing I heard as they ran away was “she f**king pissed herself, ha".' She added: 'How would they have felt if it was their sister or mum it had happened to?' Miss O'Connor was also angered because a number of other people ignored what was happening. She said: 'There were plenty of people in the park and no-one stepped which makes me cross.' Morning walk: Miss O'Connor was walking in the grounds of St Botolph's Priory in Colchester, Essex, when she had a fit. She said she was 'cross' as there were other people who saw what was happening and did nothing . She added that she found it bizarre that no offence had been committed. She said: 'It's . shocking in a sense that no offence has been committed but I was in a . public area so people can film what they want - it's morally wrong though.' The 26-year-old suffers seizures approximately every two weeks and is left almost completely incapacitated for about four to five minutes. The number of fits Miss O'Connor, a hairdresser, suffers has increased in the past year and has left her unable to work. She is now hoping to raise awareness about epilepsy following her ordeal and hopes that other people will be more understanding when they see sufferers having a fit. Stacey Rennard, from charity Epilepsy Action, said about 600,000 people in the UK had epilepsy. She said that there are about 40 different kinds of seizures and 'some are easier to recognise than others'. Ms Rennard said: 'In Maggie’s case, it was very upsetting to hear she was in a vulnerable position and sustained an injury and still people didn’t stop and help her.' She said the charity hears about a wide variety of experiences and that some are bad 'like in this horrible case'. She added: 'We do hear from people who’ve come across the good Samaritans who’ve sat and waited with them while they recover.' An Essex Police spokeswoman said: 'No criminal offence has been committed.' | Maggie O'Connor was walking her dog in St Botolph's Priory in Colchester .
She woke up from seizure to see two men standing over her filming her .
They laughed as she had wet herself and had bitten her tongue, she said .
Police say no criminal offence has been committed and will not investigate . |
72,992 | cefa54e79f57eec0b1273f69ff7149dcd90c7ee0 | (CNN) -- The Louisiana man who Saturday became the first Vietnamese-American elected to the House says he hopes his win will push more young people to become politically active. Anh "Joseph" Cao says his win shows that "really anything can happen." "I am very honored and at this point, somewhat speechless to be the first Vietnamese-American congressman," Anh "Joseph" Cao told CNN on Sunday. "But I also hope that many of our young people will consider being more politically active and being move involved in the community. Because as you can see, really anything can happen." The Republican defeated nine-term Democratic Rep. William Jefferson in the mostly African-American and heavily Democratic New Orleans-area district. Jefferson had been expected to win a 10th term despite battling scandals and a federal indictment for the past three years. The contest, which drew a light turnout, was delayed until Saturday after Hurricane Gustav swept through southern Louisiana in late August. Had the vote been held during the November 4 general election, Jefferson -- who is black -- may have benefited from the heavy African-American voter turnout for Barack Obama. Cao conceded that low voter turnout aided his victory. "We were hoping for a low turnout because it would provide us with the greater chance of winning," said Cao, a lawyer and community activist. "Based on the demographics of the district, a high voter turnout would have gone to our disadvantage." Cao also may have been helped by the scandal that has plagued Jefferson. Jefferson, who pleaded not guilty to 16 criminal counts of racketeering, bribery, money laundering and obstruction of justice, denies any wrongdoing. In 2005, Jefferson's private homes in Washington and New Orleans were raided, and FBI agents say they found $90,000 in cash stashed in one of his freezers. Officials say the money was part of a payment in marked bills from an FBI informant in a transaction captured on videotape. Jefferson also is accused of soliciting and receiving hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes for himself and his family in exchange for promoting their products and services to countries in Africa. Cao said he came to the United States at the age of 8 after his family fled Vietnam as it fell to communists. "When I [was] 9 years old, I received a letter from my father while he was in the re-education camp," Cao said. "He told me to study hard, to work hard and to give back to your country and to your community. So I hope to do that in Congress." | Anh "Joseph" Cao is first Vietnamese-American elected to the U.S. House .
Cao, of Louisiana, defeated Rep. William Jefferson, who was battling scandal .
Cao says he hopes win will encourage young people to become politically active . |
251,899 | d2070b31d937c4157293e37fc839c5a36264381e | By . Suzannah Hills . Last updated at 4:56 AM on 4th February 2012 . The elder daughters of Australia's wealthiest woman have pleaded for bodyguards, a cook and cash in the lead-up to taking her to court over the family trust, new documents reveal. Heiress Gina Rinehart, dubbed the Iron Lady, has been embroiled in an ongoing feud with three of her four children, John, Bianca and Hope, over the family fortune left by her father, mining magnate Lang Hancock. Perth-based Ms Rinehart, 57, tried to get details of the rift suppressed with court reporting restrictions on security grounds that it would put her at risk of extortion but she was unsuccessful. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO . Family fortunes: Heiress Gina Rinehart, right, with her daughter Ginia Rinehart - the only one of the Rinehart children to take her mother's side . And now embarrassing email correspondence, dating from July and August last year, between Ms Rinehart and two of her daughters has revealed the details of their row after they were tendered in to the New South Wales Supreme Court yesterday. The emails lift the lid on their secret lives of luxury and offers the first real insight into Australia's richest family. In one email, daughter Hope Rinehart Welker emailed her mother asking for $225,000 for a chef to prepare 'detailed menus and food for most or all family and social events' as a birthday present. The 26-year-old wrote: 'I need a few things for my birthday (cook so you can be sure April is fed right, bodyguard so the kids are safe and housekeeper that is good kids so if I need to go out I can) and I found a great agency here that sources the best, here are the descriptions and costs, I would buy them myself but I'm down to my last $60 000 and your only paying my husband $1 a year.' Ms Welker, who lives in New York, . also complained that her mother had tried to get her to move to . Singapore or Australia to save money. She . continued: 'I don't want to have to move back to one of your . 'desirable' countries again just to save every cent...it's not fair you . are selfishly pressuring me to move to Singapore and Australia just . because you hate America.' And another daughter, Bianca Rinehart, 31, who lives in Vancouver, also requested a bodyguard. Queen Elizabeth talks with Gina Rinehart during State Reception held at Government House in October last year . She wrote to her mother: 'We are, by all accounts, the highest risk family in all of Australia for future similar attacks. 'I would like to have security personnel present as you have with Kevin. Unfortunately I do not have the financial means to achieve this and ask that you consider sponsoring such an arrangement or please makes funds available.' Ms Welker also complained about the 'peer pressure' that comes with being a member of one of the country's richest families - adding that her mother 'didn't understand'. She said: 'I don't think you understand what it means now that the whole world thinks you're going to be wealthier than Bill Gates - it means we all need bodyguards and very safe homes!! I should have enough money to have a bodyguard, housekeeper and cook. Even my friends who have nothing compared to your wealth have more staff.' Ms Rinehart, whose fortune from her minerals empire more than doubled in 2011 to A$10.3 billion (£6.8 billion) because of a commodities boom, has tried desperately to suppress publication of details of her dispute with three of her four children. She is said to shun the limelight and is bound to be mortified about the contents of the emails. It was revealed in September last year that Ms Rineheart was being sued by her children for control of the family trust. Only one of her three children, daughter Ginia Rinehart, has taken her mother's side. The rise of the 'Pilbara Princess' Rinehart is the Asia-Pacific region's wealthiest woman, based on Forbes' tally . Australian Gina Rinehart could soon become the world's wealthiest woman after amassing an $18billion fortune from mining and media investments, Forbes magazine said in its latest list of the wealthiest people in Australia. The 57-year-old widow saw her fortune almost double after a deal signed last month that will see South Korean steel giant POSCO take a 15 per cent stake in her Roy Hill iron ore mine in Western Australia's Pilbara iron belt. The deal valued the project at $10billion, boosting Rinehart's fortune dramatically. In the next few years, Rinehart also has plans to expand her iron ore operations and develop two coal collieries. If . commodity prices hold up, Rinehart could challenge Christie Walton, . worth $24.5billion as the world's richest woman, Forbes said. Christie Walton is the widow of John Walton, one of the sons of Sam Walton, the founder of retail chain Wal-Mart Stores . For now, Rinehart will have to be content with being the Asia-Pacific region's wealthiest woman, based on Forbes' tally. Rinehart . is the daughter of Lang Hancock, an Australian prospector credited with . discovering giant deposits of iron ore in the 1950s that now make up . Australia's largest export base. China alone relies of Australian iron ore for nearly half its imports of the key steel-making ingredient, and Japan, South Korea and Taiwan also are big buyers for their steel mills. Known as the 'Pilbara Princess', Rinehart is also building stakes in some of Australia's largest media companies, drawing comparisons to another famously powerful Australian, Rupert Murdoch, head of News Corp and now a U.S. citizen. Rinehart this week became the largest shareholder in Fairfax Media by more than tripling her stake in the newspaper, digital and radio broadcasting company. She already owns 10 per cent of rival Ten Network Holdings. | Hope Rinehart Welker told her mother she was down to her last $60,000 dollars .
Requested a chef to prepare menus for her family and for social events .
Complained her mother asked her to move countries to save money . |
268,245 | e7712a4c0da3a6d817c3c79a5f6bd67c1598c12f | Floyd Mayweather Jnr has been named the world’s highest-paid athlete in 2013 by Forbes magazine. The pound-for-pound No 1, who has won all 46 of his fights as a professional, made $105million (£62.5m) for his last two fights, against Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez and Marcos Maidana. Mayweather, 37, beat Cristiano Ronaldo to top spot with basketball star LeBron James in third. Scroll down for top 10 list . Flash: Floyd Mayweather Jnr, in his £1.8m Bugatti Veyron, leaves the NBA Basketball Finals game in Miami . Mayweather also topped the list in 2013 with $85m (£51m), ousting Tiger Woods who been No 1 for the previous decade. ‘I'm humbled and extremely fortunate to be recognized by Forbes as the highest-paid athlete once again,’ said Mayweather. ‘I'm doing something that no other athlete is doing, promoting myself and seeing my hard work pay off in the form of record-breaking numbers. It's all about hard work and dedication which is so important and a key part of my financial success. ‘I’m grateful for my family, team and fans. Being able to take care of my family is my number one priority and the level of success that I've achieved allows me to give them the best. I look forward to stepping into the ring in September and doing what I do best.’ Mayweather will return to the ring on September 13, possibly in a rematch with Maidana who ran him close in Las Vegas last month. The five-weight world champion has banked at least $25m (£15m) for his last nine fights since he beat Oscar De La Hoya in the most-watched boxing fight in history in 2007. Flush: Mayweather Jnr flashes the cash as he leaves the NBA Basketball Finals . Glamour: Mayweather Jnr and female friend at the NBA Basketball Finals game in Miami . Champion: Mayweather Jr, with pop star Justin Bieber, celebrates victory over Canelo Alvarez . Lucrative: Mayweather Jr made $105m from his fights against Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez and Marcos Maidana . He has earned almost $400m (£238m) since turning professional in 1996 and is the second athlete to earn more than $100m (£59m) in a year, after Woods. Mayweather did so by spending just 72 minutes in the ring over two fights. Meanwhile, Real Madrid star Ronaldo leads a group of 15 footballers in the top 100. His endorsements with the likes of Nike and Samsung total $28m (£17m). Miami Heat’s James is the NBA’s biggest endorsement star thanks to deals with Nike, McDonalds and Coca Cola. Barcelona’s Lionel Messi and NBA legend Kobe Bryant complete the top 5 while three women, all tennis players, make the top 100. Maria Sharapova ranks at No 34, Li Na at No 41 and Serena Williams at No 55. Fashionably late: Cristiano Ronaldo arrives in Brazil for the World Cup with Portugal teammates . Up there: Miami Heat star LeBron James is third in the rich list . Floyd Mayweather . $105m . $105m . $0m . Boxing . Cristiano Ronaldo . $80m . $52m . $28m . Football . LeBron James . $72.3m . $19.3m . $53m . Basketball . Lionel Messi . $64.7m . $41.7m . $23m . Football . Kobe Bryant . $61.5m . $30.5m . $31m . Basketball . Tiger Woods . $61.2m . $6.2m . $55m . Golf . Roger Federer . $56.2m . $4.2m . $52m . Tennis . Phil Mickelson . $53.2m . $5.2m . $48m . Golf . Rafael Nadal . $44.5m . $14.5 . $30m . Tennis . Matt Ryan . $43.8m . $42m . $1.8m . American Football . | Mayweather Jnr made $105million for his last two fights .
Tiger Woods down to No 6 after topping list in 11 of last 12 years .
Cristiano Ronaldo was second after earning $80m .
Lebron James was third, just ahead of Lionel Messi . |
5,625 | 1002a03a04c0522a0a8db6374e9075124ed013c9 | A host of stars from past and present have had their famous faces carved into festive Jack O Lanterns for an annual Halloween festival. The Rise of the Jack O Lanterns display showcases more than 5,000 elaborately-carved pumpkins, which are available to view at sites in Los Angeles and New York. And while the designs vary from the wicked to the wonderful, it is the celebrity faces which prove the most popular year on year. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the Kardashian clan feature heavily in this year’s celebration, with Kim, Kourtney, Khloe, Kylie, Kendall, matriarch Kris and even brother Rob receiving the festive treatment ahead of Halloween on Friday. Star power: The faces of celebrities such as Kim Kardashian decorate the pumpkins at this year's Rise of the Jack O'Lanterns . Old Hollywood: Movie legends such as Marilyn Monroe were also part of the celebrity mix . Old Hollywood greats including Marilyn Monroe, Mickey Rooney and Shirley Temple also feature; as well as a number of musicians from Michael Jackson and Elvis to Shakira and Katy Perry. The festival also pays tribute to the stars who have passed away in the last year. Beloved comedian Robin Williams, who died in August of a suspected suicide, actor Phillip Seymour Hoffman, who died of a drug overdose in February, and comedienne Joan Rivers, who died just last month, are all immortalized in the display. Famous face: Ms Kardashian's husband, Kanye West, is also rendered in a pumpkin carving . All in the family: The Kardashians were very much in pumpkin vogue this year, with re-creations of matriarch Kris Jenner and other members of the clan . Bright eyes: Kourtney Kardashian's winning smile was captured in her pumpkin portrait . The origins of Jack o'Lantern carving as a practice are uncertain, but it's a widely held belief that the tradition started in Ireland during the 19th Century. In an age populated by devout Christians, and when superstitions ran rampant, carved pumpkins were sometimes set on windowsills around All Saints' Day to ward off evil spirits. Nowadays, pumpkin carving is a tradition firmly woven into the American culture of Halloween, with the average American's spending $66 per person one the occasion, according to the National Retail Federation. Sister, sister: Khloe Kardashian's pretty pout and long locks were also re-created in her design . Model behavior: Kendall Jenner has a fresh-faced glow in her pumpkin design . Kid sister: The youngest family member, Kylie Jenner, gets a pretty portrait too . Brotherly love: Rob Kardashian rounds out the famous siblings' portraits . Cream of the crop: Ellen DeGeneres's short hairstyle and friendly face were nicely rendered for the annual festival, which showcases more than 5,000 elaborately carved pumpkins at sites in Los Angeles and New York . California love: Late rapper Tupac Shakur's signature bandana is included in his portrait . Love me tender: Rock legend Elvis Presley's famous face is recognizable in pumpkin form . Pumpkins don't lie: Shakira was also honored with a portrait at the festival, where fans flock to see the spooky creations of professional artists and sculptors . I'm the one who carves: Bryan Cranston's Breaking Bad character, Walter White, was also featured on a pumpkin . Talk show legend: Oprah Winfrey's widely recognizable face can be seen on another gourd . Funny face: Audrey Hepburn is one of the Hollywood greats to be included in the exhibit . Critical mass: Celebrated film journalist Roger Ebert, who died in 2013, looks thoughtful in his picture . Curly top: Shirley Temple, who died in February, was remembered as a dimpled child star in her pumpkin . Can we talk: Beloved comedienne Joan Rivers, who died just last month, received a pumpkin tribute . Through a new lens: Philip Seymour Hoffman, who died in February, is remembered with a pumpkin portrait . About face: Mickey Rooney's bright smile as a young actor is rendered in orange . Pumpkin haze: Music legend Jimi Hendrix's pumpkin hits the right notes . Carve it: Michael Jackson's face appears brightly lit in his pumpkin design . Waiting for tonight: Jennifer Lopez is re-created in a sultry Jack o'lantern portrait . Carve it like Beckham: David Beckham's handsome looks are celebrated with a dapper pumpkin portrait . Wide array: It wasn't just entertainment personalities included - South African anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela was also carved into a pumpkin . It's all in the eyes: Big Bang Theory and Blossom star Mayim Bialik's glasses are perfectly reproduced . Companion piece: A portrait of Ms Bialik's Big Bang Theory co-star Jim Parsons accompanies hers . Ball drop: Perennial New Year's Rockin' Eve host Dick Clark, who died in 2012, is included with a special prop . | Kim Kardashian, Marilyn Monroe and Ellen DeGeneres will light up the night at the Rise of the Jack O Lanterns festival .
Visitors will get the chance to see more than 5,000 specially-carved creations . |
213,655 | a0b4c905015d115aeea8813128b48d71a82b2e1d | LONDON, England -- A mother is seeking to have the womb of her severely disabled daughter removed to prevent the 15-year-old from feeling the pain and discomfort of menstruation. Doctors in Britain are now taking legal advice to see if they are permitted to carry out the hysterectomy on Katie Thorpe, who suffers from cerebral palsy. But a charity campaigning for the disabled said on Monday the move could infringe human rights and would set a "disturbing precedent." Andy Rickell, executive director of disability charity Scope, told the Press Association: "It is very difficult to see how this kind of invasive surgery, which is not medically necessary and which will be very painful and traumatic, can be in Katie's best interests. "This case raises fundamental ethical issues about the way our society treats disabled people and the respect we have for disabled people's human and reproductive rights. Watch why the surgery is so controversial » . "If this enforced sterilization is approved, it will have disturbing implications for young disabled girls across Britain." Katie's mother Alison Thorpe, who lives in Billericay, southern England, said the operation was in her daughter's best interests. "First of all, this is not about me. If it was about me, I would have given up caring for Katie a long, long while ago," she told GMTV. "It is about quality of life and for Katie to not have the associated problems of menstruation adds to her quality of life. It means she can continue with the quality of life we can give her now. "Katie wouldn't understand menstruation at all. She has no comprehension about what will be happening to her body. All she would feel is the discomfort, the stomach cramps and the headaches, the mood swings, the tears, and wonder what is going on." Thorpe said an operation would be best for Katie, despite the initial pain it would cause. She added: "The short-term pain and discomfort we can manage with painkillers. We will be able to manage that pain much better than menstruation once a month, when Katie cannot tell us 'I'm in pain.'" E-mail to a friend . | Mother seeks to have womb of severely disabled daughter, 15, removed .
Briton wants to prevent cerebral palsy sufferer feeling pain of menstruation .
UK doctors seek legal advice to see if they can perform hysterectomy .
Charity for disabled says move could infringe human rights . |
32,586 | 5ca60e5d1592385fa3ff042e07b8f84594db251b | David Cameron is to warn there is 'no going back' if Scotland votes for independence in his last public appeal to keep the United Kingdom together. The Prime Minister will use a speech in Aberdeen tomorrow to warn a Yes vote will the Scotland and the rest of the UK 'go our separate ways forever'. His campaigning visit – his tenth to Scotland this year – comes after he spent yesterday considering a union of a different kind by attending a society wedding in Hampshire. Scroll down for video . David Cameron prepared for his final plea o keep the family of nations together by attending the society wedding in Hampshire of his wife's (pictured) half-brother, Jake Astor . Jake Astor, 33 (right with his bride Victoria) is the Old Etonian son of Viscount Astor and works as an investment analyst. The Prime Minister (left) attended the ceremony in Hampshire with his family . With four days to go until the historic referendum on Thursday, polls suggest the race is neck-and-neck. Mr Cameron has been mocked by Yes campaigners for not making more trips to Scotland, claiming the appearance of senior Tories north of the border bolster support for independence. But the Prime Minister will use his speech to Conservative activists in Aberdeen to set out a positive case for preserving the Union, and argue against using the referendum as a chance to punish Westminster parties. He is expected to say: 'This is a decision that could break up our family of nations and rip Scotland from the rest of the UK. 'And we must be very clear. There's no going back from this. No re-run. This is a once-and-for-all decision. 'If Scotland votes yes, the UK will split, and we will go our separate ways forever.' The latest Poll of Polls, compiled by political expert Professor John Curtice at WhatScotlandThinks.Com, puts the No campaign narrowly ahead on 51 per cent. It follows four new polls overnight, with only an ICM survey for the Sunday Telegraph giving the Yes campaign a lead, which based based on a smaller-than-normal sample of only 700 people . He will reject attempts by First Minister Alex Salmond to portray the choice as being one of 'whether Scotland is a nation'. Mr Cameron will say: 'Scotland is a proud, strong, successful nation. The vote on Thursday is about two competing visions for Scotland's future. 'The Nationalists' vision of narrowing down, going it alone, breaking all ties with the UK. 'Or the patriotic vision of a strong Scottish nation allied to the rest of the United Kingdom with its own stronger Scottish Parliament at its heart and with the benefits of UK co-operation on jobs, pensions, healthcare funding, the currency, interest rates.' Downing Street insiders said Mr Cameron had spent the weekend working on his speech. But he also found time to mingle with well-heeled guests in the Hampshire village of Northington, where Samantha's half-brother Jake Astor married Victoria Hargreaves. The younger son of Viscount Astor and his wife Annabel, 33-year-old Jake is an Old Etonian who studied at Oxford University and works as a Mandarin-speaking investment analyst, while his wife is a consultant for a luxury brand. The couple were thrown a pre-wedding reception in Downing Street two days ago, laid on by the Prime Minister's wife. They are part of the aristocratic Astor family, descended from the 19th Century fur trader and America's first multi-millionaire John Jacob Astor. Mr Cameron may have had the marriage in mind as he prepares to warn against the break-up of the 'family of nations'. First Minister Alex Salmond claimed that people saying they would vote against his dream of independence were 'only deferred ‘Yes’-es', as Better Together leader Alistair Darling insisted the No campaign was on course for victory. The two men appeared on the Andrew Marr Show, where Mr Salmond posed with a violin . The latest raft of opinion polls all point to differing results, but suggest the result is too close to call. A Panelbase survey for The Sunday Times put No on 50.6 per cent and Yes 49.4 per cent. A poll by Survation gave the No campaign an eight-point lead on 54 per cent to 46 per cent while an Opinium survey in The Observer put No on 53 per cent and Yes 47 per cent. However, a surprise ICM poll for the Sunday Telegraph put the Yes campaign eight points ahead, on 54 per cent, although it was based on a survey size of only 700 people. More than 4.2million people have registered to vote in the historic referendum which will decide the fate of the 307-year-old Union. Experts predict the turnout could be as high as 85 per cent. Better Together leader Alistair Darling insisted internal campaign research put them comfortably ahead, but he suggested half a million people in Scotland have not decided how to vote with opinion polls suggesting the race is neck and neck. First Minister Alex Salmond claimed that people saying they would vote against his dream of independence were 'only deferred ‘Yes’-es', as he faced claims he was embarking on a 'premature victory lap' with four days until the historic referendum. | Prime Minister to fly to Aberdeen to issue his final plea to preserve the Union .
He will warn that if voters back independence, there is 'no going back'
Expected to urge voters not to use vote to punish Westminster parties .
Yesterday he attended the wedding of his wife's half-brother Jake Astor .
He mingled with well-heeled guests in picturesque Hampshire village .
Polls suggest the race is neck-and-neck with just four days to go . |
20,573 | 3a5faf2d18459035679f22017d71c734d5ebabbb | Alberto Nisman (pictured) was discovered dead in his own apartment in January - a day before he was due to testify about his claims . Argentine investigators say they have found a second person's DNA in the apartment where prosecutor who had accused the country's president of a cover up was found dead. Prosecutor Alberto Nisman had accused President Cristina Fernandez of covering up Iran's alleged role in the 1994 bombing of a Jewish centre in Buenos Aires that left 85 dead. Nisman's body was discovered in an apartment in January - a day before he was due to testify about his claim that Fernandez sought to whitewash his findings that Iran was behind the attack on the centre, run by the Argentine Israelite Mutual Association. Following the DNA find today, Judge Fabiana Palmaghini is calling in a person who visited Nisman the day before his body was found. The judge's office does not name the witness, but Nisman's aide Diego Lagomarsino has acknowledged visiting him on January 17. Investigators say they don't yet know if Nisman committed suicide or was killed. Last week, it was reported that investigators are trying to track down former intelligence chief Antonio Stiusso in connection with Nisman's death, but are unsure if he is even in the country. 'He was not at any of the properties registered as his own,' Oscar Parrilli, head of the Intelligence Secretariat (SI), told . reporters. Iran has vigorously denied involvement in the bombing and . Fernandez has dismissed Nisman's findings as absurd. She said . Nisman was duped by rogue agents involved in a power struggle . and killed when he was no longer of value to them. One of those spies was Stiusso, Fernandez's government has . said. Fired during a December shake-up of the SI, Stiusso had . helped Nisman with his investigation of the bombing. 'I have no doubts that Stiusso is behind all this, after the . decision of (President Fernandez) to fire him from the SIDE,' Anibal Fernandez, the president's chief of staff, said on . Twitter on Tuesday, referring to the top spy agency by its . former name. Alberto Nisman had accused President Cristina Fernandez (pictured) of covering up Iran's alleged role in the 1994 bombing of a Jewish centre in Buenes Aires that left 85 dead . Officials in Argentina were unable to locate ex-counter intelligence boss Antonio Stiusso (pictured) at three different addresses held in his name - and are unsure if he is even in the country . Thee 1994 bombing of a Buenes Aires Jewish centre, run by the Argentine Israelite Mutual Association, left 85 dead . Parrilli said secrecy laws would be lifted so thatinvestigators could grill Stiusso fully about the mysteriousevents leading up to Nisman's death. He said the presidentwanted 'the whole truth to be known.' Stiusso's spy career spanned four decades. He was one of the . most feared men in the intelligence agency, which played an . important role in the military government's 'dirty war' against . suspected Marxist rebels, union leaders and other leftists in . the 1970s. Since democracy was restored in 1983, successive governments . are widely believed to have continued to use the agency to snoop . on opponents. Stiusso, whose name is often spelled Stiuso in . Argentina, is believed to have been at the heart of its . wiretapping operations. '(Stiusso) is a key man given his ties to Alberto Nisman,' Gerardo Young, author of a book titled 'The Secret Argentina' on . the intelligence community, told television channel TN. 'He knew . perfectly what Nisman had been working on and surely knew of his . state of mind.' It remains unclear whether Nisman killed himself or was . murdered. No arrests have been made since Fernandez's remark two weeks . ago that renegade spies were behind the prosecutor's death. The scandal has dented the government's credibility ahead of . October's presidential election, polls show. Fernandez is barred . from running for a third term. | Alberto Nisman had accused President Cristina Fernandez of a cover-up .
Claimed she hid Iran's alleged role in 1994 bombing of Jewish centre .
Nisman was found dead in his apartment a day before he was due to testify .
Iran has vigorously denied involvement in the bombing, which left 85 dead .
Cristina Fernandez has dismissed Alberto Nisman's findings as absurd . |
40,854 | 7336a3288a91b105bc92ce017341a5cd3645603f | On the southern edge of Turkey, rolling brown pastoral hills slope gently to the Syrian border, with small towns like this one dotting the horizon. The calm on this side of the border, however, belies the scene on the other side. Just across the border in northern Syria, the Islamic extremist group known as ISIS is fighting a full-tilt battle in its effort to capture and control new territory, part of its push to create a sprawling Islamic caliphate, or separate Islamic state, modeled on the first caliphate that spread across the region in the centuries following the death of the Prophet Muhammad around 640 AD. As ISIS fighters expand their control, it is in the border region, in villages like Besaslan, where the Islamic State group can make some of the money it needs to finance its wars. Oil-smuggling operations involving millions of barrels have recently been uncovered. The oil comes from wells and refineries that ISIS has taken over inside northern Iraq and northern Syria, and until very recently it was easy to smuggle it into this quiet part of southern Turkey. One reason is that cheap, smuggled oil is a much-prized commodity in Turkey, where oil is so expensive that it almost doesn't matter who is selling it, even if it's your enemy. In Hatay, Turkey, just a half hour's drive away, gasoline costs roughly $7.50 per gallon. Growing international alarm over ISIS expansion and the group's increasingly visible atrocities -- such as beheadings of Western journalists and aid workers, the videos of which are disseminated online -- have brought renewed pressure on ISIS and its funding methods on the borders. U.S.-led coalition forces just a week ago attacked and destroyed many ISIS oil facilities, precisely to cut off the group's funding. But the border smuggling is only one way that ISIS generates money. The U.S. Treasury Department does not have hard figures that it can make public on the group's wealth but says it believes ISIS takes in millions of dollars a month. Sources familiar with the subject say that ISIS' "burn' rate" -- how much the group spends -- is huge, including salaries, weapons and other expenses. For ISIS' oil sales, sources told CNN, the group probably makes between $1 million and $2 million per day, but probably on the lower end. Matthew Levitt, director of the Stein Program on Counterterrorism and Intelligence at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy in Washington, D.C., calls ISIS "the best-financed group we've ever seen." Opinion: Will U.S. strikes hurt ISIS' oil riches? Levitt is a national expert on terrorism and its financing, working previously on intelligence and analysis at the U.S. Treasury and the FBI. ISIS, Levitt says, is funded like no other traditional terrorist group in the past. Besides revenue from oil smuggling, the group receives money through donations from wealthy sympathizers in countries including Qatar and Kuwait. But the group has another method of funding itself: through organized crime within the territories it has vanquished and now controls. The group, says Levitt, was born among crooks and thugs from a broken Iraq, and at its root it is a criminal enterprise. "We shouldn't be surprised," says Levitt. "Remember, the Islamic State called ISIS is what used to be called the Islamic State of Iraq, and al Qaeda in Iraq, the Tawhid Network, the Zarqawi Network; it's all the same. And they were always primarily financed through domestic criminal activity within the borders of Iraq." Levitt says ISIS operates as a massive organized crime group with virtually no law enforcement to rein it in -- and its long history has allowed it to set roots and develop over many years. It means ISIS can demand money from people wherever it has established control. Want to do business in ISIS-controlled territory? You pay a tax. Want to move a truck down an ISIS-controlled highway? You pay a toll. Villagers in ISIS territory reportedly are charged and pay for just about everything. Why is ISIS so successful at luring Westerners? "There are reports that people in Mosul (Iraq) who want to take money out of their own bank accounts need to make a 'voluntary' -- not so voluntary -- donation to the Islamic State, to ISIS," Levitt says. "So controlling territory has given them opportunities that other groups like al Qaeda, who haven't controlled real territory, haven't had." It is the centuries-honored tradition of conquest and control: What you take is what you have. In Mosul, ISIS looted the central bank and other smaller provincial banks, resulting in a financial windfall of tens and possibly hundreds of millions of dollars. ISIS formed in the void created by the pullout of U.S. troops and the retreating Iraqi army, says Mouaz Moustafa, the executive director of the Syrian Emergency Task Force in Washington. In the lawlessness that followed, he says, ISIS took over, robbed banks, began taxing and extorting the population, and now funds its war and expansion across Iraq and Syria almost independently. Moustafa lobbies U.S. lawmakers for more support of moderate Syrian rebels who are now fighting both ISIS and the Syrian regime of Bashar al-Assad. He recently helped bring together several Congressional delegations to meet with moderate rebel groups on the border as part of that effort. Coalition airstrikes, he says, aren't enough to destroy the kind of self-financing mob that ISIS has become. Instead, you need to take back the territory and restore civil order. "They're taxing the people; that's a huge revenue," he says of ISIS. "But not only that. They also control sort of the breadbasket of Syria, in terms of Raqqa (their defacto capital). They've got the cotton and the wheat and all these other things. All of these serve as sort of economic and powerhouse or funding for ISIS." Fighters who are willing to do battle against ISIS are frustrated that the United States has not helped them more, Moustafa says, pointing out that it is largely a decision for the U.S. president. "It is a White House decision," Moustafa said. "And it always has been. And I think the White House is slowly moving in the right direction. I can tell you that the policy that the White House has right now -- if it had this policy three years ago, there would have never been an ISIS, and we probably would have gotten rid of the Assad regime." The Obama administration has heard this criticism before and counters that the President has been calculating in his response to the situation in Syria. "It's not difficult to contemplate or imagine a scenario where if the United States had put -- dumped a bunch of arms into that country three years ago, that members of ISIL or other extremist groups would be toting American arms as they wage their campaign of violence throughout that region," White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said last month, referring to ISIS by another acronym. "So the President has been very deliberate about this." U.S.-led coalition airstrikes have recently begun targeting ISIS locations, attacking ISIS-controlled oil facilities and even grain silos. But as long as ISIS controls any ground where civilians can be taxed, extorted and robbed, say experts, ISIS will remain self-financing. ISIS: Everything you need to know about the rise of the militant group . | ISIS makes around $1 million a day, sources say .
Oil smuggling isn't the only way it generates revenue .
Experts: ISIS is like organized crime, with deep roots and no law enforcement .
U.S.-led airstrikes are aimed at cutting off the group's funding . |
98,296 | 0a8f051343c787b04367b063bbd3c2833059b0f3 | (CNN Student News) -- June 5, 2014 . Our penultimate program of the 2013-2014 school year includes reports on a controversial prisoner exchange, the damage caused by baseball-size hail, and a poll on whether the American dream is still alive. And with a nod to Coleridge, we'll look at one facility's plans to turn water, water everywhere into many drops to drink. On this page you will find today's show Transcript, the Daily Curriculum, and a place for you to leave feedback. TRANSCRIPT . Click here to access the transcript of today's CNN Student News program. Please note that there may be a delay between the time when the video is available and when the transcript is published. DAILY CURRICULUM . Click here for a printable version of the Daily Curriculum (PDF). Media Literacy Question of the Day: . What questions might you want to ask about the results of a poll discussed in a news program? Key Concepts: Identify or explain these subjects you heard about in today's show: . 1. propaganda . 2. "the American Dream" 3. desalination . Fast Facts: How well were you listening to today's program? 1. According to the video, who was released in exchange for U.S. Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl? What is the Taliban? What does a new Taliban video show about the release of Bergdahl? How has the Taliban characterized the prisoner exchange? Who has been critical of the exchange? How has the Obama administration responded to this criticism? 2. According to the report: When have prisoner exchanges been conducted in the past? What were the circumstances behind some of these exchanges? How is this latest prisoner exchange different? 3. How long has it been since the Great Recession ended? According to the report: Is it still having an impact? Explain. What is "the American Dream"? According to participants in a recent CNN Money poll: Is the American Dream attainable? Who is the most pessimistic? What do participants think about the likelihood that young Americans will be better off than their parents? Why are some experts critical of the poll's findings? 4. What percentage of the Earth is covered with water? What is desalination? What are the challenges to conducting desalination on a large scale? Where is the largest desalination plant in the Western Hemisphere being constructed? What is the approximate cost of this plant? How many customers could benefit from this plant? What is brine? What happens to the brine that is removed from the water? How do company officials at the Carlsbad plant say its energy use will differ from the amount of energy typically used at other plants? What do critics say about this plant? Discussion Questions: . 1. What might be some reasons for publicizing video of a prisoner release? 2. How would you define "the American Dream"? In your opinion, is the American Dream attainable? State your rationale. What are your expectations for your financial future? Why? 3. Has your community ever experienced drought conditions? If so, how did they impact daily life? How did the community deal with the water shortage? If not, what does your community do to assure that there is an ample water supply? CNN Student News is created by a team of journalists and educators who consider the Common Core State Standards, national standards in different subject areas, and state standards when producing the show and curriculum. We hope you use our free daily materials along with the program, and we welcome your feedback on them. FEEDBACK . We're looking for your feedback about CNN Student News. Please use this page to leave us comments about today's program, including what you think about our stories and our resources. Also, feel free to tell us how you use them in your classroom. The educators on our staff will monitor this page and may respond to your comments as well. Thank you for using CNN Student News! Click here to submit your Roll Call request. | This page includes the show Transcript and the Daily Curriculum .
Use the Transcript to help students with reading comprehension and vocabulary .
The Daily Curriculum offers the Media Literacy Question of the Day, Key Concepts, Fast Facts and Discussion Questions .
At the bottom of the page, please share your feedback about our show and curriculum . |
219,758 | a8762560d6efa3f4e86e8c6ac22c79c95150b933 | With the Premier League campaign so nearly upon us but many issues still lingering and parts untested, it's time to take an MOT check. Here, Sportsmail's Riath Al-Samarrai assesses the positives, negatives and what the omen could be for the main contenders this season. Chelsea . Reasons to be cheerful: After the moans of last season about not having a striker, Jose Mourinho has landed Diego Costa, one of the most effective frontmen in Europe over the past couple of seasons. Main man: Diego Costa could the answer to Chelsea's attacking problems of the last few seasons . In form: Costa has hit the ground running during pre-season and will be expected to continue in the league . Reasons to be fearful: A season without a trophy means Mourinho is already under increased pressure. He has been backed with funds and needs to deliver. It is also worth keeping an eye on John Terry. He was brilliant last season, but at some point age will win. What's happened over the summer: Chelsea have seemingly plugged the biggest gap in their armour by signing Costa, but more to the point they also landed Cesc Fabregas, Didier Drogba and Filipe Luis, without any last-minute rushing around. They look to be in extremely good shape. What the manager says: ‘We have the squad that we want to have. It is a squad for tomorrow, for next season and also a squad with big possibilities for the next five or 10 years with so many young people. So I like my squad very much.’ One to watch: Costa. He was the missing link last season. If he does what he’s been brought in to do then Chelsea will be the only club that can match Manchester City. Omen: Last time Fabregas made his debut in England, his club won the league title (even if he didn’t play a league game). Look who's back: Former Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas is back in London after a spell with Barcelona . Manchester City . Reason to be cheerful: The champions look to be in excellent shape. They have the best starting XI and probably the best squad, as well. The signing of Eliaquim Mangala for £32m from FC Porto means they also achieved their No 1 summer objective of landing a world-class centre-back. Reason to be fearful: Their Financial Fair Play penalty limits their Champions League squad to only 21 players. Manuel Pellegrini’s side also have a tough early schedule against Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal in their opening six games. What's happened over the summer: Yaya Toure had the mother of all tantrums because he didn’t get a birthday cake, some unwanted players were offloaded and City managed to spend about £50m. Frank Lampard’s arrival will have also riled plenty down south. Controversial: Frank Lampard made the shock decision to join Manchester City after leaving Chelsea . What the manager says: ‘We've had a lot of problems with Financial Fair Play but we bought some very important players. I don't know what the difference is between Hart and Caballero and Bacary Sagna and Pablo Zabaleta, Vincent Kompany and Martin Demichelis, or Gael Clichy and Aleksandar Kolarov.’ One to watch: Joe Hart. With Willy Caballero’s arrival, can he hold on to his place? Caballero didn’t look particularly impressive in the Community Shield, but there has always been the feeling that Pellegrini has his doubts about the England No 1. Omen: All bar one of Manchester City’s Premier League games fall before Toure’s birthday. They have ample time to plan. Manchester United . Reasons to be cheerful: They have a manager who, unlike David Moyes, has the confidence to know he belongs at the club. To judge from pre-season, that confidence seems to have spread through the squad. In Ander Herrera, they have also signed a quality midfielder. One to watch: Ander Herrera (right) has impressed for Manchester United during pre-season . Reasons to be fearful: This squad needed major surgery and so far they have only signed three players, with the £30m spent on Luke Shaw held up as an example of the club badly overspending. The defence needs significant reinforcements. What’s happened over the summer: Regime change and the spread of hope among fans and staff that last season’s debacle was a one-off. What the manager says: ‘Every club where I have been, I have struggled for the first three months. After that, they know what I want: How I am as a human being and also a manager, because I am very direct. I say things as they are, so you have to adapt to that way of coaching. It's not so easy.’ One to watch: Juan Mata. In Van Gaal’s new formation he is likely to get to play behind the strikers rather than out wide. That should better utilise the talents of one of Europe’s best players. Omen: Van Gaal has won the league title with all four of the club sides he has managed. Reputation: Louis van Gaal has won the league title with all four club sides he has managed . Arsenal . Reasons to be cheerful: Arsene Wenger has started spending money and it looks as though he has done it well and early. Alexis Sanchez is a genuinely world-class player, adding to an already impressive attack, and they have also built on their defence. Reasons to be fearful: Olivier Giroud is not a world-class striker, merely a good one, and they haven’t many alternatives for the centre-forward role should he suffer an injury or loss of form. Sanchez or Theo Walcott might have to be reallocated to cover. What’s happened this summer: The squad has got stronger all round. Callum Chambers is an excellent defender with the apparent maturity for Wenger to convert him to centre-half. They still lack the depth of Manchester City or Chelsea. Shining light: Arsenal have splashed the cash again this summer, signing Alexis Sanchez for £30m . What the manager says: ‘There are six or seven teams who are genuine contenders for the Premier League. You only assess the contenders once the window closes. I'm happy with the players we've signed. They have integrated well. I could still do something, I won't rule it out. Numbers wise we are maybe a bit short in certain areas, but the depth of the squad is very good. I'm very excited by this group.’ One to watch: Aaron Ramsey. Sanchez is the star of the team, but Ramsey was consistently brilliant last season. Who knows what might have happened in the title race had he avoided injury. Omen: Arsenal were the first FA Cup winners to lift the Community Shield since 2009. A special vintage, perhaps? Back on the right path: Arsene Wenger has lifted the last two trophies on offer in England . Liverpool . Reason to be cheerful: The club is spending money – roughly £100m, in fact - and really backing Brendan Rodgers. Raheem Sterling is arguably the country’s most exciting talent and Rodgers has Liverpool playing beautiful football. Reason to be fearful: It’s impossible to know how the new signings will bed in, which in turn will dictate how heavily the club miss Luis Suarez. Plus, it’s hugely unfortunate that Adam Lallana got injured just four days after arriving. What's happened over the summer: They sold Elvis and bought The *** fill in with name of good or terrible music group depending on success of multiple new signings *** . What the manager says: ‘Last season was a great step forward and now we must believe that we can go one better. There is only an excitement and a belief inside the club that we can challenge again for the title.’ One to watch: Raheem Sterling. A wonderful talent who could flourish into a world-class player. Omen: Tottenham signed half a planet’s worth of player after selling Gareth Bale and it cost them two managers in one season. Young star: Raheem Sterling has been a real positive for Liverpool in pre-season . Tottenham . Reason to be cheerful: They have an exciting new manager and none of their key players have been taken away. Reason to be fearful: They still lack a proper goal-scoring threat and, Ben Davies aside, there have not been many signings that would genuinely excite. What's happened over the summer: Not a huge amount, besides the arrival of Mauricio Pochettino. Signing Hugo Lloris to a new contract was a significant coup for the club, but beyond Pochettino’s ideology they have not added a huge amount. What the manager says: ‘I know the business in football. I know that you live by the result, you need to get results. If not, you put yourself in difficulties.’ One to watch: Erik Lamela. He did next to nothing after arriving for £30m but there is an excitement at the club that his injuries are resolved and he might be about to come good. Omen: Pochettino is Tottenham’s ninth manager since 2001. He starts his era at the club knowing that Tottenham demand good results. Leading the way: Mauricio Pochettino is looking to help improve Tottenham's fortunes this season . Everton . Reason to be cheerful: Roberto Martinez got the one player he really wanted this summer – Romelu Lukaku. Reason to be fearful: Pre-season results have been less than spectacular and they have a tough start to the season with their opening seven fixtures including games against Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool. They also have the challenge of Europa League fixtures and travel. What's happened over the summer: They signed Roberto Martinez to a long-term contract, likewise Ross Barkley, and avoided losing any of their leading lights. A good effort. Breaking the bank: Everton signed Belgium star Romelu Lukaku from Chelsea for a club-record fee of £28m . What the manager says: ‘Progress would be to maintain the level we showed last season while coping with the demands of European football. It is about making sure we embrace the Europa league and use that to develop our potential, but not finding it as an obstacle to our domestic duties.’ One to watch: Lukaku. He was superb last season. Now he needs to do it again with the pressure of a £28m price tag. Omen: The last time Everton splashed big money on a big Belgian (Marouane Fellaini) he did very well at the club. Lukaku has done enough to be considered a success, but what happens subsequent to the big fee will be as important as what went before. | Chelsea should be cheerful with the likes of Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas .
City are looking to retain their title under Manuel Pellegrini .
United approaching a new dawn with Louis van Gaal in charge .
Wayne Rooney captaining at Old Trafford as they aim to improve .
Arsenal have splashed the cash, signing Alexis Sanchez for £30m .
Liverpool have lost Luis Suarez but Raheem Sterling is in fine form .
Tottenham hope to regroup after an up-and-down season .
Everton could be contenders for top four after buying Romelu Lukaku . |
227,341 | b25e09afb81c96f52666d91203505d70f2a1242a | By . Lucy Crossley . Instead of counting calories, those seeking to stay slim are better off enjoying a protein rich diet and eating fish, eggs and meat, scientists have found. Because of the way the human body prioritises protein over carbohydrates and fat, those with a diet low in protein are likely to gorge on these other food groups to reach the target protein level. Over the past 60 years the proportion of protein in Western diets has dropped, and researchers suggest this could account for soaring levels of obesity. Scroll down for video . Losing weight: Instead of counting calories, those seeking to stay slim are better off enjoying a protein rich diet and eating eggs and meat such as chicken breasts, scientists have found . Weighty issue: Over the past 60 years the proportion of protein in Western diets has dropped, and researchers suggest this could account for soaring levels of obesity . 'We can use this information to help manage and prevent obesity, . through ensuring that the diets we eat have a sufficient level of . protein to satisfy our appetite,' said nutritional ecologist Professor David Raubenheimer, of the University of Sydney. Professor Raubenheimer is set to present his findings today at the Annual Meeting of the Society for Experimental Biology in Manchester, and says they may explain why high protein diets such as the Atkins Diet can help people to lose weight. However, he warned such diets could lead to further health issues, as it was more important to achieve the correct nutritional balance. Best avoided: Professor Raubenheimer says our bodies are not adapted to biscuits, cakes, pizzas and sugary drinks . 'We also need to get the balance . of fats to carbs right,' he said. 'High protein diets might help us to lose weight, but . if they involve other imbalances then other health problems will be . introduced.' As well as being a good source of energy, protein is essential for the healthy growth and repair of body tissues, such as muscles including the heart, internal organs and skin. Turkey and chicken breast . Fish such as tuna and salmon . Low-fat cheese varieties such as cottage cheese or mozzarella . Pork Loin . Lean beef and veal . Tofu . Beans . Eggs . Yoghurt, milk and soy milk . Nuts and seeds . Professor Raubenheimer's team studied . baboons living on the edge of human settlements, and found that despite . eating different combinations of foods every day the apes achieved a . consistent balance where 20 per cent of their energy needs came from . protein. Other studies found that spider monkeys and . orang-utans, too, foraged for a balanced diet. But when seasonal . availability of some foods prevented them from getting a balanced diet, . they prioritised getting the right amount of protein even if this meant . eating too much or too little fats and carbohydrates. The researchers concluded that measuring a food's nutritional content by its calorie count was too simplistic, and that overall achieving the correct nutritional balance of proteins, carbohydrates and fats was more important. When foods are nutritionally balanced, there is no competition . between these appetite systems, and when one nutrient requirement is . satisfied, so too are the others. Many foods however, are unbalanced and . have a higher or lower proportion of protein to carbohydrate than is required. Therefore, to obtain the right amount of protein it may be necessary to over or under-eat fats and carbohydrates. The researchers are currently investigating how the balance . of carbohydrates and fats affects the health of laboratory mice. Professor Raubenheimer concluded with his own advice for dietary . health. 'A simple rule for healthy eating is to avoid processed foods – . the closer to real foods the better,' he said. 'Whilst it is clear that humans are . generalist feeders, no human population has until recently encountered . "ultra-processed foods" – made from industrially extracted sugars, . starches and salt. Our bodies and appetites are not adapted to biscuits, . cakes, pizzas and sugary drinks and we eat too much of them at our . peril.' | Those with a diet low in protein likely to gorge on carbohydrates and fat .
Proportion of protein in Western diets has dropped - which could account for obesity levels .
Poeple must eat enough protein to satisfy appetites, scientists say .
Protein is essential for the healthy growth and repair of body tissues . |
224,685 | aee7c3abd15cae0d11266157bd39923cf6371094 | By . William Turvill . PUBLISHED: . 04:23 EST, 25 February 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 06:45 EST, 25 February 2014 . Two young Mormons are to return home from their missions after learning that their family died of suspected carbon monoxide poisoning. Formally known as Latter-day Saints, Sister Jensen Parrish, 22, was based at the Washington Vancouver Mission, while her brother, Elder Ian Parrish, 20, was serving at the South Dakota Rapid City Mission. The pair have been released on leave after they were told that their mother, Ross, father, Bill, and brothers Keegan, 14, and Liam, 12, died over the weekend at their home in Pocatello, Idaho. Mormons Sister Jensen Parrish (right), 22, and Elder Ian Parrish (left), 20, are set to return home from their missions after discovering that their entire family - father Bill, mother Ross (both centre) and brothers Keegan (centre right), 14, and Liam (centre left), 12 - died from carbon monoxide poisoning . The Mormon pair have been released on leave from their missions after their siblings and parents died . Sometimes referred to as the ‘silent killer’, carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas that has no smell or taste. Some 150 Americans die from carbon monoxide poisoning each year. The symptoms can be similar to those of food poisoning and influenza, with dizziness, vomiting and stomach pain often experienced. The gas is produced by fuels such as gas, coal, oil or wood when they do not burn fully. On Saturday, the manager of a popular Long Island restaurant died and 27 others required medical attention after a carbon monoxide leak filled a mall. Police said the deceased, Steven Nelson, 55, was discovered after a female employee fell and hit her head in Legal Sea Foods in South Huntington. The family are thought to have died from carbon monoxide poisoning on Saturday night or Sunday morning, though it is not clear which gas-based appliance is to blame. The alarm was raised after the four did not turn up for a weekly extended family dinner on Sunday night and would not answer their phones. Sister Jenson Parrish was 13 months into her 18-month stay where she was acting as an American Sign Language missionary, according to Deseret News. Her younger brother, meanwhile, was 18 months into a two-year stint and was a zone leader working in North Dakota. Both missionaries have now been told they can return home and have been placed on leave. Sister Jensen Parrish is said to have a major role to play in a zone conference on Tuesday morning, and has been asked to stay for that before returning home on Tuesday afternoon when her brother, who is working six hours from his home, is also expected home. ‘Both are anxious to come home and unsure what their future holds,’ family spokesman, and the pair’s uncle, Craig Parrish said. ‘They'll be okay. There will be hard days ahead, but there are a bunch of us here for them.’ He said their family was ‘very, very close’ and that the weekly Sunday dinner can draw up to 30 people, including his cousin, Bill, and his family. According to the website, Bannock County Coroner Kim Quick told the media that the family are believed to have died from carbon monoxide poisoning. It is not yet clear which gas-based appliance caused the deaths. The Parrishes were part of a large extended family who met for dinner every Sunday evening in Idaho . Sister Jensen Parrish has a major role to play in a zone conference on Tuesday morning, and has been asked to stay for that before returning home on Tuesday afternoon when her brother is also expected home . | Sister Jensen Parrish, 22, is based at the Washington Vancouver Mission while Elder Ian Parrish, 20, is at the South Dakota Rapid City Mission .
They have been released after their mother, father and two brothers died .
Believed to have died from carbon monoxide poisoning over the weekend . |
5,667 | 101ba8ef5101a8072b20f233522a8ce4a3ffd395 | Jailed: Lee Wilkinson, who was jailed for 11 months at Newcastle Crown Court after biting off the finger of Michael Dent during a nativity play at Harton Primary School in South Shields, Tyne and Wear . A man bit off the tip of a love rival's finger at a children's nativity play after a long-running feud. Father-of-three Lee Wilkinson, 40, attacked Michael Dent during the festive performance after Mr Dent had an affair with the attacker's wife while he was working away from home. When the men saw each other at Harton Primary School, South Shields, they became embroiled in an angry verbal confrontation. A fight broke out, during which Mr Dent, 33, put his hand in Wilkinson's mouth, who then 'bit hard' on the finger. Wilkinson was sentenced to 11 months in prison at Newcastle Crown Court, after the judge said that he had 'used his mouth as a weapon'. The court heard how Wilkinson had been working offshore when Mr Dent started a relationship with his wife, Louise. When the relationship 'became serious', Wilkinson separated from his wife, which resulted in a 'large amount . of animosity and hostility'. The pair had already fought each other on two previous occasions. Bridie Smurtwaite, prosecuting, said: 'They both attended the school, with Mr Dent arriving in the queue behind the defendant. She told the court how scientific expert Mr Cooper had believed ‘this injury must have required severe force.’ His report went on to say how ‘the injuries caused were consistent with the jaws going up and down on the tip of the victim’s finger and one of them would have had to pull with some force to cause the tip to have become separated from the rest of the finger’. Wilkinson, from South Shields, pleaded guilty to unlawful wounding and a separate public order offence relating to a run-in between the two men on Christmas Eve in 2011, at an earlier hearing. Affair: The court heard how Mr Dent, pictured, and Wilkinson had fought on two previous occasions after Dent began a relationship with Wilkinson's wife . Miss Smurthwaite told the court how the pair had previously fought on two earlier occasions, and Dent was cautioned by police at both times. She said: 'On the first occasion, on 19 November 2010, Dent had been at his ex-wife’s house, when he saw Wilkinson in the conservatory. 'He believed that he heard Wilkinson talking about him so he went into the conservatory and assaulted him. On the second occasion in August 2011, Dent attacked Wilkinson outside the Glitterball night club in South Shields as he began to walk home. The pair fought in the street and after police were called, Dent was again cautioned for assaulting Wilkinson. In a statement taken by police, Dent said: 'I’m worried about bumping into him in the street. I would have to claim compensation as I am a full time scaffolder and will be unable to work for some time. 'It has caused a great deal of upset for my children.' Tom Moran, defending, said: 'The background to these two men goes back a long way. While working as a taxi driver in February 2008, he was assaulted by a passenger who was not prosecuted. 'He had to have plastic surgery to the inside of his mouth after it was prized open during the attack. 'After being unable to work for some time he then took on a job in the North Sea, which sees him work all year round and means he is often away for up to three weeks at a time. Weapon: Judge Simon Hickey, sitting at Newcastle Crown Court, pictured, told Wilkinson that he had 'used his mouth as a weapon' 'During one of the occasions he was away, his wife Louise, who he has three children with, started a relationship with Mr Dent. 'This was a relationship that became serious and the two separated and she set up home with Mr Dent. Judge Simon Hickey sentenced Wilkinson to 11 months imprisonment, 10 months for unlawful wounding and one month for a public order offence. The judge said he had taken into account Wilkinson’s early pleas, the two earlier offences for which Dent had been cautioned for, his clear work ethic, and for the fact Dent was having an affair with his wife. Judge Hickey told Wilkinson: 'You were both attending a nativity play at a local school. 'You both moved, as can be seen for the footage, into the foyer away from the children and I saw females of all ages in the area where you started to scuffle. 'It’s reassuring to see that you do not have any previous convictions for violence, you were a man of good character previous to this matter. 'The victim was spared any reliving of this offence as you pleaded guilty immediately. It was while you were away at sea to provide for your children that this man began an affair with your wife. 'It is in my judgement that if someone loses the tip of their finger, they will have the reminder of this throughout the rest of their life. 'It must be remembered that in this case you used your mouth as a weapon.' | Lee Wilkinson, 40, and Michael Dent, 33, involved in long-running feud .
Mr Dent began an affair with the attacker's wife while he worked offshore .
Wilkinson was sentenced to 11 months in jail at Newcastle Crown Court .
Judge told him that he had 'used his mouth as a weapon' |
50,025 | 8d759c47566badfbde6134234c0554fe1c15cec1 | By . James Rush and Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 12:32 EST, 20 September 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 16:16 EST, 21 September 2013 . Hamzah Khan's father, Aftab, told police a year before the toddler's death that his son was being neglected. Tapes of the conversation were played at the manslaughter trial of the boy's mother, Amanda Hutton . The devastated father of the four-year-old boy allegedly starved to death by his mother had begged police to check on the child before his death, a court has heard. Tapes were played at the manslaughter trial of tragic Hamazah Khan's mother, Amanda Hutton, of the conversation between Aftab Khan and police in 2008, following his arrest for an assault on Hutton. During the conversation, he repeatedly told officers of his concern for his son and issued a chilling warning to them when he said: 'When it all comes out I will come back and say I told you so... you guys aren't listening.' Hamzah was found dead in his cot in September 2011 and had been there for 21 months. On the tape, he also accused Hutton of being 'bitter and twisted' and an alcoholic. 'Get a doctor to check the kid (Hamzah). I want you to check Hamzah, get a doctor to check him and check how undernourished he is and how neglected he is. 'There's something wrong with that kid.' Asked if he had taken his son to the doctor, Aftab, who said he had been with Hutton 'on and off for 22 years' and who later admitted the assault on her in court, said: 'She will not let me. I've told her time and time again, there's something wrong with him, take him to the doctors. 'I changed his nappy when she'd left him for about a day and a half because of the drink problem.I can't do anything. She's overpowering. Go and live with her and you'll see the big bad story. 'It all boils down to she's an alcoholic she won't listen to anybody. I'll report her to the social services.The authorities can't be bothered. I will get the social services involved, you aren't listening. 'So if anything else happens afterwards you guys know about it. 'This is the problem, authorities, you don't believe the right people. She's a bitter and twisted woman and there's something seriously wrong with her. 'She don't brush her teeth, she don't clean herself, she don't look after herself. She's an alcoholic.' The brother of Hamzah Khan (pictured) has told a jury how he saw the child sleeping in a buggy that stank of urine . He also confirmed police had been called to the house on eight separate occasions in the two-and-a-half years up to 2008. Detective Inspector Ian Lawrie told the court officers visited the home . in Bradford, West Yorks., after the interview. The court is due to hear . evidence from officers in relation to that visit. On trial: Amanda Hutton faces manslaughter charges after her son Hamzah Khan's decomposed body was found at home 21 months after his death . Bradford Crown Court also heard evidence from Hamzah's brother, Qaiser Khan, 22, who said his sibling had 'appeared neglected', and had been sleeping in a cot which 'stank of urine'. He also claimed he had witnessed the child eating the contents of his nappy. Mr Khan told a jury at Bradford Crown Court how he went to the house between December 2008 and March 2009. He said Hamzah slept upright in a urine-soaked buggy that 'stank'. Mr Khan said his brother was left in a dirty nappy and he witnessed him eating the contents. 'Hamzah appeared neglected,' Mr Khan said. He explained to the jury: 'I was only at the house for a couple of days. The buggy smelled so bad of urine I got disinfectant and cleaned it out.' Mr Khan was also asked about a text message sent from his phone to Hutton in December 2008. Paul Greaney QC, prosecuting, said the text said: 'Watch out Monday you b****. I’m going to go to the police station to report you for child neglect and abuse. Look at Hamzah.' Mr Khan said he did not remember sending it. Asked by Stephen Meadowcroft QC, defending, if he was exaggerating what was happening at the house because he had a bad relationship with his mother, Mr Khan said: 'I’ve seen this with my own eyes.' Mr Khan told the court that when he was aged about 13, he was made to drink 'mouldy, off milk' by his mother as punishment. He said his mother would spend her days drinking. 'She would go upstairs and drink and then I wouldn’t see her for most of the day,' he said. Earlier, Mr Khan refused to answer any questions when he first stepped into the witness box. But after a break he returned to court to give his evidence. Qaiser Khan, 22, was giving evidence on the third day of the trial of his mother Amanda Hutton, who denies the manslaughter of her son Hamzah Khan . The prosecution has told the court Hutton starved her son to death. The defendant told police her son died after he was taken ill. Mr Meadowcroft said he was suggesting that Hutton was coping before Hamza’s death. The barrister said: 'The child died tragically and it wasn’t her fault. After that, she collapsed.' Mr Khan said: 'Urined buggy - was that coping? That was before 2009. 'It was quite clear she wasn’t coping. She hadn’t cleaned the house up and she didn’t clean the nappies.' The trial continues. Sorry we are unable to accept comments for legal reasons. | Tragic Hamzah Khan's father, Aftab, warned boy was 'undernourished'
A year before his death he begged police to get doctors to check him .
Accused mother Amanda Hutton of being 'bitter and twisted' and a drunk .
Hamzah's brother Qaiser, 22, said the child 'appeared neglected'
Boy 'was left so hungry he ate contents of his own nappy'
Hutton is on trial and denies the manslaughter of Hamzah . |
200,679 | 8fc5ced53858a3ff86601e08dc7edfaacc5013f3 | (CNN) -- Wondering how to get the most of your smartphone camera? Is there more to mobile photography than filters to make your pictures look better than they really are? Multimedia journalist and iPhone street photographer Richard Koci Hernandez recently joined the CNN iReport community on Facebook for a chat about how to become a better smartphone photographer. "People do not understand the unbelievable opportunity that mobile photography is giving photographers," Hernandez said. "It's a golden age." Hernandez offered these tips: . 1. It's all about the light. "Photographing in the right light -- early morning or late evening -- has the potential to make the most 'boring' situation into a spectacular one!" 2. Never use the mobile zoom. "It's terrible and the first step to an unsuccessful image. If you want to get close, zoom with your feet! Get close and your images improve," he said. 3. Lock your exposure and focus. Your photos will improve 100%, Hernandez said. "With the default camera app, you can tap and hold on the screen to set where you want your exposure and focus. Once the box "blinks," it's locked. You can also use other apps like ProCamera to separately set and lock the exposure and focus. 4. Silence your inner critic. "See if you can go one day of shooting every time your inner voice says, 'I'd like to take a picture.'" 5. Edit, edit edit. Restrain yourself from sharing everything. Post only the best, and your audience will grow. "We don't need to see all 10,000 of your ugly children," he said. "I try and pick my least ugly. it's hard to choose and very personal." 6. Technical proficiency is overrated. "Exercise your power of observation. Learn to look and see deeply." 7. Filters don't replace a good eye. "You still need the basics. Look for the moment and light and subject. If you choose to add a sepia, black and white or other nostalgic or creative filter later [with an app such as Instagram or Hipstamatic], that's OK, but remember lipstick on a pig, it's still a pig." And if it's for journalism, he added, "then it needs to be unfiltered." 8. Shoot from the hip for better candids. "Hold the phone about waist-level and tap away. Your friends and family will not know what you're doing. Be sneaky about it. The moment they know you're shooting, the images become less candid. You'll get a lot more bad shots, but when you get a good one, you'll want to hang it on the wall!" 9. Give yourself assignments and deadlines. Take 20 images of one thing from different angles. You'll begin to see the world differently, even if it's just walking around the bowl of fruit on your kitchen table and observing how the light falls on it from different angles. 10. You have to know what you want to see before you can see it. "Make a list of things you want to photograph today and find them! If you know my work, then you know the No. 1 thing on my list are men in fedoras! Or any hat for that matter!" 11. Study other photographers. "I spend an unhealthy amount of time looking at images. It's the only way to get better, in my humble opinion. My favorites are Roy Decarava, so happy we discovered Viviam Maier, and on Instagram, a dude named Daniel Arnold out of New York is just killing it!" 12. Always be ready. "You want to make sure that when your mind and heart says 'shoot,' you have no excuses, like, Oh, my camera was in my purse, pocket, or, gasp, your camera wasn't around. It's one of the main reasons I love mobile photography -- my camera is always with me." | iPhone photographer Richard Koci Hernandez shares 12 tips .
Filters don't substitute for good photography, he says .
Shoot from the hip to get better candids .
Give yourself assignments and deadlines . |
261,357 | de797be51852cf0d3c853904103f6246af5f2298 | Imagine sitting at a conference roundtable and being able to look out on the turquoise sea for inspiration. At lunch, you steal away to sunbathe on deck. That night, after a featured speaker presentation, you'll watch a cabaret. Tomorrow, you'll spend a few hours on Grand Cayman. This is what a corporate retreat should look like, some meeting planners say, and companies, large and small, are catching on. They're choosing cruises as venues for corporate meetings, events and conferences. Eight percent of companies surveyed by research firm PhoCusWright last year listed cruise ships as their first choice for a meeting venue -- up from 6% in 2009. Interest is growing partly because, when comparing apples to apples -- including meals, entertainment, presentation equipment and meeting space -- an all-inclusive cruise ship event saves 20 to 30% on cost, according to cruise event services company Landry & Kling. Cruising builds in the social and excursion time needed to get a clear head, generate fresh thinking and share new experiences with colleagues. "There have been a lot of organizations that deleted or deferred meetings and want to do something to get their momentum back up," says Jo Kling, co-founder and CEO of Landry & Kling. "Taking people to an environment they don't go often or have never been shifts the perspective all together. They're not in a (dark) hotel ballroom ... thinking, 'Here we go again.'" Business has picked up nicely since the 2008 economic downturn and the "AIG effect" socked the meeting industry, Kling says. Her company expects to double its 2010 business next year. Companies have access to amenities on cruise ships they might not otherwise be able to afford for a retreat-- nightly entertainment, happy hours, floral arrangements, audio/visual equipment, and personally chosen meals rather than preplanned banquet platters. "It just disappears from your budget altogether," Kling says. Corporations working with good cruise lines also need fewer on-site staff to run events, says Sandra Daniel, CEO of FIRE Light Group, an incentive travel and marketing firm. "The contracts for cruise programs are often more liberal than hotel contracts on attrition clauses and less restrictive cancellation fees," she adds. "Most participants appreciate that they have the opportunity to see many destinations, some of them exclusive to the cruise line, but only need to unpack once." And to top it off, pricing is usually in U.S. dollars, even when traveling abroad. The types of events held on cruise ships run the gamut, but are mostly incentive trips for salespeople in the insurance, financial, direct selling and manufacturing fields. Cruise ships are also venues for continuing education courses, product launches and national meetings. Landry & Kling's list of cruise customers includes Microsoft, Aflac, Harley-Davidson, Land O'Lakes, Mastercard International and MetLife. Companies can book part of a ship or arrange a full, private charter, depending on their size. Meetings at sea may not be such a good fit for large association meetings, which may require hundreds of breakout rooms. Cruising has become increasingly accessible for companies in the last decade as "loads of new ships" have entered the market, Kling says, with about 27 gateways in the U.S., including Boston; New York; Norfolk, Virginia; Charleston, South Carolina; and Galveston, Texas. About 70% of people live within a five-hour drive of a cruise port, she adds. To accommodate increasing demand, Landry & Kling launched Seasite.com, an online portal dedicated to cruise meetings and events, to allow corporate planners to send custom electronic Requests For Proposals to five cruise lines and negotiate directly for group pricing. But the movement is still small. About 25 to 35% of Royal Caribbean's business is group business, and corporate groups are a small piece of that, says Lori Cassidy, the cruise line's director of charters and incentives. (She wouldn't say exactly what percentage is corporate business.) But cruise lines are interested in attracting more corporate business because the lead time is longer, allowing them to commit their space well in advance, Kling says. "You are starting to see more cruise lines reaching out to corporate America. We have a fleet of 22 ships that were purposefully built with conference centers," Cassidy says. Corporate trips on Royal Caribbean are mostly three- to five-night programs in the Caribbean, Alaska and Europe, with some shorter cruises out of South Florida. Meeting planners express concerns about seasickness and the inability to get on and off at leisure. Daniel says the first is rarely an issue with today's large, smooth-moving ships. Cassidy and Kling say the latter is an advantage. "It's a captive audience. There's nowhere for (attendees) to go," Cassidy says. As a result, the environment is more comfortable, the speaker won't disappear, and attendees won't skip sessions to golf instead. Everyone goes their own way for dinner during many hotel retreats, but not on a cruise ship. Laura LaBelle, chief operating officer of modeling agency Barbizon USA, said her company opted to host two 2,000-person events on a cruise ship out of its base of Tampa, Florida, instead of holding its usual land-based Los Angeles and New York events, because it could offer a similar event for about half the price. The response from participants has been great, LaBelle says. "Families had it much easier. They enjoyed going to shows and dressing up." Corporate meeting planners should do their homework before committing to a group cruise program, Daniel says. For example, some cruise ships have lower quality food and smaller rooms than a land hotel. Organizers should pay attention to how long they will be in port at various destinations and how long they are at sea in between stops. "There are many cruise lines out there, some of which can provide a 5-star experience. They need not be the wild spring break on-board experience that some may fear," she adds. "If you are accustomed to land meetings and have never tried a cruise, it might be something worth considering." Kling agrees. "(Cruising) is not going to replace hotels, but it's certainly a nice alternative once in a while," she says. "It excites people." Have you participated in a business cruise? What did you think of the event? Share your comments below. | Meetings on cruise ships give participants a fresh outlook, event planners say .
All-inclusive cruise events can lower costs for host companies .
Royal Caribbean has 22 ships with conference centers, but corporate business is still small . |
65,595 | ba3b02b495163729e9622f832d2b4b65d4cc0076 | Stevie May is set to agree a move to Sheffield Wednesday after holding talks with the Hillsborough club and their Championship rivals Rotherham. Wednesday matched Rotherham’s £800,000 bid for the player in midweek and they appeared to have won the race for St Johnstone’s talismanic striker. The 21-year-old’s decision will delight Saints strike partner Steven MacLean, who enjoyed a happy stint with the Owls between 2004 and 2007 — and had already informed May that the chance to follow in his footsteps there is one he shouldn’t pass up. ‘Sheffield Wednesday would be a great move for Stevie, I’ve told him that,’ said MacLean. ‘The decision is his, of course, but I told him the fans there will love him. They love a goalscorer and a player who gives their all — he’s ideal for them. VIDEO Scroll down to see 'Stevie May claims Nikica Jelavic is the best player he's faced' Wanted man: Sheffield Wednesday and Rotherham have been pursuing the striker . Words of advice: Saints star Steven MacLean, right, encouraged Stevie to move to Sheffield Wednesday . ‘He’s a good kid, he wants to learn and he’ll score goals in that league. If he progresses the way he has, he’ll become a top player.’ The term ‘sleeping giant’ may be something of a cliche but MacLean believes May will be blown away by the sheer size of the Hillsborough outfit. ‘They get 20-odd thousand on a bad day, and over 30,000 on a decent day — the club’s just huge. ‘It’s a Premier League club playing in the Championship. Playing there was the best time of my career. We took over 40,000 to Cardiff for a League One play-off final. ‘The potential is massive, they need to get to the Premier League again and, once they do, it will take off.’ Saints boss Tommy Wright has already tied up a loan deal for former Liverpool youngster Adam Morgan but there will be a collective need to replace May’s goals. ‘The lads are going to be sad to see Stevie go,’ admitted MacLean ahead of tomorrow’s league opener at Ross County. ‘He’s a much better player than I ever was and I scored a few in the Championship in England, so he’ll do really well. Great potential: Stevie May should thrive in the Championship . ‘Nobody will pretend we’re not going to miss him because he’s been such a massive player for us. But it’ll be up to us to help Adam Morgan when he comes in and also spread goals around the team more.’ May netted his final Saints goal in Thursday’s 1-1 Europa League draw with Spartak Trnava in Slovakia. That creditable display was rendered futile by the preceding 2-1 home leg defeat, a performance that still irks Saints. ‘We were well in the game in Slovakia and if we’d played them first out there we would have won,’ said MacLean. ‘You can’t take your foot off the pedal in Europe because as soon as your standards dip then teams will punish you. ‘We salvaged a bit of pride in the second leg but we’ve beaten a really good Swiss side (Luzern) and came up short against a decent Slovakian team.’ Saints’ domestic season begins with a trip to Dingwall tomorrow, a test that requires rapid recovery. ‘People used to wonder why Celtic and Rangers struggled after playing in Europe but now we can see why,’ said MacLean. ‘It’s tough on your body, especially for the older players, but you have to just rest up and try to recover the best you can.’ | 21-year-old held talks with Owls and Championship rivals Rotherham .
Perth outfit have accepted a £800,000 offer for the striker .
May netted his final Saints goal in Europa League draw with Spartak Trnava . |
92,069 | 02688ba28279b0f9bcaf9adc719ec707bd4ada0b | Two U.S. Senators put aside their political differences in August and spent a week together on a deserted island with no fresh water last month for a reality TV show that will air on the Discovery Channel in October. The one-episode series called Rival Survival will feature Arizona Republican Jeff Flake and New Mexico Democrat Martin Heinrich marooned in the Marshall Islands for six days and six nights. The purpose of the dramatic week-long getaway, the senators said in a statement, was to prove that bipartisanship isn't dead. Sens. Jeff Flake, left, and Martin Heinrich, right, attempt to start a fire while surviving on the remote Eru island, part of the Marshall Islands, for the Discovery Channel's Rival Survival. The two U.S. senators from opposite sides of the political aisle spent a week marooned together on a remote island for the new reality show . Republican Sen. Jeff Flake is pictured on the left speaking to reporters in the Capitol in November. Sen. Martin Heinrich, a Democrat from New Mexico, is pictured on the right arriving in the Capitol for a vote in April . 'Both of us know just how frustrated people are with Washington right now. We can both attest that no one is more frustrated than those of us trying to get things done in this environment,' they said. 'So we decided to do something completely out of the ordinary and frankly a little extreme to show the world and our colleagues that even if you have serious differences, if you want to survive you have to work together.' The two freshman senators secretly filmed the adventure on the island of Eru while Congress was in recess last month. Flake, who is an experienced survivalist, told the Washington Post on Thursday that he and Heinrich had originally planned to shoot the documentary themselves and have someone else produce it for them. 'Then we approached Discovery because they have a number of survivor shows and they said, well, we like the idea but how about you let us come film it?' Flake said. A description of the show released by Discovery says that the 'unusual pairing will leave behind the daily life of congressional staff, senate hearings and committee meetings to navigate the rigors of surviving on an isolated island with no contact with the outside world to call upon for help. Sen. Jeff Flake has marooned himself in the Marshall Islands twice before in 2009 and and 2013. The second time he took his teenage sons, Tanner, left, and Dallin, right, with him at their urging . 'Using only these limited resources and their wits' the unlikely allies must work together 'to spear fish, build shelter and find enough water to survive for one week.' 'There is no natural source for fresh water on Eru, and what lives in the ocean will be their major food source,' the statement says. While the Survivor-style show is an oddity, Flake is no amateur at playing house on a deserted island, having stranded himself in the Marshall Islands on two other occasions in the last five years. In August of 2009, when he was still serving in the House of Representatives, Flake spent a week alone on the island of Jabonwod. Excerpts of a diary the congressman kept during his time on the island revealed that the Senator had been dreaming of being a castaway since he was a child. 'I have the best job in the world, but still the islands beckon,' he said in a section printed in the Washington Post. 'No food, just mask, fins and a pole-spear to obtain it. No water, only a manual desalination pump to create fresh water,' Flake wrote. 'No matches, only a magnifying glass. And a hammock, knife, hatchet, sunscreen, cooking pot and salt and pepper. Oh, and a satellite phone and Coast Guard beacon should I eat the wrong fish and a Sharpie pen to scrawl a desperate message for rescuers.' Flake again snuck off to the string of islands in the Pacific Ocean last year over Memorial Day weekend - that time at the behest of his two teenage sons, Tanner and Dallin, who he'd promised to take on a their own after his Senate campaign concluded. The trio spent the holiday weekend on the island of Biggarenn together. 'We came back a little thinner. Maybe a little wiser. We had an awesome time, it was great,' Flake told the Post after that trip. 'For a dad it was a wonderful thing. No video games around, no television, no distractions, no texting,' Flake said.'To just sit there and pump water, that was my favorite time, frankly, on the island. Just talking. Just to have no distractions.' Flake and his sons filmed the experience and released a video of their travels afterward. For his third trip, Flake took a friend from across the aisle and an experienced camera crew to catch it all on camera. Rival Survival will air on the Discovery Channel on October 29 at 10 pm, six days before the mid-term elections. 'Whoever is going to lead the Senate going forward is going to do so with a very slim margin,' Flake told the Post. 'The parties are going to need to work together, so we wanted to get this out before the election, now’s a good time to show it.' | The one-episode series feature Arizona Republican Jeff Flake and New Mexico Democrat Martin Heinrich marooned in the Marshall Islands .
The purpose of the dramatic week-long getaway, the senators said, was to prove that bipartisanship isn't dead .
The two freshman Senators secretly filmed the adventure on the island of Eru while Congress was in recess last month . |
27,895 | 4f0ffc412c25a7523bcfa69158279c3aec2c0600 | Spectacular images that show how a summer park becomes a lake each spring complete with underwater trees have been captured by two divers. The snaps were taken at the Gruener See, or Green Lake as it is called in English, located in the southern Austrian province of Styria. During the summer and late winter the lake, located near the town of Tragoss at the foot of the snow-capped Hochschwab mountains, is only around three feet deep and the surrounding area is part of the country park. Scroll down for video . The Green Lake in the village of Tragöß in Styria is only around a metre deep in the summer - but that all changes in the spring . The spectacular snaps were taken at the Gruener See, or Green Lake as it is called in English, located in Austria . The photographs are part of the project to highlight Austria's investment in making sure it's rivers, streams and lakes remain crystal clear . It is a favourite location for hikers and campers, but all of it vanishes underwater in the spring when the winter snow starts to melt, sending waters flooding down from the nearby mountain range. Trees have adapted to being underwater for upwards of a month every year at a time, with the water typically around 40 feet deep through most of the spring. And as these spectacular images show it creates an eerie landscape which in the crystal clear waters flooding down from the melting ice and snow still allow the light to filter onto the grass and shrubs below. The images show how a summer park becomes a lake each spring complete with underwater trees . Trees have adapted to being underwater for upwards of a month every year at a time, with the water typically around 12-metres-deep through most of the spring . Two of Austria's leading underwater photographers, Gerald Kapfer and Harald Hois, photographed the unique underwater landscape . The Minnow fish in Almsee find their way to the underwater forest to join the trees in a little piece of paradise . The photographs are part of the project to highlight Austria's investment in making sure it's rivers, streams and lakes remain crystal clear and unpolluted. They are being shown at a new Under Water World exhibition at the Biology Centre in the southern city of Linz to highlight the country's aquatic beauty spots. The inhabitants of the Austrian forest have to adapt as the snow melts and the landscape becomes underwater . Zebra mussels take advantage of the changing landscape as they flourish when the snow melts and river levels rise . A School of common bleaks in Altersee; these spectacular images show an eerie landscape is created when water meets forest . Two of Austria's leading underwater photographers, Gerald Kapfer and Harald Hois, also captured some of the plants and animals beneath the underwater lake which can now be seen at the photography exhibition. Exhibition curator Stephan Weigl said: 'Many people are surprised that images like these have been captured in Austria rather than in somewhere more exotic like the Maldives but we really do have a beautiful aquatic landscape that is perhaps sometimes overlooked against the backdrop of the country's other natural wonders.' | The melting snow means the water level of the Gruener See in Austria rises higher than trees and rocks .
Two divers capture incredible underwater scenes as park is transformed into underwater landscape .
Heralded as a beauty spot highlighting the pollution-free waters of the province of Styria . |
128,166 | 31a4a558eeca578be67dd39d200952125167025c | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 15:51 EST, 26 February 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 04:02 EST, 27 February 2014 . An elementary school teacher has come under fire for filming and taunting an autistic boy who became stuck in a chair rather than helping him. Nicole McVey reached for her cell phone when the 11-year-old boy, who has Asperger's syndrome, became caught through a chair at Oaktree Elementary School in Goodrich, Michigan last November. The footage shows that, as he struggled to free himself, McVey asked him how he became caught in the chair and whether he wanted to get Tasered. The school's principal, Michael Ellis, was also in the room at the time and can be heard chipping in. Scroll down for video . Distressed: A video recorded by a teacher shows a student with Asperger's syndrome mocking a boy, 11, who had become stuck in a chair while the head teacher chimes in. They then sent the video to other staff . When McVey tells the boy that a maintenance worker is on the way to help, Ellis says: 'It's not really an emergency in their book.' The maintenance worker then arrived to remove the . child from the chair. Patrick Greenfelder, an attorney for the boy's parents, told ABC12 that McVey then showed the video to . the class and Ellis emailed it to other staff members and some friends. 'You hear of bullying by other students . and other kids in class, I have had cases like this before, but I have . never had a case with teachers and administrators bullying,' Greenfelder . said. Hearing: The school board has voted to seek to fire McVey, while the principal has already quit . Support: Many parents at the board meeting said they think McVey is a great teacher and not a bully . It is not clear why McVey recorded the incident. Her attorney has advised her not to comment. After administrators saw the video, the Goodrich School Board voted to accept Ellis' resignation and seek to fire McVey by filing tenure charges. But the decision has upset some in the Goodrich school community, and numerous parents attended a board meeting on Monday with signs in support of McVey. 'I know she is supported by the community, the other teachers, the staff, I have learned a lot from her and I support her fully,' said Leanne Ruediger, a substitute teacher whose children attend the school. 'I believe that Nicole's intentions and motivations are always in the right place.' Another parent added: 'There's no way that Mrs McVey ever bullied any child in that class.' Scene: She is on leave from the elementary school in Oaktree Elementary in Goodrich, Michigan . They added that the word 'Taser' does not refer to a stun gun in the classroom context, but when you take two fingers and use them in a tickling motion on someone's side. The parents of the boy said they were upset by the support she was getting, and said they did not like the use of the word Taser. 'Our son did nothing wrong, but yet this seems to be another case of blaming the victim,' they added. They are considering a lawsuit. McVey is on paid administrative leave while private tenure hearings debating her future at the school take place. | Nicole McVey recorded and mocked the boy, who has Asperger's syndrome, while the principal Michael Ellis chipped in .
Ellis then later shared the footage with staff and friends .
The boy was eventually freed by maintenance worker .
Ellis then emailed the disturbing video to school staff and friends .
The principal has resigned and the school board has voted to fire McVey - but parents have come out in support of her . |
49,003 | 8a62dc4cb489001e2e3ef251924c19053c248836 | (CNN) -- Jon Meis' reported habit of carrying pepper spray may have saved students' lives after a man opened fire at a Seattle college. The shooter had just wounded three people Thursday, one of whom died. He was reloading his shotgun when Meis, a volunteer security guard, saw an opening. He doused the gunman with the spray and tackled him to the ground. Other students at Seattle Pacific University piled on and took the weapon away from suspected shooter Aaron Ybarra, 26, police said. Officers are convinced the bloodshed at the Christian school would have been worse had Meis and the others not intervened. A man who said he was close friends with Meis' older brother and sister-and-law described him as "amazingly resourceful." "I wasn't surprised to see he was the hero -- his resourcefulness, love for others and knowledge of the greater good are what defines him, in my mind," Andrew Van Ness told CNN in an e-mail. Van Ness said Meis enjoyed playing a campus "humans versus zombies" game organized by the school's Student Union Board, finishing in the top 10 both times the game was held. On Thursday, Meis appeared shaken, at moments on the verge of tears, when ambulances arrived to tend to the wounded. Medics put him on a stretcher and took him to a hospital to check him over. Harborview Medical Center spokeswoman Susan Gregg didn't identify Meis by name but said a man believed to be the student hero was thoroughly evaluated and released. He had no injuries, she said. Police would not give out his name, but one of his friends was quick to point him out to CNN affiliate KOMO and pour out his gratitude. "I could have been one of these people that was injured or in critical condition," said Meis' friend Patrick Maguire. "A lot of (students) were in that building, and he stopped him in the lobby. He didn't get any farther than that. I'm grateful for him, yeah." Meis, an engineering student, has a reputation for keeping a low profile, not seeking attention, The Seattle Times reported. He is known as a devout Christian and an excellent student. Meis' sister told the newspaper that the family wasn't commenting for the moment. But he hasn't been able to dodge the social media limelight, which has plastered his name and photos across the Internet with emphatic kudos. "Hero" was the common refrain. "Jon Meis is a hero. I have no words for his courage," user Molli Elizabeth posted to Twitter. "Jon Meis, You are my hero! Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends. (Jn 15:13)," Tweeter Shane Bengry posted with reference to a Bible verse. His longtime roommate Ryan Salgado told The Seattle Times about the pepper spray. He said Meis regularly carries it, just in case. CNN's Justin Lear and Rick Martin contributed to this report. | NEW: Family friend describes hero as "amazingly resourceful"
Authorities haven't named the man but say he saved lives .
Friends identify the hero as Jon Meis .
He reportedly regularly carries pepper spray around with him . |
160,601 | 5ba08f139e17d35a8a3a2047c34eb302961cec28 | BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- Three U.S. soldiers were killed and 31 others wounded in two rocket attacks Sunday afternoon in Baghdad, the U.S. military said. Mehdi Army militiamen celebrate after attacking an Iraqi Army vehicle in Baghdad's Sadr City on Sunday. Earlier Sunday, fighting between U.S. troops and the Mehdi Army militia loyal to Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr left at least 20 dead and 52 wounded in Baghdad's Sadr City, according to an Iraqi Interior Ministry official. The U.S. military said it had no information about the Sadr City fighting. Sunday's violence came as Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki demanded al-Sadr disband his Mehdi Army and threatened to bar al-Sadr's followers from the political process if the cleric refused. Watch a report from the front line in Sadr City » . "A decision was taken yesterday that they no longer have a right to participate in the political process or take part in the upcoming elections unless they end the Mehdi Army," al-Maliki said. Sunday's American fatalities bring the death toll of U.S. troops in the Iraq war to 4,022; that toll includes eight civilian contractors working for the Pentagon. Nearly 30,000 others have been wounded in action. An attack involving a "couple of rounds" of fire on the International Zone, also known as the Green Zone, killed two soldiers and wounded 17 others about 3:30 p.m., a military official said, declining to give the specific location of the attack for security reasons. A separate attack about 30 minutes earlier killed one soldier and wounded 14 at a U.S. military outpost in Rustamiya in southeastern Baghdad, the military said. Responding to al-Maliki's comments, a spokesman for al-Sadr, Sheikh Salah al-Obeidi, said that any effort to bar Sadrists from participation in politics would be unconstitutional -- and that any decision to disband the Mehdi Army is not the government's to make. "It is up to the side that established it," he said. Al-Maliki spoke in an exclusive interview with CNN after a weeklong military offensive against what Iraqi officials called gangs and militia members in the southern Iraqi city of Basra. Hundreds were killed or wounded in the fighting across Iraq, which reportedly ended when Iranian and Iraqi Shiite officials held talks in Iran with al-Sadr. Asked about Iran's role in ending the Basra conflict, al-Maliki attributed the cease-fire to the work of his security forces. Haidar al-Abadi, an Iraqi lawmaker who belongs to al-Maliki's Dawa Party, said last week that Iranian officials participated in the discussions, and another source close to the talks said the Iranians pressured al-Sadr to craft an agreement. "I am not aware of such an attempt," al-Maliki said Sunday. "What happened on the ground and the breakdown in the structure of this militia is what made Muqtada al-Sadr issue his statement to withdraw his militants from the streets. What happened was something to save Muqtada, not to help us." Watch al-Maliki talk about issues that concern Iraq » . In northern Iraq, security forces detained a suspect Sunday and were searching for others in connection with the kidnapping of 42 college students, authorities said. Gunmen seized the male students in northern Iraq before releasing them several hours later, according to a military spokesman and police in Nineveh province. None was harmed, according to the U.S. military. Gunmen stopped two buses loaded with students who were on their way to college, but one bus managed to escape, police said. Four students on the bus that escaped were wounded by gunfire, police said. Students on the other bus were released Sunday afternoon after coalition military forces spotted the bus during an air patrol on the western outskirts of Mosul, according to a U.S. military news release. The kidnappers fled the vehicle after it was stopped, according to a military press release. Other developments . • A Christian priest was shot and killed in eastern Baghdad's Wihda neighborhood around noon Saturday, according to an Iraqi Interior Ministry official. The priest was identified as Father Yousif Adel. He belonged to St. Peter and Paul's Assyrian Orthodox Church. • At least two people were killed Saturday and 16 others wounded when a bomb exploded in a minibus in eastern Baghdad's Beirut Square, the official said. • President Bush is planning to address the nation Thursday morning about the Iraq war, sources said. Bush is expected to address the administration's decision to reduce combat tours of duty from 15 months to 12 months, Republican and Democratic sources said. E-mail to a friend . CNN's Nic Robertson, Jomana Karadsheh and Ingrid Formanek contributed to this report. | Rocket attacks kill 3 U.S. troops, wound 31 .
Prime minister to ban Sadrists from politics if Mehdi Army not disbanded .
One arrested in kidnapping of a busload of college students, police say .
Interior Ministry official says militia fighting U.S. troops in Sadr City . |
280,386 | f7349f8657e7b3e4c8b900e85f631500a03c3817 | Olivier Giroud is positive he can form a destructive strike partnership with new Arsenal signing Alexis Sanchez this season. Manager Arsene Wenger has talked up the Chilean player's ability to play through the middle as a loan striker as well as from the flanks. But £30 million man Sanchez started out wide in the 3-0 Community Shield thrashing of Manchester City, and Giroud made the most of his chance, firing in the third goal. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Jack Wilshere order Giroud out for the warm-up . Back of the net: Olivier Giroud (centre) celebrates scoring against Manchester City at Wembley . Impressive: Alexis Sanchez (left) is pursued by Stevan Jovetic as he produced a decent performance on his competitive debut for Arsenal . The French striker said: 'I have a good understanding with Alexis. It is always easy to play with this kind of player. 'He will need some more games to adapt his game to the Premier League but he is a fantastic player so I think he will do a great season. 'He has different qualities. He can bring pace and technique and he's a great finisher.' Arsenal's title challenge last season faltered partly due to an over-reliance on Giroud. Wenger responded by snapping up 25-year-old World Cup star Sanchez from Barcelona and his new teammate is adamant Arsenal are ideally placed to win a first Premier League title since 2004. The experienced manager has also signed Calum Chambers, Mathieu Debuchy and David Ospina while World Cup winners Per Mertesacker, Lukas Podolski and Mesut Ozil still to return from an extended break. Nice one lads: L-r Mathieu Debuchy, Mathieu Flamini, Giroud, Sanchez and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain celebrate lifting some more silverware for Arsenal . Giroud, who scored 22 goals last season in all competitions, said: 'We have a good quality squad and that is why I think we will be stronger than last year. 'When our German World Cup players come back and join us we will be stronger and hopefully stay that way until May. 'Last year we did well until March and then had a bad run after.' Giroud's long-range strike clinched victory at Wembley after first half goals from Santi Cazorla and Aaron Ramsey. On the scoresheet: Giroud's brilliant effort loops over Man City goalkeeper Willy Caballero . Arsenal get their Premier League bid underway on Saturday against Crystal Palace at the Emirate and last season's top scorer is raring to go. 'I was feeling ok in the game and will be ready for the Crystal Palace match,' Giroud added. 'It's always great for a striker to score. 'I was man of the match and I will take it with pleasure.' Ticker tape parade: Arsenal captain Mikel Arteta lifts the Community Shield . | French striker added to goals from Santi Cazorla and Aaron Ramsey as Arsenal beat Manchester City 3-0 in the Community Shield at Wembley .
Giroud thinks he can play up front with new signing Sanchez .
He believes Arsenal are well-placed for a first Premier League title a decade .
Raring to go for league campaign's start against Crystal Palace on Saturday . |
93,233 | 03ed23ad42e834034c445d0925f4074cfcf02a4b | By . James Rush . PUBLISHED: . 04:07 EST, 23 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 08:02 EST, 23 August 2013 . A family of gorillas have been upgraded to a £1 million home in order to cope with their growing brood. Their new enclosure at Bristol Zoo Gardens - which is being completed in three phases - will boast climbing facilities, ropes, play equipment and an indoor pool. Renovation work began in July last year and the first phase has just been completed, meaning the zoo's seven western lowland gorillas can move in. Scroll down for video . Primates: A family of gorillas at Bristol Zoo Gardens have been moved into their new home, which features an overhead glass panel to allow visitors to watch them walking above . Up close: The new enclosure allows visitors to the zoo get up close and personal with the primates . Eying it up: The glass enclosure allows for much better viewing of the magnificent apes . Communication: The builders and keepers had to work together as the refurbishment was carried out while the gorillas were in situ . Glass ceiling: Visitors can now get see the apes from all angles including underneath . Keepers say the gorillas have already been enjoying their new enclosure, which is double the size of their last home. A new atrium-style glass entrance has been fitted, along with an overhead glass panel allowing visitors to watch the gorillas walking above. Kukena, who was born at the zoo two years ago, has already been spotted using the glass to slide on and perform roly-polys. Lynsey Bugg, assistant curator of mammals at the zoo, said the project had been tricky to manage as the house had been rebuilt while the gorillas lived there. 'Good communication between the construction team and the keepers has been essential,' she said. 'The builders have been brilliant at letting us know in advance the schedule of the build, so that we could prepare our activities around it. New home: Keepers say the gorillas have already been enjoying their new enclosure, which is double the size of their last home . Silverback: Bristol Zoo Gardens is home to a family of seven Gorillas . Playful: Kukena, who was born at the zoo two years ago, has already made full use of the new facilities . King of the swingers: Kukena practices her climbing skills on one of the many new ropes . 'We have worked hard to help the builders, whilst maintaining the needs of the gorillas, which has been no mean feat.' Bristol Zoo Gardens decided to upgrade the enclosure to help cater for the family of gorillas, which has been growing in recent years. The first phase of work was the largest part of the transformation, as it involved a re-design of the right side of the original building. Keepers had to keep 32-stone Jock and his family away from the building work, which was difficult in winter weather as the gorillas could not go outside. The seven gorillas were seen to stick close together when work began but relaxed after a couple of weeks. More to come: The new enclosure is being completed in three phases and will boast climbing facilities, ropes, play equipment and an indoor pool . Ms Bugg added: 'After a short period of trying to suss out their new housemates, the gorillas soon became accustomed to watching the builders go about their work. 'Jock, our 30-year-old silverback, could quite often be found watching the builders and keepers quickly learnt that Jock liked to see what was going on and oversee the work. 'Salome, mum to Kukena our almost two-year-old gorilla, also enjoyed having the builders to watch every day.' The first phase of the gorilla house will be open to the public tomorrow, with the two other phases due for completion by early 2014. | Family of gorillas upgraded to new home to cope with growing brood .
New enclosure at Bristol Zoo Gardens is being completed in three phases .
It includes overhead glass panel so visitors can watch gorillas walking above . |
102,349 | 0fe835fda6c71a8645979f43acc100a4645f1607 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . A new victory dance has taken over March Madness after a little-known school in Georgia beat out odds-favorite Duke. The Mercer Bears beat the Duke Blue Devils on Friday and player Kevin Canevari won the hearts of a new legion of fans when he was spotted doing the NaeNae dance in response to their victory. Canevari was surrounded by his teammates and coaches when he started showing his moves. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO . Enthused: Kevin Canevari celebrated with his team after their upset victory against Duke on Friday . Going viral: Canevari broke out into a Nae Nae dance, as popularized by Atlanta-based rap group We Are Toonz . Not only did the dance win over friends from around the country, but also showed his homegrown roots as the dance was originally popularized by Atlanta-based rap group We Are Toonz. 'We were confident all week,' said Canevari, who was one of the teams seven seniors. 'We don't really look at it like we're an underdog in this tournament. Obviously, everyone's a great team, there's already been so many upsets.' Mercer is a 8,300-student school from Macon, Georgia. The school delivered the biggest shocker in an already topsy-turvy NCAA tournament on Friday, going into Duke's backyard and knocking off the Number 3 seed Blue Devils 78-71. 'This, is what March Madness is all about,' Atlantic Sun player of the year Langston Hall said. Winning some fans: Canevari is one of the seven seniors on the team, making his his March Madness round . Inspiration: The dance was made famous by Atlanta-based group We Are Toonz who showed it in their video . The 14th-seeded Bears - with a starting lineup of five seniors - came back from five points down in the last 4:52 as Duke's offense collapsed. They sent home one of the true blue-blood programs, coached by Hall of Famer Mike Krzyzewski and starring freshman Jabari Parker, sure to be one of the top NBA picks this year. Mercer is coached by former Oklahoma Baptist player Bob Hoffman, who has banged around the coaching ranks from women's teams to the American Basketball Association to the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the NBA Developmental League. | Kevin Canevari broke out into a victory dance after his team won on Friday .
Mercer, the 14th seed, beat number 3-seed Duke 78-71 .
'Nae Nae' dance popularized by Atlanta-based rap group We Are Toonz . |
155,466 | 54f1d5281bf022ec36d880381406a10e695f9108 | A dominatrix who chained, gagged and whipped her clients has applied for planning permission to allow her sex fetish club to remain open. Lorraine White has submitted a retrospective planning application asking for permission to change her warehouse on an industrial estate in Reddish to a place of 'photography and mild fetish play'. She had been using the unit already without permission but has submitted an application after Stockport Council received a complaint about the dungeon, which she wants to remain open from 11pm to 7am from Tuesday to Saturday. Lorraine White works as a dominatrix and applied for retrospective planning permission to change the use of her warehouse on a Reddish industrial estateto a sex fetish club where clients are restrained and humiliated . People living near to the Vauxhall Industrial Estate dungeon where Miss White restrains and humiliates men for their pleasure said they do not object to it as long as the business remains discreet. A website for Miss White's club has the warning: 'This site contains content pertaining to consensual sadomasochistic activity which some people may find offensive.' Miss White also refers to herself as a 'Manchester mistress' and 'sensual sadist.' Among her 'specialities' she lists bondage, psychodrama, sensory deprivation and humiliation. The fetish club was discovered in 2012 when firemen were unable to get into the building after it caught fire because of all the locked doors. Miss White, who is known as Princess Lucina, was fined £8,000 for breaching health and safety laws at the time . Firemen finally gained access and found a trove of handcuffs, chains and other restraining devices in the basement. They also discovered several canisters of nitrous oxide and laughing gas - also know as 'hippie crack' - which White’s clients used. At the hearing at Stockport Magistrates Court Miss White said men were generally restrained or gagged in the dungeon, but nothing was too severe. At the time she said: 'It involved a lot of humiliation, doing domestic work and dressingup in women’s clothes.' The club in Vauxhall Industrial Estate has a collection of handcuffs, chains and other restraining devices . White has previously been fined for breaching health and safety laws after firefighters were unable to get in . Jason Morris, 44, who lives nearby in Greg Street, said he wouldn't object to the change of use planning application. He said: 'I don't care as long as everyone is consenting. 'I wouldn't have known it was there (but for press coverage), as long as it stays that way I'm not bothered.' Miss White has made a retrospective planning application to change the use of the warehouse to sex dungeon . Miss White wants to open the sex dungeon from 7pm to 11am, but it will close on Sundays and Bank Holidays . Jacqui Wood, from Arc arts group, based in the same building on the industrial estate, said: 'If it's legal and the landlord is OK with it then that's their business.' Miss White, of Salford, submitted the retrospective application after the council received a complaint about the change of use. A council spokesman said: 'The council is satisfied the unit is currently being used for purposes connected to the adult entertainment industry. 'Should the application be refused then the matter will be reviewed again and the council will decide on the appropriate next course of action.' A dominatrix - or 'dom' - isn't a prostitute, but a female who feeds men's appetites to be controlled by a strong woman. Some dominatrixes don't even let their clients touch them.Their trade revolves around BDSM, or bondage, dominance and sado-masochism, with clients paying to be chained-up, whipped and gagged. It's an activity that famously takes place in bestseller Fifty Shades Of Grey. The upcoming movie based on the bestseller stars British actor Jamie Dornan (pictured above with Amelia Warner) as the BDSM-obsessed Christian Grey. A dominatrix will usually wear black and red, tightly fitting clothes made from leather or rubber latex - and high heels. Some might wear a corset to ensure their torso remains in shape. Dominatrixes sometimes let clients use nitrous oxide, sometimes called laughing gas or hippie crack', to attain a feeling of elation. According to talktofrank.com, nitrous oxide has 'several legitimate uses, but when inhaled can make people feel euphoric and relaxed' with some people experiencing hallucinations. It warns that there is a risk of death 'as a lack of oxygen can occur' with the risk increased if the gas 'is consumed in an enclosed space'. The dominatrix trade is legal in Britain - with practitioners only likely to fall foul of the law if they cause clients lasting injuries or marks. | Lorraine White runs a sex fetish club in a warehouse in Reddish, Stockport .
She has applied for planning permission to change use to a sex fetish club .
Site is open but she made retrospective application after Stockport council received a complaint about unauthorised change of use of warehouse .
Miss White works as a dominatrix, restraining and humiliating her clients .
She has been fined £8,000 for breaching fire safety rules with locked doors . |
171,346 | 69c7a7394d32841446803ca0b210b1c9b16ef192 | (CNN) -- The setup was bizarre. North Korean officials whisked a CNN team away in a van, purportedly to go meet with a high-ranking government official. Hours later, they arrived in the capital and were presented with three Americans held captive in the reclusive country. Like virtually everything in Pyongyang, the interviews were carefully managed by the regime. Each man had exactly five minutes to speak. Some of their statements seemed eerily similar. So what was the government's motive in letting Kenneth Bae, Matthew Todd Miller and Jeffrey Edward Fowle address the world? "First of all, their motivation always behind these interviews has been to gather U.S. attention and then try to pave a way for high-level dialogue with Washington," said Ellen Kim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies. During their interviews Monday, all three men said they hope the U.S. government will send an envoy to help get them out of their situations -- similar to how former President Bill Clinton helped secure the release of two journalists in 2009. "I do believe that (a) special envoy need to come in order to resolve the situation I am in right now," said Bae, who is serving 15 years at a labor camp after North Korea claimed he was part of a Christian plot to overthrow the regime. What might North Korea want in return? "Their negotiating ploy with the U.S. is to try to get us to agree to nuclear arms control, to sort of accept them as a nuclear weapons state -- which we can't do," said Michael Green of the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Another possibility: That North Korea wants sanctions against the regime lifted. Victor Cha, the North Korea adviser to former President George W. Bush, said the presentation of all three Americans at once could be telling. "My guess is the fact that all three of them were put on tape for an American audience on Labor Day as a signal from the North Koreans that they're looking for some sort of package deal to try to get them all out," Cha said. "Whether they're trying to connect this to the long-style nuclear negotiations is anybody's guess." Washington responds . The detainees' surprise interviews with CNN's Will Ripley on Monday prompted renewed calls out of Washington for the men's release. "Out of humanitarian concern for Jeffrey Fowle, Matthew Miller, and their families, we request the DPRK release them so they may return home," State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said, using the initials for North Korea's official name -- the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. She said the United States is in "regular, close coordination" with the Swedish Embassy in Pyongyang, which acts as the "protecting power for issues involving U.S. citizens in North Korea." But it's apparent the three men are now being used by North Korea as "bargaining chips," said Bill Richardson, a former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations who has traveled to the isolated country. "They're sending a signal, saying, 'We're ready to bargain for the three hostages,'" Richardson said. What the detainees said . All three men said they have signed statements admitting their guilt. North Korean officials monitored and recorded all three interviews, and CNN was unable to assess independently the conditions under which the men were being held. Bae said he is working eight hours a day, six days a week at a labor camp, even though he said his health has "been failing" over the past 1½ months. The 46-year-old has diabetes, high blood pressure and kidney stones. Despite what he called "hard labor," Bae said he has been treated "as humanely as possible." U.S. officials have repeatedly called on North Korea to release Bae, but to no avail. Even former basketball star Dennis Rodman, who has visited North Korea and called its ruler Kim Jong Un a "friend for life," asked Kim to "do me a solid and cut Kenneth Bae loose." Terri Chung, Bae's sister, told CNN on Monday the video of his interview was "really difficult to watch." "It is clear from the video that he is under a lot of stress. And he talks about his health failing and being in complete isolation for almost two years. And it is devastating for our family to see that on TV." She also released a statement asking the North Korean authorities to have mercy. "It is in your power to release my brother. You could do it today. Please do so," Chung said. "He has confessed to the crimes for which he has been charged, and he has served a longer detainment than any other American since the war." Miller: 'My situation is very urgent' Dressed in a black turtleneck and often avoiding eye contact, Miller said he has admitted his guilt -- even though he won't learn of his charges until he goes to trial. "But I will say that I prepared to violate the law of the DPRK before coming here," Miller told Ripley. The 24-year-old is accused of tearing up his tourist visa and seeking asylum upon entry. He expressed frustration that "there's been no movement from my government." Miller said he wanted to tell the United States that "my situation is very urgent, that very soon I am going to trial, and I would directly be sent to prison." "I think this interview is my final chance to push the American government into helping me," he said. Fowle describes 'desperate situation' Fowle, an American tourist accused of leaving a Bible in a hotel where he was staying, said he has "no complaints" about his treatment. "It's been very good so far, and I hope and pray that it continues, while I'm here two more days or two more decades," the 56-year-old said. North Korea announced Fowle's detention in June, saying he had violated the law by acting "contrary to the purpose of tourism." "The charges are violations of DPRK law, which stems from me trying to leave a Bible," Fowle told Ripley. "It's a covert act and a violation of tourists rules. I've admitted my guilt to the government and signed a statement to that effect and requested forgiveness from the people and the government of the DPRK." Fowle said with his trial expected to begin within a month, he is getting desperate. "You guys should convey my desperate situation," he said. "I've got a wife and three elementary school-aged kids that depend on me for support." CNN's Elise Labott, Barbara Starr and Brianna Keilar contributed to this report. | North Korea could try to use the detainees as leverage for nuclear talks .
The regime surprised CNN by presenting the three men for interviews .
All three said they have signed statements admitting guilt .
Analyst: North Korea may want to use the 3 detainees in a "package deal" |
257,703 | d97d67a4e45e3cc6cc591c7efb89574388bd7a0e | (CNN) -- Wentworth Miller, best known for his role on "Prison Break," came out as a gay man in an open letter to the St. Petersburg International Film Festival. The fest invited him to attend, and although Miller cited ties to Russia and pleasant visits to the country in the past, he said no. "As a gay man, I must decline," Miller wrote in his letter. "I am deeply troubled by the current attitude toward and treatment of gay men and women by the Russian government. The situation is in no way acceptable, and I cannot in good conscience participate in a celebratory occasion hosted by a country where people like myself are being systematically denied their basic right to live and love openly." Andy Cohen says 'nyet' to Miss Universe in Russia, citing discriminatory policies . He signed the letter by asserting his membership in GLAAD, the Human Rights Campaign, and The ManKind Project. GLAAD reps supported Miller's stance with their own statement: . "Wentworth's bold show of support sends a powerful message to LGBT Russians, who are facing extreme violence and persecution: you are not alone," GLAAD spokesman Wilson Cruz said in a statement. "As people from across the globe continue to speak out against Russia's horrific law, more celebrities and corporations should follow his courageous lead in openly condemning Russia's anti-LGBT law." George Takei, Stephen Fry and more speak out against Russia hosting Olympics . Russian president Vladimir Putin's stringent anti-gay laws have met with much resistance both outside the country and within its own population, especially with Russia hosting next year's winter Olympics. See the original story at EW.com . CLICK HERE to Try 2 RISK FREE issues of Entertainment Weekly . © 2011 Entertainment Weekly and Time Inc. All rights reserved. | 'Prison Break' actor Wentworth Miller comes out as gay .
Miller declined an invitation to a Russian film festival .
He is the most recent celebrity to speak out against Russia's treatment of gays . |
45,171 | 7f506ef8f391348600ef9155c61467883a38ad49 | By . Chris Parsons . PUBLISHED: . 05:31 EST, 27 March 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 05:54 EST, 27 March 2012 . A callous car clamper called an ambulance to help a motorist he had targeted - before continuing to clamp his vehicle after the man was rushed to hospital. Paul Wiseman had pulled over in a no-parking zone in Skipton, North Yorkshire, when he began feeling unwell, only to be targeted by one of Britain's most notorious clamping firms, Carstoppers Ltd, as soon as he stopped. The father-of-two tried to stop clamper Gareth Evans from seizing his vehicle but slumped against his Mercedes van while struggling for breath due to an extremely high blood pressure. Illness: Paul Wiseman was clamped despite nearly collapsing due to high blood pressure next to his van in Skipton, North Yorkshire . Mr Wiseman said the clamper paused briefly to call an ambulance, but then continued to clamp the van as he was rushed from the scene with blue lights earlier this month. He has since claimed that the manner in which Carstoppers 'took advantage' of his illness to clamp his car was 'despicable'. Mr Wiseman, 55, said: 'I didn’t realise it was the back of a business premises, I just needed to stop because I didn’t feel right. 'While I was waiting I saw this car come hurtling up to me and pull in front. 'This man rushed towards me carrying the yellow clamp and I got out to ask him what he was doing. 'I stood in front so he couldn’t do it. He was trying to get me out of the way so I pushed him backwards. 'I felt unwell, exhausted and was struggling to get my breath. And when I turned towards the van door I collapsed onto the floor of the van. 'He got out his phone and rang for an ambulance, but even though he could see I was unwell, he started to clamp my car. Mr Wiseman described the treatment he received from Carstoppers Ltd and clamper Gareth Evans (right) as 'despicable' 'I wasn’t in any fit state to control what was going on and to take advantage of someone in my position is despicable. 'I’m furious about it now but at the time I was more concerned about what was wrong with me.' Mr Wiseman, who runs his own cutting tool distribution business, is still awaiting the results of hospital tests to establish what caused his high blood pressure. He said his son Chris was confronted by Mr Evans, who handed him a ticket that said he had to pay £150 to release the clamp. 'Obviously Chris was worried about me and wanted to come with me to hospital so there was no point in arguing,' said Mr Wiseman. 'He had no choice but to go to the nearest cash machine, draw out the money and hand it over.' Mr Wiseman, dad to Chris, 23, and Gemma, 28, was in hospital until around 5pm as his blood pressure 'had shot up'. Mr Wiseman said he is boycotting businesses that use the firm, adding: 'Their approach is very aggressive and their actions could lead to somebody becoming seriously ill. 'There are much better ways for businesses to prevent parking without resorting to car clampers. ' A Carstoppers spokesman said the incident, like all others, was recorded on video and he was confident the clamping was carried out within the law. He stressed there were signs explaining clampers were operating. The spokesman said: 'Businesses in Skipton were sick to death of people using their parking areas for free. 'People have commented that parking fees are too high in Skipton. People choose to chance it and not pay. ' | Paul Wiseman slumped against his van with high blood pressure but was still clamped and charged £150 to release the vehicle .
Father-of-two brands clamping firm who 'took advantage' of him 'despicable' |
152,525 | 511afe28fd8aaaca68767a315b053ba74adaafbf | By . Amanda Williams . PUBLISHED: . 15:09 EST, 4 March 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 02:59 EST, 5 March 2013 . As the old saying goes, the grass is always greener on the other side. But in the south-western city of Chengdu, China, there is an element of truth, because city officials have been painting the grassy verges a rich shade of green. Maintenance teams have been filmed by Chinese reporters using a type of paint called Top Green Turf Greening Agent, it has been reported. In the south-western city of Chengdu, China, city officials have been painting the grassy verges a rich shade of green . Maintenance teams have been filmed by Chinese reporters using a type of paint called Top Green Turf Greening Agent, it has been reported . But the 'non toxic' dye has reportedly turned some residents' shoes green as they walk across the city's newly spruced up municipal lawns . Some residents have found the dye - described as completely 'non toxic' - has turned their shoes green as they walk across the city's newly spruced up municipal lawns, the Telegraph reports. Mr Yang, a salesman for Top Green, the makers of the dye, told the paper: 'We have been selling it to the Chengdu government for at least five or six years, and we have lots of other government clients, like the city of Tianjin, and many north western provinces.' The company website claims it lasts for ten to 14 weeks, is not washed away by the rain, and also turns the soil green. Officials have said people feel more 'positive, cheerful and productive when Spring is here and everything is green and new' The landscaping department has declined to comment on the use of the dye. But they told Chinese journalists that the chemical was a type of nutrient used to help keep the grass alive during winter. It is not the first time China has gone to lengths to improve the country's aesthetic appearance. In the past fields of crops have been replanted to give a more 'fertile appearance' during an inspection tour of the countryside by Chairman Mao, and fake sheep have been positioned on the dried out grasslands of Inner Mongolia to dupe tourists that the animals were still grazing there. | In south-western city Chengdu officials have been painting the verges .
Residents have claimed the 'non toxic' dye has turned their shoes green .
Not first time China has tried to improve the country's appearance .
It has used fake sheep and crops to make fields seem more fertile . |
73,182 | cf8acdcce98340d2992b7a4ab9f7dcfd96879058 | Healthy food is three times more expensive than less nutritious alternatives, a study has found. And the cost of eating well is rising much faster than that of eating poorly. Researchers found that in 2012, the average price for 1,000 calories of healthy food was £7.49. This compared to £5.65 in 2002. However, the same amount of unhealthy food was just £2.50 in 2012, compared to £1.77 a decade earlier. Researchers found that 1,000 calories of unhealthy food was £2.50 compared to £7.49 for healthy food . The ‘cost per calorie’ of 94 key foods and drinks was tracked by a team from Cambridge University, who used government criteria to define what was ‘healthy’. They suggested that more could be done to take into account the cost of living well when making decisions about public health. Dr Pablo Monsivais, from the university’s Centre for Diet and Activity Research, said: ‘To help achieve long-term improvements in eating habits, we need to address the high and rising prices of healthier foods. ‘This is likely to be influenced by a number of factors including agricultural policy, food distribution and retail pricing strategies. ‘Additionally, there is growing evidence that targeted subsidies can promote healthy eating for people on low incomes.’ Diet-related illness costs the NHS an estimated £5.8billion annually, the researchers said. A quarter of adults and a fifth of children are obese, with the rate almost doubling over the last 20 years. Researchers discovered that unhealthy, fatty food was far cheaper than the healthy alternative . The chief executive of the NHS Simon Stevens warned last month ‘obesity is the new smoking’ in terms of avoidable illness. He said: ‘If, as a nation, we keep piling on the pounds around the waistline, we’ll be piling on the pounds in terms of taxes needed just to keep the NHS afloat.’ He is expected to unveil a five-year plan for the NHS this month including proposals on how to tackle the country’s obesity epidemic. The warning came after England’s chief medical officer Dame Sally Davies told MPs in March that a ‘sugar tax’ may be necessary to curb expanding waistlines. NHS chief executive Simon Stevens warned that month that the obesity epidemic is the new smoking . A report from Public Health England also suggested that putting a 20 per cent tax on fizzy drinks would cut the number of overweight Britons by quarter of a million. The document was released earlier this year, and identifies six possible ways of reducing sugar intake: higher tax, foods being reformulated, tighter advertising rules, warnings on packaging and encouraging farmers to grow healthier produce. Lead author of the latest Cambridge research, Nicholas Jones, agreed that people need to be encouraged to eat the right things. ‘Food poverty and the rise of food banks have recently been an issue of public concern in the UK,’ he said. ‘But as well as making sure people don’t go hungry it is also important that a healthy diet is affordable.’ He added: ‘The increase in the price difference between more and less healthy foods is a factor that may contribute towards growing food insecurity, increasing health inequalities, and a deterioration in the health of the population.’ In 2013 a survey revealed that price was the most important factor to UK consumers when buying food. More than a third said it was the most important factor and 91 per cent said it was one of their top five. By contrast, just 9 per cent of UK consumers considered nutritional value to be the most important factor when buying food, and only 49 per cent placed it among their top five criteria. | Scientists compared the price of healthy and unhealthy foods for 10 years .
Healthy food costs increased from £5.65 for 1,000 calories to £7.49 in 2012 .
Unhealthy food only rose from £1.77 to £2.50 per 1,000 calories from 2002 .
Cambridge University researchers said action was needed on healthy food .
High costs, they discovered, were caused by agriculture policy . |
92,873 | 0374a0f682a7926fbef93d100c4728091c8f50fa | Bill Gates has bought an $18 million horse farm in San Diego from weight-loss guru Jenny Craig. The 200-acre ranch features a guest house, office, four barns, a mile-long racetrack, and sprawling fields. It is likely to be a second home for the Microsoft billionaire, and a second racing track for his 18-year-old daughter Jennifer, an avid horse rider. But it comes amid outrage over Gates's first equestrian estate in Florida where he allegedly pays $250 a day in fines for illegally dumping manure. Scroll down for video . Sprawling: The billionaire Gates family will enjoy 200 acres of fields and racing tracks on Jenny Craig's San Diego ranch after buying it for $18 million . Bespoke: Guests will be treated to panoramic views of the racing track with floor-to-ceiling windows in the study, which comes complete with trophy cupboards . Town inspectors in Wellington, Florida, claim the livestock manure dump on Gates' $8.7 million sprawling property is only 18.75 feet from a narrow pond, while Wellington's code mandates that it be at least 100 feet away. According to Page Six, the businessman - who is worth around $80 billion - has racked up $40,000 in daily fines so far. A second code violation apparently relates to Gates not having a proper permit for the storage bin in the first place. However, he appears unfazed by the furor as he sealed a multi-million deal for a second ranch just days after the allegations emerged. Paseana Ranch - named after the first champion horse owned by Craig and her late husband - is lined with palm trees, with floor-to-ceiling windows looking out onto the landscape. It is being sold by real estate agents Catherine and Jason Barry of Barry Estates who deal in opulent properties for the extremely rich and famous. Inside, the Gates family will enjoy bespoke wooden surfacing, wooden eaves on sloped ceilings, and numerous trophy cabinets. In the vast outdoors, Gates plans to build a grand prix track for hunters and jumpers. Craig first put the property up for sale in 2010 for $30 million, but was forced to revise the price to $25 million before taking it off the market in fall 2012. Delighted: Jenny Craig would not reveal Gates (right) bought her ranch but said she was delighted a family with enough wealth to transform it . Extensive: There is space for 34 horses in the stables at Paseana Ranch, named after Craig's first champion mule. But the Gates already have another ranch . Plans: Bill Gates plans to build a grand prix track for hunters and jumpers to visit the center which is lined with palm trees and has a mile-long racing track . Horse-riding fans: Craig, like the Gates family, is an avid horse rider - made plain by the numerous framed photos and paintings and statues of racing horses . Old fashioned: The living room, decorated with horse-themed curtains and pillows, has a heavy oak table, wooden eaves, and polished flooring . Rise and shine: With small wood-paneled windows letting the San Diego sun shine in every morning, the Gates family will enjoy a sunlit breakfast at this kitchen bar . Luscious: Craig said she is delighted her ranch has been bought by a family with the wealth to maintain the impeccable grounds and elevate it even more . Community: Craig has used the racing track as a facility for horse riders across San Diego and hopes the Gates family will do the same . Towering: The property's buildings are shrouded by trees on the California hills with rambling mountains in the background . Finally, the Gates snapped up the ranch for $18 million - despite it not being listed with any real estates agents. 'I was happy that the buyer is someone who can afford to turn it into the showplace it was meant to be,' Craig said, refusing to name the buyer. 'It will be kept as a horse barn so the neighbors will be thrilled... the person who bought it will make it like it can and should be.' A spokesman for the Gates family told the San Diego Tribune: 'The family has enjoyed visiting the San Diego area with friends and family for many years and has purchased the Rancho Paseana property in Rancho Santa Fe, California.' | Microsoft billionaire Bill Gates paid $18 million for the San Diego ranch that wasn't even on the market .
Jenny Craig first put it on the market for $30 million in 2010 but took it off in fall 2012 when it didn't sell .
He already has an equestrian farm in Wellington, Florida, where his 18-year-old daughter competitively rides .
Despite controversy over family 'illegally dumping manure' at first ranch they have big renovations plans at new one . |
160,237 | 5b1fe1465fe3f7802174b6301b1e4f04d323c050 | Vernon Kay looks ahead to this Sunday night’s contest between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Carolina Panthers, which will be shown live on Channel 4. The Panthers lead the way in the NFC South with two wins from their opening two games this season. The Steelers, meanwhile, will be looking to bounce back from their heavy loss against AFC North rivals Baltimore last Thursday. I’m very excited to have a first look at the Panthers on Channel 4 this season for one reason– Cam Newton (if he plays). He is too big a player to risk but on the flip side he is too big a player not to have in the game. Ever since we saw a first glimpse of Cam at Auburn, when he won the National Championship in college, he excited a lot of people in the NFL. He was the start of this new breed of quarterback that it seems RG3 has made famous – being able to run and pass. But I think Newton was the originator for this breed. If you watch the way he plays, with confidence and a smile on his face, that’s why it’s always exciting to see him on our screens. Carolina are 2-0 at the moment, and if head coach Ron Rivera can carry on the momentum from last season then they’ve got a real chance of getting into the play-offs. Atlanta are strong as well. They absolutely destroyed the Buccaneers on Thursday night, and I think the Buccaneers will struggle this year. Cam Newton reacts after throwing a touchdown during the impressive dismantling of the Detroit Lions . Newton celebrates with Panthers fans after victory over Detroit which took the Panthers to 2-0 . But the surprise in that division is the Saints. It’s not like them to start off 0-2 and go on a losing streak straight from the off. But I think it gives Carolina a real opportunity to make some headway in the division and then into the play-offs. If Newton can get fit and stay fit, then they have a great chance. My only concern is that they use Greg Olsen as their primary receiver since the loss of Steve Smith – who joined the Baltimore Ravens. Their go-to receiver is a tight end and it’s debatable whether that can be the case. We’ve seen it with Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski in New England, and with Drew Brees and Jimmy Graham in New Orleans, but I think Carolina will miss having a go-to wide receiver. Cam likes to scramble out of the pocket and that is a great bonus for the receivers because it draws the defensive backs down to the line of scrimmage. With Cam’s scrambling ability, it gives the wide receivers the opportunity to stay wide open. For the Panthers to improve, they need to establish the run game. They have DeAngelo Williams at running back. He is averaging 5.1 yards per carry, which is good, but you need a solid run game. If you have a running game it asks questions of a defense and their ability to read the run and read the pass. Greg Olsen (right) is used as a go-to receiver, and he attempts to evade the Lions' Stephen Tulloch . If fit, tailback DeAngelo Williams, who trained for the first time in a week on Friday, is a boon to the offense . San Diego at Buffalo, 6pm . Tennessee at Cincinnati, 6pm . Baltimore at Cleveland, 6pm . Green Bay at Detroit, 6pm . Indianapolis at Jacksonville, 6pm . Oakland at New England, 6pm . Minnesota at New Orleans, 6pm . Houston at New York Giants, 6pm . Washington at Philadelphia, 6pm . Dallas at St Louis, 6pm . San Francisco at Arizona, 9.05pm . Kansas City at Miami, 9.25pm . Denver at Seattle, 9.25pm . Pittsburgh at Carolina, 1.30am . On the defense, they have Luke Kuechly – what a player! He has got to be in the top three linebackers in the league. Kuechly is the new breed of defensive athlete. If you look at his physical build, he’s 238lbs and that is quite light for a linebacker. But he’s got fantastic speed, knows the game and can read the game very well. I would definitely make the Panthers favourites to win the NFC South now. At the start of the season I would have gone for the Saints. But they lost their quarterback coach Joe Lombardi, who went to Detroit to become their offensive coordinator. Even with Drew Brees at quarterback they’ll struggle to catch up with the Panthers. If the Panthers can build momentum and get Newton fully fit, I would put money on them to win that division. As for Pittsburgh, the loss to Baltimore was a tough game for everyone because of the Ray Rice situation. The atmosphere and build-up to the game wasn’t around football, it was on an off-field matter that took the shine off that game. The hard-hitting Luke Kuechly (right) is the defensive rookie of the year and gets to grips with Calvin Johnson . The game on Sunday against the Panthers will be crucial for the Steelers to establish themselves. They need to get their running back Le’Veon Bell going. He’s averaging 5.3 yards per carry but I don’t think he looks confident. He’s also their second most successful receiver so they’re not going deep that much, they’re throwing it in the flat to the running backs. Antonio Brown has had one touchdown for 206 yards so far which is not bad. The receptions are pretty much spread out between Brown (12), Bell (11) and Markus Wheaton (11). So you can tell what they’re trying to do with the passing game. But they need to get their running game going as well with Bell and there is something about him that looks a bit nervous. The AFC North is the most ridiculous division ever because you have got bitter rivalries in this division. Being a Bolton Wanderers fan, it is like Bolton, Bury and Burnley. It’s that type of nitty-gritty division where they are all working-class towns and the football team is pivotal to the community. Antonio Brown (centre) has been the Steelers' most successful receiver so far this season . Ben Roethlisberger has shed the pounds in the post-season and looks more mobile than in recent seasons . With the rise of the Bengals as well, they’ve had a great start. I don’t think it’s a surprise after they gave their quarterback Andy Dalton a massive boost by giving him a massive contract. It took the pressure off him and the team, not having to worry about having an established quarterback. I always like the Ravens. With John Harbaugh as head coach, even though what they’ve gone through has been tricky for everyone involved with the franchise, I think they know how to win. Big Ben looks like he’s worked really hard during the off-season. He’s still a big lad but hasn’t got that paunch and he looks as agile and mobile as ever. He is the key for the Steelers and I don’t think that will change for a long time. Roethlisberger has a great relationship with head coach Mike Tomlin and they have got faith in him as a quarterback. If you look at his Super Bowl victories, I think he thrives under pressure. He can really pull it out of the bag when needed and that’s the type of player I like – one that’s got balls. Like John Elway had back in the 1980s, he never gave up. Vernon Kay presents NFL: The American Football Show, Mondays at 11pm on Channel 4. This Sunday night Channel 4 will broadcast live coverage of the Pittsburgh Steelers versus the Carolina Panthers . | Carolina Panthers take on Pittsburgh Steelers in Sunday night game on C4 .
Panthers are 2-0 after wins over Buccaneers and Lions this season .
Steelers beat Browns in opening game but lost to Ravens in week two .
Cam Newton is struggling with injury problems but looks set to play . |
281,475 | f89d2409b475e62cac191c453d97cad1a025ca14 | By . Sam Webb . Support: Royal Marine Sergeant Alexander Blackman's wife and mother have defended their son and argued he should be released . The wife of a Royal Marine jailed for life for murdering a wounded Taliban insurgent in Afghanistan says he 'bitterly regrets' the killing and should be released because 'he poses no threat to society'. Sergeant Alexander Blackman, 39, is serving at least ten years after being found guilty of killing the severely wounded captive in Afghanistan. Last year a court martial board found Blackman - known as 'Marine A' during the trial - guilty of murdering the insurgent who had been seriously injured in an attack by an Apache helicopter in Helmand more than two years ago. The killing was captured on a camera on his helmet and afterwards he told two men with him: 'Obviously this doesn’t go anywhere fellas. I just broke the Geneva Convention.' His family has told a documentary to be broadcast tonight that he was doing 'what he was sent out to do'. His wife Claire Blackman, 42, from Taunton, Somerset, told the BBC: 'He does bitterly regret it but hindsight is a wonderful thing. 'There were so many other factors embroiled in that decision. He was in charge of all of those other lads who were in a really, really dangerous situation. 'They didn't know who else was around on the ground. They had an insurgent who had clearly had explosives on him in their midst. 'The trouble is we are trying very hard . to rationalise something that happened in a warzone, in a different . country, on the other side of the world, in circumstances that none of . us will ever begin to understand. 'Bottom line, Al is no risk to society.' Shooting: Footage captured by a camera mounted on the helmet of a Royal Marine showing Sgt Blackman during a patrol in Afghanistan in which an insurgent was killed . Blackman's mother Frances has also told a BBC One documentary to be broadcast on tonight that her son was doing his job. She said: 'In my letters I write to him, I always put "I am very proud of you son, you haven’t disgraced yourself, you haven’t disgraced us".' She added: 'He was doing his duty to the country, and everybody in this country and the Queen and that’s what he was sent out to do, to get rid of the insurgents.' His sister, Melody, said: 'I’ll love him no matter what and I know he’s had to make different choices that I wouldn’t want to have to make personally, but it’s war'. After his sentencing on December 6, Blackman said he was 'devastated' at being handed a life sentence. Footage: Before a video of the murder came to light, Blackman was being considered for promotion to Colour Sergeant . He has said he feels ashamed at his actions, describing them as 'a stupid lack of self-control and lapse in judgment' Two other Marines were acquitted. Charges against a further two were previously discontinued. Blackman, who denied murder, had 15 years’ experience in the Royal Marines, having joined in 1998, and was in charge of Command Post Omar in Helmand during Operation Herrick 14 in 2011. He has said he feels ashamed at his actions, describing them as 'a stupid lack of self-control and lapse in judgment'. ‘Marine A: Criminal or Casualty of War?’ is on BBC One at 10.35pm today. The footage was captured by a camera mounted on the helmet of a Royal Marine in the aftermath of a helicopter attack in Helmand. He shot the unknown insurgent in the . chest but said he believed the man was already dead and he was taking . out his anger on a corpse. As the fighter lies on the floor convulsing and struggling for breath, Sgt Blackman tells him: 'There you are. Shuffle off this mortal coil you c***. It’s nothing you wouldn’t do to us.' He then turned to his comrades and said: 'Obviously this doesn’t go anywhere fellas. I just broke the Geneva Convention.' Blackman is the first British serviceman to be found guilty of murder during combat since the Second World War. Blackman completed tours of Iraq, . Afghanistan and Northern Ireland during his military career, and before a . video of the murder came to light, he was being considered for . promotion to Colour Sergeant. | Sergeant Alexander Blackman fired on the injured fighter as he lay dying .
He is serving at least 10 years after being found guilty of murder .
His wife Claire says 'Al is no risk to society' and should be released .
Mother Frances says he was only doing 'what he was sent out to do'
She tells him: 'You haven't disgraced yourself, you haven't disgraced us' |
49,733 | 8c948233e840aea1103a63a7e276dd14875c3be1 | The wife of a former NFL player has said the league did more to protect her enraged husband than to help her when she called for help as he was smashing the walls of their home with a baseball bat. Dewan Smith-Williams says she called her husband Wally Williams' NFL liaison and was told: 'Don't call the police.' Ms Smith-Williams is speaking out about the abuse the says she suffered at her husband's hands to help raise awareness about the spouses of violent NFL players. Cry for help: Dewan Smith-Williams says when her husband became violent, she called his NFL liaison, who told her, 'Don't call the police' The league's handling of the Ray Rice domestic violence arrest has engulfed professional football in scandal and threatens to undercut the popularity of the most profitable sport in America. Rice was suspended for just two games after he was charged. When video from the incident emerged last week that showed him punching his then-fiance and knocking her out, fans were outraged. The league responded by banning Rice indefinitely - despite claims that officials had already seen the video. Ms Smith-Williams told the New York Daily News that the NFL offered her no help when she hid in fear from her 6-foot-2 offensive lineman husband while he was playing for the New Orleans Saints. Williams retired from the NFL in 2003, after ten seasons. 'He went and got a baseball bat and was hitting the walls and doors. I ran into a room, shut the door and called his NFL liaison to say I was really afraid,' she told the Daily News. Wally Williams, right, played ten years in the NFL as an offensive lineman - retiring in 2003 . The liaison told her: 'Don’t call the police, we’ll handle it.’ She says she was instructed to let her husband leave the house and that the NFL liaison would call her back to make sure she was OK. She never got a return phone call, she claims. Mr Williams, currently a football commentator on CBS sports radio in Baltimore, could not be reached for comment. She says NFL teams, league officials and even the police 'turn their heads to everything until something horrible is exposed.' Ms Smith-Williams is still married to her husband - though they live separately. She left him and moved to Ohio, where she became a psychiatric nurse who deals with victims of domestic abuse. | Dewan Smith-Williams says she begged her husband Wally Williams' NFL liaison for help and help never came .
Ms Smith-Williams accuses the NFL and even police of turning their heads when it comes to domestic violence . |
64,823 | b81879150492b2efc5d9d7ac11cf6cd5e49058b6 | Newcastle are reviving interest in signing Wilfried Zaha from Manchester United. The former Crystal Palace winger had hoped to be a part of Louis van Gaal's plans at Old Trafford, but Alan Pardew believes that he may be available this summer. Pardew had expressed an interest in taking Zaha on loan last January, but the young Englishman moved to Cardiff City instead. Wanted: Zaha in action against Newcastle in one of his few appearances for Manchester United . Playing time: The winger was on loan at Cardiff last season but wants to stay at Old Trafford . Zaha endured an immensely disappointing first season at Old Trafford under David Moyes, where the England under-21 international failed to start a single match in the Barclays Premier League before going out on loan. Zaha was Sir Alex Ferguson’s final signing as Manchester United manager, joining the club in a £15million deal and on a five-and-a-half year contract. Benched: Zaha failed to make an impression after being signed by Sir Alex Ferguson last summer . The player himself would rather stay in Manchester, with van Gaal's reputation for developing young talent a major attraction, but is understood to want at least some first team football. | Zaha wants to stay at Old Trafford .
Louis van Gaal yet to decide if he wants to keep the £15m winger .
Alan Pardew keen on signing the former Palace man . |
129,467 | 335817580d04169912c8d0c38224b957a8f420ed | By . Ian Drury and David Williams . PUBLISHED: . 16:47 EST, 3 June 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 02:06 EST, 4 June 2012 . A British charity worker rescued in a dramatic SAS raid in Afghanistan was hours from being executed. David Cameron ordered crack soldiers to storm remote caves where Helen Johnston was being held after receiving intelligence the kidnappers planned to sell her to the Taliban. All four captors guarding Miss Johnston, 28, were killed in seconds during the ‘surgical’ strike by 28 Special Forces troops. Safe and sound: Rescued British hostage Helen Johnston arrives in Kabul following her kidnap ordeal . Military chiefs pinpointed the location – a place known as the Valley of the Ants – after a US Predator drone ‘locked on’ to electronic signals from one of the hostages’ mobile phones. The Prime Minister authorised the raid amid fears the gang were preparing to kill Miss Johnston and her three female colleagues or hand them over to hardline insurgents. A defence source said: ‘She was in . immediate danger. One option they were looking at was flogging the . hostages on to the Taliban so we couldn’t wait a second longer. ‘If . she had been passed to a more ideologically-motivated group, her life . would have been in even more serious danger. The prospect did not bear . thinking about. Brave: Helen Johnston was freed on Friday after being kidnapped on May 22 in Badakhshan province . ‘Thankfully, everything fell into place for the operation – it was a textbook mission.’ Last night, Miss Johnston was safe and well in the Afghan capital Kabul. In a remarkable show of fortitude, the nutritionist – who has spoken to her family in Britain – is considering continuing her aid work in Afghanistan. Mr Cameron called Miss Johnston, from Stoke Newington in East London, after she arrived at the British Embassy. The Prime Minister hailed the soldiers who took part in the ‘extraordinarily brave, breath-taking operation’. In a warning to terrorists, he added: ‘If they take British citizens as hostage, they can expect a swift and brutal end.’ Following the rescue in the early hours of Saturday, Miss Johnston’s family said in a statement: ‘We are delighted and hugely relieved by the wonderful news that Helen and all her colleagues have been freed. ‘We are deeply grateful to everyone involved in her rescue.’ The ordeal began on May 22 when Miss Johnston, Kenyan medic Moragwe Oirere, 26, and two Afghan women were snatched at gunpoint as they travelled on horseback in Badakhshan, a lawless province in north-east Afghanistan. The women, employed by Swiss non-governmental organisation Medair, were visiting flood victims. Rescue: The dramatic raid took place at 2am in Shahr-e-Bozorgd district, in a large forested area near the Tajikistan border called Koh-e-Laran . The bandits, a criminal gang in contact with Taliban fighters, demanded a £7million ransom and the release from jail of a colleague held for murder and drugs. They threatened to kill the hostages, prompting the Government’s emergency committee Cobra, which met each day during the crisis, to draw up rescue plans. But the breakthrough came when military chiefs got an ‘electronic lock’ on to signals from one of the hostages’ mobile phones before its battery lost power. This meant they could pinpoint the exact location of the captives to a cave network inside the Koh-e-Laram forest, close to the border with Tajikistan. Special Forces ‘eyes on the ground’ were monitoring the gang’s movements, although it is not clear if the troops were British or American. Relieved: David Cameron gave the go-ahead for this morning's rescue of Helen Johnson, who had been working for a Swiss-based aid organisation . Kidnappers' lair: Aid worker Helen Johnston was held in a cave-dwelling complex . Fears for the women’s safety heightened on Wednesday when a member of the Taliban was overheard in an intercepted mobile phone conversation urging the kidnappers to put on a ‘show of intent’. This was interpreted by military chiefs that at least one hostage could be executed on video to increase pressure on negotiators. The SAS mission was given the go-ahead by the Prime Minister at an emergency meeting in London at 3pm on Friday. Heroic: The SAS were helicoptered to the cave where the hostages were being held and stormed it, killing the kidnappers and releasing all four captives alive . Wearing night-vision goggles, the troops watched the caves until two kidnappers emerged. They were shot dead with silenced weapons, and the soldiers entered the cave and shot the two remaining guards. None of the soldiers was injured. The hostages, all unharmed, were airlifted to safety in RAF helicopters. A simultaneous raid by US troops on a cave network nearby left another seven gang members dead. A military source said: ‘This was a classic operation. All the bases were covered and it was executed brilliantly. The strike was made with surgical precision.’ Dead of night: Troops stormed the cave at 1am, in a bid to surprise the hostage takers while they were asleep . Badakhstan: The hostages were held in a mountainous region close to the border with Tajikistan . | David Cameron authorised the dramatic cave rescue of the aid worker .
Helen Johnston arrived in Kabul after her hostage ordeal came to end with a daring SAS recuse .
The 27-year-old is recovering in the Afghan capital, having been flown in from the north eastern province of Badakhshan .
Troops took part in 'long march' to remote cave where hostages were held, without being spotted .
SAS officers then arrived by helicopter stormed the cave in the dead of night .
All four hostages rescued safe and no troops injured in operation . |
243,628 | c7570037e7914ed721c3a44b42c3bb79bde89aec | By . Victoria Woollaston . PUBLISHED: . 07:07 EST, 6 March 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 07:24 EST, 6 March 2014 . As the firm gears up to finally release its flying car next year, engineers from Massachusetts-based Terrafugia are set to reveal how the Transition was created. During a webinar, scheduled to take place later today, Mark Corriere and Nicholas Tucker will discuss the design and development process, as well as talk about the challenges involved in building an aircraft that can also be driven on land. The Transition took part in two 20-minute flight demonstrations in July and is still going through tests needed to earn it federal certification. The online event is being hosted by Nasa and will begin at 1pm EST (6pm GMT). Scroll down for videos . Engineers from Massachusetts-based Terrafugia will discuss how they designed and developed the Transition flying car, pictured, set to go on sale in 2015. The online event is being hosted by Nasa and will begin at 1pm EST (6pm GMT) today . The Transition can reach speeds of around 70 miles . per hour on the road and 115 in the air. It flies using a 23-gallon tank of automotive fuel and burns 5 . gallons per hour in the air. On the ground, it gets 35 miles per gallon. The Transition has rear-wheel drive when on the road. It comes with two passenger airbags, and a full-vehicle parachute. The flying car is 2m tall, 2.3m wide and 6m long with a wingspan of 8m. The Transition vehicle is part-sedan, part-private jet and is due to go on sale as early as 2015, although it may be released in 2016. It has been in . development for seven years and during flight testing in 2012, it . successfully flew for eight minutes. The vehicle was then driven around the EAA AirVenture Oshkosh air show in July before . transitioning into the jet and taking off on two 20-minute flight . demonstrations. The Terrafugia has two seats, four wheels and wings that fold up so it can be driven . like a car. It can carry two people, including the pilot, plus luggage and runs on unleaded petrol. In a statement, the company said: 'Developing a practical vehicle that simultaneously satisfies road and aircraft regulations to become a true 'flying car' presents significant engineering challenges. 'Yet this is what the team at Terrafugia has achieved with their proof-of-concept vehicle, which has been flying and driving for the past 2 years. 'In the webinar, Terrafugia will discuss the design process for the composite structure of the Transition airframe and the role and benefits of physics based simulation.' In a statement, the company said: 'In the webinar, Terrafugia will discuss the design process for the composite structure of the Transition airframe and the role and benefits of physics based simulation' Phil Meteer, Terrafugia's Chief Test Pilot and Flight Test Coordinator is pictured driving the Transition vehicle. The part-sedan, part- private jet has been in development for seven years and is still going through tests need to achieve federal certification . Terrafugia has already pushed back the launch once. In 2012, the company said it would have to delay deliveries . due to design challenges and problems with parts suppliers. Transition is considered to be a light sports plane by the U.S Federal Aviation Administration, as well as being a road car. Owners will have to have pilot's licenses, and will need to . pass a test, plus complete 20 hours of flying time to be able to fly the car. The Transition made its first public flights, pictured, soaring for a total of 40 minutes over the EAA AirVenture Oshkosh aviation show in Wisconsin in July . The Transition, pictured, can reach speeds of around 70 miles per hour on the road and 115 in the air. It flies using a 23-gallon tank of automotive fuel and burns 5 gallons per hour in the air. The flying car is 2m tall, 2.3m wide and 6m long with a wingspan, pictured, of 8m . The Transition's cockpit, pictured, has two seats and four wheels. It has wings that fold up so it can be driven like a car and can carry luggage. The vehicle runs on unleaded petrol . Despite . the advances in technology the Transition demonstrates, critics have . said that it is still not the vision of flying cars seen in many sci-fi . films. To answer these critics, Terrafugia also released designs for a TF-X Model of its Transition range in May last year. The TF-X model will be small enough to fit in a garage and won't need a runway to take off. Whereas the Transition requires a . runway, the TF-X can take off from a vertical position because of . motorised rotors on the wings. This shot was taken by a camera fixed to one of the Transition's wing during its public flight over Wisconsin. The 20-minute demonstrations included flight manoeuvres over the show centre, converting from airplane to car, and driving along the flight line . The Transition flying car, built by Terrafugia, making a banking turn in the sky above Massachusetts. The car flew for eight minutes at 1,400 feet during test flights last year, before completing the public flights in Wisconsin in July . These rotors will work in a similar way to helicopter rotors. Being able to take off from standstill means owners will be able to go from the road to the air straight from their driveways, car parks and even when stuck in traffic. Although you will still need at least 100 ft in diameter in order to open the wings. According to Terrafugia, the vehicle will carry four people 'in car-like comfort'. It is expected to be able to fly, nonstop, for 500 miles. This shot shows the Transition plane switching from drive mode to fly mode. The wings fold into the side of the car, built from a Sedan design. Drivers can only take off in the Transition from a runway. The Transition has a maximum flight speed of 115mph . A Terrafugia test pilot fills up the Transition flying car with petrol. The Transition can hold 23 gallons of usable fuel and uses 5 gallons per hour during flight. On the ground, it gets 35 miles per gallon . When the TF-X - a new flying car design announced by Massachusetts-based firm Terrafugia - is in drive mode, the wings fold into the side of the car and the rotors, which make it possible to take off in the TF-X from standing still, also fold away and tuck into the chassis . The TF-X model has not been tested yet, and prices haven't been announced. Terrafugia hopes to have working models of the TF-X available for sale within eight to 12 years. Like with the Transition, pilots will need 20 hours of flying and a pilot's licence to drive it, though. The flying car has always had a special place in the American imagination. Inventors have been trying to make them since the 1930s, according to Robert Mann, an airline industry analyst who owns R.W. Mann & Co. in Port Washington, New York. When the wings are folded away, the TF-X will be small enough to fit in a single-car garage. Terrafugia announced plans for the TF-X today and is hoping it will be road-ready in 12 years . When its not soaring in the air, the Transition's wings fold up, pictured, to make it a road-ready two-seat car . But Mann thinks Terrafugia has come closer than anyone to making the flying cars a reality. The . government has already granted the company's request to use special tyres and glass that are lighter than normal automotive ones, to make it . easier for the vehicle to fly. The government has also temporarily exempted the Transition from the requirement to equip vehicles with electronic stability control, which would add about six pounds to the vehicle. Mann said Terrafugia was helped by the Federal Aviation Administration's decision five years ago to create a separate set of standards for light sport aircraft. The standards govern the size and speed of the plane and licensing requirements for pilots, which are less restrictive than requirements for pilots of larger planes. Inventors and engineers have been working on the flying car concept since the 1930s. Here, a 1947 Convair Model 118 ConvAirCar is seen in flight . The 1930s Waterman Aerobile, pictured, was the first simple flying car to successfully be produced. A total of five were built and flown . Mann questions the size of the market for the Transition. The general aviation market has been in decline for two decades, he said, largely because of fuel costs and the high cost of liability for manufacturers. Also, fewer people are learning how to fly. 'This is not going to be an inexpensive aircraft to produce or market,' he said. 'It has some uniqueness, and will get some sales, but the question is, could it ever be a profitable enterprise?' Mann sees the western US as the most likely market, where people could fly instead of driving long distances. | The £166,000 ($279,000) Transition is part-sedan, part-private jet .
It is due to go on sale in 2015 from Massachusetts-based firm Terrafugia .
Engineers will discuss the vehicle's development during a webinar .
Event is being hosted by Nasa and starts at 1pm EST (6pm GMT)
The flying car made two 20-minute flight demonstrations last August .
It is going through other testing needed to earn federal certification . |
77,560 | dbee455427a792c2b96ee6686fec994e26c6f90e | By . Sara Smyth . PUBLISHED: . 06:24 EST, 3 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 07:09 EST, 3 May 2013 . When most drivers have a prang, they can expect the dreaded repair bill to run into hundreds or maybe even thousands of pounds. But for owners of a £175,000 motor, the damage to car and wallet can be much more severe. This was the case for the driver of a white Lamborghini Murcielago who crashed his supercar into a parked Ford Focus and Vauxhall Astra. The crash ripped the £175,000 luxury car apart, as it drove under a railway bridge in Leeds. Lamborghini models are named after bullfighters. The two-door, two-seat Murcielago costs up to £175,000 . The front and rear of the vehicle were torn apart. The vehicle came to a stop on a kerb against a tall wire fence . A policeman attends the scene of the crash in Leeds. The driver lost control of his car on a bend under a railway bridge. Police are investigating the incident . The 31-year-old driver lost control of his vehicle on a bend in the road and smashed into three parked cars in the lay by.The two-door, two-seat Italian car came to a stop against a fence. Debris from the smash including huge pieces of the Lamborghini, was left strewn across the road and pavement. The collsion took place on Thursday morning and is said to have left two stationery vehicles 'undriveable'. The Lamborghini driver was not hurt in the crash. A witness said: 'I heard an almighty crash . behind me and turned around to find the car stuck in the fence and smoke . billowing out of it. 'I thought he could be seriously injured and was ready to call an ambulance. 'I also thought the car might catch fire. Pieces of the £175,000 high-powered sports car were strewn across the road and pavement after the crash . The scene of the crash, by a railway bridge. Three parked cars were smashed into when the Lamborghini driver lost control of his vehicle . A yellow Lamborghini Murcielago before it left the showroom. The car can reach speeds of 205 mph. It was made between 2001 and 2010 . 'Then the door opened - in that Lamborghini style - and I asked him if he was all right and he said he was fine.' The . Murcielago model was produced between 2001 and 2010 by luxury Italian . brand. There are less than 4,000 in existence and cost up to £175,000 if . new. Police and Yorkshire Ambulance Service attended the scene. An investigation into the collision is underway. | 31-year-old man crashed luxury car into Ford Focus and Vauxhall Astra .
Ripped sports car apart when crashed into cars parked in lay by in Leeds . |
172,830 | 6baf64e5560018f720bd08a9e18d04585c692281 | Las Vegas (CNN) -- A shooting and a fiery crash left three people dead in the neon heart of the Las Vegas Strip on Thursday, and police scrambled to find out who triggered the carnage. The bloodshed closed the Strip for about a block and a half around some of its biggest draws, leaving tourists gaping at a wrecked Maserati, a burned-out taxi and four other vehicles. "First time in Vegas, and then, like, the whole thing, what you know from movies only -- I was shocked," Christine Gerstenberger, who was visiting the desert gambling mecca from Germany, said Thursday afternoon. She and her brothers debated going back to the hotel "because I'm totally scared," but "We're too curious," she said. See iReporter's video of fire . One of those killed was Kenneth Cherry Jr. -- a rapper also known as Kenny Clutch -- his attorney Vicki Greco said. According to his Facebook page, Cherry is from Oakland, California, and lived in Las Vegas. Cherry's death was shocking, Greco said. "Out of everyone I know in the rapping industry there is no way I would have ever, ever expected to find that he was shot on the Las Vegas strip in such an aggressive manner," said Greco, who said Cherry had two kids. "He didn't have a (criminal) record or a history. He was just a good kid trying to make it and be a good father." Four of the Nevada city's biggest casinos -- Caesars Palace, the Bellagio, Bally's and the Flamingo -- are nearby, and police collected surveillance-camera video from them to help the probe. Also killed in the incident was a cab driver named Michael Boldon, CNN affiliate KVVU reported. His family is devastated by the death of the 62-year-old cab driver, his brother Tehran Boldon told the affiliate. "It is gut-wrenching," a tearful Tehran Boldon told KVVU. "My life mission would be to see them punished and brought to justice for the senseless thing they did." It started around 4:20 a.m. with a dispute in the valet lot of the Aria Hotel, about a block away, Sheriff Douglas Gillespie said. Investigators haven't confirmed the cause of the altercation, but he said it spilled onto the street as someone in a black Range Rover Sport fired several shots at the Maserati as it headed north on Las Vegas Boulevard. When the driver was hit, the Maserati continued into the intersection of the boulevard and Flamingo Road and collided with a taxi, which caught fire. The sports car's driver, the cab driver and a passenger in the taxi all died; a passenger in the Maserati and three other people in the resulting pileup were hurt, Gillespie said. The Maserati's passenger and other witnesses are helping detectives piece together what happened, he said. And the "top priority" for police is to find the Range Rover, which sped away from the intersection, and those inside it when the shooting happened. "This act is totally unacceptable, and we are going to make a very clear message to these individuals in regards to that," Gillespie said. Police in neighboring states have been asked to look for the sport-utility vehicle, and Gillespie warned the occupants should be considered armed and dangerous. "Clearly, the suspects have no regard for the lives and safety of others," he said. The Range Rover had an out-of-state dealer plate, tinted windows and large, black rims, Las Vegas Police Sgt. John Sheahan said. The block around the crash remained closed off into Thursday afternoon. John Lamb, who was inside Caesars Palace, told CNN affiliate KLAS he heard the commotion and saw the taxi on fire from a window. "There was a loud bang, and I hear two other booms. I looked out my window at Caesars Palace ... and could see the fireball," he told KLAS. Man kills 3, himself in Southern California shooting . CNN's Cristy Lenz, Matt Smith, Tom Watkins, Jason Hanna and Deanna Hackney contributed to this report. | NEW: Kenneth Cherry Jr., a rapper known as Kenny Clutch, was killed, his lawyer says .
Gunfire and a fiery crash kill 3 in the heart of Las Vegas Strip .
Casino visitor describes seeing "fireball" from Caesars Palace .
Police are looking for a black Range Rover Sport with large black rims . |
27,008 | 4ca239d5c2f26470dec83aee987dab970a41811e | By . Emily Allen . PUBLISHED: . 06:36 EST, 17 August 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 07:56 EST, 17 August 2012 . An injured cuckoo who was flown business class to Italy to catch up with her migration trip has now completed an emotional release back into the wild. Idemili, a two-year-old cuckoo, set off for her epic migration from . Brechfa Forest in Carmarthenshire, Wales, with four male companions but . soon found herself in trouble. She made it only as far as Tolworth in . Surrey, where she was discovered the worse for wear in a garden, . malnourished and emaciated and unable to carry her GPS tag which allows scientists to track her movements. Comfortable: Idemili was flown to Italy by British Airways to continue her epic journey . But after a month of care at the . Wildlife Aid Centre in nearby Leatherhead, she was flown to Italy by . British Airways to continue her epic journey, crossing the Mediterranean and . then the Sahara desert before finally arriving in the Congo. Cuckoos tend to leave England during . July or early August. Idemili was travelling in her own seat – a . business class one would have cost £379 if booked this month – and was . accompanied on the flight from Gatwick by vet nurse Lucy Kells from . Wildlife Aid. Flying high: The cuckoo settles into her business class seat - and she slept for almost all of the journey . Only the best: The cuckoo had to go through security and even had a taste of the business class lounge . Almost immediately after releasing her . the cuckoo called back to her travel partner - a touching moment which . provoked a flood of tears. Ms . Kells said: 'All through the build up to Idemili’s flight and release I . was so nervous, I just thought ‘something is going to go wrong’. 'But British Airways were amazing and everybody at the airport knew what was going on when we arrived. 'We went through the security and whizzed straight through to our business class lounge - something I’ve never experienced before. 'We didn’t have to queue to get onto the plane either - in fact everyone parted to let us through - we were treated like royalty, it was surreal. 'Idemili was very brave throughout the flight, she actually slept the whole way and it was me that was constantly leaning over to see if she was OK. 'She is such an awesome bird and a real calm character.' The pair touched down in Turin and . were greeted by two University of Turin students, Dan Chamberlain and . Enrico Caprio, who had helped organise Idemili’s release. She was let off into the wild from the Association Center for Storks in Racconigi near Turin. The plan was to release the Idemili the day after arriving but Ms Kells felt it was in the bird’s best interests to do it sooner rather than later. Flying without wings: British Airways staff carry the cuckoo through the terminal before she was released . And as the Association Centre had heard the call of a nearby cuckoo very recently, it was agreed to release that same day. Ms Kells added: . 'I am so grateful to Dan and Enrico, they knew exactly what the best . release site was for Idemili - it was a gorgeous place. 'Actually letting her go was very . emotional as I had got quite attached to her - there were a few tears . shed, but it was happy crying. 'I think the sudden realisation set in that I would probably never see her again, but it was a moving experience. Free: The cuckoo was let off into the wild from the Association Center for Storks in Racconigi near Turin . 'She . didn’t fly straight off but instead went and sat pruning herself in a . tree for about half an hour and feasted on the many caterpillars on the . tree. 'She then called back to me which was incredible as I had never heard her make a sound in the month that I’ve known her. 'It was a real goose-bump moment but it was at that point when all my previous concerns disappeared. New life: Lucy said she had goosebumps when the cuckoo flew off but then she say pruning herself in a tree . Epic voyage: The little bird is hitching a lift to Turin in Italy on her way to the Congo . 'Part of me, selfishly, would love to know how she gets on but she is not tagged now and of course I know that is for the best. 'It was a hell of a privilege to have dealt with Idemili because in 21 years of being a vet nurse she is the first cuckoo I have seen. 'To come back without her felt really strange but it was certainly an experience I shall never forget.' She was not flown straight to Africa because at this stage of her migration it is too early. | After a month of care the cuckoo was flown to Italy to continue her migration .
The bird travelled in its own seat which would have cost a passenger £379 . |
250,946 | d0c511c60cb18208636cbd7daad442d5714c0562 | By . Jessica Jerreat . Getting accepted to college is a big moment in anyone's life but for Rion Holcombe, who has Down syndrome, it is a day he will never forget. The 20-year-old from South Carolina was filmed by his parents as he opened a letter from Clemson University. After carefully reading the letter he looks ecstatic as he turns to the camera and says, with a huge smile: 'I got accepted.' Scroll down for video . Big moment: Rion opens his letter from the Life program at Clemson University . The sports-mad youngster will join the two-year Life program at Clemson next fall, where he will experience college life while furthering his education and learning to be independent. As a student at Clemson, Rion and his new college friends will live on campus, and attend and take part in sporting events and other activities with those studying at the main university. Rion, who lives in Spartanburg, sent in a video application to the university, which shows him winning medals at swim meets, hitting home runs for his baseball team and enjoying water sports with his sister Molly and friends, as well as doing chores and going to prom. His mother, Susan Holcombe, said: 'This is an amazing two-year program for a . small number of young adults with special needs.' Shock: Rion holds his head and grins as he hears that he is going to college . Overjoyed: Rion will join Clemson University in South Carolina next fall . The heartwarming video of him getting . his acceptance letter has been viewed more than 300,000 times on YouTube . and more than 1,000 well-wishers have left comments of congratulations . under it. While it won't lead to degree, the program offers students with learning disabilities the chance to develop skills to help them in the work place. And, as the video of him receiving his college application shows, the chance to be a student is overwhelmingly exciting for Rion. Proud: Rion with his parents, Danny and Susan, and sister Molly . Champ: The sporty 20-year-old, seen here practicing his butterfly, attends swim meets and plays baseball . | Rion Holcombe, 20, will join Clemson University's Life program next fall .
Course gives learning-disabled students a taste of university life while preparing them for work and independent living . |
66,288 | bc109f029efe8304ffe180af8c9f07dba1393c50 | NEW YORK (CNN) -- Actor and political activist Ron Silver, who played a recurring role in TV's presidential drama "The West Wing," and who also let his political views play out in real life, died Sunday after a two-year battle with esophageal cancer, according to a colleague. Ron Silver is seen in this 2006 photograph. He had a recurring role in TV's "The West Wing." Robin L. Bronk, executive director of The Creative Coalition, said Silver, a New York native, died in his sleep with his family around him. "Nothing could hold Ron back, not even a debilitating illness. His contributions as an artist and activist will never be forgotten," said Bronk, who runs an organization founded in 1989 by Silver, actor Christopher Reeve and other prominent figures in the arts as a political advocacy organization for the entertainment industry. Silver's politics moved from working for the Democratic Party and its candidates for most of his life to becoming a supporter of many Republican candidates and causes, with the shift occurring after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. He was quoted as saying the terrorist attacks and the Democratic Party's policies regarding terrorism had persuaded him to become a political independent. He backed then-President George W. Bush for a second term in 2004, and he spoke at the 2004 Republican National Convention in New York. One of Silver's final television appearances was on CNN's "Larry King Live" last October, when he was part of panel discussing Sen. John McCain's campaign against then-candidate Barack Obama. Asked by King about rifts within the Republican Party as the election neared and the country's financial crisis worsened, Silver said, "The Republican Party, if they are out of power for a while, needs to regroup and rethink who they are as a party. This deregulation, this whole Reagan Revolution, did not seem to work in this crisis." Silver's many roles included playing political consultant Bruno Gianelli in "The West Wing," and attorney Alan Dershowitz in the movie "Reversal of Fortune." | Silver's many roles included playing consultant Bruno Gianelli in "The West Wing"
Silver was 62 and had been battling esophageal cancer for two years .
Silver was also known for his political activism, first for Democrats, then for GOP .
Colleague says Silver died in his sleep with his family around him . |
95,663 | 06f4dbe6d26aa6bdcb345fd7493f2c79c4224f3a | Earlier this year, a digital guru released a viral video in a bid to sell his worn-out Holden Barina. The blockbuster clip, titled Buy My Barina, amassed over one million views in a week. And with good reason: laden with sleek special effects, the clip cost over five times the value of the car. Now, Sydney based David Johns has now made a sequel video titled Barinageddon, and it takes the blockbuster standards of its forerunner to a whole new level. Sydney based David Johns has released a sequel to his viral video Buy My Barina . Barinageddon it takes the blockbuster standards of its forerunner to a whole new level . It tells the story of how a chance lightening bolt mutates the car into a rampant monster . After Buy My Barina garnered offers from all over the world, Mr Johns finally sold the car to NRMA in August, with all profits donated to Cancer Council Australia. So begins the plot for the follow up video, titled Barinageddon. Things kick off with a well-dressed Mr Johns handing the keys onto a lab coat clad NRMA scientist, who says he has some ‘very special plans for the car.’ An apprehensive Mr Johns asks: ‘She’ll be alright, wont she?’ ‘We’re just going to run a few tests’ the scientist says with an assuring smile. ‘What could possibly go wrong?’ In one scene, the panicking scientist declares: ‘The barina has escaped! No one could have predicted this!’ The slick special effects throughout the clip far transcend those in the original video . Mr Johns told Daily Mail Australia the plot was inspired by factual events. 'When I dropped off the car at the NRMA their Research facility, they had some crazy equipment there. Hailguns, stuff to test the impact of dogs in a cars. That's where we hatched the concept of this clip,' he said. 'Then they offered the use of the facility for filming - how could we turn down an opportunity like that?' During elaborate experiments with the car, a lightning bolt strikes the laboratory, shooting electrical volts into the blue Barina. This freak accident mutates the car into something nobody could have predicted: a rampaging monster hell-bent on wiping humanity. ‘The barina has escaped!’ the panicking scientist says. ‘No one could have predicted this!’ A visual of the deadly mutant barina which wreaks havoc on the city . David Johns, who is experienced in digital advertising, is planning to turn the trailer into a feature length film with a Kickstarter campaign . The car is then seen speeding around the city on the nightly news, with a reporter declaring ‘this little car is going to send us back to the stone age.’ The clip climaxes with the statement ‘It's like Armageddon...but with a Barina.’ The project is a collaboration between Mr Johns Chimney Group Asia-Pacific and the NRMA. Mr Johns says he was thrilled with the final result. 'Our 3D team in Poland did an amazing job . Have a great team of visual compositors here too that brought it all together.' Now, he plans to turn the trailer into a feature length with a little help from a Kickstarter campaign. 'I know it's an "out there" idea. But madder films have been made. If tornados can be full of sharks and snakes let loose on planes.. then why couldn't a mutated hatchback threaten humankind!' | David Johns released a viral video to sell his 1999 Holden Barina .
He sold the car to NRMA, who have collaborated with him to make a sequel .
The video shows a freak accident mutate the car into a rampant monster .
The project is a collaboration between Chimney Group and NRMA .
They are hoping to crowdfund the money to turn it into a feature length . |
93,571 | 04559536540576f87eefe52c0b2353ab75712364 | By . Gerri Peev . Interest rates could rise earlier than expected thanks to a growth in employment, putting one million mortgage-holders at risk of losing their homes. A record 30million people are in work and the trend is set to continue, says the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD). If unemployment was to fall below 7 per cent, this would prompt the Bank of England to rethink interest rates, governor Mark Carney has said. Household debt crisis: If interest rates rise faster than predicted British households could be put at risk . But a separate study suggests a rise in interest rates could leave one million homeowners in danger of defaulting on their mortgages and other debts. Citizens Advice has warned of a ‘financial ticking timebomb’ if there is even a modest rise in interest rates. Chief executive Gillian Guy said: ‘The rising cost of energy, food and travel has been absorbing any spare income people may have. In some cases there is little or nothing left to cope with larger mortgage repayments.’ Even if rates rise gently from 0.5 per cent to 3 per cent by 2018, 1.12million would spend most of their take-home pay on debt repayments, said the Resolution Foundation think-tank. Big spenders: Most of the UK's household debt is composed of mortgages, with the rest taken up with credit cards, personal lending and payday loans . And if rates rise more quickly to 5 per cent by 2018, two million would be tipped into unsustainable levels of debt. The Resolution Foundation, which based its analysis on Office for Budget Responsibility projections, said: ‘While record low interest rates have reduced current repayment costs, fewer people than we hoped have used this breathing space to pay off their debts.’ | A record 30million people are now in work .
Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development says this is set to rise .
This could prompt the Bank of England to rethink its interest rates . |
26,721 | 4bdca9e1ac41e05ac5ae28c989f08e4eac7a9d1c | By . Chris Hastings . Last updated at 5:46 PM on 4th December 2011 . Sienna Miller is to star in a harrowing new drama about film director Alfred Hitchcock’s obsession with Tippi Hedren – star of his classic The Birds – and how it destroyed both their careers. The Girl, to be screened next year, will show how an infatuated 62-year-old Hitchcock sexually harassed the 31-year-old blonde starlet and tried to control every aspect of her life – both on and off screen. Tippi suffered in silence for the best part of three years but eventually walked out when her mentor made it clear her future career depended on giving in to his sexual demands. New role: Sienna Miller, left, has met Tippi, right who she will play in film The Girl . Gwyneth Hughes, the writer of the BBC2 drama, said: ‘Everyone knows Hitchcock was keen on his blondes. Unfortunately for Tippi, he developed a twisted and obsessive love for her that left her feeling isolated and terrified. He made repeated sexual advances towards her and tried to take over her life. ‘Today we would call it sexual harassment but that concept had not been accepted back then.’ The new film is inspired by the biographer Donald Spoto’s account of the couple’s relationship in his 2008 book Spellbound By Beauty. Hitchcock’s infatuation with Tippi began in 1961 when he spotted her by chance in a television commercial for a diet drink. Convinced he had found the next Grace Kelly, the director ignored the fact that Tippi had no real acting experience and signed her up for the starring role in 1963 film The Birds. Controlling: Tippi pictured with Hitchcock at a screening of The Birds in Cannes, France in 1963 . Tippi in a scene from The Birds . The director of Psycho and Vertigo immediately set about transforming her into the perfect Hollywood icon and took control of all aspects of her life, including her off-set wardrobe and diet. Divorcee Tippi – whose daughter Melanie Griffith grew up to be a major Hollywood star in her own right – was initially grateful for the director’s attention. But she grew more and more fearful as his obsession began to spiral out of control, first on the set of The Birds and then during production on their follow-up film, Marnie. Hitchcock, who had taken to incessantly staring at Tippi between takes, banned her from sharing cars with her male co-stars and insisted that all their conversations took place in private so they could be alone together. Hitchcock's obsession with Tippi eventually destroyed both their careers . The film maker photographed to showcase the 1955 TV series, Alfred Hitchcock Presents . Sean Connery, left, and Tippi Hedren, right in a scene from Hitchock's film, Marnie . As well as bombarding her with unwanted gifts, he had her followed around town and, totally obsessed, even sent examples of her handwriting to graphologists. Tippi, who had signed a seven-year contract with the director, put up with his harassment because she was fearful he would blacklist her if she spoke out. But she finally quit when he made it clear on the set of Marnie that she would never work again unless she gave in to his sexual demands. Tippi’s decision to walk away stalled her career because Hitchcock kept her to her contract and refused to allow her to work with other directors. But the collapse of the couple’s working relationship also had a devastating impact on the director, whose long run of hit, classic movies dried up. Both Spoto and Tippi, who is now 81 and has already met Miller, 29, to discuss the role, are co-operating with the producers of the film. It will begin shooting on Thursday and will be screened on BBC2 next year. Imelda Staunton will play the director’s long-suffering wife, Alma. | Film will show how Hitchcock sexually harassed the blonde starlet and tried to .
control her life . |
116,524 | 2263f35142992ac056af11a1706723d8245fc94e | Their crude camera was smuggled into the camp in sausages and carefully hidden away in a hollowed out dictionary. The precious 8mm film stored in the soles of their home made shoes. Had they been discovered it would have likely meant a firing squad. But for a group of daring French World War Two prisoners incarcerated in a German POW camp in 1940, it was a risk worth taking. Scroll down for video . Candid camera: Footage taken using the French POWs' secret camera shows prisoners milling around the compound in the Nazis' Oflag 17a camp in Austria . And not only did they use the secret device to film daily life around the Oflag 17a camp in Austria, but they even went so far as to film the digging of a tunnel used for their own great escape. The 30 minutes of footage they captured entitled Sous Le Manteau (Under The Cloak) now serves as a unique historical record giving a fascinating glimpse into what life was really life in the Nazi-run prison camps. The incredible story of the French prisoners' secret camera is being celebrated in Paris this week after the only living prisoner who managed to escape the camp and make it back to France celebrated his 100th birthday, the BBC reports. Lt Jean Cuene-Grandidier was among 5,000 officers marched to Oflag 17a situated close to the Czechoslovakian border following their defeat in the battle of France. Covert operation: The camera was hidden in a hollowed out dictionary and the film was stored in the soles of their home-made shoes . Originally built for German troops it was a sprawling camp composed of 40 barracks and surrounded by two lines of barbed wire with lookout towers and floodlights guarding the perimeter. Life was bleak and monotonous and with little food many of the prisoners were left on the brink of starvation. But they refused to allow their spirits to be broken. Realising that when the German soldiers checked food deliveries they only cut down the middle, the prisoners arranged for camera parts to be brought in smuggled in the ends of sausages. Once assembled a hollowed out dictionary from the camp library served as the perfect hiding place with the spine of the book opening up like a shutter. High security: The camp was surrounded by two lines of barbed wire and with lookout towers and flashlights used to guard the perimeter . A cape-wearing POW is seen holding the dictionary used to hide the camera as he stands next to one of the barracks. The 30-minute film produced was entitled Sous Le Manteau (Under The Cloak) Considering the conditions and the basic equipment the quality of the footage is quite remarkable. The cameramen would become so bold they even filmed the guards tearing their barracks apart in a surprise search. But perhaps the most striking footage shows badly malnourished prisoners digging their own escape tunnel. Lt Cuene-Grandidier who has been presented with France's highest award - the Legion d'honneur, recalled the escape attempt. He said: 'In the early days we tried digging a number of tunnels from the huts in which we were barracked. 'It was viewed as a form of resistance. We were never punished. The Germans seemed to accept it, though it never worked. The distances to the wire were too great. And in any case the guards were clever. They always found the tunnels we started. They were looking for the earth we'd removed.' Brazen: A German guard is filmed walking past one of the barracks . In total the prisoners of Oflag 17a dug 32 tunnels. Most were discovered by the guards but one attempt did prove successful. The Germans had permitted the prisoners to build a theatre which they decorated with branches to obscure the view of the guards. Situated between the barracks and the wire it meant the distance they had to dig was far shorter. In addition the prisoners had been issued with shovels to dig their own air raid trenches folowing a complaint fromn the International Red Cross. Using these valuable tools they braved suffocating conditions to burrow 90m underneath the perimeter and on September 17 1943 they were ready to go. Over two nights, 132 men slipped out into the darkness. They had been provided with civilian clothes and forged papers. Each had been ordered to travel in different directions to reduce the possibility of capture. Gruelling: A French POW is seen inside the tunnel through which 132 prisoners made their escape. Only two managed to make it back to France . Lt Cuene-Grandidier recalled: 'The short length of the tunnel and the number of people inside, meant we had to lie in the foetal position. 'There was so little air. Some of the men fainted. We waited almost 10 hours to go, all the time imagining the worst; the German firing squad that would surely be waiting at the end of the tunnel.' But getting onto the other side of the perimeter was just the first step and finding themselves deep in enemy territory hundreds of miles from France, the odds were stacked against them. Of the 132 who broke out, 126 were recaptured within the first week. Only Lt Cuene-Grandidier and one other prisoner managed to return to France. The story of Lt Cuene-Grandidier's escape sounds like the plot to a Holywood film. After making his way to Vienna, he worked as a hospital nurse treating German soldiers for venereal disease. After securing a weekend pass to Paris he travelled by train with German officers. His work treating their embarrassing problems must have held him in good stead as one even offered to drive him home in a German army staff car. But Lt Cuene-Grandidier's loyalty was never in doubt and Within weeks he had joined the Resistance. | Prisoners were being held in the Oflag 17a camp in Austria .
They smuggled parts for the camera into the compound in sausages .
30-minute film produced was entitled Sous Le Manteau (Under The Cloak) |
107,272 | 165c8bff657c49cb35ffc65987e33ad41d01c375 | By . Sarah Harris . A primary school where only 20 per cent of pupils speak English as their first language has been named the best in the country at a national teaching awards. The native tongues of children at St Mary’s C of E Primary in Moss Side, Manchester, include Arabic, Kurdish, Urdu and Somali. Other languages spoken at the inner-city school are Dutch, French, Polish, Lithuanian and Wolof – a regional language spoken in Senegal and The Gambia. And around 80 per cent of the children come from very low-income families, qualifying them for free school meals. Achievers: Despite the fact that only one in five pupils speak English as their first language, St Mary's C of E Primary in Moss Side, Manchester, has been named Primary of the Year . Headteacher Jenny McGarry said she was 'absolutely over the moon' to have won the award . But despite the fact that only one in five pupils speak English as their first language, the school in the estate has been named Primary of the Year at at the Times Education Supplement (TES) School Awards. St Mary’s was commended for its ‘amazing’ attempt to raise pupils’ aspirations. The primary, which is rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted, is in the top 2 per cent in the country for improving pupils’ reading and the top 7 per cent for improvements in maths. And this is not the first time it has been recognised for its achievements. Last year St Mary’s won the TES community and enterprise award for helping unemployed parents find job placements. The primary, which is rated 'outstanding' by Ofsted, is in the top 2 per cent in the country for improving pupils' reading and the top 7 per cent for improvements in maths . It also runs a scheme to help provide chaperones for children as they walk to school in the morning, to ensure that parents can get in to work on time. Headteacher Jenny McGarry said she was ‘absolutely over the moon’ to have won the award, adding: ‘It is really, really nice to have that recognition for everybody who works here day in, day out helping the children make this progress. ‘It shows that Moss Side is a great place to live and a great place to go to school. It also challenges the idea that children from this area are less likely to achieve.’ The headteacher said the award 'challenges the idea that children from this area are less likely to achieve' Staff at the 427-pupil school were presented with the award at a ceremony in London. They said that the secret to their success was encouraging pupils to have a ‘will do’ rather than a ‘can do’ attitude. And Mrs McGarry went on to reveal her top five tips for boosting pupils’ progress. She said: ‘Have high expectations, make sure these are delivered by outstanding staff, encourage really positive behaviour, engage with parents and the community to develop the whole child and seize every opportunity to enhance pupils’ learning.’ Judges at the TES awards ceremony said: ‘This is an amazing school which has an amazing record of achievement in incredibly difficult circumstances. 'Their can-do approach to achievement is an inspiration.’ | St Mary's in Manchester praised for 'amazing' attempts to inspire children .
Languages spoken there include Arabic, Urdu, Dutch, Kurdish and Somali .
Around 80 of the pupils are from low-income families in Moss Side .
Judges who gave the school education award described it as 'amazing' |
84,996 | f11102404d23702fe398b1d690d13418703e617a | By . Lizzie Parry . Chantell Miller's newborn baby girl Ka'Leah died after doctors mistakenly inserted a feeding tube into her heart. Her twin brother Kaleem, pictured with his mother, is now two . A premature baby girl died after doctors mistakenly inserted a feeding tube into her heart, causing her to suffer a heart attack. Chanell Miller, 31, gave birth to twins, a girl and a boy, at 28 weeks into her pregnancy. The newborns were transferred to Newham University Hospital's neonatal unit, where they were being cared for by specialist teams. But nine days after their birth, Miss Miller, from East London, was told her little girl had stopped breathing and died. A post-mortem examination revealed the newborn, named Ka'Leah Noel, died when doctors incorrectly pierced her heart with a long line feeding tube. Ka'Leah's twin brother, Kaleem Noel, survived and is now two-years-old. An inquest earlier this month determined the feeding tube was wrongly inserted into the newborn's heart. Bart's Health Trust who run the hospital, have since said that they have compiled a comprehensive action plan to improve training given to neonatal staff on the correct insertion of long lines, in a bid to avoid a similar tragedy. Miss Miller said: 'I appreciate that lessons have been learned by the hospital, I hope this never happens again - no mother should go through what I went through. 'I have to deal with the fact that if it wasn't for a simple oversight, Ka'Leah would be with us now. 'Nothing will ever bring back my only baby daughter - her death will be with me for life.' While pregnant, Miss Miller, who has five sons, was delighted to find out that she was to give birth to her first daughter. But just 28 weeks into her pregnancy Miss Miller was rushed to hospital after suddenly going into labour. Medics found her son was in the breech position, while her daughter was facing backwards, and rushed Miss Miller into the operating theatre to undergo an emergency Caesarean section. Four hours later on May 7, 2012, both babies were born - but it was not until three days later that Miss Miller was able to see the twins. Ka'Leah was the smaller of the two, weighing less than a kilogram. They were both incubated and fed by a long line - a tube used to feed babies that do not yet have working intestines. The twins, who were born at 28 weeks, were rushed to a specialist neonatal unit at Newham University in London where medics were caring for them. Pictured is Kaleem as a newborn . When her twins were nine days old Miss Miller was summoned to the neonatal ward from her hospital bed to be told her daughter had passed away. Pictured is Ka'Leah's scan and hand and foot prints . 'They were little fighters,' said Miss Miller. 'Both were breathing on their own and doctors were positive they'd pull through.' Nine . days after the twins' traumatic birth Miss Miller, who was still . staying in the hospital for treatment for an infection caused by the . emergency Caesarean, was called to the neonatal ward. Miss Miller said: 'I was nodding off in my hospital bed when a nurse told me I needed to get myself to their ward fast. 'When I got there, I found medics frantically working on Ka'Leah. A short while later, a doctor delivered the devastating bombshell - my daughter had stopped breathing and died. I went numb.' A spokeswoman for Bart's Health . Trust, which runs Newham University Hospital, said: 'Bart's Health NHS . Trust are extremely sorry for the distress caused to the family as a . result of the failings in care provided to Ka'Leah. 'We have apologised in writing to Miss Miller and extended our deepest sympathies on her very sad loss. 'The . clinicians involved in Ka'Leah's care were in early contact with the . coroner following her death and have co-operated at every stage with . ongoing inquest proceedings. 'A full internal investigation into Ka'Leah's death was commissioned as soon as the post mortem results were available. 'As . a result of this we have implemented a comprehensive action plan, . including producing clear guidance on the safe insertion of long lines . and improving the training of staff to ensure their correct . positioning.' Miss Miller demanded a post-mortem after she received conflicting reports about the cause of her daughter's death. She . said: 'My mum arrived at the hospital to support me but was astonished . when a doctor explained that her granddaughter had suffered a heart . attack. 'I'd been told Ka'Leah had stopped breathing, it didn't stack up. 'Desperate for answers, we pushed for a post mortem which revealed a doctor had pierced Ka'Leah's heart cavity with the long line.' An inquest two weeks ago determined that the line was incorrectly inserted into Ka'Leah by a doctor in his first year of speciality training. The misplaced line caused cardiac tamponade, a rare condition where fluid builds up around the heart. It was found that this, coupled with Ka'Leah's prematurity, caused her death. At the inquest at Walthamstow Coroner's Court on June 11, coroner Dr Shirley Radcliffe recorded a narrative verdict saying she had no doubt that the line was incorrectly positioned. Miss Miller said: 'The inquest showed that no senior doctor had picked up on the mistake for over five days. 'Negligence had cost me my only little girl. 'The hospital have since apologised but as far as I'm concerned it isn't enough. 'I'm so lucky to have Kaleem but some days he looks so much like his twin sister it breaks my heart. 'Even now, two years on, I'm terrified to let him sleep in case he doesn't wake up. 'I am pleased the hospital are trying to stop this from ever happening again but I'm not happy that nobody has been punished for their mistakes. 'Following the inquest this month, I have decided that I need some time to grieve before possibly taking further action.' | Chantell Miller gave birth to her twins - a boy and a girl - in May 2012 .
The premature twins were rushed to Newham University Hospital in London .
Nine days after their birth at 28 weeks, Ka'Leah Miller passed away .
Her twin Kaleem survived and is now two years old .
Inquest found doctors wrongly inserted a feeding tube into Ka'Leah's heart .
It caused cardiac tamponade - a rare condition where fluid surrounds heart .
Coroner found that coupled with her prematurity caused Ka'Leah's death .
Miss Miller said: 'If it wasn't for a simple oversight Ka'Leah would be with us' |
37,577 | 6a6e43eb5d888a6efc06ad7dd5502df4ec4fe69f | Just because barbecued meat is blackened does not mean it is cooked properly, the Food Standards Agency has warned . If you’re getting ready to have your last barbecue of the summer this bank holiday, you may need your oven turned on too. A government agency is warning that food should be cooked in the oven and then finished up on the BBQ to help prevent food poisioning. The Food Standards Agency said cooks are making their guests ill by charring meat on the barbecue but not cooking it all the way through. The agency said the number of food poisoning cases has doubled over the summer. A survey found 94 per cent of barbecuers had at least one habit that risked the health of their guests – such as undercooking raw meat or cross contaminating food by leaving cooked and raw meat together. One in five people has become ill as a result of the food being under-cooked or because of the chef’s bad habits. Just because food is blackened does not mean it is cooked and the agency are warning to check the meat is cooked all the way through and be aware that disposable BBQs take much longer to cook food properly. The agency has released a list of warnings to help prevent a fun BBQ being overshadowed by a bout of sickness ahead of the bank holiday weekend. It says one of the biggest causes of food poisoning is cross contamination in the kitchen. The agency is warning cooks to store raw and cooked meat separately in your fridge and to use separate utensils when handling the food. Many people wash chicken before they cook it, but the Food Standards Agency says not to, as it just spreads germs around the kitchen. It also warns: ‘You may have heard of salmonella and E.coli, which are well known causes of food poisoning, but you may not be aware that at least 65% of chicken sold in the UK contains a bug called campylobacter. ‘Campylobacter poisoning can lead to sickness, diarrhoea, disability and even worse. Those most at risk are children and older people. If you want your barbecue to be remembered for the right reasons, follow the FSA’s advice on beating the barbecue bugs.’ Advising pre-cooking for chicken, the advice reads: ‘Your friends and family will still experience that special barbecue ‘scorched’ taste – and you will know that you’ve cooked the chicken all the way through. This technique can also be used for sausages, burgers and kebabs if you’re cooking for large numbers, as you’ll want to avoid providing undercooked food.’ | Food Standards Agency warns barbecuers are not cooking meat properly .
Agency suggests cooking food in the oven before it goes on barbecue .
Survey: The number of food poisoning cases has doubled over the summer .
94 per cent of cooks had one or more habits that risked guests' health . |
65,268 | b95239b85ed1c88d0d39035d1e7f948efe1e024d | By . Mike Dawes . Olympic gold medallist Anthony Joshua will face Matt Legg on the undercard of the world super-middleweight title rematch between Carl Froch and George Groves at Wembley on May 31. Joshua is aiming to make it six inside-the-distance wins out of six in his professional career against the Milton Keynes 38-year-old, who has won seven and lost two of his paid contests. Hard hitting: Anthony Joshua (left) will fight Matt Legg on the undercard of Carl Froch against George Groves . Joshua said: 'I can't wait to box at Wembley on May 31 - it's going to be an unbelievable experience. 'To box at the national stadium on a bill of this magnitude is a real honour and I plan to kick the night off with a bang against Matt. 'I know he will want to put on a show on such a huge occasion but I will be looking to add another big KO to my collection.' Also on the bill, 2008 gold medallist James Degale faces Brandon Gonzales at super-middleweight, and Jamie McDonnell takes on Tabtimdaeng Na Rachawat for the vacant WBA bantamweight title. Wily fighter: Olympic gold medalist Joshua will fight 38-year-old Matt Legg (left) on May 31 at Wembley . | Anthony Joshua to box Matt Legg at Wembley on May 31 .
Joshua's bout will be on the undercard of Carl Froch vs George Groves .
James DeGale will fight Brandon Gonzales at super-middleweight .
Jamie McDonnell takes on Tabtimdaeng Na Rachawat for the vacant WBA bantamweight title . |
258,499 | da90b2386009ec8fce1959f145ef7db4c0dcdb43 | By . Steve Robson . PUBLISHED: . 11:39 EST, 4 December 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 12:13 EST, 4 December 2012 . One woman is fighting for her life and another has suffered serious injuries after a car careered off the road and hit them while they were taking a seaside stroll. The driver, a man in his 50s, is believed to have had a 'medical episode' at the wheel and was pronounced dead at the scene. The two women had been walking along the esplanade in the seaside village of Sandgate, Kent, when a car suddenly left the road and ploughed into them at around 9.40am this morning. Emergency: Two women are seriously injured after being hit by a car which left the road and knocked them onto the beach at Sandgate, Kent . Tragedy: The driver, a man in his 50s, is believed to have suffered a 'medical episode' at the wheel and was pronounced dead at the scene . Witnesses said they were knocked off the walkway and fell another five feet to the pebble beach below. One of the women was flown to the Kings College Hospital in London with suspected head and leg injuries where she is in a critical condition. Seafront: The two women were hit by the car and knocked over the wall onto the pebble beach below . | Victims were taking morning stroll on beach promenade in Sandgate, Kent .
Driver is believed to have had 'medical episode' at the wheel and left the road .
Women were knocked off the pathway and on to pebble beach below . |
276,794 | f29942db317cd39c5e2d55edc291003aaaddbf9d | With Chelsea and Arsenal on the horizon, we’ll have a clearer idea about West Ham’s top-four credentials by the time those Christmas decorations are stored away for another year. Those daunting clashes, however, hold no fear for Hammers boss Sam Allardyce. ‘We challenge Chelsea and Arsenal on the back of what we’ve done up until now,’ said Allardyce. West Ham United manager Sam Allardyce is in a jovial mood for Christmas after his team's fantastic form . 92: The number of days since Leicester last won a game — the 5-3 victory against Manchester United in September. 12: The number of games Leicester have gone without a victory (two draws and 10 losses).2 The number of Premier League teams who have escaped relegation after being bottom of the table at Christmas (West Brom in 2004-05 and Sunderland 2013-14). -14: - Leicester’s goal difference is the joint worst in the league with Burnley. 17th: Leicester’s position in the table at Christmas in their last season in the Premier League (2003-04). 19.2: The number of shots, on average, Leicester concede per away game — the most in the league. 13.3: The number of fouls, on average, Leicester commit per game — the joint-highest in the league with Crystal Palace. ‘It eases the pressure on us, the fact we can go there and see if we can go and challenge ourselves against two of the big boys in this league and see if we can get any points off them. ‘We’ve earned the right to go to try to see if we can do that. As difficult as it might be, I think the lads are confident enough to think they may have the capabilities of doing it. ‘If we don’t, it’s not going to be too much of a knock back for us, because we know we can catch up by beating teams who are below us, like Leicester and teams like that, which we’ve done particularly well this year. ‘It’s a nice time, I think, for us to be playing Chelsea and Arsenal.’ Saturday’s comfortable win over Leicester — courtesy of goals from Andy Carroll and Stewart Downing — consolidated West Ham’s place in the top four going into the Boxing Day visit to Stamford Bridge. Time will tell if Allardyce can complete a huge turnaround in the club’s fortunes by securing Champions League football. Andy Carroll celebrates putting West ham ahead in their 2-0 win over Leicester City on Saturday . Stewart Downing (left) scored from range for West Ham's second goal against Leicester at Upton Park . Allardyce (right) shares a joke with Leicester manager Nigel Pearson (left) West Ham were booed off by their own supporters, fed up by what they perceived as the manager’s long-ball tactics, following a victory against Hull in March. Allardyce looked certain to be sacked in the summer but owners David Sullivan and David Gold’s decision to stick with their manager has been vindicated. How the Hammers cope with the loss of Diafra Sakho, Alex Song and Cheikou Kouyate, who are expected to be called up for Africa Cup of Nations duty next month, could have a bearing on the club’s European ambitions. But for the moment, Allardyce is enjoying life in the upper echelons of the Premier League. ‘There was a time last season when the players felt that no matter what they did, we would get battered by people,’ said the former Bolton chief. ‘Everyone is going to have a bad spell; that is the Premier League — it happens to everyone. Downing (right) celebrates alongside Carroll (left) after putting West Ham two goals ahead . Goalkeeper Adrian makes a save to preserve his clean sheet as West Ham continued their form this season . West Ham and Allardyce will learn this week whether a work permit will be given Doneil Henry . ‘Obviously at this moment if we carry on as we are, we are predicted a top-four finish, but whether we will or we won’t is another matter.’ Meanwhile, West Ham will find out this week if they get a work permit they need to complete a £1.5million move for Canada centre back Doneil Henry. The central defender is on loan at Toronto FC from Cypriot side Apollon Limassol. | West Ham are fourth in the Premier League after a superb season so far .
Their form continued with a 2-0 win against Leicester City on Saturday .
Sam Allardyce ready to take on Arsenal and Chelsea over Christmas . |
257,013 | d8a72ab5776cfbf471051e0502ca9e188164511b | By . Craig Hope . Follow @@CraigHope01 . Newcastle United outcast Hatem Ben Arfa was on target as a reserve XI drew 4-4 with Queen of the South. The French forward was left behind on Tyneside while Alan Pardew’s senior squad traveled to New Zealand at the weekend. The Magpies kicked off their tour with a 4-0 win over Sydney in Dunedin on Tuesday. Lunge: New boy Emmanuel Riviere makes a tackle on Sydney FC's Sasa Ognenovski . Comfortable: Riviere celebrates with Yoan Gouffran as Newcastle strolled to a 4-0 victory against Sydney . But Ben Arfa was back at the club’s Benton training base where he appeared in a behind-closed-doors friendly against the Scottish Championship side. Callum Roberts (2) and Gael Bigirimana got United’s other goals, while Gavin Reilly (2), Kevin Dzierzawski and Iain Russell were on the score sheet for the visitors. Ben Arfa’s future at the club remains in doubt. He has one year left on his current contract but is not part of Pardew’s first-team plans and has trained with the reserves during the past fortnight. Respect: Alan Pardew and Fabricio Coloccini carry wreaths in memory of the passengers who lost their lives on flight MH17 . Sulk: Hatem Ben Arfa has fallen out of favour on Tyneside . Compatriot Sylvain Marveuax was also omitted from the squad for the tour of New Zealand but he joined Ligue 1 side Guingamp on a season-long loan on Tuesday. Meanwhile, reports that United have agreed terms with Mauricio Isla of Juventus are not true and the Chile international has never been a target of the Magpies. | Newcastle beat Sydney FC 4-0 on their New Zealand tour .
Alan Pardew and Fabricio Coloccini lay wreaths for passengers of MH17 .
Hatem Ben Arfa scores as reserves draw 4-4 with Queen of the South . |
116,175 | 21f5d212a1def17cfec93be53e7243c6cfb76656 | (CNN) -- The chairman of the Arkansas Democratic Party died Wednesday, about four hours after a shooting at the party's headquarters, police said. Police block off the streets surrounding the state Democratic Party headquarters Wednesday in Little Rock. Chairman Bill Gwatney died at 3:59 Wednesday afternoon after a gunman entered his Little Rock office and shot him several times in the upper body, Little Rock Police Lt. Terry Hastings said. Authorities confirmed the news shortly after former President Clinton and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton released a statement expressing their condolences. "We are deeply saddened by the news that Bill Gwatney has passed away," the former governor and first lady of Arkansas said. "His leadership and commitment to Arkansas and this country have always inspired us and those who had the opportunity to know him." The shooting suspect, a white male in his fifties, also died Wednesday afternoon after a police chase ended in gunfire, Hastings said. Authorities are working to confirm his identity, but Hastings said there was no indication that he was a former employee. He said police were investigating possible motives, as well as why the suspect went into the Arkansas Baptist State Convention brandishing a gun. CNN affilliates KARK and KTHV identified the gunman as Timothy Dale Johnson, 50, of Searcy, Arkansas. The suspect walked into the downtown headquarters, near the state Capitol building, before noon. The gunman said he was interested in volunteering, said Sam Higginbotham, a 17-year-old volunteer at the headquarters, The Associated Press reported. "That was obviously a lie," Higginbotham said, the AP reported. The man asked for Gwatney and spoke with another employee before pushing his way into his office and pulling a gun on Gwatney, Hastings said. A woman in a nearby business told KTHV that Gwatney's assistant came in and asked her to call police. Watch witnesses describe the incident » . "I thought maybe someone had gotten hit by a car," said Sarah Lee, who works at a florist's shop. "She was just shaking really bad." But then the woman said that Gwatney had been shot and that three shots had been fired, Lee said. After the shooting, the suspect entered a nearby Arkansas Baptist State Convention and pointed a gun at an employee. The man was "white as a sheet," convention official Dan Jordan said. "I've heard he said something do to about losing a job. ... He didn't threaten anyone." The man left through the front door shortly afterward, he said. A vehicle description was provided to police, Hastings said, and officers found it. A chase involving Little Rock police, Arkansas State Police and the Grant County Sheriff's Office ended about 20 miles south of Little Rock, where the suspect was shot and taken into custody, he said. See a map of where the suspect was shot » . Police said the suspect drove into a ditch and around a set of spike strips in an attempt to evade police. Grant County authorities used a squad car to hit the suspect's vehicle from behind and ram it into another unit. The man then got out of his vehicle and began shooting at officers, who returned fire. In Sheridan, Arkansas, where the chase ended, a crowd gathered near the suspect's blue pickup as police cordoned off the area with yellow crime-scene tape. What appeared to be bullet holes could be seen in the truck's windshield. Police did not confirm Gwatney's identity until he died, but the Clintons released a statement earlier Wednesday that suggested Gwatney was involved. "We are stunned and shaken by today's shooting at the Arkansas Democratic Party where our good friend and fellow Democrat Bill Gwatney was critically wounded," they said. "Bill is not only a strong chairman of Arkansas' Democratic Party, but he is also a cherished friend and confidante. Our thoughts and prayers are with Bill and his family today and we wish him a quick recovery," they said. The Democratic National Committee also issued a statement Wednesday that identified Gwatney. "This senseless tragedy comes as a shock to all of us," Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean said in a written statement. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to Chairman Gwatney and his family and we pray for his full and speedy recovery." CNN's Mary Lynn Ryan contributed to this report. | Arkansas Democratic Party Chairman Bill Gwatney dies after shooting .
Suspect killed when police shot him in standoff .
Chairman's aide asked nearby store owner to call 911 .
Police are trying to verify suspect's identity and looking for motive . |
121,454 | 28fb4e0f8ebbe778a9ecb030ecc8b5cd7bcea7b9 | Matthew Tvrdon pleaded guilty to killing Karina Menzies but denies her murder . A mother who saved her children from a terrifying hit-and-run rampage suffered from a crippling disease which meant she could not save herself. Karina Menzies, 32, managed to throw her daughters to safety before she was hit by a van and killed in an unprovoked attack on Friday. The mother-of-three could not run away from the vehicle because her legs had been severely weakened by a progressive nerve condition. She was one of 14 pedestrians, including seven children, hit in the 30-minute spree of horror as a driver sped through suburban streets, mowing down families on their way home from school. Last night, Miss Menzies’ brother Craig paid tribute to his ‘hero’ sister, saying: ‘She died saving her kids. 'She’s got them out of the way and, at the same time, put herself between them and the van to prevent it hitting them. She’s let the van take her. ‘She would have done this instinctively because that is the person my sister was. She was the bravest, kindest, most loyal person in the world and I can’t believe she’s gone.’ Mr Menzies addressed more than 200 friends and relatives who gathered yesterday to lay flowers and stage a vigil at the spot where his sister was hit. While Miss Menzies reacted quickly to save her daughters, she could not escape the vehicle because her legs were weakened by Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, friends revealed. The condition, which damages nerves outside the spine and brain, meant she would not have been able to get away from the oncoming van fast enough. Scroll down for video . Selfless: Karina Menzies (left) died after . saving the lives of her children, including one of her daughters (right), during the hit-and-run carnage . Friend Julie Crook said: ‘Karina . saved her kids but she couldn’t run. She had CMT and it affected her . hands and feet. She found it really hard to run. She was very unstable . on her feet. She wouldn’t have been able to run away. She would have . just fallen if she tried.’ Mrs Crook insisted her friend would not have thought of herself as a hero for saving her children. ‘She was very humble,’ she added. ‘She would have said: “I did what any mother would do.”’ A 31-year-old man was last night charged with the murder of Miss Menzies as well as 13 counts of attempted murder following the suspected hit-and-run rampage in the Cardiff suburbs of Leckwith and Ely. Officers are investigating the theory that the driver may have deliberately targeted mothers and children because he was angry after a row with his wife. Footage: Caught on CCTV, the white van involved in the incident careers across four lanes... ...heading for Adam Lewis (right), his partner Annie and daughter . ...before mounting the pavement. A 31-year-old man has been charged with the murder of Miss Menzies as well as 13 counts of attempted murder . He dumped his van and fled on foot but was arrested outside the Merrie Harrier pub in Llandough just minutes later. There have been claims that the man reversed back over some of the people he hit and reports that he was carrying a weapon, thought to be a crook lock, which he allegedly used to batter some of those who had been knocked down. While Miss Menzies is the only fatality, two others are in a critical condition in hospital and five children are receiving treatment. Others hit include two schoolgirls aged around ten, who moments before had been browsing birthday cards in a shop; a mother and her son, who was riding a bike; and a couple who were seen on CCTV pushing their two-year-old in her pram moments before the van swerved across four lanes of traffic and mounted the pavement. Adam Lewis, 23, was thrown to one . side, and his partner Annie Jones, 22, has had to have surgery after . breaking her leg. Their daughter was thrown into the air. Mr Lewis claimed it appeared that the van had sped up and targeted them deliberately. He added: ‘I saw the van coming in my peripheral vision but it was too late to do anything. 'I got pushed from behind with the wing mirror but unfortunately my partner and my baby took the brunt of it. 'My baby was face down on the pavement and my partner was holding her leg – it was broken. Grief: Karina Menzies' brothers Gareth, left, and Craig and sister Laura Williams mourn their loss . Brothers in arms: Gareth Menzies, left, comforts brother Craig at the vigil outside Ely Fire Station . Despair: Craig Menzies, is comforted as he attends the vigil at the spot his sister was killed . Memorial: The community unites at a vigil for the victims of the hit-and-run attack . Tears: People comfort each other as they gather to mark the death of Karina Menzies, 32 . Floral tributes: Flowers were laid outside Ely Fire Station in large numbers as people paid their respects . Sadness: Members of the Ely community were unable to hold back the tears during the vigil . Mourning: Kevin Ellis, friend of Karina Menzies, views the tributes marking the spot where she was killed . Tragic: Flowers left outside the Fire Station where Karina Menzies was killed saving the lives of her children . 'When I heard about [Miss Menzies], I thought: “That could easily have been us.” We are so lucky to be alive.’ His . eyes filling with tears, he went on: ‘The person who did this to her . and those poor children and all the other families should be given a . death sentence for what he has done here. He is not fit to breathe the . same air as us.’ Friends said Miss Menzies was a mother figure for her extended family after her own mother was murdered by her partner in 2004. They . added that despite the pain her condition caused her, Miss Menzies . always remained positive but would have been embarrassed about being . hailed a hero. Justice: Police investigate in the aftermath of the hit-and-run rampage on October 19 . Trail of bloodshed: This map shows where the crashes were reported in Cardiff . Operation: More than 70 officers have been investigating the attack, studying CCTV footage and taking statements . Stunned: Cardiff has been rocked by the terrifying incident, which unfolded during the school run . Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | Karina Menzies threw daughters to safety .
But the 32-year-old could not run away from white van and was killed .
Her legs were weakened by Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, friends said .
Man, 31, charged with her murder and 13 counts of attempted murder .
Unprovoked attack happened on suburban streets in Cardiff on Friday .
Survivor Adam Lewis, whose partner and daughter were hit: 'It's a miracle we weren't killed'
Police probing theory that driver was targeting family after row with wife . |
100,473 | 0d6fa83a979303a2a7526c21f0c651465b6c767a | (CNN) -- Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer continued their preparations for the first grand slam of the season with contrasting victories Friday at tournaments in Doha and Brisbane. World number one Nadal has never won the Qatar Open and stands just one match away from achieving that ambition. But he was fully extended by German qualifier Peter Gojowczyk before prevailing in three sets. Earlier, Federer dropped just two games on the Gold Coast as he dismissed Marinko Matosevic 6-1 6-1 in just 58 minutes to reach the last four. Nadal, who is the only seed left in the tournament after the shock departures of Andy Murray and David Ferrer, could have been headed that way as he dropped the opening set to Gojowczk, who had enjoyed a dream run to his first ATP Tour semifinal. But the Spaniard hit back to level in typical style and closed out the match 4-6 6-2 6-3 in just under two hours. "The positive thing is I am in the finals the first week of the season without arriving here with big preparation," Nadal told the official ATP Tour website. "Without playing my best, I was able to find a solution. It's true that I finished the match playing better than what I started," he added. Nadal is likely to have his work cut out in Saturday's final at the Khalifa Tennis Complex, with France's Gael Monfils his opponent. Monfils, something of a Doha specialist and twice a losing finalist, showed his quality with a straight sets 6-3 6-2 win over Florian Mayer of Germany in a little under an hour. He has twice beaten Nadal in the same tournament and showed enough against Mayer to suggest he could repeat the hat-trick. Federer is playing in Brisbane for the first time in his glittering career and treated the crowd on the Pat Pat Rafter Arena to a tennis master class against his Australian opponent. He was briefly troubled in the opening game, facing three break points then took firm control. The top seed will next play France's Jeremy Chardy, who beat another Australian, wildcard Sam Groth, 7-5 6-4. The second semifinal will be between second seed Kei Nishikori of Japan and home favorite Lleyton Hewitt. Nishikori ground out a three set win over Croatia's Marin Cili, while Hewitt continued his fine run with a straight sets dismissal of Romanian qualifier Marius Copil, 6-4, 6-2. | Rafael Nadal into final against Gail Monfils at Qatar Open in Doha .
Beats qualifier Peter Gojowczyk in three sets .
Top-ranked Nadal has never won the Qatar title .
Roger Federer makes semis in Brisbane with easy vicotyr . |
171,143 | 69840bc63b35d9152dcd527417c72631d4f5b776 | All the elements were there for low turnout: It was a beautiful, cloudless night, the Iowa-Iowa State game had just ended, and the state's critical place in presidential politics still felt years away for most Iowans. But on Saturday night in Dubuque, Iowa, roughly 130 people showed up to see Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont talk about elevating the middle class, nationalizing health care and fighting the degrading influence of money in politics. And they didn't just listen -- they urged him to run for president in 2016. "We need a political revolution in this country," Sanders said, to applause. "Politics is terribly important, and what happens in Washington and state capitals is also enormously important." A largely older, markedly liberal audience listened to Sanders for over an hour inside the student center of the local university. Before the event started, attendees chatted about the senator coming to Dubuque and whether he was going to run for president. Many said they hoped so, mostly because they want a liberal option in the Democratic primary in 2016. "Everything he says speaks to me about who I am as an American, as a voter, as a middle-class voter," said Ann Bodnar-Donovan, who sat in the front row at the event. Others echoed her sentiment. Sanders did not actually mention his presidential aspirations from the dais, but his event in Iowa -- along with town halls in Waterloo and Des Moines on Sunday -- made it clear that he is toying with a bid. The final steak fry: Honoring Harkin with a large helping of politics . Sanders told CNN earlier last week that he was thinking about a run and was traveling to Iowa to "find out what kind of support there is for a progressive agenda." He won't say whether he would run as an Independent or a Democrat, but his supporters in Iowa clearly wanted him to run as a liberal Democrat. Sanders was not the only potential 2016 candidate in Iowa this weekend. Hillary Clinton, the prohibitive front-runner for the nomination if she chooses to run, is headlining the Harkin Steak Fry in Des Moines on Sunday. It is her first event in the Hawkeye State in over six years. Clinton's and Sanders' events couldn't be more different. The former secretary of state will speak to more than 5,000 people at an idyllic field south of Des Moines. Signs adorn every corner of the event, which will see over 2,500 pounds of steak grilled and served. The only signage for Sanders' event was a small piece of cardboard in front of the building that read "Bernie Sanders." But Sanders is benefiting from Clinton. People at his event liked the fact he was courting Iowa despite Clinton's front-runner status and was willing to stand up and possibly challenge her from the left. "I think the Democratic party needs to move a little bit to the liberal, progressive side," said Marcos Rubinstein, who organized Dennis Kucinich's 2008 Iowa campaign. "I want to hear him. Of course I like him, I know his history." Before his speech, Sanders reflected on the third beheading of a Western individual by ISIS and President Barack Obama's authorization of military strikes in Syria. "Clearly ISIS is a terrorist organization, a brutal organization, a dangerous organization," Sanders told CNN, before he quickly turned to a topic he is more comfortable about: the middle class and the economy. "In the midst of dealing with ISIS, it is absolutely imperative that we not ignore the huge problems facing the middle class and working families of this country." The senator did devote a great deal of his speech to speaking about the future of the United States, including outlining a plan he called the "Agenda for America." His first point was the most well-received: "We have got to restore the democracy to the United States of America by overturning this disastrous Citizens United Supreme Court decision. ... I do not believe that people fought and died for democracy so that billionaires can buy elections." Sanders has become a champion of overturning the 2010 Citizens United ruling, which opened the floodgates for outside money in politics and ballooned the amount spent on campaigns. He spent the last week arguing as much from the Senate floor. On health care, Sanders added that "the United States of America needs to join with the rest of the industrialized world and have a nationalized health care." Sanders ended his speech with a call to action, urging attendees to begin a conversation and organize support in northeast Iowa for the issues he was addressing. "Our job is to educate, is to organize, is to go outside our zone of comfort," he said. "We need to build coalitions." Clinton tops Democrats in Iowa while Huckabee leads Republicans . Sanders challenges Hillary Clinton . | Sen. Bernie Sanders is on a three-stop tour of Iowa, which raises presidential questions .
In Dubuque, Sanders calls for "a political revolution" and asks supporters to organize .
Sanders is in Iowa at the same time as Hillary Clinton, the 2016 favorite . |
103,386 | 114f33c4b3fbf2496d9c27c16a154cded5717ff3 | Imlil, Morocco (CNN)The Atlas Mountains have long been home to some of North Africa's most remote villages. Until a decade ago, running water and electricity were nearly unheard of, and even today are considered luxuries in most of the mountain towns. The local Berber that populate the villages measure distances by hours and days -- the amount of time it usually takes to travel between destinations. Because there aren't any local shops, villagers rely on traveling markets to obtain goods. Many of the vendors still rely on ancient techniques. "Our grandmothers were making carpets before us. The best carpets in the world can be found in Morocco. It's an art," says Fatima Imerhan, a local carpet weaver. Many locals cite the tranquility that life in the Atlas Mountains has to offer as an asset. "It's better than a city because in cities there's a lot of noise, cars, and pollution. But here it's nice because it's quiet, (and there's) fresh air," says resident Rachid Souktan. This is a sentiment that is increasingly reflected worldwide, as tourists have started to arrive in increasing numbers in recent years. The majority trek out to Imlil, which has become a kicking off point for skiers and mountain climbers alike. Kasbah Du Toubkal, the village's first hotel, opened its doors in 1995. Kasbah started its life as a colonial mansion, but later fell into ruin. "There was nothing at the Kasbah before. It was completely abandoned and mostly destroyed," says Omar Ait Bahmed, the hotel's manager and part-owner. Since, it has attracted some high-profile travelers, including Martin Scorsese, who shot parts of his film "Kundum" in the hotel in 1997. Unfortunately, tourism doesn't just bring revenue to the region, it also brings problems. Since becoming a travel hotspot the local river has become more polluted and trekkers have complained of garbage strewn along the path to the Mount Toubkal. The hotel is doing its bit to protect the local environment, using solar panels and charging guests a 5% tax that goes into local cleanup efforts. Ait Bahmed's partner, Mike McHugo, worries it may not be enough. "(The villagers) have to be very aware that development doesn't destroy their rich culture. And that's one of the reasons tourists come here. So they also have to understand that they mustn't spoil the environment, both physical environment and cultural environment, otherwise you'll spoil the goose that lays the golden egg," he says. Read more: Five reasons to visit Malawi now . Read more: Sea, souks and surfs in Morocco . | Until a decade ago, running water and electricity were nearly unheard of around the Atlas Mountains .
Tourists are drawn by the remoteness of the mountain villages . |
438 | 014a660dc5a7874a56d27d3a6283379072538a07 | The French government has in the past repeatedly rejected demands to sell the Mona Lisa (pictured), but a parliamentary report has suggested it sell thousands of pieces of art to pay off national debt . Cash-strapped France could sell thousands of artworks to pay off its vast national debt, a parliamentary report has suggested. The radical plan to flog paintings and sculptures from the nation's prized collections was mooted by MPs studying ways help clear France's £150billion deficit. It comes after state-run news channel France 24 last year even suggested selling the Mona Lisa - the world's most famous painting which hangs in the Louvre museum in Paris. Now lawmakers have consulted Guillaume Cerutti, the head of Sotheby's auctioneers in France, for his opinion on the sale of publicly-owned art. He said France should move closer to a model used in the United States, where museums sometimes sell unseen parts of their collections to free up resources for the purchase of more relevant artworks. Cerutti told the BFM news channel: 'Action is needed to tackle the grotesque waste in national collections. In the Louvre alone, some 250,000 works are currently hidden away in overflow rooms. 'Museums should also be given the option of selling works that have been in public collections for at least 50 years.' It would not be the first time France has sold off treasures to prop up its finances. In 2013 the presidential Elysee Palace in Paris announced it was selling 1,000 bottles of fine wine to fund renovations. Last summer, France also said it was selling a luxury state-owned apartment on New York's 5th Avenue for around £40million. In December, the government faced accusations of treason when it announced plans to sell half of Toulouse's airport, the country's fourth largest and home of aircraft maker Airbus, to a Chinese-led consortium. The government has repeatedly rejected demands to sell Leonardo da Vinci's painting the Mona Lisa, which is often called 'priceless' but was valued at £60m in 1962 for insurance purposes. Tourists clamour to see and photograph the Mona Lisa at the Louvre museum in Paris . The Louvre (pictured) stores a vast amount of artwork and is the most visited art museum in the world . | French government is considering selling artworks to pay off its debt .
A parliamentary report has suggesting flogging paintings and sculptures .
Last year the state-run news channel suggested selling the Mona Lisa .
The country has a huge number of publicly-owned pieces of art .
Paris' Louvre museum alone has 250,000 works hidden in storage rooms . |
40,746 | 72f5e2253831eb9e641633117a5981fc6ac101db | It was a bit awkward the first time Kate Daggett asked the question. She didn't want to offend her friends, after all, and it seemed rather personal. She stammered, she stalled. "I probably rambled for two or three minutes," she said. Finally, she got it out. What do you do with the guns in your house? the mother of two asked the parents of her teenage son's friends, both avid hunters. It's not a new question -- about 19 million parents were asking it back in 2006, according to a survey conducted by the Center to Prevent Youth Violence. But in the wake of December's Newtown, Connecticut, school massacre -- and recent accidental shootings involving children -- it appears to be one that parents are asking more often before sending their kids on play dates and sleepovers. Related: Parents defend right to keep guns in home . The Center to Prevent Youth Violence has been getting a lot more calls since the Newton shooting, said Becca Knox, a senior manager. The group is behind the ASK campaign -- "Asking Saves Kids" -- which encourages parents to ask questions about guns in homes where their children play. In a discussion about guns in homes on CNN's Facebook page, commenters agreed that asking the question is good parenting. While some parents said they would never allow their children into a home where guns are kept, others were comfortable knowing that the guns were secure. "You should be asking, 'Are your guns locked up?' " commenter Kristine Caster said. There's "no crime in having legal guns in your home." Injuries are rare . Despite incidents such as the recent death of a 6-year-old New Jersey boy shot in the head by a 4-year-old playmate, as well as the accidental shooting of a Tennessee sheriff's deputy's wife by a 4-year-old boy, accidental firearms deaths are rare among children. According to the CDC's National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, 703 children under the age of 15 died in accidental firearms deaths between 2001 and 2010, the latest year for which the agency's statistics on fatalities are available. During the same period, 7,766 children under the age of 14 suffered accidental firearms injuries -- about one injury for every million children. But statistics don't matter much if it's your child that's shot, said Missy Carson Smith, founder of Gun Safe Mom, a campaign to make the gun question as common as asking about food allergies, swimming pools and video game limits. "It just shreds your family," said Smith, whose own teenage brother died in a shooting. She started the campaign in 2009, after learning during a carpool trip that unsecured guns were in the home of a family where her daughter had played. "The kids knew where they were, they could get to it," she said. "That's when my heart just dropped in my stomach." She resolved to ask the family about their guns, but first she had some housekeeping of her own to do. Her family had an unsecured gun, owned by her husband. After getting it out of the house, she reached out to the other family to ask about the weapons there. "They didn't realize that the way guns were stored in their home posed a threat to other people," she said. "It was a good conversation." Since then, she has reached out to friends and leaders in her Traverse City, Michigan, community to press her cause and encourage parents to routinely ask the question. She's had the conversation with friends of her children probably 50 times, she says. It's not about gun rights, she stresses. In fact, she counsels parents to make a point of saying they understand and accept the rights of gun owners to have firearms -- even loaded, unlocked weapons. The point, she says, is to make sure you're comfortable with the environment where you're sending your kids. CNN Facebook commenter Kathe Valeri said she only allows her children to go on playdates with children of families she knows well. "We pick our friends and our social circle very carefully. If I don't know the parent well enough, then my kids don't play. That's it," she said. "Being that they are trustworthy friends, I have no problems worrying about if my children will be safe in their homes." Gun owner's reaction . Gun owner Timothy Turner said he asks if guns are in his kids' friends' homes and how they're secured. If they keep a loaded gun, he specifically requests that they remove the ammo and keep it in a separate place when his daughters visit. He's not worried about his daughters finding them "because they know what to do if they find a gun," Turner said on CNN's Facebook page. He's worried about others who don't know how to handle a gun. If they don't agree to keep them locked up or are unable to keep the ammo and gun separate, "my daughters don't go," he said. In turn, he makes sure to inform every parent whose child is visiting that he keeps a gun in the home. He said he keeps one gun in his home "for protection," locked in a fingerprint-scan safe. He has more, but he keeps them in vaults off his property at a location that only a few trusted people know about. As for Daggett, she said her friends responded well to the gun question the first time she asked it. The avid hunters assured her that all of their weapons were locked up in a gun safe. She's gotten better at asking the question since. It's part of her standard rundown now, anytime she ponders allowing her kids to visit another family's home. With a curious 4-year-old daughter she calls "the raccoon" and a 13-year-old son -- the age of so many school shooters and victims -- she feels like she doesn't have much choice. "I could so easily see my son or one of his friends picking up a pistol and saying, 'This is so cool!' " Daggett said. Starting the conversation . Here are some tips from Knox and Smith about having the gun conversation with other parents: . -- Start by having a family policy on firearms safety that you're already following, Smith said. "If you're not thinking about it ahead of time, you don't really know what you like or don't like," she said. -- Don't make gun safety a bigger deal than, say, pool safety or food allergies, but do make sure to clearly cover it, Knox said. "Blend it in with other topics," she suggests. "It's important to not make this too heavy or a subject that shouldn't be talked about." -- Don't make judgments. "It's not just what you say and the content of your question, but the manner you express your question," Smith said. -- Don't worry about offending other parents, Knox says. She said the group's field work shows gun owners are rarely offended by the question, but concern about opening up a rift between families keeps some parents from talking about the issue. "It's a barrier of anticipation," she says. -- Have the conversation when kids aren't around, Smith suggests. She recounted the experience of a friend who brought up the issue when her son's young friends were around. Their mother froze -- she hadn't told the children that a gun was in the home. It turns out the weapons were secured, Smith said. "But she didn't want the kids to know they were there." Whether you agree with that or not, respect the other family's values, Smith said. | Conversations about gun safety are becoming more common before play dates, sleepovers .
The Newtown shooting and other incidents are behind the move, experts say .
Despite fears, most gun owners not offended by the question, Gun Safe Mom founder says .
Wrap the question in with other safety issues and don't judge, experts say . |
12,664 | 23ecdbebdffeda8dbc1cf83c462779a53bd07532 | By . Meghan Keneally . PUBLISHED: . 21:04 EST, 23 April 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 21:28 EST, 23 April 2013 . Jodi Arias' effort to raise money for her legal team has offended many involved in the murder trial, but now new revelations about her creative subjects are shocking her ex-boyfriend's family. Old drawings that the accused murderer made while in jail show a noticeable similarity to her victim Travis Alexander's sister. In one series called 'The Hat', the female subject looks just like Alexander's sister Tanisha Sorenson, who followers of the case are familiar with because she has been sitting in the court room the entire length of the death penalty trial. Who's that girl: Court watchers have said that there are distinct similarities between the women in some of Jodi Arias' drawings and her slain ex-boyfriend's sister Tanisha Sorenson . Killer turned artist: Arias has been seen sketching throughout the lengthy trial, and she has been selling the art online to raise money for her legal expenses . Supporters of Travis Alexander's family found the pencil drawing that Arias allegedly made while behind bars for the brutal killing of her 30-year-old ex, who was found dead in his home after being stabbed 29 times and shot. This black and white drawing is not one of the ones that Arias and her supporters have been selling online in order to help pay for her legal team and her family's expenses while staying in Phoenix, Arizona for the trial. Though 'The Hat' series has not been put up for sale, her other drawings-featuring famous stars of yesteryear like Frank Sinatra and Grace Kelly as well as a number of reportedly anonymous subjects- have fetched thousands for her cause. The likeness between the woman in 'The Hat' and Tanisha Sorenson is striking, with the two sharing similar eyes and lip shapes. Eery: Supporters of Alexander's family noticed the similarities between the two, and because the drawings were made before the trial, that hints that Arias has been thinking of Alexander's sister for years . Ms Sorenson has been a constant presence in the Phoenix courtroom, sitting alongside one of Travis' good friends and their other sister. At one point during Arias' testimony about her sexual exploits with Alexander, Ms Sorenson visibly rolled her eyes. 'I know this might sound creepy, but I hope to get to watch her die someday after she’s on death row,' Ms Sorenson told HLN during an earlier interview. 'Even if it’s in 20 years from now, the death penalty is what she deserves, though she most likely won’t get it and instead will get some life sentence.' The Hat is not listed as being for sale, but the site, run by Arias' friends outside of prison, continues to list other drawings. Just today they added an earlier piece of art that the suspected murderer made of an unidentified woman holding a blue pill between her teeth. Inspiration: Ms Sorenson has been a constant presence at the Arias trial, and became visibly upset at points where Arias described her sexual relationship with Alexander and how she stabbed him 29 times . Due to apparent popular demand, they've also announced that they will be selling 100 limited edition reprints of her picture of an hourglass. Four other pieces that have already been sold all went for $1,000 or more, with her portrait of Grace Kelly earning a whopping $3,050. The drama surrounding the case continues in the courtroom as well, as one of Alexander's ex-girlfriends took the stand on Tuesday. 'Catharsis': This monochromatic work sold for $1,000 . On the auction block: Her Grace Kelly portrait (left) was the highest earner so far, with a final price tag of $3,050 while 'Pisces' (right) sold for $1,525 . Deanna Reid, who dated Alexander . before he dated Arias, and prosecutor Juan Martinez tried to have her . testimony go against that of the defense which asserts that Arias was . physically abused and mentally manipulated by Alexander. The . defense rested their case last week but they are asking to add another . witness after a prosecution expert told jurors that Arias suffered from . borderline personality disorder. The . expert, clinical psychologist Janeen DeMarte, told the court that Arias . does not suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder or amnesia as her . lawyers have claimed. | Jodi Arias has been selling drawings while being on trial for murder .
The subjects of some pictures look just like the sister of her slain ex . |
32,755 | 5d195c2f5448405ef9e92e21f51492e3f13c00e7 | By . Zoe Szathmary . A five-year-old Ohio girl died Wednesday after she tried to get out of a moving Jeep, authorities said. Cameron Laughlin was with a three-year-old child in the parked car, the Stark County Sheriff's Office said in a release. However, the Jeep went into the neutral position and went out of the driveway into a ditch, authorities said. Victim: Cameron Laughlin, 5, was killed as she tried to get out of the moving Jeep . 'Laughlin [...] was struck by the vehicle while attempting to exit,' the Stark County Sheriff's Office said. Laughlin later died at an Alliance hospital, authorities said. The sheriff's office did not say where any adults were at the time of the incident. 'It appears the car door struck her and knocked her down, and the car then ran over her,' Sheriff George Maier told Ohio.com. 'The children were playing in the car, we are still investigating this, but for whatever reason the 2007 Jeep Liberty coasted backwards going east from the residence out of the driveway across the road and struck a ditch on the east side,' Maier also said. Accident: Though Laughlin and her cousin were in a parked car, somehow it went into neutral before hitting a ditch . A mother's love: Cameron's mother Melissa Laughlin has said 'She was always a happy little girl' The car involved in the accident belongs to Laughlin's aunt, CantonRep.com reported. 'She was always a happy little girl,” mother Melissa Laughlin told the website. '[Cameron] was so smart. She had a memory better than most adults.' A GoFundMe has been set up to help with funeral expenses, CantonRep noted. A request for more information to the sheriff's office was not immediately answered. | Cameron Laughlin, 5, was with a three-year-old child in a parked car in Lexington Township, Ohio, authorities said .
Somehow, the Jeep went into the neutral position and went out of the driveway into a ditch .
Sheriff George Maier said Laughlin was likely hit by an open door . |
245,291 | c97d076fc40453b9c9072db083ab7320501b3563 | (CNN) -- Government shelling of the seaside town of Misrata resumed Thursday afternoon, with heavy artillery and mortars targeting residential areas, killing 10 people, a member of the medical committee of the Misrata Council told CNN. Also Thursday, rebels retook the border area of Dehaiba/Wazin after forces loyal to leader Moammar Gadhafi had taken it earlier in the day, a witness said. The witness, Yousef Gaigi, said about 100 rebel vehicles equipped with assault rifles and antiaircraft weapons drove from the Libyan city Zintan to the border area, where they clashed with pro-government forces. "The fight resulted in many casualties," he said, without citing a number. Gaigi said the pro-Gadhafi forces then fled to the Tunisian side of the border and handed their weapons to the Tunisian army. The Tunisian Defense Ministry said the soldiers were taken farther north to the border at Ras Ajdir and sent back to Libya. Asked whether the Tunisians had returned the Libyans' weapons, a ministry official said, "It's possible." Earlier Thursday, the Tunisian Foreign Ministry had expressed "deep concern" over the military escalation near the crossing its border with Libyan and demanded that the Libyan government "put an end to these violations," according to the state-run Tunis Afrique Presse (TAP). The incidents occurred a day after the carnage in Libya continued to mount: on Wednesday, pro-government forces launched the heaviest shelling yet on the port of Misrata, much of which appeared to be a wasteland, rebels said. Also Wednesday, a NATO airstrike on Misrata killed 11 rebel fighters and wounded two others, witnesses told a reporter, who saw the bodies. From the time NATO began its operation on March 31 until Tuesday, the organization had conducted 3,981 sorties, of which 1,658 were strike sorties, according to an update issued Wednesday. NATO is leading an international military operation in Libya that includes airstrikes targeting Gadhafi's military resources. It is operating under a U.N. Security Council resolution authorizing any means necessary -- with the exception of foreign occupation -- to protect civilians. Misrata, the third-largest city in the North African country, has been hemmed in on three sides by Gadhafi's forces. Though rebels said they had gained control of the city's center and had pushed government forces outside the city, they said Gadhafi's forces were continuing to attack Misrata with heavy weaponry. The port has served as a crucial route of escape and as a lifeline to humanitarian aid. CNN's Frederik Pleitgen and Saad Abedine contributed to this report. | Ten are dead, a medical committee members says .
Rebels retook a border area from pro-Gadhafi forces, who had seized it earlier in the day .
"The fight resulted in many casualties," a witness says . |
690 | 02037c9d409e08309f54303114df2147b375a673 | By . Will Stewart . The Russian airline pilots who dramatically avoided a high-speed collision with a grounded plane as they came in to land have criticised their opposite numbers for pulling out in front of them. Shocking footage of the near-miss, which took place at Barcelona Airport on Saturday, shows a Boeing 767, flown by Russian airline UTair, swooping in over the runway. But as the plane bears down on the tarmac, a seemingly oblivious Aerolineas Argentineas Airbus A340 taxis in front of the incoming jet, which pulls up sharply to avoid disaster. Scroll down for video . Dramatic footage: The video shows the moment a aircraft was forced to abort its landing after another plane taxis across its path at Barcelona airport . The pilots then perform a 'go-around' emergency procedure, and manage safely to land their craft, carrying 260 tourists, on their second attempt. Commenting on the dramatic procedure to the Siberian Times, the plane's co-pilot Kirill Kuzmin also criticsed the Spanish airport's traffic controllers for falling silent during the disaster, leaving them to handle the dangerous situation themselves. He said: 'Before getting close to the runway we heard the air traffic controller's command allowing Argentinians to cross the runway after we had landed'. 'The Argentinians repeated the comment which meant that they heard and accepted it. But then suddenly - and without a clear reason - the Argentinians got onto the runway just as our altitude was going below 100 metres. 'The air traffic controller clearly got confused. He went silent... We had nothing else to do than go on a second round. 'We have worked on this situation many times during training.' Nikolay . Limarev, the captain of the plane, said the incident 'could have been . serious if the weather was not clear as it was on that day'. He . also criticsed traffic controllers, saying: 'As we were getting ready . to land, about 10, 15 seconds prior to reaching the rear end of the . runway, we noticed the Argentinian Airbus A340-300 moving at 60 degrees . towards the runway we were approaching.' 'Worst experiences ever': The Boeing 767 comes into land at the airport as the Airbus taxis across the runway . 'Go-around': The Boeing pilot is forced to abort the landing, pulling up and going around the other plane . 'The weather was fine, so after the Argentinian plane reached the runway and got onto it, we went onto a second round, not waiting for the air traffic controller's command. 'It took us about 15 minutes to complete the second round. When we finished it we approached the airport again and successfully landed at El Prat. 'As we were taxiing the airport's controller apologised on the radio for the situation.' UTair - one of Russia's largest airlines, based at Khanty-Mansiysk in Siberia - praised the captain for his 'composure and professional excellence' after 'appropriately' assessing the situation. The airline said that the matter was under 'investigation'. Spanish airport authority AENA announced a request for the country's civil aviation safety commission, CIAIAC, to examine the near miss and its causes. David Guillamon, spokesman for the Spanish air-traffic controller association, Aprocta, said the incident was a 'serious case', but said that - despite appearances - there was 'no danger of a collision.' Aerolineas Argentinas also insisted that nothing was amiss during the incident. A spokesman said: 'Aerolineas Argentinas affirms there was never a situation of risk in the supposed incident registered on Saturday at Barcelona Airport between a Russian UTair plane and an Aerolineas Argentinas plane. 'A spokesman for the Spanish airports authority AENA stated the UTair landing could have taken place without any risk as both planes were in the places they should have been with sufficient distance between each other.' Safe landing: The Boeing 767 from Russian airline Utair lands after the near-miss at Barcelona airport . As the Boeing approached the runway, the Airbus had already taxied clear of the location on the way to its own runway for takeoff, he said. The heart-stopping incident, which occurred on Saturday, was caught on camera by Miguel Angel, who posted the video to YouTube, where it has already been viewed more than one million times. Mr Angel, who has posted hundreds of plane videos online, said seeing the near-miss was 'one of the worst experiences I have ever had'. He said: 'An Utair Boeing 767-300 (VQ-BSX) incoming from Moscow as UT5187 and Aerolíneas Argentinas Airbus A340-300 (LV-FPV) were involved into what could be the bigger disaster of Barcelona Airport. 'The Utair 767 was about to land on Runway 02 while the Argentinas was crossing the runway. 'By the time Russian pilots sight Argentinas (they were taxiing to Holding point of RW25R for take-off) on runway while they were on final approach, they did their best making an impressive and close go around. 'After that incidence the plane landed safely on runway 02, and the Argentinas took-off heading Buenos Aires.' [sic] . | UTair Boeing 767 filmed in near-miss with Aerolineas Argentineas Airbus at El Prat airport in Spain on Saturday .
Russian plane was coming in to land when Argentinian jet taxied in front of it - prompting emergency dodge .
Pilots reveal terrifying moment the jet pulled out in front of them - and say air traffic control were silent .
Co-pilot Kirill Kuzmin said plane started to taxi 'without a clear reason' while his jet was only 100m above ground .
Investigation into the incident has been ordered by Russian airline UTair and also Spanish aviation authorities . |
188,397 | 7ff86813addc1aa647ca86f7ed940e160e3f167b | A beloved retired Philadelphia couple was strangled by two men - one they knew for decades - that the hired to do household chores, authorities said Monday. Rufus, 79, and Gladys Perry, 66, were killed by Terry Ballard, 26, and 19-year-old Justen Smith, over some money and a gold necklace, police said. The couple had known Ballard since he was a child. 'For it to be someone that they're familiar with, someone that they knew, makes the pain even greater,' said Donald Carlton, the couple's nephew. Cold-blooded: Justen Smith, left, and Terry Ballard, right, are accused of murdering an elderly Philadelphia couple who hired them to do chores - over only $120 and a gold necklace . The Perrys' lifeless bodies were found early Thursday by daughter Keya Perry in the stairwell of their rowhouse in the city's Strawberry Mansion section. They had abrasions on their faces and necks, Homicide Capt. James Clark said. 'I got a call early this morning from my sister stating that she had seen on the news that dad had died and Gladys,' daughter Renee Ross told WCAU while fighting through tears. 'It was really shocking to me.' Police believe the couple let in the two men during the day on Wednesday to do odd jobs around their home. Things went south when Gladys Perry caught one of the suspect trying to take an envelope of cash he found in the kitchen. The envelope contained only $120, according to the Philadelphia Daily News. He attacked and choked her to death, and her 79-year-old husband was strangled and smothered with a pillow while trying to save her, police said. Devastated: Family members gather outside the Perrys' house in the minutes after the elderly couple's bodies were found inside . Where it happened: The Strawberry mansion neighborhood home where the Perrys lived for decades . Neighbors later told investigators they had seen Ballard and another man in the victims' backyard that day. Officers soon found the suspects and brought them in for questioning. 'They both admitted to their involvement in this brutal and senseless double murder,' Clark said. Ballard, whose grandmother is a close friend of the Perrys, had recently moved back to the neighborhood after several years away, Clark said. He didn't say how Ballard and Smith, whose hometown is in western Pennsylvania, knew each other. Rufus Perry had worked for the city Streets Department, where nephew Donald Carlton now serves as deputy commissioner. Gladys, who is listed in public records as Algladis, had worked as a nurse at a local hospital. The couple kept to themselves but were the rocks of their family — always the first to offer financial or emotional support, said Carlton. He thanked neighbors for helping with the investigation despite the city's pervasive no-snitching culture. 'Too often in these cases, people don't speak, they don't want to get involved,' Carlton said. The fact that people came forward is 'a testament to who my aunt and uncle were.' Ballard and Smith were charged with murder, robbery . and related offenses. It wasn't clear if they had attorneys. | Rufus and Gladys Perry were found dead early Thursday by their daughter .
Police say Justen Smith, 19, and Terry Ballard, 26, confessed to strangling and suffocating the elderly couple .
The accused killers then stole $120 and a gold necklace from the home .
The Perrys had known Ballard since he was a young child . |
157,736 | 57f6dc9b19678b2804b7f3d9002d327d00ac1bee | Whistleblowing site WikiLeaks on Monday accused Google of handing over the emails and electronic data of its senior staff to the US authorities without providing notification until almost three years later. Google was apparently acting in response to warrants issued by the US Department of Justice, which is investigating WikiLeaks for publishing hundreds of thousands of classified military and diplomatic files. WikiLeaks said the allegations against it point to a far broader investigation into its activities than the US authorities have previously indicated. WikiLeaks has accused Google of handing over the emails and electronic data of its senior staff, including investigations editor Sarah Harrison (pictured), to US authorities without notification for three years . Alleged offences range from espionage to theft of US government property and computer fraud and abuse, it said. 'Today, WikiLeaks' lawyers have written to Google and the US Department of Justice concerning a serious violation of the privacy and journalistic rights of WikiLeaks' staff,' the site said in a statement. WikiLeaks said that Google could and should have resisted complying with the warrants, as well as immediately informing those whose data it handed over. The warrants demanded emails, contacts and IP addresses relating to the Google accounts of investigations editor Sarah Harrison, section editor Joseph Farrell and spokesman Kristinn Hrafnsson. At a press conference in Geneva, Ms Harrison (pictured with Edward Snowden in 2013) said 'we want to know why the three journalists were not notified of being spied (upon)' 'We want to know why the three journalists were not notified of being spied (upon),' Harrison said at a press conference in Geneva. Baltasar Garzon, a former Spanish judge who is Assange's lawyer, told reporters at the event: 'We believe the way the documents were taken is illegal'. He said that 'a law restricted for national security was used against their privacy' and he threatened legal action against Google and US authorities. The information was handed over to the US authorities on April 5, 2012, but Google did not inform the WikiLeaks staff until December 23, 2014, according to documents obtained by AFP. 'While WikiLeaks journalists, perhaps uniquely, do not use Google services for internal communications or for communicating with sources, the search warrants nonetheless represent a substantial invasion of their personal privacy and freedom,' the organisation added. WikiLeaks has been targeted by the US authorities since its release in 2010 of 500,000 secret military files on the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and 250,000 diplomatic cables. A former army intelligence analyst, Chelsea Manning, is currently serving a 35-year prison term for leaking classified documents to WikiLeaks. WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange also believes he is a target for prosecution and has been holed up at the Ecuadoran embassy in London since 2012. He sought asylum there to avoid being sent to Sweden, where he faces allegations of rape and sexual molestation which he denies. He says his extradition to Sweden could see him transferred on to the United States. 'His conditions are worse than all other detainees since he can not go outside, have a little walk in the garden for instance, without being arrested,' his lawyer Garzon said on Monday. In a statement to AFP, Google said it did not comment on individual cases, but said: 'Obviously, we follow the law like any other company. Chelsea Manning (right) is serving a 35-year prison term for leaking classified documents to WikiLeaks and founder Julian Assange (left) has been holed up in the Ecuadoran embassy in London since 2012 . 'When we receive a subpoena or court order, we check to see if it meets both the letter and the spirit of the law before complying. 'And if it doesn't we can object or ask that the request is narrowed. We have a track record of advocating on behalf of our users.' It is not the first time WikiLeaks has clashed with the online giant. In September 2014, Assange published a book, 'When Google Met WikiLeaks', questioning the Internet firm's close ties with the US administration. | Staff of site weren't notified of Google's actions until three years later .
Accounts included investigations editor Sarah Harrison, section editor Joseph Farrell and spokesman Kristinn Hrafnsson .
Google apparently acting in response to warrants issued by government .
WikiLeaks has been targeted by US authorities since 2010 release of 500,000 secret military files on the wars in Afghanistan .
Founder Julian Assange has asylum at Ecuadoran embassy in London . |
187,479 | 7ecc3514978e3ae3d9b788a50e7ec0df47749ce0 | Bad batch? Mary 'Shelley' Goldsmith was one of four deaths linked to molly in the summer of 2013 . The parents of a University of Virginia student who died after taking the club drug Molly are hoping to prevent further deaths from the drug by raising awareness of its deadly consequences in a new documentary. University of Virginia sophomore Mary 'Shelley' Goldsmith, 19, died in August 2013 at one of the largest dance clubs in Washington. At the time her family knew that she had overdosed. Her mom and dad, Rob and Dede Goldsmith are featured in a clip released by the makers of an upcoming documentary. Shelley, was a student at UVA in 2013 when she died after taking MDMA at an electronic dance concert in Washington, D.C. The Goldsmiths are looking for club organizers to introduce policies that allow music festival organizers to put safety measures in place that reduce risks from drug use without fear of prosecution. Mrs Goldsmith is hoping to change federal drug laws through a policy known as harm reduction. 'She is a good messenger. She was a great kid. She was smart, she was affable, she was musically-inclined, she was the whole package and it happened to her. If it can happen to her, it can happen to your kid,' said Dede Goldsmith in the YouTube clip. The documentary is produced by DanceSafe founder Emanuel Sferios' Viveka Films and is expected to be shown at film festivals in the summer of 2016. Scroll down for video... Message: Rob and Dede Goldsmith are driven to ensure people understand that it is not stupid kids or drug addicts that are at risk, but regular teenagers and young people at colleges and universities . Gone but not forgotten: Her mother says her daughter, Shelley, loved cupcakes . 'She had a presence about her and had a great big beautiful smile,' says her mom Dede, holding back tears. Dad Rob tries to explain his daughter's drug use. 'The connotation of drug user implies its someone who uses drugs all the time. She used drugs to enhance her experience and was looking to have a good time and to feel close to people around her. Education things say Molly is bad. Shelly and her friends took it because they liked the way it made them feel. That has to be acknowledged in a effective, realistic educational way. There's some good sides and attractive sides to this but there are some risks.' Her parents appear driven to ensure people understand that it is not stupid kids or drug addicts that are at risk, but regular teenagers and young people at colleges and universities. 'These are really smart kids. She was a smart girl,' says her mom. 'There is a need for education but a lot of information that is put out is not accurate so the only practical response is Harm reduction.' Harm reduction suggests that educators take on practical strategies designed to reduce the consequences of drug use. New policy: Shelly's parents want to see a new strategy of harm reduction be introduced. It suggests that educators take on practical strategies designed to reduce the consequences of drug use . Tragic: Goldsmith was a sophomore at prestigious University of Virginia, where she was awarded the highest merit scholarship. Her father has now come forward to say her death was caused by molly . 'If her death can open someone's eyes, then we need to talk about it,' Rob Goldsmith said. 'Shelley deserves a legacy of being someone who cared for people, someone who achieved, someone who contributed, and not a druggie who died,' he said. 'That's not who she was.' Goldsmith hailed from Abingdon, Virginia and was admitted to her prestigious university with the highest possible merit scholarship. She hoped to one day have a career in politics and had the resume full of distinctions to help her on her way. My girl: 'Shelley's death has to have a meaning for me as a rational loving mother.I can't live with the thought that she just died. There's no purpose. I believe that things happen for a reason,' says Mom Dede . Happy memories: Her Mom Dede says, 'I really want to do what I can to protect young people. I grew up with Shelley - she had a lot of friends and I miss not being involved with them' Tragic: Mary 'Shelley' Goldsmith was a sophomore at prestigious University of Virginia, where she was awarded the highest merit scholarship. She died in August 2016 after taking club drug molly . 'Her love of life was contagious,' reads Goldsmith's obituary. 'She volunteered at the food bank, worked for Democratic candidates, decorated cupcakes with her friends' 'The war on drugs hasn't worked. Harm reduction is our only viable option,' says Rob. 'Shelley asked for water just before she died and was heading to the bar but never made it. She was feeling the effects of being very hot and taking Molly, the risks of heat stroke and exhaustion are a real possibility.' Asked what is her driving force in taking part in the documentary, Dede Goldsmith has a clear answer: 'I really want to do what I can to protect young people. I grew up with Shelley - she had a lot of friends and I miss not being involved with them. Shelley's death has to have a meaning for me as a rational loving mother.I can't live with the thought that she just died. There's no purpose. I believe that things happen for a reason. I believe that she died so that other people would live.' Missing their girl: 'The war on drugs hasn't worked. Harm reduction is our only viable option,' says Rob. They hope the death of their beautiful daughter will help save the lives of others in the future . More dangerous? Molly has been known for years as MDMA or Ecstasy, but some say its powder form is more dangerous because it is easily adulterated when put inside capsules . Molly is a crystalline or powder form of the well-known club drug Ecstasy. However, some believe Molly--which can be snorted or swallowed in a capsule--is more likely than the drug in tablet form to be laced with anything from caffeine to methamphetamine. The moniker 'Molly' could also refer to the chemical MDMA (ecstasy) or to a variety of similar and related chemicals. The drug is popular at music and dance venues because of its ability to energize its user. Users also report a sense of heightened empathy and of a heightened ability to 'feel' the music. It is nearly impossible for a user to judge exactly how much Molly they can safely take because there is no set measure of potency and it is often impossible to tell if a dose has been adulterated. | Mary 'Shelley' Goldsmith, 19, in August 2013 in a Washington nightclub .
Her parents knew that she overdosed 'molly,' a term for MDMA or ecstasy .
Would like to see organizers of festivals and nightclubs introduce safety measures that reduce risks from drug use without fear of prosecution . |
67,288 | bee7c71b158c6ff31089bbd1216ce7bef02a96fc | Oxford University: Places come from the top five comprehensives . Five elite British schools are sending more pupils to Oxford and Cambridge than all of the country's 2000 comprehensives and colleges combined, a study has revealed. Four prestigious private schools and only one state school produced 946 Oxford and Cambridge entrants over three years. At the same time the 2,000 worst-performing state schools, two thirds of the national total, produced only 927 Oxbridge students. The leading fee-paying schools, which charge around £30,000 a year, are Eton, Westminster, St Paul’s School and St Paul’s Girls School. The only state school to make the grade, Hills Road college, is based in the heart of Cambridge and caters for the children of leading academics and scientists based in the university city. The startling figures were disclosed in the first study of its kind by the Sutton Trust, an education charity which analysed the onward education destinations of 750,000 school leavers. The data also shows that grammar schools fare very well when it comes to university places. On average, grammars sent 65 per cent of their pupils to the top 30 institutions, compared with only 28 per cent for comprehensives. The 100 elite schools – 3 per cent of the national total – accounted for 32 per cent of admissions to Oxbridge. Only 12 council areas sent more than 2 per cent of A-level candidates to Oxbridge – and all but one of these were in the south-east of England. The exception was Trafford in Greater Manchester. The findings highlight the extent to . which the choice of school dictates the life chances of youngsters and . the Coalition said the report showed Labour had failed young people. Schools Minister Nick Gibb said: ‘This report is a damning indictment of Labour’s failure to improve social mobility. ‘Despite all their promises, they . left hundreds of thousands of children with little to no chance of . getting to the best universities. Cambridge students: Four prestigious private schools and one state school produced 946 Oxford and Cambridge entrants over three years . ‘We are tackling these inequalities by increasing the number of good schools and targeting funding at the poorest pupils.’ The Sutton Trust figures show that Westminster, attended by Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, sent the most pupils to Oxbridge between 2007 and 2009 – 235. Next was Eton with 211, followed by Hills Road with 204, St Paul’s School with 167 – a staggering 46 per cent of its pupils – and St Paul’s Girls School with 129. The grammar sending the largest proportion of students to Oxbridge was Queen Elizabeth’s in Barnet, North London. Sutton Trust chairman Sir Peter Lampl said schools would try harder to raise standards if they were made to publish data showing the destinations of their leavers. Brian Lightman, of headteachers’ union ASCL, suggested poor pupils were put off applying to Oxbridge. ‘Regardless of ability level, students from more disadvantaged backgrounds will sometimes find Oxford and Cambridge a foreign and intimidating world,’ he said. Meanwhile, almost 200,000 youngsters have been denied university entry after a record surge in applications. A total of 669,956 youngsters chased the 479,000 places available in the final year before tuition fees rise up to a maximum £9,000. Students without offers will have to scramble for places through clearing when their A-level results are published next month. But opportunities are expected to be limited because few students will take a gap year ahead of the fees rise. Top marks: Schools through the centuries . | Four are leading fee-paying schools charging £30k a year while only one is state run, but it is based in Cambridge .
Nick Clegg's old school, Westminster, sent the most survey reveals . |
7,273 | 149beb9a315b88386ad05457df823476ec48d7d9 | Buenos Aires, Argentina (CNN) -- Argentina's capital city was beset by strikes Thursday, with teachers, doctors and transit employees refusing to work over money matters. Teachers and doctors in Buenos Aires went on strike Wednesday and are scheduled to go back to work Friday, the government-run Telam news agency and other outlets reported. Subway workers will go on strike Thursday night for a few hours, they said. This is the fourth work stoppage in the past six months for doctors. Only emergency cases are being treated. The doctors are not only seeking better salaries, but also improvements to the public health system. They are protesting "the lack of money in the public system, the possibility that the health budget will be reduced by 500 million pesos (about $130 million), the lack of professionals, the lack of labor to solve the problems in Argentina's public health," said Alicia Kobylarz of the Federal Syndicate of Health Workers. The nation's public hospitals treat the poor and needy. Health professionals want the government to employ more doctors to meet rising patient loads and an increase in diseases and epidemics such as H1N1 flu and dengue fever. The hospitals depend on funding from the provinces, leading to major differences in each area's needs and what local health care facilities can offer. "Provinces that have petroleum income, for example, are provinces that have better budgets, that have better hospitals" said Aldo Neri, a former national health minister. "There is much inequality in the treatment that the poor receive in Argentinean public hospitals depending on which province they live in. That's why I say the inequalities have increased." The current health minister, Juan Manzur, said next year's health budget will have an increase of more than 15 percent, greater than the national budget, which will have a 12.4 percent increase. Teachers also want greater pay and announced Thursday they would go back on strike Tuesday because of failed talks with Buenos Aires Education Director Mario Oporto. The teachers say they want their raises by year's end. Oporto said there's no money for raises now, the official Telam news agency reported. "The province's posture is very clear: There won't be raises in 2009 because there already have been," Oporto told a radio station, according to Telam. "We're sorry about the work stoppage, and we are ready to keep working. This time we are very firm: There will be no raises in 2009." Daniel Scioli, governor of Buenos Aires Province, said public education "is our top priority" but also emphasized there would be no raises this year, the news agency reported. Teachers' union leaders complained Thursday that government officials went to schools Wednesday to find out which teachers were there and which had joined the work stoppage, Telam said. Subway workers in Buenos Aires announced they will walk off the job at 7 p.m. Thursday. They, too, want pay raises. Educators also are on strike in neighboring Chile, where professors say they are owed a "historic debt." The indefinite strike entered its fourth day Thursday and negotiations are scheduled to resume Friday. Jaime Gajardo, president of Chile's College of Professors, told a local TV station there has been improvement in negotiations with the government and the talks could advance noticeably in the next few days. Pablo Zalaquett, the mayor of Santiago, the capital of Chile, said the two sides are closer on a pay bonus the professors want. CNN's Javier Doberti contributed to this report. | Teachers, doctors in Buenos Aires scheduled to go back to work Friday .
Subway workers were set to go on strike Thursday night for a few hours .
Doctors seek better salaries, improvements to public health system .
Argentina's neighbor Chile also seeing strikes by educators . |
19,859 | 3866b975db7eea1c6f2843c663b07a0030d319ec | By . Lydia Warren . PUBLISHED: . 12:08 EST, 12 December 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 12:43 EST, 12 December 2012 . A woman whose estranged husband allegedly pretended to be a medic to lure women to his home for invasive medical exams that he secretly filmed discovered evidence of the sickening scam as she searched for Christmas decorations, police have revealed. Kimberly Gavin-Anderson uncovered a trove of medical pamphlets, supplies, small surveillance cameras and questionnaires filled out by David E. Anderson's victims and contacted police. It came after she had already tipped off authorities after finding nude images of her nieces, aged 10 to 13, on his computer in a folder entitled 'Family and Friends', police said. The images were taken as the unsuspecting young girls . used a bathroom at Anderson's beach house in Salisbury, Massachusetts over the summer. In court: David Anderson, left, allegedly filmed women undergoing invasive procedures after claiming he was a medic. He is also accused of hiding cameras to film his young nieces in the nude . After that report, Salisbury police obtained a . search warrant for his computers and, with the help of FBI and state . police, allegedly uncovered 'thousands' of video of the girls. In searching the home, . police also found two external hard drives that contained videos of the . 'medical examinations' with time stamps as early as 2008, Chief Tom Fowler told the Boston Herald. The father-of-one is being held on $500,000 bail following his arraignment on Monday on charges of unlawfully recording a nude or . partially nude person and possession of child pornography. Anderson allegedly recruited women through Craigslist and distributed fliers through the community offering to pay between $25 and $50 to be examined by medical students for research, the Newburyport Daily News reported. Discovery: Anderson's stash of thousands of images and film was found after his estranged wife, Kimberly Gavin-Anderson, right, found them in a computer file entitled 'Family and Friends' Scene: Police discovered images and supplies at Anderson's Massachusetts beach house, pictured . But Anderson said that, as part of . the process, the women would need to undergo a 'baseline internal . examination' first. Police said this included digital probing and other . personal acts. Authorities say he may have lured more than 20 unsuspecting women to his beach house as part of the scam over several years. And as part of the act, Anderson allegedly bought medical devices including as a blood pressure monitor, latex gloves, lubrication jelly and a stethoscope. 'I’ve never seen anything this bizarre,' Fowler said of the crime. For his beach home, he allegedly bought pin-sized cameras and set them up throughout the house. Police said he is being investigated . in other states, including Connecticut, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New . York and Washington, for similar alleged crimes. On the prowl: He allegedly posted ads for women on Craigslist and handed out fliers in the community . Authorities were able to track down one 30-year-old victim who said she . was handed a flyer in New York City and believed the examination was . legitimate. She was paid $50. He is accused of possessing child pornography on at least one computer, as well as the images of his four young relatives 'in various states of undress'. His court-appointed attorney said his bail was excessive and his client is not a flight risk. Additional charges stemming from his luring unsuspecting women into his . beach house and secretly videotaping them are likely to be filed, . Essex County prosecutor Maura Bailey said. Court documents revealed there was a . history of domestic violence between Anderson . and his estranged wife and a divorce filing was requested around September 2, Fox Boston . reported. They have a 13-year-old son together. | David Anderson, 44, 'advertised on Craigslist for women to undergo examinations as part of "medical research" and secretly filmed them'
He 'hid cameras in his bathroom and filmed his nude underage nieces'
Estranged wife found pictures on his computer and a stash of medic supplies and cameras and alerted police . |
284,570 | fcb2b9b19b1a75fe1b2fe7d2d02cfcd15fb21f88 | New Zealand-born Gareth Anscombe has been named in the Wales squad for this season's RBS Six Nations Championship. The Cardiff Blues fly-half, 23, moved to Wales earlier this season and has made just nine appearances for his regional side. Anscombe, whose mother was born in Wales, is among four uncapped players in a 34-man group announced by head coach Warren Gatland. Gareth Anscombe (left), pictured in action for Cardiff Blues, has been called up to the Wales squad . Wales head coach Warren Gatland has named his 34-man squad for the RBS Six Nations . Backs: L Halfpenny (Toulon), L Williams (Scarlets), G North (Northampton), A Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues), H Amos (Newport Gwent Dragons), T Morgan (Newport Gwent Dragons), S Williams (Scarlets), J Davies (Clermont Auvergne), J Roberts (Racing Metro), C Allen (Cardiff Blues), G Anscombe (Cardiff Blues), R Priestland (Scarlets), D Biggar (Ospreys), G Davies (Scarlets), R Webb (Ospreys), M Phillips (Racing Metro). Forwards: G Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), P James (Bath), R Evans (Scarlets), A Jarvis (Ospreys), S Lee (Scarlets), S Andrews (Cardiff Blues), R Hibbard (Gloucester), S Baldwin (Ospreys), K Dacey (Cardiff Blues), A-W Jones (Ospreys), J Ball (Scarlets), B Davies (Wasps), L Charteris (Racing Metro), D Lydiate (Ospreys), J King (Ospreys), S Warburton (Cardiff Blues, capt), J Tipuric (Ospreys), T Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons). Anscombe will be joined by fellow Test rookies in Newport Gwent Dragons centre Tyler Morgan, Scarlets prop Rob Evans and Blues hooker Kristian Dacey. There are no places, though, for 95 times-capped Blues prop Adam Jones or Gloucester fly-half James Hook. Hook's omission is not a surprise - he was left out of Gatland's autumn Test squad earlier this season - yet 33-year-old Adam Jones had been tipped for a recall after Scarlets forward Rhodri Jones suffered a shoulder injury. But Gatland has chosen Samson Lee, Aaron Jarvis and Scott Andrews as his three tighthead props, raising fresh question marks over Jones' international future. Anscombe, meanwhile, offers Gatland options at fly-half and full-back, although it remains to be see whether he features in the match-day 23 for Wales' Six Nations opener against England in Cardiff on February 6. Elsewhere in the squad there is a recall for fit-again Scarlets scrum-half Gareth Davies, who joins fellow number nines Rhys Webb and Mike Phillips, with Morgan featuring among the centres. Morgan, who is among seven players to have signed a national dual contract in Wales, has also been named in the Wales Under-20 squad for their Six Nations campaign, and he will be released from the senior camp to link up with the age group side. Prop Adam Jones has been left out of the Wales squad despite winning 95 caps for his country . Glucester fly-half James Cook (right) has also missed out on a place in Gatland's squad . Gatland said: 'It's great to be able to name such an experienced squad that also boasts some exciting young talent. 'The four uncapped players have all been going well for their respective regions, and it will be good to see them in this environment and we hope they take the opportunity. 'They come into a squad packed with experience, and that experience will be important to us over the next eight weeks and the year as a whole. Newport Gwent Dragons centre Tyler Morgan is another of the uncapped players in line to make his debut . 'We all know how tough the Six Nations is, and we kick the tournament off with a huge game against England, and that is something you have to be excited about and look forward to. 'We were pleased on the whole with the autumn campaign, and this is another opportunity for us as we look ahead to a very big year in the rugby calendar.' Wales will also face England in their World Cup pool later this year, while their Six Nations campaign features away games against Scotland, France and Italy, plus a Millennium Stadium appointment with Ireland. | New Zealand-born Gareth Anscombe moved to Wales earlier this season .
Test rookies Tyler Morgan, Rob Evans and Kristian Dacey also included .
Adam Jones and James Hook both miss out on place in Wales squad . |
28,415 | 50a3a8ceffd2779950f0df4dc4c8afb555a2f54f | Growing numbers of drug-resistant diseases could trigger an ‘apocalyptic scenario’ comparable to a catastrophic terrorist attack, Britain’s chief medical officer warned yesterday. Dame Sally Davies said there was risk that within 20 years people going for simple operations would die of routine infections because we may ‘run out of antibiotics’ that work. She told MPs the threat from infections that are resistant to antibiotics was so serious that the issue should be added to the Government’s national risk register of civil emergencies. There is a risk that within 20 years, people going for simple operations may die of routine infections due to a lack of effective antibiotics . The register was established in 2008 to advise the public and businesses on national emergencies that Britain could face in the next five years. The highest priority risks on the latest register include a deadly flu outbreak and catastrophic terrorist attacks. Speaking to MPs on the Commons science . and technology committee, Davies said she would ask the Cabinet Office . to add antibiotic resistance to the national risk register in the light of an annual report on infectious disease she will publish in March. A Department of Health spokesperson told . MailOnline the publication would coincide with a government strategy to . promote more responsible use of antibiotics among doctors. She said: 'We are broadly . concerned about antibiotic resistance and we are going to be publishing a . strategy in March with guidance on this.' Hospital superbugs such as MRSA are some of the best known antibiotic-resistant diseases, but MPs were warned about infections such as gonorrhea and TB that affect the general population. Some antibiotics have already been lost to resistance. Some antibiotics have already been lost to resistance, for example penicillin is no longer effective for some wound infections . Penicillin is no longer effective for staphylococcal wound infections, ampicillin (a form of penicillin) is no longer used for infections of the urinary tract and ciprofloxacin (a synthetic antibiotic) is now useless in treating gonorrhoea. Many more are under threat. New antibiotics are hard to find and to licence, the Health Protection Agency has warned. From the 1940s to the 1990s the answer was to develop new antibiotics, but this development has slowed. New antibiotics are less profitable than treatments for chronic diseases, and much of the pharmaceutical industry now concentrates on other areas of medicine. Dame Sally told the Commons Science and Technology Committee: ‘We need to get our act together in this country.’ She said: 'There are few public health issues of potentially greater importance for society than antibiotic resistance. It means we are at increasing risk of developing infections that cannot be treated – but resistance can be managed. 'Antibiotics are losing their effectiveness at a rate that is both alarming and irreversible – similar to global warming. 'I urge patients and prescribers to think about the drugs they are requesting and dispensing. 'Bacteria are adapting and finding ways to survive the effects of antibiotics, ultimately becoming resistant so they no longer work. And the more you use an antibiotic, the more bacteria become resistant to it.' Changes in modern medicine have exacerbated the problem by making patients more susceptible to infections. For example, cancer treatments weaken the immune system, and the use of catheters increases the chances of bugs entering the bloodstream. David Heymann, Chairman of the HPA said: 'Antimicrobial resistance is a global problem and it requires an international solution to tackle it. sistance and suggests ways that could help to form a basis for action to address them. 'Bacteria will always evolve to become resistant and this is a natural part of the cycle of evolution but by reducing the pressures that cause resistance we can help to preserve the antibiotics that we do have and no-one can underestimate how important this is. 'Tackling this problem is going to require effort from individuals, organisations and nations alike. But by working together we can help to combat this problem.' | Dame Sally Davies said people may die from routine infections after surgery within 20 years .
This is due to a lack of effective antibiotics .
Says situation so serious that the issue should be added to Government's list of civil emergencies . |
35,161 | 63f04cfb5d11184e1d03ebf5e68d71cfb94c5834 | Three police officers have been pulled from street duty for their safety in Southern California after a video of them shooting a dog dead as they arrested its owner hit the internet. A cellphone video that had more than 3.7 . million views on YouTube by Thursday morning shows the dog, named Max, . being shot after scrambling out of a car's back seat through a window . and lunging at officers who had handcuffed its master. The dog's owner Leon Rosby had been filming a police raid in Hawthrone California, and was arrested for alleged obstruction of justice. Scroll down for video... (Warning: Graphic Content) Dog shot by police: A Rottweiler was shot by a police officer in Hawthorne, California when he jumped out of a car and ran towards his owner, who was being arrested . Witnesses can be heard crying out in distress after watching the dog's grisly death. Hawthorne . police spokesman Lt. Scott Swain told the Daily Breeze the decision is . for the officers' safety after the uniformed officer shot the dog four . times on Sunday. Numerous death threats have been directed at the officers. Mr . Rosby, said police needlessly killed his dog. His lawyer, Michael . Gulden, said Rosby's complaint will be added to an existing lawsuit . Rosby has against police. 'I understand that people have been affected by this video. Anyone would be,' Swain told the Breeze. 'The police officers involved are affected by this incident and having to kill a dog. "I . don't understand how it translates into an eye for an eye: `We are . going to kill you and your family because of this incident,'" he said of . the threats to the officers. Chief . Robert Fager has called for calm and urged people to be patient as . police investigate the shooting, and also avoid information being . circulated through social media because "fallacies are being . perpetuated." Officers in the field have been told to be vigilant against any possible retaliation. "You'd . like to believe that maybe some of the people are just venting, but . then you've got to be realistic. There are crazy people out there," Swain said. The . 130-pound, 3-year-old Rottweiler named Max was shot to death after he . escaped through a window in a parked car and ran over to his master, . Leon Rosby, who was being arrested for filming the scene on his phone. The video (watch original on YouTube) shows Rosby, 52, walking his dog Sunday around 7 p.m. near a house with several police squad cars parked outside. He is seen filming the scene in order 'to make sure nobody's civil rights were being violated,' he told DailyBreeze.com. Rosby is then seen talking to a pair of police officers in the distance. Hawthorne Police Lt Scott Swain said that officers were warning Rosby to turn down the music in his car. 'It's distracting the officers. It's interfering with what they are able to hear,' Lt Swain said earlier this week. 'It's not just a party call. It's an armed robbery call. The officers need to hear what's going on with the people being called out of the residence. That music in his car is bleeding over and it's distracting them.' A neighbor who witnessed the event said they heard Rosby yell 'It's my (expletive) radio!' to officers. But Rosby said that didn't happen because as a Christian he doesn't swear. 'I do apologize if I didn't immediately comply,' Rosby said. 'The music may have been a little loud but I was complying.' Watchdog: Rosby was out walking his dog when he came across a police scene and started taking video to make sure civil liberties weren't being . Noise complaint: A Hawthorne Police spokesman said that officers were telling Rosby to turn down his music, which was distracting for those trying to work on the scene . Leaving: Police are seen approaching Rosby as he puts Max in the car, where the windows are rolled down . Eventually the two officers start . walking towards Rosby, who puts Max into his car where the windows are . rolled down. Rosby seems to calmly walk over to the officers and turn . around, volunteering himself for arrest. As the officers put handcuffs on Rosby, the dog starts barking and manages to jump out of the car. Another police officer comes over and looks like he's trying to grab the leash when the dog jumps up and the officer shoots him several times. Turning himself in: Rosby walks over to the officers, turns around, and allows them to handcuff him . Escape: Max beings to bark as his owner is walked towards the squad cars, and he manages to squeeze out the windows . Attack? Another officer comes over and seems to reach for the dog's leash when Max jumps - that's when the shooting starts . Dead: The officer continues to shoot the dog several times. A police spokesman says they were protecting Rosby too . 'He literally killed my puppy I had since he was 6 weeks old,' Rosby said. In the video, Rosby is noticeably upset. 'I was crying and hollering, "My dog! Max! Max!"' Rosby doesn't understand why police didn't let him go to properly secure his dog, or why they continued to arrest him after he put the dog in the car - a sign that he was leaving. 'There was no way Max should have died like that,' Rosby said. 'Max was only protecting his master. He was trying to stop them from beating on me.' 'All he did was love me,' he added. Lt Swain, however, alleges that the officers were also looking out for Rosby. 'I know it's the dog's master, and more than likely not going to attack him, (but) we've got a guy handcuffed that's kind of defenseless. We have a duty to defend him too,' Swain said. Rosby was held overnight in jail on suspicion of obstruction of justice and released at 5 AM the next day. Rosby says that police would not return his dog's body to him. His attorney Michael Gulden says that Rosby is planning on filing a lawsuit against the Hawthorne Police Department. Dog shot: Rosby's lawyer says they are planning on filing a suit against the police department for the dog's killing . Apparently this isn't the first time that Rosby has had issues with the local police. His prior record includes convictions for resisting arrest, battery and driving under the influence. Rosby, a black man, has filed six complaints alleging mistreatment and racial profiling by the Hawthorn Police. 'There's been a pattern of harassment against him and other African-Americans in Hawthorne. Last July, the police responded to his home and beat him unnecessarily, then threw him in jail for no reason. We sued for that. We'll amend that complaint to include the dog incident,' Gulden said. As of Monday night, the video had 510 views and almost 400 comments. | Hawthorne police say the officers are in danger after video hit the internet .
Leon Rosby, 52, was walking his dog and video-tapping a police scene when he was arrested for obstruction of justice .
He locked his dog in the car with the windows rolled down, and while being arrested the dog escaped .
A police officer shot the dog when it ran over to his owner .
Rosby is now in the process of filing a suit against the police department for killing his dog . |
109,245 | 18d200dde10f679ce385dabbc01855b2c8250bca | House Speaker John Boehner said today Congress would discuss giving the Obama administration new authority to fight Islamic State militants - just as soon as the president sends over a request in writing. 'I expect the president is going to send an authorization to the Congress. I expect that we will have hearings on that, and that we will in fact have a debate and a vote on it. Timing has yet to be determined,' the Ohio lawmaker said today during a press conference following a closed-door meeting with his Republican colleagues. President Barack Obama vowed in his State of the Union address Tuesday to relentlessly hunt down terrorists from 'Pakistan to the streets of Paris,' then called on Congress to authorize his administration to keep using military force against extremists. We're still waiting: House Speaker John Boehner said today the House would begin its debate on a resolution giving the president new authority to fight terrorists - just as soon as the president clarifies in writing exactly what powers he's asking for . President Barack Obama called on Congress last night to pass a new authorization of military force agreement so that his administration can legally go after ISIS but did not tell them what to put in it . Obama is pictured here shaking hands with outgoing Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, right, after his State of the Union address. The president, in consultation with his military advisers, usually tells Congress what he needs in an AUMF, not the other way around . Obama argued that U.S military leadership in Iraq and Syria is stopping the Islamic State's advance, but asked lawmakers 'to show the world that we are united in this mission' with a vote permitting the U.S. to go to war with the extremist group. Republican lawmakers have repeatedly said they are prepared to work with him to pass such a measure if he sends a proposal up to Capitol Hill. Typically, the president tells Congress what military authority he wants and needs, not the other way around, they have argued. And in their response to Obama's address, given by Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst last night, they urged him to come up with a 'comprehensive' plan to defeat the group. Obama said America learned 'some costly lessons' in the fight against terrorism since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, and they are guiding his approach to fight the Islamic State extremists. 'Instead of getting dragged into another ground war in the Middle East, we are leading a broad coalition, including Arab nations, to degrade and ultimately destroy this terrorist group,' Obama said in remarks prepared for delivery. 'We're also supporting a moderate opposition in Syria that can help us in this effort, and assisting people everywhere who stand up to the bankrupt ideology of violent extremism. This effort will take time. It will require focus. But we will succeed.' Obama said he believes in moving forward with 'a smarter kind of American leadership' that combines military power with strong diplomacy. 'That's how America leads — not with bluster, but with persistent, steady resolve,' Obama said. 'When we make rash decisions, reacting to the headlines instead of using our heads, when the first response to a challenge is to send in our military, then we risk getting drawn into unnecessary conflicts and neglect the broader strategy we need for a safer, more prosperous world,' he said. 'That's what our enemies want us to do.' Obama said the United States stands in solidarity with people who have been targeted by terrorists, mentioning attacks in recent weeks on a school in Pakistan and across Paris. 'We will continue to hunt down terrorists and dismantle their networks, and we reserve the right to act unilaterally, as we've done relentlessly since I took office, to take out terrorists who pose a direct threat to us and our allies,' he promised. | Obama asked lawmakers last night 'to show the world that we are united in this mission' with a vote to authorize war against the extremist group .
Republican lawmakers have said they are prepared to work with him to pass such a measure if he sends a proposal up to Capitol Hill .
House Speaker John Boehner said today that he expects that after Obama sends a request in writing, Congress will have a debate and hearings .
In their response to Obama's SOTU, given by Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst, the GOP urged him to come up with a 'comprehensive' plan to defeat ISIS . |
79,790 | e234fb845057d09f30fd8461658dfd60673b6449 | By . Tara Brady . Brunei is to become the first East Asian country to adopt Sharia law despite international criticism. Sharia punishments will include severing of limbs for theft and death by stoning for adulterers andwill be introduced over a period of three years. The tiny state on the island of Borneo is ruled by Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and relies on oil and gasexports for its prosperity. Strict laws: The move was announced by Brunei's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and will come into effect from tomorrow . Almost three-quarters of those who live in Brunei are Malay Muslims but there are also Buddhist andChristian communities. The move was announced by the 67-year-old sultan. He said: 'Today I place my faith in and am grateful to Allah the almighty to announce that tomorrow,Thursday, May 1 2014, will see the enforcement of Sharia law phase one, to be followed by the otherphases.' From tomorrow people will face conviction by Islamic courts and fines or jail terms for offences like pregnancy outside marriage, failure to perform Friday prayers and propagating other religions. A second phase comes into effect 12 months later covering offences for theft and alcohol consumption by Muslims, punishable by whipping and amputations. Almost three-quarters of those who live in Brunei are Malay Muslims but there are also Buddhist and Christian communities . The death penalty, including by stoning, will be introduced in the final phase a year later for offences including adultery, sodomy and insulting the Koran or the Prophet Muhammad. Most of the laws will also apply to non-Muslims. That raises concern among Western workers in the oil sector and tens of thousands of ethnic Chinese Bruneians and 30,000 mostly Roman Catholic Filipino migrant workers. About 20 per cent of residents are non-Muslim, including substantial Buddhist and Christiancommunities. The United Nations Commission on Human Rights denounced the new system for applying the death penalty to a wide range of offences. Several of the penalties constitute torture under international law, said Emerlynne Gil, SoutheastAsia legal adviser for the International Commission of Jurists. U.S. television personality Ellen DeGeneres (right) and British actor Stephen Fry (left) have said they will boycott the hotel chain owned by the sultan . 'A lot of these provisions and penalties discriminate against women. Stoning to death normally has ahuge impact on women because more often than not they are found guilty of these crimes.' This week celebrities, including U.S. television personality Ellen DeGeneres and British actor Stephen Fry, announced will be boycotting the hotel chain owned by the sultan on grounds thatthe new laws criminalised homosexuality. The Dorchester Collection of hotels is owned by the Sultan of Brunei. American shoe designer Brian Atwood and . fashion designer Peter Som are mobilising the fashion industry to . boycott The Beverly Hills Hotel and Hotel Bel-Air in Los Angeles which . are the only U.S. hotels that are part of The Dorchester Collection. Gay rights organisations in the Asia Pacific have condemned the move to Sharia law. 'It may open the floodgates for further human rights violations against women, children, and other people on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity,' two such groups wrote in the Malaysian Insider. 'Penalty by death sentence contravenes several international human rights laws. Luxury retreat: Coworth Park is owned by The Dorchester Collection, along with two London hotels . 'Further, death by stoning constitutes torture or other cruel, degrading and inhumane acts of punishment, thus a clear infringement of international humanitarian principles and universal human rights.' A Christian priest in Brunei said he was concerned by the development, but hoped the new system would be enforced less strictly than set down in the written law. 'They have been giving seminars to different groups to clarify,' said the priest, who declined to beidentified. Authorities, he said 'seem genuinely concerned' at suggestions that the system would have an all-pervasive enforcement network. Brunei's top Islamic scholar denied any suggestion the system would lead to extremes, persecution or cruelty. 'It is not indiscriminate cutting or stoning or caning', Awang Abdul Aziz was quoted as saying by statemedia after the law was announced. 'There are conditions and there are methods that are just and fair.' Tweeting his opinion: Stephen Fry told his followers he had cancelled his trip . Brunei officials have said there will be a high burden of proof required to sentence suspects toharsher punishments. They say criminal cases rose by a third between 2000 and 2008. Arrests for drug abuse surged 50 per cent last year from 2012. Diplomats say it remains unclear how the new system will work in practice and operate alongside thepolice and courts under the existing British-based legal system. The religious turn taken by the sultan contrasts with a reputation for decadent excess gained by the royal family. Pop idol Michael Jackson was paid a reported $17 million to give a concert in Brunei in 1996 tomark the sultan's 50th birthday. Details of the lavish lifestyle of the sultan's brother, former finance minister Prince Jefri, including owning hundreds of luxury cars and a large yacht - became public during a family legal feud. Fashion favourite: Designers are boycotting the LA hotel that is also owned by The Dorchester Collection . Critics say the new penal code will give authorities expanded powers to stifle dissent at a time whenpalace officials are concerned about dwindling energy reserves. 'A common concern among the palace elite is that the gas is going to run out. The population's loyalty has been bought with gas money,' said Maung Zarni, a visiting fellow at the London School of Economics who quit the Darussalam Brunei University in 2013 over what he said was a lack of academic freedom. Responding to a rare outbreak of dissent on social media, the sultan warned in February that anyone criticising the new laws could be punished under their provisions. Leaders of Malaysia's Islamist PAS party, part of the opposition, say the move has accelerated theirbid to install sharia punishments in Kelantan state, which they control. In Indonesia, some districts have sharia-inspired by-laws but Aceh is the only province allowed toimplement it as law. The province has its own sharia police force and courts that enforce strict laws against gambling,promiscuity and alcohol. | The tiny state on the island of Borneo is ruled by Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah .
Almost three-quarters of those who live in Brunei are Malay Muslims .
Most of the laws will also apply to non-Muslims .
Ellen DeGeneres and Stephen Fry are to boycot sultan's hotel chain . |
164,549 | 60cacc1f67c4cebedb3b53cb751ba303862b1b09 | By . Jill Reilly . Los Angeles Angels hitting coach Don Baylor broke his right leg in a freak accident while catching Vladimir Guerrero's ceremonial first pitch Monday night. The 64-year-old squatted to catch Guerrero's off-target throw but as he moved his right leg bent back awkwardly and he couldn't move. Two team employees helped Baylor to the dugout, leaving the Angels in disbelief on the field at Angel Stadium. Baylor is a survivor of multiple myeloma, a cancer that attacks bone marrow and can increase the chance that the bones will break or fracture. Scroll down for video . Los Angeles Angels hitting coach Don Baylor broke his right leg in a freak accident while catching Vladimir Guerrero's ceremonial first pitch Monday night . Baylor, who joined the Angels' coaching staff in the offseason, had to be helped off the field. He was taken to a hospital and is scheduled to have surgery tonight on his right femur. The accident happened before the Angels' 10-3 loss to the Seattle Mariners. The 64-year-old squatted to catch Guerrero's Vladimir Guerrero's ceremonial first pitch Monday night . His right leg bent back awkwardly and he couldn't move as he made the catch . 'Our thoughts and prayers are with Don right now,' Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. 'Obviously it's a freak (injury). We'll see how it turns out.' 'It got me sick when I was warming up and hearing what happened in the dugout,' said Mike Trout, who hit a two-run homer in the first inning. Baylor was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2003, and he is active in fundraising efforts to combat the disease. The cancer can weaken bones all over and increase the chance that the bones will break or fracture, sometimes breaking from just a minor stress or injury. Two team employees helped Baylor to the dugout, leaving the Angels in disbelief on the field at Angel Stadium . The former manager of the Rockies and Cubs, he left the Arizona Diamondbacks in the offseason to return to Anaheim, where he played six seasons with the California Angels. He replaced Jim Eppard as the Angels' hitting coach last October. Los Angeles also hired assistant hitting coach Dave Hansen, who was the Mariners' hitting coach last season. Baylor and Guerrero are the only AL MVPs in Angels franchise history. Baylor won the award in 1979 during arguably the best season of his 19-year major league career with seven teams. Guerrero threw the ceremonial first pitch to celebrate his retirement with the Angels on a one-day contract. | The 64-year-old squatted to catch Guerrero's off-target throw .
His right leg bent back awkwardly and he fractured his femur .
Baylor had multiple myeloma, a cancer that attacks bone marrow . |
209,520 | 9b51aeab92a2df2632e1901cff881516fcc52973 | PUBLISHED: . 11:13 EST, 3 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 05:12 EST, 4 December 2013 . Author Barbara Taylor Bradford has decided to help two distant relatives by selling her £1.5million collection of jewellery. The 80-year-old author of A Woman Of Substance, who has no children, is to auction off her diamond rings, ornate brooches, dazzling necklaces and timeless bracelets - most of which were presents from her husband Bob. She initially thought of giving the 40-strong collection to the two women, who are described as 'wider family members'. Jewellery belonging to author Barbara Taylor Bradford goes on display at Bonhams showroom, this sapphire ring is expected to fetch £98,000 when its sold by the auctioneers later this week . A 19th century sapphire and diamond brooch from the collection is displayed and estimated at £65,000 - £75,000 . But she came to the conclusion that the gems are not something they would want or wear ‘as they don’t lead the same lifestyle as me’. A 14-carat diamond ring which will go under the hammer in the Bonham's December 5 sale, has been valued at almost £500,000 and a pair of Harry Winston diamond and pearl earrings is expected to fetch up to £75,000 in the sale. Speaking about the collection, she said: ‘My . father told me when I was a child, after he gave me a string of pearls: . “You must always let them breathe. They should be out on your neck, not . buried in a drawer.” 'Why was all this buried in a drawer? Well, I didn’t know. ‘Then I . realised I was going to leave that jewellery to two of our female . heirs. They didn’t really want it, I don’t think, because they don’t . really lead the kind of life that I lead as a well-known writer, and I’m . out and about. ‘So Bob . and I decided it might be nice to auction it and the money will be a . little nest egg for them. Let somebody else enjoy those beautiful . things.’ The collection forms part of Bonhams Fine Jewellery Sale on December 5 and has some dazzling pieces . The 80-year-old author of A Woman Of . Substance, who has no children, is to auction off diamond rings, ornate . brooches, dazzling necklaces and timeless bracelets – most of which were . presents from her husband Bob (jewellery worn by model) A cushion-shaped single-stone diamond ring of 14.07 carats is estimated to sell for £330,000-£460,000 . Miss Taylor . Bradford has said she does not want to disclose the identities of the . two women. A recent . ITV programme, Secrets from the Workhouse, showed the author . extensively researching her family history, while she was also shocked . to learn in 2004 that her mother, along with aunt and uncle, may have . been the illegitimate children of the Marquess of Ripon. Yorkshire-born . Miss Taylor Bradford, who has sold over 88 million books in more than . 90 countries, said that most of the items were presents from her . husband, a television producer with whom she celebrates her 50th wedding . anniversary on Christmas Eve this year. ‘I happen to have a very generous husband, and he’s really bought everything that is going on auction,’ she added. A ladies diamond bracelet watch with approximately 26.90 carats by David Morris, London is estimated to fetch £55,000-£75,000 . A pair of cultured pearl and diamond earrings owned by the author are expected to fetch £53,000, and the sapphire ring weighing 18.37 carats (estimated at £98,000-£131,000) 'I . did say: "Is that alright? Are you agreeing to this?" And he said "Yes, . of course. I bought it, but I gave it to you and it's yours and you can . do what you like with it". Yorkshire-born Miss Taylor Bradford has sold over 88 million books in more than 90 countries . 'When . I look at those things and when I was going back in time, because we . are coving the 80s and the 90s, a lot of the memories of how he gave the . piece to me sprang in to my mind. 'I . was very amused and very happy because I remember once for instance we . were in vacation in Capri and I was reading on the terrace after . breakfast and he said: "I'm just going for a walk to buy a newspaper". ‘A . little while later he returned with a large shopping bag full of . newspapers. And then he suddenly reached in to the shopping bag and . said: “I’ve bought you some flowers”. Flowers indeed! Sapphire, . multi-coloured flowers in a necklace. He does things like that all the . time. ‘It’s a wrench, . but at the same time I’ve enjoyed those pieces and I’d had them for . years and a lot of times they had remained in the safe. So, when you’ve . owned beautiful things, and I still have quite a few beautiful things . left, they should be in a safe. They should be being worn by another . person, another woman. ‘The husband should be buying it for her. I don’t believe in buying your own jewellery if you’re a woman.’ Miss . Taylor Bradford and her husband have never had children. The couple . have tried to start a family in the past, but the author has admitting . having two miscarriages. ‘I . had two miscarriages and never got pregnant again,’ she said. ‘But . regrets are fruitless and you don’t miss a child you’ve never known. I . would have liked a child; I didn’t have one. What am I going to do? I’ve . got Bob.’ | Best-selling author plans to give the money raised by 40-piece collection at auction to relatives .
Among the collection are a 14-carat diamond ring worth £500,000 .
Miss Taylor Bradford admits she no longer wears the expensive jewellery . |
143,350 | 4565074890ac0a318fbe7ad933d301c42a92bdd3 | (CNN) -- HBO has just launched a new TV series based on a novel by Tom Perrotta called "The Leftovers," which in turn is based on the fundamentalist Christian idea of the rapture. Apart from the title, which suggests a refrigerator full of stale food, the series looks promising. It's a terrific premise: Jesus returns and calls to heaven 140 million people, leaving behind billions of stupefied, confused, and grief-stricken others. In the show, a mother loses her baby, who disappears. A boy's father seems to have vanished as he pushes a shopping cart. Cars collide as drivers go missing. Chaos strikes in the fictional Mapleton, New York -- and throughout the world. How to cope? The famous "Left Behind" series by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins was already out there. It consisted of 16 best-selling novels on the same premise, and it's about to come to the big screen again, in a film starring Nicholas Cage. The original film adaptation (of three) appeared in 2000. And then there is the Christian real-time strategy video game called "Left Behind: Eternal Forces." If anyone hasn't noticed, the rapture has become a commercial juggernaut, endlessly shape-shifting, finding new and highly entertaining outlets. But what about the theology behind this industry? The rapture notion goes like this: Jesus is coming back, and when he does, he will first return before a time of so-called tribulation begins, calling up into the clouds with him those who are "saved." Horrible suffering will then occur on the miserable Earth for seven years. Then Jesus will come yet again, for a final judging. There are many different versions of this scenario, so it's difficult to summarize. It's fair to say, however, that only fundamentalist Protestant churches bother to think about the rapture at all. (Catholics discount the idea completely.) The rapture concept is relatively new. It started with an Anglo-Irish theologian, who in the 1830s invented the concept. This may come as a shocker to many, but it's a fact: Before John Nelson Darby imagined this scenario in the clouds, no Christian had ever heard of the rapture. The idea was popularized by Cyrus I. Scofield, an American minister who published a famous reference Bible in 1908, one that developed the idea of an elaborate series of final periods in history known as dispensations. Scofield, like Darby, read the Book of Revelation as a vision of the future, not a fiery dream of the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans in A.D. 70. The latter view remains, in fact, the most common interpretation of the Book of Revelation by mainstream theologians and was described recently by Princeton scholar Elaine Pagels in "Revelations: Visions, Prophecy, and Politics in the Book of Revelation." It's a problem, however, for rapture-minded Christians that the word "rapture" doesn't appear anywhere in the Bible, unless you're willing to think in broadly metaphorical terms. Rapture thinking is most often traced back to the Apostle Paul's first letter to the Thessalonians, where he writes: "For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout of command, with the voice of an archangel and the trumpet of God. The dead in Christ will rise first; then we, who are left alive, will be snatched up with them on clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so we shall always be with the Lord." (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17) First, it's important to note that Jesus himself never talked about the rapture, ever. We read in Mark about the "Son of Man coming in the clouds," but this is a reference back to the Old Testament Book of Daniel, where we get the image of a "son of Man" who is actually going the other way, up to meet the Ancient of Days. It's all broadly metaphorical, a kind of dream. In Mark, the oldest gospel, this passage is about the vindication of Jesus as he comes to heaven and is recognized as a true son of the father. In Luke 19, we read about a returning king, but close study of this passage suggests that Luke is talking about God coming back to Jerusalem, not about Jesus returning to Earth. It's clear from looking carefully at everything Paul says about the future, as in I Corinthians 15:51-54 or Philippians 3:20-21, that he believes only that some day Christians will experience a kind of physical and spiritual change. They will be resurrected, but this is a complex term that suggests not necessarily resuscitation but evolution, a thorough transformation. In Thessalonians, Paul is writing like the poet he is, creating a spectacular vision of a returning lord who will be given a great reception in the air. The crucial word in the relevant verse is "meet": Those who are left alive will be caught up on clouds to meet the Lord in the air. The word "meet" in Greek is "apentesis," and it means to gather for a reception for visiting dignitaries. Even the idea of being "snatched up" is thoroughly inadequate for the Greek word "harpazo," which is better translated as "gathered" -- a point made by many biblical scholars over the years. In any case, Paul is being dramatic, imagining a holy reception committee that will greet the returning Christ. And why not? Yet it's amazing how scriptures get misused, and relatively new theological ideas -- such as the rapture -- get deeply embedded in certain circles. The rapture is really a plot device for popular entertainment and a bizarre theological teaching in fundamentalist circles, where it functions in a variety of ways. But it's bad theology, and Jesus himself would have been astonished to learn that thousands of years after him there were such notions afloat. At least he won't have to watch "The Leftovers" on TV. | Jay Parini: New HBO series takes off on novel based on Christian idea of 'the rapture'
He says it's a fun TV idea, but the rapture concept is rubbish made up by theologian in 1800s .
The idea is that Jesus will come back, collect "saved" people before tribulation time begins .
Parini: Bible doesn't mention rapture. It's proponents distort apostles' metaphors to cook it up . |
243,615 | c752e8f69411ccdea8e6fee56fead407091b9721 | The relatives of an eight-year-old girl who died as she was allegedly sexually abused by her father have heard horrific details in court of how her murdered body was found. Hiawayi Robinson's body was found partially unclothed at a dumping ground in Prichard, Alabama on September 18 - two days after she was reported missing after heading out to meet her father. Her crumpled body was surrounded by trash, her Hello Kitty t-shirt was pulled up and her purple shorts and underwear were pulled off one leg and hanging around the other knee, Agent Deric Taylor of the State Bureau of Investigations testified in court, Al.com reported. The details emerged on Monday during a preliminary hearing in the case against her father, Hiawatha Robinson, 38. After the testimony, the judge ruled that a grand jury should hear the case. Scroll down for videos . Arrest: Hiawatha Robinson, left, has been charged with murder and sodomy for the death of his eight-year-old daughter Hiawayi, right, who was found killed in Prichard, Alabama in September . Robinson, seen in court on Monday, kept his back to the courtroom, where sobbing family members sat, during his hearing . During the hearing, Hiawayi's relatives cried softly - and one relative became so emotional that she fled from the courtroom, the website reported. Robinson, who joined the search for his daughter when she vanished and made a public appeal for her safe return, has been charged with felony murder and first-degree sodomy. The Mobile County District Attorney's Office believes Hiawayi died during a sexual assault but have not provided further information about how exactly she died. Robinson's attorney, Jeff Deen, said that there is no DNA evidence connecting him to the case. A swab was taken of the little girl's body and, while semen was found, the swab was contaminated and a DNA test could not be carried out, Deen said. 'They don't have any DNA connecting him to the case,' he told Al.com. 'They have some circumstantial evidence. The people that I've talked to that seem to just come up to me, that seem to know Hiawatha, they can't believe that he would be involved in something like this.' Tragic: A court heard how her little body was found partially clothed at a dumping ground off this road in Prichard two days after she vanished. After the testimony, the judge ruled a grand jury should hear the case . But prosecutors believe the young girl's father was to blame. 'The facts will show that while engaging in sodomy in the first degree, Hiawatha Robinson Jr. caused the death of Hiawayi Robinson,' Mobile County District Attorney Ashley Rich said while announcing the charges last month. Rich is waiting for more results from the FBI crime lab in Quantico and said there are 'dozens and dozens' of pieces of evidence. In Alabama, the charge means someone is accused of engaging in 'deviant sexual intercourse' with someone under the age of 12, AL.com reported. Loss: Hiawayi told her grandma she was going to meet her dad on September 16 but never returned . 'Deviant sexual intercourse is defined in the law of the state of Alabama as sexual gratification involving the sexual organs of one person and the mouth or the anus of another person,' Rich said. Rich would not say whether the alleged abuse by the father had been ongoing. On the day she vanished, Hiawayi returned home from school to change her clothes because she was wet from the rain. Her father then called her and they spoke for 17 minutes, Taylor said. Hiawayi then told her grandmother she was heading to her cousin's apartment in the same complex because her father was going to meet her there to give her $150 for her birthday. But the cousin later told police she would not have been at the apartment at that time. Hiawayi headed out and never returned home. She was reported missing by her grandmother around 10pm that evening. Her body was found two days later around a mile from their home. After she went missing, authorities looked at surveillance footage taken from businesses along a strip mall near their home and saw a red SUV driving along the road. That day, her father had been driving his girlfriend's red Chevrolet Tahoe, authorities said. In separate surveillance footage from a store that afternoon, Hiawayi could be seen buying candy and then heading in the direction where the SUV was seen. Fifteen minutes after she left the store, her father called her grandmother to see where the little girl was, authorities said. Plea: After she vanished, her father, pictured, appeared on local TV stations pleading for her safe return . During a later search of his girlfriend's car, police found a clear hair bead, like those worn by Hiawayi, and black duct tape, Al.com reported. After she was reported missing, the authorities and the community searched for her, and her parents, who are separated, appeared on television to appeal for information. 'I'm going through pain,' Robinson told Fox10 as he stood beside her mother, Yosha Populus. 'I've been up for the last 24 hours, I've been up all night searching for her - ain't had anything to eat, anything to drink, I ain't going to stop until it's over with - until she's in her home. That's all I want, that's all I ask for.' When asked what he thought might have happened to her, he said: 'Nothing.' 'I don't believe nothing happened to her,' he said. 'I believe she's out there. She's out there. They just need to let her come home. Her daddy gonna find out what the f*** going on.' Rap sheet: Robinson has had multiple arrests including in July 2000 (left) for possession of marijuana and attempting to elude police and in 2011 (right) for possession of marijuana . Her mother also pleaded for information as she stood beside the girl's father. After the arrest was announced, Populus's godfather, Kourney Adams, told Al.com: 'She's been praying it wouldn't be him.' But he added that they were thankful that finally someone has been arrested. 'We thought they had given up,' he said. 'Thank you to the FBI and the Mobile and the city of Prichard for doing their job.' If Robinson is found guilty of all current charges against him jurors would be unable to hand him the death penalty as he has not been charged with capital murder. | Hiawayi Robinson was found killed at a dumping ground in Prichard, Alabama on September 18 - two days after she vanished .
Her father, Hiawatha Robinson, has been accused of sodomy and murder, but prosecutors have no DNA evidence connecting him to the case .
But one of her hair beads was found inside his girlfriend's car - which he was driving that day; Hiawayi was going to meet him when she vanished .
After she disappeared, he appeared on local TV pleading for her return .
Even if found guilty he would not be eligible for the death penalty . |
185,724 | 7c9245a48772b8de6112557ccc3d9e1d5a6f0b70 | (CNN) -- Are you missing a beloved four-legged friend from the past? Or, on a far sillier note, would you like your very own Grumpy Cat or Doge? A new app aims to help you find a lookalike for your departed or dream pet by using photo-matching software to find the closest match in your area. PetMatch lets you upload a picture of a dog or cat, or use one from its gallery. It then tries to find you a pet available for adoption that is the closest possible match to the one you posted. The app is from startup Superfish and uses its patented image-recognition technology. It scans your photo, registering details like the shape of an animal's mouth, the distance between its eyes, its coloring and its general size and shape. It then performs a similar search on PetFinder, a database with photos of hundreds of thousands of animals up for adoption throughout the United States, and gives you the closest overall matches, as well as the closest ones in your area. Of course, it's not perfect. If the picture you upload shows an animal at an odd angle, is blurry or otherwise differs from typical shots by animal-rescue groups, there's no telling what it will return for you. (Tech-news site The Verge claims a photo of Lady Gaga produced a "matching" image of a hamster.) The app also doesn't necessarily consider the breed of the animal you photograph, if that's something that's important to you. And, of course, we love our animals for reasons other than their appearance. Photos don't show personality. Or intelligence. Or, in special circumstances, megalomaniacal tendencies and palpable disdain for underlings. We tested the app with a photo of Cash, a gray-and-white Scottish Fold cat in Atlanta, and it returned matches of cats with similar coloring in Jefferson, Georgia; Knoxville, Tennessee; Huntsville, Alabama; Charlotte, North Carolina, and other neighboring states. A few of the cats looked vaguely like Cash, although most did not. But the pool of available cats may grow larger as more pet shelters connect with the database. The PetMatch app, released this month, is currently available only on Apple's iOS operating system. And while it will no doubt be helpful to pet seekers, PetMatch is not the only product the folks at Superfish have in mind. The company has been around since 2006 and its photo-recognition tool has been available as a standalone iOS app or a Web browser extension for a while. Now, it's planning to expand its item-specific offerings, with jewelry and furniture apps in the works. | New PetMatch app lets you upload photos to find a lookalike for a dog or cat .
App's photo-recognition searches PetFinder for the closest match .
It's currently available only for Apple mobile devices . |
103,592 | 119cc6a4c7b3016c34ff0e44ed462851d7c9208e | By . Peter Allen . PUBLISHED: . 03:47 EST, 21 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 06:10 EST, 21 May 2013 . The ex-wife of an Englishman who killed his two children had ‘regularly fought’ him having custody, it emerged today. Julian Stevenson, 47, was arrested on Saturday after the bodies of Mathew, 10, and Carla, five, were found in his apartment in a suburb of Lyon, eastern France. He is said to have slit their throats in a fit of rage before fleeing on a pair of roller-skates. France’s judicial authorities are now trying to establish why Stevenson, who had a history of violence and alcoholism, had been left in charge of the children over the weekend. See the CCTV below . Julian Stevenson, accused of killing his two children in Lyon, France, seen on CCTV footage taking the children, Mathew, 10, and Carla, 5, to the bakers to buy sweets hours before their deaths . They had been dropped off with Stevenson at the former family home on Friday evening - the first time he had been allowed unsupervised access in two years because of a bitter custody battle . His wife Stephanie was badly beaten up by him in 2005 and 2010, when an order was made preventing Stevenson seeing the children without a third party adult being present. Yet CCTV footage shot at a bakery on Saturday shows Stevenson in sole custody of his son Mathew, 10, and five-year-old daughter Carla, five, as he buys them sweets. The 2010 order was said to have been reversed over the past few weeks, meaning Stevenson was allowed to have the children to stay on Friday night for the first time in three years. ‘We need to know why this happened,’ said a judicial source. ‘Interviews with the mother make it clear that she had regularly fought him having care of the children. ‘She is still in a state of extreme shock, and is being cared for by clinical psychologists, and as well as family and friends.’ Yesterday Stevenson was formally placed under criminal investigation and is likely to be remanded in custody until his trial. Another judicial source said: ‘We are presently holding back from the charge of premeditated murder but this could always change.’ The source said all the circumstances surrounding the horrific crime would be investigated over many months. Stevenson was arrested after the children's bodies were found in the apartment, their throats slit. Yesterday he appeared before a judge, accused of their murder . The children, clutching balloons, can be seen outside the shop window arriving with their father . The children appear to be looking around the cake shop excitedly as their father walks behind them . Julian Stevenson appeared relaxed as he ordered a baguette, casually dressed in flip-flops, camouflage Bermuda shorts and a light sweater . The 47-year-old, originally from Cheltenham, even waved goodbye to staff as his children followed him out of the store in a suburb of Lyon . Neighbours of Stevenson said he had appeared ‘calm and relaxed’ as he wandered around the St Priest suburb of Lyon, where he lives, with the two children on Saturday morning. ‘It was a warm day and he was in T-shirt and long shorts,’ said one. ‘The children were smiling happily, and appeared to be enjoying a day out with their dad. ‘He was buying them little presents, including sweets, and did not appear in the least bit flustered.’ When Mrs Stevenson, an accountant’s assistant also in her 40s, returned to pick up the children from the second floor apartment at around 5pm on Saturday she saw Stevenson looking ‘panicked and angry’, according to a neighbour. ‘He was in the stairwell of the block, and his clothes were covered in blood,’ said the neighbour. ‘He made off on a pair of roller-skates, leaving his car in the apartment block’s garage.’ Following a short manhunt, Stevenson was found in Lyon’s 8th arrondissement at around 8pm on the same evening. A judicial source said that a knife which was thought to be the murder weapon had been found in the flat. The source said the double murder was ‘clearly linked to a painful separation’ and ‘legal procedures concerning the right to access to the children which the father deemed insufficient.’ Stevenson has been living in France for 10 years and married in 2005. His wife was finally heard by prosecutors on Sunday, providing them with details of her troubled relationship with her ex-husband. Investigators were particularly keen to know who gave the father legal authority to look after the children. The bakery in Lyon where Julian Stevenson took his children hours before allegedly killing them . The block of flats where Julian Stevenson lived . | Julian Stevenson cut throats of Mathew, 10, and Carla, five in Lyon, France .
He was banned from seeing them alone after badly beating wife Stephanie .
Prosecutors want to know who gave him sole custody on Saturday, when he was seen on CCTV buying treats for his children hours before they died .
Stevenson revealed to have history of alcoholism . |
251,429 | d171ecf80b5e740fdf09452de985cd6f075e900b | By . Lizzie Parry . PUBLISHED: . 05:20 EST, 24 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 05:28 EST, 24 October 2013 . Forgetful: Ellie Palin, 14, with all that remains of the hair straighters, which sparked the blaze . Fire tore through a family home gutting a teenager's bedroom after she FORGOT to unplug her hair straighteners... a day after her angry parents berated her for leaving them on. Ellie Palin said she is consumed by guilt after leaving the straighteners on in her bedroom as she got ready to go out with friends on Monday night. The hot wand sparked a blaze, which ravaged Ellie's bedroom, consuming a wardrobe and destroying the room. The 14-year-old's older brother Callum raised the alarm after smelling smoke and spotting the flames when he went in search of a snack. The family have been forced to move in with relatives while their bungalow in Knypersely, near Biddulph in Staffordshire is repaired. Ellie said: 'I had turned the straighteners off but not unplugged them. 'I thought my mum was joking when she told me what happened. It was quite a shock. 'I . feel really guilty about it because it was my fault and it's affected . the rest of the house. I'm going to be really paranoid about my . straighteners now.' Furious mother Marianne, 44, said her daughter had been repeatedly warned at the weekend about leaving the straighteners on. The teaching support assistant said she arrived home to find her son standing in the drive, and opened the door to a wall of thick black smoke. 'My husband shouted at her on Sunday about leaving them on,' said Mrs Palin. 'She feels very guilty about it. It has been a very harsh lesson for her. My son was the only one in the house at the time. Scorched: The burnt remains of the 14-year-old's room at the family home in Knypersely. Ellie's older brother Callum raised the alarm after smelling smoke while he was home alone . Consumed by guilt: Ellie said she feels 'very guilty' after the family were forced to move out of their home while repairs are carried out. Her parents repeatedly reminded their forgetful daughter to turn off her straighteners . 'He happened to come down from the loft conversion for something to eat and smelled the smoke. 'The smoke alarms didn't go off. I came back shortly after and Callum was standing on the drive. He told me not to go in. 'I opened the front door and saw this wall of black smoke. 'We are all in shock. I think it's still sinking in. Luckily we are fully insured.' Callum, 15, added: 'I only came downstairs because I got hungry. Paranoid: The forgetful teen said: 'I feel really guilty about it because it is all my fault and it's affected the rest of the house. I am going to be really paranoid about my straighteners now' Lucky escape: Ellie's older brother Callum, 15, said he was lucky the fire hadn't spread by the time he got up to make a snack . 'When I looked in my sister's room I could see the wardrobe on fire. I shut the bedroom door and called the fire brigade. 'I feel lucky because it could have spread and I would have been stuck upstairs.' Firefighters called to the home in Knypersely, Staffordshire battled the flames for around three hours. Station manager Carl Mason, from Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service said: 'It . is vital that after using hair straighteners, you turn them off at the . socket and unplug them immediately. 'They can reach up to 200 degrees so should always be treated with extreme care and left to cool on a heat proof surface. 'By taking these simple steps, you could avoid devastating consequences.' | Furious parents berated Ellie Palin for leaving the hot straighteners on .
14-year-old 'consumed by guilt' after family forced to move out of home .
Brother Callum had 'lucky escape' when he smelt smoke .
'I'm going to feel really paranoid about my straighteners now' says teen . |
55,756 | 9e08d8f845afd0750307eefacdf7db384c639c78 | By . Jane Flanagan In Cape Town . OSCAR Pistorius shot through a car sunroof at a traffic light after a confrontation with police, his ex-girlfriend told his murder trial. The Olympian was furious after an officer took his Glock pistol and emptied its chamber after the car – in which Pistorius was a passenger – was pulled over for speeding, the court heard. Samantha Taylor, a model who was also a passenger in the car, said the police had spotted his gun lying on the car seat and told him it ‘couldn’t just stay there’. Scroll down for videos . Back in court: Oscar Pistorius checks his mobile phone in the dock before the start of the fifth day of trial . Stress: Pistorius reacts while listening to evidence about the night he killed his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp . Strain: The Paralympian covers his ears while studying his notes as he returned for what could be another day of harrowing testimony from witnesses about his girlfriend's death . Testimony: One of the athlete's former girlfriends told the court how he carried a gun with him 'all the time' when they were dating . She added: ‘Oscar got angry. He shouted at the policeman because he was not allowed to touch his gun.’ After . the confrontation with officers was over, the car pulled away and . Pistorius re-loaded the weapon, letting off a shot through the sunroof . around 15 minutes later. The . driver of the car was Darren Fresco – the friend pressured by Pistorius . to take the blame in another shooting incident that was relayed to the . court earlier in the week. Miss . Taylor told Pretoria High Court that the double amputee carried a gun . ‘all the time’ during their relationship, which began when she was 17. He kept one under his bed and on the floor with his prosthetic legs at night, she added. Tough to hear: The athlete's ex-girlfriend painted a picture of him as an unfaithful boyfriend who was prone to fits of anger and went everywhere with his gun . Range of emotions: The sprinter was forced to listen to intimate details about his past relationships in court . Laid bare: Miss Taylor described some of Pistorius's habits while they were dating, including what side of the bed he always slept on at home and where he kept his gun during the night . Strain: Miss Taylor's observations of what Pistorius did when they were together show different traits from what the Olympic athlete says he did on a later night when he shot Miss Steenkamp . Miss . Taylor painted a picture of a man who was frequently angry, raised his . voice, kept multiple mobile phones and was unfaithful. The . witness wept repeatedly as she described their turbulent romance, which . began in 2011 and ‘ended when he cheated on me with Reeva Steenkamp’ – . the girlfriend he is alleged to have shot on Valentine’s Day last year. Her . evidence about the shooting incident in the car relates to firearm . offences that Pistorius has denied, which are in addition to the murder . charge he is facing. Miss . Taylor described another incident in which Pistorius had brandished a . gun to threaten the driver of a car that he believed was following them . home. ‘When we arrived . at his estate, he jumped out of the car with his gun and held it to . someone’s window and then they drove away,’ she said. Listening to testimony: The athlete - known as Blade Runner - sits in the dock with his family behind him . Greeting: Pistorius shakes hands with a member of the African national congress women's league in court . Emotional: The Paralympian's sister Aimee (front centre) shows the strain that the trial is taking . Support: Blade Runner's sister Aimee (left) and uncle Arnold (right) sit with other relatives in the public gallery . During . cross examination, the double amputee’s lawyer, Barry Roux, put it to . Miss Taylor that Pistorius could sound like a woman when he raised his . voice in anxiety. She . disagreed and told the court that she had heard the athlete shout at her . ‘sister, best friend, another friend, and his best friend’ and ‘he . never sounded like a woman’. The . fifth day of the trial also heard testimony from a security guard who . had received reports of gunshots coming from Pistorius’s house and had . phoned the athlete, only to be told that ‘everything is fine’. Pieter . Baba, who had greeted Miss Steenkamp, 29, at the gate of Pistorius’s . exclusive estate only hours before her death, had got through to the . athlete on his mobile phone. ‘Mr . Pistorius said to me “security, everything is fine”,’ Mr Baba told the . court. ‘That’s when I realised that Mr Pistorius was crying,’ he added. Discussions: The sprinter shows his sister Aimee something on his mobile phone in the courtroom in Pretoria . Tensions: Unidentified friends of Reeva Steenkamps's family appear to glare at Pistorius during the trial . Scene shot: A TV monitor shows a picture of the street where Oscar Pistorius lives . Embrace: Pistorius hugs his sister Aimee, who has been in court every day this week . Conferring: The 27-year-old Olympian talks with his uncle Arnold in the courtroom . Done for the weekend: Pistorius leaves court at the end of the fifth day of his trial which has adjourned until next week . Many by now will know Oscar Pistorius's tough-talking lawyer Barry Roux who has been tearing into witnesses in a bid to discredit their stories. But a lesser-known member of his legal team is 24-year-old Roxanne Adams who has been assisting Mr Roux build the case for the defence. She has been sitting in front of the Paralympian throughout the trial and is sometimes seen deliberating with Pistorius as he leans over the dock. Currently a candidate attorney for a South African law firm, she certainly has aspirations of filling Mr Roux's shoes one day if her Twitter account is anything to go by. Her page is full of motivational phrases such as: 'Do everything with passion, push yourself to your absolute limits and you will succeed in everything you do.' Another post says: 'Believe in urself & have faith in ur abilities! Without a humble but reasonable confidence in ur own powers u cannot be successful or happy.' The . athlete then called back Mr Baba, who told the court: ‘He just started . crying over the phone. That’s when the line went off again.’ The guard then drove to Pistorius’ house and saw him coming down the staircase with his mortally-wounded girlfriend in his arms . ‘I saw Mr Pistorius coming down with Reeva. My lady, I was so shocked that I couldn’t even think for a few moments,’ he said. ‘I got such a fright seeing Oscar carrying Reeva down, after he had told me everything was fine.’ Earlier in the day, Dr Johan Stipp, a radiologist who was one of the first people on the scene, finished giving his testimony. In . spite of repeated challenges from Mr Roux, he stuck to his story that . he had heard screaming and shots on the night and saw lights that were . on in the Pistorius house. Pistorius . claimed in his statement that he had been too frightened to put on the . lights on the night he shot his girlfriend dead, believing she was an . intruder. Mr Stipp . said that the second volley of sounds he heard could not have been a . cricket bat striking a door, as Mr Roux has suggested, as the succession . of the bangs was too rapid for that. The case continues. Taking cover: Pistorius arrives at the high court in Pretoria for the start of the fifth day of his murder trial . Accused: Prosecutors claim the sprinter intentionally killed his model girlfriend after a loud argument . The defence: Advocate Barry Roux and one of his legal team, Roxanne Adams, arrive at court for the hearing . Together: Reeva Steenkamp pictured with Pistorius. The prosecution allege he intentionally killed her after an argument . Scene: Pistorius shot Miss Steenkamp through the bathroom door at his home (above) in Pretoria in the early hours of Valentine's Day last year . | Samantha Taylor broke down in dock while detailing their relationship .
Claimed athlete was prone to fits of rage and carried gun 'all the time'
Described occasions when he woke her up fearing there was intruder .
Miss Taylor claimed he shouted at policeman when he picked up his gun .
'Joked he wanted to shoot a traffic light then fired gun out of sunroof'
She also denied defence assertions that Pistorius shouts like a woman .
Runner told security guard 'everything was fine' minutes after shooting .
Pieter Baba told of his shock at seeing amputee carrying model downstairs . |
64,329 | b6ae2e95df20531f1312a8fedb392984c36eefdf | Between issuing chilling threats of nuclear warfare and allegedly launching a cyber attack on a Hollywood studio, North Korea has working on a website to entice tourists to the secretive state - complete with pictures of a ski resort, grinning children... and missiles. The site, www.dprktoday.com, provides foreigners with detailed information on the secretive communist nation's tourist attractions, hotels and tour programmess through related stories and video clips. The North has a few other propaganda sites for outside online users like Uriminzokkiri and Naenara. But the new website focuses more on attracting foreign tourists, reports South Korean news agency Yonhap. Scroll down for video . Lots of fun, outside the prison camps that is: One of the pictures intended to bring tourists flocking to the poverty-stricken nation of North Korea . Spot of relaxation: Pictures showing the myriad entertainment options in the dictatorship . The Masikryong ski resort, built on top of Taehwa Peak, near the port city and naval base Wonsan, opened for business earlier this year and hopes to bring 5,000 visitors a day . The resort boasts a hotel with wood cabin style rooms, complimentary toiletries, and spa facilities and 110 kilometres (70 miles) of multi-level slopes . The sprawling 1,400-hectare resort was built in just ten months as part of a push by leader Kim Jong-un to increase overseas tourist numbers from 200,000 to 1 million per annum by 2016 . The North's media said the website has been created to 'satisfy growing interest and expectation' over the nation. It features pictures and info about the nation's food, culture, beaming children and even information on North Korea's national bird (the Chollima, a mythical winged horse). However, as a chilling counterpoint to the cheery pictures, the website also features images and articles about its missile programme. It also offers specific flight schedules from Beijing, Vladivostok and several other foreign cities to Pyongyang as well as a list of various package tour programmes and information on luxury hotels. The pictures include communist enclave's one and only ski destination, on top of Taehwa Peak, which boasts a hotel with wood cabin style rooms, complimentary toiletries, and spa facilities and 110 kilometres (70 miles) of multi-level slopes. However, as a chilling counterpoint to the cheery pictures, the website also features images and articles about its missile programme . Communist cuisine: Although starvation and malnutrition is reportedly rife in North Korea . Children eat food donated by the World Food Program (WFP) in a kindergarten in the North Korean city of Hyangsan October 12, 2006. A devastating famine in the 1990s saw between 600,000 and 2.5 million people die of hunger as the regime obstructed the delivery of aid to the worst-affected regions . The Masikryong ski resort, built on top of Taehwa Peak, near the port city and naval base Wonsan, opened for business earlier this year and hopes to bring 5,000 visitors a day. The sprawling 1,400-hectare resort was built in just ten months as part of a push by leader Kim Jong-un to increase overseas tourist numbers from 200,000 to 1 million per annum by 2016. Last month the United Nations adopted a landmark resolution condemning North Korean rights abuses and laying the groundwork for putting the Pyongyang regime in the dock for crimes against humanity. The North's media said the website has been created to 'satisfy growing interest and expectation' over the nation . North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is keen to draw tourists to the 'Hermit Nation' North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visits the Songdowon International Children's Camp in this undated photo released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) in Pyongyang July 6, 2014 . Co-sponsored by more than 60 countries, the resolution drew heavily on the work of a UN inquiry which concluded in a 400-page report released in February that . North Korea was committing human rights abuses "without parallel in the contemporary world." The year-long inquiry heard testimony from North Korean exiles and documented a vast network of harsh prison camps holding up to 120,000 people along with cases . of torture, summary executions and rape. North Korea reacted angrily to the vote and announced that it was breaking off talks on improving human rights with the European Union, which drafted the resolution with Japan. | The dictatorship hopes to entice tourists to the secretive nation .
Website features pictures of ski resort, as well as armaments .
Pyongyang wants a million people to visit by 2016 .
The nation is an international pariah over human rights abuses . |
253,622 | d444836b2e7c622f9ece9d30a418be3da760f873 | By . Toni Jones . and Catherine Eade . Travel addicts always want to be ahead of the curve when it comes to the hottest new holiday destinations. But who decides which places will be the 'next big thing' and how can we find out about them? TravelSupermarket.com has tracked online searches and Twitter mentions to create a list of the up-and-coming holiday destinations that are already on the hit list of travel 'tastemakers'. Scroll down for video . Trending in travel: Twitter images of Croatian town Rovinj which has been tipped as the hottest new holiday destination by TravelSupermarket.com . Sunset: Romantic Rovinj is situated on . the Adriatic coast . 1 . Rovinj (Croatia)2 Warsaw (Poland) 3 St Petersburg (Russia) 4 Reykjavik (Iceland) 5 Copenhagen(Denmark) 6 Tel Aviv (Israel) 7 Biarritz (France) 8 Bergen (Norway) 9 Valletta (Malta) 10 Gothenburg (Sweden) And where they go the rest of us are soon to follow. The pretty, little-known coastal town of Rovinj in Croatia is garnering the most attention online. Poland's capital Warsaw is in second place, with St Petersburg third. And Europe seems to be the travel hotspot for 2014 as Iceland, Denmark, Israel, France, Norway, Malta and Sweden all feature too. Croatia is already popular as a destination for British travellers but the coastal town of Rovinj is still relatively undiscovered and therefore a cheaper place to visit, say TravelSupermarket.com. Next month the town hosts the Red Bull Air Race and a forthcoming music festival in September could also be the reason for a higher number of searches. A recent increase in the number of low . cost flights to Poland's capital Warsaw could be the main reason for . its current popularity as it works out as a cheap location to visit. Russia . has been receiving more interest generally as a result of the Winter . Olympics, and its current newsworthy status will also have sparked . interest in the country. Dramatic: Visitors to Saint Petersburg in Russia will need to wrap up . Reykjavík: Not only one of the cleanest, greenest, and safest cities in the world, Iceland's capital - the most northern capital in the world - is famous for its wild weekend nightlife, colourful buildings and quirky people . Scandi cool; Lit buildings reflected in an urban canal in Copenhagen . A tale of two cities: Different types of architeture on show in Copenhagen . Tel Aviv: Whether it's to watch Justin Timberlake perform in May, take part in the Gay PRide Parade in June, visitors will be flocking to the 'white city' if online forums are anything to go by . Lots of media interest in the Northern Lights has been generated by sightings in the UK recently, and Reykjavik is still considered one of the places to go to see the spectacle, while the announcement of new low cost services from easyJet will also boost tourism numbers this year. Norway's Bergen has a blossoming art and music . scene, and a Viking festival in June half way between . Bergen and Stavanger in Carmoy may attract increased visitors to the . area over the summer. Scandinavia is still uber-cool at the moment, and for those who've been to Stockholm already, Gothenburg is a great alternative. Bob . Atkinson, travel expert at TravelSupermarket, said: 'We've been keeping . an eye on which destinations have been searched for over the last year . to uncover the top holiday hot-spots that have seen an unusual increase . in interest. Biarritz: For a long time the playground of the rich, this French coastal town is renowned for the beauty of its coastline, its curved inlets punctuated by rocky outcrops, and many cultural and musical events . Quaint: Narrow streets are full of character in Valletta in Malta . Last but not least: The opera house at the yacht harbour of Gothenburg, Sweden . 'It's often the case that new destinations start to come into our psyche as a result of a music or sports events, or even film and TV programmes from dramas to documentaries and we find our attention suddenly drawn towards a new place we might never have considered before. 'The good news is, low-cost air travel has given us the confidence and the opportunity to try out these up-and-coming locations. It means we can now get away for short breaks easily and affordably and be much more experimental with our choice of destination , having fun discovering new places in the process.' Which holiday hotspot will you be heading to this year? Post your comments below . On the magnificent coast of Istria (Croatia), right below the Lim Fjord, is the most romantic place in the Mediterranean! The town of Rovinj is the right destination for those seeking a sentimental feel of times that have forever gone by. This town began its romantic life on an island, its restricted area resulting in crowded houses, narrow streets and small squares, still untouched by modern urbanism. Rovinj is billed as one of the most romantic towns in the Mediterranean . On the seaside, the town is protected by a high rocky shore and house walls built on cliffs, while the mainland side is protected by solid walls. The town is dominated by the baroque St. Euphemia’s Church, its 60-meter tower providing a view of grey and red rooftops and chimneys, streets and squares, the port and pier with ships and boats, and the marina harboring yachts. This unique old town core, the 67-kilometer shoreline, 2,289 acres of protected green surfaces and improved park forests, 16 islands, islets and reefs, make this town unique. Built upon a rich fishermen’s tradition, it has become distinctive for its unique boat called batana and its songs bitinada. Its beauty was particularly appreciated by artists who have painted the most beautiful motifs here and exhibited them on Grisia, the street of artists. Romantic and mysterious, yet full of options for an unforgettable time. - Rovinj Tourist Board . | List of hip destinations created using online searches and Twitter statistics .
'Enchanting and historic' Rovinj in Croatia is garnering the most interest .
Warsaw in Poland and Russia's Saint Petersburg take 2nd and 3rd place . |
188,664 | 805b9104cbdbe03842ea02340c73fe266c9a7466 | By . Francesca Infante . PUBLISHED: . 06:48 EST, 10 September 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:04 EST, 10 September 2013 . A drunken single mother who killed two football fans in a car crash after taking a cocktail of lager and cocaine has been jailed for four years. Terri-Ann Harrington, 27, was twice the legal limit for driving when she lost control of her silver Renault Clio and crashed into a garden. Her two passengers Stoke City fans Martin Wilson, 26, and 20-year old James Morgan who were friends of Harrington were killed instantly in the impact. Victims: Harrington's former partner Martin Wilson, left, and friend James Morgan were killed instantly when the car veered off the road and overturned . Party girl: Terri-Ann Harrington has a string of previous convictions for drug and theft offences and had already been told by a judge that she risked an early death if she didn't change her ways . But despite being responsible for the accident Harrington, who has a five year old daughter, left the bodies of two men in the wreckage and staggered off down the road. She was found lying unconscious in the road a short time afterwards near a pub. Tests later showed she had both cocaine and opiates in her system. It also emerged that at the time the crash occurred Harrington, from Bentilee, near Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs, had already been warned by judges she faced an 'early death' to her regular misuse of Class A narcotics including heroin. Stoke Crown Court was told on the evening before the crash last November she went for a family meal before visiting several pubs with ex-partner Mr Wilson and his friend Mr Morgan. She had then driven them to a friend’s home, and then onto James’s mother’s house. The car was travelling through the Lightwood area of Stoke in the early hours when it veered out of control and overturned landing in a residential garden. Harrington told police she had drunk just three halves of lager, and claimed to have hit a patch of black ice on the road. But blood tests revealed she would probably have had a blood alcohol content of 183-microgrammes of alcohol per 100-millilitres of blood at the time of the crash - more than twice the legal limit. Crash investigators found the road would not have been icy, and no mechanical defects were found in Harrington’s Renault. Harrington, who has a string of previous convictions for burglary and theft, later carried out a series of thefts in the weeks after the crash - including a shoplifting expedition on the day of her two victim’s funerals. She pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving whilst under the influence, was banned from driving for two years and ordered to take a retest. Jailing her Judge David Fletcher forced her to confront the horror of her actions that night. He said: 'You walked away. Let’s face it, you walked away leaving your friends dead.' Devastation: Friends and family left tributes to the men at the scene where the Renault crashed into a residential garden in Stoke-on-Trent . Harrington's lawyer Peter McCartney said the his client could not recall why she lost control of her car. He said: 'She has struggled to come to terms with the deaths of her friends, and the guilt of being responsible for it. She continually has nightmares where she goes back to what happened. 'Miss Harrington has a daughter who turned six last Saturday. She knows she is going to prison, while her daughter is not.' The four year jail term will be consecutive to a 15-month sentence imposed on Harrington in January for a series of offences carried out in the weeks after the crash including handling stolen goods, theft, possession of cannabis, criminal damage, having a bladed article and three charges of failing to surrender to bail. 'Polite and likeable': Family paid tribute to James Morgan, right, pictured with Martin Wilson, left, . Guilty: Harrington's lawyer said she had 'struggled' to come to terms with the death of her friends but could not remember how she lost control of the car . In 2008 she was given drug rehabilitation treatment following previous offences including the burglary of a vicarage. At the time another judge warned her: 'It is a very narrow window of opportunity for you. 'If you go back to your old ways, effectively that will be the end of your life. If you get back into drugs you will have an early death.' In statement at the time of the crash Stephen Bell, Mr Morgan's former deputy headteacher at Painsley Catholic College said: 'James was a pleasant and popular member of the school. 'He was always polite and was very likeable. He worked hard and the other students thought a great deal of him, as did the staff.' His older sister, Sara Morgan, added: 'James truly was amazing and influenced so many people’s lives. He was my little brother and I loved him.' Mr Wilson's uncle Andrew Milton paid tribute to his nephew saying: 'Martin was loved by many, we will all miss him. I still can’t believe it.' | Terri-Ann Harrington initially claimed that ice on the road had caused the accident .
But she was found to be twice the legal drink limit and have taken cocaine and opiates .
She already had a string of convictions for drug and theft offences and abandoned the car wreckage with the bodies of her friends inside .
She was jailed for four years after pleading guilty to causing death by dangerous driving . |
249,770 | cf4417dbf5c6f84e31fa5b933d8b06b89cc28e20 | A Florida mother-of-three will not be charged after forcing her son to dress up in girls' clothes and put makeup on as punishment for wetting the bed while she took photographs. One picture, which shows the 10-year-old boy with tears streaming down his face, was posted and shared on Facebook before a relative brought it to the attention of law enforcement officials. Prosecutors said Monday that there was not enough evidence to charge Christle Prado and her roommate Keith Driscoll, who were both arrested in December for inflicting physical or mental injury during an act of child cruelty. A Florida mother-of-three and her roommate will not be charged after they forced her 10-year-old son to dress up in girls' clothes and put makeup on as punishment for wetting the bed . Christle Prado (left) and Keith Driscoll (right) were arrested in December for child cruelty. Prado said Driscoll came up with the idea and admitted she sent photographs to her boyfriend in a private Facebook message . A neighbor said Driscoll forced the boy, who was crying as others pointed and laughed at him, to run outside the house while wearing the dress and makeup, according to Click Orlando. Prado told police Driscoll came up with the punishment, and that the boy was only dressed in the clothing for a couple of minutes. She said she didn't stop it from happening because she did not want to ruin her living situation with Driscoll, who is also her landlord, but admitted to sending photographs to her boyfriend in a private Facebook message. Angela Starke, a public information officer from the Orange/Osceola County State Attorney's Office, said a child cruelty charge requires evidence that the crime caused discernible and substantial impairment to the child's 'intellectual or psychological capacity' and their ability to function 'within the normal range'. The boy, who has a documented medical condition, and his two siblings are now in the custody of their grandmother Sherry Morden, who said the abuse has gone on for far too long. She told Click Orlando: 'Tears were just pouring from his eyes, and I guess she seemed to think it was OK. 'I told him that it wasn't his fault and he didn't deserve it. He shouldn't be punished for something that is not his fault.' The boy (right) and his two siblings are now in the custody of their grandmother Sherry Morden (left). Ms Morden said the boy has a documented medical condition and that the abuse has gone on for far too long . She said the pair also forced the boy to take a cold shower and threw ice at him. The Florida Department of Children and Families confirmed Prado has been investigated for previous incidents but said they could not elaborate. Department representative Kristi Gray said the case against Prado was now closed. 'I can't disclose the findings of our case as they are not public record,' she said. 'But the children remain in protective custody with relatives.' According to Gray, any prior history with the Department of Children and Families does not become public unless there is a death attributed to child abuse or neglect. Florida Department of Children and Families confirmed Prado has been investigated for previous incidents . | Christle Prado and roommate Keith Driscoll were arrested in December after photograph was shared on Facebook .
Neighbor said they made boy run around outside while people laughed .
He was also forced to take cold shower while Florida pair threw ice at him .
Prosecutors said they did not have enough evidence to charge .
Prado told police the punishment had been Driscoll's idea .
Boy now in custody of grandmother, who said abuse has gone on too long . |
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