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27,539 | 4e0baadd7f21a930d3cdb7a180a355694df1509b | By . Becky Evans . PUBLISHED: . 09:38 EST, 14 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:40 EST, 14 February 2013 . A father born without functioning hands is suing Six Flags theme park after he was stopped from riding the Aquaman Splashdown. Clint Bench, who does not have fully formed hands, says he was 'embarrassed' after being told to get off the ride by staff at the Six Flags Over Texas in front of his children. In the suit, filed in Dallas federal court, Mr Dench says the amusement park violated the Americans With Disabilities Act. Clint Bench had bought three season tickets to Six Flags Over Texas amusement park in Arlington but was told he could not ride the Aquaman Splashdown because he has no hands . The father-of-two, from Weatherford, Texas, said when he tried to board the ride last May he was told by an employee to leave 'because he does not have hands', according to Dallas News. In the suit, Mr Bench said it caused him 'considerable embarrassment' as his children had never seen him discriminated before. Aquaman riders sit in a boat that travels down into water, causing a large wave to soak them. The papers filed on Tuesday say: 'Mr Bench is a physically fit, healthy adult with great . upper body strength. He can perform all manners of activities, including . activities that one would normally assume would require the use of . hands.' He can write, type, tie his shoes, fire a gun and enjoys water skiing and mountain biking and has never considered using prosthetics, it said. Mr Dench said he was 'embarrassed' and he said his children had never seen him being discriminated against . Mr Bench is suing for an undisclosed amount for 'mental anguish' as well as a refund for the three Six Flags season tickets he had bought and his attorney's fees. Lawyers for Mr Bench claim the amusement park altered its restriction rules after he made a complaint. A guide, they claim was written in September, now states that Aquaman riders 'must have one full arm and one full leg.' Dallas News quoted the papers as saying: 'Mr Bench - who is capable of riding every ride at Six Flags Over Texas, and who has done so many times without injury to himself of others - is now unable to enjoy the rides with his family.;' It added that people who choose to raise their hands in the air 'in a silly display of bravado' are not prevented from going on further rides. Sharon Parker, the spokesperson for Six Flags, told Dallas News that she had not seen the suit 'but generally we don’t comment on pending litigation.' | Clint Bench told he could not ride 'because he does not have hands'
He said it was the first time his children had seen such discrimination .
Claims park has now changed restrictions to insist on 'one whole arm' |
115,732 | 215c4e45d021f1440b99590dbc8e0b6765c95505 | By . Associated Press Reporter . and Daily Mail Reporter . Authorities in North Carolina say a registered sex offender ran a . home child care as a front for a child porn production operation . involving a Special Forces soldier and other adults. Authorities say Bailey Joe Mills ran an unlicensed child care from his home as a front for a child porn production company . Harnett . County investigators say Bailey Joe Mills ran the unlicensed child care . from his home. Mills has three felony convictions involving sexual . activity with children and was charged in January with raping a . 13-year-old girl. Authorities say there are at least 10 child victims. Also . arrested were Mills' wife, 34-year-old Elizabeth Holland Mills; . 29-year-old Sgt. 1st Class Jordan Everett Busse of Fort Bragg; . 20-year-old Rashawn Rodriguez Drake Jackson; and 50-year-old Tommy Wall. Bailey . Joe Mills' attorney, Mac Hunter, said he expected federal authorities . would get involved. Mills had three convictions on his record involving sexual contact with children. In 1997 he was convicted for taking indecent liberties with a minor, he was convicted in 2000 for sexual assault of a child, and in 2011 he was convicted of felony indecent liberties with a child requiring him not to be around children under 13 unless an adult was present and requiring him to undergo psychological treatment and stay to a curfew. Most recently, in January he was arrested for having sex with a 13-year-old girl. Detective Brad Byrd told WRAL the evidence was 'very disturbing.' 'As I go through all the evidence, I see everything that's happened to these children,' he said. 'It's heartbreaking.' It's believed Mills attracted young girls with his day care and mentoring program, then offered them money to have sex with men he found on social media. Scroll down for video . Investigators identified alleged conspirator Tommy Wall partially through a video of him having sex with an adult female . His operation likely dates back to 2013 but was not uncovered until Mills was arrested in January. Upon reviewing his cell phone and computer investigator's realized the scope of the case. The other defendants could not immediately be . reached for comment. Mills is being held on $500,000 bond at the Harnett County Jail and is scheduled to make his first court appearance on July 28. | Authorities allege repeat sex offender Bailey Joe Mills set up an unlicensed child care service out of his home to attract young girls .
Mills has three prior convictions involving sexual contact with children .
Four others also arrested in the sick operation .
Detectives call evidence against Mills 'very disturbing' |
150,888 | 4f14e53b1669a1972c22c863adb2feb66d7cab80 | By . Daily Mail Reporter and Associated Press . PUBLISHED: . 09:37 EST, 20 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 14:29 EST, 20 August 2013 . Elmore Leonard, the beloved crime novelist whose acclaimed best-sellers and the movies made from them chronicled the violent deaths of many a thug and con man, has died. Leonard, winner of an honorary National Book Award in 2012, died Tuesday morning at his home in Bloomfield Township, a suburb of Detroit, from complications of a stroke. His researcher Gregg Sutter announced the 87-year-old’s death and said that he was surrounded by family when he died. His millions of fans, from bellhops to Saul Bellow, made all his books since 'Glitz' (1985) best-sellers. When they flocked to watch John Travolta in the movie version of 'Get Shorty' in 1995, its author became the darling of Hollywood's hippest directors. And book critics and literary lions, prone to dismiss crime novels as mere entertainments, competed for adjectives to praise him. Scroll down for video . Passed on: Elmore Leonard, pictured here in September 2012, died on Tuesday due to complications from a stroke . His more than 40 novels were populated by pathetic schemers, clever conmen and casual killers. Each was characterized by moral . ambivalence about crime, black humor and wickedly acute depictions of . human nature: the greedy dreams of Armand Degas in 'Killshot,' the . wisecracking cool of Chili Palmer in 'Get Shorty,' Jack Belmont's lust . for notoriety in 'The Hot Kid.' 3:10 to Yuma Get ShortyThe Big Bounce TouchStick Jackie Brown52 Pickup Out of Sight . 'When something sounds like writing, I rewrite it,' Leonard often said; and critics adored the flawlessly unadorned, colloquial style. As author Ann Arensberg put it in a New York Times book review, 'I didn't know it was possible to be as good as Elmore Leonard.' Leonard spent much of his childhood in Detroit and set many of his novels in the city. Others were set in Miami near his North Palm Beach, Florida, vacation home. One remarkable thing about Leonard's talent is how long it took the world to notice. He didn't have a best-seller until his 60th year, and few critics took him seriously before the 1990s. He had some minor successes in the 1950s and '60s in writing Western stories and novels, a couple of which were made into movies. But when interest in the Western dried up, he turned to writing scripts for educational and industrial films while trying his hand at another genre: crime novels. Old school: Leonard became best known for his crime novels that were adapted for films, like Get Shorty, £:10 to Yuma, and Out of Sight . The first, 'The Big Bounce,' was rejected 84 times before it was published as a paperback in 1969. Hollywood came calling again, paying $50,000 for the rights and turning it into a movie starring Ryan O'Neal, that even Leonard called 'terrible.' He followed up with several more well-written, fast-paced crime novels, including 'Swag' (1976). Leonard was already following the advice he would later give to young writers: 'Try to leave out the parts that people skip.' In 1978, he was commissioned to write an article about the Detroit Police Department. He shadowed the cops for nearly three months. Starting with 'City Primeval' in 1980, his crime novels gained a new authenticity, with quirky but believable characters and crisp, slangy dialogue. But sales remained light. Donald I. Fine, an editor at Arbor House, thought they deserved better and promised to put the muscle of his publicity department behind them. He delivered; and in 1985, 'Glitz,' a stylish novel of vengeance set in Atlantic City, became Leonard's first best-seller. Leonard never looked back. Hollywood rediscovered him, churning out a succession of bad movies including the humorless '51 Pick-up' starring Roy Scheider. Its director, John Frankenheimer, failed to capture the sensibilities of Leonard's work, and his ear missed the clever dialogue. It took Barry Sonnenfeld to finally show Hollywood how to turn a Leonard novel into a really good movie. 'Get Shorty' was the first to feel and sound like an Elmore Leonard novel. Back in the day: Leonard started his career in advertising but then turned to crime writing, and while he was not initially met with much success, his later work became fodder for Hollywood (pictured in 1983) Then Quentin Tarantino took a turn with 'Rum Punch,' turning it into 'Jackie Brown,' a campy, Blaxploitation-style film starring Pam Grier. But Steven Soderbergh stayed faithful to Leonard's story and dialogue with 'Out of Sight.' Writing well into his 80s, Leonard's writing process remained the same. He settled in at his home office in Bloomfield Township, Michigan, around 10 a.m. behind a desk covered with stacks of paper and books. He lit a cigarette, took a drag and set about to writing — longhand, of course — on the 63-page unlined yellow pads that were custom-made for him. When he finished a page, Leonard transferred the words onto a separate piece of paper using an electric typewriter. He tried to complete between three and five pages by the time his workday ended at 6 p.m. 'Well, you've got to put in the time if you want to write a book,' Leonard told The Associated Press in 2010 of the shift work that was befitting of his hometown's standing as the nation's automotive capital. Leonard had sold his first story, 'Trail of the Apache,' in 1951 and followed with 30 more for such magazines as 'Dime Western,' earning 2 or 3 cents a word. At the time, he was working in advertising, but rose early to work on his fiction before trudging off to write Chevrolet ads. One story, '3:10 to Yuma,' became a noted 1956 movie starring Glenn Ford, and 'The Captives' was made into a film the same year called 'The Tall T.' But the small windfall wasn't enough for Leonard to quit his day job. ('3:10 to Yuma' was remade in 2007, starring Russell Crowe.) His first novel, 'The Bounty Hunters,' was published in 1953, and he wrote four more in the next eight years. One of them, 'Hombre,' about a white man raised by Apaches, was a breakthrough for the struggling young writer. When 20th Century Fox bought the rights for $10,000 in 1967, he quit the ad business to write full time. Working til the end: Leonard (left) worked on the television show 'Justified' starring Timothy Olyphant (center) 'Hombre' became a pretty good movie starring Paul Newman, and the book was named one of the greatest Westerns of all time by the Western Writers of America. Soon, another Leonard Western, 'Valdez Is Coming,' became a star vehicle for Burt Lancaster. But as the 1960s ended, the market for Westerns fizzled. Leonard wrote five more, but they sold poorly, and Hollywood had lost interest. Leonard was born in New Orleans on October 11, 1925, the son of General Motors executive Elmore John Leonard and his wife, Flora. The family settled near Detroit when young Elmore was 10. The tough, undersized young man played quarterback in high school and earned the nickname 'Dutch,' after Emil 'Dutch' Leonard, a knuckleball pitcher of the day. The ballplayer's card sat for years in the writer's study on one of the shelves lined with copies of his books. After serving in the Navy during World War II, he majored in English at the University of Detroit. He started writing copy for an advertising agency before his graduation in 1950. He married three times: to the late Beverly Cline in 1949, the late Joan Shepard in 1979 and, at the age of 68, to Christine Kent in 1993. He had five children, all from his first marriage. His son, Peter, followed in his father's path, going into advertising for years before achieving his own success as a novelist with his 2008 debut, 'Quiver.' In 2012, after learning he was to become a National Book Award lifetime achievement recipient, Leonard said he had no intention of ending his life's work. 'I probably won't quit until I just quit everything — quit my life — because it's all I know how to do,' he told the AP at the time. 'And it's fun. I do have fun writing, and a long time ago, I told myself, 'You got to have fun at this, or it'll drive you nuts.'' | Author Elmore Leonard made his name writing books that became blockbusters like Out of Sight, Jackie Brown and Get Shorty .
Died on Tuesday morning at age 87 from complications due to a stroke . |
235,977 | bd7de0fa6bff799807f354027d6b68dc11237636 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 12:28 EST, 2 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 12:29 EST, 2 May 2013 . Victim: Catherine Wells-Burr, pictured, was 'almost certainly' dead when her Ford Focus was set on fire at a Somerset beauty spot . A graduate who was allegedly murdered by her boyfriend, his jealous former partner and her uncle was already dead when her car was set alight, a court heard today. Catherine Wells-Burr's body was found in her burnt out Ford Focus by firefighters at a Somerset beauty spot. But pathology tests carried out on the 23-year-old, who was so badly burned that she had to be identified using dental records, determined that she was 'almost certainly' dead before the fire. Prosecutors allege that her boyfriend Rafal Nowak, 31, hatched a plot with his jealous former partner Anna Lagwinowicz, 32, and her uncle Tadevsz Dmytryszyn, 38, to kill her for her six figure life insurance policy. Nowak, a factory worker, is accused of smothering the business analyst as she slept at the couple's new home in Chard, Somerset, on September 12 last year - leaving him able to access a six figure life insurance payout and the property. His former partner, Lagwinowicz - with whom Nowak is said to have rekindled a romance - allegedly joined her uncle in dumping Miss Wells-Burr's body in her car at a nearby roadside and setting fire to it. Home Office pathologist Dr Hugh White told the jury at Bristol Crown Court that he carried out several different tests on Miss Wells-Burr's body, including examining the airway and taking blood samples, and concluded she was dead when the fire was started. He said: 'Putting all these factors together, it is my opinion that she was almost certainly dead when the fire started.' He told the jury that Miss Wells-Burr had sustained a fracture to the back of her head, close to her right ear.' There had been some sort of blunt force trauma to the back of the head but I cannot be more specific than that,' he said. 'This particular fracture had been exposed to the heat suggesting it had occurred before the fire started.' Case: Rafal Nowak is accused of murdering 23-year-old business analyst Catherine Wells-Burr for her six-figure life insurance policy . Dr White said he was not able to say whether the head injury had been inflicted on Miss Wells-Burr before or after she died. The pathologist said that because of the blaze it was not possible to give a precise cause of the Bath Spa University graduate's death. Prosecutor Richard Smith QC asked Dr White whether it was possible that Miss Wells-Burr had died as a result of asphyxiation or strangulation. 'There is nothing to indicate that this could not have occurred,' he replied. Forensic anthropologist Dr Nicholas Marquez-Grant told the court he had been asked to examine Miss Wells-Burr's skull and said that he agreed with Dr that it was impossible to tell whether the head injury had been sustained before or after death. But he added: 'I am confident that the injury or damage to the back of the skull was caused prior to the fire.' Dr Marquez-Grant said that he was unable to say what had caused the head injury or the force used to inflict it. The court also heard details of written evidence from forensic scientist Melanie Banks, who examined fragments of clothing found upon Miss Wells-Burr's body. Miss Banks concluded that Miss Wells-Burr might have been wearing a pair of fabric shorts when her car was set alight. She added that due to the extent of the fire she was unable to say what other clothes Miss Wells-Burr could have had on. Polish nationals Nowak, Lagwinowicz, and Dmytryszyn all deny murder. Lagwinowicz was not present in court today having been excused attendance by trial judge Mrs Justice Sharp. The trial continues. Prosecutors allege Nowak smothered Miss Wells-Burr with a pillow as she lay sleeping in their new home in Chard, Somerset in September last year, Bristol Crown Court (pictured) has heard . Sorry we are unable to accept comments for legal reasons. | Catherine Wells-Burr's body was found in her burnt out Ford Focus .
Pathologists say that she was 'almost certainly' dead prior to the fire .
Miss Wells-Burr suffered a fracture to the head say doctors .
Her boyfriend, his former lover and her uncle are charged with murder . |
21,598 | 3d5666e71007f2a526304eb4613910815d4a3cc2 | By . Amanda Williams . PUBLISHED: . 07:18 EST, 2 March 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 12:27 EST, 2 March 2013 . It certainly gives a new meaning to having an expensive manicure. These workers carefully trim an elephant's valuable ivory tusk during a ceremony at Mahawangchang elephant camp in Kanchanaburi, Thailand. The tusks were legally trimmed to enable the animals to eat more easily. But it comes as the camp tries to raise awareness about poaching, and warn that cutting tusks without knowledge of its anatomy is dangerous for the animals. Workers legally trim an elephant's tusk during a ceremony at Mahawangchang elephant camp in Kanchanaburi, Thailand . Workers at the elephant camp carefully trimmed the elephants' tusks in an effort to raise public awareness about poaching and warn that cutting tusks without knowledge of its anatomy is dangerous for the animals . The tusks were legally trimmed to enable the beasts to eat more easily. According to conservationists the thriving legal trade in Thailand is helping fuel the slaughter of elephants in Africa . According to conservationists the thriving legal trade in Thailand is helping fuel the slaughter of elephants in Africa, where the largest land mammals on earth are facing their worst poaching epidemic in decades. Experts now believe more are being killed than are being born. The trade in 'blood ivory' will be among the most critical issues to be debated at the 177-nation Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, or CITES, which will begin on Sunday in Bangkok. And Thailand, which is hosting the meeting, will be under particular pressure to take action. It is not only a major hub for illegally trafficked wildlife - it is also where much of the ivory smuggled out of Africa ends up. 'Instead of being part of the problem, the Thai government can be part of the solution by banning ivory sales' altogether within its borders, said Janpai Ongsiriwittaya of the World Wildlife Fund. Last week, the conservation group presented a global petition with more than half a million signatures to Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, calling on her government to do just that. The trade is currently legal in Thailand as long as it involves tusks that came from native herds that have been domesticated. Yingluck responded by saying she recognised the importance of elephant conservation and would take the plea into consideration. Thai wildlife officials have ruled out an all-out ban on ivory in the past because those Thais who legitimately own domesticated animals should also have the right to buy and sell tusks locally. But once ivory enters Thai markets either legally or illegally it is difficult to trace where it came from. Nevertheless, 'most of the supply we see in Thai markets is illegally smuggled in from Africa,' Janpai said. Thai custom officials display seized ivory tusks during a news conference at the customs office of Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok. Thailand allows its nationals to trade in ivory from elephants that have died of natural causes inside its borders . Thailand is not only a major hub for illegally trafficked wildlife, it is also where much of the ivory smuggled out of Africa ends up . Thailand itself is home to about 6,500 elephants, of which 2,500 are wild and off-limits. Of the remaining 4,000, only 1,500 are males that produce tusks, and many grow only one in their lifetimes. By contrast, there are an estimated 5,000 ivory traders doing business in the country, far more than the local supply should be able to support, Janpai said. Scanlon said the illegal wildlife trade is worth up to $20 billion per year globally. And to control it, the international community has to be willing to 'deploy the sorts of techniques that are being deployed with respect to narcotics,' he said. Around 70 years ago, up to 5 million elephants are believed to have roamed sub-Saharan Africa. Today, just several hundred thousand are left, 25,000 of which were killed in 2011. Figures for 2012 have yet to be released, but they are believed to be similar to the previous year, or worse, Scanlon said. An elephant handler takes a nap as he waits for tourists. A meeting to be held in Bangkok on Sunday will put the spotlight on Thailand's role in the illicit trade in African ivory . Thailand will host the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) meeting from Sunday until March 14 . Although all African states agree no elephant should be killed for its tusks, there is disagreement over how best to protect the iconic animals. Some argue that legalising the ivory trade within reason give upon the animals a monetary worth that encourages humans to value their survival. But others say the only to stop poaching is to outlaw the sale of ivory everywhere, killing demand and ending their slaughter. Thailand's government has said it has done what it can. In the past two years, customs officers here have seized close to 2,000 kilograms (4,409 pounds) of African tusks, sometimes found broken apart into small pieces in failed attempts to avoid detection. TRAFFIC has called for CITES members to impose trade sanctions against Thailand - along with Nigeria and Congo - alleging they are complicit in the illegal ivory trade. 'There's certainly an issue here, it's been dealt with more slowly than many would like,' Scanlon said. But sanctions, he said, were premature and Thailand needs to be given the opportunity to put in place new measures to ensure they are 'not allowing laundered African ivory into this system.' | The tusks were legally trimmed to enable animals to eat more easily .
But campaigners say Thai legal trade is fueling illegal slaughter in Africa .
70 years ago 5m elephants are believed to have roamed sub-Saharan Africa .
Now, just several hundred thousand are left - and 25,000 were killed in 2011 . |
206,884 | 97e26f530d2b21f7487499581c7d185b32cb4c19 | By . Melissa Hills For Daily Mail Australia . Julie Hayes, principal Cowandilla Primary School in Adelaide . Proposals for more Mandarin to be taught in schools across Australia has been hailed as 'brilliant news'. The South Australian government is considering an English-Mandarin bi-lingual program that could start in early 2016 to help strengthen cultural and economic links with China. A working group is looking at the benefits of establishing a bilingual school, the programme would start from primary school age to Year 12 students. Julie Hayes, principal Cowandilla Primary School in Adelaide told Daily Mail Australia, she thought it was a 'fine idea' if the school did not already teach a language. 'It would help us understand the Chinese people more because language carries culture and encapsulates how people view the world. 'It would help us understand the Chinese perspective, values, family and religion. 'It is important and whatever language you end up studying it gives you an insight into the world of those people. 'We have 67 per cent of our children who are non English speaking at this school, it is a real mix of everything. 'We already teach three languages at this school, it's historically an area of Greek and Italian descent so we teach those and also aboriginal language Pitjantjara. 'We would not take on any new languages because we do enough already and because they have historic connections to us they are far more important.' Children learning Mandarin in a bilingual school will make it easier for them to take in the language, say experts . The South Australian bilingual schools working group will be tasked with researching possible funding models for bilingual programs, identifying a school willing to transform its curriculum to that of a bilingual school and working with the school to develop an appropriate curriculum. Angela Scarino, associate professor of Applied Linguistics at the University of South Australia told Daily Mail Australia there was 'bucket loads of evidence' to show that being bilingual improves kids learning across the curriculum. She said: 'This is brilliant news for South Australia. It's fantastic in relation to language learning because it is the most robust way to of ensuring the children learn the language. SA Premier Jay Weatherill wants more children to learn Mandarin at school . 'Chinese is wonderful language given the place of China in the world. 'Because Chinese is a more distant language for Australian learners it is important that children have a good amount of time on task to learn the language. 'With the bilingual approach the students have more exposure to the language.' South Australia Premier Jay Weatherill says increased proficiency in Mandarin will help South Australia enhance its engagement with China. 'Language is an important carrier of culture and this proposal will help strengthen our already strong relationship with China. 'In the early years of primary school, I envisage that lessons might be conducted in Mandarin on three or four days per week, before the balance is adjusted as the students grow in confidence in both languages. 'I understand that English-speaking students need to engage in around 2,800 hours of intense, focused study to become proficient in Mandarin - this is only possible in an immersion environment. 'Our relationship with China must be more than transactional. ''My government is keen to strengthen the cultural aspects of our relationship with its economic partners, so these relationships can grow in the long term.' Education Minister Jennifer Rankine is currently in China to promote Chinese schools adopting the SACE, so more international students may chose Adelaide as a preferred study destination. Chad Sexton-Finck, principal of Redcliffe Primary School in WA called the new initiative 'terrific' Mandy Scott, secretary for the Association of Learning Mandarin in Australia told Daily Mail Australia: 'I think this is the way to go because the more time you can spend on the language the better. 'There are lots of primary schools across the country that teach Mandarin but no so many that go up to Year 12. 'Taking a bilingual approach enables you to spend more time learning the language, that is why it is so good, . VICTORIA: . Abbotsford Primary School Chinese, Melbourne . Richmond West Primary School, Melbourne . NSW . Rouse Hill: Rouse Hill Public School, Sydney's north west . QUEENSLAND . Varsity College, Gold Coast . 'By learning subjects like maths and geography it means the kids have got to use the language to learn . 'I would like to see more of these kinds of schools throughout Australia, the European Union has done this with English for many years. 'Chinese is very important in Australia, it is the second language in ACT and so it's an important community language. 'Anyone at a bilingual school would be at a distinct advantage because they would have had more time to learn the language so by the time they come to the jobs market they should know the language.' Chad Sexton-Finck, is the principal of Redcliffe Primary School in WA which has taught Mandarin for the last three years and he called the new initiative 'terrific'. 'We have got no bilingual schools in WA. This is a great idea. My children speak three languages so I think this is very important' he added. | Experts say it is 'brilliant news' for students across Australia .
'It would help us understand the Chinese perspective, values, family and religion', says principal .
Being bilingual in English and Mandarin will be a 'distinct advantage' to the jobs market . |
101,888 | 0f4e34ecb97afc03c480e314839e7f3a817184f5 | China today launched its first ever extraterrestrial landing craft into orbit in the hopes it will become the first country in almost 40 . years to soft-land a probe on the moon. The nation is only the third in . history to launch an unmanned lunar probe after the Chang'e-3 device, nicknamed 'Jade Rabbit' after a Chinese folklore character, set off at 5.30pm on Sunday . evening (1.30am local time). The lunar probe blasted off on board an . enhanced Long March-3B carrier rocket from the Xichang Satellite Launch . Center in China's southwestern Sichuan province. Scroll down for video . The Long March-3B rocket carrying the Chang'e-3 lunar probe blasts off from the launch pad at Xichang Satellite Launch Center, Sichuan province, on Sunday . First: This probe is the first time China has sent a spacecraft to soft land on the surface of an extraterrestrial body . Exploring: If all goes well, the probe will conduct surveys on the moon over the course of 90 days . Ahead of the launch: The Chang'e-3 rocket carrying the Jade Rabbit rover prior to its launch at 1.30am local time . The probe, which can climb inclines of up to 30 degrees and travel up to 200 metres per hour, . is targeted to land within a huge volcanic crater known as Sinus . Iridum, which means the Bay of Rainbows, on about December 14. The . mission is a huge step forward for its ambitious space programme and forms part of a plan in which China hopes to build a permanent . lunar base in order to launch future missions to Mars within the next 15 . years. President Xi Jinping has said he wants China to establish itself as a space superpower, and the mission has inspired widespread pride in China's growing technological prowess. State television showed a live broadcast of the rocket lifting off. If all goes smoothly, the rover will conduct geological surveys and search for natural resources after the probe touches down on the moon in mid-December. It is designed to roam the lunar . surface for at least 90 Earth days – three Lunar days – covering an area . of about five square kilometres. Plan: The probe launch is a major step for China's ambitious space programme which includes building a permanent lunar base . Record-breaker: The probe will be the country's first to land on the moon and has been nicknamed 'Jade Rabbit' It will send probes beneath the surface as well as taking . high-resolution images of the rock, a flat area formed from the molten . basalt released by lunar volcanoes several billion years ago. The journey of the probe and its final landing will be closely monitored by the European . Space Agency (ESA), which is cooperating closely with China. ESA’s own . launch station in Kourou, French Guiana, will immediately start . receiving signals from the mission after take-off and it will upload . commands to the probe on behalf of the Chinese control centre. 'Whether . for human or robotic missions, international cooperation like this is . necessary for the future exploration of planets, moons and asteroids, . benefitting everyone,' said Thomas Reiter, director of ESA’s human . spaceflight operations. This will be China's first spacecraft to make a soft landing beyond Earth. In recent years, China has made considerable progress in its space programme. History: China will become just the third country in history to soft land an unmanned spacecraft on the moon when 'Jade Rabbit' launches next month.The gold-coloured model has six wheels and wing-like solar panels . Chinese scientists test the moon rover ahead of its launch. The six-wheeled Yutu vehicle began operating last month after making the first soft landing on the moon by a space probe in 37 years . In June, three Chinese astronauts spent 15 days in orbit and docked their craft with an experimental space laboratory. In 2007, the country despatched an unmanned spacecraft called Chang'e to orbit the Moon. The craft stayed in space for 16 months before being intentionally crashed on to the Moon's surface. The name Jade Rabbit was chosen after an online poll in which millions took part. Ouyang . Ziyuan, head of the moon rover project, told Xinhua earlier this week . that the ancient beliefs had their origins in the marks left by impacts . on the lunar landscape. 'There . are several black spots on the moon's surface. Our ancient people . imagined they were a moon palace, osmanthus trees, and a jade rabbit,' he said. China sent its . first astronaut into space in 2003, becoming the third country after . Russia and the United States to achieve manned space travel . independently. The military-backed space programme is a source of national pride. China . is one of only three countries to have managed to independently send . humans into space, the others being Russia and the US. Form: The first time China launched an unmanned spacecraft was in 1999, pictured. It is the only the third country to have done so, after Russia and the US . Apollo 11 astronaut Edwin Aldrin, right, walking on the moon, left, in 1969 . | Country today launched the first unmanned lunar probe since 1976 .
It has been nicknamed Jade Rabbit in honour of Chinese folklore character .
The probe will roam the lunar surface for up to 90 days .
China says it wants to create a permanent lunar base within 15 years .
Ambition is part of plan to move ahead of the U.S. and become leading space explorer in the world . |
85,201 | f1a18354d77a924ee24ef2b17cc43f0e40a0e24f | By . Kieran Corcoran . Football fans observed a minute's silence at grounds up and down the country today as a mark of respect for the victims of the Hillsborough disaster, which took place 25 years ago today. Ninety-six Liverpool FC fans were crushed to death on April 15 1989 when dangerous numbers of supporters were allowed to crowd into Sheffield Wednesday's Hillsborough stadium before the start of a match between the side and Nottingham Forrest in that year's FA Cup semi-final. And today players and fans held the respectful silence at 3.06pm - the same time the Hillsborough game was abandoned to deal with the tragedy. Kick-offs took place after the end of the silence - seven minutes later than usual. Silence: Fans stand an a memorial image is screen at today's match between Crystal Palace and Aston Villa . Paying respects: Players from Sunderland and Everton observe the silence before their match begins . Memory: Hillsborough now has 96 white seats decorated with roses and messages for the victims . Red rose: The view of the Hillsborough pitch from the special seats in the Leppings Lane End . Time to remember: The clock at Hillsborough showing 3.06, the time the 1989 semi-final was halted . In the Hillsborough stadium itself, 96 red roses were attached to chairs, painted white, in the stand. Each rose had the name of a victim attached to it. The managers of Sheffield Wednesday and Blackburn Rovers - the two clubs meeting at Hillsborough today - then placed wreathes in front of the display, to applause from both sets of fans. This season's FA Cup semi-finals take . place at Wembley on the anniversary weekend, and the national stadium . has also left 96 seats opposite the players' tunnel empty and draped . with Liverpool scarves. Memorial: The names of all 96 victims are inscribed at the gates of Liverpool's Anfield football ground (file photo) Horrific: Liverpool fans in the Leppings Lane End crush tried to escape to the upper tier that fateful day . Fateful day: A view of the big screen at Wembley showing the date of the Hillsborough disaster . Arsenal's . clash against holders Wigan kicks off at 5.07pm on Saturday, while . Hull's match against Sheffield United will kick off at 4.07pm a day . later. Ahead of the traditional Saturday starts, fans began to unfurl homemade banners . paying tribute to the 96 victims, while clubs displayed messages of . support on the big screens around the grounds. In the aftermath of the 1989 disaster, police attempted to shift the blame to the Liverpool fans. Erroneous reports quickly emerged claiming that fans had disrupted rescue efforts and desecrated the bodies of the dead. An inquest in 1991 ruled that all the deaths were accidental. A decision by the coroner that all deaths had taken place by 3.15pm on the day meant that many potential sources of evidence were not called forward, and the question of whether more fans could have been saved was left unasked. However, after a lengthy campaign by families of the victims, an independent report was commissioned, which revealed that police had doctored statements made in the wake of the tragedy. The revelations contained in the document led to a fresh Hillsborough inquest, which is currently being heard. On the first day of hearings, the judge conducting the inquest said it is 'seared into the memories of the very many people affected by it, most notably of course the families of the 96 people who died.' 25 years on: 96 Liverpool scarves are laid at Wembley ahead of the FA Cup semi-finals . Support: Fulham fans pay tribute before the match against Norwich at Craven Cottage . Remembered: The scoreboard at Stoke City's Britannia Stadium shows a tribute to the victims . Silence: Kenilworth Road paused before the Skrill Conference match between Luton and Braintree . Beginning of the day: South Yorkshire Police asked both clubs to ensure their fans arrived between 10.30am and 2pm for the game. 2pm: . The Leppings Lane turnstiles began operating smoothly, but after 2.15pm the volume of fans increased. 2.30pm: . The road was closed. Fans were asked over the PA system to move forward and spread out in the space. Officers considered delayed the kick-off but did not. Horror: Fans carrying one of those injured in the disaster using a makeshift stretcher . 2.40pm: . Large crowds had built up outside the turnstiles. 2.44pm: Fans were asked to stop pushing, though crowding was already bad and the turnstiles were struggling to cope. 2.47pm to 2.57pm: Some external gates were opened to relived pressure on the turnstiles - which caused fans to rush forward and crowd the pens even more. Pressure built up, and narrow gates in two of the pens were opened. Officers though fans were deliberately invading the pitch. 3pm: Kick-off. By this time the crush at the front of the pens was intolerable. 3.04pm: . Liverpool player Peter Beardsley struck the crossbar of the Nottingham . goal, causing fans to rush forward again. The huge pressure caused one of the crush barriers to break, making the situation even more dire for those pressed against it. 3.05pm: . Ambulance staff began investigation. 3.05pm . to 3.06pm: Police Superintendent Roger Greenwood decided the match had to be stopped and ran onto the pitch. 3.06pm . to 3.08pm: Police called for a fleet of ambulances. 3.07pm . to 3.10pm: South Yorkshire Police called for all available resources to come to the stadium. 3.08pm: . Ambulance officers, under Mr Higgins, returned to the Leppings Lane end . to treat a fracture victim. There were more spectators on the pitch. Some were distressed, some were angry. 3.13pm: . An ambulance from St John Ambulance, the volunteer force, was driven . around the perimeter of the pitch at the north-east corner. It was mentioned that there may have been fatalities. 3.15pm: . The secretary of Sheffield Wednesday and the chief executive of the . Football Association, Graham Kelly, went to the police control box to . ask for information. Chief Superintendent David Duckenfield said there were fatalities and the . game was likely to be called off. He also said that a gate had been . forced, that there had been an in-rush of Liverpool supporters. This . later transpired to not be correct. 3.29pm: . By this time fire engines and more ambulances had arrived. One ambulance was driven onto the pitch. 3.56pm: . Kenny Dalglish, the Liverpool manager, broadcast a message to all fans. He asked them to remain calm and in their seats. The police had asked . him to do so. 4.10pm: The match was formally abandoned and many fans returned home. 4.30pm: . By this time, some 88 people had been taken by ambulance to the . Northern General Hospital and some 71 to the Royal Hallamshire Hospital . in Sheffield by 42 ambulances. 5pm: . The South Yorkshire coroner, Dr Stefan Popper, gave instructions for . the bodies to be kept in the gymnasium until they had been photographed . and identified. By the end of the evening 82 people had been declared dead at Hillsborough. 12 more were declared dead in hospital. Another . person, Lee Nicol, survived for two days on a life support machine . before he, too, died. The 96th victim of the Hillsborough disaster was . Tony Bland. He survived until 1993, but with severe brain damage. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | Football fans stood silent as a mark of respect to Liverpool fans who died .
The 96 were crushed on 15 April 1989 at Sheffield Wednesday's ground .
Silence was held at 3.06pm - the same time fatal game was called off .
Roses marked with victims' names were placed on 96 marked seats . |
156,430 | 563a9c50694085dfabaed8f02dee943a11f813f1 | The widow of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat said Wednesday she wants his body exhumed to find out whether he was poisoned after tests showed high levels of a radioactive substance on some of his personal belongings. Suha Arafat told CNN she is requesting the body be exhumed "to make sure 100% of the existence of polonium." A Swiss doctor said Wednesday they found high levels of toxic polonium-210 on some of Arafat's belongings, though it does not mean he suffered radiation poisoning. "We have evidence there is too much polonium, but we also have hints from the medical records that this may not be the case," said Francois Bochud, director of the Institut de Radiophysique in Lausanne, Switzerland. "The only way to resolve this anomaly would be by testing the body." Suha Arafat said she had not made an official request to the Palestinian Authority for exhumation because no official request is needed. The Palestinian Authority said Wednesday that it would not object to exhuming the body from its tomb if Arafat's family approves. Arafat belongings test high for radioactivity, scientist says . If it turns out that Arafat, who died in 2004, was poisoned, "Any result will be significant for us to help know the truth," said Suha Arafat, the former leader's widow. "It is a form of closure for our family. Closing one wound but opening a new one, wondering who is responsible." Bochud's research team tested Arafat's toothbrush, clothing and keffiyeh, the trademark black-and-white headscarf he often wore, Bochud said. But getting data from items like clothing "is really tricky business," said Cham Dallas, a professor and toxicologist at the University of Georgia's Institute for Health Management and Mass Destruction Defense. "We don't have enough information to make any definitive statement, but it does seem a bit of a stretch" to conclude that Arafat was poisoned by polonium-210, he told CNN in a telephone interview. Dallas questioned how much confidence the Swiss scientists could have in their measurements and said he was looking forward to results from tests carried out on the body after it is exhumed. "I'd have a lot more confidence if you could give me a bone sample," he told CNN in a telephone interview. He cited compartments inside the bone as particularly telling. "There's old bone and then there's new bone," he said. "If you're sampling, it would come out very differently." Arafat died at age 75 at a Paris military hospital after he suffered a brain hemorrhage and slipped into a coma. Palestinian officials said in the days before his death that Arafat had a blood disorder -- though they ruled out leukemia -- and that he had digestive problems. Rumors of poisoning circulated at the time, but Palestinian officials denied them, and then-Foreign Minister Nabil Sha'ath said he "totally" ruled them out. Two weeks after Arafat's death, his nephew said medical records showed no cause of death. Nasser al-Kidwa, who was the Palestinian observer to the United Nations, said toxicology tests showed "no known poison" -- though he refused to exclude the possibility that poison caused his uncle's death. "The suspicion that he was killed, that he was deliberately murdered, has been there all along and most Palestinians believe that," said Hanan Ashrawi, a member of the Palestinian Liberation Organization's executive committee. "I personally believed it because I was with him; I saw him; I saw the transformation and it certainly was unnatural." Ashrawi said she had spoken with Arafat's doctors, who told her that they could not rule out the possibility that he had been poisoned. "But we didn't have any kind of thread, any kind of evidence," she told CNN. "This report, in many ways, tells us our suspicions are founded that there is sufficient evidence to say that he was killed, that he was assassinated using polonium." Only a few countries, including the United States, Israel and Russia, have stocks of polonium-210, a fact that would limit the list of possible suspects, he said. "You would only use polonium if you were making a statement, not if you were trying to hide," he said. Someone trying to get away with murder would be better off using pharmaceutical agents, since a number of of them "disappear in the body" and cannot be identified later, he said. "I can't figure out why they would use it, frankly," he said. "There are so many really cool agents to kill people if you want to be secret and even if you want to make a statement." Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has ordered a committee investigating Arafat's death to follow up on all reports "and to seek assistance from Arab and international experts to find the truth behind Arafat's illness and death," said his spokesman, Nabil Abu Rudeineh. It should be possible to detect any remaining polonium -- a naturally radioactive chemical element -- in Arafat's body, despite the time that has elapsed since his death because he was buried in a tomb, not underground, Bochud said. Arafat's widow asked the Swiss institute to analyze some of his belongings and medical documents, Bochud said. The Qatar-based satellite network Al Jazeera relayed the request and broadcast a report about the test results. The testing found no evidence of traditional poison, Bochud said. But Al Jazeera and the family then asked him to test for radioactive material, and found an "unexplained amount of polonium-210," he said, adding, "We are testing tiny quantities so it is difficult to measure and not conclusive." A body fluid stain contained 180 megabecquerels per liter of the radioactive isotope, while a typical sample would contain 5 megabecquerels per liter, Bochud said. A becquerel is a unit of measurement of radioactivity. The fabric of Arafat's clothing, without body fluid, contained less than 10 megabecquerels per liter, Bochud said. Tests involving biological samples -- such as urine, sweat or blood -- contained higher levels than other samples taken from his clothing, he said. Arafat's widow had left his clothes inside a sports bag from the time they were returned to her eight years ago from the hospital, Bochud said. It was not clear whether anything that may have happened to the clothes -- over the years or in the testing process -- may have affected the test results. Asked whether polonium-210 could have been applied to the items since Arafat's death, Bochud said, "Anything is possible." Bochud also said the Institut de Radiophysique did not verify that the clothing was Arafat's; another organization concluded that the DNA on the items was similar to that of Arafat's daughter. Zahwa Arafat provided her DNA for the comparison, Suha Arafat told CNN. The wait for test results, which lasted months, "was emotionally difficult," she said. Former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko died of polonium poisoning in London in 2006. But it's hard to compare the cases of Arafat and Litvinenko, who was diagnosed when he was alive, Bochud said. Arafat's symptoms when he died were not entirely consistent with polonium poisoning, he said. "For example, the bone marrow stayed in good shape until (the) death of Arafat. In other cases of polonium poisoning there is a decaying of the bone marrow," the medical expert said. "Another point, he did not lose his hair as would be expected in the case of polonium." poisoning. Scientists performed more than 50 measurements on the belongings between February and June, he said. | A stain contained higher levels of polonium-210 than a typical sample, a scientist says .
The test results do not necessarily mean Arafat was poisoned, the scientist says .
"There is sufficient evidence" Yasser Arafat was killed, PLO official says .
Use of polonium-210 as a poison "does seem a bit of a stretch," toxicologist says . |
190,621 | 82cba3b49c3abc1f3bf64a8c3dc1fc3abbc94aaf | Tokyo (CNN) -- Three Australian activists are being held aboard a Japanese ship Monday after illegally boarding the vessel to protest Japan's annual whale hunt in Antarctic waters. The three men are not yet under arrest, but are being questioned by Japan's Coast Guard, a spokesman for Japan's Fisheries Agency said Monday, declining to be identified as is customary in Japan. The Australian attorney-general, Nicola Roxon, said that her government was working to secure the release of the men, but that she believed they could face criminal charges in Japan. Video footage released by the anti-whaling group Sea Shepherd shows the three men, from the environmental group Forest Rescue Australia, approaching the Japanese vessel on a small boat on Sunday. The video shows their boat pull up next to Japan's Shonan Maru #2, a patrol vessel supporting Japan's whaling mission in the Antarctic waters. A voice from the small boat calls out, "Go, go, go!" as the men slip onto the Japanese ship. In the background, voices in Japanese scream in alarm, saying "They're boarding!" Sea Shepherd described the three activists -- Geoffrey Owen Tuxworth, 47, Simon Peterffy, 44, and Glen Pendlebury, 27 -- as "prisoners." The organization said the men boarded the vessel to force Japan's fleet to stop hunting whales. Japan annually hunts whales despite a worldwide moratorium, utilizing a loophole in the law that allows for killing the mammals for scientific research. Each year, environmental groups like Sea Shepherd face off with Japan's hunters in a high seas drama that has led to collisions of ships, the detaining of activists and smoke bombs fired back and forth between the groups. Two days before he boarded the Japanese vessel, Peterffy said in a video released by Sea Shepherd that stopping Japan's hunts was a personal responsibility. "We've got a big responsibility for all those people in future generations," he said. Australia's Roxon said the countries were engaged in diplomatic discussions to ensure the well-being and safety of the three men, but called it a "difficult situation." Roxon said that while Australia steadfastly opposes Japan's whale hunt, the incident did not happen in Australian territorial waters. "That doesn't give us rights for Australian law to automatically apply," she said. "In fact, our advice is that Japanese law will apply because a Japanese boat is the one that's been boarded." This is the third time activists have boarded ships involved in the Japanese whaling fleet. In 2008, two Sea Shepherd activists sneaked aboard a Japanese vessel. They were released back to the anti-whaling group. In 2010, Pete Bethune, a New Zealander, also boarded the Shonan Maru #2. Bethune was arrested, taken back to Japan, and tried in a Tokyo court. He spent five months in prison and was released on a two-year suspended sentence. | The three activists could face criminal charges in Japan, an Australian official says .
The men are being questioned after boarding a patrol ship involved in the whale hunt .
The Australian government is working to secure the activists' release .
Environmental groups have clashed in previous years with the the whale-hunting vessels . |
50,225 | 8e0fbed2cece9931ea62c751d1789ee172aa1c32 | Cardinal Paolo Romeo said . to have revealed details on a visit to China . Another . cardinal then submitted a top-secret . report to the Vatican Secretary of State . By . Nick Pisa . UPDATED: . 14:48 EST, 10 February 2012 . A senior Vatican cardinal has sensationally claimed Pope Benedict XVI could be ‘the victim of an assassination plot’ within the next 12 months, it emerged today. Cardinal Paolo Romeo is said to have revealed the details while on a visit to China and that another cardinal who was told of the comments, then submitted a top secret report to the Vatican Secretary of State. The plot, which could come straight out of a Dan Brown-style thriller, was revealed in Italian newspaper Il Fatto Quotidiano today. Pope Benedict XVI, pictured yesterday at the Vatican, could be 'the victim of an assassination plot' within the next 12 months, a senior Vatican cardinal has sensationally claimed . Cardinal Paolo Romeo (seen left last year in the Vatican), who is Archbishop of Palermo, is said to have made the claims during his visit to China last November where he met with Italian businessmen and local Catholic Church officials . Cardinal Romeo, who is Archbishop of Palermo, is said to have made the claims during his visit to China last November where he met with Italian businessmen and local Catholic Church officials. The Catholic Church is not officially recognised in China and relations between the two are strained but in November, Pope Benedict did grant approval for the ordination of a new bishop which was accepted by the Bejing government. Il Fatto claimed that Cardinal Romeo told the businessmen that there was a ‘death plot' against the Pope and that he would be 'dead within twelve months', the end of the year at the latest but it was not clear where he had obtained the information. His comments were then relayed back . to another cardinal in Rome, Colombian-born Dario Castrillon who wrote . up the report and submitted to the Secretary of State, cardinal Tarcisio . Bertone. Startling news: The plot was revealed in Italian newspaper Il Fatto Quotidiano which published a 'very confidential' document dated 30 December 2011 said to had been given to retired Colombian Cardinal Dario Castrillon . The newspaper claimed that the report was 'translated into German' so as to keep the sensationally revelations as quiet as possible within the Vatican but it was submitted to German born Pope Benedict XVI as well. Cardinal Romeo, 73, has a long career as a Vatican diplomat and has worked in the Philippines, Belgium, Luxembourg, Venezuela and Rwanda and he was also the Vatican’s official ambassador to Italy between 2001 and 2006, when he was made a cardinal by Pope Benedict. Il Fatto said that it had been leaked a copy of the report and that the German words for ‘death plot’ were in it and they added that they had verified it was original by the Vatican rubber stamps that were on the pages. They also went on to detail how cardinal Romeo had even said that a successor for Pope Benedict was also being lined up and named him as cardinal Angelo Scola, the current archbishop of Milan. Il Fatto added that cardinal Romeo had 'seriously predicted a criminal plot against the pope and that he would be dead within twelve months' and that the report had been written on New Year’s Eve and then passed to the Pope last month. In 1981 late Pope John Paul II, who died in 2005, was the victim of an assassination attempt when Turkish hit man Mehmet Ali Agca (circled) fired at him from close range, as he greeted crowds in St Peter's Square . Il Fatto deputy editor Marco Travaglio said:' We are happy the report is a genuine Vatican document and that the details are accurate as we reported them. 'Obviously we hope that it is not true but the words death plot are clearly there in German and it was written in German so that only a handful of people within the Vatican knew the details.' Today Vatican spokesman father Federico Lombardi tried to downplay the report saying that it seemed to him ,to be ‘’beyond the realms of reality and not even worth considering"'. In 1978 Pope John Paul I died after just 33 days in office and there have long been suggestions that he was poisoned by the Mafia after they discovered he was about to name senior Catholic church officials who were involved in money laundering for the Mob. In 1981 late Pope John Paul II, who died in 2005, was the victim of an assassination attempt when Turkish hit man Mehmet Ali Agca fired at him from close range, as he greeted crowds in St Peter’s Square. The Pope was rushed to hospital where he underwent life saving surgery and he went on to make a full recovery, putting his survival down to the intervention of the Virgin Mary and later one of the bullets removed during the operation was placed at a shrine to her in Fatima, Portugal. In 1991 comedian Robbie Coltrane starred in a film called The Pope Must Die, in which he played a lowly priest who is mistakenly elected Pope and then has to avoid being assassinated by the Mafia. Over the years, many popes have met a grisly demise - by . strangulation, poisoning, crucifixion, and even by being clubbed to . death. Much of the bloodshed occurred during the Middle Ages. But as the . death of John Paul I in 1978 shows - if conspiracy theories are to be . believed - with great responsibility comes great danger... St Peter (AD 64): Crucified. John VIII (872-882): Allegedly poisoned and then clubbed to death. Adrian III (884-885): Allegedly poisoned. Stephen VI (896-897): Said to have been strangled. Pope Benedict XI, who reigned in 1304-5, was allegedly poisoned . Leo V (903): Murdered. John X (914-928): Allegedly suffocated under a pillow. Stephen VII (928-931): Possibly murdered. Stephen VIII (939-942): Mutilated and died from injuries. John XII (955-964): Murdered by cuckolded husband. Pope John VIII (872-882) is said to have poisoned and then clubbed to death; right, Stephen VI (896-897) is alleged to have been strangled . Benedict VI (973-974): Strangled by a priest. John XIV (983-984): Starved to death or poisoned. Gregory V (996-999): Said to have been poisoned but probably malaria. Sergius IV (1009-1012): Possibly murdered. Clement II (1046-1047): Rumored poisoned. Damasus II (1048): Rumored murdered. Boniface VIII (1294-1303): Died from abuse received while a captive of the French in Anagni. Benedict XI (1304-1305): Allegedly poisoned. John Paul I (1978): Allegedly poisoned. In 1978, Pope John Paul I (left) died after just 33 days in office and there have long been suggestions that he was poisoned by the Mafia . | Cardinal Paolo Romeo said .
to have revealed details on a visit to China .
Another .
cardinal then submitted a top-secret .
report to the Vatican Secretary of State .
Plot 'beyond realms of reality' says Vatican spokesman . |
142,677 | 448632058159a7ada4c256b3bb6d18061168cafb | Manchester United have splashed out £58.8million on Luke Shaw and Ander Herrera in a statement of their intent to return to the top of the Premier League. United will complete the £30m transfer of England left-back Shaw on Friday just 24 hours after wrapping up the £28.8m purchase of Athletic Bilbao midfielder Herrera. Vice executive chairman Ed Woodward has signalled the near £60m outlay in a bid to wrap up the signings quickly and avoid a repeat of last summer's transfer sagas and does not intend to stop there, with at least two more signings in the pipeline. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Louis van Gaal show off his quirky training methods . Secured: Ander Herrera signed for Manchester United from Athletic Bilbao for £28.8million on Thursday . VIDEO Herrera completes United transfer . Almost: Luke Shaw is set to become Man United's second summer signing for £30m on Friday . Business: Man United manager Louis van Gaal will have Herrera and Shaw to play with next season . ANDER HERRERA, MIDFIELDER, AGE 24 . 2008-2009: Zaragoza B (10 apps, 2 gls) 2009-2011: Zaragoza (82, 6) 2011-2014: Athletic Bilbao (94, 7) 2014-NOW: Manchester United . LUKE SHAW, LEFT-BACK, AGE 18 . 2012-2014: Southampton (60 apps, 0 gls) 2014-NOW: England (3 caps, 0 gls) Although Southampton were chasing a massive £40m for 18-year-old Shaw, United have struck a deal for £30m and he will undergo his medical at Carrington today before signing a five year deal. Stylish midfielder Herrera officially completed his move yesterday despite a late attempt from Bilbao to say they had rejected United's offer of the player's buyout clause. Herrera posed with Sir Bobby Charlton and declared: 'It is a dream come true. I have played at Old Trafford for Athletic and it was one of the highlights of my career. 'Having arrived on Tuesday I'm excited to now be living in Manchester and I can't wait for my first game in United's famous red shirt.' Bilbao, meanwhile, are considering a cheeky approach for Arsenal midfielder Mikel Arteta as Herrera's replacement. VIDEO Van Gaal set for German shopping spree . New boy: Herrera (right) made the switch from La Liga to Premier League on Thursday . Race: Shaw should be announced on Friday after arriving at Carrington for a tour of the training complex . Boss: Herrera says Holland manager Van Gaal is 'one of the best managers in the world' 'Louis van Gaal is one of the best managers in the world and, for me, I am lucky to be working with him. I want to learn a lot of things and I can't wait to play with Van Gaal, my new team-mates and for Manchester United.' Herrera arrives at United with the advantage of already being friends with David De Gea and Juan Mata, two men he got to know well while playing for Spain’s Under-21s. Importantly, the diminutive playmaker believes their kinship will help him settle in. 'I know they are very happy,' he explains. 'I was talking to them and they told me that this is the biggest club in the world and that we have a very good squad. We are very good friends and I am sure that they will help me to adapt and get to know the club.' New and old: Herrera poses with Sir Bobby Charlton outside of the AON Training Complex in Manchester . | Ander Herrera joined Manchester United for £28.8million on Thursday .
Luke Shaw to become Louis van Gaal's second signing at £30m on Friday .
More signings poised to come for United in push for next Premier League . |
96,992 | 08d0b3c62b3d4787ae766f2e83599f01616cf546 | Match will be played in Doha at 2.45pm UK time . Gareth Bale has not travelled and is getting fit for La Liga resumption . Match is part of the fee for Carlo Ancelotti, who moved to Real from PSG . Emirates sponsors both clubs . By . Pete Jenson . PUBLISHED: . 04:51 EST, 1 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 08:54 EST, 1 January 2014 . Cristiano Ronaldo - the man who scored more goals than anyone in 2013 - will take on the player who scored the second most, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, in Real Madrid’s first game of the year on Thursday. Gareth Bale will not travel to Doha for the friendly to be played in the Khalifa International Stadium at 14.45 UK time but a 50,000 sell-out will get to see Ronaldo v Zlatan the rematch. Ronaldo resumes hostilities with Ibrahimovic having got the better of him in the World Cup play-off between Portugal and Sweden in November and across the calendar month. Ready to go: Real Madrid players gather round at training ahead of the friendly with PSG in Doha . The big one: It could all be about two men, star forwards Cristiano Ronaldo (left) and Zlatan Ibrahimovic (right) Cristiano Ronaldo: Games 59 Goals 69 . Zlatan Ibrahimovic: Games 58 Goals 47 . He scored 69 goals in 59 games in 2013 with Ibrahimovic trailing in second with 47 goals in 58 games. The meeting of two big European sides on Qatari soil might be a glimpse of the future for Premier League clubs, if they ever get the mid-winter break. The French champions are spending a week at Doha’s Aspire Academy for winter training and for Carlo Ancelotti’s players there is also the chance to turn up the temperature. They were put through their paces in the seven-degree cold of the Spanish capital on Tuesday in the traditional open training session in front of supporters who watched for free. But the 22-degree heat of Qatar awaits them after their seven hour flight on New Year’s day via the Dubai airline Emirates that sponsors both Real and PSG. Bale, who sustained a calf knock in training which kept him out of Madrid’s last game of 2013, worked in the gym in the Tuesday training session and he will stay behind to focus on being fit for Monday’s first league game of the year at home to Celta Vigo. Ready for take-off: Pepe, Marcelo and Cristiano Ronaldo step on to the plane to take the Real squad to Doha . Taking a seat: The duo had a fantastic 2013, with Ibrahimovic leading his side to Ligue 1 glory while Ronaldo is tipped for the Ballon d'Or . Star coaching team: Zinedine Zidane (left) shows off his skills while Carlo Ancelotti (right) chats to his assistant . The lucrative mid-winter friendly has been a feature of Spanish sides’ December and January programmes in recent years. Barcelona earned an estimated £3.3million for a game in Kuwait in December 2009 and this game forms part of the payment for coach Ancelotti who switched from PSG to Real Madrid in the summer. PSG are owned by Qatar Sports Investment Authority and factored two Doha friendlies into the 4m euro compensation package for Ancelotti. The game has sold out the 50,000 capacity Khalifa International Stadium and the Qataris believe a second Madrid friendly, not necessarily against PSG, will do likewise when played either in the post-World Cup pre-season or next January. As Ronaldo and Ibrahimovic battle to score their first goals of 2014, Bale is hoping to continue his run of nine goals and six assists in 15 matches played if he gets back on the pitch against Celta on Monday. Supporters hope his start to 2014 can be as explosive for Real Madrid as it was in 2013 for Tottenham when he scored 14 goals in the first 20 games of the year. Goalkeepers: Tomas Mejias, Diego Lopez, Jesus Fernandez . Defenders: Pepe, Ramos, Marcelo, Carvajal, Arbeloa, Nacho, Casado, Llorente . Midfielders: Xabi Alonso, Casemiro, Modric, Di Maria, Isco, Illarra, Jose Rodriguez, Jaime . Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo, Benzema, Jese, Morata . Goalkeepers: Douchez, Maignan, Sirigu, Diaw . Defenders: Thiago Silva, Marquinhos, Camara, Alex, Maxwell, Digne, van der Wiel, Jallet, Arrondel, Atlan . Midfielders: Menez, Thiago Motta, Matuidi, Verratti, Rabiot, Pastore, Lucas, Coman . Forwards: Cavani, Ibrahimovic, Lavezzi, Ongenda . Preparing for the heat: PSG have been training in Qatar to get used to the conditions they will face . Away from the field: Ronaldo gets a five-man massage (above) while Ibrahimovic greets fans at training (below) | Match will be played in Doha at 2.45pm UK time .
Gareth Bale has not travelled and is getting fit for La Liga resumption .
Match is part of the fee for Carlo Ancelotti, who moved to Real from PSG .
Emirates sponsors both clubs .
The game at the Khalifa International Stadium is a sell-out . |
174,400 | 6dbc167a0ffd9950d83fa7e5efdc650cef1e54bd | The global chief executive of McDonald’s has claimed he lost 20lbs in weight – despite eating from the chain’s menu every day. Don Thompson said he regularly worked out at a gym to lose the pounds but did not stop wolfing down the fast food meals whenever he could. But his claims were met with scepticism on Twitter with some branding it the ‘McDiet’ and asking him to ‘prove it’. Weight loss: The boss of McDonald's, Don Thompson, pictured, has claimed he's shed 20 pounds in the past year wile eating at his fast food restaurant 'every, single day' Last week McDonald’s unveiled its . most unhealthy item ever, the Mega Potato, which is a double size . portion of fries. At 1,142 calories it is more than half the . recommended daily calorie intake for a woman. Mr Thompson said he shed the weight over the course of a year by getting up early in the mornings and going to the gym. The fast food boss insisted he still . ate at McDonald’s ‘every single day’, although he did not specify what . he chose from the menu. He admitted that despite McDonald’s . trying to rebrand itself as healthier, its salads make up only two to . three per cent of sales. But he claimed the company was making efforts to include more vegetables in its meals. Thompson, who has been on the job for less than a year, was responding to a question about how the company is adapting amid growing concerns about obesity when he pointed out his slimmer frame. He said that he lost the weight by getting active again and noted that it's rare to see Europeans that are 'very, very heavy' because they walk a lot. 'And so I think that balance is really important to people,' he said. 'I don't see salads as being a major . growth driver in the near future,' Thompson told investors in New York . on Wednesday, according to Bloomberg News. It's no wonder the salads have failed to lure health conscious diners when they are often as . fat-laden as a Big Mac and boast names such as Bacon Ranch and . Southwest Crispy Chicken. Salad: McDonald's has already dropped two salads from its menu and will likely drop more after the dismal sales performance . New focus: The chain's CEO said it will likely refocus advertising on burgers and chicken sandwiches which sell better than salads . In comparison to poor salad sales, the restaurant's Dollar Menu generates 13 to 14 per cent of U.S. business, he said. But . he claims the company isn't giving up on selling fruit and vegetables. For instance, some of McDonald's new McWraps have tomato, cucumber . slices and shredded lettuce inside, he said. McDonald's first added tossed salads to its U.S. menu in 1987. Bloomberg News reported earlier this month that it is considered ditching Caesar salads after it already got rid of Fruit & Walnut salads from its menu this year. McDonald's shares fell more than 2.2 per cent to close at $98.28 on Wednesday, after the announcement. At one point they declined as much as 2.9 per cent for the biggest intraday drop since October 19 and they continued to fall on Thursday. Shares: McDonald's shares fell more than 2.2 per cent to close at $98.28 on Wednesday, after the announcement and they continued to drop on Thursday . The shares gained 15 per cent this year . through to Tuesday. In comparison, the Standard & Poor's 500 Index . advanced 16 per cent. The world's biggest hamburger chain announced it was axing its Fruit & Walnut salad in March after competitors Burger King Worldwide Inc and Wendy's Co began closing the gap with McDonald's. The world's biggest hamburger chain for years held a huge lead against most rivals, but some of those chains now are luring away diners with fast-changing menus featuring tempting new food. | Don Thompson told investors on Wednesday he lost the weight because he got his 'butt up' and worked out .
He revealed salads make up just 2-3 per cent of U.S. sales .
This compares to the Dollar Menu, which generates 13-14 per cent of sales .
Thompson said the firm, which has heavily promoted its healthier options, will again focus advertising on hamburgers and chicken sandwiches . |
253,424 | d409fa7d12ae9d23b099041ceb6c5962500a9748 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 16:03 EST, 31 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 16:03 EST, 31 January 2014 . At least 400 reptiles and amphibians smuggled from Madascar and destined for America's exotic pet trade have been found dead in South Africa after their connecting flight was delayed. More than 1,600 of the creatures were found when staff noticed a bad smell during an inspection of the cargo building at Johannesburg's OR Tambo International Airport. The geckos, frogs, chameleons, skinks, lizards and toads, many of them endangered species, had been tied up in small muslin bags or crammed into overcrowded plastic tubs for about five days. Reptiles and amphibians dead on a metal . table at the Johannesburg Zoo: South African animal inspectors found a . large consignment of reptiles smuggled from Madagascar and destine for America's exotic pet trade . Bad smell: The geckos, frogs, chameleons, . skinks, lizards and toads, many of them endangered species, were tied up . in small muslin bags or crammed into overcrowded plastic tubs for . approximately five days . About a third of the animals were already dead by the time they were found on Wednesday. The animals were left unattended in the cargo area when flights to the U.S. were cancelled after their destination airports were hit by storms. Ainsley Hay, a spokesman for South Africa's National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, told the South African Press Association that the reptiles and amphibians were found during a routine inspection. 'The bad smell coming from the sealed animal crates indicated that many of the reptiles were dead or dying and in need of urgent assistance,' she said. The surviving reptiles have been taken to the Johannesburg Zoo for treatment. Miss Hay added: 'Many animals could not move or turn around in their containers. None had been provided with water which caused extreme dehydration in the surviving animals.' Delayed: The animals had been left unattended in . the cargo area when flights to the U.S. were cancelled after their . destination airports were hit by storms. About a third were dead by the . time they were found . A zoo official said that about 400 of the 1,685 animals have already died from the stress of air travel and shock of being removed from their natural habitat. The surviving reptiles will be quarantined for 30 days. 'They are not fit for travel, they cannot leave, there is nowhere to go at the moment,' said Katja Koeppel, the zoo's chief vet. 'So they gave them to us. My problem is trying to keep them alive.' Callous: Ainsley Hay, spokesman for the . National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, said it was a . concern that rare animals were being seen as mere commodities, without . concern for the welfare . The zoo has yet to identify all the species received but Ms Koeppel said it had already been established that some are listed on the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, or CITES. This will put their discovery in transit to the U.S. high in the radar screen of conservationists. Ms Hay said it was a concern that rare animals were being seen as mere commodities, without concern for the welfare. 'People who have exotic animals as pets must realise that they are causing this cruelty,' she told SAPA. 'Without the demand for these animals as pets, there would be no market and these animals would not be stolen from the wild.' | More than 1,600 reptiles and amphibians found at Johannesburg airport .
Nearly one third of them were already dead and the others badly dehydrated .
The creatures had been smuggled from Madagascar, a biodiversity hotspot . |
171,732 | 6a43810396688747fad8dbe4af21d0bc1072a06b | Jordon Mutch has completed his £5.75million switch from QPR to Crystal Palace. The former Cardiff City midfielder has signed a four-and-a-half year deal with Alan Pardew's side . The 23-year-old has failed to make an impact at Rangers since his move in the summer and was freed to leave by manager Harry Redknapp. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Alan Pardew on Mutch, Ameobi and Soare transfers to Palace . Jordon Mutch has completed his £5.75million switch from QPR to Crystal Palace . QPR midfielder Jordon Mutch (right) has had limited opportunities at Loftus Road this season . Mutch celebrates scoring for Cardiff against Fulham in the Premier League in September 2013 . The Eagles have agreed a £4.75m fee rising to £5.75m with add-ons. Palace are also close to completing a deal for free agent Shola Ameobi after the striker agreed to join the south London club after leaving Turkish side Gaziantep in December. Ameobi held talks with Palace on Tuesday as Pardew looks to reunite himself with the experienced centre-forward. Palace have allowed midfielder Stuart O'Keefe to join Cardiff. Shola Ameobi (centre) was released by Newcastle last summer after 14 years at the club . | Jordon Mutch was freed to leave QPR despite only joining in summer .
The former Cardiff City midfielder has signed for Crystal Palace .
The Eagles have paid £4.75m with the fee rising to £5.75m with add-ons .
Mutch had his medical at Palace's training ground on Thursday .
Click here for more transfer news . |
210,382 | 9c7c70f66361d49882b5d1f7e710f2d05429ea15 | President Barack Obama offered a bullish assessment of his war on Islamic terrorists in Syria and Iraq on Monday, even as he acknowledged small gains by ISIS would mean the U.S. engagement there will be prolonged. Speaking inside a New Jersey airplane hangar with a massive Navy C-130 as his backdrop, Obama said the U.S. was "hammering these terrorists" by taking out supply chains and disrupting the network's command structure. "We have blunted their momentum and put them on the defensive," Obama said. "They may think that they can chalk up some quick victories, but our reach is long," he said. "We do not give up. You threaten America, you will have no safe haven. We will find you, and like petty tyrants and terrorists before you, the world is going to leave you behind and keep moving on without you, because we will get you." Obama flew to Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, near Trenton, to offer his thanks to U.S. military personnel, many of whom have served in combat zones. He said the 3,000 troops who filled the hangar they were like "Santa in fatigues" for the work they had carried out on behalf of the United States. During his remarks he noted his efforts to wind down the war in Afghanistan, where the U.S. combat mission will conclude at year's end. The Obama administration initially said 9,800 troops would remain in Afghanistan next year, but earlier this month, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said the number would include up to 1,000 additional troops. Hagel said the increased force would help provide "flexibility" as the U.S. works to maintain security in the country, which has been beset by a resurgence in Taliban attacks. "This month, America's war in Afghanistan will come to a responsible end," Obama said. "That doesn't mean that everything's great in Afghanistan. Afghanistan is still a very dangerous place." In New Jersey Obama was greeted by Republican Gov. Chris Christie, a vocal critic of Obama who has still maintained a amiable relationship with the President. The pair shook hands and spoke for more than a minute on the military tarmac where Air Force One landed on Monday afternoon, before proceeding together to the airplane hanger where Obama delivered his address. Christie, who is considering a run for the 2016 GOP presidential nomination, drew fire from fellow Republicans when he hugged Obama during a tour of Hurricane Sandy aftermath in 2012. That outing featured a football throwing contest on the Asbury Park boardwalk; Obama said Monday he wanted a "rematch" with the governor. | President Barack Obama traveled to Fort Dix, New Jersey, on Monday to visit troops .
Obama said the U.S. is "hammering" ISIS .
GOP Gov. Chris Christie met the Obama on the tarmac . |
214,454 | a1b1eef0d895166ad10ba38cf1e0519ba007904c | By . Associated Press . and Chris Spargo for MailOnline . The father of a man fatally shot by police at a Walmart for holding a toy gun says a cellphone call in which he heard his son's dying breaths keeps replaying in his head. John Crawford Jr. talked about that last day of son's life to the Cincinnati Enquirer in a telephone interview from his home in Jackson, Tennessee, recalling how his son was 'gasping' for life. His son, John Crawford III, was shot Aug. 5 in a Walmart in the Dayton suburb of Beavercreek, Ohio. Scroll down for video . Dying words: John Crawford Jr. (above) says he heard his son 'gasping' for breath after he was shot by officers at a Walmart in Ohio . Officers have said Crawford III was shot when he didn't respond to orders to put down the gun he was holding, which they claim they believed was real. This all happened after a shopper contacted police to report that Crawford III was waving an A5-15 rifle at customers, including children. But footage of the 22-year-old proves he was in fact holding an unpackaged MK-177 BB rifle he had picked up in the store's toy department. The family has requested public release of the store video, but Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine has refused to release it while the investigation is continuing. Crawford Jr. said he was in Ohio the day of the shooting and had stopped by to see his son, who wasn't at his Fairfield home. The mother of his son's two young children was there talking on her cellphone to Crawford III, who was at the Wal-Mart shopping, according to Crawford Jr. He said she began screaming when she heard shots and put the call on speaker. 'You could hear in the background he was gasping,' Crawford Jr. told the newspaper. 'I'm virtually listening to my kid taking his last breath.' Victim: Crawford III, a father of two, was shot by officers while carrying a toy gun . Assistant Hamilton County Prosecutor Mark Piepmeier is now overseeing the investigation as special prosecutor. Piepmeier is scheduled to present evidence in the case to a Greene County grand jury this month. Jurors will determine if anyone should be charged in the shooting. But the parents of Crawford III and their attorney have asked the U.S. Attorney's Office to take over the investigation and determine if there were any civil rights violations. 'We do believe there was a violation of his civil rights and that does have to do with race,' family attorney Michael Wright said. Federal authorities have said they are monitoring the situation. Protest: Members of the Ohio Student Association gather outside Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine's office in Columbus, Ohio, to call for the release of in-store video in the fatal police shooting . Crawford Jr. described his son as a typical 22-year-old who was laid back and very family oriented. He had once considered going into the military and had recently said he wanted to start college, his father said. 'He was figuring out his next step,' Crawford Jr. said. The final autopsy report has not been completed, and Crawford Jr. said he has not been told which of the two officers involved shot his son. | John Crawford Jr. reveals he was on the phone with his son, John Crawford III, after he was fatally shot at a Walmart on Aug. 5 .
He says he could hear his son, who he describes as laid back and family oriented, 'gasping' for life .
The final autopsy report for Crawford has still not been completed . |
144,688 | 471e6d2cfe8ff3b1e70722b0325cf3c07469ea30 | A thug who carried out horrifying acts of torture for Robert Mugabe escaped jail yesterday – despite earning £151,000 while working illegally in Britain. Phillip Machemedze, 47, was able to work here for seven years as a carer for those with learning disabilities and on a unit dealing with drug and alcohol addicts. He was able to secure the jobs by showing a letter from the Home Office, a National Insurance number and birth and marriage certificates. These documents were not checked properly in a series of failures. Asylum: Phillip Machemedze, a former henchman of Robert Mugabe, earned £151,000 while working illegally in Britain . There was outrage earlier this year when he was allowed to stay in Britain to protect his human rights. An immigration court in May ruled he must be allowed to stay because he could face mistreatment if sent back to Zimbabwe. Yesterday he admitted breaking immigration rules – but was told he will not be jailed if he volunteers for just half a day a week for the next six months. Dictator: Robert Mugabe's former henchman was working as a carer . Machemedze – who is now jobless and . trying to claim benefits – admitted two charges of obtaining pecuniary . advantage by deception. Judge . Julian Lambert deferred sentencing for six months, but told him he had . to work for half a day a week at his local Pentecostal church. ‘I require you to work hard with your church to make better the lives of the poor and needy,’ he said. ‘You . should bring letters to show the good work you have done. I expect you . to devote half a day each week to serving the community through your . church. If I see you have done good work when you return and I have your . promise that you will continue that good work I shall give you your . liberty.’ Machemedze, from Bristol, worked as a bodyguard in Mugabe’s feared Central Intelligence Organisation. An immigration hearing heard he . committed ‘savage acts of extreme violence’, including torturing . numerous political opponents of the Mugabe regime. He smashed one victim’s jaw with a pair of pliers, before pulling out one of their teeth. Another victim was electrocuted, . slapped, beaten and punched unconscious and a woman victim was taken to . an underground cell where she was stripped naked and whipped. Machemedze admitted putting salt in her wounds. Tory MP Chris Skidmore, who represents . Kingswood, Bristol, said: ‘It’s a disgrace that our system allows these . people who have committed crimes elsewhere to remain in this country. Escape: Machemedze leaves Bristol Crown Court yesterday after learning he will not be jailed . ‘It’s ludicrous that people can hide . behind human rights acts in order to prevent themselves from being sent . back to their own country to face justice.’ Yesterday Richard Posner, prosecuting, . told Bristol Crown Court that Machemedze arrived at Gatwick Airport . from Zimbabwe in July 2000 and was given a six-month visitor visa which . banned him from working. But he stayed in Britain, working . illegally as a carer at the adolescent unit within The Priory, a drug . and alcohol recovery hospital, in Stapleton, Bristol, from June 2005 to . May 2010. He also worked as a support worker for . the Milestones Trust, a learning disabilities and mental health charity . from May 2003 to May 2010. In April 2005 bosses at the Milestones . Trust were tipped off that Machemedze was working illegally but after . Machemedze showed them the Home Office letter the matter was dropped. Mr Posner told the court: ‘At a . subsequent meeting the defendant provided a letter from the Home Office . confirming he was allowed to work in the UK. ‘That letter was deemed satisfactory and he was allowed to continue to work. ‘This case is primarily the use of . that Home Office letter in order to create a deception that the . defendant was allowed to work here.’ The court was told that in the seven years he had worked Machemedze took home a net income of around £151,000. Jane Chamberlain, defending, said her . client had indefinite leave to remain in the country and was allowed to . work but was now unemployed and seeking benefits. Machemedze’s wife . Febbie had been granted asylum. | Philip Machemedze broke the jaw of one victim with pliers in Zimbabwe .
Judge tells him to work for church for half a day a week and he will avoid jail .
Tory MP said it's a disgrace he can hide behind Human Rights Act to remain in Britain . |
1,349 | 03da4122c5aff2ccff86f11e84cf45115727d18f | Film buffs won't have to wait for the latest blockbusters to hit Australian cinemas as the nation's largest film distribution companies will fast-track the release most major film titles. As part of a new strategy by Village Roadshow, movies will be either be shown before, simultaneously or soon after they are screened in the US. CEO and co-chairman Graham Burke announced the plan on Tuesday, which will drop the traditional release pattern to combat rapidly increasing online piracy. Blockbuster films such as The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1 will hit Australian theatres on November 19 - a day before it's released in the US . Upcoming sci-fi flick Interstellar will be released in the US on November 6 but will fast-tracked to Australia a day before . Village Roadshow announced the new strategy on Tuesday to combat increasing online piracy . Films include upcoming sci-fi flick Interstellar on November 6 and The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1 on November 20, both of which will be released one day before the US. While about four million Australians engage in some form of illegal downloading every month, Mr Burke says it 'makes total sense that when a movie opens and the web is ablaze with chatter that we capitalise on the timeliness and worldwide excitement'. Village Roadshow CEO Graham urke . He admitted that the decision to hold back on the release of The LEGO Movie had been a 'painful' mistake. 'We estimate that (piracy of) The LEGO Movie cost somewhere between $3.5 million and $5m in sales and of course this is straight to the bottom line and the Australian Tax Office,' Mr Burke told The Australian. 'It was doubly painful because Lego was produced in Australia. Piracy not only impacts profits, but if unchecked will impede new business models and growth.' However he also revealed some titles will be delayed due to school holidays, competitive release patterns and lack of screens, if.com.au reports. Lagged releases include The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, due to open in Australia on December 26 - nine days after the US. Horrible Bosses 2 is scheduled for release on November 23 in the US and December 11 in Australia. Village Roadshow CEO and co-chairman Graham Burke admitted that the decision to hold back on the release of The LEGO Movie had been a 'painful' mistake . | Village Roadshow announced the new strategy on Tuesday to combat increasing online piracy .
Most new releases will either be shown before, simultaneously or soon after they are screened in the US .
Upcoming films in November, such as sci-fi flick Interstellar and and The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1, will be released a day before the US .
About four million Australians engage in some form of illicit downloading every month .
Some titles will be delayed due to school holidays, competitive release patterns and lack of screens . |
28,962 | 52371a781efa7e9cd504d458aacfc239acce083f | Under fire Australian Defence Minister David Johnston has stopped short of apologising or withdrawing his controversial 'wouldn't trust them to build a canoe' comments against Australian Submarine Corporation (ASC), saying on Wednesday that he regrets his 'rhetorical flourish'. Amid calls for his sacking, Mr Johnston told the Senate that he never intended to cause offence. 'Regrettably, in rhetorical flourish, I did express my frustrations in the past performance of ASC,' he said. Scroll down for video . 'Regrettably, in rhetorical flourish, I did express my frustrations in the past performance of ASC,' Defence Minister David Johnston said of his 'canoe' comments against an Australian submarine company . Under fire. Senator Johnston has not withdrawn his comments but regretted his rhetorical flourish in which he claimed he would not trust ASC to even 'build a canoe' There are fears the naval build program, worth more than $40 billion, could be lost to South Australia, with claims that Japanese built subs are on the government's radar . Prime Minister Tony Abbott appears at odds with his Defence Minister, throwing his support behind the submarine builder, saying the ASC played a vital role in supporting the Australian navy . 'I, of course, was directing my remarks at a legacy of issues and not the workers in ASC whom I consider to be world class.' With fears the $40 billion plus program will be lost to South Australia in favour of submarines built overseas, Opposition Leader Bill Shorten moved a censure motion against the Defence Minister in parliament, which was defeated but called on the Prime Minister to remove Senator Johnston from cabinet. Mr Abbott appeared to cut his minister loose by throwing his support behind the Australian submarine makers. He said the ASC played a vital role in supporting the navy. 'Whilst ASC has had challenges meeting the government's cost and schedule expectations of the Air Warfare Destroyer program, we are working closely with ASC on a reform strategy to improve shipyard performance and productivity,' the Prime Minister said in a statement on Wednesday. 'It is early days, but the government is confident that ASC and its partners will successfully turn the corner on this important build.' He said ASC had transformed its submarine maintenance program over the past year and exceeded navy-set targets. There are growing fears that Australia's next fleet of submarines will not be produced locally . Opposition Leader Bill Shorten moved a censure motion against the Defence Minister in parliament, which was defeated but called on the Prime Minister to remove Senator Johnston from cabinet . The Defence Minister David Johnston had earlier sparked a furore, telling parliament that the government-owned shipbuilder was $350 million over budget on a project to construct three air warfare destroyers for the navy. 'You wonder why I wouldn't trust them to build a canoe,' he said. The heated exchange came amid debate about whether the government will honour a promise to build a dozen new submarines in Australia, or buy them from overseas. Labor Senate leader Penny Wong accused the minister of trashing the reputation of the submarine corporation. 'This is a defence minister who is ... happy to undermine confidence in Australia's naval capability. He is a disgrace,' she said. 'This is a man who has insulted thousands of hard working Australians.' Senator Wong added that she had serious doubts over whether Senator Johnston would treat an Australian bid to build new submarines fairly. Under pressure internally and externally, Mr Johnston has tried to qualify his comments: 'I, of course was directing my remarks at a legacy of issues and not the workers in ASC whom I consider to be world class.' Senator Johnston said successive governments have faced frustrations in establishing a world class submarine capability. Under pressure internally and externally, Mr Johnston has tried to qualify his comments: 'I, of course was directing my remarks at a legacy of issues and not the workers in ASC whom I consider to be world class.' There have been claims that the Federal Government was considering the purchase of up to 12 off-the-shelf stealth submarines . from Japan. Responding to questions in the Australian Senate on Tuesday, . David Johnston highlighted cost over-runs on other projects and . a lack of experience in submarine design at ASC. 'You wonder why I am worried about ASC and what they are . delivering to the Australian taxpayer. Do you wonder why I . wouldn't trust them to build a canoe?' he said. 'Let's get real here ... this is a professional program that is about national security, and we will take the advice of . the service chiefs, not somebody who is looking for a job.' Shadow treasurer Chris Bowen said Senator Johnston's cabinet position was approaching untenable after his 'ill-tempered and ill-judged tirade'. South Australian independent senator Nick Xenophon also took a swipe at the Defence Minister, insisting his comments were 'bizarre, ridiculous, unfounded and stupid'. | Defence Minister David Johnston said his 'I wouldn't trust them to build a canoe' outburst against Australian Submarine Corporation (ASC) was a 'rhetorical flourish'
Prime Minister Abbott effectively cut loose his Minister, defending the ASC and claiming it played a vital role in supporting the navy .
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has called for Mr Johnston's sacking .
There are fears the $40 billion program will be taken away from South Australia and submarines bought from overseas . |
10,021 | 1c6f65f9c65abc95709b3b449055b0ba2ba4ef6b | By . Bianca London . PUBLISHED: . 10:02 EST, 8 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 16:15 EST, 8 January 2014 . It's the final day of London Collections: Men and they really have saved the best until last. The hotly anticipated Burberry Prorsum AW14 menswear show took place in Hyde Park this afternoon and it didn't disappoint. Christopher Bailey showed us exactly how men should be dressing this season with silk scarves, shearling jackets and muted tones perfectly capturing the romantic elegance of British craftwork. Scroll down for video . Hot ticket: Models walk the runway at the Burberry AW14 Menswear Show at Kensington Gardens - one of the most anticipated shows of the week . He's done it again! Christopher Bailey pulled another stellar show out of the bag, check out those man bags! Watched by the likes of Dermot O'Leary, Nick Grimshaw, Suki Waterhouse and Paloma Faith, Burberry unveiled a collection replete with William Morris florals in moody hues of navy and mauve, soft flowing silk scarves along with some seriously oversized man bags. In a nod to the luxury . label's British heritage, many of the pieces were emblazoned with iconic London imagery, such as the skyline and maps of city streets. Everything is going oversized: There were geometric blanket scarves and a relaxed slouchy aesthetic to some of the outerwear . Cosy: Bailey confirmed that the teddy bear coat is hot property for AW13 and it seems the bigger the better when it comes to accessories . Many pieces were produced using UK tie . looms and the traditional horse blanket jacquard was woven in Scotland, a place close to Bailey's heart. We've seen plenty of them on the catwalks this season and Bailey confirmed that the teddy bear coat is hot property for AW13. There were also gorgeous, chunky knits in rich navy's and dark emerald greens, geometric blanket scarves, and a very relaxed slouchy aesthetic to some of the outerwear. Less successful were the mesh tops. 'String vests aside, #Burberry #AW14 is one of my faves, I love the arts & craft movement influences in the prints and the blanket bags,' mused one audience member. The show comes hot on the heels of the brand's unveiling of its SS14 campaign starring a young British cast . made up of the likes . of actor Jamie Campbell Bower, musician Leo Dobson and model Malaika . Firth. Under the creative . direction of Christopher Bailey, the campaign, which was shot by fashion . favourite Mario Testino, reflects the gentle and romantic feel of the . Burberry Spring/Summer 2014 collection. Taking note? Callum Turner, Dermot O'Leary, Chen Kun, Nick Grimshaw and George Barnett occupied the star-studded front row . Dare to wear: The string vest tops were less successful and didn't go down too well with the Twittersphere . Heritage: Many pieces were produced using UK tie looms and the traditional horse blanket jacquard was woven in Scotland, a place close to Bailey's heart (far right) Famous faces: Nick Grimshaw, who has been the poster boy for London Collections: Men, was joined by Dermot O'Leary and model David Gandy on the front row . Fashion fans: Tinie Tempah, Paloma Faith and model Suki Waterhouse, who is a close friend of the brand, also made an appearance . | Front row occupied by Nick Grimshaw, Dermot O'Leary, Paloma Faith and Suki Waterhouse .
Plenty of William Morris prints, silk scarves and oversized bags with London skyline scenes . |
217,530 | a59df24314e4e83fe4b9ca6e93a233c8bcb86a91 | A man lost at sea for two days was found clinging to a foam cooler in the Pacific Ocean. Discovered just off the coast of Colombia, the man had apparently gone out fishing with a companion on the Friday, October 31. Two days later, they had capsized and the man was sent drifting into the open ocean for two days. Colombian Navy found 47-year-old missing fisherman Solano Salazar floating on a portable icebox . The man had set out on with a companion on October 31 and two days later, their boat had capsized . This video from the Colombian Navy shows the exact moment when coast guard sailors, who were running drills in the area, found the man floating in the water. They managed to rescue the castaway, soon identified as Solano Salazar, and transfer him to hospital. He is expected to make a full recovery. The man was sent adrift for 48 hours, before the Coast Guard found him while running routine drills . Thankfully, they were able to rescue the dehydrated man and take him to Malaga Hospital . 'The person was rescued and taken to Malaga Hospital,' the commander of Colombia's Pacific Coast Guard, Captain Andres Mejia, said in the video. 'He was given first aide. He was dehydrated and according to what he said, they left (port) on Friday from the Guapi area to fish with another person and they were turned over in bad weather. 'He drifted tied to a portable cooler.' According to the man, the pair had set out from the Guapi area, but had turned over when they hit bad weather . Found 22 nautical miles from the southwest coast of Colombia, the man is expected to make a full recovery . The 47-year-old fisherman was found 22 nautical miles from the southwest coast of Colombia where he had apparently set out on a fishing venture with the other man. Salazar said he was doing well now that he is back on dry land. 'I am OK now because the Navy rescued me,' he said. 'I thought I was going to die. I didn't think about anything else.' His companion is still missing. | Fisherman Solano Salazar found floating off southwest coast of Colombia .
47-year-old had spent two days adrift, floating on just a portable icebox .
The Colombian Coast Guard discovered him while running routine drills .
Though severely dehydrated, the man is expected to make a full recovery . |
16,576 | 2f02c3607685d916da2e7ac937a0d15ef81201ea | (CNN) -- There was time, a generation ago, when it was hardly insanity -- or, to use the operative word here, Linsanity -- for the NBA team in New York to play an unselfish style of basketball. It was simply called "playing the game the right way," and the Knicks did it better than anyone. Fifteen years before Jeremy Lin was born, they built their franchise on the principles their new star has brought to the team over the 12 days since the Harvard graduate broke into the starting lineup and captivated the nation. Make the extra pass. Don't worry about individual statistics. The championship Knicks of 1970 and 1973 had plenty of talent -- there were a combined six Hall of Famers on their rosters and one, head coach Red Holzman, on the bench -- but they put aside their egos for the betterment of the team. They won as a group, not as individuals, and in the process became the pride of a struggling city in the early '70s. The stars of those teams -- Walt Frazier, Willis Reed, Bill Bradley, Dave DeBusschere, Jerry Lucas and Earl Monroe -- could appreciate the way the Knicks have transformed with Lin as point guard. "What I would say to young fans is, 'Close your eyes and imagine five Jeremy Lins on a team -- that's what those teams were like," said Harvey Araton, author of the recent book "When the Garden was Eden" on those great teams. "Lin is a 21st century carryover of what the old Knicks brought to the city." Now fans have to wonder: Will the return to the team first style under Lin stick for the long term, especially with superstar Carmelo Anthony expected to return to the lineup this weekend? And can it help end a championship drought for the Knicks that dates back to that 1973 title? So much about Lin's incredible story has focused on what he could do. He could knock down the stereotype that Asian-Americans can't excel at team sports, opening opportunities for countless others. He could become a marketing force generating tens of millions a year -- and, with his picture on the cover of Sports Illustrated, is already on his way to becoming an international star. The NBA even added him to its All-Star weekend because of the enormous interest. He could dramatically increase the bottom line for the big-market Knicks, with the team's parent company already having seen its valuation increase $71 million since he jumped into the starting lineup and ignited a seven-game winning streak. But head coach Mike D'Antoni is more focused on how his presence has dramatically changed the chemistry of a middling basketball team, turning the Knicks from a tough-to-watch unit into something more fitting their home address just off Broadway. SI: Inside the Knicks playbook . The Knicks are still just 15-15, a long way from the elite teams in the NBA. But they have been playing a pretty brand of basketball since Lin took the reins as point guard. "He's changed everything," D'Antoni said an hour before the new-look Knicks beat the Sacramento Kings, 100-85. "Everybody knows what they're supposed to do and how they should act. Nobody looks at stats and nobody cares about that. It's a great feeling as a coach to have a group like that." It is what every basketball coach wants: A team that is stronger than its five individual parts. But for years, with few exceptions, the Knicks have put predictable, star-driven teams on the floor, living and dying on the abilities of a couple of great players rather than an entire unit. With Lin, that's changed. In the win over the Kings, the Knicks were a balanced and unselfish team -- the top eight players scored between nine and 15 points -- with Lin leading the way with a career-high 13 assists to go along with his 10 points. Lin became a national story when he torched the Los Angeles Lakers for 38 points, but he said he'd rather be a true point guard in the mold of a Steve Nash or a Jason Kidd, one who passes first and scores when the opportunity is there. It's what the Knicks hope to get from him. "As a point guard, my field-goal attempts have been really high," Lin said after hitting just four of six. "I don't think that's necessarily good. I think it's my job to distribute and get people in a rhythm." So how does Anthony fit in? Lin has won over the desperate fan base of this franchise so quickly and dramatically that the return of a superstar to the lineup has been met with worry, not excitement. Anthony arrived from Denver in a blockbuster trade just a year ago as the player who was supposed to deliver a title to a franchise that hasn't even won a playoff series since 2000. The small forward is a five-time All-Star who led the Nuggets to the playoffs every year from 2004-2010, averaging 24.8 points a game over his nine-year career. But he also has the reputation as a player who needs -- and demands -- the ball in his hands, one who routinely takes more than 20 shots a game. Can he fit in with Lin? He was insulted at the question. "That's like a slap in the face," Anthony said when asked by ESPN if he was a selfish player. "None of my teammates I've ever played with would say that I was a selfish player. Nobody." Anthony has a point. He won a national championship at Syracuse elevating his teammates and, while playing alongside LeBron James and Dwyane Wade at the Beijing Olympics in 2008, took a complementary role for the benefit of the team's gold-medal pursuit. He is also smart enough to have watched the Linsanity unfold in Manhattan and to know that any player who stalls this movement will not be treated kindly by the fans at Madison Square Garden. Anthony insists he'll adjust, and that the Knicks will be a better team when he's back. Lin, for one, is not worried. "He's a lethal scorer," Lin said, "and he runs the pick-and-roll so well. We will probably be on opposite sides on the offense and when we swing-swing the ball and set up plays off the pick-and-roll ..." He let the sentence trail off, but fans understand the potential. There's no telling how far the Knicks can go if Anthony and his teammates are willing to put aside their egos for the betterment of the team. This team will captivate the city with selfless basketball. And, as any old school Knicks fan can tell you, it won't be the first time it's happened. | Steve Politi says Lin represents "team first" style the Knicks exhibited a generation ago .
He says in the '70s, the Knicks "put aside their egos for the betterment of the team"
Politi on Knicks: "This team will captivate the city with selfless basketball" |
78,568 | dea25fed8b95132f92a0e887edbbe04741f85ab6 | You may have heard it before: Billions of years ago, Mars probably looked more like Earth does now, with clouds and oceans and a much thicker atmosphere. It may even have had some type of microbes. But now it's a barren, frozen desert. So what happened? Where did the air and water go? That's what the spacecraft NASA launched Monday is being dispatched to find out. It's called MAVEN -- short for Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution -- and it's the first mission dedicated to studying the red planet's upper atmosphere. "We expect to learn how the modern Mars works, really in detail. To see its climate state, to understand how the atmosphere is lost to space -- how Mars may have lost a magnetic field -- to take that information and map it back in time," said NASA's James Garvin. MAVEN lifted off shortly before 1:30 p.m. ET from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, starting a 10-month trip. By late afternoon, it was more than 14,000 miles from Earth en route to a September 22, 2014 rendezvous with Mars. The solar-powered probe is about the length of school bus -- 37.5 feet (11.43 meters) -- and will weigh about 5,410 pounds (2,454 kilograms) at launch. What killed Mars? New spacecraft will find out . "MAVEN will fill in a very big gap in our understanding of the planet by exploring the upper atmosphere and its influence on the Martian environment," principal investigator Bruce Jakosky, from the University of Colorado, says on his NASA webpage. He says he's "excited that we're providing one step along the path of answering questions about whether life ever existed on Mars." Jakosky's team will use the spacecraft's three instrument suites in hopes of determining three things about Mars: . • The composition of its upper atmosphere . • How fast it's losing what's left of its atmosphere . • The history of the atmosphere . MAVEN won't make a cool, daring landing like the Mars Curiosity Rover, which has been roaming Mars for more than a year now. Instead, it will orbit between a low of about 93 miles (150 kilometers) above the surface to a high of about 3,728 miles (6,000 kilometers). It also will make five dives, flying as low as 77 miles (125 kilometers) in altitude. NASA says the mission will cost $671 million. Interactive: Mars exploration from Viking to MAVEN . | MAVEN logs more than 14,000 miles on its first day, NASA says .
The unmanned probe is en route to Mars to study the red planet's atmosphere .
The mission launched Monday afternoon; it's scheduled to arrive in September 2014 . |
57,776 | a3c30e202d51d87ca64529b0ea3c5b362ad1f690 | (CNN) -- Giant natural disasters have a way of putting everything in perspective. When it comes to politics, they sometimes put it all in the wrong perspective. With nature suddenly grabbing our attention with both hands and reminding us we have much less control over our world and our lives than we believed, everything else moves to the background. Like a diagnosis of a deadly disease or another personal tragedy, when the earth itself has unleashed its wrath, we look at all that transpires around us through the lens of the new overpowering reality. In the aftermath of a natural disaster, opinions about politicians, about leaders, can change. Covering natural disasters and politics around the world, I have seen people change political opinions. And then wish they had not. Politics: Will you be able to vote on Election Day? A country's leader will receive the credit or the blame for what comes during and after the event, somehow blinding many voters to all they knew about him or her before. Of course, the chief executive does bear responsibility. And the response to a major crisis should be used as one gauge of leadership. But there is a tendency to suffer temporary amnesia: Nothing matters but the reality of the moment. Everything else is clouded in a fog of temporary irrelevance. There are plenty of examples of a temporary surge of emotion following a disaster, which later receded into regret. Each country is different and no circumstances are identical. But it's worth noting the experiences of other voters. Will Sandy affect your vote? I arrived in Thailand not long after the massive earthquake and tsunami that devastated Asia in December of 2004. Thai voters were scheduled to go to the polls just a few weeks later. Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra rolled up his sleeves and got to work on the crisis. He traveled to the regions wiped away by the tidal wave, he visited the survivors, showed himself on television leading the rescue and recovery effort, giving instructions to local officials, refusing international aid, declaring proudly that Thailand could take care of itself. The voters ate it up. Amid the devastation, anxiety and uncertainty, it was reassuring to see a man in charge. And the response was, for the most part, quite good. His approval ratings soared. Before the storm, Thaksin's party was losing ground. But when the February elections came, voters turned out in droves for the prime minister's party, giving him a landslide victory. The seeming consensus did not last long. Thaksin was eventually deposed and charged with corruption. He lives in exile. The Japanese earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear meltdown last year threw a political lifeline to then-Prime Minister Naoto Kan. The prime minister, wearing worker's clothes, appeared to be in control of the situation. But as time passed and the Japanese started questioning the government's response to the disaster, his approval ratings collapsed and he ended up resigning. In 2007, a violent earthquake shook Peru. President Alan Garcia moved his presidential offices to the disaster zone. He brought his cabinet with him and personally managed -- some say micro-managed -- the response. His political advisers were delighted with the impact. Polls showed 76% of Peruvians approved of his handling of the crisis. His personal approval rating soared. After the crisis, the polls started sliding again, dropping to dismal levels, as if the earthquake and his heroic efforts had never happened. In Chile in 2010, one of the world's strongest earthquakes came just after an election. The outgoing government was criticized for failing on many fronts. The newly elected Sebastian Piñera benefited from the disaster. The businessman-turned-politician was praised for his effective management style, and he used it to give himself a lower baseline from which to be judged. "This calamity is much deeper, much more damaging and much more serious than we thought," he said. As others, his approval ratings were bolstered by his competent response to the disaster. But they later collapsed like a ramshackle building in an earthquake. Voters discovered there was more to a good presidency than an impressive display of post-earthquake leadership. When the response is ineffectual and it fits in with a particular narrative, however, the impact can be indelible. That was the case with George W. Bush and Katrina. The "heck of a job, Brownie" cluelessness matched an impression of carelessness and incompetence. Natural disasters, like violent storms, can reshape the political landscape. Sometimes the topography returns to its previous state. Sometimes it is changed forever. When a major calamity strikes just before an election, it is a test for politicians, as many have observed. That's why in the United States, with just a week to go before the presidential election, both camps are handling the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy with excruciating political care. That's the politicians' challenge. Opinion: Sandy debunks 'nanny state' There is also an important -- an even more important -- challenge for voters. This is a time of maximum manipulation. It is a time when political operators will seek to mold perceptions to craft a political outcome; to score votes. Voters must make a superhuman effort to not let the storm carry any more weight than it deserves in their judgment of politicians; not to let the storm wash away the knowledge about the candidates and their ideas accumulated over a much longer period. The storm and its aftermath do matter. We want a president who is competent and capable, able to guide the country through a crisis. But there is more. A presidency is more than crisis management. The storm has indeed given us useful information. It has reminded us of topics ignored during the campaign, such as climate change. It has cast a spotlight on the need to have a strong enough government to handle huge, sudden challenges. And it has put an interesting twist on the idea of privatizing emergency disaster operations. We should keep in mind that much of what we see the candidates doing at this very moment amounts to political theater. As American voters see images and hear stories of death and destruction, of water gushing into subway tunnels, of ferocious winds toppling construction cranes, of homes burning, of hospital workers carrying critical patients down emergency stairs, and of brave efforts to recover, it's crucial to remember this is an important moment, but it is not the only moment, not the only test to determine who should be the next president. Because choosing the wrong president could prove an even greater disaster. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Frida Ghitis. | Frida Ghitis has seen disasters around the world change people's vote .
Approval ratings soar or plummet depending on disaster performance, she says .
Ghitis: Both political camps are handling the aftermath of Sandy with exact care .
Voters must keep in mind all the candidate stood for before disaster happened, she says . |
154,083 | 5328203cde790b6ee87c0648c72c094887a60bc3 | (CNN) -- Iran has struck up a new, conciliatory chord on negotiations about its nuclear program. And its leaders say it's eager to get down to business. Foreign minister Javad Zarif reiterated Iran's apparent haste to reach an international agreement on its energy program in a statement Monday. Zarif hopes that together Iran and the West will be able to work out a "roadmap" a day after Iran presents its latest plan at the U.N. to secure its energy independence and build international trust. He would like an additional meeting on Wednesday in Geneva, Switzerland, with ministers from the countries from the P5+1 in order to hammer out the details, he said on his Facebook account. The meeting would include the United States, Russia, China, France and Britain -- the countries with permanent seats on the UN Security Council -- plus Germany. "As I've said before, a rather difficult and time consuming process begins tomorrow," Zarif wrote. "Hopefully by Wednesday we can agree on a roadmap to reach a solution. But even if the other party, in good faith, agrees on the details, a new ministerial meeting will be needed." Good faith . Zarif's statement follows an apparent about-face in Iran's tone towards the United States and its Western allies that has set in since the election in Iran of its new president, Hassan Rouhani, who replaced Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Ahmadinejad was known for caustic and threatening rhetoric towards the United States and Israel. Rouhani has struck a much friendlier tone. During his visit to the UN General Assembly in late September, Rouhani's diplomatic approach raised hopes in the West of a thaw with Iran and progress in negotiations on its nuclear program. Many fear Iran is pursuing the development of a nuclear bomb. Iran has always maintained that it is developing nuclear energy capabilities for peaceful purposes only. On message . Zarif's Facebook post is not surprising and is on message with his own previous statements and with those of his colleague Ali Larijani, Iran's powerful speaker of the parliament and a close associate of Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei. Iran is serious about resolving the dispute over its nuclear program, and is keen to resolve the issue "in a short period of time," the speaker of Iran's parliament, Ali Larijani, told CNN's Christiane Amanpour in an exclusive interview last week. "From Iran's side, I can say that we are ready," Larijani said from Geneva. "If the Americans and other countries say that Iran should not develop a nuclear bomb or should not move towards that," he told Amanpour, "then we can clearly show and prove that. We have no such intention. So it can be resolved in a very short period of time." Nonetheless, Larijani said, the West must accept Iran's right to enrich nuclear fuel for civilian purposes, as allowed under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), to which Iran is a signatory. Critics have expressed suspicions over that enrichment, fearing the Iran may secretly be transforming nuclear fuel into atomic bomb-grade materials. Relaxing sanctions . Some believe that Iran's recent opening and seeming willingness to negotiate seriously over its nuclear program may be a result of crippling sanctions on its economy. Shortly after this year's U.N. General Assembly ended, a State Department official said the United States would be prepared to consider relaxing certain sanctions on Iran if it engaged in confidence-building steps to prove its sincerity to negotiate over its disputed nuclear program. But this will take time and trust building. Under Secretary of State Wendy Sherman, who is in Geneva, has made clear that the entire sanctions regime targeting Iran would not be lifted "any time soon" unless the entire litany of concerns about Iran's nuclear program were fully addressed. CNN's Jamie Crawford and Mick Kever contributed to this report . | Iran has struck up a new, diplomatic tone with the United States and its allies .
Iranian leaders will reveal a new plan to become energy independent on Tuesday .
They meet with U.S., Russian, Chinese, French, British and German ministers in Geneva .
Iran's foreign minister says he can hammer out a deal with one more day with the P5+1 . |
27,239 | 4d3f50dac3a902074d49554fbc8dc76c3b7c9962 | By . Harriet Arkell . PUBLISHED: . 08:25 EST, 8 July 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 03:25 EST, 9 July 2013 . #GoonAndy!: The Duke of York, pictured here at Wimbledon, has become the first member of the Royal Family to open his own Twitter account . The Duke of York has opened his own Twitter account - the first member of the Royal family to do so. He posted his first tweet this morning using the handle @TheDukeOfYork and wrote: 'Welcome to my Twitter account -AY'. The Queen's second son had hundreds of followers within seconds, some of them 'trolls' who sent him abusive messages over the social network. His biography on the social network says it is the 'Official Twitter account for The Duke of York' and notes that 'tweets from HRH are signed -AY', short for Andrew York. Within three hours of opening his account, which has an official 'blue tick' symbol to show it is genuine, the 53-year-old prince had 5,000 followers and was following 40 people on Twitter. Most of those the prince had chosen to follow were organisations or establishments that he had worked with before, but his personal interests were reflected, too, in his following of Hunstanton Golf Club in Norfolk and the Royal Liverpool Golf Club. The prince is a keen golfer with a low handicap, and became patron of the Hunstanton links after his father relinquished the role. One Twitter account he had yet to follow at the time of writing was that of his ex-wife Sarah, Duchess of York, who tweets using the handle @SarahThe Duchess. With 62,130 followers, she has a headstart on him in terms of follower numbers. While many people welcomed the fourth in line to the throne, others gave him a quick introduction to the less savoury side of online life, with some suggesting the -AY sign off made him sound like comedian Ali G. Others were more offensive, but the majority made jokes about the Duke of York needing 10,000 men to march up the hill - a reference to the nursery rhyme. Prince's first tweet: Some people suggested that by signing tweets with his initials he sounded like Ali G . Personal interests: Prince Andrew, a keen golfer, is following two well-known golf clubs on Twitter . One Twitter user, Sarah Delaney, sent the prince the message: 'I'd like to see some selfies and pictures of what you're having for your tea'. When the prince is not tweeting personally, tweets from his account will be written by members of his office. The second and third tweets on his account were not written by him and had links to photographs of the prince carrying out official duties. A spokesman for the prince said: 'The Duke has long been an early and enthusiastic adopter of new technology. 'He was in fact the first member of the British Royal Family to tweet on . the British Monarchy (account) when he visited Tech City. The logical . next step was to tweet individually.' Asked about the derogatory tweets the prince had received, the spokesman . added: 'The Duke is a champion of free speech, for him it's about . telling people what he's doing.' Prince . Andrew is the first member of the Royal Family that we know about to . use Twitter personally - it has been suggested that some of the younger . members may use the social network pseudonymously. Hunstanton Golf Course on the north Norfolk coast is not far from the Queen's estate at Sandringham . The Royal Liverpool Golf Club was one of the first handful of Twitter accounts the Duke of York chose to follow . The prince, pictured here at St Andrew's Golf Course in Fife, Scotland, has a low, single-figure handicap . There are several spoof accounts written by people posing as members of the Royal Family. Officially, the Queen and members of her family are . represented on Twitter by the account @BritishMonarchy, while . @ClarenceHouse covers the Prince of Wales, Duchess of Cornwall, Duke and . Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry. Accounts being monitored by the Duke include entrepreneur Peter Jones, the BBC Dragons' Den star, Seamen's Hospital Society and the Royal Free Hospital in London. Pictures tweeted by his staff highlighted his visit yesterday to the Black Country UTC (University Technical College) in Walsall, West Midlands. The trip coincides with the launch of the Duke of York Award for Technical Education by the Baker Dearing Educational Trust. | The Queen's second son becomes first Royal to tweet under his own name .
Using Twitter handle @TheDukeOfYork, he signs tweets he wrote with '-AY'
The 53-year-old's first message said: 'Welcome to my Twitter account'
The prince - a keen golfer - follows golf courses in Norfolk and Scotland .
He quickly gains 5,000 followers - and plenty of abusive messages, too . |
160,019 | 5ad49d2dd7c8888e654e78a51a8f3495715d7aa1 | (CNN) -- Since the July 3 military coup, Egypt has been witness to the rise of a new military dictatorship led by Field Marshal Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. El-Sisi's recent presidential bid reveals a tenacious attempt of the Egyptian military to consolidate power and preclude Egyptians' aspirations of having a genuine democracy. For the past few months, the Egyptian media and state institutions have been ardently working to pave the way for el-Sisi's presidency by distorting and smearing his political opponents. Over the past six decades, the Egyptian military has implanted its officers and generals in almost every aspect of civilian life from pasta and soap factories to the construction of soccer stadiums, bridges and infrastructure. Through such practices the army has successfully extended its control over the country. Consequently, the "militarization" of the Egyptian state, which was entrenched under Mubarak -- who systematically co-opted and spoiled military high-rank officers -- has weakened public institutions and created a feeble and fragmented political class that is now supporting the military's takeover. Gulf allies . With regional support mainly from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, who fervently seek to abort the Arab Spring, el-Sisi believes that he can suppress and tame the mounting anger and frustration among young Egyptians particularly Islamists who protest almost daily. By pouring billions of dollars into Egypt's economy, the Saudis and Emiratis believe that they can appropriate the Egyptian army and use it as a Trojan horse in order to eliminate and crush Islamists. Indeed, el-Sisi's Gulf counterparts view him as a "savior" not only from Islamists but more importantly from the very existential threat to their thrones: democracy. Thus it is not surprising that both, el-Sisi and his Gulf allies, share the same authoritarian mindset and behavior. They desperately seek to restore Mubarak's ruling-style with a new face. Surprisingly, or maybe not, the international community remains in limbo watching the manufacturing of a new dictatorship in Egypt while doing nothing to prevent the possibility of such a scenario. 'Stability vs. democracy' Moreover, despite the many instances of violations of human rights and the killing of civilians in the absence of any justice or accountability, the world powers have done nothing to stop such repulsive actions. The U.S. and the EU have failed miserably in pressuring the military to separate itself from politics and return to the barracks. Even as the Obama administration receives harsh criticism for its policies towards the Egyptian junta, Secretary of State John Kerry seems keen not to anger Egyptian officials. Not only has he praised the "roadmap" imposed by the military last July but he has also stated that "Egyptians [are] following the right path." Apparently, U.S. foreign policy towards Egypt's crisis continues to be driven by the long-standing delusional and misguided argument: stability vs. democracy. The U.S. policymakers believe that Egypt's military is the only force capable of retaining stability and maintaining security. However, one must only look to the experience of the past eight months to see that this argument is nothing but a myth. Simply, the level of violence and amount of killings and casualties is unprecedented in Egypt's modern history. For example, the Sinai Peninsula, which represents around 6% of Egypt's land, is almost out of the central government's control. And despite the ruthless security campaign there, militant Islamists still pose a serious threat to Egypt's national security. Furthermore, the interior ministry has failed to secure its own facilities and vehicles. It is also struggling to protect its own personnel who are targeted by militant Islamists. Social explosion . El-Sisi, Egypt's most likely post-coup president, will not be able to bring stability or security to the country. In fact, he has become a liability and an integral part of the problem not the solution. Although he has garnered significant public support since the ouster of President Mohamed Morsy, there are no guarantees that el-Sisi-mania will continue once he is president. The past three years have shown the volatility of the Egyptian public mood which can shift dramatically overnight particularly if el-Sisi doesn't quickly and appropriately fix Egypt's ailing economic and societal problems. Egypt is dangerously close to a social explosion due to unemployment, poverty and corruption. Moreover, Egypt is witnessing the largest waves of workers and professionals' strikes since January 2011. With the absence of any coherent economic policy, el-Sisi's presidency wouldn't be able to soothe the fears of many needy Egyptians who view him as a new Gamal Abdel Nasser. Surely, el-Sisi's Gulf backers will likely continue their "lifeline" of support, at least for a while. This money could buy el-Sisi some time but it will not certainly bring stability. History has shown that suppressing Islamists only leads to more extremism and instability. During 1970s and 1980s the cases of Algeria, Syria, Pakistan and Egypt all served to provide appalling examples of Islamist insurgency that would drain el-Sisi and his regional backers. An el-Sisi presidency would be a major cause for instability and insecurity in the region and would likely create more extremists and radicals. Therefore, it is important that the international community, particularly the U.S. and EU, do not lend credibility to the bogus elections that will bring him to power. Read more: El-Sisi announces presidential bid . Read more: Opinion: For many Egyptians, there is no alternative but el-Sisi . The views expresssed in this commentary are solely those of Khalil al-Anani. | Field Marshal Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has resigned from Egypt's armed forces to run for president .
Khalil al-Anani says el-Sisi's bid demonstrates the military's desire to consolidate power .
Egypt's Gulf allies have poured money into Egypt and view el-Sisi as a savior, he writes .
The West misguidedly thinks he will bring stability -- when he will create insecurity, al-Anani says . |
20,514 | 3a3791a69f4a81df41f07335ba7e23051800c02c | By . Associated Press . Last updated at 8:23 PM on 1st November 2011 . A Republican group has been forced to apologise after being accused of going too far with a Halloween email which featured a zombie President Obama with a bullet hole in his head. The email got the attention of the Secret Service after a Virginia GOP committee used it to scare up interest in Halloween political activities. The montage, a banner on a mass email to Loudoun Republicans, mingles seasonal images including a jack-o-lantern, a disfigured U.S. Rep Nancy Pelosi and a throng of flesh-hungry zombie Obama supporters. Undead: This email, featuring an image of a zombie President Obama with a bullet in his head got the attention of the Secret Service after a Virginia GOP committee used it to scare up interest in Halloween political activities . The image of a rotting, undead Obama with a bleeding, large-caliber hole an inch above his right eye prompted Democrats to cry foul and Virginia's Republican governor to denounce it as 'shameful and offensive.' 'This is a disgusting and violent portrayal of the president of the United States,' said Democratic Party of Virginia spokesman Brian Coy. After Virginia officials from both parties condemned the email, Loudoun County GOP Chairman Mark Sell was forced to apologise. 'The Loudoun County Republican . Committee yesterday sent an email to its members that represented a . light-hearted attempt to inject satire humor into the Halloween . holiday,' he said in a statement. Apology: Virginia Gov Bob McDonnell called on the Loudoun GOP to 'apologize for their actions, and to immediately ensure that such imagery is never used again' 'Apparently, some individuals have . interpreted an image of Barack Obama that appeared within the email as . intending to portray the president as a victim of a violent crime. 'Nothing could be further from the . truth, and we deeply and sincerely apologise to the president and anyone . who viewed the image if that was the impression that was left.' He said his group 'deplores any . effort to display, suggest or promote violence against the president or . any other political figure.' The statement came after Gov Bob . McDonnell, through spokesman J. Tucker Martin, called on the Loudoun GOP . to 'apologise for their actions, and to immediately ensure that such . imagery is never used again.' Virginia GOP Chairman Pat Mullins said such an image 'has no place in our politics. Ever.' The image was first reported in a post on Monday on the conservative northern Virginia blog, Too Conservative. The . post's author, identified as a 'Loudoun Insider,' said he's no Obama . fan, 'but putting up a photo of him as a zombie with a bullet hole in . his head?' 'Someone should . send this to the US Secret Service,' the blog post concluded. The Secret . Service is in charge of the president's security. 'We are aware of the situation,' said George Ogilvie, a Secret Service spokesman in Washington. No laughing matter: The Loudon GOP offered an apology to President Obama for the image . The . picture by the Loudoun GOP is the red, white and blue image of Obama . gazing upward that, emblazoned with the caption 'HOPE,' became a . ubiquitous Obama poster during his 2008 campaign. It . was created from a copyrighted AP photo taken in 2006 when Obama was a . U.S. senator appearing at the National Press Club in Washington. The AP sued over the unlicensed, uncredited and uncompensated use of its photo. The litigation was settled earlier this year. | Political campaign described as 'shameful and offensive'
The group behind the banner claimed it was light-hearted Halloween fun .
Loudon GOP offers the President an apology for their actions . |
86,470 | f56dfdc5f940c82ffa831e4785fff834311dec42 | By . Daniel Bates . PUBLISHED: . 10:54 EST, 25 September 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 01:54 EST, 26 September 2012 . you can't all be like me: Christine Lagarde said that anybody attempting to balance motherhood and a career should accept there would be 'failures' She is a mother of two and one of the most powerful women in the world. But Christine Lagarde has said that women cannot have it all when it comes to juggling career and family life. The head of the International Monetary Fund – the first woman to hold the post – said that anybody attempting to balance motherhood and a career should accept there would be ‘failures’. She also admitted that despite her position men still talk to her in a patronising way, and that she is forced to 'grit her teeth' and get on with it. Lagarde's comments are surprising as if there is one woman among world leaders who has apparently had it all - and with ease - it would be her. As head of the IMF the 56-year-old is in charge of negotiations to save the Euro and bailout Greece. But she is also famous for her life outside of work and has been profiled in Vogue magazine and sat in the front row for Paris fashion shows. Before heading the IMF Lagarde was Minister of Finance in France and rose to become chairman of Chicago law firm Baker & McKenzie, one of the biggest legal companies in America. Speaking to US TV network NBC Lagarde said: 'I think you cannot have it at the same time. Not easy: She also admitted that despite her position men still talk to her in a patronising way, and that she is forced to 'grit her teeth' and get on with it . 'I think you can in a way have it all as long as you can afford to be patient. But you cannot have it all at the same time. 'You must accept there will be failures.' The only casualty along Lagarde's path to success appears to have been her marriage - she is divorced but is living with her new partner in Washington. She still however plays an active role in the lives of her sons Pierre-Henri, 26, and Thomas, 24, who have not followed her into politics. Lagarde first became a mother aged 30 when she was still trying to climb the ladder at Baker & McKenzie. High flier: Before heading the IMF Lagarde was Minister of Finance in France (pictured in 2009) and rose to become chairman of Chicago law firm Baker & McKenzie, one of the biggest legal companies in America . Colleagues told her that she was too young to become a partner in the firm but she persisted anyway. She is currently ranked eighth most powerful woman in the world by Forbes magazine, with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in first place. A former synchronised swimmer, silver-haired Lagarde is still slim and 6ft tall and credits being in good physical health for managing her hectic life. In the interview she was asked that, despite her power, were there men who treat her in patronising way. Lagarde said: 'Oh yeah, of course. 'I don't want to embarrass them (by naming them). 'The best defence when that happens is a very good and solid sense of humour. At the end of the day, they are human beings as well. 'They have wives, they have daughters.' Lagarde added that she often fell back on the mantra repeated to her by her synchronised swimming coach: 'When it's tough, grit your teeth and smile'. | She says anybody attempting to balance motherhood and a career should accept there would be 'failures'
She admits that despite her position men still talk to her in a patronising way .
Before heading the IMF Lagarde was .
Minister of Finance in France and rose to become chairman of Chicago law .
firm Baker & McKenzie .
She has two sons, aged 24 and 26, and is former synchronised swimmer .
Forbes ranked her this year as the world's eighth most powerful woman . |
176,826 | 70e636c49ad14ae4fefad6bfe5d28ee0d50d9730 | Military veterans and active-duty service members were among the hundreds of thousands of music fans who packed the National Mall on Tuesday for a free Veterans Day concert starring Bruce Springsteen, Rihanna and Eminem. The first-of-its-kind Concert for Valor, staged by HBO, Starbucks and Chase Corp., was intended to raise awareness for issues affecting veterans. While official crowd estimates were unavailable, organizers were expecting hundreds of thousands of people, making it one of the biggest events of the year on the Mall. Scroll down for video . Military veterans and active-duty service members were among the hundreds of thousands of music fans who packed the National Mall on Tuesday for a free Veterans Day concert . Rihanna vowed the masses at Tuesday's concert that was staged by HBO, Starbucks and Chase Corp. and intended to raise awareness for issues affecting veterans . Bruce Springsteen was joined by Dave Grohl and Zac Brown to cover Vietnam-era anthem, Fortunate Son - a decision that received a mixed reaction on Twitter . 'What an amazing way to celebrate veterans on Veterans Day,' said Jack Black, one of the concert's hosts. While tickets were free, the celebrity hosts directed fans to ways they can volunteer or donate money to causes helping war veterans. Some in the audience said the gesture had symbolic importance. 'This is the first time since I've been back that I've felt honored to be back home, and I'm 65 years old,' said Bobby Monk, a disabled Vietnam veteran from Washington who wore a gray Army T-shirt. 'They treated us like criminals when we came back home. They didn't give us a parade.' Jennifer Hudson kicked off the event appropriately with a powerful rendition of The Star-Spangled Banner, a performance reminiscent of Whitney Houston's during the 1991 Super Bowl. Carrie Underwood was a popular performer at the concert which could become an annual event . Jennifer Hudson kicked off the event appropriately with a powerful rendition of The Star-Spangled Banner in Washington on Tuesday night . James Hetfield of longtime soldiers favorites Metallica performs on the National Mall during the Concert for Valor . Foo Fighter's Dave Grohl poses backstage with a vet during Tuesday night's Concert For Valor . She was followed by a recorded message from President Barack Obama that told the immense crowd: 'Let's all find ways...to serve these heroes as well as they've served us.' The massive crowd was then energized by Rihanna's anthem Diamonds and an ear-splitting set by Metallica, a longtime favorite of soldiers. Springsteen was more subdued, standing alone with an acoustic guitar to play a ruminative version of Born in the U.S.A., about a disillusioned Vietnam veteran. Earlier, Springsteen joined Grohl and the Zac Brown Band to cover another Vietnam-era anthem, Fortunate Son. The appropriateness of singing a counterculture era anti-war anthem that criticizes militant patriotic behavior was questioned by a number of people on Twitter. 'Maybe it's just me but Fortunate Son seems to be an inappropriate song to play at the Concert For Valor,' tweeted Jay Caruso. 'Leave it to Hollywood to insult those who serve on Veterans Day,' tweeted Ted Newton. Military veterans and active-duty service members such as Jerrod Knight of the Navy Ceremonial Guard, right, cheered on the performers during Tuesday night's concert . Bruce Springsteen was criticized on Twitter after he was joined by Dave Grohl and the Zac Brown Band to cover Vietnam-era anthem Fortunate Son . The appropriateness of singing a counterculture era anti-war anthem that criticizes militant patriotic behavior was questioned by a number of people on Twitter . Springsteen's song choice for the event celebrating the efforts of those that have served in the military was questioned on Twitter . Jennifer Hudson performed alongside British singer Jesse J at the event . Eminem, wearing a camouflage hoodie, dropped several expletives before closing the show with his empowering Lose Yourself, again to the ire of many on Twitter. Other performers included Carrie Underwood, the Black Keys and Jessie J. In between the singers, extraordinary veterans were honored in video tributes hosted by Steven Spielberg, Reese Witherspoon and Oprah Winfrey, among others. Some of the subjects appeared onstage, including Leroy Petry, a Medal of Honor recipient who lost his right hand while serving in Iraq. Petry helped inspire Starbucks president Howard Schultz to write a book about veterans and pledge to hire at least 10,000 former service members. U.S. Medal of Honor recipient Master Sergeant Leroy A. Petry is acknowledged during The Concert for Valor on the National Mall on Veterans' Day in Washington . Standing alone with an acoustic guitar, Bruce Springsteen played a ruminative version of Born in the U.S.A., his own song about a disillusioned Vietnam veteran . Comedian John Oliver, whose wife is a former U.S. Army combat medic, said he's seen firsthand the difficulties that returning veterans go through. 'It's kind of staggering, the dislocation over the past decade between the civilian population and the military,' he said. 'It offends me on a personal level.' The concert was televised live by HBO, which made its signal available to non-subscribers. Online streaming was also available. HBO chief executive Richard Plepler said it was possible that the concert could become an annual event. Schultz said he hoped the concert would help more Americans recognize the importance of welcoming post-9/11 veterans back to civilian life. 'Veterans Day comes once a year. Unfortunately, at times, it's turned into an annual weekend sale,' Schultz said. 'That's not what it's about.' 'What an amazing way to celebrate veterans on Veterans Day,' said Jack Black, one of the concert's hosts . Many people arrived hours before the event started in order to secure a good position from which to view the event . | Hundreds of thousands of music fans packed the National Mall on Tuesday for a free Veterans Day concert .
Jennifer Hudson kicked off the event appropriately with a powerful rendition of The Star-Spangled Banner .
Other performers included Bruce Springsteen, Rihanna and Eminem .
Springsteen was criticized after he was joined by Dave Grohl and the Zac Brown Band to cover anti-war anthem Fortunate Son .
'Leave it to Hollywood to insult those who serve on Veterans Day,' tweeted Ted Newton . |
180,016 | 7514578f170ed88be8cf6ce314dde0ffa1b2905e | (CNN) -- Five more states reported widespread flu activity during the second week of January, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, bringing the total to 40 states. Only 10 states are not yet reporting widespread activity: Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Hawaii, Iowa, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Vermont. "Widespread" means that more than 50% of geographic regions in a state -- counties, for example -- are reporting flu activity. The designation addresses the spread of the flu, not its severity. However, the number of states experiencing a high proportion of outpatient visits to health care providers for flulike illnesses is 14 -- Alabama, Arkansas, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia -- down from 20 in the previous week. Ten children died from complications of the flu last week, bringing the pediatric death total for the season to 20. The CDC does not have data on the number of adult flu deaths. Experts estimate the number of flu-related deaths range from as low as 3,000 to as high as 49,000 people each year. Typically, the flu season begins in the winter months and peaks in January or February, according to the CDC. But it's way too early to know if flu has peaked yet this year. "As typical of a flu season, some areas are being harder hit than other areas," said CDC spokesman Tom Skinner. H5N1 kills first person in North America . One of those areas is California. Dr. Gil Chavez, deputy director for California's Center for Infectious Diseases, said 45 people under the age of 65 have died during the 2013-2014 flu season, which began in September. This includes two deaths in children. "An additional 50 deaths are currently being investigated and are likely to be confirmed next week," Chavez said. He said that a year ago, only five deaths had been reported at this time; there were only 106 flu deaths during the entire 2012-2013 flu season. "H1N1 is the predominant virus circulating, and we do know when H1N1 predominates, there appears to be more fatalities," Chavez said. "We seem to have a predominance of a more deadly strain." H1N1 is the same virus that caused a pandemic in 2009, Dr. Michael Jhung, a medical officer in the CDC's flu division, has said. It was dubbed swine flu because it was being seen for the first time in humans. Since then, "it's established itself very nicely in the human population," Jhung said. H1N1 has been seen every season since 2009 in people and is no longer referred to as swine flu. The strain is so common that it was included in this year's vaccination, he said. Adult flu deaths are not required to be reported to the CDC, but the government agency must be notified of any flu deaths in children. However, after H1N1 first surfaced, California health officials determined this was not enough. Chavez said the lesson learned then was that "we needed a better way to determine the impact [of flu] on the community. So we in California made the decision to make deaths due to influenza in individuals under 65 mandatory to report." What consumers need to know is that it's not too late to take steps to protect yourself from getting the flu, said Dr. Susan Rehm, medical director for the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases. "People who are young and healthy should be aware that they may get the flu and it could be serious," Rehm said. One of the reasons people often say they don't get the flu vaccine is because they don't get sick. That excuse doesn't hold up, she said. In addition to getting the vaccine, which can prevent flu -- or at least lessen symptoms, washing your hands frequently and staying home when you're sick can help you get through the flu season. Doctors recommend using antivirals within the first two days of experiencing any flulike symptoms. Does cold weather cause colds? CNN's Ashley Hayes contributed to this story. | 40 states reported widespread flu activity during the second week of January .
H1N1 is the predominant virus circulating, which is a deadlier strain .
It's not too late to take steps to protect yourself from getting the flu, says Dr. Susan Rehm . |
65,348 | b992005a95dcc39ab9df130ef0bd70ab2a81f9f2 | She beat 120 international contestants each deemed to be not only the most beautiful in their home countries, but the best example of what it means to be a modern woman. So, who is Rolene Strauss - aka Miss World 2014 - and is she really one of the world's most eligible women? This year's crop which made it to the final in London - the city where the competition started 63 years ago - far from being the stereotypical 'dumb beauty queens', were pretty and polished. Scroll down for video . Winning: South African Rolene Strauss, 22, was last night crowned Miss World 2014 in a glittering ceremony in London. So who is Rolene and what was it that ensured she cinched the crown? The majority hold a university degree, as well as juggling a vast array of interests, hobbies and charity work. Miss Strauss - whose first runner up was Miss Hungary, Edina Kulcsar, and second runner up was Miss United States, Elizabeth Safrit - is the perfect example of that. Miss South Africa, 22-year-old Rolene Strauss, was crowned Miss World 2014 at the contest's glitzy final in London on Sunday, with an estimated billion viewers watching on TV around the globe. Medical student Strauss clasped her hands together in surprise and was crowned by the outgoing Miss World, Megan Young of the Philippines, to huge cheers in the ExCeL exhibition centre. Talented: Medical student Strauss was crowned by the outgoing Miss World, Megan Young of the Philippines, to huge cheers in the ExCeL exhibition centre . She pipped her fellow contestants to clinch first place in an action-packed three weeks that included a sports, top model and beach fashion competition, a talent contest, Beauty With A Purpose round and a debate at the Oxford Union. Rolene's principle passion is medicine. The beauty queen is a fourth year medical student and science is clearly in her blood. Her parents are a doctor and nurse, and in a pre-taped interview for the pageant, Rolene said that becoming Miss South Africa and Miss World and studying medicine were her 'childhood dreams'. 'Everyone in my town called me Little Dr Strauss,' she said. 'Because I was always the little curly-headed girl running around behind my dad in the hospital. 'I'm a test tube baby and I believe my passion for health was born with me,' she added. As well as being a medical student, Rolene is bilingual and speaks fluent English, as well as Afrikaans. Celebrations: As well as being a medical student, Rolene is bilingual. She speaks fluent English, as well as Afrikaans and says she has always dreamed of being Miss World and a doctor . Writing on her website, she explains that she's always had 'big dreams'. She said: 'We moved to a small town called Volksrust, in Mpumalanga. Ever since then I was a small town girl with big dreams. 'To be the best me, to follow my destiny and someday be a woman who uses what she was given out of grace; to inspire, to love, to sympathize and to give.' Obviously religious, she adds: 'The following verse never fails to give me goose bumps: “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” – Jeremiah 29:11. We all have a future of hope, a destiny planned for each as individual. The choices we make are the turns we take on the road to our destinies.' Paying tribute to her country after being crowned, she said: 'South Africa this is for you. I think I will brace myself for what's about to happen. It's a huge responsibility.' Rolene is determined to use her new crown for the good of the community. She told AFP she wanted to help spread education in her homeland and thereby help other people realise their dreams. 'I am what I am today because of the opportunities I have received and I would love to give others the same opportunities; educating, the opportunity to be educated, to make healthy choices and also to live their dreams.' Top three: Miss Hungary, Edina Kulcsar, left, was judged the runner-up and Miss United States, Elizabeth Safrit, came third in the 64th annual competition, contested by women from 121 countries . And she was already getting used to the glittering crown. 'I'll definitely keep it on as long as I can but my parents are staying around here so they'll be hugging me and I'm afraid that it might fall off,' she said. There's good news for all the men out there; Miss Strauss is single. In a recent interview with the South African TV Authority, she was asked how many boyfriends she'd ever dumped. She replied: 'I would say three.' When asked about her relationship status, she said: 'I definitely don't have a public relationship. 'You know, as a Miss South Africa people look up to you and see you as an independent, strong woman. That's the picture I'd like to show people out there and I think it's difficult to be in a relationship because of your busy schedule.' Tough competition: Sunday's show started with a spectacular choreographed dance routine, with all the beauty queens on stage in costumes inspired by their homelands and they had to compete in several rounds to win the crown . Miss Hungary, Edina Kulcsar, was judged the runner-up and Miss United States, Elizabeth Safrit, came third in the 64th annual competition, contested by women from 121 countries. This year's event has been rocked by the murder of Miss Honduras, 19-year-old Maria Jose Alvarado, who was shot dead along with her sister last month. Police in Honduras accuse her sister's boyfriend of shooting them after seeing his partner dancing with another man at a party. Strauss and other contestants will travel to the crime-plagued central American nation to build a school named in the sisters' honour. 'We hope that it will really start to impress on the people in Honduras that the violence, and hurting people like those two innocent women... maybe they can think again before they take a gun,' Miss World chairwoman Julia Morley told AFP. Sunday's show started with a spectacular choreographed dance routine, with all the beauty queens on stage in costumes inspired by their homelands - including Miss Bolivia in a colourful feathered headdress. While beauty remains central to the event, the women taking part are chiefly judged on their talents and involvement in good causes. Miss World began in 1951, a year before its chief rival Miss Universe. Strauss is the third South African Miss World, the country having held the title in 1958 and 1974. Venezuela tops the all-time leader board with six titles, ahead of India and the United Kingdom on five titles each. Julia Morley, Miss World Chairman, said: 'It was great to bring the 64th Miss World Final back to London and where it all began 63 years ago. 'I’m looking forward to travelling with Rolene, the new Miss World, to visit countries around the globe to support this year’s finalists Beauty with a Purpose fundraising projects.' Good genes: Her parents are a doctor and nurse and in a pre-taped interview for the pageant, she said that becoming Miss South Africa and Miss World and studying medicine were her 'childhood dreams' | Rolene Strauss from South Africa crowned Miss World 2014 .
Medical student, 22, is bilingual and charitable .
Says it has always been her dream to be a doctor and Miss World .
Is currently single and will travel around world next year with charities . |
56,217 | 9f4eda0659e55966ee1f3a08c978138e55c158bb | By . David Kent . BT Sport has boosted its European football line-up by securing the rights to broadcast World Cup champions Germany’s home friendly matches. The coverage excludes matches involving teams from the British Isles, but will commence with the mouth-watering re-run of the 2014 World Cup Final, pitting Joachim Low’s side against Argentina on September 3. In addition, the broadcaster has secured the rights to the DFB Cup, Germany’s prime domestic football cup competition, the equivalent of England’s FA Cup. Glory: Germany celebrate the 2014 World Cup final triumph with Chancellor Angela Merkel . Champions: BT Sport subscribers will be catching the World Champions Germany's friendly matches . So near: Lionel Messi was so close to winning the World Cup but was awarded 'Player of the Tournament' in Brazil . The deals build on BT Sport’s expanding European football line-up which already includes Italy’s Serie A, France’s Ligue 1, and, Germany’s Bundesliga, which features the likes of Bastian Schweinsteiger and Mario Goetze who powered Germany to success in the World Cup final in Brazil. Paul Scholes has also dealt another blow to Sky's long-held supremacy in the football broadcasting by signing for BT Sport as a pundit on a four-year-deal, having made his TV debut on Sky last season. BT Sport have also announced it has signed a deal for up to four exclusively live matches a week from the Portuguese Primeira Liga. The Portuguese rights include exclusively live home and away matches played by the league’s ‘Big Three’ teams, current league champions Benfica, Porto FC and Sporting Lisbon. Winner: Mario Goetze of Bayern Munich volleys in the decisive goal in extra time in the World Cup final . | BT increase their competition with Sky by landing more live Football .
World champions take on Argentina in repeat of the final in September .
The broadcaster has also signed up the German domestic cup .
Live matches from the Portuguese Primeira Liga will also be broadcast . |
278,832 | f5406704653b9d38943c83d7d023edbd382d7d20 | By . Rob Waugh and Helen Collis . PUBLISHED: . 04:48 EST, 2 June 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 03:19 EST, 3 June 2012 . Google CEO Larry Page; The European Union's antitrust chief gave Google a 'last chance' of a few weeks to avoid formal charges for manipulating search results to promote Google services . Google has been given one month to change its advertising rules otherwise it will face court action in the EU. The giant Internet search-engine firm has been ordered by EU competition regulators to make the changes by July 2 to end ‘abuses’ of its market dominance. The company, which says it anticipates complaints of this kind due to its size and reach, risks being fined billions of pounds if it fails to comply with the orders. The search engine, which has more than 80 per cent of the global market share, is accused of promoting its own products and effectively locking out rival advertisers. The EU complaints add to similar concerns in the US and South Korea, where the company is also being investigated for allegedly abusing its near-monopoly position as an Internet search engine. A Google spokesperson told the . Telegraph: 'We operate in over 100 countries around the world, and the . Internet is disruptive by its nature. 'It's understandable that our . business should attract scrutiny and sometimes complaints in a few of . these countries. We are always happy to answer questions authorities may . have about our business.' The European Commission has written to the US giant highlighting four areas where ‘Google business practices may be considered as abuses of dominance’. If Google's solutions are not satisfactory, the EC will begin a formal investigation, which could lead to it imposing huge fines and its own measures. The announcement heralds the most significant transatlantic anti-competition row since Brussels went to war with Microsoft a decade ago. It will also embarrass the Tory Party which has forged close links with Google, as revealed by the Daily Mail last week. Research revealed that ministers, including David Cameron, had met executives an average of once a month since the election. Joaquín Almunia, the EU’s competition chief, has written to Google executive chairman Eric Schmidt demanding action. He said Google favours its own products in search results and ‘copies’ content from rivals without permission. It also stifles competitors with advertising deals with other websites and restricts them from moving their online campaigns to rival search engines, he added. The review of Google’s business practices started in 2010 after complaints from rivals. The commission can levy fines of up to 10 per cent of revenue, which could amount to billions of pounds. Google has agreed to look into the EC’s concerns, though it disputed its conclusions. A spokesman said competition on the web has increased ‘dramatically’ and the company faces ‘tremendous’ pressures. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission has launched a similar investigation into claims of anti-competitive practices by Google. Complaints: Google is under EU spotlight over its Android mobile software, the top operating system for Internet-enabled smartphones . Even if Google, the world's most popular search engine, offers concessions, it will still be under the EU spotlight after fresh complaints about its Android mobile software, the top operating system for Internet-enabled smartphones. If remedies were offered by Google within the coming weeks, the antitrust investigation could be brought to a close. ‘I believe that these fast-moving markets would particularly benefit from a quick resolution of the competition issues identified. Restoring competition swiftly to the benefit of users at an early stage is always better than lengthy proceedings,’ Almunia told a news briefing. ‘Google has repeatedly expressed to me its willingness to discuss any concerns that the Commission might have without having to engage in adversarial proceedings. 'This is why today I'm giving Google an opportunity to offer remedies to address concerns that we have identified,’ he said. Almunia said he had sent a letter to Eric Schmidt, Google's executive chairman, with a deadline for a response. ‘In this letter, I offer Google the possibility to come up in a matter of weeks with first proposals of remedies to address each of these points,’ he said. The European Commission launched an investigation into Google in November 2010 after competitors, including Microsoft, accused the company of manipulating search results to promote its own advertising services while demoting those of rivals . Competitors complain that Google's search results unfairly prioritise its own advertising services. Google controls nearly 44% of the global internet advertising market. The Trade Commission is also looking into allegations that Google distorts its search results to steer people to its related businesses, like Google Places. The agency recently hired a big name litigator, Beth Wilkinson, to lead its probe. The Commission has 16 complaints against Google before it, with the latest grievances coming from several online travel agencies, including TripAdvisor, Opodo and eDreams. The majority of complaints are from small competitors across Europe. The FTC is expected to come to a decision this summer on whether Google broke the law. Google is also the leader in U.S. searches, at 66 percent, according to comScore. Almunia is offering Google a last chance before issuing formal charges, said David Wood, a lawyer for lobbying group ICOMP, whose members include Microsoft, British price comparison site Foundem and German online mapping company Hotmaps, all three complainants in the EU case. ‘This is effectively the Commission demanding remedies. Failing that there will be a statement of objections,’ he said. If Google can come up with remedies that the Commission finds acceptable following a market test, the Commission could then end the 18-month-long investigation without fining the company, Almunia said. The Commission has 16 complaints against Google before it, with the latest grievances coming from several online travel agencies, including TripAdvisor, Opodo and eDreams. The majority of complaints are from small competitors across Europe. Almunia said other investigations into Google unrelated to the antitrust issue would continue. ‘We continue the investigations on other issues, on other complaints we received recently, for instance all those complaints referring to Android or some complaints referring for instance to the way travel agencies are dealt by the Google search engine,’ he said. He declined to provide details on the Android investigation. Android-equipped smartphones compete with Apple's iPhone and other systems. The Commission can fine companies up to 10 percent of their global revenue for breaching EU rules and has in the past handed down multimillion-euro fines to Microsoft and Intel, among others. In Washington, two lawmakers who specialize in antitrust urged Google to reach a settlement with European regulators. Senators Herb Kohl and Mike Lee, who are respectively the Democratic chairman and top Republican on the Judiciary Committee's antitrust subcommittee, said they were ‘hopeful that Google would be a willing partner with the EU's Competition Commissioner. ‘We continue to urge the FTC to investigate (Google) and to ensure a competitive search market where consumers can fairly pick the winners and losers in our online economy,’ the lawmakers said. A Google spokesperson said: 'We've only just started to look through the Commission’s arguments. 'We disagree with the conclusions but we're happy to discuss any concerns they might have. 'Competition on the web has increased dramatically in the last 2 years since the Commission started looking at this and the competitive pressures Google faces are tremendous. Innovation online has never been greater.' | EU can fine Google up to 10% of global revenue .
Google's global ad revenue estimated to be $485BN .
'Last chance' to settle claims over promoting its advertising services over smaller rivals .
Search giant also under spotlight over concerns about Android . |
254,308 | d52f1d81dfdaca73fa3882e198acbfb4d3198f6f | If home is where the heart is, a new survey suggests that most people aren't sure exactly where they live. More than half of people cannot pinpoint the exact location of the human heart on a diagram, and nearly 70 percent can't correctly identify the shape of the lungs, according to the survey. This lack of knowledge isn't just embarrassing -- it could lead to a poorer quality of health care, some experts say. In the study, published in the journal BMC Family Practice, a research team surveyed 722 Britons -- 589 hospital outpatients and 133 people in the general population. They gave the volunteers four diagrams of human figures and asked them to choose the one that showed the correct size and location of a specific organ. (For example, the heart diagrams showed various size organs on the far left side of the chest, directly in the center, anchored on the center/left chest, and on the right side of the chest.) Overall, people knew less basic anatomy than the researchers expected -- even those patients being treated for a specific condition involving that organ. Participants generally answered half the questions correctly, including 46.5 percent who knew which drawing represented their heart. In all, 31.4 percent correctly identified the lungs, 38.4 percent the stomach, 41.8 percent the thyroid, and 42.5 percent the kidneys. The intestines and bladder were the most easily identified, with 85.9 percent and 80.7 percent, respectively, answering the question correctly. Health.com: Are you cholesterol smart? Take this quiz . There was little to no improvement compared with a similar study conducted in 1970, says lead author John Weinman, Ph.D., of King's College London. In that study, subjects correctly identified eight major body parts about half of the time. (The researchers used the same body parts from the 1970 study and added three more: the pancreas, gallbladder, and ovaries.) Given the accessibility of the Internet and the prominence of health stories in the news media today, Weinman's team expected that people would now know more about their body. Weinman says he wouldn't be surprised if a study based in the United States produced similar results -- or worse. "I imagine they would be similar, but there could well be regional variation, depending on which part of the U.S. the participants were from," he says. "Actually, I asked one of my colleagues, who is from the U.S., and she felt that Americans might be worse because, to quote her, 'Very many Americans don't even know where New Jersey is, so how would they know where their pancreas is?'" Health.com: Eat Smarter in your 30s, 40s, and 50s . That may sound harsh, but time and again, U.S. studies have shown that doctors overestimate how much their patients understand about their conditions and treatment. Adam Kelly, Ph.D., an assistant professor of medicine at the Baylor College of Medicine, in Houston, Texas, conducted a 2007 study, that showed that doctors overestimate patient literacy and that a lack of patient knowledge leads to poorer care. Kelly believes the problem could be "even more profound" in the United States, although a similar study has not been conducted in America. Still, anatomy may not be the best measure of health literacy, says Sandeep Jauhar, M.D., the director of the heart failure program at the Long Island Jewish Medical Center, and the author of "Intern: A Doctor's Initiation." Health.com: Computer games that boost your memory . "They would like us to draw the conclusion that because the patients can't identify these organs anatomically that that is an indication of low health-care literacy -- and that may or may not be true," he says. "I work with heart failure patients, and whether they can identify where their heart is is not so important to me as long as they know which medicines to take and when." Many patients with heart failure, unfortunately, don't know which medicines to take, can't identify their symptoms, and don't follow up with their doctors, Jauhar says. "So health illiteracy is definitely a big problem," he adds. "I just don't know that this is the best study to show that Americans or Europeans are illiterate when it comes to their health care." The study suggests that patients with liver disease and diabetes may be the most health-literate: They were the only two groups to do better than the general population when identifying their affected organ. Overall, 75.3 percent of those with liver disease could find the liver (versus 45.9 percent in the general population) and 53.7 percent of diabetics could locate the pancreas (versus 30.8 percent). Health.com: How I survived a heart attack at 43 . "It is possible that patient-education material for people with diabetes may help to increase their knowledge [of the pancreas], but it is still only at the 50 percent level," Weinman says. "The same explanation may also be true for liver disease, but it may be a chance finding due to the sampling of patients for this study, and it really needs replicating in other larger studies to be certain it is a robust finding and to search for possible reasons for it." Weinman says there's a mountain of evidence to prove that effective communication from doctors increases patient satisfaction and understanding, leading to better clinical outcomes and improved adherence to treatment. Health.com: I lost my insurance, stopped my diabetes medication, and had a heart attack . Jauhar agrees that health literacy improves not only the quality of health care, but also life expectancy. "Health literacy is clearly very important, and how well patients are versed in their own health care is probably just as important a factor in determining longevity as genes or socioeconomic status," he says. "These are important factors in how long someone lives." Enter to win a monthly Room Makeover Giveaway from MyHomeIdeas.com . Copyright Health Magazine 2009 . | More than half in British survey couldn't identify heart's location .
U.S. results could be similar or worse, some experts speculate .
Health literacy contributes to better care received, better patient outcomes . |
67,783 | c046ae4a8fbd3be609e208534758117689796ea8 | (CNN) -- A Russian government child advocate said Wednesday he may have spoken too soon when he said a 3-year-old adopted boy who died in Texas was "killed" or "murdered." At a press conference Wednesday, Children's Rights Commissioner Pavel Astakhov said he tweeted those words based on the initial reports he received about the death. With the investigation still going, he's now simply saying the boy "died." Still he said, he wants his country to ban all international adoptions of Russian children. Astakhov's statement echoes others who have blasted the United States recently, and it continues an ongoing adoption battle between the once-Cold War foes. Russians meet with adoptive parents of dead boy . The 3-year-old's death has also thrown into jeopardy America's efforts to push through more than 500 adoption cases in which American families had already begun the process before Moscow in December passed a law banning adoptions by U.S. citizens, the State Department has said. That pending law would ban adoptions by Americans ostensibly because of documented cases of abuse by adoptive parents. But critics say the Russian move is in retaliation for a U.S. law that places restrictions on Russian human rights abusers. The boy was born on January 9, 2010, and died on January 21, 2013, Russian officials have said. They have also implied that the boy may have been beaten. Authorities in Texas have not released such details but have called the death "suspicious." They have also offered some specifics. Russia decries death of adopted boy in Texas . The child was found unresponsive at his residence and his mother called 911, Ector County Forensic Death Investigator Sondra Woolf said. He was pronounced dead by an emergency room doctor, she said. Autopsy reports are still pending. While softening his language about the boy's death, Astakhov made more demands at the news conference Wednesday. The child advocate asked that the boy's younger brother, who was adopted by the same Texas family, be returned to Russia. Moscow: Americans can adopt Russian kids until 2014 . CNN's Zarifmo Aslamshoyeva and Chandler Friedman contributed to this report. | Russian child advocate speaks at news conference .
Astakhov's statement echoes others who have blasted the U.S. recently .
The advocate also asked for the boy's brother to be returned . |
181,769 | 7759df9e9a6dfbb0b80c1133394b2e91a21f8d03 | A graduate made to work for her jobless benefits as a shelf stacker in Poundland is taking legal action against the Government under the Human Rights Act. Cait Reilly, who studied geology at university, had been unable to find a job in her subject area and was claiming unemployment benefit while volunteering in a museum in the hope it would lead to a job in that sector. But the 22-year-old had to give up the placement in order to work in the budget store under a Government scheme designed to encourage the long-term unemployed back to work. Work experience: Cait Reilly said she had to sweep up and fill the shelves at the Poundland store in Kings Heath, Birmingham . Miss Reilly is now taking landmark . legal action against the Government after being told she risked losing . her £53.45-a-week Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) payment if she turned down . the two-week unpaid work experience stint at Poundland. Lawyers for the graduate are seeking a . judicial review into Department for Work and Pensions rules that compel . unemployed people to take unpaid work. They say the scheme, part of the . Coalition’s Work Programme to break the cycle of benefit dependency, . amounts to ‘forced labour’ and is against the Human Rights Act. The Government programme aims to help . around 250,000 young people over the next two years through training and . unpaid work experience in the public, private and charity sectors. Placement providers include chains such as Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Argos and . Asda. But Miss Reilly said: ‘I was actually . doing something that was helping me work towards a job and was taken . away from that to do something of no value to me. It was very . frustrating.’ The graduate was sucked into the . scheme after attending a retail jobs ‘open day’ in the autumn at the . suggestion of her Jobcentre Plus adviser, who said it would lead to a . period of training and a job interview. Miss Reilly and other candidates were . sent to an employment skills training workshop for a week, aimed at . improving attributes such as communication skills, followed by the . five-hour-a-day stint at Poundland near Miss Reilly’s home in King’s . Heath, Birmingham, in November. She and five other claimants spent . their time on the placement sweeping up and stacking and cleaning . shelves, before they had to attend a final week of training under the . ‘sector-based work academy’ scheme (SBWA). The promised job interview . never materialised. The SBWA scheme is supposed to offer the young unemployed a direct route off benefits and into work. Graduate: Miss Reilly has been looking for work since she left Birmingham University (pictured) and had been volunteering on an unpaid basis . Miss Reilly graduated from Birmingham . University in 2010 and has been claiming unemployment benefit since . August. She has now returned to her voluntary role at the city’s Pen . Room Museum of writing and pen trade memorabilia, still looking for paid . employment. She believes the placement allowed Poundland to use her as ‘free labour’ in the run-up to Christmas. The DWP says that candidates who . ‘express an interest’ in doing unpaid placements will lose their JSA if . they pull out after the first ‘cooling off’ week on the scheme. But . Miss Reilly says she was not informed about any cooling off period. In order to meet the criteria to . receive the Jobseeker's Allowance benefit, claimants are required to . participate in Employment, Skills and Enterprise Scheme. The scheme offers work placements . with companies, working in conjunction with the government, designed to . give claimants practical work experience to improve their chances of . employment. If claimants refuse to take part in the work placements they risk losing their benefits. She said she felt she had to do it because ‘without my Jobseeker’s Allowance, I would literally have nothing’. Miss Reilly’s solicitor, Jim Duffy, . said the practice contravenes article 4 (2) of the Human Rights Act, . which states: ‘No one shall be required to perform forced or compulsory . labour.’ Mr Duffy, from Public Interest Lawyers . in Birmingham, said: ‘This Government has created – without . Parliamentary authority – a complex array of schemes that allow . Jobcentres to force people into futile, unpaid labour for weeks or . months at a time. ‘We have no problem with Government . schemes that increase the chances of people gaining employment – that is . key to combating the current economic crisis – but these “work for . benefit schemes” have been proven in other countries to do nothing other . than increase the cycle of unemployment and poverty. ‘Cait wasn’t told when she went to the . open day that she was committing herself to work for free. She has been . taken away from a voluntary role useful to help her break into the . career she would like to have, simply to stack shelves.’ Latest figures show there are now more . than one million young people not in employment, education or training – . so-called Neets. Employment minister Chris Grayling said: ‘We think . it’s really important to provide young people with the opportunity to . get into workplaces and show what they can do. ‘It’s a nonsense to suggest we should . just be leaving them on benefits without making a real effort to find . work. Retail offers really good career opportunities for many young . people.’ Poundland said it had a ‘positive . experience’ of the work placement programme which was ‘designed to . provide on-the-job training for those looking to retail as a career . opportunity’. A furniture store has received more . than 1,300 applications for just 16 jobs at its new branch - just under . 87 candidates for each post at the DFS sofa centre in Llandudno, Wales. The company said it had been . 'inundated' with 1,385 applications for the 16 advertised positions at . the new store, which opens on February 18. Greg Robbins, Llandudno's Mayor, . welcomed the store and called for other companies to invest in the . resort, adding: 'It’s a very positive . thing for the town that a national company is coming here. 'I don’t know if desperation is the . word. It shows there’s a massive shortage of long-term employment jobs . and that we need further inward investment.' He added that he expected vacancies . at the proposed Travelodge in Llandudno to be similarly oversubscribed. It is expected to create 60 permanent jobs when it opens an 83-bed . hotel. Latest figures from the Office for . National Statistics show that 9.1 per cent of Wales’ workforce were . unemployed in the period of August to October 2011 - up from 8.4 per . cent between May and July last year. DFS area sales manager Adam Hankinson . said: 'I have been amazed by both the number of applications we’ve . received but also the high quality of the candidates. 'We’ve recruited a great bunch of . people and I’m really excited about creating a new local team who will . open the store within weeks.' | Cait Reilly has been looking for work since graduating in the summer .
She volunteered at a museum until ordered to accept two-week placement .
Her lawyer says the 'forced labour' breaches her human rights . |
275,784 | f140caf9be28f328c11ffef27453ad2dfa84d269 | (CNN)Children of the 1990s, brace yourselves: One of the decade's most popular boy bands may reunite for Sunday night's "Saturday Night Live" 40th anniversary special. Showrunners have not officially confirmed that *NSYNC will appear on the star-studded three-hour special. But the boy band's official Twitter account dropped a strong hint on Saturday using the hashtag #SNL40: "Together again... Gee, it's good to be together again." If true, "Bye Bye Bye" crooners Lance Bass, JC Chasez, Joey Fatone, Chris Kirkpatrick and Justin Timberlake would join an all-star lineup that includes Paul McCartney, Kanye West, Taylor Swift and rival 1990s boy band Backstreet Boys. Timberlake announced his involvement in the show earlier this week in an Instagram showing a "writing session" with SNL alum and "Tonight Show" host Jimmy Fallon. *NSYNC bandmate Chris Kirkpatrick also indicated on Twitter on Saturday that he was en route to New York while lamenting that the airline "left our bags with tux for tomorrows event." The bandmates last shared the stage in 2013 when Timberlake received the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award at the MTV Video Music Awards. 40 reasons why 'Saturday Night Live' is still awesome at 40 . | "Together again... Gee, it's good to be together again," *NSYNC Twitter account says, with hashtag #SNL40 .
Star-studded three-hour special on Sunday will celebrate 40 years of "Saturday Night Live" |
244,504 | c86dfd3ba0dac8b7f0905059c9031a1c6e82b8a9 | (CNN) -- International credit rating agency Moody's announced Monday it has once again downgraded Greek's sovereign debt rating - just four days after European leaders agreed on a second bailout for the debt-strapped nation. A default on Greek debt instruments was near to certain, Moody's said in an announcement published to its website Monday. But EU bailouts to Greece will likely help the country to stabilize down the road and prevent a default domino effect in the Eurozone, Moody's added. "Moody's Investors Service has today downgraded Greece's local- and foreign-currency bond ratings to Ca from Caa1," Moody's said, calling the probability of a default on Greek government bonds "virtually 100%." The agency based the default assessment on the "announced EU program" and a statement on debt reassignment by the Institute of International Finance (IFF), which represents financial institutions. The IFF has indicated that private creditors holding Greek debt instruments would likely take losses over 20%, Moody's said. Under debt reassignment, holders of current bonds would receive new ones in their place. The lower market value of the replacement bonds would account for the investor losses. The EU bailout to Greece protected all countries holding Europe's common currency the euro, Moody's said, by "containing the severe near-term contagion risk that would likely have followed a disorderly payment default or large haircut on existing Greek debt." A "haircut" is slang for repaying bondholders less than they were promised when they bought the bonds. European leaders agreed on Thursday to provide a second bailout package for Greece and drastically expand rescue funds to prevent financial crisis spreading through the eurozone. European Council president Herman Van Rompuy said the rescue deal would be financed by both the EU and the International Monetary Fund. European governments and the IMF will contribute a total of 109 billion euros (about $157 billion). The private sector's share will amount to 49.6 billion euros (about $71 billion). But other weaker European economies such as Italy and Spain -- seen as too big to bail out -- could falter, tearing apart the eurozone, and hurting other nations exposed to the debt take. Greece has been forced to impose harsh austerity measures, provoking violent scenes of protest, in an attempt to cut its debts. Taxes have been raised and public sector jobs cut. It is also selling off numerous assets. CNN's Ben Brumfield and CNNMoney's Ben Rooney contributed to this report. | Moody's downgrades Greek government bonds from Ca to Caa1 .
The probability of bond default is "virtually 100%," the ratings agency says .
Creditor losses will likely top 20%, it anticipates .
Bailouts help protect the Eurozone from contagion and give Greece a chance to stabilize . |
254,653 | d5a5151bf39fa1fa76da3a500ee1a51d046b5f6d | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 14:55 EST, 25 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 09:19 EST, 26 August 2013 . As speculation over his alleged drug abuse continues to intensify, it has been reported that Khloe Kardashian has 'separated' from husband Lamar Odom. US website TMZ has claimed that the couple are living apart and have effectively 'split' after the reality star threw her husband out of the house. In the wake of the reports, Khloe has vented on Twitter, saying: 'Really hard to sit here and listen to . people talk s*** about my family! F*** you and shame on you! I'm too . protective for this s***!' Separated? Khloe Kardashian and Lamar Odom have reportedly 'split' after she allegedly threw him out of the house last Wednesday . At her breaking point: Khloe finally tweeted her frustration with people talking 's**t' about her current marital situation . While it's believed that neither of them have actually contacted a divorce lawyer, they are now allegedly 'separated', according to the website. TMZ claims that people close to the NBA star have been unable to find or contact him for the last 72 hours, although a representative for the star has denied this. The couple have been subject to persistent rumours that their marriage is in trouble after Lamar, 33, allegedly cheated on Khloe, 29, with two different women. But several sources have told TMZ the real reason behind their marriage crisis is that Khloe reportedly believes that her husband has a drug problem. 'Missing': People close to Lamar Odom have allegedly been unable to find or contact him for the last 72 hours . Representatives for Lamar did not respond to MailOnline's request for comment. Earlier this week the Kardashian family allegedly staged an intervention to convince Lamar to return to rehab, but he refused, reports the gossip website. Khloe urged Lamar in August 2012 to go to rehab and after he entered a San Diego facility she hired private investigators to make sure he didn't leave. Lamar reportedly constantly threatened to leave the rehab clinic and Khloe visited several times to convince him to stay, but he left after three weeks, sources said. 'Thrown out': Lamar was seen outside the home he shares with Khloe in Calabasas, California on Wednesday . Packed bags: A man was seen loading large amounts of luggage into Lamar's car while the basketball star stood by . Online affirmation: Khloe posted a tweet on Friday citing the importance of strength to survival . A spokesperson for the basketball star told TMZ on Sunday afternoon that he was fine but would not reveal his whereabouts. Lamar, who won two championships with the Los Angeles Lakers, stayed clean and played well last season for the Los Angeles Clippers, but sources said he resumed using drugs after the season. Khloe was convinced of recent reports of Lamar's infidelity, but feels his drug abuse has been the main problem, the website reported. Neither Khloe nor Lamar has contacted a divorce lawyer. Heartfelt: Lamar posted a tweet last month supporting Khloe as claims of his infidelity surfaced . 'Khloe is more concerned about saving Lamar than ending her marriage,' a source told TMZ. Khloe allegedly tossed Lamar out of the house after the failed intervention, and he was pictured Wednesday as an associated loaded a number of large suitcases into his car in Calabasas, California. Khloe and Lamar got married in 2009 about a month after meeting each other. Khloe has recently endured reports that Lamar had an affair with Jennifer Richardson for a year until March 2013 and a six-week fling with lawyer Polina Polonsky at the start of the summer. Troubled marriage?: Khloe and Lamar, shown in May 2012 in Los Angeles, have been the subject of infidelity rumours in recent weeks . Keeping it spicy: Khloe put on latex and got acrobatic in order to provide husband Lamar with some sexy photos in a recent episode of Keeping Up With The Kardashians . | The couple has reportedly 'separated' following the claims of drug abuse .
Khloe Kardashian has responded by going on expletive filled Twitter rant . |
269,085 | e89388dde9011bb4e7f8414ce11a1a0b0dbf5461 | (CNN)George Zimmerman was arrested, again, this month in the suspected aggravated assault of a girlfriend. And, again, a Florida prosecutor has opted not to press formal charges -- after the alleged victim backed off her claims. State Attorney Phil Archer, whose jurisdiction includes Brevard and Seminole counties, announced Friday that his office won't file charges against Zimmerman, who first came to the world's attention for his arrest and eventual acquittal in the 2012 shooting death of African-American teenager Trayvon Martin. Friday's announcement relates to the 31-year-old's arrest in Lake Mary, Florida, on January 9. "While it clear that the officers had probable cause to arrest Mr. Zimmerman, which was affirmed by the circuit court judge at initial appearances, the subsequent recantation by the (alleged) victim of her initial statement along with new documents provided by the victim and her attorney precludes my office from proceeding further," Archer said. Zimmerman attorney Don West had told reporters that his client was accused of throwing a wine bottle at a girlfriend. Police learned about it days later after coming "in contact with the (alleged) victim at a traffic stop," Lake Mary police spokeswoman Bianca Gillett said. The woman has since denied that Zimmerman threw a bottle or that she ever feared him, according to a statement Friday from Lake Mary police. "She also made it clear that she did not want to proceed with the case," said police, noting that Lake Mary police Chief Steve Bracknell "concurred with Archer's decision." "A lack of eyewitnesses or other corroborating evidence to dispute her version of the incident also contributed to the decision." This is the latest instance since July 2013 -- when a jury found him not guilty of murder in Martin's death -- that Zimmerman has had a run-in with the law, only to have authorities decide not to push for a trial. About two weeks after the verdict, he was pulled over for speeding in northern Texas. Much bigger troubles came in November 2013, when Zimmerman was taken into custody at his then-girlfriend's Apopka, Florida, home after the two allegedly had a heated fight. He was arrested then on aggravated assault and misdemeanor counts of domestic violence battery and criminal mischief, accusations, posting $9,000 bail days later. But after the girlfriend asked that the issue be dropped, Archer announced that prosecutors would not press charges. Gillett has said the woman in the more recent instance "is not the same (woman) as in 2013." Also, in September 2014, Lake Mary police said that a man claimed Zimmerman threatened him during a road rage incident saying "I will ... kill you," and "Do you know who I am?" He was not arrested and has not been charged. Talking about the aggravated assault cases, West said earlier this month of his client: "It's clear he hasn't been very lucky with the ladies the last few months." The lawyer also said then that Zimmerman doesn't have a full-time job, implying that he's had his struggles since the Martin case -- which made him into a national lightning rod when it came to the merits of "Stand Your Ground" laws and matters of race. "It's been a devastating experience that he's had that he's working through," the lawyer said. "... I'm concerned, obviously." CNN's Carma Hassan contributed to this report. | A Florida opts not file a formal aggravated assault charge against George Zimmerman .
A girlfriend recants her claim that Zimmerman threw a bottle at her, she feared him .
He became a national lightning rod after being charged, acquitted in Trayvon Martin's death . |
131,205 | 35aae8f93c32ea132aa37ffaf4609a0ec12f279c | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 15:28 EST, 7 June 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 15:28 EST, 7 June 2012 . An international child pornography ring that produced and distributed sexually explicit images of babies and toddlers online has been cracked, the FBI said today. Seven American men have been convicted and sentenced on various charges in the case, including three who were sentenced in federal court in Indianapolis on Wednesday, the U.S. attorney's office said. Two more who pleaded guilty were awaiting sentencing. Depraved: Operation Bulldog has cracked a child porn ring which had images of babies and toddlers being sexually abused, the FBI said in Indiana today . Assistant U.S. Attorney General Lanny Breuer said: 'This operation uncovered a dangerous and depraved group of criminals who were devoted to trading sexually explicit images of children under the age of five.' More than 20 suspects have been captured in nine states, and authorities are investigating yet more elsewhere in the U.S., as well as Sweden, Serbia, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Josh Minkler said at an Indianapolis news conference that more than two dozen young children in Indiana, other states and other countries were abused in the production of the pornography. 'Children who far too often weren't old enough to comprehend the crimes committed against them,' Minkler said. 'Children who were raped in this state and were too young to ask for help.' Operation Bulldog came to light in November 2010 with the arrest of David Bostic, 26. Federal, state and local investigators . raided Bostic's home in Bloomington, Indiana, and found hundreds of . images and videos on his computer of children between the ages of two . months and four years engaged in sexual acts. Busted: Assistant U.S. Attorney-General Lanny Breuer announced the arrest of more than 20 paedophiles today as part of porn sting Operation Bulldog . He was later convicted on 65 counts and sentenced to 315 years in prison. Further investigation of Bostic's computer led investigators to others in the group. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steve DeBrota said the members met though a website and traded videos and still images by email. He said: 'When they found a like-minded individual with this particular attraction that was very powerful and helped them rationalize what they were doing – in their world – was OK. 'That ability to find a like-minded individual online that you couldn't find in the real world is a severe danger that comes with the Internet.' Shawn Kuykendall, 32, of Summerville, South Carolina, was sentenced on Wednesday to 25 years, while 23-year-old Javahn Algere, of New Orleans, got 12 years and 21-year-old Richard Szulborski, of East Texas, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to a 15-year term. Sentenced earlier were Bostic; Danny L Druck, 58, of Louisville, Kentucky, eight years; Chris Reid, 37, of Saginaw, Michigan, 35 years; Todd King, 41, of Crestline, California, eight years. Nicholas King, 28, of Bellingham, Washington, and 22-year-old Jeremy Labrec, of Lubbock, Texas, have pleaded guilty and await sentencing. Assistant attorney-general Breuer said: 'Child pornography rings pose a threat to children around the world and we will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute those who participate in such groups.' The case was a result of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide Department of Justice initiative to combat online child sexual exploitation and abuse. | Operation Bulldog seized thousands of sexually explicit images of children under age of 5 . |
210,989 | 9d40aa54297d472c45770305b9839656d4daf422 | Diverting the ill-fated Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 around hostile Ukrainian airspace would have cost the airline just $66 a passenger, calculations have revealed. The additional 45 minutes of flight time that would have been required to divert the flight - accounting for costs such as fuel, maintenance, and cabin crew - would have cost the airline between $15,500 and $18,750. That figure is based on direct operating costs running at up to $25,000 an hour for the 777-220ER aircraft. The equation roughly comes to $66 per passenger, The Australian newspaper has reported, and aviation experts believe the cost-saving mechanism is why many airlines have opted to take cheaper, more direct routes. Scroll down for video . Rerouting the passenger jet would have cost the airline roughly $66 a passenger . If the plane was rerouted with an additional 45-minute flight time, it would have added roughly between $14,500 and $18,750 to the Boeing 777-220ER total operating costs . It has been confirmed since the crash, which killed 298 people, that MH17 was flying at altitude and in airspace approved by Eurocontrol, which has since closed the route over the Eastern Ukraine region of Dnipropetrovsk 'until further notice'. 'All flight plans that are filed using these routes are now being rejected by Eurocontrol,' a statement said. But aviation experts - including the former head of Qantas safety - are raising questions as to why it was even open at all. The boss of international aviation consultancy AvLaw International, Ron Bartsch, said it was ultimately up to the airline to decide what route it wishes to take and that is tricky given the savings it can make on fuel, travelling direct. He has called for an international body, possibly through the International Air Transport Association, to give carriers a better indication of the risks associated with trouble spots. Mr Bartsch said there had been instances, such as the recent volcano eruption in Chile, when Australian airlines had chosen not to fly even though the airspace was declared safe by authorities. 'It is up to the individual, in the case of airlines, to make that (decision),' he told the Sydney Morning Herald. He said deciding not to fly over a conflict zone would come at a commercial cost to an airline, because more fuel would be required at a time when prices are high. Airlines are responsible for deciding to choose which flight paths to take . In the case of MH17, Ukrainian and Russian air traffic engineers had given directions to the flight to observe a minimum altitude of 32,000ft minimum, and it was warned that the there was 'combat actions on the territory of the Ukraine near the state border with Russian Federation' hours before it took off. Malaysian Transport Minister Llow Tiong Lai said the route was a major traffic zone, confirming that its flight operators 'followed the rules'. He cited that many more flights - up to 400 a day - had been used along the same route. Singapore Airlines denied it flew the same route taken by MH17, as did Etihad. However both have found themselves in hot water after flight-tracking software indicated that they had. Qantas confirmed it didn't use that airspace and had rerouted all flights about 800km south of that region earlier this year. | Flight MH17, a Boeing 777-220ER aircraft, costs $25,000 an hour to run .
A 45-minute diversion would have cost Malaysia Airlines up to $18,750 for the full journey .
Operating costs include fuel, cabin crew, maintenance, insurance and ground services .
Aviation expert Ron Bartsch said it was up to the airline which route to take . |
2,735 | 08049e48493a9aeb69f058467b4565146ada45a8 | A hunter has been mauled by an enormous black bear after shooting it with a bow and arrow in Minnesota. The man, who has not been named, was hunting in dense woodland near Duxbury with a group of friends on Friday night when he fired at the 525lb animal . Fearing the bear's meat would spoil in the evening heat, the group then waited four hours before using its blood trail to track it several miles in the darkness. WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT . Scroll down for video . Attack: A hunter has been mauled by an enormous black bear after shooting it with a bow and arrow in Minnesota. Above, the man's friends are pictured with the bear, which they dragged out of the woods . Killed: The man, was hunting in dense woodland near Duxbury with a group of friends on Friday night when he fired at the 525lb animal. Above, the bear is seen in chains after it was stabbed to death during the attack . But after they found the bear lying injured on the ground in the early hours of Saturday morning, it suddenly charged and pounced on the victim. The man started screaming as the bear clawed and bit him, before fatally stabbing the animal around 20 times with a hunting knife, according to Kare11.com. Fellow hunter Craig Lindstrom, from Wyoming, said: 'I heard him screaming - felt like 10 minutes, but was probably two minutes - literally screaming, and you knew he was being mauled. 'He made that thing die because he stabbed it about 20 times while it was chewing on his arm. He kept stabbing it and it was pounding on him, a quarter of a ton - a 525 pound bear pounding on him.' Location: Using first aid skills he had learned as a Chicago City firefighter, hunter Craig Lindstrom led his friend half a mile out of the woods near Duxbury (pictured), where he was able to call Pine County Sheriff's Office . Using first aid skills he had learned as a Chicago City firefighter, Mr Lindstrom then led his friend half a mile out of the woods, where he was able to call the Pine County Sheriff's Office. 'I thought he was dead 10 to 15 times. He would fall down and he told us about telling his parents, his fiancée, his kids — tell them I love them, said Mr Lindstrom. The man, who suffered two broken arms and wounds to his face, jaw, stomach and legs, was then flown to North Memorial Medical Center in Robbinsdale. He is said to be in a stable condition. Hospital: The hunter was flown to North Memorial Medical Center (pictured) in Robbinsdale after the attack . Hunted: Black bears are typically around four to seven feet from nose to tail. Males tend to weigh between 130 to 350lbs, but some can be as large as 600lbs (file picture) Meanwhile, the bear, which died around 50 yards from where it was stabbed, was later dragged out of the woodland by the remaining 10 hunters. Despite the incident, Mr Lindstrom said he, the victim and their group of hunters are licensed to hunt bears and will not hesitate to do so again in the future. He added that he hopes his friend will recover in time for deer hunting season from September to December. Black bears are typically around four to seven feet from nose to tail. Males tend to weigh between 130 to 350lbs, but some can be as large as 600lbs. | Man shot black bear with bow and arrow during hunting trip near Duxbury .
Fearing animal's meat would spoil in heat, he waited four hours to track it .
But after finding it lying injured on ground, bear suddenly charged at him .
Hunter suffered two broken arms and facial wounds before stabbing bear .
He is in a stable condition at Robbinsdale's North Memorial Medical Center .
Bear, which died from stab wounds, dragged out of wood by 10 hunters . |
276,307 | f1fe1bbeae16a312c2f5057eb59c60d92ac18ca3 | By . Associated Press . and Jonathan Block . Miss America has suggested officials at a Pennsylvania high school reconsider their decision to suspend a student for approaching her at a school assembly and asking her to be his prom date, the beauty queen said on Saturday. The disciplinary action taken by school administrators in York against the 18-year-old senior made national headlines, and generated sympathy for the young man on social media. 'I was flattered by the gesture although I am unfortunately . unable to attend due to my travel schedule. I later learned of the . disciplinary action taken and reached out to the school in hopes that . they will reconsider their decision,' she wrote. Scroll down for video . Miss America said she was flattered by the gesture but just didn't have time in her schedule to make it to the prom . Miss America, Nina Davuluri, was at a high school in York, Pennsylvania when she got asked to the prom by a senior, who was then suspended for three days for asking her the question . 'Meeting and interacting with students across the country has . been an important and rewarding part of my year as Miss America,' she added. 'I . always encourage students to follow their dreams through education, and . I'm inspired daily by the enthusiasm and aspirations of the bright young . adults I have the pleasure of meeting through my travels.' A . video of Central York High School senior Patrick Farves approaching . 2014 Miss America Nina Davuluri on Thursday at a school assembly was . posted on a local newspaper's website. It shows . Farves walking up to Davuluri bearing a plastic flower and ask her to . his prom, as the crowd of students erupts in laughter and cheers. Farves said he didn't consider his proposal rejected since he never got a direct answer . Administrators . had heard rumors Farves was planning to make the bold gesture of . approaching Davuluri and warned him not to do so, Farves said in a phone . interview on Saturday. 'By that time, my mind was already set,' he said. 'I was already in the zone.' Farves . was given a three-day in-school suspension, which requires him to sit . in a classroom and work alone. He said he now feels bad his stunt . overshadowed efforts by Davuluri - the first-ever Indian-American Miss . America pageant winner - to promote diversity. 'She . was trying to get across a very strong message - about how it's not . about your beliefs or the color of your skin, but who you are,' he said. Although he was warned not to by a staff member, Patrick Farves, 18, asked Miss America out to the prom during an appearance she made at the school, earning Farves a three-day suspension. Farves, . who said his mother is white and his father is black, also said he . regretted his action because school officials worked hard to organize . the event. While . he has scores of new Twitter followers and Facebook friend requests, . Farves said he remains without a date for his school's May 10 prom. School officials issued a statement on Central York High's Facebook page, defending the decision to suspend Farves. 'It . is not our practice to discipline a student for asking someone - even . Miss America - to a school dance,' the statement said. 'However, it is . our practice to set expectations for student behavior, to communicate . those expectations and rules to students and families and to ensure . those rules are followed within our schools.' A . school spokeswoman did not immediately respond to a request for comment . on Davuluri's statement. The high school senior student was . suspended Thursday when he asked Miss America, Nina Davuluri, out to the . prom when she made an appearance at the school. Davuluri . was at Central York High School in York, just south of the state . capital, Harrisburg, Thursday when Patrick Farves, 18, asked Miss . America to prom during a question and answer session. 'At that point in time, it was 10 minutes before the presentation, and I was pretty much set to do it,' he said. 'I was a little pressured. Everybody expected me to do it. I'm the kind of person who, if someone says I won't do something, I'll prove people wrong. I will.' Video Source YouTube . Nina Davuluri, representing New York, reacts after being crowned Miss America on September 15, 2013 in Atlantic City, New Jersey . The school, facing criticism from some who thought the administration went to far, responded on Friday afternoon. 'It is not our practice to discipline a student for asking someone — even Miss America — to a school dance,' the statement from the Central York School District reads in part. 'However, it is our practice to set expectations for student behavior, to communicate those expectations and rules to students and families and to ensure those rules are followed within our schools. This practice is not uncommon and happens every day, multiple times a day, in schools, businesses and homes across America.' The school district also took offense to the media's reporting of the incident, saying, 'it's as shame that the media wants to frame this story to sell papers and make headlines using a distortion of what actually occurred.' Many students, however, think the administration overreacted, and took to social media to express their feeling, using the hashtag #freepatty on Twitter. 'True diversity is when you don't punish someone for being a little bit different" @CYStudentUnion tweeted. | Nina Davuluri was at Central York High School in Pennsylvania as part of a diversity event .
Patrick Farves, 18, has been planning to ask Davuluri out to the prom days before her apperance on Thursday .
School administrators got wind of Farves plan and warned him not to ask Miss America out .
Suspension has ignited backlash against school over the suspension . |
73,518 | d06d28b8d5e86e5752f814b95cbff56cceb93252 | Cairo, Egypt (CNN) -- Egypt's new government on Sunday ordered banks closed for the next two days after protests by National Bank workers apparently drove out the head of the institution. The chairman of the National Bank of Egypt, Tarek Amer, told employees via e-mail that he submitted his resignation on Sunday, according to a person who received the message. "I was saddened because I could not enter the bank's building today due to hundreds of protesting employees," the e-mail said, according to a bank employee, who was not authorized to speak to the media and asked not to be named. Amer was joined by two of his deputies and the bank's head of human resources, according to the message. It was not clear whether the resignations have been accepted. But Sunday evening, Egyptian state television announced that the country's lenders would be shut down until Wednesday. The announcement asked employees to consider the national interest in the wake of the revolt that drove longtime President Hosni Mubarak from office on Friday. The military council that took power from Mubarak has urged Egyptians to help bolster the country's economy, which had been paralyzed during the protests. Sameh Shoukry, Egypt's ambassador to the United States, said Sunday that the new government has made restoring security and reviving commerce its top priorities. "The Egyptian economy has suffered during this period of unrest, and was suffering from the global recession with a rising unemployment rate," Shoukry told CNN's "Fareed Zakaria GPS." Bank workers complained that members of Mubarak's family put their allies into positions of power at the bank with grossly inflated salaries. But the National Bank's headquarters in Cairo continued to function during Sunday's protests, with disgruntled staff taking turns to work and demonstrate. There were reports of protests at branches of the Bank of Alexandria and the Bank of Egypt as well. And hundreds of police officers launched demonstrations outside Interior Ministry headquarters on Sunday to demand higher wages, shorter hours, better benefits and more respect, participants told CNN. The protesters faced off with a cordon of Egyptian troops outside the ministry Sunday evening. They currently earn 500 Egyptian pounds (about $85) a month -- a quarter of what army troops of comparable rank earn, they said. They, too, want to earn 2,000 pounds a month, police protesters Mahmoud Tawfiq and Mahmoud Bedwai said. They also want their hours reduced and to be paid for working overtime, saying they work 12 to 15 hour days and face imprisonment if they refuse to work past the end of their shifts. And they called for free transportation to their job sites and housing once they get there, saying some travel hundreds of miles from Cairo for work at their own expense. Both low-ranking police officers and administrative staff joined in the protest. CNN's Amir Ahmed and Arwa Damon and Journalist Ian Lee contributed to this report. | NEW: Egypt shutters its banks until Wednesday .
The head of the National Bank of Egypt told workers he has submitted his resignation .
Police protest for better pay and shorter hours . |
194,077 | 873b2cef9bcafb2e16872238bd983818bc007038 | Arsene Wenger admits the figures do not bear scrutiny but he is certain that Arsenal have not slipped backwards during the last 12 months. Last Christmas, Wenger’s side were nicely poised in second place in the Barclays Premier League, with 36 points from 17 games and trailing leaders Liverpool only on goal difference. Yet, despite a summer outlay of more than £70million on Alexis Sanchez, Danny Welbeck, Mathieu Debuchy, Calum Chambers and back-up goalkeeper David Ospina, they are nine points worse off than this time last season and 15 points adrift of leaders Chelsea. Arsene Wenger has insisted that his Arsenal team has not regressed in the last 12 months . Wenger said: ‘I don’t think that we have gone backwards in the quality of our squad because if you look at the five players that we bought, you cannot say that one of the five players is a failure. ‘I can’t deny that we are behind much more than last year because we had a depleted squad since the start of the season, and no stability, and the fact that we got so many important injuries at the back cost us too much. ‘We lost Debuchy and (Laurent) Koscielny at the same period for three months. It’s too much.’ From dreaming of winning their first title since the Invincibles campaign of 2003-04, Arsenal are preparing for another anxious fight to extend their proud Champions League record to 18 consecutive years. However, the manager, having broken a nine-year trophy drought by winning the FA Cup last season, is not prepared to give up on the Premier League title just yet. Martin Skrtel heads in Liverpool's dramatic late equaliser in the Premier League clash at Anfield . Wenger highlighted the recent additions to his squad such as former Barcelona forward Alexis Sanchez . Wenger said: ‘Let’s see how the schedule goes over Christmas. We will have a much better idea at the beginning of January. It can still change. The next three or four games are important. ‘Chelsea will be in the fight for the title, for sure. Will it only be Chelsea and Manchester City? Today you can say maybe, but it is still a long way. Chelsea play Champions League, Man City do as well. Then you have the FA Cup and Chelsea also play in the League Cup. There is still a long way to go. ‘What is for sure is that teams like us, and those around us, need to be massively consistent to have a chance to come back. At the moment, it’s better if I don’t talk too much and we perform on the pitch.’ Injury problems linger. Still, he is without half a dozen first-team regulars going into the game at home to Queen’s Park Rangers but all except Jack Wilshere are expected back before the end of January. The Arsenal boss also attributes some of his problems to the World Cup, which he believes has influenced players physically and mentally. The Gunners boss has received heavy criticism from some sections of the club's supporters . Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere is again out with an ankle injury after a heavy challenge from Paddy McNair . ‘After the World Cup, we had too many players who were not at their level,’ said Wenger. ‘Too many came back not ready to compete again. Then you look again at the number of players we lost when they were just back to their best. ‘We had no Walcott, no Wilshere, no Ozil, no Debuchy, no Koscielny, no Arteta for too long periods. No Giroud for three months. It’s like you have half of the squad out!’ Wenger still believes the best way to address these problems of fatigue is to introduce a mid- season break to relieve the relentless grind of English football, although he would like to see it in the new year to protect the traditional festive fixtures. ‘Maybe it would be good for the English national team to have a break,’ he said. ‘Respect the English tradition, and have a break in January. If you look at the history, is it a coincidence the German team have always done well in big tournaments when England haven’t done so well? Germany has the longest winter break in Europe, out of the big countries. And by coincidence, they always do well in tournaments because they have refreshed players.’ Wenger said his team had badly missed players such as Mathieu Debuchy while they were injured . The idea of a winter break in England has been debated often. Sven Goran Eriksson pushed hard for it when he ran the national team, but was unsuccessful. It always hits the same obstacles. The Premier League will not vote to reduce the number of teams in the top flight and in turn the Football League and the Football Association are reluctant to surrender FA Cup replays and one leg of the Capital One Cup semi-final to generate necessary space in a congested calendar where midweek dates are dominated by UEFA competitions. Any agreement is still hard to imagine, not least because many fear clubs would abuse a break and see it as merely another chance to squeeze in a commercial tour, disguised as warm-weather training, but managers will often back the principle. ‘You don’t go on tour, but you give them two weeks off and then you prepare like the German teams do,’ said Wenger. ‘They stopped on Saturday and they come back at the beginning of January.’ | Arsenal drew 2-2 with Liverpool in their last Premier League match .
The Gunners are sixth in the league behind West Ham and Southampton .
Arsene Wenger insists his team have not gone backwards in the last year .
The Frenchman said his latest signings were proof of that . |
251,263 | d137b6f1699b21cc76a2a746d969b11e90c1344d | Police defended the actions of a father who infamously beat a man into a 'bloody puddle' after walking in on him sexually molesting his 11-year-old son as the suspect made his first court appearance Monday. Raymond Frolander, 18, was taken to a hospital before being taken to the closest police station, and his still-swollen face has shown very few signs of healing from the merciless beatdown he received only days ago. Frolander was conscious, but still covered in bruises and with a swollen face as he pleaded not guilty to sexual battery on a child after he admitted to molesting the boy for years. Scroll down for audio of 911 call . Beaten down: Raymond Frolander was barely recognizable in his first court appearance after the savage pounding . The father has not been charged with a crime, and police sound as if they believe his actions were justified. 'Dad was acting like a dad. I don't see anything we should charge the dad with,' Daytona Beach Police Chief Mike Chitwood told WFTS. 'You have an 18-year-old who has clearly picked his target, groomed his target and had sex with the victim multiple times.' A subsequent mugshot showed that . Frolander had been badly beaten around the face, leaving him with . swollen lips and eyes, bruising and lacerations. When the 911 responder asked the father if any weapons were involved, he said: 'My foot and my fist'. The 35-year-old man, who has not been identified, told a 911 dispatcher in the early hours of Friday: 'I just walked in on a grown man . molesting [name redacted]. And I got him in a . bloody puddle for you right now, officer.' Police arrived at the Daytona Beach home in Florida to find Frolander unconscious. Raymond Frolander, 18, (pictured in his mugshot) was beaten to a pulp by the father of the 11-year-old boy that he allegedly caught his sexually assaulting at a home in Daytona Beach, Florida . 'He is nice and knocked out on the floor for you, I dragged him into the living room,' the father said. 'Send an ambulance. He is going to need one.' The dispatcher asked: 'Is he still unconscious?' to which the father responds: 'Yes... I hit hard, sir.' He said that Frolander was a 'damn lucky boy that I love my God'. The father added: 'He stood up and his pants were around his ankles and nothing else needed to be said. I did whatever I got a right to do except I didn’t kill him.' The father had left his home around 1am to pick up some food and when he returned, heard a strange noise coming from the bedroom, police said. He pushed open the door and allegedly found Frolander with his pants down performing a sex act on the child. Frolander, 18, admitted to the abuse on the 11-year-old, according to his arrest affidavit. He is being held without bail on charges of sexual battery . The boy told investigators he had been playing video games with friends but when they left, Frolander took him to a back room and pulled down his pants. He also said Frolander had been abusing him for three years. Daytona Beach police chief Michael . Chitwood told MailOnline today that Frolander had a close family . connection to the alleged victim. The chief said the young boy was intimidated and told by Frolander that terrible things would happen if he revealed the abuse. Chief Chitwood said: 'He's 11 years old, he should be running around outside and playing video games, not dealing with something like this.' The father was not charged in the suspect’s beating, police spokesman Jimmie Flynt said. Frolander was taken to Halifax Heath Medical Center where he was treated for his injuries. The arrest affidavit said that Frolander admitted the abuse. The teen was charged with sexual battery on a child under 12 and is being held without bail. It was not known whether he's hired a lawyer. | The 35-year-old father told a Florida 911 dispatcher: 'Send an ambulance. He is going to need one'
Raymond Frolander, 18, was charged with sexual battery on a child under 12 and is being held without bail .
Father of the alleged victim was not charged with any crime . |
60,761 | aca984bc5906e37cd03ac6c727ff8cb9049f6de8 | By . Sean Gallagher . Sunderland: Pantilimon, Vergini (Roberge 61), van Aanholt, Brown, O'Shea (c), Cattermole (Bridcutt 85), Rodwell, Gomez (N'Diaye 71), Mavrias (Watmore 75), Wickham (Altidore 61), Fletcher (Graham 71). Udinese: Brkic, Danilo (c), Allan, Badu, Bubnjic, Guilherme, Muriel, Widmer, Gabriel Silva, Heurtaux, Thereau. Goals: Vergini 56, Wickham 58 . Two second-half goals ensured Sunderland ended their pre-season campaign with an impressive win over Italian outfit Udinese. Loanee Santiago Vergini and Conor Wickham were both on target as Gus Poyet's side extended their unbeaten run to three matches. After a drab first half the hosts came out all guns blazing in the second period, going close through Wickham just after the interval. The England under-21 international was denied by a superb stop from Zeljko Brkic with his free-kick looking destined for the top corner. Clinical: Wickham finished with aplomb from the penalty spot to give Sunderland a two-goal lead . Combative: Lee Cattermole gets stuck in during the game at Heritage Park . Raring to go: Rodwell will be itching to get his career back on track with Poyet . Just five minutes later and the hosts did take the lead though, with Vergini tapping home from close range from Jordi Gomez's inswinging corner. And just over a minute later the Black Cats doubled their advantage after they were awarded a penalty when Vergini was taken down in the area. The impressive Wickham made no mistake from the spot coolly slotting home as they inched ever closer to a second successive pre-season win. The hosts were unfortunate not to receive another spot-kick after Liam Agnew looked to be taken down, before Udinese went on the counter-attack up the other end going close through Luis Muriel - who dragged his shot just wide of the far post. Sunderland did manage to hold on for a clean sheet though as they recorded another encouraging victory, with their next fixture a trip to West Brom on the opening weekend of the Premier League a week today. | Two second-half goals gave Sunderland victory against Udinese .
Vergini and Wickham were both on target for Gus Poyet's side .
The Black Cats travel to West Brom for their Premier League opener . |
203,922 | 940179b46abbc53fa4d3c2a931eb34b6d7c0343b | By . Bianca London . PUBLISHED: . 06:39 EST, 17 July 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 06:39 EST, 17 July 2013 . If you are already planning a ghoulish and original Halloween outfit, look no further. The day of the dead may be three months away, but one designer has created a seriously creepy outfit for the spooky night's festivities. Online e-tailer Etsy.com are offering fancy dress fanatics Zombie tights, and they're scarily realistic. Ghoulish style: These Zombie tights are for sale on e-tailer Etsy and come in 'pink' or 'flesh' colour . Describing the £23.76 Zombie Doll ball tights, the site says: 'Be the best dressed Zombie at the party with the truly disgusting gangrene, bruised and bleeding tights with stitched up wounds.' The seller adds: 'Tell me your size and I will make a pair just for you! Each one is a little different.' Available in 'flesh', 'pink' or 'white' colours, the tights will certainly give Frankenstein a run for his money. This isn't the first pair of crazy tights on offer on Etsy. Snap them up: Available in 'flesh', 'pink' or 'white' colours, the tights will certainly give Frankenstein a run for his money . URB clothing . jumped on board the trend for statement legs creating outlandish punky 'paint drip' hosiery in January. Most . of their dripping paint designs are made by decorating classic low . denier black tights and one pair will set you back around £30 (plus £5 . to ship to the UK). Their designs take a twist on the gothic . look with intentional laddering, holes and contrast between high and . low deniers, as well as a gunge-like dripping liquid. The wet look: Brand new label URB clothing jumped on board the trend for statement legs creating outlandish punky hosiery that's not for the faint-hearted in January . Their website warns that while the Black . on Black Melting tights are photographed holey, each product comes out . slightly different and will arrive to you without holes. The legwear is made with thin black . or clear tights, latex and a thin layer of baby powder, creating the . illusion that your legs are dripping with molten matter. Vein tights, £1.98, eBay . Polly tights, £38, Culture Label . Bebaroque fringe thigh high: Urban Outfitters . | £23.67 tights for sale on Etsy.com .
Available in 'pink' or 'flesh' colours . |
131,736 | 365018eb763e23a9c6c58a6a71d6c05f7800d71c | This is the heart-warming moment a young homeless boy threw his arms around the Pope after Francis made a surprise visit to a centre for slum children in the Philippines today. The Pope was seen warmly embracing the child on a visit to the Anak-Tnk Foundation - a Jesuit charity in the poverty-stricken Intramuros district of Manila which caters for 300 youngsters. The pontiff had earlier delivered a speech urging the nation's leaders to end the corruption which contributes to tens of millions of Catholics living in poverty in the country. Scroll down for video . Warm embrace: The Pope was seen hugging a homeless boy on the second day of his tour of the Philippines . He arrived in the Philippines yesterday and was given an electrifying welcome - enhancing the nation's reputation as the Catholic Church's vibrant Asian bastion. In his first speech of a five-day tour, the Pope took immediate aim at the nation's elite who have for decades enjoyed the spoils of power while the vast majority lived in poverty. 'It is now, more than ever, necessary that political leaders be outstanding for honesty, integrity and commitment to the common good,' the pope said in the speech at the presidential palace. He challenged 'everyone, at all levels of society, to reject every form of corruption, which diverts resources from the poor'. Surprise visit: Homeless children of the Anak-Tnk Foundation, founded in 1998 by a Jesuit priest, got the shock of their lives when Pope Francis turned up today . The 78-year-old pontiff, seen by many around the world as a bold reformer compared with his predecessor, said the 'great biblical tradition' obliged everyone to hear the voice of the poor. 'It bids us break the bonds of injustice and oppression which give rise to glaring, and indeed scandalous, social inequalities,' he said. About 25 million Filipinos, or one quarter of the population, live on the equivalent of 60 cents a day or less, according to the latest official poverty surveys. The poverty has forced more than ten million Filipinos to head overseas in search of a better life. Pope Francis is on a week-long tour of Asia that began in Sri Lanka and ends with a five-day visit to the Philippines . Electrifying welcome: Thousands of Filipino Catholics greeted the Pope at the Mall of Asia Arena earlier today . Francis said one of the main purposes of his trip was to visit survivors of Super Typhoon Haiyan, known in the Philippines as Yolanda, which left 7,350 people dead or missing in 2013. He will spend tomorrow in areas of the central Philippines that were devastated by the typhoon, which smashed into coastal communities with the strongest winds ever recorded on land. 'In a particular way, this visit is meant to express my closeness to our brothers and sisters who endured the suffering, loss and devastation caused by Typhoon Yolanda,' the Pope said. While in Tacloban, the pope is expected to get some first-hand experience of the tropical storms and typhoons that claim hundreds of lives each year in the Philippines. Call on leaders: The pontiff delivered a speech today urging the nation's leaders to end the corruption which contributes to tens of millions of Catholics living in poverty . Rock-star status: Pope Francis waves to Filipinos as he rides his Popemobile back to the Apostolic Nunciature after attending the 'Meeting with Families' - which consisted of survivors of Super Typhoon Haiyan . A tropical storm in the area will bring 'heavy to intense' rain tomorrow, according to the Philippine weather agency. Monsignor Pedro Quitorio, spokesman for the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, told AFP the pope intended to press on with the Tacloban trip regardless of the weather. The Philippines has long been the Church's stronghold in the region, with Catholics accounting for 80 percent of the former Spanish colony's population. Francis enjoyed a hero's welcome when he arrived on Thursday night, with hundreds of thousands of people crowding the streets of Manila to get a first glimpse of him as he travelled in a motorcade. Too much excitement: Two nuns watch over a faint woman as she is brought from the crowd waiting for Pope Francis at the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Manila today . Massive crowds continued to choke his motorcade route today as he travelled around the city, including near the centuries-old Manila Cathedral where he celebrated mass with priests and nuns. 'My sacrifice was worth it. I feel happy. I feel blessed,' Nanette Hermano, 56, said as she cried after taking a smartphone picture of the Pope outside the cathedral. 'I've been here since 3:00 am, but I don't feel tired, I don't feel hungry. It's like a miracle.' During his first speech, Francis also issued his strongest defense yet of church teaching opposing artificial contraception. Itching to see Il Papa: A nun is pulled from the waiting crowd to get closer to the arrival area of Pope Francis . Another nun was seen fighting her way to the front of the crowd before the Pope's procession arrived . His comments were clearly a nod to the local church, which recently lost a significant fight when President Benigno Aquino III pushed through a reproductive health law that allows the government to provide artificial birth control to the poor. 'Be sanctuaries of respect for life, proclaiming the sacredness of every human life from conception to natural death,' Francis exhorted the crowd. 'What a gift this would be to society if every Christian family lived fully its noble vocation. Later today Francis will lead thousands of people in prayer at Manila's top concert arena, where music fans have flocked in recent years to see the likes of Bruno Mars, Lady Gaga and Taylor Swift. The Pope was pictured leading a mass for local Catholic leaders at Manila Cathedral today . Service: Pope Francis led a a mass at Manila Cathedral after calling on the Philippine government today to tackle corruption and hear the cries of the poor suffering from 'scandalous social inequalities' A line of priests hold out smartphones tin their bid to get a picture of the Pope at Manila Cathedral today . Pope Francis attends a packed meeting at the Mall of Asia arena, in Manila, today, which has a capacity of 20,000 people . The Pope-mania is expected to reach a peak on Sunday, with organisers predicting as many as six million people will turn up to mass at a Manila park. If as big as expected, the crowd will surpass the previous record for a papal gathering of five million during a mass by John Paul II at the same venue in 1995. Francis is on a week-long tour of Asia that began in Sri Lanka. It is his second trip to the region in five months, signalling the importance the Vatican places on Asia's growth potential for the Church. Claim: Speaking on board the plane as he travelled to the Philippines, the pontiff made an impromptu speech in the wake of the Charlie Hebdo attack saying he he would punch someone if they offended his mother . Speaking on board the plane as he travelled to the Philippines, the pontiff made an impromptu speech, saying you 'cannot insult the faith of others'. He added that he would punch someone if they offended his mother, as he debated freedom of speech in the wake of the Charlie Hebdo attack. The Pope said there were limits to freedom of expression and that 'provocateurs' should not purposely anger religious people. | Pontiff hugged children while visiting centre for homeless kids in Manila .
Earlier today he gave his first speech on a five-day tour of the country .
Urged nation's leaders to end corruption which helps cause mass poverty .
Pope-mania set to peak on Sunday as six million people expected at a service in Manila Park . |
135,029 | 3aace5f203bda80f91d7fdd2b0476c877d35266a | Neil Warnock is still aiming to add to his Crystal Palace backroom staff despite bringing in Ronnie Jepson and Kevin Blackwell. The new Eagles boss is targeting one more addition to complete his Selhurst Park coaching line-up. Blackwell has arrived to fulfil a watching brief, similar to the role Gerry Francis played under Tony Pulis. Crystal Palace boss Neil Warnock hopes to add to his coaching staff following move back to Selhurst Park . Warnock, speaking to first team coach Ronnie Jepson before Palace's game against Everton, has made a good start to life back at the south London outfit . The Crystal Palace has brought in coaches Kevin Blackwell (left) and Ronnie Jepson (right) Palace host Newcastle in Capital One Cup action on Wednesday, with Warnock warning his side to expect the visitors to be fired up by continued Tyneside unrest. United boss Alan Pardew has clung onto his job despite widespread protests from supporters calling for his head during Saturday's 2-2 home Premier League draw with Hull. Warnock now expects Newcastle to put in a strong showing in south London as his friend Pardew fights for his future. 'It will mean a lot to Alan, they are fighting on all fronts up there,' Warnock told talkSPORT. Keen to hand fringe players the opportunity to impress against Newcastle, Warnock will resist wholesale changes after Sunday's 3-2 league victory at Everton. The former Sheffield United boss is hoping for summer recruit Brede Hangeland to take his chance to shine as he continues to settle following his Fulham switch. Brede Hangeland is expected to feature against Newcastle after losing his place to Damien Delaney . Former Crystal Palace caretaker boss Keith Millen remains a part of Warnock's coaching set up . The former Norway captain questioned sacked Fulham boss Felix Magath's methods this week, but Warnock hailed Hangeland as the model professional. 'I've got to see some players play, so we've got to give people chances,' said Warnock. 'Brede's such a gentleman: when he arrived at the club he said to me "gaffer you won't have any problems from me, I'll work hard and I'm here for you". 'He's such a gentleman like I say and he's a real pro. 'So I'm looking forward to seeing him play on Wednesday.' New backroom additions Jepson and Blackwell both played under Warnock at Huddersfield, with the new Eagles manager turning to trusted lieutenants in his second south London stint. Despite Warnock's coaching reorganisation Keith Millen is still expected to remain at the club. The former Bristol City boss enjoyed his second stint as Palace caretaker manager after Pulis' exit on the eve of the new season. Both Warnock and co-chairman Steve Parish are keen to keep him in Palace's set-up. | Neil Warnock has brought in Ronnie Jepson and Kevin Blackwell .
Gerry Francis and Dave Kemp both left the club after Tony Pulis' exit .
Palace picked up their first league win of the campaign against Everton . |
134,125 | 39684b2825ec1feb0fa9074058c4bef84b75ece0 | (CNN) -- I like to watch Dr. Phil drunk. Dear Birthmother- I have great parents, I've found love, I'm happy. Everyone who knew me before 9/11 believes I'm dead. Hundreds of secrets like these arrive in my mailbox every week. They come anonymously on artful postcards from all over the world. In seven years I have received more than a half-million. I give decaf to customers who are rude to me. [written and mailed on a Starbuck cup] . To the class of 1977, I still hate you all. I leave poetry behind in library books. Watch Frank Warren's TED Talk . When I started PostSecret as an art project in 2004, I had no idea that this simple project would turn my life upside-down and offer such a fascinating peek into the rich hidden world that we share but don't talk about. I printed up 3,000 self-addressed postcards inviting strangers to share an artful secret on a postcard -- something they had never told anyone before -- and mail it to me anonymously. When they started arriving I began scanning them and posting them on the web. The idea began spreading virally with people buying and making their own postcards. Today www.postsecret.com is the most visited advertisement-free blog in the world with more than 500 million hits. Most fascinating to me are the stories behind the secrets or the intimate connections that can happen between people when they share secrets. TED.com: The web's secret stories . When I posted a secret from someone who confesses to thinking about jumping from the Golden Gate Bridge, PostSecret Blog readers sprang to action creating a Facebook group page called, Please Don't Jump. They posted encouraging pictures and shared their own inspiring stories of hope. 60,000 people joined the group in 10 days. The next week the San Francisco City Council proclaimed the first annual "Please Don't Jump Day." Shortly after that the PostSecret community created the most comprehensive directory of suicide prevention hotlines in the world. Sharing Secrets can be transformative and this project has changed my life. I learned early on that there are two kinds of secrets; the ones we keep from others and the ones we hide from ourselves. This project has helped me uncover secrets from my past that were haunting me. I have written my secrets on postcards, mailed them to myself, and spoken to my family about them for the first time. I have one of my secrets in every PostSecret book. The most exciting part of the project for me today is traveling to universities and sharing secrets live. At these PostSecret Events I not only show the most extraordinary secrets in my collection, I also try to create a safe, nonjudgmental social space where students feel comfortable expressing their private secrets publicly. TED.com: The happy secret to better work . Seeing young people courageously share their vulnerabilities can be highly emotional and meaningful. It reveals a secret about the nature of our secrets: They can be walls that separate us or bridges that unite us depending on the choices we make and the actions we take. At one PostSecret Event at a large conference in Austin, Texas, called South by Southwest a surprising thing happened. In front of an audience of more than 2,000 people a young man stood and proposed marriage to his girlfriend -- to the delight of the audience. Someone there recorded that special moment on a cell phone and it has been watched over 300,000 times on YouTube. Perhaps my favorite secret out of the hundreds of thousands I have received was mailed to me on a dollar bill. I carry it in my wallet all the time. It reads: . We are all part of something bigger, and we are all part of it together. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Frank Warren. | Frank Warren started a website that collects secrets mailed to him on postcards .
He says the site is the most popular ad-free blog .
When secrets are shared publicly, they can help unite people, he says.
Warren: The site has received half a million secrets since its founding in 2004 . |
239,748 | c25fa37ef7d76d7e614f74fb68626e7b0ba56eda | By . Michael Seamark, Nick Mcdermott and Peter Allen . PUBLISHED: . 17:42 EST, 28 September 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 09:50 EST, 29 September 2012 . Schoolgirl Megan Stammers used her 37-year-old mother's passport to flee to France with her former maths teacher, it was claimed today. The 15-year-old boarded a ferry from Dover to Calais last Thursday night with Jeremy Forrest, 30, and allegedly used her mother, Danielle Wilson's, identity. Forrest, suspected of abducting Megan, was meanwhile being held in . one of the toughest and most overcrowded prisons in France following his . arrest in the south west city of Bordeaux. Married Jeremy Forrest, 30, is being held on suspicion of child abduction while Megan Stammers, 15, is expected to return home to her relieved family by today . Jeremy Forrest is seen in the back of French police car leaving Bordeaux Police Station after being accused of child abduction . The Port of Dover was unavailable for comment when the MailOnline contacted them. As police investigate how and why . Megan was able to leave the UK while police investigated her . relationship with Forrest, the authorities will want to know how mother-of-five Mrs Wilson's passport came into her hands. They will also want to know what a young teenager was able to cross Europe pretending to be a 37-year-old woman. A UK Border Agency spokesman said that the travel company which the couple used to get to France were responsible for checking passport details - but it is unclear which agency the duo used. The shocking details emerged as it was . revealed the married man may have been planning to start a new . life in France with schoolgirl Megan Stammers. Hours after the pair were found . ‘strolling hand in hand’ in Bordeaux, extraordinary details emerged of . their eight days on the run. French . police believe they may have ‘dumped’ Forrest’s car in Paris before . travelling 400 miles by train to the city in the south-west of the . country. Once there, they say married maths teacher Forrest was trying to find work as a barman before gendarmes and British police finally tracked the pair down. They were on their way to a job interview when they were apprehended in a city centre street. Beautiful bride: Emily Forrest, pictured with Jeremy on their wedding day, has maintained a dignified silence since her husband disappeared with the school pupil . Bustling: The street Sainte-Catherine where the British schoolgirl, Megan Stammers, 15, and her maths teacher, Jeremy Forrest, 30, were found by the police in Bordeaux . Megan was left in floods of tears . after gendarmes swooped in the busy shopping area at lunchtime yesterday . to arrest Forrest, 30, on suspicion of child abduction. She . was taken into protective custody as her overjoyed family – who have . now spoken to Megan by telephone – prepared for an emotional reunion. The 15-year-old’s stepfather Martin Stammers said he was ‘over the moon’. ‘I’m . thrilled and overjoyed. The most amazing thing is the joy I feel in . here,’ he added, pointing to his heart. ‘You can’t describe the . feeling.’ Megan and Forrest . sparked an international manhunt after boarding a cross-Channel ferry . last Thursday, 24 hours after the teacher was told he was due to be . suspended. Staff at the . Bishop Bell C of E School in Eastbourne, East Sussex are believed to . have alerted British police to their concerns about the relationship . between teacher and pupil. Despite . this, the pair were able to travel to France, and until yesterday the . last confirmed sighting was CCTV footage of them arm-in-arm on the . ferry. Mrs Wilson has always said that she and Megan's stepfather, Martin Stammers, 43, knew . nothing about the UK authorities being concerned about the teenager's . closeness to Forrest. French police piecing together their journey believe they then drove south from Calais and spent ‘a long stop-over in Paris’. Their . black Ford Fiesta has been found abandoned in the French capital, where . they are believed to have been spotted by a British tourist last . Sunday. A French police . source said: ‘They dumped their car close to a mainline station and . headed for Bordeaux – clearly they knew the authorities were on to them. ‘They . thought they could blend into day-to-day life in Bordeaux, with reports . that Forrest had been applying for bar jobs as recently as last night.’ The pair had been in the city – a . popular destination with British tourists, with UK newspapers widely . available – since at least Wednesday when a witness contacted police to . say they had been spotted, according to the local public prosecutor, . Agnes Aubouin. Relieved: Megan's mother Danielle (left) and her stepfather Martin Stammers (right) are thrilled she is safe . Forrest, from . Ringmer, near Lewes, was due before a judge at a private hearing in . Bordeaux last night to be formally served with a European arrest warrant . and remanded in custody. He . will appear at a public hearing in Bordeaux’s Court of Appeal on . Tuesday and his fast-track extradition back to the UK is expected within . days. According to legal . sources in Bordeaux, Megan was staying at the British consulate in the . city before returning home late last night or today. Teacher and pupil . were finally found after both sets of parents made emotional televised . appeals begging them to make contact and return home. The pair had been in the city – a . popular destination with British tourists, with UK newspapers widely . available – since at least Wednesday when a witness contacted police to . say they had been spotted, according to the local public prosecutor, . Agnes Aubouin. They were stopped by police at 12.20pm UK time in the Rue Sainte-Catherine and were split up from each other. A . Bordeaux police spokesman said: ‘They were spotted in a street in the . city centre. A member of the public alerted us after recognising them . from the media. ‘Megan is . safe and well and under police protection. Forrest is being held in . Bordeaux’s main police station on suspicion of child abduction.’ Thursday September 20 Megan leaves her home and tells her mother she is staying overnight at a friend’s house. She and Forrest later board the Dover to Calais ferry in his Ford Fiesta. Seen on CCTV walking arm in arm. Friday Megan is reported missing after she fails to arrive at school. One of her friends receives a text saying she has arrived in France. Saturday The pupil’s stepfather Martin Stammers appeals for her to get in touch saying: ‘We are worried and miss you terribly.’ Sunday Police watch Calais in the hope the pair will use their return tickets. Chief Inspector Jason Tingley, of Sussex Police, describes it as a ‘critical stage of the investigation’. The pair do not turn up. Megan’s family and friends make appeals on social networking sites. Officers urge Forrest or the teenager to get in touch. Monday Details emerge of a blog written by Forrest four months earlier describing a ‘moral dilemma’ he faces in a posting headed: ‘You hit me just like heroin...’ It is not known who he was talking about. Megan’s mother, Danielle Wilson, appeals to her directly, saying: ‘I don’t care what you’ve done, I just want you home.’ Megan’s family explain she had been receiving extra maths lessons from Forrest for several months but did not suspect there was anything more to the pair’s relationship. Tuesday The Mail reveals one of Megan’s friends had reported concerns to a teacher seven months before they vanished and education chiefs admit an investigation was under way. Wednesday Reports suggest police had taken possession of Megan’s phone in the week she went missing. ThursdayForrest's parents Jim and Julie Forrest appeal directly to their son to get in touch, saying: ‘We are all here for you both. Please, please get in contact.’ BBC’s Crimewatch programme features an appeal. YesterdayMegan found ‘safe and well’ in Bordeaux. Forrest arrested. Forrest . was made a ‘garde a vu’ – a French legal expression which effectively . means that a suspect in custody and facing charges. A . French police source said: ‘She is on the surface safe and well. Megan . was in tears when she was taken away from the arrested man by women . police officers. She will remain in the care of the authorities. She . will soon be returned to her family in Britain.’ Friends and neighbours of the family expressed their relief at the news last night. Neighbour Kersti Barnes, 37, said: ‘When I found out Megan was missing I was devastated. ‘It’s just absolutely fantastic that she’s back and thank God nothing happened to her other than that she was with somebody else. ‘At the end of the day it could have been worse. I’m just absolutely elated for her parents’ sake because they are absolutely amazing people.’ Neighbour Kerry Davies, 40, said: ‘We are just glad that she’s safe and well.’ Neighbour Rick Smith, 26, added: ‘It’s good news. I always hoped she was safe, I didn’t imagine she would be in any trouble.’ Sorry we are unable to accept comments for legal reasons. | Megan Stammers was able to get a ferry with her mother Danielle Wilson's passport, it was claimed .
Revelation comes as it was alleged married Jeremy Forrest may have been planning to start a new life with student . |
72,387 | cd35efe56f72d2d21c2e2b49a8e288bacf8b28df | By . Associated Press . PUBLISHED: . 13:59 EST, 26 September 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 16:45 EST, 26 September 2013 . Bill O'Reilly says God told him to write his new book, Killing Jesus: A History. The 64-year-old Fox News anchor explains in an interview on CBS' 60 Minutes that one night he awoke with the title of the book in his head. He says he believes he got that message from the Holy Spirit. Fox News commentator and author Bill O'Reilly (pictured in 2012) has written a new book titled Killing Jesus: A History . O'Reilly says the book is a researched, historic account. Despite its de-emphasis of religion, he is using his special gifts from God in a positive way. The anchor, who is Catholic, says it's all part of God's plan for him. Bill O'Reill's Killing Lincoln was a New York Times best sellerKilling Lincoln by Bill O'Reilly . O'Reilly's interview with Norah O'Donnell will air on the 46th-season premiere of 60 Minutes on Sunday evening. Published by Henry Holt and Co., Killing Jesus follows O'Reilly's two best sellers, Killing Lincoln and Killing Kennedy. O'Reilly's book about Abraham Lincoln was panned by critics in 2011 for spinning a web of mistakes about the former president. He was criticized for the book's lack of references and footnotes to back up its claims. The book was subsequently banned from Ford Theatre bookstores despite riding high on the New York Times best-seller list for two months. O'Reilly has also made headlines in the past over his highly publicized divorce from Maureen McPhilmy. The former couple, who have two children together, divorced in 2011 and became entwined in a bitter custody battle. O'Reilly was accused in March this year of running a smear campaign against his wife of 15 years and even trying to ban her from the Catholic Church, according to Gawker blogger John Cook. The news anchor allegedly told the church that his ex wife was receiving communion even though she'd been divorced and remarried and that she'd been telling their children that her second marriage was valid in the eyes of God. For this, McPhilmy was allegedly reprimanded by her Long Island parish in writing. McPhilmy remarried a Nassau County detective - whose career was also allegedly in jeopardy from O'Reilly's reported smear campaign. Bill O'Reilly and Maureen McPhilmy (pictured) divorced in 2011 and endured a bitter custody battle . | Killing Jesus: A History follows his two best sellers, Killing Lincoln and Killing Kennedy .
Killing Lincoln was panned by critics for spinning a web of mistakes . |
25,719 | 48dd8f87c66ff8a5ddb8df55a6a4b66327cc74fe | Relatives of Ebola victim Thomas Eric Duncan who were put under observation by CDC after they visited him on the day he was taken to hospital are still waiting for an answer about what they should do 24 hours after they begged them for help. Aaron Yah, 43, and wife Youngor Jallah, 35, yesterday told of their ordeal in isolation and revealed that they had not received direct orders to stay indoors. Today MailOnline returned to the family's small apartment to find a family without answers, without power following violent electrical storms that brought down lines and running low on food, water and diapers for their youngest child. Scroll down for video . Fears: Youngor and her husband Aaron Yah are trapped in their home and feel as if they've been left adrift by officials. They have no power, cannot go out for food and the waste - including soiled nappies, is piling up . Most troubling of all some family members are beginning to show cold-like symptoms. Ms Jallah repeatedly wiped her eyes - which appeared sticky - with a paper towel while a child sneezed and coughed in the background. While it is unlikely to be related to the Ebola virus, they did not look as healthy as they did when MailOnline visited on Thursday. Ms Jallah said: 'We asked the CDC last night if we have to stay indoors and they said they would come back to us overnight and tell us this morning.' The CDC had been in contact with them over the last few says, checking their temperatures and blood pressures. But it was close to midday when Youngor spoke and the family was still waiting for officials to visit and answer their questions from Thursday. The couple live in the home with their four children: three boys aged two, four and 11 and a daughter, aged six. She continued: 'Our phone is not working because of the storm. So we don't know.' MailOnline contacted CDC officials on behalf of the family after our visit to their home. An official said she would pass on the information. The family has also had no instruction about how to dispose of the waste already accumulating in their small second floor apartment. The waste, which may be contaminated, includes soiled diapers. Ebola is only contagious when the infected person is exhibiting symptoms. But it can then be transmitted by an exchange of body fluids including blood, saliva, semen and feces if contact is at a point of entry like a cut or graze, mouth, nose or eyes. The entire family had exposure to Mr Duncan during the time when he was exhibiting increasingly violent symptoms and now they feel as if they've been cast adrift. Ms Jallah, Mr Duncan’s stepdaughter, said that she last spoke with her quarantined mother, Louise Troh, yesterday before the storms cut them off entirely. She said: 'She was well. She said the CDC had come and taken their temperature and it was all normal.' Finally: Hazmat teams move into the apartment where Duncan was staying when he fell sick - five days after he was taken to hospital vomiting with the Ebola virus . Horror: Youngor was at the apartment on Sunday when Duncan took a serious turn for the worse. She brought him a cup of tea while he was lying in bed . On Friday afternoon Hazmat teams were moving into the apartment where Duncan had been staying to finally clean it. Troh had complained that his sweat-stained sheets were still on the bed and the towels he used in plastic bags. Ms Jallah last saw her mother when she visited the Ivy Apartments, now quarantined under armed guard on Sunday. She told the Washington Post that she found Duncan in bed, fully dressed and shivering. After going to buy him a blanket, she helped lift him by his back so the man she calls 'Daddy' could drink some hot tea she made him. It was then she noticed redness in his eyes, a well-recognized sign of Ebola. With his temperature at 102F, Ms Jallah who, like her husband Mr Yah is a nursing assistant, called 911. When the ambulance arrived Ms Jallah brought the blanket in which she had wrapped her stepfather to the hospital. Mr Yah yesterday told MailOnline his own brief conversation with his friend that day. He said: 'The last time I saw Thomas was Sunday, the day he went to hospital. I had seen him after he went to hospital the first time and he was looking fine, he had been just fine. 'But that day I passed by on Sunday he was lying down on the bed in the room and I asked him how he was. He said, "I'm not okay." Family: Youngor calls Duncan Daddy. He is married to her mother Louise Troh, who is in quarantine . 'He said he had been having diarrhea all night.' Mr Duncan was diagnosed on Tuesday, and Mr Yah said that he was told the news the very day he was supposed to go back to work at the Meadows Nursing home where he works as a nursing assistant. | Youngor Jallah, 35, said CDC had not been keeping them informed .
Youngor said she had asked for help yesterday but had not yet got a reply .
Jallah, whose eyes appeared sticky and whose children were coughing, saw Ebola victim Thomas Eric Duncan on Sunday when he was taken to hospital .
Youngor cared for Duncan - who is her stepfather-to-be. She had touched him when she pushed him by his back to give him some tea .
They're now stuck inside their home among waste, little food and no power . |
206,642 | 97890a1c0e4b0785482d62b33c753a03f262e982 | The most-loved Barbie doll and Lego toys have been toppled by an Australian toy company. One of the fastest-growing toy manufacturers in the US, Moose Toys, won the 2015 Girl Toy of the Year Awards at the Toy of the Year Awards ceremony in New York on Friday night. Up against a slew of international goliaths, Shopkins Small Mart triumphed over the likes of Barbie manufacturers Mattel, The Lego Group and Disney Princess to win the award. Moose Toys Co-CEO Paul Solomon told Daily Mail Australia it was an incredible honour and an acknowledgement to take out the toughest category usually dominated by toy manufacturing giants. Moose Toys Co-CEO Paul Solomon with the award winning and leading Australian products Shopkins . 'The TOTY Awards is like the Oscars for our industry so it's the ultimate award to win and we're incredibly proud to achieve it,' Mr Solomon said. 'We're up against the powerhouses and the monster entertainment toy giants so it's a great Australian success story and an enormous feat to bring home.' More than 65 million Shopkins have now sold worldwide, with limited edition characters, normally retailing from $2.99, now selling upwards of $1,500 each on US eBay. Shopkins have taken the world by storm in the seven months since their launch. 'We're quite unique in Australia because we create and manufacture our own products and they're distributed to more than 100 countries over the world,' Mr Solomon said. 'It's great to see people are collecting and trading online - and to see the rare characters going for $1500 on eBay shows how demanding they are.' Home-grown success story - Australian designed and developed Shopkins scoops US Girls Toy of the Year . Australian designed and developed Shopkins Small Mart take on the Big Apple . Shopkins makes a huge splash - selling more than 65 million characters worldwide in just seven months . Designed and developed by the Moose team from their head office in Cheltenham, Melbourne, Moose Toys is family-owned and has been in the business for more than 25 years. 'A lot of time and energy have been put into these toys by our talented team and we're very proud,' Mr Solomon said. 'One of the things we do have a lot of expertise in is collectable toys so we're always on the look-out for the most popular trends and what themes work best for the children. 'Miniature toys are a huge trend and we noticed children love collecting, trading and doing role plays - like in real life in a store. 'Trends are changing on a regular basis and children are always changing every year so it's important that we must always continue to bring out the exciting and innovative toys over the years.' The colourful facade of the Moose head office in Cheltenham in Melbourne . The perfect place for creative thinking - a meeting room at the top of beanstalk where all ideas come to light . Members of the Moose Toys team at the New York Fair ahead of the Awards ceremony on Friday . Moose has products in all toy categories including collectibles, arts and crafts, activity toys, dolls, novelty items and outdoor products, and has brought joy to kids worldwide with successful products such as Mighty Beanz, Beados, Aqua Sand and The Trash Pack. 'We have a secret product launching in October but we're keeping it under wraps at the moment. There are some exciting introduction and new things so keep your eyes peeled. Mr Solomon added: 'We also signed a deal with a major entertainment company for a Shopkins cartoon series and is set to release in 2016 - it's a huge achievement to be a part of.' Paul Solomon (left) and Manny Stul (right) with Girls Toy of the Year winner Shopkins . Girls Toy of the Year Award 2015 surrounded by Shopkins characters . More than 65 million Shopkins have now sold worldwide, with limited edition characters, retailing from $2.99 . American TIA vice president of marketing communications Ken Seiter said the TOTY Award winners are chosen out of hundreds of submissions by a panel of toy experts. 'The toys selected are judged to be the most creative, unique, innovative, special toys of the year. 'We’re thrilled to recognize the Shopkins Small Mart as this year’s ‘Girl’s Toy of the Year’ as it inspires creativity and encourages imaginative play, which plays a crucial role in the development of children.' The brand has also attracted a strong online fan base, garnering 13 million views of Shopkins webisodes and over 400 million views on Shopkins fan videos. | Australian toy company has won the 2015 Girl Toy of the Year Awards .
Shopkins beat giants including Barbie, Lego and Disney Princess .
The award was given at a ceremony in New York on Friday night .
Co-CEO said the award is a great Aussie success story to bring back home . |
66,210 | bbdab6b2c27e8c5e373b5a1c8b0e82e3dae16bca | It is one of Apple's most anticipated products - and the firm's watch edged closer today as developers were let loose on the software needed to build apps for it. Announced earlier this year, the Watch it set to go on sale in spring 2015, with the cheapest model costing $295, and more expensive luxury versions expected to cost thousands more. Today the firm revealed that developers have already started building apps for the Watch, with a special app store set to launch alongside the Watch. Scroll down for video . The new kit allows developers to start building apps for the Apple Watch, which is expected to go on sale in Spring, with prices starting at $295. The Apple watch will use three types of app. Notifications allow users to take action or respond right from their wrist such as turning the lights off after they've left the house, quickly accessing flight details at the airport, and rerouting their transit when a train or bus is late. Glances, which quickly show users information they care about most, such as the latest news and sports scores, alarm system status or the next step of a favorite recipe. Full apps can use a developer's own interface. 'Apple Watch is our most personal device ever, and WatchKit provides the incredible iOS developer community with the tools they need to create exciting new experiences right on your wrist,' said Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. 'With the iOS 8.2 beta SDK, developers can now start using WatchKit to create breakthrough new apps, Glances and actionable notifications designed for the innovative Apple Watch interface and work with new technologies such as Force Touch, Digital Crown and Taptic Engine.' Instagram is one of the first to create an app for the Apple Watch. 'Apple Watch allows us to make the Instagram experience even more intimate and in the moment,' says Kevin Systrom, co-founder and CEO of Instagram. 'With actionable notifications you can see and instantly like a photo or react with an emoji. The Instagram news and watch list allows you to see your friends' latest photos, follow new accounts and get a real-time view of your likes and comments.' The watch will use three types of app. Developers can create notifications that allow users to take action or respond right from their wrist such as turning the lights off after they've left the house, quickly accessing flight details at the airport, and rerouting their transit when a train or bus is late. They can also incorporate Glances, which quickly show users information they care about most, such as the latest news and sports scores, alarm system status or the next step of a favorite recipe. Finally, they can build full apps that use their own interface. The Apple watch will use three types of app. WatchKit apps have two parts: A WatchKit extension that runs on iPhone and a set of user interface resources that are installed on Apple Watch. When your app is launched on Apple Watch, the WatchKit extension on iPhone runs in the background to update the user interface and respond to user interactions. American Airlines has already created an app . Others who were given early access include American Airlines. and ESPN. 'Fans crave real-time and personal information, and the ESPN app for Apple Watch gives us the ability to deliver live scores and information for their favorite teams,' said John Kosner, executive vice president of Digital and Print Media, ESPN. 'Glances provide fans with a snapshot of live games, and if there is no game taking place, they'll get valuable game-time information or the final box score. 'With actionable notifications, the experience becomes even more personal, as fans receive alerts on score changes, news and more.' 'The American Airlines app on Apple Watch reminds you when it's time to head to the airport via pre-trip notifications, and provides updates for gate changes, connecting gate info upon arrival, and will notify you when boarding begins if you're not at the gate yet,' said John Gustafson, American Airlines vice president of Digital. 'Travelers can also ask 'Where am I?' in-flight and get real-time location information at 30,000 ft.' The WatchKit site includes programming guides, human interface guidelines, templates and more. Starting later next year, developers will be able to create fully native apps for Apple Watch. | Instagram, American Airlines and ESPN already working on apps .
Watch will have three types of app - Glances, notification and full apps .
Expected to go on sale in Spring 2015 . |
177,209 | 7167334e0c533e629ca3e1ce7b58727e3eb8c16e | London, England (CNN) -- Apple CEO Steve Jobs this week rebuffed the suggestion that Apple will revolutionize TV in the same way it has reshaped the music industry, mobile phones and tablet computers. But Jobs is bluffing: The time is right for Apple for tackle the TV, and the company's re-entry into that market is a no-brainer. Just a "hobby" "Smarter people than us will figure this out" was Jobs' deflective response to a question about Apple's TV aspirations at the D8 Conference on Tuesday. Subsidized business models essentially give customers a set-top box for free, Jobs argued; why would they pay for another? He explained that the lack of a national cable operator, not to mention the lack of standards around TV, has led to Balkanization, or the breakup into smaller units: "It's a fundamental go-to-market problem." "Apple TV is a hobby," he added in reference to the company's neglected set-top box offering. Jobs' denials . The deflection is latest in a long line of half-truths from Jobs. It's a smart tactic that allows the company to lower market expectations and fool competitors. In 2003, Jobs said of Apple's rumored entry into the cell phone business: "We didn't think we'd do well in the cell phone business. What we've done instead is, we've written what we think is some of the best software in the world to start syncing information between devices." Four years later, the iPhone reshaped the smartphone market. In the same interview, Jobs proclaimed, "There are no plans to make a tablet. It turns out people want keyboards. We look at the tablet, and we think it is going to fail." This week, Apple announced that more than 2 million iPads have been sold since the touchscreen device was released in April. Jobs is remarkably consistent in his misdirection. Two years previous to the launch of the $499 iPad, he claimed: "We don't know how to make a $500 computer that's not a piece of junk. Our DNA will not let us do that." Prior to adding video support to the iPod, he professed: "I'm not convinced people want to watch movies on a tiny little screen." Before the launch of Apple's iBook store: "It doesn't matter how good or bad the product is; the fact is that people don't read anymore." Jobs' denial of a new service is by no means evidence against its existence; the contrary, in fact. The TV opportunity . The Internet-connected TV is an idea that's finally ripe for consumer adoption. Or more precisely: the TV as a platform. Apple's iTunes is an obvious starting point to turn the TV into an entertainment hub; it brings your purchased music, TV shows and movies to the big screen. But Apple TV, the company's first foray into the television business, boasted this exact integration and failed to take the world by storm. What has changed? The glaring opportunity is for Apple to bring the App Store to TV. With access to millions of applications -- including games -- on a big screen, the television would finally become engaging. The blockbuster launch of the iPad has proved that a screen, once connected to an endless supply of content and applications through iTunes and the App Store, becomes infinitely more powerful. The TV is simply a larger screen. Competitive pressure . This opportunity hasn't been lost on Google. Its upcoming Google TV product will run its mobile Android OS. The reason is simple: Thanks to Android, Google TVs will benefit from the app ecosystem Google already built for mobile phones. Google's strategy also points to a solution to the "set-top box problem": While Google will offer a separate box, the company has additionally partnered with Sony to have the software pre-installed in some TVs. Such a union is less likely in Apple's case, however: Apple has always preferred to create its own hardware. And while Jobs denies that consumers want another box in their living rooms, I'd wager that rumors of a $99 set-top box running the iPhone OS are indeed accurate. Beating Balkanization . The cable operator issue is trickier, but similar Balkanization in the phone space proved no barrier to Apple's iPhone ambitions. The same will be true here. Apple may name multiple cable companies as partners or simply sidestep the problem; bringing Apple's app ecosystem to the biggest screen in the house is a compelling proposition on its own. And yet ... Jobs doth protest too much. The Apple CEO explained the cable cartel in such labored terms that he must surely be in the process of untangling that thorny issue. So my bet is that Apple will indeed strike deals with cable companies to produce a comprehensive offering for TV watchers. Apple TV: a matter of time . Will Apple take another shot at television? It's inevitable. The Internet-enabled TV is coming, and Apple is perfectly positioned to join the fray. © 2010 MASHABLE.com. All rights reserved. | Internet-connected TV is idea that's finally ripe for consumer adoption .
In past, Steve Jobs has denied that Apple was planning to enter the cell phone or tablet markets .
His deflections are smart tactic that allows company to fool competitors . |
224,253 | ae6131678d586c3fd1b7d3f04dcd04f1353d1db9 | By . Oliver Pickup . UPDATED: . 07:59 EST, 8 August 2011 . The gunman who allegedly fatally wounded a police officer over the weekend, left a suicide note before going on a shooting spree, officials have said. San Diego-based officer Jeremy Henwood was pulling away from traffic lights on Saturday when Dejon Marquee White's car pulled up alongside him and he unloaded his shotgun. Following the unprovoked attack, police later cornered the armed 23-year-old and killed him. After searching his apartment, they found a two-page suicide note. Officer Jeremy Henwood (left) was shot dead in an unprovoked attack on Saturday. Dejon Marquee White (right) is alleged to have carried out the shooting, and left a suicide note before the spree . Sitting alone in his car the 36-year-old policeman was allegedly attacked by White, and died in hospital yesterday. Investigators have said that they can determine no motive for the shooting of the police officer. Before the weekend's shooting White was described as a 'petty criminal', and he had previously resisted arrest and performed minor thefts. The suicide letter did not inform readers as to how he was going to kill himself, or for what reasons, however he was linked to another shooting on Saturday - before Mr Henwood was shot dead. Outside an In-N-Out Burger restaurant located in El Cajon, 14 miles away from where the police officer was gunned down, Martin Hanna was shot at point-blank range - while in his car sitting with his girlfriend - with a shotgun. Police were trying to determine whether there was any link between White and Mr Hanna, who is expected to recover, though he is still in a critical condition. The alleged shooter is then believed to have sped away in an Audi car and he was travelling so quickly that he caught the attention of a patrol car, who gave chase yet was unable to keep up with the vehicle, which was reported to have been moving at over 100 miles per hour. Dejon Marquee White's Audi vehicle is shown, following his death. The 23-year-old was killed by police officers after he allegedly reached for his shotgun . Shortly afterwards, Mr Henwood was either stopped or moving slowly when a black Audi . with temporary plates flashed its headlights and drove to the left-hand side of his car. The suspect is then reported to have pointed a gun out of the passenger window and fired, according to police. Witnesses then used the dying officer's radio to . call for assistance and performed first aid until paramedics arrived and took him to hospital. San Diego police chief William Lansdowne led the tributes to Mr Henwood, who also served for the U.S. military in Afghanistan . A short time after the attack, officers . tracked the Audi to an apartment complex and saw a man with a shotgun climb into the car and begin to drive away. Several squad cars then blocked the road and converged on White in order to make the arrest. Officers then opened fire when he allegedly made to grab his shotgun, according to a police statement, and he died at the scene. Mr Henwood, who leaves behind . his parents, a brother and a sister, was also a captain in the U.S. Marine . Corps Reserve and had recently returned from a one-year deployment to . Afghanistan. 'Jeremy is a dedicated public servant . - he served his country in the military and he served this great city . in the San Diego police department,' said police chief William . Landsdowne, who led the tributes, yesterday. 'He also believed that he was a protector and he had a responsibility to help others. He was a great asset to the San Diego police department. 'I could tell you that this was a senseless killing - this was an assassination.' Meanwhile, in a written statement by Brian Marvel, president of the San Diego Police Officers Association, which also set up a trust fund for Mr Henwood's family, wrote: 'We are saddened by this senseless and cowardly act that has taken away a true hero. 'Having recently returned from deployment in Afghanistan, Officer Henwood was continuing to serve the community just as he had served his country - with honour and respect.' San Diego mayor Jerry Sanders added: 'This tragedy is another grim . reminder that our police officers put their lives on the line every day . to protect our community, and we are grateful for their courage and . sacrifice.' Mr Henwood had been serving in the . police force for four years and was the second San Diego officers to die . in action in only 10 months. In October last year Christopher Wilson, a 17-year department veteran, was killed in a shoot-out, along with two other people. The 50-year-old father-of-two was the first San Diego officer to be killed in the line of duty in more than six years. | Officer Henwood is the second San Diego policemen to have been fatally wounded in only 10 months .
Victim, 36, was also a captain in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve and had recently served in Afghanistan .
The 23-year-old suspect was linked to an earlier shooting 14 miles from where the police officer was killed . |
2,032 | 05e8e4ffbf97332dc277d3b097a20203ccdccb25 | By . Simon Walters . PUBLISHED: . 18:43 EST, 31 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 22:32 EST, 31 August 2013 . David Cameron’s standing as a world leader and Britain’s much vaunted ‘special relationship’ with America have both been badly hit by his Commons defeat over military strikes against Syria. And Ed Miliband has won approval for opposing the action. But the Prime Minister is applauded for giving MPs the chance to vote on the issue – and is still seen as much better at dealing with international crises than the Opposition leader, including by many Labour voters. Political capital: . Prime Minister David Cameron, left, is still seen as more of a statesman that Labour leader Ed Miliband, right, despite his humiliating defeat in the Commons after urging MPs to back an attack on Syria . That is the verdict of a Mail on Sunday poll on the row over whether the UK should support air strikes against the Syrian regime of President Assad by the US. Despite the bitter Commons clashes over Syria between Cameron and Miliband, there is no change in the party ratings, with Labour, on 37 per cent, maintaining an eight point lead over the Conservatives and the Lib Dems trailing UKIP. An overwhelming 65 per cent are opposed to UK raids on Syria, with only 19 per cent in favour, according to the Survation poll. However, that could change dramatically if Assad does not back down. Nearly one in two say they would support military action if Assad orders more mass chemical weapons attacks, with three in ten against. Barely one in five say the Prime Minister is in touch with public opinion over Syria, compared to nearly two in five who say Mr Miliband has judged the public mood correctly. But despite the doubts, four out of ten say they trust Mr Cameron in an international crisis, against just over two in ten who back Mr Miliband. Worryingly for the Opposition leader, nearly one in six Labour supporters prefers Mr Cameron. A majority of 41 per cent say the Syria affair has damaged David Cameron’s global standing, compared to 38 per cent who say it has made no difference and seven per cent who say it has enhanced it. One in three also say it has damaged Britain’s so called ‘special relationship’ with the US, though nearly half believe it has made no difference. A clear majority say the Prime Minister spends too much time strutting the world stage, instead of fixing Britain’s problems. But more than half say Mr Cameron showed strength, not weakness, by letting MPs vote on the issue. And 43 per cent say the vote enhanced the reputation of Parliament, left in tatters by the expenses scandal, compared to 23 per cent who say the anti-war vote was bad for the reputation of the Commons. A total of 1,002 people took part in the Survation online poll, conducted on Friday. | The PM is applauded for giving MPs the chance to vote on the issue .
But his standing as a world leader has been badly hit by the loss .
However voters still judge him a better statesman than Miliband . |
209,299 | 9b07a2e7f1230d24d6d5dffb915b4812e53972d9 | (CNN) -- European Union finance ministers on Sunday agreed on an 85 billion euro (U.S. $113 billion) bailout package for Ireland. The announcement comes a day after protesters snarled the streets of Dublin. Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen requested the loan last Sunday after days of insisting Ireland did not need help. The three-year, joint IMF and euro-zone loan was offered as a way to stabilize financial markets in the region. The loan is to be used to immediately strengthen Ireland's banking system, and to allow the country to undertake ambitious fiscal adjustment, including deficit reduction, said Jean-Claude Juncker, chairman of the Eurogroup said. Another condition of the loan is that Ireland tackle labor reform, he said. Of the 85 billion euros, 10 billion will be made available for immediate recapitalization. Another 25 billion will be destined for banking system support, and the remaining 50 billion for the country's budget needs. "The Irish authorities have today proposed a clear and realistic package of policies to restore Ireland's banking system to health and put its public finances on a sound footing," said Dominique Strauss-Kahn, managing director of the IMF. "Immediate actions to tackle vulnerabilities in the banks and the continued strong fiscal adjustment are set in a multi-year policy framework for sustained growth and job creation." The approved bailout package will leave Ireland with a smaller, but more robust and better capitalized banking system, he added. The IMF will contribute 22.5 billion euros of the loan amount, a proposal expected to be approved by the fund in December. Another 45 billion euros will come from the European Union and bilateral European lenders, and the final 17.5 billion euros will come from the Irish themselves, via their cash reserves and other liquid assets. The Eurogroup also addressed the need for a mechanism to help out member countries in distress. On Sunday, the leaders said that last month they agreed on a European Financial Stabilization Mechanism that will be set up to aid countries in need, together with the IMF. "The recent events have demonstrated that financial distress in one member state can rapidly threaten macro-financial stability of the EU as a whole through various contagion channels," the Eurogroup said in a statement. Irish government representatives had met Saturday night and were briefed on the negotiation ahead of the announcement, according to an Irish government statement. "We're trying hard to find a solution and I hope tomorrow the financial markets will understand and see that the euro is a safe and stable currency now and for the future," German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schauble said as the finance ministers arrived to discuss the bailout. British Finance Minister George Osborne said that it is in Britain's and the entire region's interest to achieve economic stability in Ireland because of trade in the eurozone. "I think we're going to make some very good progress today," he said. Cowen announced austerity measures during the week as the Irish government reels from the cost of saving its banks. The moves are unpopular in the country, and Cowen's party lost an election Thursday for a parliamentary seat. An estimated 50,000 people demonstrated against austerity in Dublin on Saturday. The protests were organized by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU), which has called the four-year plan for spending cuts and tax hikes "savage and regressive." Families, retired people, the unemployed and members of unions and community groups were among the demonstrators who braved a rare dusting of snow to come out Saturday, the ICTU said. Cowen announced the budget-cutting plan this week after agreeing to a bailout package from the International Monetary Fund and European Union, needed to tackle Ireland's massive debt. The plan saves 10 billion euros ($13.4 billion) through welfare cuts and an additional 5 billion euros ($6.7 billion) through higher taxes. There will be reductions in the minimum wage and public-sector pay, and a hike in the value-added tax on goods and services, Cowen said. The plan calls for introducing water meters, making students pay more for higher education, and requiring more Irish workers to pay income tax. Trade unions complain the plan unfairly targets lower-paid workers, while making no provision for a tax on asset wealth. They say it fails to explain how the Irish people can carry the banks' massive debts and sets out no strategy . for creating jobs. "People are angry and they've had enough of this government," local journalist Juliette Gash told CNN. "They're furious because they feel like the government has handed over the keys to the country." Journalist Peter Taggart contributed to this report. | European finance ministers announce 85 billion euro bailout .
Ireland is slashing government spending after bailing out banks .
50,000 people demonstrate against Irish austerity plans, police estimate . |
32,319 | 5be70c1e4b0bcce7df7af31b69a9e050517526e6 | Seoul, South Korea (CNN) -- Cho Myung-chul remembers what it was like to vote in North Korea. "They have a little piece of paper and a pencil right next to it. If you don't like the candidate you can pick up the pencil and cross the name off, but the person who picks up the pencil will die. There is always someone watching outside and of course there is only one candidate." The idea of a free election seemed impossible to Cho Myung-chul before he defected. But he is now hoping to become the first North Korean in the South Korean parliament. South Koreans head to polls on Wednesday . He stands a fair chance of being elected, number four of 46 proportional representative candidates for the ruling Saenuri party. He asks CNN, "Can you imagine the shock of all my former colleagues and school friends in North Korea if I get a place in the National Assembly?" Cho was a professor in North Korea and was among the elite, meaning his life was far more bearable than others. He says that South Koreans don't really know how dire life can be for many in the North and how bad the human rights situation is. "They understand in an abstract sense that something is not right, but they don't have actual knowledge of life there." That is one reason he has entered politics, to help the conservative party form a better policy when dealing with Pyongyang. Cho describes the difficulties he found when first trying to assimilate into South Korean life. He found it very difficult to cope, saying, "Living here I had to re-learn everything from the beginning. There was only one thing we had in common, the language and other than that, the gap was huge." The Korean peninsula was split in 1953 when an armistice was signed after a bloody war. The two sides have never signed a peace agreement. South Korea has since grown to become Asia's fourth largest economy whereas North Korea struggles to feed its own people, asking the international community for food and monetary aid. Cho acknowledges many defectors find it hard to adapt and says the government has to do more to help. "There are around 23,000 North Korean defectors here now. These people are the pioneers of unification, they have to be able to settle here and succeed. If you can't reunify with this small group of people, you have no chance with 23 million people in North Korea." Cho will find out Wednesday if his parliamentary election bid is successful as South Koreans head to the polls. | Cho Myung-chul hopes to become first North Korean in South Korean parliament .
Cho defected from the North and wants to help the South form a better Pyongyang policy .
South Koreans head to the polls on Wednesday for parliamentary elections . |
45,032 | 7ee65ab41df7804408191c7060c71af21c1632b9 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . Millions of pilgrims are expected to descend upon Mecca, in Saudi Arabia, for this year's Hajj pilgrimage although health officials are concerned of a deadly new virus spreading . Fears over a global outbreak of a deadly new virus which has emerged in the Middle East are growing as millions of religious pilgrims prepare to visit the region. Health officials in Saudi Arabia are preparing for the annual Hajj pilgrimage this autumn, which sees millions of Muslims visit the country each year. But concerns in the area have been increasing over the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, which is thought to be more dangerous than SARS, after more than 60 cases were reported in the last year by the World Health Organisation. Officials in Saudi Arabia, where many of the MERS victims have been, are now doing all they can to track down the virus and prevent it from spreading during the pilgrimage, according to Foreign Policy. There have been 77 laboratory-confirmed infections as of June 26. A total of 62 of these cases have been in Saudi Arabia, where 34 of the victims have died. Last year approximately 6 million pilgrims travelled through the country as part of the event, which saw millions circle the Kaaba, in Mecca, alone. The disease, which can spread easily between people, has been compared to SARS, which killed 800 people during an outbreak in 2003. Some experts have noted resemblances between the two as both spread easily between hospitals. Symptoms are also similar with a fever and cough that develops into pneumonia. But, doctors note that the fatality rate is higher. Eight per cent of SARS patients died, while 65 per cent of MERS cases are believed to have been fatal. Doctors have not been able to pinpoint exactly how the illness is spread in every case, as some appeared to catch it when they had not been in contact with an infected person. Cases have also been reported in Jordan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Tunisia. But, most cases have been in Saudi Arabia, which is also set to receive millions of Muslim pilgrims during Ramadan next month. Doctors are worried after the new MERS disease (pictured) showed the potential to become as deadly as SARS . Experts say that despite the small number of cases, MERS must be watched as it has the potential to cause an outbreak. WHO Director-General Dr Margaret Chan said: 'We understand too little about this virus when viewed against the magnitude of its potential threat.' WHO is set to meet in Cairo next month to discuss MERS and its potential threat. Most cases of the disease have been recorded in Saudi Arabia, which is also expecting millions of Muslin pilgrims to visit this month during Ramadan . | Health officials in Saudi Arabia prepare for Hajj pilgrimage this autumn .
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome currently causing concern in area .
Deadly new virus is believed to be even more dangerous than SARS .
Millions from across globe are preparing to visit region for pilgrimage . |
131,915 | 369068124cac33a5e11a40abf6cdc04ef91cf46a | Washington (CNN) -- Rep. Ron Barber, one of the last remaining lawmakers whose reelection fate has yet to be decided, has filed suit in federal court asking for 133 disqualified ballots to be counted as his contest with Republican Martha McSally heads to a recount. "We are talking about 133 Southern Arizona voters who lived up to their responsibility — they registered to vote and then showed up to vote," Barber attorney Kevin Hamilton said in a statement out Monday. "We are asking the court to ensure that every lawful vote is counted. That's what America is all about." Barber is trailing McSally, a retired Air Force colonel, by just 161 votes, a margin slim enough to trigger a recount when the votes are certified by the secretary of State, which is expected Dec. 1. But his campaign has been working feverishly over the past few weeks to find and gather evidence of ballots they say were illegitimately thrown out. They submitted with the lawsuit sworn affidavits from the voters in question outlining the issues they faced trying to cast their ballots. The reasons their votes were discarded range from signatures not lining up with their registrations to election officials failing to direct voters to their proper polling places. Barber's campaign tried unsuccessfully last week to delay the canvass of votes in the two counties that make up the district, Pima and Cochise, hoping to buy time to continue to root out other votes that may have been wrongfully discarded. But with the campaign's requests denied, Barber's options for ensuring those 133 ballots are included in the final count have narrowed. His lawsuit is seeking a restraining order to prevent the secretary of State from certifying the election results until the ballots in question have been counted. Barber holds the seat once held by his former boss Democrat Gabrielle Giffords. McSally, meanwhile, is continuing with business as though representative-elect. She spent last week in Washington D.C. at freshman orientation with other newly elected lawmakers from across the nation. | Rep. Ron Barber's reelection bid is one of the few uncalled remaining House races .
He's down by 161 votes to GOP opponent Martha McSally .
That margin will trigger a recount when the vote is certified next month . |
25,216 | 476eb8ba7011f2722fc70ff39ef3b2c57439c1f1 | There's an attempted coup in progress in Venezuela, an attempt orchestrated and directed by political and financial elites in the United States. Outlandish? Not if you ask Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, who spoke at length during a news conference Friday night about his allegations of conspiracy, which others call conspiracy theories. His staff made sure foreign media, including CNN journalists, got an invitation. The news conference, carried live on state-run TV, lasted two hours and 28 minutes. It may have seemed like an eternity to foreign correspondents, but it was brief by Venezuelan standards, especially compared to Maduro's predecessor. The late President Hugo Chavez would talk politics, economics, and baseball for hours on end. He would occasionally serenade Venezuelans while addressing the entire nation on live TV. "There's a world campaign against Venezuela," Maduro told correspondents. "It's a campaign to justify an intervention in the domestic affairs of Venezuela." It's a talking point Chavez, who died of cancer last year, also made frequently. Talk about foreign invasion or intervention resonates with loyalists and galvanizes members of the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela. Maduro, a former bus driver and union leader, spoke not only about alleged conspiracies involving an international plan to destabilize his government, but also about Venezuelan and Latin American history, United States politics, democracy, the right to a free higher education, free trade agreements, the Venezuelan opposition and Spider Man, just to name a few. He spent a good portion of the news conference blaming foreign media for what he called "a brutal manipulation campaign." The campaign "has created the perception in the world that Venezuela is on the verge of civil war, that here in Venezuela we have a group of docile students opposing an illegitimate government," Maduro said. The president had denied or revoked press credentials for seven CNN journalists the day before. At the news conference, he announced CNN could continue reporting inside Venezuela. The president also apologized on behalf of Venezuela for an armed robbery against a CNN team and said the incident is being investigated. At least eight people have died in the last two weeks in clashes at anti-government protests throughout Venezuela. Among the victims was Genesis Carmona, 22, a beauty queen who was shot in the head while participating in a protest in the city of Valencia. Protesters complain the socialist government has mismanaged the country creating all kinds of problems including insecurity, shortages of food and basic products (like toilet paper), blackouts and rampant inflation that last year reached 56 percent, according to the Central Bank of Venezuela. Maduro blames most of the problems on a foreign conspiracy. An opposition leader, Leopoldo Lopez, turned himself in on Tuesday after being charged with arson and conspiracy during the protests. Maduro says his government had to take the former mayor and presidential candidate to a jail in military complex "to protect him" from a conspiracy to kill him. Asked about the polarization of Venezuela, Maduro said "there's no democracy without a politicized people." Asked about why tensions between loyalists and the opposition have increased, he said, "you the media have fanned the flames of hatred." The criticism against his government happens because "he who leads gets hit the most," Maduro said. In spite of recent tensions, the socialists have had important electoral victories in Venezuela -- 18 victories at the ballot box since 1999, according to Maduro. The ruling party obtained 55 percent of the vote in local elections in December, even though Maduro himself won the presidency with a margin of only 1.4%. "A win is a win," he said. In spite of blasting the United States multiple times, Maduro extended an olive branch, saying he would like to open a dialogue with the country that buys 40 percent of Venezuelan oil. A start, he said, would be to once again exchange ambassadors. He also said that as a child he would wear Spider-Man or Superman costumes and that he gets excited when he listens to blues music. "I think I might've been from Mississippi in another life, right?," he said with a smile. Maduro is nearing the end of his first year of a 6-year presidential term and hinted he wouldn't mind staying longer in power. But he carefully clarified that he believes in democracy and has invited the opposition multiple times to talk. "Dictator? What dictator?" he said. | President Maduro shares the conspiracy theories of Hugo Chavez .
Maduro says there is an attempted coup in progress against him .
His news conference lasted for more than two hours . |
250,933 | d0c025a852ba072d236d2d0c624883393626d1a1 | Maybe she meant to, maybe she didn't, but Mary Landrieu reached straight for the encyclopedia of Things Losing Candidates Say. The Louisiana Senator — an 18-year Washington veteran and outgoing chairwoman of the Senate Energy Committee, blessed with one of the most recognizable last names in southern politics — stepped away from a modest crowd of supporters at a campaign event here for an interview about her difficult runoff race against Republican Bill Cassidy. "It's not over until it's over," Landrieu said of the campaign, which has been left for dead by national Democrats. "The only poll that counts is Election Day." A few of the reporters and political types standing nearby exchanged knowing glances. Landrieu's defeat gives Republicans ninth seat this cycle . As defined by political analyst Stuart Rothenberg, who curated the definitive list of "Things Losing Candidates Say" for Roll Call last year, the luckless phrase is a pretty good indicator that "you are losing the race at the time and have no empirical evidence to the contrary." The evidence was stacked against Landrieu, who advanced to the runoff after losing a strategic bet that she would win Louisiana's non-partisan primary outright four weeks ago. Instead, she got 42 percent, far short of the 50.1% needed to win, and voters are now consolidating around Cassidy. If Landrieu had pulled it out Saturday, it would be have been an epic fourth quarter miracle that would put Les Miles to shame. She would have had to keep African-American turnout on par with the November primary, and somehow find a way to increase her support among white voters from the dreadful 18 percent she received last month, all in the middle of the holiday season. It was a near-impossible lift. There hasn't been a gold standard poll of the race, but she was losing by 15 or 20 points depending on the survey. The actions of national Democrats were an even better tell. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee canceled its ad reservations for the runoff after Landrieu failed to win the Nov. 4 jungle primary outright, effectively ceding the airwaves to Cassidy and Republicans, who are outspending her 7-1 on television. Supporters put on a brave face. "Mary has always had close races and she always pulled them out," said Harold Ritchie, a state representative and funeral director from Bogalusa. "A lot of us are counting on that happening one more time." Politically speaking, Louisiana is a weird place. They have elections in odd years and run "jungle primaries." Politicians, state and local, genuflect before the gods of the oil and gas industry. It's a state that's twice voted an Indian-American Catholic Rhodes scholar into the governor's office (Bobby Jindal) and seems primed to succeed him with a Republican who reportedly liked to wear diapers while soliciting a prostitute in the French Quarter (David Vitter). There's a proud populist streak, a fraught racial history and a healthy dash of corruption. "Louisiana politics is of an intensity and complexity that are matched, in my experience, only in the Republic of Lebanon," A.J. Leibling once wrote about the state. He was referring to the strange gumbo coalitions — white, black, cajun, redneck, uptown, downtown — that candidates assembled to win statewide elections. But Liebling was scribbling those thoughts for The New Yorker in 1960. These days, elections are nationalized, waged on television and online, and not even the most Lousianan of Louisianans can safely count on surviving at the ballot box — no matter how much clout one has built up in Washington or how many LSU tailgates one attends. Republicans have clobbered Landrieu with television ads tying her to President Barack Obama, whose approval rating in Louisiana, according to midterm exit polls, is 39 percent. "The Republicans and her opponent Bill Cassidy have done a very effective job at creating an emotional target for voters to direct their frustration towards, and that would be President Obama," said New Orleans-based Democratic pollster Silas Lee. Landrieu, first elected in 1996, compared herself to New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees and Cassidy to an unknown rookie. Voting her out of office, she argues, would be akin to benching the star quarterback when the team needs it most. The argument, though, had lost its resonance with Obama's waning popularity and the newly-in-charge Republican Senate majority, depriving Landrieu of her coveted position as chairwoman of the Energy Committee. "Seniority is based on how many years you have served," she said. "Nothing has changed. I will have served 18 years. I have served with Democrats in charge, I have served with Republicans in charge. Nothing can take my seniority away. I will still be one of the highest ranking members of the Senate. I won't be chair. But I will be ranking member of the Energy Committee, and in that I will convene meetings of Democrats on Energy Committee, so Louisianans will still be at forefront, at the leadership table. I will still be part of the leadership team. That's much better than sitting on the back bench or sitting on the rookie bench." Landrieu spent the final week flogging Cassidy, a congressman and LSU physician, over a late-breaking news story about questionable paychecks he received for part-time medical teaching work he may or may not have done at the university in Baton Rouge. "This story has legs," Landrieu said. "This story is breaking. You know, I wish it had broken a couple of weeks ago, but you know what? It broke now. Bill Cassidy cannot say, 'I am a doctor, I am higher than the law.'" The argument felt like a Hail Mary, the last gasp of a zombie campaign that many Democrats are waiting for to die in a canebrake. And even the senator admits how difficult it is to run a campaign when no one, in Louisiana or elsewhere, seems to be listening anymore. "Nothing seems to be breaking through these days," she said with a sigh, deviating slightly from her message. "It's a very strange situation, all over the country. It's like people are just so mad, these commercials have really gotten people's emotions up. So getting people to focus on what really matters, leadership, honesty, integrity, hard work ..." Landrieu trailed off. "I am not going to give up," she said. "These last few days are really important." | Sen. Mary Landrieu lost her runoff race to GOP challenger Bill Cassidy on Saturday .
Landrieu's supporters put on a brave face until the end . |
156,928 | 56e84db2d139b087f2e200eec4a0f8e5ab132bb2 | (CNN) -- Babies are unpredictable, messy and constantly changing. Sleep-deprived parents struggling to make sense of their tiny humans' behaviors are starting to take a scientific approach, collecting data in the hopes of solving problems like not sleeping through the night. Ankle monitors are typically associated with criminals on house arrest, but the latest gadget for this generation of tech-saturated parents mimics the shackles of old -- in much friendlier colors. Sproutling's baby ankle monitor tracks vitals such as heart rate and body temperature, and can tell if a baby is moving or in a dangerous face-down sleeping position. The environmental sensor picks up on the humidity, noise levels and temperature of the baby's room. Best of all, it learns about each child's behaviors over time and adjusts accordingly. For example, it might deduce the optimal room temperature for sleeping based on a child's nap patterns and point out that lowering the temperature two degrees will help the baby sleep 20 minutes longer. Or if it senses elevated noise levels, it could warn parents that their child is going to wake up unless it's quieter. But are there are concerns about introducing yet another gadget into parenting. Children are already glued to their iPads, parents to their smartphones. Instead of relying on first-person observations or their own instincts, parents could use devices as a crutch. The promise of solving problems with enough data can also be misleading. For some babies, all the quantifying in the world won't make them sleep better. Knowing too much about an infant's status and vitals could put a naturally anxious parent at ease. Or having more information could inflame worries. Instead of sneaking in to make sure a baby is breathing, a father might spend the evening staring uneasily at an app, or compare his kid's measurements and behaviors to other children and wonder if it's normal. Parents should read aloud to infants every day, pediatricians say . To avoid overwhelming parents, Sproutling isn't handing over raw data about individual children. "That detailed information in the hands of a parent without any context will actually create fear and anxiety," said Sproutling CEO Chris Bruce. "On its own, data really is meaningless to people until they have the means to understand it." While not ideal, physically attaching a device to a child is currently most efficent way to collect data. Sproutling's adjustable ankle bracelet is made from a soft fabric (which is machine washable), and the sensor, which charges wirelessly, is medical-grade silicon. The white charging dish doubles as the environmental sensor, and the mobile app serves up advice and warnings. Parents can pre-order the kit for $250 now and it will ship in March 2015. It's not the first wearable baby monitor on the market. Mimo makes a $200 onesie with a detachable monitor that also tracks heart rate, skin temperature, movement and sleeping positions. Owlet is another baby wearable still in production that straps to the ankle and sends text alerts. The most popular baby names are... Sproutling sets itself apart by returning insights instead of just data, and by looping in information about the surrounding environment like light and noise levels. It also uses machine learning to give tips, insight and advice based on data collected from a specific child. The team behind Sproutling has a lot of experience with design and integrating data with people's everyday lives. The company's early employees come from medical companies, Apple, Google and General Electric. Sproutling received $2.5 million in venture capital funding in 2013. Bruce is confident Sproutling's baby monitor will stand out when it's released. (He even tested the product on his kids). The company already has four more products in the pipeline to cover older kids and the rest of the family. Even so, he knows attaching a device to a baby isn't going to appeal to all parents. "It's not for everybody. I think there's a lot of parents who will never put technology on their kids." Dad's brains are ready to bond with kids . | The Sproutling baby monitor tracks heart rate, position and body temperature using an ankle bracelet .
Parents get insights and tips into their child through a mobile app .
The $250 device will be available in 2015 . |
189,350 | 81376a4f8f8de0f8c716794f188ab7df0347bc5a | By . Rob Cooper . Last updated at 3:37 PM on 2nd December 2011 . Traveller families who were living illegally on the Dale Farm site have been warned they will be charged £80,000 each to cover the cost of their eviction. Basildon Council will demand the families living on the 52 plots pay just over £4million between them. The families were removed from the six-acre site near Crays Hill, Essex, after a 10-year planning row. Dale Farm eviction day: Police use a cherry picker to talk to protesters. Each of the 52 families will be billed for £80,000 to cover the costs . A council source said it would be likely to seek ownership of the land as there is little chance of the traveller families producing the money. 'There is more chance of getting blood from a stone than the travellers handing over money for being thrown off their land,' he said. 'I think realistically, what we will see is the council will take ownership of the land and it will become a council asset. 'The final use of the site has not been decided but there has been talk of it becoming allotments.' Council leader Tony Ball said: 'Some travellers will pay more than others, as there were buildings which had to be removed, requiring more work to do.' The £4million cost was just half of the £8million bill expected if activists had dug their heels in and held out against the bailiffs for months in the 'Battle of Basildon'. A protester holds up a cross in front of a barricade during the eviction at the Dale Farm site in Crays Hill in October . Police use Tasers as they break through a barricade during evictions from Dale Farm . As it turned out, travellers who had pledged to 'fight to the death' walked away from the former scrapyard just two days after the eviction began in October. Essex Police has yet to finalise the costs of the eviction but it is anticipated they too will come in well under the budget of £10million. The Dale Farm site remains blocked off and any families moving back onto the land have been warned they could be arrested. Last month dozens of caravans returned to the site, sparking fears that the council could be left facing another long battle to remove them. But many of the families are now living on plots on the legal part of the Dale Farm site - just 200 yards from where they were evicted. Enforcement: Council workers arrive with injunction notices after the courts ruled the eviction could go ahead following a 10-year legal battle . Others in touring caravans are still parked up on the roadway leading to the site. Former Dale Farm resident Mary McCarthy, 42, a mother-of-three, said: 'People have nowhere to turn to. This is home for them, Basildon is home. Essex is home so that is why we are still here. 'It is getting cold now and people are starting to suffer and that is why the families did not want to return to a life on the road. 'We have kids, it's not a life for them in these conditions.' | Basildon's futile attempt to recoup £4million .
'Likely to take control of land' instead . |
111,104 | 1b44c3775d113e1c8e4549bed1b8d4bdf6331e89 | By . Simon Jones . Stoke City are in talks over a deal for Barcelona forward Bojan Krkic. Manager Mark Hughes, a former Barcelona striker himself, met the 23-year-old at Cheshire hotel Rookery Hall for an informal chat and the Spaniard arrived at Stoke on Friday after getting the go ahead from Barcelona to join. And chairman Peter Coates insisted that the move was close as the club looks to expand it's attacking options. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Stoke target Bojan find the top corner for Ajax . Journeyman: Stoke target Bojan Krkic spent last season on loan at Ajax from Barcelona . 'Mark has met with the player and we’re quietly confident of getting it all completed soon,' said Coates. 'Attacking . players have been very much the focus for Mark since the end of last . season and obviously Bojan would be another very good addition.' Stoke want a loan with view to a permanent deal for the player who spent last season on loan at Ajax. On the up: Mark Hughes wants to bolster his Stoke squad and improve on last season's ninth-place finish . Experienced: Bojan has made over 100 appearances for Barcelona and enjoyed loans with Roma and AC Milan . | Stoke keen to tie up season-long loan deal for Bojan Krkic .
Chairman Peter Coates 'quietly confident' that move will go ahead .
Barcelona forward has made over 100 appearances for Catalan club .
Bojan has also spent time on loan at AC Milan, Roma and Ajax . |
195,118 | 88924157897345140a79a911c780d4cc4c758bba | Luke Shaw admits it will be a dream come true to step out at Old Trafford as a Manchester United player for the first time when Louis van Gaal’s side face Valencia in their final pre-season friendly on Tuesday. The occasion also marks Van Gaal’s first home game in charge before United host Swansea in their Premier League opener next weekend, and Shaw is under no illusion that the deposed champions need to put a disastrous season behind them and get back to winning trophies under the Dutchman. The England defender, signed from Southampton for £27million this summer, said: ‘As a kid, it’s a dream to play at Old Trafford. It’s one of the biggest arenas in the world, you would say. Scroll down for videos... Luke who's talking: Luke Shaw admits it will be a dream come to true to make his Old Trafford debut . Dutch of class: Every game is serious for new manager Louis van Gaal (L), reveals Luke Shaw . ‘To know it’s going to be my home ground is something special. I can’t wait to get my first touch on the pitch just to relish it. ‘You have got to be positive and, for me personally, I have come here to win trophies and it is something everyone wants, not just me. Everyone in that dressing-room is looking to do it. ‘We want to win the Premier League. Obviously there is no Champions League for us this season so the main focus is on the Premier League and we all cannot wait to get started.’ Van Gaal is taking the game so seriously that he sent coach Marcel Bout on a 7,500-mile round trip from United’s training base in America to watch Valencia play Monaco in the Emirates Cup at Arsenal last weekend. Shaw believes that is typical of the manager’s determination to hit the ground running this season after implementing a new 3-4-1-2 formation that sees the 19-year-old operating as a left wing-back. Back to winning ways: United claimed the International Champions Cup on their pre-season tour of the US . ‘Every game is serious,’ added Shaw. ‘We want to improve as a team and the way we can do that is going into the game properly by using the scouts to discover what they are like and see how we are going to play against them. I think it will help us. ‘The main thing is obviously the first Premier League game against Swansea for the first match of the season, but we want to keep improving as a team and getting used to the formation so we will be flying when the season starts. ‘It has been a crazy few weeks for me. I got back from the World Cup and came up here to get everything sorted with the medical. Then I had a couple of weeks off and it has been crazy but I’m glad I am back now and getting fit for the season. ‘I managed to get away and see what it is like on tour. I’d heard a lot of things about how crazy it was and I witnessed that. It was great to win the tournament (International Champions Cup) at the end as well. ‘Until you have gone out there, you don’t know what it's like. That surprised me but I have heard it (the fanaticism) is even worse in Asia so I was quite glad we were in America. It was really nice to see how many supporters United have got out there.’ New signing Ander Herrera (C) was overwhelmed by Manchester United's support in the States . United’s other summer signing, Ander Herrera, was also surprised to see how popular the club are Stateside following his £29m move from Athletic Bilbao. ‘My first surprise was we went to the stadium in LA and there were 80,000 people there singing Glory, Glory Man United, I really enjoyed seeing that,’ said Herrera. ‘It was a big experience for me and I now understand just how big Manchester United is in America. There were a lot of fans in the hotels, at training and in the stadiums and I really enjoyed the experience. I am also learning a lot from my team-mates and the staff, and I am looking forward to playing more games.’ Herrera’s Spanish compatriots David De Gea and Juan Mata – who will be facing his old club on Tuesday – have been helping the midfielder settle in at United. ‘I have played with Juan since we played for the Spain Under-21 team,’ he added. ‘We have a great relationship and with David too. ‘For me, he will become the best keeper in the world. He always trains hard and wants to improve. That’s very important for a keeper.’ Special Juan: Manchester United playmaker Juan Mata (C) will play his former club Valencia in final friendly . Manchester United are expecting a crowd of around 60,000 to attend the match, however there are still some tickets available. Tickets and are priced from £20 for Adults and from £10 for Under 16s and can be purchased online at www.manutd.com/reunited14 by calling 0161 868 8000 or available on the day from the Manchester United ticket office. Hospitality packages are also available. Which United players will make it into your fantasy Football team? CLICK HERE to start picking your Fantasy Football team NOW! There’s £60,000 in prizes including £1,000 up for grabs EVERY WEEK... | Luke Shaw admits it will be dream come true to make his Old Trafford debut .
Former Southampton defender arrived at the club for £27m in the summer .
New boss Louis van Gaal will also be taking charge of his first home game .
Manchester United play Valencia in their final pre-season friendly .
Ander Herrera admits being overwhelmed by club's support on US tour . |
175,047 | 6e9296d7cba1eefa5ee589ef2a807512dfc0616f | Spacewalking astronauts routed cables outside the International Space Station on Saturday, a tricky and tiring job that needs to be completed before new American-made crew capsules can dock. It was the first of three spacewalks planned for NASA astronauts Barry 'Butch' Wilmore and Terry Virts over the coming week. Altogether, Wilmore and Virts have 764 feet of cable to run outside the space station. The longest single stretch, for installation Saturday, was 43 feet. Scroll down for video . Astronauts: Astronauts Barry 'Butch' Wilmore and Terry Virts routed cables outside the International Space Station on Saturday in preparation for new American-made crew capsules . Preparations: Here, Wilmore begins the spacewalk Saturday morning to wire the International Space Station in preparation for the arrival in July of an international docking port . Rewiring: The extensive rewiring is needed to prepare for NASA's next phase 260 miles up: the 2017 arrival of the first commercial spacecraft capable of transporting astronauts to the orbiting lab . 'Broadening my resume,' Virts observed as he started laying cable. NASA considers this the most complicated cable-routing job in the 16-year history of the space station. Equally difficult will be running cable on the inside of the complex. The extensive rewiring is needed to prepare for NASA's next phase 260 miles up: the 2017 arrival of the first commercial spacecraft capable of transporting astronauts to the orbiting lab. 'Pretty Cool:'Saturday's spacewalk was the first for Terry Virts, flight engineer, who arrived at the space station in late November, when he floated above the South Pacific he said 'Pretty cool' NASA: NASA is paying Boeing and SpaceX to build the capsules and fly them from Cape Canaveral, which hasn't seen a manned launch since the shuttles retired in 2011 . NASA is paying Boeing and SpaceX to build the capsules and fly them from Cape Canaveral, which hasn't seen a manned launch since the shuttles retired in 2011. Instead, Russia is doing all the taxi work — for a steep price. The first of two docking ports for the Boeing and SpaceX vessels — still under development — is due to arrive in June. Even more spacewalks will be needed to rig everything up. There were so many cables — up to 10 on Saturday to deal with — that NASA color-coded them. That helped the spacewalkers only so much; they expected a lighter blue for one of the lines. 'I worked up a lather on that one,' Wilmore informed Mission Control. After successfully attaching the first four cables, he added, 'I've got to cool down.' First of Three: Astronauts Wilmore (left) and Virts (right) began the first of three jobs Saturday morning in preparation of space taxis . Difficult: NASA considers this the most complicated cable-routing job in the 16-year history of the space station . It was the first spacewalk for Virts, who arrived at the space station in late November. He savored the moment as he floated out high above the South Pacific. 'Pretty cool,' he said. The second spacewalk will be Wednesday and the third on March 1. Spacesuit concerns stalled the work by a day. NASA wanted to make certain that the suits worn by Wilmore and Virts had reliable fan and pump assemblies. Two other fan-pump units failed aboard the space station in recent months and were returned to Earth earlier this month for analysis. Corrosion was discovered, the result of water intrusion from testing. | Spacewalking astronauts routed cables outside the International Space Station on Saturday .
Astonauts Barry Wilmore and Terry Virts are tackling the job that needs to be completed before new American-made crew capsules can dock .
The first of the three jobs began Saturday with the third set to take place March 1 . |
155,623 | 5527ebf751eba120134ae96d91c9b0e4de261f83 | PUBLISHED: . 11:37 EST, 24 June 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 11:48 EST, 24 June 2013 . 'Murdered': Thomas Lang, 91, died after his grandson Stephen grabbed him round the neck and stole his £300 pension money, a court heard . A teenager murdered his frail grandfather during a botched robbery for his £300 pension money, a court heard today. Stephen Lang grabbed 91-year-old Thomas Lang, 'broke his neck' and pushed him to the floor during the attack in the early hours of April 17 last year. Lang, now 20, went to his bedroom and stole £300 from a wallet that was hidden under a pillow. He then fled, leaving his grandfather seriously hurt on the floor of his home in Launceston, Cornwall. Despite his injuries, Mr Lang was able to summon help at 1.44am on a lifeline alarm that he wore around his neck, Truro Crown Court heard. Simon Laws QC, prosecuting, told jurors: 'In the early hours of April 17 last year Stephen Lang paid a visit to his grandfather. 'He attacked him and he inflicted very serious injuries upon him. 'He broke his neck and he caused injuries to the structures of the throat. Mr Lang died from his injuries a few days later in hospital. 'The motive had been robbery. The defendant stole a few hundred pounds while his grandfather was lying on the floor unable to move.' Carers alerted the pensioner’s son, Keith - who is Stephen Lang's uncle - and he rushed to his father’s sheltered housing flat in Trecarn Close. Mr Lang discovered the flat door slightly ajar, signs of a disturbance with the coffee table knocked over and his elderly father on the floor of the lounge. The pensioner asked his son to call the police and then told him what had happened. 'He said Stephen Lang had come to the flat saying that he had just finished work,' Mr Laws said. 'He had then attacked his grandfather, grabbing him around the neck. Thomas Lang thought the defendant had been trying to break his neck. 'He had one arm around the front of his neck and one arm around the back. He was terrified to move because his neck was painful.' Mr Laws said that Keith Lang dialled 999 and asked for the police and an ambulance. The operator spoke to his father, who told them: 'My grandson came in, I don’t know for what reason. He came in and attacked me. Passed away: Mr Lang died in hospital in Plymouth from pneumonia related to his injuries a few days after the alleged attack . 'He was twisting my neck and that. I am lying on the ground now and I just can’t move.' The pensioner told the operator that there was £300 of his pension money missing from his wallet and added: 'I would have given him some if he’d asked.' The court heard that there was also between £8,000 and £10,000 locked in a safe in his wardrobe of the ground-floor flat. Mr Lang was taken to Derriford Hospital in Plymouth for treatment and told medical staff: 'I can’t believe this has happened.' The pensioner later told police that his grandson had 'lost everything - his temper, his sense'. Independent: The 91-year-old grandfather was described as frail but was able to live on his own in sheltered housing . Mr Lang deteriorated and sadly succumbed to his injuries three days later in hospital. A post-mortem examination found he had died from pneumonia caused by the injuries he suffered. 'The injuries were of a kind seen in those who died as a result of neck compression,' Mr Laws said. 'To cause those injuries took force - force that was quite deliberately applied. No-one could apply force of that severity to a man of any age without intending to cause really serious harm. 'To use force of that kind against a man of Mr Lang’s age - in his physical condition - invites one conclusion only, the prosecution say, that the defendant intended to cause really serious harm. 'What else could he have intended? Remember what Mr Lang had said: that he thought the defendant had been trying to break his neck.' The court heard that Mr Lang was at the head of a large family - many of whom lived in the local area - including the defendant. The pensioner, who walked with the aid of a trolley, received four visits a day from carers who helped him with washing, dressing and eating. His GP said he was 'frail but relatively independent' and in 'good health'. Mr Laws said Mr Lang 'spoke warmly' to others about his grandson. 'There does not appear to have been any trouble between the two of them until April 17 when the defendant decided to attack and rob him,' he said. The jury heard he had an ‘expensive drug habit’ two years before which cost him £140 a day to satisfy, said Mr Laws. He added that Lang had said that he had been drinking . all night and had been to three local pubs but CCTV showed him walking . competently and using a mobile phone to call a taxi. Trial: Stephen Lang, 20, pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of his grandfather but denies murder . He lied to police before admitting he had argued with his grandfather after the old man had called him ‘a waste of space’. But he said he pulled his walking trolley away from him causing him to he fell to the floor and he panicked and took the cash and left. Mr Laws said: 'He was adamant he had not touched his grandfather’s neck. He did not know why he had not dialled 999.' Lang, of Launceston, Cornwall denies murder. However, before the trial was due to start today he accepted he had killed his grandfather by pleading guilty to manslaughter - a plea not accepted by the Crown. Mr Laws told the jury of five men and seven women: 'We say it is a case of murder. 'The question in the case really is this. At the time he attacked Thomas Lang did the defendant intend to cause really serious harm to him? 'If he did, he is guilty of murder. If he did not, he is not guilty of murder but guilty only of manslaughter - the offence to which he has already pleaded guilty.' Sorry we are unable to accept comments for legal reasons. | Stephen Lang, 20, 'murdered' his frail grandfather Thomas, 91, court heard .
Grandson admits manslaughter and taking money but denies murder . |
121,078 | 2880620cf1f5f6b201ba7ee311ec2807f943d8c7 | By . Mark Prigg . PUBLISHED: . 19:05 EST, 7 February 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 06:31 EST, 8 February 2014 . NASA's Spitzer and Hubble Space Telescopes have spotted one of the most distant galaxies ever seen. The galaxy, known as Abell2744 Y1, harks back to a time when our universe was only about 650 million years old, compared to its current age of 13.8 billion years. It is about 30 times smaller than our Milky Way galaxy and is producing about 10 times more stars, as is typical for galaxies in our young universe. This image of the galaxy cluster Abell 2744 was obtained with NASA's Hubble Space Telescope. The zoomed image shows the region around the galaxy Abell2744_Y1, one of the most distant galaxy candidates known, harkening back to a time when the universe was 650 million years old. NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope helped to narrow in on the galaxy's great distance. The galaxy was found with the help of a gravitational lens: gravity from the mass in Abell 2744 acts to magnify the light of more distant galaxies behind it. These observations were part of NASA's Frontier Fields program, designed to push the limits of how far we can see into the early universe. The discovery comes from the Frontier Fields program, which combines Nasa'a space telescopes. Spitzer sees infrared light, Hubble sees visible and shorter-wavelength infrared light, and NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory sees X-rays. The telescopes are also getting a boost from natural lenses: they peer through clusters of galaxies, where gravity magnifies the light of more distant galaxies. The Frontier Fields program will image six galaxy clusters in total. Hubble images of the region are used to spot candidate distant galaxies, and then Spitzer is needed to determine if the galaxies are, in fact, as far as they seem. Spitzer data also help determine how many stars are in the galaxy. These early results from the program come from images of the Abell 2744 galaxy cluster. The distance to this galaxy, if confirmed, would make it one of the farthest known. Astronomers say it has a redshift of 8, which is a measure of the degree to which its light has been shifted to redder wavelengths due to the expansion of our universe. The discovery was made using the spitzer telescope: In this previous infrared image from it, hundreds of thousands of stars crowded into the swirling core of our spiral Milky Way galaxy. The farther a galaxy, the higher the redshift. The farthest confirmed galaxy has a redshift of more than 7. Other candidates have been identified with redshifts as high as 11. 'Just a handful of galaxies at these great distances are known,' said Jason Surace, of NASA's Spitzer Science Center at the California Institute of Technology, Pasadena. 'The Frontier Fields program is already working to find more of these distant, faint galaxies. 'This is a preview of what's to come.' The findings, led by astronomers from the Instituto de AstrofÃsica de Canarias and La Laguna University, set to be published in the the journal Astronomy and Astrophysics Letters. | The galaxy is about 30 times smaller than our Milky Way .
One of the most distant galaxies known according to Nasa .
researchers used both Hubble and Spitzer telescopes . |
217,043 | a5026dcec68c1b1a886d33f0c86db505645035ff | More than 1.7 million children in conflict-torn areas of eastern Ukraine face an "extremely serious" situation, the U.N. children's agency has warned, with their suffering exacerbated by harsh winter weather. Many families have been forced from their homes and lack access to safe water, sanitation and schooling. "Children continue to bear the brunt of this conflict, with schooling disrupted and access to basic services limited," said Marie-Pierre Poirier, Unicef regional director for Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia. She called for extra resources to be provided to those in need. "Extremely harsh winter conditions have made the impact of the crisis more acute," she said. Government forces and pro-Russia rebels have been battling for control of eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions since April, after Russia annexed Ukraine's southeastern Crimea region the previous month. According to a Unicef press release Friday, 147 schools have been closed in parts of the Donetsk region where fighting is ongoing, disrupting the education of about 50,000 children since September 1. While some schools are in ruins, others are closed because of safety concerns. In government-controlled areas, 187 educational institutions in total have been damaged or destroyed, Unicef said. The closures mean that besides lessons, children are missing out on the stability and routine that can be provided by school at a time of crisis, helping to alleviate their stress, the agency said. More than 1 million displaced . It's not just those still living in conflict areas who are affected. Since March, more than 1 million people have been displaced by the fighting, including nearly 530,000 within Ukraine. Of those, at least 130,000 are children, according to Unicef. In many cases they are not attending a new school because their parents have not registered them, anticipating further displacement or planning to return home. Unicef says it needs $32.4 million to meet the urgent humanitarian needs of 600,000 children and their families in Ukraine. The funds would help provide access to schooling; enable support to reduce children's high levels of stress; pay for polio vaccines; and ensure 250,000 children and women get safe water and hygiene supplies to prevent outbreaks of disease. The agency has received $9.4 million in funding and pledges to date. Amid the fighting, at least 44 children have been killed in Ukraine this year, according to the agency. Pressure on Moscow . While Ukraine's civilian population suffers, there is little sign of progress in reaching a diplomatic resolution to the crisis. Western powers accuse Russia of sending troops and equipment to help the separatists in their fight against Ukrainian government forces and have imposed repeated rounds of economic sanctions against Russian interests in a bid to put pressure on Moscow. But President Vladimir Putin appears to have little appetite to repair relations with the West, despite his country's tanking economy. Putin told reporters gathered in Moscow on Thursday that his country was ready to mediate in the Ukraine crisis. He also denied that Russians killed in Ukraine were members of his country's military, repeating the long-standing Russian line that any Russians fighting in Ukraine were volunteers. A ceasefire deal was reached September 5 in Minsk, Belarus, after talks between representatives of Ukraine's government, Russia and rebel leaders in eastern Ukraine. A subsequent agreement on September 19 in Minsk set out more measures. But fighting in Ukraine has since resumed, with a British security official last month telling CNN that the conflict had returned to levels that preceded the ceasefire. Military spokesman Andriy Lysenko said during a televised briefing Friday that five Ukrainian soldiers had been killed and seven wounded in the past 24 hours. Militants, including snipers, fired on Ukrainian positions using rifles and small arms, said Lysenko. | Unicef: More than 1.7 million children in Ukraine face "extremely serious" situation .
Many families are without safe water, sanitation and access to schooling, U.N. agency says .
147 schools are currently closed in parts of the Donetsk region where fighting continues .
"Harsh winter conditions have made the impact of the crisis more acute," says Unicef official . |
267,471 | e663b4f417212281d67f5b14787bd4d23fc58400 | (CNN) -- "It takes a special person not to barf in the trash bag." Welcome to the glamorous life of the sailing drone operator. Justice L Bentz, 26, lives in Antigua and shoots video profiles of some of the world's most expensive private yachts. Not a bad life. But it does come at the cost of wearing a black bag on your head. "Sometimes, I fly the drone with my head in a trash bag so I don't get salt spray from the sea on my equipment," Bentz explains. "I'm inside the bag, looking at my monitor and basically playing a video game -- watching that screen and securing myself so I don't get thrown around. We go out in the craziest conditions, and the Caribbean winds are really strong." If Bentz isn't the most appealing sight, out on deck in a black bag, his footage is a different story. Drones have revolutionized what is possible with a camera, but rarely does the end product match this vista of superyachts and Caribbean seas. "It's just a perspective you never really see," says Bentz. "You can either charter a helicopter to come out for an hour for a thousand euros, or I can come out. "How much do I cost? It really depends on what you want. In some cases, it's more. But I can get shots and angles a normal helicopter can't get. "On the low end, I'm putting about $3,500 in the air. On the high end, up to $35,000. That would be an octocopter with a Canon 5D camera and a three-axis stabilized gimbal, with a two-man operation." Bentz began flying drones as a hobby, then developed a passion for yachts when he spent two years working on board the 88m-long Maltese Falcon, one of the largest private yachts in the world. All of the technology he uses is custom-built, based on skills he picked up following in his brother's footsteps as a child. Older brother Tyler was one of the early pro video gamers, picking up awards -- and tens of thousands of dollars -- as a professional Quake 3 player at the turn of the millennium. He now works with Alan Karol, a 31-year-old Polish cinematographer, on larger projects -- of which there are many in a Caribbean racing season teeming with stunning yachts and proud owners. "People spend this crazy amount of money to have everyone come and race in St Barts or Antigua," says Bentz, "so they want something everyone can relate to and enjoy having." Drones are not limited to the rarefied air of the superyacht club. Some of the world's leading sailing organizations have been experimenting with similar technology in the hope of transforming the way the sport is shown on TV. "If we don't have a TV viewer-ready product, where does that put us in our livelihoods here? We've got to get on board," says Ben Remocker, who works with the 49er sailing class. Remocker has been at the forefront of plans to launch a new "theater-style" version of sailing, which sees races take place along short, compact courses -- making the action much easier to shoot, and simpler to show on TV. He argues that's vital for the sport's future, in a world where Olympic sports are judged on their ability to captivate a global audience. "We've used drones quite a bit," says Remocker. "One of the limitations is the range but, if we have a shorter course and only a 10-minute race, it's pretty doable now for a drone to stay in the air for that. "We can film an entire race cheaply and simply, and you get great perspective." Rune Neumann piloted the drones at this year's 49er class junior world championships. He argues this line of work is an art form, about more than simply putting a camera in the air. "Everybody can film from above, but I want pictures from places where it's not normally possible to take them," says Neumann. "To get the drone out in front of the boat by one or two meters, that's the difficult part. It's as difficult to get the shot as it is with a normal camera, there are so many variables. I'm not always happy about my work -- sometimes you get it, sometimes you don't. "My advantage is I've been a pro sailor and sailed a lot of different boats. So 99 times out of 100, I know what the sailor is going to do. I can place my drone in the right spot because I can predict what will happen." There is one obvious danger when you have thousands of dollars in equipment in mid-air, hovering above the ocean between fast-moving boats. "I've been close sometimes," laughs Neumann, when asked how often drones have ditched in the sea or collided with vessels. "I made an agreement with myself that if I lose one every year, it's OK. "I've seen some of the other guys and they're hanging 30m away and don't want to get too close, because it's dangerous. But you have to get close, otherwise you can't get those pictures." Remocker's recent efforts to convince sailing's main governing body, ISAF, to adopt his new, TV-friendly theater-style format have failed. At a conference in early November, the organization's top executives voted down the plans. That leaves him frustrated, but determined to convince the powers-that-be that this way of capturing his sport is the future. "I think it's a hugely wasted opportunity. If it's not this, it's got to be something else. The way sailing's going, we're on a tough road," he says. Meanwhile, Bentz is pressing on with new tricks in a world he says is always changing. "We're going to switch to remote-control airplanes," says Bentz. "It's cheaper because a quadcopter has four motors, whereas an airplane only has one, and it can fly longer. Battery life is a big issue right now. With an airplane you can kill the motors, glide and hang out for a long time. "Every couple weeks, there's stuff that's coming out. There's a really good community called DIY Drones and that's like my bible, pretty much. "Custom-building is where it's at. I customize everything, it's all completely ripped apart and put back together. But there are off-the-shelf solutions. "It depends on how perfect you want it to be." | Antigua-based filmmaker shoots video profiles of superyachts using drones .
Custom-built drones costing between $3,500 and $35,000 are used for the job .
Sailing organizations hope drones can help to make the sport TV-friendly . |
194,230 | 876d88e45e507793bf939a85e6d271e7f195add4 | England Women will step up World Cup preparations by taking on the United States and France in home friendlies early in the new year. Manager Mark Sampson's side will face the US, who are ranked by FIFA as the world's number one side, on Friday, February 13. They will then play France, fourth in the FIFA rankings and the second strongest team in Europe, on Thursday, April 9. England's Jill Scott dives into a challenge with Germany's Pauline Bremer during the match last month . England were beaten 3-0 by Germany at Wembley, the first time the women's team had played there . The fixtures are considered key stepping stones towards Canada 2015 by Sampson, who said: 'It's great news we can confirm the two matches against USA and France. For the team to improve we need to create as many opportunities as possible to test ourselves against the top-tier nations. 'In USA and France we are without doubt facing some of the best teams in the world, and teams who will have genuine ambitions of winning the World Cup.' Wembley staged England Women's match against second-ranked Germany last month, when the visitors won 3-0 in front of a 45,000-strong crowd, and the Football Association has said venues for the upcoming friendlies will be announced in the coming weeks. The defeat by Germany was watched by almost 50,000 fans at Wembley . Manager Mark Sampson is looking forward to the test of facing two of the World's best teams . England, ranked seventh by FIFA, will learn their World Cup opponents when the Canada 2015 draw takes place in Ottawa on Saturday. Sampson added: 'The Germany match gave us a real marker in terms of where we need to strive to be in the long term. We have a long way to go to reach those levels but the experience of matches against the top players and top teams will allow us to develop the qualities we need to be competitive as we can be in the summer.' | England will play USA, ranked first in the world by FIFA, on February 13 .
Before facing the fourth ranked side France on April 9 .
The games are seen as key preparation for next summer's World Cup .
The draw for the Canada 2015 World Cup will be made on Saturday . |
105,796 | 14743baa8af9c8439198a6c75261c0b760a2fd7d | By . Associated Press . Indiana Pacers All-Star Paul George has undergone successful surgery on his broken right leg and is expected to remain in the hospital for about three days. The six-foot 10-inch George had an operation at Sunrise Hospital in Las Vegas to repair the open tibia-fibula fracture, USA Basketball said in a statement early Saturday morning. Dr. David Silverberg, Dr. Joseph Yu and USA Basketball team physician Riley Williams, were present for the surgery, the release said. George suffered the gruesome right leg injury late in the U.S. national team's intrasquad scrimmage Friday night. He leaped to contest a fast-break layup by James Harden with 9:33 left in the fourth quarter and his leg smashed against the bottom of the backboard stanchion and crumpled. WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT - SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO . Disaster: Paul George suffered a gruesome leg break during a Team USA inter-squad game in Las Vegas . Trainers immediately ran onto the floor and after roughly 10 minutes of stoppage, George was taken out of the arena on a stretcher. With players looking visibly upset, coach Mike Krzyzewski then announced to the crowd that the scrimmage would not be finished out of respect to George and his family.On Saturday morning, Larry Bird, the Pacers president of basketball operations, issued an updated statement saying it's too early to start talking about George's expected return.'We are hopeful at some point next week Paul will return to Indianapolis to continue his recovery,' Bird said. 'There is no question about the impact on our team but our goal is to be as strong-willed and determined as Paul will be in coming back. Our franchise has had setbacks in its history but has demonstrated the abilities to recover. Paul will provide the example of that off the court and it is up to the rest of us to provide that example on the court. Any discussion regarding the future of our team would be inappropriate at this time. Our focus is solely on Paul and doing whatever we can to help.'Bird also said the Pacers are committed to helping the national team give basketball a global reach.'This is a first for us in USA Basketball, to have something like this take place,' USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo said. 'It's a tough situation for our entire organization, the coaches, the players. Very, very emotional. There's no way the game could have gone on under the circumstances.' Flat out: The Indiana Pacers lays on the floor after a devastating injury that ruled him out of the World Cup . Moment: George (left) lands awkwardly after contesting a lay-up from James Harden (second left) Doctors estimate a full recovery could take as much as 18 months.Dr. Patrick Kersey, who treated Louisville guard Kevin Ware when he sustained a similar injury during the NCAA tournament regional finals in 2013, said George will likely need 6 to 12 weeks to recover from surgery and another 6 to 10 weeks to get back to a normal walking gait. Kersey is not treating George.A complete recovery, Kersey said, normally takes 12 to 18 months, though the fact he is an elite athlete in top shape could speed up that timeframe.The hardest part for the Pacers might be keeping George off the court once he thinks he's ready.'It's a challenge because (athletes) want to push the envelope always,' Kersey said. 'The question that is already being asked this morning is how quickly can he get back. He needs to heal. First, he has to get back to a normal life, then his body needs to work in an efficient way and once those pieces are in place, he can start training.'George was considered a lock to make the final 12-man roster for the World Cup of Basketball that starts later this month in Spain.'Thanks everybody for the love and support," he wrote on Twitter. "I'll be ok and be back better than ever!!! Love y'all!!' The Americans planned to reduce the 20-player pool to 14 or 15 players Saturday, but put off those plans after George's injury. 'Everything's on hold right and it should be,' Krzyzewski said. 'It would be so inappropriate for us to talk about anything else when there's a serious injury like this.' The defending champion U.S. team had already been weakened by player losses. Forwards Kevin Love, Blake Griffin, LaMarcus Aldridge and NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard had all pulled out in recent weeks. Krzyzewski and Colangelo refused to discuss the roster after the game, saying they didn't even know when they would make roster reductions. 'As an organization, we're just going to let a little bit of time go by here before we address anything like rosters, all that stuff,' Colangelo said. 'It seems so unimportant in the big scheme of things when you have something like this take place. It puts things in perspective.' George would have been a candidate to start for the Americans alongside Kevin Durant. The two, along with Harden, spent the week playing in 1-on-1 competitions after practice, pushing one another while building chemistry leading up to Friday night's game. Assistance: Medical staff attend to the basketball star after his nasty leg break . End: George left the arena on a stretcher and is almost certain to miss the start of the new NBA season . Huddle: The rest of the USA team watch on stunned at what they have just witnessed . George led the Pacers to the best record in the Eastern Conference before they were eliminated by Miami in the Eastern Conference finals. The Americans have to be down to 12 players before they open the tournament on August 30. They are scheduled to take the next week off before reconvening in Chicago for their next practice on August 14. Some NBA executives have long been concerned about injuries to players during summer competitions. Pau Gasol, then playing for the Memphis Grizzlies, broke his foot while leading Spain to the 2006 world title, and Manu Ginobili injured his ankle while playing for Argentina in the 2008 Olympics. He is sitting out the World Cup while recovering from a stress fracture in his right leg. 'Anything can happen anywhere, a lot of things happen,' said Krzyzewski, who was coaching Duke against Louisville when the Cardinals' Kevin Ware broke his leg during the 2013 NCAA tournament. 'Tonight it happened during a basketball game. We need to take care of that,' Krzyzewski said. 'It doesn't mean it'll happen again and again and again; it means that it happened right now.' | Paul George has undergone successful surgery on a broken leg .
Doctors say a full recovery could take 18 months .
George sustained injury in Team USA intrasquad game in Las Vegas .
Pacers star landed awkwardly after contesting a lay-up with James Harden .
George left arena on a stretcher and is out of FIBA World Cup .
24-year-old likely to miss a large part of 2014-15 NBA season . |
58,287 | a54412a6fcd247892bb43f703d3361f69751cde5 | WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg plans to undergo a "precautionary" course of chemotherapy following her surgery last month for pancreatic cancer, the Supreme Court announced Tuesday. President Obama greets Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on her arrival for his February 24 address to Congress. The treatments will begin later this month at the National Institutes of Health outside Washington, the court said. In a statement, the justice said the treatment is "not expected to affect my schedule at the court. Thereafter, it is anticipated that I will require only routine examinations to assure my continuing health." Ginsburg, who turned 76 on Sunday, has consistently signaled her health outlook is positive. She termed the February 5 removal of her cancer "successful," and was back on the bench 18 days later when the high court resumed oral arguments. Ginsburg's post-op recovery has gone well, and doctors and the family are cautiously optimistic, court sources said. The disease was caught early and had not spread beyond her pancreas, doctors have said. "Cancer patients with no evidence of disease after surgery but who have a statistical chance that there is microscopic spread often get chemotherapy to kill off that disease," explained Dr. Otis Brawley, chief medical officer of the American Cancer Society. Getting back into her regular routine was important to the justice, and it would help her cope with future medical treatment, sources close to her said. She successfully fought colorectal cancer a decade ago. Almost 35,000 Americans are estimated to have died from pancreatic cancer in 2008, making it the fourth leading cause of cancer death overall, according to the American Cancer Society. For all ages combined, the one-year survival rate is 24 percent; the five-year survival rate is 5 percent. The low survival rate is a result of the disease commonly going undetected until it has reached an advanced stage. Ginsburg -- the only woman on the Supreme Court -- entered a New York hospital after a CT scan in January "revealed a small tumor, approximately one centimeter across, in the center of the pancreas," a previous news release said. She has kept a busy schedule, on and off the bench. Since her diagnosis, she has released three opinions, attended President Obama's February 24 address to Congress, gone to an opera production in the company of Justice David Souter, and traveled for several speeches. She told an audience last week in Boston, Massachusetts, that she had no plans to retire, but on the subject of court retirements she hinted cryptically, "We haven't had any of those for some time, but surely we will soon." Ginsburg, Souter and Justice John Paul Stevens frequently have been mentioned as likely to step down in the next few years. Ginsburg also said her former colleague, retired Justice Sandra Day O'Connor -- herself a cancer survivor -- had offered her some good advice. "She said when you're up to chemotherapy, you do it on Friday, Friday afternoon. You'll get over it over the weekend, and you'll be able to come to the court on Monday," said Ginsburg, who noted O'Connor returned to work nine days after her breast cancer diagnosis. "So I've been following her advice meticulously." Ginsburg has been on the Supreme Court since 1993. | Supreme Court justice, 76, will receive chemotherapy treatments .
Doctors removed small tumor from her pancreas in February .
Ruth Bader Ginsburg consistently signals her health outlook is good .
Retired Justice Sandra Day O'Connor gave Ginsburg advice on chemotherapy . |
7,230 | 1480d4943ccd3ec7f000eb85a1fdaf47d04e90da | (Rolling Stone) -- The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame will make up for past oversights at this year's induction ceremony by admitting the backing groups of six first-generation rock stars. The honored groups include the Blue Caps (Gene Vincent), The Comets (Bill Haley), the Crickets (Buddy Holly), the Famous Flames (James Brown), the Midnighters (Hank Ballard) and the Miracles (Smokey Robinson). In each of these cases, the backing group failed to get into the Hall of Fame at the same time as their frontman - sometimes causing a great deal of controversy. The Hall of Fame's failure to induct the Miracles along with Smokey Robinson in 1987 caused a particularly large uproar. Hall of Fame rules state that artists are eligible for induction 25 years after their debut release. At the time, Robinson had been a solo artist for only 14 years. The six groups will be inducted April 14 at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's annual ceremony at Cleveland's Public Hall. "These Inductees are pioneers in the development of the music we call rock and roll," the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's president and CEO Joel Peresman said in a statement. "As part of our mission to recognize the most impactful, innovative and influential artists in rock, the committee brought forth these six groups that belong in the Hall of Fame." Beastie Boys, Donovan, Guns N' Roses, Laura Nyro, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Small Faces/The Faces, Freddie King, Don Kirshner, Cosimo Matassa, Tom Dowd and Glyn Johns are also being inducted at this year's ceremony. See the full article at RollingStone.com . Copyright © 2011 Rolling Stone. | The honored groups include the Blue Caps (Gene Vincent), The Comets (Bill Haley) etc .
The backing group failed to get into the Hall of Fame at the same time as their frontman .
The six groups will be inducted April 14 at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame annual ceremony . |
79,832 | e2545c594f0f4ae0d172b51ebb37a61bf2ef9200 | It's a photo that paints a picture of an idyllically happy family life. Chiwetel Ejiofor, now a Hollywood star and a strong contender for the Best Actor Oscar tonight, beams broadly as he hugs his little sister on the stairs of their London home. But just months after this snap was taken, Chiwetel’s life was hit by tragedy when his father was killed in a car crash, which almost claimed his young life, too. Idyllic family life: Chiwetel Ejiofor, (right) now a Hollywood star and a strong contender for the Best Actor Oscar tonight, beams broadly as he hugs his little sister on the stairs of their London home. But just months later, Chiwetel's life was hit by tragedy when his father was killed in a car crash . Talented: Arinze Ejiofor was killed in a car accident in his native Nigeria. Chiwetel was 11 years old in 1998 when he joined his father on the bonding trip. The car they were travelling in was involved in a head-on collision with a lorry. The 12 Years A Slave actor was the only survivor . His sister Zain, so happy beside him in the photograph, has now spoken of how that devastating heartache fuelled Chiwetel’s desire to be the best actor he could be – and helped bring an intensity to his performance in 12 Years A Slave. And should he triumph at the Academy Awards, he is certain to pay an emotional tribute to his father, Arzine. Chiwetel was just 11 in 1998 when, on a bonding trip to Arinze’s native Nigeria, the car they were travelling in was involved in a head-on collision with a lorry. Chiwetel was the only survivor of the . crash that also killed three other passengers, and Zain believes it is . significant that her brother is now the same age as their father was . when he died. Siblings: Chiwetel and his sister Zain pictured at a Hollywood event . ‘He had been very close to his father,’ Zain says. ‘And while the whole family was suffering from his death, the impact on Chiwetel was especially intense. He became very focused and threw himself into everything with an intense passion. ‘It was as if he had been given a miraculous chance to live and he was determined to make the most of it.’ Initially it was thought Chiwetel had also been killed in the accident. ‘When they dragged his body from the wreck, he was very badly injured and lucky to still be alive,’ says Zain, now a financial correspondent with CNN. ‘He’d broken several limbs and sustained a serious blow to the head that left him in a coma for a while. Doctors told my mother to expect the worst.’ Though only five at the time, Zain vividly recalls the anguish of her mother Obi and several adult relatives as they maintained a vigil by her brother’s hospital bedside. It would be ten weeks before the traumatised child was able to leave the hospital. And from that moment, Zain says, he seized life with a previously unseen passion. ‘By the time he was 13 he had developed this drive to be an actor,’ she says, revealing how his passion started while studying at the elite Dulwich College. ‘He started out in a school play. While other kids his age were hanging out, he would get home from school and lock himself in his room to learn his lines. 'I would go out with my friends and come home hours later only to find him still reciting Shakespeare. ‘Sometimes he even wrote the words on the walls and Mum would have to wipe them off.’ Chiwetel joined the National Youth Theatre at 17 and was accepted by the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. But he left during his first year after getting a role in Steven Spielberg’s film Amistad. ‘It all seemed to happen very quickly,’ Zain said. ‘I remember there was a lot of joy in the house when we heard. I mean, it was Spielberg!’ Accolade: Chiwetel is among the favourites to be honoured with the Best Actor Oscar for his role in 12 Years A Slave. He is up against Christian Bale, Leonardo DiCaprio, Bruce Dern and Matthew McConaughey . Inspired: Zain said she believes their father's death spurred Chiwetel on to become a successful actor. She said: 'It was as if he had been given a miraculous chance to live and he was determined to make the most of it' He went on to impress industry insiders with standout performances in films as diverse as Love Actually, Dirty Pretty Things and Kinky Boots. But it is his performance in 12 Years A Slave that has gained him international acclaim. Zain said: ‘He’s really dedicated to being the best he can be.’ Now 36, Chiwetel, who still bears scars from the accident, admits that the loss of his father has been a huge influence on his life and career, saying: ‘I think I have a constant reflective relationship with him. 'As I reach the age he was when he died, the relationship is becoming more acute. 'But I do think there’s a constant dynamic that will continue always; and be an influence on the kind of work I do.’ Chiwetel was born in Forest Gate, East London, in 1977, after his parents had fled the earlier Nigerian Civil War. Arinze was a musician who retrained as a doctor, and Obi was a pharmacist. Honoured: The 26-year-old actor has already won the Bafta for Best Actor at this year's awards, for his portrayal of Solomon Northup . International acclaim: Chiwetel left acting school during his first year to take up a role in Steven Speilberg's film Amistad. He has starred in Love Actually and Kinky Boots. But it was his role in 12 Years A Slave, alongside Lupita Nyong'o (left) and Micahel Fassbender (second left), that has won the actor international acclaim . Pride: Chiwetel's mother Obi and sister Zain, will sit alongside the actor tonight at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. Zain said: 'This is a day my family has been hoping and waiting for. We are all so unbelievably proud and bursting with joy. It's such a shame that our father is not alive to see how well Chiwetel has done' Chiwetel was the second child after older brother Obinze, now 38 and a businessman. And Obi was seven months pregnant with her youngest child Kandi, now a doctor, when she was suddenly widowed. Zain describes her mother as an indomitable spirit who taught her children that ‘education was our key to freedom . . . perhaps it was because of her own humble background. As a girl she lived in a village where water had to be collected from a river and boiled before drinking’ It is a long way from that impoverished Nigerian village to the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, where tonight Zain and Obi will be seated alongside Chiwetel tonight. ‘This is a day my family has been hoping and waiting for,’ Zain said. ‘We are all so unbelievably proud and bursting with joy. It’s such a shame that our father is not alive to see how well Chiwetel has done.’ | Chiwetel Ejiofor's life was turned upside down when his father was killed .
Arinze Ejiofor died in a car crash in his native Nigeria in 1998 - Chiwetel was the sole survivor of the accident .
His sister Zain said she believes the death of their father inspired her actor brother to 'make the most' of his life and follow his Oscar dream .
Zain will sit beside Chiwetel at the Dolby Theatre tonight for the 86th Academy Awards where he is up for the Best Actor gong .
She said: 'It's such a shame our father is not alive to see how well Chiwetel has done' |
88,809 | fc0e005b4a197dc1859240d9197a6fc54f8c01b1 | (CNN) -- Rory McIlroy is once again top of golf's world rankings and, on the evidence of his current form, the Northern Irishman is set for a long stay at the summit. Two weeks after winning the British Open, McIlroy overhauled Spain's Sergio Garcia to triumph at the WGC Bridgestone Invitational in Akron, Ohio on Sunday. The 25-year-old posted a four-under-par final round of 66 to finish 15 under for the tournament, two strokes clear of Garcia -- who tied for second behind McIlroy at Hoylake last month. McIlroy is now red-hot favorite to seal his fourth major crown at the U.S. PGA Championship, which begins Thursday at the Valhalla Golf Club in Kentucky. "It's the most comfortable I've ever felt trying to close out a golf tournament out there today," he told the PGA Tour's official website after eating up Garcia's three-shot overnight lead in the final round at Firestone, during which Tiger Woods withdrew with a recurrence of his back injury. "I felt normal," McIlroy added. "I felt like it was the first round or the second round. It didn't feel like a fourth round." His fortunes are in stark contrast to this time last year. A switch of equipment supplier coincided with a slump in performance which culminated with McIlroy enduring a torrid time at the 2013 British Open, where he failed to make the cut. Fast forward 12 months and McIlroy has the Claret Jug sat on his mantelpiece after successfully mastering his Nike clubs -- in particular his driver. He hit the ball further than any of his competitors over the four days of play at the World Golf Championships event, leading the field in driving distance with an average of 317 yards. "The big thing for me is if you let it affect you mentally, it makes it more difficult," said McIlroy, reflecting on his difficult spell last year. "If you can stay strong mentally when you're going through the struggles you always seem to come out the other side OK. "It's when it affects you mentally you can start to lose confidence, then you're losing confidence in your swing. It can spiral out of control, kind of like I did last summer." McIlroy will be aiming to win the season's final major for the second time in his career when the action tees off later this week. Blog: McIlroy fulfills golfing destiny . | Rory McIlroy is back on top of golf's world rankings .
The Northern Irishman won the World Golf Championships event in Akron, Ohio .
It was the first tournament McIlroy had played since winning the British Open .
McIlroy is favorite to win this week's U.S. PGA Championship . |
256,749 | d8504d9fc4321e1b556a9499cb46a49901eef191 | By . Michael Zennie . A new video has emerged showing Las Vegas gunman Jerad Miller in the midst of a conspiracy-theorist rant while imitating the Joker from the hit film The Dark Knight. 'I want to be President. I want to be the warmonger, not just some terrorist. Not just some everyday terrorist, domestic terrorist,' he raves in the 2012 video footage obtained by Inside Edition. 'I want to blow up whole countries, whole nations. I want to make everyone submit to one world order governance, under my rule!' Scroll down for video . Jerad Miller, 31, posed as the Joker in a video where he is seen ranting and raving about the One World Order and other political conspiracy theories . Killers: Jerad and Amanda Miller have been identified as the couple who killed three in Las Vegas on Sunday . Miller is made up in full costume - a practice that was something of a past time for him and his wife - while he delivers a monologue apparently meant to mock President Barack Obama, who he believed was setting up concentration camps and planning to take away American citizens' guns. Miller, 31, and his wife Amanda, 22, ambushed and killed two Las Vegas police officers on Sunday before fleeing to a Walmart, where they shot dead a civilian who pulled a gun on them. Amanda Miller then shot her husband in the head before committing suicide as SWAT officers closed in. Jerad Miller, an avowed white supremacist and neo-Nazi, is said to have shouted 'The revolution is coming!' during the rampage. He also draped one of the dead officers with a swastika. It is believed that Miller was motivated by a raft of conspiracy theories about the 'New World Order' - including the belief that a United Nations-controlled government was planning to round up citizens and take away their weapons and ship them to concentration camps. Villains: The couple regularly dressed as Batman villains The Joker and Harley Quinn, neighbors said . These are all on full display in the Inside Edition video. 'Vote for me, America. Utter transparency. You will know what you get with me, and I'm telling you - it's what you want.' Inside Edition will detail the entire report Tuesday and Wednesday. | Jerad Miller, 31, dressed up like the Joker to mock President Obama and raved about One World Order in a new video aired by Inside Edition . |
149,442 | 4d3fbb6c46579d40d7632dd40a9b15cb5b961d42 | Eric Ortiz, whose spider tattoo led to a memorable mugshot last year, has upped his game by adding a fly in a web to the opposite cheek . For this convicted felon, there's no crawling away from his latest attack. Eric Ortiz, 25, whose spider tattoo led to one memorable mugshot last year, has upped his game by adding a fly stuck in a web to the opposite cheek, as seen in his latest prison picture. Ortiz, who goes by the nickname 'Spyder' due to his arachnophobia, was back in jail on Monday in Volusia County, Florida, being held without bail on a domestic battery charge, according to the News-Journal. According to a report from the sheriff's office, Ortiz got into a fight with his brother Jose over changing the bed sheets at their shared apartment in Daytona Beach. Eric Ortiz told a deputy that he and his brother, Jose, got into a verbal altercation. The suspect claimed he was hanging out with a few girls during the prior night and his brother got jealous. Jose Ortiz told the officer that his brother woke him up on Monday night and wanted to know who changed the sheets, then became aggressive and threatened him, punching him in the chest. The alleged victim stated he was not injured and did not wish to pursue charges but Eric Ortiz was placed under arrest. Ortiz has a history of battery and fleeing convictions, records revealed. Last March, he was wanted by police in Florida for allegedly beating up his ex-girlfriend. He was also wanted on other charges including kidnapping, battery, false imprisonment, attempted sexual battery and tampering with a witness. Police said in March 2014, that Ortiz lured his 22-year-old ex out of her home, battered her and then tried to sexually assault her in an effort to pressure her to to drop earlier charges against him. A Bug's Life: Ortiz pictured in his mugshot from last year (left) when he just had a spider tattoo on his face (pictured right). He is being held without bail in Florida after being arrested on Monday for domestic battery . At a previous court appearance in December 2013, on a felony charge of driving with a license revoked, Ortiz told the News-Journal the reason behind the eye-catching tattoo. ‘Everybody fears spiders,’ Ortiz said. ‘That's why I got it. Just to, like, make me know, that that's what I fear, but not to fear it. You know what I'm saying?’ The 24-year-old's girlfriend apparently did not appreciate the tattoo and broke up with him soon afterwards. He then allegedly put a box-cutter to the woman’s throat and threatened to dump her in a ditch. He punched her repeatedly, police said, smashed her phone and dragged her to the couch where he attempted to rape her. She managed to escape when he left to use the bathroom. Ortiz's criminal history includes a laundry list of charges, among them burglary of a conveyance; domestic battery; retail theft; violation of injunction for protection and loitering and prowling. | Eric Ortiz, 25, whose spider tattoo led to one memorable mugshot last year, has upped his game by adding a fly in a web to the opposite cheek .
Ortiz is being held without bail at a Florida jail for alleged domestic battery on his brother . |
278,936 | f560ac45dd37fdd239e4464b7a67d87296f5c065 | AC Milan missed the chance to go third in the Serie A table after suffering a 2-0 home defeat to Palermo on Sunday evening. The Rossoneri would have dislodged Sampdoria from the final Champions League place with three points at San Siro, but an early own goal from Christian Zapata set the tone for an under-par display. Paulo Dybala scored the Sicilians' second goal, one that both assured promoted Palermo of a first away win of the season and lifted them six points clear of the relegation zone and into 13th place. Cristian Zapata heads the ball into his own net as AC Milan go 1-0 down after 23 minutes . AC Milan goalkeeper Diego Lopez makes a fantastic save during the game at the San Siro . Sampdoria had earlier returned to the title race by edging out Fiorentina 3-1 in a frenetic clash at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris. The opening 45 minutes witnessed three goals and a saved penalty as Samp battled to wrestle third place from Napoli, while Fiorentina appeared determined to escape from mid-table obscurity. Angelo Palombo notched first for the hosts, from the spot, minutes before Fiorentina midfielder Gonzalo Rodriguez saw his penalty snaffled by Sergio Romero. Milan striker Fernando Torres (left) battles for possession with Palermo's Sinisa Andelkovic . Paulo Dybala celebrates with the Palermo bench after firing his side 2-0 in front in the first half . Luca Rizzo and Stefan Savic then exchanged goals just before the break, with Eder rubber-stamping the Blucerchiati's first league win in four attempts with a 78th-minute strike. Genoa won a third straight game on Sunday with a 4-2 triumph at Udinese. Each team scored twice in the opening half, but Alessandro Matri put the visitors in front for good in the 54th minute. Udinese wasted several chances to equalise before substitute Juraj Kucka killed the game off three minutes from time with Genoa's fourth goal. Torino fans will have to wait longer for their team to win two league games in a row as they were held to a goalless draw by Atalanta. The Granata could have sealed all three points deep in stoppage time, but substitute midfielder Alexander Farnerud saw Atalanta goalkeeper Marco Sportiello deflect his shot over the crossbar. Chievo halted a four-match losing streak with a stalemate at home to Sassuolo. The visitors were the better side, but could not find a way past Chievo goalkeeper Albano Bizarri, who made three saves to earn his team a valuable point. | Cristian Zapata own-goal and Paulo Dybala strike secure win .
Palermo record first away win in the season and move up to 13th in the Serie A standings .
Milan stay in seventh after three games without a win . |
92,845 | 036d42e5aac65e184a717f79e803fefe04683a57 | By . Anna Edwards . PUBLISHED: . 04:13 EST, 11 October 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 04:30 EST, 11 October 2012 . A man who drunkenly threw his terrified pet dog off the end of a 15ft high pier has been warned he could face jail. Paul Sanders scooped up his howling collie called Shep and threw him over the edge and into the sea without checking the depth of the water. As witnesses screamed in protest he told them: 'This is how you get your dog to swim.' Fortunately Shep was not hurt in the fall but Sanders, 47, of Torquay, admitted to magistrates that he had failed to protect the dog from pain, suffering or injury on a sunny May afternoon. Paul Sanders drunkenly hurled his collie off a wall at Babbacombe in Torquay . Sanders was seen by witnesses drunkenly staggering about in his Speedo trunks on Babbacombe pier and shouting at his two dogs, a collie and a spaniel. One witness said she saw him walk over, scoop Shep up in his arms and throw him over the edge without looking at the depth of the water. She said: 'He picked up the collie dog which appeared to be struggling against the top level of the wall and just threw the dog off into the sea below. 'It happened so fast I just screamed. 'I thought he was just losing the plot. I thought the dog was dead but it suddenly surfaced. 'It was constantly howling and trying to get up the steps.' She said the tide was low and the dogs were clearly scared. Fortunately, the terrified dog survived after being checked into the sea in Babbacombe Bay, Devon . A second witness on the pier said an agitated and intoxicated Sanders swore at her about her own dogs a few moments before the incident. She said after he put Shep on a ledge 'The dog frantically resisted and seemed to sense something was not quite right.' She pleaded with Sanders: 'Don’t do that, don’t be silly.' But he ignored her and did not appear to look over the edge. The dog appeared distressed and disorientated when it surfaced and ‘didn’t seem for a brief moment to know where to swim’. When she remonstrated with Sanders he just snapped back: 'They’re my dogs I can do what I want. If you’ve got a problem report me.' The two women did report him and Sanders was arrested soon afterwards. He denied being drunk and in court said he was deeply sorry for his actions. The court was shown letters of support from Sanders’ GP and a local pet shop saying how much he cared for his animals. Susanna Whale, defending, said a vet had seen both the dogs and confirmed they were not injured. 'He is a man who loves his animals,' she said. 'They are his life. This is one incident and he acted wrongly.' She said he feared his dogs would be taken away but promised that if he had them back nothing like this would happen again. Torbay magistrates asked for reports from the probation service. Chairman of the bench John Kiddey said: 'We consider this a very, very serious offence. We are not ruling out custody.' He said the offence was made worse by the fact Sanders was drunk and it has been in front of children and people ‘who were clearly terrified’. 'When you pushed that dog over the edge you didn’t know if there were rocks there or not.' Sanders was granted unconditional bail until next month. Sorry we are unable to accept comments for legal reasons. | Shep the dog survived after being flung off a 15ft high pier .
Paul Sanders apologised to Torquay magistrates .
Showed letters from his GP and local pet shop explaining how much he loved animals . |
19,802 | 3838a1d5deca59b0689805ce393bd8557801823d | Key West, Florida (CNN) -- For more than 20 years, the bulletproof museum case housed a small piece of yesteryear: a gold bar recovered from a sunken Spanish galleon. Today, its case is broken, littered with black fingerprint dust. The treasure is gone. Stolen. Two thieves were caught in the act by the museum's security cameras. "This is a special piece," said Melissa Kendrick, executive director of the Mel Fisher Maritime Museum in Key West, Florida. "All the pieces have an incredible historic value, but this is the piece that was shared with the public in a whole totally different way." It was different because visitors could touch it. By reaching into the specially designed display case, more than 6 million people have touched the 74.85-ounce bar, valued at more than $550,000. "They're touching something that belonged to someone in 1622," said Carol Shaughnessy, author of "Diving Into Glory." "Ordinarily people don't get to touch something like that. You can't touch an Egyptian mummy. This is a hands-on connection to history." But now, what does a thief do with a priceless, high-profile artifact? Is there an underground market that will pay $550,000 for this almost 400-year-old piece of solid gold? One expert says no. "That's why these crimes don't make a whole lot of money for the criminals," said Robert Wittman, a former FBI agent who once headed the FBI's Art Crime Team. "It doesn't make sense to do it." Wandering through the museum, the thieves can be seen in security video trying to open museum doors. The video is incredibly clear. First, they appeared to be targeting a display case of gold chains. Then, after a security guard left this part of the museum, a man can be seen reaching into the case housing the gold bar and placing the little piece of history into his pocket before exiting the museum. "We're getting information and following leads," said Key West Police Chief Donie Lee. "Unfortunately we haven't got the best lead, which is, I know that person and we go out, and it's a positive ID, and we're able to go out and pick those guys up." What makes the crime so shocking, police said, is that the thieves were able to snap the glass at its edges. It's not just any glass, but three-eighths-inch thick bulletproof Lexan glass. "By designating this as a handling object, it brought certain risks to the bar," Kendrick said. "But after your first five, and your next 10, and when you get to 25 years, you start to get to the point when you think that it's never going to happen." Treasure hunter and salvor Mel Fisher recovered the solid gold bar from the wreck of the Santa Margarita in 1980. Fisher and his team had been searching for the Nuestra Senora de Atocha and instead found the sister ship, the Santa Margarita. Both ships had gone down in a hurricane off Key West shortly after leaving Havana, Cuba, in 1622. The ships were headed home to Spain with a cargo of gold, silver and coins from the new world. The team found the Atocha in 1985. The stolen bar is one of dozens of gold and silver bars retrieved from the bottom of the sea. Experts say that about 90 percent of stolen art and artifacts is eventually recovered that but it often takes years to find. The FBI has recovered more than 2,600 items of cultural property valued at more than $142 million. The items range from Colombian artifacts to Rembrandt paintings. Wittman, the former FBI agent and author of "Priceless: How I Went Undercover to Rescue the World's Stolen Treasures," said the market is incredibly small for these high-profile objects. He said thieves often steal the items and then try to figure how to sell them. "We recovered paintings and artifacts that were missing for many years. Ten, 15, sometimes 20 years, because the thieves couldn't get rid of them," he said. "They kept them in their closets. They were white elephants. They made no money out of the deals. They were stuck." In 1990, thieves entered the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston, Massachusetts, and stole 13 works of art, including three Rembrandts from the 1600s. None has been recovered, and federal agents are using DNA to try to find the perpetrators. Wittman said no legitimate collector would take the risks associated with buying stolen goods. "They don't buy stolen property, because ... they can't show it, they can't enjoy it. ... It makes them into criminals, and the last thing they want to do is spend a lot of money for a painting or for an artifact, whether it's gold or whatever, and have it seized by the police and go to jail," he said. Key West authorities said they believe the thieves were not locals and that they are probably long gone. The museum's insurance company is offering a $25,000 reward for information leading to the return of the bar. Police said they remain hopeful they will solve the crime but just hope they can recover this golden piece of history. "This is going to end up in somebody's house probably, used as a paperweight," said Lee, who is leading the investigation. "Other than melting it down, which is the worst-case scenario for everyone, we're just hoping that they will come to their senses somehow and return this back to the museum." | Gold bar stolen from Key West, Florida, museum is worth more than $550,000 .
Video shows crime taking place, but leads are sparse .
Thieves often can't sell stolen treasures because legitimate collectors won't bite .
But stolen treasures are often hard to find . |
46,205 | 822adbee10be18ad24d319bb6980478c5c0bfeea | (CNN) -- An Arizona state lawmaker's push to end the guarantee of birthright citizenship to the U.S.-born children of illegal immigrants on Saturday set off a protest hundreds of miles away in Pacoima, a Los Angeles suburb. More than 1,500 people in this predominantly Latino community took part in the protest, many of them chanting "Si, se puede," the Spanish version of President Obama's 2008 campaign slogan. The protesters fear that if Arizona passes the measure, other states will follow. Arizona state Representative John Kavanagh, a Republican, has proposed that birthright citizenship, a guarantee provided by the U.S. Constitution, be taken away from children of illegal immigrants. The guarantee, courts have ruled, was established by the 14th Amendment, which extended birthright citizenship to former slaves after the Civil War. Other state legislatures are considering similar measures. Kavanagh told CNN Friday, "Dispensing citizenship like a door prize is poor policy and greatly increases the costs of education, medicating and giving other benefits to the children of illegal aliens born here." CNN's Jacqueline Hurtado contributed to this report. | 1,500 protest effort to end birthright citizenship for children of illegal immigrants .
Protesters fear other states will follow Arizona's example .
Lawmaker who proposed the bill says "door prize" citizenship is too costly . |
45,798 | 810fc33975f4828f2b5a2052d12197b350f17454 | London (CNN) -- Alfred Hitchcock's "Vertigo" has been named the greatest movie of all time, knocking long-time favorite Orson Welles' "Citizen Kane" off the top of a once-in-a-decade survey of critics from around the world. Hitchcock's thriller, starring James Stewart and Kim Novak, came top of Sight & Sound magazine's poll of 846 film experts more than 50 years after the movie was first released -- to little critical acclaim -- in 1958. Sight & Sound has compiled a list of the 100 greatest films every 10 years; the results, announced with great fanfare, are awaited with bated breath by cinephiles across the globe. But over the decades the composition of the top 10 has remained relatively consistent, with "Citizen Kane" retaining pole position for half a century. This time around, though, Orson Welles' 1941 masterwork slipped to the number two slot, ahead of Yasujiro Ozu's "Tokyo Story" (1953) at number three, Jean Renoir's "La Regle du Jeu" at number four. Sight & Sound's editor Nick James said the surprise result in the critics' poll reflected changes in the culture of film criticism, away from "films that strive to be great art, such as 'Citizen Kane,' and that use cinema's entire arsenal of effects to make a grand statement" towards those with "personal meaning to the critic." "Vertigo is the ultimate critics' film because it is a dreamlike film about people who are not sure who they are but who are busy reconstructing themselves and each other to fit a kind of cinema ideal of the ideal soul mate," he said in a statement. F.W. Murnau's "Sunrise" (1927) rounded out the top five. Murnau's first Hollywood movie was one of a record three silent films to make it into the top ten, alongside Dziga Vertov's "Man with a Movie Camera" (1929) and Carl Theodor Dreyer's "The Passion of Joan of Arc" (1928). And while the rest of the top ten does include films familiar to more mainstream moviegoers -- Stanley Kubrick's "2001: A Space Odyssey" and John Ford's "The Searchers" -- there is little room in the poll for today's box office hits. Hollywood's big-budget blockbusters, such as "Avatar," "Titanic," and "The Avengers" do not register in the upper reaches of the poll. You'll find no Harry Potter or James Bond -- the most successful film franchises of all time -- and you'll have to look beyond the top 20 for a film made beyond the 20th century. "2001: A Space Odyssey," dating from 1968, is the most modern film in the top 10; more recent offerings from Wong Kar-Wai -- 2000's "In the Mood for Love" -- and David Lynch -- 2001's "Mulholland Drive" make their debuts lower down the list, at 24 and 28, respectively. Women, too, are poorly represented -- just two female filmmakers are included in the top 100 -- Chantal Akerman for "Jeanne Dielman, 23 Quai du Commerce 1080 Bruxelles" (at 35) and Claire Denis for "Beau Travail" (at 78). Filmmakers also got to have their say: A separate poll of 358 directors from all over the world, including Francis Ford Coppola, Martin Scorsese, Woody Allen and Quentin Tarantino, picked "Tokyo Story" as their top movie, ahead of "Citizen Kane" and "2001: A Space Odyssey" in joint second place. "Vertigo" was placed seventh on the directors' list. And there's hope for the likes of James Cameron, Christopher Nolan and Peter Jackson -- Hitchcock's "Vertigo" was not considered "great" at the time of its release. Its gradual rise up the Sight & Sound poll (it was first included in 1982, at number 7) parallels an increasing recognition of Hitchcock's film-making prowess. Alfred Hitchcock: The man behind the movies . Hitchcock's classics remade in sticky tape . | Alfred Hitchcock's "Vertigo" named greatest film in once-in-a-decade poll of film critics .
Hitchcock knocks Orson Welles' "Citizen Kane" off top of list for first time in 50 years .
"Tokyo Story," "2001: A Space Odyssey" and "The Searchers" among top picks .
Three silent films, including Murnau's "Sunrise" (1927) also included in Top 10 . |
16,879 | 2fd328d4721bd63fe6ac3a1b1f9eafda02a0115a | Chelsea old boy Frank Lampard admitted he was almost speechless after coming off the bench to deny former boss Jose Mourinho victory at Manchester City. The 36-year-old midfielder, who was serenaded by the visiting fans at the Etihad Stadium, struck five minutes from time after being picked out by James Milner to cancel out Andre Schurrle's 71st-minute opener. Lampard told Sky Sports: 'It's a really difficult one. I'd be unprofessional if I didn't come on and do my job, so I was trying to get into the box and it was a great ball back from Milly. Lampard arrives late in the box to score City's equaliser and deny Chelsea three points at the Etihad . The City midfielder looked close to tears after scoring a crucial goal against his former club . 'It's a tough one for me. I had 13 amazing years with the Chelsea fans, so I am mixed with it. I am obviously pleased the team I play for got a draw. 'I am a little lost for words. I didn't expect to come on and score like that. I came on and the Chelsea fans were singing, and that's emotional. Then I am playing for this club, who have taken me in brilliantly as well, so I am really stuck in the middle here.' Delighted City boss Manuel Pellegrini insisted he had no qualms about using Lampard after speaking to him before the game, during which City defender Pablo Zabaleta was dismissed for a second bookable offence. Lampard cannot bring himself to celebrate the all-important goal, his first for his new side, against Chelsea . Chelsea's travelling fans, though disappointed by the defeat, stayed behind to applaud their hero . He said: 'I asked him if he wanted to be involved, and of course he wanted to be involved. That shows how great a professional Lampard is. 'I am sure he was not happy to score against such an important team in his career, but he's a good professional, he is a very good player.' Opposite number Jose Mourinho, for whom Lampard was such a key figure during his first spell at Stamford Bridge, was pragmatic about the former England midfielder's contribution. Mourinho said: 'He is a Man City player. I don't believe in these histories of passion and heart, I don't believe in these. Maybe I am too pragmatic in football. 'When he decided to come to Man City, a direct competitor of Chelsea, love stories are over. He did his job as the super professional he is, and he did well.' Despite scoring against them, Lampard, Chelsea's record goalscorer, remains a legend to their fans . Lampard's former teammates Branislav Ivanovic and Andre Schurrle have seen him score all too often . The former England star looked apologetic as he refused to celebrate, and then applauded both sets of fans . | Frank Lampard comes off the bench to equalise for Manchester City .
Lampard is Chelsea's all-time record goalscorer .
Former England midfielder applauded from the field by both sets of fans and spends time waving to travelling supporters .
Lampard says 'I didn't expect to come on and scored today' |
550 | 019b4c554f50daea7968ebda30e86adada9499a9 | By . Rosie Taylor . PUBLISHED: . 06:09 EST, 25 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 06:09 EST, 25 May 2013 . David Hockney said the sudden death of his young assistant left him unable to draw. Keen sportsman Dominic Elliott, 23, had worked for the artist for two years before his unexplained death in March. Family said Hockney, 75, was 'like a father' to the young man. Speaking for the first time since his assistant's death, he admitted he had stopped work in the middle of creating five sets of five drawings of the progression of the seasons around his home in Bridlington, East Yorkshire. 'Very upset': Artist David Hockney (left) could not work after his assistant Dominic Elliot (right) died suddenly . He said he found himself unable to draw for around a month and even considered moving back to California, where he had lived for many years before returning to his Yorkshire birthplace. He told The Guardian: 'I finished the first set in January. I . was very pleased with them. The . intention was to go back to them whenever the spring occurred. But then . Dominic died. 'It was an awful time and I was very upset. I thought I . might not do it at all this year. I thought I might go back to LA for a . bit. I didn't quite know what to do.' No 'obvious natural causes' were found for Mr Elliott's death in a post mortem examination. An inquest has been opened and adjourned until August. The assistant had been helping the artist prepare for his work on the seasons and had also sat for him for a number of portraits. Muse: Mr Elliott had sat for the artist on several occassions . Landscapes: Woldgate Woods in East Yorkshire is a popular theme of the artist's work . Hockey said bad weather following the death compounded the situation, and it wasn't until it turned in late April that he considered drawing again. Another assistant, Jean-Pierre, insisted he restarted his work, he said. 'I wasn't doing anything much, had nearly . given up, and was still thinking about going to LA when my assistant, . Jean-Pierre, said I didn't really have an option - I had to continue with . the work, ' he said. 'And he was right. I'm not going to retire. I just keep working and that's what I think I should do.' The artist said he was 'still very sad' about Mr Elliot, but that he had got back into the routine of working, completing 21 of the 25 drawings he had planned. They will be exhibited in San Francisco in October. Hockney's work was given its most prominent showing to date at the Royal Academy last year. The 'A Bigger Picture' exhibition was one of the academy's most popular events, with more than 600,000 people visiting. | Dominic Elliot died suddenly after collapsing at Hockney's home .
Artist was devastated and almost gave up working after the death . |
186,578 | 7dabc5431a80df25397f0fc9b76d7f53c59e9a98 | The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall ended their four-day tour of Colombia on a wet and windy note as they sheltered under umbrellas in pouring rain. The royal couple were set to bid farewell to the Latin American country with a sunset ceremony on the deck of a Royal Navy warship that is currently docked at Cartagena harbour. But last night sweltering temperatures gave wave to a rumbling thunderstorm, forcing guests on board HMS Argyll to take shelter from heavy downpours under a marquee. Scroll down for video . Royal washout: Camilla stayed dry by carrying an umbrella and wearing a raincoat elegantly draped over her shoulders, left. Navy personnel welcomed the Prince as he boarded the British warship last night, right . Gentleman: Prince Charles stood in the rain to help Camilla as she stepped off the steep gang way on to the deck of the ship. The couple were last night marking the end of their four-day tour of Colombia . Tropical rain: The Prince greets Royal Navy officers on board HMS Argyll, which is currently docked at Cartagena harbour. Other guests at the sunset event included the Colombian President, Juan Manuel Santos . Camilla, who was carrying an umbrella, made sure her elegant white dress stayed dry by wearing a beige raincoat draped over her shoulders. Prince Charles, who was in Navy dress uniform, was happy to step out into the showers to help his wife on to the Type 23 frigate, where they were greeted by naval officers. But despite the thundery showers, the couple looked relaxed as they chatted to guests, who included Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos and the warship's officers. The evening ended with the lowering of the Royal Navy Ensign. It brought to a close their official tour of the country, which is emerging from five decades of civil violence. The trip highlighted some of the issues Colombia is working to address from protecting its unique environment, to healing divisions caused by the internal war involving guerrilla forces. It was also marked by some personal moments for the couple. Earlier this week the Prince spoke of his anguish following the death of his uncle, Lord Mountbatten, while the Duchess made a passionate intervention on the subject of sexual violence. Downpour: Sweltering temperatures gave wave to a rumbling thunderstorm last night, forcing the royal couple to carry umbrellas, pictured above, and guests to shelter beneath a marquee . Esteemed guests: The Colombian President, Juan Manuel Santos, left, was among those who attended the ceremony on Friday night. Right: The royal couple looked relaxed as they spoke to guests on board the ship . Earlier in the day, the couple inspected the treasure at the Museo del Oro Zenu in Cartagena, where they were both presented with a traditional black and white sombrero vueltiao hat. A huge crowd of people, many of whom carried Union flags, had gathered outside the museum to see the couple arrive, with Prince Charles taking the opportunity to share a joke with some of the locals during a walkabout. He also tried his hand at playing the drum and appeared to be enjoying himself, even if those listening were less than enamoured with his musical talents. Following the visit to the museum, the couple continued on to the Naval Academy, where they saw a haul of submarines confiscated from drug gangs and now displayed outside the school. Dedicated: The Duchess of Cornwall and Prince Charles both carried umbrellas as they left the ceremony. The couple will spend today privately in Cartagena, a city which has a strong Caribbean heritage . Charles and Camilla continued on to a war memorial dedicated to the British soldiers who died during an attempt to take the city's Fort of San Felipe in 1741. The couple will spend today privately in Cartagena, a city which has a strong Caribbean heritage and whose old town is a Unesco world heritage site. The royal couple will arrive in Mexico tomorrow, which is the Day of the Dead, a Mexican public holiday when people gather to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died, and visit their graves. The royal couple will mark the day by visiting the Cornish cemetery in Real del Monte, which contains the only known British First World War memorial in Mexico, to a Cornish immigrant who died at the Battle of the Somme. The Duke and Duchess of Cornwall will lay a wreath at the memorial. | Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall ended four-day tour of Colombia .
Evening was marked with ceremony on deck of Royal Navy warship .
Guests were forced to shelter from thundery showers under marquee .
Camilla wore raincoat over her shoulders and carried an umbrella . |
214,759 | a20ad368b00462613646e9ce7c5f9589bb6a78ac | The world's oldest set of sisters have proved they are still young at heart as they celebrate reaching the landmark combined age of 386. As Lillian Brown turned 103 on 23 January, she joked that she and her siblings - twins Dorothy Thompson and Ellen George, 96, and 'baby' of the family Sylvia Sturgess, 91 - would go clubbing. The sisters, whose maiden name is Clarke, were raised in Northampton by their Victorian parents. Lillian Brown (centre) turned 103 on January 23 and with the combined ages of her sisters Sylvia Sturgess, 91 (right) and twins Dorothy Thompson (left) and Ellen George (not pictured), 96, are the world's oldest sisters . Incredibly, between them they have lived through 19 Prime Ministers, five monarchs and survived two world wars. They have a total of six children, 14 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren and even one great-great-grandchild. Three of the siblings, Lillian, Dorothy and Sylvia, all live in Market Harborough, Leicestershire, while Ellen lives 17 miles away in Northampton. The lively pensioners also had a fifth sister called Gladys Merritt who died aged 85 in 2000 - and their mother Ellen Clarke lived until she was 102. (L-R) Sylvia Sturgess, Lillian Brown, Dorothy Thompson and Ellen George: Four of the Harborough sisters who have a combined age of 386 years . Pictured (left) a young Lillian with her mother Ellen Clarke, grandmother and great grandmother. Lillian as a little girl 100 years ago, right . The sisters put their longevity down to remaining optimistic and enjoying life. (l-r) Ellen Clarke with Gladys Merrit (their fifth sister who died aged 85), Lillian, Ellen and Dorothy in 1938 . Sylvia and Dorothy pictured in Northampton in 1939 . Lillian, who is known as Ann, celebrated her 103rd birthday at the home she shares with her only daughter Valerie Harrison, 75. Lillian said that the secret to longevity was to remain positive and enjoy life. She said: 'We just don't think about dying, just being cheerful and carrying on. 'We enjoy the odd tipple and always have a glass of wine whenever we meet up for a bit of a do.' Lillian added that her age may make her less agile than she once was but she's still happy. 'I've lost my independence and I do get a bit bored but apart from that, I'm quite happy to be 103.' Lillian's daughter, Valerie, said she believed the sprightly sisters had all lived so long because they are 'feisty' women. 'They were talking about all going on to a nightclub after the party but they didn't do that in the end,' she said. 'They all worked independently. My mother's husband died when he was 40, so she took on the business herself. 'Then they're all very feisty and they speak their mind. They don't mince their words. 'And thirdly, they're all quite happy-go-lucky. They've all had sadness in their lives, but they always pick themselves up and get going again.' The five sisters before Gladys' death in 2000 (l-r) Ellen, Gladys, Dorothy, Lillian and Sylvia . Sylvia and Dorothy both live independently in the same sheltered housing block of flats near their sister Lillian's home in Market Harborough. And the fourth sister Ellen, who wasn't able to make the birthday party, also lives independently in a retirement block in Northampton. When they were younger, twins Dorothy and Ellen both worked in fashion and at clothing shops while Sylvia was a housewife. Lillian took over in business from her husband when he died aged just 40 and ran a pub as well as a greengrocers before going into property development. Lillian says that despite her age making her less agile she is still thoroughly enjoying life . Dorothy's daughter Carolyn Boddington, 67, said her mother and Auntie Sylvia still go out for a pub lunch together twice a week. The retired admin worker, who lives nearby in Desborough, Northamptonshire, added that none of the women had let their age prevent them from having fun. 'They are all very independent, they all have quite forceful personalities. 'Their mother was the driving force behind the family and I think they have just followed on from her. 'They enjoy their life and they are very determined to carry on living to the full. 'My mother and Sylvia still get a taxi and go out for a pub lunch twice a week, they like a good tipple. 'They are quite thrilled about the record, the family are used to them being around but it is quite an achievement.' The previous title for the world's oldest living siblings belonged to Jack Stepham, Clara Goldsmith, Belle Dell and Anne Goldsmith from the Stepham family in the UK. Their combined age stood at 388 years before Jack, 94, was killed in September 2011. The death means the Clarke sisters, whose combined age is 386, are the oldest living siblings in the world and they are now waiting on official confirmation. A spokesperson for the Guinness World Records said: 'The record for the Highest combined age, four living siblings, is currently open due to the sad passing of Jack Stepham in 2011. 'We would ask that a record application to be made from a family member or someone on their behalf on the sisters in Harborough so our records team can look into this further.' | Lillian Brown turned 103 on January 23 .
Her sisters, twins Dorothy Thompson and Ellen George, are both 96 .
Lived through 19 Prime Ministers, five monarchs and two World Wars .
Siblings say secret to a long life is to enjoy yourself . |
78,692 | deefcc8ace8d47f80a7b27024fe69de7f0a08fc9 | By . Sam Greenhill . David Cameron was the butt of jokes around the world yesterday for the ridiculous photo he tweeted of himself looking serious on the phone to Barack Obama. Where Star Trek actor Patrick Stewart had already boldly gone in mocking the Prime Minister’s attempt to look statesmanlike, countless others followed. Sir Patrick had tweeted a picture of himself holding a tub of Wet Ones instead of a phone and saying: ‘I’m now patched in as well. Sorry for the delay.’ David Cameron posted this picture of himself online on Wednesday with the caption: ¿I¿ve been speaking to @BarackObama about the situation in Ukraine. We are united in condemnation of Russia¿s actions' Star Trek actor Patrick Stewart was one of the first to mock the PM's picture - posing with some Wet Ones . Michael Moreno (left) mocked the PM's picture by holding a dog to his ear while comedian Rob Delaney used toothpaste in his selfie . Twitter users then flooded the site with images of themselves holding random objects to their ear. They included bananas, air fresheners, Lego characters, toy animals and a variety of household objects. Mr Cameron had tweeted his picture on Wednesday evening, writing: ‘I’ve been speaking to @BarackObama about the situation in Ukraine. We are united in condemnation of Russia’s actions.’ Now the joke has gone viral - with Twitter users across the world joining in on the fun . This picture of Putin with an ostrich was also posted online as part of the craze as was a dog on a phone . @suzannehinds (left) poses with a banana while a Lego man poses with a phone . Sir Patrick followed with his tweet before Twitter user Michael Moreno held up a dog to his ear and tweeted: ‘Ok, guys, thanks for holding.’ The teasing from British actor Sir Patrick, 73, prompted the Prime Minister into a good-humoured response yesterday. He posted a second photo, this time showing him meeting Bill Clinton in Downing Street, with a tweet to Sir Patrick saying: ‘Talking to another US President, this time face to face, not on the phone.’ US comic Rob Delaney soon . posted a picture of himself holding a toothpaste tube and telling Mr . Obama and Mr Cameron: ‘Hi guys, I’m on the line now too. Get me up to . speed.’ @jamescragg1 (left) speaks in to an iron while @SFriedScientist holds a goat to his ear . @MARTYRSHOW (left) looks very concerned while posing with a tardis and @ceridwenw with a vase . @Chucklefix (left) holds a colourful bird figure while @KatlegoMaboe prefers a pinapple . The Prime Minister posted this good- humoured response to all the pictures today . | David Cameron posted picture of him on the telephone on Wednesday .
Picture has gone viral - with countless people mocking the image online . |
249,644 | cf176baf5280d63172c025fa52a0168fa7599c28 | By . Tracey Cox . PUBLISHED: . 06:33 EST, 14 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 06:55 EST, 14 August 2013 . In an age where women are liberated, have choices and careers and (better) economic equality, why are we still putting up with men behaving badly? What’s with Kim Kardashian putting up with new dad Kanye’s blatant unavailability - both emotional and physical - when he should be beaming by her side, being proud and protective. Rihanna giving Chris Brown a zillion second chances when she has visual evidence - her smashed up face - of what ‘love’ means to him. What's with Kim Kardashian putting up with new Dad Kanye's blatant unavailability? Simon Cowell’s mini-tribe of exes all sobbing that they should have been the one to father his love child. Why exactly? Yes, I get the yacht/jet/diamond appeal but seriously, who really wants to spend their life with a man who collects their exes rather than puts them in the past, where exes are supposed to be. Why is Cara Delevingne sniffing around Kate Moss’s ex Pete Doherty? What am I missing? Yes, we should all be entitled to make and learn from our mistakes but what message is this sending teenage girls, who we know are obsessed with celebrity? Simon Cowell's mini-tribe of exes all sobbing that they should have been the one to father his love child. Why exactly? What’s wrong with going for the nice guy? Women have always been brainwashed into the appeal of the ‘bad boy’. The drama of it all is seen as exciting. There’s the ‘hot’ make-up sex after the fights; the heady rebellion of going for someone who only thinks about now, doesn’t care about the future. When you’re 18 and tentatively exploring life and sex and relationships, this can be appealing. But as an adult, who can be bothered with the reality of dating a guy who’s never on time (if he bothers turning up at all), who has no money, drug or alcohol problems, an inability to plan ahead, an allergic reaction to a mere whiff of commitment, no real goals or ambition and loathes your friends and family (but not half as much as they loathe him). My definition of a bad guy is this: it’s someone who doesn’t treat you nicely. The stereotype that nice equals weak is false. Studies show nice people are not necessarily less assertive or competitive than ‘difficult’ people. Tracey says women have been 'brainwashed' into liking bad boys and that nice doesn't equal boring . ‘Nice is boring’ also doesn’t stand up to scrutiny. Unless ‘boring’ means calling when they’re supposed to and being where they’re supposed to be, with the person they’re supposed to be with. ‘Nice is average looking’ is shot to smithereens by Jon Hamm topping Sexiest Man Alive polls worldwide and also being a nice guy. ‘Nice’ isn’t just an throwaway word by the way: it’s measurable. Psychologists define nice people as those who score high on a personality trait called agreeableness. If you’re nice, your over-riding concern is having happy, positive relationships with other people. You like harmony and you don’t like upsetting people. Nice people are generous, trustworthy, reliable and considerate. They don’t play games because they don’t like to make other people feel uncomfortable. The ability to be able to ‘put yourself in someone else’s shoes’ or ‘see how your partner sees’ is a hugely positive factor in relationships. This is the automatic default for the average nice guy. Studies show agreeable people also stay married longer, are more intimate in their marriages, have better relationships with their kids and - not surprisingly - are more satisfied with their lives overall. Case closed for any female who has even a hint of intelligence and high self-esteem. Visit Tracey's website and MailOnline blog for relationship and sex advice and follow Tracey on Twitter. | UK's leading sexpert Tracey Cox says the allure of bad boys is misguided .
Says women have been 'brainwashed' and nice doesn't equal boring .
Why would an adult woman want the reality of dating man who’s never on time (if he bothers turning up at all)
Psychologists have revealed that the 'nice' quality can be measured . |
55,154 | 9c393b5ba67f57ab2d26be7b0b0f333efd33d527 | Idaho became the latest state Tuesday in which a federal judge declared its ban on gay marriage to be unconstitutional, delivering yet another victory for same-sex proponents -- albeit not necessarily a definitive one. U.S. Magistrate Judge Candy Wagahoff Dale issued her sweeping opinion knocking down Idaho state laws and a state constitutional amendment, passed in 2006, as failing to live up to the U.S. Constitution's 14th Amendment guarantee no "state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws." "Idaho's marriage laws deny its gay and lesbian citizens the fundamental right to marry and relegate their families to a stigmatized, second-class status without sufficient reason for doing so," Dale wrote. "These laws do not withstand any applicable level of constitutional scrutiny." The judge's order takes effect at 9 a.m. Friday. It was not immediately known if state authorities in Idaho, who have been fighting to keep in place the law restricting marriage as being between a man and a woman, will appeal this decision. That's what has happened in several other states, in which federal judges overturned state same-sex marriage bans only to have those decisions stayed on appeal. A federal appeals court last month heard challenges to same-sex marriage bans in Utah and Oklahoma. Appeals courts in coming weeks and months will hear similar challenges over current bans in Nevada, Texas, Kentucky, Ohio, and Michigan. The three judges on the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals heard related arguments Tuesday. Their final decision could affect Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Maryland, the latter being the only one of the five with legalized same-sex marriage. After that, the Supreme Court could then weigh in. And late last week in Arkansas, Pulaski County Circuit Judge Chris Piazza declared the state's voter-approved gay marriage ban to violate the Arkansas constitution. The plaintiffs in the Idaho case included four same-sex couples. They included two of whom married in others states and wanted their unions recognized in Idaho, and two of whom had children born while they were a couple. Among other opinions, Dale shot down Idaho authorities' argument that limiting marriage to a man and a woman is in children's best interests. For example, the judge says there's nothing preventing heterosexual couples from marrying simply for a tax break, or stopping them from marrying because they can't or don't want to have children or are "non-optimal parents." Furthermore, the judge said, those children who have gay or lesbian parents might pay the price, emotionally and otherwise, under the state ban. "Idaho's marriage laws fail to advance the state's interest because they withhold legal, financial and social benefits from the very group they purportedly protect -- children," Dale wrote. The judge also described the state's contention that gay marriage should be banned in the name of "religious liberty" to be "myopic." "No doubt many faiths around the world and in Idaho have longstanding traditions of man-woman marriage rooted in scripture," Dale said. "But not all religions share the view that opposite-sex marriage is a theological imperative." Even if a majority of people in Idaho oppose same-sex marriage, that doesn't mean their opinion should equate to law, according to the judge. She stated: "This case asks a basic and enduring question about the essence of American government: Whether the will of the majority, based as it often is on sincere beliefs and democratic consensus, may trump the rights of a minority." Appeals court scrutinizes Virginia same-sex marriage ban . | Idaho becomes the latest state in which a state gay marriage ban is struck down .
Judge: Order takes effect this Friday morning, unless it's successfully appealed .
Laws "deny its gay and lesbian citizens the fundamental right to marry," says judge .
They also give their families "stigmatized, second-class status," she adds . |
62,753 | b23ddae6b102f15cb1845a7ed1e11d5a7e5b9600 | Andy Murray is prepared to forgive and forget when he faces the man who criticised his groundbreaking appointment of a female coach last summer. The British No 1’s second-round opponent at the Australian Open will be local hope Marinko Matosevic, who expressed some fairly unreconstructed macho views when Murray teamed up with Amelie Mauresmo after the French Open. Asked what he thought of the idea, the Australian known as ‘Mad Dog’ declared publicly what some of his peers or former players were only prepared to say in private. Andy Murray beat Indian qualifier Yuki Bhambri in the Australian Open first round on Monday . Murray beat Bhambri 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 in a laboured straight-sets victory . ‘I couldn’t do it because I don’t think that highly of the women’s game,’ he commented. ‘It’s all equal rights these days, politically correct. Someone’s got to give it a go, but it won’t be me.’ Now Murray has set up their first encounter since Matosevic brought the furies on himself. It is his reward for a sometimes laboured 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 victory over Indian qualifier Yuki Bhambri. The world No 6 does not bear a grudge after Matosevic, with whom he has always got on well, swiftly moved to make amends last year. ‘He came and spoke to me immediately about it when it was in the papers and apologised, and spoke to my mum about it and apologised, and apologised to Amelie,’ revealed Murray. The British No 1 takes on local hope Marinko Matosevic in the second round . Matosevic said he didn't think highly enough of the women's game to hire a female coach after Murray appointed Amelie Mauresmo last year . ‘He’s the sort of guy, he can say something and he doesn’t necessarily mean anything bad with it if that’s his opinion. If he doesn’t want to work with a female coach then that’s absolutely fine and that’s the case with many players. I’m not offended by it and I get on absolutely fine with him.’ The extrovert Matosevic, 29, let out an animalistic scream when he finally edged out Russian Alexander Kudryavtsev in a deciding fifth set, but insists he is mellowing and trying to avoid controversy. ‘I guess I’m definitely maturing in my old age, I’m a late bloomer,’ he said. ‘I guess mentally-wise I’m a late developer in that department as well.’ He described Murray’s skill levels as ‘probably second only to Roger (Federer)’ and that is why the Scot’s subtle ability to break down an opponent will probably prove too much for him when they meet. Mauresmo watch on as Murray safely progresses through the first round . Matosevic collapses to the floor in celebration after beating Alexander Kudryavtsev in his first round . One of the many fascinating questions to be answered this year is whether the Australian’s original take on the Mauresmo arrangement proves to be correct or if she can coax Murray back to the heights achieved with Ivan Lendl. They have had a chance to work together in Miami and, judging by yesterday, have altered his service action with particular reference to the ball toss which was a nagging issue through 2014. What does not appear to have changed is Murray’s tendency to show frustration and communicate angrily with himself when things are not working out, as they sometimes failed to do against Bhambri. Murray admitted this is a natural tendency, saying: ‘When things don’t go people’s way, it’s normal. If I went to play five-a-side football with my dad’s friends and someone misplaces a pass, everyone’s reaction when they do something wrong is to want to say something. World No 6 Murray shakes hand with his opponent after the victory on Monday . Murray signs autographs for fans in Melbourne after the straight-set win . ‘It’s about making sure you aren't letting those things affect you... it’s not something that necessarily comes naturally to everyone.’ Murray feels his back is now in such good shape and he looks to be moving as well as ever. It is difficult to see Matosevic piercing his defences. They actually met the week before last at the Hopman Cup in Perth, with no ranking points at stake, and Murray won easily. But, as his demeanour against Bhambri sometimes showed — he needed to recover from 1-4 in the third set — the pressures are very different in a Grand Slam. | Andy Murray faces Marinko Matosevic in second round of Australian Open .
Matosevic made negative remarks after Murray appointed Amelie Mauresmo last year .
Murray has forgiven and forgotten the Australian's comments .
The Brit set up the match after beating Yuki Bhambri 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 . |
147,969 | 4b5a5e2892c2a3e4c69d0b6ca986e4614b2edea7 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 19:19 EST, 28 April 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 19:31 EST, 28 April 2013 . Switzerland stashes a fifth of its gold reserves in Britain. Thomas Jordan, the president of the Swiss National Bank, has revealed that 70 per cent of the country’s gold was stored in Switzerland, 20 per cent with the Bank of England and 10 per cent with the Bank of Canada. The president of the Swiss National Bank has revealed 20 per cent of the country's gold is stored in the Bank of England . Since the Second World War and the Cold War, several central banks in Europe have kept part of their gold reserves in foreign countries in case of invasion. But turbulence in financial markets in recent years has raised concern among Europeans, who see gold as a reliable store of value that a country can depend upon. Mr Jordan said he disclosed details on the reserves because ‘there has been a growing need for transparency in our population in the last few years. A week ago, the Swiss Cabinet announced the nationalist Swiss People’s Party had gathered enough signatures to force a referendum that would ban the central bank from selling off any gold reserves or storing them abroad. The party’s initiative, known as “Save Our Swiss Gold,” would go to a vote among Swiss citizens within the next few years. It would require Switzerland’s central bank to keep at least 20 per cent of its assets in gold, and all of those on Swiss soil. Since the Second World War and the Cold War, several central banks in Europe have kept part of their gold reserves in foreign countries in case of invasion . | President of Swiss National Bank said a fifth of country's gold is in the UK .
Thomas Jordan disclosed details because of 'growing need for transparency'
Europeans see gold as reliable store of value a country can depend on . |
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