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Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson has been suspended without pay for at least the remainder of 2014 season, the National Football League said on Tuesday. Peterson will not be considered for reinstatement before April 15, the league said in statement, for violating the NFL Personal Conduct Policy in an 'incident of abusive discipline that he inflicted on his 4-year-old son.' A six-time Pro Bowler, Peterson was arrested in September for disciplining his son by striking him with a switch; a thin tree branch with its leaves removed. The switch left cuts and bruises over much of the child's body. Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson (left) is tackled by Chicago Bears safety Chris Conte . Peterson, 29, pleaded no contest in a Texas courtroom earlier this month to a misdemeanor assault charge and must pay a $4,000 (£2,550) fine and perform community service. In a letter to Peterson, NFL Commission Roger Goodell said: 'You have shown no meaningful remorse for your conduct.' 'When indicted, you acknowledged what you did but said that you would not "eliminate whooping my kids" and defended your conduct in numerous published text messages to the child's mother,' Goodell wrote in the letter. The NFL Players Association said it would appeal the suspension and will demand that a neutral arbitrator oversee the appeal. Peterson pleaded no contest in a Texas courtroom earlier this month to a misdemeanor assault charge .
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Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson has been suspended without pay for at least the remainder of 2014 season .
Peterson was arrested in September for disciplining his son by striking him with a stick .
Peterson pleaded no contest in a Texas courtroom earlier this month to a misdemeanor assault charge .
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b3ad76b93bb8104107250aa8751cee5e6455d7eb
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A £500,000-a-year broker lost an unfair dismissal lawsuit against his firm - after a judge ruled he gave ‘often gave worse than he got’ on a trading floor rife with ‘homophobic, racist and sexist’ insults. Robert Bou-Simon, who worked for BGC Partners in Canary Wharf, east London, was ‘not the only object of ridicule and insult or the sole victim of the abuse’, an employment tribunal judge said. Conversations between staff on instant messenger services were often abusive, but the comments were seen as ‘banter - a word which seems to cover a multitude of sins,’ according to the judge. Scroll down for video . Broker: Robert Bou-Simon (left), who worked for BGC Partners (right) in Canary Wharf, east London, was 'not the only object of ridicule and insult or the sole victim of the abuse', an employment tribunal judge said . The Australian, who was head of the US firm's basis swaps desk, had claimed the bullying began when he refused to take part in an initiation ritual after he joined the company in February 2012. This was known as ‘The Run’ and involved sprinting across the office after making a first trade while colleagues doused him in water, reported Bloomberg journalist Kit Chellel. He claimed colleagues forced him to quit in June 2013 following a campaign of bulling - and Anthony Herbert, who would go on to replace him, had written in a message: ‘I’m going to destroy Bob.’ The tribunal in May this year was also told how Mr Bou-Simon claimed to have been victimised and taunted about his support for Chelsea Football Club and an Australian rugby team. Environment: Conversations between staff on instant messenger services were often abusive, but the comments were seen as 'banter - a word which seems to cover a multitude of sins' (file picture of BGC offices) Traders: Mr Bou-Simon had also worked for BGC from 2000 to 2005 before returning in 2012 (file picture) But Judge Bernice Elgot said that because desk revenue had fallen under Mr Bou-Simon’s leadership, he had ‘exposed himself to a lack of respect in this particular working culture’. She also found that colleagues were ‘disillusioned’ with him because he bullied junior brokers, reported Daily Telegraph journalist Claire Duffin. And it turned out that Mr Bou-Simon also took part in using ‘personally insulting and obscene language towards others’ on the instant message service. Mr Bou-Simon was hired on a salary of £500,000, which was later halved to £250,000 after he failed to live up to a promise that he would ‘turn one million dollars a month’. Ruling: Judge Bernice Elgot said that because desk revenue had fallen under Mr Bou-Simon's leadership, he had 'exposed himself to a lack of respect in this particular working culture' The judge said his employment ‘did not work out’ and there were ‘high expectations on both sides’. Mr Bou-Simon had also worked for BGC from 2000 to 2005 but left in ‘difficult’ circumstances. He then worked for GFI Brokers before returning to BGC. He now works for Vantage Capital Markets. He has previously lived in a two-bedroom penthouse in Fulham, south-west London, worth £1.15million, and a modern building in the City of London where flats go for up to £900,000. The tribunal was held at the East London Hearing Centre in Poplar in May, and the ruling released last week. A spokesman for BGC did not immediately respond to MailOnline's request for comment.
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Robert Bou-Simon was on £500,000-a-year at BGC Partners in London .
Broker was 'not only object of ridicule and insult or sole victim of abuse'
Conversations between staff on instant messaging were often abusive .
He claimed bullying began when he refused to take part in initiation ritual .
'The Run' involved him sprinting while colleagues doused him in water .
Judge says he had 'exposed himself to a lack of respect in this culture'
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fe495789959f93dade17222c85c28030d0113f6f
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A group of Nazi hunters says it has identified 76 men and four women - many of whom may still be alive - who ran mobile death squads killing thousands of Jews during the 1930s and 40s. The Simon Wiesenthal Center claims to have identified dozens of former members of the Nazi death squads, and says it is now pushing the German government for a formal investigation. The centre's top Nazi hunter, Efraim Zuroff, said that his research is so solid that he last month sent the German justice and interior ministries a list of 76 men and four women he has identified as having served in the so-called Einsatzgruppen, adding that he is demanding those still living face charges. Victims: The Einsatzgruppen are known to have rounded up and shot Jews in the opening salvo of the Holocaust before the Nazi concentration camp system was properly established . The Einsatzgruppen - made up of primarily SS and police personnel - followed Nazi Germany's troops as they battled their way eastward in the early years of the war. They are known to have rounded up and shot Jews in the opening salvo of the Holocaust before the Nazi concentration camp system was properly established. According to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, the Einsatzgruppen had killed more than a million Soviet Jews, as well as tens of thousands of other people, by the spring of 1943. 'In the death camps the actual act of murder was carried out by a very small number of people - the people who put the gas into the gas chambers. But the actual act of murder in the Einsatzgruppen was carried out individually,' Zuroff said. Find: The Simon Wiesenthal Center's top Nazi hunter, Efraim Zuroff (pictured), said he is now pushing the German government for a formal investigation . 'Almost every person in the Einsatzgruppen was a murderer, a hands-on murderer,' he added. Zuroff said he narrowed down the list of possible suspects by choosing the youngest from a list of some 1,100 with dates of birth known to his organization. It is estimated that there had been about 3,000 members of the death squads. All 80 of those on his list would now be elderly if still alive, born between 1920 and 1924, Zuroff said. 'Time is running out,' he said in a telephone interview from Jerusalem. 'Something has to be done.' Because of Germany's strict privacy laws, the Wiesenthal Center has been unable to confirm exactly where the suspects live. But Zuroff said that task, and determining whether the individuals are still alive, should be relatively easy for police or prosecutors. He added that his office is willing to assist in any way in coming up with evidence or other details. 'The hope is that as many as possible will be alive, but there's no guarantee obviously,' he said. 'But every person alive today is a victory of sorts.' The Einsatzgruppen - made up of primarily SS and police personnel - followed Nazi Germany's troops as they battled their way eastward in the early years of the war. Pictured, SS leader Heinrich Himmler inspects . Germany's Interior Ministry had no immediate comment but the Justice Ministry said it had passed the details of the letter to the special federal prosecutors' office that investigates Nazi-era crimes. The head of that office, Kurt Schrimm, told the AP he hasn't yet received the new information. A handful of Einsatzgruppen members were tried and convicted after the war but most have gone unpunished. Schrimm has said, however, they could now be prosecuted under new German legal theory that service in a Nazi unit whose sole purpose was murder is enough to convict someone of accessory to murder - even without evidence of participation in a specific crime as had previously been required.
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Simon Wiesenthal Center claims to have identified dozens of former Nazis .
Investigators believe the 80 individuals are former Einsatzgruppen members .
Top Nazi hunter, Efraim Zuroff, is now pushing for a formal investigation .
The Einsatzgruppen killed tens of thousands of Jews in the 1930s and 40s .
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8a8f2718bf1b197a07b2ff4e49675a5cefa6612b
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Sol Campbell rubbished Arsene Wenger's complaints about Tottenham's defensive style - instead blaming his side's slow build-up play for their 1-1 draw in the North London derby. Former Arsenal and Spurs centre back Campbell was speaking as a pundit on Sky Sports and refused to accept Wenger's excuse that Tottenham 'didn't play' as the Gunners lost more ground on early title favourites Chelsea. Arsenal held an impressive 69 per cent of possession - something Wenger pointed out - but had to rely on Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's late equaliser to deny Tottenham an away win after Nacer Chadli's opener. Sol Campbell makes his point as he talks on Sky Sports during the Arsenal vs Tottenham coverage . Campbell sat alongside Jamie Redknapp as he gave a unique insight into the North London derby . And Campbell was unimpressed with his former manager's decision to blame a lack of ambition from Spurs on Arsenal's failure to take three points from Saturday's late kick-off. 'Arsenal should have realised that spurs wanted those two banks of four, to keep it tight,' Campbell said. 'Once Spurs moved it into the middle of the field that’s when they could counter-attack very quickly. But some of the buildup play was very lethargic and they were taking their time so that’s why Spurs got the result today. Arsene Wenger was unimpressed with Spurs' stubbornness in defence during the 1-1 draw at the Emirates . Nacer Chadli knocks the ball into the back of the Arsenal net to give Tottenham a second-half lead . Fortunately for Wenger, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain grabbed an equaliser to salvage a point on Saturday . The Gunners face Chelsea next after a Champions League meeting with Galatasaray - and Campbell says Wenger could learn from the deep-sitting tactics that their North London rivals employed at the Emirates. 'They might have to say, let’s play how Tottenham were playing. You’ve got to be disciplined. Chelsea are firing on all cylinders and someone like Diego Costa will be difficult to stop.' Arsenal will likely be without Mikel Arteta and Aaron Ramsey for that key clash after Wenger claimed they had 'no chance' of playing after being taken off injured on Saturday. Campbell famously crossed the North London divide to sign for Arsenal after leaving Spurs on a free transfer .
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The North London derby ended in a 1-1 draw at the Emirates Stadium .
Sol Campbell was speaking as a pundit on Sky Sports during the derby .
The former England defender famously quit Tottenham for Arsenal .
After Arsene Wenger blamed Tottenham for the draw, Campbell responded .
He claimed that Arsenal only had themselves to blame for dropping points .
Campbell felt the home side's build up play was too slow to produce goals .
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain equalised for Arsenal after Nacer Chadli's opener .
Arsenal face Chelsea next and Campbell fears for their chances .
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8a06dbaafae117b937203ceaad297a994814401a
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By . Rob Waugh . PUBLISHED: . 10:14 EST, 11 July 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 10:14 EST, 11 July 2012 . Apple has quietly removed a highly controversial Chinese game which portrayed Japanese ninjas and sumo wrestlers attacking disputed islands in the East China Sea. The game, 'Defend the Diaoyu Islands' disappeared from the App Store this week, reportedly due to its political and racial content. The game refers to islands which are the subject of a heated dispute over ownership between the two countries - and the racially charged game would have served to inflame the conflict. The game, 'Defend the Diaoyu Islands' disappeared from the App Store this week, reportedly due to its political and racial content . Apple normally polices what can be released very strictly, removing apps that contain nudity or other offensive material. 'Jew . or not Jew' - 'Juif ou pas Juif' in French, which allowed users to find . out whether French celebrities were Jewish, was removed by Apple last year. Japan lodged a protest with China on . Wednesday against the entry of Chinese patrol ships into waters near . disputed islands in the East China Sea, an issue that has long been a . cause of friction between Asia's two biggest economies. China Daily said that the game violated an App Store policy which stated that games, 'cannot target a specific race, culture, real government or . corporation or any other real entity.' Apple has not provided any reason as to why the game has disappeared from the App Store. Chief Cabinet Secretary Osamu Fujimura said three Chinese fishery patrol ships entered waters near the uninhabited islands, known as Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China. The islands, claimed by Beijing and Tokyo as well as Taipei, are located near rich fishing grounds and potentially huge oil and gas reserves. Japan said last week it was considering a plan to buy the islands from private landowners instead of letting the nationalist governor of Tokyo go ahead with a similar plan, a move diplomatic experts said may have been intended to dampen tensions but which risked backfiring and sending Sino-Japanese ties into a deep chill. Apple's iTunes store is rigidly policed - Apple vet everything sold through it . 'It is clear that the Senkaku islands are inherently Japanese territory from a historical point of view and in terms of international law and that they are under the effective control of Japan,' Fujimura told a news conference. The three Chinese ships later left the waters, with Japanese patrol ships keeping close watch.
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Game removed from app store .
Racially offensive title referred to disputed islands .
Japanese portrayed as ninjas and sumo wrestlers .
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86,997 |
f6e7829f5cfdecdf890f39dcb2e76116c1d02c85
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By . Becky Barrow . PUBLISHED: . 20:12 EST, 23 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 20:19 EST, 23 December 2013 . The average price of a home will be up to £14,000 more expensive in 12 months’ time with prices rising across Britain, the Halifax said yesterday. Amid fears the housing market is over-heating, the bank insisted there is ‘little sign of the excessive behaviour associated with a house price bubble at present.’ At present, the average price of a home is £175,000, but this is set to rise more than three times faster than typical pay rises next year. Average house prices will be up to £14,000 more expensive in a year's time, according to the Halifax . House prices will rise ‘between four and eight per cent next year.’ By comparison, a typical private sector worker will get a 2.5 per cent pay rise. If prices rise by eight per cent at the top end of the forecast, this would add £13,992 to the price of the average home, or just under £7,000 if they rise by only four per cent. The Halifax said house prices will rise in all regions, rather than only taking place in London and the South East but leaving the rest of the UK in the cold. For example, the price of a home in London’s exclusive borough of Kensington and Chelsea has rocketed to an all-time record of £1.1million, according to the Land Registry. In the North East, prices have fallen sharply to £96,200, far below a peak of £130,000 six years ago. Martin Ellis, housing economist at the Halifax, said: ‘There are signs that the improvement is becoming more broadly-based with much of the country now recording price rises. ‘We expect the regional pattern to be more even in 2014 with all regions experiencing price gains.’ The price of a home in London's borough of Kensington and Chelsea has rocketed to an all-time record of £1.1million, according to the Land Registry . He dismissed fears of a housing bubble, which have been fuelled by Government-backed schemes helping people to buy homes for up to £600,000 with a deposit of just five per cent. The lack of housebuilding is also a concern. Just 106,500 new homes were built in England last year, but the ‘required’ number is 240,000, according to the National Housing Federation. This year, house prices have risen by nearly eight per cent. Mr Ellis said: ‘Another year of similar price rises to those in 2013 next year would not be sufficient to create a bubble.’ Before the credit crunch struck, house prices were rising considerably faster than they are today, he said. In August 1999, the average home cost £78,959. Eight years later in August 2007 - the month that the credit crunch began - prices were 150 per cent higher, reaching their peak of £199,612. The Halifax’s forecast follows a series of house price forecasts in recent weeks which have predicted that house prices will rise sharply over the next few years. The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors predicts house price will rise by eight per cent in 2014, although it expects there will be significant regional variations. In London, prices will rise by 11 per cent, the fastest of the UK regions, compared to only four per cent in Northern Ireland, the smallest rise. Peter Bolton King, global residential director of RICS, said: ‘While the number of new homes being built is now on the rise, it still won’t be anywhere near enough to meet demand. ‘We expect the problem of insufficient housing stock to be the main driver behind price increases over the next twelve months.’ Around 400,000 people in Britain are ‘property millionaires’, a record number, according to a recent report by the property website Zoopla.co.uk. The National Housing Federation recently warned the situation is ‘dysfunctional’, adding: ‘England’s housing market is broken.’
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Amid fears market is over-heating, Halifax has said there is 'little sign of the excessive behaviour associated with a house price bubble at present'
At present, the average house price is £175,000, but this is set to rise more than three times faster than typical pay rises next year .
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4702a37a9fc2de054be0a638c8ebdecaf0e6b366
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Steven Gerrard again covered every blade of grass in the midfield battle . Click here for your ultimate stats guide from the game . Their shoulders were sunk, their faces long. This was supposed to be the day when Anfield hosted its biggest party for 24 years but ultimately it became the setting for a wake. No matter that Liverpool signed off an impressive campaign with the runners-up spot after beating Newcastle United; the emptiness of falling short of the ultimate dream as Steven Gerrard, Luis Suarez and Co strolled around Anfield was palpable. For Brendan Rodgers, however, this was no time for despondency. Gloom had descended following the results against Chelsea and Crystal Palace that fatally damaged their title aspirations but, to lift the mood in the dressing room, Liverpool's manager took his squad back to the first day of the campaign. Before that opening contest against Stoke, he read out a letter that had been sent to him by a supporter. Not this year: Skipper Steven Gerrard is left to reflect as Liverpool missed out on the Premier League title . So near, yet so far: Daniel Sturridge was the match-winner but Manchester City were crowned champions . Support: Manager Brendan Rodgers salutes Liverpool's fans after full-time . Appreciation: Gerrard applauds the Anfield crowd during the post-game lap of honour . Volley good: Daniel Agger levels for Liverpool midway through the second half . Dan's the man: Daniel Sturridge stole in to give Liverpool a 2-1 lead . Putting the boot in: Suarez celebrates Liverpool's winning goal but it wasn't enough to see them take the title . LIVERPOOL (4-1-3-2): Mignolet 7: Johnson 6.5, Skrtel 6.5, Agger 7.5, Flanagan 6.5 (Cissokho 46min 6.5): Gerrard 7.5: Henderson 7.5, Allen 6 (Coutinho 59mins 6.5), Sterling 8: Sturridge 6.5 (Lucas 80mins 6), Suarez 7. UNUSED: Jones (GK), Toure, Aspas, Sakho, Lucas . NEWCASTLE UNITED (4-4-1-1): Krul 7: Taylor 6 (De Jong 73min), Coloccini 7, Williamson 7, Haidara 7: Debuchy 6, Tiote 6 (Dummett 82mins), Anita 7, Gouffran 7.5: Sissoko 7: Shola Ameobi 6. UNUSED: Satka (GK), Santon, Yanga-Mbiwa, De Jong, Elliot, Sammy Ameobi . Goals: Skrtel (o.g 20), Agger (64), Sturridge (65) Booked: Debuchy, Gouffran, Lucas . Sent-off: Shola Ameobi, Dummett, . Referee: Phil Dowd . Attendance:44,724 . Man-of-the-Match: Raheem Sterling . Ratings by Dominic King at Anfield . The fan, named Ben, explained about . his pride in Liverpool and his faith that this could be a memorable . season. Sensing the need to put into perspective what they have . achieved, Rodgers felt the need to provide his group with a reminder. 'He . told us not to just think about fourth (place) but think about winning . (the title),' said Rodgers, taking up the story. 'At the time, probably . the staff and the players thought it was a bit far-fetched. But I truly . believed we could progress and (before the Newcastle match) I read the same letter back . again. 'All the words . that went back into the players' minds were the same as the beginning of . the season. Now the word that comes from this is belief. We will . improve. We will get better next season and we will be able to fight . again as we have got belief.' It will be difficult to see images of . Manchester City with the trophy they covet so much but once the . frustration subsides over the coming weeks and months, Liverpool will be . able to reflect on a campaign that has given them a base to attack the . top on a regular basis. Though . they had to work hard for victory here, coming from behind to snatch . the points with goals from two Daniels, Agger and Sturridge, they . dazzled for long periods and taking 37 points from the last 42 available . is clear evidence they are capable of championship-winning consistency. Mending . the wobbly defence is a prerequisite when the transfer window opens - . Newcastle, with more poise, could have had this contest wrapped up . before half-time - but should Rodgers do that, Liverpool will continue . to be a threat. 'We . will get better,' Rodgers insisted. 'The style will be enhanced and . improved. The philosophy here is very much based on attacking creative . play. We just need to be better and more concentrated when we are . winning other games. But there will be no fear.' Ow no! Martin Skrtel puts through his own goal to give Newcastle an early lead . Now what we had planned: Skrtel (right) cannot hide his despair following the first-half concession . Silver service: Newcastle celebrate their unlikely opener in the 20th minute . Frustration: Daniel Agger rues a missed chance as Liverpool tried to find an equaliser . Realisation: Liverpool fans react to news that Manchester City had taken the lead against West Ham . No goal: Suarez had a first-half effort disallowed by Phil Dowd, who had not seen the striker's quick free-kick . So close: Luis Suarez shows his frustration as Liverpool's title hopes faded . His words were as . impressive as the show of support that came before the game. As has . become the habit, Liverpool's fans lined Anfield Road with flags and let . off flares to greet the team bus. Inside the stadium, the club DJ . provided a soundtrack with hits from their glorious past. There . was even a rendition of 'Bubbles' to show that Red allegiances on this . day were also with West Ham United, who needed to provide the ultimate . favour and beat City if Liverpool were to win their 19th . title. In reality, the . fairytale scenario never threatened to come true. Liverpool were scruffy . in the opening 45 minutes. Newcastle, by contrast, showed plenty of . fight and spirit and deservedly took the lead when Martin Skrtel . horribly sliced Yoan Gouffran's cross past Simon Mignolet in the 20th . minute. That . was the 12th goal Liverpool had conceded in the last six matches and it . nearly became 13 when Gouffran skipped clear but succeeded only in . shooting straight at Mignolet after Shola Ameobi had split Liverpool's . defence open. Expectations at that point deflated like a punctured . balloon. 'We couldn't . have ended the season in that way,' Rodgers said. 'We needed to put that . behind us.' To their credit, Liverpool's response was impressive. Full . of energy and movement, they began pressing and Newcastle were . powerless to prevent themselves being pushed back deeper and deeper. Eventually they cracked. Clash: Paul Dummett was sent off following a challenge which felled Suarez . On the run: Joe Allen tries to get away from Newcastle's Moussa Sissoko . Raheem Sterling again provided evidence ofwhy he should be included in Roy Hodgson’s23-man squad with an energetic display thatcaused Newcastle problems and showed howmuch he has progressed in the second half ofseason. Daniel Sturridge also made his markwith the winning goal. He was quiet in the firsthalf but improved and was given a standingovation when substituted. Glen Johnson didnothing to harm his position as first-choiceright back, and Steven Gerrard and JordanHenderson were solid. Uruguay, meanwhile, will be relieved to seeLuis Suarez end the campaign unscathed. Parity . was secured in the 64th minute when, after foul by Vurnon Anita on . Sterling, Gerrard swung a deep free-kick beyond the far post to Agger, . who divert the ball back past Tim Krul; 60 seconds later, an identical . set piece from another cheap foul presented Sturridge with the chance to . win the game. From . that point, Newcastle lost their discipline. Ameobi was sent off for . persistent dissent - a decision by referee Phil Dowd that left Alan . Pardew perplexed - and he was followed by substitute Paul Dummett, who . went in late on Suarez. 'The . referee could have managed the game better,' Pardew observed. 'We had a . good game plan and played well but Liverpool have been fantastic. We . haven't been good enough in the second half of the season but we will . come back stronger.' Rodgers . echoed with the last part of that statement, maintaining Liverpool . 'will be better'; if they are true to his word, the dream may yet be . fulfilled. The boss men: Alan Pardew and Brendan Rodgers exchange a handshake before the game .
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Liverpool miss out on Premier League title after Manchester City win 2-0 at home to West Ham .
Martin Skrtel own goal was reversed by strikes from Daniel Agger and Daniel Sturridge .
Newcastle had Shola Ameobi and Paul Dummett sent off .
Alan Pardew's side slipped to 10th following their sixth defeat in seven matches .
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London (CNN) -- French swimmer Yannick Agnel won his second gold of a triumphant Olympics with a dominant performance in Monday's 200 meters freestyle final. South Korean swimmer Tae-Hwan Park and Yang Sun, of China, share silver after both finishing with a time of 1 minute 44.93 seconds. American medal hope Ryan Lochte struggled to keep up with his rivals as he finished fourth. "Not so happy about that swim tonight... you live and learn. Tomorrow I will be better," Lochte tweeted. French President Francois Holland was in the crowd to see Agnel recorded the fastest time ever by a Frenchman, as Agnel demolished a strong field. Park, Sun, Agnel and Lochte had already won medals in London. The cheering Holland enjoyed his compatriot Agnel repeat his performance from the 4x100m relay, where he surged past Lochte in the final leg to claim gold, to claim another French swimming gold. With three gold medals, the French are now one short of their swimming gold medal total from all previous Olympics. The U.S. did enjoy some success in the pool later, with two consecutive gold medals ensuring they ended the day second in the medal table. Seventeen year old Missy Franklin claimed her first ever gold medal in the 100 meters backstroke, barely twenty minutes after competing in the 200 meter freestyle semi-finals. Australian Emily Seebohm won silver, with Aya Terakawa taking bronze for Japan. Matt Grevers, the six foot eight inch American, set a new Olympic record to claim the men's 100 meter backstroke title. Nick Thoman made it an American one-two, with Ryosuke Irie claiming another bronze for Japan. In the 100 meter breaststroke final, fifteen year-old Lithuanian Ruta Meilutyte edged out American world champions Rebecca Soni by eight-hundredths of a second to win Lithuania's first ever swimming gold. "I tried to retain my speed with a little sprint over the last 50. I'm really happy it worked." "I guess sometimes you win, sometimes you lose," Lochte told the Canadian Broadcasting Company. "There's no doubt about it. Agnel's quick and he showed it last night and tonight. I'm happy for him."
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French swimmer Yannick Agnel wins his second gold, Park, Sun share silver .
Lochte misses medal in fourth, but Greevers wins gold in 100m backstroke .
Missy Franklin wins her first Olympic gold .
Ruta Meilutyte claims first ever Lithuanian swimming gold .
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092ba6b6f529f751f3068281fa4e3693da8554c2
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An Alabama woman has been sentenced to 219 years in prison for her role in an incestuous sex ring accused of molesting children for years. Wendy Holland, 35, showed no emotion as the judge condemned her on Thursday to what amounts to a life sentence. She must serve at least 50 years in prison before parole consideration, a prosecutor said. Jurors convicted the woman of sodomy, sexual abuse and other charges last month. Scroll down for video . Wendy Holland, 35, showed no emotion as the judge sentenced her to 219 years in prison on Thursday for her role in an incestuous sex ring accused of molesting children for years (file photo from court date last month) Another defendant, William Brownlee, got a 20-year prison sentence. Brownlee, 50, was convicted of sodomy and sexual abuse in the fall. The two were among 11 people charged with sex crimes following the disappearance in 2012 of a suspected victim of the ring, 19-year-old Brittney Wood. She remains missing and is presumed dead. Baldwin Council Circuit Judge Jody Bishop gave both Holland and Brownlee the maximum sentence and said each deserved more time. Each still faces additional charges involving other alleged victims. In a letter read in court, the underage female victim in both cases said years of abuse left her traumatized. She has a hard time trusting anyone, gets angry easily and rarely feels safe. 'I was a little girl being held down and raped,' wrote the victim, who was in court. Authorities said the two were part of a group of relatives and friends who sexually abused children and swapped their own kids for sex for years. Evil couple: Wendy's husband Donnie Holland was at the center of the child abuse ring. He is now dead and his wife, according to prosecutors, was also a key player in dozens of cases of child abuse. His wife Wendy . Father and son 'abusers': Donnie Holland Sr. (right) is at the center of the pedophile ring in Alabama described by police and prosectors as the worst they have ever seen, while his son Donnie Jr . Holland is the widow of the alleged leader of the group, Donnie Holland, who was Brittney Wood's uncle. The teen went missing around the time Holland was found with a gunshot to the head; his death was later ruled a suicide. Wendy and Donnie Holland's 22-year-old son Donald Paul Holland Jr. — charged with incest, rape and sexual abuse as another alleged participant in the ring — appeared before the judge in a closed hearing after his mother's sentencing. He was seen being arrested and led away in handcuffs afterward, but the outcome of his case wasn't made public because he was handled as a youthful offender following a request by the defense. Even without Brittney Wood to testify, two of her uncles and an older brother already pleaded guilty to sex charges before juries convicted Wendy Holland and Brownlee. In the letter read in court, the underage teen abused by both Holland, a relative, and Brownlee, a family friend, compared her youth to being lost in a maze. The teen said she felt like she was constantly looking into shadows around corners in fear of more sexual torture. 'The people who were supposed to protect me were the ones hurting me,' she wrote in the letter. Last month a jury took just two hours to find Wendy Holland guilty of sodomy, sexual abuse, sexual torture and child endangerment. William Brownlee, right, received a 20-year prison sentence on Thursday for his role in the three-generation Alabama family sex ring. Details about the group emerged following the disappearance in 2012 of a suspected victim of the ring, 19-year-old Brittney Wood, left. She remains missing and is presumed dead . Brittney Wood's uncle Donnie Holland, left, killed himself not long after her disappearance. Wendy and Donnie Holland's 22-year-old son Donald Paul Holland Jr., right, has been charged with incest, rape and sexual abuse as another alleged participant in the ring . The trial gave no clue as to the whereabouts of the presumed dead family member Brittney Wood, but it did give voice to abuse victims who claimed the sexual torture started when kids were still in diapers and involved family six-ways. A teenager testifying to being part of a family sex ring told jurors Tuesday that she was first molested while still in diapers. The young woman, who is still a minor, said her earliest memories include having sex with adult relatives — one of whom was Holland. Despite that, the teen tearfully said she still loves Holland 'with all my heart.' The state rested its case following a session during which the teen testified that her relatives often had group sex. She said it sometimes including Holland's missing 19-year-old niece Brittney Wood. 'We would be in a circle and we'd all switch up,' the girl testified. Prosecutor Teresa Heinz asked how often such things occurred. 'It happened a bunch,' she said. A male relative who pleaded guilty later testified he once had six-way sex with a group of relatives that included the girl and Holland. Crying, the teen had to stand up to see over the judge's desk to identify Holland as one of the people who abused her. Holland dabbed at her eyes and looked at the girl only briefly. Brittney Wood was last seen at Tillman's Corner, Alabama, in May 2012. She is presumed dead . Nephew Andrew Aikin, 23, who escaped the abuse, told MailOnline: 'Donnie was the cool uncle. 'We used to have huge barbecues. Donnie would invite us all out there. 'Us kids would to swimming and tubing and there were jet-skis. We had a lot of fun.' But in February 2012, at aged 50, the facade began to fell apart - and within months Donnie was dead and a horrific trail of abuse beginning to unravel. The first chink in the wall of silence came in March 2012 when Randall Scott Wood, then 42, alerted the authorities that a 13-year-old family member, with whom he admitted he was having a sexual relationship, was being abused by others. Wood, a former member of the National Guard, had moved to Mobile to take up a well-paid job at the city's steel mill. His sister - Wendy - was Holland's wife. What he told police was deeply unsettling - but as they began to investigate a far clearer picture of depravity emerged. In fact, his testimony against a relative lifted the lid on an horrific lifestyle going on at Donnie Holland's home. The innocent barbecues were only part of the truth - there were barbecues, but what happened later was not innocent. Fathers and mothers, uncles and aunts, brothers and sisters would end the evening revelling in group sex with children as young as four. Groomed almost from birth the young victims would be told to watch the scenes of depravity from the end of the bed until they were deemed old enough to take part. Mobile Assistant District Attorney Nicki Patterson told MailOnline: 'What is so disturbing with this case is that we have so many people involved. Chessie Wood, Brittney's mother: Two counts of sodomy and sex abuse of a child less than 12. Derek Wood, Brittney's brother: Second degree rape and second degree sodomy. Nelton ‘Butch’ Morgan: Rape and sex abuse of a child under 12. Dustin Kent: Two counts of rape, sex abuse, sodomy and production of obscene material of a person under 17. He allegedly raped a 13-year-old while her father looked on . William 'Billy' Brownlee: Two counts of rape, sodomy and sex abuse. Mendy Kent: Sodomy and sex abuse. Wendy Holland: Sodomy, sex abuse and child torture. James Cumbaa: Rape, sodomy, and sex abuse. Randall Scott Wood: Second degree sodomy, enticing a child to enter and second degree rape. Jennifer Moore: Production of pornography involving minors and second-degree child abuse. Donald Holland Jr: Incest and second degree rape . 'They led a swinger's lifestyle. They would engage in adult group sex but Donnie Holland would involve the children frequently. 'There were children who were 14 or 15 years old which may have appeared to be young adults but there also there were children who were clearly prepubescent – as young as nine years old.' She added: 'They barbecued a lot. They would have parties and then they would end up in bed together. 'Some of the kids' earliest memories at three or four years old are of abuse. 'Some of the women used sex toys on the kids to get them ready for sex. It was a very important thing within the family. They put an enormous effort in to get the children ready. It was very thought out. 'The mom, the aunt and children would get into bed and Donnie would tell them what to do.' Donnie would often film the sex scenes to create pornographic movies. One of the victims, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, was abused so regularly it became her normal life. Baldwin District Attorney Teresa Heinz told MailOnline: 'For these children this is what happened at the weekend. They did not know that other kids did not do this. 'The kids would be offered trinkets – more TV time, credit for their cell phone, presents – if they took part and punished if they did not. 'Brittney Wood was a victim as early as four, or five years old. 'Another girl was French kissed for the first time at the age of four. The sexual abuse started soon after. 'One girl told her mom, but there was such a colony of abusers there was no one to turn to. 'They were not held down and forcibly raped but coerced and indoctrinated.'
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Wendy Holland must serve at least 50 years in prison before parole consideration, a court heard on Thursday .
She and 10 other family members and family friends are charged as part of an incestuous sex ring accused of molesting children over years .
Details about the group emerged after the disappearance in 2012 of 19-year-old Brittney Wood .
At the same time as Brittney disappeared, Wendy's husband Donnie - believed to be the head of the sex ring - killed himself .
In a letter read in court, one of the group's underage female victims said years of abuse had left her traumatized .
'I was a little girl being held down and raped,' wrote the victim, who was in court .
Another member of the three-generation Alabama family sex ring, William Brownlee, received a 20-year prison sentence .
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"Here we go again," I sigh, browsing news channels. Each one, leading with the chilling buzzwords: "Islamic State" and "Jihadist Murder." Not since the weeks following the September 11, 2001 attacks in New York has turning on the TV been so demoralizing for Muslims across the globe. I have that same sinking feeling whenever an atrocity takes place which is broadly placed at the feet of the "Muslim world." Because, "Hi, I am Lauren and I am a Muslim" -- should there be a new support group? What's depressing as a "revert" (Muslims believe everyone is born into their faith) to Islam is to witness the casual sleepwalk towards the branding of all Muslims -- wherever we live and whatever our lives -- as the "same." As the wider community watches this dangerous pantomime unfold, it is significant that the question asked (again) of Muslim Britons or Americans is not: "How do we tackle these challenges together?" but "what can be done about 'extremism' in your community?" This question pushes millions of us outside mainstream society, causing fissures where fault lines already exist. Almost a decade ago, as the (Christian) head interviewer at the Islam Channel in the UK, my job put me into contact with some of the Muslim world's most prominent clerics, academics and leaders. My contact with many chilled-out, clean-living and gentle people -- offering me kindness, food and shelter -- led me to research the world's fastest growing faith. I came to embrace its central concept: the "Oneness of God." During this time, I also visited Palestine as a reporter. My working life in the Western media had not prepared me for the experience. I realized that I had been misguided about Islam and its people by the political mantra, best summarized as: "You're either with us or against us." One day, reporting from a refugee camp in Gaza, I was led by a group of shoeless children to a dark living room, lit only by candles due to a power cut. An elderly lady offered me tea and I found myself alone with a short-bearded young man in jeans and a t-shirt, with a serious expression. "You are now in the house of Islamic Jihad," he said. My eyes took in the impoverished home. My hair was out, my arms on show, and I was in my usual London-style clothes. "Why aren't you afraid?" The young man asked. "Because your mum's making me tea," I said. He went on to tell me that whether I was Christian, American, secular or Jewish, so long as I came to Palestine in peace, he and his colleagues would protect me with their lives and treat me (the sister in law of Tony Blair, former UK prime minister -- no friend of Islam) as their honored guest. For the best part of a decade, this has remained my professional experience. I have also interviewed members of Hamas, Hezbollah and the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades. The men I met expressed the same promise to protect my safety. That particular young man in Gaza would no more recognize the aims or behavior of the so-called "Islamic State," in beheading journalists and threatening the mass murder of other faiths, than your own kids or, for that matter, your average Muslim teenager in Los Angeles, London or Lille would. Yet Muslims -- whether involved in genuine armed resistance in Gaza or simply preparing for college in the Midwest -- are labeled as sharing the values of groups I can confidently say do not represent our faith, our many cultures, or much less our hopes and aspirations. In response to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's attempt to link all resistance groups' aims to those of ISIS, Al Falistinya TV in Palestine aired a film clip that better reflects the way ISIS is viewed by most Muslims in the region. It is pertinent to remind ourselves that despite the abject horror of Western journalists being murdered, ISIS, like all extremist jihadist groups, has focused its killing on Muslims first and foremost. The NCTC Report on Terrorism (2012) found that "In cases where the religious affiliation of terrorism casualties could be determined, Muslims suffered between 82 and 97% of terrorism-related fatalities over the past five years." So, do you really think we don't care about extremism? That it's divorced from our reality, or unimportant to our community? There is an experience that wannabe members of chilling al Qaeda offshoots and people like me share: the inevitable hurried, ill-thought out policy-on-the-run that politicians in the U.S., UK and France will now make off the back of the regular appearance of murder videos. Every day, Muslims in market places from Kabul to Mosul are more likely to be blown up by "jihadists." And in the West, it is everyday Muslims like me who hold our breaths waiting for the next raft of CIA and British intelligence "measures," which will target citizens based solely on the basis of our religion or ethnicity. In the U.S., databases showing where Muslims live, where we shop, what Internet cafes we use and even where we like to watch sport are now accepted practices. Informants -- aptly nicknamed "mosque crawlers" by the CIA -- are sent to our Friday services, pretending to share our faith, then reporting back to the secret service. Unsurprisingly as a result, government bodies are viewed as a hostile entity by Muslim voters who are not radicalized -- simply frustrated. A 2012 survey by the Arab American Institute found that 55% of Arab American Muslims experienced discrimination, while 71% were afraid of expected future increases in discrimination. Meanwhile in Britain, as Prime Minister David Cameron grandstands using phrases that inflame tensions on the streets here, mosques have been burned and vandalized. Muslims are the target of countless and increasing hate crimes across cities in the UK and Europe. Those headlines -- the ones that may reassure you -- about "deradicalization" and "crackdowns," mean that your quiet, non-drinking Muslim neighbors and I must now prepare for more phone spying, more friends receiving alarming visits from secret agents and more hassle at the airport. For those young men whose inner confusion, drug addiction, mental health problems or yes, even extremist grooming, makes them want to join some murderous group, one of the biggest recruiting lines is "the West vilifies you and your community." So why do politicians think more mass surveillance and persecution is the answer? One ingredient for a long-term solution to the brainwashing of a small number of young people is one that is missing from this week's political rhetoric -- yet again. This is the ideal of "fairness," at home and abroad, for Muslims. This may be shocking to read at a time when "Muslims" are shown wearing bonnets and carrying long knives for slaughter videos. Yet the answer is staring us all in the face and has been since 9/11 first made Muslims in the West afraid to turn on the TV. Millions felt the same horror watching footage of Bagram and Guantanamo Bay. Are we all humans with rights or are we not? The U.S. and its allies are preparing to re-enter Iraq again by air and perhaps eventually by land. Now is the time to propose a coherent strategy abroad that does not, and will never again, name the mass slaughter of Muslim civilians as "collateral damage" in a war they want no part in. A strategy should be proposed at home that includes honest, free debate between the Muslim community and the government on issues such as foreign policy and anti-terror measures, without prompting fear for our own freedom and security. Now that really would be radical. In a good way. MAPS: Where do jihadis come from?
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It's depressing to witness the branding of all Muslims as the "same," writes Lauren Booth .
Booth: Muslims are labeled as sharing the values of groups that do not represent our faith .
Extremist jihadist groups have focused its killing on Muslims first and foremost, she writes .
One ingredient for a long-term solution is the ideal of "fairness," she says .
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Yes, they can do it on a cold night at Portman Road? Perhaps it wasn't an emphatic performance by Southampton - but that doesn't matter in the FA Cup. Following their heroics at Old Trafford on Sunday, Ronald Koeman's side had to raise themselves for the less glamorous surroundings of Ipswich or face being on the end of a shock defeat. Southampton striker Shane Long celebrates after scoring the winner with an instinctive finish on 19 minutes . Long fired in a first-time finish after the ball fell to him following James Ward Prowse's run into the box . Saints team-mates rush to congratulate Long as they head into the fourth round of the FA Cup with a 1-0 victory against Ipswich . IPSWICH: Bialkowski 6, Parr 6, Chambers 6.5, Smith 6, Berra 6, Murphy 6, McGoldrick 6 (Bajner 6, 63' ), S. Hunt 6 (Mings 6.5, 55'), Bru 6, Hyam, Ambrose 6 (Stewart 82'). Subs: Crowe, Mings, Clarke, Stewart, Anderson, McQueen, Bajner . Manager: Mick McCarthy 6 . SOUTHAMPTON: Forster 6, Clyne 7, Fonte 8, Gardos 7, Targett 7, Wanyama 6.5 (S. Davis 45'), Reed 6, Ward-Prowse 7, Tadic 6.5 (Pellè 6, 67'), Bertrand 7, Long 7.5 . Subs: K. Davis, Cork, Pelle, Isgrove, McCarthy, Hesketh . Goal: Long 19 . Manager: Ronald Koeman 7 . MoM: Fomte . Ref: Graham Scott 6.5 . Att: 27,933 . The Dutchman's side answered all the questions levelled at them on Wednesday night, strolling past the Championship without getting out of second gear. However, Koeman has more unwanted questions to find answers to as the injury concerns pile-up for the Dutchman. Morgan Schneiderlin missed Wednesday night's clash with an adductor injury that is expected to keep him out for the next four weeks. And no sooner had the club confirmed the Frenchman's absence, they were facing up to a central midfield crisis after Victor Wanyama limped off on the stroke of half-time's with a hamstring injury. With key defender Toby Alderweireld also due to miss the next four weeks with a hamstring strain, the injury problems are piling up for Koeman. 'The injuries are a big negative because we already have injuries. I spoke with Victor and [Steven] Davis and we said they would play 45 minutes each - if only Victor could hold on for 12 more seconds. 'Victor is a hamstring, so he will be out for four or five weeks. 'The problem we have is in our numbers. We have good youngsters but we don't want to put too much on them. 'We can handle it at the moment, but one or two more injuries we might have to look at it. I'll talk to the club.' Ipswich manager Mick McCarthy (left) shakes hands with his Southampton counterpart Ronald Koeman ahead of kick-off . The Southampton players form a huddle under the floodlights at Portman Road before the FA Cup third round replay . Stephen Hunt thought he had opened the scoring for Ipswich before the goal was correctly ruled out for offside . The Ipswich midfielder was midway through his goal celebration before realising his strike had been ruled out . Southampton's Harrison Reed (right) is muscled off the ball by Darren Ambrose (centre) of Ipswich during the first-half . Tyrone Mings was released by Southampton aged 16 due to a ‘lack of physical development’. Six years later, the Ipswich defender is 6ft 5in and he came on to face his former club. On his side's display, Koeman added: 'I'm proud of them, it was a serious performance from us, it was difficult and a typical English cup game.' Southampton, though, were handed an almighty fright inside the opening five minutes, Noel Hunt racing clear of the Saints backline to slide the ball under Fraser Forster, only for the effort to ruled offside. But that was the highlight for the home side as Southampton cruised to victory after Shane Long finished off a good move involving Nathaniel Clyne, Dusan Tadic and James Ward-Prowse in the 19th minute. Ipswich keeper Bialkowski can only watch as Long's shot fires past him to open the scoring for the Premier League side . The Republic of Ireland international punches the air in celebration after giving Southampton a first-half lead . Saints captain Jose Fonte (3rd left) embraces Long as Ipswich defenders return to the centre circle with their heads dipped . The goal took the wind out of the Tractor Boys' sails. The intensity and exuberance of their early play vanished as the Premier League side asserted their authority with such ruthlessness. Ipswich rarely threatened Fraser Forster after Long's decisive striker as Southampton - led by the excellent Jose Fonte - nullified the home side's threat to set up a fourth round tie against Crystal Palace. One chance, one goal. That's what happens in the Premier League - and Ipswich found out to their detriment. A tame Darren Ambrose header was all Ipswich had to show for their second half performance, which was full of work-rate - but woefully short on quality. 'The game was a damp squib, we were okay until they scored and then they killed the game,' admitted Ipswich manager Mick McCarthy. 'We wanted it to be a rip roaring cup tie, but they didn't let it happen. They are a damn good side. There's no shame in losing to Southampton.' Shane Long covered practically every blade of grass while being rewarded with the winner - CLICK HERE to see all the stats from the game with our brilliant Match Zone . Long heads back for the restart after scoring only his third goal in all competitions since arriving at St Mary's in the summer . Championship to scorer Daryl Murphy was forced to have his head bandaged after a clash of heads with team-mate Jonathan Parr . Match winner against Manchester United, Dusan Tadic controls the ball under pressure from Tommy Smith (left) and Luke Hyam . Southampton's only blow from the first-half came after midfielder Victor Wanyam went to ground with a suspected hamstring injury . Wanyama is tended to by medical staff before being forced to leave the field and join Morgan Schneiderlin on Saints injury list . Southampton's Matt Targett (left) makes an acrobatic clearance while Ipswich striker Murphy looks on . Florin Gardos of Southampton (right) jumps for the ball with Ipswich forward David McGoldrick . Southampton and England defender Nathanial Clyne (left) competes in an aerial duel with Balint Bajner of Ipswich . Friday January 23 . Cambridge v Man Utd . Saturday January 24 . Blackburn v Swansea . Birmingham v West Brom . Cardiff v Reading . Chelsea v Bradford . Derby v Chesterfield . Man City v Middlesbrough . Preston v Sheff Utd . Sunderland v Fulham . Tottenham v Leicester . Southampton v C Palace . Liverpool v Bolton . Sunday January 25 . Bristol City v West Ham . Aston Villa v Bournemouth . Brighton v Arsenal . Monday January 26 . Rochdale v Stoke .
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Southampton defeated Ipswich 1-0 in their third round FA Cup replay at Portman Road .
Shane Long scored the winner with an instinctive first-half strike on 19minutes .
Ronald Koeman's side will now play Crystal Palace at home on Saturday January 26 .
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By . Associated Press . and Francesca Chambers . Vice President Joe Biden traveled to Kiev, Ukraine on Sunday night for a two-day trip to meet with leaders of the country. Biden arrived in Kiev on Monday afternoon local time. Upon arrival he was briefed on the situation in Ukraine by the U.S. ambassador to the country. He also met with U.S. embassy staff and a delegation of eight members of Congress who are also in the country on official business. Scroll down for video . Vice President Joe Biden landed at the airport in Kiev, Ukraine this morning. Biden is making a two-day visit to meet with the country's acting prime minister and president, as well as legislators and activists . U.S. Vice President Joe Biden (left) is greeted by Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Deshchytsia at the airport outside Kiev, Ukraine on Monday . President Barack Obama did not accompany . Biden on the trip to Kiev. Instead, he will make a previously scheduled . visit on Tuesday to Oso, Washington, where 39 people were killed in a . mudslide earlier this month. Tomorrow, Biden will meet with acting Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy . Yatsenyuk and President Oleksander Turchinov and Ukrainian legislators from across the country. Ukraine's Prime Minister and Biden will then speak to the press. Afterward, Biden will meet with a group of civil society leaders before returning to Washington on Tuesday night. Discussions with Ukrainian leaders will include 'the . international community's efforts to help stabilize and strengthen . Ukraine's economy and to assist Ukraine in moving forward on . constitutional reform, decentralization, anti-corruption efforts, and . free and fair presidential elections on May 25th,' the Vice President's office said in a statement. A senior White House official told reporters on the trip that the Vice President would also talk with leaders about new economic, energy and governance assistance the U.S. will be offering Ukraine. In terms of economic assistance, the U.S. will not offer the country new monetary aid. Rather, the White House is offering to put troops on the ground in Ukraine to ensure that the $1 billion guaranteed loan from U.S. is allocated fairly throughout all of Ukraine, the official explained. Biden's visit comes after violence erupted in eastern Ukraine on Easter, despite an agreement last week aimed at easing tensions. A . shootout Sunday at a checkpoint in eastern Ukraine manned by pro-Russia . insurgents left at least three dead, and Ukrainian and Russian . officials traded accusations of blame. The armed clash followed Thursday's . announcement in Geneva that talks between Ukraine, Russia, the United . States and the European Union had produced an agreement to take . tentative steps toward calming the volatile situation. Armed Pro-Russian men secure the area on the street in Slovyansk, eastern Ukraine. The self-proclaimed mayor of Slovyansk in eastern Ukraine is appealing to Russia to send in peacekeeping troops after an Easter shootout at a checkpoint near the city manned by pro-Russia insurgents . A pro-Russian man shows Ukrainian activist and journalist Irma Krat to journalists in eastern Ukraine on Monday after pro-Russian insurgents arrested her. She is being held captive by pro-Russian activists . Russia's Foreign Ministry quickly blamed militant Ukrainian nationalists in Sunday's attack. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov accused Kiev of 'a crude violation of the agreements reached in Geneva' to ease tensions. 'The authorities (in Kiev) aren't doing anything, didn't lift a finger to eliminate the causes that are the basis for the deep crisis today in Ukraine,' he told a news conference. The Ukrainian Security Service, however, said the attack was staged by provocateurs from outside the country. 'The situation regarding the incident outside of Slavyansk is still very murky,' a senior Obama administration told reporters aboard Air Force 2 on Monday. The official called on Russia to use its influence on pro-Russian forces in the country to get them to de-arm and de-occupy government buildings. If the Russia continues on a 'destabilizing' course in Ukraine, the U.S. will impose 'mounting costs' on Russia, he said. The official declined to put a timetable on those costs, but said it wouldn't be 'an . open-ended process.' 'This is going to be a situation where we take stock . and determine in the relatively near term what our next step should be,' he said. White House Press Secretary Jay Carney also refused to explain on Monday what those 'costs' would be or when they would be implemented. He reiterated to reporters during his daily briefing that those costs would 'escalate' if Russia escalated its activity in the country. U.S. ambassador to Ukraine Geoffrey Pyatt laid out a slightly less vague timeline for when the Obama administration would take action if Russia does not comply with the agreement made in Geneva, Switzerland last week. 'We're talking days, not weeks,' he said, according to the White House pool report. Pyatt said it's still 'too early' to know if the agreement would ultimately prevail. 'The ball is really in Moscow's court in terms of whether they're going to take this diplomatic off-ramp.' Specifically, pro-Russian activists and insurgents would need to stop illegally occupying government buildings in order to be in compliance with the agreement, he said. The U.S. ambassador also condemned pro-Russian insurgents' recent arrests of journalists. Pyatt called the arrests a 'particularly ugly turn' in the situation. Pro-Russian protesters attend a rally in downtown Kharkiv, Ukraine, on Monday. Pro-Russian activists are demanding broader autonomy from Kiev and closer ties to Russia . Pro-Russian protestors have continued occupying government, police and other administrative buildings in eastern Ukrainian cities, in defiance of an ultimatum by the Ukrainian government to lay down their weapons .
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On Sunday night Vice President Joe Biden traveled to Kiev, Ukraine.
He arrived on Monday afternoon local time.
He will meet with Ukraine's acting prime minister and president during his two-day trip.
Discussions will include constitutional reform and Ukraine's upcoming election presidential.
Biden's visit comes on the heels of a Sunday shootout at a checkpoint in eastern Ukraine.
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By . Simon Walters . and Glen Owen . UPDATED: . 05:46 EST, 13 November 2011 . Tony Blair is facing questions after one of his charities launched a bid to grab a slice of Britain's £8billion foreign aid budget. His organisation has taken the first steps to become eligible for grants awarded by the Department for International Development to rebuild war-torn countries. The highly sensitive move has prompted concerns over a possible conflict of interest with Mr Blair's complex business dealings. Tony Blair is being made an honorary Paramount Chief in the village of Mahera in Sierra Leone. Of his estimated £7m-a-year earnings, about £2m comes from merchant bank JP Morgan, which has major interests in many of the countries receiving British aid . Of his estimated £7 million-a-year earnings, about £2 million comes from merchant bank JP Morgan, which has major interests in many of the countries receiving British aid. Mr Blair's charity has applied to join the tendering process for the Department for International Development (DfID) 'security and governance' scheme, which undertakes 'peace-building' work in countries such as Iraq and Afghanistan. The remit has raised eyebrows given the former Premier's disastrous decision to back the Iraq War. Last night, Conservative MPs said Mr Blair must prove that the pitch would not conflict with his lucrative commercial activities. Tory Philip Davies said: 'This is a very sensitive issue. The Government will have to be scrupulously careful with the award of any contracts to Mr Blair to ensure there can be no possible conflict of interest with his widespread business dealings in the Third World.' However, when asked about MPs' fears that the application could conflict with Mr Blair's business activities, a spokesman for the former Prime Minister said: 'On what basis do they claim there is a conflict? There is none, and to claim or imply otherwise is defamatory.' Mr Blair has applied to be considered for grants via the Tony Blair Africa Governance Initiative. Curiously, the application has been made in the name of the Tony Blair Governance Initiative, omitting the word Africa. Mr Blair's spokesman said the charity only operated in Africa. Ex-PM Tony Blair talks with health workers at Rokupa Government Hospital in Freetown on a visit to Sierra Leone, where his charity and JP Morgan operate, last year . The charity is run from the same office in London's Grosvenor Square as his business empire, the Office of Tony Blair. They share the same PO Box address in Paddington and are registered at the same address near St James's Park. The PO Box address is also shared by Cherie Blair's Foundation For Women charity. DfID – the Whitehall department whose budget will rise to £11 billion by 2015 – is spending £787 million this year on 'governance and security' schemes. Of this, £34 million is going to Afghanistan and £1.7 million to Iraq. Large sums also go to African and other Asian countries. Individual contracts can be worth hundreds of thousands of pounds. It is believed that some are worth millions, although a DfID spokesman refused to confirm this. A secret DfID document seen by The Mail on Sunday shows Mr Blair's name on the list of those who have applied for 'Lot A' of the DfID governance portfolio. If successful, his charity would then be on a list of organisations eligible to bid for contracts as they came up. Others on the application list include the 'Big Four' accountancy giants – Ernst & Young, KPMG, Deloitte and PricewaterhouseCoopers – plus charities such as Save The Children and Christian Aid. Philip Davies MP warned Mr Blair is entering a very sensitive area of policy and the Government will have to be careful when awarding contracts . The document suggests that Mr Blair's record in Iraq and Afghanistan could be significant, as it states: 'Bidders should describe their approach to operating in conflict-affected and fragile states.' A DfID guide says bidders must prove their expertise in public sector reform and be able to help with 'the effective functioning of the Cabinet and PM's/President's offices'. That remit may raise eyebrows given that Mr Blair was criticised for his record on public service reform and the way he ran No 10, making key decisions with informal 'sofa diplomacy' sessions with his cronies, rather than the Cabinet system. International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell last night confirmed that Mr Blair had applied to be considered for DfID cash. He said 'The Tony Blair Governance Initiative has applied . . . to be eligible to compete for a contract on public sector governance. 'Their bid will be treated like any other and judged on value for money and effectiveness. All DfID contracts operate under strict rules designed to get the best for British taxpayers and deliver help to the world's poorest people.' Mr Blair has entered a three-stage tendering process in which he must show he is fit to run a major overseas aid project with public money. If Mr Blair's bid is approved, he will then face separate 'mini competitions' for individual contracts. His overall finances are shrouded in mystery, but it is understood that until now his charitable activities in the Third World have been funded mainly from his lucrative commercial activities. Adding Government money to this would represent a major expansion of his empire. Mr Blair is thought to have made about £25 million since leaving office, but the opaque way his finances are structured makes it almost impossible to establish the true size of his fortune. It is known that his property portfolio contains seven homes, worth £14 million. The Tony Blair Africa Governance Initiative (AGI) is part of the Byzantine structure of companies, partnerships and consultancies constructed by the former PM. At the centre of the web is the Office of Tony Blair, based in Grosvenor Square, London, which co-ordinates all his activities. Aid to Sierra Leone is at the centre of concerns over a potential conflict of interest for Mr Blair . The office is funded by a structure called Windrush Ventures, into which much of his estimated £7 million-a-year income is funnelled. This income is derived from his commercial consultancy, Tony Blair Associates, the JP Morgan consultancy, another job with the Swiss insurer Zurich Financial Services and speaking engagements that can earn him six-figure payments. The AGI is registered as a charity, as is his Faith Foundation and Sports Foundation. However, last year the AGI was reprimanded by the Charities Commission for asking supporters to back Labour in the Election. The former PM divides his time between the charities and his diplomatic role as Middle East peace envoy for the 'Quartet' of the UN, Russia, America and the EU. Critics argue that much of his charitable work helps him to establish key political and commercial contacts around the world. Nick Thompson, the chief operating officer of AGI, previously headed the climate change unit at the Department for Business. Paul Skidmore, AGI's director of strategy and fundraising, is a former adviser to David Miliband; Andrew Ratcliffe, one of its project leaders, was in Mr Blair's Downing Street Strategy Unit, while Malte Gerhold, who is a project leader for AGI in Sierra Leone, worked in his Delivery Unit. Sierra Leone illustrates how Mr Blair could be open to claims that his business and governmental links could lead to a conflict of interest. The AGI is working to end the nation's dependence on aid, and has helped the government there to push through reforms, including fast-track commercial courts and easier financing from banks to small businesses. Meanwhile, JP Morgan has business interests in the country, including a stake in mining company Titanium Resources Group. DfID gave £45 million in aid in Sierra Leone in 2009/10, of which £18 million went on 'governance'. However, Mr Blair's spokesman insisted: 'Mr Blair does not do business in any of the countries that AGI operates in.' Mr Blair's AGI has come under fire from some quarters for advising Rwandan leader Paul Kagame, who has been accused of running a repressive regime. He has also advised Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf on how to copy his style of running a government with a 'strong centre'. Mr Blair has already passed the first hurdle, which had the 51 applicants whittled down to 41. These will be reduced to 'about a dozen' who will be eligible to bid for future DfIF contracts.
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Concern that taxpayers' cash for project will conflict with £2m JP Morgan contract .
Ex-PM's organisation has already passed first hurdle to get money .
Award of grant would enable him to conduct 'peace-building' in war-torn countries... such as Iraq .
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(CNN) -- On the sweltering evening of April 12, 2009, as dusk deepened over the Indian Ocean, several hundred miles off the coast of Somalia, three shots rang out. All the bullets found their targets -- three Somali pirates in a small lifeboat bobbing on the darkening sea. For the past five days the pirates had taken hostage Richard Phillips, the American captain of the Maersk Alabama container ship. President Barack Obama had authorized the use of deadly force if Phillips' life was in danger. Unbeknownst to the pirates, days earlier a contingent from SEAL Team 6 had parachuted at night into the ocean near the USS Bainbridge warship, which was shadowing the pirates in their boat. The SEALs had taken up position on the fantail of the Bainbridge and were carefully monitoring Phillips while he was in the custody of the pirates. One of the pirates had just pointed his AK-47 at the American captain as if he were going to shoot him. That's when the SEAL team commander on the Bainbridge ordered his men to take out the pirates. U.S. terror raids: 2 operations. 2 outcomes. 5 questions . Three U.S. Navy SEAL sharpshooters fired simultaneously at the pirates from a distance of 30 yards in heaving seas at nightfall, killing them all. Obama called Vice Adm. William "Bill" McRaven, the leader of Joint Special Operations Command and of the mission to rescue Phillips, to tell him, "Great job." In the eyes of Hollywood at least, the American public can't get enough of these kinds of operations. "Captain Phillips," a movie starring Tom Hanks playing the rescued sea captain, will be in theaters on Friday. The flawless rescue of Philips was the first time that Obama, only three months into his new job, was personally exposed to the capabilities of America's "Quiet Professionals," as they sometimes refer to themselves. They are the secretive counterterrorism units of special operations, made up of units including the Navy's SEAL Team 6 and the Army's Delta Force, whose well-oiled skills Obama has come to rely upon increasingly with every passing year of his presidency. African raids . This was underlined over the weekend in Africa when operators from Delta and SEAL Team 6 carried out raids in Libya and Somalia -- more than 2,000 miles apart -- targeting a longtime alleged member of al Qaeda in the Libyan capital, Tripoli, and the leaders of one al Qaeda's affiliated groups in the Somali port of Barawe. In Tripoli, Delta operators seized Abu Anas al-Libi, who is wanted for his alleged role performing surveillance on the U.S. embassy in Nairobi, Kenya, which was destroyed by an al Qaeda truck bomb in 1998, while in Barawe SEAL Team 6 operators went ashore to attack a house frequented by commanders of Al Shabaab, the group that launched the attack on the mall in Nairobi two weeks ago where at least 67 people were killed. The Delta raid in Tripoli went off flawlessly, but the SEALs encountered heavy resistance in Barawe and the SEAL team retreated. Details of what exactly happened during the Somali operation are still murky. The two raids over the weekend show that President Obama remains very comfortable deploying special operations forces in countries the United States is not at war with as a means to combat terrorist groups, just as he is comfortable with the use of CIA drones for the same purpose in countries such as Pakistan and Yemen. For the White House, part of the appeal of special operations and drones is that they do not, of course, consume anything like the blood and treasure that are expended on conventional military operations such as the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Indeed, the SEALS have had considerable experience working in and around Somalia in recent years. Six months after the rescue of Phillips, Obama's national security team authorized a mission to take out Saleh Ali Saleh Nabhan, a leader of al Qaeda in Africa. Nabhan was killed by SEAL Team 6 in a helicopter raid on September 14, 2009, as he was driving south of the Somali capital, Mogadishu. The SEALs landed briefly to take Nabhan's body, and after they had confirmed his identity through DNA samples, he was buried at sea. U.S. official: Raid's target was Al-Shabaab foreign fighter commander . Home of SEAL Team 6 . It is quite challenging to enter the SEALs, but an even greater challenge is to be selected for the SEAL's premier counterterrorism force, the innocuously named Naval Special Warfare Development Group based at Dam Neck, Virginia, near the bustling resort town of Virginia Beach. It's known inside the military as "DevGru" and more popularly as "SEAL Team 6" and is an elite within the SEAL elite. The men of DevGru, around 250 in total, are battle-hardened and are usually in their mid-30s. DevGru is divided into squadrons that are named by color: Red, Blue and Gold are the assault squadrons, Grey handles vehicles and boats, and Black is the sniper team. These squadrons scout other SEAL teams, which number around 2,000 men, for those with the particular skills they need. DevGru's base at Dam Neck does not announce itself. Behind the high wire fence that seals the SEALs off from the rest of the world is a large dog pound where the highly trained dogs that accompany the men on their missions live. There is a giant wall to sharpen climbing skills and a hangar full of exceptionally fast boats. Other hangars house experimental Mad Max-like dune buggies suitable for driving in the deserts of the Middle East and weapons rooms loaded with exotic firearms. 'Somalia-ized' SEAL Team 6's greatest coup, of course, was the 2011 operation in Abbottabad, Pakistan, in which Osama bin Laden was killed. However, SEAL Team 6's integral role in the war against al Qaeda and its allies would not have been easy to predict before the 9/11 attacks. Just recall the debacle that has come to be known as "Blackhawk Down." In Mogadishu, Somalia, in early October 1993 a daytime helicopter assault -- by pilots of the Special Operations Air Regiment and elements of SEAL Team 6, Delta Force and the 75th Rangers -- to snatch Somali clan leaders who were attacking U.S. troops stationed in Somalia turned into a fiasco in which two Blackhawk helicopters were shot down by rocket propelled grenades. Eighteen American servicemen died. Scarred by Mogadishu, the Pentagon was resistant to using SEAL Team 6 and Delta to take on al Qaeda in Afghanistan once the terrorist group had rebased itself there in 1996. Indeed, after the 9/11 attacks, then-Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld was deeply frustrated that the first American boots on the ground in Afghanistan were from the CIA and not the highly trained counterterrorism units of SEAL Team 6 and Delta Force. On October 17, 2001, ten days after the U.S. campaign against the Taliban had started, Rumsfeld wrote a secret memo to Gen. Richard Myers, then-chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, expressing his irritation: "Does the fact that the Defense Department can't do anything on the ground in Afghanistan until CIA people go in first to prepare the way suggest that the Defense Department is lacking a capability we need? Specifically, given the nature of our world, isn't it conceivable that the Department (of Defense) ought not to be in a position of near total dependence on CIA in situations such as this?" Officials working for Rumsfeld commissioned Richard Shultz, an historian on special forces, to find out why special operations units were not deployed to hit al-Qaeda before the attacks on New York and Washington. After all, fighting terrorists was why these units were founded in the first place. Schultz concluded that in the years before 9/11 the senior officers at the Pentagon had become "Somalia-ized." Then-special operations boss Gen. Peter Schoomaker recalled, "Special operations were never given the mission. It was very, very frustrating. It was like having a brand-new Ferrari in the garage and nobody wants to race it because you might dent the fender." The attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon allowed Rumsfeld to push special operations to the center of the "Global War on Terrorism." And on September 6, 2003, Rumsfeld signed an order known as an "EXORD" that empowered Joint Special Operations Command to hunt al-Qaeda in as many as 15 countries. Wife: Captured 'most wanted terrorist' al Libi had left al Qaeda . Military's own army . In the decade after 9/11, JSOC became a small army within the military with its own drones, its own air force (known as the Confederate Air Force) and its own intelligence operations. The rise of JSOC was inextricably linked to the vision of Maj. Gen. Stanley McChrystal, a brilliant workaholic from a military family who was beloved by his men; during the Iraq War he who would go out with them on missions to capture/kill insurgents. It was McChrystal who took the special operations Ferrari out of the garage and drove it to become a killing machine of unprecedented agility and ferocity. JSOC went from mounting half a dozen operations a month in Iraq in the spring of 2004 to 300 a month by the summer of 2006. It was McChrystal's five-year command of JSOC between 2003 and 2008 that helped turn its core components of SEAL Team 6 and Delta into what is arguably the most agile and deadly force in history. One of the key officers under McChrystal was Bill McRaven, who took over command from McChrystal as head of JSOC when McChrystal went to take a senior job at the Pentagon. McRaven is a strapping, dark-haired, blue-eyed Texan in his mid-50s. In conversation as he chugs a Rip It -- a heavily caffeinated beverage popular with American soldiers in Afghanistan -- he speaks in well thought-out paragraphs, but he also peppers his speech with the occasional "doggone," as well as other, more robust swear words. A battle-hardened colleague says McRaven reminds him of the comic book superhero Captain America, while another says he "is reputed to be the smartest SEAL that ever lived. He is physically tough, compassionate and can drive a knife through your ribs in a nanosecond." Even as a three-star admiral, about once a month in Afghanistan, McRaven went out with his teams on snatch-and-grab missions. It was McRaven who planned the bin Laden raid down to the last details. Now he commands Special Operations Command, or SOCOM, which oversees special operations by the Navy, Army, Air Force and Marines. According to its mission statement, SOCOM's job is to "synchronize planning of global operations against terrorist networks." A sign of where the Obama administration is placing its bets about what it believes to be the future of warfare is that while there are major cuts planned for all four of the armed services, SOCOM is one of the few places in the military where the force is actually growing.
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Peter Bergen: After 'Blackhawk Down' disaster, U.S. stopped relying on special forces .
He says 9/11 led to renewed interest in using SEALs, other special forces .
Bergen: Weekend's operations show Obama's continued support for special forces .
2009 rescue of U.S. merchant captain from pirates impressed Obama, he says .
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(CNN)Imagine flying over The Netherlands and seeing one of the fat-pixeled images from the gallery above. It would be hard not to smile, right? I mean, what is that alien thing? An oversized kaleidoscope? A rip in the Matrix? Some kind of freakish, town-sized cauliflower? When Mishka Henner, a 38-year-old artist and photographer, came across these "blurred" images of Dutch landscapes on Google Maps, he was similarly perplexed and amused. "Well, I laughed," he said of the initial discovery. The hidden zones are "not only bases, they're also royal palaces and fuel depots and ammunition depots and that sort of thing," Henner told me. The Dutch government "used a pretty spectacular method for hiding these locations, which does everything but hide them, basically." Henner, who lives in the UK, decided to turn this strangely beautiful form of censorship into art. His series of high-resolution Google Maps renderings is called "Dutch Landscapes." Created in 2011, the series has been on display at New York's Museum of Modern Art and elsewhere. Next month, he said, it will be on display at the Centre Pompidou in Paris. Each of the pieces in the series, he told me, is actually a composite of about 60 smaller Google images. Henner stitched them together to create a print large enough to be displayed in a gallery. Gallery curators have told Henner that this work reminds them of the Cubist movement of the early 1900s, in which painters like Picasso and Braque simplified reality into a collection of angular shapes. Henner told me he'd never thought of it that way -- and that he suspects all the Dutch government did to create this effect was use the "crystallize" filter in Photoshop. "It could have been the Friday of the month when the parents (at the Dutch Defense Ministry) were allowed to bring their kids to work," he said. Social media . Follow @CNNPhotos on Twitter to join the conversation about photography. The images are "very, kind of, childlike in a way." They also hit at something deeper. "It's a paradox: So much is visible" in the modern world, where security cameras and smartphones are everywhere, he told me. "And yet, so much effort goes into making things not visible. The Dutch landscapes reflect that really brilliantly. They're the effort to conceal something when it's visible." And that's what I love about this work -- and this method of censorship. It's obvious. And it's almost whimsical. Like the country is letting its citizens in on the joke -- acknowledging, for once, that it is obscuring reality for security purposes. A spokesman for the Dutch Defense Ministry, Klaas Meijer, told me that these artful obfuscations are no longer required under Dutch law, and that, following a 2013 law change, "Google Maps will show military or royal locations without restrictions." There is at least one remaining exception. That imagery likely hasn't been updated since the law changed, Meijer said. Google does not play a role in the censorship, according to a company spokeswoman. "The imagery in Google Earth and Maps comes from a variety of sources," the company said in an e-mail. "Local aerial photography collected by imagery providers are subject to local law, and in some countries, as a condition for overflight, they require aerial photography companies to blur military installations and other areas deemed sensitive by the government. This is implemented by the local companies prior to delivery to third-parties like Google." Perhaps it's already antiquated, but I still find the easy-to-spot censorship from the Dutch landscape series refreshing at a time when so many government efforts at information manipulation and obfuscation are scarily covert. In the book "The Dictator's Learning Curve," William Dobson argues authoritarian (or would-be authoritarian) governments are getting increasingly sophisticated and clever. Instead of the outright manipulation and control shown by North Korea, for example, many world leaders try to manipulate without being noticed, or while maintaining plausible deniability. "Take, for example, Russia," Dobson wrote. "Even as Vladimir Putin became increasingly authoritarian, he never did violence to the Russian constitution; he worked in the seams of Russia's political system, centralizing power through channels that could at least appear to be democratic." Internet censorship in China is another good example. The country's Great Firewall is used to filter local Internet searches of provocative terms like "Tiananmen Square," the site of a 1989 pro-democracy demonstration. But there's no big-bold-polygon equivalent shown to Internet users when the Web is being censored. When people search Google for banned terms, for example, "the user will see a blank page or a browser error message," according to the site greatfire.org, which tracks Internet censorship in China. Was that censorship? Or a bad connection? It's clear but kind of isn't, exactly. The United States is guilty of this, too. I'd almost rather the NSA sent me a daily e-mail with a list of all of the information they're collecting on me. They could do it in emoticons or whatever cutesy, pseudo-artful way they wanted. At least I'd know what was happening. Not knowing is worse. "A new kind of iron fist has arrived, tucked behind an acid-whitened smile," Dwight Garner writes in a review of Dobson's book for The New York Times. The Dutch way -- beautifully obvious censorship -- is clearly preferable, if unrealistic. Few governments seem willing to fess up to their efforts to censor and manipulate. Pity, though. If they all took the artful Dutch approach to it, their citizens might be more likely to trust them. At least they'd know what's going on, and could form rational arguments in support or opposition. As it is now, many government programs -- especially those that involve spying and censorship -- are largely invisible and, therefore, entirely suspect. Mishka Henner is a Belgian photographer. You can follow him on Twitter and Instagram.
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John Sutter talks with artist Mishka Henner about his "Dutch Landscapes" series .
The series focuses on an artful effort by the Dutch government to censor Google Maps .
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A student pilot who lost half a wing in a potentially disastrous mid-air collision with his instructor managed to land his fighter jet safely. The unnamed airman brought his F-16C back to base after losing five feet from the plane's right wing above Kansas during a mock dogfight. He smashed into his instructor after losing sight of him during the practice encounter - sending the second fighter jet plummeting to earth. Ravaged fighter: An accident left this F-16C fighter jet without half a wing - but its trainee pilot managed to bring it home safely . Mid-air smash: The pilot smashed into a jet flown by his instructor after a practice dogfight went wrong . While the plane was obliterated when it hit the ground, its pilot managed to eject in time and was not badly hurt. Meanwhile the student managed to bring his damaged vehicle 100 miles south to an air base in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and made a safe landing. Images of the collision were released this week as part of an Air Force investigation into the crash. According to the Washington Post, investigators determined that a missile on the right wing tip of the student's plane tore through the right wing of his instructor's plane, close to the fuselage. Less lucky: The instructor's jet was destroyed when it crashed into a Kansas field - though the instructor himself managed to eject and was not badly hurt . Wreckage: The smashed plane, which lost parts of its wing and tail fin in mid-air, is seen here where it landed . Damaged: Air Force investigators estimated that the accident cost $22.5million . In one piece: Both pilots were at the controls of an F-16C fighter jet, pictured above in Las Vegas, Nevada (file) It then also hit the plane's right-hand tail fin, sending the plane hurtling to earth. The student shouted repeatedly over the radio for the instructor to bail out, which he did, landing just 60ft from the wreckage of the plane. The collision came after both student and instructor misinterpreted the other's maneuvers and turned towards one another at an altitude of 7,500ft. The two planes were supposed to be coordinating to hunt down a third plane in the training flight. They successfully staged one engagement, but disaster struck during a second run. Air Force investigators estimated that the collision, which totalled one F-16, cost $22.5million. On approach: This diagram shows the training mission before disaster struck. MP3 was posing as a hostile craft. MP1 and MP2 are the trainee-instructor duo . Impact: The above image shows the moment of collision, after the two craft turned sharply toward each other .
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Crash took place over Kansas in October after miscommunication by pilots .
Student and teacher were simulating chasing down a third plane .
When closing in for the kill they turned towards one another and crashed .
Instructor's plane hurtled to earth and was destroyed - while he ejected .
Student, missing five feet of his wing, managed to fly 100 miles back to base .
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Liverpool will make a last-ditch attempt to persuade Ashley Cole to join them. But Cole, who was left out of England’s World Cup squad, is poised to leave the Premier League and move to Serie A. Roma hope to rubber stamp a deal with the ex-England left-back next week. Curtain call: Ashley Cole's Chelsea career came to an end when the last Premier League season finished . There could be a new wave of Costa Rican players on their way to the Premier League after their great showing at the World Cup and the involvement of English agency Sillsport. Arsenal are taking Joel Campbell back from his loan spell in Greece, although the Gunners could farm him out again and other Costa Ricans have attracted the eye of English scouts. Three years ago Sillsport set up a fund to invest in several South and Central American clubs to help develop young players in return for an eventual return on their transfer fees. Out to impress: Joel Campbell trains on Friday ahead of Costa Rica's semi-final against Holland . The company has developed a strong relationship with former West Ham striker Paolo Wanchope who is the Costa Rica assistant coach and the company has a major tie-up with several clubs in Costa Rica. A number of players are now looking to capitalise on Costa Rica’s success at the World Cup this summer by securing moved to club’s in England or Spain. Arsenal are poised to sign Mathieu Debuchy from Newcastle this this week. The Gunners believe they have an £8m deal in the bag for the France right-back who will take over from Bacary Sagna after his move to Manchester City. Indeed Debuchy claimed in TV interview after France’s defeat to Germany that he ‘will be playing for Arsenal next season.’ Target: Arsenal are believed to be close to completing an £8million deal for France's Debuchy (right) I am hearing . While Frank Lampard has snubbed his uncle and QPR manager Harry to instead turn out for Melbourne City ahead his move to MLS club New York City, Rio Ferdinand is poised to agree a move to Loftus Road. Ferdinand has been playing a return to the London area for some time when he knew he wouldn’t get a new deal at Manchester United. A luxury mansion on the Farnborough Park estate on the south east London/Kent border near the M25 is close to being fully renovated. Done deal: Rio Ferdinand is set to sign for QPR when he returns from Brazil . I am also hearing . Ashley Young is one of several players on the way out of Manchester United and could move back to Aston Villa. Swansea and Newcastle are two other possible destinations. Southampton want £25m to sell Dejan Lovren to Liverpool. The Saints have already rejected a £20m offer from the Reds. But they want more although it is possible they will consider one of the several squad players Liverpool have on offer as part of an exchange deal. Why didn’t someone come up with ‘shaving foam’ idea at free kicks years ago? It’s so simple and so effective. It is hoped it will be adopted in the Premier League this season. Marouane Fellaini will be shown the door by Manchester United as soon as new boss Louis Van Gaal gets his feet under the table. Everton, who sold Fellaini to United for £27m last summer, will be interested in taking the Belgium midfielder back; but only in a cut price deal at around £12m. The player would also have to agree to a compromise over his basic salary.Newcastle would also be interested. Boost: Belgium's Marouane Fellaini has enjoyed something of a renaissance at World Cup . Newcastle are also set to make a move for Manchester City’s Micah Richards. Richards played just two Premier League matches for City last season and has been told he can leave after the arrival of Bacary Sagna from Arsenal. The 26-year-old has one year of his contract remaining and could be bought for as little as £5 million. Young USA right-back DeAndre Yedlin, who came on as an early substitute in their defeat to Belgium, has attracted the attention of several Premier League clubs after his superb performance. And the 20-year-old, who is currently at Seattle Sounders, could secure a move to Liverpool if he impresses during a pre-season trial. Wanted: USA right-back DeAndre Yedlin has attracted the attention of Premier League clubs . Mon: Astonishingly, Luis Suraez comes out and protests his innocence. The utter absence of remorse should have persuaded FIFA to double his suspension. Tues: At last Suarez makes a form of apology but it’s just a cynical way of keeping his move to Barcelona alive. Who would have thought it? Belgium’s 2-1 win over the USA turns out to be one of the all-time World Cup classics. Weds: Barcelona officials fly into London and start formal talks with Liverpool about buying Suarez who was off to Spain before his biting incident anyway. But Liverpool have had to take a cut on the £100m they wanted with the cash sum dropping close to £60 million. Thurs: Former England Under 21 boss Stuart Pearce slams Roy Hodgson for not blooding players properly via the Under 21 set-up; he's right. Fri: It wasn’t pretty as Brazil bruised their way in to the semi-final by beating Columbia 2-1. But with Neymar now out Germany have the ability and the mental toughness to beat the hosts in the last four. Libero . Glenn Hoddle has said he no longer wants to see Brazil win the World Cup because they are not playing Jogo Bonito. He has a point. With Neymar now out they lack Samba stars in the grand tradition. Ironically Germany, who they now face in the semi-finals, used to pride themselves on grinding out results like Brazil have but now play the more expansive football. In that respect, if this tournament is to be remembered as one of the best ever then I suspect Hoddle would like to see Germany beat Brazil then lift the trophy for the first time since 1990. That was one of the dullest-ever tournaments, England’s great exploits apart of course. In many ways I agree. It might seem romantic for Brazil to win a sixth World Cup in Rio next week but not if the imprint they leave is bruises not Samba soccer. Mind you, the free kick David Luiz scored against Colombia was in the grand tradition of Pele, Rivelino, Zico and Co. But the world really would seem upside down if a Brazilian centre half turns out to be their World Cup hero. Stunning: Brazil defender David Luiz strikes an unstoppable free-kick into the top corner of the net . Set piece: Thiago Silva and Colombia keeper David Opsina look on as Brazil take the lead on Friday . Substance over style for a sixth star: Some believe Brazil are abandoning the style that made them great... particularly in the World Cup in 1970, which they won with a 4-1 victory over Italy . BTW . David Dein hit the nail on the head the other day when he said one of the problems of developing young talent in England is because there is less and less sport in school, especially outside school hours. There are several reasons for that. One of them is the academy system at big clubs . One of the many down sides of the academies is that they draw talent away from school, district and county teams which used to be a route to the top for many players. Big Phil Scolari has told all the critics he has faced that they ‘can go to hell’. Foot on the ball, Phil. The Brazilian public will not take kindly to their romantic vision of football being revised and if he continues to go completely against the Samba spirit he could be the first manager to win a World Cup and be sacked within days. Back Heel . Since 1930 there have been 56 scorers in World Cup finals. Thirty five of them are still alive. Celebrated photographer Michael Donald managed to track them down over the last few years and has compiled an amazing collection of portraits of Pele, Martin Peters and so on but of course not Diego Maradona or Johann Cruyff. They are currently being exhibited at the trendy bar/gallery The Proud Archivist which is in Haggerston, London just up to road from Hoxton. Back of the net: Since 1930 there have been 56 scorers in World Cup finals, including Pele in 1970 . If you are in the area it’s a must visit. There is also a great Panini exhibition there too. The unique collection will be up for auction soon and it is believed the collection could fetch over £100,000. That sounds a lot but not when you think Tracey Emin’s bedroom installation art ‘classic’ is supposedly worth over £2m.
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Liverpool will make an 11th-hour attempt to persuade Ashley Cole to join .
We may be seeing a few Costa Rica stars in the Premier League after their World Cup showing .
Arsenal are poised to sign Mathieu Debuchy from Newcastle this this week .
Rio Ferdinand will agree a move to QPR to link up with Harry Redknapp .
Marouane Fellaini will be shown the door by Manchester United .
Newcastle are set to make a move for Manchester City’s Micah Richards .
USA right-back DeAndre Yedlin has attracted the attention of Premier League clubs, including Liverpool .
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By . Charlie Eccleshare for MailOnline . Sergio Ramos looks to be a lucky boy after escaping with just a yellow card despite appearing to punch Atletico Madrid forward Mario Mandzukic in Tuesday's Spanish Super Cup clash. The pair tangled in the 60th minute of the 1-1 draw between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid, when Ramos thrust his fist into Mandzukic's face as he lay on the floor. The Croatian striker had just beaten Ramos to a header and as both fell to the floor, Ramos seemed to hit his prostrate opponent. Both players were booked for the incident. VIDEO: Sergio Ramos appears to punch Mario Mandzukic in last night's Spanish Super Cup . Ramos put his hand up as soon as he had made contact with Mandzukic, but the two clashed again just five minutes later when the Croatian made the most of minimal contact as they challenged for a high ball. The Spanish defender is no stranger to ill-discipline, having been sent off a staggering 19 times for Real Madrid in just nine seasons at the club. Climbing high: The flashpoint began when Mario Mandzukic beat Sergio Ramos to a header . Retaliation: Ramos responded by appearing to punch the Croatian in the face as he lay on the floor . Sorry about that: The Spanish defender instantly put his hand up to apologise for what he had just done . Real had looked to be heading to a first-leg victory at the Bernabeu after new signing James Rodriguez scored in the 83rd minute to put Los Blancos in front. But Atletico midfielder Raul Garcia equalised with three minutes remaining to give his side the edge heading into Friday's second leg. Get in! Ramos celebrates team-mate James Rodriguez putting Real in front against Atletico on Tuesday . Familiar pose: Ramos (right) pleads his innocence with team-mates Gareth Bale and Pepe . VIDEO Di Maria Real's best player - Simeone .
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Sergio Ramos seemed to punch Mario Mandzukic in Tuesday's Spanish Super Cup clash .
The pair tangled in the 60th minute of the 1-1 draw and both were booked .
The two players were lying on the floor when the incident happened .
The Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid Super Cup match finished 1-1 .
Ramos has been sent off 19 times for Real in nine seasons at the club .
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A fugitive treasure hunter who allegedly failed to pay back his investors after discovering the greatest lost treasure in U.S. history has been arrested in Florida after more than two years on the lam. Tommy Thompson, 62, and his long-time companion Alison Anteike were found on Tuesday in their two-person suite at a Hilton in West Boca Raton, where they had been living for two years, and were taken into custody by the U.S. Marshals Service. The duo are awaiting a hearing in Florida before being extradited to Ohio, where a federal civil arrest warrant was issued in 2012 after Thompson failed to show up to a court hearing, said Brian Babtist, a senior inspector with the U.S. Marshals in Columbus. Scroll down for video . Arrests: Fugitive Tommy Thompson, left, and his long-time companion Alison Anteike, right, were taken into custody in Florida on Tuesday, two years after he failed to attend a court hearing . Thompson made history in 1988 when he found the sunken S.S. Central America, also known as the Ship of Gold. The vessel sank in a huge hurricane 200 miles off South Carolina in September 1857, claiming the lives of 425 people and thousands of pounds of California gold, contributing to an economic panic. But in 1988, Thompson and his crew brought up thousands of gold bars and coins from the shipwreck, in what was considered a technological feat at the time. Much of the gold was later sold to a gold marketing group in 2000 for about $50 million. But the 161 investors who paid Thompson $12.7 million to find the ship never saw returns from the sale. Two of them sued - a now-deceased investment firm president and the Dispatch Printing Company, which publishes The Columbus Dispatch newspaper and had invested about $1 million. That legal battle is ongoing, and those close to Thompson say it was his undoing. Arrested: Tommy Thompson, pictured in 1989 with a $50 pioneer gold piece he found in 1988 in a wreck of the gold ship Central America, was arrested on Tuesday after more than two years on the run . Found: A 1989 file photo shows gold bars and coins from the S.S. Central America, which was discovered by marine engineer Tommy Thompson. He reportedly recovered three tons of coins and bars from the wreck . Gil Kirk, who heads a Columbus real estate firm and is a former director of one of Thompson's companies, told The Associated Press last year that Thompson never cheated anyone. Kirk said proceeds from the 2000 sale of the gold all went to legal fees and bank loans. 'He was a genius, and they've stolen his life,' Kirk said of those who sued. Thompson went into seclusion in 2006, moving into a mansion called Gracewood in Vero Beach, Florida. Six years later, after the arrest warrant was issued, Thompson vanished. When the property's caretakers searched it soon afterward, they found prepaid disposable cellphones and bank wraps for $10,000, along with a bank statement in the name of Harvey Thompson - his nickname in college. The statement showed a $1 million balance, a real estate agent for the property said in court records. Vessel: An undated drawing shows the S.S. Central America, which sank in a massive storm 200 miles off the coast of South Carolina in 1857 in one of the worst maritime disasters in U.S. history; 425 people died . Explorer: Thompson, left, stands at the helm of the Arctic Explorer in Norfolk, Virginia in 1991 . Caretakers also found a book called 'How to Live Your Life Invisible.' One marked page was titled: 'Live your life on a cash-only basis.' Columbus attorney Rick Robol, who at one time defended Thompson's company, has said there's no proof Thompson stole anything. He said he's been concerned about Thompson's health, which is why he called the arrest 'the best thing that can happen for everybody.' No criminal charges have been filed against Thompson, but Babtist said the treasure hunter will likely be ordered held in custody until he appears before an Ohio judge to give an accounting for the gold's sale and his actions. 'I don't imagine he's going to get any bond because he's already been a fugitive and knowingly evaded law enforcement,' Babtist said. 'I don't know what kind of means he has as far as money goes, but I'm sure they don't want to take any chances with him leaving the country or absconding again.' Found: He was finally tracked down to a Hilton hotel in West Boca Raton, where he had lived for two years .
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Tommy Thompson and long-time companion Alison Anteike were arrested in a West Boca Raton hotel suite, where they have lived for two years .
In 1988, the marine engineer recovered three tons of gold bars and coins from the wreckage of the S.S. Central America, which sank in 1857 .
But his investors never saw returns from the sale and two sued .
He went into seclusion at his Florida mansion in 2006 and when an arrest warrant was issued in 2012, he vanished .
At his mansion, he left bank wraps for $10,000 and a book called 'How to Live Your Life Invisible' with sections about living on cash only .
The duo are awaiting a hearing in Florida before being extradited to Ohio .
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(CNN) -- The Pakistan Taliban have voted to elect Asmatullah Shaheen, who is on Pakistan's most wanted list, as their interim head, according to an official for the group. The move comes after former chief Hakimullah Mehsud was killed in a U.S. drone strike on Friday. The group, also known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, will not be making an announcement on a new permanent leader for several more days, according to Azam Tariq, a member of the Pakistan Taliban's Shura Council, their centralized decision-making body.. Meanwhile, the U.S. ambassador to Islamabad was summoned to Pakistan's Foreign Ministry on Saturday. Foreign Ministry spokesman Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry did not explain why the envoy was summoned. A U.S. State Department official confirmed the meeting to CNN but would not disclose details about it. The State Department official would not discuss U.S. operations in Pakistan but pointed to the Pakistan Taliban's 2009 attack on a U.S. base in Afghanistan and claims of responsibility for a failed attempt to bomb Times Square in New York. The official was not authorized to speak publicly and is not being named by CNN. Afghan President criticizes U.S. drone strike that killed Pakistani Taliban leader . Pakistan: Peace talks will go ahead . Pakistani Information Minister Pervez Rasheed insisted that Mehsud's death would not delay proposed peace talks between the government and the Pakistan Taliban, amid concern that anger about the strike might derail the process. Rasheed condemned the use of drones in Pakistan. "Drones are used for killing, but they will not let the peace process be killed with it," the minister told reporters. Mehsud, who had a $5 million U.S. bounty on his head for his alleged involvement in the 2009 attack, was killed in a drone strike in northwestern Pakistan, senior U.S. and Pakistani officials told CNN. He was buried overnight, though the body was burned beyond recognition, Taliban sources said. The Afghan Taliban condemned the drone strike as "cowardly" and "barbaric" in a statement posted on their website Saturday, the SITE intelligence group said. The statement urged the Pakistani government and people to take measures to stop the attacks. Pakistan braces for reprisals . There are fears the killing of Mehsud may spark a surge in violence. This is in part because the attack in Afghanistan in 2009 -- in which seven U.S. citizens died -- was launched in response to a strike that killed another Taliban leader, Baitullah Mehsud, four months earlier. The Haqqani Network, designated by the United States as a terrorist organization, vowed to avenge Hakimullah Mehsud's death. Spokesman Ahmed Yousaf said the group will launch attacks within a few days. The network is blamed for more than 1,000 U.S. casualties in Afghanistan. Security around Peshawar, the capital city of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in northwest Pakistan, is being beefed up as police and security brace for reprisal attacks, Home Secretary Akhtar Ali Shah said. "Since this drone strike, we are waiting for a reaction," he said. "We know the reaction will be strong. We have strengthened security in Peshawar, especially at the entry points into the city. We have extra security on patrol with sniffer dogs." Pakistan summons U.S. envoy after death of Pakistan Taliban leader . Strike hit Taliban stronghold . Three other people were killed in Friday's strike, Pakistani intelligence sources and tribal officials said. They described the incident as a suspected U.S. drone strike in a remote area of Pakistan's North Waziristan region, a Taliban stronghold bordering Afghanistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. One missile hit a compound and another struck a car nearby, the Pakistani sources said. This is not the first time Hakimullah Mehsud -- who took the reins of the Pakistan Taliban in 2009 -- has been reported killed after a drone strike. In February 2010, multiple sources said he had died after being hit in a drone strike in Pakistan a month earlier. But reports that he was alive surfaced in April of that year, and in May 2010 he appeared in a video in which he vowed attacks on major U.S. cities. The fact that senior Pakistani government officials have commented so quickly on the news of his death this time adds credence to the reports. Pakistan Taliban claimed Times Square plot . The Pakistan Taliban, who have long been conducting an insurgency against the Pakistani government, claimed responsibility for the December 2009 suicide bombing at the United States' Forward Operating Base Chapman in Khost, Afghanistan. Five CIA officers were among the seven U.S. citizens killed, and a member of Jordanian intelligence also died. The U.S. Justice Department charged Hakimullah Mehsud in the summer of 2010 for his alleged involvement in the attack, and U.S. officials offered a $5 million reward for information leading to his capture. The group also claimed responsibility for a failed May 2010 attempt to detonate a car bomb in New York's Times Square. The following September, the U.S. State Department designated the Pakistan Taliban a foreign terrorist organization. Mehsud took over from Baitullah Mehsud, a fellow clan member, in 2009 after the latter was killed in a U.S. drone strike. Peace prospects . Hakimullah Mehsud's death could make progress in proposed peace talks between the Pakistani government and Pakistan Taliban more difficult. A relatively young and charismatic leader, he held together a disparate group with different tribal and other allegiances. There had reportedly been talks about him being involved in peace talks with Pakistan's government. His killing may upset some elements within the Pakistan Taliban if they believe that the Pakistani government was involved. The Pakistan Taliban could also pose an increased security threat if they splinter into smaller groups, which could be harder for security forces to detect. There has been a series of suicide bombings in the region over the past couple of years. CNN's Shaista Aziz, David Simpson and Susanna Capelouto contributed to this report.
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New interim leader selected by Pakistan Taliban .
Former leader Hakimullah Mehsud was killed in a U.S. drone strike on Friday .
A permanent leader will not be announced for several more days, spokesman says .
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An aspiring Florida model returning from a trip to Jamaica has been arrested for allegedly hiding a stash of cocaine in her vagina. KathyAnn Ferguson, 26, from Hollywood, was taken into custody Sunday at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and charged with cocaine trafficking. The traveler flew in aboard JetBlue Flight 2316 from Montego Bay, Jamaica, at around 4.15pm, according to her arrest affidavit. Stash: KathyAnn Ferguson, 26, was arrested Sunday at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and charged with transporting cocaine hidden inside her privates . The 5-foot-7, 175-pound woman was subjected to a security search, during which she admitted to a US Customs and Border Protection officer that she had a 'package' crammed inside her privates. After being taken into custody, Ms Ferguson removed the container from her body herself; the powdery substance inside tested positive for cocaine. According to the affidavit obtained by Sun-Sentinel, Ferguson was transporting 172 grams of the drug, or about 6 ounces. Ferguson was then taken to an area hospital to receive medical attention before she was booked into the Broward County Main Jail. She has since been released on $15,000 bond. Nabbed: Ferguson was picked up by TSA after getting off a JetBlue flight from Jamaica . Checkered past: Ferguson, an aspiring model and actress, has a long criminal history . This is not the first time the aspiring actress and model has run afoul of the law. According to online records, in 2009 then-21-year-old KathyAnn Ferguson was arrested on a battery charge. A year later, she landed in jail once again on charges of aggravated battery with a weapon and misdemeanor simple battery.
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KathyAnn Ferguson, 26, was arrested Sunday at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and charged with cocaine trafficking .
Ferguson admitted to a TSA agent that she had a 'package' inside her genitals, and she then removed it herself .
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By . Jessica Jerreat . A few hours after Marcus Arceneaux was pictured carrying his bloodied niece Bethany to safety yesterday, the young woman's family have revealed how they tracked down and took on her kidnapper in a deadly confrontation. Two days after the 29-year-old mother was abducted by her ex-boyfriend Scott Thomas, her family found her being held hostage in an abandoned Louisiana house. In the violent confrontation that followed, Miss Arceneaux was stabbed by Thomas who was then apparently shot dead as her rescuers took justice into their own hands. Rescued: Marcus Arceneaux carries his niece, Bethany, to safety after she was kidnapped and stabbed in an abandoned house . Remote: Bethany Arceneaux was rescued from an abandoned house in Louisiana, close to where her kidnapper's car was found . 'We kicked doors down. It was like a movie unfolding,' Miss Arceneaux's brother, Ryan, told the Advertiser. 'If we would have waited, she would have been dead.' Ryan was part of a search party made up of family and friends who were helping police try to find Miss Arceneaux after Thomas, the father of her two-year-old son, grabbed her on Wednesday evening. At around noon on Friday the group were investigating an abandoned house, barely visible through the sugar cane fields surrounding it. The house, on Anderson Road, was close to where Thomas had ditched his car on Wednesday night. Marcus Arceneaux, who helped rescue his niece, told KLFY 10: 'Everyone came running from the building and when I ran that way I saw my son was coming with Bethany. He had discovered her and got her out of that house.' Search party: Family and friends used off road vehicles to search remote areas shielded by sugar cane fields . Hero: Marcus Arceneaux carried his niece to safety after her horrifying ordeal . Kaylyn Alfred, another of the victim's brothers, said they heard screams for help as they entered the desolate building. As the search party confronted Thomas, who was the subject of a restraining order, he allegedly began to harm Miss Arceneaux. In the tussle that followed Thomas was shot and Marcus Arceneaux was able to grab his niece and carry her to safety. 'She’s shook up, she’s sliced up, but she’s alright, Ryan said. His sister was believed to have been stabbed but is recovering in hospital and has been reunited with her son. Captain Kip Justice of the Lafayette Parish Police Department confirmed that 29-year-old Thomas died as a result of injuries received in the confrontation. Stand off: Police use their car as a shield as they surround the house Scott Thomas was hiding in . Search party: Police creep up on the house after the victim's family helped her break free . Captain Judice said the family were . acting in defense of Miss Arceneaux and it is unclear at this time if . charges will be brought against anyone in her family. In June Bethany Arceneaux filed a protection order against Scott Thomas, after he locked her inside their home and made threats to harm her. Thomas was barred from coming near his ex-girlfriend or son, and was ordered to stay away from her home and his child's daycare center. In the order she claimed Thomas had choked her, dragged her by her hair and 'held a knife to my throat countless times'. During the final episode before she left him she said he made threats to kill her. She . added: 'Since then Scott has been riding around my mom's house and my . work looking for me. I am afraid for me and my son's life.' Thomas abducted Miss Arceneaux as she collected her son from daycare on Wednesday, November 6. 'The . man began harming her. He [Arceneaux’s family member] did what he . needed to do to stop that aggressive behavior from Mr Thomas,' Captain . Judice said. Police, who . were also searching for the victim and were close by when shots were . fired, are now trying to piece together what happened. The . search for Miss Arceneaux began when witnesses saw Thomas bundle her . into a car at 5.20pm on Wednesday as she collected their son from a . daycare center. The . 29-year-old was seen forcing his victim into a Buick LeSabre before . driving off with her, leaving the victim's child abandoned in her car. Miss Arceneaux had filed a protection order earlier this year against Thomas, claiming he had locked her and their young son in the family home and threatened to kill her. The protection order had barred Thomas from coming close to his ex-girlfriend's home or son's daycare center after the threatening episode. 'After we called cops on him he grabbed our son from me and shoved him into the car,' Miss Arceneaux wrote on the order. 'He then got on his knees in front of the cops and said "I swear to God on all my children I will kill you.' She added: 'Since then Scott has been riding around my mom's house and my work looking for me. I am afraid for me and my son's life.' Hostage: Scott Thomas grabbed Bethany Arceneaux, the mother of his child, on Wednesday evening . The . getaway car was found later that day in Anderson Road, Duson, but it . wasn't until Friday that Miss Arceneaux was rescued from an abandoned . house on the same street. Lafayette . Police Corporal . Paul . Mouton told MailOnline that after her rescue a swat team entered the . house, and found the 'suspect was deceased' at about 3pm (CST) on . Friday. Captain Judice said the victim's family found her after hearing her screams. 'Family members are walking through a pasture with an abandoned home ... and heard a yell from inside the home,' he said. Relatives first told KATC TV-3 that gunfire was . exchanged between the family and the alleged kidnapper. Mr . Arceneaux, the victim's uncle, said: 'We found my niece Bethany, she's . OK. I'd like to thank everybody who came out and helped us search.' Saved: Bethany Arceneaux was rescued when a search party of friends and family heard her yell out . 'Friends and family actually came . into contact with the victim and the suspect in or out of the house,' Corporal Mouton told KPEL. 'There was a confrontation at that point. During that . confrontation, the victim was freed,' he said, adding that Miss Arceneaux was said to be in 'good condition other than some injuries that she had received'. The couple have a violent history revealed in several police reports, according to KATC 3. She had filed several reports alleging domestic abuse and also filed a restraining order against Thomas.
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Scott Thomas killed by rescue party searching for Bethany Arceneaux .
29-year-old mother was grabbed on Wednesday as she collected her child from a day care center .
Victim had restraining order against violent ex-boyfriend Thomas after he locked her up and made threats to kill her .
Thomas was stalking his ex-girlfriend who says he held a knife to her throat 'countless times'
No charges made against family yet as Sheriff's office says they acted in 'defense of Arceneaux'
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(CNN) -- Mo Martin produced the performance of her life to secure her first major title with victory at the Women's British Open at Royal Birkdale Sunday. The 31-year-old secured top spot with a stunning eagle on the final hole to finish one shot clear of Norway's Suzann Pettersen and China's Shanshan Feng. Ranked 99th in the world, Martin, from California, was not expected to challenge at the top of the leaderboard. But a second shot at the 472-yard 18th landed just six feet away from the pin -- allowing Martin to putt for glory and secure a famous triumph. "Is this real life?" Martin asked in her post-match interview following her victory. "It was a tough day of golf today. It was very windy and this course is very challenging. "So I stayed patient and I fortunately played some really good golf today. "From the first time I saw Royal Birkdale, I fell in love with it. I think the layout is absolutely phenomenal." Inbee Park, who had led overnight, slumped to a disappointing fourth place finish. Meanwhile Justin Rose warmed up for this week's British Open by winning the Scottish Open at Royal Aberdeen. The Briton's final round six-under-par 65 gave him victory by two shots, which will move him up to world No. 3. Sweden's Kristoffer Broberg's 14-under par secured him the runner-up spot and a place in the British Open at Hoylake, while Scotland's Marc Warren was third.
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Mo Martin wins the Women's British Open at Royal Birkdale .
Triumph is Martin's first major victory .
Suzann Pettersen of Norway and Feng Shanshan of China a shot further back .
Overnight leader Inbee Park finished fourth .
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By . Candace Sutton . It's the house where Gerard Baden-Clay murdered his wife and dragged her body through autumn leaves to the carport. Then he drove Allison Baden-Clay away from her family home and her sleeping daughters for the last time. It is a house which has become eerily familiar to millions of Australians, who followed weeks of evidence in the Baden-Clay murder trial, the site from which screams and thuds were heard on the night Allison Baden-Clay disappeared. Scroll down for video . Scene of the crime: Is this the spot where Gerard Baden-Clay murdered wife Allison? The outdoor patio of 593 Brookfield Road, Brookfield (photographed four months after the murder) has been suggested as the actual murder scene, after evidence was given the couple's three sleeping daughters inside the house heard no noises, neighbours did hear screams, thuds and an argument, and Allison's body was found with six plant specimens common to the back yard of the home . Spooked: Harcourts real estate agency in the western Brisbane suburb of Kenmore advertised the Baden-Clay residence as a 'must inspect' property in the months after the murder took place, but prospective residents were either unimpressed by the home's dejected air, or spooked by the fact a woman had been murdered by her husband inside it . The house where Allison Baden-Clay was killed had four bedrooms and two bathrooms, but failed to rent when this picture was advertised in 2012 a few months after it was vacated when Gerard Baden-Clay was jailed to await trial. The property's owners installed a caretaker and now plan to build another dwelling on the one hectare site to extend their adjacent child care business . It's the place where Ms Baden-Clay inflicted the telltale scratches on her husband as he probably smothered her, with the back yard where leaves unique to the property became entangled in her hair and clothing. It was as if the house itself was giving evidence during the five week murder trial, with its plant specimens, its neatness after the murderer tidied up, the position of parked family cars and the placement of the killer's mobile phone charger all telling points in the prosecution case. But 593 Brookfield Road, Brookfield in Brisbane's west is also the house where no-one wants to live, barring a caretaker and administration staff for the child care centre which occupies the same address. Owners Mosman Services Pty Ltd first put the house back on the market in August 2012, four months after Allison had disappeared and 10 weeks after Gerard Baden-Clay was charged with her murder. The four-bedroom, two bathroom home with its dated pink and peach decor was available for a weekly rent of $460. But as photographs of the house show, its bare, stained rooms either failed to excite or its bloody past spooked potential renters. Grisly history: It was the home where the marriage of Allison and Gerard Baden-Clay (pictured, left, on their wedding day in 1997) finally unravelled in a bloody struggle which resulted in her death, but not before she had clawed his face (right) as she fought him to her death. Now the home has failed to attract renters and is occupied by the caretaker of an adjacent child care centre . If the walls could speak: As if the house itself was giving testimony during the Baden-Clay murder trial, certain aspects spoke volumes to investigating detectives who fund the kitchen (pictured) had been wiped clean and the bathroom had no trace of the killer's purported shaving accident. Growing in the backyard were plant specimens a botanist would link to leaf litter found on Allison Baden-Clay's body . Screams, plants and blood: evidence given during the Baden-Clay trial which compelled the jury into convicting Gerard of the murder of his wife Allison were that screams came from the house (pictured), leaf specimens came from the back yard and Allison's blood was found in her Holden Captiva which was parked in the car port . Scuffle on the patio: Recreated by Channel Nine's 60 Minutes programme, the scuffle which ended Allison's life was depicted as happening in the back yard of the Baden-Clay home, after which she was taken to a creek bed 14km away. the house has failed to rent since . After the house failed to rent, owners of the large one hectare block, on which there is the Brookfield Early Childhood Centre, made a development application (DA) to extend the childcare facilities. The DA approved by Brisbane City Council notes the house where Allison was murdered as merely 'existing caretaker's dwelling'. The car port where police photographs showed Allison's Holden Captiva - the vehicle Gerard Baden-Clay used to transport his wife's body to Kholo Creek - is slated as 'proposed car parks'. When Daily Mail Australia visited the site, the car par was full of cars and desks with computers were set up inside the former Baden-Clay family home with administration staff for the child care centre busy and working. The approved DA shows plans for a new building to boost the capacity of the facility from 75 to 123 children. In 2012, four months after Allison's murder, the Kenmore branch of Harcourts real estate had listed the home as a 'must inspect' property, with open-plan living and an entertainment patio. It was across the home's back patio that viewers of Nine Network's 60 Minutes programme on Sunday about the Baden-Clay case watched the recreation by the of Gerard Baden-Clay dragging his wife's body. Photographs of the house taken just months after the murder show leaves scattered on the pavers. Compelling testimony during trial which gripped the public and helped convince a Brisbane Supreme Court jury of the accused's guilt involved six botanic specimens. Real estate ethics expert Neil Jenman says the Baden-Clay house (pictured, in property photos fur months after the murder) may have failed to rent because nobody knows in what room the murder actually took place . It's not the faded 1980s pink and peach decor of the Baden-Clay home (pictured) which put people off, but what went on there. Not only did Gerard Baden-Clay kill his wife while his children were sleeping in the house, he subjected her to years of emotional abuse within its walls . A police photograph taken just four days after Allison Baden-Clay's murder shows the same house with the family's belongings strewn about. Four months on, with the house emptied of all trace of the tragic family, real estate agency Harcourts could attract no renters and now tow years later, the property owners are extending a child care centre on the site . Cat's claw, eucalyptus, crepe myrtle, chinese elm, lilli pilli and fishbone fern were found both on Allison's body and growing in the back yard of 593 Brookfield Road, Brookfield. Samples of the specimens (pictured) were used as compelling evidence to convict Gerard Baden-Clay . Cat's claw, eucalyptus, crepe myrtle, chinese elm, lilli pilli and fishbone fern were found both on Allison's body and growing in the back yard. Another factor in the trial was lack of blood in the bathroom to support Gerard Baden-Clay's claims he had cut himself shaving, and an overly tidy house - police suspected he had cleaned up. Evidence included the fact police could detect Baden-Clay had plugged his mobile phone into its charger at 1.38am, when he claimed to be in a heavy sleep. The placement of the power point on his side of the bed, when he claimed he had relinquished his phone to Allison, as well as the layout of the house were factors in the trial. The Sydney houses where Sef Gonzales murdered his parents and sister in 2001 and where five members of the Lin family were slain in 2009 have both sold, albeit at reduced prices, but the Baden-Clay 'murder house' (pictured) has failed to attract anyone interested in renting despite it being advertised two years ago for $460 a week. Haunted house: the property 593 Brookfield Road, Brookfield is in a prestige area of western Brisbane but when it was offered for rental, no family was interested. It is now being developed and a caretake lives in the house . 'Murder houses" or homes where significant crimes have taken place are required to be advertised with full disclosure of the grisly event, which brings the price down but does not preclude a sale. The Sydney house in which Sef Gonzales murdered his parents and sister in 2001, sold in 2005 for $720,000 after the owners tried to offload it for $800,000 without disclosing its past . The house in the north-western Sydney suburb of North Epping, in which five members of the Lin family were slain in 2009, was sold after remaining empty for three years following the murders. Real estate ethics expert, Neil Jenman, was the property agent who blew the whistle on the attempted sale without disclosure of the Gonzales family house. Mr Jenman said the Baden-Clay family house may not have rented because an agent could not specifically point out the room where the crime took place. Mr Jenman told Daily Mail Australia families seeking to rent the Baden-Clay house would be 'spooked' by not knowing exactly what went on in the house. 'Only Gerard Baden-Clay knows what he did in that house,' Mr Jenman said. 'Anyone going into the house would have to think "where did he do it?". 'It is such a creepy thing. 'A lot of people are quite religious or superstitious and one of the things they do when they buy a house is get a priest in to bless it. 'Generally speaking if a gruesome murder has gone on it takes about ten per cent off the price. 'But if there's a bit of a mystery, well it spooks people.' Mr Jenman said after his intervention in the Sef Gonzales house sale, potential buyers knew all the gory details about where Gonzales had committed his murders in the house, and that the family home had sold.
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Property agents failed to rent out the Baden-Clay murder house .
Prosecutors say Baden-Clay smothered wife Allison at the house in western Brisbane .
593 Brookfield Road has housed only a caretaker and administration staff since Baden-Clay's arrest .
The house gave up its own evidence in the trial ... six plant specimens found in its garden and on Allison's body .
Police also made note the placement of the power point where Baden-Clay fired his mobile phone .
Real estate ethics expert says the home 'spooks' renters who think it's 'creepy' because they don't know where murder occurred .
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Mr O'Leary insisted the erotic movies would be visible only on personal devices, rather than screened on the back of Ryanair plane seats . The boss of budget airline Ryanair wants to launch a pay-per-view pornography service for passengers to watch during flights, it has been claimed. Ryanair chief Michael O'Leary said he hopes to launch an app for the airline where travellers can watch sex scenes on their iPads or smartphones while in the air. The planned service would also allow Ryanair passengers to gamble and play games, as well as watch erotic movies, according to The Sun. Mr O'Leary told the paper: 'I'm not talking about having it on screens on the back of seats for everyone to see. It would be on handheld devices. 'Hotels around the world have it, so why wouldn't we?' But the move raises the prospect of passengers watching porn films with children sitting barely feet away. Ryanair said the pornography plans would take at least a year to introduce on their flights, as establishing a cost-effective way of having a solid broadband connection on their planes would be a major obstacle. It is not the first controversial proposal for the airline from its outspoken chief executive. Last month he said he was looking at removing all but one toilet from his planes to put in extra seats. While he has previously proposed charging passengers for using the toilet in-flight. The latest brainwave from the budget airline boss was revealed as Ryanair bucked airline industry gloom by raising its full-year net profit forecasts by 10 per cent to £377m. The airline, which carried 75m passengers last year, raised its guidance despite a 37 per cent surge in jet fuel prices to £778m during the first six months of the year. On the up: Ryanair bucked airline industry gloom by raising its full-year net profits .
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Airline boss: 'Hotels have it, why wouldn't we?'
Service would be provided via passengers' iPads .
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New York (CNN) -- The actress' appearances on the silver screen transformed men with hearts of stone into quivering masses during Hollywood's Golden Age. On Tuesday night, the simple fact that they were once worn by Elizabeth Taylor transformed the silver, the stones and the gold themselves -- into fortunes. If the prices commanded by Christie's auction house are any indication, the British-American actress' luster appears to have rubbed off on the jewels she once wore. The items in her collection rocketed far beyond their original estimates. For example, the 50-carat pearl known as La Peregrina, given to her in 1969 by actor Richard Burton and once part of the crown jewels of Spain, went for $11.8 million, which Christie's said was the highest recorded price ever of pearl jewelry sold at auction. Its value had been estimated at $2 million to $3 million. The pearl was mounted onto a specially commissioned diamond-and-ruby Cartier necklace. A diamond tiara given to Taylor by her husband, Mike Todd, estimated at $80,000 pre-auction brought in a surprising $4.2 million. The Taj Mahal, an Indian diamond and jade pendant sold for $8.8 million. Its initial estimate was a range of $300,000 - $500,000. An emerald and diamond necklace went for $6.1 million. And the sale of the Elizabeth Taylor Diamond fetched $8.8 million more, capping a spectacular night of bidding that included other jewelry. The auction continues through Friday with sales of clothing and film memorabilia. More than 400 people filled the bidder seats and more than a dozen Christie's staffers were on the phone with buyers. Before the bidding started, the auction house played a two-minute video showing clips from some of Taylor's movies, including "Giant," "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" and "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf." Also included was an undated clip showing the actress clad in a white swimsuit at poolside, her head wrapped in a towel, bidding for jewelry by phone. "It's now $120,000," says an unidentified male voice from the other end of the line. "Do you want me to bid?" "Yes!" says Taylor, holding a cigarette, then leaning into the speakerphone. "Darling, it sounds like things that are really desirable are going to go for 10 times what expected, right?" "That's the way it works," a male voice responds from the other end of the line. "Holy cow!" she says. At that, the Christie's audience breaks into laughter and applause. Her dazzling collection of jewels, many of which were given to her as presents by husbands, were referred to in September -- as the auction was being planned -- by Jonathan Rendell, deputy chairman of Christie's Americas, as "the crown jewels of Hollywood." Keith Penton, head of the jewelry department at Christie's, said then that Taylor's taste in jewels was "extraordinarily refined. She really understood her gemstones (and) she had a passion for design and workmanship, quite a rare combination." According to Nancy Schoenberger, co-author of the book "Furious Love: Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, The Marriage of the Century," Taylor developed her taste for jewels from a young age. "Her father was an art and antiques dealer," Schoenberger said. But it wasn't until Taylor's marriage to Todd that her passion for collecting serious jewels took hold, Schoenberger said in September. Todd, Taylor's third husband, bought her a 29.4-carat diamond ring as well as a diamond tiara, which she wore to the 1957 Academy Awards. Schoenberger believes that when Burton bought Taylor the 33.19-carat Krupp Diamond ring in 1968 -- possibly the star piece in the exhibition at Christie's, estimated to fetch between $2.5 million and $3.5 million -- he was trying to out-do Mike Todd, who had died unexpectedly just over a year into his marriage with Taylor. "I think that was a big deal for Richard, to buy her a diamond as big as Mike Todd's. And he liked showing that the son of a Welsh coal-miner could buy his lady love these extravagant jewels," she said. The actress, who died this year at age 79, eulogized her love of gems in her 2002 memoir, "My Love Affair With Jewelry." In it, she wrote: "I never, never thought of my jewelry as trophies. I'm here to take care of them and to love them. When I die and they go off to auction I hope whoever buys them gives them a really good home." In memory of the actress's life-long devotion to humanitarian causes, a portion of profits generated by admissions, events and select publications related to the sales will be donated to the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation (ETAF), which she set up in 1991. CNN's Joe Vaccarello contributed to this report .
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The Elizabeth Taylor diamond fetches $8.8 million .
50-carat "La Peregrina" pearl goes for $11.8 million .
Its value had been estimated at $2 million to $3 million .
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6806804f533dafa128d99accf252bb4a19eb4083
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By . Leon Watson . PUBLISHED: . 04:30 EST, 30 March 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 07:49 EST, 30 March 2013 . PC Plod is about to get even more PC. Met Police officers in London are being trained to take on crime in the multi-cultural melting pot that is the nation's capital. The Met's 31,000 officers will be offered the chance to learn 18 languages, ranging from French to Farsi, so they can speak in the mother tongue of the capital's burgeoning ethnic communities. Handy phrases like 'jak sie masz, jak sie masz, jak sie masz, co tu się dzieje potem?' - or, according to Google Translate, 'hello, hello, hello, what's going here then?' in Polish - could soon become commonplace. [capt . The courses will cost £400 per officer and include 40 hours of learning over six . weeks designed to help the Met communicate better with minority groups. Lessons aim to offer a level of knowledge comparable to a GCSE, with . vocabulary tailored to the needs of policing. It is hoped an increasing number of London's beat bobbies will soon be able to dish out crime prevention advice and ask questions about suspects without reverting to a dictionary. The project follows a pilot scheme last year, which saw more than 150 police taking part in computer-based courses. That was judged so successful that a second wave of courses will run this year. An internal briefing document seen by The Independent states another of the goals of the programme is to 'change public perception' of the force. Language test: New Scotland Yard, the headquarters of the Metropolitan Police in London . It said that so far, the most popular courses taken up so far are Arabic, Polish and Spanish. A Met Police spokesman said: 'Policing a city as diverse as London requires our officers… to engage with different communities and the languages spoken with them. 'We have recently offered officers and staff the opportunity to develop their language skills in order to improve direct communication between police and the communities we serve.' There is already a list of 1,000 Yard staff who are already registered as having specialist language skills because of their family background or previous experience. The courses, run with the Chartered Institute of Linguists, range from mainstream European languages such as French, German and Italian to Bulgarian, Korean, Lithuanian, Romanian, Russian, Somali, Turkish and Vietnamese. Candidates are even offered the chance to learn rare languages like Amharic, Hebrew and Shona. The institute's website says: 'Candidates should make themselves as familiar as possible with police terminology before taking the test. 'Successful candidates will have outstanding skills. However, though the standard is high, the Metropolitan Police Test is available to everybody regardless of qualifications or experience.' The Met expects to fill the 120 places available this year for the courses, which culminate in a three-day assessment. Opinion among the rank and file, once they have recovered from the shock of swapping charge sheets for role-playing as a Bengali businessman, seems positive. One officer told the Independent: 'Probably the hardest course I have done for 20 years in the Met. But also probably the best and very rewarding.'
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The Met's 31,000 officers offered the chance of taking special lessons .
Handy phrases like 'co tu się dzieje potem?' could become commonplace .
Classes aim to offer a level of knowledge comparable to a GCSE .
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9fc745b8d62eeaa7c3f4603aa5edc8f790660a9a
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An Ohio woman is begging on the streets but she’s not homeless or desperately hungry - she wants bigger breasts. Much to the dismay of fellow beggars who desperately need money for food or a roof over their heads, the bikini-clad woman has been making money and turning heads with her plea for plastic surgery. Holding a sign that reads ‘Not homeless. Need boobs’ the woman, who only identifies herself as Chrissy, 37, has been standing on a busy street corner in Akron, Ohio. Begging for boobs: Chrissy, 37, believes her 'original' idea standing on a busy street corner will help her raise $5,058 for breast implants . Chrissy, from Rittman, Ohio, has been standing on the corner of Manchester Road and Carnegie Avenue in Akron near a blue motorbike with her sign and bodyguard. She said: ‘I see people panhandling (begging) everyday, so why not panhandle for boobs. ‘It's original. I've never seen anybody else do it.’ Placard for plastic surgery: Chrissy's friend and bodyguard Steve Bernabe (in the background) says she's being honest as motorists honk their horns and ask for photographs . Bills but not breasts: The money Chrissy earns as a bartender covers her bills and education, but not the cost of getting silicone breast implants (pictured) Chrissy believes her ‘original’ idea is proving successful after she made $46 in just two hours standing on the curb. She plans to continue begging on the intersection until she reaches $5,058. The . university student and single mother says the money she earns as a . bartender covers her bills and education costs but it’s not enough money for . breast implants. Chrissy said: ‘Everyone that knows me, knows that I am a wild one.’ There to be her bodyguard is friend Steve Bernabe, 57, of Akron, working free of charge, who says she’s not begging but being honest. He said: ‘She's just trying to move on in her life and build herself up.’ She’s attracted the attention of many motorists with some honking their horns and others requesting pictures. Tyesha Hercegovac, 27, of Ellet, took a picture of Chrissy for her husband before heading home. She said: ‘I think it's kind of ridiculous, but kind of funny in a way. ‘She wants her boobs. She's keeping it real.’ One woman was less than impressed, giving Chrissy the evil eye and a few stern words. Chrissy said: ‘He's (Mr Bernabe) just making sure I'm OK because there is some negativity out there.’
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Chrissy hopes to raise $5,058 for breast implants .
She stands on a busy intersection in Akron, Ohio wearing boots and bikini, holding sign that reads 'Not homeless. Need boobs'.
Working as a bartender covers bills and education, but not breast implants .
Her friend and bodyguard says she's not begging but being honest .
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One of Afghanistan's most outspoken feminist MPs has survived an assassination attempt which killed three people. Shukria Barakzai, a former journalist who once ran a secret school for girls under Taliban rule, escaped with minor injuries after the suicide blast this morning in the capital Kabul. Officials said the attacker was driving a car which attempted to ram the 42-year-old's vehicle as she headed to Parliament, where she is one of 69 women MPs in the 249-seat chamber. Scroll down for video . Survivor: Shukria Barakzai, one of 69 female MPs in Afghanistan's Parliament, leaves the scene of a suicide bomb attack today which killed three people in the capital Kabul including a young girl . Shaken: The MP looked dazed but coherent as she walked from the bomb scene carrying her handbag . Blackened: The MP's car after the blast. She said from hospital: 'I survived because of my people's prayers' Deaths: Three civilians including a young girl were killed, and their bodies were stretchered from the scene . The attacker then detonated explosives, triggering a blast which was heard across the capital and drew hundreds of people to the scene. Interior Ministry spokesmen said three civilian bystanders, including a young girl, were killed and more than a dozen others were wounded including Ms Barakzai's driver. She told the Reuters news agency from her hospital bed: 'I survived because of my people's prayers'. She was seen walking away from her car, looking dazed but coherent and carrying her handbag, in video footage shot after the incident which circulated online. It showed twisted metal lying in a crater in the dirt and the front of the MP's silver vehicle was badly damaged and blackened in the blast. Another yellow car was reduced mostly to a mangled metal shell. At least one body was seen lying on the ground as another victim walked away from the scene with blood streaming down her face. Video courtesy of 1TV News Afghanistan . Mangled: Another car was left twisted and pockmarked by the blast, which was heard across the capital . Crime: The attack came amid a string of assaults by insurgents for the Taliban, which once ruled the country . Crowds: A member of the Afghan security forces runs as hundreds of people gather at the bombing site . Sirens blared as hundreds of civilians gathered at the scene in a bid to help. Ms Barakzai is a high-profile advocate of women's rights and media freedom. She founded the Women's Mirror weekly magazine which specialised in campaigning journalism before becoming an MP ten years ago. A close ally of new President Ashraf Ghani, she has received several international awards and was named Woman of the Year by BBC Radio 4's Women's Hour in 2005. No one has formally taken responsibility for today's attack. However, it is the latest chapter in escalating violence as the U.S.-backed Afghan government comes under fire from insurgents for the Taliban, which ruled the country before being toppled by Western forces after the September 11 attacks. During the Taliban's rule women's rights were severely restricted, and the 69 women MPs were seen as a mark of progress in the country. Progress: Ms Barakzai ran a secret school for girls under the Taliban then became a campaigning journalist and later a politician in Afghanistan's Parliament, which has 69 women - a higher proportion than Britain . Outspoken: The MP on the campaign trail in 2005. She is not the first female politician to be targeted . Unstable: The attack comes as U.S. and UK troops withdraw from the country after 13 years of bloodshed . Blow: Investigators at the scene today. Last week the Taliban made a bid to kill Kabul's police chief . At almost 28 per cent of MPs, women make up a higher proportion of Afghanistan's Parliament than Britain's - where the figure is just 23 per cent. But the situation remains unstable amid mounting attacks as British and U.S. forces prepare to leave the country after 13 years. Last week the Taliban made an assassination attempt on Kabul's chief of police, General Mohammad Zahir Zahir. And it is not the first attack on the female Afghan MP. Former teacher Fariba Ahmadi Kakar was abducted at gunpoint in August last year when insurgents stopped her car on a highway. She and her children were returned a month later, reportedly in exchange for five Taliban fighters and six family members.
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Shukria Barakzai was one of 69 women MPs elected to Kabul government .
Bomber tried to ram her car then detonated explosives in huge blast .
3 killed including young girl in incident amid continuing Taliban onslaught .
Extremist group has stepped up its attacks as UK and U.S. troops depart .
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24365d691ac8ef7515ae7187aff9f9867ec7a156
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Stephen Hunt, 38, is believed to have died after being engulfed by some kind of 'super heat' Two teenage girls have been arrested over the death of a fireman in a massive blaze at a hair products warehouse. The fire is thought to have been started by youngsters smoking cigarettes and discarding them. Former soldier Stephen Hunt, 38, was among 60 firefighters sent to tackle the inferno at Paul’s Hair World in central Manchester. He is thought to have been enveloped in a cloud of ‘super-heat’ caused by steam or chemicals. He and another fireman were pulled from the building and taken to hospital. Mr Hunt, the father of two teenagers, was pronounced dead, while his colleague remains in hospital. Two 15-year-old girls who were arrested on suspicion of manslaughter have been bailed until September pending further inquiries. A police source confirmed that youngsters may have been smoking behind the building moments before the fire started. Mr Hunt’s family paid tribute to him, saying: ‘Stephen was an old-fashioned gentleman with manners that are rare in this day and age, with core values which included loving his family, being the best father that he could be, loving and affectionate to those that were close to him. ‘Stephen lived to serve his country having served for seven years in the Royal Signals and then becoming a firefighter, which was a career that he was very proud of. ‘The whole family will miss spending time with Stephen, none more so than his son, daughter and grandmother. We loved his sense of humour and are very proud of him and what he brought to our lives.’ Scroll down for video . Firefighter Stephen Hunt has died after he was pulled from the wreckage of a wig shop in Manchester . Mr Hunt and a colleague got into difficulties shortly before 9am but he later died in hospital . The fire broke out on Saturday . afternoon in a basement store-room at the warehouse, which supplies hair . extensions and hair products. Witness Ava Smart said: ‘People came . running outside. I asked them what happened and they said someone was . standing out the back smoking. ‘It happened so fast. It was horrendous.’ Owner Paul Barnett desperately tried . to tackle the blaze with an off-duty fireman, but both were overcome and . were taken to hospital suffering from smoke inhalation. Store manager Nicola Purcell said: ‘They did everything they could with extinguishers and water until the fire brigade arrived. Staff from Paul's Hair World arrive with tributes, at the scene of the fire in Manchester . The fire service are still tackling the blaze and said the complex layout of the building has hindered efforts . The fire broke out at Paul's Hair World on Saturday afternoon and more than 60 firefighters were sent to the scene . ‘Paul wasn’t well enough to come down today but wanted to pay his respects and asked the staff to lay flowers.’ The fire spread rapidly and around . five hours later at 8.30pm a ‘BA emergency’ was declared – a signal for . everybody to evacuate the building. Steve McGuirk, Manchester’s county . fire officer, said: ‘We had some real problems. This was a building . stacked full of hair products, chemicals and a huge amount of . combustible materials. ‘For some reason we don’t know, the . situation rapidly deteriorated and we took the decision to evacuate the . building. It was during this evacuation that two firefighters were . pulled out by colleagues. First aid was given and they were whipped off . to hospital, but tragically Stephen was declared dead on arrival.’ Fire service paid tribute to Mr Hunt (not pictured) and his colleague's 'professionalism and courage' He said Mr Hunt appeared to have been enveloped by ‘an absolutely massive, ferocious and sudden build-up of heat’. He did not rule out that it may have . been generated by steam or chemicals inside the building. He added: ‘We . are devastated by the loss of one of our colleagues in the line of . duty. ‘It brings home the dangers that our firefighters put themselves in every day to keep the community safe.’ The fire was still being damped down . yesterday, while flags at fire stations all over Greater Manchester flew . at half mast, including the one at Philips Park where Mr Hunt was . based. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.
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Stephen Hunt, 38, was tackling fire at Paul's Hair World in Manchester .
Fire service said father-of-two was engulfed by a 'super heat'
Two 15-year-old girls arrested on suspicion of manslaughter .
He and colleague got into difficulties before being rescued by firefighters .
Both were taken to hospital but Mr Hunt was pronounced dead .
Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said they 'are devastated'
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8a0e09be0f05acc5c67e546f1c2c816a39b00706
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(CNN) -- A death row prisoner in Georgia has not proven his innocence, a federal court ruled, according to papers released Tuesday. Troy Davis faces execution for the killing of a Savannah, Georgia, police officer in 1989. He has always said he did not kill Officer Mark MacPhail. The Supreme Court granted a stay of execution for him two hours before he was set to die in 2008, and another federal court later granted him another stay as he fought to overturn his conviction. The Supreme Court last year ordered a lower court to look at the evidence again. But the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia has now found Davis has not exonerated himself. "Mr. Davis vastly overstates the value of his evidence of innocence. ... Some of the evidence is not credible and would be disregarded by a reasonable juror. ... Other evidence that Mr. Davis brought forward is too general to provide anything more than smoke and mirrors," the court found. Davis can still appeal to the 11th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals, and if that fails, to the Supreme Court again. His sister, Martina Correia, said Tuesday afternoon she had not yet had a chance to discuss the decision with Davis, who is sitting on death row at Baldwin State Prison in Hardwick, Georgia. She spoke to him a couple of days ago, she said, but they did not discuss the impending decision. "Of course, we're very disappointed," she said. "Troy's innocent, so we're going to keep fighting. We're going to appeal this decision." She said she and the lawyers were still reading the court's decision, so she wasn't prepared to discuss the next step in her brother's defense strategy. Witnesses claimed Davis, then 19, and two others were harassing a homeless man in a Burger King restaurant parking lot when the off-duty officer arrived to help the man. Witnesses testified at trial that Davis then shot MacPhail twice and fled. But since his 1991 conviction, seven of the nine witnesses against him have recanted their testimony. No physical evidence was presented linking Davis to the killing of the policeman. Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens ordered a federal judge in August 2009 to "receive testimony and make findings of fact as to whether evidence that could not have been obtained at trial clearly establishes petitioner's innocence." Stevens, who has since retired, said the risk of putting a potentially innocent man to death "provides adequate justification" for another evidentiary hearing. Davis' case has had a dramatic series of ups and downs. He was granted a stay of execution by the Supreme Court two hours before he was to be put to death. A month later the justices reversed course and allowed the execution to proceed, but a federal appeals court then issued another stay. Davis filed an "original writ of habeas corpus," which allowed him to bypass lower federal courts and make his appeal directly to the high court. What's unusual about Davis' case is that such action is hardly ever successful. The Supreme Court often discourages claimants from maneuvering around the lower courts whose job it is to handle such appeals. In his dissent, Justice Antonin Scalia noted that the Supreme Court had not granted similar relief "in nearly 50 years." In June 2009, Davis supporters delivered petitions bearing about 60,000 signatures to Chatham County, Georgia, District Attorney Larry Chisolm, calling for a new trial. Chisolm is the county's first African-American district attorney. Davis is also African-American. The Georgia Pardons and Parole Board held closed-door hearings and reinterviewed the witnesses and Davis himself in 2008. The panel decided against clemency. Prominent figures ranging from the pope to the musical group Indigo Girls have asked Georgia to grant Davis a new trial. Amnesty International has also backed a new trial for Davis. Other supporters include celebrities Susan Sarandon and Harry Belafonte; world leaders such as former President Jimmy Carter and former Archbishop Desmond Tutu; and former and current U.S. lawmakers Bob Barr, Carol Moseley Braun and John Lewis. CNN's Bill Mears and Eliott C. McLaughlin contributed to this report.
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NEW: Troy Davis's sister says she is disappointed and will keep fighting .
The evidence Davis presented is "not credible" or "smoke and mirrors," court finds .
Davis faces execution for killing an off-duty police officer in 1989 but says he is innocent .
He was convicted in 1991 but witnesses have since recanted their testimony .
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By . Victoria Woollaston . PUBLISHED: . 07:34 EST, 17 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 14:34 EST, 17 December 2013 . 2013 has been a busy year. Politicians Margaret Thatcher and Nelson Mandela died, the royal baby was born, Andy Murray became the first British man to win a Wimbledon grand slam in 77 years and Miley Cyrus caused outrage by 'twerking' at the MTV Video Music Awards. To round up this eventful year, Google has published its Zetigeist list, which highlights the most searched-for people, questions, events, songs, and more of the past 12 months. And according to the list, the most popular search of 2013 was for Paul Walker, the American actor, who was killed in a car crash in 30 November. Scroll Down for Video . Paul Walker, pictured left, the movie star who died in a car crash in November, has come top in Google UK's Zeitgeist top trending search terms for 2013. Interest in Nelson Mandela, right, following his death earlier this month sent him to sixth on the UK chart of trending terms, and he topped the list of global searches . Mr Walker was listed above Apple’s iPhone 5S, the royal baby Prince George, the UK government's Universal Jobmatch site and Microsoft's Xbox One. In . the days following his death, interest in Nelson Mandela caused a surge . in searches to send him to sixth on the chart of trending terms in the . UK, and he topped the list of global searches. The top trending ‘What is’ query was ‘What is twerking?’, fuelled by Miley Cyrus’ performance on this year’s VMAs in August. ‘What is my IP’, which stands for Internet Protocol and is the address used by computers to access the web, and ‘What is YOLO’, the acronym for You Only Live Once were second and third. London mayor Boris Johnson topped the chart of trending politicians, ahead of Nick Clegg and David Cameron. Boyband One Direction appeared above Justin Bieber, who normally takes the top spot, and Miley Cyrus in the list of most searched celebrities, yet the top place went to Kim Kardashian. In 2013 she got engaged to Kanye West and gave birth to a son called North. GENERAL SEARCHES . 1. Paul Walker . 2. iPhone 5S . 3. Royal baby . 4. Cory Monteith . 5. Oscar Pistorius . 6. Nelson Mandela . 7. Grand National . 8. Universal Jobmatch . 9. Margaret Thatcher . 10. Xbox One . ‘WHAT IS?’ SEARCHES . 1. What is twerking . 2. What is my IP . 3. What is YOLO . 4. What is a prime number . 5. What is illuminati . 6. What is my car worth . 7. What is spooning . 8. What is global warming . 9. What is zumba . 10. What is the meaning of life . EVENTS . 1. Grand National . 2. Wimbledon . 3. Eurovision . 4. Confederations Cup . 5. The Oscars . 6. Comic Relief . 7. Glastonbury . 8. Lovebox . 9. Brit Awards . 10. Ashes Cricket . POLITICIANS . 1. Boris Johnson . 2. Nick Clegg . 3. David Cameron . 4. Maria Miller . 5. Theresa May . 6. Harriet Harman . 7. George Osborne . 8. Stella Creasy . 9. William Hague . 10. Ed Balls . PEOPLE . 1. Paul Walker . 2. Cory Monteith . 3. Oscar Pistorius . 4. Nelson Mandela . 5. Margaret Thatcher . 6. Peter Capaldi . 7. Nigella Lawson . 8. Tom Daley . 9. Lou Reed . 10. Joey Essex . 'HOW TO?' SEARCHES . 1. How to make pancakes . 2. How to write a CV . 3. How to lose weight . 4. How to draw manga . 5. How to play poker . 6. How to play guitar . 7. How to get a flat stomach . 8. How to dip dye hair . 9. How to reset iPod . 10. How to find IP address . Kim Kardashian, pictured, was the most popular celebrity, ahead of One Direction and Miley Cyrus . CELEBRITIES . 1. Kim Kardashian . 2. One Direction . 3. Miley Cyrus . 4. Justin Bieber . 5. Kate Middleton . 6. Taylor Swift . 7. Martin Lewis . 8. Beyonce . 9. Andy Murray . 10. Harry Styles . TV SHOWS . 1. EastEnders . 2. Breaking Bad . 3. Coronation Street . 4. Big Brother 2013 . 5. Strictly Come Dancing . 6. Emmerdale . 7. Hollyoaks . 8. Daybreak . 9. Top Gear . 10. The Voice . MOVIES . 1. Man of Steel . 2. Iron Man 3 . 3. Django Unchained . 4. Despicable Me 2 . 5. The Great Gatsby . 6. Skyfall . 7. Life of Pi . 8. Zero Dark Thirty . 9. Elysium . 10. Hangover 3 . FOOD AND DRINKS . 1. Lemonade Recipe . 2. Chutney . 3. Juice Recipes . 4. Apple Recipes . 5. Lunchbox Ideas . 6. Roast Peppers . 7. Pasta Envelopes . 8. Leptin Foods . 9. Wheatgrass . 10. Som Tam Recipe . RECIPES . 1. Pancake Recipe . 2. Slimming World Recipes . 3. Yorkshire Pudding Recipe . 4. Victoria Sponge Recipe . 5. Sponge Cake Recipe . 6. Cupcake Recipes . 7. Paella Recipe . 8. Crumble Recipe . 9. Juicer Recipes . 10. Halloumi Recipes . SONGS . 1. Harlem Shake . 2. Gangnam Style . 3. Blurred Lines . 4.Thrift Shop . 5.Wrecking Ball . 6. Roar . 7. Impossible . 8. Holy Grail . 9. Get Lucky . 10. Mirrors . Microsoft's Xbox One came tenth in the list of general searches, beating the PlayStation 4. However, Sony's new console did come ninth in the global top 10 . The Grand National topped the list of events, with Wimbledon in second place - despite this year’s historic win in the men’s final by Andy Murray. Tom Daley made a late appearance in the list of top trending people following his YouTube announcement of a same-sex relationship. Claudine Beaumont from Google UK said: ‘Our annual Zeitgeist survey provides a fascinating snapshot of our interests and obsessions for the year. ‘Celebrities always get a lot of interest and the passing of well-known figures makes people want to learn more about them. Google Zeitgeist 2013 GRAPHIC.jpg . Harlem Shake by Baauer was the top trending song of the year, fuelled by numerous parody videos . Zack Snyder's Superman movie Man of Steel, starring British actor Henry Cavill, pictured, was the most searched for film of 2013 in the UK, according to Google's Zeitgesit. Iron Man 3 and Django Unchained made up the top three . ‘Despite that, some of the more traditional aspects of British life, from the Grand National to the royal birth, have generated many Google searches and will be remembered as events that have characterised the year.’ 'Pancake recipes' topped the recipe list, followed by 'Slimming World' and 'Yorkshire pudding recipes.' ‘Lemonade Recipe’ topped the food and drinks list, and was followed by ‘Chutney’ and ‘Juice Recipes’. ‘Pasta Envelopes’ and ‘Leptin Foods’ – a hormone that can control cravings and help with weight loss - also featured in the top 10. The Grand National, won by Auroras Encore and jockey Ryan Mania, pictured, topped the list of events, with Wimbledon in second place. Tom Daley made a late appearance in the list of top trending people following his YouTube announcement of a same-sex relationship . London mayor Boris Johnson, pictured, topped the chart of trending politicians, ahead of Nick Clegg and David Cameron. Former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, who died in April 2013, was the only politician to make the top general searches list . Harlem Shake was the top trending song of the year, fuelled by numerous parody videos. According to Google-owned YouTube, versions of Harlem Shake videos have been uploaded to the video-sharing site more than 1.7 million times, also propelling it to number five on the global list. Psy’s Gangnam Style was second and Blurred Lines, which was the bestselling song of the year on iTunes, appeared in third. While these results were specific to the UK, Google also released a number of global searches. Searches for Mr Mandela were already high this year, but following his death on 5 December people all over the world went to Google to find out more about the former South African president and his legacy. Apple's iPhone 5S, pictured, was the second most popular general search term in the UK in 2013. It also took third place globally . Deaths of celebrities featured highly on the Google Zeitgeist list of searches around the world. Hollywood actor Paul Walker was listed second, and Glee star Cory Monteith, who died on 13 July from an alcohol and heroin overdose, was the fourth most popular search. The latest gadgets also featured prominently with Apple’s iPhone 5S at three on the list, the Samsung Galaxy 4S at eight and the Sony PlayStation 4 at nine. The Boston Marathon bombing was the sixth most searched for item and the birth of the royal baby put him in seventh. North Korea also piqued interest, reaching number ten on the list.
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Google's Zeitgeist list highlights the top trending topics in the UK for 2013 .
Actor Paul Walker's death caused him to top the list of general searches .
While Miley Cyrus' VMA performance left many asking 'What is twerking?'
Kim Kardashian was the most popular celebrity, ahead of One Direction .
The Grand National was more popular than this year's Wimbledon .
Harlem Shake beat Blurred Lines and Gangnam Style in the songs list .
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514a12be934e2b96d49ed609f99bf33aed948332
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A 24-year-old nursing student charged with planning a terror attack on a Sydney police station had once tried to join the Australian army out of love for the country. However, Omar Al-Kutobi's father Ahmad told Fairfax that his son's application was rejected two years ago, adding that only six months ago the Iraqi born refugee admitted he was frustrated with the nation he called home. 'He told me "life in Australia is so hard". I told him, "You don't remember when you said Australia is the best country in the world?",' Ahmad recalled from his home in Germany. 'Yes, but it is changing,' he said was his son's response. Scroll down for video . Omar Al-Kutobi's father has revealed that he spoke to his son, who was lonely in Australia, just hours before he was arrestedand charged with plotting an 'imminent' terror attack on Sydney . Al-Kutobi and his housemate Mohammad Kiad, 25, appeared in court on Thursday two days after they were arrested at their granny flat home in Fairfield, where police allegedly found a machete, a hunting knife, and a video in which they appeared in front of an Islamic State flag and one of them made violent threats. They were detained just after Al-Kutobi bought a hunting knife from military and camping supplies store and only hours before their alleged plan to attack police officers was due to take place, according to Channel Nine. Neither were on security watch-lists and both entered Australia as refugees. Fairfax has reported that Al-Kutobi entered the country on a false passport in 2009 before being granted an Australian citizenship in 2013. Kiad, whose Facebook page states that he has been married since 2010, received a family and spousal visa in 2012 after leaving Kuwait, shortly before separating from his wife. Pictured are the two men who were charged with plotting an 'imminent' terror attack in Sydney: Mohammad Kiad (left),25, and Omar al-Kutobi (right), 24 . 'If they had managed to hurt someone I would have felt guilty for the rest of my life, because I brought this man to Australia,' his wife, who preferred to remain anonymous, told Channel 10. It comes after Ahmad revealed his son had grown lonely in Australia and said that he'd spoken to him just hours before his arrest. 'He told me he [was] working as a truck driver and asked me about his mother. That is all. Everything was OK,' Ahmad, told Fairfax. He said his son was struggling to find a balance between his work as a removalist and his studies and revealed that he had begun a nursing degree after struggling to find work in IT. Mohammad Kiad, 25, and Omar al-Kutobi, 24, lived together in this granny flat in Sydney's west . During police raids at the property on Tuesday it's alleged a machete, a hunting knife, and a video featuring one of the men making threats were found . 'He told [me] many times to come to him because he is alone,' Ahmad said. The men's neighbours said Al-Kutobi and Kaid had begun acting differently after the anti-terror raids in western Sydney last September . 'He [Al-Kutobi] began wearing a scarf, just like ISIS and Mohammad, he grew a long beard,' neighbour Michael David said. 'I heard them praying in there [the granny flat] and reading the Koran,' said Mr David, who speaks Arabic. Photos from inside the flat where Mohammad Kiad, 25, and Omar al-Kutobi, 24, lived shows their home in a mess after it was raided by counter-terror police on Tuesday . A neighbour said both men rarely cooked - sometimes a barbecue - and ordered in pizza or Chinese and went out to meet friends or go to the mosque . Kiad has reportedly lived in the flat for a year and al-Kutobi for up to three years . Police will allege the men were plotting to carry out an attack on Tuesday and had armed themselves with a machete and a hunting knife and made a video detailing their plans. An image of the pair smoking shisha together - obtained from 25-year-old Kiad's Facebook page - was uploaded in July, 2013. Neighbour Deresita Heisele-Brown said Omar al-utobi was friendlier than Mohammed Kiad who was 'shy' but both young men had become more withdrawn over the last month. She said the boys rarely cooked - sometimes a barbecue - and ordered in pizza or Chinese and went out to meet friends or go to the mosque. 'They wore western clothes but sometimes head wear and Mohammed wears long white tunic, maybe for the mosque.' She said both men went to Centrelink but were often short of money and couldn't pay rent to the owner of the house, Mr Huynh, who has a large property with a granny flat in which the two men lived, Kiad for a year and al-Kutobi for up to three years. Kiad worked as a nurse in Kuwait but could not transfer his skills to Australia and both men had worked as furniture removalists. The Fairfield granny flat of Mohammad Kiad and Omar al-Kutobi . A neighbour said both men went to Centrelink but were often short of money and couldn't pay rent to the owner . Moldy Lebanese bread, boxes of energy cereal, an unused sink full of plastic-ware and barbecue trays and utensils were found inside the home. Inside the squat two bedroom granny flat which the two alleged terrorists tented from their Vietnamese landlord, there are scenes which could depict the squalor of any twenty something bachelors. A picnic table sits out the back by the rubbish bins. A song book is propped on the sink near a toolbox on top of the unnused stove. A box of Arabic green tea has been torn open in the kitchen. An Islamic calendar still hangs on the wall in a back room by a pulled out drawer full of wires and leads. Neighbour Deresita Heisele-Brown said Mohammed Kiad was 'shy' but had become more withdrawn lately . A home-made flag, representing the prescribed terrorist organisation Islamic State, was found at the flat, police said . Outside the scenes from a police raid on a granny flat in Sydney's west, in which two men were arrested and charged with one count of 'do act in preparation/planning for terrorism act' Ms Jeisele-Brown said the pair had fallen out with another neighbour over the last month or two for 'speaking sharp' and that she had been upset with them after finding a religious picture of hers dumped in the rubbish bin. 'I had been in hospital having chemotherapy and when I came back home my picture of Jesus Christ was missing,' she said. 'I found it in the rubbish. I don't know who dumped it but I thought... I didn't say anything.' Ms Heisele-Brown said Omar Al-Kutobi had been talking about going to Germany where his mother lived and had been waiting for his mother to send him money. 'He had no family here, but he said he could never go back to Iraq.' She said she had noticed that after the Martin Place siege, the two men had had lengthy discussions in Arabic and had watched a lot of television, perhaps coverage of the a siege. She said when the police came around to arrest the pair, Mohammad had pretended he didn't speak English. She said detectives had made the men lie on the ground while they handcuffed them. NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Catherine Burn and Australian Federal Police Deputy Commissioner Michael Phelan said two men have been arrested on terrorism charges . The defendants, who were housemates at the time of their arrest, have asked for an Arabic interpreter. NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Catherine Burn said in a press conference on Wednesday two men, aged 24 and 25, have been charged with 'acts done in preparation, for, or planning terrorist acts'. 'We will be alleging that the two men were well advanced in their preparations,' Ms Burn said. It will be alleged that the two were going to undertake an act of terrorism in Australia as revenge for incidents overseas. Searches were conducted at their residence, as well as on a car, and where the men work. Crown prosecutor Michael Allnut leaves Fairfield Local Court in Sydney on Wednesday . A machete, a hunting knife and an IS flag were seized along with other items in two terror related arrests . 'We will allege both of these men were preparing to do this attack yesterday... it was imminent and we acted,' Ms Burns said. 'The type of act is consistent with the messaging coming out of IS but we are of the view that there is no further imminent attacks planned.' AFP Deputy Commissioner, Michael Phelan, said the raids and arrests were an example of how authorities are having to be 'nimble to adjust to the threat'. 'We acted as soon as we possibly could,' he said. The raids, titled Operation 'CASTRUM', were led by NSW Police Force's Joint Counter Terrorism Team. NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Catherine Burn revealed details of the alleged terror plot which police foiled on Tuesday . The raids were a joint operation between NSW Police and the Australian Federal Police . The two men were allegedly planning to maim or kill someone in a knife attack (stock police photo shown) Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.
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Mohammad Kiad and Omar Al-Kutobi were arrested on terrorism charges .
Knives, an ISIS flag and a video describing a planned attack were seized .
They planned to target a Sydney police station and officers on the street .
Al-Kutobi's father revealed his son tried to join the army just two years ago .
The nursing student spoke to his dad hours before he was arrested .
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By . Mail On Sunday Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 17:33 EST, 19 May 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 17:34 EST, 19 May 2012 . Two people were killed yesterday afternoon when a rally car ploughed into a crowd of spectators in southern France. It is believed that 17 others were injured, including children, at the crash in Plan-de-la-Tour near Toulon on the Mediterranean coast. It appears the driver made a mistake at an intersection where cars were supposed to turn right and instead drove straight ahead, crashing into bystanders. Tragedy: Two people were killed yesterday when a rally car ploughed into a crowd of spectators in Plan-de-la-Tour near Toulon in southern France . One of the dead was reported to be a rally marshall. A witness said: ‘It crashed into a first row of spectators before peeling off and mowing down other people.’ Fire stations deployed about 50 rescue workers to the site, and some of the victims were rushed to hospitals. Investigation: It appears the driver made a mistake at an intersection where cars were supposed to turn right and instead drove straight ahead, crashing into bystanders . Fire stations deployed about 50 rescue workers to the site, and some of the victims were rushed to hospitals . The Var Rally is not a major road race in France, but as in others held in the country a major challenge is for the drivers to navigate narrow roads through rural areas at high speed as spectators watch, often from the sidelines. Plan-de-la Tour, located near Toulon city, gained international attention several years ago when American actor Johnny Depp and singer Vanesa Paradis bought a house there.
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It is believed that children were among the injured at the crash in Plan-de-la-Tour near Toulon in southern France yesterday .
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President of Zimbabwe Robert Mugabe has today fired his deputy after accusing her of 'plotting to kill him' following a three-month 'campaign' against her led by his wife. According to a statement released by the government, Mr Mugabe fired Joice Mujuru, 59, and eight other Cabinet ministers aligned with her, accusing them of corruption. Mrs Mujuru had been tipped as the person most likely to succeed Mr Mugabe until his second wife, Grace, launched a three-month campaign against her and accused her of being too 'dull' and 'corrupt' to lead the party. Scroll down for video . President Robert Mugabe (left) has fired his deputy Joice Mujuru (right) accusing her of 'plotting to kill him' Mr Mugabe, 90, has now accused Mrs Mujuru of plotting to assassinate him and branded her 'a witch'. Experts say the First Lady is now being groomed to succeed her husband, following her appointment as leader of the women's wing of Zanu-PF last week. Mrs Mujuru was tipped as the person likely to succeed Mr Mugabe until his second wife, Grace, (pictured) launched a campaign against her . Mrs Mugabe, 49, had repeatedly accused Mrs Mujuru of plotting against her husband. Once working as her husband's secretary, in the last few months she has risen to the position of senior party figure. Mrs Mujuru's sacking came following weeks of accusations that she had led a 'treacherous cabal' to try to unseat Mugabe, according toAl Jazeera. The sacked officials received their dismissal letters on Monday night the Reuters news agency has reported. Mrs Mujuru and her allies were also fired from their senior positions in the ruling party, Zanu-PF, at a meeting last weekend. A statement issued by the cabinet secretary on behalf of Mr Mugabe said: 'It had become evident that her conduct in the discharge of her duties had become inconsistent with the expected standard, exhibiting conflict between official responsibilities and private interests.' The president said he would, however, allow them to retain ordinary membership of the party. Mr Mugabe has also accused Mrs Mujuru of holding secret meetings at the U.S. Embassy in Harare. Mrs Mujuru has denied the claims, calling them 'ridiculous' in her first public statement, released a day before she was fired. 'I have become the fly in a web of lies whose final objective is the destruction of Zanu-PF,' Mrs Mujuru said in a statement on Tuesday. Mr Mugabe and Mrs Mujuru attend a rally marking Mugabe's 88th birthday in February 2012 . 'A vociferous attempt has been made to portray me as "a traitor", "murderer" and "sellout", yet no iota of evidence has been produced to give credence to the allegations.' In her statement Mrs Mujuru said her loyalty to Mr Mugabe was ‘unquestionable’ and it was ‘repugnant’ to suggest she had plotted to kill him or wanted to remove Mr Mugabe from office. She said Zimbabwe's state media had ‘continued to publish malicious untruths’ about her. Mujuru has denied the claims, calling them 'ridiculous' in her first public statement . But correspondents say her career ran into trouble when Mr Mugabe's wife entered politics earlier this year. Mrs Mujuru, who has been a member of Mr Mugabe's cabinet since he became president in 1980, said no evidence has ever been brought against her. Mrs Mujuru is the first vice president to be fired since Zimbabwe gained independence in 1980. Her four predecessors all died in office. The ministers of energy, education, public service and social welfare, presidential affairs, communication and postal services are among the other members of Cabinet who were fired. There has not yet been any announcements relating to replacements. AFP news agency has reported Mrs Mujuru has blamed 'a well-orchestrated smear campaign and gross abuse of state apparatus' that led to the loss of her ruling party post. She said she was being victimised after exposing infiltrators conspiring to destroy the party, which has ruled the country since independence in 1980. Zanu-PF held an elective congress last week which endorsed Mugabe as president and his wife as head of the women's wing. Mrs Mujuru, once a freedom fighter in Mr Mugabe's guerrilla army known by the nom de guerre 'Spill Blood' in the local Shona language, is now considered a political pariah following the allegations.
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Accused Joice Mujuru of plotting to kill him and branded her 'a witch'
Also sacked eight other Cabinet ministers, accusing them of corruption .
President's wife, Grace, repeatedly accused her of plotting against Mugabe .
Mrs Mugabe has now replaced Mujuru as favourite to succeed husband .
Mujuru denied the claims, calling them 'ridiculous' in first public statement .
Says she is 'fly in a web of lies' in plot to destroy ruling party Zanu-PF .
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A brick tycoon is suing a top QC who pulled out of buying his £3.6million country manor after claiming it was riddled with damp and dry rot. Leading barrister William Griffiths QC and his wife Angela thought they had found their dream home when they viewed Laughton Manor in Lewes, East Sussex in 2010. The 30-room mansion is set in 12 acres of countryside and its architecture has been compared to that of Queen Victoria's much-loved summer home, Osborne House on the Isle of Wight. William Griffiths QC and his wife Angela, left, who are being sued by Alan Hardy after they pulled out of buying Laughton Manor in East Sussex . Laughton Manor, in East Sussex, which Mr and Mrs Griffiths had originally agreed to buy for £3.6million, before pulling out saying it was 'riddled with damp and dry rot' Mr Griffiths, 66, a planning and property lawyer and a committee member of the MCC agreed to exchange contracts on the property with then owners Alan Hardy and his wife Juliet in April 2011. However the QC and his wife did not see a surveyor's report on the mansion until after the contracts has been exchanged. After receiving the survey in May 2012, Mr and Mrs Griffiths 'rescinded' the contract and refused to complete the purchase. They insisted they had been the victims of 'reckless misrepresentation' by the then owners. The main reception room at Laughton Manor, which is at the centre of a court battle between William Griffiths QC and brick tycoon Alan Hardy . Mr and Mrs Griffiths claim that a survey revealed the 150-year-old property was badly affected by rising damp and wet and dry rot. Pictured is the dining room . They claimed that, rather than being the 'pristine' dream home they expected, the survey revealed that the 150-year-old Victorian manor was badly affected by 'rising damp and wet and dry rot', which would cost up to £600,000 to remedy. Mr Hardy, who flies a helicopter, and his wife are now suing Mr and Mrs Griffiths at London's High Court for a six-figure sum over their refusal to go through with the sale, alleging breach of contract. Jonathan Seitler QC, for Mr and Mrs Hardy, told Judge Amanda Tipples QC, that Laughton Manor is a magnificent property, built in 1853, with 30 rooms on four storeys. It has an Italianate tower similar to that of Osborne house, and boasts a helicopter pad, gym, cinema and staff quarters. It was on the market for £4.5million and Mr and Mrs Griffiths had agreed to buy it for £3.6million, before reading the surveyor's report. The master bedroom in the £3.6million country manor, which was once owned by Sir James Duke, a close friend of Queen Victoria . The spacious kitchen of Laughton Manor, left. The floor as you enter the building, right, still has the crest of Sir James Duke Bart in tiles . Mr Seitler told the judge that the contract contained a 'common' clause used in conveyancing, whereby the QC and his wife promised to accept and pay for the property based on its state of repair at the time of signing. He added that having agreed to the contract, with the clause in place, the couple were legally bound to go ahead with the purchase, and must now pay damages for failing to do so. Mr Seitler said: 'Merely describing the size of the property and the age of the property, it was obvious that there was always going to be some damp in this property somewhere. 'The question is how obvious that would have been to a lay person. 'The vendor is obliged to inform the purchaser of latent structural defects of which he is aware, (but) the buyer accepts the physical condition of the property at the date of the contract. 'The purchasers were entitled to opt in or out of the conditions as they chose. In this case the contract is binding. The house was on the market for £4.5million and Mr and Mrs Griffiths had agreed to buy it for £3.6million before reading a surveyor's report . 'These clauses are very common. The vendor is a lay person in matters of law...the purchaser is an eminent QC with property expertise. 'There is no suggestion that the vendor had to sell or the purchaser had to buy. 'The property was accepted in the physical state it was in at the time of contract and you can't go back on that now. 'If it is damp, it is accepted with damp. It cannot be rejected post-exchange on grounds like this,' he concluded. The manor also boasts a helicopter pad, pictured as well as gym, cinema and staff quarters . But Stephen Brown, for Mr and Mrs Griffiths, disputed the meaning of the controversial clause in the contract, and accused the sellers of 'reckless misrepresentation' in relation to the state of the house before contracts were exchanged. He said: 'It was assumed by Mr and Mrs Griffiths that they were buying a pristine property. Laughton Manor was originally built between 1760 and 1780 although it is unknown how much of the original building remains. It was bought by Sir James Duke Bart, a Lord Mayor and Sheriff of London in the 1840s. He was a close friend of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert and admired their summer residence of Osborne House, which also has a similar Italian style tower to Laughton Manor. The Duke's family lived in the property for more than 70 years and it was sold in 1911 to a private buyer. In 1930 it was bought by the Ministry of Health, who used it as an office until the 1990s. It was then bought over and restored to its former glory by a private owner. 'They didn't want to have to spend a lot of money on the inside of the house, (but) our survey suggests a reduction of £600,000 to take account of the problems with the property. 'Part of the misrepresentations was that they had fully refurbished the house and that it didn't suffer from damp or rot.' The barrister added: 'The place had substantial rising damp and wet and dry rot. The property has been materially misrepresented to them in light of the surveyor's report.' Mr Brown said that the report indicated there was 'extensive rising damp, dry rot and timber decay which may affect the structural integrity of the house,' mainly focused in the lower ground floor of the building. Mr and Mrs Griffiths had also objected to the sale of a plot of land adjacent to the property to another buyer, the court heard. Welshman Mr Griffiths attended Haverfordwest Grammar School, before graduating from Oxford. He was called to the bar in 1974 and made a silk in 1993. His areas of expertise include planning and property law, and he has been called 'one of the sharpest barristers in the land' by The Times. A surveyor's report indicated that there was 'extensive rising damp, dry rot and timber decay' which may affect the structure of the house . He also plays a leading role in the MCC and was a trustee of the Lords Taverners. Mr Seitler said outside court that Laughton Manor has now been sold to another purchaser for the same £3.6m price. Mr Hardy now lives in Lewes with his wife, manages a church, and has business interests valued at £17m. The High Court hearing continues.
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William Griffiths QC and wife Angela exchanged contracts on Laughton Manor .
Agreed to buy the property from brick tycoon Alan Hardy for £3.6million .
Couple did not see a surveyor's report until after exchanging the contracts .
Then tried to rescind the agreement claiming 'reckless misinterpretation'
Mr Hardy is now suing them at the High Court for pulling out of the sale .
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Denver, Colorado (CNN) -- When the sun dips below the Rocky Mountains and the streets of Denver go dark, Lokki, his girlfriend Magic and their friend Tripp head home. They climb in between the rafters of a highway overpass, crouching as they sit under the concrete structure that rumbles with every car that crosses overhead. It is where they will sleep tonight. It is where they say they can live safely after escaping from abusive homes. "It's pretty hard," says Magic, 18, when asked about living on the streets. "But most of the time it's just life, you know. Life's not going to be easy." She refuses to talk about what caused her to leave home. Her boyfriend Lokki has a different outlook: He says he enjoys the fun and freedom of life on the streets. "I don't really have to worry about anything," says Lokki, 20. "I get some food and kick back with the homies." Out of the three friends, Tripp seems to be the most concerned about the future. He says he began living on the streets two years ago, after escaping a violent relationship with his stepfather. "If I defended myself against him, I always got looked at badly," he said. "So when I turned 18, I left." He stops talking as he watches a homeless man walk by. "I'd hate to think that's the way I'm going," says Tripp. "That I'm going to end up being 40 years old and on the streets." Getting off the streets is a daunting challenge for these young adults and others like them, who have no address, no job, very little education, and many times drug addictions and mental health issues. "We see a lot of kids really since age of 7 or 8 [who] haven't had any real roots to call their own," according to Tom Manning, spokesman for Covenant House, which helps those who are young and homeless. "Those are the 18-year-olds who [have] very limited education and really need to start from square one." Manning, who has worked with homeless youths for 20 years, said a key goal is reaching these young adults before they "disappear into the streets." "It sounds like a movie, but it's true: Pimps and traffickers, they spot these kids and go after them," Manning said. "If we don't get to them, many will end up on drugs or in prison." The youths can be helped, he said, if they can learn to establish healthy relationships with others. "It's a trust issue: Most of these kids have been abused and taken advantage of by every adult they've met," Manning said. Trust is at the heart of the family that Lokki has created for a small group of his friends living on the streets of Denver. They call themselves "Juggalos" -- the name for fans of the rap group Insane Clown Posse. But now, the name has a more important meaning. "Juggalos started as a family for people who feel like they don't have family," Lokki explained. "Other people see it as a gang, but we just look out for each other any way we can." They mostly hang out, swimming in the Platte River or -- if they manage to panhandle a few dollars -- buying beer or marijuana. Most days, they eat lunch at Sox Place, which was set up in 2002 by Doyle "Sox" Robinson. He got his street name after spending a year handing out clean socks to street kids. Every day, about 100 young people come by to eat lunch, use the computers, watch movies and also pick up a fresh pair of socks. "They are just like any other kids out there, they have the same struggles, the same issues," Doyle said. "They still want love, they want acceptance, they want protections, they want rules, they want to be held accountable." Robinson said his goal is simply to provide a stable place where they can be loved for who they are. "I don't try to change them," he said. "If they want to change, we're here for them. If they don't want to change, we're still going to love them." Robinson, 55, says his Christian faith motivates him to help these kids, although he doesn't try to push religion on anyone at Sox Place. He says he lies awake at night after hearing their stories of abuse and neglect. "It shakes my faith in people," he said. "How can we allow this to happen in our own country?" Read more about Robinson's perspective on faith . The Obama administration recently unveiled a plan to end homelessness in the United States over the next decade. The U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness will "harness public and private resources to build on the innovations that have been demonstrated at the local level nationwide," according to council chairman Shaun Donavan. Robinson is skeptical about whether the government can adequately address the root causes of homelessness. "We need less government and more grass roots," he said. "We need taxes not to go to renovating parks, but renovating lives." All the government can really do is put a roof over someone's head, he said. And that doesn't necessarily constitute a "home." "They don't have a home, the sense of family," Robinson said. "All we're doing is pushing them to the sides, we're not dealing with the real issues." Belle wandered into Sox Place one afternoon in June, a pretty young woman with an air of confidence that contrasts with the cuts across her cheek and the brace on her knee, injuries she said were inflicted by her pimp. "People think it's a choice to be on the streets, but it's never a choice," said Belle, 18. She said she has been sexually abused since she was 6 years old and was in and out of foster care until recently. Now, she is living in a camp with other homeless kids, hiding from her pimp. "Yeah, it's not a house, but a house isn't everything," she said. "Family. Love. Friends. This is my family. All I ever wanted was a family." She wants to go to college to study psychology and help other street kids, but she knows the odds are against her. "I don't have the building blocks to get up in life, to be able to do what I need to do, because I never learned it," she said. "I have to learn that on my own." The odds were against Liz Martinez, who left home at age 12 and eventually became a member of the Juggalos. "They were better than my own biological family," said Martinez, who is now 21. "They didn't put their hands on me, they fed me, they kept me safe, they cared about how I felt." After nearly a decade on the streets, she has just gotten her first apartment with her boyfriend and is looking forward to a more stable future for her 5-month-old daughter. "I have almost $1,000 saved up from selling plasma and doing day labor, and hopefully in the next month and a half to three months, I'll have my GED," she said. Martinez has drawn strength from living on the streets, and she thinks others can do the same: . "If you can survive off of living on the street and sleeping on cold concrete or behind a Dumpster when it's snowing, you know you have the strength to do just about anything."
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Hundreds of homeless teens and young adults live in Denver, Colorado .
Many fled abusive families or foster parents .
Doyle "Sox" Robinson has opened a drop-in center for homeless youths .
"They are just like any other kids out there," Robinson says .
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0df9d1f3e95b10272eb295d678b87fb1e5719c35
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Meghan McCain is getting her own show on a new TV network targeting the generation of Americans known as millennials. 'Raising McCain' will debut on Pivot, a general entertainment network that launches Aug. 1. It's described as a documentary-talk series for viewers ages 15 to 34. McCain will star and serve as executive producer. New show: Meghan McCain, who is to host her own documentary talk show Raising McCain, told the Television Critics Association on Friday that it lets her 'be crazy' and 'talk about issues' The 28-year-old author and blogger told the Television Critics Association on Friday that the show lets her 'be crazy, be myself and talk about issues.' She added to Vulture that though she has grown up in a political family, it would not steal the focus of the show. 'Politics is obviously in my life naturally in every way,' she said. 'It seeps in and out. But I wanted to talk about more than politics. The last election kind of killed my spirit. . . Politics is so polarizing and so partisan, and also people don’t know what to do with me because I’m the liberal Republican.' 'Dad did not love when I worked at MSNBC, but he has really been a great champion of this show' Another perk of her show, she says, is that she does not have to wear a suit, and can kick around in Converse instead. It is just as well. The show has seen her play kickball on one show, and hang from a trapeze on another. 'It was awful,' she said of the latter. 'Wait til you see. I can’t wait til that c**p hits the Internet. Never hang from a trapeze. I’m not scared of heights and it was horrible. It’s a lot more complicated than people realize. I hated it.' McCain told the TCA that she's thrilled to be working on Pivot, which she describes as 'some sort of middle ground between the Kardashians and C-SPAN. Keeping it in the family: A still from Raising McCain, premiering on Pivot on September 14, shows (from left) Jimmy McCain, Kaj Larsen, and Meghan McCain . 'I want to give people information but not talk down to them,' she said. 'I am so excited. This is the best thing I've ever done.' McCain said her 76-year-old father, Republican Sen. John McCain, has already seen a highlight reel of her show. 'We have had conflicts many times. He did not love when I worked at MSNBC,' she said. 'He has really been a great champion of this show and believing that young people want more substance.' The younger McCain, who is also a Republican, calls her generation the most politically engaged. 'I believe in more than this country is being given in news and entertainment,' she said. Raising McCain premieres on Sept. 14.
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The 28-year-old admits that her father, Republican Senator John McCain, 'did not love' when she worked at MSNBC, but has given her new show his seal of approval .
Raising McCain will debut on Pivot, a new network targeted at 15-34-year-olds, on September 14 .
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8c8d28fd7acdbb8b2b92ba0ae7d6487275aaa1f9
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(CNN) -- New York police say they've found no evidence corroborating a claim by actress Amanda Bynes that she was sexually harassed after police were called to her apartment. "A credible civilian witness who was with the officers throughout told investigators that none touched Ms. Bynes inappropriately or otherwise engaged in misconduct at any time," a NYPD Internal Affairs representative said. The incident is the latest in a series of run-ins with the law for Bynes, who had a squeaky-clean image as a teen actress. Officers were called Thursday to her building in Manhattan's theater district after her building manager reported the 27-year-old was smoking an "illegal substance" in the lobby, police said. Bynes had headed back to her apartment by the time police arrived, but she let officers in when they knocked on the door, they said. Once inside, the officers noticed a bong and other marijuana paraphernalia sitting on a coffee table, which Bynes immediately started to throw out a window, police said. Police charged her with tampering with physical evidence, reckless endangerment and criminal possession of marijuana. The endangerment stems from the possibility that the tossed paraphernalia could have hit someone below. According to media reports, she appeared in court Friday and was then released until her next appearance in July. Taking to Twitter to make her case, Bynes said the police account is "all lies." Her story is that she was "sexually harassed by one of the cops the night before last" -- the same police officer who, she wrote, ended up arresting her. Bynes said she had opened her window "for fresh air" and didn't throw out any drug paraphernalia. She insisted the officer lied when he said she did. Then, she alleged of the officer in her apartment, "He slapped my vagina. Sexual harassment. Big deal." Bynes said she was handcuffed, "which I resisted ... then I was sent to a mental hospital. Offensive." "The cop sexually harassed me, they found no pot on me or bong outside my window," Bynes tweeted. "That's why the judge let me go." Bynes has a DUI case pending in Southern California, while a pair of separate hit-and-run charges against her were dismissed late last year. Earlier this month, the actress was sentenced to three years' probation for driving on a suspended license. A young teenager when she burst on the scene as the lead in Nickelodeon's "The Amanda Show," Bynes also starred alongside Jennie Garth in the sitcom "What I Like About You." She later scored roles in movies, including "Hairspray" and "Easy A."
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Civilian witness says no one touched the actress "inappropriately," NYPD says .
Bynes had a squeaky-clean teen image .
The actress sloughs off cops' account, says she had no pot .
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231,524 |
b7c3b7ee3ae2473c24d80be1d02916aa9625eaec
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Doc Neeson, lead singer of legendary Australian rock band The Angels, has died of brain cancer at the age of 67. His death comes after he was diagnosed with a brain tumour in January last year. A post on the singer's Facebook page confirmed his passing on Wednesday morning. Scroll down for video . Fallen Angel: Rocker Doc Neeson, pictured right with a bandmate Rick Brewster in 2009, died on Wednesday morning in his sleep after a 17-month battle with brain cancer . 'He has battled with a brain tumour for the last 17 months and sadly lost his fight this morning,' it read. 'He will be deeply missed by his family and partner Annie Souter who would all like to thank everyone for their support through this dark time. Neeson's children Dzintra, Daniel, Aidan and Kieran and wife Annie also posted tributes on the page. 'We love you Dad. You couldn't have made any of your sons more proud of you if you tried. May your beautiful soul rest in peace sweet angel, fly high.' wrote Dzintra, Daniel, Aidan and Kieran. Wild one: The lead singer performing at the Sydney Horden Pavilion in 1985 during his heyday . Australian favourite: The group are best known for the 1970s hit Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again? 'Good Night, Sweet Prince, and flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.' With love forever, Annie - borrowed from William Shakespeare - Hamlet. Angels drummer Buzz Bidstrup took to Facebook, posting: 'It is with deep sadness that we say goodbye to Bernard 'Doc' Neeson today. He left this world early this morning and I join music lovers everywhere in mourning this great man.' The Angels' frontman revealed on the ABC's Australian Story last month that he was suffering from a brain tumour. 'The news is grim, but some people can get through this, and that’s the way I try to think about things,' he said during the interview. Sharing his battle: The singer, seen here undergoing an MRI scan, documented his brain tumour struggle on ABC's Australian story last month . 'So I’m looking forward optimistically to the future.' He said he was determined to keep going playing music. 'When somebody puts a use by date on me, but I still hung on to a shred of hope that I’d get back on the stage at some point' he said. The singer was born in Belfast, Ireland in 1947 and migrated to Adelaide, Australia with his family when he was 13-years old. His first band was the Moonshine Jug and String Band with John and Rick Brewster. In 1976, Neeson and the Brewsters became The Angels and released their debut single Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again in 1976. Neeson left the band in 1999. He went on to form Red Phoenix with David Lowy, Peter Northcote, Jim Hilburn and Fab Omodel. Midnight Oil frontman Peter Garrett led the tributes on Wednesday as fans flooded social media with condolences. Family man: The father of four with two of his children in the 1980s . Garret called Neeson a 'big man with a huge heart', adding 'A mighty talent ... You showed us how.' Screaming Jets bassist Paul Woseen said he was sad to hear the news but feared the worst after last seeing Neeson about six months ago. 'The last time I saw him he looked worse than the time before - it looked like the end was imminent,' he said. Woseen revealed his favourite memory of Neeson was a classic pose of holding a towel above his head with sweat pouring off him during a gig. However, he says away from the stage Neeson was a different person. 'He was quiet but friendly ... You do put on a different sort of `suit' so to speak before you hit the stage.' After news broke of Neeson's passing, The Angels started trending on Twitter as many users paid their respects. Fans hailed the Irish-born performer as a true showman and a member of Australian rock royalty. Others fondly remembered listening to the bands' string of hits in the late 70s and 80s. 'Most potent memory of young suburban life was watching The Angels blow the roof off Blacktown RSL sometime early 80s,' Adrian Michaels tweeted. Another tweeter recounted a story of Neeson stopping to carefully listen to a friend's original guitar composition while he busked on the street. Twitter was flooded with tributes to the late musician following the announcement on Wednesday .
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Singer of iconic Australian band had battled a brain tumour for 17 months .
Bernard 'Doc' Neeson passed away in his sleep this morning .
Best known for 1970s hit Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again?
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17,553 |
31bf0aae843000cab9c5d4bf7324a4350c4391ee
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Antonio Valencia's absence from Manchester United's squad for the New Year's Day clash against Stoke was because of a thigh strain. The Ecuador star was replaced by Rafael at half-time as Louis van Gaal's side drew 0-0 with Tottenham at White Hart Lane last Sunday. Valencia has emerged as United's first-choice right back under Van Gaal and had started the previous 10 Premier League games. Antonio Valencia was taken off at half time during the Premier League game against Tottenham last week . The extent of Valencia's thigh injury and the length of time he will be absent is not yet known . Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has lost faith in Brazilian right back Rafael . The extent of the injury and the length of time Valencia will be missing is not yet known, but Van Gaal will hoping it is not serious as the Dutchman has lost faith in Brazilian right back Rafael, who was left on the bench for the clash at the Britannia. It is a position that United are prioritising in the January transfer window. The injury will irk the former Holland manager further after the 63-year-old has vented his frustration at the number of fixtures during the traditionally busy festive period. Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal speaks during a press conference on Tuesday . Ahead of the New Year's Day clash Van Gaal told Sky Sports: 'You cannot recover your body. That's my opinion, but it's also scientifically proven. I don't think you have to do that to the players.' The United boss was echoing his complaints made on Tuesday where he insisted the players' safety was being jeopardised by the quick turnaround of fixtures. 'Everybody knows that a body cannot recover within 48 hours. A frustrated Van Gaal makes a point to the fourth official during the match at White Hart Lane on Sunday . 'Therefore, there is a rule at UEFA and FIFA that you cannot play the games so close. OK, that I have said. 'That’s scientifically proven, I have said that also. Everybody knows that and in spite of that, we have to play. 'It’s the culture of England. I don’t mind but it is not good for the players, for the health of the players and what I say now is it is not good for the game because I think that the FA, but also the fans, want attractive games.'
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Antonio Valencia was taken off at half time against Tottenham last week .
The Ecuador international had started the previous 10 league games .
The extent of Valencia's thigh injury in not yet known .
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28,956 |
5233590b17e69caf23911286c028d68e1be2b097
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One of Britain’s highest paid executives prompted outrage last night by insisting that his £1million basic salary is 'very low’. Sir Martin Sorrell, head of advertising giant WPP, rejected criticism of executive pay in the wake of a study showing it rose by almost 50 per cent in the past year. David Cameron described the huge increases commanded by bosses at a time when ordinary workers have had their incomes squeezed as 'disturbing’. High flying: Sir Martin Sorrell, pictured with his wife Lady Cristiana, said his pay as head of advertising giant WPP is very low . And Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said it was a 'slap in the face’ for employees, seizing on the astonishing rise as evidence that tax cuts for the low paid should take priority over scrapping the 50p top tax rate. But Sir Martin, 66, said his bumper income, which rose by 83 per cent to £4.2million last year, was fully justified and was mostly linked to the firm’s performance. He added that he considered his basic salary, of just over £1million, to be 'very low’. Condemnation: Nick Clegg (left) and David Cameron have both said bumper pay rises for Britain's top bosses are unacceptable . But his comments astonished MPs and . infuriated union leaders. Labour education spokesman Karen Buck . described the huge rise in executive pay as 'grotesque’, adding: 'What . planet do these people live on?’ Deborah . Hargreaves, chair of the High Pay Commission which is looking into . executives’ remuneration, said the performance-related pay deals enjoyed . by executives 'don’t really work’. Commenting . on the study by the research group Income Data Services, she added: 'I . think it is very hard to justify these sorts of pay increases when we . have seen companies’ share prices go down, profits down, companies . laying off staff, and when average wages are going up 1 or 2 per cent, . not even keeping up with price rises.’ But in an interview with the Daily Mail, Sir Martin angrily defended his bumper pay packet. He . said: 'The only planet I am living on is looking at our company in . terms of the competition – that’s the planet. We need to maintain a . competitive position. The UK only accounts for 12 per cent of our . business. We have more Brazilians, Russians, and Indians than we have . Americans and Brits. 'In 2009 it was a tough year for us and compensation across the board fell. In 2010 we delivered record profit. 'People are not distinguishing . between fixed pay and incentive pay. I don’t sell my stock. Other . people, including our competitors, do. The value of the business has . grown from £1million to £8.5billion over its life.’ However, there was little sympathy for him among ordinary workers outside WPP’s offices in West London last night. One . of the firm’s delivery men, who declined to give his name, said: 'To . say that his salary is not very much is really insensitive. I’m not . earning that much, no one is.’ Julian Chambers, a street cleaner working next to the building, said: 'I work here every day on minimum wage and I work weekends just to pay the bills. It’s been really hard even finding work during the past few years. It just shows how out of touch he must be.’ Yesterday’s report by the IDS showed pay among directors of Britain’s FTSE 100 companies had risen by 49 per cent last year. It now averages £3.8million. The Prime Minister said the increase was 'not okay’ when millions were facing pay freezes and called for 'transparency, proper accountability and a sense of responsibility from boardrooms’. And Bob Crow, leader of the Rail, Maritime and Transport workers’ union, said: 'The same top bosses demanding wage restraint and attacks on workers’ rights on the shop floor have been caught stuffing their own pockets in the boardroom.’
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WPP boss Sir Martin Sorrell said his income, which rose by 83% to £4.2million last year, is fully justified .
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264,896 |
e31d7b79f42e93edd38d59c06c7ee80c2ca59d26
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Washington (CNN) -- The members of the legal team representing presidential assailant John Hinckley Jr. say they are owed "significant legal bills in arrears" and are asking a judge's permission to bow out of Hinckley's case. In a motion filed Friday, defense lawyer Barry Levine says he and other lawyers at Dickstein Shapiro LLP have represented Hinckley at numerous hearings through the years at reduced rates. According to the document, Hinckley's family has told the legal firm "it will not provide future funding for attorneys' fees, expenses or related experts in this matter." The motion does not say how much the firm is still owed. The legal team represented Hinckley during 13 days of testimony in late 2011 and early 2012 on a St. Elizabeths Hospital proposal to allow Hinckley to have longer visits to his mother's home in Williamsburg, Virginia. The motion filed by the lawyers Friday said Judge Paul Friedman has told counsel he will not rule on the plan proposed by Hinckley's mental hospital until November. On August 17, prosecutors on the Hinckley case filed a motion asking Friedman to reject the proposal for more visitation time because a key part of the plan had fallen through. According to the government court filing, St. Elizabeths sent an August 8 letter stating that Colonial Behavioral Health, People's Place facility in Williamsburg had withdrawn from the plan to participate in Hinckley's treatment by providing him access to group social sessions. The letter has not been made public, and prosecutors did not reveal why People's Place had bowed out. Prosecutors called the group sessions a "core feature" of the plan to allow Hinckley, 57, to spend more time living with his elderly mother in Williamsburg. In their motion to withdraw from his case, Hinckley's lawyers say that their departure will not harm the case and that he can obtain other representation. Hinckley spends 10 days a month visiting his widowed mother, who is in her late 80s. In July 2011, St. Elizabeths proposed allowing Hinckley two 17-day visits followed by six stays lasting 24 days. After the proposed visits, St. Elizabeths requested the authority to decide whether Hinckley, 57, could be released on "convalescent leave," which would make him a permanent outpatient. Hinckley's mother, Jo Ann, attended parts of the hearing on the hospital's visitation plan. His brother and sister both testified during sessions. Levine, the defense lawyer, made several references during the hearing to the family possessing diminishing resources. Hinckley's father is deceased. Hinckley sat quietly during the multiple days of testimony but never testified. Hinckley was found not guilty by reason of insanity in the 1981 shooting of President Ronald Reagan, press secretary James Brady, Secret Service Agent Timothy McCarthy and police officer Thomas Delahanty. Brady was shot in the head and permanently disabled. Hinckley's delusions about actress Jodie Foster motivated him to shoot Reagan.
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Team says it's owed "significant legal bills in arrears"
Defense lawyer says he and others have represented Hinckley at reduced rates .
Family says it won't give "future funding for attorneys' fees, expenses or related experts"
Hinckley was found not guilty because of insanity in shooting of President Reagan, 3 others .
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275,211 |
f085b73e795d33297afb953d3fc49110591202ac
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David Cameron should ignore Tory backbenchers using the public ‘hysteria’ over immigration to drive Britain out of Europe, veteran MP Ken Clarke said this morning. The former Chancellor suggested the Prime Minister should let right wing MPs defect to Ukip so the party could get back to ‘common sense’. He said: ‘We mustn’t compete with ignorance and bigotry,’ Mr Clarke’s remarks come amid growing demands for the PM to demand a cap on the number of EU migrants allowed to move to the UK. Veteran Conservative MP Ken Clarke said David Cameron needed to 'ignore' the right wing of his party . The Prime Minister yesterday vowed to ‘fix’ Brussels’ free movement rules which give migrants the right to work anywhere in the EU. He also hit back at European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso, who declared on a visit to London that curbs on migrants from the Continent would be 'illegal'. Mr Barosso yesterday claimed former Tory Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher would not have ‘surrendered to the arguments of Ukip’. He said: "It would be impossible to hear Ukip speech coming from Margaret Thatcher, completely impossible. ‘What I remember about Margaret Thatcher, she was for enlargement and for fighting protectionism. I don't remember her defending labour market protectionism. On the contrary she was for opening markets. From what I remember of Thatcher she would not be surrendering to these arguments." Mr Clarke this morning appeared to back the outgoing EU commission president’s remarks. He said there were ‘a section of the population that are just bigoted’. David Cameron said the public concern over immigration was 'reasonable' and vowed to 'fix' Brussels free movement rules . European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso said Margaret Thatcher would never have 'surrendered' to Ukip arguments . He said there was ‘no point in putting some kind of arbitrary figure’ on the number of migrants coming in from Europe. Instead, he said: ‘What we need is strong, sensible governments. We must get back to some common sense. ‘We’ve had a wave of almost hysteria. I’ve seen waves of hysteria decades ago. But in the modern world we’ve got to get used to the fact that we need an international workforce. ‘’Ignore the daft ambitions of people whose main interest is just getting Britain out of Europe.’ "Ignore those with daft ambitions, let's look after Britain in the modern world." Speaking yesterday Mr Cameron said British voters - not the head of the European Commission - were 'the boss', insisting reform of the right to free movement would be central to demands for a looser relationship with Brussels if he wins the next election. Senior Tories believe he will wait until after the Rochester by-election at the end of next month to set out his plans. Nigel Farage claims the Prime Minister will not be able to place curbs on European immigration . Cabinet ministers are examining the idea of an 'emergency brake' which could be applied to limit numbers if migration exceeded forecasts. Yesterday there were claims ministers also want to draw on current practice in Croatia, the latest country to join the EU. British workers wanting to live and work there for more than three months need a work permit, only issued with proof of accommodation, financial means of support, health insurance and a criminal background check. Mr Cameron said: 'What we need in Britain is a renegotiation of our relationship with the European Union and a referendum where the British people decide whether to stay in this reformed organisa-tion or do we leave it. 'Now that's what I will pursue, that's what I will deliver and at the heart of that renegotiation we need to address people's concerns about immigration. ‘I'm very clear about who the boss is, about who I answer to and it is the British people. They want this, they're not being unreasonable about it. I will fix it.' The Government has issued more national insurance numbers to workers from Spain, Romania, Greece and Italy than anywhere else over the last six years, according to official government figures . Dspite the increase in immigration, unemployment is falling. Ministers claimed this was because their 'long term economic plan' is starting to work - with more than half a millions people finding work last year . But Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said Mr Barroso was right to warn we would be marginalised on the world stage if Britain quits the EU. He said: 'Do you really think people in Beijing, Washington, Tokyo are going to take Britain seriously in the future if we don't stand tall in Brussels, Berlin and Paris? 'I just think bobbing around rather hopelessly in the mid-Atlantic, and having lots of major foreign investors pulling out of this country jeopardising millions of jobs...I don't think is a way of making this country stronger and safer and more prosperous in the future.'
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Former Chancellor said Eurosceptic Tories should leave for Ukip .
He said the Prime Minister should not 'compete with ignorance and bigotry'
Comes amid demands for PM to cap the number of European migrants .
Cameron has vowed to 'fix' Brussels’ free movement rules in renegotiation .
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133,980 |
393853a103211aaf48cba8f2d654588d9d43aa89
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Despite his designer clothes and BMW, Isla Vista shooting suspect Elliot Rodger was not from a wealthy family. Rodger's father, a photographer and film director, was deeply in debt, and his mother made just $40,000 a year as a research assistant for a film company, according to documents from his parents' divorce. Santa Barbara County, California, investigators say Rodger, 22, stabbed to death three people in his apartment, shot two women to death outside a sorority house and killed another man inside a deli with gunfire before apparently killing himself near the campus of the University of California at Santa Barbara on Friday. Timeline to 'Retribution': Isla Vista attacks planned over years . The 107,000-word "story" that Rodger sent to his parents, therapists and several others just before the killings suggested that he was angry that his parents were not wealthy. "Where's the justice? I thought. Why couldn't I have been born into that life?" Rodger wrote. His father's family in Britain "was once part of the wealthy upper classes before they lost all of their fortune during the Great Depression," he wrote. Rodger's mother and father had rich friends in Los Angeles, which allowed him to sometimes enjoy the benefits of money, such as tickets to a private Katy Perry concert in 2012. "I tried to pretend as if I was part of a wealthy family," he wrote about that night. "I should be. That was the life I was meant to live. I WOULD BE!" He blamed his parents for his lack of wealth. "If only my damnable mother had married into wealth instead of being selfish," he wrote. She dated wealthy men after her divorce, giving her son hope and prompting him to "pester" her to marry one, he said. "I will always resent my mother for refusing to do this. If not for her sake, she should have done it for mine. Joining a family of great wealth would have truly saved my life. I would have a high enough status to attract beautiful girlfriends and live above all of my enemies." His father also failed him, he wrote. "If only my failure of a father had made better decisions with his directing career instead wasting his money on that stupid documentary." The documentary -- a film about celebrities' view of God titled "Oh My God" -- plunged his father into debt when Rodger was a teenager and caused him to stop paying child support, according to court papers. "My business has not generated any income in over a year," Peter Rodger said in a 2009 filing asking the judge to modify his $2,000 a month child support payments for his two children. "As a result, I currently receive no income from any source. I am searching for employment, but have been unable to find a job." His mother noted that her former husband used the equity in his home to finance the documentary, but she agreed to a one-year suspension of child support. With her monthly income just $3,200 a month, she said had to "depend in the generosity of family and friends to make ends meet." It was his working mother's generosity to her adult son, including paying his rent and the gift of a used BMW 328i, that allowed Rodger to live in the college community of Isla Vista. He bought his three handguns with money saved from gifts from grandparents and the $500 a month his father sent him, according to Rodger's writing. Five revelations from the 'twisted world' of a 'kissless virgin' He became obsessed with gaining wealth as the "only way I could lose my virginity, the only way I could have the beautiful girlfriend I know I deserve." "I had no talents, so it was impossible for me to become a professional actor, musician, or athlete; and those were usually the ways that young people acquired such money," he wrote. "I could invent something, or start a business just like Mark Zuckerberg did with Facebook, but the chances of me achieving such a thing were the same chances I had of winning the lottery anyway." He played California's Mega Millions lottery whenever the jackpot rose above $100 million. He drove to Arizona four times to buy Powerball lottery chances. He went into a rage each time he did not win. "Without the prospect of becoming wealthy at a young age, I had nothing to live for now," Rodger wrote. "I was going to be a virgin outcast forever. I realized that I had to start planning and preparing for the Day of Retribution, even though I hadn't yet had any idea of what day that would be." The divorce documents also confirmed that Elliot Rodger was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome, a form of autism, when he was 7. "Elliot has special needs," his mother said in a sworn statement. "He is a high functioning autistic child." That he was autistic should not lead to a conclusion that autism had any connection to the attacks, according to Scott Badesch, the president of the Autism Society of America. "Reputable study after study has concluded there is no such link."
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Rodger's father fell into debt because of failed film, court papers show .
His mother said she depended "on the generosity of family and friends to make ends meet"
Shooting suspect calls dad a "failure of a father"
Rodger blames "damnable mother" for not marrying a rich man .
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12,180 |
228a6190f738eebf76e893d1156cec9f9c59fece
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A midwife who snuck off to get high on laughing gas while on duty helping to deliver babies has been suspended for 12 months. Susannah Wheeler secretly inhaled Entonox, while working at Tameside Hospital, Glossop, Derbyshire, and returned to her duties ‘staggering’ and ‘slurring her speech as though she was groggy,’ the Nursing and Midwifery Council was told. The council was told suspicions about her behaviour were first raised in August 2012, when she was assigned a new patient while on a night shift. Susannah Wheeler secretly inhaled Entonox, while working at Tameside Hospital, Glossop, Derbyshire, and returned to her duties 'staggering' and 'slurring her speech as though she was groggy', the Nursing and Midwifery Council was told . She could not be found on the antenatal ward and the whole maternity unit went searching for the missing midwife for up to an hour. Wheeler eventually returned groggy and told colleagues she ‘did not know where she had been', before claiming she had been in the toilets for the duration. She was later found in a maternity room with a tube in her mouth, sucking the gas, before she spread her arms and fell onto the bed. A colleague then got into a tussle with Wheeler as she refused to release the tube, before begging the colleague not to tell anybody about the incident. Wheeler went missing again a month later. A colleague phoned Wheeler to ask where she was and she replied that she did not know. Three empty bottles of the gas were later found in Wheeler’s car prompting an NMC investigation. NMC panel chairman David Newman said: ‘The panel considered that Mrs Wheeler’s actions in using Entonox gas and being unfit for duty on two occasions had placed patients at risk of harm. ‘Her actions were serious and rendered her incapable of carrying out her duties. The Nursing and Midwifery Council was told she was found in a maternity room with a tube in her mouth, sucking the gas, before she spread her arms and fell onto the bed. A colleague then got into a tussle with Wheeler as she refused to release the tube, before begging the colleague not to tell anybody about the incident . ‘It further considered that her actions potentially deprived patients of Entonox when it may have been required. ‘The panel concluded that Mrs Wheeler’s actions amounted to a significant departure from the standards to be expected of a registered midwife. ‘It determined that her actions constituted misconduct, in that they fell far short of the standards of conduct expected in the circumstances and those within the remit of the code.’ Mr Newman added: ‘The panel accepted that Mrs Wheeler had developed significant insight into her misconduct. ‘This, together with the genuine expression of regret and remorse, and the reflection she has shown, satisfied the panel that she had demonstrated a good understanding the impact her actions could have had on patients and the reputation of the profession. ‘The panel noted that Mrs Wheeler appeared to be an otherwise capable midwife and was provided with satisfactory references attesting to there being no other concerns regarding her practice. ‘Nevertheless, the panel acknowledges that Mrs Wheeler is currently unable to provide evidence that the circumstances leading to her misconduct have been fully remediated. ‘Mrs Wheeler’s own opinion is that her fitness to practise is currently impaired. ‘In light of all the information available, the panel decided that there was an ongoing need to protect the public. ‘Any immediate return to practice could place patients at risk of harm.’Wheeler, who has been employed at Tameside Hospital since 1999, admitted inhaling Entonox gas while on duty on two occasions. The nurse, who was not present or represented, was handed a 12-month suspension.
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Susannah Wheeler inhaled gas, while working at Tameside Hospital, Glossop .
Nursing and Midwifery Council heard she took gas in maternity ward .
Wheeler begged colleagues not to say anything when she was discovered .
Nurse, who wasn't present, was handed a 12-month suspension by council .
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130,816 |
352cad4e3bc4f20e43d1bf74bf4882f4f2741165
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Los Angeles (CNN) -- Photographer Anton Fury's hobby of searching weekend garage sales for collectible toys led him to dozens of apparently unpublished photos of a young Marilyn Monroe. Fury has allowed CNN to publish the images just days before what would have been Monroe's 85th birthday. They apparently were taken during a photo session before she was well known. "I found an envelope of negatives, didn't know what they were, but I realized they were old," Fury said. He paid $2 for the folder, which contained two envelopes of black-and-white negatives. That was in Parsippany, New Jersey, in 1980, when Fury says he was "a fledgling photographer." "I took it home, put them on the lightboard with a loupe and, needless to say, these are Marilyn," he said. "That was probably my greatest garage sale discovery ever." The second envelope was filled with about 70 negatives of actress Jayne Mansfield. Fury held onto the photographs for the last three decades, not knowing much about them. "The only thing we're sure of is who," he said. "We don't know where, we don't know why, we don't know when, we don't know who shot them. But we do know it is Marilyn." Fury flew to Los Angeles this week to show the images to David W. Streets, a Beverly Hills art dealer and appraiser experienced with Monroe photos. Monroe was one of the most photographed women ever, but Streets suspects these photos are from her early years, soon after she cut her hair and evolved into the iconic look most people associate with her. "I've looked for early photographs, early test shots, magazine shots, books, and haven't been able to find anything yet, so the mystery we're just beginning to unravel," Streets said. Streets' best guess for now is the photos were taken in 1950, a breakout year for the nearly unknown Monroe because of her minor roles in "The Asphalt Jungle" and "All About Eve." "I know they were taken here in Los Angeles," which we know "from the backgrounds that we see in the photos," Streets said. "You see Hollywood Hills, Hollywood 1950s architecture." There are more questions than answers, though. "For me as an appraiser and as a researcher, I want people to call, I want people to e-mail and say, 'This is where it is, this is what it is, this is who I think took it,' " Streets said. One clue that could be important is the coincidence of a man seen in both the Monroe and Mansfield photographs. It is possible he was the photographer for both sessions, Streets said. "We know that Monroe and Mansfield were here working at the same time, were contemporaries and friends," Streets said. "So, there's an intertanglement there that we're going to unravel and see where the mystery leads." Monroe, who would have been 24 in 1950, wore two bathing suits, including a bikini, and short pants during the poolside photo shoot. One risk Fury runs as he brings his garage sale find to the public, and possibly for sale, is that someone could make a legal claim to the photos, which are possibly still protected by copyright laws even after 60 years. "That's kind of what we're trying to figure out," Fury said. There's way more questions than there are answers at this point. We don't know where this is going to lead."
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Photographer found Marilyn Monroe and Jayne Mansfield negatives in 1980 .
Who shot them and how they ended up at a garage sale is unknown, man says .
Finder, art appraiser David Streets welcome public help in solving the mystery .
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229,950 |
b5c5dcb662f40124928f60de8b87230ab2da5ab5
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Prime Minister Tony Abbott has warned Australians to expect more attacks like the one which has shattered the peace in Paris and resulted in the fatal shooting of 12 people at the office of a satirical newspaper. In calling it an 'unspeakable atrocity', Mr Abbott urged Australians not to let the events 'change our way of life'. 'We have a strong presence in the Middle East to tackle the death cult at its source,' he said. 'The Paris shooting is an absolute atrocity but sadly we can expect more of this. We will defend our way of life, we will defend our values and freedoms.' Scroll down for video . Tony Abbott condemned the barbaric act as an unspeakable atrocity but warned Australians on Thursday that they should be prepared for more terror attacks . Terrorists killed 12 people in the massacre at Parisian magazine Charlie Hebdo . Heavily armed men shouting 'Allahu Akbar' stormed the French headquarters of Charlie Hedbo on Wednesday, killing a dozen people in what French President Francois Hollande called 'undoubtedly a terrorist attack'. The assault sparked a massive man hunt as the two gunmen managed to escape, executing a wounded police officer as they fled. The weekly newspaper had a history of causing controversy with cartoons of Islam's prophet Mohammed. In an earlier post on Twitter on Thursday, Mr Abbott labelled the attack an 'atrocity'. 'If you don't like something, you don't read it; you don't kill people you disagree with,' the tweet said. Mr Abbott also said 'freedom of expression is the cornerstone of a free society' re-affirmed Australia's high terror alert. 'The Government condemns the atrocity in Paris overnight,' Mr Abbott's stated. In a mass show of solidarity, thousands gathered in the streets of Paris to pay their respects to those killed . 'The thoughts of all Australians are with the families of those who have lost their lives in this barbaric act. 'Australia stands with the people and the government of France at this difficult time.' The attack comes less than a month after lone gunman Man Haron Monis took 18 people hostage during a deadly siege in a Sydney cafe. Monis and two of his hostages, Tori Johnson and Katrina Dawson, were killed in the violent conclusion to the siege in the early hours of December 16. The Government condemns the atrocity in Paris overnight. The thoughts of all Australians are with the families of those who have lost their lives in this barbaric act. Freedom of expression is the cornerstone of a free society. The Government will continue to do all it can to protect our community from terrorism. Our National Terrorism Alert level remains at High, which means a terrorist attack is likely. Our security agencies are assessing the situation for security implications to Australia but there is no information to suggest that there is an imminent threat to Australia as a result of the Paris atrocity. All Australians should remain vigilant, and again, I urge people who see or hear something that they feel is not right, to contact the National Security Hotline immediately on 1800 123 400. Australia stands with the people and the government of France at this difficult time.
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Tony Abbott warns more terror attacks are likely .
The PM urges Australians not to change their way of life including travel plans .
He said 'Australia stands with France' and condemns the 'atrocity' in the Paris office of satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo .
PM re-affirms Australia's high terror alert .
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By . Meghan Keneally . PUBLISHED: . 09:46 EST, 24 July 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 14:09 EST, 24 July 2013 . Huma Abedin professes her love for her husband in an unfortunately-timed essay in Harper's Bazaar which came out just hours after another woman revealed the sex chats she had with the disgraced former Congressman. The article comes as a vow of support for his bid to become New York City's next mayor, and was released the morning after the notoriously private Abedin spoke out at his press conference Tuesday where he confirmed that he will not be dropping out of the race. 'People have said many things about my . husband—some nice, some not so nice. And that will surely continue. Launching this campaign was not an easy decision for our family to make. Putting yourself out there comes with a cost,' she wrote in Harper's Bazaar. In a column that will appear in the magazine's September edition, the longtime Hillary Clinton aide tells how she went from being a 'single workaholic' to a wife and mother in a matter of three years. Scroll down for video . 'I love him. I have forgiven him. I believe in him': Huma Abedin read a statement at the Tuesday press conference reaffirming her belief in her husband and their marriage . Facing the backlash: Weiner addressed reporters in front of his apartment building on Wednesday morning but he did not have his wife at his side this time . When her husband Anthony Weiner launched his campaign to run for mayor of New York City two years after resigning from Congress amid a Twitter sexting scandal, he said that there were other women who would come forward with allegations against him. Opening up: Huma Abedin wrote an essay in the upcoming issue of Harper's Bazaar about how she decided to forgive her husband and supports his run for mayor . In the essay, she said that in addition . to being the 'smart, caring, and dedicated person' he has always been, . 'he is now something else- a better man'. What Abedin likely didn't know was that one such woman would release screen grabs of her virtual conversations with Weiner and the naked pictures he sent of himself- just days before the Harper's Bazaar issue hit newsstands. 'New Yorkers will have to decide for themselves whether or not to give him a second chance. I had to make that same decision for myself, for my son, for our family. And I know in my heart that I made the right one,' she wrote in a preview of the piece that was posted on the magazine's website. Though Abedin has worked for Hillary Clinton for nearly two decades, starting when she was an intern in the White House and worked for the then-First Lady. In her role as Mrs Clinton's top aide, she has kept to the sidelines, leaving her boss to be the focus of attention. 'I . kept my personal life private, even as the people I was close to lived . in the public eye. But all that changed two years ago, and Anthony and I . have spent these past few years working through the very private . challenges we faced on a very public stage,' she wrote in Harper's . Bazaar. Her husband's bid . for Mayor changed all that. She first appeared in one of his campaign . ads and made her press conference debut on Tuesday when she read a . statement in defense of her husband. Public defense: Abedin broke her notoriously private shell by appearing alongside her husband a year after he resigned in a July 2012 People article. It was revealed he maintained online relationships even at that time . 'When we faced this publicly two years . ago it was the beginning of a time in our marriage that was very . difficult and it took us a very long time to get through it,' Ms Abedin . said at today's press conference. Together: In the Harper's Bazaar article, Abedin talks about how she went from being a 'single workaholic' to a wife and mother in three years, seen here at their 2010 wedding . 'Anthony's . made some horrible mistakes both before he resigned from congress and . after but I do very strongly believe that that is between us. 'I love him. I have forgiven him. I believe in him.' For . his part, Weiner said that his wife was aware that he was still making . contact with women he had never met even after he resigned, and he said . that his June 2011 departure from Congress was not the end to his . inappropriate behavior. 'She . knew all along this process as I was more and more honest with her, I . told her everything so this is something we knew going into this season . of (campaigning). 'I'm pleased and blessed that she has . given me a second chance. For the past several months I have asked New . Yorkers to give me a second chance. 'Its . in our rear view mirror but it's not far and we continue to work on our . marriage. Frankly we're in a lot better place today or else I would not . have run for mayor.' Many public figures have come out to support Abedin, praising her remarks at the press conference, including Donald Trump who called her 'impressive'. Congressman Charles Rangel, who has . been the Democratic representative for Harlem for over 40 years, echoed those sentiments on MSNBC Wednesday morning. 'Nobody . that I know understands at all what Anthony Weiner was thinking about. And right now, I think you would agree that we all are concerned about . his wife. She's a brave lady,' Congressman Rangel told MSNBC on . Wednesday. 'I have seen . a lot of things like this in politics where males have to lean on their . wives for support, but I don't ever recall seeing a wife looking and . feeling so sad and embarrassed, because Huma is a very private person, a . very delicate, sophisticated person. And all the years that I've known . her, putting her into this political situation, as bright and as . intelligent as she is, is very awkward.' In . spite of her claims that his sexual proclivities are a personal matter, . they have made a very purposeful- and planned- re-entry into public life . with a number of interviews. The first came in the June 30, 2012 issue of People Magazine, where they posed for a family portrait and Weiner opened up about how they had worked through their problems. On the sidelines: Huma Abedin has been working for Hillary Clinton (pictured here in 2012 when she was serving as Secretary of State) since 1996 and is considered one of her top aides . Now the 'normal family' that they claimed to be is seen as even more of a facade as it was revealed yesterday that he began exchanging explicit messages and photos with a woman online less than two weeks after the People issue hit newsstands. He would not go into the specifics of . when he began talking with the woman who has since been revealed as . Sydney Leathers, but she told gossip site The Dirty that their first . contact took place on July 12, 2012. To . many that came as a shock because it was assumed that his inappropriate . behavior came to a stop after he resigned from Congress in June 2011. Leathers . was revealed to be a blogger for the Indiana Progressive Liberals who . worked as a part of President Obama's field campaign during his 2012 bid . for re-election. WARNING GRAPHIC CONTENT . The latest woman: Syndey Leathers, 23, was identified as the one who Weiner was talking to online in 2012 . Virtual exchange: She released screengrabs of their conversations and pictures of his genitals that he sent . She sent screenshots of conversations she had with Weiner over social media site Formspring, where he used the screenname 'Carlos Danger' and described his sexual fantasies, such as: 'So I walk in to a hotel room and you are at the end of the bed. naked except for some amazing f*** me shoes. your legs are ******. your feet are flat on the ground you are leaning slightly forward. looking completely in charge.' Photos: The Dirty also released two pictures that the unidentified woman claimed Weiner sent her of his genitals . 'I like to whisper in your ear while I make love to you. That ok?' he wrote. 'Taking a shower. Wanna join me?' 'Staring at pics of u. Pathetic?' 'If I met you in a bar and tried to talk to you, would I have a chance?' 'You are a walking fantasy.' The publisher of The Dirty is Nik Ritchie, who wrote Tuesday that the then-unidentified woman has hired a lawyer 'in fear of Anthony Weiner but she is willing to expose his sexual nature to TheDirty.com for the betterment of America'. She released a statement through the site: 'Although I was 22 and technically an adult, I was obviously immature and I acted irresponsibly. I realize my correspondence with Mr Anthony Weiner was a huge mistake and I am embarrassed by it.'
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Huma Abedin spoke out publicly supporting her husband on Tuesday in light of a new set of sex chats with a woman online .
The explicit exchanges started in July 2012, more than a year after Anthony Weiner resigned from Congress amid the Twitter photo scandal .
As part of his bid to become New York's next mayor, Abedin wrote an essay for Harper's Bazaar saying why she chose to forgive him .
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BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- Kuwait's prime minister will be making a trip to Iraq soon, to discuss bilateral ties and debt issues among other things. Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser al-Mohammed al-Ahmed al-Sabah will visit Iraq soon. Kuwait Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser al-Mohammed al-Ahmed al-Sabah will visit Baghdad, according to the Iraqi government and Kuwait's state-run news agency. Al-Sabah's trip would be the latest high-level visit to Iraq by a top Arab official, and it comes as Iraq works to cement ties with its immediate neighbors and the Arab world in general. Some Arab countries have agreed to reopen their embassies in Baghdad. King Abdullah II of Jordan last month became the first Arab head of state to visit Iraq since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion. The Iraqi government said Finance Minister Bayan Jabr arrived Sunday in Kuwait heading a delegation to discuss bilateral ties, including the war reparations Iraq is paying Kuwait for its 1990 invasion of the Arab state. Kuwait's news agency, KUNA, on Monday reported Jabr delivered an official invitation from Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki to his Kuwaiti counterpart inviting him to visit Iraq. KUNA said al-Sabah accepted the invitation and said the date of the visit will be set through diplomatic channels. An aide to al-Maliki told CNN he had heard that the visit was scheduled for next week but wasn't aware of reports that it had been postponed till after the holy month of Ramadan ends in about three weeks. Iraq has been asking Gulf states to waive debts from the Saddam Hussein era. Recently, the United Arab Emirates canceled about $7 billion owed by Iraq. Iraq wants to lower the amount of money it has to pay into a U.N. compensation fund for people who suffered losses from Iraq's invasion of Kuwait. A car bombing in northern Baghdad killed at least two policemen and wounded five people Monday evening, Iraq's Interior Ministry told CNN. The bomb detonated in a parked car in central Baiji -- about 125 miles (200 km) north of Baghdad -- and was believed to be targeting a police patrol, the ministry said. Among the five wounded were two other policemen. It was one of several attacks across Baghdad on Monday, the Interior Ministry said. In all, eight people were killed and more than three dozen wounded in the attacks. Earlier in the day, a civilian was shot dead in central Baghdad when security personnel in an Iraqi government convoy opened fire after hearing shots, Iraq's Interior Ministry said. Six civilians were wounded. A roadside bomb killed a civilian and wounded 11 people on eastern Baghdad's Palestine Street, the ministry said. Later, another bomb wounded two police officers and three civilians in a police convoy on Palestine Street. Another roadside bomb killed one police officer and wounded another officer and a civilian in central Baghdad, it said. Gunmen wounded at least three government employees and their driver in eastern Baghdad, the ministry said. In the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, a policeman was killed and four civilians were wounded in a car bombing. In Diyala province, two Iraqi soldiers were killed and four were wounded when a roadside bomb struck their convoy south of Baquba, and attackers kidnapped an Awakening Council leader near Muqdadiya. CNN's Jomana Karadsheh contributed to this report.
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NEW: Death toll rises to six as bomb kills two Iraqi soldiers in Diyala province .
Visit by Kuwaiti leader comes as Iraq works to improve ties with its Arab neighbors .
Iraq has been asking Gulf states to waive debts from the Saddam Hussein era .
Iraq visit by Jordan's king last month was first by Arab head of state since 2003 war .
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Francis Benali's incredible journey of 1,178,937 steps ended in emotional fashion at St Mary's. And in fitting fashion, it was the Southampton faithful who cheered him on as he completed his 1,000 mile run. In three weeks, the 45-year-old stopped off at all 20 Barclays Premier League grounds in his bid to raise money for Cancer Research. Francis Benali completed a 1,000 mile charity run in aid of Cancer Research . 'Every step has been worth it to come home. This is home,' Benali said at half-time during Southampton's 4-0 romp against Newcastle. 'The pain and discomfort I've experienced on this challenge has been quite often and quite difficult and tough, but I've had my wife and children and my support team have been absolutely increible. They've kept me going. 'The pain that I've experienced is nothing 9compared to) anyone goes through to see a loved one either suffering from cancer or dying from cancer, so I want to help try and help bring an end to cancer. The former Southampton defender completed his journey at St Mary's Stadium . Saints fans greeted him after his incredible journey around every Premier League ground . 'Football has been my life but there is life after football. This has been an incredible experience. And I hope to spend some time and look back on it and reflect upon it one day. And I'm sure I'll look back on it with great affection.' Matthew Le Tissier was among the former team-mates who welcomed Benali to St Mary's, with Lawrie McMenemy also in attendance. Francis Benali ran 1,000 miles in 21 days to every Premier League club, covering between 45 and 50 miles a day for Cancer Research UK. To find out more information visit www.benalisbigrun.co.uk. To donate text 'BIGR55 £amount' to 70070 (For example, 'BIGR55 £10'). Or you can donate via Just Giving, the link can be found at www.benalisbigrun.co.uk.
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Former Southampton defender ran 1,000 miles in aid of Cancer Research .
Completed the run round every Premier League ground at St Mary's .
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By . Julian Gavaghan . UPDATED: . 10:52 EST, 24 May 2012 . A little-known Canadian actress is to portray Casey Anthony in a movie chronicling the controversial murder trial that led to the shock acquittal of America's most hated mother, it was revealed today. Holly Deveaux will play the 26-year-old, who has been vilified by the public after a Florida jury found her not guilty of killing her two-year-old daughter Caylee. And West Wing star Rob Lowe will play prosecuting lawyer Jeff Ashley, whose book Imperfect Justice is the basis for the movie titled Prosecuting Casey Anthony, which begins filming today. Resemblance: Casey Anthony, left, will be played by little-known Canadian actress Holly Deveaux in the movie . Striking: Miss Deveaux with her Baxter co-star Kyle Mac at the E1 Entertainment Party in Toronto . Oscar Nunez, best known for his part as Oscar Martinez on the U.S. version of The Office, will portray her defence attorney Jose Baez. It is the biggest project yet for Miss Deveaux, 19, who - despite sharing a resemblance to Anthony - has so far only starred in the Canadian TV series Baxter. She beat Kristen Stewart, Alyssa Milano and Jennifer Love Hewitt to get the part for the movie, which - due to cost - is being shot in the Canadian city of Winnipeg rather than the trial location of Orlando. However, the Toronto-born actress's role will actually be relatively limited because Lifetime producers plan to rely heavily on news footage to give the film a documentary look. Court presence: The trial's prosecuting lawyer Jeff Ashley, left, will be portrayed by West Wing star Rob Lowe . Difficult job: Anthony's defence lawyer Jose Baez, left, will be played by The Office actor Oscar Nunez . The film's writer Alison Cross told the Orlando Sentinel: 'It’s not our intention to make a movie that tries Casey Anthony for the third time. 'She was tried in court and she was tried by public opinion.' However, it emerged yesterday that Anthony will appear in court again after being found in hiding in Florida by investigators who subpoenaed her for a defamation case. She is being sued by Zenaida Gonzalez, who shares the name of a fake babysitter 'Zanny the Nanny' who Anthony initially told police had kidnapped Caylee. Anthony admitted fabricating that story. It later emerged that Anthony, whose acquittal last July has been compared to the infamous OJ Simpson case, did not know anyone by that name and the real Miss Gonzalez is not even a nanny. Concentration: Casey Anthony appears in court with attorney Cheny Mason during her murder trial . Casey Anthony (centre) confers with attorneys Jose Baez, and Dorothy Clay Simser . Gone: Anthony was acquitted of murdering her two-year-old daughter Caylee in a trial that ended last July . Now Miss Gonzalez is suing her after claiming she lost her job and apartment due to the association with the disappearance of Caylee, whose body was found in woods near Anthony's home in 2008. After initially sticking by the claim that the kidnapper had been kidnapped, Anthony's lawyers then insisted at the start of the trial that Caylee had accidentally drowned in the family's swimming pool. 'Zanny the Nanny': Zenaida Gonzalez is suing Anthony after she falsley claimed a woman with her name had kidnapped Caylee . It is this primary Inconsistency in her story that has sparked public outrage in the case and forced the defendant into hiding after her release from Orange County Jail. Her attorneys asked that she not be forced to appear in court, saying she has received death threats since being found not guilty of murder, aggravated child abuse and aggravated manslaughter. She was convicted of four counts of lying to police and is now on probation on an unrelated cheque fraud conviction. The defamation trial is set to begin at the start of the New Year. But, as Anthony had not been seen in public, lawyers for Miss Gonzalez feared she might go missing and decided to track her down. They staked out her home for several days without Anthony appearing to be served a subpoena. Eventually, the defendant's lawyers intervened and said she would attend the court hearing. 'Our investigation team had her whereabouts pinned down,' Miss Gonzalez's attorney Matt Morgan told People magazine. 'Their backs were against the wall, so her attorneys said that they would accept service on her behalf.' Despite going into hiding, Anthony had not entirely shied away from publicity. In October she appeared in a video diary that she posted on YouTube. In it she said she was 'making changes for herself', although failed to mention Caylee. It has since been claimed that she become a newborn Christian and was been baptised again in a bid to symbolise a new beginning. In hiding: Casey has been spending time with her new boyfriend who she made reference to in the new video . She's back: Sporting short, blonde locks and glasses, Anthony is almost unrecognisable on the YouTube video diary . All smiles: Casey Anthony hugs what appears to be her adopted Yorkshire Terrier Smooch in a photo of the 26-year-old . However, this apparent new devotion to faith has not stopped her revealing a string of racy photographs of herself. Anthony has been in hiding in Florida since she was acquitted last July in one of the most controversial verdicts since the OJ Simpson case. She was released from prison after a jury found her not guilty of killing her daughter Caylee in 2008, after the toddler's remains were found in woods near Anthony's family's home.
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The Office's Oscar Nunez will also play Anthony's defence lawyer Jose Baez .
Little-known Deveaux, from Canada, beat Kristin Stewart to play Anthony .
Filming of story of trial comes a day after it emerged Anthony will face court again after lawyers of 'Zanny the Nanny' track her down to sue her .
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PUBLISHED: . 04:53 EST, 8 March 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 08:54 EST, 8 March 2014 . Doctors treating Michael Schumacher have told the Formula One legend's family that the chances of recovery are now so slim that only 'a miracle' can save him. The 45-year-old seven-time world champion has been in an artificially induced coma for 10 weeks since badly injuring his brain during a low-speed ski accident in the French Alps on December 29. Most artificial comas last for a period of two to three weeks. His management team, led by spokeswoman Sabine Kehm, insist that he remains in the 'wake up' phase of his treatment as doctors continue to decrease the powerful narcotics that have kept him unconscious. Coma: Doctors have told the family of Michael Schumacher 'only a miracle can save him' Official news about his condition is minimal: but sources close to the family say the prognosis for Schumacher could not be worse. 'He is in terrible shape but until the family issue a statement we cannot write about it,' said one senior German journalist. 'The family have, we are told, been informed that only a miracle can bring him back now.' However, Italian sports newspaper La . Gazzetta dello Sport is claiming that Schumacher is . no longer on a ventilator and is now breathing independently. Focus magazine reported a fortnight ago that the wake-up phase had been stopped due to complications and that he was placed back in the coma. That was denied by his agent Sabine Kehm although experts say that such a super-fit individual as Schumacher would have expelled all the drugs from his body by now, and that if he was going to wake up, he would have done so already. This week was a vital one for Schumacher - doctors were hoping for a sign that he was aware of his environment. Italian sports newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport is claiming that the seven-time world champion is no longer on a ventilator and is now breathing independently . Finish line: Schumacher took the chequered flag 91 times during a glittering career - the last one coming at the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai in October 2006 . Listen up: Schumacher and Felipe Massa in the Ferrari pits ahead of the Italian Grand Prix in 2008 . They look for a fluttering of eyelids or a movement of fingers that is more than a reflex nerve twitch. 'This . has not happened,' said another source close to the family. 'On Sunday . his wife Corinna spent her 45th birthday at his bedside with their . children Gina Marie and Mick, his brother Ralf and his father Rolf . Schumacher. 'They talked and talked and prayed for him to acknowledge their presence. But he remains comatose with tubes feeding him, supplying him with air, giving him medicine and removing waste from his body. 'The doctors have given it to them straight. There is little hope left that he will come out of this. 'Miracles happen, of course, and as a wealthy man he has the best care money can buy. But all the money in the world cannot fix what has happened to him.' Three times daily Schumacher's joints and muscles are massaged to prevent atrophy and bed sores. Hero: Schumacher, celebrating after the 2003 Japanese Grand Prix, was worshiped during his time at Ferrari . This week was a vital one for Schumacher (pictured here in 2012) - two months into his coma, doctors were hoping for a sign that he was aware of his environment . And he's off: Schumacher made his Formula One debut as a Jordan driver at the 1991 Belgian Grand Prix . The coma suppressed his swallowing reflex, pain perception and his respiratory drive. He has to be acutely monitored around the clock during this wake-up phase to see if such things are returning naturally. Experts say that perhaps the greatest risk of all facing Schumacher in his prone position is pneumonia. The lack of a competent swallowing mechanism can make saliva run into the lungs and trigger the potentially lethal respiratory infection. He has already had - and conquered - one lung infection. His blood is also thinned to prevent thrombosis and he is regularly turned and even stood straight up at times to keep it flowing. Hobby: Schumacher, pictured here in 2005, was injured in a skiing accident on December 29 . Rescue mission: Schumacher was taken to the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire in Grenoble after his accident in the French Alps on December 29 . He lies on a special air-filled mattress to prevent pressure sores and his urinary tract is under constant vigilance because of the danger of waste bacteria entering the bloodstream and causing a potentially fatal infection. Gary Hartstein, a former F1 doctor, wrote on Sunday: 'The majority of the patients that come out alive from a coma after this amount of time suffer severe disabilities.' He and others say the supposed mouth movements that Schumacher's former team-mate Felipe Massa saw were probably nothing more than pure nerve reflexes that repeatedly occur in coma patients and not conscious movements. The beginning: Schumacher's first victory was in 1992 at the Belgian Grand Prix . End of an era: Schumacher completed his final race at the Brazilian Grand Prix in 2012 .
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F1 driver has been in artificially induced coma for 10 weeks .
Management team has said he remains in 'wake up' phase of his treatment .
Last month doctors began withdrawing sedatives to wake him up .
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On a sunny day, they boast some of the finest scenery England has to offer. So can it be coincidence that some of our top seaside and country beauty spots also happen to contain the locals who pull the most sick days? Employees in areas near beauty spots such as Worthing in West Sussex (pictured) are off with illness up to three weeks a year compared to national average of four days, Public Health England's regional figures show . A league table of workplace absenteeism is enough to make even a trusting boss raise an eyebrow. It suggests a rather suspicious link between the number of days taken off ill and places where there’s a range of temptations on the doorstep. Employees round Worthing and Shoreham in West Sussex – fringed on one side by miles of south coast beaches and rolling hills on another – are the most likely to come down with something. The league of Britain's workplace sickness numbers shows most are from the country's top locations . They have almost three working weeks off sick each year compared with a national average of around four days. Curiously, the top ten features next to none of the industrial heartlands which traditionally have the worst health records. Instead, the most ailing staff are from places like the Cotswolds and Allerdale in the heart of the Lake District. Public Health England’s 2010-2012 figures give a regional breakdown of the proportion of working days lost to sickness absence. The national average was 1.6 per cent, around four days per year per person. But Adur has the highest rate of all: 5.5 per cent which is approximately 14 days. The district incorporates the seaside towns of Lancing and Shoreham-by-Sea, which are popular with sunbathers and surfers. Second in the table is Weymouth & Portland in Dorset (4.3 per cent – 11 days), a resort built on miles of sandy beaches. Also featuring in the top ten with 3.7 per cent (nine days) are Tendring in Essex, which includes the holiday hotspots of Clacton and Frinton-on-Sea; the picturesque rural haven of the Cotswolds in Gloucestershire and Allerdale in Cumbria which boasts Lake District beauty spots such as Keswick and Buttermere. Among the best rates nationwide were Sedgemoor in Somerset and Wyre in Lancashire – where the typical employee takes next to no time at all off sick . Ken Bishop, a Shoreham-by-Sea councillor, said: ‘Perhaps it is just too tempting round here on a nice day to think “to hell with work”. ‘This is a great place to be. It still has a villagey feel to it and everybody knows everybody else – though that means you’d have to be careful you weren’t spotted on the beach when you were supposed to be in bed ill.’ Adur has the highest rate of work place absenteeism and pictured is a marina on the River Adur at Shoreham . Weymouth and Portland in southern England is famous for its high seas which hosts world class sailing (file) Fenland comes third in the workplace illness league and pictured are ice skaters at the beauty spot (file)
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Employees round Worthing and Shoreham in West Sussex top the league .
Residents near beaches and rolling hills are sick up to three weeks a year .
Others from places like Cotswolds and Allerdale in heart of Lake District .
National sick day average is just four days out of the workplace for illness .
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By . Harriet Arkell . Notorious villains: Now the story of Ronnie and Reggie Kray is being turned into a film by Oscar-winning writer, Brian Helgeland . They were gangland villains of the highest order, violent thugs who terrified London's East End as they committed a string of robberies, arsons, assaults and murders. Now the story of Ronnie and Reggie Kray is to be told in a new biopic written and directed by Oscar-winning LA Confidential writer, Brian Helgeland. And the twin brothers are to be played by one actor, London-born Tom Hardy, 36, who will indicate his change between brothers by donning glasses when he's playing Ronnie. Filming for the movie, which is still in development, began in Essex this week, and production is expected to start later this year. With the working title of Legend, the biopic is expected to focus on the Krays' organised reign of crime and terror in the London underworld of the 1950s and 1960s. And Mr Helgeland will have plenty of material. The brothers, who were born in Hoxton, east London, in 1933, began their life of violence young. At nine, they had such a violent fight that Ronnie, the younger by ten minutes, almost died from his head injury. A decade later, and already known for their violence and thuggishness, they walked out of national service, pausing only to punch the corporal who tried to stop them, leaving him seriously injured. They were arrested and sent back to the Army, but went AWOL again, only to assault a policeman who tried to arrest them, which landed them in the Tower of London, as some of the last prisoners ever to be detained there, followed by a string of other prisons and then a dishonourable discharge from the Army. Crime took the thuggish brothers away from what could have been a promising future in boxing, and they devoted their lives to their gang, known as The Firm, while attempting a series of business ventures. The first of these was a club called The Regal off Mile End Road, which had an uninviting exterior but inside was a glamorous and decadent nightclub, overseen by the sharp-suited brothers. Despite their smooth appearances, however, the brothers were involved in a life of appalling crime, running protection rackets, as well as staging hijacks and armed robberies. Ronnie, who was considered the more violent of the two, was imprisoned for GBH in 1957, and diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia during his jail term. He was also publicly bisexual, an unusual thing to admit at the time, and something his brother found hard to come to terms with. Thugs: The Krays, pictured at home in 1966 after being quizzed by police about the murder of George Cornell . London-born actor Tom Hardy, 36, will wear thick glasses to play Ronnie, left, taking them off for Reggie, right . Terrifying: The brothers, born in 1933, led a reign of terror across London until they were jailed in 1968 . Reggie was imprisoned two years later, but by 1960 both were out of prison and had become almost celebrities, socialising with stars such as Barbara Windsor, Frank Sinatra and Judy Garland, as well as well as eminent politicians including Lord Boothby, with whom Ronnie had an affair. In 1965, Reggie married Frances Shea, but the union only lasted a few months and she died in 1967, apparently from suicide but it was rumoured that Ronnie murdered her. The police frequently investigated the twins' activities, but with the East End living in fear of the notorious twins, no-one dared testify against them, so their misdemeanours often went unchallenged. The Firm then largely consisted of the brothers, their cousin, Albert Donoghue, and at least 13 others, including brothers Tony and Chris Lambrianou. In 1966, the Krays helped Frank Mitchell, also known as The Mad Axeman, escape from Dartmoor Prison, and put him up at a friend's flat in East Ham. He subsequently disappeared, and while the brothers were acquitted of his murder, a later book claimed that he had been shot. Quite a story: Filming for the biopic, written and directed by Brian Helgeland, started in Essex this week . Their story was told in the 1990 British film, The Krays, in which Gary and Martin Kemp played the brothers . The same year, Ronnie shot George Cornell dead in the Blind Beggar pub in Whitechapel. Cornell, an associate of South London gang, the Richardsons, is said to have remarked: 'Well look who's here' just before he was shot. And In 1967, Reggie Kray murdered former gang member Jack 'The Hat' Mcvitie in Stoke Newington, stabbing him in the face and stomach with a carving knife, twisting the knife as McVitie lay dying. The brothers were finally brought to justice in the middle of 1968, when they and several members of The Firm were arrested, and both brothers given life sentences with no chance of parole for 30 years. The judge, Mr Justice Melford Stevenson, told them: 'In my view, society has earned a rest from your activities.' They were allowed out of prison for their mother's funeral in 1982, but Ronnie died in Broadmoor, aged 61 in 1995, and Reggie, died at 66, in 2000, a few weeks after being allowed out on compassionate leave. Film industry executives have shown great interest in the film about the Krays, with buyers hailing the script as 'one of the best' they'd come across. The Krays' story was previously told in the 1990 British film, The Krays, with real life brothers Martin and Gary Kemp playing the title roles.
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The Krays ran a terrifying network of organised crime in the 1950s and 60s .
Twin brothers committed robberies, arsons, assaults and murders in London .
With their gang of thuggish villains, The Firm, they dominated the East End .
Notorious Kray murders included George Cornell and Jack 'The Hat' McVitie .
Both were finally sentenced to life in jail in May 1968, and Ronnie died there .
Reggie died in 2000, five years after his brother, out on compassionate leave .
Now their story is to become a film, by Oscar winning writer, Brian Helgeland .
British actor Tom Hardy, 36, will play both Krays, wearing glasses for Ronnie .
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d68e6ecd5da44797b5591cfbf2ec3fd3d4ee9731
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A photographer has spent five years driving across America taking photos that represent a wide swath of the country. Curran Hatleberg, who has driven from coast to coast five times or more, says he was interested in looking for ‘sort of shared familiarity and human contact in a country I called home but I didn’t know much about’. He spent the five years shooting the two ongoing photographic series, Dogwood and The Crowded Edge, and says he never really knew where he was going when he got into his car. Sometimes he would travel with the intention of eventually landing on a friend’s or family member’s couch, but the destination could change on a whim. ‘Initially, it was spawned by a desire to see what I could see and learn something along the way and have an adventure,’ Hatleberg tells Slate. He says he tried to take pictures that serve as ‘open-ended imaginative space’ where the viewer’s interpretation of the image was not guided by preconceptions about the region. ‘If it becomes too specific, there's less room for creative imagination on the part of the viewer.’ Hatleberg says his journey was a quest to find moments that contained ‘colliding emotional spaces’, often a sense of beauty combined with a sense of sadness. A couple lie on a blanket in Bethesda, Maryland, in 2012, while an elderly couple sit behind them . A man wipes away the tears of a woman in Denver, Colorado, in 2011 . A man in a blue suit talks on a payphone while another man sits inside a black car in Detroit, Michigan . A young couple sit on a couch smoking cigarettes with three dogs in 2011 . A young woman and two children draw with chalk on the ground near a trailer park in South Dakota in 2010 . Two people sit and read on the side of the road in New Haven, Connecticut, in 2010 . Gardens are seen at the back of houses in an unknown US state . A dog howls at the back of a worn-down building in an unknown US state . A young woman serves food in a diner in Bethesda, Maryland, in 2010 . Bystanders watch as two young men get involved in a fight in an unknown US state, in 2012 . A girl with a plaster on her forehead takes a bite of her burger at a fast good restaurant in an unknown US state . A group of people stand around after an incident in their neighbourhood, in an unknown US state . A girl in a restaurant looks out of the window in Atlanta, Georgia, in 2010 . A man stands in front of a large white wall as the sunset creates beautiful shades of pink on the clouds in 2012 in an unknown US state . A family sits on the porch of her house on 190 Powell Street in an unknown US state . A sign bearing the picture of a deceased man hangs in a tree in an unknown US state . A car with flames painting along its side sits with its door open in an unknown US state . A young woman sits outside on a bench as a rainbow appears in the distance . A child plays with a dog in the backyard next to a green bicycle .
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Curran Hatleberg driven from coast to coast five times or more .
His two photographic series, Dogwood and The Crowded Edge, show moments that have 'colliding emotional spaces’
The pictures show real human emotion and intimate moments .
He says he just got in his car and drove, and never really planned his destination .
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20c13cfe608bcce2c838787e3fc6c7f1c8815748
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(InStyle.com) -- The holiday season is also the engagement season! A gorgeous cushion-cut stunner by Daniel K. Yes, you read that right. It's been said that nearly 40 percent of all marriage proposals occur between Thanksgiving and Valentine's Day. If you're one of the lucky ladies hoping for a ring this season (or one of the nervous gentlemen contemplating popping the question), use this guide to popular diamond shapes and cuts -- and the stars who sport them -- to get acquainted with the dazzling world of engagement rings. Emerald . No shape more aptly fits the diamond nickname "ice" than the emerald, a rectangular cut with lean facets extending down the sides. This elegant art deco shape received its confusing name during the 1920s, when it was typically used for emeralds. Characterized by a flat top and step-shaped side facets, an emerald cut cries out for a clean setting. Star Power: Eva Longoria, Ellen Pompeo, Melania Knauss . Asscher . The Asschers of Amsterdam, gem cutters for the British royal family, designed this striking, dramatic shape in 1902. A square with diagonally cropped corners and stepped sides, it features a high crown and sheds a gentle light. Star Power: Tameka Foster, Ashlee Simpson, Christine Costner . Cushion . A square with curved sides and rounded corners, this stone shines softly instead of sparkling. Cushion-cut center stones surrounded by tiny diamonds are especially in vogue. Star Power: Jeri Ryan, Courtney Ford, Guiliana DePandi . Princess . Think of this flirty, flashy option as the "Yeah, baby!" stone, and not only because it was dreamt up in London during the swinging sixties. The arrangement of the gem's many (49 to 144) facets produces a hall-of-mirrors effect. Star Power: Stephanie March, Kara Janx, Sarah Michelle Gellar . Oval . Ovals have been enjoying a high profile since Tom Cruise placed a gorgeous one on Katie Holmes's finger. The cool cousin of the round, the oval shares many of that stone's features, with plenty of sparkle and versatility when it comes to settings. The long shape is especially flattering. Star Power: Bridgette Wilson, Toni Braxton, Rebecca Romijn . Pear . Made to sit with the point facing up, this lusciously feminine (and unusual) cut frequently goes solo because few wedding bands fit easily beneath the large underside of this stone. Star Power: Katherine Heigl, Lela Rochon, Tiffany Fallon . Marquise . The name for this cut comes from 18th-century Versailles, where courtiers wore ship-shaped rings as a sign of their rank. Today the marquise can be worn lengthwise or sailing sideways across the finger. Star Power: Catherine Zeta Jones, Victoria Beckham, Portia de Rossi . Round . Created by Marcel Tolkowsky in 1919, the round diamond is the most popular shape for engagement rings. It's often called the round brilliant because it has triangular facets, arranged to direct light from the bottom of the stone up through the top for maximum sparkle. Star Power: Katherine McPhee, Roselyn Sanchez, Mary J. Blige . Radiant . This rectangular stone, introduced in the seventies, lives up to its name: By combining long, lean, step-cut and triangular facets, it refracts lots of light. So if you decide on this shape, keep the setting simple. Star Power: Heidi Klum, Leslie Grossman, Anna Chlumsky . Rose-Cut . Most diamonds have a flat top with facets on the edges and bottom, but a rose-cut diamond is domed and covered with facets. Carat for carat, rose-cut diamonds, which cast a mellow, soft light, are typically less expensive than other shapes. Star Power: Melissa Akey . Get a FREE TRIAL issue of InStyle - CLICK HERE! Copyright © 2009 Time Inc. All rights reserved.
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Think of the flirty, flashy Princess cut as the "Yeah, baby!" stone .
The name for the Marquise cut comes from 18th-century Versailles .
A rose-cut diamond is domed and covered with facets .
The round diamond is the most popular shape for engagement rings .
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5580b17cdc19ea08bab22984a5e0ac530c289241
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By . David Martosko, U.s. Political Editor . PUBLISHED: . 14:32 EST, 20 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 17:40 EST, 20 December 2013 . On a day when his signature health care program suffered the latest in a series of website outages, President Barack Obama made one last 2013 pitch to a standing-room-only thong of journalists who have engaged lately in more knife-sharpening than hero-worship. He tried to tee up a series of economic achievements, noting the addition of 'another 2 million jobs, adding up to 8 million in just over the past 45 months.' We head into next year with an economy that is stronger than it was when we started the year,' he insisted,' with unemployment 'the lowest in 5 years' and budget deficits that have fallen to half their 20078 levels. 'I firmly believe that 2014 can be a breakthrough year for America.' His economic policies, Obama predicted, would bring 'bigger paychecks for middle-class families' in the new year. Then, a surprise: More than 1 million Americans, Obama announced, have enrolled in Obamacare-based insurance plans plans through federal and state marketplaces this month. That includes '15,000 a day in California,' he said, and 'tens of thousands' each day on healthcare.gov. A cheerful Obama put a positive spin on his fifth year in office as reporters peppered him about the public-opinion disasters he's suffered during 2013 . Every seat was full and every square foot of carpet covered as Obama made the year?s final public pitch for his policy objectives . 'For all the challenges we've had ... more than half a million Americans have enrolled in healthcare.gov through the first three weeks of December alone,' Obama said. A White House official added on background that more than 1 million people have entered the ranks of the insured during December, if both the federal and state exchanges are included. And Obama later said millions of Americans, 'whether they know it or not,' had already benefited from the Affordable Care Act, including 'a couple of million' who will have health insurance on January 1. But estimates of Americans who have lost insurance because their policies didn't meet the law's strict benefit requirements range from 5 to 15 million. The Department of Health and Human Services insists that the number is less than 500,000. It's unclear how many of those enrollees have selected taxpayer-subsidized Medicaid coverage, as did a large majority of Americans represented in the Department of Health and Human Services' numbers through the end of November. It's also unknown whether the administration can continue adding enrollees at a fast enough pace to reach its goal of more than 7 million by the end of March, including 2.7 million Americans under age 35. But few people likely signed up on Friday, as the main Obamacare portal experienced crashes and again demonstrated an inability to keep up with a year-end crush of traffic brought on as uninsured Americans panicked. Obama made the rare appearance in the White House's James Brady Press Briefing Room just hours before departing for a lengthy family vacation in Hawaii. Obama talked about economic recovery and defended his administration against claims that 2013 was Obama's worst year in office . Anchormen IV: Network correspondents preened and made last-minute predictions before Obama strode in with one foot already out the door to Hawaii . It's been a rough year for the . president, with his approval ratings in a seemingly one-way slump and . members of Congress from his own party, sensing his short electoral . coat-tails next November, deserting him on issues as varied as Iran and . Obamacare. Thirteen Senate . Democrats joined the same number of Republicans on Friday in filing a . bill that would authorize tough new sanctions on Iran at the same time . Obama's State Department is counseling diplomacy and patience with the . Islamic republic's leader, Hassan Rouhani. And between a website that once again is failing to function and the White House's latest effort to rewrite the Affordable Care Act without congressional approval – the 14th such move to date – administration insiders are starting to sweat. Obama openly evaded a question about the politifact.com website's 'Lie of the year' award, which went to his guarantee that Americans who liked their health insurance policies could keep them. 'We're going to make mistakes and we're going to have problems,' Obama said without offering apologies for misleading Americans in the run-up to his 2012 re-election, 'but my intentions have been clear throughout, which is, I just want to help as many people as possible.' On the healthcare.gov website's failings, though, he was more direct: 'Since I'm in charge, we screwed it up.' Add the White House's health care woes to the most recent developments on the National Security Agency's controversial surveillance programs – a federal judge ruled them essentially unconstitutional on Monday – and a picture is emerging of a presidency in crisis during a time when most presidents have an easy go of things. The fifth year of a two-term White House incumbent is usually more liberating than frustrating, and usually provides a president with a clean-slate chance to accomplish something significant before the realities of politics intrude in the form of perilous congressional elections. 'Conflation': Obama bristled at one reporter's complaint about Director of National Intelligence James Clapper's testimony that misled Congress about the NSA's spying. 'You're conflating, first of all, me and Mr. Clapper,' he said . Snowden-gate: Obama said he wouldn't comment publicly on the future of the NSA leaker, who is enjoying temporary asylum in Russia, because Edward Snowden is under federal indictment . But the tea party is angry, moderates in Congress are unsure what Obama is thinking, and liberals are increasingly disillusioned. Obama took questions, saying first that White House Press Secretary Jay Carney 'had prepared a list of who's naughty and nice,' 'Has this been the worst year of your presidency?' came question #1. Another focused on Iran's nuclear program, a problem so vexing that Democrat Bob Menendez is using his Senate committee chair to push for new sanctions if the Islamic nation breaks its word on a new round of international transparency. 'There is no need for new sanctions legislation, not yet,' Obama said, explaining that he still prefers a diplomatic route. 'It is very important to test whether that is possible. Not because it's guaranteed, but be cause the alternative is possibly us having to engage in some sort of conflict to resolve the problem – with all kinds of unintended consequences. 'It is my goal to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon,' the president said, 'but I sure would rather do it diplomatically.' Obama dodged most bullets, but was cornered on an early question about the National Security Agency spying scandal. Asked how he now justified his administration's early assurances that the situation as well in-hand, the president bristled at the idea that Director of National Intelligence James Clapper's testimony – which is widely considered to have misled Congress – reflected the White House's positions. 'You're conflating, first of all, me and Mr. Clapper,' said Obama, before generally defending U.S. intelligence-gathering programs. He cited the healthcare.gov rollout flop as his biggest mistake this year, but later expressed an interest in starting fresh after 'a couple days of sleep and sun' in Hawaii. Obama defended the National Security Agency, saying that there has been no proof the government spy shop abused its power . And asked what could lie ahead if Republicans leapt back into crisis mode by using the recent calm over budgets as a springboard for new negotiations over the federal debt ceiling, Obama winced. 'I've got to assume folks aren't crazy enough to start that all over again,' he said, warning against 'brinksmanship' and 'government by crisis' if conservatives move again to use the debt ceiling as 'leverage.' On NSA snooping, Obama insisted that his administration 'is evaluating all the recommendations that were made,' in a recent task force report. 'I'll make a pretty definitive statement' in January, he promised. 'I'm taking this pretty seriously.' The NSA, Obama said, had determined that it 'was pretty important to track' phone calls that come into the U.S. from known terrorists, and he defended the program by saying that 'in all the reviews of this program that have been done,' there was no evidence that the agency has used its power inappropriately. 'The question we are going to have to ask is can we accomplish the same goal' in another way,' and 'give the public more confidence' in its government. 'Just because we can do something doesn’t mean we necessarily should,' Obama said. Asked to explain his choices of athletes to represent the U.S. at the Sochi Winter Olympics opening and closing ceremonies, the president said the roster 'speaks for itself.' The inclusion of Brian Boitano and Billie Jean King, two openly gay sports heroes, is seen as a slap in the face to Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose nation's parliament enacted a wide-ranging anti-gay law in June. Tyou should take that for what it's worth,' Obama said. 'We don't make distinctions on the basis of sexual orientation. We judge people on how they perform.'
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Obama announced new seven-figure Obamacare enrollment totals, but didn't say how many newly insured Americans chose free Medicaid .
His biggest mistake of 2013, the president said, was the healthcare.gov rollout – but he didn't cite his oft-slammed 'If you like your plan...' lie .
He's in the midst of an historic slide in public opinion and a mass-abandonment among legislators from his own party .
Warned against 'brinksmanship' and 'government by crisis' if Republicans move again to use the federal debt ceiling as 'leverage'
Choice of gay athletes for Sochi Olympics delegation 'speaks for itself ... We don't make distinctions on the basis of sexual orientation .
Dodges 'Lie of the year' determination on his insurance guarantee .
Warns against 'unintended consequences' of new sanctions against Iran .
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0706f7a962ceb0693ab6f02fa0e2691b2e088cef
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(CNN) -- Olympic chiefs have pledged to arrest fears that sailors and windsurfers at the next Games will not just have to deal with their rivals on the water but a potential super-bug under it. Researchers have found a bacteria more typically encountered in hospital waste which produces the enzyme KPC in several different locations along the Carioca River, which feeds Guanabara Bay where the sailing events will take place. The bacteria is resistant to antibiotics and can cause urinary, gastrointestinal and pulmonary infections although Rio officials are adamant the risk is "minimal." But the International Olympic Committee insisted it had been made aware of the problem and was working closely with Rio officials to minimize any potential risks. The IOC statement, sent to CNN, read: "The health and safety of the athletes is our number one priority. Rio has created a task force to monitor this situation and we are being kept fully updated by them. "We will continue to work with Rio to ensure that the athletes are able to compete safely and in the best conditions possible." The research is the work of the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, considered one of the world's main public health research institutions. Study coordinator Ana Paula D'Alincourt Carvalho Assef, of the foundation, said in an email to the Associated Press: "There is a risk of contracting diseases, which are not more serious than those caused by other microorganisms. The problem is that in case of infection, it is possible that treatment involves hospitalization. "Since the super-bacteria are resistant to most modern medications, doctors need to rely on drugs that are rarely used because they are toxic to the organism." Earlier this year, biologist Mario Moscatelli described the Marina Gloria, which will serve as a base for the sailing competitions, as a "toilet." While Rio mayor Eduardo Paes admits a planned clean-up will not be completed prior to the Games, state officials have allayed fears over the risk to sailing competitors that take to the water. In a lengthy statement from the State Environmental Institute, forwarded to CNN, it said: "According to the president of the institute (State Environmental Institute) Isaura Frega the bacterium is not very resistant in the environment, especially in salt water. "There's no need to panic. The possibility of discovering this bacteria in our beaches is minimal, almost non-existent -- assured Isaura Frega, highlighting that there are no records of people -- contaminated with the bacteria outside of the hospital environment -- being admitted to Rio de Janeiro's public hospitals. "KPC is a bacteria which loses its potency when it comes into contact with salt water. It's not an aggressive bacteria. It's only resistant to antibiotics. It only represents a risk to those people who have a weak immune system -- explained the specialist." As for Rio 2016 organizers, they have been in contact both with the government and also the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation. A spokesman for Rio 2016 told CNN: "We were alerted to a possible presence of KPC-type bacteria in some parts of the Carioca River. Rio 2016 created a task force regarding this matter. "The group will continue to monitor the matter very closely and discuss with the government and with specialists the solutions to prevent contamination of the water and continue to guarantee the safety of athletes. This issue does not impose any change in our planning for the test events and competition events."
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Researchers find an antibiotic-resistant super-bacteria in the sailing waters for the Olympics .
Rio officials insist the risk to sailors will be "minimal" despite the research .
Sailors have already complained less than two years out from the Games for its filthy waters .
70% of the city's sewage is spilled into the bay where the Games sailing will take place .
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be50d53cc0a30b8cea4cc583b0410cdad4597d44
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A solicitor worried about paying his children’s private school fees jumped in front of a train and killed himself, an inquest heard. Vincent Buffoni, 49, was spending up to £30,000 a year to send Matthew, 14, to elite Charterhouse, and extra to send Francesca, ten, to a prep school. But the law firm he owned had been hit by the recession, and he had remortgaged the family home to raise £60,000 to continue paying for his children’s education. Early this year Mr Buffoni, an old boy of Marlborough College, contemplated suicide – writing a farewell note to his family and taking out a life insurance policy – but decided against it, the inquest heard. The elite Charterhouse School, where Vincent Buffoni, an old boy of Marlborough College, had sent his 14-year-old son Matthew . Lambeth North tube station, where the Oxford graduate threw himself under a train (file photo) Then, in May, he leapt in front of a . train at a London station. Southwark Coroner’s Court in London was told . that immigration law specialist Mr Buffoni, an Oxford graduate, founded . Vincent Buffoni and Co in 1994. As . the recession took its toll on his business he suffered depression and . anxiety. He had also been upset by the suicide of his brother Peter . three years earlier. One . morning in May Mr Buffoni left home in Woking, Surrey, and took the . train to Waterloo, from where he usually travelled to his office in . Islington, North London, by tube. But instead he went to Lambeth North and lingered on the platform, PC Steve Tucker told the court. PC Tucker said: ‘The next train entered the station and he jumped down on to the tracks and into its path. ‘The train driver immediately applied the emergency brake, but was completely powerless to stop.’ Mr . Buffoni’s wife Nicola, 50, said he had been taking anti-depressants for . around a year before his death and had also been on prescription . sleeping tablets, to which he feared he had become addicted. In February he had asked to be admitted to a psychiatric treatment centre for his own safety, she told the court. Mrs Buffoni added: ‘His business had been hit by the recession and he was very concerned about our financial situation. ‘Our children are at private schools and we have been very careful with money. To ensure our son could complete his education we had taken out an additional loan of £60,000 secured on our house. ‘He continued insisting we would have to sell our house and send our children to state school in order to survive on a dwindling cash pot.’ But Mr Buffoni’s sister Clare said his mood had improved in the days before his death after he started a course of the anti-depressant venlafaxine. 'He told me that he felt his brain had clicked back into gear,' she said. Mr Buffoni was worried over the financial performance of his law firm of the same name . She said she feared the new medication could have been responsible for triggering suicidal impulses, but doctors told the inquest it had been given in accordance with guidelines. Coroner Sarah Ormond-Walshe said there was insufficient evidence to record a verdict of suicide, and instead concluded Mr Buffoni had killed himself while the balance of his mind was disturbed. The coroner said: 'Mr Buffoni must have suddenly had some black thoughts. 'He got off the train, waited for another train and jumped in from of that moving train and died instantly. 'It does appear to have been a very impulsive, sudden and unexpected thought that passed through his brain. 'Although there was a note it was written some time earlier and there doesn't appear to have been any planning of this event whatsoever.'
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Vincent Buffoni, 48, had concerns over family's finances after his law firm was hit by the recession .
He spent £30,000 a year sending son to private school .
Had remortgaged home to continue paying for children's education .
Coroner: 'He must have suddenly had some black thoughts'
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533ea08d1230f83665500d661c63b8984a083dc5
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The terminally ill teenager who has raised more than £3 million for charity has said that 'every second alive feels very special'. Stephen Sutton, 19, has just updated his Facebook profile to tell his followers that he feels very fortunate to still be here. And today, his former headteacher, Stuart Jones, has described him as 'an exceptional lad'. Stephen wrote: 'One week ago I posted a "thumbs up farewell" photo that went viral. As mentioned, at that point a genuinely thought I was a goner, but one week on I'm still here! Scroll down for video . Stephen Sutton has posted a new photo on Facebook (pictured) saying 'every second alive feels very special' 'Overall my time here will still be cut significantly short by my illness (...but I've known that anyway for a while anyway). 'Coughing up [a] tumour has helped hugely, but...I am still ravaged by tumours elsewhere that will and are currently harming me. 'But with my breathing fine and no other acute medical problems at the moment, we can optimistically look forward to a period of "future" that at the beginning of the week seemed impossible. 'It still might not be long (fingers crossed it is though) but due to the circumstances, I feel very fortunate to be here, and every second alive feels very special!! 'With more immediate time and health my medical team are currently discussing what to do next to further elongate/comfort the rest of the journey as much as possible - we should have a plan of what's happening next very soon. 'In the meantime: to celebrate still being here after this crazy week, to celebrate this wonderful journey called life, and to celebrate being part of raising over £3,000,000 for Teenage Cancer Trust... Here's a huge thumbs up from me!!!!' Stephen, 19, has received hundreds of letters of support from across the world . Stephen initially hoped to raise £1 million for the Teenage Cancer Trust but donations have rocketed past the £3 million mark this afternoon . Today Stephen's former headmaster at Chase Terrace Technology College, in Burntwood, described him as 'an exceptional lad'. Stuart . Jones told MailOnline that Stephen was an 'exceptional student' who . achieved straight As in his GCSEs and AS-levels and that he was expected . to get As in his A-levels but was unable to sit them. He . explained that Stephen had an interview at the University of Cambridge . and that he had planned to read medicine at university. He said Stephen was also a talented drummer and cross country runner while at school. He . said: ‘He is a remarkable young man. He’s all the things you’d want . someone to be – he’s very emotionally intelligent and supportive of . others. 'He is very able in many things but has no hint of arrogance or complacency. 'He has a really quick sense of humour and he is incredibly quick thinking. He really is an exceptional lad.’ Last night comedian Jason Manford held a last minute gig to raise money for Stephen's fund. The gig sold out in just four minutes . Stephen (pictured with comedian Jimmy Carr) received the letters of support despite many just being addressed to 'Stephen Sutton, Burntwood, England' It has emerged that Stephen has received messages of support from all over the world. He . has had letters from as far away as India which have arrived despite . being addressed simply to ‘Stephen Sutton, Burntwood, England’. The . teenager, who is in hospital with terminal colorectal cancer, has . inspired the world with his bid to raise money for the Teenager Cancer . Trust. A family friend said last night: ‘It is utterly unbelievable and shows how big this has become. ‘The letters have no address, no postcode, but they still find their way to Stephen. What's happening is hard to put into words. ‘This week has been a real roller coaster for Stephen's family and these messages have helped them tremendously.’ A . Royal Mail spokesman added: ‘Our postmen and women go the extra mile to . make sure the letters and parcels we handle get to the right person. ‘We're . proud to have been able to play a very small part in Stephen's . remarkable achievement by ensuring his family receive these important . letters.’ Stephen was admitted to hospital last Sunday after tumours caused his lung to collapse and he feared he only had days to live. Stephen has terminal colorectal cancer and last week it was believed he had just days left to live. He has now improved slightly and is able to breathe without help . He posted a message on Facebook asking people to help him reach his target of raising £1 million for the Teenage Cancer Trust – at the time he had raised about £500,000. His story rapidly went viral on the internet and donations started pouring in – he has now raised more than £3 million and is still fighting for his life. In the family's only interview, Stephen's elder brother Chris said: ‘I've struggled to get my head round the way people have reacted. ‘When I eventually do, my head will probably explode.’ Since his admission to hospital, Stephen’s condition has unexpectedly improved. Yesterday he informed his 454,000 Facebook followers that he was feeling ‘fantastic’ after ‘coughing up a tumour’. Stephen was diagnosed with cancer in 2010 when he was just 15. He had surgery to remove the tumour but it returned a year later and he was told that it was incurable . Stephen (pictured at 10 Downing Street) has been described by his headteacher as an 'exceptional lad' Stephen wrote: ‘This whole week has been pretty unbelievable and I can barely fully get my head round everything that has gone on. ‘After some visitors left I tried sitting up in a chair, but straight away asked the nurse to increase my oxygen levels as I was getting extremely short of breath. ‘I returned to my bed where I stabilised slightly for a while, but my breathing was still not right. ‘After lying there for a bit longer the coughing increased and suddenly the shortness of breath became incredibly severe. ‘I felt like I was like suffocating. ‘Then I forced out an oval red stained solid object through my mouth. Russell Brand has joined the Thumbs Up For Stephen campaign by posting a message of support on Twitter . ‘My breathing and airway straight away felt clearer, but I spent the next hour violently coughing and choking, but then eventually my breathing once again stabilised. ‘Since then, my breathing has dramatically improved. I'm really stuck for words to describe it. ‘This morning I am relying on NO external oxygen to breathe at all and I'm feeling bl**dy fantastic! ‘The doctors have discussed what's happened and the only plausible conclusion is that I've literally coughed up a tumour that was blocking my airway.’ Stephen added that an X-ray had revealed an improvement in his collapsed right lung. He said: ‘Physiologically a tumour breaking away like this is possible, but it all just seems incredibly surreal - mind, I'm not complaining! Olympic cyclist Sir Chris Hoy has also pledged his support for Stephen on Twitter . ‘My lungs are still pretty messy with other tumours, clots and potential infections and inflammations affecting my overall condition but, for now at least, I am in a good stable state. ‘I have no immediate problems and, in fact, feel better than I did when I first came into hospital last Sunday! ‘It's still a case of taking each day as it comes, but at the moment the days just keep on coming!’ His 21-year-old brother, Chris, added: ‘Stephen is improving all the time. His body seems to have become used to functioning on one lung. ‘On Monday he looked dreadful and there were worries he may not last the night, but he's made a miraculous fight back.’ Comedian Jason Manford last night staged a fundraising gig at his Birmingham comedy club in aid of the teenager's cause. Olympic swimmer Rebecca Adlington has also expressed support for Stephen on Twitter . The event sold out in four minutes, prompting Mr Manford to joke: ‘I wish all my gigs were like that. I might have to get him [Stephen] to do my PR.’ Mr Manford visited Stephen at Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital on Thursday. The star told LBC radio: ‘He is amazing. Even in bed with tubes and masks, with nurses coming in every 20 minutes to give him medicine, he was still talking about doing a sky dive and hoping to get in the Guinness Book of Records and different things on his bucket list. ‘He was talking about putting the fun into fundraising.’ Celebrities including Stephen Fry, Russell Brand, Clare Balding, Rebecca Adlington, Sir Chris Hoy and Piers Morgan have backed Stephen's fundraising efforts, and music mogul Simon Cowell pledged to make a ‘significant donation’. To donate, visit www.justgiving.com/Stephen-Sutton-TCT .
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Stephen Sutton, 19, is in hospital with terminal colorectal cancer .
He has raised more than £3 million for the Teenage Cancer Trust .
He has updated his Facebook to say 'every second alive feels very special'
He has received hundreds of letters from people across the world .
Former headteacher, Stuart Jones, described him as an 'exceptional lad'
Last week it was feared he had just days to live, but his health has now improved slightly after he 'coughed up a tumour' - he is still in hospital .
To donate to his fund, text 'Stephen' to 70500 or click here .
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176,569 |
7097bbcb357bc48b31a14179bfe13e3f63c10c98
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By . Lydia Warren . A six-year-old boy whose mother forced him into a dog cage then poured syrup and kitty litter on him was rescued after neighbors heard him screaming, 'Do you love me?' to his abuser, authorities said. The boy's mother, Crystal Jean Hostetter, 24, and her long-term girlfriend, Sarah Elizabeth McClain, 30, allegedly abused the boy - who has psychological issues and does not like sticky substances - for two hours on Saturday. Neighbors witnessed the treatment and alerted authorities. The two women, from Douglasville, Georgia, appeared in front of a Douglas County Magistrate on Thursday, where they were both charged with cruelty to children. 'Cruel': Crystal Hostetter, left, and her girlfriend, Sarah McClain, right, allegedly forced Hostetter's six-year-old son into a dog cage and poured syrup and kitty litter on him and forced him to hold up a brick . They allegedly forced the boy into a small crate, covered his feet and hands with syrup and kitty litter and also made him hold a brick above his head for 15 minutes, police told the Douglas County Sentinel. The boy was heard screaming, 'Please don't kill me!' and 'Do you love me?', police said. Hostetter carried out the treatment to punish her son and told cops she poured syrup on him because she knew he did not like it, Douglasville Police Sgt. Todd Garner said. 'He . acts out based on the things that they have diagnosed him with and she . doesn't like that so she has issued these forms of punishment,' Garner . said. 'She has also gone to the point of taking his bed out and making . him sleep on the floor because he slept on the floor one night. So she . said, "If you don't like your bed, you cannot have it".' 'Sick': The couple allegedly used the treatment as punishment for the boy (pictured), who suffers from psychological problems. They chose syrup because they knew he hates sticky substances . He added that the child is supposed to be on medication, but Hostetter has failed to collect them. 'He’s supposed to be on three different medications that . she has not filled or given him,' Garner said. 'In our conversation, I asked her, "You . just think that you know more than the doctors?" She said yes.' He . did not detail the extent of the boy's psychological issues, but said . that he had been hospitalized earlier this year in Pennsylvania. According to police, a neighbor witnessed the boy being abused on Saturday and called the Department of Children and Family Services hotline, but when they could not get through, they contacted the boy's school and police were called. Jailed: The women were arrested after a neighbor witnessed the treatment and alerted authorities, and the boy is now in the custody of an adult caregiver . When police arrived, they found the home covered in fleas from the couple's three cats. Hostetter and McClain admitted to the . alleged crimes after a DFCS worker came to their home on Monday . evening, the County Sentinel reported. The youngster is now staying at the home with an adult caregiver, while the women are being held without bond in the Douglas County jail. The couple, who have been dating for three years, . moved from Pennsylvania in March and . police are looking into whether there have been reports in Pennsylvania . of similar treatment.
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Crystal Hostetter, 24, and her girlfriend, Sarah McClain, 30, 'locked the boy in the cage and forced him to hold a brick above his head for 15 minutes'
The boy suffers from psychological problems and does not like sticky substances - 'which is why they poured syrup over him'
A neighbor witnessed the treatment and called the boy's school, where officials alerted the police .
Neighbor heard him scream: 'Do you love me?' and 'Please don't kill me!'
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197,643 |
8bcfd2fccbb7d1a2682b4d4b6621ab96650b8ff4
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(CNN) -- Author Tim Federle has just wrapped a long day at the Atlanta Junior Theater festival, working with several thousand boys and girls who dream of stardom on the Broadway stage. Count these kids as lucky; they've found the perfect mentor. Federle has danced in several big Broadway shows and a Super Bowl halftime show and worked as a choreographer with the young dancers of the hit musical "Billy Elliot," and now he's written his first novel, "Better Nate Than Ever." Despite his long day, an energetic Federle says, "I think I was always a kid with his head in the clouds," which is appropriate since his book is about dreaming big. In his novel, Nate Foster is a teenager who loves musical theater. Feeling a bit like an outsider at school, he escapes small-town Pennsylvania and hops a bus to New York, where he hopes to land a part in "E.T.: The Musical" and get back home before his parents find out. The story is full of humor, a positive message and some Broadway insider moments. The book bears more than a passing resemblance to Federle's own life, but he says, "For legal purposes, enough is different that I don't think my mom is going to sue me." For Nate and for Federle, a love of musical theater is what sets them apart from their classmates, but it's also their life-saver. "Musicals felt like a place where I could express myself in a safe way, even if my feelings were a little bit too big for school or home. It was the one place I really felt like, there's lights, there's scenery, and finally everything around me feels as big as my dreams," Federle said. Whether it's musical theater, sports or academics, Federle encourages young people to find that thing that makes them unique and hold on to it, because it could very well be their ticket to greatness and success as an adult. "I think so often when you're a kid, we mellow out those more interesting edges in order to coast through middle school quietly. By the time you get to high school, you're left asking, who the heck am I? I would encourage kids to try and figure out the thing that sets you apart, not publicly but that you're passionate about internally." Watch a video from Tim Federle about his new novel, "Better Nate Than Ever" Federle hopes readers find "Nate" especially relevant in a day where many kids who want to perform on stage are bullied or picked on for being different. "Every time I think we've gotten past the point where it's weird to be a boy who performs, a girl who doesn't quite fit in, I turn on the news, and I see another tragic story of a kid who couldn't quite face what it felt to be alive amidst a group of kids who just didn't get them or wouldn't leave them alone. That tells me we can never have enough voices and mentors and stories." While Federle ultimately made his Broadway dreams come true, after 10 years performing on stage, he found himself closing in on his 30th birthday and feeling like he was stuck in a creative rut. He thought about writing a novel but wasn't sure he was up to the challenge. It was his work as a choreographer on "Billy Elliot," preparing young performers for a starring role on Broadway, that helped him conquer his own fears. "Here I was about to turn 30, telling these kids to face their greatest fear and go out on stage for more than a thousand people who had all paid to see them play the title role in a Broadway show, and I wasn't facing my own fear, which was to try writing." Federle made a vow a week before he turned 30 to write a novel. Thirty days later, he had his first draft of "Better Nate Than Ever." He calls the day he finished the book "the best day of my life." Now critics are raving about "Nate." Kids love it, and even adults are approaching Federle. "Adults are saying to me, 'oh, my gosh, I remember what it was like,' and it's actually inspired a few to say things like, 'I'm going to take up racquetball again,' random stuff that has nothing to do with musicals." Readers who are fans of TV shows like "American Idol," "The Voice" and "Glee" might enjoy "Better Nate Than Ever." Some may even read it looking for career tips. Federle says desire, talent and hard work are all part of the equation, but what he really wants readers to take away from his book is to dream big, be brave and hold on to hope. "It's really about putting yourself out there. Every time you leave the stage, you're thinking, 'was that as good as I hoped it was, or was that as bad as I hope it wasn't?' The amazing thing that every artist shares is, in a world where fear is huge, hope is just a little bit bigger." Read an excerpt from "Better Nate Than Ever" Do you think books like 'Better Nate Than Ever' are good tools to teach children to reach for their dreams? Share your opinion in the comments section below.
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Tim Federle's new book takes a page from his own experience as a dancer .
Federle hopes "Nate" can help bullied children who want to perform on stage .
He says he had to conquer his own fears to write the book .
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152,892 |
519cb033eab814cf6cd304225609b83a1894ed01
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By . Ben Spencer . PUBLISHED: . 17:35 EST, 4 October 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 18:33 EST, 4 October 2012 . Spree: The princess, seen attending a dinner at Buckingham Palace, paid a surprise visit to an antiques centre in an Essex village . It was a rainy afternoon at the antiques centre and traders were wondering if they’d see another customer before closing time. Then suddenly all their pay days came at once. A Thai princess arrived unannounced in a 15-vehicle motorcade and spent the next eight hours snapping up china plates, glass and ornaments. By the time her shopping spree had finished, many shelves were empty and the dealers were planning celebration suppers. The surprise visit of Princess Consort Srirasmi happened this week at the Essex village of Battlesbridge, where 80 antiques traders sell their wares. Sweeping into the car park came a convoy including chauffeur-driven limousines with blacked-out windows, a mini bus and vans. The 40-year-old princess immediately set about selecting items before an army of assistants labelled them and packed them into boxes. Dealer Jim Gallie estimated she spent at least £20,000 at different stalls. ‘She was mostly after china,’ he said. ‘She wasn’t buying particularly expensive items – but she bought a lot. ‘One dealer was completely cleared out of Lladro figurines.’ Another seller, Helen Smythe, said the princess bought more than 100 items at her store alone. They included solid silver and porcelain tea sets, Royal Worcester china and Tupton Ware ceramics, Royal Doulton figurines and more than 30 oil lamps. It was about 3pm and the rain was falling and I’d been thinking about having a cup of coffee - you just don’t expect a Royal to run up.' she said. She added: ‘There were between 15 and 20 people in the party including the princess, diplomats and the royal physician.’ Joe Pettitt said the princess had ‘literally cleaned out’ some traders. ‘Some of them are back out scouring the country to replace the goods she bought,’ he said. ‘It’s great for us because it puts us on the map but also it’s a recession and we need business like this. ‘I really am delighted on behalf of all the dealers here that the princess chose to visit us.’ Trader Jon Bedford, 29, shows off an antique vase snapped up by the Thai princess . Princess Consort Srirasmi spent thousands during an eight-hour shopping spree at the village antiques centre . In July the princess visited another antiques centre, in Hartley Wintney, Hampshire, and spent more . than £10,000 on 300 pieces of bone china. On that occasion she was accompanied by her husband, the crown prince and heir to the Thai throne, Maha Vajiralongkorn, 60. They had flown to Farnborough in a private jet. Joe Pettitt, aged 72, from Battlesbridge, is seen with some of the pieces he sold to the royal visitor . Purchases: Mr Pettitt said some traders were 'literally cleaned out' of stock following the princess' shopping spree . The princess is Crown Prince Vajiralongkor’s third wife, his junior by 20 years. The couple were guests at the Queen’s diamond jubilee supper in Buckingham Palace in May. Highly educated, with degrees in management and home economics, Princess Srirasmi hit the headlines in November 2009, when a home video was released on Wikileaks showing her topless at a family party. Sleepy: The Thai princess and her entourage arrived at the village craft centre in a fleet of chauffeur-driven limousines . Surprise visitor: Mr Pettitt's shop at Battlesbridge Antique and Craft Centre in Essex .
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Princess Consort Srirasmi and her entourage arrived at a village antiques and craft centre in a fleet of chauffeur-driven limousines .
Royal, 40, bought china plates, glass and ornaments in Battlesbridge .
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154,990 |
544d387aee256817bda14883c619b1d008a215de
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Tomioka, Japan (CNN) -- As we travel down the road toward the 20-kilometer (12-mile) exclusion zone, the entryway is blocked by half a dozen police officers and a large sign flashing red lights. The sign reads: "Keep out. Don't enter." This is Japan's exclusion zone. No one lives here, a place where 78,000 people once lived. Nearly a year after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant disaster, the exclusion zone remains off-limits due to high levels of radioactive contamination. My goal today is to see the town of Tomioka, a farming and factory community which sits in the southern section of the exclusion zone. It's a town that was once home to 52,000 people. It's hard to imagine that many people once lived here, as we drive into the center of town. That's what strikes you first about the exclusion zone -- what you can't see, the people. Even though I know the residents have been evacuated, it is still eerie to be in a town where it seems the people have simply evaporated. Bicycles near a bus stop lie tipped over, as if owners forgot to retrieve them. Cars sit in a shopping center, seemingly waiting to have groceries loaded into them. A 7-Eleven convenient store sits in disarray, the items shaken from the shelves from the March 11 earthquake. These communities are complete ghost towns, frozen in time. The signs of life can oddly be found among livestock roaming the region. We come up to cows grazing on the hill right off the main road. They stare at us, the visitors, and then return to grazing, as we drive off. We're surrounded by what appears to be farmland, overrun by brown weeds. I'm carrying two radiation meters with me, one to measure surface radiation and one to track how much my body accumulates. The surface reader begins to climb, as soon as we drive past the entryway, even though I haven't placed it next to a contaminated surface, which residents hope will be decontaminated within a few years. The release of radiation from the plant primarily covered the communities to the north of the plant. Tomioka, in the southern end of the exclusion zone, has a lower level of contamination than towns to the north and northwest of the plant. But a lower level doesn't mean it's safe to be here long. We stop in a neighborhood to check the radiation. On the pavement, the surface reads a radiation level of 0.042 millisieverts per hour, which is 10 times what you're exposed to in a dental x-ray. Not a significant problem since we're in the exclusion zone for a short visit and wearing protective suits. But living on this street carries possible long-term health risks, especially for children. At a nearby park, contaminated soil sits under blue tarps. It's the first hopeful sign of progress we've seen, contained in this small park. But the rest of Tomioka sits empty, of people, of progress and an apparent future.
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Tomioka was once home to 52,000 people .
It sits in the southern section of the exclusion zone .
Except for the livestock roaming the region, there are no people .
Surface radiation meter climbs near entryway to exclusion zone .
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3,263 |
096eee5d1ae08657fc1b87e6271102f38edb606c
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By . Sarah Griffiths . Google has started to remove search results, following last month's 'right to be forgotten' ruling. Europe's top court ruled that people have the right to have 'inadequate' and 'irrelevant' results about them wiped from the web, which led to the tech giant being bombarded with requests. Searches for people’s names now include a message at the bottom of the results page that says results ‘may have been removed under data protection law in Europe’. This warning appears on all results, regardless of the name that has been searched for, and is not an indicator that the specific person has requested links be deleted. Google has started to remove search results, following last month's 'right to be forgotten' ruling. Users now see a message that reads results 'may have been removed' (pictured). This warning appears on all results, regardless of the name that has been searched, and is not an indicator they have requested links be deleted . A Google spokesman told MailOnline: ‘This week, we’re starting to take action on the removals requests that we’ve received. ‘This is a new process for us. Each request has to be assessed individually and we’re working as quickly as possible to get through the queue. ‘We’ll continue to work with data protection authorities and others as we implement this ruling.’ Last . month’s decision by the Court of Justice of the European Union, which . affects 500 million citizens, requires that search services remove . information deemed 'inadequate, irrelevant or no longer relevant' - and . failure to do so can result in fines. European . citizens can submit take-down requests directly to internet companies . rather than to local authorities or publishers under the ruling. If a . search engine elects not to remove the link, a person can seek redress . from the courts. Last month's decision by the Court of Justice of the European Union requires that search services remove information deemed 'inadequate, irrelevant or no longer relevant' and failure to do so can result in fines. The ruling was made by the European Union Court of Justice, pictured . Under the European Data Protection Regulation, Article 17 includes the ‘right to be forgotten and to erasure’. Under Article 17, people who are mentioned in the data have the right to ‘obtain from the controller the erasure of personal data relating to them and the abstention from further dissemination of such data.' This particularly relates to data about the person when they were a child, when the data is no longer relevant or necessary for the purpose it was collected, the person who owns the content withdraws their consent, the storage period has expired, or if it was gathered illegally. The EU defines ‘data controllers’ as ‘people or bodies that collect and manage personal data.’ The EU General Data Protection Regulation means any data controller who has been asked to remove data must ‘take all reasonable steps, including technical measures' to remove it. If a data controller does not take these steps they can be heavily fined. Last month, a MailOnline investigation uncovered that a man convicted of possessing child pornography, a misbehaving politician seeking re-election and a doctor with bad reviews, were among the flood of people who contacted Google demanding that their internet histories be deleted. Legal experts have commented that the criteria for determining which take-down requests are legitimate, is not completely clear from the EU court’s decision. Google has therefore had to painstakingly sort through the requests and last week sent notifications to people who requested a removal, asking them to bear with the search engine. It began removing the first results under the European data law yesterday, and plans on ramping up the speed of the process when it is sure that the systems put in place are effective. Google is starting its work now to show good faith in complying with the ruling, which it did not greet with enthusiasm last month. Following the ruling, Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt told the company’s annual shareholder meeting: 'There's many open questions.’ 'A simple way of understanding what happened here is that you have a collision between a right to be forgotten and a right to know. From Google's perspective that's a balance. 'Google believes having looked at the decision, which is binding, that the balance that was struck was wrong.’ The company is now keen to be transparent about the modification of its search results, which is why it is showing the message: ‘Your results may have been modified under data protection law in Europe,’ for all name search results, expect for celebrities. This is so that notices do not appear next to certain individuals, but the notice could evolve over time. Google is also notifying people who made ‘right to be forgotten’ requests that have been turned down, as well as those where more information is required. The tech giant is not new to notice-and-takedown removals, to do with defamation, for example. It also has experience dealing with take-down requests in its YouTube video website, which has a process to remove uploads that infringe copyrights. But the ruling marks an entirely new process for search engines. Google is the dominant search engine in Europe, commanding about 93 per cent of the market, according to StatCounter global statistics. Microsoft Corp's Bing has 2.4 per cent and Yahoo Inc has 1.7 per cent. A spokesman for Microsoft's Bing told MailOnline: 'We’re currently working on a special process for residents of the European Union to request blocks of specific privacy-related search results on Bing in response to searches on their names. 'Given the many questions that have been raised about how the recent ruling from the Court of Justice of the European Union should be implemented, developing an appropriate system is taking us some time. We’ll be providing additional information about making requests soon.'
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Move follows Court of Justice of the European Union's ruling last month .
It requires search services to remove information deemed 'inadequate, irrelevant or no longer relevant' - or face penalties .
Google has started removing search results of some names this week .
Users are alerted by a message that says results 'may have been removed'
This warning appears on all results regardless of the name searched .
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71,397 |
ca5b38a890af58d9226452a1e1ac58257031517d
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By . Alex Ward . PUBLISHED: . 14:02 EST, 17 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 14:17 EST, 17 February 2013 . Fateful night: If proved authentic, the violin of Wallace Hartley (pictured) will have survived the tragedy in which more than 1500 people lost their lives . The violin believed to have belonged to the heroic band master who played as the Titanic sunk is set to sold at auction for a record price. If proved authentic, the violin of Wallace Hartley will have incredibly survived the tragedy in which more than 1500 people lost their lives in the Atlantic on April 15, 1912. The final extensive scientific tests are underway to prove its authenticity but experts believe it to be genuine. It is expected to fetch hundreds of . thousands of pounds on April 20 when it is auctioned by Titanic experts . Henry Aldridge and Son based in Devizes, Wiltshire. It has passed all other tests over the last seven years and the results of the last investigation are due early next month. A . plan of the Titanic used in the inquiry into the doomed ship sold for a . record £220,000 in 2011 but it is believed the instrument will exceed . this price. The anonymous . seller of the violin claims that Maria Robinson, Hartley’s bereaved . fiancé, retrieved the violin after his death. The instrument had been a . gift from her. The fate of Hartley's violin has always been a mystery to Titanic scholars. All eight members of the band that . gallantly played as passengers lined up for evacuation to the lifeboats . perished in the disaster but the bodies of the band leader and two other . musicians were pulled from the water by a search crew from the CS . Mackay-Bennett and taken to Nova Scotia, Canada. Violinist John Law Hume from Dumfries in . Scotland and bass player John Frederick Preston Clarke from Liverpool . were laid to rest in Halifax but Hartley's body was repatriated to . England and buried at Colne, Lancashire, the town where he was born and . raised. Gift of love: Wallace Hartley, pictured front row, fourth from left with violin in the Bridlington Municipal Orchestra, was given the violin he played on that fateful night by his fiance Maria Robinson . Newspapers at the time reported that . Hartley was found fully dressed with his violin strapped to his chest. However, when the effects of Body 224 were itemised by The Office of the . Provincial Secretary in Nova Scotia there was no mention of it. Other than his clothes and spare . change he had only a ring, a pen, a silver matchbox, a gold cigar . holder, a watch and chain, a collar stud, a pair of scissors and two . pieces of correspondence. It . was not among the possessions handed back to his father Albion Hartley . who collected the body from the Arabic at Liverpool docks. The . assumption has long been that the instrument was spirited away by . someone involved in collecting the corpses. Now . the instrument believed to be Hartley's is currently being handled by . the leading Titanic memorabilia auctioneer Henry Aldridge and Son who . hold every record set for items from the ship and are considered the . world's leading authority on its artefacts. Incredible story of survival: The violin of bandmaster Hartley who played as the Titanic (pictured) sank, is set to sell at auction for hundreds of thousands of pounds . They have so far spent many thousands of pounds seeking to establish beyond any doubt that the violin is the genuine article. A spokesman for the company declined to comment on the impending auction. But a source close to the sale confirmed: ‘It is the most iconic and important item ever connected to the Titanic to come up for sale. Leading Titanic memorabilia auctioneer Henry Aldridge and Son have so far spent many thousands of pounds to prove it was Hartley's violin . ‘We are talking about high six figures. There will be worldwide interest. All the tests have proved its authenticity so far. There is just one final test left and the results are due in early March. If that confirms the authenticity then it will be sold. ‘The auctioneers have been thoroughly professional and painstaking over this. They have been on the case for seven years.’ Auctioneer Henry Aldridge said previously: ‘When I first saw it five years ago I was amazed. If I did not think that the probability was there I would not have bothered. ‘The research is expensive business . but because of the historical importance of this item the money is . secondary. We cannot rush the scientists.’ During . his research for The Band That Played On, a book that tells the story . of all eight of the Titanic's musicians, top British author Steve Turner . came across a collection of photographs purporting to show the violin, a . leather case, and various sheets of music. He said: ‘I was suspicious at first . but when I looked closely I could only conclude that this was the real . thing or the result of an extremely elaborate and well informed hoax. ‘I . am convinced that it is genuine and impressed by the scope of the . scientific and historical tests that have already taken place. ‘I can’t imagine anything more valuable connected to the Titanic.’ Hartley's fiance Miss Robinson moved to the Yorkshire seaside resort of Bridlington after his death but never married. She died alone in 1939. Among . the supporting evidence that she retrieved the violin after his death . is a 1912 diary where she had apparently drafted a letter to the . authorities in Nova Scotia thanking them for acceding to her wish to . have the violin sent to her. The . draft letter in her diary reads: ‘I would be most grateful if you could . convey my heartfelt thanks to all who have made possible the return of . my late fiance’s violin. May I take this opportunity to express my . appreciation to you personally for your gracious intervention on my . behalf.’ Mr Turner said: . ‘When I checked the name of the provincial secretary for Nova Scotia it . corresponded with what was written in the diary although Robinson had . written F. Walthers instead of F. Mathers. The band played on: The band play on as the Titanic begins to sink in a scene from James Cameron's 1997 film version. All eight band members perished . ‘The most convincing thing about the violin, which was in a brown leather case with the initials W. H. H stamped on it, was the inscription on the tail-piece. It said: “For Wallace on the occasion of our engagement from Maria”. ‘This seemed not only to explain why she wanted it back so badly, and why it didn't automatically go to Hartley's parents, but perhaps why Hartley kept it with him in the water.’ Mr Turner also points out that the ink letters that were found on Hartley were near perfect and had not been affected by the sea. He said: ‘Because the violin was a gift from Maria to Wallace on their engagement it makes sense that she was the rightful heir rather than Hartley's parents. ‘I wonder whether Hartley clung on to it so tightly because it was a gift from his wife-to-be. Otherwise he might just have let it go. ‘If this turns out to be what everyone involved hopes and believes it is, I think it will; be the most expensive Titanic artefact ever offered for sale. It was not only once on the Titanic but it played a key role in the story. On top of that, it symbolises the love of two people.’
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Wallace Hartley's violin, if proved authentic, will be auctioned on April 20 .
The final scientific tests are underway to prove its authenticity .
It is expected to sell for hundreds of thousands of pounds .
Hartley's fiance gave the instrument to him after their engagement .
The anonymous owner claims she retrieved the violin after his death .
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246,232 |
cab3153e1fd055704323504e5a5723a881611b76
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By . Daily Mail Reporter . Four people were arrested this morning on suspicion of terror offences linked to Syria. The suspects, men and women aged between 18 and 29, were arrested by counter-terrorism officers on suspicion of being involved in travelling to or supporting fighting in war zones. Two men aged 29 and 18, both from Levenshulme, Greater Manchester, and a 21-year-old woman from Trafford, were held today. Officers also arrested a 29-year-old man from Oxford. Statement: Greater Manchester Police (whose headquarters are pictured) said officers investigating people suspected of being involved in travelling to or supporting fighting in war-zones made four arrests today . Fire: A file picture of flames rising from buildings hit by a government forces airstrike in Kfar Takharim, Syria . They were detained on suspicion of being concerned in the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism. A number of properties were also being searched, police said. Police said today’s arrests were not linked to any domestic terror threat. Detective Chief Superintendent Tony Mole, head of the force’s North West Counter-Terrorism Unit, said: ‘First and foremost I should reassure everyone that none of today’s activity is linked in any way to any imminent threats in Greater Manchester or the UK. ‘The operation has been running since autumn 2013 since we first became aware of a number of individuals travelling from the North West to the battlefields of Syria. ‘You may have seen headlines in recent months linking people from Manchester to Syria and you will naturally have been concerned about this. ‘Like other major cities across the UK we have been aware for some time of people travelling to war-torn places for terrorism-related purposes. This is not a problem unique to Manchester or the North West - it is an issue that affects different communities across the country and elsewhere.’ Devastation and destruction: Damaged buildings are seen in the besieged area of Homs, Syria, on Sunday . Mr Mole said travelling to a war zone in order to be involved in conflict - or supporting those who do so - could make them potentially liable to prosecution for terrorism offences. He said: ‘As well as posing a risk to themselves, there is the very real threat that they could pose a danger to our own communities when they return to the UK. 'As well as posing a risk to themselves, there is the very real threat that they could pose a danger to our own communities when they return to the UK' Detective Chief Superintendent Tony Mole, Greater Manchester Police . ‘There is naturally widespread concern about the situation in Syria and other conflict zones and the way that some will be driven to travel there to engage in humanitarian work or to take part in the fighting. We know that some have already lost their lives or been detained by the regime and badly treated. ‘There are serious concerns that anyone travelling to Syria, whether for humanitarian reasons or because of a desire to support the Syrian opposition, may be targeted by extremist groups who want to recruit them. This could have serious repercussions for the safety of the individual concerned. ‘By travelling there people will be causing distress and anxiety to their families and friends, not to mention the wider community.’ Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.
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Suspects are three men aged 18, 29 and 29 - and a woman aged 21 .
They are from Levenshulme and Trafford in Manchester, and Oxford .
Police insist today's arrests aren't linked to a domestic terror threat .
Anyone wanting to report any suspected terror-related activity can call the Anti-Terrorist Hotline on 0800 789 321 .
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Host commentator . Host commentator . There's just over six hours left in this summer's transfer window. Don't forget to join our man Dan Ripley, who will bring you all the comings and goings until close. Click here to follow Sportsmail's live tranfser deadline day coverage . QPR have agreed a £10million fee for Fabio Borini. Will they win the race to sign him? Find out all of the latest deadline-day news by CLICKING HERE. HTC, the phone-maker, have done some more mock-ups. Here's Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi to AFC Wimbledon... QPR are the latest side to join the race to try and sign Tom Cleverley. There are plenty of others deals going on with almost every single club involved. CLICK HERE to find out more with Oliver Todd. Phonemaker HTC have mocked up photos of Sami Khedira in an Arsenal shirt and Arturo Vidal in a Manchester United jersey. The faces are hidden and replaced with the faces of the players with a phone held up. Could these deals happen? Who knows... Newcastle United need a striker. They need a defender is Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa completes his move away. But fear not - Pardew has Shola on speed-dial it seems.. Javier Hernandez has moved to Real Madrid on a season-long loan from Manchester United. For all the breaking news throughout deadline day, then CLICK HERE to follow Oliver Todd and Sportsmail's live blog! People are saying Arsenal haven't replaced Robin van Persie, but Football Funnys are wondering if they have even replaced Patrick Vieira! We all know Jose Mourinho loves to shutup shop away from home and we know Manchester United have signed plenty of attacking players. Can we expect them to line-up line this when they meet? Louis van Gaal has spent a ridiculous amount of money in such a short space of time at Manchester United but he is moving close to what Sir Alex Ferguson spent during his 26 years at the club! Jermain Defoe is being linked to several clubs and Danny Welbeck is the subject of a battle between Arsenal and Tottenham. Follow all the latest news with Oliver Todd by CLICKING HERE. In some of his official signing photos at Burnley, George Boyd bears a resemblance to Falcao. Some people on Twitter are wondering if the striker has actually moved to Turf Moor... Some people on Twitter have been reminiscing about previous deadline-day signings. One particular favourite if Ryan Babel to Liverpool. Nick Harris is providing information all day on the money spent so far and that will be spent today by Premier League clubs. Follow all the information by CLICKING HERE. Derby County midfielder John Eustace has had a bit of fun on Twitter today. He has posted a picture showing the managers he likes to think have been in contact with him... Do you think Wenger just wants this day to be over? Wenger is off to Italy to watch a charity football match apparently while Manchester United sign Radamel Falcao. Can Arsenal's strikeforce compare? Let's have a look... It's goals that Louis van Gaal seems to be targetting at Manchester United. Defenders are not needed. Is this how he will line-up? Alexis Sanchez graced the pitch with Lionel Messi, while Mesut Ozil ran about with Cristiano Ronaldo. Not they're playing with Yaya Sanogo. Step down? Maybe... Fellaini last summer; Falcao, Blind and possibly more this year. My goodness Ed Woodward loves throwing about the money once it gets the end of the window... This is the live blog with the funnies, but we have all the serious deals HERE. CLICK HERE to find the latest news about Falcao to Manchester United. Rumours that Darren Bent were spotted at Newcastle. Twitter is speculating as to where he was actually aiming... Manchester United need centre backs, but they're reportedly close to signing Falcao. Paddy Power wonder if he is versatile... With so many players seemingly trading Manchester for Madrid and vice-versa, Football Funnys are speculating as to who may make the move next... Where will Jermain Defoe be going? He has been linked to just about everybody, and Paddy Power have not missed out on that fact... I'm dealing with the funny things, but Oliver Todd is controlling the serious stuff. CLICK HERE to see all the deals happening. The parody account WengerKnowsBest gives us an idea of what Wenger could be up to... Paddy Power have tried to find out what Jose Mourinho will be up to today. The man will be extremely relaxed with all his business done. Fabregas in. Costa in. Filipe Luis in. Drogba in. Remy. Pasalic in, then out on loan. Unfortunately Newcastle Airport do not believe Messi to Newcastle or Sunderland is likely. They have categorically said the Argentinian will not pass through the airport today. And it seemed so likely too... Tottenham tend to love a deadline day don't they. Well here's a game for you Spurs fans from Breathesport - or anyone who is a bit bored. Have your Tottenham Bingo cards at the ready and sit back and follow all of deadline day with us! Video from Gunnerblog . This is the funny stuff, but make sure to keep checking in with Oliver Todd as he brings you up to date with all the deals as they happen, are in the process of happening, or the rumours doing the rounds. CLICK HERE to see all the rumours. Radamel Falcao is wanted by everyone it seems. The Monaco striker may be just back from a serious knee injury but Arsenal, Manchester City and Real Madrid are chasing his signature on an expensive season-long loan. Here, the suggestion is that Falcao has been following Manchester City players. You sort of get the impression Falcao is enjoying this one... Hello! Follow all of the best transfer deadline day memes from around the internet right here. From your Harry Redknapps to your Louis van Gaals and your Radamel Falcaos, this is the place to find them all... While clubs, managers, players and agents attempt to force through last minute deals on transfer deadline day there will be plenty of frantic traffic on social media. And where there is social media, there are internet virals as jokers look to have a fun on all the drama. Keep track of all the latest hilarious virals and memes that pop up on transfer deadline day as Sportsmail takes a look at the less serious side of the day's business.
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Arsene Wenger has found himself the brunt of many internet jokes .
Danny Welbeck's transfer to Arsenal from Manchester United has sparked a number of memes online .
Several Ed Woodward jokes have been passed around on Twitter .
Harry Redknapp also top of the tree when it comes to transfer day memes .
Will Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal get the signings he needs?
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Federal authorities Wednesday arrested an upstate New York man on drug charges in connection with the sale of the drug known as "molly" to concert-goers -- including one who died -- at a music festival on Randall's Island last August. Last summer's Electric Zoo festival gained national attention when several people were sickened and two people died after overdosing on the drug MDMA, either in ecstasy pills or in its "pure" powder or crystal form, known as molly. The popular festival was cut short as a result of the deaths. The suspect, identified in court papers as Patrick Morgan, was taken into custody early Wednesday, two law enforcement officials told CNN. He faces drug possession, distribution and conspiracy charges. It was not clear whether he has an attorney. He is is believed to have sold the drug that led to at least one of the deaths, according to the officials. U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Preet Bharara was expected to announce the arrest later Wednesday along with representations of the New York Police Department and the federal Drug Enforcement Administration. MDMA is believed to have caused both of the deaths at the music festival, which was attended by more than 130,000 people, in late August 2013. Police identified the two victims as Jeffrey Russ, 23, and Olivia Rotondo, 20. Morgan allegedly sold about 80 "molly" pills to an acquaintance of Russ's for about $1,100, according to court papers. Morgan also is accused of selling Russ and his friends "molly" at a concert in Buffalo, New York, earlier that month. On August 30, 2013, near the end of a concert at Electric Zoo, Russ told his friends he wasn't feeling well, according to court documents. He collapsed and suffered a seizure. When Russ arrived at Harlem Hospital Center, his heart was beating rapidly and his temperature was about 108 degrees Fahrenheit, court papers said. Russ was pronounced dead at 3:21 a.m. on August 31. The pills found on Russ contained MDMA and methylone, according to court documents. The medical examiner ruled that Russ died from "acute intoxication by the combined effects of [MDMA] and methylone with hyperthermia." Authorities arrested Morgan after a friend of Russ's sent the suspect a text message: "Hey it was great to see you last week. Glad we got to talk about Jeff a little it was bugging me. Just know that I no longer blame us for giving the molly to him because it was him that made the mistake of taking too much," according to court documents. Morgan allegedly responded: "Yeah man u too call me whenever you want." After the deaths,the city recommended the electronic music festival be canceled. Electric Zoo's promoters, Made Event, agreed, police said. What is MDMA? Methylenedioxymethamphetamine, or MDMA, a synthetic amphetamine, was created in Germany in the early 1900s, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. During the 1970s some American psychiatrists felt they'd found in the drug a kind of "penicillin for the soul." The drug was said to allow for greater insights and better communication. U.S. officials disagreed, and in the 1985 the Drug Enforcement Administration banned the substance, as a Schedule I drug, meaning it had no proven therapeutic value. In the 1990s, MDMA, or ecstasy, gained a reputation for party drug at all-night warehouse parties known as raves. Emergency-room visits rose steadily, from 421 in 1995 to 5,542 in 2001, according to DEA statistics. Questions were raised about safety and purity of ecstasy. That's when molly was born. Molly -- short for "molecule" -- is touted as the pure form of MDMA, but a spokesman for the DEA says don't believe the hype. According to Rusty Payne, the agency sees MDMA from Asia, Canada and the Netherlands. "You have no idea the lab environment these chemicals or substances were produced in," Payne said. "If they knew where things were produced, they might think twice." In 2009, government data found 22,816 emergency-room visits due to MDMA, a 123% percent increase from 2005. But molly still has fans among some in the medical field. An article published last year in the Journal of Psychopharmacology found that the drug helped reduce the symptoms of PTSD for two-thirds of those enrolled in a study. Still, the sample size in that study was small, just 19 people. More studies are in the works. Despite any potential for future uses, authorities warn that the drug is dangerous. After a giant New Year's Eve party in Los Angeles in 2010, one person died and 18 others were hospitalized for issues relating to MDMA use, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In 2013: Electric Zoo music festival canceled after 2 deaths blamed on drugs . What you need to know about synthetic drugs . 9 things everyone should know about the drug Molly .
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Authorities say Patrick Morgan sold pills that killed concert-goer .
Suspect allegedly sold about 80 "molly" pills for about $1,100, prosecutors say .
Deaths of two Electric Zoo concert-goers believed to be linked to MDMA, police say .
Electric Zoo promoters agreed to city's recommendation that the festival be canceled .
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(CNN) -- Three Delaware teenagers charged earlier this month after being accused of beating a mentally disabled man are now charged with a hate crime. The state's prosecutor filed the additional, weightier charges on Monday, according to a press release. "It is our responsibility to protect people who cannot protect themselves," Attorney General Beau Biden said in the release. "Targeting and assaulting a vulnerable victim is especially egregious and those who do so face significant consequences under the law. Every parent needs to talk with their children about this incident and how to prevent these types of crimes." In addition to the hate crime, the teenage boys also face further felony charges, including crime against a vulnerable adult and abuse of an impaired adult, according to the press release. One 14-year-old boy from Newark, Delaware, turned himself in and two other teenagers were first arrested earlier this month after videos of the assault went viral on social media. The three teens were initially charged with misdemeanors. Because of their age, the boys' names are not being made public. The beatings occurred several weeks ago but more recently angered viewers across the nation after videos of the incidents were posted on social media with the hashtags #JusticeForCoran and #TheBullyProject. In one video, the man, who police said is 26 years old and suffers from a neurodevelopmental disorder, is chased around the yard of an apartment complex as he yells, "Leave me alone." A teenage boy in shorts and a T-shirt body-slams him to the ground, then punches and stomps the man. The man's family told CNN affiliate KYW that he suffers from Williams syndrome and that he takes his little sister to the bus stop. In a second video, shot in a wooded area, the man is again body-slammed and punched while lying on the ground. A girl in the crowd says, "You guys are mean to him." The man stands and other boys punch and push him to the ground. As the man lies crying in the weeds, a boy jumps in front of the camera and mimics the question the man kept asking: "What I do? What I do?" "It's more than disgusting. There's no words to describe what they did," the victim's stepmother told KYW. She said he trusted the group of teens and believed they were his friends, and now he is suffering emotionally and physically. CNN's Kristina Sgueglia and Ralph Ellis contributed to this report.
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Teenagers in New Castle County, Delaware, have been charged with felony hate crimes .
Charges relate to online videos of the beating of a mentally disabled man .
Videos went viral with the hashtags #TheBullyProject and #JusiceForCoran .
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(CNN) -- The Netherlands has rejected an asylum plea by a gay Iranian teenager trying to escape possible persecution in his homeland. Mehdi Kazemi believes he will face persecution if he is made to return to Iran. Mehdi Kazemi, 19, had originally sought asylum in Britain, where he was taking classes on a student visa, because, he said, his boyfriend had been executed in Iran after saying he and Kazemi had been in a gay relationship. Britain's Home Office rejected his request, prompting Kazemi to flee to Netherlands. Tuesday's decision by the Council of State -- the highest administrative court in the Netherlands --means Kazemi could face deportation to Britain, which he fears will send him back to Iran. Council spokeswoman Daniela Tempelman said the council decided it must comply with the Dublin Regulation and return Kazemi to Britain. Watch how teenager has lost his right to remain. » . Under the Dublin Regulation, European Union member nations agree that an application for asylum submitted in any EU country would be handled by that country alone. The regulation seeks to ensures that an asylum seeker is not redirected from nation to nation simply because none will take responsibility. Kazemi's initial appeal for asylum in the Netherlands, made in October, was rejected. He then appealed unsuccessfully to a regional court in December. His last appeal was to the Council of State in January. Tempelman said that in order for the Dutch court to consider Kazemi's asylum application, he needed to prove that Britain did not handle his asylum application properly, but he wasn't able to prove any wrongdoing on the part of the British government. Kazemi now has exhausted his chances for appeal in the Netherlands and, according to Tempelman, could be returned to Britain on a short notice. The British government about six months ago accepted the Dutch request to take him back. Kazemi's lawyer will have the option of taking his case to the European Court of Human Rights to request an "interim measure" that could allow Kazemi to stay in Europe until further notice. "If anybody signs his deportation papers and says, look, he's got to be deported to Iran, that means they have signed his death sentence," said Kazemi's uncle Saeed, who asked CNN to withhold his last name over safety concerns. Gay rights activists in Europe and Iran are also researching Kazemi's case. "When Britain is prepared to send a young man back to possible execution, that is inhumanity on a monumental scale," said Peter Tatchell, an activist for gay campaign group OutRage. "And I hang my head in shame, as a British citizen." In a written statement, Britain's Home Office said that even though homosexuality is illegal in Iran and homosexuals do experience discrimination, it does not believe that homosexuals are routinely persecuted purely on the basis of their sexuality. E-mail to a friend .
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Iranian teenager loses appeal to remain in the Netherlands .
19-year-old had sought asylum in UK but is to be sent home .
Mehdi Kazemi says he will face persecution in his homeland .
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(CNN) -- The 4-year-old daughter of former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson died Tuesday, a day after she was injured in a treadmill accident at her home, police in Phoenix, Arizona, said. Former world boxing champion Mike Tyson traveled from Las Vegas to Phoenix to be at his daughter's bedside. Exodus Tyson was pronounced dead at 11:45 a.m. local time Tuesday, said Sgt. Andy Hill, a Phoenix police spokesman. "The Tyson family would like to extend our deepest and most heartfelt thanks for all your prayers and support, and we ask that we be allowed our privacy at this difficult time," the family said in a statement. The girl's 7-year-old brother found her on a treadmill in the Phoenix home Monday. She had been strangled by a cord connected to the machine, said Sgt. Andy Hill of the Phoenix Police Department. "We believe the child was on the treadmill but it was not running at the time. She might have been playing like it was," Hill said. Her brother called his mother to the room. She removed Exodus from the machine and called 911. The girl's mother performed CPR on her, but she was unconscious and in need of life support by the time authorities arrived, Hill said. Former world heavyweight champion Tyson on Monday traveled from Las Vegas, Nevada, to Phoenix where his daughter was on life support in critical condition, police said. "After a thorough investigation, it appears that this is nothing except a horrible tragedy," Hill told CNN's Larry King. Watch an exclusive report from "Larry King Live" » . About 1,000 children under 14 die of unintentional strangulation each year, 88 percent of whom are under 4 years old, said Larry Stone, founder of Safety Matters, a company that specializes in childproofing homes. Stone said injuries involving treadmills were fairly common, but said he had never heard of strangulation involving a treadmill. "All injuries are preventable. There are ways to babyproof your home," Stone said. "I think that largely it is a matter of taking care of the more straightforward things ... making sure there are no cords from the windows hanging and certainly keeping the child in view." Watch neighbors react to news » . The 42-year-old Brooklyn-born Tyson became the youngest world heavyweight champion in history when he lifted the World Boxing Council title aged 20. Tyson also won the WBA and IBF versions of the crown during a career that was littered with controversy including disqualification for biting Evander Holyfield's ear during a 1997 title rematch. He retired from the sport in 2005, but was back in the news this month with the U.S. release of the film "Tyson," a documentary that premiered at the Cannes Film Festival last year.
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Tyson family thanks public for support, prayers, asks for privacy .
Exodus Tyson strangled by treadmill cord while playing on machine, police say .
"It appears that this is nothing except a horrible tragedy," Sgt. Andy Hill says .
She is daughter of former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson .
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By . Meghan Keneally . A New Jersey man has been found guilty of the involuntary manslaughter of his ex-girlfriend and been sentenced to spend up to 20 years behind bars. Michael Morrone was charged on Wednesday with the third degree murder of Christine McGhee after a December 2008 incident left her in a vegetative state. McGhee was a sophomore at Kutztown University in Bucks County, Pennsylvania and she was drunk at a party when she called her ex, Morrone, to come get her. Convicted again: Michael Morrone, now 26, had previously been charged with aggravated assault in connection to the case and now he has been found guilty of manslaughter and third degree murder . Serious injury resulting in death: Christine McGhee was a college sophomore and was left in a vegetative state (right) following the December 2008 incident . WFMZ reports that witnesses saw the pair arguing as they drove off from the party. Further into the drive, Morrone pushed McGhee out of the cab of his pickup truck and threw her cell phone and bag after her. McGhee then gained her footing on the running board- the slight step off the side of the truck- and Morrone purposefully sped up causing her to fly off and hit her head. The prosecution argued that he knew she was injured but he decided to drive away and flee the scene. Big fight: Christine was drunk at a party and called her ex-boyfriend, Morrone, to come pick her up and friends recalled seeing them arguing as they drove off . Prosecutors argued that he wanted to speed away to get rid of McGhee, not simply go home. She broke her jaw and was left in a vegetative state as a result of the accident for more than three years and died in 2012. The coroner ruled that her March 2012 death came as a result of brain injuries sustained in the accident. Morrone, now 26, had previously been convicted of aggravated assault in 2010 in connection to the incident, but this latest verdict came when prosecutors were able to charge him for causing her death. Medical problems: She broke her jaw and suffered brain injuries (pictured in August 2009) after flying off the running board and a coroner ruled that her death in 2012 was a delayed result of the fight . He has already been in jail for the past four years, as he was sentenced to spend between five and 20 years as a result of the aggravated assault conviction. 'Over the past four years, I've had a lot of time to think. Not a day goes by I don't think about it,' Morrone said in a statement during the sentencing portion of the trial. 'I really wish I would have handled things differently that night. I do want to apologize to Christine's family. I really am sorry. You guys don't deserve that and neither does my family.' He has been sentenced to spend between eight and 20 years in prison.
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Michael Morrone has been charged with manslaughter in the March 2012 death of his ex-girlfriend Christine McGhee .
Coroner ruled that McGhee, who had been in a vegetative state since a fight they had in December 2008, died as a result of brain injuries .
She was a college sophomore and drunkenly called her ex, Morrone, to pick her up from a party; friends saw them arguing as they left .
He pushed her out of the cab of his pickup truck and she gained her footing on the running board but he sped up, causing her to fly off .
He was already convicted of aggravated assault in 2010 but the charges were upped to third degree murder after she died .
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By . Suzannah Hills . PUBLISHED: . 05:22 EST, 3 June 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 06:20 EST, 3 June 2013 . The University of Cambridge has defended a law exam described as 'horrific' by students because of its graphic depictions of oral sex, male rape and naked torture. The university's renowned law faculty has used real-life scenarios for exams in the past, but many students were left shocked by its latest test questions. Around 200 students sitting the exam on Saturday morning were presented with a scenario involving a fictional college drinking society's initiation ceremony which went on to describe several indecent assaults. Test: Around 200 students at the University of Cambridge, pictured, sat a law exam on Saturday which contained graphic depictions of oral sex, male rape and torture . The question in the three-hour exam at the university's Faculty of Law began: 'Sandra is President of The Vizards, a College drinking society. She is organising the initiation of new members. 'After a great deal of alcohol has been drunk, the members of the society form a circle around Billy, Gilbert and Richard who are to be initiated.' The question then described three rituals in which a male student was blindfolded and given oral sex by another man, another was sexually assaulted with a bottle and a third had his pubic hair shaved off before dying from a subsequent infection. The students were asked to outline any offences which may have been committed during the scenario. After the exam students took to social networking sites with one describing it as 'horrific' and 'beyond acceptable'. @mirandajulietp tweeted: 'That's a horrific question - so far beyond acceptable and a total misrepresentation of most socs, actually'. Online student newspaper The Tab said the reaction from the student body had 'varied from incredulity to mild amusement'. Standard practice: The Faculty of Law at University Cambridge, pictured, has used 'hypothetical situations' in previous law exams . Shock: Many students took to Twitter to express their views on the 'far beyond acceptable' questions posed in a recent law exam . Sebastian Salek, a third year law . student at Clare College, told the website: 'It was surprising to see the university . directly reference drinking societies and particularly initiations, . which they generally tend to turn a blind eye to.' But The Tab added that other students felt that the question demonstrated that the university is keeping up with the times, with one fresher from Trinity quoted as saying: 'Drinking socs are, after all, a big part of life at Cambridge.' Luke Martin-Fuller, who sat the exam, told the Daily Telegraph that no-one in the examination hall had reacted when they first read the paper. He said: 'Nobody batted an eyelid, nobody sniggered or looked up or glanced at anyone – you just got on with it. 'I can see why it might look a bit funny. I can understand why people might think that's a bit risqué.' The Faculty of Law has previously used graphic scenarios in its papers with one exam, which was posted online last year, presenting a similar question about a . drinking society initiation ceremony which involved running naked through . Cambridge while being beaten with stinging nettles. A University of Cambridge spokesman confirmed the incident, saying: 'In the Part One Criminal Law examination paper set by the University of Cambridge Law Faculty, hypothetical situations are presented in order to test students' understanding of different aspects of Criminal Law.'
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Around 200 students sat the three-hour-long exam on Saturday morning .
Many later took to Twitter, describing it as 'horrific' and 'beyond acceptable'
University spokesman said the 'hypothetical situations' were to test students' understanding of different aspects of Criminal Law .
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Corn Silk face powder is currently second on Amazon's list of best-selling face powders thanks to its selfie-friendly properties . When it first hit the shelves in the Sixties, it claimed to offer women a lasting glow without turning their faces ‘muddy’. Now Corn Silk face powder is making a comeback, supposedly because it leaves women with a ‘selfie-friendly’ finish. The old-fashioned product costs just £6.72, and is currently number two on Amazon’s list of best-selling face powders. According to make-up artist Aimee Adams, this is because it gives women a muted glow, similar to the flattering soft-focus filters on the photo-sharing website Instagram. Miss Adams, 47, has worked with celebrities such as Helen Mirren, Madonna, Elle Macpherson and Tess Daly. She also counts Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice and the Duchess of York among her clients. Yesterday the beauty expert said: ‘Back when I started doing make-up 26 years ago, I remember having this one particular photographer and he used to turn to me and say “why do you look in sort of soft focus?” ‘And it was the powder. It looks like you’ve been filtered. It’s the kind of look people now try to get by using filters on Instagram.’ Miss Adams discovered Corn Silk in a pharmacy in Texas, where she grew up, and has been using it ever since. At the beginning of her career she had to ship it over from America. But it is now sold in Boots – and is far cheaper than its high-end alternatives, which can cost more than £25. Beauty expert Aimee Adams says the powder produces the sort of soft-focus effect as filters on Instagram . Miss Adams said: ‘I don’t meet other make-up artists all that often but when I do they always ask me what’s your desert island product and I tell them it’s Corn Silk. And so many of them go “oh my God mine too”. ‘It takes all the oiliness off but it gives you a real glow. It never goes cakey. If someone’s really, really sweaty I can powder their nose 50 times and it never looks like they have powder on.’ When Corn Silk came out in the 1960s, there were few face powders on the market, and what was available would often leave skin feeling cakey and smothered. Back then the new product was considered revolutionary, claiming to ‘keep you looking great long after ordinary pressed powder lets your make-up go all melty and muddy’. Corn Silk costs just £6.72, a bargain compared with high-end alternatives that can cost more than £25 .
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Corn Silk powder promised '60s women a lasting glow without going cakey .
Now undergoing revival because it provides perfect finish for a selfie .
At £6.72 it is also cheaper than high-end rivals that cost more than £25 .
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f7ce44cb799f06da8ea743ed509233cb15141b9a
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(CNN) -- This is a moment of terrible tragedy for Israelis and people of goodwill everywhere following the discovery of the bodies of three teenagers who were abducted and killed while hitchhiking in the West Bank. It is also a moment of high danger. When an entire nation -- and the entirety of the Jewish people -- is stunned and in deep mourning, it might be understandable that some among us would call for retribution. Understandable -- but not necessarily wise. What we need is justice and to avoid a downward spiral of violence, not retribution. In the Jewish world, we are all hurting right now, all angry. It is as if we have all suffered a death in our own family. Those of us who are parents are imagining how we would feel if the victims had been our children. The funerals of the three teens were unbearably sad. As Finance Minister Yair Lapid said at the funeral procession of Gilad Shaar, "Let us remember that today we are burying a child. We are burying a child, who could have also been ours, and therefore he is also ours. We are not burying a settler or a soldier in the inevitable battle for this land." Opinion: Teens' killing hurts Israelis, bad for Palestinians . At a time like this, it is more important than ever to remember our heritage and our values. "Justice, justice, shall you pursue," declares the Book of Deuteronomy 16:20. Justice means finding those responsible and punishing them to the full extent of the law. It also means tracking down anyone who enabled them by planning this operation or by hiding the perpetrators or helping them escape. If they acted on orders from the highest levels of Hamas, as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said, they too should be held accountable. But justice also means not punishing those who were not responsible. Measures that simply make more miserable the lives of the 1.7 million people who live in Gaza and whose lives are already very tenuous should be avoided. The same applies for the 2.2 million people who live in the West Bank. Israel's government doubtless feels a need to provide a tough response, partly to re-establish a deterrence against such heinous acts, partly to satisfy the demands of its own grieving people. It should resist the temptation to act just for the sake of acting or from entering into a violent escalation with Hamas. Israel is justified in responding to rocket attacks from Gaza but should avoid any offensive that would put millions of civilians, both Israeli and Palestinian, in the firing line. The Israeli army's demolition of the family homes of two named suspects without any due process is an unwelcome return to a policy that Israel abandoned in 2005. As a deterrence, it has never succeeded in the past. It is simply a way of punishing people who happen to be related to suspected terrorists. Worst of all would be to react as Israel has responded so many times in the past by announcing a massive new expansion of settlements. Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon has already suggested building a new settlement in memory of the teenagers. Not only would this lose Israel the world's sympathy, it would also weaken the Palestinian Authority and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who has been a welcome voice for reason and moderation and whose security forces have maintained cooperation with the Israel Defense Forces throughout the crisis. Additionally, it would drive another stake into the heart of the two-state solution -- which remains the only sane and just way of resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Until that conflict is ended through negotiations, tragically we will see more horrific acts of violence and more martyrs on both sides. We are seeing some of the consequences of the collapse of Secretary of State John Kerry's peace initiative in April. The absence of any movement toward peace has created a vacuum in which extremism can flourish. That's why it is so important for the United States not to walk away, but to remain engaged with both parties. This could be a decisive turning point for both Israelis and Palestinians. If Israel undertakes targeted measures designed to punish those responsible for this terrible crime, the world will be with it, and the crisis will be surmounted. If it turns its understandable anger into a general offensive, we could be in for a sustained period of violence claiming the lives of more innocent people on both sides. Lapid, the finance minister, expressed the right policy: "We will find those responsible and we will punish them. The real revenge is our ability to bridge the gaps within us." Israeli PM at teens' funeral: 'Broad moral gulf' between us, enemy . The Israeli teens killed: Promising lives, grieving families .
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Deaths of three teens a terrible tragedy for Israelis and people everywhere .
Alan Elsner: Punish the killers but not families, others in a general offensive .
Expanding settlements, harming families has never worked as a deterrence, he says .
Elsner: How Israel reacts will be decisive turning point for both Israelis and Palestinians .
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(CNN) -- Security forces surrounding the Rifaie Mosque in the Damascus suburb of Kafr Sousa fired tear gas early Saturday on thousands of worshipers as they ended their prayers and tried to leave the building, the Local Coordination Committees of Syria (LCC) reported. Many of the worshipers returned inside the mosque, where they chanted slogans calling for the fall of the regime, said the LCC, which organizes and documents anti-government protests. Later, the organization reported that security forces were making random arrests outside the mosque. In the restive city of Daraa, where the arrests in March of 15 teenagers for scrawling anti-government graffiti on walls ignited the country's expressions of discontent, security forces fired randomly in an attempt to disperse two groups of demonstrators who were chanting, "God is great!" Tanks were surrounding more than 2,000 protesters and two armored vehicles were outside Daraa's Omari Mosque, preventing worshipers from leaving the mosque to protest. In all, eight people were killed Friday in Syria, the LCC said. The state-run Syrian Arab News Agency reported that 11 army and security forces were killed by "terrorist groups" in Homs and Deir Ezzor. Another 16 soldiers were wounded, SANA said. CNN was not able to independently confirm the reports. On Friday, at least one person was wounded when security forces opened fire on a group of demonstrators in the Bab Sbaa neighborhood of Homs, according to the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition group. The demonstrators, who were calling for President Bashar al-Assad's ouster, had gathered for a funeral of a man killed Thursday by sniper fire, the group said. In a separate incident that occurred outside Damascus, security forces fired on a car, wounding at least one man, the group said. And in Deir Ezzor, at least one demonstrator was wounded when Syrian security forces opened fire there, the group said. Demonstrators had dubbed Friday a day of "patience and determination." YouTube videos showed demonstrations in a number of cities. "The people demand the execution of the president!" was one chant from demonstrators in Homs. CNN is not able to confirm the authenticity of the videos. The violence occurred on one of the most holy days of Ramadan and on the same day that a U.N. team, having completed a five-day humanitarian mission to Syria, concluded that there is "an urgent need to protect civilians from the excessive use of force." The August 20-25 mission, which was intended to assess the humanitarian needs of the Syrian people, also concluded that there is no country-wide humanitarian crisis, the world body said in a statement. It added that "the constant presence of government officials" limited the visitors' ability to assess the situation. "However, the people it was able to talk to in areas of previous or ongoing unrest said they felt extremely intimidated and under constant threat." Though the Syrian government allowed participants to visit any location they requested, "it is doubtful that Syria has fully complied with its assurances of providing free and unimpeded access," the statement concluded. Though government officials had vowed open access to the U.N. mission, they have restricted access to the country by international journalists. Also Friday, Russia proposed a draft resolution that neither condemns Syria nor calls for the imposition of sanctions, as pressed for by the West. Instead, the Russian draft calls upon Damascus to speed the pace of reform "in order to effectively address the legitimate aspirations and concerns of Syria's people." In addition, it urges the Syrian opposition "to engage in political dialogue with the Syrian authorities with a view to holding a substantial and in-depth discussion on the ways of reforming Syrian society." That was not enough for Mark Kornblau, spokesman for the U.S. Mission to the United Nations. "The regime's violence has continued unabated, the international condemnation has grown louder, and the Security Council's response should reflect those realities," he said, noting that a draft resolution proposed this week by the United States and its European allies on the Security Council contains both elements. No timetable has been set for a vote on either resolution. Also Friday, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov and the new Syrian ambassador to Russia, Riyad Haddad, discussed the situation in Syria, according to the state-run Itar-Tass news agency. Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said Tuesday that "we don't think" the time was right for sanctions against Syria, and Brazil, China, India and South Africa also expressed reservations. Security Council resolutions need at least nine votes to pass on the 15-member council with no vetoes. Al-Assad's regime is accused of attacking peaceful demonstrators in an effort to crush a pro-democracy movement that emerged in the aftermath of similar protests throughout North Africa and the Middle East in the "Arab spring." This week, the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights said that more than 2,200 people have been killed in Syria since mid-March, with more than 350 people reportedly killed since the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan on August 1. On Thursday, the U.S. State Department accused the Syrian government of carrying out a "targeted, brutal attack" on a popular Syrian political cartoonist, Ali Farzat. Shortly after a cartoon by Farzat depicting al-Assad hitching a ride with outgoing Libyan strongman Moammar Gadhafi began circulating in Syria, Farzat was reportedly kidnapped by masked men, beaten and thrown unconscious from a van onto a road in Damascus. "The regime's thugs focused their attention on his hands, beating them furiously and breaking one of them -- a clear message that he should stop drawing," State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said in a statement. Passers-by reportedly found the beaten 60-year-old cartoonist and took him to a hospital. A photograph circulating Thursday on the Internet showed Farzat with a bandage over his right eye, his face badly bruised and heavy bandages wrapped around both hands.
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NEW: Eight people are killed, an activist group says .
The U.N. team's mission was to assess the humanitarian needs of the Syrian people .
It concludes there is no nation-wide humanitarian crisis .
But it says people in areas of unrest "felt extremely intimidated"
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By . Lizzie Parry . PUBLISHED: . 10:43 EST, 8 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 11:45 EST, 8 November 2013 . A three-year-old girl spent two days 'fending for herself' while her mother lay dead on the floor of their home, an inquest has heard. Avon saleswoman Sarah King, 40, collapsed after accidentally taking an overdose of prescription drugs. Her body was found by boyfriend Gary Eastell, 39, who went round to her home in Mount Pleasant, near Macclesfield on May 8, when she failed to respond to his text messages. The road in Mount Pleasant, near Macclesfield where the body of Sarah King was found. Her three-year-old daughter was found alone in the house with her dead mother . He found the little girl wandering around the property while her mother lay dead downstairs. An inquest in Macclesfield heard the toddler may have been in the house alone with her mother's body for up to two days before she was found. Mr Eastall told the inquest he discovered the door was unlocked and walked inside, where he spotted Ms King and called the emergency services. He said: 'The home was a mess. But that was because she [the little girl] was fending for herself. 'She had got food in the room. Sarah was normally spotless.' Ms King, who worked as an Avon saleswoman, had a long history of depression and had received psychiatric support for several bouts of the illness, dating back to the 1990s. Ms King, who was separated from her child’s father, last spoke to friends and family on May 6 this year, two days before she was discovered. Mr Eastell said: 'It was a Bank Holiday Monday. We had a nice day and walked by the canal. She seemed OK. 'That evening she sent me a text. She wanted me to tell her that I loved her.' He said he decided to reply the next day and fell asleep. When he didn’t hear back, he initially thought she was just 'in a bad mood'. Recording a verdict of misadventure, Cheshire's deputy coroner Jean Harkin said: 'I'm satisfied that she took the tablets. But I'm not satisfied she intended to end her life' Ms King’s sister Hilary Coles and father Peter Austin had also been repeatedly trying to reach her. Mr Austin, who was staying at Ms Coles’s house in Cornwall, called a friend to ask if they could check she was all right. Mr Austin, from Congleton in Cheshire, said: 'At about 10.50pm, my mobile phone rang. It was the police telling me what they had found.' A post-mortem examination revealed she had died from drugs toxicity linked to an anti-depressant. The inquest heard how Ms King had also been experiencing financial problems and was worried about becoming homeless. Detective Sergeant Jim Boulton, of Cheshire Police, said an investigation concluded there were no suspicious circumstances or third parties involved. Recording a verdict of misadventure, Cheshire’s deputy coroner Jean Harkin said: 'I’m satisfied that she took the tablets. But I’m not satisfied she intended to end her life. 'On the balance of probability, she took the tablets, perhaps after an argument, meaning to frighten rather than take her life.'
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Avon saleswoman Sarah King collapsed after an accidental overdose .
Three-year-old found wandering around their home by mother's boyfriend .
He went searching for 40-year-old after she failed to respond to a text .
Gary Eastell thought his girlfriend was 'in a bad mood' after he chose not to say he loved her in a message .
Coroner rules a verdict of misadventure saying 'I am satisfied she took the tablets. But I'm not satisfied she intended to end her life'
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Washington (CNN) -- There is little evidence the U.S. government's sweeping collection of phone records, as revealed by admitted intelligence leaker Edward Snowden, has helped prevent terror attacks as national security officials have claimed, a top senator said on Wednesday. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy opened a hearing on the controversial National Security Agency (NSA) program applied under post 9/11 anti-terror legislation and approved by a secret court by questioning if it works or is needed. "If this program is not effective, it has to end," the Vermont Democrat said of the phone record collection program under Section 215 of the Patriot Act. He noted that classified details provided by the NSA on how the initiative had been used do not "reflect dozens or even several terrorist plots" that it helped prevent "let alone 54 as some have suggested." Despite Leahy's complaint, NSA Director Gen. Keith Alexander later Wednesday repeated the figure of 54 terrorist events thwarted by the overall surveillance effort, of which the Section 215 program is one component. "If we tell everyone exactly what we're doing, then the adversaries will know exactly how to get through our defenses," he told a conference in warning of the danger caused by Snowden's leaks. Published reports have indicated the NSA received secret court approval to collect vast amounts of so-called metadata from telecommunications giant Verizon and leading Internet companies, including Microsoft, Apple, Google, Yahoo and Facebook. NSA chief: Snooping is crucial to fighting terrorism . This includes "non-content" material -- phone numbers called, or e-mail addresses -- rather than the actual substance of the information, which would require a separate search warrant. Senate Intelligence Chairman Dianne Feinstein said her panel was looking at potential changes to the surveillance programs, including a reduction in the five-year limit that the NSA currently can can hold gathered records. Feinstein, a California Democrat, said the Senate also was considering a requirement for the NSA to expedite its review of information it collects under the Section 215 program and another one that gathers Internet use information from abroad. "These are things that can be done to increase transparency, but not to stop the program," she said. "I believe, based on what I have seen and I read intelligence regularly, that we would place this nation in jeopardy if we eliminated these two programs." Meanwhile, the Guardian in London published a report on an NSA program that it says mines Internet browsing history and other online data, some of it in real time. The program called XKeyscore, which does not require any type of formal authorization, was detailed in documents leaked to the newspaper by Snowden, the Guardian said Wednesday. Snowden's revelations have triggered new debate about national security and privacy interests, and about the secretive legal process that sets in motion surveillance. With lawmakers sharpening scrutiny of how the law is applied and the House narrowly defeating an amendment to cut surveillance funding last week, the Obama administration is scrambling to demonstrate more transparency and regain congressional support. Earlier this month, it declassified and publicized the NSA program's periodic renewal. On Wednesday, Director of National Intelligence James Clapper released other previously secret documents, including reports from the 2009 to 2011 period. Report: FBI wanted to fly Snowden's father to Moscow . The Justice Department reports were aimed at helping Congress understand the surveillance as lawmakers debated renewing relevant parts of the Patriot Act. "The National Security Agency's bulk collection programs provide important tools in the fight against terrorism, especially in identifying terrorist plots against the homeland," the 2011 report said. "These tools are also unique in that they can produce intelligence not otherwise available to NSA." Snowden's father: My son loves his country . At Wednesday's hearing, Justice Department and security officials conceded the lack of direct causal links between the Section 215 phone record collection and thwarted attacks, but said the program was part of a crucial network for filling information gaps. Opinion: We need transparency on domestic surveillance . They said the network of surveillance programs over the years helped thwart dozens of plots, including those targeting the stock exchange and the subway system in New York. In another apparent bid to demonstrate transparency, the Obama administration now says terror defendants should be informed when the government plans to use as evidence any information from its secret collection of electronic records. The change in legal interpretation this week suggests that criminal defendants subject to certain types of surveillance may be able to challenge the constitutionality of the NSA programs. As recently as this spring, the administration had argued that such disclosure of information from a secret court order was not necessary, even if the information was used to track and capture a suspect. The Supreme Court in its last term limited lawsuits against the government by plaintiffs who were unable to prove they were specific subjects of surveillance. Those plaintiffs had complained of a "Catch 22" because the government refused to acknowledge any surveillance for national security reasons. It was not clear if other pending terror prosecutions involving metadata evidence would adopt the new legal interpretation. CNNMoney: NSA chief to hackers: If you don't like what we do, change it . But the latest efforts in transparency were clouded by the Guardian report on XKeyscore, which it said magnified statements by Snowden that he, as a contractor, could easily access an astonishingly broad menu of personal information on just about anyone. Security officials had called Snowden's assertion untrue, and White House spokesman Jay Carney echoed that denial on Wednesday by saying allegations of "widespread, unchecked analyst access to NSA collection data are false." Separately, the NSA said in a statement that its tools include stringent checks to limit what an analyst can do. "Not every analyst can perform every function and no analyst can operate freely," the statement said. At the Senate committee hearing, Leahy asked NSA Deputy Director John Inglis whether the agency has held anyone responsible for the Snowden leaks. "How soon will we know who screwed up?" Leahy asked, contending that inadequate controls allowed the former NSA contractor to leak surveillance program documents to media outlets. "I think that we'll know over weeks and months precisely what happened and who should then be hold accountable -- and we will hold them accountable," Inglis responded. House rejects effort to curb NSA phone surveillance . Leahy was impatient with the answer and raised the issue in connection with former Army intelligence analyst Bradley Manning, who was convicted on Tuesday of leaking a trove of Iraq war battlefield reports, diplomatic cables and other information. "We had a huge security breach, I think we'll all agree, committed by Edward Snowden. And a few years ago Bradley Manning downloaded hundreds of thousands of classified and sensitive documents -- passed them on to WikiLeaks," Leahy said. "Now, if two data breaches of this magnitude occurred in the private sector, somebody would have been held accountable by now." Snowden has fled the country and remains in diplomatic limbo at the Moscow airport. The United States has charged him with espionage. Opinion: NSA secrets kill our trust . CNN's Barbara Starr contributed to this report.
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NEW: NSA director repeats his statement that surveillance network thwarted 54 terror plots .
Sen. Leahy: Classified details show phone records had little role in stopping terror attacks .
The Director of National Intelligence releases details of surveillance programs .
NEW: The latest Snowden leak details a broad Internet surveillance program .
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Their fans may be calling for the manager to be sacked, as their title hopes go from speculative to non-existent, but Arsenal's captain has suggested his side should be pleased with their latest performance. Arsenal lost 2-1 at home to Manchester United on Saturday, but Mikel Arteta believes it was his side's best game of the season. The midfielder bemoaned his side's ability to take their chances, but stressed that Arsenal deserved to get something out of the game. Mikel Arteta said he was socked at the result on Saturday after Arsenal's 'good performance' Jack Wilshere misses a fabulous chance for Arsenal, one of several the Gunners spurned with the score at 0-0 . 'I'm shocked,' Arteta said after the defeat. 'I think we played our best game this season in terms of what we demand of ourselves – the quality in the way we attacked, how we won the ball back, how consistent we were throughout, the amount of chances we created. 'When you are in the box and you can't manage to score in that many situations, you can't expect to win. 'It's not fair for the players and the fans. How can I explain the result? I can't. Wilshere again fires at David de Gea, who denied Arsenal several times during the game at the Emirates . Arteta tries to calm Wilshere down as tempers flared in the combative, but not always high-quality, clash . 'I am shocked and frustrated because we did not deserve this result considering the opposition we were playing against. The Gunners skipper blamed 'bad luck', rather than naive tactics or a lack of quality, for the disappointing result, claiming that Arsenal were 'absolutely hammering United'. 'I can only put it down to bad luck on the first goal which totally changed the game, at a time when we were absolutely controlling and hammering United. Kieran Gibbs diverts Antonio Valencia's shot into his own net, as Arsenal suffered another league defeat . 'After they took the lead we had to take more risks to try to get back into the game and United have the players up front to cause you problems at any time. 'But I feel so sorry for the lads and for our supporters because they were terrific and I don't think we deserved this result.' 'It's [a lack of] ruthlessness, for sure. When you are in the box and you can't manage to score in that many situations, you can't expect to win.'
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Arsenal skipper says he is 'shocked' by defeat to United .
Mikel Arteta blames 'bad luck' for 2-1 loss at the Emirates .
Arsenal missed several chances before falling behind to an own goal .
Gunners face Dortmund at home in the Champions League on Wednesday .
Jack Wilshere and Wojciech Szczesny are both doubtful for the clash .
Olivier Giroud cannot play in the tie as he has not been registered .
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By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 19:58 EST, 14 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 22:35 EST, 14 October 2013 . A very coordinated black bear at the Animal Ark Wildlife Sanctuary in Reno, Nevada, is a tetherball champ! The bear is seen swinging the ball around the pole for up to three minutes at a time. And, it obviously loves every moment. Scroll down for video... A big bear swipe: The black bear hits the ball . Watching it as it flies up and up and around . Woah, here it comes! Duck! The ball misses the bear's head just barely and keeps swinging around the pole . Weeee, this is fun! And around it goes again . Come'ere, you! Ok, so maybe I need a little practice . Got it! I'm the champ.
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The bear at the Animal Ark Wildlife Sanctuary in Reno, Nevada, can swing the ball around the pole for up to three minutes at a time .
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99,657 |
0c67fbe1c0ac719f340c8b62fda7e842cd5fa6df
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By . Bianca London . PUBLISHED: . 13:02 EST, 18 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 16:40 EST, 18 December 2013 . She has a stellar acting career, numerous beauty and fashion campaigns under her belt and one of the hottest husbands in showbiz - but Blake Lively isn't resting on her laurels. The actress, who found fame as Serena van der Woodsen on Gossip Girl, has revealed plans to leave acting behind to launch a lifestyle site. While details of her project remain vague, the 26-year-old gave a few hints in a recent interview with The Cut. Welcome to my world: Blake Lively, who found fame on Gossip Girl, is getting set to launch a new lifestyle and foodie site . She said: 'I’m creating a brand that I felt the need for. I was on my show [Gossip Girl] for so long that I really wanted to break from acting, because it lost its excitement for me in a way, because it was such a job. 'I never lost my appreciation for [acting], though. I just felt like I didn’t have as much to offer because I got used to it. I wanted to explore other passions. 'I’m still being very vague, intentionally. But I’m really, really excited. By the time it launches, we will have developed it for two years. So it’s a lot of time, energy, efforts, resources, working with amazing people.' The star, who is married to Ryan Reynolds, added that she was unsure if it was a 'lifestyle' site as such but promised there would be lots of foodie tidbits. Inspiration? While Blake is remaining coy over what exactly her site will entail, it could well be similar to Gwyneth Paltrow's Goop . It sounds similar in style to Gwyneth Paltrow's Goop - a weekly lifestyle newsletter which she launched in 2008 that encourages readers to 'nourish the inner aspect'. Each week, the newsletter focuses on an action: Make, Go, Get, Do, Be, and See and includes health tips, yoga news and Christmas gift ideas. And talking of presents, Blake . recently revealed what her dream present from her hunky spouse would be: she has her eye on a . pair of circular Van Cleef & Arpels earrings... Blake said: 'Their . estate pieces are incredible, because they show how timeless Van Cleef . is.' Breakout role: Blake found fame as Serena van der Woodsen on Gossip Girl but says she wanted to break from acting, because it lost its excitement . But Blake added: 'There will also be the bankruptcy commercials for us [if we got them]!' Ryan's gift ideas are slightly less expensive: the BOSS Bottled ambassador told us that his top ideas for the festive season are a mix CD and a bonsai tree. Power couple: Blake recently revealed what her dream present from her hunky spouse would be - although she admits that him actually getting it for her may 'bankrupt' the actor .
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Blake, 26, is working on launch of lifestyle website .
Remains coy about details but says there will be a foodie element .
Says acting no longer excites her and wants to explore 'other passions'
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ca3973e57ca8fe37b631e07cb5bb9cbf1b51f070
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By . Charlie Eccleshare . Didier Drogba is known to hold a lot of influence in the Chelsea dressing room, and the returning Ivorian has flexed his muscles again by claiming back his old squad number. Oscar has worn the No 11 shirt since joining in 2012 - the year Drogba departed - but has allowed the striker to pull rank and take his preferred shirt number back. The squad number clearly means a lot to Drogba, and he took to Instagram to express his gratitude. He wrote: 'Back to my favourite shirt number 11. Thanks to oscar_emboaba for this privilege!!! #avecclasse #whynot #trueblues #cfc.' VIDEO Scroll down to watch Jose Mourinho talk about Cech and Courtois' rivalry . Thank you kindly: Didier Drogba took to Instagram to thank Oscar for letting him take back his No 11 shirt . Time for a switch: Drogba put this picture up on Instagram accompanied by his message of thanks . The change means Oscar will take the No 8 shirt that was worn by legendary midfielder Frank Lampard, and the Brazilian is looking forward to the challenge of emulating the veteran. 'Didier is a Chelsea legend and a senior player. I am happy for him to take the 11 and for me to take the 8,' Oscar told the club's official website. 'Lamps is another legend at this club and I hope I will be as successful in the shirt as he was.' Return of the King: Drogba came back to Chelsea this summer after leaving as a hero in 2012 . Legend: Frank Lampard is the top goalscorer in Chelsea's history but left the club this summer . Team player: Oscar posted a message on Twitter explaining the new shirt situation . New season, new shirt: Chelsea midfielder Oscar posts a picture of his new No 8 shirt for the new season . He later posted a picture of his new shirt number along with the message: 'So, @didierdrogba will wear number 11 and I am going to the number 8. #ComeOnChelsea' Drogba said: ‘I am very pleased to be able to return to the number 11 shirt and I am very grateful to Oscar for allowing me to make this change.’ Elsewhere in the squad, Thibaut Courtois is handed the No 13 jersey, with Petr Cech keeping his No 1 shirt. Eden Hazard is Chelsea's new No 10, replacing Juan Mata who left to join Manchester United, and Victor Moses switches to the No 18 shirt previously worn by Romelu Lukaku. Taking a tumble: Oscar goes down injured in pre-season but should be fit for the start of the new campaign . As a gesture of goodwill, Chelsea are allowing fans who have bought shirts with the old names and numbers on the back to exchange them at the club's shop. All returned shirts will be donated to the Chelsea Foundation, the club's charity organisation which attempts to use sport to bring about positive changes in people's lives and their communities. Unlucky for some: Thibaut Courtois has been given the No 13 shirt, as Petr Cech keeps the No 1 jersey .
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Didier Drogba thanked Oscar on Instagram for the gesture .
Oscar hopes to emulate Frank Lampard, now on loan at Manchester City .
Thibaut Courtois is handed the No 13 jersey, with Petr Cech No 1 .
Victor Moses is given the No 18 shirt, previously worn by Romelu Lukaku .
Chelsea will donate any returned shirts with the old numbers to charity .
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0b2b704b79587e6904b5eb0ecadd887efcb92251
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(CNN) -- One month after Typhoon Haiyan tore through six Philippine islands, the death toll stands at 5,924 and 1,779 people are still missing, according to government figures released Sunday. More than 12 million people have been affected by the monster typhoon that left behind catastrophic scenes of destruction and despair when it made landfall on November 8, the government said. It left entire communities without immediate access to food and medical care. Several countries, including the United States, have been aiding in the recovery. According to the Pentagon, the military effort, dubbed Operation Damayan, cost $32 million. At their peak, the relief efforts involved more than 13,400 U.S. military personnel, 66 aircraft and 12 naval vessels. Two weeks ago, the U.S. scaled down its operation in the Philippines, but USAID continues to provide food and support as the recovery continues. INTERACTIVE: Panoramic photo shows Haiyan devastation . CNN's Stefan Simons contributed to this report.
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Death toll from Typhoon Haiyan rises to almost 6,000, and many are still missing .
12 million people have been affected by the storm that hit a month ago .
U.S. military spent $32 million on recovery aid; USAID is still providing food .
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93d71f700f3a006b5491039c2fccb518dd4c8f97
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By . Steve Doughty . PUBLISHED: . 00:32 EST, 5 March 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 20:07 EST, 5 March 2013 . Meddling: Lord Neuberger was accused of make political comments after he criticised plans to curb free legal aid . A senior judge was yesterday accused of meddling in politics after saying that legal aid cuts would bring lawlessness. Lord Neuberger, the head of the country’s highest court, warned that stripping half a million Britons of the right to free lawyers would ‘lead to people taking the law into their own hands’. He added that cuts to free legal advice and free courtroom lawyers would ‘start to undermine the rule of law’. The 65-year-old judge, who is president of the Supreme Court, spoke as the Coalition’s attempt to reform the legal aid system is about to take effect. The shake-up of legal aid in civil cases is aimed at saving taxpayers £350million a year in lawyers’ bills. Criticising the judge’s remarks, Douglas Carswell, Tory MP for Clacton, said: ‘If the system of justice over which his lordship presides was not so inaccessible to my constituents, justice would be even-handed in the first place. ‘But the self-serving legal elite has made justice so expensive that the state has had to subsidise lawyers. Lord Neuberger should concentrate on providing cheaper justice and stop bellyaching.’ Criminologist Dr David Green, of the Civitas think-tank, said: ‘It is inappropriate for the president of the Supreme Court to make such political comments. The new President of the Supreme Court warned confidence in the legal system and 'the whole democratic process' could be undermined by curbing access to justice . ‘He is also misguided: it is the . commercial exploitation of the law that has undermined people’s respect… . lawyers no longer see themselves as servants of justice. In some . respects he appears to be speaking as a trade unionist for a special . interest group.’ Lord . Neuberger told the BBC: ‘My worry is the removal of legal aid for people . to get advice about law and get representation in court will start to . undermine the rule of law because people will feel like the . Government . isn’t giving them access to justice in all sorts of cases. ‘That . will either lead to frustration and lack of confidence in the system, . or it will lead to people taking the law into their own hands.’ In . a separate interview, he told a newspaper: ‘Rich people can always . afford legal advice and representation, but unless you have access to . legal advice for poorer people you have not got the rule of law. ‘You . get more and more people who don’t believe in the government we have, . which is very undermining, or who end up taking the law into their own . hands or a bit of both, which is not good for us, nor for the country.’ Lord . Neuberger’s intervention – which is understood to have surprised other . senior judges – came less than a month before the cuts go into operation . at the start of April. The . reforms mean legal aid will no longer be available for whole classes of . compensation claims, including those made over medical negligence, . personal injury and employment law. Taxpayer support will also be withdrawn from many family law, education, immigration, debt, housing and benefit disputes. The . judge’s remarks were a shot across the bows of Justice Secretary Chris . Grayling, who yesterday announced more legal aid reforms. These . will try to reduce the price of taxpayer-funded defence lawyers in . criminal cases by making law firms submit competitive tenders for . criminal legal aid work, so that solicitors and barristers would be . forced to compete on price for work. Tory . and Labour governments and now the Coalition have all tried to reform . legal aid since the 1980s, during which time taxpayer spending on . lawyers’ bills has more than quadrupled to £2.1billion a year. Official . figures show that in the financial year to March 2011, six barristers . each made more than £500,000 from criminal legal aid cases. Another was . paid more than £450,000 for civil legal aid cases. ANALYSIS by James Slack . Justice Secretary Chris Grayling has so far resisted engaging in a public row with Lord Neuberger . Lord Neuberger opted to focus his attack on the most emotive cuts being made by the Ministry of Justice: the ending of legal aid for court battles over benefits and family disputes. But, far from being a rare event, the legal aid taps are running constantly in the civil courts. Figures released under the Freedom of Information Act show that £645million is spent annually on family law alone. Increasing breakdowns between parents who are fighting bitter custody battles over their children are costing the taxpayer £468million. Taxpayers are also spending £25million on divorce cases. But it is not only the children of warring parents who are going to lose out. Taxpayers are handing nearly £500,000 a week in legal aid to prisoners to help them make human rights claims. The bill has spiralled from £1million a year before the Human Rights Act came into force in 2000 to more than £25million in 2010. The money has helped prisoners addicted to heroin to win thousands in compensation for being forced to go ‘cold turkey’ when locked up. Justice Secretary Chris Grayling decided against engaging in a public row with Lord Neuberger yesterday. Instead, he unveiled plans to target the criminal legal aid bill next. There will, inevitably, be more howls of protest. But can it really be argued that the system is working efficiently when the former fugitive tycoon Asil Nadir – who rented a £23,000-a-month London residence during his trial – received £1,056,588 in legal aid after claiming he was bankrupt? The Government is trying to recoup some of the costs. Lord Neuberger is not alone in opposing the cuts in legal aid. The Bar Council, the Criminal Bar Association and the Law Society have argued since 2010 that if the £2billion-a-year legal aid budget is slashed the ‘rule of law will be undermined’. But they are trade unions whose job is to oppose their members’ pay being cut – even if they are not exactly on the breadline. Judges, on the other hand, are meant to keep their noses out of politics. They take a very dim view when ministers criticise their rulings in human rights cases. Indeed, Lord Neuberger criticised Home Secretary Theresa May yesterday for daring to question why judges had ignored the will of Parliament in relation to deporting foreign criminals. If judges expect dignified silence from the Government, surely ministers have a right to expect the head of the Supreme Court to behave in the same way – no matter how strongly he disagrees with them.
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Lord Neuberger warns plans to limit legal aid will undermine the rule of law .
Critics tell President of the Supreme Court to 'stop bellaching'
Ministers want to save £350million-a-year in lawyers' bills .
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8b683d967622edb89ba5a5b3630028dee787c382
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Breakthrough: British scientistst have successfully regenerated a thymus in a mouse. The organ is part of the immune system . British scientists have been able to fully restore an organ in a living animal for the first time - a breakthrough which may pave the way for the technique to be used in humans. The Scottish team have successfully rebuilt the thymus of 'very old' mice by reactivating a natural mechanism that gets shut down with age. The thymus is an organ central to the immune system, found in front of the heart. The regenerated thymus was not only similar in structure and genetic detail to one in a young mouse, the scientists said, but was also able to function again. After the regeneration, the treated mice also started to make more T-cells - a type of white blood cell key to fighting infections. The regenerated thymus was also more than twice the size of the aged organs in the untreated mice. ‘By targeting a single protein, we have been able to almost completely reverse age-related shrinking of the thymus,’ said Clare Blackburn from Edinburgh's Medical Research Council (MRC) Centre for Regenerative Medicine, who led the research. ‘Our results suggest that targeting the same pathway in humans may improve thymus function and therefore boost immunity in elderly patients, or those with a suppressed immune system.’ She added however, that while the treated mice were making T-cells, her research could not yet establish whether the immune systems of the older mice were strengthened. And before the technique can be tested in humans, she said, researchers will need to conduct more animal experiments to make sure the regeneration process can be tightly controlled. The thymus is the first organ to . deteriorate as people age. This shrinking is one of the main reasons the . immune system becomes less effective and we lose the ability to fight . off new infections, such as flu, as we get older. Regenerative medicine is a fast-growing . area of research, mainly focused on stem cells - the master cells that . act as a source for all types of cells and tissues in the body. One of . the central aims is to harness the body's own repair mechanisms and . manipulate them in a controlled way to treat disease. After the regeneration of the thymus, the mice also started to produce more T-cells (pictured) - a type of white blood cell key to fighting infections . Blackburn's team, whose work was published on Tuesday in the journal Development, said they targeted a part of the process by which the thymus degenerates - a protein called FOXN1 that helps control how key genes in the thymus are switched on. They used genetically modified mice to enable them to increase levels of this protein using chemical signals. By doing so, they managed to instruct immature cells in the thymus - similar to stem cells - to rebuild the organ in the older mice. Rob Buckle, the MRC's head of regenerative medicine, said this success with the mouse thymus suggests organ regeneration in mammals can be directed by manipulating a single protein - something he said could have broad implications for other areas of regenerative biology.
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British scientists rebuild the thymus in a 'very old' mouse .
The thymus, located near the heart, is the first organ to deteriorate with age .
The regenerated thymus also started to produced new t-cells .
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15d35f987599297d786a555dac277925401d3456
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Khartoum, Sudan (CNN) -- An event organized by TEDxKhartoum in Sudan was canceled by security authorities, organizers say. "We are not a political group, we are neutral," Anwar Dafa-Allah, the event's organizer, said Saturday. "We promote positive thinking." Earlier in the day, members of Sudan's National Security and Intelligence Service interrupted the event, held at a luxury hotel in Khartoum, and asked for a permit, organizers said. Even though they already had one, the organizers said, they went and got a new one. "But a security officer returned and said the event was canceled," said Dafa-Allah. TEDx is a global series of conferences, based on the U.S.-based group TED, which promotes "ideas worth spreading." TEDxKhartoum came into being in 2011 and has held 11 events since, organizers say. "I don't understand (the cancellation); there is nothing new," Dafa-Allah said. This year's TEDxKhartoum speakers included several local and international speakers including John Hall of Linux International. TEDxKhartoum's events are attended by hundreds of college students and young professionals. This year's event's theme was "knowledge into action." Earlier this year, Human Rights Watch called on the government of Sudan to "end its crackdown on civil society." "The Sudanese government should respect and protect space for independent civil society to operate fully and freely," said Daniel Bekele of Human Rights Watch. CNN's Waffa Munayyer contributed to this report.
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TEDxKhartoum event included international speakers on the theme "knowledge into action"
Security forces demanded permit, organizers say, and then said the event was canceled .
Human Rights Watch has accused Sudan government of "crackdown on civil society"
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6b146862c7293f70a45707bed7b72f735dc7a12e
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A school that banned Red Bull and other energy drinks has seen the number of pupils being given detentions plunge by a third. In the latest piece of evidence that the drinks can cause poor behaviour in the classroom, staff said standards were transformed after just two terms. Drinks such as Monster, Red Bull and Relentless combine so much sugar and caffeine that Government advisers warn they make children hyperactive and difficult to control. Dee Griffiths, headteacher at Haydock High School in Haydock, Merseyside (pictured with a group of Year 9 pupils), said there had been a marked change in pupils' behaviour since the school banned energy drinks . Some 500ml cans contain the equivalent of more than 13 teaspoons of sugar and 160mg of caffeine – about the same as in four cans of cola. The ban was suggested by Year 8 pupils at Haydock High School in Merseyside. Head teacher Dee Griffiths said: ‘Research would suggest that levels of concentration among some young people are negatively affected by highly-sugared energy drinks. ‘Some students who use these cannot learn at their best. The consumption of vast quantities of “empty calories” can lead to health concerns, including obesity and dental issues.’ To help encourage fellow pupils to ditch energy drinks, members of the school’s student council designed a water bottle with the Friends of Haydock fundraising group. Haydock High School (pictured) said pupils designed a new water bottle to encourage fellow students to give up energy drinks and opt for healthier choices instead. The school has noticed an improvement in behaviour . These bottles were offered to pupils in return for a pledge to go further than the ban and steer clear of all fizzy, sugary drinks in exchange for water. In Years 7, 8 and 9, more than 95 per cent of pupils signed up, along with more than 70 per cent in Years 10 and 11. Earlier this year, Government adviser and restaurateur John Vincent called for energy drinks to be banned in schools - saying the beverages were as harmful as drugs. He said drinks such as Monster, Red Bull and Relentless make children difficult to control. Mr Vincent said: 'Energy drinks are effectively another form of drugs. The amount of sugar and caffeine in these drinks is in our view effectively allowing drugs into schools. ‘It has a hugely damaging effect on their ability to concentrate, how they feel and it is having health effects.' As well as the fall in the number of detentions, achievement and general behaviour levels rose – a trend Mrs Griffiths put down to the ban. Councillor Andy Bowden, of St Helens council in Merseyside, said: ‘It is good to see it was the students themselves that recognised the effects high- caffeine drinks were having and the benefits drinking water as an alternative can have.’ Earlier this year, restaurateur John Vincent – who founded the Leon fast-food chain and advised ministers on improving youngsters’ nutrition – said: ‘The amount of sugar and caffeine in these drinks is effectively allowing drugs into schools. ‘We don’t do that and neither do we think that should be part of school life. It has a hugely damaging effect on their ability to concentrate, how they feel and it is having health effects.’ Another school that reported improved behaviour after banning energy drinks is Chatsmore Catholic High School in Worthing, West Sussex, which in 2008 blamed them for pupils being noisy, late for lessons and failing to follow instructions. Energy drinks have been widely criticised. A survey last year found that one in 20 teenagers goes to school on a can of energy drink rather than eating a healthy breakfast. Haydock High School in Haydock, Merseyside, banned leading energy drinks such as Red Bull and Monster . Former X Factor judge Sharon Osbourne blamed them for the seizure her daughter Kelly had last year. Manufacturers and retailers have a voluntary ban on the sale of the drinks to under-16s, but there is no law to stop children buying them. A spokesman for the British Soft Drinks Association said that while most energy drinks contain no more caffeine than a typical cup of coffee, ‘We are clear that energy drinks are not recommended for children, and we want to get that message across to young people and their parents’. For comparison, a 150ml can of Coca-Cola contains 8mg caffeine and 15.0g of sugar. According to NewHealthGuide.org, a teaspoon is roughly 4 grams of white granulated sugar. RED BULL ENERGY DRINK (250ml) CAFFEINE: 80mg . SUGAR: 27.5g (11g per 100ML) RED BULL SUGARFREE ENERGY DRINK (25Oml) CAFFEINE: 80MG . Contains sweeteners aspartame and acesulfame K instead of sugar . MONSTER ENERGY DRINK (230ml/ 8 fl oz) CAFFEINE: 80mg . SUGAR: 27g . MONSTER MEGA ENERGY DRINK (680ml/ 680 fl oz) CAFFEINE: 240mg . SUGAR: 81g . RELENTLESS ORIGINAL ENERGY DRINK (250ml) CAFFEINE: 80mg . SUGAR: 25g . The Food Standards Agency advises that children limit their intake of drinks that are high in caffeine - saying the drinks ‘could potentially lead to short-term effects such as increased excitability, irritability, nervousness or anxiety’. A study by the Energy Drink Consumption in Europe found that large amounts of caffeine can cause heart palpitations, fits and even death, as well as raising the risk of Type 2 diabetes. Heavy consumption has also been linked to a greater risk of depression, addiction and alcohol dependency. Energy drinks could be more likely to cause a caffeine overdose because they can be drunk quickly, unlike hot drinks like tea or coffee, the study found. The British Soft Drinks Association code of conduct states that energy drinks should not be sold in schools.
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Haydock High School banned energy drinks such as Red Bull and Monster .
Headteacher said there had been a marked change in behaviour since ban .
The number of detentions issued to pupils have been reduced by a third .
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155,840 |
5573c850f94ee91f19c5524e0b20fcee97a9400e
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By . Tamara Abraham . PUBLISHED: . 17:15 EST, 18 July 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 19:32 EST, 26 July 2012 . If anyone knows a thing or two about making the vintage look work, it's Christina Hendricks. The Mad Men star single-handedly sparked the early Sixties bombshell trend when she first hit screens as Joan Holloway in 2007. And it seems the actress, 37, has a penchant for decades past off-screen too, as she reveals in a new interview with Harpers Bazaar's YouTube show The Look. She offers a glimpse of her favourite pieces from her wardrobe, and takes the crew on a tour of her favourite LA vintage stores. Scroll down for video . How do I look? Christina Hendricks models one of her favourite vintage hats for Harper's Bazaar . Accessories appear to be her main addiction; she modelled a straw hat and jewelled capelet from her own closet, before trying on an array of costume jewellery. In a second store, a hat boutique, she was more enthusiastic still, trying on countless hats, before selecting a wide-brimmed number to take home. Wardrobe essential: The actress models an embellished capelet, that she says goes with everything . She issues words of wisdom in the process too, like: 'You've . got to lock down your fascinator,' and 'The secret to wearing a hat is . that you have to commit to it. You've got to commit to these feathers.' Christina, who is married to fellow actor Geoffrey Arend, is . certainly experienced enough to know. She reveals that she has been . seeking out thrift store finds since the age of about ten. 'I lived in Twin Falls, Idaho, and there weren't a lot of shops,' she says. 'I learned very early . on to go to the Salvation Army and just little vintage stores, and . create my own looks. Oftentimes tragic... Hat's entertainment! Christina had a ball in her favourite headwear store, trying on an array of designs . Titfer tat: The star looked fantastic in every piece, but chose a wide-brimmed number (right) as her favourite . 'There were some very original looks that I put together. I had my goth phase, which was pretty... dramatic.' Another source of knowledge and . inspiration, has of course, been Mad Men. She credits the show's costume . designer, Janie Bryant, with steering her towards fitted silhouettes . that flatter her curvy figure. 'I've . learned a lot from being on Mad Men actually, as far as tailoring, . silhouettes and things like that,' she continues. 'Janie Bryant, our . costume designer, she's taught me a lot. Setting trends: Christina shot to fame as office bombshell Joan on Mad Men . Woven headpiece: 'This is one of my favourite hats (above). It's straw, but it's moulded. Cool, right? Very gypsy. 'The . nice thing about this hat, cause it's very formal, is that you could . actually wear this to a dinner party and you don't have to take it off . because it's part of the outfit.' Embellished capelet: Christina says: 'This [capelet, above] is one thing that I find I wear often, and you would think that . because it's so sort of specific that you wouldn't. 'It's... one of my absolute favourite things because you . can wear it with jeans and a T-shirt or you could wear it with a dress. 'It looks also very vintage as well, but it's actually new.' 'I think I have a lot more pencil skirts. I . used to like very sort of 1920s baggy, sort of floral lacy things that . probably weren't the most flattering on me, but were just so gorgeous that I . wore them anyway.' Among the items that Christina insists every woman must own is a metallic coat 'for the evening'. Picking up one such garment in vintage store My Ulrika, she remarks: 'It's incredibly subtle.' She admits having the money to spend on her wardrobe has certainly helped keep the fashion faux pas to a minimum. She worked as a model between the ages of 18 and 27, living in London and New York, and could not afford to splash out on fashion. 'There were probably some really bad outfits then, because I didn't have any money to shop,' she said. 'I could only shop at Strawberry! 'I'd go back home where my family lives in Virginia, there was great vintage stuff there because a lot of people didn't . want the stuff that I wanted, so I'd go and get that stuff and mix it in . with a little Strawberry tank top or something.' One thing Christina does remember splashing out on was a pair of leather jeans. 'I remember saving up when I lived in New York,' she recalled. 'I wanted a pair of leather jeans so badly and there was some shop down . on St Mark's... I think they were $200. 'That was a really big purchase . for me. I saved up and saved up, and I wore them every single day.'
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The Mad Men actress also reveals favourite pieces from her own closet, and what she has learned from the show's costume designer, Janie Bryant .
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151,743 |
50242c3bce6b9522062705d36fca1b8775d2a4ea
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Ros Altmann, the Government’s business champion for older workers, said it was ‘astonishing’ that NS&I had failed to predict how big demand would be . Around 100 extra staff have been drafted in to man a call centre selling the Government’s new pensioner bonds after a buying frenzy caused phonelines to jam and the website to crash. More than £1billion of the bonds were sold to 110,000 over-65s in the first two days they were on sale. Only £10billion-worth are available, sparking fears that they would sell out. Customers complained that the National Savings and Investments (NS&I) website, which sells the bonds, crashed after payment details had been entered. Repeated error messages caused one man to reportedly re-enter his details four times, only to discover all the payments had gone through and £40,000 was due to leave his bank account instead of the intended £10,000. And NS&I admitted that it was having to bring in another 100 staff after the chaotic launch saw its dedicated 24-hour phoneline swamped with calls. It had already increased the number of call centre workers from 300 to 600 before the scenes of panic on Thursday, and brought in a further 430 additional office staff to process applications. Yesterday the Government’s business champion for older workers, Ros Altmann, said it was ‘astonishing’ that NS&I had failed to predict how big initial demand would be. Scroll down for video . She said: ‘Savers have had such a raw time for five years, they are desperate, and this is the first really good savings product launched for years. 'It is a shame there have been so many problems. I hope they will now be able to sell it all smoothly.’ Anna Bowes, from savings advice site savingschampion.co.uk, said she had been contacted by people who were ‘worried and upset’ about problems buying the bonds. Pensioners who had moved large sums of money from their savings to current accounts in order to pay by direct debit had also been in touch, concerned about losing interest. But George Osborne said the sale had been ‘hugely successful’ with £1,153million of bonds sold in only two days. In a statement he said: ‘Our economic plan involves supporting savers and I’m delighted to report that it is proving hugely popular. ‘I can confirm that the latest figures show that our 65+ Pensioner Bond has had the biggest opening sales of any retail financial product in Britain’s modern history. Chancellor George Osborne (pictured) had boasted the bonds were the fastest-selling financial product in modern times . ‘£1,150million of these bonds have now been sold in the first two days, to over 110,000 pensioners. 'There’s plenty more available as we’re offering up to £10billion for sale, so we expect them to be on sale for months. 'It just shows what an appetite there is for an economic plan that rewards savers.’ A NS&I spokesman said its website was now ‘operating normally’ and pointed out that customers could also apply by post. People who have inadvertently made more than one payment will automatically be refunded from today and do not need to contact NS&I.
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Customers complained National Savings and Investments website crashed .
Ros Altmann, the Government’s business champion for older workers, said it was ‘astonishing’ that NS&I failed to predict how big demand would be .
NS&I admits extra staff are needed after 24-hour phoneline was swamped .
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46,861 |
84062ce2f7e343c568ab74f8890416d164ed9578
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By . Alan Hall . PUBLISHED: . 06:54 EST, 27 August 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 12:00 EST, 27 August 2012 . A 75-year-old referee speared through the throat with a javelin at an athletics meeting in Germany has died from his injuries. Dieter Schmidt had gone to measure the throw of a previous athlete when the javelin from the next contestant hit him in the throat and exited out of his neck. Paramedics revived the victim at the scene and an emergency doctor escorted him as he was taken to the Dusseldorf's University Hospital, where he was operated on after losing a lot of blood from his main artery. Tragic: Dieter Schmidt has died from his injuries after being hit by a javelin . Emergency services reported the referee had severed his carotid artery. Seven spectators in the 800-strong crowd who witnessed the accident yesterday and a 17-year-old javelin thrower were given counselling at the scene as police evacuated the stadium. The annual Wilhelm Unger Games event for young athletes was cancelled after the tragedy. Dusseldorf fire department spokesman, Michael Sandforth, told German website, The Local: 'He was bleeding very badly and lost a lot of blood. 'Our emergency doctor administered first aid and then he was taken to hospital. 'There was a helicopter at the scene but the doctor made the decision that there was an urgent need to bring him back round so he was taken nearby to the university clinic in the emergency doctor's vehicle.' Schmidt has been described as a 'highly experienced international javelin judge'. His 18-year-old granddaughter Fiona was due to compete at the championships.
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Dieter Schmidt was revived at the scene and taken to hospital but later died .
Spectators and athletes are given counselling at the scene .
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7fd5a3b9d837c890a61d10b0c76b5c2e312a8e8b
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(CNN) -- North Korea on Thursday launched a scathing personal attack on U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, raising comparisons with previous colorful comments about the West by the communist regime. Bush: "A chicken soaked in the rain," according to a North Korean Cabinet newspaper. At a meeting of southeast Asian nations in Phuket, Thailand, a North Korean Foreign Ministry spokesman blasted Clinton for what he called a "spate of vulgar remarks unbecoming for her position everywhere she went since she was sworn in," according to the state-run KCNA news agency. The spokesman called Clinton "by no means intelligent" and a "funny lady." "Sometimes she looks like a primary schoolgirl and sometimes a pensioner going shopping," the statement said. In no particular order, here are some of the most outspoken comments of recent years: . In October 2001, North Korean newspaper Rodong Sinmun said U.S. President George W. Bush was "an incompetent and rude president who is senseless and ignorant as he does not know even elementary diplomatic etiquette and lacks diplomatic ability." In March 2002, after Bush bracketed the communist state of Kim Jong-il with Iran and pre-war Iraq as being part of an "axis of evil," the North shot back and called the United States an "empire of evil," KCNA reported. In May 2005, North Korea described Bush as "a hooligan bereft of any personality as a human being, to say nothing of stature as president of a country. He is a half-baked man in terms of morality and a philistine whom we can never deal with." In December 2008 after an Iraqi reporter threw his shoes at Bush at a news conference in Baghdad the North's cabinet newspaper said in an article that Bush looked like "a chicken soaked in the rain," according to Reuters.com. In April 2004, a North Korean Foreign Ministry spokesman described U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney as a "mentally deranged person steeped in the inveterate enmity towards the system" in the North. In May 2003, the North said Cheney "is hated as the most cruel monster and blood-thirsty beast as he has drenched various parts of the world in blood." In May 2004, the North branded the Grand National Party of South Party a "vegetable assembly" and a "modern brand Nazi party." In November 2003, after U.S. Defense Secretary Rumsfeld described North Korea as an "evil country" and an "evil regime," KCNA shot back, describing him as a "political dwarf, human scum or hysteric. His hands are stained with the blood shed by so many people. He is, indeed, a human butcher and fascist tyrant who puts an ogre to shame." In May 2005, after U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice described the North as an "outpost of tyranny," a North Korean Foreign Ministry spokesman described Rice as "no more than an official of the most tyrannical dictatorial state in the world. Such woman bereft of any political logic is not the one to be dealt with by us." In May 2009, North Korean newspapers said Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso was "greedy for power" and "incompetent in politics." According to KCNA, they described him as "nothing but a political charlatan who does not know where to stand, a mere puppet and a guy with a poor knowledge of history."
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N. Korea launches personal attack on U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton .
Raises comparisons with previous comments about West by communist regime .
Paper described U.S. President Bush as "incompetent and rude president"
Foreign Ministry said Dick Cheney was a "mentally deranged person"
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fb8e868a5cff9d1e7247c1327e4c22ed18098150
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NEW DELHI, India (CNN) -- An Indian paramilitary trooper shot dead six colleagues and fled his military camp with an AK-47 rifle in the remote northeastern state of Manipur, a spokesman for his unit said Thursday. Indian Assam Rifles paramilitary soldiers on duty in the eastern state of Manipur. "He shot dead one junior commissioned officer in a fit of rage after having an altercation with him and then turned the gun on five other troopers (who arrived at the scene)," said Shamsher Jung, the spokesman for the Assam Rifles. Authorities launched a manhunt for the trooper. The Assam Rifles are stationed in Manipur, on the India-Myanmar border, to combat some 30 active insurgent groups that are believed to be operating there. The rebels want a separate homeland and have accused the Indian government of exploiting the region's natural resources, while doing little in return to help the indigenous people who live there. In the last decade, thousands have died in separatist violence. -- CNN's Harmeet Shah Singh contributed to this report.
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Trooper shot one junior commissioned officer in a fit of rage, spokesman said .
He then turned his gun on five other troopers who arrived on the scene .
Trooper part of Assam Rifles, stationed in Manipur on India-Myanmar border .
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c59acbfbc2cc296fef7f06348ae8abfc7f9a94bf
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Holland have set up a mouthwatering semi-final clash against Argentina after beating Costa Rica in a dramatic penalty shootout. The Dutch brought Newcastle United goalkeeper Tim Krul on as a substitute in the dying seconds of extra time. And he proved the hero after saving two Costa Rica penalties, sparking wild celebrations in the Arena Fonte Nova stadium. They will now face a tough task in the final four when they face Argentina who beat Belgium earlier today to advance. Scroll down for video . Holland's Tim Krul leaps to his left as he saves a penalty taken by Costa Rica's forward and captain Bryan Ruiz. The Newcastle United stoppers' heroics helped the Dutch advance to the semi-finals of the World Cup . Dutch Goalkeeper Tim Krul, of Newcastle United, left, was brought on for Jasper Cillessen, right, in the dying seconds of the game as penalties loomed in the quarter final clash . A glimpse in to the future? This Dutch fan certainly hopes so as she holds a replica of the World Cup trophy aloft during Holland's clash with Costa Rica . Dressed for the occasion: Costa Rican fans wear red, white and blue outfits as they wait outside the stadium before the World Cup quarter final match . A Dutch supporter kisses a replica of the World Cup in the hope of some good luck for her side as they prepare to take on Costa Rica . Flagged up: A Netherlands fan, left, with the colours of her nation painted on her face, enjoys the atmosphere ahead of kick-off while a Costa Rica fan pulls on a robot-style face mask . Feathers in your cap: A brightly dressed Dutch fan is all smiles despite the tension before kick-off . Dutch supporters create a sea of orange as they walk through the streets of Salvado in Brazil during their so-called Oranjemars towards the Arena Fonte Nova . Red in the face: Costa Rica fans roar on their team at the Fonte Nova Arena in Salvador . Beer goggles: A Dutch fan, his beard sprayed orange, looks out through a novelty pair of glasses as he watches the action, left, while another fan clasps a replica of the World Cup trophy . Costa Rica and Holland watch on as the drama of the penalty shootout unfolds in front of them . A Costa Rican fan lies on the street after being stabbed on his back while watching the World Cup on a giant screen at Democracy Square in San Jose . Substitute goalkeeper goalkeeper Tim Krul, introduced just for the shootout, saved from Bryan Ruiz and Michael Umana as the Netherlands triumphed 4-3. But Costa Rica had their own goalkeeper Keylor Navas to thank for keeping his team in the match with a string of first-half saves. Wesley . Sneijder had one of the best chances for the Dutch in the 80th . minute, beating Navas with a free kick, but the shot hit the post. Meanwhile, an investigation is underway . after a Costa Rican fan was stabbed in the back as he watched the match . on a giant screen at Democracy Square in San Jose, Costa Rica. Holland had reached the quarter-finals following a dramatic 2-1 win over Mexico, equalising in the 88th minute before netting the winner in stoppage time. Costa Rica edged past Greece 5-3 on penalties after drawing 1-1 in the last 16. Earlier in the night, Argentina, led by superstar . Lionel Messi, scored early thanks to a sweetly struck volley by striker . Gonzalo Higuain and held on for victory at the Estadio Nacional in . Brasilia. The win came despite a scathing . verbal attack by World Cup great Diego Maradona, who accused his . national side of having 'no idea'. Argentina . limped past Switzerland in the last 16 after overcoming Ottmar . Hitzfeld's team 1-0 in extra-time and faced even tougher European . opponents tonight. Belgium . had overcame a stubborn USA side to advance to their first . quarter-final since 1986 but needed a massive improvement on their poor . finishing from that 2-1 extra-time victory to progress past one of the . pre-tournamant favourites. But Gonzalo Higuain opened the scoring after just eight minutes . tonight when he swept a volley past Belgium's keeper Thibaut Courtois following . swift footwork by Lionel Messi. Sweetly struck: Argentina striker Gonzalo Higuain unleashes a volley to take his side into the lead in the quarter final with Belgium . Goal scorer Gonzalo Higuain, right, is mobbed by team mates as he celebrates with Argentina's midfielder Angel Di Maria, leaping behind him and Lionel Messi, left . Getting big headed: A fan of Argentina's national team holds a weathered cutout showing Lionel Messi's face . Despite the tension before the game, Argentina superstar Lionel Messi, pictured, had time to share a cheery exchange with young mascots . A sea of blue and white: Argentina fans were in expectant mood ahead of their national side's fixture against Belgium at the Mane Garrincha National Stadium in Brasilia . Couple of devils: Belgium's fans pose for the cameras before the quarter-final . Horsing around: Belgium and Argentina fans enjoy the atmosphere moments before kick off in the crucial quarter final fixture . A Belgium supporter, complete with black, yellow and red face paint, blows a kiss during the quarter final clash . His superb strike was enough to send his side through to the last four for the first time in 24 years. Belgium, whose best World Cup run was in 1986 when they were knocked out by Diego Maradona's Argentina in the semi-finals, had a couple of chances but otherwise offered little in attack despite sustained late pressure that set nerves among the thousands of Argentines thronging the giant arena jangling. The Albiceleste remain unbeaten at the . tournament, but had failed to impress with their performances on the way . to the last eight. The win . came as it was revealed that Football great Alfredo Di Stefano was in . 'critical' condition in hospital after a heart attack, his Real Madrid . club said on Saturday. The . 88-year-old Di Stefano was in 'critical, serious' condition at Madrid's . Gregorio Maranon Hospital, club spokeswoman Marta Santisteban said. Alfredo Di Stefano, pictured, is in a 'critical' condition after suffering a heart attack . A . spokeswoman for Madrid's emergency service Samur told the AP that an . ambulance was called to attend Di Stefano at Juan Ramon Jimenez street, . just north of the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, at 5 pm. She said paramedics found Di Stefano's heart had stopped beating and he . had stopped breathing, but they managed to resuscitate him after 18 . minutes. The . former Argentina forward helped Madrid win five straight European . Champions Cups from 1956-60 and eight Spanish league titles. He was . voted European player of the year in 1957 and 1959. He retired at the age . of 40 in 1966, ending a 21-year-long playing career. Madrid appointed Di Stefano honorary president in 2000 and named its new training complex after him six years later, with a statue erected in his honor in 2008. Di Stefano underwent a quadruple aorta-coronary bypass with a pacemaker implanted in December 2005 after suffering a myocardial infarction. And Diego Maradona, who captained the side to glory in 1986 and was coach in 2010, insisted before kick-off that they needed to improve. 'It seems to me that Argentina today has no idea,' he told AS. 'In the first half against Switzerland [in the round of 16] the team did not have one chance.' In the . second of tonight's clashes, Costa Rica take on Holland at the Arena . Fonte Nova knowing that they need another incredible performance to get . through. In the build-up, Costa Rica coach Jorge Luis Pinto called on FIFA to clamp down on Arjen Robben's diving . Flash point: Marouane Fellaini of Belgium challenges Lionel Messi of Argentina as the European side battles to level the scores . Hands in the air: Argentina supporters soak up the atmosphere at the Estadio Nacional in Brasilia . World Cup winner Diego Maradona, pictured watching his side during the tournament, has been scathing of the current crop of players claiming the team has 'no idea' We'll lick them! A devoted Argentina fan sticks out his tongue as he shows his support for his national side . An Argentinian face paint artist poses for a photo at Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro while another young woman shows some flower power at the Mane Garrincha National Stadium . Heart break: Belgium fans pray for a goal as their side battles to get back in to the game against Argentina . Robben was heavily criticised after winning a penalty in Holland's last game against Mexico. After that game he admitted diving to win a free-kick earlier in the game. Jorge Luis Pinto's side surprisingly blazed their way through Group D to make the last 16 for the first time since 1990, and a penalty shoot-out victory over Greece earned them the first quarter-final appearance in their history. Meanwhile, FIFA's disciplinary committee is studying the challenge that led to Brazil's star player Neymar suffering a fractured vertebra to decide on action against Colombia's Juan Zuniga. The Colombia defender caught Neymar with a knee in his back in a full-blooded challenge that went unpunished during Brazil's 2-1 quarter-final win.
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Tim Krul is brought on as a substitute with the game heading for penalties .
The Newcastle United keeper dramatically saved two Costa Rica spot kicks .
Two teams were playing for chance of a semi-final game against Argentina .
Costa Rican fan stabbed in San Jose wile watching match on big screen .
Argentina scored after just eight minutes in quarter final clash with Belgium .
National side had faced criticism from Diego Maradona who said team had 'no idea'
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Former Liverpool and England striker Michael Owen insists the concept of 'burnout' is a myth and believes Raheem Sterling will think twice about complaining of tiredness after this week's furore. Teenage forward Sterling has come under fire this week for telling Roy Hodgson he felt tired ahead of England's Euro 2016 qualifying win over Estonia, with the national boss subsequently dropping him from the starting line-up in Tallinn last Sunday. That has sparked a public debate over whether one of the nation's most promising talents needed a break just three months into the new campaign. Raheem Sterling has been criticised for complaining of tiredness just two months into the season . Sterling was benched for England's euro 2016 qualifier in Estonia after alerting boss Roy Hodgson . Owen can certainly relate to Sterling's dilemma having broken into the senior England set-up himself as a teenager, yet the 34-year-old insists he did not dare tell either his club or national manager he could do with a rest. 'We're surmising how he was feeling but I never felt like telling the manager I was tired because I never felt particularly that I needed a rest,' said Owen, who was speaking at the National Football Museum in Manchester where he was being inducted into the English Hall of Fame. 'I know people will say, 'Well, we don't want anyone having burnout'. But I'll ask you now - can you name one player who has ever been burned out? I don't know of anyone.' Sterling played 45 minutes against San Marino before being withdrawn at the break . The ex-Liverpool, Real Madrid and Manchester United striker was plagued with injuries throughout his illustrious career but does not attribute those problems to 'burnout'. Owen added: 'People will point the finger at me but I would just say I had muscle injuries because it was hereditary. 'My dad played football for 15 years and he had loads of muscle injuries, my brothers were both older than me - they were real quick sprinters - and they both had muscle injuries and I had muscle injuries. 'I don't think it was anything to do with how much I played. I don't know of any player that's been burned out, but I might be wrong.' Michael Owen has rubbished the idea that players can suffer from burnout . Owen concedes that Gerard Houllier, who was in charge at Anfield for the bulk of his Liverpool career, would ask his players if they were fatigued but the response was always a unanimous 'no'. And Owen believes the fallout after Sterling's comments were made public by Hodgson will make the player consider whether he wants to express his feelings in future. 'It's difficult to know what to make of Raheem's individual case,' Owen said. 'I can only speak from experience of me being in that situation and we always used to have a bit of a joke at Liverpool because the manager Gerard Houllier would always come around and ask everyone if they're fine, If they're tired. Owen was inducted to the National football Museum Hall Of Fame on Thursday evening . 'You'd always be saying, 'No, no, no, I'm totally fine' because you didn't want to get rested. 'But if Raheem has asked to be rested because he felt tired than you've got to commend him for that because that's putting the team first or he could have injured himself. 'And then on the flip side you think to yourself well maybe he was just being honest with the manager, thinking he was just a little more tired than he was but still wanting to play. 'Then all of a sudden he's been put on the bench and he's thinking I don't think I'll be so honest next time.'
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Michael Owen has rubbished idea players can suffer from burnout .
Former Liverpool forward says Sterling will think twice about speaking out .
Owen says his injury-ravaged latter years were due to muscle problems .
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By . James Chapman . PUBLISHED: . 19:00 EST, 21 June 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 19:00 EST, 21 June 2013 . Fears: Defence Secretary Philip Hammond says the army will be 'tied by health and safety' British troops could be prevented from carrying out vital missions after an explosive human rights ruling, the Defence Secretary has warned. Philip Hammond said the judgment means military chiefs will be ‘living in fear’ of being sued. He fears our forces risk being reduced to Continental-style peacekeeping roles – which see some countries refuse to let their personnel go out after dark – after judges decreed that the European Convention on Human Rights applies on the battlefield. Mr Hammond is understood to be so furious at the Supreme Court ruling that he is considering demanding a revocation and believes it strengthens the case for Britain quitting the ECHR. The Defence Secretary told the Daily Mail: ‘There are real concerns that British troops could be prevented from carrying out their missions for fear of falling foul of human rights legislation. We can’t have troop commanders living in fear of how lawyers back in London might interpret their battlefield decisions that are vital to protecting our national security. ‘There could be serious implications for our ability to work with international partners who are not bound by the ECHR.’ Following the Supreme Court ruling that the ECHR does apply even in combat situations, Mr Hammond has ordered a review of the implications for military commanders and troops. The prospect of ‘health and safety’ type laws applying to the battlefield could seriously impact on Britain’s military capability, he said. Flood of litigation: Defence officials fear there will be endless compensation demands and curbs on military capability . A source added: ‘If the ECHR applies to personnel on operations it is feared that commanders may be reluctant to make decisions in the field that will then be second-guessed by lawyers in London. ‘We don’t want to be tied up by health and safety rules that prevent troops patrolling at night or only with certain equipment.’ Ministers have also asked officials to reassure worried international counterparts that the UK will continue to be a committed and effective partner on combined missions. Earlier this week, families of some British soldiers killed or injured fighting in Iraq were given the go-ahead to bring compensation claims against the Government. The Supreme Court ruled that cases of troops killed while driving Land Rovers could be brought under the ‘right to life’ enshrined in article two of the ECHR, potentially outlawing the future deployment of troops with outdated equipment. It also ruled that families of soldiers killed by ‘friendly fire’ from Challenger tanks could sue for negligence because the traditional doctrine of combat immunity should not cover decisions ‘far removed from active operations against the enemy’. Sue Smith, mother of Private Phillip Hewett, 21, of Tamworth, Staffordshire, who died in July 2005 after a Snatch Land Rover was blown up, said it meant soldiers could no longer be treated as ‘sub-human with no rights’. But defence officials now fear they could face a huge bill from a flood of litigation. Conservative MP Dominic Raab, a lawyer who has campaigned for reform of human rights law, said: ‘This week’s novel ruling by the Supreme Court – stretching the Human Rights Act to allow soldiers to sue the Government over decisions on equipment, training and operations – will endanger our forces and undermine democratic accountability. ‘The Government should be held accountable if it puts soldiers at unnecessary risk.’But he added: ‘A surge of litigation risks diverting the very money that should be spent on training, equipment and care. What happens if troops are caught off-guard or stretched thin?’ Colonel Richard Kemp, former head of British forces in Afghanistan, said: ‘We cannot allow a constricting health and safety culture to creep in and prevent the vital job our soldiers do.’
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Defence secretary is reportedly furious at the ECHR intervention .
Philip Hammond says rules could seriously impact military capability .
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By . Neil Sears and Jack Doyle . Last updated at 8:07 AM on 25th October 2011 . Jailed: Conrad Luis De Souza was sentenced to two years and three months . A married man who pretended to be a doctor faked a paternity test after his lover became pregnant so that he could deny he was the father. Conrad De Souza seduced scientist and committed Christian Silke Luetzelschwab in December 2007. He began an affair with her after claiming he was a single doctor when he met her at a conference. De Souza told her that he had been educated at £9,000-a-term Dulwich College, followed by Cambridge, before working as a GP and then as a heart specialist. But after Miss Luetzelschwab became pregnant with their daughter, his account soon began to unravel. De Souza refused to acknowledge fathering the child and Miss Luetzelschwab, 34, was forced to contact the Child Support Agency. Although a DNA test apparently proved his claim that he was not the father, Miss Luetzelschwab was suspicious and at her insistence enquiries by the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission continued. The investigation found he had used his medical connections to send a DNA sample from his unwitting father Faustino, rather than himself. Deceitful De Souza was later proved to be the father of Miss Luetzelschwab’s daughter, who was born in December 2009, after which the investigation began. It was also revealed that he was in fact married. And, even more astonishingly, it was discovered that he was not a qualified doctor – despite being paid by the NHS to work in a clinical role for a decade, receiving a sum believed to exceed £500,000. He had been to neither Dulwich College nor Cambridge, they discovered. In fact, the British citizen of Asian descent had dropped out of a medical course after little more than a year and is believed to have been schooled in Tanzania, where he was born. Pushed for investigation: Silke Luetzelschwab and their daughter . Last night De Souza, 53, of Beckenham, south east London, began a 27-month jail term after admitting three counts of fraud. He also said his wife Roopina Coutinho, 41, left him because of the affair. The father of Conrad de Souza, leaves Croydon Crown Court this evening . Miss Luetzelschwab would have been due to receive £800 a month from De Souza towards their child’s upkeep. But her former lover now has no income at all, and faces having hundreds of thousands seized to repay the money he defrauded from the NHS. Meanwhile, his former employers face awkward questions about how he was given the jobs in the first place. Officials insisted there was no evidence he had ever touched a patient – any instance of which would amount to assault – but De Souza himself claimed to have worked as a GP for years. Judge Simon Pratt yesterday told De Souza, as he jailed him at Croydon Crown Court: ‘You are an articulate, driven, and deeply dishonest man, without any apparent conscience about what you were doing. ‘Your behaviour in respect of the paternity of your child was deeply dishonest and wilfully manipulative.’ Prosecutor Robert O’Sullivan told the court: ‘For almost a decade, Mr De Souza held himself out as a fully qualified and appropriately registered GP with a busy London practice. ‘In truth Mr De Souza was not medically qualified – so obtained and kept his job as a result of fraud. He enrolled in 1980 as a medical student at the University of London – but did not graduate.’ Instead of gaining the status of a doctor he and his family craved, the court heard that De Souza worked in an administrative role for a company dealing with doctors. Croydon Crown Court, pictured, heard how De Souza faked the DNA test by using a swab taken from his father, to avoid being found out about an extramarital affair . He then switched to an office role with the NHS Lewisham Primary Care Group, which required no medical qualifications. But when a job came up in 2001 as a clinical adviser to the Lewisham NHS trust, De Souza falsely claimed to have the ‘clinical expertise and qualifications’ required to get it. In a CV now revealed to be a ‘work of fiction’ he boasted of ‘three years’ of experience in a busy GP practice. It helped secure him an important role on a ‘coronary heart disease and stroke clinical support panel’. And in 2005 he was promoted to become assistant clinical director of the South East London Managed Clinical Cardiac network. De Souza’s barrister Sangita Modgil said: ‘He simply couldn’t cope with the concept that he had not managed to become a doctor. ‘On the paternity issue, he could not cope with the concept of his wife discovering he’s had an affair.’ An NHS Lewisham spokesman said it had ‘learnt lessons’ from the case.
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Conrad Luis De Souza was sentenced to two years and three months .
Court heard his CV was a 'work of fiction'
He pretended he was another doctor with a similar name .
Worked in 'clinical guidance' roles without the right qualifications .
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8ba267f66e9cc51d5212e8398e6f4ecb92ada8f7
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Brendan Rodgers insisted that Dejan Lovren was happy to take a penalty before his miss ended Liverpool's Europa League hopes in Istanbul on Thursday. Liverpool, who famously won the Champions League in a shootout at the Ataturk Stadium in 2005, suffered their first ever European defeat on penalties at the fourth attempt. Lovren, who has struggled to live up to his £20million transfer fee from Southampton last summer, took his spot-kick ahead of more attacking players like Raheem Sterling with the teams tied at 4-4 in the shootout, and fired over the bar. Dejan Lovren fires his penalty over the bar to send Besiktas through and knock Liverpool out of the cup . The summer signing was clearly distraught after his miss sent Brendan Rodgers side crashing out . 'Yes he was happy to take one,' said Rodgers. 'You saw the penalty takers that opted to take one were all confident. The four before Dejan were very good penalty-takers. We've had experience already in a cup competition this year so we were happy with the takers and Dejan was confident. 'We're obviously disappointed for him because he played very well. Someone has to miss and unfortunately it was him. But they were all happy to take one. 'We're disappointed of course to go out in the manner we did. We didn't come to lose, we came to win and to qualify. Rodgers (left) confirmed that Lovren 'was happy' to step up and take a spot kick against Besiktas . 'Over course of the game we defended very well and limited them to very few chances, but the mistake we made we got punished for where we were just too deep. 'Obviously I'm proud of the team and the young players who gained experience in a fantastic atmosphere. 'We now just have to concentrate on a league campaign that's starting to go well for us. The object of our season is to win a cup but we've got an excellent opportunity in other competitions.' Liverpool players console each other after being knocked out of the last 32 of the Europa League .
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Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers says Dejan Lovren wanted to take a penalty during their Europa League clash away to Besiktas .
The Turkish side won 5-4 on penalties at the Ataturk Stadium in Istanbul .
Lovren missed his spot kick and Liverpool went out of the Europa League .
Click here for all the latest Liverpool news .
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People with the rare AB blood group are more likely to develop memory loss, a study has found. U.S. researchers found that people with the rare bloody type were 82 per cent more likely to develop thinking and memory problems that can lead to dementia, than people with other blood types. The new study comes on the back of past research which suggests people with blood type O have a lower risk of heart disease and stroke, thus decreasing the risk of memory loss and dementia. Researchers analysed a group of people, aged 45 and above, for an average of more than three years. U.S. researchers found that people with rare blood group AB were 82 per cent more likely to develop the thinking and memory problems that can lead to dementia, than people with other blood types . They identified 495 participants who developed thinking and memory problems or cognitive impairment, during the study. They were compared with 687 people with no cognitive problems. People with AB blood type made up six per cent of those who developed cognitive impairment - higher than the four per cent of the general population with the blood group. Author Dr Mary Cushman, of the University of Vermont College of Medicine, said the new study supports the idea that having a certain blood group may give a lower risk for heart disease and stroke, which in turn protects the brain. She said: 'Our study looks at blood type and risk of cognitive impairment, but several studies have shown that factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes increase the risk of cognitive impairment and dementia. 'Blood type is also related to other vascular conditions like stroke, so the findings highlight the connections between vascular issues and brain health.' Researchers said the study supports previous research which suggests having a certain blood group, like O, gives a lower risk for heart disease and stroke, which in turn protects the brain . She added: 'More research is needed to confirm these results.' Researchers also looked at blood levels of factor VIII, a protein that helps blood to clot. High levels of factor VIII are related to higher risk of cognitive impairment and dementia. People in this study with higher levels of factor VIII in their blood were 24 per cent more likely to develop thinking and memory problems than people with lower levels of the protein. People with AB blood had a higher average level of factor VIII than people with other blood types.
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Study found that people with rare blood type AB were 82% more likely to develop memory loss than people with other blood types .
Thinking and memory problems can be early signals of dementia, although the study did not look at dementia itself .
Of the people that developed memory problems, 6% had blood type AB - higher than the 4% of people in the population with this blood type .
Previous studies show people with blood group O have a lower risk of heart disease and stroke .
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