Unnamed: 0
int64 0
287k
| id
stringlengths 40
40
| article
stringlengths 117
14.7k
| highlights
stringlengths 37
3.97k
|
|---|---|---|---|
282,531 | f9f195019a790d0e861979bdf563821c32d38b8d | (CNN)He's accused of plotting with his brother and carrying out an attack near the finish line of the Boston Marathon that killed three people, wounded more than 260 and spurred a massive manhunt that terrorized the city for days. And now, nearly 19 months after the bombings, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev's trial is starting. Here are 13 things to keep in mind as the proceedings get under way this week at the federal courthouse in Boston: . 1. It's going to take time to pick a jury. Lawyers have more than 1,000 people to choose from. About 1,200 potential jurors have been summoned, CNN affiliate WCVB reported. The prosecution and defense will have to pare down that pool to 12 jurors and six alternates. Prosecutors have said the trial could last up to four months. 2. We already have some clues about the arguments on both sides. Court documents filed so far by the defense and prosecution paint a pretty clear picture of where things are heading -- though their portrayals of Tsarnaev, 21, are dramatically different. Prosecutors cast him as a deliberate killer inspired by jihadist literature. The defense has tried to pin the blame on Tamerlan Tsarnaev, describing Dzhokhar as a youngster manipulated by his older brother, who "was an all-powerful force who could not be ignored or disobeyed." Tamerlan Tsarnaev, 26, was killed in a confrontation with police days after the bombing. Police surrounded Dzhokhar Tsarnaev two days later as he hid inside a boat in a backyard in Watertown, Massachusetts. He surrendered with rifle lasers tagging his head. 3. Tsarnaev faces 30 federal charges. He has pleaded not guilty to all of them, including using and conspiring to use a weapon of mass destruction resulting in death. In addition to accusations tied to the two pressure cooker bombs that blew up at the marathon, the indictment against Tsarnaev also alleges that he and his brother killed a Massachusetts Institute of Technology police officer by shooting him in the head at close range. 4. It's a capital case, even though Massachusetts abolished the death penalty. Massachusetts got rid of the death penalty three decades ago, but this is not a state case. Federal prosecutors can seek the death penalty against Tsarnaev because of the nature of the crimes he's accused of committing. Federal prosecutors say he acted in "an especially heinous, cruel and depraved manner" and lacks remorse. 5. This isn't the prosecutor's first time tackling a prominent case. In 2011, The Boston Globe named U.S. Attorney Carmen Ortiz "Bostonian of the Year" for prosecuting corrupt politicians, winning a terrorism case against an al Qaeda supporter and pushing the prosecution of notorious mob boss James "Whitey" Bulger. When Bulger was sentenced in 2013 to two life terms plus five years in prison, Ortiz didn't mince words, describing him as a terrorist driven by "his desire for power, for greed and ambition." 6. Tsarnaev's lawyer is known for representing high-profile clients in death penalty cases. Her name is Judy Clarke, and you've seen her before. The federal public defender represented "Unabomber" Ted Kaczynski and Jared Lee Loughner, the gunman who seriously wounded former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and killed six people at a meet-and-greet for the congresswoman. An ardent opponent of the death penalty, she has kept some of the nation's most despised criminals -- baby killers, bombers, white supremacists and terrorists -- off death row. 7. Prosecutors and defense attorneys talked about a possible plea deal for Tsarnaev, but it didn't work out. Several of Clarke's most notorious clients have pleaded guilty and avoided the death penalty. Kaczynski and Loughner both faced capital charges but are now serving life sentences in prison. In Tsarnaev's case, discussions in recent months have centered on the possibility of him pleading guilty and receiving a life sentence without parole. The talks have reached an impasse because the Justice Department has resisted removing the death penalty as a possibility, officials told CNN. 8. Some people in Boston want to see a deal like that for Tsarnaev. In an opinion column published in the Boston Globe earlier this month, a retired federal judge, a former prosecutor and another lawyer argue that a trial and the media frenzy surrounding it will needlessly force victims to relive the horrors of the bombing. "Let's write a last chapter that guarantees just punishment for Tsarnaev while putting the victims and the community at the center of the legal system's concerns," Nancy Gertner, Michael B. Keating and Martin F. Murphy wrote. 9. Others want him to get the death penalty. When federal prosecutors announced last year that U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder had decided to seek the death penalty against Tsarnaev, a number of victims and their family members said it was a step in the right direction. Marc Fucarile, who lost a leg in the bombing, told WCVB he has no doubt about where he stands. "I prefer the death penalty, because I prefer that people know that if you terrorize our country, you're going to be put to death," he said last year. "And I strongly believe that's how it should be." 10. Tsarnaev's lawyer tried to get the case moved out of Boston. The judge said no. So did a federal appeals court. Clarke argued that Tsarnaev couldn't get a fair trial there. Federal prosecutors argued that changing the location of the trial would deny victims a chance to see justice carried out. Experts are split on how the location could influence whether Tsarnaev is sentenced to death. On the one hand, Boston is a liberal city where opposition to the death penalty is widespread, CNN Senior Legal Analyst Jeffrey Toobin said. On the other hand, because it's a federal case, the jury will be drawn from a broader pool that could include more conservative suburban or rural residents who are more inclined to support executions, New York lawyer Ronald Tabak, a leading expert on capital cases, told CNN last year. In a 2013 Boston Globe poll, 57% of Boston respondents supported a life sentence for Tsarnaev. Thirty-three percent favored the death penalty. 11. It's unknown whether Tsarnaev will testify. At a hearing last month, he appeared in court, telling a judge that he was satisfied with his defense lawyers. 12. Bombing survivors might. They told The Boston Globe that they're prepared to take the stand. 13. Even if Tsarnaev is found guilty, that's not the end of the trial. Since Tsarnaev's trial is a capital case, there will be a separate court proceeding on whether he should get the death penalty if the federal jury finds him guilty. That phase, Toobin says, would be like a "small, separate mini trial." CNN's Michael Martinez, Deborah Feyerick, Sunlen Serfaty, Ann O'Neill, Kristina Sgueglia, Ronni Berke and Evan Perez contributed to this report. | Jury selection in Dzhokhar Tsarnaev's trial has started .
Federal prosecutors are seeking the death penalty .
His attorney has secured plea deals for past clients . |
117,481 | 23b592ad5d33acb5ebd6d4cd48f4579b2f27eb11 | (CNN) -- U.S. Marines stationed in southern Europe have been put on alert as a precaution in advance of expected large demonstrations and potential unrest in Egypt this weekend, CNN has learned. About 200 combat capable Marines in Sigonella, Italy, and Moron, Spain, have been told to be ready to be airborne within 60 minutes of getting orders to deploy, according to two administration officials. The units have several V-22 tilt-rotor aircraft that would carry troops and infantry weapons to Egypt to protect the U.S. Embassy and American government personnel and citizens if violence broke out against Americans. The planned demonstrations are aimed against the Egyptian government. The officials both emphasized this is contingency planning in advance of the expected demonstrations to ensure American military assets, including rescue forces, can act if needed. In the event Americans had to be evacuated from Egypt and could not get to the airport due to the unrest, there are about 2,000 additional Marines on board three Navy warships in the Red Sea, officials said. A third official said the decision to keep the warship in the Red Sea was "very precautionary." The United States expects Egyptian security forces will be able to protect American assets and personnel. No plans for personnel to leave have been announced, State Department spokesman Patrick Ventrell said Friday. "This is not Libya," said the third official, alluding to last year's attack on the U.S. mission in Benghazi. During that attack, the military was unable to muster resources fast enough to protect the mission. Four Americans, including the ambassador to Libya, died in the attack. Since then, after much criticism from Congress about the inability to respond, the Pentagon has been particularly sensitive about ensuring troops are within deployment distance of potential trouble spots in North Africa. The embassy had already planned to be closed Sunday and Monday because of the demonstrations, according to a notice on the embassy's website. American citizens in Cairo have been advised to avoid areas where the demonstrations are taking place and "limit their movements." | Large demonstrations are expected in Egypt this weekend .
About 200 combat capable Marines in Italy and Spain are standing by .
Some 2,000 additional Marines on board three Navy warships in the Red Sea . |
40,995 | 739b6e5b8ea1fab7b182aaf6b8ade849f97dc55a | Washington (CNN) -- It was a one-minute spot that aired just one time, but with an ominous countdown and a mushroom cloud, Lyndon B. Johnson's "Daisy" ad marked a new era in American politics. Considered the first attack ad, the Daisy spot, which turned 50 on Sunday, features a little girl sweetly plucking petals from a flower as she counts her small collection out loud. The screen freezes and suddenly we hear an alarming voice sound off a different countdown, this time it's one that leads to a nuclear explosion. Without mentioning Johnson's opponent or showing his image, the ad implies that Republican Barry Goldwater is a reckless warmonger whose presidency would result in a nuclear holocaust. Drew Babb, an advertising creative director who also teaches political ads at American University, said the spot mastered the cardinal rule of advertising: get noticed. It engaged viewers as political ads had never done before. "It was an incredibly overt production, but it asked and dared people to bring their own reading to it," he told CNN. In one sense, he added, the spot is simple. It asked viewers to look at the girl, look at the bomb and vote for President Johnson. "Those are the three dots to connect, but in the middle of those dots, there's a man who might be trigger happy," he said. "It was both overt and subtle at the time, which was really hard to do in a 60-second spot." The commercial, created by the advertising giant Doyle Dane Bernbach, ran on September 7, 1964, during an NBC broadcast of "Monday Night at the Movies." Babb said the spot played off the widespread fear at the time of nuclear warfare; the Cuban Missile Crisis happened just under two years prior. "It scared the hell out of me when I saw it and it still does. As a callow young copywriter, I loved its bravura and slash-and-burn strategy. As a creative director and college professor, it gives me pause," he said. "But it still makes me gasp every time I see it." The Daisy ad set the stage for 50 more years of political ads. In his own words, Babb takes a look at five other spots that top his list of the most compelling ads: . 1) "Mistakes" -- 1969 . -- Re-elect campaign for John Lindsay, mayor of New York City . -- Produced by creative personnel at Young & Rubicam. Copy written by Tony Isidore. Why I admire it: Lindsay disarms us by actually admitting mistakes as mayor. Other than Jerry Springer running for governor of Ohio and apologizing for that pesky little canceled check at an escort service, when did you ever see that happen? The takeaway is strong: "Yeah I've screwed up, but I've done good things and deserve re-election." Strong, simple, elegant filming. One take; no teleprompter. Lindsay is in shirtsleeves, something that wasn't done all that much. He gives a stunning delivery. He was reportedly 17 points down in the election before this spot ran. He won. 2) "Morning in America" -- 1984 . -- Re-elect campaign for Ronald Reagan . -- Key creative personnel: Phil Dusenberry and Hal Riney; Riney did the voiceover. Why I admire it: Rarely has a political commercial captured the essence of a candidate as "Morning" did. Warm, upbeat, positively aw-shucks. The soft, gauzy images of a wedding, firemen, veterans, kids and American flags would not be out of place in one of the great Hallmark spots. And Hal Riney's voiceover is spot-on. He asks, "Why would we ever go back?" Hard to come up with an answer to that one. 3) "Dinner Table" -- 2012 . -- Americans for Prosperity (super PAC) Why I admire it: When everybody zigs by screaming and attacking and flashing cheesy quotes and graphics, you zag by whispering. That's what this commercial does. A family around a table. Mom, dad, two kids. Nobody says a word. They pick at their food. A few glances are exchanged. All you hear is a little fall of rain and the flatware clinking against the plates. No music, no voiceover, no nothing. A title comes up and reminds us how bad the employment rate is. Take away: These people are hungry and sad because of Obama's poor economic policy. A powerful spot for its silence. 4) "47%" -- 2012 . -- Obama for America . -- Putnam and Partners . Why I admire it: There were a number of strong spots, on both sides, in 2012. Some of the best were in the GOP primary before Mitt Romney was nominated. Rick Santorum ran two memorable spots "Rombo" and "Obamaville." But this spot aced them all. It takes Romney's embarrassingly smug words to a group of fat-cat donors and morphed them into suicidal missiles. When Putnam adds Dorothea Lange-quality portraits of the people Romney was dismissing, it's a devastatingly clear: He doesn't care about you, why should you care about him? 5) "Spelling Bee" -- 2014 . -- American Crossroads (super PAC) Why I admire it: This ad attacks Sen. Mark Pryor, D-Arkansas, for being closely attached to the Obama agenda, especially health care. It's a wonderfully produced snarky message. The filming, lighting, casting and set are all A+ and the double whammy at the end (the little girl spells Pryor "O-B-A-M-A" and the three adult judges respond, in a chorus, "Close enough!") is unforgettable. I wouldn't be surprised to see American Crossroads "franchise" this spot and adapt it for any state where they can Crazy Glue the Democrat to Obama. | The "Daisy" spot by Lyndon B. Johnson's campaign aired 50 years ago .
It's widely considered the first political attack ad .
Drew Babb, an advertising creative director, says the ad mastered overt and subtle tones .
Babb shares five other ads he considers masterpieces . |
186,900 | 7e0c225eee7c38bd837de39ab2006d45b89edab2 | By . Louise Boyle . PUBLISHED: . 09:34 EST, 30 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 15:11 EST, 30 October 2013 . Pulitzer prize-winning author Jon Meacham hit another career-defining high this morning with his epic tribute to the Jonas Brothers. The New Jersey-born boy band are sadly no more after calling it quits on Tuesday following eight years together. In the wake of the momentous event, it wasn't long before media heavyweights weighed in. Meacham, a former editor of Newsweek, led the charge with a solemn reading of lyrics from the Jonas Brothers' hit song SOS on NBC's Morning Joe. Scroll down for video . Sombre occasion: Pulitzer prize winner Jon Meacham paid tribute to The Jonas Brothers who split up on Tuesday with a reading of their hit song SOS . Meacham brought gravitas to the recital, set against a black backdrop, while a montage of the grinning Jonas Brothers in happier times flashed alongside him. Paying tribute to a pop sensation whose 'time came too soon', Meacham begins: 'SOS - told you I made you dinner plans, for you and me and no one else - that doesn't include your crazy friends.' The presenter works haltingly through the next few lines, finishing with: 'It's like - it's as if - I'm walking on broken glass, better believe I bled, it's a call I will never get. and that's SOS.' At the end of the reading, another host quips: 'Jefferson couldn't have done it better.' Meacham is a renowned historian who won the Pulitzer prize for his 2008 biography of Andrew Jackson entitled American Lion. He recently published Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power, which topped the New York Times bestsellers' list. Millions of fans were left devastated on Tuesday after the Jonas Brothers announced their split. The New Jersey-born trio - Kevin, 25; Joe, 24, and Nick, 21 - called time on the band amid reports of deep rifts and in the wake of cancelling a 19-city fall tour. Setting the scene: Meacham joined MSNBC's Morning Joe show this morning and lightened the atmosphere with his Jonas Brothers tribute . Breaking hearts: The New Jersey-born Jonas Brothers devastated their millions of fans on Tuesday, announcing their split after eight years together . | The former Newsweek editor solemnly read the lyrics of S.O.S. while images of the New Jersey-born boy band flashed along side him . |
225,245 | afa75fb319cbdd24ab046a9e2440b49ffc27517c | PYONGYANG, North Korea (CNN) -- North Korea handed over its long-awaited nuclear program declaration to officials from China on Thursday. Workers remove fuel rods on the reactor floor at North Korea's Yongbyon nuclear facility this year. President Bush, who once branded North Korea as part of an "axis of evil," welcomed the move and said he intends to remove the communist nation from the U.S. list of states that sponsor terrorism. "The declaration says: 'We are not now engaged in any [uranium] enrichment activities or [nuclear] proliferation activities and will not engage in them in the future,'" U.S. National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley said in Washington. "It is a good first step in getting the kind of disclosure and transparency into North Korea's nuclear activities as part of and a step toward their disablement, dismantlement and termination of those activities," Hadley said. North Korea handed over the declaration to officials from China, which led the six-nation talks that hammered out the conditions of the agreement. In addition to China and the United States, the talks included South Korea, Japan and Russia. Watch what's still unknown after Pyongyang's declaration » . Bush said he will call for the lifting of sanctions against North Korea under the Trading With the Enemy Act and notify Congress that he intends to take Pyongyang off the terror list. That move will take 45 days. But North Korea will have to end its nuclear activities in a "verifiable" way, Bush said in the White House Rose Garden. "The United States has no illusions about the regime in Pyongyang," he said. "We remain deeply concerned about North Korea's human rights abuses, uranium enrichment activities, nuclear testing and proliferation, ballistic missile programs and the threat it continues to pose to South Korea and its neighbors. "Yet we welcome today's development as one step of a multistep process." According to a senior U.S. State Department official, the 60-page declaration, written in English, details several rounds of plutonium production at Yongbyon, North Korea dating back to 1986. North Korea acknowledges producing roughly 40 kilograms of enriched plutonium -- enough for about seven nuclear bombs, the official said. The nation already has tested one nuclear bomb, which would have used about 6 kilograms of plutonium. After the declaration's submission, representatives from the United States and other members of the six-party talks will begin a process of verifying whether Pyongyang's declarations are true. Analyst John Wolfsthal of the Center for Strategic and International Studies said experts needed to be on the ground, taking samples and analyzing data. "We don't trust North Korea; we don't take them at their word," said Wolfsthal, who has followed the secretive country for about two decades. "We need to put together basically a jigsaw puzzle from pieces of data without really seeing the cover of the box," he said of North Korea's nuclear program. Hadley said the declaration also should provide details on how much plutonium North Korea says it has produced, which will allow the U.S. to calculate the size of Pyongyang's nuclear arsenal. Hadley said that information is not included in the declaration. Watch why the plutonium question is so important » . The United States also needs to learn more about Pyongyang's previous nuclear activities, including the spread of nuclear technology and information to other countries, Hadley added. "We have concerns about their past activities," Hadley said. "We have made those concerns clear. The North Koreans acknowledge those concerns. That is what is ahead of us. "In order for this process to go forward ... we are going to need to be able to get to the bottom of these issues, with respect to plutonium, enrichment, proliferation," he said. The easing of U.S. sanctions on North Korea will have little practical effect. "North Korea will remain one of the most heavily sanctioned nations in the world," Bush said. The agreement includes additional monitoring to assure that Pyongyang receives promised economic and energy assistance in exchange for dismantling its nuclear program. Under the agreement, leaders in Pyongyang agreed to provide a full accounting of the plutonium, "acknowledge" concerns about its nuclear proliferation and uranium enrichment activities, and continue to cooperate with a process to ensure that no further activities are taking place. During negotiations, the United States ultimately softened demands that North Korea admit to having a highly enriched uranium program and supplying Syria with nuclear technology, sticking points that had stalled the talks for months. U.S. officials said the final deal wasn't perfect but offered Washington its best chance to learn about North Korea's nuclear activities. "Multilateral diplomacy is the best way to peacefully resolve the nuclear issue," White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said. "North Korea should seize this moment of opportunity to restore its relationship with the international community." On Friday, North Korea is set to implode a cooling tower at its Yongbyon nuclear reactor. Nuclear experts have begun dismantling the plant's main reactor, but the destruction of the cooling tower is expected to be a powerful public symbol. And it is a step that would take North Korea more than a year to reverse, according to U.S. State Department officials. In a rare move, North Korea has invited international news organizations, including CNN, to witness the tower's destruction. The United States put North Korea on its state-sponsored terror list in January 1988 after its alleged involvement with the 1987 bombing of a South Korean airliner. The Korean Air Lines flight crashed into the Indian Ocean, killing all 115 people on board. CNN's Zain Verjee, John Vause and Christiane Amanpour contributed to this report. | North Korea gives documents on nuclear activities to Chinese officials .
President Bush welcomes decision, warns North Korea still has work to do .
North Korea expected to continue preparations to dismantle a nuclear reactor .
Bush says he'll remove North Korea from list of state sponsors of terrorism . |
178,754 | 736d32e295c0a6bef0d7a021afe6653444eeaae8 | (CNN) -- Cristiano Ronaldo grabbed his sixth hat-trick this season as Real Madrid went 10 points clear of arch-rivals Barcelona in Spain with a 4-2 home win over fourth-placed Levante. Sunday's victory left Real in the driving seat to win the La Liga title following champions Barca's 3-2 defeat at Osasuna on Saturday. Portugal star Ronaldo took his league tally to 27 goals this season with another superb display, but Gustavo Cabral gave Levante a surprise early lead in the Bernabeu. Ronaldo, the world's most expensive player, leveled from the penalty spot following a handball by Vicente Iborra, who was also sent off for his second yellow card. Ronaldo headed home a Gonzalo Higuain cross after 49 minutes and then completed his 13th hat-trick for Real with a thunderous drive that took him past legendary Hungarian forward Ferenc Puskas and into second place behind Alfredo di Stefano's total of 22 trebles for the club. Brave Levante pulled one back through Arouna Kone's header, but France forward Karim Benzema sealed three points for Jose Mourinho's men with a fourth after 65 minutes. Mourinho cautioned against thinking the title is already won despite opening such a big gap over Barca. "The mathematics tell us that to consider this league won, it's necessary to get another 39 points, that's 13 wins," he told AFP. Earlier, third-placed Valencia moved eight points clear of the chasing pack with a 4-0 victory over struggling Sporting Gijon, ending a run of five league matches without a win. Sofiane Feghouli opened the scoring in the 34th minute, and his 73rd-minute effort was deflected in for an own-goal by Alberto Botia. Substitute Jonas Goncalves scored twice in injury time as Valencia moved to within eight points of Barcelona, while Gijon remained second from bottom. | Real Madrid beat Levante 4-2 in La Liga clash .
Cristiano Ronaldo grabs his sixth hat-trick of season .
Victory lifts them 10 points clear of champions Barcelona .
Valencia consolidate third with 4-0 win over Sporting Gijon . |
195,763 | 896282a747ed878c24a97f9305a221d0392896c1 | Michelle Javian remembers the exact moment she got the news that her father had a massive heart attack. She was driving her car. Her mother called her. "I just remember stopping in the middle of the street, just in complete shock," Javian said. Doctors were able to save her father's life that day, but he spent the next two years in and out of a New York City hospital to treat his heart disease. Fortunately, Javian and her family lived near the city and could easily travel to and from the hospital. But she met countless families in the hospital who were not as lucky. "They were living in the waiting rooms day in and day out, taking showers wherever and whenever they could, eating really unhealthy," said Javian, 31. "They were emotionally drained." New York City boasts world-class hospitals for cardiac care. But it is also one of the most expensive cities, putting hotels, transportation and even food out of reach for some families. After her father passed away in 2008, Javian teamed up with a friend to co-found Harboring Hearts. The New York City nonprofit provides financial and emotional relief to families battling heart disease. "We try to help them with what they would normally be able to handle on their own, but because of their attention and focus and dedication to their family member, they're unable to meet those needs," Javian said. Harboring Hearts helps cover expenses such as transportation, housing, meals and child care. Keeping family together . Javian and her group consult with social workers from three hospitals to identify families who need them the most. For families such as the Gambinis, the support they receive from Harboring Hearts can be a lifesaver. Brandon Gambini had a heart transplant when he was 5 weeks old. Since then, the now 13-year-old has required medication and regular tests at the hospital to make sure his body is not rejecting his heart. His mother, Jacqueline, was introduced to Harboring Hearts in 2012, after Superstorm Sandy flooded the family's home and car. A single mother of three, Jacqueline had nowhere to turn to find a safe, clean place for her son. The family went to a crowded shelter, but because of Brandon's weak immune system, they could not stay there. Do you know a hero? Nominations are open for 2014 CNN Heroes . "It was a really bad time. I had no money. I lost everything at once," Jacqueline said. "I told the hospital I needed help." Within 48 hours, Javian's group was able to find a hotel for the family. The organization also helped cover their mortgage and purchase new furniture for their house once they were able to move back in. Recently, the group funded the Gambinis' transportation to New York City and a hotel room near the hospital during Brandon's stay. "Having them is like having part of the family, and having someone you can ask when you need help," Jacqueline said. "It's a support -- something I don't have right now." From one heart to another . Since 2009, Harboring Hearts has helped cover more than $150,000 in services for families, Javian said. The group also hosts roughly six community events a year, where recipient families can connect with each other. Nearly 3,000 families have participated in the events. "They can really relate to one another," Javian said. "Whether it is similar financial experiences or it is emotional, they connect and bond." For Javian, her efforts are a chance to keep her father's memory alive. "After my father passed away, it was really difficult, and I wanted to do something positive from the loss," she said. "I feel like it's one of my life's purposes ... to do good and bring happiness and relief and support to the families in need." Want to get involved? Check out the Harboring Hearts website at www.harboringhearts.org and see how to help. | Michelle Javian's father spent years in and out of a New York City hospital after a heart attack .
She met families from out of town who sacrificed to get their loved ones world-class care .
Javian co-founded Harboring Hearts to aid costs of transport, lodging, food and childcare .
Do you know a hero? Nominations are open for 2014 CNN Heroes . |
260,504 | dd5766ccda1b30340d7721302a5ac03e3eedfc6c | (CNN) -- A senior Pakistani Taliban leader was killed in a NATO airstrike in Afghanistan's volatile northern Kunar province, the NATO-led coalition said Saturday. Maulawi Dadullah was one of several insurgents killed Friday in an airstrike in Kunar's Shigal wa Sheltan district, according to a statement released by the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force. Dadullah, also known as Jamal, was responsible for moving fighters and weapons through the area, ISAF said. Dadullah also coordinated attacks against Afghan and coalition forces, fighters and weapons, according to ISAF. Dadullah's deputy, identified only as Shakir, was also killed in the airstrike, the coalition said. Pakistani Taliban spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan said by telephone from an undisclosed location that Dadullah was one of a dozen fighters killed in the airstrike. No civilians were injured and no property was damaged in the airstrike, ISAF said. The coalition did not say how it identified Dadullah nor did it release details about how the airstrike occurred. CNN's Reza Sayah contributed to this report. | NEW: Pakistani Taliban official confirms airstrike .
A senior Pakistani Taliban leader was killed in a NATO airstrike in Afghanistan, officials say .
Maulawi Dadullah was killed in a strike in the Kunar province, officials say .
The airstrike also killed Dadullah's deputy, ISAF officials say . |
237,761 | bfc39cb6aee670681f15fe99c4fc6d0d75b0ff16 | (CNN) -- Danielle Dayton and Patrick Murray received the call Saturday afternoon: Their 4-pound son, Brayden Murray, was shipping out. Patrick Murray and Danielle Dayton say their tiny son's evacuation went smoothly. As coastal hospitals prepared for Gustav, tiny babies in the Newborn Intensive Care Units were among the first to be evacuated. "The NICU babies are our first priority when it comes to evacuation," said Keith Darcey, a spokesman for East Jefferson General Hospital in Metairie, Louisiana, where Brayden was a patient before being evacuated to Woman's Hospital in Baton Rouge, Lousiana. Woman's Hospital started receiving phone calls Wednesday from coastal-area hospitals inquiring whether there was room in their NICU, spokeswoman Jodi Conachen said. By Sunday evening, the hospital was taking care of 32 evacuated babies. "The hospitals started preparing early this time," she said. "They learned their lesson from Katrina." The babies have done well since arriving in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, said Darcy Gann, director of the NICU at Woman's Hospital. "They act like they were barely affected by the transfer." The babies arrived by ambulance without their parents. Dayton and Murray drove to Baton Rouge to join their son after dropping off their 7-year-old daughter, Breanne, to stay with relatives far from the storm. While the couple took care of their children, they had a friend board up their business in Metairie. "You have to deal with it the best you can. You can't panic, because it doesn't do anyone any good," Murray said. "You do what's best for the baby." Although Murray said Brayden's evacuation went smoothly, one hospital administrator said the patient evacuation process had been "incredibly frustrating." Watch part of the NICU evacuation » . "There was at least a six- to eight-hour delay in evacuating the babies," said Dr. Kevin Jordan, chief medical officer of Touro Infirmary in New Orleans, which sent seven NICU babies to Woman's Hospital. "It was very, very, very disorganized." Jordan blamed the state office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness. He said Touro is still waiting to evacuate four critically ill adult patients on ventilators. "It's been incredibly frustrating," he said. The secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals said each hospital is responsible for evacuating its own patients, adding that Touro asked for assistance Sunday morning, days after other hospitals had asked for help. "It's never a perfect process," he said. "It's never easy to evacuate thousands of people in 48 hours." Touro, which usually has between 215 and 245 patients, has evacuated all but around 65 to 70, he added. "The sickest of the sick patients we're keeping and sheltering in place," Jordan said. "We're concerned that evacuating them could do significant harm." Other hospitals took a different approach. East Jefferson evacuated only its three NICU babies, keeping its 210 adult patients in the hospital. "We survived Katrina quite well and learned a lot from the experience," Darcey said, adding that since Katrina, the exterior of the hospital has been fortified. "But you don't want to take any chances with the little babies," he added. "Their temperatures have to be very carefully regulated, and if the air conditioning goes out, that could have a detrimental effect on their health." | Sick newborn babies among first evacuate area, as Gustav approaches .
Touro Infirmary, sent seven NICU babies to Woman's Hospital in Baton Rouge .
"It was very, very, very disorganized," says Touro's chief medical officer . |
78,919 | dfb13b5578fc626efe1919e761ad22503e3240bc | (CNN) -- A tide of border crossings by children mostly from Central America is not expected to end soon, and some in Congress blame President Barack Obama for policies they claim opened the floodgate. Holding centers in Texas can no longer accommodate large numbers of children and mothers traveling alone with their kids, forcing the federal government to open additional facilities. One is in Nogales, Arizona, where pictures of unaccompanied children lying on the floor of a large barren facility raised concerns of a humanitarian crisis. But Nogales Mayor Arturo Garina said the site, which serves as an overflow center for up to 1,000, is addressing the immediate need for shelter. "I'm very comfortable with what I saw," he said on CNN's "New Day." He said there are makeshift cafeterias and medical centers and that telephone banks and computers have been set up to process people and contact relatives. Border crossers . Unaccompanied children and partial families from Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala make up the majority of those crossing the border, creating a delicate situation for states, the federal government and immigrants. Of the 1,200 or so crossing the Rio Grande in eastern Texas every day, up to 400 are unaccompanied children, said Rep. Henry Cuellar, a Texas Democrat who represents the district where most of the crossings occur. "This is a humanitarian crisis," he said in a phone interview, adding that the government has to figure out how to feed, diaper and care for the children as young as infants. Many of the immigrants use rafts to cross the Rio Grande, equipped with instructions to follow the river until reaching the Border Patrol site to surrender. The illegal immigrants include a group of Honduran girls, some as young as 14. One told CNN she did so "because I want to see my parents in Austin." The Obama administration is not releasing the statistics or much information about the recent influx. But Chris Cabrera, a labor leader for Border Patrol agents, told CNN that he expects 60,000 unaccompanied children will cross the border this year. The Migration Policy Institute has kept track and said that about 8,000 minors crossed alone in any given year. But there was a sharp increase in 2011, including 10,000 in U.S. custody that summer. "You're talking kids from 17 years old on down to some that are 5 or 6 years old, traveling by themselves," Cabrera said. Last year, roughly 10% of people caught by Border Patrol agents were minors, according to an agency official. Why are they coming? Some members of Congress say Obama's policies and a lack of enforcement are to blame. "The President has sent the message out he is not going to enforce the law," Rep. Steve King, an Iowa Republican whose commentary on immigration reform drew sharp criticism, told CNN's "New Day." "That message has echoed out." Critics, such as King, point to Obama's decision in 2012 to stop most deportations of young people brought to the United States as children. Garina said that could be the reason children are coming in droves, but many involved in the issue say the reasons are much broader and complex. A recent United Nations report that interviewed 400 young immigrants points to a difficult and complicated web of reasons, including difficult-to-escape gang and societal violence in Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador as well as dire economic situations and the desire to reunify with their parents or family members in the United States. State outrage . Texas has been so overwhelmed that federal officials are transporting busloads of immigrants, including minors, to Arizona. Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer slammed the move. "Not only does the federal government have no plan to stop this disgraceful policy, it also has no plan to deal with the endless waves of illegal aliens once they are released here," she said in a statement. After the children have been processed, the are transferred to Department of Health and Human Services run facilities at Lackland Air Base in Texas or Ventura County Naval Base in California. The administration announced that a third facility in Fort Sill, Oklahoma, which will house up to 1,200 minors. Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallon also criticized the decision, questioning if the site is really going to be a temporary fix or turn into something more permanent as the number of young immigrants is expected to keep increasing. "I am dismayed by what appears to be an endless cycle of illegal immigration, temporary housing and eventual amnesty for those who have broken our laws. Today's news is the latest in a long line of policy missteps that the American people are paying for." What's next . U.S. law prohibits the Department of Homeland Security from immediately deporting the children if they are not from Canada or Mexico. Instead, the children are turned over to Department Health and Human Services supervision "within 72 hours of DHS taking them into custody," an official said. Relatives living in the United States are searched for and contacted and the immigrant is given a court date. But very few actually show up and the children often become one of the millions of undocumented immigrants. Obama declared the crossings "an urgent humanitarian situation requiring a unified and coordinated federal response." Earlier this month, in a memo to the heads of executive departments and agencies, he announced an "interagency Unified Coordination Group to ensure unity of effort across the executive branch in responding to the humanitarian aspects of this situation." The group will oversee coordination with state, local and other agencies. Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson is establishing the group. In a statement, he said that "addressing the rising flow of unaccompanied children crossing our southwest border is an important priority of this administration and the Department of Homeland Security." The administration is also forced to ask Congress for more money to address the higher-than-expected number of cases. Cuellar, who sits on the House Appropriations Committee, said the administration originally asked for $800 million to address the matter, but that number has gone up to $2.1 billion. Obama vows urgent action as children make perilous illegal journey into U.S. Supreme Court setback for underage visa applicants . CNN's Gustavo Valdes, Nick Valencia and Josh Levs contributed to this story . | Up to 400 unaccompanied children are crossing the Texas border each day .
Most of the children are coming from Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala .
Overflow holding facilities have been opened to accommodate the youth .
Nogales, Arizona, Mayor says the facilities are "better than expected" |
195,577 | 892639757a3dcf2255c978fd25bb5bea17bd8180 | The Government has again attacked the BBC for sexist sports coverage after presenter Colin Murray said Olympic gold medallist Jessica Ennis-Hill had the ultimate bottom. A capacity crowd at the Olympic Stadium were left shocked by Murray's comments just weeks after John Inverdale said Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli 'was never going to be a looker'. After Inverdale's gaffe Culture Secretary Maria Miller delivered an extraordinary attack on the BBC in a letter to Director General Tony Hall, and now looks set to write to him again. Controversial: Rather than mentioning her athleticism Colin Murray complimented male stars on their speed and stamina, but concentrated on Jessica Ennis-Hill's bottom . Colin Murray had been given the job of geeing up the crowd at the Anniversary Games in the Olympic Stadium. Demand for action: Maria Miller wants further action taken by the BBC to tackle sexism after John Inverdale and Colin Murray's comments . The 36-year-old told the 80,000 people there that the ultimate athlete would have: 'The stamina of Mo (Farah), the speed of (Usain) Bolt, the leap of (Greg) Rutherford and the bottom of Jess Ennis'. Although his comments were not broadcast it led to a row on Twitter where the Northern Irish presenter was accused of sexism and living in the 1950s. Ian Jackson wrote: 'Sexism in sport alive & well. Apparently Jess Ennis just has good bum. Shame on Colin Murray.' Julie Haigh tweeted: 'Boys get their skills mentioned, but @J_Ennis has her bum mentioned. In the 50s are we?' Natalie Vincent added: '@ColinMurray You serious? Colin, did the Inverdale debacle not teach you ANYTHING?' He then tweeted to say: 'Hey guys, I said she was the "greatest all-round athlete in the . world"'. But Maria Miller is said to be hopping-mad about the incident. 'Tony Hall claimed the Inverdale incident was a one-off and had been dealt with but we have seen other occurrences including this one at the Anniversary Games, which clearly underlines the need for positive action on this issue,' a source close to Ms Miller told the Independent. A spokesman for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport added: "Maria Miller has been clear she wants to see more media coverage of top women's sport, more women on sports boards and more women participating at the grassroots. Recent sexist comments from high-profile commentators focusing on sportswomen's appearances rather than their sporting prowess are unacceptable and show that there is still much work to be done.' Controversial: French tennis player Marion Bartoli (left) and Jessica Ennis-Hill have both been subject to comments from broadcasters who have failed to concentrate on their achievements . Colin Murray has been described as a 'Marmite' broadcaster - as people either love him or hate him. The freelance presenter has quit Radio 5 Live for talkSPORT a month after BBC bosses had to apologise when his weekly Fighting Talk show included a section on how openly gay presenter Clare Balding could be ‘turned around’. | Colin Murray praised male stars on speed and jump, but Ennis on bottom .
Maria Miller angry with BBC again a month after John Inverdale gaffe .
Inverdale said Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli was 'never a looker' |
10,305 | 1d4420b379c8e2a6918cd1443cacb28b81165417 | Jinan, China (CNN) -- Calling his former deputy a "liar with extremely bad character," fallen high-flying politician Bo Xilai on Sunday rebutted the testimony of the prosecution's star witness as his increasingly dramatic trial stretched into a fourth day. The former Communist Party chief of the sprawling southwestern metropolis of Chongqing has denied abusing his power -- the third and final charge being heard in court in Jinan, eastern China, long after he was stripped of his posts and expelled from the party. Prosecutors accuse Bo of threatening and improperly firing his former police chief Wang Lijun after learning about a murder investigation involving Bo's wife Gu Kailai, who is currently serving a suspended death sentence for killing British businessman Neil Heywood. On Sunday, Bo insisted that Wang was lying throughout his court appearance, and said his words lacked any credibility or legal standing. Wang took the witness stand Saturday, providing the first opportunity for the two former allies to confront each other since Wang's attempted defection to the United States in early February 2012. Analysis: How, why Chinese politician veered off script . Wang told the court he fled to the U.S. consulate in Chengdu because he feared for his safety following a tense encounter in Bo's office, just one day after Wang told Bo about his wife's suspected involvement in murder. "He started verbally assaulting me... and about three minutes later, he walked around the left side of his desk and stood in front me. He suddenly attacked me with his fist, hitting on my left ear -- it was not just a slap," Wang recalled, according to a court transcript. On Sunday, Bo said: "He said I didn't just slap him but punched him. I never practiced martial arts -- I don't possess such striking power," according to a transcript released by the Jinan Intermediate People's court. Bo added: "After being convicted for abuse of power and defection, he still argued that he didn't defect but engaged in diplomacy in accordance with regulations. "All this shows this man has extremely bad character and lies on the spot." The trial was adjourned after the Sunday morning session and will resume Monday morning. During trial, Xilai keeps up his counterattack . The story behind the 'slap' On Saturday, Bo conceded he had made mistakes but denied he broke the law to protect his wife. "I have made mistakes. I feel regret and I'm willing to take responsibility," Bo said. "But whether or not I've committed a crime is a different issue." "I didn't bend the law to protect Gu Kailai," he said. "I didn't force Wang Lijun out or force him to defect to the United States." Bo did acknowledge slapping Wang in the face -- a key moment long considered a turning point in the two men's relationship -- during the office confrontation, claiming he believed Wang was trumping up charges against Gu and thus furious at his "double-faced" deputy who had faked his loyalty to the Bo family. According to a court transcript, Wang said it was more than a slap and that the blow had caused a "discharge" from his ear. "My body shook a little... and I found blood at the corner of my mouth and discharge in my ear," he continued. "I wiped the blood off with a tissue, but when he heard me calmly tell him again that he had to face the reality, he threw a glass on the ground while saying 'I'll never accept it.'" Wang told prosecutors that Bo's physical violence against him as well as the disappearance of his aides and investigators led to his decision to seek refuge in the U.S. diplomatic mission in Chengdu. When Bo was allowed to question the witness, Wang revealed in an exchange that Gu had told him about her intention to kill a day before the murder. And when Bo asked Wang: "Did you think I was forcing you out in an attempt to cover up (my wife's murder) case?" Wang replied: "Yes." The trial by social media . Embezzlement and corruption charges . Earlier Saturday, Bo kept up his vigorous defense against embezzlement charges and, as he did Friday on corruption charges, and dismissed testimony from his jailed wife as a desperate attempt to reduce her own sentencing. Gu was sentenced last August for killing Heywood in a Chongqing hotel room in November 2011. She gave her testimony to the court via video and said that Bo was well aware of multi-million dollar dealings to fund their and their younger son's jet-setting lifestyle. "I have feelings for Gu Kailai," Bo said Saturday morning, after admitting to an extramarital affair. "She is a vulnerable woman... and who else could she turn in? That's why all accusations against me originated from her." Prosecutors allege that Bo received five million renminbi ($820,000) of public funds from a local urban planning official in Dalian, Liaoning Province, in the early 2000s when he was mayor and later the provincial governor. Bo slammed the allegations as "contradictory" and denied that he needed to take the money as his wife earned millions of dollars from her five law firms. Under the bribery indictment, prosecutors accuse Bo of using his political posts to secure influence for others. They say that between 2000 and 2012, Bo, Gu and their son, Bo Guagua, received about 22 million renminbi ($3.6 million) in bribes from businessmen in Dalian. Bo Guagua hopes father can 'answer his critics' Bo's fall from grace . Bo is a princeling, a term that refers to the children of revolutionary veterans who boast of political connections and influence. His late father, Bo Yibo, was a revolutionary contemporary of Chairman Mao Zedong and the late paramount leader Deng Xiaoping. Over the past three decades, Bo rose to power as a city mayor, provincial governor, minister of commerce and member of the Politburo, the powerful policy-making body of the Communist Party. A charismatic and urbane politician, Bo -- with the help of Wang -- was credited with a spectacular, albeit brutal, crackdown on organized crime during his time as the top party official of Chongqing. Bo's glittering career, in which he drew admirers and detractors for his populist policies, fell apart last year amid a scandal involving murder, corruption and betrayal. Wang's attempted defection precipitated Bo's political demise. After Gu's sentencing last August, Wang was convicted of bending the law for selfish ends, defection, abuse of power and bribe-taking. He received a 15-year prison sentence. Bo's trial is seen as a potentially concluding chapter in the scandal. His high profile and connections among the nation's ruling elite have made his case -- with its tales of greed and wrongdoing by a top official and his family -- an extremely delicate matter for Chinese authorities. It's taken more than a year, during which time the Communist Party has undergone a major leadership change, to bring him to trial. Many observers had expected proceedings to stick closely to a pre-planned script, seeing the trial's outcome as the result of a political deal struck between Bo and China's top leaders. But as he often did in his political career, Bo has so far stolen the show, mounting a robust attack on the prosecution's case and ridiculing witness testimony. That has left China watchers trying to figure out how far he's veered off script. Journalists from the international news media haven't been allowed inside the courtroom. But the court's official microblog account has delivered updates on developments inside, attracting more than half a million followers on Weibo, China's Twitter-like service. CNN hasn't been able to verify how accurate and comprehensive the court's version of proceedings has been. But many observers have interpreted it as a reasonably close, albeit filtered, account. Timeline: Bo Xilai scandal . CNN's Jethro Mullen, David McKenzie and Jaime FlorCruz contributed to this report. | Bo Xilai slams his former police chief as a "liar with extremely bad character"
Trial adjourned after half a day on Sunday, to resume for day 5 on Monday .
Bo facing trial for corruption, embezzlement and abuse of power .
Wang says he tried to seek U.S. asylum because he feared for his safety . |
63,536 | b469981abfb45286386b71759b12107cfd6b959a | (CNN) -- In the world of cyber security there are some well-known designations for anyone that considers him or herself to be a hacker, the term being so broad in scope now. One can be a "white-hat" hacker or a "black hat," the former being someone who uses their programming prowess to protect digital data, and the latter someone who seeks to subvert and steal it for their own malicious reasons. Fall into the middle and you're a "grey hat." The recent revelations about the NSA in the United States have made these labels much fuzzier, since government and NSA hackers should be white hat. Yet a recent report in the Washington Post, citing top-secret documents and an internal audit, showed the NSA had broken privacy rules thousands of times as it conducted its widespread surveillance. Of course, navigating the ethics of data privacy is a complicated business since there's just so much of it -- 90% of the world's data has been generated in the last two years, according to IBM. A very likely consequence of the NSA revelations from former cyber security contractor Edward Snowden, is that people will increasingly not care who the hacker trawling through their data is -- whether it's an ethically-conflicted government contractor like Snowden, or someone more unscrupulous trying to sell their digital address book to spammers. They just want their data to be un-hackable. Read more: SIM card hack inspires quick fix by carriers . Over the years, we've read about how easy it appears to be to hack a website, server, or a device if you just have the know-how and the inclination. The subversive digital community Anonymous showed this in 2011, when clusters of young people within its network were able to temporarily paralyze websites of major corporations and steal data, often without the background of real programming knowledge. In more than one case these volunteers used a free program they downloaded from the Web, which automated a data theft for them. For those in the cyber security industry, such big attacks were an "I told you so" moment, proving how insecure our personal data was when it was stored in online databases by even large companies and institutions. Read more: Hacker says phone app could hijack plane . The question of how we can find a good privacy balance in a networked world leads us to the paradox of mobile devices, the next battleground for data and privacy. Smartphones are essentially mini computers and as a result can offer both our best hope for private digital communication, and greater vulnerability. First the hope. It's been made clear in the last few months that email is no longer considered a safe and secure way to send information to someone. The founder of secure email service Lavabit, who counted Ed Snowden as a user, recently suspended his business in the face of a government investigation. The vendors of another secure email service, called Silent Circle, shut down their email service soon after, and cited fundamental security flaws inherent in email. Phil Zimmermann, the co-founder of Silent Circle and inventor of a popular encryption standard for email called Pretty Good Privacy (PGP) even said at the time that email was just not secure anymore. In one way, thanks to using standard Internet protocols, it never has been. Now instead of using email, Zimmermann increasingly uses mobile messaging services of the kind offered by his company. The general public can take a leaf out of Zimmermann's book. Mobile messaging apps like WhatsApp and Wickr look better mainstream options for secure digital communication. Researchers: We can hack an iPhone through the charger . WhatsApp avoids advertisers like the plague and relies on subscription payments, while Wickr encrypts messages and deletes them after a set amount of time -- like a burning candle wick. On the other hand, mobile phones are just another attack vector for grey and black hat hackers, with potentially richer information than what's obtainable from a desktop computer: location data, access to your contacts address book, photos and real time audio through your microphone. Smartphones are particularly vulnerable in emerging markets like China, where more people use Android phones than in the U.S. and Western Europe, and download apps from third party sites because Google Play is banned by Beijing. The problem here is that it's becoming easier to inject malware into fake apps, for unsuspecting Android users to download. In the last few months, security researchers have found a remote access tool in the wild called AndroRAT, which coupled with a new software tool called a binder, makes it surprisingly easy to inject malicious code into a fake version of a popular, paid-for app or game, package it together and upload it to a third-party site at a discounted rate or for free. Once the app has been downloaded, the hacker can remotely steal the victim's contacts data, turn on their camera or turn on their mic and record conversations. Researchers say the tool is most attractive to spammers who want to steal contact data and premium text messages. Read more: Are you in danger of 'drive-by' hacking? What's disturbing is that using the tool does not require a sophisticated level of programming knowledge, echoing the desktop tools that were used by supporters of Anonymous to attack online databases. Far more tame, but still disturbing for many privacy advocates, is the amount of data that mobile app developers are able to funnel out to advertising networks after you've downloaded one of their free apps -- and this applies to anyone that uses an iPhone or Android phone in the developed world. History repeats itself. So long as we continue to rely on small, rectangular slabs for computers and carry them everywhere, pumping them with all manner of personal and professional information, they'll increasingly become a target for hackers white, grey or black. If people value their privacy, they'll vote with their wallets and invest in services that encrypt their data and keep their communications private -- and a few they might ditch their phones altogether. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Parmy Olson. | Mobile devices are the next battleground for data and privacy, Parmy Olson writes .
Pumping phones with information makes them increasingly attractive target for hackers .
If people value their privacy, they'll invest in services that encrypt their data . |
133,412 | 38817f979878328d970b0d2e12ddb9f56fc13877 | LONDON, England (CNN) -- A Hindu man in Britain lost his court battle Friday for the legal right to be cremated in a traditional Hindu open-air funeral pyre. Most Hindus believe open-air burning is the spiritually . appropriate way to release a soul from the body. Davender Ghai, 70, a world-renowned charity advocate in Britain, argued the practice is already legal under British law, but he sought clarification in order to hold such cremations in the future. Ghai tested the law in 2006 when he lit the funeral pyre of a man in the northern English county of Northumberland. He was never prosecuted, but the city council in Newcastle, where Ghai lives, promptly ruled funeral pyres illegal. Ghai, currently in India receiving medical treatment for what a spokesman described as debilitating high blood pressure and diabetes, said in a statement that he was saddened by Friday's verdict and will appeal. He has said he hopes for a traditional cremation when he dies. "I shall appeal until the very end, in the faith that my dying wish will not go unheard," said Ghai. "A matter of such magnitude deserves to be heard by the highest courts in our land and I shall not tire until all legal avenues are exhausted." Current British law forbids cremation anywhere but in a crematorium. But Ghai points to findings by Judge Andrew Collins when, in 2007, he determined Ghai's case was important enough to go to trial. Collins said case law indicates that "burning of dead bodies in the open is not necessarily unlawful" and that the point is arguable in court. Opponents say open-air cremation is unsanitary and hazardous to health and the environment. Calculations based on U.N. estimates of mortality rates suggest that in India alone, 50 million trees are cut down each year to create funeral pyres, generating more than 8 million tons of carbon dioxide. Ghai has said he believes the practice is a religious right for Hindus, who consider open-air cremations essential to the peace of the soul. Such cremations are sanctioned by Hindu scriptures, according to the Hindu Council UK, which supports Ghai's case. It says ancient Hindu rites stipulate that the body be cremated by means of a wood-fueled fire in an open-air facility exposed to daylight. "We want equality, not exceptions," Ghai states on the Web site for his charity, the Anglo-Asian Friendship Society. "No one expects Hindus to marry in a church, so why are Hindu funerals shoehorned through Chapels of Rest designed like Anglican churches?" Allowing open-air cremations in Britain would also save Hindu families money, Ghai says. Many British Hindus still prefer the traditional funeral pyre ritual and choose to ship bodies to India for a proper ceremony, which can cost up to $5,000. Doing it in Britain would cost about a quarter of that amount, Ghai says. Britain's Ministry of Justice has acknowledged Ghai's case but doesn't offer much hope for his appeal. "There are inevitably competing views on the appropriate arrangements for disposing of bodies stemming from different views about religion, morals and decency," it said in a recent statement. "There's no plan to change the law on cremation." | Davender Ghai, 70, argued the practice is already legal under British law .
Opponents say it is unsanitary and hazardous to health and the environment .
Officials: Cremations outside of crematoria are illegal under 1902 Cremation Act .
Hindus consider open-air cremations essential to the peace of the soul . |
272,206 | ec962af69bcdcc4335dc8d20ff3a64c1478df73f | One hundred years ago Monday, Theodore Roosevelt launched the most successful third party presidential bid in American history, declaring, "We stand at Armageddon, and we battle for the Lord!" It was the culmination of the Progressive Party Convention in Chicago on August 6, 1912. And its influence still echoes through our politics today. Roosevelt, the former president, had tried and failed to wrest the GOP nomination from his successor, William Howard Taft. His supporters believed that the nomination had been stolen by the conservative power brokers and declared their independence. And so the Progressive Party was briefly born. Known as "The Bull Moose" party, after Roosevelt's declaration that he felt "as strong as a bull moose," supporters saw it as defending the legacy of Abraham Lincoln against the big business establishment that had taken over the Republican Party after the Civil War. The Democrats -- the populist party whose base was in corrupt, big-city bosses and the states of the former Confederacy -- were also an unappealing alternative. "The old parties are husks, with no real soul within either, divided on artificial lines, boss-ridden and privilege-controlled," Roosevelt declared, "each a jumble of incongruous elements, and neither daring to speak out wisely and fearlessly what should be said on the vital issues of the day." Roosevelt's Progressive Party definitely did not shy away from taking fearless stands on the vital issues of the day. The party's platform backed giving women the right to vote, the abolition of child labor, minimum wages, social security, public health standards, wildlife conservation, workman's compensation, insurance against sickness and unemployment, lobbying reform, campaign finance reform and election reform. With socialist, communist and anarchist forces gaining momentum across the Atlantic, this was a platform dedicated to Roosevelt's wise belief that "reform is the antidote to revolution." The assembled crowd was not radical, described by the famed Kansas newspaper editor William Allen White as "successful, middle class country town citizens, the farmer whose barn was painted, the well-paid railroad engineer and the country editor ... women doctors, women lawyers, women teachers. .. Proletarian and Plutocrat were absent." In other words, this was a Main Street, middle-class revolt against special interests on the far left and far right. Among the Bull Moosers in the crowd were former Democrats and Republicans, including future Supreme Court Justice Felix Frankfurter, columnist Walter Lippman, "wise-use conservationist" Gifford Pinchot, Judge Learned Hand and settlement house pioneer Jane Addams, who became the first woman to give a nominating speech at an American political convention. The energy of the occasion left an indelible impression on a generation. The best recent recounting of the convention comes in Edmund Morris' "Colonel Roosevelt," the third volume of his essential work of American biography. In the moment, White described Roosevelt "charging down the hotel corridors, stalking down an aisle of the Coliseum while the crowds roared, walking like a gladiator to the lions." In contrast to the upcoming conventions in Tampa, Florida, and Charlotte, North Carolina, the atmosphere was one of real, not canned, drama -- electric and unexpected. "Can we imagine a convention today erupting in 'Onward Christian Soldiers' just impromptu?" asks Terrence Brown, the Theodore Roosevelt Association's executive director. "We've come to a place where putting out fresh ideas is dangerous in politics. Candidates don't want to give an agenda. That's the difference. TR campaigned with an agenda. He told the convention, 'use me up and cast me aside.' Take all of these ideas and run with them. ... The goal was moving along the Progressive Party's vision for what the new America in the 20th century should be." Roosevelt and the Progressive Party were not successful in their effort to win the White House in 1912. But they won 27% of the popular vote -- an all-time high for third parties in presidential elections -- and Roosevelt won 88 electoral votes to Taft's eight. The Democrats cannily nominated their own progressive candidate, Woodrow Wilson, and he won the election in a landslide against the divided Republicans. But the ideas Roosevelt and the Progressives fought for did succeed in time. Some, such as expanding the right to vote, enacting Social Security and ending child labor, seem obvious to modern eyes. Others, such as the fight for expanded health insurance, remain contentious civic debates. And concerns about the disproportionate influence of big business and other special interests on American elections and policy seem ripped from modern headlines. The political fault lines of the 1912 elections endure to this day as well. President Barack Obama has explicitly tried to cast himself as the inheritor of Roosevelt's progressive party fight in a Kansas speech earlier this year. The Republican Party still contains competing establishment and reform factions, most recently seen in the factional split between George W. Bush and John McCain in 2000. And certainly there remain many independent-minded Americans who feel frustrated and politically homeless when faced with the two parties today. They are reformers in a world of radicals and reactionaries. Politics is history in the present tense, and the study of history can inspire us to aim high in our own lives. In honor of the 100th anniversary of the 1912 election, the Theodore Roosevelt birthplace in Manhattan has mounted an exhibit focused on his Bull Moose campaign. Enclosed are speeches, campaign cartoons and political posters. (Full disclosure, I'm on the advisory board of the Theodore Roosevelt Association). Perhaps most striking is the sight of Roosevelt's still-faintly bloodstained shirt, where bullet holes mark the October 1912 assassination attempt, alongside the gun the would-be killer fired. The bullet's velocity was stopped by an eyeglass case and a thick manuscript, for a speech which Roosevelt characteristically insisted on giving before going to the hospital. "I have altogether too important things to think of to feel any concern over my own death," Roosevelt declared. "I am ahead of the game anyway. No man has had a happier life than I have led." One hundred years later, Roosevelt's vigorous citizenship and heroic sense of politics still inspire. If we understand the lessons of his life correctly, it can still instruct. Follow @CNNOpinion on Twitter . | Teddy Roosevelt addressed Progressive Party 100 years ago as their candidate .
John Avlon says the issues he championed were ahead of their time, many still relevant today .
Roosevelt lost the election but gained the highest third-party vote in U.S. history .
Avlon: Roosevelt's "vigorous citizenship and heroic sense of politics still inspire" |
109,431 | 190ad1a262c6576af636d01e1501a8db4ae2b07a | A woman in McArthur, Ohio came home from a two-week vacation last month to discover her house had been mistakenly repossessed. At first Katie Barnett, 36, thought the changed locks meant a squatter, but reality turned out to be much worse than that when she broke into her own home and found it completely emptied. It turns out the repo men sent by First National Bank of Wellston, Ohio to gut the house, had mistaken Barnett's house for the bank-owned home across the street. Unpleasant surprise: When Katie Barnett returned from vacation last month, she found her house had been mistakenly repossessed . 'A GPS had led them to my house, the president of the bank told me,' Barnett told 10 TV. 'They also said my grass hadn't been mowed so they just assumed that was the house.' Ms Barnett points out that the houses are clearly marked. The bank owned 509, and her house is 514. The wrong house: The GPS system used by the repo men took them to Barnett's house, number 514, instead of bank-owned number 509. They assumed that the overgrown grass meant it was the correct property . Now Ms Barnett, a nurse with children ages six to 18, wants her life back, but the bank isn't being accommodating in the way she hoped. Ms Barnett sent the bank an estimate of the lost items, totaling $18,000 and the president refused to pay it. Among the items lost in the foreclosure were car engine parts valued at $9,000. 'He told me that I would probably need receipts for everything that they took and they were not paying retail. I told him I wasn't running a yard sale and asking them to make me an offer,' Ms Barnett told Good Morning America. Empty rooms: The family is currently living with what furniture the bank left behind . Proof of purchase: Ms Barnett says the bank has asked her to provide receipts for everything she lost . 'I told him I don't keep receipts around for everything I have just in a case a bank comes by and steals my stuff. And if I did, where do you think it would be? With the stuff that you threw away?' Bank President and CEO Tony Thorne issued a statement with their side of the store. Mr Thorne apologized for the incident, saying: 'Nothing like this has ever happened before.' As for Ms Barnett's list of losses, he insists that the written list of items she provided were 'inconsistent with the list and descriptions of items removed that was prepared by the employees who did the work.' Inconsistent: First National Bank's President and CEO Tony Thorne said Ms Barnett's list of items is different from the list his repo men prepared while emptying the house . Barnett has retained an attorney and plans to sue the bank. 'We are definitely going to bring a lawsuit,' she said. 'I gave them a chance and they are not willing to work with me.' Outrage over the faulty repression has spread to the internet. One petition has over 13,000 signers demanding First National Bank pay Ms Barnett her money immediately 'so she can get her life back again.' For the time being, Barnett and her children are living with just the furniture that the bank left behind. 'It's kind of ruined their summer, that's for sure,' she said. | Katie Barnett, a nurse in McArthur, Ohio, was on a two-week vacation with her family when her house was repossessed by First National Bank of Wellston .
The bank's repo men confused her house for the bank-owned home when their GPS led them to the wrong destination .
They assumed overgrown grass meant they were at the correct home .
Ms Barnett created a list of lost items totaling $18,000 which the bank refuses to pay .
Bank president Anthony Thorne says the list is 'inconsistent' with the list they prepared during the repossession .
Ms Barnett has retained a lawyer and plans to sue the bank . |
83,355 | ec7a9d673c6c4e4cd3e845cefcf70fe3052cded9 | Russia's secret service has claimed that Al-Qaeda are behind spate of forest fires across Europe. The revelations come after deadly fires which have swept through forest . land in the EU over the past few months. Only last week a forest fire fanned by gusting winds forced the evacuation of some 2,000 people from a handful of small mountain towns in eastern Spain. In both Portugal and Spain thousands of residents have been forced to flee their homes as well as dozens of people killed. Devastation: A burning forest fire in Pedralba, near Valencia, Spain, last month . Flames: A tree burns during a forest fire in Domeno city, near Valencia in the early hours of September 24 . The Telegraph reported that the warning was at a meeting of heads of security agencies, by Director of the Federal Security Service Alexander . Bortnikov. He stated: 'One should note that setting fires to forests in the . countries of the European Union is a new tendency in al-Qaeda's strategy . of a 'thousand cuts.' He . explained that igniting fires allowed the terror group to inflict . 'significant economic and moral damage without serious preliminary . preparations, technical equipment or significant expenses.' Fighting the flames: Emergency services scrambled a massive operation to hold back the fires as they approached houses of the El Tanque village on the Tenerife island, Canary Islands . Scorched earth: A firefighter works to stop the spread of wildfires which sweept through parts of La Gomera, Spain, last month . Concerning: Smoke billows from a wildfire over the residential town of Chipude, near of the National Park of Garajonay . Ease: Mr Bortnikov explained that igniting fires allowed the terror group to inflict 'significant economic and moral damage without serious preliminary preparations, technical equipment or significant expenses' In May Al Qaeda called upon its followers to unleash massive forest fires upon the United States this summer. Published in an edition of the notorious terror magazine, 'Inspire', are graphic instructions for the creation and ignition of 'ember bombs' Detailed in the memorably titled, 'It is of your Freedom to Ignite a Firebomb', the magazine encourages any would-be terrorist to target Montana, because of the rapid population growth in its wooded areas. In May Al Qaeda called upon its followers to unleash massive forest fires upon the United States. Published in an edition of the notorious . terror magazine, 'Inspire', are graphic instructions for the creation . and ignition of 'ember bombs. In his statement Mr Bortnikov also said it was very difficult for special services to find and prosecute such arsonists. Last month wildfires forced thousands of people to flee their homes on the Spanish Canary Islands of La Gomera and Tenerife. Firefighters battled searing temperatures and stiff winds as the flames threatened a World Heritage site whose wooded land is 11 million years old. On La Gomera, the fires destroyed 7,400 acres forcing the evacuation of more than 4,000 people from 13 villages in the island's west and southwest. On Tenerife 2,200 were moved from their homes. In July dozens of people have been forced to evacuate their homes as wildfires sweep across the Portuguese islands of Madeira. Destruction: . A large fire burns at dusk near a residential neighbourhood in Funchal, . the largest city in Madeira, Portugal in July . Angry front: A clear line of flames rage on the hills above Funchal, under choking smoke . Saved from destruction: Blackened hillsides are seen in front of saved homes after a fire in Santa Cruz , some 20 km from Funchal, on Madeira Island. Fires raged around the towns of Calheta, Ribeira Brava and in Santa Cruz . Risks: A map showing the current risks of a forest fire in Europe . Cash-strapped . Portugal, which received a bailout worth 78bn euros ($116bn or £70bn), . from other European countries and the International Monetary Fund, has . had relatively few forest fires in the past two years, as temperatures . were low and rainfall high. But . the country has also suffered a drought since the beginning of the year . and this, coupled with a scorching heatwave, increased the risk of . fires. Although al-Qaeda were weakened by the death of leader in May last year, the organisation still remain a . significant threat to countries they consider an enemy because they are have looked at smaller scale operations such as fires. Spreading: This map illustrates all the areas in Europe which have suffered forest fires in the past season . | Fires have swept through forest land in countries such as Portugal and Spain over the past few months .
Director of the Federal Security Service: Fire allows terror group to inflict damage without 'technical equipment or significant expenses' |
63,020 | b301d91b10273ff4ec60a5c1f757a0450c753e79 | By . Dan Bloom . PUBLISHED: . 01:17 EST, 12 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 01:30 EST, 12 December 2013 . Gay couples who wed less than a week ago have had their marriages annulled after Australia's highest court struck down a law allowing the nation's first same-sex unions. The weddings were legalised in the capital Canberra on Saturday after regional authorities enacted a gay marriage law - but it was challenged by the government, which said it was invalid. Today the High Court of Australia agreed, shattering the dreams of more than a dozen couples who had already married this week. Tearful: Activist Rodney Croome with couples outside the High Court of Australia after a gay marriage law was struck down today. He said: 'marriage equality is not about protest or politics... it's about love' Devastated: Chris Teoh and Ivan Hinton had their wedding, pictured, on Saturday. It will now be annulled . Glenda and Jennifer Lloyd, pictured with their marriage certificate, had wed only days before the historic ruling . This couple, named as Krishna and Veronica, was one of dozens who attended the High Court ruling today . Australia's Prime Minister is against gay marriage and the national Marriage Act was amended in 2004 to define weddings as 'between a man and a . woman'. The government told the High Court that having different marriage laws in different states would cause confusion. The Australian Capital Territory, which passed the law in . October, said it should stand because it governs couples outside the . federal definition of marriage as being between members of the opposite . sex. Today the court sided with the government, saying the two laws could not run side-by-side. Ivan Hinton, who married his partner Chris Teoh on Saturday, had only received their marriage certificate . on Wednesday and had already applied to change their surnames to . Hinton-Teoh. Outside court he said he will always consider Teoh his husband and added: 'This was an unprecedented and historic opportunity. I wouldn't have missed it for the world.' Upset: A couple hug outside the court. Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott is against same-sex unions . Emotion: Couples embrace each other after the ruling, which defeated a regional law made in Capital Territory . Glenda and Jennifer Lloyd embraced as couples faced the media today outside the High Court of Australia . The court said in a statement: 'The Marriage Act does not now provide . for the formation or recognition of marriage between same sex couples. The Marriage Act provides that a marriage can be solemnised in Australia . only between a man and a woman. 'That Act is a comprehensive and exhaustive . statement of the law of marriage.' Rodney . Croome, national director of the advocacy group Australian Marriage . Equality, said his group knows of about 30 same-sex couples who have . married since Saturday, though the actual number may be slightly higher. Conservative: Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott is against gay marriage and blocked two bills . The court decision nullifies their marriages as it means . the local law under which they were wed was invalid. Outside the court in Canberra, a tearful Croome, flanked by several same-sex newlyweds, said the ruling was a defeat for marriage equality but there had been a 'greater victory'. 'That victory was the nation saw for the first time, I believe, what is really at the core of this issue,' he said. 'They've seen that marriage equality is not about protest or politics or even about laws in the constitution, ultimately. Marriage equality is about love, commitment, family and fairness.' The ruling has effectively barred any other Australian states from legalising same-sex marriage, and the decision can now only be taken by the government. However, Prime Minister Tony Abbott opposes gay . marriage and his coalition blocked two federal bills last year that . would have allowed legal recognition of same-sex partnerships. Lyle Shelton, managing director of Australian Christian Lobby, which opposes same-sex marriage, praised the court ruling and said common sense had prevailed. As for the ruling's impact on the newlywed couples, Shelton said it was 'really sad that they were put in a position' in which they were allowed to marry before the court handed down its judgment. The ruling comes a day after India's Supreme Court struck down a 2009 lower court decision to decriminalize homosexuality. The verdict to reinstate gay sex as an 'unnatural act' as part of a 153-year-old colonial law prompted dismay from human rights groups across the world, which condemned the ruling as 'medieval and regressive'. Homosexual acts in India, in many parts a deeply conservative country, are punishable with life in jail. | Nation's highest court quashes regional law approved just weeks ago .
More than 20 couples had already wed and will have marriages annulled .
Activist: 'Marriage equality is not about protest or politics... it's about love'
Yesterday India recriminalised homosexuality under 153-year-old law . |
39,096 | 6e7a607934780f0011aa4e84509314efe15c2685 | Tripoli, Libya (CNN) -- A senior government official arrived Monday in Cairo amid rumors that he had defected, Egypt's state-run Al-Ahram newspaper reported. Nasr al-Mabrouk Abdallah arrived with nine of his family members on a private plane from Djerba, Tunisia, the newspaper reported, citing an unidentified airport official. Djerba is about 150 miles (240 kilometers) west of Tripoli. Meanwhile, a U.S. defense official confirmed Monday that Libyan forces loyal to Gadhafi fired a short-range Scud missile on Sunday at a rebel stronghold, but by all accounts the missile failed to reach its target. The official said the missile was launched from a government-held area 50 miles east of Sirte and landed 50 miles east of Brega in the desert. In Cairo, Libyan Embassy officials did not greet Abdallah's plane when it pulled up to Cairo's Terminal 4, which is the arrival point for private planes, fueling speculation that Abdallah may have abandoned leader Moammar Gadhafi, Al-Ahram said. The newspaper and an official at Cairo International Airport identified Abdallah as Libya's minister of the interior. However, a Libyan government official -- whose information has proved reliable in the past but who is not allowed to talk to the news media for attribution -- identified Abdallah as an administrative director at the Interior Ministry and a former Libyan minister. The official said he could confirm that Abdallah had traveled to Egypt with his family on nonofficial business, but could not specify the nature of the trip. A Libyan government website reported in June that Abdallah had been sworn in as deputy minister of public security. Libya's interior ministry is called the Ministry of Public Security. Asked about the apparent defection, Tripoli government spokesman Musa Ibrahim said he would not comment on any personal decisions by Abdallah. "In the last while, we noticed that he had intense social pressures on him. It's probably not appropriate that we talk about it in detail because it's personal." Ibrahim added, "Truthfully, he has fallen under a lot of social and emotional pressure as we've noticed. He couldn't handle it and preferred that he left. That's a personal decision." Abdallah's departure comes as rebels have been reporting major advances toward their goal of cutting off Libya's coastal road, the Tripoli regime's lifeline, and reaching the capital. In the coastal city of al-Zawiya, clashes were ongoing. "At the moment, it's quite hard to say who is in complete control of the city," said Deborah Haynes, a reporter for the Times of London who left the city Monday. "The rebels say they have 80% of it under their control, but it is a very fluid situation." Pro-Gadhafi snipers were holed up in buildings in the main square, where rebels were firing at them with rocket-propelled grenades, she said. Rebel fighters controlled all but the eastern part of the city, said Hassan Jwaili, who is a rebel fighter and a source who has proven reliable in the past. Gadhafi forces shelled al-Zawiya with Grad rockets from nearby Janzur, killing two rebels, bringing the number of dead in al-Zawiya to 11, with dozens more wounded, Jwaili said. NATO airstrikes, though, have hit Gadhafi forces in Janzur, aiding the rebels, he said. West of al-Zawiya, rebel forces entered the towns of Surman and Sabrata late Sunday, Jwaili said. Twenty-two rebel fighters died and 38 were wounded in the towns, he said. West of Sabrata, rebels surrounded Gadhafi forces inside a military camp, he said. Clashes were continuing for control of Tiji, on the plains of the western mountains, Jwaili said. And in Assaba, east of Qawalish, also in the western mountains, rebel fighters had surrounded the city and negotiations were under way for Gadhafi forces to turn themselves in, Jwaili said. But a Tripoli government spokesman denied the assertions that rebels were advancing. Gadhafi himself, in an address broadcast Monday on Libyan state television, urged Libyans to fight opposition forces and "cleanse this sweet and honorable land." Cheers from the crowd accompanied the speech, cries of "Allah, Libya, Gadhafi and nothing else" at times drowning out Gadhafi. "We dance and sing despite the strikes! The strikes will be over and NATO will be defeated," Gadhafi said. "Move always forward to the challenge; pick up your weapons; go to the fight in order to liberate Libya inch by inch from the traitors and from NATO. Be prepared to fight if they hit the ground." Claims of control over the city of al-Zawiya -- if true -- would be a strategic blow against government forces, since the road through the city serves as a critical supply line to Tripoli from the west and has an oil terminal. In his news conference Monday evening, Ibrahim denied the assertions and said Gadhafi forces were in "complete control" of al-Zawiya after having halted rebel attacks there. "There are a few armed gangs inside the city who took advantage of the opportunity to enter but they are limited," he said. "All of south Zawiya is protected. The armed gangs tried to attack people in their homes, occupy a school and raid shops. The government closed off a main road for the protection of the people." The rebels say that they were the ones who closed the coastal road. Ibrahim said heavy NATO airstrikes were continuing to strike some coastal cities, including al-Zawiya, with the eastern city of al-Brega bearing the brunt of the attacks. "To be honest, they're unable to shake our civilians or our youth," he said. He said the rebels suffered heavy casualties. "Hundreds of them injured and tens killed. Because of this, now people in the eastern regions and even the armed gangs refer to al-Brega as a cemetery. Al-Brega is synonymous with death." In Tiji, 40 rebels were killed by pro-Gadhafi forces, who took three tanks and a number of weapons from them, he said. Ibrahim said officials were negotiating with international companies that have expressed interest in returning to Libya, he said. The goal is for them to resume operations "very soon." Ibrahim added that the Tripoli government forces were planning to "free" the key port city of Misrata from rebel forces. "We can't tell everything but we're in a position to free Misrata," he said. "It's not an easy feat." Rebel commander al-Zintani rejected Ibrahim's assertions that Gadhafi's forces controlled al-Zawiya and Surman, which is also along the western supply road, as well as the government's claims to Garyan, another city on a key supply route leading to Tripoli from the south. "The next few days will prove him wrong," the rebel field commander predicted. NATO said Sunday it had struck a Gadhafi military facility in Garyan. Rebel spokesman Jumma Ibrahim has said that rebels control the coastal road connecting al-Zawiya with a post on the Tunisia border, but that Gadhafi forces still controlled the post. Reports from Tunisia's state-owned Tataouine radio corroborated the account. CNN has not been able to independently confirm battle claims, including who controls al-Zawiya. Daily claims of rebel successes indicate rapid progress when compared with positions rebels claimed on previous days. The government in Tripoli has consistently downplayed claims of rebel victories and played up the strength of Gadhafi's forces. "You have to remember we are very powerful," Musa Ibrahim said Saturday. "The tens of thousands and tens of thousands of volunteers are armed right now. It doesn't matter whether NATO advances or not, whether rebels advance or not, because we will always be able to fight, in a year's time, in two years, in three years." Five months into the Libyan war, the rebels have won international support in their effort to oust Gadhafi. They have been aided by NATO airstrikes that began in March after the U.N. Security Council approved a resolution that ordered civilians be protected. CNN's Matthew Chance, Kareem Khadder, Amir Ahmed, Salma Abdelaziz, Kamal Ghattas, Yasmin Amer, Mohamed Fadel Fahmy and Barbara Starr contributed to this report. | NEW: U.S. says Libya fired Scud missile Sunday .
Spokesman says official's decision to leave was "personal"
"It's quite hard to say who is in complete control," says reporter about al-Zawiya .
Report: Libya's interior minister arrives in Cairo on a private plane . |
117,353 | 238d4ff9327e24a032db859ce3aefd7190b8c3ed | (CNN) -- Everything was going fine, until the bill came. But it wasn't the amount on the check that angered Joseph Gibson, who had stopped at a St. Louis sports bar to chow down. It was a line on the special order section for his young son that set him off. Under "1 -- Wing Sauce" the receipt read: "F---in Needy Kids." The name of the bar? Friendly's. Denny Domachowski, the general manager of Friendly's Sports Bar and Grill, told CNN the waitress meant it as a joke and intended to delete it before handing the bill to Gibson. She's been reprimanded, he said. "I apologized to them, and he called later and I apologized again," Domachowski said. Gibson, who had a soda and chicken dinner, was still offended. Snarky quip, no tip: Receipt goes viral . He posted a picture of the receipt to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch Facebook page. He wrote that he was upset by the explanation that it was just a joke among co-workers. "So customers with children are a joke? This place isn't so friendly. I got nowhere with management," he wrote. Domachowski explained that he made a Father's Day exception for Gibson to bring in a child even though the bar was for patrons 21 and older. The restaurant has no children's menu so the waitress had to manually type in the boy's order of one chicken leg. "The incident shouldn't have happened, and I made sure she understands that," he said. "She didn't mean to offend the gentleman and his son. She had a good experience with them as customers. She was just in a hurry and forgot to take that off." He added that he doesn't understand why Gibson is "making a mountain of a mole hill." But he conceded. "I wouldn't want anyone calling my granddaughter, who is four, that." Papa John's receipt with racial slur . | Restaurant made exception on Father's Day for man to bring in child .
Boy ordered one chicken leg, dad had soda and chicken dinner .
Waitress says profanity was just a joke, was meant to be deleted .
Father called manager, was offered apology . |
269,980 | e9a8d8477ecb7e22f369cd83c65d5e146d510299 | They say hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, and the owners of the SUV in this video clip would probably agree. The shocking footage shows two couples engaged in a heated argument over a parking spot close to the shopping district in Serris, France last Saturday. After a few moments, the man who lost the parking spot storms back to his car and drives off, leaving his angry, well-dressed female companion to follow on foot. Meanwhile, the elderly couple who claimed the parking spot walk off looking bemused by the altercation. Fast-forward a couple of minutes, and the angry woman returns to the parked car, and appears to be keying the far side of the vehicle, before beating a hasty retreat. The shocking footage shows two couples engaged in a heated argument over a parking spot close to the shopping district in Serris, France last Saturday . After a few moments, the man who lost the parking spot storms back to his car and drives off, leaving his angry, well-dressed female companion to follow on foo . As the elderly couple walk away, the angry woman can't resist continuing the argument . The video - which was shot by an onlooker from a building overlooking the road - then cuts to a close-up of the car which has a key scratch mark stretching all the way along one side. Unfortunately for the owners, there's nothing to identify the woman, who keeps her sunglasses on throughout the incident. There's no footage of the owners returning to the keyed car, but it's likely to have been a very expensive shopping trip for the pair. A few minutes later, the angry woman returns to parked car, checking around her to see if anyone is looking . The scorned woman can be seen walking closely along the side of the car before running off moments later . The man who shot the footage filmed this deep key mark to the car shortly after the woman had fled . | Footage shows two couples arguing over a parking spot in Serris, France .
Man then drives off leaving angry female companion to follow on foot .
Minutes later, woman returns to key the car before running off .
Footage filmed from overlooking building . |
136,532 | 3c9db0f0cfd4a87d31876967a42dac74a05dca51 | (CNN) -- The Yemen-based arm of the al Qaeda terrorist network claimed responsibility Friday for last week's plot to send explosive devices on cargo planes bound for the United States. Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, which had been suspected in the plot, posted its claim on various radical Islamist websites, saying, "We will continue to strike blows against American interests and the interest of America's allies." The statement also claimed the group is responsible for the crash of a UPS cargo plane in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on September 3. Investigators said earlier this month they had failed to turn up any evidence that terrorism was involved in that crash, which killed the two pilots aboard, according to a U.S. government official. About 45 minutes after UPS Flight 6 departed Dubai International Airport for Cologne, Germany, the crew declared an emergency due to smoke in the cockpit. They asked to return to Dubai, but shortly before the plane could get to the airport it crashed. Officials in the United Arab Emirates have said -- and a U.S. official confirmed -- that the plane's cockpit voice recorder has been examined and nothing on it indicates an explosion. Explosions have distinctive sound signatures, and that would have been recorded on the device, the official said. The UAE said it has "eliminated the possibility of an onboard explosion, following a detailed onsite investigation of the wreckage." A U.S. counterterrorism official said Friday that while "there are very strong indications that AQAP was responsible for plotting last week's disrupted cargo plane plot ... we can't confirm at this point their claims about the early September incident." White House counterterrorism chief John Brennan said Sunday that the United States is "looking very carefully" at the September crash to see if it could be related to the recent terror threat involving cargo aircraft. The latest threat was revealed October 29 when authorities in the United Arab Emirates and Britain found two explosives-laden packages sent from Yemen that were addressed to synagogues in Chicago, Illinois. The statement by al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula said that since Western media did not link the September UPS plane crash to the group, "we decided not to announce it so we could carry on a similar operation." "We did that this time using two devices, one of which was sent via the American UPS company and the other via the American FedEx company," the statement said. The devices, loaded with the powerful explosive PETN, were packed in computer printer toner cartridges and designed to be detonated by a cell phone, a source close to the investigation has said. Friday's claim of responsibility by al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula warned that "since both operations were successful, we intend to spread the idea to our mujahedeen brothers in the world and enlarge the circle of its application to include civilian aircraft in the West as well as cargo aircraft." U.S. investigators believe that al Qaeda bombmaker Ibrahim Hasan al-Asiri, 28, is linked to the packages, according to a federal official who was briefed by authorities. Al-Asiri, who is thought to be in Yemen, is a Saudi who ranked high on Saudi Arabia's list of most wanted published in February 2009. He is also believed to be the bomber who designed last year's failed attempt to blow up a U.S. airliner as it landed in Detroit, Michigan, on December 25. A U.S. official said that the devices found in the packages last week were very sophisticated and could have exploded in flight, but it wasn't clear whether that was the intent. The group's statement said the devices' designs "allow us the opportunity to detonate them in the air or after their arrival to their ultimate destination, and they are designed to pass through all detectors." The packages were discovered thanks to a tip from Saudi Arabia. Saudi officials provided tracking numbers of the two packages bound for Jewish organizations in the United States, enabling quick tracing to the United Kingdom and Dubai, a source told CNN. Friday's statement denounced the Saudi assistance in thwarting the plot, saying, "God has exposed you and showed the world that you are nothing but treacherous agents to the Jews because these bomb packages were headed to Jewish-Zionist temples, and you had to intervene with your treacherous ways to protect them, so may God curse you for being the oppressors." But two U.S. officials said that the street addresses found on the packages were not the current locations of the synagogues and that the packages were addressed to historical figures from the Crusades and the Spanish Inquisition. After last week's incidents, U.S. government authorities grounded packages originating from Yemen destined for the United States. Yemen has asked for outside help to thwart terror groups, but the country, the ancestral home of Osama bin Laden, is still used for operations, U.S. officials say. CNN's Saad Abedine contributed to this report. | Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula says it will spread the package-bomb idea to others .
The group also says it is responsible for the September crash of a UPS cargo plane .
Two explosives-laden packages bound for the U.S. were intercepted abroad last week . |
89,395 | fdbe997c7754d0c3a473589708fd4f6c182f889c | Once one of Africa's most beautiful destinations, Zimbabwe has been off the mainstream tourism radar for years. Robert Mugabe's three decades of rule, while ostensibly democratic, have been widely criticized by locals as a dictatorship. Tourism collapsed when white farmers were driven from their land, and famine and hyperinflation ensued. Since adopting the U.S. dollar as its currency in 2009, economic healing has slowly begun, with foreign investment driving much of the recovery. Now, the country's stunning natural and cultural attractions are recapturing the attention of both foreign travelers and investors keen to capitalize on that interest. Tourist arrivals increasing . The Zimbabwe Tourism Authority's latest Tourism Trends and Statistics Report claims visitor numbers increased 17% to 400,000 visitors in the first quarter of 2013 compared with 2012. Nearly half come from South Africa. Euromonitor International predicts steady growth in several tourism areas (accommodation, transport, attractions) for the next five years. Victoria Falls, the top tourist draw, has always brought visitors, even in the dark years. Hotel occupancy isn't at capacity, to be sure. But hotels, airports and other logistics all run relatively smoothly. Five-star properties such as the Victoria Falls Safari Lodge have been able to maintain a luxurious standard. Work began earlier this year on a massive upgrade of the Victoria Falls airport, which currently handles commercial flights from Harare and Johannesburg. The overhaul, reportedly costing $150 million, is financed by a loan from the Export-Import Bank of China, and will include a new runway, control tower and terminal building. A number of international carriers had stopped service into the country. Now Emirates and KLM are offering service to Harare again. Air Zimbabwe resumed its service to Johannesburg in August. New hotels, malls . Luxury projects in the capital include a proposed $70 million Mall of Zimbabwe. Hilton is said to be considering a five-star hotel in Harare. "At this time we have no signed projects to announce in Zimbabwe, but we think there is great potential in the market," says Heather Shaw, a spokesperson for Hilton. "We are exploring opportunities that we believe would create value for us and our partners." Tara Walraven, an Africa Safari Specialist at Audley Travel, says the company is fielding numerous queries from people who want a dedicated trip from the UK to Zimbabwe, or who want to add a few nights to a Botswana safari. "It's a lovely country, people are so friendly, so excited to have people visit them," says Walraven, who grew up in Zimbabwe and visits her family there. "We don't have any concern about people traveling to Zimbabwe at the moment. We can't send people to a country that isn't safe." Politics and challenges . In March, the European Union dropped most of its sanctions against Zimbabwe following the country's adoption of a new constitution. However, recent election results proclaiming another Mugabe win have widely been dismissed by Western observers as fraudulent. The Times of London reports that the UK will "shun" Zimbabwe by not sending any delegates to the UN World Tourism Organization's meeting later this month, which will be held jointly in Victoria Falls and Livingston, Zambia. Marcelo Risi of the UNWTO says the General Assembly selected the host countries nearly two years ago and that the decision shouldn't be seen as politically motivated. The meeting is expected to draw a thousand or so delegates and their teams from overseas. In anticipation of the UNWTO meeting, border posts at Victoria Falls and Katima Mulilo were recently computerized, to ease passage between the countries. The country still needs to modernize its immigration process, as highlighted in a recent policy brief by the Zimbabwe Economic Policy Analysis and Research Unit, a Harare think tank. Other problems include limited domestic transportation options -- tourists with limited time frequently take light aircraft between destinations -- water and power shortages and retention of quality staff. "Executive chefs and managerial positions in the hotel industry are occupied by a majority of personnel with limited experience and technical skills," compounded by a decline in the quality of recent tourism studies graduates, according to the brief. Not the place for voluntourism . Journalists and humanitarian aid workers, including short-term volunteers, still need to proceed with caution. "You should be very aware of your surroundings and seriously consider the risks of taking any pictures outside game parks and known tourist areas," warns the U.S. Bureau of Consular Affairs. South African photographer David Southwood recently made his second trip to Zimbabwe, and called it one of the "most unnerving" experiences he's ever had. Although he entered on a tourist visa, he was in the country on an assignment that brought him into contact with "revolutionary and resistance circles." "Everybody we spoke to had been pummeled by the regime in some way," he reports. "The paranoia Mugabe has inculcated into the people rubbed off onto me. The ambiance in Zimbabwe for a photographer is not cool." Still, he adds, "If you weren't aware of the possibilities of what might happen, it might be one of the most easygoing trips you ever had." The U.S. government currently has neither an official Travel Warning nor a Travel Alert about its citizens visiting Zimbabwe. If you go . In Zimbabwe, travelers should expect delays. Roadblocks in and out of cities and dropped Internet connections are par for the course. Road travel can be slow. It's best to avoid car trips at night. Upscale tours offer light aircraft to quickly cover the distances between destinations. Credit card facilities and ATMs aren't always available, so you may want to pay for big-ticket items before departure. Bring the cash you'll need in U.S. dollars or South African rand; bring small bills, as change isn't always handy. Destinations . Harare . You probably won't want to book an extended stay in Harare, but most people fly in and out of the capital city. Here are some of the better options for a stay. Restaurants . Victoria 22 . The continental menu at this fine dining restaurant changes depending on seasonal availability, but may include Italian-style seafood and deep-fried prawns. 22 Victoria Road, Harare; +265 04 776429; about $45 per person before drinks . Amanzi Restaurant . Amanzi is a social hub for many people in Harare. The restaurant serves global fusion; it's Westernized, but with an African feel. The same owners operate a boutique hotel (see below). Amanzi Restaurant, 158 Enterprise Road, Highlands, Harare; +263 4 497 768; [email protected]; dinner entrees $20-25. Hotels . Amanzi Lodge . The boutique hotel franchise of Amanzi Restaurant provides a deluxe lodge stay. Amanzi Lodge, 1 Masasa Lane, Kambanji, Harare; +263 4 499 257; [email protected]; ; rooms from $230/single, $340/double . Shopping . Sam Levy's Village . This open-air shopping center has coffee shops, fashion stores and souvenirs such as wooden carvings. Sam Levy's Village, Suite D, Julia's Parade, Sam Levy's Village, Borrowdale Road, Harare; +263 4885 6236 . Victoria Falls . Zimbabwe itineraries for foreign visitors generally focus on Victoria Falls, with good reason. One of the seven natural wonders of the world this waterfall dwarfs Niagara. When you're not getting sprayed by the falls you can enjoy the trees full of monkeys, adventure activities and artisans selling carvings and curios in the village market. (Many claim the view from the Zambian side is superior.) Helicopter flights are also available. Victoria Falls & Zambezi National Parks; P. Bag 5925, Victoria Falls; +263 13 42294 or 44566 . Zambezi Helicopter Company; +263 13 43569 or +263 13 40059; $120 per person . Victoria Falls Hotel . If you want to go colonial, this is the place. More than a hundred years old, the views inside and out are classic, and worth a visit, even if for just a cocktail. Masked dancers from several local tribes present traditional dances nightly from 7-8 p.m. Victoria Falls Hotel, 2 Mallet Drive, Victoria Falls; +263 13 44751; rooms from $300 . Great Zimbabwe National Monument . For about a thousand years, this well-preserved town (now a UNESCO World Heritage site) has inspired Shona palaces. The word "zimbabwe" means "stone houses" or "venerated houses"; there are several hundred zimbabwes in the country, this being the most prominent. Granite slabs form tall, curved walls, they're the largest structures in Africa south of the pyramids. Hwange National Park . Zimbabwe's largest national park used to be an unproductive farm, until pumped water began attracting wild animals. Today, elephants, lions, wild African dogs and excellent birdwatching opportunities lure visitors. Hwange National Park, P. Bag DT 5776, Dete; +263 18 371 or 372 . Mana Pools National Park . The Zambezi River starts in Zambezi, widens to a mile across as it crashes over the Victoria Falls, then fills Kariba and Cahora Bassa lakes, before ending at the Indian Ocean. Large dry-season game gather here. Unlike some wildlife preserves where you have to stay in your vehicle, here walking safaris are allowed. Canoe trips that let you get eye-to-eye with hippos and crocs are also available. Mana Pools National Park, P. Bag 2061, Karoi; +263 63 533 or 538 . Ruckomechi Camp . This stylish safari puts visitors in 10 tents on a riverbank. An outdoor bath overlooks the Great Rift Valley. From $595, fully inclusive, booked through agents such as Kingfisher Safaris. | Zimbabwe has been off the mainstream tourism radar for years .
With economic improvement, the country is recapturing the attention of travelers and investors .
Visitor numbers have increased 17% in 2013 over previous year .
Luxury projects include a proposed $70 million Mall of Zimbabwe . |
26,470 | 4b2bbd8d69d4002553e31e0c08c9ddfe66d23c5c | (CNN) -- In fall 2012, Roni Tarver was in a bad mood. The 5-foot-6-inch teacher weighed 235 pounds and suffered back pain almost constantly. She was popping 10 to 15 ibuprofen daily, which took a toll on her stomach. It didn't help that she was on her feet most of the day and dealing with the stress and exhaustion of being a relatively new teacher. Her husband never once said anything about her weight, which made her feel worse about not taking care of herself. She had quit smoking, but knew she needed to get active because climbing stairs still left her winded. "I really married the most sweet, wonderful, compassionate man in the world. He never made me feel bad about it, so I think I felt more guilty," said Tarver, 29, a high-school agriculture teacher who lives in the Fort Worth, Texas, area. She remembers thinking, "Why aren't you taking the initiative? This man loves you for who you are." She had never had the body she wanted. By that November, she had had enough. She was done being just the outgoing, funny girl. She was done being heavy. "I found myself crying in bed one night over my weight, and my husband told me that he thought I was beautiful, but if I was so unhappy, I should do something about it," Tarver wrote on CNN iReport. "This triggered something in me." The very next day, she said, she began monitoring her calories and walking or riding the stationary bicycle six days a week. After two months, she was brave enough to step foot inside a gym. That was January 3, 2013. Soon after, she signed up for her first Zumba class. It was the beginning of her new life. Tarver started sampling every available evening dance class. As the daughter of an aerobic dance instructor, the movements came easily. By the third week, she wanted to be there all the time, dancing to exhaustion under the club lights in the gym's group fitness room. She supplemented classes with one to two nights working out on the elliptical machine and lifting weights. "My instructors were amazing, and made me feel like they loved having me there," she said. "I was having a blast exercising for the first time in my life." One of her instructors, now a close friend, found her on Facebook and would message her if Tarver missed a class. She also offered to make her CDs with music she noticed Tarver liked in class. After 10 months, Tarver's teacher encouraged her to get certified to teach her own classes. Tarver has been teaching Zumba and other classes that combine fitness and dance for the past four months, in addition to the classes she takes. "You really feel like you're in a club, dancing with people, but you don't have a hangover in the morning. At the end of it, you feel awesome, you're exhausted, and you can go back and do it tomorrow if you want. It's good for your soul, if you ask me." Tarver knew exercise wasn't enough to really get healthy. She had to change her eating habits, too. She didn't follow a particular diet, but stuck to a few principles. The first few months, she rarely ate out, if at all, and cut out fast food in favor of salmon or grilled chicken with vegetables. At school, she ate a protein shake or bar for breakfast, a banana, apple, pear or some clementines for a snack, more fruit and a low-calorie frozen dinner for lunch. She used a calorie counter app on her phone to track her intake, sticking to about 1,500 to 1,700 calories per day based on how fast or slow she was losing weight. She also cut out dairy, which was probably the hardest sacrifice. "I could drink a whole gallon of whole milk in two days. I really, really liked cheese and milk a lot," she said. "It was difficult at first because I was so conditioned to eating cheese, but I felt better." After a couple of months, she allowed herself one cheat meal a week -- two bacon and egg taquitos from her favorite fast food chain every Tuesday. She still has that ritual, but is a little freer with her diet on the weekends. When Tarver started her weight loss journey in November 2012, at 235 pounds, she wore size 22 pants and was about 42% body fat. Within 14 months, she was down to 135 pounds, a size 6 and 21% body fat. Her back pain is almost completely gone, she has her dream body and is "the happiest I have ever been." "I can't believe how easy it was -- how fast the weight came off when I was doing the right thing," she said. "I'm thrilled out of my mind with my body." Her husband, Tom Tarver, says Roni has always been beautiful, but it's clear to him how much better she feels. "I'm very proud of her, and I would choose the way she feels now over however she looks," he said. "She's happier, and she is just a fun person to be around. It's the kind of person you want to be married to." Tarver fluctuates between 130 and 135 pounds and considers herself to be in maintenance mode; she carries around some extra skin from the weight loss, but will happily accept the extra skin over the extra weight. "If I could give one piece of advice to anyone struggling with their weight, it would be to find something active that you love doing, and don't give up," Tarver said. "Consistency is key to making any lifestyle changes. Find a support system and tell people what you are trying to do for yourself. When you say it out loud, you become accountable." | Roni Tarver had never been a skinny girl .
In 2012, she weighed 235 pounds .
Losing 100 pounds was "way easier than I ever thought," Tarver said . |
69,572 | c534eaf5257f1889172b91cacb2dae2ad6ec9655 | (CNN) -- I vaguely recall Pizza Hut's Book It elementary school reading incentive program. Though, to be fair, I vaguely remember what I had for breakfast. I think it was a ginger ale. Book It was a long time ago for me, but I'm pretty sure all I had to do was track my progress every month in school, hit a certain goal, and then I'd win a free erotic massage. Either that or a one-topping personal pan pizza. My memory's a little fuzzy. But it was probably the pizza. Inspired by President Reagan urging corporations to get involved in education (hooray, tax write offs!), Pizza Hut officially started its Book It program in 1984. Right about the time I was at Cherokee Elementary School with a fresh sponge of a brain, perfect for infusing with warm, lifelong memories of big corporations. Oh, if only some cigarette company had started the "Smoke It" program. I could see a large poster near the chalkboard with, say, the Marlboro Man using a buck knife to scratch out simple subtractions on an old fencepost. Above him, against a golden setting sun, would be the slogan: "Let math light up your brain with fun!" Hell yeah! And if your class had the best test scores in the country? That's right. You got a personal school visit from the old dying cowboy himself. "Miss Parker, why is this man coughing up blood?" Fortunately that program didn't happen. Cigarette companies never got to us. But 30 years later, Book It is still going strong. And recently, for just a short time, Pizza Hut celebrated this milestone anniversary with an online-only Book It alumni program for those of us who participated when we were young. I guess it was finally time to start tapping into those aging sponge brains with a little nostalgia. The nerve. How dare they double-dip their delicious, mozzarella-covered corporate hands into my childhood? How dare they lure us into their restaurants with cozy memories from a bygone era? How dare they? Forget it. I'm all in. Or at least I would've been. I missed the deadline. Otherwise, had I signed up as a Book It alumni, I would've received a free one-topping personal pan pizza. Just like the old days. How could I have missed this? Without free pizza my life is meaningless. Sadly, not much has changed for me since I was in elementary school. I'm a little taller now and doctors have long since assigned fancy acronyms to explain why I couldn't sit still in my seat. But, otherwise, I remain an awkward, hairy man-child, easily persuaded to do things in the name of food. "Jarrett, I need you to start a huge arson fire." "But that's destructive and wrong." "I'll give you a free one-topping personal pan pizza." "Everything must burn." Now, if your school wasn't a part of the Book It program from back in the day, you sort of have to realize that this was actually a pretty big deal. Because, again, the reward wasn't just any pizza. It was YOUR pizza. And that's important. You see, there's no sharing a personal pan pizza. This isn't communism. We have rules in this country, and rule number one is NEVER TOUCH ANOTHER MAN'S PERSONAL PAN PIZZA! You hear me? Oh, you think this is cute? You think this is a joke? You think I'm breathing heavy and ripped my shirt off over nothing? Listen, pal. You wanna know what happens to people who try to grab just a little taste of another man's personal pan pizza? You wanna know what happens? THEY END UP IN SHALLOW GRAVES! (author shakes his head) Whoa. That was weird. I'm back. Anyway, the point is that it was YOUR pizza. And, even better, it was from PIZZA HUT! When I was young, Pizza Hut was almost fancy. Almost. Back then it was more like a proper sit-down restaurant, and it had that iconic red roof that was totally unmistakable from any other pizza joint. It was actually cool to eat at Pizza Hut. Even cooler if you weren't wearing pants. As are most things. Like square dancing. These days, however, Pizza Huts tend to be just these little delivery outlets -- small depots for the drivers to come and pick up the pies before heading out to your house. And I haven't had it in decades. There's just so much good pizza out there. In fact, in my neighborhood in Atlanta, we have a little punk rock pizza place called Jack's. And I prefer theirs to all others because I wholeheartedly trust any restaurant where the tattoo-to-staff ratio is 60-to-1. Good tattoos make good pizza. Scientific fact. But for old time's sake -- as an alumni -- had I not missed the deadline, I happily would have cheated on my favorite local spot just once for that personal pan pizza. So, happy anniversary, Book It. Look what you almost made me do. The nerve. Follow @JarrettBellini on Twitter. And prepare to be underwhelmed. See more content with questionable news value at CNN Comedy. | Pizza Hut starter their Book It reading incentive program in 1984 .
To celebrate 30 years of Book It, Pizza Hut allowed "alumni" to sign up for a free pizza .
The author of this column missed the deadline and isn't pleased with himself . |
244,046 | c7e0919dce6e824217bf7b812a6dfb7c34023319 | Ask any woman to tip out the contents of her make-up bag and you’re likely to be met with a guilty grimace. A survey revealed that the average British woman requires 55 minutes to get ready each morning — and that doesn’t include showering. If skincare is included, 11 per cent of us slap an extraordinary 40-plus products on to our faces every day. I have always considered myself fairly low-maintenance — yet when I turn out my make-up bag, I am shocked to discover I regularly use a whopping 16 different products, from BB (blemish balm) cream to concealer to eyeshadow. Scroll down for video . Sarah Chalmers models a more made up look (left) and one using just three cosmetic items (right) The contents of my battered bag add up to £289 and applying them all takes me 25 minutes. But in an age of multi-tasking, why can’t a lipstick double up as a blusher, or a foundation work as a concealer? As a working mother-of-three, finding the time for my entire beauty routine can be a luxury. But what if I could apply one product instead of five? With this in mind, I swapped my usual 16 products for just three, multi-function items. Here’s how I got on . . . THE SUPER FOUNDATION . Max Factor Face Finity All Day Flawless 3 in 1 Foundation . WHAT: Max Factor Face Finity All Day Flawless 3 in 1 Foundation, £12.99 for 30ml . THE CLAIM: This ‘holds like a primer, corrects like a concealer, with the long-lasting finish of a liquid foundation with SPF 20’. REPLACES: BB cream, primer, foundation, concealer and translucent powder, which cost £110. APPLICATION: I brushed the foundation to my face, then blended. I applied more around the dark shadows of the eye area as I would a concealer. This took all of one minute, whereas my usual five products take me nearer ten. The effect was fine until after lunchtime when this multi-function make-up needed topping up. EXPERT OPINION: Celebrity make-up artist Oonagh Connor, who has tended the faces of Marie Helvin and Fiona Bruce among others, says: ‘I didn’t think this blended well. It’s also effective to have a separate concealer.’ VERDICT: The 3 in 1 is certainly cheap, fast to apply and lightweight to carry. But it didn’t hold well on my skin, all but sliding off. A handy standby for when I’m on-the-run, but I won’t be swapping my five trusty regulars for this. 4/10 . CHEEKS AND LIPS . WHAT: Nudestix Lip and Cheek pencil, £24 (includes sharpener) THE CLAIM: ‘An extra-creamy soft-feeling lip-liner, lip colour and cheek cream all in one’, promising colour, cover and ‘blendability’. Nudestix Lip and Cheek pencil . REPLACES: Lip-liner, lipstick and gloss, blusher and highlighter, which cost £78. APPLICATION: I applied pencil around my lip line, then filled in over the lips themselves. I thought the sensation of using a pencil rather than a velvety lipstick would be odd, but it felt remarkably smooth. And when I simply drew a pencil-line on my cheeks, I was sure it would be obvious even after blending, but the effect was natural. EXPERT OPINION: Oonagh says: ‘This gives a lovely, dewy, natural look. On the lips, the creamy texture of the Nudestix lets you dab your finger to apply it like a tint, if you don’t want to pencil it on. It’s so easy to blend, it works almost like a highlighter, and I like the look of wearing the same colour on your lips and cheeks.’ VERDICT: Normally I would use different shades for lips and cheeks, but I loved this and would use it again. Even the tin box it comes in looks classy. 10/10 . EYE AREA . THE PRODUCT: Giorgio Armani Eye and Brow Maestro, £26.50, applicator, £20 . Giorgio Armani Eye and Brow Maestro . THE CLAIM: ‘A waterproof cream that features a dual transformation texture. The solid cream becomes liquid on application then sets on the skin for lasting hold.’ REPLACES: Two separate eyeliners, eyeshadow, brow pencil, brow fixer gel and mascara, worth £100. APPLICATION: Using a specially designed applicator — a brush at one end to shape the brows, and an angled flat brush at the other to apply liner or colour to the lid — I painted on a flicked line on top of my lashes, some shading underneath the eye, and blended colour on the lid. Using the eyebrow brush end, I put more colour on my brows. You can even brush a little on your lashes as a mascara. It took barely two minutes compared to the normal 11. Nothing smudged and it stayed on all day. EXPERT OPINION: Oonagh says: ‘I quite often use eyeshadow to colour brows. But I do think a lot of us would miss mascara.’ VERDICT: With nine shades to choose from, a tiny compact and a clever brush, this product is a multi-tasker. 9/10 . CAN 16 BECOME THREE? With the price of my make-up regime slashed by £204.50 (from £288 to £83.50), and the time needed reduced from 25 minutes to a scant five, the three wonder products are impressive, despite having to touch up the 3-in-1 foundation part way through the day. With more practice, I could achieve everything I get from my normal routine. But for a special occasion, I would stick with my carefully chosen, separate products. | The average British woman requires 55 minutes to get ready .
Including skincare, 11 per cent of us slap 40-plus products on to our faces .
In an age of multi-tasking, why can’t a lipstick double up as a blusher?
Or can a foundation work as a concealer? |
3,076 | 08e95cdf4da5bc1ff42a0888932b78ea2923685e | By . Katy Winter and Nick Mcdermott . PUBLISHED: . 07:31 EST, 22 April 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 19:15 EST, 22 April 2013 . With a slender waist and curves in all the right places, Marilyn Monroe’s physique has long been coveted by women – and admired by men. But it seems the classic hourglass figure that the star epitomised could be on borrowed time. The waist size of the average British woman has increased by more than seven inches since the 1950s, research has found, giving her more in common with a rectangle than an hourglass. Marilyn Monroe's physique has long been coveted by women - and admired by men. But it seems the classic hourglass figure that the star epitomised could be on borrowed time . Christina Hendricks is famed for her curvy hourglass physique, but British women are getting further and further away from this ideal, with waist sizes increasing by 7in since the 1950s . The hourglass figures of Man Men characters January Jones, left, Elisabeth Moss, centre, and Christina Hendricks, right, are now largely a thing of the past in the UK, with waist sizes ever increasing . For a perfect hourglass figure, a . woman’s hip and bust must be of equal size, with a narrow tapered waist. But a study has found that this shape is becoming increasingly rare. In 1951, the average woman’s waist was 27 inches, with her bust and hips around ten inches larger. But researchers who surveyed 5,500 . women found the average waist now measures 34 inches. Hip and bust . dimensions, meanwhile, have grown by only an inch, leaving them just . four inches larger than the waist. As a result, almost half of British . women are now classed as a ‘rectangle’ – with little difference between . bust, waist and hip measurements. The data compiled for women's sizes . showed that while the average waist size has increased by more than 25 . percent, women's hips and busts haven't seen increases on the same scale. This . has led to a change in women's figures from svelte hourglass to a . more rotund, stout shape. - and 38 per cent of women in Britain being classed as overweight. Women . in the UK now weigh 7.5 lbs more than they did in 1951 - and even though . they are 1.5in taller this still shows a general trend to higher . BMI and greater levels of obesity nowadays. Audrey Hepburn had a figure typical of the 1950s, while Kelly Brook has a body typical of 2013 . The changing shape of British women: As well as larger wasitlines they have grown by 1.5in and are an average of 7.5lb heavier than women in 1951 . Since Mad Men season six - a series . based on the 1960s world of advertising - premiered on 7 April, one . Harley Street clinic has reported a 40 per cent increased interest in . body-sculpting waistline-reduction treatments from women wishing to . emulate Hendricks' shape. Donnamarie McBride, beauty director at LoveLite, said: . 'Our most popular treatment with our Lipoglaze system is the "Mad Men . waistline" and since the show came back on to TV we've been inundated . with bookings. 'The reason why it's in such demand is because the waistline is one of the hardest areas to shift weight. 'Even with regular work-outs and a good diet this is often the last area that a women will lose fatty tissue.' | Waist size grown from 27 inches 60 years ago to 34 inches now .
38 per cent of women now classed as overweight .
Difference between the bust and hips to the waistline was 10in in 1950s .
In 2013 figures are much flatter at only 4in difference from bust to waistline .
British women weigh 7.5lbs more than in 1951 and are 1.5in taller .
Growing numbers opting for clinical procedures to achieve shapely figures . |
96,902 | 08b2b8246577ac238a8cd8100ede3b8b4863a5ac | (CNN) -- The death of an Air Force technical sergeant in Iraq last week quietly brought a somber milestone: One hundred American female service members have died in Iraq, according to a CNN count of Pentagon figures. A U.S. Army bugler plays taps during burial services for a female soldier at Arlington National Cemetery in 2005. The latest death was Tech. Sgt. Jackie L. Larsen, 37, of Tacoma, Washington, who died of natural causes July 17 at Balad Air Base, Iraq. She was assigned to the 9th Reconnaissance Wing, Beale Air Force Base, California, according to the Pentagon. The death comes during what may be the lowest monthly toll in the war. Pentagon records show that at least nine U.S. troops have died in July. The lowest number in the war was in May, with 19. The total of U.S. service member deaths in the Iraq war now stands at 4,124. Of the 100 female service members who died: . Meanwhile, a female suicide bomber detonated explosives at an Awakening Council checkpoint just outside Baquba, killing eight people and wounding 24 Thursday night, police said. The checkpoint is two kilometers (1.4 miles) from Baquba, the capital of Diyala province. Those killed and wounded were mostly members of an anti-al Qaeda group, the police said. An Awakening Council leader was among the dead, police said. An Interior Ministry official identified the leader as Naim al-Dulaimi, a high-ranking local leader of the 1920 Revolution Brigades. The brigades are a former nationalist insurgent group turned into an Awakening group, fighting al Qaeda in Iraq. There have been about two dozen female suicide bombings in Iraq. The bulk of them have been in Diyala. The ethnically mixed province that stretches north and east of Baghdad and borders Iran. Last month, a female suicide bomber attacked a crowded area in Baquba's center, killing at least 16 people and wounding 40. Police, women and children were among the casualties, authorities said at the time. Many Awakening Councils, whose members are predominantly Sunni, have been recruited by the U.S. military to work against al Qaeda in Iraq and other militias. Elsewhere, attackers in Iraq's capital over the past 24 hours killed three members of an anti-insurgent group and wounded a senior member of the prime minister's political party, officials said. Three members of an Awakening Council who were manning checkpoints in the Sunni neighborhood of Adhamiya were gunned down by attackers in a car Thursday morning, according to a local leader of the Awakening Council. Adhamiya, in Baghdad's northeastern area, used to be controlled by al Qaeda in Iraq fighters. The area had once been rife with attacks against U.S. and Iraqi targets. But as the Awakening movement took hold in the neighborhood over the past year, violence declined. An Interior Ministry official said Abdul Rahman Dawood, a senior member of the Dawa party, was wounded in a bombing at his house in southeastern Baghdad late Wednesday. Dawa, a Shiite movement that is part of the United Iraqi Alliance bloc, is the party of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki. The prime minister is in Europe this week. He traveled to Germany, where he met with Chancellor Angela Merkel, and is to meet with leaders in Italy and the Vatican. In another development, Turkish warplanes late Wednesday bombed three villages in northern Iraq where Kurdish rebels were thought to be based, a border security officer said Thursday. The strikes -- the latest by the Turkish military against Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militants -- occurred in the Zab region of Duhuk province in Iraq's Kurdish region. The officer said the bombing lasted for an hour, and there were no reports of casualties. Duhuk is one of three provinces that make up the Kurdish region in Iraq. Turkey has been fighting PKK separatists for years in the southeastern part of Turkey. Turkey has been going after PKK bases just over its border with northern Iraq, where the group has been staging cross-border attacks. CNN's Joe Sterling, Jennifer Turner, Jomana Karadsheh and Mohammed Tawfeeq contributed to this report. | Latest death of female service member in Iraq blamed on natural causes .
Of the 100 dead, 97 were troops, and three were military civilian employees .
Sixty-one of the deaths have been classified as hostile .
Female suicide bomber kills eight at checkpoint outside Baquba . |
110,896 | 1aff8329d0d0b7049be7e44eca7adee038945d3b | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 15:15 EST, 8 August 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 18:55 EST, 8 August 2012 . Thirteen people involved in a multi-million pound drugs distribution gang have been jailed. The Merseyside-based traffickers plotted to flood the streets of Scotland, South Wales, Lancashire and Cheshire with heroin and cocaine. Police said the 'major players' in the drugs trade were caught following an eight-month covert operation by the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit, Titan. Drug traffickers: (Left to right) Paul McDonald, 44, who was jailed for 15 years and gang leaders, John Cooke, 32, and James Swarez, 44, . who were both locked up for 17 years at Liverpool Crown Court . During the investigation, police seized drugs with a wholesale value of £1 million - including 20.4lb (9.25kg) of heroin, 18.2lb (8.25kg) of cocaine, 26.5lb (12kg) of amphetamine and 11,370 class C benzylpiperazine (BZP) tablets. Gang leaders John Cooke, 32, of Walmer Road, Birkdale, Merseyside, and James Swarez, 44, of Queens Road, Crosby, Merseyside, were both jailed for 17 years at Liverpool Crown Court after earlier pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply controlled drugs. Caught: Part of the drugs haul uncovered by the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit, Titan . During the investigation, police seized drugs with a wholesale value of £1 million - including 20.4lb (9.25kg) of heroin, 18.2lb (8.25kg) of cocaine, 26.5lb (12kg) of amphetamine and 11,370 class C benzylpiperazine (BZP) tablets . The pair, who lived a luxury lifestyle thanks to their ill-gotten gains, obtained high purity drugs from trafficker Paul McDonald, 44, and used a network of couriers to target drug addicts in Glasgow, Cardiff, Preston and Ellesmere Port. McDonald, of Fernbank Road, Huyton, who also admitted conspiracy to supply controlled drugs, was jailed for 15 years. Ten other gang members, who were used as couriers, received jail sentences of between five and 12 years. Detective Superintendent Jason Hudson, from Titan, said: 'Today’s sentences reflect the severity of the scourge of drugs on our streets. Cocaine packaged up: John Cooke, 32, and James Swarez, 44, lived a luxury lifestyle thanks to their ill-gotten gains, . A photo issued by Merseyside Police of 5kg of heroin seized as part of an eight month investigation . 'We launched a lengthy investigation into this organised crime unit and obtained evidence that ensured some major players in the drugs trade have been taken out of action for a considerable amount of time. 'While some of the gang were used as couriers, others such as Cooke, Swarez and McDonald, were at the top of the hierarchy of this group and their lifestyles show they have made huge amounts of money through their criminal activities. 'The methods used to distribute the drugs show a level of sophistication. 'They are now facing a considerable amount of time behind bars and will be stripped of all their ill-gotten gains, sending a strong message to anyone involved in organised crime, or thinking of getting involved, that no-one is untouchable and you will be found and brought to justice. 'Titan will continue to target all those involved in organised crime and take robust action against them to protect our communities across the North West.' | The Merseyside-based traffickers plotted to flood the streets of Scotland, South Wales, Lancashire and Cheshire with heroin and cocaine .
Police seized drugs with a wholesale value of £1 million - including 9.25kg of heroin, 8.25kg of cocaine, and 12kg of amphetamine . |
140,830 | 42196d42e3fe6961d17925159395afc1adc28e58 | By . Nadia Gilani . Last updated at 3:33 PM on 10th December 2011 . Huge: This serrated Tyrannosaurus tooth was found with other Alamosaurus bones by the researchers . The enormous bones of what is believed to be the biggest dinosaur in the U.S. have been unveiled by university researchers. A research paper produced jointly by the Museum of Rockies in Montana State and the State Museum of Pennsylvania describes two gigantic vertebrae and a femur that the team collected in New Mexico from 2003 to 2006. The bones belong to the sauropod dinosaur Alamosaurus sanjuanensis: a long-necked plant eater related to Diplodocus. The Alamosaurus roamed what is now the southwestern region of the U. S and Mexico about 69 million years ago. In the paper, Montana State University researcher, Denver W. Fowler and Robert M. Sullivan from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania write how carrying the the vertebrae alone was a 'killer' task taking up an entire day because the paleontologists carried them 1.2 miles through 100-degree heat. Life-size: Nate Carroll, left, and Liz Freedman, right pose with a complete reconstruction of the neck vertebra of an Alamosaurus at Montana State University . Dr Fowler said: 'Alamosaurus has been known for some time, its remains were first described in 1922 from the Naashoibito beds of New Mexico. 'Since then, more bones have been discovered in New Mexico, Utah, some really nice material from Texas, and Mexico, including a few partial skeletons.' He said the sheer size of the new bones had caught the researchers by surprise. He said researchers had believed that a fully grown Alamosaurus measured around 60 feet long and weighed about 30 tons. But a 2009 study by another MSU researcher, Dr. Holly Woodward, led to discovery of a femur thought to belong to an adult that was still growing. Dr Fowler said. 'This told us that Alamosaurus got even bigger, but we didn't imagine that it could get quite this big.' The enormity of the new bones puts . Alamosaurus in the same size league as other giant sauropods from South . America, including Argentinosaurus which weighed about 70 tons, and is . widely considered to be the biggest dinosaur of all. Dr . Fowler added: 'Over the past 20 years, Argentinean and Brazilian . paleontologists have been unearthing bigger and bigger dinosaurs, . putting the rest of the world in the shade. Comparison: It is difficult for researchers to estimate body size from only fragmentary remains, but overlapping skeletal material gives an indication of maximum sizes for the biggest dinosaurs . 'However, our new finds not only show that Alamosaurus is newly recognized as the biggest dinosaur from North America, but also that it was right up there with the biggest South American species: the US is back in the fight for the No.1 spot.' Although comparison of the new Alamosaurus bones with the South American species gave the researchers an idea of size, giant specimens of sauropods like Alamosaurus and Argentinosaurus are only known from very fragmentary remains. This means they only offer a glimpse of what a complete Alamosaurus might look like. 'We'd love to find more complete material', said Dr Fowler. 'Fortunately, Alamosaurus bones are quite common in the Naashoibito of New Mexico, so we have a good chance . of going back and finding more, but in order to dig up one of the . world's biggest dinosaurs you need one of the world's biggest dinosaur . digging teams and large digging equipment.' The Pennsylvania State Museum field . crew is made up of just two to three people, so there are limits on how . many bones can be collected in one season. Vast: Paleontologists Robert Sullivan, left, and Denver Fowler work in badland exposures of the Naashoibito beds at Alamo Wash in the San Juan Basin of New Mexico . Even . so, many new and important specimens have been recovered over the past . 10 to 15 years, including new species, and other members of the fauna . including the iconic carnivore Tyrannosaurus. 'We found a shed Tyrannosaurus tooth with another Alamosaurus neck bone that we were excavating,' Dr Fowler said. 'The Tyrannosaurus may have lost its tooth while feeding on an Alamosaurus carcass.' He added that other recent discoveries by paleontologist Jack Horner's paleo lab at the Museum of the Rockies have emphasised the importance of understanding growth and ontogeny in interpreting dinosaur evolution. 'Increasingly, we're finding that very large or small individuals often look very different, and are often described as different species. 'Our findings show that Alamosaurus was originally described based on immature material, and this is a problem as characteristics that define a species are typically only fully gained at adult size. 'This means that we might be misinterpreting the relationships of Alamosaurus and possibly other sauropod dinosaurs too.' | Two gigantic vertebrae and a femur found in New Mexico .
Bones belong to Alamosaurus sanjuanensis: a long-necked plant eater related to Diplodocus . |
151,323 | 4fa797cdb9af65014954f1991058ea96139f9127 | (CNN) -- NASA scientists revealed Friday a first-of-its-kind image from space showing reflecting sunlight from a lake on Saturn's largest moon, Titan. It's the first visual "smoking gun" evidence of liquid on the northern hemisphere of the moon, scientists said, and the first-ever photo from another world showing a "specular reflection" -- which is reflection of light from an extremely smooth surface and in this case, a liquid one. "This is the first time outside Earth we've seen specular reflection from another liquid from another body," said Ralf Jaumann, a scientist analyzing data from the Cassini unmanned space probe. Jaumann said he was surprised when he first saw the photos transmitting from Cassini, orbiting Saturn about a billion miles from Earth. "It was great because if you look at photos of planets, you mostly see nothing is happening. But in two hours we saw a glint of light getting brighter." Titan's similarities to Earth have attracted NASA's attention for decades. It's the only body besides our own in the solar system that is believed to have liquid on its surface. Like Earth, Titan has an atmosphere which is mostly nitrogen. Experts believe the presence of liquid on a planet or moon improves the chances that some kind of life could develop there. The photo comes from the spacecraft Cassini, which has been searching for this kind of reflection since it began circling Saturn in 2004. Scientists with the University of Arizona were able to use previous data from Cassini to learn details about the reflection's location on Titan. The glint appears to be coming from the southern edge of a lake called Kraken Mare -- a massive body of methane that covers about 150,000 square miles (400,000 square kilometers). That's larger than the Caspian Sea, which is the largest lake on Earth. The hunt for the specular reflection took five years, NASA said, because the moon's northern half had been shrouded in winter darkness. "Next, we want to find out more about Titan's liquid," said Jaumann. "Do we have some kind of weather there? Do we have changes with seasons? Does it rain? How does the liquid methane run across the surface?" But Jaumann sounded a note of caution regarding the prospect of life in this case. "The temperature on Titan's surface is something like minus-180 degrees Celsius," he said. "That means it's very cold. But you never know." The project is based out of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. This is not the first evidence of liquid on Titan. In 2008, project members used infrared technology to discover a large lake in the moon's southern hemisphere. But this recent discovery is a sure sign that liquid exists on the moon's northern half. That region is believed to include larger basins that could hold more liquid. | NASA photo from Cassini probe is first-ever of liquid on another world, says scientist .
Image shows sun reflecting from a lake on Saturn's moon, Titan .
Planets with liquid are thought to be more likely to develop life .
Scientists have been studying Titan because of its similarities to Earth . |
234,612 | bbb992dc2e521af86a885c4758bc30533ccf30af | Virginia Beach, Virginia (CNN) -- A U.S. Navy admiral said Saturday that the fiery crash of a fighter jet into apartment buildings in the military community of Virginia Beach matches his definition of a miracle. No one was killed and everyone was accounted for one day after the accident. "I don't speak for anybody's religious beliefs, but the mayor and I both agreed that if you want to define a miracle, what happened here yesterday meets that definition for me," Adm. John Harvey, the four-star head of the U.S. Fleet Forces Command, told reporters. He said the Navy is investigating the crash, but noted it will take weeks to determine exactly what happened. "We will not rush to judgment. We will get everything down. We will examine it carefully," he said. "We'll fix whatever went wrong." A special victims fund is available to assist those whose homes or possessions were damaged or destroyed. More than two dozen people spent the night at a temporary shelter. At least seven people, including two pilots who ejected safely, were injured in the crash. All were released from the hospital as of Saturday, said Harvey, and are in "good shape." Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell thanked those who acted in an hour of need. "This amazing news follows the countless acts of bravery and selflessness that we witnessed yesterday," he said in a statement. He said the crash response highlighted the character of the Navy, safety officials and the people of Virginia. "We saw neighbors rushing to the assistance of neighbors, the Navy pilots waiting until the very last second to eject, citizens pulling the pilots to safety and treating them, and a successful and efficient coordinated response from first responders, the city and others," McDonnell said. "It was the very best of Virginia on display." Among those who sprung into action was an off-duty Coast Guard member. Petty Officer 2nd Class Nick Beane was at a friend's house having lunch when the jet went down, according to a statement from the Coast Guard. "My training kicked in," Beane said. "I saw the fire and explosion, and I knew I had to help." He ran to nearby buildings and knocked on doors to make sure everyone was outside. He then saw one of the pilots, lying on the ground near flames. With the help of a civilian, they cut the pilot loose from his parachute and carried him to safety, the Coast Guard said. "He kept asking if everybody else was okay," Beane said. "He asked about the people on the ground and the other pilot. His own safety was the last thing on his mind." The fighter jet experienced a "catastrophic mechanical malfunction" during takeoff Friday, raining jet fuel over Virginia Beach before plunging to the ground, damaging five apartment buildings, according to residents and Navy officials. The jet carried a student pilot in the front seat and an experienced instructor behind him, and the leakage of jet fuel was "one of the indications that there was a mechanical malfunction," Navy Capt. Mark Weisgerber told reporters. The two-seat F/A-18 jet landed eerily upright in flames in a courtyard surrounded by the five apartment buildings that were suddenly set afire. iReport: Watch and hear jet fuel burning . Once the buildings were doused with water and the courtyard was coated with a foam, rescue crews began a detailed search through the charred hulks to look for any residents injured or killed, a fire official said. Are you there? Send images . The two pilots, a Virginia Beach police officer, an EMS volunteer and three other people were treated for injuries at Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital. The jet, which was not carrying live ordnance, was part of a training squadron at Naval Air Station Oceana, the Navy and Federal Aviation Administration said. It crashed 2.2 miles from the runway, a senior Defense Department official told CNN. Eyewitnesses and residents described their community -- so accustomed to military planes taking off near their homes -- suddenly taking a surreal turn for the worse when the jet fell out of the sky and spewed its fuel, a possible maneuver to minimize the inevitable fire upon crashing. One ejection seat shell ripped through an oak tree and crashed into a condo fence, and the other seat shell landed next door, suggesting that the two Navy pilots ejected at a low altitude, said resident Keith Gutkowski. Colby Smith told CNN affiliate WVEX that he was in his bathroom when he felt his "whole house shaking." Then he looked out his bedroom window and "saw nothing but red, just red and orange flashing. And just a crackling noise. I was like, 'What is that?' " he said. Smith said he ran outside, saw a friend and eventually spotted a pilot who was "laying there" and bleeding. He said he and several others then picked up the pilot and carried him to safety. CNN's Michael Martinez, Barbara Starr, Greg Botelho, Mike Ahlers and Sandra Endo contributed to this report. | NEW: An off-duty Coast Guard member assisted in the wake of the crash .
All are accounted for after the fighter jet smashes into apartments .
At least seven people, including two pilots, were injured .
All have been released from the hospital and the crash is under investigation . |
238,267 | c06837d8c0f99d9947dd2f51664bcfba0cc9ac55 | (Financial Times) -- China, the biggest consumer of cotton, has lodged a formal protest against India's ban on cotton exports amid signs that India is rethinking the ban that was implemented a few days ago. Manmohan Singh, India's prime minister, urgently requested a group of cabinet members to review the ban after the country's agriculture minister said that the curbs on the fibre would hurt farmers. The outcome of the review would be made public today, a statement from the prime minister's office said. An official in the prime minister's office said cabinet members were likely to lift the ban. "There is a realistic, high chance that the ban will be lifted," the official told the Financial Times. The U-turn is, however, not certain as New Delhi balances its relationship with Beijing and the interests of its farmers with the concerns of its powerful textile industry. The abrupt policy changes are adding further volatility to the cotton market after two years of sharp swings in prices. Cotton rose to an all-time high of more than $2 a pound last year amid a shortage in part created by an export ban by India, only to fall afterwards to less than $1 after cotton mills defaulted on contracts. Cotton traders including Cargill, Noble Group and Glencore suffered big losses as a result. Cotton prices have risen this year after India banned exports for the second time in two years. India, the second-largest producer of cotton, instituted the ban with immediate effect on March 5, in a move aimed at ensuring sufficient supply of cotton for domestic textile companies. India's move came after China had aggressively bought bales over the past year for a government reserve as a way of supporting domestic farm prices and buffering against price volatility. By late January, China had bought as many as 5m bales of foreign cotton for the reserve which, along with its domestic purchases, made up 15 per cent of global cotton consumption in the current crop year, the US Department of Agriculture estimated. This week, Sharad Pawar, agriculture minister, wrote to the prime minister the day after the ban demanding that export of the fibre be allowed. He complained that due to higher production this year, farmers were already suffering from lower prices than they had expected and needed to export to recover their domestic losses. However, India's commerce ministry, which enforced the ban, said domestic textile companies had been complaining that they were finding it hard to compete with rivals in Bangladesh and Pakistan because of rising cotton prices in India. The trade regulator's move is expected to push down cotton prices in the country. Cotton for May delivery was up 0.9 per cent to 90.90 cents a pound on New York's ICE Futures US exchange. Futures peaked earlier this week at 94 cents. © The Financial Times Limited 2012 . | Manmohan Singh, India's prime minister, urgently requested a group of cabinet members to review the ban .
Cotton traders including Cargill, Noble Group and Glencore suffered big losses after cotton prices fall to less than $1 .
Cotton prices have risen this year after India banned exports for the second time in two years. |
224,418 | ae96843cbf4764980159ba7e3cad6b9ebcf11715 | By . Peter Allen . PUBLISHED: . 11:07 EST, 5 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 11:55 EST, 5 December 2013 . The gravestones of thousands of British and Canadian soldiers who died . liberating France from Nazi rule are to be replaced in time for the 70th . anniversary of D-day, it was announced yesterday. A total 8,329 of the white limestone monuments are in need of repairing or to be replaced as some are in such poor condition is is impossible to read the soldier's name. It follows President Francois Hollande inviting The Queen to be the centre of commemorations which takes place next year. D-Day heroes: Gravestones of more than 8,300 British and Canadian soldiers at cemeteries in Bayeux (pictured), Cinthaux, and Ranville will be replaced for the 70th anniversary . If she accepts, Her Majesty will join President Hollande on Sword Beach, where British forces stormed ashore on June 6th 1944. Many are among those buried in Northern France after losing their lives in the Battle of Normandy. But their distinctive white limestone headstones have not been replaced since the end of the Second World War – leaving many in poor condition. William Moody, of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC), said: ‘Often it's impossible to read what's written on them - like the name of the soldier, the regiment's insignia, the date of death, his age and his religion.’ Set in stone: Some of the thousands of gravestones are in such poor condition that the soldiers' name and insignia is no longer visible . Honouring them: Queen Elizabeth II, pictured at Bayeaux Cemetery during the 60th anniversary of D-Day, is expected to attend the event in France next year . He said many of the headstones would now be destroyed and replaced with marble-like ones from Botticino in Italy. A French and a Belgian company are carrying out the work, which has already started at the British cemetery in Bayeux, the Canadian cemetery in Cinthaux, and the Ranville cemetery. Ranville was the first village in France to be liberated from the Nazis on D-Day after a successful operation by the British 13th Parachute Battalion, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Peter Luard. The CWGC is responsible for 3,000 cemeteries in France, and the British government provides almost 80 per cent of its budget. | Several stones of fallen British and Canadian soldiers need replacing .
Distinctive white stones not replaced since the end of World War II .
More than 8,300 graves will get new stones in time for D-Day anniversary . |
241,155 | c431d66a91467154f501e611e102e36355df5451 | By . Mark Duell . An obese hospice nurse who has had £30,000 of weight-loss operations funded by taxpayers is so addicted to junk food that he liquidises kebabs and burgers to cheat his gastric band. Chris McDonnell, of North London, who even blends deep-fried Mars bars to avoid them making him sick, has put on seven stone in a year - and had his band adjusted last month for the eighth time. The 31-year-old - who has been addicted to eating since he was 12 - revealed his concerns that the addictions of obese patients are often not being addressed, despite them receiving surgery. Obesity problem: Chris McDonnell - who has had £30,000 of weight-loss operations funded by the taxpayer - is so addicted to junk food that he liquidises kebabs and burgers to cheat his gastric band . He told the Sunday Mirror’s Gemma Aldridge: ‘The problem isn’t in your stomach, it’s in your brain.’ Mr McDonnell said of his food addiction since childhood: ‘I did it without thinking. Huge portions four, five times a day, with several courses. Kebabs, pizzas and burgers were my favourites. ‘Kids would point at me in the street and comment to their parents about how big I was. People told me to diet and I tried - but I just loved food too much. It was the most important thing in my life.’ He weighed a whopping 32 stone at the age of 24 - eating 15,000 calories each day, which is six times the recommended amount for an adult male. But it was after struggling to fit into an aeroplane seat on the way home from a family holiday in the Dominican Republic that Mr McDonnell realised he had to do something about his weight. In the past: Mr McDonnell weighed a whopping 32 stone at the age of 24 (left), before dropping to 15 stone following surgery (right). Now, he has gone back up to 22 stone . He had been reading on holiday about . former X Factor judge Sharon Osborne’s gastric band - and went to his GP . to find out more about having an operation, reported the Mirror. Inspiration: Mr McDonnell had been reading about Sharon Osborne's gastric band while on holiday . Mr McDonnell received NHS funding within two weeks for it - which would have cost £9,000 privately - and lost more than half his body weight in the two years following the operation. After making it down to 15 stone, he was given further operations on the NHS to remove his folds of loose skin - which saw the total cost of his surgery hit £30,000. But Mr McDonnell was still addicted to fast food, and found himself vomiting small amounts of kebabs he tried to eat. During a four-year period he gained and lost six stone on two occasions. Doctors have been loosening his gastric band but warning him to stick within a strict diet. However, he has been unable to do this - and after eating a large amount of blended fast food over the past year in a desperate attempt to digest it, his weight has now soared to 22 stone. He told the Mirror: ‘You can take the bottle away from an alcoholic but that doesn’t stop him craving booze. I’m always fearing for my future.’ His comments come after the Mail On Sunday reported that post-obesity surgery – which rids weight-loss patients of excess skin – can lead to poor wound-healing and infections. Researchers from Texas University . examined the risks of procedures including tummy tucks (abdominoplasty) and the full ‘body-lift’ in those who have lost vast amounts of weight. 'I’m always fearing for my future' Chris McDonnell . Thousands of Britons have 'body-contouring' procedures each year. The operations involve cutting away excess skin and fat, and removing and stitching the underlying muscles into a new position. An overall complication rate of almost 20 per cent was found in a review of 450 individual cases. Goner kebab: Mr McDonnell blends kebabs otherwise his gastric band would make him vomit after eating . | Chris McDonnell even blends deep-fried Mars bars to avoid being sick .
Put on seven stone in a year and had his band adjusted for eighth time .
Nurse, 31, says addictions of obese patients are often not addressed .
He reached 32 stone aged 24, before falling to 15 stone after surgery .
But he has since gone back up to 22 stone because of food addiction . |
2,721 | 07f4998992545f0c9e586e7b6faaccfe13ce9051 | By . Matt Chorley, Mailonline Political Editor . and Tom Mctague, Mail Online Deputy Political Editor . and Ian Drury . and Jack Doyle . UKIP were accused of scaremongering by a Home Office minister yesterday after the number of Romanians and Bulgarians working in Britain fell slightly. Those in jobs from the two countries dropped by 4,000 in the three months after employment restrictions were lifted on January 1 compared to the three months before. But despite the surprise dip the total number working here was up by 29,000 – nearly 26 per cent – in the first quarter of this year compared to the equivalent period in 2013. There were 140,000 Romanians and Bulgarians working in Britain in January-March, down from 144,000 at the end of 2013 . The . Office for National Statistics said there were 140,000 people from the . two eastern European countries in jobs in the UK between January and . March this year. Ukip's Nigel Farage was roundly attacked today for stoking fears that Britain would be swamped by Romanians and Bulgarians. Figures showed that the number of migrants arriving in the UK from the two countries actually fell in the first three months of the year . That was . down from 144,000 in the three months to December, before Romanians and . Bulgarians gained the same rights to work in Britain as other EU . citizens. The figures do not include dependent family members of immigrant workers or the unemployed. Before . employment restrictions were lifted ministers repeatedly refused to . estimate how many Romanians and Bulgarians would arrive in the UK, . leading Ukip to raise concerns that a ‘massive influx’ would place extra . demands on public services and depress wages. Amid . growing worries the Government introduced measures to prevent EU . migrants from claiming unemployment benefits for their first three . months here, while those found begging or sleeping rough could be . deported. Yesterday, after . the figures were published, Tory Police Minister Damian Green hit out at . the rhetoric from Nigel Farage’s party. He said: ‘They started . scaremongering in the run-up to January 1. They have been proved wrong . and they have decided to carry on scaremongering.’ Tory . minister Anna Soubry said: ‘These figures just show that Ukip preys on . people’s fears, it preys on prejudices in many people. And they make . these wild, actually rather offensive claims, and hey, what happens? It . was all a load of nonsense.’ Employment minister Esther McVey said the predicted influx had not happened . Lib . Dem Business Secretary Vince Cable added: ‘This idea of waiting for . tens of thousands of people pouring off the planes from the Balkans was . just a scare story.’ Labour . MP Keith Vaz, chairman of the Commons Home Affairs Select Committee, . said: ‘Those, including Ukip, who promised the end of the world on . January 1, now owe the public and those from Romania and Bulgaria a full . apology.’ But critics . pointed out that the number of workers from Romania and Bulgaria had . increased by 43,000 – or 44 per cent – since the first three months of . 2012. They also suggested that the December peak meant many arrived in the UK in time for the lifting of employment restrictions. Sir . Andrew Green, chairman of MigrationWatch, said: ‘The latest annual . figures show an increase of 29,000, in a period when restrictions were . in place for nine months. We believe they are consistent with our . estimate of a 50,000 population increase from Romania and Bulgaria for . each of the next five years.’ Dr . Carlos Vargas-Silva, senior researcher at the Migration Observatory at . the University of Oxford, said: ‘Until we have complete data for 2014 it . is impossible to achieve any definite conclusions about the impact of . the end of restrictions.’ Ukip . head of policy Tim Aker said: ‘We never said it would just be about . Romania and Bulgaria. We are looking at the massive influx from the EU.’ The number of Romanians and Bulgarians working in the UK is up by almost 26 per cent year-on-year, compared to 1.8 per cent for people born in the UK. There are a record 30.430million people in work, up by 283,000 on the end of last year . Unemployment has fallen by more than 300,000 over the past year, giving jobless rates of 7 per cent for men and 6.4 per cent for women. The number of people in a job rose 283,000 in the last three months - the largest quarterly increase in 43 years. The number of unemployed young people has been falling for the last eight months. Employment minister Esther McVey said: 'As the recovery takes hold, more people are able to get a job or set up their own business and become the employers of tomorrow. 'Each and every person who has made a new start or hired someone new is helping to make Britain a more prosperous and confident place to be. 'We will continue to support those in and out of work who want to get on and fulfil their ambitions for a more secure future.' The number of people claiming jobseeker's allowance last month fell by 25,100 to 1.12 million. Danny . Alexander, Lib Dem Chief Secretary to the Tresury, said: ‘This further . big rise in employment shows again that our jobs rich recovery is . becoming firmly established. 'It follows strengthening economic growth figures and positive news on inflation. The . very modest numbers of Romanians and Bulgarians coming to work in . Britain this year is in stark contrast to the inflammatory rhetoric of . earlier this year. 'Overall . today's figures are good news for the people of Britain, and bad news . for those who would threaten our recovery by turning the clock back.' Mr Cameron yesterday insisted his promise to get immigration below 100,000 a year is still 'achievable'. But Mr Cameron insisted: 'The target remains. I think it is absolutely achievable'. Appearing before the House of Commons Liaison Committee, he declined to discuss the figures for Romanians and Bulgarians before their publication, but said that his administration had brought net migration down by one-fifth since coming to office. He also wants to stop millions of pounds being sent abroad each year in child benefit for children who live elsewhere in the EU. There are around 24,000 families claiming for 40,000 children, with two-thirds of the children based in Poland. Total pay is up by 1.7 per cent, while the CPI rate of inflation is at 1.6 per cent . Mr Cameron said he had not made 'anybody who thinks that is sensible' but admitted that under existing EU rules 'it seems impossible to change that'. He told BBC One's Marr Show: 'We are very clear about what we want to achieve. Let's end benefit tourism, let's make sure the single market is properly safeguarded. 'Let's make sure that Parliaments can get together and block unwelcome proposals from the European Commission. 'Let's make a series of changes to make Europe more flexible, more competitive. Those are the sorts of things I want to see.' | Anna Soubry says Ukip made 'wild, rather offensive' migrant predictions .
But admits Cameron unlikely to honour pledge to slash net migration .
There were 140,000 Romanians and Bulgarians in work in January-March .
Down from 144,000 at the end of 2013, but up 28,000 year-on-year .
More than 30.4 million people are now in work, a new record high .
More than 280,000 find work in three months, biggest increase ever . |
59,296 | a8553397d5077c8ac016c6f66b6a6ec7ffd3f033 | (CNN) -- 'Tis the season, for movies, that is! This holiday season is introducing audiences to a whole new crop of flicks guaranteed to drive you to a theater, despite the $10 ticket. Check out the movies taking 2010 out with a bang. "Burlesque" Christina Aguilera stars as a small-town girl who goes to Los Angeles, California, to perform in a musical revue run by Cher, an Oscar-winning actress who hasn't starred in a film in a decade. In real life, Cher has reportedly been helping Aguilera through her divorce. But things are looking up for Aguilera, who got her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame right before the movie's premiere on November 15. "Burlesque" will be released November 24 and also stars Stanley Tucci, Kristen Bell and Julianne Hough. "Love and Other Drugs" In this flick, which also opens November 24, a pharmaceutical salesman (Jake Gyllenhaal) begins a relationship with a woman who has Parkinson's disease (Anne Hathaway). The movie is loosely adapted from Jamie Reidy's book "Hard Sell: The Evolution of a Viagra Salesman" and features Gabriel Macht, Hank Azaria and Oliver Platt. "The King's Speech" The plot of this movie follows an Australian speech therapist who tries to help King George VI of Britain overcome a speech impediment. Colin Firth is already getting Oscar nods for his role as King George VI. The buzz-worthy film opens November 26 and features Geoffrey Rush and Helena Bonham Carter. "Black Swan" After dominating the film-festival circuit, "Black Swan" is coming to theaters December 3. The sexy film tells the tale of the relationship between a veteran ballet dancer and her rival. Natalie Portman is expected to earn a best actress nomination for her performance as a mentally unstable ballerina and co-star Mila Kunis is getting Oscar buzz as well. Kunis reportedly lost 20 pounds for the role, as both stars underwent vigorous ballet training. "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader" Due in theaters December 10, Lucy (Georgie Henley) and Edmund Pevensie (Skandar Keynes) are drawn back into Narnia with their cousin Eustace (Will Poulter) to help Caspian (Ben Barnes) find seven lords while aboard the Dawn Treader ship. This is the third film based on C. S. Lewis' books, and reportedly Barnes' favorite of the seven tales. The first Narnia film, "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" is the 35th highest grossing movie worldwide of all time. "The Company Men" Opening December 10, Tommy Lee Jones, Ben Affleck and Chris Cooper star as three men trying to survive during a year in which their company undergoes corporate downsizing. The film might hit a bit too close to home for some people in the recession, but critics are giving it solid reviews. "The Fighter" Mark Wahlberg's passion project hit theaters December 10. The film takes a look at the true-life story of boxing hero ''Irish'' Micky Ward and his brother (played by Christian Bale) who helped train him before going pro in the mid-1980s. The movie also stars Oscar nominees Melissa Leo and Amy Adams, along with Conan O'Brien's younger sister, Kate, who plays one of Ward's seven sisters. "The Tourist" Opening December 10, Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp star in this highly anticipated film in which an Interpol agent draws a tourist into a web of intrigue. We expect ladies and gentlemen to flock to theaters in hopes of seeing two of the world's most beautiful people lock lips, even if it's only rated PG-13. "How Do You Know" How do you know when you're in love? In luck? In trouble? If you're in the mood for a lighthearted chick flick, check out Oscar winners Jack Nicholson and Reese Witherspoon in this romantic comedy, hitting theaters December 17. In the film, Witherspoon is caught in a love triangle involving a baseball player (Owen Wilson) and an old friend (Paul Rudd.) Our favorite line from the trailer? "I think I'm in love with somebody when I wear a condom with the other girls." "All Good Things" It's, as the tagline says, "The perfect love story. Until it became the perfect crime." "All Good Things" is a love story and murder mystery based on the most notorious unsolved missing person's case in New York history. It was inspired by the story of superwealthy Robert Durst, who was suspected, but never tried, in the death of his wife, Kathie, who disappeared in 1982 and was never found. The film stars Ryan Gosling, Kirsten Dunst, Kristen Wiig and Frank Langella and will first be released in New York on December 3. Click here for a complete list of holiday movies . | Anne Hathaway and Jake Gyllenhaal get steamy in "Love and Other Drugs"
Colin Firth is getting Oscar nods for his role as King George VI in "The King's Speech"
After dominating the film-festival circuit, "Black Swan" is coming to theaters December 3 . |
105,775 | 146c4d3ecfae16de854e88e37ddfa54d95e238ea | (CNN) -- Mexico's new leader has a message for U.S. officials as he heads to Washington this week: Ties between the neighboring nations must go beyond the drug war. Just four days before his inauguration, Mexican President-elect Enrique Pena Nieto will meet with U.S. President Barack Obama on Tuesday. And he says he wants to reshuffle the list of priorities the United States and Mexico share. "It is a mistake to limit our bilateral relationship to drugs and security concerns," the president-elect wrote in an editorial published by the Washington Post on Friday. "Our mutual interests are too vast and complex to be restricted in this short-sighted way." A crackdown on cartels was a hallmark of outgoing President Felipe Calderon's six-year tenure, and the United States voiced its support, offering $1.6 billion to aid in the fight. Pena Nieto has said he plans to focus more on reducing violence, but he's offered few specifics about that approach. The 45-year-old former governor, who won Mexico's presidential vote in July, has said a top priority is to deepen economic ties with the United States. "Perhaps the most important issue is finding new ways to bolster our economic and trade relationship to attain common prosperity in our nations," Pena Nieto wrote last week, noting the potential for more trade, manufacturing deals and energy investment. The United States is Mexico's largest trading partner. The two countries share billions of dollars in imports and exports and a border that stretches nearly 2,000 miles. For the first time in more than a decade, economic issues are likely to dominate the agenda shared by Mexico and the United States, the Washington-based Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars said in a policy brief this week. That's because drug-related violence appears to have plateaued and illegal immigration in the United States from Mexico has dropped dramatically, according to Andrew Selee, director of the center's Mexico Institute. FBI most-wanted fugitive captured in Mexico . "What's driven the U.S.-Mexico agenda for the past 10 years has been the influx of undocumented immigrants and the headlines about increasing violence, and now both of those have leveled off. ... It allows the two governments to begin to talk about other issues that matter for their long-term well-being," Selee said. In Mexico, analysts said on CNN en Español's "Mexico Opina" that Tuesday's meeting could signal a new approach to the relationship between the two countries. "Pena Nieto should convince Obama that Mexico deserves more attention. ... This is the moment to change the style and propose a higher agenda," said Olga Pellicer, a professor at Mexico's Autonomous Institute of Technology and a former diplomat. Political analyst Gabriel Guerra said Pena Nieto's government should push to have a greater influence on affairs within the United States, convincing U.S. officials that Mexicans are "important and relevant." "The image of the country is very negative. There is a perception that we are corrupt and drug associates. This is a result of accumulated neglect," he said. Pena Nieto "is inheriting a neglected relationship." Mexican beauty queen killed in shootout . Some critics have said Obama neglected Latin America during his first term, and lambasted the U.S. president for not bringing up Mexico or other countries in the region during last month's foreign policy debate with Republican challenger Mitt Romney. At a forum hosted by the Spanish-language Univision network in September, Obama said the United States is committed to continuing to work alongside Mexico to fight organized crime. "What I will be saying to the new president of Mexico when he takes office is that we want to continue this cooperation and we recognize this is a threat on both sides of the border. We obviously generate a lot of demand for drugs on this side of the border, and cash and guns flow south just as drugs flow north," Obama said. "If we can reduce demand, that means less cash flowing into these drug cartels. The other thing we need to do is work much more aggressively in preventing the flow of guns and cash down to Mexico." Both the White House and Pena Nieto's transition team have said security will be a key topic during Tuesday's meeting, and U.S. officials should continue to push for justice and human rights reforms south of the border, the Washington Office on Latin America said in a statement Monday. "While Pena Nieto has expressed his desire to shift the focus of the bilateral relationship away from the fight against drug trafficking and organized crime in order to place more emphasis on economic issues such as investment, trade, and energy, a dramatic shift in the focus of the U.S.-Mexico relationship seems unlikely," the statement said. Immigration also is likely to come up Tuesday, since the topic is important to residents on both sides of the border, said the Mexico Institute's Selee. Topics such as education partnerships between the two countries and global issues could also be on the table, he said. CNNMexico.com and CNN en Español's Mario Gonzalez and Rey Rodriguez contributed to this report. | Mexico's president-elect will meet with U.S. President Barack Obama on Tuesday .
Enrique Pena Nieto says he wants to reshuffle the priorities the countries share .
There is potential for more trade, manufacturing and energy deals, he says .
Pena Nieto takes office as Mexico's president Saturday . |
239,125 | c1942db0b1377ed52f6fd8ecdb55411744b8bb25 | Six lions have been killed and four Maasai herders injured in the latest clash between man and beast in Tanzania. The government said it was 'saddened to learn' that six of the endangered species were killed overnight on January 1 in the northern Babati District. It said it would attempt to identify and prosecute those responsible. Scroll down for video . Revenge: The lions were killed by the Maasai warriors after they attacked donkeys in a stable (file picture) Injured: Four Maasai warriors were hurt during the killings of the six endangered lions (file picture) Authorities said the big cats, which attacked donkeys in a stable, likely came from Tarangire National Park, about 100 kilometres away. After learning of the attack, the Maasai, who were armed with bows and arrows and at least one gun, took revenge on the lions. Four tribesman were injured while confronting the beasts. Big cats: Authorities believe the lions came from Tarangire National Park, about 100 kilometres away (file picture) Lion attacks on livestock have become more frequent in Tanzania and neighbouring Kenya, where people and wildlife are increasingly living side by side. Residents have responded by launching vigilante operations against the cats. In 2012, people living near the Kenyan capital Nairobi used spears to kill six lions and a cub that attacked goats in a nearby village after wandering out of a national park. Lions are part of a rich wildlife that draws hundreds of thousands of tourists every year and is essential to the local economy. | Four Maasai warriors were injured in the incident .
Killings were retaliation for big cats' attack on donkeys in a stable .
Government 'saddened to learn' of deaths of the endangered species .
Lions likely came from a national park about 100 kilometres away . |
202,324 | 91f0b4b92715046247d2ece1b5cfa3a1fd1cdf09 | By . James Slack . More than 1,000 convicts who are considered a risk to the public and should be behind bars are unlawfully walking Britain’s streets – including 21 killers and 15 rapists. The shocking figure emerged in a blizzard of reports from the Ministry of Justice which critics said showed a justice system in ‘crisis’. Other revelations included the Government failing in its promise to boot out foreign prisoners, a doubling in the number of Muslim inmates over the past decade and sharp rise in the number of criminals absconding from jail. Justice Secretary Chris Grayling insists escapes from prison are 'still incredibly rare' There was also a record number of violent attacks on prison officers – who are now forced to wear slash-proof vests and body cameras. The bundle of reports showed how 1,030 criminals who had been recalled to custody for breaching the terms of their release – by, for example, harassing their previous victim - remain unlawfully at large. Those who managed to go-on-the-run before being found and returned to custody include 17 murderers, four people guilty of manslaughter, 14 rapists, two paedophiles and a further 21 sex attackers. The total number of offenders at large in this way increased by 23 last year. There was also an alarming rise in the number going missing from jail – which rose to 225, up almost 30 per cent over the past two years. This included 137 from open prisons, which have been the subject of controversy after a spate of criminals walked out. The most high-profile was Michael Wheatley - known as the ‘Skullcracker’ - who sparked a nationwide manhunt after absconding from HMP Standford Hill on the Isle of Sheppey, Kent. Union leaders claimed the wrong people were being sent to open jails because of the huge pressure on the system. Michael Wheatley - known as the ‘Skullcracker’ - who sparked a nationwide manhunt after absconding from HMP Standford Hill on the Isle of Sheppey, Kent . In the past year, the total prison population has increased by around 2,000 to a record 85,509. One reason is that, despite repeated promises by David Cameron to kick-out foreign criminals, the numbers remain stubbornly high. Figures released yesterday showed there are 10,834 overseas convicts clogging up our jails, up from 10,786 last year. Other data published by the MoJ showed: . Glyn Travis, of the Prison Officers’ Association, claimed the prisons service is ‘in crisis’. He said: ‘The prison population is increasing and despite changes introduced by the Ministry of Justice we still believe that inappropriate prisoners are being sent to open conditions as the service tries to manage its available cellular accommodation. ‘The prison service recently crowded more prisons and despite this action, which endangers public safety and prisons, the problem continues to escalate.’ Frances Crook, chief executive of the Howard League for Penal Reform, said: ‘Prisons are becoming places of extreme violence as men are caged with nothing to do all day, and in some terrible cases they have become death traps.’ Yesterday, it emerged part of a prison officer’s ear has been bitten off in an attack at Nottingham Prison . Officials pointed to positive news in the report, with reoffending rates falling slightly. Some 1,155 prisoners deemed as 'low risk' have worked outside of prison on temporary licences, earning a total of more than £3.6 million - an increase of almost £1 million compared to 2012/13. The MoJ took around £1million of the money to provide help to victims. In a statement, Justice Secretary Chris Grayling said: ‘As with any significant period of change – coupled with prison population increases higher than expected – it has been a challenge. 'We are responding to and managing the additional pressures but prisons are still running safe and decent regimes.’ He added: ‘Absconds have seen a slight increase this year but are still more than 80 per cent lower than they were a decade ago, and temporary release failures remain below 0.1 oer cent. Escapes are still incredibly rare. ‘The prison population has increased higher than expected. This is due to an increase in remands being held in custody and convicted sex offenders – 680 over the last twelve months. ‘We will always have enough prison places for those sent to us by the courts and we have taken sensible measures to create temporary accommodation until our new houseblocks open later this year.' | 1,000 people considered a risk to the public 'unlawfully walking the streets'
Government failing in promise to kick out foreign prisoners, data shows .
There has been a sharp rise in the number of prisoners absconding from jail .
Justice Secretary Chris Grayling insists escapes are 'still incredibly rare' |
21,569 | 3d418d6c5659c63d9a376dba4091df60e4e2f4a2 | John Quinn, who launches an attack on both the English and Irish Cesarewitch this weekend, believes he has found a reason for top two-year-old The Wow Signal running way below his best in the Prix Jean Luc Lagardere at Longchamp on Sunday. Quinn runs Swnymor, whose odds with Ladbrokes have halved in the last week to 12-1, at Newmarket on Saturday and will saddle Triumph Hurdle fifth Rutherglen in Sunday’s Irish Cesarewitch at the Curragh. The Frankie Dettori-ridden Wow Signal, already a Group One winner in the Prix Morny, started favourite for the Lagardere but looked very laboured as he dropped away. The Wow Signal, ridden by Frankie Dettori (above) started favourite but looked laboured at the Lagardere . Quinn said: ‘He didn’t scope too clean after the race and is a bit jaded. We will build him back up and probably look to run him in one of the Guineas trials, either the Greenham or the Craven Stakes.’ Meanwhile, James Fanshawe’s Prix Cadran winner High Jinx, an entry in the Horses In Training Sales, will be heading back to France to run in the Prix Royal Oak. | Quinn believes knows why top two-year-old ran way below his best .
The Wow Signal started favourite for the Lagardere on Sunday .
Prix Morny winner was favourite but looked very laboured as he dropped away . |
98,482 | 0acd0dfcf063273e2b5c1c5ef62d8c5f723a0206 | It was an impressive Saturday for Stoke City striker Peter Crouch. He scored inside 19 seconds to help his side to an unlikely win against Arsenal, before heading to Brixton to crowd-surf at a Kasabian gig. It is not the first time the six foot seven target man has been spotted watching the Leicester-born rockers, after he was in attendance with wife Abbey Clancy at their iTunes Festival show in September. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Peter Crouch dance like nobody's watching . Peter Crouch crowd-surfed all the way to the front of the Kasabian gig, and was helped by bouncers . The tall striker was spotted by onlookers as he mounted the shoulders of a friend during the gig . But Crouch took it one step further this time, as he mounted a friend's shoulders close to the stage, before crowd-surfing over the heads of some surprised fans. Earlier in the day, the former England man opened the scoring as Stoke raced to a 3-0 lead against Arsenal, before a second-half fightback from Arsene Wenger's side. Crouch had reason to celebrate though, as the Potters held on for an impressive victory. Rather than head home after the game, the 33-year-old followed the Arsenal supporters down the M6 towards the capital just in time for Kasabian's show. And as far as Saturdays go, Crouch's is up there with the best of them. Earlier in the day, Crouch scored inside 19 seconds to help Stoke to an unlikely 3-2 win over Arsenal . The former England man celebrates with his team-mates after scoring the opening goal . | Peter Crouch scored after 19 seconds to help Stoke to a 3-0 lead .
Mark Hughes' side held on for a 3-2 win against Arsenal at the Britannia .
After the game, Crouch headed south to Brixton to see Kasabian .
He was pictured, and videoed, crowd-surfing during the gig . |
92,615 | 031d0a8a82aac65a264847ba6ccd93d78e24d4b7 | Washington (CNN)One's out and another looks like he's back in. And another is building up his 2016 team. The 2016 Republican presidential field has been shaping up in more ways than one in the last week. Here's who's stirring the pot, and what they're mixing in: . Romney, Romney ... Romney? A week after former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush spent his time locking in support from the Republican establishment's top GOP donors, former Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney set fire to the political world on Friday when he signaled to a roomful of donors that he's seriously considering a 2016 presidential bid. Romney is giving more than just a cursory glance at his 2016 presidential prospects. After meeting with prospective donors, Romney reportedly spent the weekend phoning former operatives and backers, signaling that he's not kidding about a three-peat presidential campaign. Romney is also headed to a Republican National Committee meeting near San Diego this week, a get together that will include other potential 2016ers including Ben Carson, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and Texas Gov. Rick Perry. The former nominee's moves over the weekend are the surest sign yet that he will enter what is expected to be a competitive fray of Republican contenders duking it out for the nomination. The buzz comes months after Romney kicked up speculation this summer when he gave several interviews suggesting that while a 2016 run was unlikely, it wasn't completely out of the question. And Romney's wife, who went back and forth this summer on whether Romney 2016 was a possibility -- ultimately settling on "we never say never" -- is now reportedly on board. It's Romney's sons who are split, according to sources who spoke with Romney this weekend. The move could set up a battle of political heavyweights between the Romney and Bush operations -- one few expected just last week. Chris Christie launching PAC . Fresh off his State of the State speech, The New York Times broke the news Tuesday night that the New Jersey governor is preparing to set up a leadership political action committee as soon as this month to finance his political travel and allow him to begin fundraising. It'll likely be run by Phil Cox, who worked with Christie at the Republican Governors Association. Meanwhile, well-known New York businessman and GOP fundraiser Ken Langone is hosting a dinner next week that will allow Christie to discuss his plans with major donors. Christie will follow that dinner with a trip to the Iowa Freedom Summit, a conservative event hosted by Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa. Rand Paul taps campaign manager . The Washington Post reported on Tuesday that Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky is hiring Chip Englander to run his likely 2016 presidential campaign -- while Doug Stafford will remain Paul's chief political adviser. The hiring of Englander, a California political veteran who ran Republican Bruce Rauner's successful bid for the Illinois governor's office in 2014, gives Paul a veteran hand who has won in blue states. Paul Ryan a no-go . As Romney is jumping back in, his former running mate Rep. Paul Ryan is shutting down speculation over a presidential run of his own. "After giving it a lot of thought, I've decided not to run for president," Ryan said Monday in a statement, pointing instead to his focus as the new chair of the House Ways and Means Committee as his priority. Ryan insisted despite the conspicuous timing that he came to a decision over the holidays, well before Romney seized headlines this weekend with talk of another run. Ryan has been a steadfast Romney supporter since before the former Massachusetts governor tapped him as his vice presidential pick. Walker makes moves . The governor of Wisconsin, widely viewed as a rising Republican star, is set to launch a new political organization in the coming weeks, laying the groundwork for a potential presidential campaign. Walker brought on a national political strategist who would serve as his campaign manager in the event of a potential run, GOP sources told CNN's Peter Hamby. And remember, he'll be headed to the RNC meeting, too, this week. But like a pair of other Republican governors with presidential ambitions, Walker could face some questions on his handling of his state's economy in an eventual campaign. Mike Huckabee . Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee is giving America a taste of a classic pre-presidential campaign move: he's releasing a new book. Huckabee's book, "God, Guns, Grits, and Gravy," hits stores next week, but a sneak peak reveals an interesting mishmash of insight into Huckabee's brain. The release comes after Huckabee quit his Fox News show earlier this month to give a 2016 campaign a serious look. The book's got everything from musings on Miley Cyrus and Beyoncé to an explanation of his views on homosexuality and even his thoughts on his potential 2016 rivals. Jeb Bush . So, Jeb Bush didn't have the best week after Romney swooped in and stole some of his thunder -- and nearly all of the headlines. But Bush did give donors a glimpse at what his 2016 operation would look like during his first fundraiser for his new Leadership PAC, "Right to Rise." A few snippets include promoting a muscular American foreign policy and his plan to pursue a diverse electorate. Ben Carson . The tea party conservative who has been inching toward a presidential run took some heat last week over plagiarism allegations. Carson apologized after he was caught lifting material from unattributed sources in his book, America the Beautiful. "I attempted to appropriately cite and acknowledge all sources in America the Beautiful, but inadvertently missed some. I apologize, and I am working with my editors to rectify the situation," Carson said in a statement to CNN. ...What about the Democrats? Efforts to recruit Sen. Elizabeth Warren are still underway, former Virginia Gov. Jim Webb is breaking in a new knee and Hillary Clinton hasn't made a public appearance in almost a month. As the Republican field keeps shifting, Democrats are left wondering...what field? Progressive groups are holding a rally on Saturday in an effort to get Warren to jump in, but the liberal senator is looking more like she won't run in 2016, giving Fortune magazine a flat "no" when asked whether she'll run for President -- her most decisive answer yet. Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley wants voters to know he's not out of the running, though. He told an audience on Thursday that he is "seriously considering" a presidential run. | Romney stole the show of potential 2016 candidates this weekend, telling donors and operatives that he's looking at 2016 .
Paul Ryan declared officially that he won't seek the presidency in 2016 .
Meanwhile Scott Walker is building up a 2016 operation, while Mike Huckabee releases a book . |
204,884 | 9541d9d62fadaea25b11f4f27377a92f564b7094 | London, England (CNN) -- A candidate for the United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) was injured Thursday morning in a light plane crash, police said. Nigel Farage, 45, suffered minor head injuries and was being treated at a hospital, his party said. Details of his injuries were not available. "We've had unconfirmed reports that either the banner got snagged up or there were cross-winds and it was an unfamiliar airfield to the pilot," a UKIP spokesman said. It happened just after 8 a.m. (3 a.m. ET) at an airfield in southern Northamptonshire, near the Buckinghamshire constituency where Farage is running for election, Northamptonshire police said. The pilot, who was airlifted to a hospital, had to be cut out of the plane, the party said. Farage is currently a member of the European Parliament. He is running in Buckingham against 10 other candidates: Speaker of the House John Bercow (Conservative); Colin Dale (Monster Raving Loony Party); David Hews (Christian Party); Geoff Howard (Independent); Debbie Martin (Independent); Lynne Mozar (British National Party); Patrick Phillips (Independent); John Stevens (Buckinghamshire Campaign for Democracy); Simon Strutt (Cut The Deficit Party); Anthony Watts (Independent). | Police: Crash happened at an airfield in southern Northamptonshire .
Farage is currently a member of the European Parliament . |
19,113 | 361b9a95084e5182c02eaadf887c971e29a51efa | Whether spiralling up statues, connecting narrow passages, or scaling the side of a mountain, the world's most treacherous staircases all have one thing in common: they require nerves of steel. From the 70 per cent incline on the stairs of the Cambodia's Angkor Wat temple to the slippery rock path cascading down the side of Ecuador's Pailon de Diablo Waterfall, the scariest steps are often as stunning as they are terrifying. Even the world's most adventurous traveller will be challenged by the Half Dome in Yosemite National Park, in California, where a cable ladder is required to ascend the 400m incline. To worship at Machu Picchu's Moon Temple, intrepid hikers must scale another 600 feet of granite rocks, whereas 4, 444 steps are required to reach the top of the Florli Stairs in Lysefjord, Norway. At the Mount Huashan Heavenly Stairs in China, the steps are carved into a sacred Taoist mountain. There's no official count on how many there are, so take heed when embarking upon this initial ascent, which also includes a three-plank-wide horizontal walk and then second flight of mountainside stairs to reach the top. Still, if you're eager for some serious bragging rights amongst your friends, try these impressive ascents on for size. Scroll down for video . The world's most treacherous staircases are definitely not for the faint of heart. Pictured: the Pailon del Diablo Waterfall in Ecuador . To visit the Moon Temple at Machu Picchu, visitors must ascend the Inca Stairs - an additional 600ft or so of rocks . While the Janssen Observatory in France doesn't look scary at first glance, consider that this outdoor staircase is at the summit of the tallest mountain in the Alps . For those not satisfied with the Great Wall of China, take on the additional challenge of the Mount Huashan Heavenly Stairs, which are carved into a sacred mountain . The spiral staircase in the bell tower at Barcelona's Sagrada Familia church has no bannister to prevent you from taking a tumble . Norway's Florli Stairs is the world's largest all-wood staircase - there are 4, 444 steps, reaching 2,427 feet from the bottom . Pictured (L-R): The staircase required to reach Malaysia's Hindu holy site, the Batu Caves, and the narrow steps of the Duomo di Milano in Italy . Adventurous hikers flock to the Half Dome in California's Yosemite National Park. But beware: to ascend the 400 feet, you must use a cable ladder along the rock face . Tourists visiting New York City can book a ticket to climb the Statue of Liberty - all the way to the crown! It's the equivalent of climbing a 20-storey building . The Haiku Stairs in Oahu, Hawaii, are so dangerous that they've been permanently closed - and the guard at the bottom ensures no one attempts the 3, 922 steps . Long way down: Tourists climb the steep stairway at Unesco World Heritage site Angkor in Cambodia . | From steep inclines to slippery granite rocks, to ascend these treacherous staircases nerves of steel are required .
Cambodia's Angkor Wat Temple, the Inca stairs in Peru, and the Half Dome cable ladder are just some sites mentioned .
Also included: Machu Picchu's Moon Temple ascent and the world's longest wooden staircase in Lysefjord, Norway . |
16,780 | 2f8c3e21dda76e2affdcb1deb43fe37ffedfe867 | An unmanned Delta 2 . rocket lifted off from California on Saturday carrying a NASA . satellite to measure how much water is in Earth's soil, . information that will help weather forecasting and tracking of . global climate change. The tiny amount of soil moisture links the planet's overall . environmental systems - its water, energy and carbon cycles - as . well as determines whether particular regions are afflicted with . drought or flooding. 'It's the metabolism of the system,' NASA's Soil Moisture . Active Passive (SMAP) observatory lead scientist Dara Entekhabi said before the rocket blasted off. Scroll down for video . The unmanned Delta 2 rocket lifted off from California on Saturday carrying a NASA satellite to measure how much water is in Earth's soil . The information gathered by the satellite - perched on top of the rocket - will help weather forecasting and tracking of global climate change . The tiny amount of soil moisture links the planet's overall environmental systems and will also determine whether particular regions are affected by drought or flooding . The 127-foot (39 meter) rocket, built and flown by United . Launch Alliance, blasted off at 6:22 a.m. PST (14.22 GMT) from . Vandenberg Air Force Base, located on California's central . coast, a live NASA Television broadcast showed. The launch had been delayed a day by high winds and a second . day to make minor repairs on the rocket's insulation. Perched on top on the rocket was NASA's 2,100-pound (950 kg) SMAP, which will spend at least three years measuring the amount . of water in the top two inches of Earth's soil. The 127-foot (39 meter) rocket, built and flown by United Launch Alliance, blasted off from Vandenberg Air Force Base, located on California's central coast . The satellite will be NASA's first designed to collect global observations of Earth's surface soil moisture and the planet's freeze and thaw state . The data will be used to enhance scientists' understanding of the processes that link Earth's water, energy and carbon cycles . Overall, soil moisture accounts for less than one percent of the planet's total water reservoir, with 97 percent in the planet's oceans and nearly all of the rest locked in ice, said Entekhabi, from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Currently, scientists rely largely on computer models to . account for soil moisture. But from its orbital perch 426 miles (685 km) above Earth, . SMAP has two microwave instruments to collect actual soil . moisture measurements everywhere on Earth and update the . measurements every two-to-three days. Including the launch and three years of operations, the . mission is costing NASA $916 million. A worker preparing the launch gantry to be rolled back from the United Launch Alliance Delta II rocket before launch . Workers had extra days to inspect the rocket because the launch had been delayed a day by high winds and then a second day to make minor repairs on the rocket's insulation . Photographers worked long into the night getting their cameras ready for the spectacular launch . Staff are silhouetted against the rocket as they use the extra days of delay for inspection . | Earth-observing satellite will measure how much water is in our soil .
Soil MoistureActive Passive (SMAP) will spend three years in orbit .
Launch of the 127-foot (39 meter) rocket had been delayed for two days .
Total cost of launch and three years of operations is $916 million. |
104,019 | 1237c00857d34ac3ee1a0a63082d60edabe645e8 | (CNN) -- The social media universe has been aghast this week after the revelation that Prince Alwaleed bin Talal of Saudi Arabia has invested $300 million in Twitter. The shock and awe seems to center around the notion that Twitter has been at least partly responsible for the Arab Spring uprisings that directly threaten the Saudi royal family's grip on power. On the surface, anyway, this seems like a contradiction. Why would the king's nephew be investing in the medium of his family's enemy? Will he attempt to influence the development of the network or try to make it more susceptible to censorship in a regime-threatening emergency? And what of Twitter? Will the participation of a major investor widely considered to be the beneficiary of one of the world's most exploitative dynasties tarnish the company's otherwise net-friendly brand image? Why would Twitter accept such an investor, and why would he court them in the first place? The answer, most simply, is for the money. Prince Alwaleed bin Talal is no doubt aware of Twitter and Facebook's tremendous influence in his own and neighboring countries, and may even be personally concerned about what a revolution might do to his own and his family's sovereign rule. But why should that stop him from positioning himself to become the wealthiest deposed royal he can be? It's a win-win. For its part, Twitter, which isn't even a public company, is not actually selling shares to a Saudi Arabian prince. It's Twitter's early investors who are selling $300 million of their own shares to the Prince's investing group, "Kingdom Holding Company." Of course, Twitter benefited by selling those shares initially, and now benefits indirectly as the resale of these shares puts the company's total valuation up to $8.4 billion. The dismay and disillusionment associated with this transaction seems overblown to me, or at least misplaced. In short, we are looking at the wrong medium. We are not witnessing Twitter operate against its central, democratizing premise. We are witnessing money operate in perfect accordance with its own, highly abstracting premise. Money, by its very nature, launders. This is exactly what money and the corporation were invented 700 years ago to do: provide kings and other members of the aristocracy with a way to invest at arm's length in projects they may or may not want to be associated with. The corporation gives people a way to invest passively in companies whose operations they might not want to know about, much less be known for. Likewise, generic, central currencies give people who have done Lord-knows-what the very same access to markets as those who have earned their money through sweat or innovation. Once it's money, it is as clean as anyone else's money. Similarly, once you sell your business to shareholders, they can do what they like with the shares. That's what is meant by shareholding. In the simplest language possible, when you sell your business, you have sold your business. (Maybe that's why so many top people have been leaving Twitter lately. Their shares have vested and they are less restricted about what they can do with them once they quit.) This is the beauty and horror of investment capital. Just as a Saudi prince can invest in our revolution-inspiring Internet darlings, each of us is free to invest our own retirement savings in the likes of cigarette and liquor companies, weapons manufacturers, polluters, outsourcers and sweatshop exploiters. We can put our kids through college by investing in the very oil companies through which the Saudi royals made their money in the first place. Then, hopefully, our kids can go on to become peace workers, revolutionaries or even Twitter employees. Or not. If we're truly concerned about the long arm of international investing, we might best reconsider how we invest ourselves. Instead of relying on the anonymity of outsourced investing to the stock market, why not look around for who or what needs money in our towns and communities? The Obama administration is already in the process of curtailing the regulations that prevent nonmillionaire investors from putting money into one anothers' businesses. This means we can begin to depend on local money to start-up our own ventures, and on local ventures to build our own savings. And at that point, if we don't feel like having a Saudi Arabian prince participate, we can just say no. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Douglas Rushkoff. | Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal invests $300 million in Twitter shares .
Douglas Rushkoff: Investment will not inhibit Twitter's democratizing influence .
He says the prince is doing what investors do everywhere: buying shares to make money .
Rushkoff: Corporations allow investors to put money in without exercising control . |
95,962 | 07642ba377fcb8465c279b49c41fc7754854d91b | (CNN) -- Greece state broadcaster ERT is back on the air after being shut down by the government in June. The government, facing severe economic problems, had said earlier it decided to close the broadcaster while it created a smaller operation to cut costs. That prompted protests, and the European Broadcast Union president urged Greece to reconsider. In June, the country's top court ordered the government to restart ERT. The new signal is airing only old movies and documentaries, not live programs, according to government spokesman Simos Kedikoglou. Live broadcasts will be made later, Kedikoglou said. ERT had earlier said the decision to shut down the broadcaster meant 2,656 employees would lose their jobs. On Wednesday, employees still seemed very upset. They were holding a sit-in at ERT headquarters, lambasting what they called "a fake imitation ERT." CNN's Elinda Labropoulou contributed to this report. | Greek broadcaster ERT is back on the air .
The government said it shut down the broadcaster to save money .
In June, the country's top court ordered the government to restart ERT . |
215,021 | a25a64af3f95e276fc7cec561d7c87f79d0da2d9 | It was late on a Friday night and a freckled, blue-eyed University of Virginia student named Hannah Graham was partying in downtown Charlottesville, Virginia. Graham, described as an accomplished athlete and straight-A student, was seen various times before her disappearance in the early hours of September 13, according to a timeline compiled by CNN affiliate WVIR. She was at a party and later at an apartment complex blocks away. A surveillance camera caught her outside a pub, where she was turned away. She was seen running past a gas station at one point and later spotted at a restaurant. At another point, she had drinks with a man at a bar. Jesse Matthew, the man named as a suspect in her disappearance, was taken into custody this week in Texas, 1,300 miles away from the town where Graham was last seen. On Friday, Matthew, who had waived extradition, was transported to Virginia and booked into jail, authorities said. Almost two weeks after her disappearance, people keep asking: Where is Hannah Graham? Last weekend, more than 1,200 volunteers and Virginia Department of Emergency Management officials searched for clues that would lead them to Graham, CNN affiliate WTVR reported. On Saturday, the search for Graham extended to rural areas outside Charlottesville, spanning more than 740 square miles in Albemarle County. Police also asked owners of large parcels of property in surrounding counties to search their land. The search may have to be extended to the 1,300 miles between the place where Graham was last seen and Texas, where Matthew was arrested. "We're going to do whatever we can to assist Virginia to locate that young lady," Galveston County Sheriff Henry Trochesset told reporters Thursday, adding that deputies will start searching in the area where Matthew was arrested and branch out. Authorities found Matthew on a Galveston County beach. Deputies were tipped off to his whereabouts when they got a call about a suspicious person camping on the beach. One responded and ran the license plate of that person's vehicle. It came back as wanted, CNN affiliate KPRC reported. The former Liberty University student and football player did not resist arrest, Trochesset told reporters. The sheriff added that investigators from Virginia were examining a car and a tent found at Matthew's campsite. "There's a long road ahead of us, and that long road includes finding Hannah Graham," Charlottesville Police Chief Timothy Longo said. Authorities are offering a $100,000 reward for information leading to the safe return of Graham. Her parents attended a candlelight vigil Thursday night organized by University of Virginia students. The couple said it was "extremely moving." "We were comforted by the evident high esteem in which our cherished daughter is held by her many friends at the University of Virginia and beyond," John and Sue Graham said in a statement. "We continue to be optimistic that Hannah will soon be returned safely to us." Holding a stuffed bunny named BB, his daughter's favorite plush toy and "guardian angel," John Graham last weekend pleaded for someone to come forward with information on his daughter, who he said loved helping people. The couple hasn't given up hope. "They are hurt," Longo said. "They are concerned. They are frustrated. But not for one second have I discerned that they have ever lost hope they will find their daughter." What will happen to Matthew? Matthew is accused of abduction with the intent to defile in the Graham case. Matthew's father spoke publicly for the first time Thursday. He said his son would not have harmed Graham. "For a big man, he's as gentle as they come," Jesse Matthew Sr. told CNN affiliate WTVR. "The only thing I could see, him, maybe trying to give the girl a ride or help her out. "To kill or hurt somebody, that's not my son." Matthew also was questioned in connection with an alleged sexual assault nearly 12 years ago, authorities said Thursday. But no charges were filed because the woman didn't want to go forward with the case and investigators determined there wasn't enough evidence to arrest Matthew, said Michael Doucette, the commonwealth's attorney for Lynchburg, Virginia. According to a statement from Lynchburg police, the woman reported she was raped on the campus of Liberty University on October 17, 2002. Matthew told authorities that the woman consented, Doucette said, adding that there were no witnesses. Matthew's Virginia-based lawyer had little to say about his client when approached this week outside his Charlottesville office. "I am Mr. Matthew's attorney," James Camblos said. "I was hired on Saturday. That's the only thing that I'm going to confirm at this point. The family and I -- nobody is making any statements at this point in time. We might later on, but right now we are not." Matthew willingly went to a police station last weekend, along with several family members, walking through the front door and asking for a lawyer, Longo said. There was no warrant for his arrest at that time. Matthew and the lawyer spoke and then left, the police chief said, giving detectives no clearer picture of what may have happened the day Graham disappeared. Authorities searched Matthew's apartment and car but have declined to say what -- if anything -- was found. Where was Graham last seen? On the evening of September 12, she was seen at a party before friends saw her at an apartment complex a couple of blocks away. That was shortly before midnight, according to WVIR. About 12:45 a.m. on September 13, a surveillance camera caught her outside a pub, about three-quarters of a mile from the apartment complex. A doorman turned her away at the pub, Longo said. Ten minutes later, she was seen running past a gas station -- no one appeared to be pursuing her -- and witnesses said they saw her five minutes later roughly four blocks from the gas station, WVIR reported. She was at a restaurant in an area known as Downtown Mall, witnesses said. A surveillance camera at an Italian cafe captured her walking along the mall about 1:06 a.m. A camera at a jewelry store recorded her passing two minutes later, WVIR reported. At 1:20 a.m., she texted her friends to say she was lost and trying to find a party, WVIR reported. She and a man were seen having drinks at a bar between 1:30 and 2 a.m., WVIR reports. She may have been under the influence of alcohol, Longo said, and may have been vulnerable or unable to defend herself. Did Matthew fraternize with Graham at a Charlottesville restaurant? Brice Cunningham, owner of Tempo Restaurant and Wine Bar in Charlottesville, told CNN that he saw Matthew at his restaurant on the night of Graham's disappearance. "I did not see her," he said. "That's one of the most distressing matters for me." Authorities said at least one person saw Graham at the restaurant that night. Cunningham recalled seeing Matthew alone. He said Matthew came to Tempo twice that night. "He was having a good time," Cunningham said. "He went dancing. I thought he was just a little bit excited and happy to be there." A Tempo employee at the door, however, saw Graham outside the restaurant, Cunningham said. "Yes, walking away with him," Cunningham said of Matthew. "It would appear that they knew each other." Longo said what happened over the next 40 or so hours until Graham was reported missing is crucial. "There is this block of time," he said. "This very big, large, significant block of time between the time we know Hannah Graham disappeared and the time that disappearance was reported to us. We need to shrink that gap." Authorities say they think people who know Matthew may be helpful in the search for Graham. "If you know Jesse, and many people do because Jesse grew up here," Longo said. "He went to school here. He has family here. He went to church here. He worked here. Lots of people know Jesse." | Jesse Matthew has been sent to Virginia .
Arrest of suspect in the Hannah Graham case leaves one painful question: Where is she?
University of Virginia student was last seen on September 13 . |
91,177 | 014375e11423a1aa0cdadccd9428aa7f4496e253 | Survivors: Donna Lawrence has overcome her fear of dogs following a vicious attack by a pitbull thanks to her pet Susie . A pregnant woman who miscarried after a savage dog attack has overcome her fear with the help of a puppy who suffered abuse at the hands of its last owners. Doctors said Donna Lawrence was lucky to be alive after the vicious mauling by a pitbull left her requiring 45 stitches. With her leg ripped open to the bone, it would be another two months before she could walk after the attack in 2008. The animal lover was left with a fear of dogs and even after her physical wounds had healed she said she suffered nightmares and struggled to cope emotionally. But that all changed when she met young mutt Susie- who had a tragic tale all of her own. In August 2009, the dog survived unspeakable animal abuse when her former owners set her on fire and left for dead in Greensboro, North Carolina. She was picked up ten days later by Guilford County Animal Shelter who began treating her for third-degree burns to 60 per cent of her body, a broken jaw and missing teeth. On her blog, Donna wrote she had recognised a fellow survivor in Susie. 'You can see Susie and I shared something in common: she was a pit bull mix that had been had been tortured by a human and I was viciously attacked by a pit bull just a few months before we met. 'I forgave the dog for my wrongful attack, and Susie forgave the human for hers.' Ms Lawrence was attacked in 2008 after she tried to help a neighbor's dog that she says was underfed and left chained up outside. She began feeding the animal every morning until the fateful day the dog attacked. 'I will never forget that day,' added Ms Lawrence. 'My life flashed before my eyes as I found myself on the ground in the angry animal's jaws. He clenched my right leg between his teeth, and I knew that he could overpower and kill me. I tried with all my might but I couldn't loosen his grip.' She grappled with the pitbull and was eventually able to escape to a neighbor's house where she collapsed. Bleeding profusely from her leg and hand, she was rushed to the emergency room where she had 45 stitches. Doctors found the bites had penetrated her leg and left the bone exposed. Susie had a tragic story of her own, having been set on fire and left for dead by her former owners . Donna, who does not blame the pitbull that attacked her, said she had recognised a fellow survivor in Susie . Mrs Lawrence added: 'The doctor told me I was lucky to be alive. He said that most people either do not survive or lose a limb to attacks like this. I thanked God for saving my life.' Despite the terrifying attack, Mrs Lawrence said she did not blame the dog. 'I blame the owners who turned their dog into what it was,' she added. 'Their neglect and abuse made their dog fearful and territorial.' Understandably, Mrs Lawrence, who had been a big dog lover, was left scared and suffering nightmares from the attack until she and husband Roy decided to adopt Susie a year later. The pooch has since become a trained therapy dog who works with burn victims. Mrs Lawrence used her plight to highlight animal abuse in North Carolina and in 2010, former Governor Bev Perdue signed Susie's Law to bring in tougher penalties on animal cruelty. Their extraordinary stories were turned into a film, Susie's Hope in 2013 starring Emmanuelle Vaugier as Mrs Lawrence. Mrs Lawrence has since used Susie's story to successfully campaign for stricter penalties on animal cruelty in North Carolina . | Donna Lawrence survived a near-fatal attack by her neighbor's pit bull .
She suffered a miscarriage and needed 45 stitches after the attack .
Animal lover Donna was left terrified of dogs and had frequent nightmares .
But she said it all changed when she met dog Susie who had been abused . |
158,412 | 58d0efa827c5d2f9f34a804eaa7868bc81403092 | (CNN) -- As they contemplate military action against Syria, one of many considerations members of Congress and Obama administration officials have to weigh is how a U.S. strike against the regime of Bashar al-Assad might effect the already complicated, even poisonous, state of Sunni-Shia relations in the region. Three of the leading Sunni states, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the UAE, have already offered their military assets if a US strike happens. Last week, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said that the Shia government of Iran and close Syrian ally Russia would work in "extensive cooperation" to protect Syria. An American-led war in Syria with the military backing of some powerful Sunni states against a de facto Shia alliance of Iran, Syria, Iraq and Lebanese Hezbollah would likely greatly exacerbate the already tense relations between Sunni and Shia across the region. In Syria, a popular uprising against a repressive ruler in 2011 has morphed into what is now a largely sectarian civil war pitting the country's Sunni Muslim majority against al-Assad's minority Alawite sect, which is associated with Shia Islam. The Syrian regime is propped up with weapons and funds from Iran's Shia rulers and also benefits significantly from the support on the ground of battle-hardened fighters from Lebanese Hezbollah, an Iranian proxy. As a possible U.S. strike looms in Syria, what had hitherto been a shadowy proxy war, with Sunni countries such as Saudi Arabia quietly supporting the Syrian rebels and Iran supporting al-Assad, could now devolve into a full-blown war that is openly supported by the most powerful Sunni and Shia states. That is a real potential problem that needs to be weighed by Obama national security officials and representatives in Congress as they consider the options in Syria, because across the Muslim world from Lebanon to Pakistan, Sunnis and Shias are increasingly at each other's throats. A further intensification of the already brutal Syrian civil war might further destabilize Syria's fragile neighbors; both Lebanon and Iraq could plunge back into civil wars. Already in July, the United Nations recorded the highest death toll in Iraq since 2008, when the Iraq War was raging. In that month alone, more than 1,057 civilians and security personnel were killed. Many of those deaths were the result of bombings claimed by the Sunni terrorist group al-Qaeda in Iraq and were directed at Shia targets. A splinter organization of al-Qaeda in Iraq is now fighting in Syria and is regarded as the most effective force fighting Assad, who it deems a heretic. It's a very old story. The two dominant sects of Islam, Sunni and Shia, first split over the issue of who was the rightful successor of the Prophet Muhammad following his death in 632. The conflict between the two sects has waxed and waned over the many centuries since, but right now the Syrian conflict could exacerbate the regional split along sectarian lines that we have seen over the past few years. In 2011 the Sunni monarchy of the Gulf state of Bahrain backed by more than a thousand soldiers from Saudi Arabia put down with harsh tactics an uprising by its disadvantaged Shia majority population. The Bahrain government hinted that the uprising was an Iranian plot. The sectarian conflicts in Syria, Iraq and Bahrain have also spilled over into Lebanon and Egypt. On June 23, in Lebanon's port city of Sidon, soldiers clashed with supporters of a hardline Sunni cleric, Sheikh Ahmed al-Assir, who had spoken out vehemently against the Syrian regime as well as the Shia Lebanese militant group, Hezbollah. On the same day, four Egyptian Shia Muslims were stabbed, beaten, and dragged through the streets by members of a hardline Sunni group in the Giza neighborhood of Cairo. The intensifying sectarian tensions in Egypt were partially the fault of the recently-ousted Muslim Brotherhood government. A week before the Giza attack, for example, President Mohamed Morsi had appeared on stage with hardline clerics who called Shias "filthy." And in May, Salafist members of Egypt's parliament denounced Shias as "a danger to Egypt's national security." Beyond the Middle East, sectarian violence has also soared in South Asia over the past few years. More than 180 members of Pakistan's minority Shi'a Hazara community were killed in two massive bombings in the first two months of 2013 alone. In neighboring Afghanistan, violent attacks on Shia Muslims are less frequent, but in December 2011, two nearly simultaneous suicide bombs in Kabul and Mazar-i-Sharif killed more than 60 Shia civilians as they celebrated the annual religious festival of Ashura. We can expect sectarian tensions to continue boiling across the Muslim world, as the Syrian conflict grinds on and political and social unrest persist in many countries in the region. Al-Qaeda-affiliated groups will seek to exploit these sectarian divisions to garner support for their own violent agenda, and may well find greater room to operate because of it. Saudi Arabia and Qatar have mobilized their deep coffers to support extremist Sunni groups in the past, and will continue to do so as long as it means they are able to counterbalance Iran and its support for Shia regimes and militant groups. All of these factors must be weighed as the United States weighs military action. They are not an argument for doing nothing in the face of al-Assad's large-scale use of chemical weapons but they are a reason to heed Machiavelli's warning "Wars begin when you will, but they do not end when you please." | Peter Bergen: Complicating the Syria picture is regionwide sectarian strife .
He says the historic Sunni-Shia split is a key dynamic and U.S. strike could worsen conflict .
Iraq's death toll from sectarian struggles has been increasing .
Bergen: Al Qaeda-affiliated groups will seek to take advantage . |
115,895 | 21978bb5d8b8791b4f9ba235bf7504260fbb2cbd | Suzuki has been forced to recall more than 19,000 mid-size cars in the U.S. after discovering spiders attracted to its gasoline vapours are weaving webs and blocking up the exhausts. The automaker issued the recall of their 2010 to 2013 Kizashi models after fears the webs could cause the gas tank to deform leading to a possible fire. It is thought that the spiders, although it is unknown which type, are drawn in by the gasoline vapours and once inside the exhaust begin to weave webs. The Sukuzi Kizashi, which has been recalled after spiders have been founded to weave webs in the exhaust which could cause a fire . This cuts off the air flow causing negative pressure in the gas tank which can lead to fuel leaks and even fire. The recall was prompted by seven reports of the problem, although according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there have been no accidents or injuries in the U.S. due to the fault. Owners with affected cars will be notified this month and service centres will replace the vent line with one that is fitted with a filter to keep the spiders out and replace the gas tank if necessary. It is the second time a car manufacturer has been forced to recall vehicles due to problems with spiders. In April, Mazda recalled 42,000 Mazda 6 midsize cars in America with 2.5 litre engines due to a similar problem. It affected cars made from 2010 to 2012 after it was found yellow sac spiders, which are attracted to hydrocarbons, builds webs that cause pressure to build in the fuel tank. Owners with affected cars will be notified this month and service centres will replace the vent line with one that is fitted with a filter to keep the spiders out . The Kizashi was one of Suzuki's best selling models in the United States before they pulled out of the market last year after three years. It came after the American Sukuzi Motor Corp filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in November 2012. Last month they also recalled nearly 26,000 midsize cars, including the 2004 to 2006 Verona, Forenza and Reno models in the U.S. because the daytime running light modules were at risk of overheating and causing a fire. | More than 19,000 2010 to 2013 Kizashi models have been affected by recall .
Prompted by discovery that spiders are attracted by the gasoline vapours .
They then weave webs which are blocking up the exhaust cutting off air flow .
Fears that this could lead to fuel leaks and even a fire in the gas tank .
Comes as Mazda also recalled 42,000 cars in April due to a similar problem . |
44,613 | 7dbdbee43378a643f9beaf99aee1b4860a2949ef | Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho was the first to endorse Portuguese compatriot Luis Figo’s highly unlikely bid for the FIFA presidency. However, that support was not enough to stop Chelsea from cancelling a press conference at Stamford Bridge where Figo was due to launch his election manifesto. Instead the event took place at Wembley on Thursday. The Paris Metro racism row involving Chelsea fans would have put paid to Figo’s appearance there in any case, because racism questions would have overshadowed the event. But it emerged on Thursday that Chelsea called off Figo’s launch ahead of the Metro incident because the club wanted to stay apolitical and felt it ‘inappropriate’ to host a challenger to Sepp Blatter. Luis Figo launched his FIFA presidential manifesto at Wembley Stadium, and spoke about the World Cup . Figo speaks to the assembled press in front of a message explaining his plan to 'give back' to football . Chelsea weren’t aware when the booking was first made that it involved publicising Figo’s manifesto — and action was taken immediately it became clear what would be happening. The decision was made at communications department level, according to Chelsea. And it can only be speculation as to whether owner Roman Abramovich would have wanted Figo using his club, with Russia the next hosts of the World Cup organised by Blatter-led FIFA. Meanwhile, Figo’s manifesto was full of varied proposals from redistributing more money to grassroots football to a 48-country World Cup. But he still came across as a pawn in UEFA’s multi-ball attack on Blatter rather than a genuine contender. However, at least he could reel off FIFA executive names in answer to the inevitable question about how many he knew. Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho was the first to endorse Figo’s highly unlikely bid for the FIFA presidency . The ECB’s restructuring, which neither new CEO Tom Harrison nor chairman-elect Colin Graves have explained, includes the ruling body’s best known figure Mike Gatting being axed from his role as managing director of cricket partnerships. Former England captain Gatting has been reduced to a 50-days-per-year ambassadorial role, which might explain his silence over such shabby treatment. The ECB are already advertising for Gatting’s replacement to be called director of participation and growth. Ex-England captain Mike Gatting has been axed from his role as managing director of cricket partnerships . Sky Sports, who have already broken the bank for their £4.2billion spend on Premier League football, have pledged another £88m to the Football League to extend their deal for another season in 2018-19. The FL have also settled a solidarity deal with the PL that could see Championship clubs getting £4m a season from the redistribution. The Olympic Stadium renovation is going well enough for UK Athletics to be confident of staging a two-day Diamond League meeting there — plus a third day for Paralympics — in July. The Olympic Stadium is lit up by fireworks during the opening ceremony of the 2012 Paralympic Games . Leeds in legal battles . Leeds, pantomime club for all seasons, are still unravelling dysfunctional governance from before Ken Bates sold up in 2012. Former director Melvyn Levi’s wife Carole had her harassment case against Bates upheld at the Court of Appeal before three judges. Levi had won his harassment case — his wife initially lost — against Bates three years ago. It followed Bates using Leeds’ in-house Yorkshire Radio station to broadcast appeals for Levi’s whereabouts and using the matchday programme to suggest Levi’s marriage was in trouble. Levi is now consulting lawyers on whether to pursue former Leeds chief executive Shaun Harvey, now Football League CEO, on the same charge. Levi alleges Harvey was involved in organising the radio broadcasts. Harvey made no comment. Next week’s International FA Board summit in Belfast will see FIFA president Sepp Blatter collide with the FA’s Greg Dyke and David Gill, who were both vocal at last year’s FIFA Congress about the need for a new leader of FIFA. But Northern Ireland FA president Jim Shaw, hosting the meeting, said: ‘I’m sure all IFAB delegates will concentrate on the rules agenda rather than any other business.’ Greg Dyke is set to clash with FIFA president Sepp Blatter at next week’s International FA Board summit . The most likely outbreak of hostilities in the FIFA presidential election is between the spin doctors. FIFA have expressed concern about PR company Vero working for two candidates, Luis Figo and Prince Ali Bin Al-Hussein, which no regulation prevents. But FIFA’s in-house PR team will breach election rules if they promote Blatter’s bid for a fifth term — which they are in danger of doing until Blatter forms an independent campaign team. | Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho was the first to endorse Luis Figo’s highly unlikely bid for the FIFA presidency .
Figo was due to launch his election manifesto at Stamford Bridge .
Chelsea cancelled the press conference, however, with the event taking place at Wembley Stadium instead .
The ECB have axed Mike Gatting from his role as managing director of cricket partnerships .
Sky Sports have pledged £88m to the Football League to extend their deal for another season in 2018-19 .
Next week’s International FA Board summit in Belfast will see FIFA president Sepp Blatter collide with the FA’s Greg Dyke and David Gill . |
156,809 | 56c1519d303dd81d63be5bb3bb44fe78268be776 | (CNN) -- A strong earthquake struck off the south coast of Japan on Sunday night local time, "jolting Tokyo and wide areas of eastern Japan," the country's Kyodo news agency reported. The 7.1 earthquake hit 200 miles (320 kilometers) south-southwest of Tokyo at 7:55 p.m. (6:55 a.m. ET), the United States Geological Survey reported. Its epicenter was 188 miles (303 kilometers) deep, the USGS said. The Japan Meteorological Agency reported its magnitude as 6.9, Kyodo said. There were no immediate reports of damage, and the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center did not issue a tsunami warning. | Tremor hits south of island, "jolting Tokyo," Kyodo news agency reported .
United States Geological Survey measures quake as 7.1 magnitude .
Pacific Tsunami Warning Center did not issue a tsunami alert . |
84,286 | ef12bf598469a7cdab254d24ce383eb0021ff9e4 | By . Mark Prigg . Microsoft's new boss Satya Nadella has revealed the firm has brought its Office software to the iPad for the first time. Office for the iPad, a software suite that includes programs such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint, and works on rival Apple Inc.'s hugely popular tablet computer. The app will allow reading and presenting of documents for free, but will require a subscription to Office365 to enable writing and editing and was made available soon after the speech ended. Scroll Down for Video . Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella speaks at a Microsoft event in San Francisco, to launch Office for the iPad . Microsoft is bringing its Office software to the iPad for the first time . The app will allow reading and presenting of documents for free, but will require a subscription to Office365 to enable writing and editing. A subscription for up to five computers and five smartphones costs $100 a year, but a personal version for one computer and one tablet costs $70 a year. The subscription includes 20 gigabytes of storage space on OneDrive. The app was to be made available for download on Thursday in the App Store at 11 a.m. Pacific time. Apple CEO Tim Cook tweeted his congratulations to the team, saying 'Welcome to the #iPad and @AppStore! @satyanadella and Office for iPad' Office for the iPad corrects layout problems that users experienced when accessing files they had saved on Microsoft's cloud storage service, OneDrive. The app has touch-enabled features that allow users to drag photos around Word documents and grab elements like pie charts in Excel. The app will allow reading and presenting of documents for free, but will require a subscription to Office365 to enable writing and editing. A subscription for up to five computers and five smartphones costs $100 a year, but a personal version for one computer and one tablet costs $70 a year. The subscription includes 20 gigabytes of storage space on OneDrive. The Redmond, Wash.-based software giant unveiled the app at an event in San Francisco where Satya Nadella addressed reporters on his 52nd day as Microsoft Corp.'s chief executive. 'This, in a sense, is a cloud for every person and every mobile device,' Nadella said. Excel on the iPad: Reading and presenting documents will be free on the new Office app . Word in also coming tot he iPad for the time. Users can sync files via Microsoft's cloud service . He built on comments he has made previously that Microsoft will develop key software for mobile devices regardless of whether they run on Apple's iOS, Google's Android or Microsoft's Windows operating system. Thursday's announcement follows Microsoft's move earlier this month to release a version of its OneNote note-taking software for Macs. 'There's no tradeoff,' Nadella said. 'What motivates us is the realities of our customers.' Daniel Ives, an analyst with FBR Capital Markets, said the move to develop key software products for Apple devices is a "great first step."Microsoft had previously resisted introducing Office for the iPad, preferring to leverage the software suite as a key selling point of Windows 8 tablets and its own line of Surface tablet computers. But those tablets have struggled in the marketplace."They finally looked in the mirror and realized they needed to go with the crowd in terms of iPads," Ives said. "I think it signals there is change in Redmond, even if they picked an insider." | Office app will allow reading and presenting of documents for free .
Will require subscription to edit documents .
Move welcomed by Apple boss Tim Cook .
New app available today . |
160,707 | 5bc1492d53999393a9c057730d66fff8057dc414 | A Spanish court will push ahead with the process of prosecuting Argentina and Barcelona forward Lionel Messi for alleged tax evasion despite a recommendation from the public prosecutor the charges be dismissed. The prosecutor argued in June that Messi’s father Jorge was responsible for the family’s finances and not the four-times World Player of the Year. However, the court in Barcelona has decided that Lionel Messi could have known about and approved the creation of a web of shell companies that were allegedly used to evade taxes due on income from image rights. VIDEO Scroll down to see Messi in outstanding form for Argentina . Not over yet: Argentina forward Lionel Messi could still be prosecuted for allegedly evading tax on image rights . Trouble ahead? A Spanish court are preparing to continue proceedings against the Barcelona star . The judge in the case ruled that the case against both Messis should continue, according to a statement published on Monday. Messi and his father were accused last year of defrauding the Spanish state of more than £3million by filing false returns for the years 2006 to 2009. They have denied wrongdoing. One of the world’s highest-paid athletes, Messi earns just over £31million a season in salary and bonuses, according to Forbes magazine, as well as about £18million from sponsors. The magazine has him as the fourth top-earning athlete behind boxer Floyd Mayweather, Real Madrid footballer Cristiano Ronaldo and basketball player LeBron James. Relaxed: Messi smiles after arriving at court in Gava to face tax evasion charges in September last year . Responsible: The court heard in June that Messi's father Jorge was in charge of his son's finances . VIDEO Messi in outstanding form for Argentina . | A Spanish court are continuing the process of prosecuting Messi .
It is alleged the Barcelona forward purposely evaded tax .
A prosecutor argued that Messi's father Jorge was responsible .
But the court believe the Argentina star could have been involved .
Web shell companies were created to allegedly avoid tax on image rights . |
138,101 | 3e9d3a0ec74d93a56d542f1ff0336c567e0a1cd4 | The US Army confirmed Monday that Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl is returning to active duty just four weeks on from his return to the United States after five years as a Taliban captive - and will be working behind a desk. In a phone interview with MailOnline, Col. Scott Bleichwell said 'It's an office job within the headquarters - just general office work.' Bleichwehl explained that Bergdahl will also have a sponsor, which he described as 'a person who's designated, not only for him, but for every soldier in Army North [...] and assists with assimilating into the unit.' The sponsor helps with 'very basic administrative functions,' Bleichwehl said, which include '[helping become] a part of the unit, processing records, becoming familiar with the day to day schedule.' 'We're always there for every soldier,' he said. Bergdahl may also receive $350,000 from the US government without paying taxes: $200,000 would be for wages earned during his captivity and $150,000 if he in fact was a prisoner of war, according to Fox News. Return to duty: This is Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl six weeks ago at his handover by the Taliban to US forces. The US Army said Monday he will return to active duty . Responding to that report, Army spokeswoman Lt. Col. Alayne Conway told MailOnline 'The Army's determination of Sgt. Bergdahl's eligibility for pay and benefits will be in accordance with the appropriate laws, regulations and policies. Pay is always linked to duty status.' In a statement, the Army said that the soldier 'has completed the final phase of the reintegration process under the control of U.S. Army South and is currently being assigned to U.S. Army North, Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston (JBSA).' 'He will now return to regular duty within the command where he can contribute to the mission. The Army investigation into the facts and circumstances surrounding the disappearance and capture of Bergdahl is still ongoing.' According to the New York Times, Bergdahl was in therapy at Fort Sam Houston. Since his return from Afghanistan, Sgt. Bergdahl has been involved in debriefings with his superiors, the newspaper said. Just last week, a photo of Bergdahl, . smiling and posing with a former senior Taliban official in Afghanistan . was posted on Twitter. This photo of Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, smiling and posing with Taliban Commander Badruddin Haqqani, a senior member of the Haqqani network in Afghanistan, was posted on Twitter on Wednesday . The . Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) confirmed Bergdahl was photographed next to Taliban Commander Badruddin Haqqani. The son of Jalaluddin Haqqani, he reportedly worked in the Haqqani organization and . was killed in a U.S. drone strike in August 2012, CNN said at the time. Former POW Bergdahl was controversially released by the Taliban in May in exchange for five Guantanamo Bay detainees. Soldiers who served with Bergdahl before he . left his post in Afghanistan in 2009 told Fox News they have still not been . contacted by military investigators. Questions: A new investigation has been launched to determine whether Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, pictured, deserted his post or went AWOL when he was reported missing in Afghanistan in 2009 . Left out: Former platoon leader and Army Sgt. Evan Buetow, pictured in a previous Fox interview, said he believes the investigators have already made up their mind about what happened . 'I think it's very clear he . deserted his post,' Army Sgt. Evan Buetow told FoxNews.com. 'He thought about what he . was doing, he mailed some things home, he walked away and we have . witnesses who saw him walking away. 'And if you’re walking away in one of . the worst, most dangerous areas of Afghanistan without your weapon and . gear, I don’t believe you’re planning on coming back.' Former Army Sgt. Evan Buetow . Of the investigation, Buetow added: 'They've already concluded what they want to be said. They know exactly what happened.' Former . Army Sgt. Matt Vierkant also told Fox News 'I . have confidence that they're going to do what’s right,' Vierkant said. 'I just feel this should've happened a long time ago and it should've . been public.' Both Buetow and Vierkant told Fox they believe Bergdahl deserted his unit. Speaking out: Former Army Sgt. Matt Vierkant, pictured in a previous interview on CNN, also said he had not been contacted by Army officials and believes that Bergdahl deserted the unit . | Sgt. Bergdahl will resume his military duties at Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio .
Bergdahl will have 'an office job within the headquarters,' Col. Scott Bleichwehl said .
He will also have sponsor to help with assimilating .
Bergdahl may also receive $350,000 from the US government without paying taxes .
$200,000 worth of that money would be from wages earned during his captivity and $150,000 if he is found to have been a prisoner of war .
Bergdahl will continue to attend debriefing sessions with his superiors .
Comes days after photo of Bergdahl posing with Taliban official posted to Twitter .
Bergdahl posed with Badruddin Haqqani, who died in a drone strike in 2012 . |
191,151 | 838bb690a4550a2a4887d978653b74eb06ed8df6 | By . Freya Noble for Daily Mail Australia . In an interview just before his death, late NRL footballer Ryan Tandy revealed that when players were forced to give urine samples to test for drugs during his time in the game they would often get team mates who were clean to take the tests for them. In an excerpt from a book about one of the game's most controversial figures, published in The Daily Telegraph, Tandy made allegations about the process of in-house testing. Before his sudden death in April this year, the former NRL player told of the culture of drug taking in the game and the relaxed way drug tests were undertaken before their overhaul this year. Late NRL player Ryan Tandy made explosive claims about drug testing in the game shortly before his death . 'For in-house tests, we were just given the cup at the start of training and expected to hand it back at the end of the day,' Tandy said. This meant anyone could provide the sample. In the book the details of his personal struggle with drug use but also the notorious match-fixing scandal he was involved in will be revealed . He said asking a fellow player to takes the test on your behalf was a common occurrence within the teams and he admitted to getting mates to do it for him many times. The former player also revealed that at one club the players stole testing kits to check if there was anything in their systems before they were asked to take a test by the club. Tandy was a self-confessed drug user, and spoke about his recreational substance use, but the book - The Penalty - will also tell of the infamous match-fixing of the Bulldogs-Cowboys game back in 2010 which led to him being banned for life from the NRL. Following the 32-year-old's death from a suspected prescription drug overdose there was uncertainty over whether the book would go ahead, and in what is believed to be the late player's last interview he reflected on how the book affected him emotionally. In the epilogue Tandy revealed he was appalled when the tell-all was finished and he looked back at all the things he had done wrong in his life. 'I barely left the house for a week after I finished it the first time. I experienced so many emotions. There was shame. There was sadness. There was humiliation. I wondered what my family and friends would think,' the introduction reads, according to the Daily Telegraph. The 32-year-old died in April of this year in his parents house from a suspected drug overdose . The disgraced player spent time at many different NRL clubs including North Sydney, St George Illawarra, Melbourne Storm, South Sydney Rabbitohs and Wests Tigers before he was sacked from the Bulldogs in 2011. Tandy was found dead at his parents' house in Saratoga, New South Wales in April of a suspected drug overdose. The former journeyman front-rower had been living at his parents' apartment as part of his bail conditions after he was charged with allegedly kidnapping a man on January 16. | Ryan Tandy claimed drug testing in the NRL was not policed .
In his last ever interview said he often got teammates to take tests for him .
Told of how appalled he was the first time he read the book, The Penalty . |
219,856 | a89447d4b3cd7540d0f02f8914316adf79eb22ee | (CNN) -- U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said Monday that North Korea must stop "bucking the trend of history and common sense" in continuing with its nuclear program and that any unilateral action by the North "carries too great a cost" for the world to allow it. Kerry spoke at the end of a three-day trip that focused on securing fresh commitments from South Korea, China and Japan for denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula and getting Pyongyang back to the negotiating table. "The United States remains open to authentic and credible negotiations on denuclearization, but the burden is on Pyongyang," Kerry said in Tokyo. "Korea must take meaningful steps to show it will honor commitments it has already made" and the norms of international law. Last month, North Korea scrapped the 1953 truce that effectively ended the Korean war and said it was nullifying the joint declaration on the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. It also recently pledged to restart its Yongbyon nuclear complex, including a uranium enrichment plant and a reactor that was shut down under an agreement reached in October 2007 during talks with North Korea, the United States, and four other countries. "The world does not need more potential for war, so we will stand together. And we welcome China's strong commitment ... to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula," Kerry said. Kerry: A nuclear North Korea is unacceptable . "The stakes are far too high and the global economy is far too fragile for anyone to allow these inherited problems to divide the region and inflame it." A U.S. State Department official said Monday there are no plans to move toward direct talks, however, "because North Korea has shown no willingness to move in a positive direction." Pyongyang on Sunday rejected a different proposal for dialogue, one by South Korea last week regarding the North's suspension of activity at the manufacturing zone that the two countries jointly operate. A statement via KCNA, the state-run news agency, called the South's offer a "crafty trick" and "empty words without any content." A KCNA commentary Monday was titled, "U.S. is to blame for escalating tension on Korean Peninsula." Kerry's trip finishes on one of the biggest dates on the North Korean calendar: "The Day of the Sun," when citizens celebrate the birthday of the country's late founder and "eternal president," Kim Il Sung. This year marks his 101st birthday. Current leader Kim Jong Un paid tribute Monday to Kim Il Sung, his grandfather, as well as his late father, Kim Jong Il, visiting the halls where both men lie in state. It was believed to be Kim's first public appearance in two weeks. Amid the pageantry, patriotism and festive images being played on North Korean state television Monday, many around the world wonder whether this will also be the day North Korea decides to launch a missile, perhaps in a show of bravado after weeks of nuclear threats. Some scholars say a launch is still possible, if not Monday, then in the coming days. CNN Correspondent Kyung Lah reports from Seoul that because April 15 is the founder's birthday, North Korea would not conduct a missile launch then with the possibility of failure hanging over them. North Korean missile: Should U.S. shoot it down? Pyongyang made good on its promise to launch a long-range rocket around the time of Kim Il Sung's birthday last year; the rocket broke apart after launch and fell into the sea. North Korea has made more threats since then. It launched a rocket in December that apparently put a satellite into orbit, and in response, the U.N. Security council approved broadening sanctions against the country. Angered by those sanctions, Pyongyang announced in January it was planning a new nuclear test and more long-range rocket launches as part what it called a new phase of confrontation with the United States. It carried out an underground nuclear bomb test in February, and last month, Pyongyang threatened for the first time to launch a pre-emptive nuclear strike against the United States and South Korea. The North also threatened to attack U.S. and South Korean bases. The North Korea we rarely see . CNN's Jill Dougherty contributed to this report. | John Kerry says unilateral action by North Korea would be too costly .
He says North Korea must honor the commitments it has made .
He spoke at the end of a three-day trip focused on denuclearization .
Monday is a major holiday in North Korea . |
138,356 | 3ef0f19657c77181ee16231329f7d778aae9fe1d | When Catherine Howarth was handed her newborn baby, she had something of a surprise. Because while she is black with Nigerian heritage, her infant son was completely white. And even though her husband Richard, 34, a medical recruitment consultant, is white, she believed they’d been given the wrong child. Scroll down for video . Mrs Howarth, a 32-year-old financial analyst from Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, said: ‘When Jonah was handed to me I immediately fell in love with him' In fact, three-month old Jonah is the startling result of a one-in-a-million combination of his parents’ genes. And now his looks are expected to take the baby modelling world by storm after his stunning blue eyes and creamy complexion saw him signed up by five of the country’s leading agencies. He has already appeared in several photoshoots. Jonah is the startling result of a one-in-a-million combination of his parents’ genes . Last night Mrs Howarth, a 32-year-old financial analyst from Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, said: ‘When Jonah was handed to me I immediately fell in love with him. ‘I did note he was pale but thought that was because the umbilical cord was wrapped around his neck when he was born. But a few hours later he was still really white with blue eyes. I even wondered if we’d been handed the right baby.’ ‘I did note he was pale but thought that was because the umbilical cord was wrapped around his neck when he was born. But a few hours later he was still really white with blue eyes,' said Mrs Howarth . Doctors confirmed that Jonah is not an albino, and his mother added: ‘Everyone on my side of the family going back generations have all been black. But doctors say that I must carry a recessive gene for white skin colouring.’ Top agent Charlotte Evans, who owns the Elisabeth Smith agency, said: ‘Jonah has a lovely shaped face and a beautiful complexion. He’s also very photogenic.’ Proud parents: Richard and Catherine Howarth with their three-month-old son Jonah . | Jonah is white - his mother Catherine Howarth is Nigerian black but has a recessive white gene .
When Mrs Howarth of Milton Keynes was handed Jonah she thought the hospital had made a mistake .
Jonah has already been signed up by five top modelling agencies .
Doctors have confirmed that three-month-old Jonah is not an albino . |
104,741 | 1321571503d228046ce62e59050ccce533264d1e | From silvery sardine skins to colourful peacock feathers, nature is full of surfaces that dazzle brighter than anything humans can create. Now British researchers have revealed that there is a 'universal explanation' behind the amazing colours in the natural world. They claim that the same microscopic layers of crystals are responsible for the reflective scales of fish as they are for iridescent colours on butterfly wings. Scientists at Bristol Univesrity claim that the same microscopic layers of crystals are responsible for the reflective scales of fish as they are for iridescent colours on butterfly wings . According to a report by Victoria Gill in the BBC, the world's creatures have evolved tiny structures that make use of light better than man-made structure. Researchers at Bristol University claim that the process in nature could be copied by humans to create, for instance, LEDs that are more efficient. 'What's important is that the crystals have a range of different thicknesses,' Dr Tom Jordan, a member of the research team, told the BBC. Varying levels of these nanoscale crystals can be found in creatures such as beetles, butterflies and sardines, all of which produce an effect known as Anderson localisation. Varying levels of these nanoscale crystals can be found in creatures such as beetles, butterflies and sardines, all of which produce an effect known as Anderson localisation. Pictured is a leaf beetle . This refers to a physical phenomenon in which light waves are prevented from passing straight through a material . In 1958, Philip Anderson published an article in which he discussed the behaviour of electrons in a dirty crystal. He claimed light cannot spread in a straight line in a cloudy medium because the many layers of crystal divert the light as defects. If the disorder - the concentration of defects - exceeds a certain level, the waves are no longer able to spread in a cloudy medium at all. Varying levels of these nanoscale crystals can be found in creatures such as beetles, butterflies and sardines, all of which produce an effect known as Anderson localisation. As the light goes in and meets these changes in the different layers, the multiple waves all interfere with each other. The light moves around inside the layers and is reflected back out, producing a colourful metallic effect. 'As the light [wave] goes in and meets these changes in the different layers, the multiple waves all interfere with each other,' lead scientist on the study, Dr Nicholas Roberts told the BBC. The light moves around inside the layers and is reflected back out, producing a colourful metallic effect. In an earlier study on this same topic, Dr Roberts said fish may have evolved this multilayer structure to help conceal them from predators. 'These fish have found a way to maximise their reflectivity over all angles they are viewed from,' he said. 'This helps the fish best match the light environment of the open ocean, making them less likely to be seen.' As a result of this ability, the skin of silvery fish or the colours in a peacock feather could hold the key to better optical devices. Many modern day optical devices such as LED lights and low loss optical fibres use these non-polarising types of reflectors to improve efficiency, explained Dr Jordan. 'However, these man-made reflectors currently require the use of materials with specific optical properties that are not always ideal,' he added. The mechanism that has evolved in fish overcomes this current design limitation and provides a new way to manufacture energy efficient lights. Silvery sardine (right) skins and colourful peacock features (left) could help engineers develop better LEDs . | Tiny crystal layers create iridescent surfaces in fish, butterflies and beetles .
These nanoscale layers produce an effect known as Anderson localisation .
This is when light waves are prevented from passing straight in a material .
The process in nature can be copied to create LEDs that are more efficient . |
275,989 | f18f929339d5ab26ce8e26e716da4ad095474768 | New York (CNN) -- A grand jury is expected to announce this week whether a New York City police officer will face criminal charges in the alleged chokehold death of a New York man, according to people familiar with the investigation. Eric Garner, a father of six, died after NYPD officers confronted him on Staten Island for allegedly selling cigarettes illegally. A video of the July 17 encounter shows NYPD Officer Daniel Pantaleo grabbing the 350-pound man in a chokehold and pulling him onto a sidewalk. During his apprehension, Garner, 43, is heard repeatedly telling the officers that he could not breathe. The New York City Police Department prohibits the chokehold tactic. The New York City Medical Examiner's office later ruled Garner's death a homicide. The cause of death was "compression of neck (chokehold), compression of chest and prone positioning during physical restraint by police." After the incident, Pantaleo was put on modified assignment and stripped of his badge and gun while the investigation was under way. More protests? The case, which sparked anti-police demonstrations across the city, was brought to a grand jury in September, according to Richmond County District Attorney Daniel Donovan. On Monday, Staten Island officials met with New York City Police Commissioner William Bratton to discuss the impending decision and the borough's preparedness for reaction to it. An attorney for Pantaleo told CNN his client testified for approximately two hours on November 21 in front of the grand jury. "He was gratified to tell his story, he was relieved," Stuart London told CNN Saturday. London believes his client was the last to testify in front of the grand jury, which may signal that the panel may be nearing a decision. "He was anxious and anxiety-filled prior to that," London said. "He is cautiously optimistic, and knows that his fate is in their hands now." The medical examiner also listed acute and chronic bronchial asthma, obesity and hypertensive cardiovascular disease as contributing factors in Garner's death. After chokehold death, NYPD to train officers on proper use of force . Decision comes after Ferguson protests . If the decision is announced soon, it would come just a little over a week after a grand jury in St. Louis County decided not to indict Ferguson, Missouri, police officer Darren Wilson in the August shooting death of unarmed African-American teen Michael Brown. Bratton announced in September that all NYPD officers will undergo a three-day retraining period on the proper use of force when engaging a suspect. "It was evident to me and Mayor (Bill) de Blasio... that there was a need for a fundamental shift in the culture of the department, from an overarching focus on police activity... to an emphasis on collaborative problem-solving with the community," Bratton said before the City Council's Committee for Public Safety. Previous legal issues . Two lawsuits have previously been filed against Pantaleo. The plaintiffs in both suits allege false arrest, unlawful imprisonment, civil rights violations and other charges. One suit from 2013 was dismissed in January 2014, while the second, from February 2014, remains open. Garner had a lengthy criminal history, including more than 30 arrests, and had been arrested for selling untaxed cigarettes in May, police said. CNN's Leigh Remizowski contributed to this report. | Eric Garner died in a confrontation with New York police July 17 .
The medical examiner ruled that the death of Garner, 43, was a homicide .
The incident sparked protests in New York City . |
232,316 | b8d12695f27c3bd5e930db166c598fa39cb9849b | By . Leon Watson . This amazing video shows how a teenager has taken basketball trick shots to new heights. Kevin Libertowski shot to stardom after his first YouTube video - The world's best trampoline trickshot - went viral last year, attracting more than 220,000 views. The 17-year-old has spent years perfecting his unbelievable repertoire of basketball trick shots in his back garden at home in Cleveland, Ohio. Scroll down for video . Amazing: Kevin Libertowski shot to stardom after his first YouTube video went viral last year . Slam dunk: The 17-year-old has spent years perfecting his unbelievable repertoire of basketball trick shots in his back garden at home in Cleveland, Ohio . Kevin's has shown off his skills online, including difficult long distance shots, making tricky shots from a back or front flip and hitting the target from a trampoline. High school student Kevin said: 'I started developing my acrobatic skills by teaching myself a variety of flips and moves on the trampoline. 'Then once I had mastered that trick, I'd do them on the ground. 'After doing thousands of flips, it was quite easy to start incorporating basketball shots into them. 'My first video got hundreds of thousands of views, so I decided to make more videos of other shots just like it.' Kevin has uploaded the impressive trick shot videos to his KDP Productions Youtube page and Vine account where he has started to build a growing fan base. Kevin has shown off his skills online, including difficult long distance shots, making tricky shots from a back or front flip and hitting the target from a trampoline . No way! Kevin tries a back flip shot in his garden in Cleveland . Surely not! Kevin tries a back flip three-pointer as his friend watches on . He added: 'I often get asked how long . it takes to make the shots. On average each video of a flip trick shot . takes a couple of days to make. 'First I have to come up with the idea, then make sure it is actually possible to do. 'Then . I have to practice the flip enough so that I actually feel comfortable . doing it with a ball in my hands or feet and feel confident enough to . make the shot. 'Then we have . to film it which can take anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours . depending on how the shot goes. On average around an hour in a half to . make the trickiest shots.' Kevin cartwheels towards the ball before he grabs hold of it . Just at the right moment Kevin releases the ball while he's in mid-air . The ball nestles in the basket and Kevin has scored . | Kevin Libertowski shot to stardom after his first YouTube video .
17-year-old from Ohio spent years perfecting shots in his garden . |
102,957 | 10b2e221d3383e8c9d20ca5bdd78b412e9d3dea5 | (CNN) -- I've written quite a bit about medical myths, so I'm always a bit skeptical about medical "knowledge." But one thing I, and I'm sure many of you, think we understand is obesity. After all, weight issues crop up in media constantly. Just last night, Gov. Chris Christie was joking about donuts and his weight on The Late Show with David Letterman, and the First Lady's weight is once again a subject of discussion in the Washington Post--even though by any objective standard she's in great shape. We know how people gain weight, and we think we know how to lose it. Except a study in this week's New England Journal of Medicine shows us that's just not right. Pretty much everything we "know" about obesity and weight loss is wrong. Let's start with some things that are true. More than a third of Americans are obese. Many more are overweight. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that obesity-related medical costs were almost $150 billion in 2008, and the cost in health related expensed for an average person who was obese was more than $1,400. This doesn't count the physical, mental or quality-of-life toll that obesity can levy on a person. Few of us dispute that we need to do something about this problem. There are plenty of experts (present company included) who will tell you what needs to be done. The sad truth, though, is that lots of that advice (even mine) turns out to be mistaken. I know I've told people that making small, sustained lifestyle changes is the best way to lose weight over time. But it turns out that making such changes, say by deciding to walk a mile every day for five years, results in far less weight loss than you'd expect. Coca-Cola weighs in on obesity fight . I've lectured people about the importance of physical education in schools, and I've seen countless reports declaring that the decrease in PE nationwide is one of the reasons that more children are obese or overweight today. It turns out that studies don't show that's the case. My family loves watching "The Biggest Loser." But I've found myself telling my kids again and again that what's shown on TV isn't the best way to lose weight. I tell them that slow and steady works better in the long-run than rapid weight loss. I also tell them that setting unrealistic weight goals can actually sabotage your efforts. So imagine my shock to discover that what evidence exists in this new study hints towards ambitious goals being a good thing, and that quicker weight loss isn't less likely to be kept off in the long-term. People will say eating breakfast is a good idea when you're trying to lose weight, because it will keep you from binging later. But studies show that there's no protective effect from eating breakfast at all. People will say that eating more fruits and vegetables is a great way to lose weight. But studies show that, on their own, eating more of them without making other behavioral changes doesn't result in any weight loss. There's no magic to fruits and vegetables. Eatocracy: Chefs with Issues: Farm-to-table should still be on the table . People will say that snacking in between meals can lead to weight gain. But studies don't show that to be the case either. In general, people compensate for snacking throughout the rest of the day. In other words, it's not necessarily bad to snack outside of usual meal times. It's all enough to cause one to despair. But just because so much of what we believe is wrong doesn't mean we still can't do something about the issue. Studies do show that you can absolutely overcome genetic and familial factors to lose weight. They show that significant physical activity can help with weight loss, and that it has the added bonus of making you healthier in general. Reducing your caloric intake works overall, especially if it's done in a way to change your overall eating habits. Getting the whole family involved is important. And finally, for some, bariatric surgery can result in life-changing outcomes. Over the past five years, my wife and I have lost quite a bit of weight. I'm down somewhere between 15% to 20% of my high of more than 200 pounds. My wife lost even more, although I'm not going to give you any numbers (I like being married). Now that I look back, if I'm going to be honest about it, I did it in bursts over a few months here and there, each time gaining back less than I had lost. 7 weight loss myths (sort of) debunked . Each time, I had ambitious goals of 15 pounds or more in two to three months, and each time I really restricted my caloric intake. But I've kept the weight off by radically changing my overall eating habits. My breakfast consists of just coffee, I eat very light lunches, such as salads, and dinner is usually a healthy home-cooked meal with the family. My wife cooks way more than she used to and is obsessed with finding ways to make meals healthier. I avoid fried foods almost entirely, and I can't remember the last time I ate in a fast food restaurant. I also get to the gym two to three times each week. I don't tell you this because I think this is what you should do, or because I think it's the key to getting thinner. I tell you this because more and more, I think that the journey to sustained weight loss is a very personal and individual path. Perhaps our problem is we're trying to find a one-size-fits-all solution. I'm not sure that exists. Lastly, what was left out of this new scientific paper was prevention. The single best way to fight obesity is to avoid it in the first place. That has to start when kids are young, and it's a lifelong journey. But one thing I doubt will ever be proved false is that it's much easier not to gain the weight in the first place than to take it off later. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Aaron Carroll. | Aaron Carroll: I thought I knew all about obesity; a new study challenges that .
He says obesity a big problem, but weight loss not as simple as fruits, veggies and no snacks .
Studies do show that overall, vigorous exercise and watching calories help .
Carroll: Best tool against obesity is not to get there in first place . |
101,840 | 0f3e9d465b97a34c1d45c913d7765f5a03cd7a21 | Too much, too soon? According to a group of teachers and academics, these children shouldn't be starting school until the age of six or seven and not at four or five as the system currently requires . Children should not start primary school until they are six or seven-years-old, according to a coalition of education experts who warn of the damaging pressure to perform in class at a young age. A letter written by 130 teachers, academics and authors said the UK should follow the Scandinavian model and put off formal lessons for two years. Under the UK’s current system, children start full-time schooling at the age of four or five. Experts say this is causing ‘profound damage’ in a generation which is not encouraged to learn through play. But the call was last night dismissed by as ‘misguided’ by a spokesman for the Education Secretary Michael Gove. Children in the UK are obliged by law to be in school aged five, which the lobby group said is creating a ‘too much, too soon’ culture. The warning singled out recent government proposals which mean five year olds could be formally tested from the beginning of their schooling. Under the current system, children are first assessed at the age of seven. But under Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg’s proposals, a ‘baseline’ test could be introduced in the first year of primary school. The group of experts warned that monitoring a pupil’s progress from such a young age promotes stress and fear around learning. The letter said: ‘The continued focus on an early start to formal learning is likely to cause profound damage to the self-image and learning dispositions of a generation of children’. A spokesman for Education Secretary Michael Gove said the group who wrote to the Daily Telegraph are promoting ‘bogus pop-psychology.’ Overwhelming: According to the group, starting formal lessons too early creates a fear of learning and puts too much pressure on younger children . These people represent the powerful and badly misguided lobby who are responsible for the devaluation of exams and the culture of low expectations in state schools,’ the spokesman said. Sir Al Aynsley-Green, former Children’s Commissioner and one of those to sign the letter, said countries where children start school later, see better results. He said: ‘If you look at a country like Finland, children don’t start formal, full-scale education until they are seven. Dismissive: A spokesman for Education Secretary Michael Gove's (left) office described the calls as 'misguided', while Nick Clegg (right) has suggested 'baseline' tests for children in the first year of primary school . ‘These extra few years, in my view, provide a crucial opportunity, when supported by well trained, well paid and highly educated staff, for children to be children’. Other signatories of the letter include Lord Layard, director of the Well-Being Programme at the London School of Economics, Dr David Whitebread, senior lecturer in psychology of education at Cambridge University, and Catherine Prisk, director of Play England. The Telegraph said the letter was circulated by the Save Childhood Movement, which will launch its Too Much, Too Soon campaign tomorrow. It will reportedly call for reforms including play-based schooling for children between three and seven.Wendy Ellyatt, the founding director of the movement, told the newspaper: 'Despite the fact that 90 per cent of countries in the world prioritise social and emotional learning and start formal schooling at six or seven, in England we seem grimly determined to cling on to the erroneous belief that starting sooner means better results later. 'There is nothing wrong with seeking high educational standards and accountability, but there is surely something very wrong indeed if this comes at the cost of natural development.' Outspoken: Former Children's Commissioner Professor Al Aynsley-Green was one of those to sign the letter . | 130 teachers and academics call for schooling to be delayed by two years .
Warning that current system is causing young children 'profound damage'
Call was dismissed as 'misguided' by a spokesman for Michael Gove . |
149,431 | 4d3d5bc9f522bd355145cf9aaeebdcc568c3d853 | By . Rob Cooper . PUBLISHED: . 07:40 EST, 19 June 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 08:52 EST, 19 June 2012 . At £15,000 these paintings could be an absolute steal. A series of works of art produced by the notorious Kray twins while they were in prison are set to go under the hammer next month. Ronnie and Reggie both became keen prison artists after being jailed for life in 1969 for the murder of underworld figure Jack 'The Hat' McVitie. Countryside scene: Ronnie Kray drew this countryside scene while imprisoned. It is one of 42 of his paintings set to go under the hammer next month . Amateur painting: Ronnie Kray's picture of a church door which is part of a collection that is expected to sell for at least £15,000 when it goes under the hammer next month . Among the collection there are pictures of freedom they never expected to see again for themselves - including a churchyard and rolling hills. The paintings were produced by the notorious brothers in a variety of mediums, including watercolour, chalk, . charcoal, pastel, pencil, and on canvas. In total, 42 works of art are set to go under the hammer a they cover a wide range of topics including nudes, still life, and landscapes. The auctioneers said the paintings could fetch far more than their £15,000 guide price because there is such keen interest in them - despite the poor quality of their work. Criminal brothers: Ronnie and Reggie at home in 1966 three years before they were jailed for life for the murder of underworld figure Jack 'The Hat' McVitie . A spokesman for auctioneers James and . Sons said: 'All 42 pieces in the collection were produced while the . brothers were in prison - although some are clearly copies of original . works by renowned artists, presumably from text books available in the . prison libraries. 'While the work can best be described as naive it cannot be written off as pure amateurism - there is evidence of some talent. 'It's difficult to know how much these . print are worth, as some people will pay a lot of money for them - but . at a conservative estimate, we expect the collection to sell for at . least £15,000. Prison drawing: A bouquet of flowers which Reggie Kray painted during his many years in prison . Still life: A fruit bowl and a decanter which Ronnie drew while in prison . 'One album contains photographs and . Reggie's letters to 'Clive', a fellow inmate who appears to have been . Kray's 'gopher' at HMP Wayland and who kept in touch with him after his . own release. 'Clearly his kindness was greatly appreciated and he received gifts of various items over a long period. 'These include a pair of boxing gloves . which belonged to Charles Bronson which are also in the collection. These bear Bronson's name and are the subject of one of Reggie's letters . to 'Clive', in which he describes how meeting Bronson was 'the most . frightening visit I had' when the two, accompanied twenty prison . officers, exchanged the gloves at HMP Parkhurst.' Sinister: This bizarre picture by Reggie Kray is called Warriors and was produced while he was in prison . A picture of freedom: Woodland glade painted by Reggie Kray who died in August 2000 just weeks after he was released from prison on compassionate grounds . The Krays ran organised crime in the East End during the 1950s . and 1960s but as nightclub owners they rubbed shoulders with the rich . and famous including Judy Garland, Barbara Windsor and Frank Sinatra. They were jailed in 1969 and were . initially incarcerated separately before Ronnie joined Reggie at the . maximum security Parkhurst Prison in the early 1970s. Ronnie Kray's deteriorating mental health meant he was later transferred to Broadmoor. He died there in 1995 aged 62. In August 2000, Reggie Kray was diagnosed with inoperable cancer of the bladder, and given just weeks to live. He died shortly after being freed from prison on compassionate grounds. James and Sons will auction the collection on 11th July at Fakenham Racecourse. Artwork: Reggie Kray's work which he called modern faces. It is part of the series of paintings set to go under the hammer . Abstract: A painting called Blue ladies which Reggie Kray completed while in prison . | Ronnie and Reggie Kray became keen prison artists after being jailed for life .
Auctioneers say the amateurish paintings could fetch a lot more than their £15,000 list price because there is such interest in the brothers . |
173,283 | 6c44c2d7fe6a587ea6d5c9d8ee2faca1ec8f82c5 | Edwin 'Ed' Hale, Sr, sleeps on his 186-acre property over Chesapeake Bay with a sawed-off shotgun always within reach. It's not burglars the former Bank of Baltimore chairman worries about at night, but enemies who may have learned he spent time working undercover for the CIA. The Wall Street Journal reports that Hale, 68, broke his silence in a self-published book about his CIA work in a story similar to Hollywood spy Jack Ryan's escapades in 'Shadow Recruit.' In from the cold: Former bank executive Ed Hale, 68, spoke about his work as a spy for the CIA, operating a dummy company for the agency and giving cover to operatives working abroad . Baltimore Magazine reports that Hale was recruited by 'Buzzy' Krongard back in 1992. Krongard, the head of investment bank Alex. Brown who worked in the same office as Hale, also happened to be a banker working in the employ of the CIA. After being recruited, Hale says he helped run a dummy company the CIA created under a legitimate corporation under his control that had shipping and trucking operations. Hale traveled to countries including Saudi Arabia, Israel, Poland, Denmark and Norway to help provide cover to operatives supposedly working for the company. Hale's role, which was never officially associated with the US government, was key during a campaign in the 1990s when the CIA was conducting early investigations on Osama bin Laden. During operations, he would know only the agents' names and destinations, though he often communicated with a handler from the agency. Spy games: Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit is about a Marine who joins a Wall Street brokerage as a cover story for his work for the CIA . Hale said he'd become a 'little nervous' his name would be revealed when agents did not return from missions at the pre-determined time, though he believes none were ever caught. Though rarely in danger, Hale said he once had a close shave with Shin Bet, Israel's internal security service, while in Jerusalem. 'I was in Israel with one of the agents, and he was on his way to other places in the Middle East,' he told Baltimore Magazine. 'I was at the King David Hotel in Jerusalem, and they came in and grabbed me out of a meeting and took me and interrogated me and let me go because I was not there for Israel, I was there shepherding somebody through into other countries,' he added. Coming clean: Hale recruited Baltimore journalist Kevin Cowherd to write the book that revealed the secrets about his CIA work . The work stopped after September 11, 2001, when Hale says the agency no longer needed him, though he is still in communication with two of the agents he worked with. Part of the reason to commission the book, which was written by Baltimore journalist Kevin Cowherd and titled Hale Storm, was to give his children a reason for his absence during their childhood. 'I want my kids to know where I was and what I did,' he said, and both him and his two daughters say the book helped improve their relationship. 'It was very cathartic,' he said about the book, which has sold around 600 copies so far. 'To hold a secret like that for so long to yourself, it was difficult.' The man who brought him into the spy agency was less pleased for the Hale family after the revelation. 'I am disappointed and upset that Ed would violate his agreement and understanding with the agency,' Krongard told the Journal. Hale is the owner of professional indoor soccer team Baltimore Blast and started the barge and trucking companies Port East Transfer and Hale Container Line. He said he entered banking after the Bank of Baltimore turned him down for a loan, which raised his hackles due to the 'snooty blue-blood culture' of the industry. Afterwards, in 1991, a friend urged him to spend $1.4million on a successful proxy fight that put Hale in the position of chief executive of Bank of Baltimore. | Ed Hale, Sr, the 68-year-old former chairman of the Bank of Baltimore worked for the CIA in the 1990s and early 2000s .
Hale helped run a dummy company under his trucking corporation's umbrella that was a cover for CIA operatives in the Middle East and Europe .
Operatives supposedly working for the company tracked Osama bin Laden in the 1990s .
He was once apprehended by agents for Israel's internal security agency, Shin Bet, but was later released .
Never told anyone about his secret job - not even his daughters . |
37,747 | 6ae1669493df4842856e931ded92991ecbc5f63a | By . Emily Davies . PUBLISHED: . 04:29 EST, 19 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 12:48 EST, 19 February 2013 . You'd expect two young tech entrepreneurs to be aware of the pitfalls of 'over sharing' on the internet. But Matt Monahan and Jesse Thomas appear to have learned the hard way after Mr Monahan, CEO of AlphaBoost, was filmed naked in an intoxicated state on a beach in India days ahead of a business event. Mr Thomas then posted the minute-long video . of the nude romp on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram with the caption: . 'bahahahahahahahaha;. It was only taken down after Mr Monahan's business partner saw the post and angrily told him: 'We're trying to run a business here!' Scroll down for video . 'I think we should all be friends': A drunk Mr Mohanan slurs his speech and laughs as he is filmed naked . Mr Mohanan exposes himself as he struggles to stand up on the beach in India where the business trip is due to start . The video, filmed by his friend Mr Thomas, head of social media advertising firm JESS3, shows Mr Monahan sat nude on the sand giggling and covering his modesty with his hands. Mr Thomas, a Forbes contributor, asks Mr Monahan: 'What do you like about India?' Mr Monahan slurs his response: 'I think we should all be friends.' He then attempts to stand up and falls over, exposing himself, while Mr Thomas makes jokes about his friend's anatomy as his embarrassed girlfriend looks on. The two businessmen were in India for the Geeks on a Plane event - an invite-only tour for startups, investors, and executives to learn about technology markets worldwide. They had flown in early ahead of the event, which officially starts today. Matt Mohanan conceals his modesty as he sits in a drunken stupor on a beach in India, filmed by his friend Jesse Thomas . Unimpressed: Jesse Thomas's girlfriend looks on with embarrassment as a naked Matt Mohanan stumbles on the sand . Google, PayPal, QualComm and other major firms shell out for the tour to provide networking opportunities for like-minded entrepreneurs, and to enable them to gain insight into local markets and business models. The website for the project, which was set up by venture capital bigwig Dave McClure, describes one of its aims as being 'to learn about trends in internet, mobile and other tech platforms'. Mr Thomas posted the minute-long video . of Monahan's nude romp on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram with the caption: . 'bahahahahahahahaha' and using the official even hashtag '#goap' from the JESS3 company accounts. Mr Monahan's partner at AlphaBooks, Sam . Beaudin, sent him an incensed Facebook message saying: 'We're trying to . run a business here'. Mr Monahan told Gawker: 'The video does not reflect well, was out of . context, and Jesse has deleted it. He thought it was funny at the time . but realized that late nights as friends have don't have a place in the . public stream.' Mr Monahan also works as an advisor for Wildfire, a Google subsidiary, and JESS3 is one of AlphaBoost's clients. Mr Monahan is now in the process of trying to sell his company. Business and pleasure: The group appear to have been drinking from the bottle of liquor nearby . | Entrepreneurs sent on exclusive expenses-paid networking trip to India .
Matt Monahan, social media firm boss, filmed in naked drunken stupor . |
62,282 | b0efa5b50b1691537181ce2d2335995456d9cf66 | Travelers will now be allowed to bring golf clubs, ski poles and even small knives on planes with them since aviation officials have announced significant security changes. A number of previously-banned items will be allowed for the first time since the September 11 terrorism attacks, sparking outrage from flight attendants who said the decision would endanger passengers and crew. The TSA said effective April 25, it would allow small knives with blades that are 2.36 inches or less in length and less than 1/2 inch wide. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO . New rules: Flight attendants are balking at the new changes that will lift a number of prohibited items and allow travelers to carry on small knives on board . Remaining restrictions: TSA officials hope that by keeping some banned it will instill less fear in flyers . Should TSA lift their post-9/11 ban on small knives? Should TSA lift their post-9/11 ban on small knives? Now share your opinion . Other items that will be allowed on board again as part of a passenger's carry-on luggage include billiard cues, ski poles, hockey sticks and lacrosse sticks. Items that had been prohibited like razors, box cutters or knives with a fixed blade are still not allowed on board. The restrictions about liquids are still in place as well, meaning that anything under 3-ounces must be declared at the security checkpoint. TSA spokesman David Castelveter said the decision was made to bring U.S. regulations more in line with International Civil Aviation Organization standards and would also help provide a better experience for travelers. Specific: The TSA says that the changes reflect the findings of their recent review of security measures . Exemptions: Only certain bats are allowed but many think it is premature to allow any at all . The Association of Professional Flight attendants 'categorically rejects a proposal to allow knives of any kind in the cabin,' and they don't understand why 'such a momentous decision' was made without any consultation. As for some of the larger items that they will now allow, like the sports equipment, increases 'the potential for passengers getting hit with these items during boarding and deplaning. It's a recipe for disaster,' said the APFA representative. 'This is part of an overall Risk-Based . Security approach, which allows Transportation Security officers to . better focus their efforts on finding higher-threat items such as . explosives,' he said. The . Flight Attendants Union Coalition, which represents nearly 90,000 flight . attendants from carriers across the country, called the decision a . 'poor and shortsighted decision' by the TSA. Loosening the reins: TSA officials have changed their stance on certain banned objects which will now be allowed on planes starting on April 25 . No longer a threat? Billiard cues and lacrosse sticks will be allowed on board now . 'As the last line of defense in the cabin and key aviation partners, we believe that these proposed changes will further endanger the lives of all flight attendants and the passengers we work so hard to keep safe and secure,' the coalition said in a statement. Castelveter said the TSA has implemented a number of safety measures including reinforced cockpit doors, allowing some pilots to be armed and federal air marshals on board airplanes. He said those measures would help ensure safety of the passengers and crew. After the September 11, 2001 hijacking attacks, the U.S. government imposed a strict set of guidelines for what could be carried on board an aircraft - some of which differed from what other countries allowed passengers to carry on airplanes. WATCH THE VIDEO HERE . | The Association of Professional Flight attendants blasted 'poor and shortsighted decision' |
185,036 | 7bb109eaadf1c6b479c0f3a7c82343b795b4d47f | By . Emma Thomas . PUBLISHED: . 06:27 EST, 11 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 08:54 EST, 11 October 2013 . It may not have been a string of spaghetti, but these two snakes certainly shared a loving moment - after they began eating the same meal at opposite ends. In a scene reminiscent of the famous Bella Notte moment in Disney's Lady and the Tramp, the two Diamondback Rattlesnakes began to swallow a mouse only to realise they were both scoffing the same meal. After a few moments of struggle the smaller snake gave up when it realised what was on the other end of the pray. Dinner time: The two snakes tussle over one mouse - ending up at either ends of the meal . The amusing moment was captured by wildlife photographer Paul Murray while on a trip to the Cradle of Humankind - a World Heritage Site in South Africa. Mr Murray, from Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, said: 'My girlfriend and I had gone out for a viewing of South Africa's then-largest pride of White Lions at The Cradle Of Humankind, which on its own is amazing to see. 'It was my first time there and we got told they had a cave tour where people could interact with certain reptiles.So naturally, being up for anything, off we went. 'I'd never seen a Diamondback Rattlesnake eat anything, unfortunately I wasn't there in time to catch the kill but just in time to see the poised snake come out to investigate the rat, even though it was already halfway down the other's throat. A more appetising meal: The dogs in Disney's Lady and the Tramp enjoy a spaghetti dinner for two . 'The problem was that the snake on the right got the foot of the rat stuck in the one corner of his mouth, so couldn't get it down before the smaller snake on the left came sniffing and tasting.' Mr Murray named the picture 'Dinner for Two' and says he is used to wildlife. He added: 'I was fortunate to grow up in and around the South African bush so I've always been a 'bush monkey.' 'I love and respect everything that is nature and all the surprises it could bring at the blink of an eye.' Photographer: Paul Murray (pictured) grabbed the amazing images of the snakes while on a trip with his girlfriend . | Wildlife photgrapher Paul Murray captured the grisly snaps .
Mr Murray, from Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, was on a trip to the Cradle of the World in South Africa . |
279,236 | f5c4c153c4fc38db2ebab33520823a957668a3c6 | A group of West Bromwich Albion youngsters were on the receiving end of a cracking practical joke on Friday. First-team duo Ben Foster and Craig Gardner pelted the youth players with eggs as they lined up for a team photo at the training ground. England international Foster and his partner-in-crime Gardner hid from their unsuspecting victims before emerging on to a balcony and unleashing their egg-throwing attack. The unsuspecting youngster line up for a team photo at West Brom's training ground . Ben Foster and Craig Gardner emerge and begin throwing eggs at youth team players . The players quickly disperse to avoid being hit by the eggs as the first-team duo unleash their attack . England goalkeeper Foster (above) seemed to find the training ground practical joke hilarious . The England goalkeeper posted a video of the incident on Instagram and took to Twitter to apologise and congratulate his team-mate's accuracy. 'Sorry young lads!! @craiggards8 what a shot!!! #boom #headshot' Foster Tweeted. It is little wonder spirits are high at the Hawthorns at the moment after West Brom recovered from a tough start to life under Alan Irvine by winning three of their last four matches. The Baggies were narrowly beaten 2-1 by Liverpool before the international break, but won the three previous games against Burnley, Hull and Tottenham. Next up for West Brom in the Premier League is Louis van Gaal's Manchester United, where they will be hoping to leave the United players with egg on their faces. | Ben Foster and Craig Gardner threw eggs at youth team players at training .
The England goalkeeper later apologised for the prank on Twitter .
He also praised team-mate Gardner for his accuracy . |
278,394 | f49f8253830c00b25bab003320d0768ecdd346de | By . Louise Boyle . PUBLISHED: . 21:23 EST, 7 August 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 12:29 EST, 8 August 2012 . A six-year-old boy who died last . summer after falling from the grand staircase at his father's luxurious . mansion was likely assaulted before plunging to his death, a new medical . report claimed. Max Shacknai's death was the first in a . bizarre series of events that led to his father's girlfriend being found . hanged, bound and naked, from a balcony at the palatial home in . San Diego two days later. Police declared both deaths solved . and that pharmaceutical millionaire Jonah Shacknai was not involved in . either. Tragedy: Max Shacknai's death was the first in a bizarre series of events that led to his father's girlfriend being found hanged, bound and naked, from a balcony at the palatial home in San Diego two days later . Max Shacknai was in the care of his father's girlfriend Rebecca Zahau at the time of his death. Max's death was ruled an accident and Miss Zahau's death deemed a suicide. Max's mother Dinah Shacknai - who divorced from Max's father in 2010 - refused to believe these findings and instead hired her own team of investigators. The new report claimed that Max was the victim of a homicide. Jonah and Dinah Shacknai were said to have had a tumultuous and sometimes violent relationship and they repeatedly accused each other of verbal and physical abuse in the short time they were married. Police had to be called to the 27-room mansion on three different occasions. Ms Shacknai called on the Coronado police to reopen the case after the findings from Dr Judy Melinek, a San Francisco-based . forensic pathologist, and Dr Robert Bove, an injury biomechanics . expert. Search for answers: Dinah Shacknai hired a new team of investigators who cast doubt on the original autopsy report that her son Max's death was an accident . She told Fox News: 'I can't imagine anyone in the world wanting to harm Maxie. He was the most sweet, loving and gentle boy.' In the new report, both medical experts said that Max had injuries consistent with being beaten. Dr Melinek reported that the child had injuries on his body which could not just have come from a fall, adding that it was impossible for Max to have bumped into the balcony and fallen over. The claims appeared to point the finger at Jonah Shacknai's girlfriend Rebecca which the late woman's sister strongly denied today. Mystery: Max Shacknai's multimillionaire father, Jonah Shacknai, was not home at the time, but Mr Shacknai's girlfriend, Miss Zahau, 32, was along with her 13-year-old sister . Mary Zahau told RadarOnline: 'The thought that Rebecca would cause Max harm is preposterous.' Mary added that the relationship between her sister and Max was a close and loving one, with her treating him like her own child. The Coronado police department said it would review the report and decide whether to reopen the investigation. Max died at the hospital shortly after he tumbled down the grand staircase at the historic Spreckels manor. From above: An aerial view of the historic mansion in California where the tragedy happened in July . His multimillionaire father, Jonah Shacknai, was not home at the time, but Mr Shacknai's girlfriend, Miss Zahau, 32, was along with her 13-year-old sister. Jonah Shacknai founded pharmaceutical giant Medicis and has been chairman and chief executive since 1988. The company makes dermatological and aesthetic pharmaceutical products and took $700million in revenue last year. Shacknai . has two other children from a previous marriage to Kimberly James, a . pharmaceuticals sales representative for rival firm Johnson & . Johnson. The couple married in April 1993 in Bel Air, California, before filing for divorce in 1999. She later told a psychologist that on their honeymoon he asked her if she thought the marriage was a mistake. Family . Court records show the couple reached a joint-custody agreement in 2001 . for two children: a 14-year-old girl and a 13-year-old boy. Shacknai later married Dina Romano,Max's mother, and the couple divorced in 2008. Miss Zahau, from Myanmar, had been dating . the multimillionaire for two years and friends said he had been planning . on proposing to her. Miss Nalepa began working as an ophthalmic technician in April 2008, but left in December 2010 to devote more time to Mr Shacknai and his three children. Two days after Max's death on July 16, Mr Shacknai discovered Miss Zahau hanging dead from an outside balcony. She was naked, gagged and her hands and feet bound. Miss Zahau's parents also believe that their daughter was murdered. They hired a private pathologist to conduct a second autopsy. That expert said his findings cast doubt on the suicide ruling. However, San Diego County Sheriff Bill Gore said the second look revealed no new information and the case remains closed. Her sister said she spoke with her sister the night before her body was found and she gave no hint that she planned to take her life. She said she planned to bring Mr Shacknai breakfast and a change of clothes the next morning to the hospital where his son was being treated. Dr Cyril Wecht, a private consultant in high-profile investigations ranging from the Kennedy assassination to the death of Anna Nicole Smith, made a nationally televised appearance today on the Dr Phil show to render his opinion about the bizarre death of Rebecca Zahau. Dr Wecht performed a second, independent autopsy on Miss Zahau's body last month at the request of relatives who have challenged the official determination of the San Diego County Sheriff's Department and coroner that she took her own life. He agreed with the official autopsy finding that the cause of Miss Zahau's death was asphyxiation by hanging, but said he strongly doubted she killed herself. 'While I am not prepared to unequivocally, with absolute scientific certainty, say that it was a homicide and that it was not a suicide, I lean very strongly toward it being a homicide, something involving foul play. And I lean very strongly against it being a suicide,' he said. Dr Wecht said he was particularly troubled by findings in both autopsies that Miss Zahau had suffered blows to the top of her head, indicated by four separate hemorrhages beneath the scalp. He said such an injury pointed to the possibility that she was knocked unconscious with a blunt object and could explain why police said there was no sign of a struggle at the scene. Dr Wecht said he was also puzzled as to why Miss Zahau's neck was not broken by the force of her fall from the balcony. He said the way in which Miss Zahau would have had to tie herself up was possible, but implausible. | Max Shacknai found on first floor of the palatial home in San Diego .
Independent medical report said child had injuries 'from being beaten' |
198,144 | 8c7a1d36804c79bf6b3c4a90691da2b4e4454bb5 | (CNN) -- America is haunted. At least several paranormal investigators, all of whom promise to have witnessed the supernatural, told CNN they believe it to be true. That's why we've taken cues from experienced investigators and experts for fright-inspired destination ideas this Halloween season. Here are some of their favorites. Hollywood Roosevelt, California . Located on Hollywood's Walk of Fame across from Grauman's Chinese Theater, the Hollywood Roosevelt has a glamorous history: Marilyn Monroe was the hotel's most famous resident. It turns out, she might still be there, according to Brad and Sherry Steiger. Paranormal authors and investigators, the Steigers were filming at the hotel with several productions. Sherry was explaining the history of the hotel's most famous mirror, in front of which many visitors have had psychic experiences. "And as we were standing there, a gentleman just jumped back like he'd been shoved and he said, 'Who do you think you are?' Well that stopped production and we had to find out," Brad said. "I asked the man what had happened. He said, 'Well this blonde lady came running like she owns Hollywood and pushes me aside.' " If you go: You can simply book a room at the hotel. If you want to try to spot Marilyn, the hotel offers a "Marilyn Monroe package" ($1,800/night) which includes a stay in the Marilyn suite and tickets to the Marilyn exhibit. Thomas House, Red Boiling Springs, Tennessee . With a history dating back to the late 1800s, the Thomas House in Red Boiling Springs began as the Cloyd Hotel. Indeed, one of the ghosts still said to roam the bed and breakfast is Sarah Cloyd. Visitors trade reports of possible deaths on the property, which may fuel activity. The hotel was featured on "Paranormal State" in 2009, an A&E cable network program that aired until 2011. If you go: You can go for dinner and the "Ghosts of the Inn" show and tour, and book a room at the bed and breakfast. The Thomas House also hosts several "Ghost Hunt weekends," with the next available dates in January, 2014. The Whaley House Museum, San Diego, California . One of the Steigers' most memorable visits is "right on the tourist map, but it still packs a metaphysical punch," Brad Steiger said. "And that's the Whaley House in old San Diego." The California house has a long history; and, like its home state, the house has been many things at different times, with origins dating back to the 1800s and including several hangings. "It just kept growing," Brad said. "It started as, the judge, his home. Then it became a courthouse and his home. Then it became a theater and his home. Then there were hangings that took place in the backyard and eventually that hanging area, where people were hanged, became part of the house." While investigating, Sherry said she captured psychic phenomena on film -- a picture of a noose, coming right down in the room. "I had no inkling anything would develop and lo and behold, there were so many pictures," she said. What should have been a photo of one of the beds instead revealed a ghostly figure, just waking up. If you go: Now a museum, tourists can take tours. St. Augustine Lighthouse & Museum, Florida . First christened as a lighthouse in 1824 (it started out as a watchtower) the structure lost a long battle with the shoreline before collapsing during a storm in 1880. Luckily, its successor had already been completed in 1874. That lighthouse is now St. Augustine's oldest structure -- a status that has given it plenty of time to attract "visitors." What's more, a keeper's house was added to the grounds in 1876 and people lived and worked the lighthouse for decades, until 1955. The unexpected was at play at the lighthouse when investigator Jason Hawes and his team visited. They believed they would disprove the reports of activity, finding "just local sounds and things of that nature." "And we actually caught some of the 'holy grail,' what appeared to be people leaning over rails, showing up on thermal, showing up on infrared when there's no one else in there," said Hawes, founder of the Atlantic Paranormal Society and one of the stars and producers of SyFy's long-running "Ghost Hunters." If you go: While other tours are available, the "Dark of the Moon" tour is billed as "the only ghost tour that gets you in the tower." Gettysburg, Pennsylvania . The town of Gettysburg has its share of haunted history. No wonder: Approximately 7,000 people died -- both Union and Confederate soldiers -- during the Battle of Gettysburg at the heart of the Civil War. (About another 3,500 died in the weeks and months following the battle.) Buell, founder of the Paranormal Research Society and host of A&E's "Paranormal State," remembers getting shot there. Except he never was. "We were taking a ghost tour of Gettysburg (National Military Park) and suddenly I was having trouble breathing ... I was wheezing and I was having trouble breathing and the pain, it got worse," Buell said. Buell went to the hospital, and the doctors ran some tests. "Long story short, suddenly they come running back and they tear off my shirt and they said something like, 'Where's the exit wound?' " Buell said. But no exit wound ever appeared on his body. If you go: There are several Gettysburg ghost tours, including Gettysburg Ghost Tours and Ghosts of Gettysburg (which is hosted by a former park ranger). Charleston and Savannah . Older cities such as Charleston, South Carolina, and Savannah, Georgia, remind tourists that they just might be walking on bones. Savannah is "literally built on its dead," Hawes said. "When they're going to put up buildings, they have to do tests, core samples, to see if they find any bones." Robert Edgerly, founder of one of the city's popular walking ghost tours and author of "Savannah Hauntings," said that the 17hundred90 Inn is one of his favorite local spots. The 17hundred90 Inn, first built in the 1800s, is proud of its paranormal history, with an entire section of the website devoted to people's experiences. The inn's most famous resident is Anne Powell, who reportedly fell from a window to her death, though the event is clouded with rumor. Charleston is no less spooky -- especially the Old City Jail, which is famous for the prisoners kept locked behind its bars, including Lavinia Fisher, often thought of as America's first female mass murderer. If you go: Savannah visitors can book a room at the 17hundred90 Inn. Charleston features many tours, with the Ghost & Dungeon Walking Tour, Charleston's Ghost Hunt and Ghosts of the South among the options. Gilliland's Ranch, Trout Lake, Washington . Gilliland's Ranch, in Trout Lake is fairly new as a paranormal hotspot, at least measured against the decades- or centuries-plus history of some of the other locales on our list. Owned and operated by James Gilliland -- whose resume includes minister, counselor, author and radio host -- the ranch distinguishes itself in other ways: Buell said he was "guaranteed" to experience activity on his first visit, a rare and rarely true claim. Gilliland "claimed he was being visited by aliens, all the time, and that there were supernatural beings on his property," Buell said. So a friend, another paranormal aficionado, took up the claim and reported back. "He's like, 'I swear to you, all night long we had experiences in this place ... Every night, something happened,' " Buell said. A big ball of light would appear and then split up into triangles and then regroup -- circling and darting unnaturally, according to Buell's friend. Many people claim to have experienced contact with extraterrestrial life at the ranch, with anecdotes spread across the Web. If you go: Contact the ranch to schedule a private tour. (Reservations are required.) Point Pleasant, West Virginia . West Virginia's Point Pleasant is synonymous with the story of the Mothman, an extraterrestrial creature sighted throughout the town in the late 1960s and made famous by the book "The Mothman Prophecies," later adapted as a film starring Richard Gere. The town boasts several landmarks, including the Mothman Statue, which depicts the creature as a silvery humanoid, with teeth bared. The Lowe Hotel is nearby, offering an easy second stop on any personalized ghost tour. Not only does it house the Mothman Museum, the hotel is home to a small coterie of otherworldly figures. Many people assume the experiences in the town have stopped. Not so. While he was visiting, Buell had some "really crazy experiences," including a brush with the Mothman that involved an underground munitions bunker, a voice-activated tape recorder and a psychic. "You want to talk about something right out of 'The X-Files' -- here's Point Pleasant," he said. If you go: Book a room at the Lowe Hotel and take a tour of the hotel museum. Where do you like to go to get scared during Halloween? Share your thoughts in the comments below. | A Hollywood hotel makes no promises that you'll spot Marilyn Monroe .
There are reports of St. Augustine's lighthouse attracting "visitors" to its site .
The extraterrestrial Mothman made West Virginia's Point Pleasant famous . |
106,422 | 15410037d9313ed67f6092e5a15bacb0b99a55e4 | (CNN) -- Imagine the following scenario. A woman and her husband underwent infertility treatment in the early 1990s. Now they learn their daughter, contrary to what they thought, is not the man's biological child. Instead, her biological father is a former medical technician responsible for preparing sperm samples. That's the situation facing a family that received treatment at the University of Utah Community Laboratory and Reproductive Medical Technologies Inc., known as RMTI. The university says it's investigating the case. It has put together a panel of physicians and retained an independent medical ethicist. The university is also offering paternity testing to families that may be affected, and set up a hot line for patients with questions. "We sympathize with the anxiety this family has experienced. We do not know how this occurred and are carefully reviewing the concerns raised," the University of Utah Health Care said. A widow speaks . Tom Lippert is suspected of switching a patient's sperm with his own. His widow, Jean Lippert, spoke to CNN affiliate KUTV, describing her husband as troubled. He was employed by both the University of Utah Community Laboratory and RMTI, which became defunct in 1998. The laboratories were separate entities but shared oversight and staff. Lippert had a criminal record and a spotty record at work. Some documents discovered so far suggest he deserved a raise, while others said that more oversight was needed both of him and the laboratories, according to the university. Jean Lippert told KUTV that she and her husband never had children of their own, but that her husband told her he had them. Tom Lippert was "proud of the fact he had these kids out there," she said. The couple was married for 20 years before Tom Lippert died from cirrhosis of the liver, KUTV reported. He was 49. "It seemed like he (Tom) was trying to be a decent person," his widow told the affiliate, adding that "good Tom" didn't stick around for long. "If I would have left he would have killed me. He threatened my life every day," Jean Lippert reportedly said. "I didn't stay out of the goodness of my heart." Sperm smuggling alleged at prison . 'What we can answer, we will' The university has been careful to stress that today's policies and protocols are different from those in place in those two labs, given industry standards in the 1980s and early 1990s. "This is a shocking story to all of us," said Sean Mulvihill, chief executive officer of the University of Utah Medical Group, reported CNN affiliate KTVX. He reportedly estimated that Lippert may have interacted with 1,000 families; 15 have called the hot line to date. "The events in question occurred more than 20 years ago and records from that time are incomplete. That challenge notwithstanding, we are committed to reaching a fuller understanding of what happened then and to providing our patients with relevant information in an expeditious and compassionate manner," the university said. It continued: "While there are inherent challenges -- the passage of time, the fact that RMTI has been defunct since 1998, and the deaths of Mr. Lippert and RMTI's principal, Dr. Ron Urry -- what we can answer, we will." After struggling to have children, couple 'pissed' to be pregnant with twins . | A woman and her husband underwent infertility treatment in the early 1990s .
Contrary to what they thought, their daughter is the biological offspring of a lab technician .
"What we can answer, we will," says the University of Utah . |
239,313 | c1d464d50d3b2936a05839379c1be0875bd51e40 | By . Alasdair Glennie . PUBLISHED: . 19:24 EST, 3 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 19:27 EST, 3 May 2013 . When the BBC refurbished its London HQ at a cost of £1billion, its staff looked forward to settling into their new office space. But a draconian directive from bosses has made sure they don't make themselves too comfortable. They have been urged not to bring in plants, kettles, microwaves, fridges or coat-stands. 'Territorial': BBC bosses have banned pot plants from the office (file photo) The memo said foliage could be used as a form of 'desk-grab' to mark out . territory and 'form un-collaborative barriers' with colleagues. It said: 'Plants give a strong sense of . ownership of a particular desk or area when we would like staff to feel . much more mobile and flexible across the open plan floor plates. 'They have been used to form un-collaborative barriers between teams and individuals.' The email also warned: 'Some people are allergic to certain plants and they also attract insects which we don't want sharing our workplace.' Order: Staff at New Broadcasting House were sent the memo from bosses . Coat-stands have been banned 'to keep the line of vision clear' while waste paper baskets have been jettisoned in favour of 'recycling hubs'. Many electrical appliances – such as fans, kettles and microwaves – have also been barred in case they set off fire alarms. Yesterday one angry BBC worker said: 'It is totally . unnecessary. You have to trust your own staff to make some of their own . decisions. Boiling point: Kettles have also fallen foul of the Beeb's management . 'If someone wants to bring in a plant to liven up their desk, . why not let them? 'It is a typically bossy, infantilising email of the . kind we have come to expect from BBC managers.' Staff were asked to watch a short film explaining the rules of New Broadcasting House. It said: 'W1 will have state of the art heating and air conditioning as well as fully equipped catering hubs. 'Because of this there'll be no space for your kettles, microwaves, fridges, plants, lamps, heaters or fans.' Interior design expert Coll Smith said the decision to ban pot plants was 'bizarre'. She said: 'Research for the past 30 years has shown that plants are really beneficial to the occupants of offices and workspaces. 'A recent study showed that lean or bare office spaces are not conducive to getting the best from employees. 'Adding decoration including plants improves productivity and when workers are empowered to take control of their workspace.' A BBC spokesman said: 'There's no official 'ban' on plants. We'd just prefer it if people didn't bring them in.' | Staff were sent draconian directive from BBC bosses .
Kettles, microwaves and coat-stands on the blacklist .
It comes after £1billion refurbishment of London HQ . |
236,682 | be55c1761f5891bd4bf746f9f4971eab17dc7cd6 | By . Matt Chorley, Mailonline Political Editor . and Hugo Duncan . Britain’s resurgent economy is now bigger than it was before the great recession struck, figures showed yesterday. Gross domestic product – the total size of the economy – increased 0.9 per cent between March and May, according to the National Institute of Economic and Social Research. The growth spurt meant output was 0.2 per cent higher at the end of last month than it was at the pre-recession peak of January 2008. Analysis by the economic think tank NIESR shows the UK economy has returned to its pre-crash peak, but only after six years . Experts at NIESR hailed it a ‘symbolic milestone’ for the UK as the longest slump on record finally came to an end. Output crashed by 7.2 per cent between 2008 and 2009 and it has taken more than six years for the losses to be clawed back. But . Britain is now on track for its best performance since before the . crisis, with the Bank of England expecting growth of 3.4 per cent this . year. A separate report by the Office for National Statistics, which will release official figures at the end of the month, also . showed that British manufacturing is growing at the fastest pace for . nearly four years. It came after figures showed growth of 1.1 per cent from February to April. 'By this estimate, the level of UK has surpassed its pre-recession peak, and is approximately 0.2 per cent above where it was in January 2008,' NIESR said. The recessions from 1920-24 and 1930-34 took almost four years to recover from. After the 1990-93 recession, which saw unemployment soar and riots in the streets, it took just 30 months to reverse the economic contraction. By contrast, after the global financial crisis hit in 2008, with taxpayers bailing out British banks, the economy shrunk by 7.4 per cent compared with its pre-crash high. The recovery only really took hold in the last 18 months, with steady and sustained growth. Mr Osborne is expected to use his Mansion House speech on Thursday to insist that more needs to be done to secure the recovery, including tackling Britain's debt mountain. He will unveil plans to make it easier for developers to build on brownfield sites being held by public bodies, warning the only way to deal with soaring property prices is to build more homes. The symbolic moment will be welcomed by Chancellor George Osborne, who has warned 'the job isn't done' Also yesterday, the Office for National Statistics said factory output rose 2 per cent between February and April – the strongest three month performance since the Coalition came to power in May 2010. David Cameron wrote on Twitter: 'Manufacturing output is up 4.4 per cent year-on-year. More factories making more goods means more jobs. Our long-term economic plan is working.' The UK was hit by one of the largest slumps among the world's leading economies, and has taken a long time to recover. Among the G7 group of major nations, only Italy is still below its peak seen before the crash. After being in the economic doldrums for many months, the UK economy is growing faster than most major economies – and crucially is not relying on consumer spending to fuel the boom. Christine Lagarde, head of the International Monetary Fund, said at the weekend: ‘It is growth is fuelled both by consumption but also now investment, but not just public investment as we recommended earlier on, but also with private investment. ‘Exports is lagging behind a little bit, but those two big cylinders of growth, consumption and investment, are fuelling growth, which in our view makes it more sustainable than if it was fuelled exclusively by consumption as was feared a few months back.’ She warned risks remained on low productivity and rising housing prices, but asked if there was a property boom in Britain, Miss Lagarde replied: ‘No. What our team has clearly seen and acknowledged is that the housing market in the UK is multi-faceted.’ | UK economy is now 0.2% above pre-crash peak, says NIESR think tank .
It means it has taken more than 75 months to undo the damage of the crash .
Manufacturing enjoys the strongest surge in growth since May 2010 . |
210,594 | 9cbec7e4d3de184e7726d1cdd58402bf80119d7f | By . Louise Boyle . PUBLISHED: . 14:58 EST, 13 August 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 14:58 EST, 13 August 2012 . After 18 gold medals and becoming the greatest Olympian of all time, Michael Phelps has definitely earned the right to a little vacation time. The champion swimmer was pictured this week, kicking back on a beach in the Maldives with his closest friends - but aspiring model girlfriend Megan Rossee was nowhere to be seen. The guys-only trip saw Phelps skip out early on the London Olympics and miss the closing ceremony last night in favor lounging around on white-sand beaches and working on his tan. Nice trunks! Michael Phelps enjoys a vacation with his male friends in the Maldives after his Olympic triumph . While teammate Ryan Lochte was scheduled to appear on Jay Leno this Thursday and regularly updating his Twitter, Phelps has opted not to return to the U.S. just yet. However the Olympian hasn't shied away entirely from capitalizing on his swimming glory. He leaves the sport with a record 18 golds and 22 medals overall. The 27-year-old announced at the weekend that he will work on his golf handicap under the . watchful eye of Tiger Woods' former coach Hank Haney in a new series of . the Golf Channel's The Haney Project. The retired swimmer has also signed on with Louis Vuitton as part of the fashion brand's Core Values campaign. One of the boys: Phelps hangs with his friends on a beach holiday to the tropical paradise of the Maldives . Life's a beach: Phelps escaped the post-Olympics media frenzy by flying off to the Maldives with friends . He stars alongside former Soviet gymnast . Larisa Latynina, 77, also an Olympic champion many times over, having . won 18 medals in her impressive career. Despite her absence in the Maldives, Phelps is reportedly smitten with Los Angeles-based Megan Rossee. The pair have been quietly dating for the past six months so that Phelps could concentrate on his swimming. They were first pictured together leaving a London nightclub at 4am following his Olympic success. 'Michael is like a puppy dog around Megan – he’s completely in love with her,' a source had previously told Radar. Romance: Megan Rossee and Michael Phelps attend the Speedo Athlete Celebration at Kensington Roof Gardens in London during the Games . History maker: U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps poses with one of his 18 gold medals and after he received the trophy of the greatest athlete of all time at the London 2012 Games . | Greatest-ever Olympian has been lounging on a tropical beach .
Aspiring actress-and-model girlfriend Megan Rossee wasn't present . |
132,620 | 37816ba53d568bef873ffaa4c462d1d13b979280 | Fears surrounding the spread of Ebola have led to a string of false alarms by people fearing they have caught or been exposed to the killer disease. As the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) attempts to tackle the flood of worried Americans - with more than 800 Ebola false alarms coming in each day - a flurry of incidents have seen Hazmat officers boarding planes. On the other side of the Atlantic, last night a Liverpool coach station found itself at the centre of an Ebola scare after a female passenger arriving from London collapsed and vomited, with others on the bus seen sprinting from the scene. Scroll down for videos . Last night Liverpool coach station was at the centre of an Ebola scare after a female passenger arriving from London collapsed and vomited, with others on the bus seen sprinting from the scene. Medical staff boarded the coach in protective gear and removed the elderly woman, who is from Africa, wearing a protective garment and face mask. The woman was taken to Royal Liverpool Hospital where doctors confirmed she did not have the disease. It is understood she was feeling feverish and also had stroke symptoms. Witnesses described panic as the coach arrived at around 9.30pm with ambulance and police waiting. An onlooker said: 'There were loads of people on the coach and people were running and panicking when they got off. 'The ambulance service and police were there to meet it so I think the driver must have telephoned ahead. It was coming in from London. 'People wearing protective clothing got on to the coach and after a time brought the woman off. They put her in some sort of protective garment and a mask. It looked like a full alert.' Another scare saw a Hazmat team rush on to a plane from Philadelphia in the Dominican Republic after a man sneezed and yelled: 'I have Ebola!' National Express confirmed the station was closed for half an hour as a precautionary measure. Another scare involved a Hazmat team rush on to a plane from Philadelphia in the Dominican Republic after a man sneezed and yelled: 'I have Ebola!' The American passenger, who does not have Ebola, was detained by four officers and taken to the airport's medical center in Punta Cana as he declared: 'I ain't from Africa'. The remaining 255 people were forced to stay on board for two hours until he was cleared, despite airline staff insisting they believed it was a poor-taste joke. The man had reportedly been sneezing and coughing through the four-hour US Airways flight - an early sign of the often fatal disease. A video taken by one of the passengers in the middle of the Boeing 777 shows passengers standing up ready to leave before a flight attendant on a speakerphone tells everyone to sit down. Quarantine officials examined the plane and the man was taken to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital for treatment. The 'unbalanced' man made the 'poor-taste joke' for attention, officials deduced in an interview . The Ebola virus causes fever, vomiting and diarrhoea and sometimes internal bleeding, and is spread through direct contact with body fluids. About half of those infected in West Africa have died. In Australia, a Jetstar plane was forced to make an emergency landing after a seriously ill passenger was reportedly vomiting blood on board on Wednesday night. A man in his 50s was greeted by paramedics and quarantine officials, including a woman wearing a white Hazmat suit, at Sydney airport after the Darwin-bound flight was forced to turn back. Staff wore protective gloves as they carried the sick traveller across the tarmac on a stretcher and a bright yellow protective plastic bag was also placed on the stretcher. Around 140 people were on board the flight, which had been in the sky for around an hour when the decision was made to turn back. The remaining 255 people were forced to stay on board for two hours until he was cleared, despite airline staff insisting they believed it was a poor-taste joke . A flight attendant warned passengers an 'idiot' had provoked them to call a Hazmat team on board . Quarantine officials examined the plane and the man was taken to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital for treatment. The other passengers were offered hotel rooms after their flight was subsequently cancelled. A Jetstar spokesman told AAP the man was not suffering from Ebola. '(He) was vomiting, and it was clear (he was) quite unwell,' he said. He added that the passenger had a pre-existing medical condition that concerned the medical advisory team. The spokesperson would not disclose the medical condition, but said it was not contagious and there is now no concern of Ebola. France’s health minister Marisol Touraine today said that tests on a suspected Ebola sufferer at the Bichat hospital in Paris had proved negative. A man in his 50s was greeted by paramedics and quarantine officials, including a woman wearing a white Hazmat suit, at Sydney airport after the Darwin-bound flight was forced to turn back. The unnamed female American patient had been travelling in Africa, Ms Touraine said, but she was not suffering from the fatal disease. 'There have been no cases of Ebola in France, and this remains the case,' she added. This morning, tests showed that a man in Prague hospitalised with symptoms of Ebola does not have the virus, said Czech Health Minister Svatopluk Nemecek. 'Laboratory tests did not confirm Ebola,' he told Czech Radio, confirming earlier media reports. 'There is a suspicion of malaria and further checks need to be done. The essential thing is that it is not Ebola.' The 56-year-old Czech businessman who had recently travelled in Liberia was put in isolation at a Prague hospital on Thursday with signs of the virus. Authorities in Taiwan tested a Nigerian woman for Ebola, after she showed symptoms of the virus, but it was revealed earlier today that she tested negative Ebola. She reportedly had a history of malaria. Around 140 people were on board the flight, which had been in the sky for around an hour when the decision was made to turn back . Quarantine officials examined the plane and the man was taken to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital for treatment . In the Unites States, since Thomas Duncan became 'America's patient zero' on September 30, the CDC says it has received more than 800 calls per day from local health workers and other officials desperate to know if their patient has Ebola. In all cases except Mr Duncan's, that answer has been an emphatic no. On Wednesday, a Harlem man checked into Bellevue hospital complaining of a fever and was initially treated as a potential Ebola case, according to the New York Post. The man had recently traveled from Nigeria and was suffering from diarrhea and vomiting, but was apparently given the okay. Sergeant Michael Monnig tested negative for Ebola after spending 24 hours under observation . In Washington, DC, Ebola was ruled out as a potential cause of illness in a man at Howard University Hospital just days after Mr Duncan's diagnosis. Around the same time, at nearby George Washington University, a patient was found to have the flu and not Ebola, as was initially feared. On Wednesday, an American Airlines flight landed at Midland airport in Texas and passengers filed out wearing masks after a passenger 'exhibited one symptom of the Ebola virus on a flight from Dallas'. She too, experts ruled, is Ebola-free. Sergeant Michael Monnig, a Dallas County sheriff, tested negative for Ebola after spending 24 hours under observation at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital. He had entered the Dallas apartment where Ebola patient Thomas Eric Duncan stayed before he was admitted to the hospital. He had no protective clothing and spent about 30 minutes inside. One week later, he showed up at an urgent care clinic in Frisco, Texas, and complained of stomach pains - which are among the common symptoms of the early stages of Ebola. 'Mr Monnig’s condition is good with no fever, no vomiting, no diarrhea reported. His current condition is NOT consistent with an early stage Ebola diagnosis,' the hospital said. Public health officials have said from the beginning that Sgt Monnig's chances of contracting the disease during his short time in the apartment were next to nothing. 'The risk is extremely low because this individual didn't have contact with the Ebola patient, but we want to err on the side of caution,' Texas health commissioner Dr David Lakey said. 'We understand there's a lot of anxiety in the community, and we hope getting test results back will help calm those fears.' | Scare at Liverpool coach station after passenger collapsed and vomited .
Medical staff boarded coach in protective gear and removed the woman .
Doctors at Royal Liverpool Hospital confirmed she did not have Ebola .
Another scare when man yelled 'I have Ebola!' on flight from Philadelphia .
Four Hazmat officers rushed onto US Airways plane to Dominican Republic .
In Australia a plane made emergency landing when passenger vomited blood .
Tests show Czech man with symptoms of Ebola does not in fact have virus .
Woman in Taiwan tested negative for Ebola after showing symptoms of virus .
CDC is handling more than 800 false alarms a day from worried Americans .
Dallas County sheriff tested negative after being in Thomas Duncan's flat . |
54,407 | 9a1b743b2cb47e6243532a28e5d4b0e8dccf0afd | Ministers were facing fresh accusations of electioneering on the taxpayer last night after flocking to marginal seats across the country to announce £1billion in new spending. Some 21 ministers, including half the Cabinet, made official visits to towns and cities across England to announce details of the Government’s ‘Growth Deals’. Between them, they visited 19 seats that are either marginal constituencies or neighbouring marginals. Scroll down for video . Grand plans: More than 20 ministers were in or near key seats yesterday, including David Cameron (above) David Cameron visited two key marginal seats in Devon and Cornwall, announcing £5.9 million for a new road junction in Camborne and Redruth, where Tory MP George Eustice is defending a majority of just 66. Nick Clegg announced £4 million to expand a ‘business incubation facility’ in Bristol, where Liberal Democrat MP Stephen Williams is defending a marginal seat. And Tory Chief Whip Michael Gove visited Thurrock, in Essex, where Jackie Doyle-Price is fending off challenges from both Labour and Ukip. The visits and announcements will fuel growing concerns that ministers are effectively using public funds to bolster their election campaigns. Because the trips are ‘official’ visits, the bill is met by the taxpayer. The high proportion of marginal seats gaining rewards is also likely to raise eyebrows. The Cabinet Office last night denied there was any breach of rules that forbid ministers from electioneering on the taxpayer. Electioneering: Nick Clegg announced £4 million to expand a ‘business incubation facility’ in Bristol . A spokesman said: ‘These visits are not at all about campaigning. 'They’re about going and meeting Local Enterprise Partnerships on the day they’ve agreed a billion pounds of deals with the Government.’ But Shadow Cabinet Office minister Jonathan Ashworth said: ‘Ministers need to come clean and justify this expenditure. 'They must prove this is in the public interest, not just their own electoral interest.’ The SNP last night accused the Lib Dems of a ‘desperate ploy to try and reverse their collapse in support’ following the announcement of a £300 million deal for Inverness, including £2 million to promote tourism linked to the Loch Ness Monster. Lib Dem leader tries to claim credit for recovery . Mr Clegg yesterday sought to claim credit for the economic recovery and urged voters to keep the Lib Dems in power as two expert forecasts suggested Britain was heading for an election stalemate. Bidding to be part of a second coalition with either the Conservatives or Labour, Mr Clegg said that without the Lib Dems, Britain would have been plunged into a debt crisis equivalent to that in Greece. ‘Economic recovery would not have happened without us stepping up to the plate and creating this stable government,’ he said. Mr Clegg’s pitch to remain in office came as academics at Election Forecast UK predicted a dead-heat between the two main parties, with only a three-way coalition able to command a Commons majority. The company forecast 283 seats for the Conservatives, 283 for Labour, 33 for the Scottish Nationalists, 27 for the Lib Dems, eight for the DUP and three for Ukip. A separate forecast, published in the Guardian, also suggested Labour and the Conservatives are on course to win the same number of seats – 273 each. | Some 21 ministers made visits in or near 19 marginal constituencies .
David Cameron visited two key marginal seats in Devon and Cornwall .
Official visits funded by taxpayer - but Cabinet Office denies rulebreaking . |
262,284 | dfb93650b9930c78569c569eb57052adcfa8fbba | Washington (CNN) -- In a move that could improve security and keep airport lines moving, the Transportation Security Administration early next year will begin testing machines that match a traveler's boarding pass with his or her government-issued ID, while verifying that both documents are authentic. The machines will assist the TSA "travel document checkers," who now conduct checks assisted only by ultraviolet flashlights and magnifying loupes. In 2006, an Indiana University doctoral student created a website allowing people to create fake boarding passes to demonstrate how a known terrorist on the "No Fly" list could use a fake boarding pass to get past a checkpoint. Once on the other side, the terrorist could use a real boarding pass acquired under an alias to board a plane. And in June, a Nigerian man was arrested after he flew across the country allegedly with a false boarding pass. Authorities said they found several other phony boarding passes in his luggage. The new technology would authenticate government-issued IDs by comparing written information on the card with information encoded in the ID's bar codes, magnetic strip or computer chip. It would also match the ID to the boarding pass. The system will alert screeners if either document does not pass validation. If the issue is easily rectifiable, such as misspelling of the passenger's name, the TSA may allow the person to proceed. If not immediately resolved, the passenger will be directed to a TSA supervisor. "This technology will help facilitate risk-based security, while making the process more effective and efficient," TSA Administrator John S. Pistole said. The TSA has awarded contracts of $79 million each to three companies: BAE Systems Information Solutions, NCR Government Systems and Trans Digital Technologies, LLC. Each company will provide 10 machines for testing at U.S. airports. The TSA has not disclosed which airports will get the machines. In August, the TSA's chief privacy officer issued a report saying the machines have minimal privacy implications because only a limited amount of personal information is collected by the machines and because this information "is deleted after use." A TSA spokeswoman said earlier versions of the technology were tested at two Washington-area airports in 2009. | The TSA will test machines that match a boarding pass with the passenger's ID .
The TSA has not disclosed which airport will get the test machines .
The machines will be tested starting early in 2012 .
The machines could improve security and traffic flow in airports . |
269,903 | e98f352afd14d7570e818f9ccf3b042946a090ee | PUBLISHED: . 12:01 EST, 8 April 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 13:15 EST, 8 April 2012 . As London 2012 looks to the future with its sci-fi-style cable cars across the Thames, an artefact has come to light giving a fascinating insight into the capital's Olympic past. This newly uncovered poster showing the medalists of 1908 demonstrates how the games have grown between the first London Olympics and this year's competition. Whereas in 1908 only 2,000 athletes from 22 countries competed in 110 events, this summer will see more than 10,000 athletes from 200 nations competing in over 300 events. The poster depicting the modest band of winners was due to be shown on tonight's Antiques Roadshow, along with memorabilia from the 1908 event held at London's White City Stadium. Champions: A poster showing the modest band of winners from the 1908 London Olympics. In the bottom right is the picture's original owner, announcer William Knightsmith . Dapper: William Knightsmith, a favourite toastmaster of the royals, bellows the scores through a megaphone . These items were originally owned by William Knightsmith, who is pictured with a megaphone on the bottom right of the print. In the days before public broadcast systems, it was his job to relay the action to the stands. But he was not just any sports announcer, according to his great grandson who produced the memorabilia when the BBC's Roadshow team visited Wimbledon. Patrick Stevenson said yesterday: 'My great grandfather was a toastmaster, the most famous in the country. He was the one who "invented" the red coat for toastmasters because he didn't want to be mistaken for a waiter. 'He was a favourite of the royals, which is why they asked for him to be their score announcer at the Games. He wore a top hat and relayed the results to the Royal Box by megaphone.' As well as the souvenir poster - which was produced by Gamages, a London department store that closed in 1972 - Mr Stevenson brought to the Roadshow his great grandfather's megaphone and his top hat. Pioneer: The Edwardian toastmaster in his trademark red coat, which he 'invented' to set himself apart from waiters. His great grandson has uncovered the announcer's Olympics memorabilia, including a gold medal . Expert Paul Viney described the poster as 'a wonderful print, showing all the Olympic champions and one or two sports that we don't have these days, such as the tug of war and tandem cyclists.' Mr Stevenson also produced a gold medal won at the 1908 Games in another long-abandoned event. It was won by 25-year-old British runner Emil Voigt, although Mr Stevenson does not know how his family acquired it. Voigt, born in Manchester to German parents, is on the far right of the poster, racing down the track towards William Knightsmith. Mr Viney told Mr Stevenson: 'That's quite incredible: a gold medal in its original leather case inscribed "Olympic Games Winner, five miles run, London 1908". Five miles - they don't do that any more because it's in metres.' Valuation: William Knightsmith's poster and megaphone come under the expert eyes of the Antiques Roadshow team in Wimbledon, London. The megaphone could fetch as much as £2,000 . It was the last occasion on which the five-mile event was run before it was replaced by 5,000 metres and 10,000 metres. On values, Mr Viney said: 'At auction, the medal would probably fetch somewhere between £6,000 and £8,000, and on a good day might even make £10,000.' He said the megaphone could make £1,500 to £2,000. And he valued the poster at £400 to £500. Another figure that has changed markedly since the 1908 Games is the price tag of the event itself. The first London Olympics cost just £20,000 - a tiny fraction of the probable £10billion cost of staging London 2012. | Poster gives a glimpse of the first London Olympics, when just a fifth as many athletes took part .
Among the people shown is original owner William Knightsmith, a pioneering sports announcer and toastmaster to the royals .
Mr Knightsmith's great grandson unveiled his ancestor's Olympics memorabilia to the BBC's Antiques Roadshow . |
84,878 | f0c852a35a24d13b1e975e0a760b1049dfb20a51 | Seoul (CNN) -- Pictured giggling on a park bench, 89-year-old Lee Soon-sang and his wife, Kim Eun-hae, look as though they met just yesterday. In fact, they married more than 60 years ago. But for half a century, Kim believed her husband was dead, missing in action during the Korean War (1950-53). Then in August 2004, a telephone call came from China. "I thought someone was trying to make money off me. I got many calls like that over the years from China, but I didn't pay attention," she said. This was no ordinary call. The voice on the other end of the line shook her to the core. It really was her husband. "I asked, 'Are you really alive?' He answered, 'Yes, I am alive.' Then I asked if he knew so and so, and he did know them. That's how I knew it was real." When they finally met, they barely recognized each other. "He was so skinny, he was wobbling in," recalled Kim. "I could only recognize his nose." In contrast Lee couldn't believe how well fed his wife looked. "She looked like one of those landlords from the old days," he said. "And the propaganda, that all South Koreans are starving to death ... that Americans are taking all the rice and only giving back rotten flour ... I only heard this kind of propaganda, so I thought she was dead. "We just held each other and cried." Lee Soon-sang had been captured by the North Korean army in 1953, two days before the Armistice was signed. He spent three-and-a-half years in a prisoner of war camp and was then sent to work in the notorious coalmines at Aoji, North Korea -- also a production site for gunpowder. There he had remarried and had children -- though he said he never forgot about life before the war. "Life in North Korea was hard', he said. "So I always thought about my hometown. Even though I believed my wife was dead, I always thought I'd go back one day." Decades later, in 2004, a "broker" got in touch -- they are middlemen who make their living smuggling people in and out of North Korea. "He told me that Kim Eun-hae and my son were in China with lots of money, that I should take the money and go back to North Korea to live a better life." Aged 77 by then, he had managed to save up 20,000 North Korean won (approximately US$150) selling cigarettes. "In North Korea, that's a lot of money. You could buy a small house with that. I gave that to my wife and said, 'I'm going to pick acorns, I'll be back in two or three days.' That's how I left." He said he meant to return. But he never did. He won't talk about the family he left behind. "I'm happy now. You're my wife," he told Kim. But the bitterness of his choice is a reality for many whose lives and loyalties were split by a divided Korea. Why the Korean War still matters . Lee attends a lunch organized for prisoners of war like him -- a group of about a dozen men who meet three times a week, all of whom were held captive in the North long after the 1953 Armistice agreement when Pyongyang agreed to return all prisoners of war. Kim Sung Tae left his adopted daughter behind in North Korea when he fled in 2001. "How can we see each other unless there's reunification?" He's 81. He does not expect to see her again. He described the terrible hardships of his life in North Korea, especially the six months he spent in a prisoner of war camp. "We were fed just a few hundred grams of grain a day," he recalled. "I would wake up in the morning and grab handfuls of lice from my body. That was normal." For more than a decade after, his life was spent in a succession of regular prisons, often in solitary confinement in a cell no larger than the size of a crouching man. "When I came back to South Korea, I asked them to take me to a prison here so I could compare. It was like paradise. South Korean prisons treated their prisoners better than North Korea treated their citizens." According to South Korea's Defense Ministry, 8,343 former servicemen have returned to the South since 1953. Eighty of those men escaped through a third country decades after the Armistice was signed. Based on their testimony, the Seoul government believes there are still some 500 POWs living in the North. Kim Sung Tae feels the government should do more to bring them home. Recently, Unification Minister Ryoo Kihi-jae repeated his call for North Korea to resolve the issue of former servicemen and other abductees kept by the North. Pyongyang claims they are there of their own free will. And in the absence of actual talks between the two countries, Seoul has little leverage to orchestrate their release. Men like Lee Soon-sang and Kim Sung Tae are living proof that Pyongyang is wrong. But many Korean war veterans are now well into their eighties -- no longer at an age where fleeing across treacherous borders is particularly feasible. Men whose fate was sealed when they were taken prisoner 60 years ago may never see freedom again. | Lee Soon-sang and his wife reunited after more than half a century .
Lee was taken prisoner by North after the Korean War (1950-53)
Thinking his wife was dead, he remarried and had children in North .
South Korea has called on Pyongyang to release all servicemen held there . |
240,041 | c2c03ee94508dcde3bd41eab6bb94cb788046eb2 | By . Sara Smyth, Jill Reilly and Rachel Quigley . PUBLISHED: . 05:46 EST, 26 April 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 16:21 EST, 26 April 2013 . Release: Dzhokhar Tsarnaev has been released from a civilian hospital . The surviving suspect in the Boston marathon bombings has been released from a civilian hospital and transferred to a federal medical detention center in central Massachusetts. The U.S. Marshals Service said today that Dzhokhar Tsarnaev left Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center overnight and was taken to the Federal Medical Center Devens about 40 miles west of Boston. The minimum security facility, on the decommissioned Fort Devens U.S. Army base, treats federal prisoners and detainees who require specialized long-term medical or mental health care. It has been referred to in the past as 'agreeable' and 'fairly pleasant'. It is designated as an administrative facility, which means it has inmates from different security classifications, from white-collar criminals to mobsters and sex offenders. The medical center currently houses 1,000 inmates with 124 in a minimum-security satellite prison camp. It costs around $157 for each inmate per day. According to its website, these minimum security prison camps, have dormitory housing, a relatively low staff-to-inmate ratio, and limited or no perimeter fencing. They are usually work-and-program oriented and inmates help serve the labor needs of the larger institution or base. Former NYPD officer William Masso, former New Jersey assemblyman Daniel Van Pelt and one time Underworld mafia boss John Franzese, 96, are currently inmates there. The medical center inmates are often allowed to leave the facility to see outside specialists and for tests and medical procedures not available in the medical center. The Federal Bureau of Prisons is focused on preventing rehabilitation by encouraging inmates to participate in a range of programs that have been proven to reduce repeat offending. The level of security which Tsarnaev will be held under depends on his changing circumstances - because he is a pretrial inmate - and he has no set protocol at this time. Tsarnaev will have access to medical and dental care, and the prison's handbook states that inmates have the right to a healthy, nutritious diet, as well as information about staying healthy while behind bars. Scroll down for video . The U.S. Marshals Service said today that Dzhokhar Tsarnaev left Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center overnight and was taken to the Federal Medical Center Devens about 40 miles west of Boston . Tsarnaev said he was behind the devastating terrorist attack. He spoke to police from his hospital bed. Whether suspected terrorists should be read their Miranda rights has become a controversial issue in the U.S . Reflecting on the scenes of destruction at Boston marathon, Vice President Joe Biden condemned the bombing suspects as 'two twisted, perverted, cowardly, knockoff jihadis' Yesterday Tsarnaev admitted to his role in the attacks to the FBI - but clammed up when finally read his Miranda rights. The minimum security facility, on the . decommissioned Fort Devens U.S. Army base, treats federal prisoners and . detainees who require specialized long-term medical or mental health . care. It is designated as an administrative . facility, which means it has inmates from different security . classifications, from white-collar criminals to mobsters and sex . offenders. The medical center currently houses 1,000 inmates with 130 in a minimum-security satellite prison camp. According to its website, these . minimum security prison camps have dormitory housing, a relatively low . staff-to-inmate ratio and limited or no perimeter fencing. They are . usually work and program oriented and inmates help serve the labor needs . of the larger institution or base. The medical center inmates are often . allowed to leave the facility to see outside specialists and for tests . and medical procedures not available in the medical center. The prison has regular onsite specialists in cardiology, nephrology, endocrinology, surgery, neurology and pulmonology. Current and former inmates are: . John Franzese, 96, former Underboss of the Colombo crime family in New York City. He is currently serving an eight-year sentence for racketeering conspiracy in 2011. He is also suspected in numerous Mafia-related murders. Daniel Van Pelt, 48, a member of the New Jersey State Assembly from 2008-2009. He is currently serving a 41-month sentence for bribery. He was arrested in 2010 for accepting $10,000 to provide environmental permits for a development project. Sabri Benkahla, 38, member of the Virginia jihad network. He is currently serving a ten-year sentence for perjury and obstruction of justice after he was convicted of lying to FBI agents and a grand jury about a training camp run by Lashkar-e-Taiba, a Pakistani terrorist organization with ties to al-Qaeda. William Masso, former NYPD officer. He is currently serving a 57-month sentence after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges in 2012 for leading a gun trafficking ring comprised of active and retired police officers. It . has been revealed that Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, initially confessed to . authorities that he and his older brother, Tamerlan Tsarnaev, 26, . carried out the attacks during 16-hours of questioning over the weekend. Dzhokhar has been communicating with . law enforcement officials by writing on a pad after suffering an injury . to his throat during the frenzied manhunt for him which renders him . unable to talk. However, . the moment he was read his rights on Monday - which as a citizen of the . United States entitle him to the constitutional right to remain silent . and seek a lawyer - he stopped communicating. Indeed, . it has been claimed that federal agents were surprised when a . magistrate judge and a representative from the U.S. Attorney's office . entered the hospital room and read Tsarnaev his rights, four officials . and one law enforcement official said. Investigators had planned to keep questioning him. This apparent confusion came after the White House decided against treating Tsarnaev as an enemy combatant. It is unclear as to whether this will . matter in court as the FBI says Tsarnaev has already confessed to a witness. A spokeswoman for U.S. Attorney Carmen Ortiz said: 'Before being advised of his rights, . the 19-year-old suspect told authorities that his older brother, . Tamerlan Tsarnaev, 26, only recently had recruited him to be part of the . attack'. The debate over whether suspected . terrorists should be read their Miranda rights has become a sticking point. Many Repuplicans believe they hinder intelligence gathering. The Department of Justice has said . investigators may wait until they have gathered intelligence about other . threats before reading those rights in terrorism cases. Investigators have found . pieces of remote-control equipment among the debris and are analyzing . them, officials said. One official described the detonator as 'close-controlled,' meaning it had to be triggered within several blocks of the bombs. Dzhokhar is recovering in a hospital . from injuries suffered during a getaway attempt last Friday. Police had . previously said Dzhokhar exchanged gunfire with them for more than an . hour last Friday before they captured him inside a boat in a suburban Boston neighbourhood. A piece of remote control equipment has been found amongst the debris at the scene of the bombing. Experts say it would have been triggered just blocks away from the site of the bomb . Confused reports about the shootout in a Boston backyard have emerged. Officials now claim that Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was unarmed as he hid in boat in Watertown. This contradicts Boston Police Commissioner's account of hour-long firefight with Tsarnaev . But yesterday, two unnamed officials . said that he was unarmed when captured, raising questions . about the gunfire and how he was injured. The report contradicts the Boston police department's own account of Dzhokar Tsarnaev's capture - after commissioner Ed Davies describes a firefight between him and officers before the terror suspect was captured. More than 4,000 mourners at the . Massachusetts Institute of Technology paid tribute to a campus police . officer who authorities say was gunned down by the bombing . suspects. Among the speakers in Cambridge, just outside Boston, was Vice . President Joe Biden, who condemned the bombing suspects as 'two twisted, . perverted, cowardly, knockoff jihadis.' Mr Biden paid tribute to officer Sean Collier's family: 'The moment will come when the memory of . Sean is triggered and you know it's going to be OK. The purpose of . terror is to instill fear. You saw none of it here in Boston. Boston, you sent a powerful message to the world.' U.S. Vice President Joe Biden gives his respects to police officers at memorial services for officer Sean Collier, who authorities say was shot dead by the Boston Marathon bombing suspect . Investigators have said the . brothers appeared to have been radicalized through jihadist materials on . the Internet and have found no evidence tying them to a terrorist . group. Dzhokhar told the FBI that they were angry about the U.S. wars in . Afghanistan and Iraq and the killing of Muslims there, officials said. | Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, 19, released from a civilian hospital today .
Transferred to federal medical detention center in central Massachusetts .
He was questioned for 16 hours before read Miranda rights .
Confessed to plot but was not aware of right to stay silent or to a lawyer .
Pieces of suspicious remote control equipment found in bomb debris . |
27,680 | 4e7382aabe62a4f895300256b2c322fcb442a8f2 | About 5,000 chemical weapons were recovered or destroyed in Iraq following the 2003 invasion but the Pentagon chose to keep the findings top secret, it has emerged. An investigation by The New York Times has revealed that U.S. forces happened across the hidden caches of warheads, shells and aviation bombs between 2004 and 2011. But the information wasn't made public as embarrassingly the weapons, many of which had been built in close collaboration with the West, had been sitting dormant since the 1980s and so didn't support President George W. Bush's rationale for going to war. At least 17 American troops were also seriously injured discovering and attempting to destroy the deteriorating shells filled with nerve and mustard agents. Scroll down for video . Cache: Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal technicians prepare unexploded ordnance for demolition at a safe disposal area near Baghdad in 2003. 5,000 chemical weapons were found in Iraq but the public was never told . Hidden: Between 2004 and 2011 soldiers found thousands of rusty chemical munitions throughout Iraq, most of them buried . Prior to the 2003 invasion by coalition forces, President Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair had said the mission was 'to disarm Iraq of weapons of mass destruction, to end Saddam Hussein's support for terrorism, and to free the Iraqi people.' But all the weapons found had been developed before 1991. Most of them were mustard agents in 155-millimeter artillery shells or 122-millimeter rockets developed by Hussein during the Iran-Iraq war which raged between 1980 and 1988. Another reason for the cover-up, according to The Times, was that five of the six chemical weapons encounters involved weapons designed by the U.S. ''Nothing of significance' is what I was ordered to say,' said Jarrod Lampier, a now-retired Army major who was present when forces found 2,400 nerve agent rockets in 2006 - the largest chemical weapons discovery of the war. Secrets: In 2002 President George W. Bush said Hussein was developing a program of chemical weapons but no evidence of such weapons was ever found . Soldiers were also loathe to report finding the caches as documenting chemical weapons added hours of extra work to their load. Chemical warfare specialists had to be called in, and waiting for them to arrive put coalition forces in dangerous positions. 'I could wait all day for tech escort to show up and make a chem round disappear, or I could just make it disappear myself,' one ex-soldier told The Times. The mustard shells could be put in with other explosives that needed to be destructed and then detonated. However, handling chemical weapons lead to many injuries, which were not taken seriously by military doctors at the time. Many explosive ordnance disposal personnel were not aware that the shells they were handling contained chemicals, believing them to be regular old artillery. Weaponry: This file picture dated 31 December 2000 shows Iraqi President Saddam Hussein holding up his rifle during a military parade at Baghdad's Nasr square . At least 17 American military personnel and seven Iraqi police were sickened by poisons - usually sarin and mustard gases. Many of the shells would leak liquid during transportation, exposing the soldiers to the potentially-lethal fumes. Symptoms ranged from disorientation and nausea to blindness and huge, seething blisters. Jarrod Taylor, a former Army sergeant on hand for the destruction of mustard shells that burned two soldiers in his infantry company, joked of 'wounds that never happened' from 'that stuff that didn't exist'. 'I love it when I hear, ‘'Oh there weren't any chemical weapons in Iraq'',’ he said. 'There were plenty.' President Bush, together with strong support from then British Prime Minister Tony Blair, left, claimed that Sadam was in possession of weapons of mass destruction in 2003 . In March 2003, President Bush received a mandate from the U.S. Congress to lead an invasion of Iraq, asserting that Iraq was in violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1441. With strong support from British P.M. Tony Blair, the Bush administration claimed that Sadam and his forces were in possession of weapons of mass destruction that posed a threat to U.S. security and that of allies including the U.K. and Australia. After investigation following the invasion, the U.S. led Iraq Survey Group concluded that Iraq had ended its nuclear, chemical and biological programs in 1991 and had no active programs at the time of the invasion, but that they intended to resume production if the Iraq sanctions were lifted. Although no active chemical weapons program was found, at least 17 U.S. troops and 7 Iraqi police officers were burned or wounded when chemical devices exploded. President Bush later said that the biggest regret of his presidency was 'the intelligence failure' in Iraq, while the Senate Intelligence Committee found in 2008 that his administration 'misrepresented the intelligence and the threat from Iraq'. The U.S. completed its withdrawal of military personnel in December 2011, during the ninth year of the war. The rise of ISIS means that the U.S. will send an army headquarters to Iraq for the first time in three years to assist local security forces struggling to resist advances by the fundamentalist group. A U.S. Army Third Infantry Division soldier loads materials discovered in an explosives laboratory hidden in a home April 15, 2003 in Baghdad, Iraq . U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry (centre) is greeted as he arrives at Vienna International Airport. He's in the country to discuss Iran's nuclear program . | An estimated 5,000 chemical weapons were found in Iraq between 2004 and 2011, it has been revealed .
Pentagon chose not to release the information to the general public for several embarrassing reasons .
The weapons did not meet George W. Bush's rationale that Saddam Hussein had a program of 'mass destruction'
Most had been developed by Saddam's forces during the 1980s and had been built in close collaboration with the West .
At least 17 American military personnel were injured due to the mishandling of the weapons .
George W Bush has described the 'intelligence failure' over Iraq as the greatest failure of his presidency . |
43,584 | 7ae97dc194180930b1cb7bcb06612df65710f51a | PUBLISHED: . 10:40 EST, 28 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:40 EST, 28 August 2013 . Increased awareness of SAD is causing many to incorrectly self-diagnose . Seasonal affective disorder - known as SAD - is a rare phenomenon that has been exaggerated, claims a new report. A study of almost 800 people has shown neither time of year nor weather conditions greatly influence depressive symptoms in the majority of people. Researchers believe the power of the ‘winter blues’ has been over-egged because of awareness of SAD - and a general dislike of the cold. Dr David Kerr, of Oregon State University in the United States, said: 'We may not have as much fun, we can feel cooped up and we may be less active in the winter. 'But that’s not the same as long-lasting sadness hopelessness, and problems with appetite and sleep - real signs of clinical depression.' His team compared data from U.S. citizens who completed self-report measures of depressive symptoms multiple times over a period of years with local weather conditions - including sunlight intensity. Some 92 per cent of participants reported seasonal changes in mood and behaviour and 27 per cent said these were a problem. However, Dr Jeff Shaman, of Columbia University, said: 'We found a very small effect during the winter months - but it was much more modest than would be expected if seasonal depression were as common as many people think it is. 'We were surprised. With a sample of nearly 800 people and very precise measures of the weather we expected to see a larger effect.' The study, published online by the Journal of Affective Disorders, concluded getting depressed when it’s cold and dreary outside may not be as common as is often believed. Dr Kerr said his findings do not rule out the existence of clinically diagnosed SAD but shows people may be overestimating the impact seasons have on depression in the general population. Many SAD sufferers use UV lamps during the winter months, believing that it can help lift their mood . He said: 'It’s clear from prior research SAD exists. But our research suggests what we often think of as the winter blues does not affect people nearly as much as we may think.' Dr Kerr believes the misunderstanding could have arisen by most studies of seasonal depression asking people to look back on their feelings over time. He said: 'People are really good at remembering certain events and information. 'But unfortunately we probably can’t accurately recall the timing of day-to-day emotions and symptoms across decades of our lives. These research methods are a problem.” Dr Kerr said people who believe they have SAD should get help. He said clinical trials show cognitive behaviour therapy, anti-depressants and light box therapy can all help relieve both depression and SAD. He said: 'Fortunately there are many effective treatments for depression - whether or not it is seasonal. Cognitive behaviour therapy stands out because it has been shown to keep SAD from returning the next year.' | Research has shown that neither the time of year nor weather conditions influence depressive symptoms greatly in the majority of people .
Experts believe that increased awareness of Seasonal Affective Disorder has led many to falsely believe they suffer with the condition .
Dr David Kerr, of Oregon State University said: 'We may not have as much fun in winter but that’s not the same as real clinical depression' |
209,695 | 9b911dbdf731da04e460d2e8157cf1bedd21c96c | By . David Kent . As the 2014 World Cup continues, Sportsmail will be providing you with all you need to know about every fixture in Brazil from team news and key battles to betting odds and Opta stats... Here is all the information you need for the first game in Group H between Belgium and Algeria. Click here to follow the Belgium vs Algeria World Cup 2014 action live . Venue: Estadio Mineirao, Belo Horizonte . Kick-off: 5pm (1pm, Brazil time) TV coverage: ITV1, from 4pm . Best bet: Belgium winning at half-time and full-time — evens . Referee: Marco Rodriguez (Mexico) Managers: Marc Wilmots (Belgium)Vahid Halilhodzic (Algeria) VIDEO Team Profile: Belgium . Training day: Belgium's players are put through their pace on Sunday ahead of Tuesday's clash . One to watch . Sporting Lisbon striker Islam Slimani top-scored for Algeria in qualifying with five and has an impressive 10 goals in just 19 games. A powerful front man and will be Algeria’s major attacking threat. Familiar face . Take your pick from the Belgian line-up — 12 of their squad are owned by Premier League clubs, but there’s no doubt who the star man is. Eden Hazard had a sensational season for Chelsea. Can he keep it up on the world stage? History lesson . Don’t expect goals from Algeria. They haven’t scored at the World Cup since 1986 and Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois saved 87.1 per cent of shots in qualifying. Did you know? On the eve of the last World Cup, Belgium were ranked 48th in the world. When the draw for 2014 was made, Belgium were 5th. VIDEO Team Profile: Algeria . Underdogs: Algeriago through their final rpeparations at the Mineirao Stadium in Belo Horizonte . Head-to-head record: . Played 2, Belgium Wins 1, Draws 1 . Opta stats: . | Belgium play Algeria in the first Group H World Cup match .
Eden Hazard among seven Premier League stars set to start for Belgium .
Algeria have not beaten Belgium in only two matches between the sides .
Belgium .
have won one of their last nine World Cup games (3-2 v Russia on .
June 14, 2002), drawing five and losing three. They have kept one clean .
sheet in these nine games: v Netherlands in 1998 (0-0).
Belgium are unbeaten in their last two World Cup group stages, in 1998 and 2002 (W1 D5).
Algeria .
have failed to score in their last five World Cup games, attempting 71 .
unsuccessful shots since their last goal on June 3, 1986 against Northern .
Ireland (1-1, Djamel Zidane with the goal).
Belgium are unbeaten in two previous internationals against Algeria, winning one and drawing one (both friendlies).
Thibaut .
Courtois saved 87.1 per cent of shots faced in the European qualifiers, the .
best ratio among goalkeepers who featured more than five times.
Eight .
of Belgium’s last 14 goals at the World Cup have come from set-pieces .
(5 from a corner kick, 2 from a direct free-kick, 1 from an indirect .
free-kick).
Only Spain (3) conceded fewer goals than Belgium (4) in the 2014 European World Cup qualifiers.
The Red Devils are unbeaten in two previous World Cup games against sides from Africa, winning one and drawing one. |
145,399 | 480791ccff700b6f5212ef13a890895daa5520d9 | It's a gripe often levelled at Britain's frosty talent show judges: why don't you get up and do this yourselves? A beauty contest judge in Romania did just that - and duly out-danced her own contestants to win the £3,000 top prize. Cristina Pucean made headlines when she triumphed at the Miss Piranda contest, whose entrants have showcased traditional Roma music and dancing for more than 20 years. Scroll down for video . Joining in: Beauty contest judge Cristina Pucean joined her own show in Romania - and won the top prize . Dancing feet: Speaking after the show, she said she couldn't resist the thrill of the competition . The 19-year-old, who has thousands of fans and dances on the club scene in London, had won a previous title at the age of 16 and was invited back to be one of the judges. But when the contest took place at a packed sports hall in the capital Bucharest, she jumped over the judges' table to join in, according to a report by the Central European News agency. There were boos when her performances was given a standing ovation by fellow judge and music promoter Ion Petrisor, 46, dubbed the contest's equivalent of Simon Cowell. According to the report, he told the crowd: 'I don't know about you, but I thought she was amazing. As far as I'm concerned, she beat the rest hands down, and she definitely deserves the prize.' But his decision was instantly challenged by the third jury member, Adrian Cristea. Criticism: The 19-year-old (right) said she didn't think the other dancers in the show were 'up to much' Fame: The dancer (left) has thousands of fans on Facebook. Right, fellow judge Ion Petrisor, 46, was a fan . Bemused: The show provided a spectacle for the audience in the Romanian capital Bucharest . He said that his favourite was one of the original candidates named Ana Maria, 17, and suggested that he would rather give it to her. The two judges argued until Cristea turned and walked out of the contest as the 5,000-strong audience shouted and catcalled - and the entrants watched in amusement. According to the report, Cristina later posted on her Facebook page: 'I am sorry that I caused a bit of a mess, it wasn't planned. 'I wasn't even an official candidate, but when I saw everybody dancing and I didn't think they looked up to much, I couldn't contain myself and wanted to rush out and take part in the thrill of the contest. 'I never thought I'd end up winning, and I can promise everybody that nothing was arranged.' Cristina, who adorned her ornate yellow and black outfit with a white Miss Piranda sash, was awarded 4,000 Euros (£3,200) and a one-week holiday in Dubai. She wrote: 'I never thought I'd end up winning, and I can promise everybody that nothing was arranged' TV talent show: Cristina, pictured with her fellow judge Ion Petrisor, decided to abandon the judges' table . | Cristina Pucean, 19, was invited to be judge at Miss Piranda contest .
But she ended up taking part - and was duly awarded the highest honour .
'I couldn't contain myself and wanted to rush out and take part', she said . |
80,623 | e48143b94a087a5683795d19411ae61cdbfa9179 | By . Steve Robson . PUBLISHED: . 10:33 EST, 22 June 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 03:56 EST, 23 June 2013 . Babies learn how to use their muscles by twitching in their sleep, according to controversial new research. Scientist Mark Blumberg has claimed babies' brains are learning how to use their muscles and limbs while they are deep in slumber. Video footage showing the jerky movements of babies' arms and legs has been used in Professor Blumberg's research. Scroll down for video . Silent night: This controversial research puts to bed the idea that babies twitch in their sleep because they are dreaming . Subtle difference: The involuntary twitch in the baby's arms pulls his arms off the base of his crib. They are momentarily suspended in midair . Do all babies do it? The research studied footage of other mammals. These three kittens move in a similar way to the baby . Planning ahead: The involuntary movements are said to be the brain's way of learning how to move the body's muscles . The babies' twitching has been . compared to the involuntary movements made by animals including rats and . squirrels, showing a similarity between the two. In a new paper published in Current Biology, Blumberg argues that the . movements, known as myoclonic twitching, play a key role in the . development of the nervous system. During his research, the University of Iowa professor analysed the twitching sleep movements of rats. When . he slowed down the video, he found the seemingly-random jerks had a . pattern. The movement of limbs is often copied, from right to left or . vice versa. Blumberg said this copied behaviour is the brain's motor . system learning how to build up towards more complex movements. 'The . brain is trying to understand, what are my limbs, how many do I have, . and how many joints, and muscles, and how do they all move together?' he . told National Geographic. 'So . that later, you can fire off a command somewhere in your mind, and . generate a whole series of joint movements that would bring a bottle to . your mouth, or make it possible to step.' It is most commonly assumed that the adorable involuntary movements made by babies are a sign that the child is dreaming. In . order to try and better understand these movements, scientists are now . building robots which mirror the neurological patterns of the brain. When they perform muscle contractions, they can see which circuit patterns emerge. The . research remains controversial however. Sleep scientists continue to . debate the reasons why humans sleep and how much is necessary. Insight: When Professor Blumberg examined footage of sleeping mammals he found a pattern in the jerky movements . Getting some rest: Footage of this sleeping squirrel shows the sleeping motion up-close . Controversial: Sleep scientists debate the reasons why humans sleep and the way in which they sleep . Research: Psychologist Dr Blumberg believes the twitching explains how infant mammals learn more complex movements . | Puppies, kittens and even rats more in similar way to babies in their sleep .
Psychologist Mark Blumberg's controversial research says sleep movements don't result from dreaming .
Small movements are said to be babies practicing behavior for later in life . |
11,838 | 2193146c84552e123610964e99522b426099068d | A team in Oklahoma that prepared condemned murderer Clayton Lockett for execution in April failed to set a properly functioning I-V in his leg, according to preliminary findings of an independent autopsy released on Friday. The review was conducted by forensic pathologist Dr. Joseph Cohen in May and funded by Lockett's lawyers. Lockett's attempted execution occurred at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester. He died from an apparent heart attack 43 minutes after the execution began. The autopsy was conducted separately from a formal state investigation. Outside examinations are common in certain cases. Documents: Not enough drugs left to finish botched Oklahoma execution . Oklahoma court grants stay after botched execution . Tennessee to use electric chair when lethal drugs unavailable . Appeals court stays Texas execution after intellectual disability claim . | Autopsy funded by inmates lawyer says IV improperly set .
The lethal injection was botched and Clayton Lockett died 43 minutes later .
The April fiasco in Oklahoma is under formal investigation . |
283,068 | faabaec0fb3ab84b0df6a65bea5515bc2a0dc1f4 | By . Nazia Parveen . PUBLISHED: . 08:50 EST, 18 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 14:40 EST, 21 February 2013 . Carjackers left a man for dead after stabbing him repeatedly in a botched bid to steal his Mercedes. Stephen Bennett, 59, was leaving the home of a relative who had died recently when he was ambushed by two men demanding the keys to his £25,000 car. Shocked neighbours saw Mr Bennett being dragged to the floor, punched and kicked before being stabbed with a large knife. The man was targeted outside his home in Worcester Avenue in Hindley, Wigan, where his Mercedes was parked . The stabbed man rang his neighbour's doorbell for help (left) after his attackers fled down a nearby alley (right) The men ran off following the attack at 10am on Sunday. Mr Bennett managed to stagger to a house to raise the alarm. He is in a ‘very serious’ condition in . hospital after suffering 12 stab wounds to his arms and neck although . his injuries are not life-threatening. Philip Leyland, 50, said Mr Bennett . was subjected to ‘horrific’ violence by the carjackers, one of whom wore . a balaclava. Mr Leyland, a mechanic who had been visiting his father in . the quiet residential street in Hindley, hear Wigan, said: ‘They were . beating the hell out of him and I tried to get out of my car to help but . they pulled this knife out and then stabbed him. ‘They had been trying to pinch his new . Mercedes. It was incredibly shocking because they were kicking the hell . out of him and all just for a car. I got out to help but as I did one . of the men picked up a huge blade and threatened me with it, so I backed . off. The blood-spattered doorstep of a neighbour on Worcester Avenue where the stabbed man went for help . The incident happened on Worcester Avenue and it is believed the attackers fled down an alley Smithwood Avenue in Hindley, Wigan . ‘They didn’t get the car – they ran . off down the street and the older guy hobbled to a neighbour’s house. He . looked in a bad way and was covered in blood.’ Resident John Primrose, 40, said: . ‘Once they stabbed him they ran down an alleyway. It was terrible . because he was covered in blood and hobbling all over the place. It’s . terrifying to think something like this has happened on our road.’ Neighbour William Leyland, 76, said: ‘It was awful and the street is covered in his blood. ‘This is such a nice, quiet . neighbourhood but sometimes you get young lads coming from other estates . to cause trouble and steal because they know people round here are nice . and well-to-do.’ A Mercedes C220 similar to the one that the man was attacked for (file picture) Elizabeth Meadows, 68, said: ‘He came . to my door and was covered in blood. He was a dreadful sight. I just . called for an ambulance.’ Yesterday there were still pools of . blood at the scene. Mr Bennett, a father of one who lives nearby with . his wife May, 56, and works for a roofing factory, had been at the home . of his father-in-law Herbert Maiden, who died last year. The family is selling the property and . it is believed Mr Bennett was collecting post when the carjackers . jumped on him in the drive of the semi-detached house and tried to steal . his white Mercedes C220. The attackers are both white. One wore . a red top and a balaclava, the other a pale blue top with striped . sleeves and a high-peaked hat. Detective Inspector Jon Keeley of . Wigan CID said: ‘The horrific injuries the man sustained could easily . have proved fatal, such was the ferocity of this attack. ‘He was stabbed 12 times just so these would-be thieves could steal his car.’ A man has been arrested and is being questioned by police on suspicion of attempted murder. Sorry we are unable to accept comments for legal reasons. | Victim left seriously injured after being stabbed 12 times in attempted theft .
Onlookers thought men were play-fighting and saw 'rolling around' on lawn .
Neighbour's doorstep left soaked in blood after victim went for help . |
5,588 | 0fe3770eb88de9c50980d05fcb9fb655c6b5f35b | By . Martin Beckford . PUBLISHED: . 18:15 EST, 23 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 19:15 EST, 23 November 2013 . A plan to pay £1,000 ‘bonuses’ to Special Constables has been branded ‘policing on the cheap’ and a cut-price way to fill the gap created by the loss of 10,000 full-time officers. At present Special Constables - volunteers often with other jobs - only receive expenses. The Home Office hopes that by allowing local forces to make the bonus payments it will help them recruit more Specials. Dispute: The chairman of the Police Federation Specials working group said the plan could be an attempt to fill gaps which should be taken by regular officers . But Andy Fittes, chairman of the Police Federation Specials working group, said: ‘Our fear is this could be policing on the cheap, trying to fill gaps which should be taken by regular officers.’ In some areas, Specials, along with civilian Police Community Support Officers, already make up the majority of key town centre patrols on busy Friday and Saturday nights. They are trained and have the power of arrest but are less experienced than regular officers, and may have work commitments that mean they have to cancel shifts at short notice. Mr Fittes added: ‘When you start to rely on a group of people who have day jobs, you could have a scenario where no one turns up. It’s nothing to do with them as individuals or their training – it’s just they have a job outside the force.’ Adam Simmonds, crime tsar for Northamptonshire, believes the bonus plan would transform policing, especially in rural areas. Replacements? The plan comes ahead of a report which will warn that cuts are threatening the survival of the traditional beat bobby . He said: ‘Specials are the only realistic way to bring the village bobby back as a familiar trusted face, stopping the police from being a remote bureaucracy for many rural people.’ But James Deller, secretary of the Association of Special Constabulary Chief Officers, said: ‘Specials are members of the public keeping their neighbourhoods safe. If you start paying people, will you get a different person coming forward?’ The plan comes as a major report due to be published tomorrow warns that cuts are threatening the survival of the traditional beat bobby. The study, commissioned by Labour and produced by former Met Commissioner Lord Stevens of Kirkwhelpington, will say that 10,000 frontline officer posts have been lost as a result of a 20 per cent cut in force budgets since the 2010 Election. It will also say that police are only now reacting to crimes rather than preventing them, as ‘bobbies on the beat are disappearing’. | Special Constables could be paid a bonus under new Government plans .
At the moment they only receive expenses for their work .
Police Federation has warned that it could replace qualified policemen . |
50,568 | 8f1c4ff0f593e14f17572661e6d1f80a5582c98f | A Florida woman has been found guilty of locking her boyfriend's son in a cupboard and starving him and could now face up to 120 years behind bars. Sharon Glass, 49, from Brevard, was found guilty on eight counts of aggravated child abuse on Friday after four days on trial. She and her boyfriend Michael Marshall, 40, were arrested in 2012 after police found Marshall's 12-year-old son lying on the bathroom floor weighing just 40 pounds. Brutal: Sharon Glass (left) has been found guilty of eight counts of aggravated child abuse and now faces up to 120 years behind bars while her boyfriend Michael Marshall (right) is awaiting trial on similar charges . On Friday Glass told the court that she hadn't noticed the boy was emaciated because he was always wearing baggy jumpers. She also claimed she had nothing to do with disciplining the boy, who was regularly locked in a cupboard and tied to a bed post. She said she wanted to leave the relationship with Marshall, but that during the four years she dated him he threatened to kill her several times. Marshall is currently in jail awaiting trial on similar charges. During the trial the boy, now 14, described being starved nearly to death and locked in both a closet and a bathroom for days on end by his father and his father's girlfriend. Looking far healthier than he did when he was rescued two years ago weighing just 40 pounds, the boy testified at Sharon Glass' child abuse trial Wednesday, softly recounting his time with the woman, who he first met in 2009 when he was in the third grade and she was dating his dad, Michael Marshall. Giving short answers to the prosecutor's questions, he said Glass quickly moved into their home in Titusville, Florida and he began to call her 'mom.' But he soon started getting in trouble, beginning with the time Glass accused him of stealing an iPod, he told the court. Scroll down for video . Abuse: A 14 year old boy, who has not been identified, has described being starved nearly to death and locked in a closet for days on end by his father and his father's girlfriend . Trial: The boy testified at the child abuse trial of Sharon Glass, pictured, on Wednesday . According to clickorlando.com, he testified . he didn't take the gadget, but was later accused of stealing other . things, and was severely punished for taking fruit off a tree and hiding . food. 'I was constantly locked up,' the boy, who hasn't been identified, said. He said he would escape when he was put in his room, leading Glass to threaten to leave Marshall if he didn't lock the boy up. So . the father did. The boy, without shedding a tear or changing his tone . of voice, told the court they put him in a closet and secured the door . with a bungee cord and a desk. He even bravely illustrated with a laser pointer how they wrapped a cord around the knobs of the sliding closet doors to keep him inside. When asked if Glass and Marshall would talk to him, he replied: 'Not unless they were telling me to be quiet, basically.' They gave him diapers so they wouldn't have to let him out to use the bathroom and he was fed macaroni noodles, ramen noodles and sometimes canned vegetables. When he was out of the closet he would take any food he could find and hide it, he said. Evidence: The court was shown pictures of the closet the boy was locked in, pictured . Bathroom: He was also locked in this bathroom . Numerous holidays passed when he was locked away, including Valentines Day, St. Patrick's Day and Easter. Later, he was locked in a bathroom after his father zip-tied him to the post of a bunk bed for three days and he chewed through the ropes to escape. But he said on Christmas day in 2011 he was let out of the bathroom to watch other children who lived in the house open gifts. He was then put back inside with a stocking full of coal. 'I just cried,' he recounted. He noticed himself getting smaller he said, and his clothes getting baggier. The court was shown a tiny pair of Spiderman pajamas, boys size 8, that he was found in and pictures showing a malnourished child with gaunt cheeks and skeletal ribs. It wasn't until March 2012 that he was rescued from his hell, when a family friend raised the alarm. At the time, investigators said another month of the alleged horrific abuse would have killed him. Thankfully, there were no obvious signs of the trauma he endured when he appeared in court, now a teen, not yet 5-feet tall. He smiled at times and even laughed. Arrest: The couple were finally arrested in March 2012 when the boy was freed . Rescued: The boy, with his face obscured, is seen in March 2012 when police rescued him from the home . Making the case all the more horrific is the fact that teachers at the child's school first reported his injuries to authorities some 17 months before he was eventually rescued. Distraught teachers at South Lake Elementary School said they repeatedly called the Department for Children and Families to try to get help for the boy, then aged 12. The abuse started while he was a pupil at the school. The boy moved to Apollo Elementary School where he spent just 10 days in class before being withdrawn to be home-schooled. Marshall and Glass were angered because he was getting extra food at school, police said. About . two months after taking him out, they told the district he would attend . a private school - essentially stopping the district's efforts to keep . track of him and his education. Home: Distraught teachers at South Lake Elementary School said they repeatedly called the Department for Children and Families to try to get help for the boy, then aged 12, but were ignored . 'We tried, and we tried, and we begged,' said Ronda Rochon, the boy's teacher at the school he attended for third, fourth and fifth grade. 'I honestly thought the next call that I got about him was that he would be dead.' Glass's ex-husband, Tony Glass, said he called DCF 12 times, concerned that his three children who lived with their mother were often dirty and had head lice. 'I called them so many times because of my concerns with the kids, they told me to stop calling,' he said. 'If you’re told by DCF to stop calling, what else can you do? Who else can you call?' The last time the department looked into the complaints was 2010 when they decided there was not enough evidence to justify removing the boy from his father. 'There is a difference between reporting child abuse and reporting concern and being able to remove a child from their home,' DCF spokeswoman Carrie Hoeppner told MailOnline. Speaking to Florida Today at the time she added: 'You can't remove a child on a hunch. Of all the resources we have, the one tool we don't have is a crystal ball.' Begging for help: 'We tried, and we tried, and we begged,' said Ronda Rochon, the boy's teacher at the school he attended for third, fourth and fifth grade, of DCF . Action was eventually taken on March 15 when a woman walked into Titusville Police Department told officers her boyfriend had gone to a friend's home and had seen an emaciated boy locked in the bathroom. Detectives went to the house and found the boy curled up on the floor. Police said the boy would be zip-tied to a bed in a standing position and forced to sleep that way. To stop him from crying, a dirty sock was duct-taped in his mouth. The couple arrived home while police were still at the property and reportedly confessed to caging and punishing the boy, including denying him food, according to Local 6 News. They said they punished the boy because he began stealing food after it was being withheld from him, Titusville police said in the report. Hospital staff said the condition of the child when he was found resembled images of 'concentration camp survivors.' He was severely malnourished and treated for dehydration. The boy and two of his siblings have been in DCF custody since the ordeal. | Sharon Glass, 49, found guilty on eight counts of aggravated child abuse .
She abused her boyfriend's son by locking him in a cupboard .
The boy, now 14, who hasn't been identified, testified that he was starved .
He was rescued two years ago weighing just 40 pounds .
He didn't shed a tear as he recounted years spent locked up in a closet and a bathroom by Glass, his father's girlfriend .
Glass's boyfriend Michael Marshall, 40, will be tried later this year . |
32,561 | 5c91f97ea219092e76ec5df35bf1e9cf14ca5614 | By . Bianca London . PUBLISHED: . 06:41 EST, 17 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 07:53 EST, 17 December 2013 . An overweight barman who went on a diet to get a girlfriend is now fighting off the ladies after becoming a dead ringer for One Direction's Zayn Malik. Connor Sayer, 20, tipped the scales at over 14 stone due to his habitual heavy drinking sessions and a love of takeaways. But Connor decided to get in shape to land a girlfriend, lost four stone - and developed an uncanny resemblance to the X-Factor heartthrob. Heading in the right direction: Connor Sayer, 20, after he turned his life around by losing four stone and restyling himself as a Zayn Malik lookalike . And after slimming down to 10 stone, he is now is swamped with offers from girls - and modelling agencies. Connor is even juggling two girlfriends at the same time. He said: 'I was always the funny guy, the guy who made you laugh but who was always single. I was the token fat lad of the group. 'All my mates were skinny and had girlfriends, and so I overcompensated by being arrogant and thinking I was cool. Before and after: Connor, pictured (left) at fourteen stone, shed four stone to get a girlfriend and is now fighting off the ladies after becoming a dead ringer for Zayn (right) Spot the difference: After slimming down to 10 stone, he is now is swamped with offers from girls - and modelling agencies - and is currently looking for work as a Zayn Malik (right) lookalike . 'In reality, I was just self-conscious and insecure. I didn't realise I looked anything like Zayn Malik until my friends told me I should start modelling. 'I put some pictures up on Facebook and I was inundated with messages from girls telling me how much I looked like him. 'Now, when I go to the pub or go out on a night out, girls just flock to me asking me for my number.' Connor, of Doncaster, Yorkshire - the same county as Malik - piled on the pounds late in his teens, although he admits he was a chubby school kid. He said: 'I was always the fat one, but when I started drinking, that's when it got worse. I hated being around my mates who were skinny and had girlfriends. That's what makes him beautiful: He piled on the pounds with heavy drinking sessions and takeaways - before turning over a new leaf with the popular 5:2 diet . 'I used to just laugh off my problems and I would drink five days of the week, and never do any exercise. 'I tried to lose weight in the past, but with no girlfriend to notice, I gave up pretty quickly.' Connor, who works part-time as a barman, decided enough was enough, and after reading an article about the 5:2 diet, he decided to give it a go. Fasting for two days a week, and eating healthily on the other five, Connor saw the difference almost immediately. As he was: Connor tipped the scales at more than 14 stone and described himself as the 'class clown' who no one took seriously . 'The first two weeks were the toughest because my body had to get used to being denied food,' he said. 'After that my stomach shrank and I wasn't able to eat what I did before. 'I started cycling four miles every day and the weight just fell off.' Connor lost four stone in total, and the transformation has turned his life around. He approached an agency and is now modelling part-time, but he says the best thing about looking like Zayn Malik is the attention he gets from girls. He said: 'It's a massive compliment that girls even find me attractive at all, as I still see the same lad, just a bit skinnier. 'My confidence has increased enormously, and I can't go to a pub without getting propositioned. And if they think I'm really him, who am I to tell them otherwise? 'I'm not a huge fan of One Direction, but after people told me I looked like one of them, I started listening to them. Now, I'm a total One Directioner.' Back in the day: Connor, of Doncaster, Yorkshire - the same county as Malik - piled on the pounds in his teens . | Connor Sayer, 20, from Doncaster, weighed 14 stone .
Piled on weight die to love of takeaways and heavy drinking sessions .
Slimmed to 10 stone on 5:2 diet .
Swamped with offers from girls and modelling agencies . |
237,832 | bfd5d6728d6e3f5aa47b7ad7959230a37df4d6cc | By . Adam Crafton . Follow @@AdamCrafton_ . Louis van Gaal announced his arrival at Old Trafford with a typically late 2-1 win over Valencia in Manchester United's final pre-season game. Wayne Rooney missed a penalty before an emotional Darren Fletcher opened the scoring in the second-half and misfit Marouane Fellaini netted a late winner, despite being linked with a move away from the club. Sportsmail's Adam Crafton gives his verdict on the United players... VIDEO Scroll down to watch Rooney selected to lead Red Devils' revival . Hot to Scot: Darren Fletcher celebrates after scoring United's opening goal in the second-half . Parting shot? Subsitute Marouane Fellaini came on to score a late winner . Take a bow: Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal took charge at Old Trafford for the first time . David De Gea - 6 . Little to do but left exposed for the goal. No question that he is United's first-choice after a superb campaign last time out. Phil Jones - 7 . Better in possession and made one outstanding recovery tackle as Rodrigo Moreno bore down on goal. Still prone to a lapse of concentration but the potential is there. Chris Smalling - 6.5 . Smart on the ball and robust in the challenge. Some at Old Trafford had their doubts last season but looks the part in the 3-5-2 system. Tyler Blackett - 6.5 . Favoured ahead of Michael Keane and impressed again at centre-back. Marcos Rojo will increase competition in the left centre-back position but Blackett deserves some opportunities this season. VIDEO Rooney selected to lead Red Devils' revival . On the spot: Wayne Rooney was made captain for the evening but missed a first-half penalty . Ashley Young - 6 . Hard-working at wing-back and impressive delivery. Still has his limitations but cannot fault his dedication or work ethic under Van Gaal. Darren Fletcher - 7.5 . An inspiring tale of courage is having a happy ending. Fletcher looks back to his dynamic best and is forming a good understanding with Herrera. Well-taken goal. Little P-45? Javier Hernandez was given a rare start despite being linked with a move away from United . Ander Herrera - 7 . Some brilliant passing in the midfield and athletic work in recovering position. He will be vitally important to United this season. Reece James - 6 . Two years ago, he'd been released by Preston. Now he's playing at Old Trafford for Manchester United. James is only 20 and getting improving rapidly. Reliable back-up for Luke Shaw but Daley Blind remains on the United horizon. Play maker: New signing Ander Herrera (R) helped dictate the tempo of the game from midfield . Juan Mata - 5.5 . Quiet in the hole behind the forwards but linked up well on occasion with Rooney and Herrera. Needs to influence the game more but nobody can question his talent. Wayne Rooney - 5.5 . Frustrating evening. Exaggerated the fall to win a penalty and then lashed it against the post. Touch also let him down a couple of times in front of goal. United captain on the night did not stop running and working for his team, though. Change of system: Ashley Young was given another opportunity to impress in the wing-back role . Javier Hernandez - 5.5 . Typically effervescent and sprightly in the final third but unable to convert with one header from close range. Admittedly the service could have been better. SUBSTITUTE RATINGS . Lingard (for Smalling 62) - 6 . Industrious and brought energy at a time United looked a little rattled. Kagawa (for Young 62) - 5.5 . Like Mata, barely featured as a link between midfield and attack. Eastern promise? Shinji Kagawa failed to impress after coming on for Juan Mata . Cleverley (for Fletcher, 62) - 5.5 . Sliced clearance handed the goal to Valencia. Has enjoyed a good pre-season but not the Old Trafford homecoming he'd have hoped for. M.Keane (for Mata, 62) - 6 . Talented youngster but doesn't quite look ready. If United bring in the defenders they are chasing, expect him to leave on loan to a Championship club. Blackburn and Cardiff lead the chase. Fellaini (for Herrera, 76) - 7 . Cruel treatment from United supporters, ironically applauding every touch. Classless from the fans and good on him for responding with a goal. Even if there may have been a foul on the goalkeeper... Fancy a slice? Tom Cleverly played a part in Valencia's equaliser after a decent pre-season . Januzaj (for Hernandez, 76) - 6.5 . The Belgian showed glimpses of the qualities that lit up Old Trafford last season. Interesting to see how Van Gaal finds room for him in the 3-5-2. Too good to leave out, really. Will any United players make the cut for 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… . | Manchester United defeated Valencia 2-1 in their final pre-season game .
The game was Louis van Gaal's first game in charge at Old Trafford .
Man United begin their Premier League campaign against Swansea .
Wayne Rooney missed a first-half penalty .
Darren Fletcher opened the scoring in the second -half .
Substitute Marouane Fellaini scored a late winner . |
261,856 | df21d8e310cc65c019f1b8084a88a515eaa13faa | (CNN) -- Sen. Rand Paul returns to New Hampshire next week, making his third visit to the first-in-the-nation primary state as he prepares for a possible presidential run in 2016. The Kentucky Republican will appear at a Manchester event on September 11 that's hosted by Generation Opportunity, a libertarian-minded advocacy group for millennials. Billed as the "First in the Nation Freedom Event," the event takes place at the World Sports Grill. The next morning Paul plans to attend a New Hampshire GOP breakfast with Sen. Kelly Ayotte, a fellow first-term senator. Paul was last in New Hampshire in April, in part to speak at a summit hosted by Americans for Prosperity, which is backed by the Koch brothers. He previously went there in May 2013 for an event with Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus. The senator's upcoming trip was first reported by Politico. Opinion: Rand Paul, the flip-flop king . | Rand Paul makes his third visit to New Hampshire since last year .
He'll appear at an event hosted by a libertarian-minded group for millennials .
Paul also plans to attend a state GOP breakfast .
New Hampshire holds the nation's first presidential primary . |
282,438 | f9d0a795da3b5a28428eaf7c01dbfe9bdcfb5a01 | By . Emma Glanfield . Canoe fraudster John Darwin, 63, pictured leaving Teesside Crown Court, Middlesbrough, has only repaid £122 of the £500,000 he scammed . Canoe fraudster John Darwin has only repaid £122 of the £500,000 he cheated in an insurance scam – and has even been claiming benefits. The 63-year-old, who was jailed for six years with his wife Anne in 2008 for faking his death for a £500,000 insurance payout, has now been told he may have to repay more money. A judge had previously ordered he should repay £679,073 but the now divorced Darwin, who is claiming benefits, has only been able to hand back £122. The Crown Prosecution Service has now applied for him to repay more of the money he cheated out of insurance companies, as one of his pensions has matured. A hearing to decide the matter will be held in May. Darwin, 63, of Hartlepool, North-East England, did not speak during the brief Proceeds of Crime Act hearing at Teesside Crown Court, Middlesbrough. Anne Darwin, now split from her husband, has repaid more than £500,000 under a separate Proceeds of Crime order. John Darwin was reported missing in a canoe in the North Sea in March 2002. His wife collected more than £500,000 in life insurance payouts, while he hid in their home, leaving their two sons to believe he was dead. In December 2007, Darwin walked into a London police station, claiming he had amnesia, and was reunited with his sons who were stunned to hear he was alive. His wife, who had fled with him to Panama, pretended to be shocked until a photograph emerged of them posing together after his supposed death. She was later jailed for six-and-a-half-years for fraud and money-laundering. John Darwin was reported missing in a canoe in the North Sea in March 2002. His wife collected more than £500,000 in life insurance payouts, while he hid in their home, leaving their two sons to believe he was dead . Darwin's wife Anne, left, collected more than £500,000 in life insurance payouts, while he, right, hid in their home after faking his own death in a 'canoeing accident' The Crown Prosecution Service has now applied for Darwin to repay more of the money he cheated out of insurance companies, as one of his pensions has matured . | Darwin, 63, was jailed for faking his own death for £500,000 insurance payout .
He has only repaid £122 of money he scammed and is even claiming benefits .
CPS has applied for him to repay more cash now his pension has matured . |
173,309 | 6c4e31b91a5da7355e07589ad28ca9bc8d6589d5 | The scandal of Google harvesting personal data from millions of unsuspecting UK households took a new twist yesterday. The internet giant admitted that it had failed to destroy all sensitive information stolen from unsecured home computers by its Street View cars. Google signed an agreement in November 2010 to wipe all data collected by its cars as they photographed virtually every British road. One of Google's Streetview cars, which was found to be collection data from nearby wifi networks. The firm today admitted it did not delete all of the data. It came after it was discovered that . personal data had been deliberately downloaded from wi-fi networks using . sophisticated equipment in the vehicles. The data included user names, . passwords, telephone numbers, records of internet chats, bank details, . medical information and information from dating sites. But the company confessed yesterday that it did not in fact delete all the data collected over open wi-fi networks. The Information Commissioner’s Office . said this was a ‘breach’ of the undertaking. Google Street View camera on top of a car. While the cameras collected images, systems in the cars were collecting wifi data . In a letter to the privacy . watchdog, Google’s global privacy counsel, Peter Fleischer, said: . ‘Google has recently confirmed that it still has in its possession a . small portion of payload data collected by our Street View vehicles in . the UK. Google apologises for this error.’ The undeleted data is understood to . have been harvested in a 30-minute period around Tottenham Hotspur . Football Club’s ground in North London. It is not known when it was . captured. Google offered to destroy the data but . the ICO has ordered the company to hand over the computer discs . containing the data ‘immediately so that we can subject it to forensic . analysis’. Investigators want to discover exactly . what type of data is contained on the files before deciding what action . to take. The privacy watchdog had already re-opened its inquiry into . ‘wi-fi sniffing’. An ICO spokesman said: ‘This . information should never have been collected and the company’s failure . to secure its deletion as promised is cause for concern.’ If Google is found guilty of breaching the Data Protection Act, it could face a fine of up to £500,000. The scandal has raised uncomfortable questions for the Tory Party over its close links with the search engine firm. | Search firm admits to still having 'small portion' of data .
Google now faces major questions from Information Commissioner .
Privacy campaigners call for a 'proper' regulator with more powers .
Recently reopened investigation expected to re-examine evidence . |
65,447 | b9da6c28de1888ca8f0f8c1ef83f95c5cc3295e0 | (Mashable) -- UK artist Banksy, he of the guerilla techniques and ever-increasing popularity, is about to be unceremoniously identified to the highest bidder in an eBay auction, which ends Wednesday. At press time, the winning bidder is offering one slim dollar shy of a million. Bidding started at $3,000; the auction has had 38 bids. In the listing, the seller states, "I have uncovered [Banksy's] identity by matching up the prices of his sold pieces to corresponding tax records. I will reveal no more details... I give you 100% assurance that it is most certainly the full name of the street artist known as 'Banksy.'" The seller also says that eBay had previously terminated his auction because he was selling an intangible good; the seller is now technically offering for auction a piece of paper containing Banksy's legal name. The party offering Banksy's identity is hardly a power seller, having a fairly sparse but mostly positive record that dates back to 2001. At this time, we have no way of determining whether the winning bidder is being taken to the cleaners to the tune of $1 million or whether the seller is legitimately peddling an exclusive glimpse into the identity of a public figure who clearly wants to be anything but public. However, we read on the artist's website that not all Banksy work that is sold necessarily corresponds to the artist himself. CNN: Banksy still hiding in plain sight . "Banksy neither produces or profits from the sale of greeting cards, mugs or photo canvases of his work," the site reads. "He is not represented by any of the commercial galleries that sell his paintings secondhand." Banksy gained a bit of stateside exposure in October 2010 when he directed an opening sequence for "The Simpsons." What do you think of this auction? Would you want to know Banksy's identity, or do you think he deserves to live privately and relatively anonymously? Let us know your thoughts in the comments. © 2011 MASHABLE.com. All rights reserved. | eBay seller claims to know identity of anonymous UK artist Banksy and will auction it to highest bidder .
At press time, top bid was just shy of $1 million .
Seller is auctioning a piece of paper containing what he claims is Banksy's legal name . |
31,962 | 5aef7669442044fa7d20a8596668f0749bc8f39c | An angry mother attacked bar staff with her stiletto heels and handbag after she was 'caught having a drunken romp' in a nightclub. Angelina Lloyd, 38, was so furious at having her tryst with a mystery man interrupted, she took out her false teeth and went on a rampage. Lloyd, who works as a baker, unleashed a torrent of abuse at staff before hurling one of her high-heeled shoes at doorman Alex Jenkins, hitting him on the head. Scroll down for video . Angelina Lloyd has admitted assaulting bar and door staff after they challenged her over claims of sexual activity with a man in a nightclub . She then punched a barmaid before swinging her handbag at a female bouncer and jabbing her in the chest. She fled the SugarHouse in Colne, Lancashire but was arrested when she returned home. Details of the brawl emerged at Burnley Magistrates Court where Lloyd, from Colne, admitted three counts of assault by beating and was fined £65 and ordered to pay £105 costs. Dominic Howe, prosecuting, told the court the incident occurred on July 25 after Lloyd was seen by fellow clubbers 'engaging in sexual activity with a male' in the nightclub and both were asked to leave. Mr Howe said the man was leaving the nightspot, but Lloyd took exception to being ejected and became abusive. He told the court: 'She swung her handbag at a club worker and punched her in the chest. Lloyd continued to be abusive, approached a bar lady and punched her in the forehead. 'The defendant then hit Alex Jenkins with one of her stiletto shoes.' The incident happened at the SugarHouse nightclub in Colne, Lancashire in July this year . He added: 'She threw both of her stilettos at him. One missed, the other hit him on the head. Fortunately, nobody was injured.' The court heard Lloyd had a previous conviction for being drunk and disorderly, but her defence solicitor claimed the attack was an isolated incident and she had shown remorse. Daniel Frazer, defending, said: 'Passions had been running high at the time, but when she had time to calm down she had thought long and hard and acknowledged her behaviour was unacceptable. 'She says she was doing nothing untoward with this gentleman. It was misconstrued. She was remonstrating and asking why she was being ejected from the club.' The solicitor said that, during the altercation, bakery worker Lloyd says she was pushed by a staff member, causing her to fall to the floor and she reacted by throwing her shoes at him. Mr Frazer said: 'She apologises to all three people who have been subjected to this incident. The defendant has no previous convictions for violence.' Lloyd was unavailable for comment after the hearing. Lloyd has a previous conviction for being drunk and disorderly but her lawyers said the attack was 'isolated' | Revellers alerted staff to Angelina Lloyd's 'sexual activity' in a nightclub .
But when challenged about behaviour, the mother protested her innocence .
After removing her false teeth, she launched a foul-mouthed tirade .
She then attacked three staff, throwing her heels and swinging a bag .
She hurled shoe at doorman, punched barmaid and jabbed bouncer .
The 38-year-old has now admitted three assaults but avoided jail .
She was handed a £65 fine and £105 costs for the night of violence . |
240,246 | c301c0555a8bfb9fd139971a34c4c99c2125f62b | TOKYO, Japan (CNN) -- Voters in Japan will turn out for parliamentary elections Sunday in what poll after poll shows will be a historic shift in political power to oust the ruling party. Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso has approval ratings in the teens. The Liberal Democratic Party has been in nearly continuous control of Japan's parliament for more than five decades. But the country's worst economic crisis since World War II has led a normally sedate electorate to the polls, disgruntled with how slowly the country is emerging from the downturn. Polls show that the opposition, the Democratic Party of Japan, will snag more than 300 of the 480 seats up for grabs in the lower house of Japan's parliament. If the DPJ does win a majority, it will be the first time it will govern the world's second-largest economy. Leading the DPJ is Yukio Hatoyama, who has been mobbed at street rallies by supporters, the kind of support the opposition has never seen. Hatoyama is touting an Obama-style message of change, pledging to raise the minimum wage and discourage hiring through agencies or on temporary contracts. That message is gaining traction in a country that is witnessing historic highs in unemployment and experiencing ramifications like homelessness for the first time. Voters are looking for somebody to pay, and if the polls are right, that target is the current prime minister, Taro Aso. Aso's approval ratings dwell in the teens, and his stimulus packages, though credited for lifting the economy slightly out of recession, are not being credited with helping households feel more secure about a lasting economic recovery. The LDP, in political ads and stump speeches across Japan, says the DPJ is making empty promises and can't pay for its proposed programs. CNN's Kyung Lah contributed to this report. | Liberal Democratic Party has been on top for almost five decades .
Voters disgruntled with slow progress on economic recovery .
Democratic Party of Japan set for its first majority .
DPJ's Yukio Hatoyama has Obama-style message of change . |
Subsets and Splits
No saved queries yet
Save your SQL queries to embed, download, and access them later. Queries will appear here once saved.