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1,075 | 030c3b80eed3eddeb98fe9c2cca873d3ef843911 | (CNN Student News) -- March 10, 2014 . A mystery surrounds the disappearance of a passenger plane in Southeast Asia, and we'll start off today by telling you what was unusual about the flight. We also look at some of the first wartime photographs ever taken and contrast them with current tension in the same region. Other stories include a survey of college freshmen and the outcome of a marathon spelling bee. On this page you will find today's show Transcript, the Daily Curriculum, and a place for you to leave feedback. TRANSCRIPT . Click here to access the transcript of today's CNN Student News program. Please note that there may be a delay between the time when the video is available and when the transcript is published. DAILY CURRICULUM . Click here for a printable version of the Daily Curriculum (PDF). Media Literacy Question of the Day: . How do you think that images taken by photojournalists in war have changed over time? Key Concepts: Identify or explain these subjects you heard about in today's show: . 1. flight data recorder . 2. Crimean War . 3. financial aid . Fast Facts: How well were you listening to today's program? 1. What do we know about Malaysia Airlines Flight 370? What mystery surrounds this flight? What is the first priority for investigators? 2. According to the video, from what conflict are the first official photographs of war? Who fought in this war? When did it take place? What was the most famous image to emerge from this war? Why is this image controversial? What famous poem was written about a battle in this conflict? 3. What does a new UCLA survey tell us about what factor students consider "very important" when choosing a college? According to the survey, how might this factor impact what colleges students are actually attending? 4. What's unique about the "Smart Home" seen in the video? What are some of the things this home can do? How does the owner "talk to" the house? Discussion Questions: . 1. If you were investigating the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, what initial questions might guide your investigation? How would you go about finding answers to those questions? 2. In the study of history, what are some examples of primary sources? Why are primary sources, like the photos from the Crimean War, valuable? What kinds of information might primary sources provide that secondary sources cannot? 3. If you plan to go to college, what factors are foremost in your mind as you decide where to go? If cost is a concern, where might you go to find out what your options are for financial aid? 4. What might be some benefits of a programmable home? Can you think of any downsides? Explain. CNN Student News is created by a team of journalists and educators who consider the Common Core State Standards, national standards in different subject areas, and state standards when producing the show and curriculum. We hope you use our free daily materials along with the program, and we welcome your feedback on them. FEEDBACK . We're looking for your feedback about CNN Student News. Please use this page to leave us comments about today's program, including what you think about our stories and our resources. Also, feel free to tell us how you use them in your classroom. The educators on our staff will monitor this page and may respond to your comments as well. Thank you for using CNN Student News! Click here to submit your Roll Call request. | This page includes the show Transcript and the Daily Curriculum .
Use the Transcript to help students with reading comprehension and vocabulary .
The Daily Curriculum offers the Media Literacy Question of the Day, Key Concepts, Fast Facts and Discussion Questions .
At the bottom of the page, please share your feedback about our show and curriculum . |
235,129 | bc64d3e8390f7bf89e74d9b1faf45ce3be77e111 | George Zimmerman's estranged wife has revealed that she now has doubts over her husband's innocence in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin last year. Shellie Zimmerman, who said she has lost 40lbs since appearing with her husband in court, spoke out on Thursday in her first interview since a domestic dispute between the couple this month. She told the Today show she was standing by her story that he had a gun during the altercation in Lake Mary, Florida two weeks ago because of how he touched his shirt - even though she never actually saw a firearm and police said they did not find one. She added that she no longer feels like she can trust her husband or his version of events in the Trayvon Martin shooting after how he has treated her. 'I'm conflicted,' she said. 'I believe the evidence but this revelation in my life has helped me take the blinders off. I think anyone would doubt that innocence because I don't know the person I've been married to.' Scroll down for video . Questions: Speaking on the Today show on Thursday, Shellie Zimmerman said she has doubts over her estranged husband's innocence in the killing of Trayvon Martin as she feels like she no longer knows him . Weight loss: Shellie told the Today show that she has lost 40lbs since her husband's murder trial earlier this year, left, and she looked undeniably more svelte as she appeared on the show . She added: 'I have doubts but I also believe the evidence. I respect the jury's decision.' Shellie, 26, spoke to Matt Lauer nearly three weeks after she frantically called 911 claiming her husband had his hand on a gun and was threatening to shoot her and her father in Lake Mary, Florida. She claimed that Zimmerman had punched her father and smashed her iPad. But Zimmerman disputed the claims, instead blaming Shellie for starting the argument and hitting him with the iPad. Police responded to the scene but neither side pressed charges. The dispute came days after she filed for divorce against her husband of more than six years, explaining that their marriage had been 'irretrievably broken'. Speaking on the Today show, Shellie Zimmerman said she maintains he had a gun outside the house, even though police officers said they did not find any firearms. In court: She stood by her husband throughout his murder trial, pictured, but said she is now moving on . 'I absolutely stand by my story,' she said. 'I did not see a gun but I know my husband. I saw him in a stance and a look in his eyes that I've never seen before. 'He was putting his hand in his shirt saying, "Please step closer, please step closer". Logically I assumed he had a gun on him.' She said she regrets not pressing charges . but said she remains on probation and officers 'made it clear' that she . would go to jail if charges were filed. Shellie Zimmerman was sentenced to one year probation and 100 hours of community service after she pleaded guilty to lying to the court about the couple's finances during his bail hearing. She added that despite this unwavering commitment to him, their relationship had changed throughout the murder trial because he treated her as if she was 'disposable'. 'I felt like I was living a life with . him and that we were going to rebuild after this, but he had other . plans,' she said on the show. Dispute: The interview came nearly three weeks after she called 911 to report that Zimmerman was threatening to shoot her and her father. This image shows the moment Zimmerman was detained . Doubts: She said she has doubts over her husband's innocence in the shooting of Trayvon Martin (pictured) in Florida last year because she no longer knows her husband. He was found not guilty . She said that she has so far been unable to serve him with the divorce papers as she does not know where he is. Shellie, who told Lauer she has lost 40lbs since the trial, said she is now looking forward to moving on with her life, and now plans on always telling the truth in light of perjury charge. 'I'm a grown woman and I made a mistake and I own that,' she said. 'But the truth is the truth and I want to forever tell the truth.' George Zimmerman was acquitted of second-degree murder on July 15 in the death of the unarmed 17-year-old, who was shot in Sanford, Florida in February 2012. Zimmerman, a former neighborhood watch volunteer, had been accused of racially profiling the teenager, who was black. His wife told the Today show that, despite her doubts, she does not think Zimmerman pursued the teenager because of his race. | Shellie Zimmerman said she feels like she does not know her estranged husband so now has doubts over his version of events .
Zimmerman was found not guilty of second-degree murder on July 15 .
Earlier this month, Shellie called police saying he was threatening her with a gun but she did not press charges .
She told the Today show she did not see a gun but still maintains he had one - even though police said no firearms were found .
She said she regrets not pressing charges but feared she would be put in jail as she is still on probation for perjury charge .
Added that she has lost 40lbs since murder trial . |
150,873 | 4f0e7bc03438d3fc50a98116bf2aa00a4ac23e4b | Dr. Ben Carson's path to the White House begins by walking away from Fox News. On Friday, amid media reports about Carson's preparations to possibly run for president, Carson and Fox confirmed that his relationship with the cable news channel had been severed. From now on, when Carson appears on Fox, it'll be as a newsmaking guest, not as a paid contributor. Carson, formerly a neurosurgeon at Johns Hopkins Hospital, signed up with Fox back in October 2013. Earlier that year, he had garnered attention for speeches at the National Prayer Breakfast, the Conservative Political Action Conference and elsewhere. While contributing to Fox programs, he openly flirted with the possibility of a presidential run in 2016. In September, he told the radio host Hugh Hewitt that the chances of a run were "reasonably good," but that he was waiting for a "few more months." It's been a couple of months, at least. Earlier this week, The Washington Times (which publishes columns by Carson) reported that a flattering documentary about him, titled "A Breath of Fresh Air: A New Prescription for America," is set to air this weekend in local markets across the country. "A production company run by conservative personality Armstrong Williams filmed the documentary and is paying for the airtime," The Times reported. "Mr. Williams is also Mr. Carson's business manager." Soon after the hourlong ad telecasts were reported, Fox said Carson was no longer a contributor. Fox took similar action with two contributors, Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum, in the run-up to the 2012 election. Carson said in a statement Friday evening that "at this time, no decision has been made to run for president." "However, recognizing the possibility, Fox News felt I needed complete independence to fully examine my options," he said. "My departure has been thoroughly amicable and is in the best interest for both Fox News and myself." Fox's own website quoted a GOP strategist, Tyler Harber, as saying, "The man's running. He's been running for two years." | Conservative parts ways with Fox News .
Says he needs freedom to consider his political options .
That may include a 2016 presidential bid . |
101,199 | 0e6ce44a63d7acfc08c41781b41507ad016bc869 | In the reality game of fantasy football being played out at Manchester United this summer, it has become the £150million question: just which of his stars will Louis van Gaal drop when they are all fit to start? The surge of optimism around Old Trafford during Sunday’s win over QPR was almost palpable, such was the transformation in Van Gaal’s team. But it has also highlighted the embarrassment of riches he has accrued during a summer spent throwing money at the transfer market. Four goals to the good and he was still able to summon Radamel Falcao, Adnan Januzaj and Antonio Valencia off the bench. Robin van Persie (left) could struggle to make it into the Man United team following Radamel Falcao's arrival . It is not a problem that will concern Van Gaal. ‘It’s easy,’ was his response last week when asked how he will accommodate them all. Nor are the fans likely to complain about a sudden sprinkling of stardust after witnessing their club’s alarming decline into mediocrity. But for the expensive squad now assembled at Old Trafford, there are bound to be a few bruised egos in the weeks ahead and nowhere more so than in attack, where the arrival of Angel di Maria and Falcao has upped the ante dramatically. It is generally accepted that Van Gaal simply cannot shoehorn all his stars into the same team — Di Maria, Falcao, Wayne Rooney, Robin van Persie and Juan Mata. Something, or somebody, has to give. Angel di Maria celebrates scoring his first goal for Manchester United on his home debut against QPR . The man who appeared to be most under threat in the new order was Mata. Van Gaal was certainly under no obligation to select a £37.1m signing who arrived at the club four months before he took over and, with the new manager looking to inject more pace into the team it was suggested that the Spaniard might actually slow United down. Four games into the new season, and it would appear that Mata has an integral part to play in the No.10 role. Deployed at the top of a midfield diamond on Sunday, he provided the link between midfield and attack and weighed in with United’s fourth goal. It was Mata’s eighth in 10 Premier League games, which is remarkable for a player brought in primarily to provide assists. So who will be the odd man out? It is highly unlikely to be Di Maria, who showed just why United broke the British transfer record to sign him for £59.7m from Real Madrid, or Wayne Rooney, installed as captain by Van Gaal. Falcao has yet to play a full 90 minutes since rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee last January, but it will be hard to omit the Colombia star when he is fully fit. That leaves Van Persie. Mata's form - he has scored eight goals in 10 Premier League games - puts Van Persie's place under threat . Amid the wave of euphoria on Sunday, it was overlooked that the Dutchman did not actually play very well. In fact, he has not played particularly well for United for some time. The striker credited with tipping the title balance in United’s favour after he arrived from Arsenal two years ago, faded under David Moyes last season. The highlight, a Champions League hat-trick against Olympiacos, was followed by news that he would miss six weeks with a knee injury. It was not enough to prevent Van Persie from playing for Van Gaal at the World Cup and scoring that spectacular diving header against Spain in the opening game, but doubts persist that he has fully recovered and his early-season form has done little to dispel them. He posed little threat to QPR at Old Trafford, apart from when a moment of brilliance from Di Maria left him with a clear sight of goal, but he fired straight at Rob Green. Van Persie (right) struggled during the 4-0 victory over QPR and was outshone by his United team-mates . When Van Gaal was confirmed as United’s new manager, it was assumed that his fellow Dutchman would be an automatic first choice, if not for the captaincy as well. Van Persie missed out on that honour and is now in serious danger of being squeezed out of the line-up. At 31, few would argue that his best years are behind him. Van Gaal is unlikely to shirk the issue, as Holland team-mate Daley Blind acknowledged after making an impressive debut. ‘He (the manager) is very honest to everybody — that can be frightening, but I like it,’ said Blind. ‘He knows what he wants and he knows his philosophy.’ Blind and Van Persie were pictured on Saturday night enjoying a Chinese meal with Falcao in Manchester city centre. How much longer Van Persie can keep his place at United’s top table remains to be seen. | Manchester United have an embarrassment of riches after spending £150million this summer .
Radamel Falcao, Angel di Maria and Daley Blind all arrived at Old Trafford .
Louis van Gaal must drop one of his stars when all are fit to start .
Dutchman Robin van Persie could be the man to miss out . |
147,327 | 4a7bc5f34b139e951ec9989a6d385b0302053351 | By . Damien Gayle . PUBLISHED: . 04:25 EST, 17 October 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 10:32 EST, 17 October 2012 . Very long legs: This harvestman with a phenomenal foot-long leg span was discovered by a German researcher exploring caves in Laos . A daddy longlegs with an incredible foot-long leg span has been discovered - and left scientists baffled as to how to classify it. Dr Peter Jäger from the Senckenberg Research Institute in Frankfurt, Germany, found the collossal harvestman while exploring caves during a trip in Laos. It is one of the largest representatives of the entire order discovered anywhere in the world, but a lack of researchers with expertise in the taxonomy of local wildlife mean it has as yet escaped definition. Dr Jäger, an arachnologist, had been visiting the south-east Asian nation to film a documentary when he made the discovery. 'In between takes I collected spiders from the caves in the southern province of Khammouan,' he said. 'In one of the caves I discovered a harvestman that was absolutely huge.' The leg span of the gigantic male harvestman was more than 33cm (nearly 1.1ft). That's just a centimetre shy of the current record leg span for a species from South America. However, when the time came to sort and label his find Dr Jäger, who mainly deals with huntsman spiders, found himself stumped. Harvestmen are arachnids, but they are not spiders. Even the specialist he consulted, Ana Lucia Tourinho from the National Institute for Research of the Amazon in Manaus, Brazil, could only conclude that it is probably the genus Gagrella in the Sclerosomatidae family. 'It’s a shame we can’t identify such an exceptional discovery correctly,' Dr Jäger said. 'We haven’t dealt with these and related genera from China and neighbouring South East Asia before. 'Specialists are also unavailable due to the fact that descriptive taxonomy is no longer the main focus of research funding.' The harvestmen of the Sclerosomatidae family can be found in virtually every habitat and they constitute an ecologically very important predator group in the natural food chain. Once properly classified and investigated, the creatures could serve as an indicator of the ecological state of the natural and cultural scenery. These long-legged creatures are also of interest to behavioural scientists and evolutionary biologists. For example, during courtship the male presents a nuptial gift to the female to demonstrate his fitness. Only when the female accepts it do they mate. Whose a pretty boy then? Attempts to define the arachnid have baffled researchers. Gaps in the taxonomy . of local wildlife mean it could only be classified as probably the . genus Gagrella in the Sclerosomatidae family . Dr Jäger would now like to do a . detailed case study of the Sclerosomatidae family along with his . Brazilian colleague and in collaboration with other scientists in . Germany, China and Japan. The term 'daddy longlegs' can actually refer to three different kinds of creepy crawlies, depending on which part of the world you are in: . Their findings should then be applicable to other groups and regions. 'We want to avoid a situation in future where we again lack the experts to classify such unique creatures,' said Dr Jäger. Meanwhile, Laos has turned out to be a veritable land of giants. Other similarly huge arthropods found in the same region include the Laotian huntsman spider Heteropoda maxima with a leg span of up to 30cm; the whip scorpion Typopeltis magnificus with a span of 26cm; and the predatory centipede Thereuopoda longicornis with a total span of almost 40cm. All these organisms are more or less closely linked to caves in these karst areas. 'What mechanisms or factors are responsible for this frequency of gigantism is still unclear', said Dr Jäger. | Huge harvestman found by German researcher exploring caves in Laos .
Specialists unable to classify beast because of gaps in local taxonomy .
The same region is home to a range of other massive arthropods . |
153,109 | 51dab7deeaacbdffb0758497c356d92423354eb2 | Prime Minister Tony Abbott has admitted that people's internet search histories and data will also be used to fight crime in Australia - not just for anti-terrorism purposes. Mr Abbott has revealed that the government has opened discussions with Internet Service Providers around the country to ensure that the 'Big Brother' policy can be put in place, seeking measures to ensure the digital footprint of all Australians is not lost. 'This is an absolutely vital weapon in the fight against terror and an absolutely vital weapon against crime fighting more generally,' Mr Abbott said. Scroll down for video . Prime Minister Tony Abbott says 'expert advice' has been provided to the government to ensure metadata storage should be used for all crime-fighting . 'An absolutely vital weapon against crime fighting' Tony Abbott . The controversial plan to hold on to phone and internet records of all Australians was originally flagged only as part of a suite of dramatic new anti-terror laws announced by the government. Despite the admission it's now likely to have wider use by authorities, the PM would not be drawn on whether the information kept would be secure. 'It's not what you are doing on the internet, it's the site's you are visiting, it's not the content it's just where you have been. 'It's the person you are sending it to, the person sending it, it's the date and the place it's posted from.' Metadata is the information kept by . telecommunications companies - such as phone numbers, email addresses . and the dates, times, locations and duration of phone calls. Government officials have begun seeking guarantees from the providers that those details of browsing history will be not be lost. 'There is some risk, as time goes by, that this information will no longer be kept,' added Mr Abbott. The plan would require bi-partisan support. The Prime Minister is now fighting the announcement on two fronts - including claims the Coalition is no better than the former Gillard Labor Government in breaking election promises. Mr Abbott said the about-face on the Racial Discrimination Act was about winning back support from ethnic communities and that the stronger anti-terror laws were now a more pressing issue. But civil liberties groups claim the government's plans are nothing more than 'a smokescreen'. Terry O'Gorman from the Australian Council of Civil Liberties said that 'this is just propaganda spin by the Prime Minister talking up this problem (terrorist sympathisers)'. 'It's an illogical announcement, nothing more than a deliberate and serious exaggeration,' Mr O'Gorman said. 'There are already sufficient laws in place to deal with anyone caught dealing with extremists and as for metadata being used in ordinary criminal investigations, well this information is already accessible to authorities, without a warrant being required. 'All these so-called announcements have been nothing more than a smokescreen, over their getting rid of the so-called Bolt laws.' | Data storage will not be reserved for anti-terror purposes .
The 'digital footprint' of all Australians will be secured for general crime-fighting .
Government is in talks with Internet Service Providers to ensure they save the information .
Civil libertarians say the government is 'using propaganda to over-state the extremists problem' |
100,001 | 0cd9eac820f2267622743768dd95da24cd0d6252 | By . Ruth Styles . PUBLISHED: . 06:13 EST, 6 September 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 08:14 EST, 6 September 2013 . From a Kung-Fu professional to a mini incredible hulk, these are the babies you wouldn't want to mess with. Fit enough to show you up in exercise class, these three tots show off their muscles and strength in this bizarre set of photographs. The images are the work of American commercial photographer Eric Sahrmann, 36, from Chicago, who says he created the pictures to raise awareness of the importance of infant health. Don't mess with my mother! This amazing image shows a a junior version of the Incredible Hulk . He explained 'Some of the positions were easy to capture, but others became quite a problem. 'We knew that we would have to get a baby to open his mouth to look like he was screaming for the karate chop photo, but we could not get anything that looked good. 'Then right when we were out of ideas and about to give up, one of the babies let out this huge yawn that I was able to quickly shoot. This ended up working perfectly for the karate baby.' The digitally enhanced final images are the result of merging approximately 15 different shots. Setting up the scene with black glossy acrylic and black seamless paper for the background, Eric then composed the lighting in order to create a consistent look for each baby. It's the real Karate Kid! A set of Duplo bricks is on the wrong end of a karate kick from this baby black belt . Now lets see YOU do it! A future career as a bodybuilder beckons for this young man . 'The project took a lot of people to pull off,' added Eric, whose portfolio also includes digitally created mythical creatures and mermaids. 'From the producer to the baby-wrangler - who would hold the babies into the positions that we would need - to the stylists, to the digital artist, to the parents that were willing to bring their tiny babies. 'We had a casting for babies between the ages of three months and one and a half years old. 'We ended up getting about 30 babies and parents come to the casting, so it was a loud and crazy day.' | The striking images are the work of Chicago photographer Eric Sahrmann .
Sahrmann, 36, said each shot is the result of merging 15 different photos .
He hopes the powerful images will help raise awareness of infant health . |
148,639 | 4c33eeb55834a144ec2aff28d78c4c1bad7e049d | By . Suzannah Hills . Two British woman have been detained in China for more than two months after their dream holiday turned to nightmare. Modupe Idowu, 59, and her friend Esther Jubril Badmos, also 48, were arrested after becoming embroiled in a dispute at a shoe shop . in the city of Guangzhou. They were locked up in 'hell-like' conditions at a detention centre for 38 days and although they have now been released, the two women remain trapped in the country as their visas have expired and authorities refuse to issue them new ones. Trapped: Mary Idowu, left, and Esther Jubril-Badmos are stuck in China as their visas ran out when police detained them for 38 days and authorities are now refusing to issue them new ones . Mrs Idowu's desperate family said the two women's ordeal began Ms Badmos asked the shop to amend an order she had lodged earlier in the trip. She was then assaulted by two members of staff before both women went to a police station.Mrs Idowu, from Islington, North London witnessed a vicious attack on her friend. Daughter Sarah Murray said: 'Although Esther tried to defend herself, she was pushed to the floor, kicked and beaten - and handfuls of her hair were ripped out. 'A security guard locked them in a room and another man, who we think is the shop owner's brother, came to the room and punched Esther.' When they arrived at the police station their passports were seized and they were pressurised into signing paperwork they didn't understand, before being flung into a cell overnight without food and moved to a detention centre the next day. Ms Idowu, who is known as Mary, was put in a cell with six other women - forced to sleep on a wooden plank and go to the toilet in front of the other prisoners. Her friend was taken to the centre's hospital where she was treated for her injuries. Meanwhile Mrs Idowu's five children . have struggled to find out any information about their mother - despite . paying lawyers in China around £4,000 to find out - and two of them flew . to the country to track her down at the end of July. Both . women were released on July 29 but since then have been met with an . onslaught of demands including a £20,000 claim for damages from the shop . owner, which was eventually settled with £4,500. Ordeal: The pair were arrested after being assaulted by two members of staff at a shoe shop in Guangzhou, pictured, when they asked them to amend an order . But their visas have now expired and they cannot be issued with new ones until police provide paperwork to show the charges had been dropped. Despite endless visits to the police station, officers refuse to tell them when, and if, the documentation will be provided. Mrs Murray said she barely recognised her mum when she saw her come out of prison. 'When I saw her, I thought she looked like an old woman. She could not walk properly. She was so frail and so skinny as she had lost a couple of stone as she barely ate.' Mrs Murray, who returned from China last week, added: 'I can't really put this experience into words. We are totally confused. It's like watching a horror film.' Her sister, Julie Idowu, 26 said: 'Our pain is very real. I have been crying every day. I have taken a lot of time off work as I'm so worried about my mum. 'Her health and mental state is a big concern as well as the fact that she has missed her operation. 'It's an injustice that my mum has been held for all this time for witnessing an assault on her friend. Her other sister, Elizabeth Idowu, criticised lawyers, saying: 'People are exploiting our despair. They are making money out of our continued suffering.' A Foreign and Commonwealth Office spokeswoman said they were aware of the situation and were providing assistance, but could not comment further and said it was a matter for the Chinese. | Modupe Idowu, 59 and Esther Jubril Badmos, 48, were arrested after becoming embroiled in a dispute at a shoe shop .
in the city of Guangzhou .
They were locked up in 'hell-like' conditions at a detention centre for 38 days .
Pair have been released but can't return home to London because their visas have run out and Chinese authorities won't issue them new ones . |
96,206 | 07b74129e05394046f811059e5b0834153ae5d67 | (CNN)A few weeks shy of the world's annual days of horror for singles -- namely Valentine's Day and Lunar New Year, when concerned relatives and friends shamelessly judge your (lack of) relationship -- Australia-based low-cost airline Jetstar Airways is offering an escape and a chance to find love at the same time. The airline has teamed with feng shui master, David Tong, to launch a campaign called Love is in the Zodiac Pair. Travelers logging onto the website complete a simple form that asks for their relationship status and birthday. A personalized feng shui report is generated indicating compatible zodiac signs, best inflight seats, travel destination and activities. For those born in the year of horse, for example, the best match is someone born in the year of the goat. These people should sit in row nine, 19 or 29 and travel to Jakarta, says Jetstar's feng shui guide. (Travel destinations are based on travelers flying out of Singapore.) Travelers can also gain insight into their crush's travel preferences using the system. To accommodate the social and adventurous traits of females born in a year of the goat, for example, you should plan an exciting group adventure to a new place. The most compatible blind date . Single fliers can also enter a contest to win a blind date overseas. Together with Jetstar, feng shui master Tong will pick two lucky singles who have the best matching feng shui, as well as personality traits and descriptions of their ideal date overseas. At the end of each day of the trip, the winners will be asked to decide whether to continue the date or go home. The trip can last for up to three days. "Will hearts rejoice or break this Lunar New Year?" asks Jetstar in its contest announcement. In the first seven hours after the campaign's launch, the site had already received more than 5,000 applications. Most described themselves as adventurous, creative and generous. The trip will be recorded and screened on Jetstar's Youtube channel on March 3. Only participants who are single and available from February 13-15 can apply, according to the airline. | Low-cost airline Jetstar Airways is launching a campaign to match single fliers with compatible feng shui .
Single passengers can join a contest to win an overseas blind date with another flier . |
107,959 | 172d2dbcd108981570bd2ca3686bfc6e4fd0a3be | Cairo, Egypt (CNN) -- What a difference a few city blocks can make. Crowds of thousands upon thousands of Egyptians demonstrated peacefully Friday, filling most of Cairo's sprawling and once besieged Tahrir Square. They played music on loud speakers, danced and chanted "down with the dictator" in a rally dubbed "Day of Departure." But down the side streets leading east from Tahrir Square, just a few hundred meters away, fierce clashes raged between gangs of pro- and anti-regime youths. After hours of skirmishes, the rebels had advanced east, erecting barricades and checkpoints around the imposing 19th century stone buildings that line the roundabout in Talaat Harb Square. By 7 p.m., the opposition activists had also seized streets running several blocks deeper into the city from Talaat Harb. Several ambulances stood parked in Talaat Harb, their blue lights flashing as medics treated wounded men inside. A 20-minute walk down the streets of newly captured opposition territory showed streets littered with rocks and paving stones, which have been the primary weapons used during three days of urban fighting. Young men raced back from the clash points, carrying wounded comrades who howled in pain. They carried one young man dressed in a preppy button-down shirt and sweater into a makeshift first aid station in a storefront at one of the entrances to Tahrir Square. "A group of 50 of them surrounded me and beat me," the man yelled. He bit down furiously on a notebook and sweated profusely as medics took off his shoe, revealing what appeared to be a badly broken foot. Moments later, bystanders applauded when the man waved a victory sign as he was carried away. An Egyptian army soldier stood in the corner of the room, keeping a close eye on a bruised and bloodied shoeless man who sat in a corner. He was a prisoner who appeared to have been severely beaten after being captured by demonstrators. When the soldier motioned for the man to follow him out of the first aid station, the captive cried and begged not to be led out into Tahrir Square. Throughout the day, several captives have been similarly escorted by Egyptian troops deployed in Tahrir Square to a military-controlled alley behind Cairo's Egyptian Museum. The soldiers protected these prisoners from angry protesters, who cursed and tried to beat them as they were led through the square. At one point, activists sounded the alarm, calling for 10 volunteers to rush to the front lines past Talaat Harb Square. Young men began beating metal poles against metal barricades and whistling as teenagers wearing helmets made from cardboard boxes and carrying stones raced toward the latest street battle. | Battles break out offstage on Egypt's "Day of Departure"
Opponents and supporters of the president clash on side streets .
Soldiers protect captured prisoners from angry protesters . |
237,435 | bf4cee6d4bbbb90ef132e1cc06d7a24015398b1e | Manchester United fear Robin van Persie could be on the sidelines for a further six weeks with a repeat of a thigh injury he suffered at Arsenal. David Moyes desperately needs his principal striker back and, as problems mount, on Friday he confirmed that Wayne Rooney would also miss Saturday's clash against Swansea. But the more serious concern for Moyes is Van Persie, the manager admitting that he ‘would not want to put a date’ on the 30-year-old’s return even after sending him to Holland to work with a fitness coach at PSV Eindhoven. Attacking loss: Van Persie could be out for another six weeks as he recovers from a thigh injury . Egg-ceptional: Robin van Persie posted a picture of his breakfast with head chef Mike Donnelly to Instagram . Such is the unpredictability of the injury the specialists have told United he could return sooner than feared. But Sportsmail understands there is a chance Van Persie could take much longer to recover. He suffered the same injury at Arsenal in December 2007 and did not play in the Premier League between December 16 and March 9, making only 15 appearances. The Dutchman has not been available to Moyes since December 10 and yesterday United’s manager also revealed that Rooney has been sent to Egypt for warm-weather recuperation with a member of the club’s fitness staff, trying to be fit to face Chelsea on January 19. Decline: United have lost all three of their games this year 2-1, and will be hoping to stop the rot . Lengthy absence: Van Persie hasn't played since coming on as a substitute in the 1-0 Champions League win over Shakhtar on December 10, and it may be late February until he's seen next . On Van Persie, Moyes said: ‘We are trying to get him back but it’s a thigh strain similar to the one he had at Arsenal so we are having to manage it correctly. ‘He has been to Holland to work with the guy he knows over there and we are doing everything we can. There are some injuries you can play with but not the thigh.’ Explaining the situation with Rooney, Moyes added: ‘Wayne has been sent away on a sort of hot-weather break. I always hoped I would be able to do it at some point in the season and his groin has not quite recovered yet. Down and out: Wayne Rooney has been kept on the United sidelines through a groin injury . 'We have sent a fitness coach with him and he is away with his family to give him a break. He will continue working because I want to keep him in good shape, and hopefully we’ll get him fit for Chelsea.’ Moyes came in for fresh criticism yesterday from someone who would have been considered a loyal servant of United; former academy director Eric Harrison. Asked if he thought Moyes could turn it around, Harrison replied: ‘At this moment in time, no.’ Harrison was also critical of changes to the coaching staff. Watching on: It means David Moyes will be without his star man as he looks to avoid yet another defeat . Moyes brought in Steve Round, Phil Neville, Jimmy Lumsden and Chris Woods from Everton as replacements for Mike Phelan, Rene Meulensteen and Eric Steele. Speaking to Sky, Harrison said: ‘In hindsight it does look like a mistake, I don’t want to criticise anyone but I’ve got to be honest. They certainly should have kept the staff. They shouldn’t have brought so many in from Everton.’ Moyes responded, saying: ‘I asked Rene to stay at the club so it wasn’t as if I came in here and said, “Let’s get rid of everybody”. ‘I’ve kept all the other backroom staff. I don’t think that’s got anything to do with it at all.’ Meanwhile, beleagured Moyes was charged by the FA yesterday over comments about match officials after last week’s Sunderland defeat. Moyes said his team are ‘having to play them as well as the opposition at the moment’. Meanwhile, left-back Fabio da Silva could be on his way to Cardiff City for the rest of the season with former United striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer eyeing up a move. Lightning strike twice? United are looking to avoid a repeat of Wilfried Bony's winner at Old Trafford . Hindsight: Former youth coach Eric Harrison (front) admits Moyes's appointment may have been a mistake . | Dutch striker suffers repeat of thigh injury he suffered at Arsenal .
Van Persie was out for nearly three months with the same injury in 2007-08 .
David Moyes sent Van Persie to work with fitness coach at PSV Eindhoven .
Hasn't played since December 10, United's 1-0 win over Shakhtar Donetsk . |
182,193 | 77e78649c7bad3269246438c856d73aba1966452 | (CNN) -- More than 12,000 California prison inmates are now taking part in a hunger strike launched to demand better conditions and a reduction in the use of solitary confinement, corrections officials and organizers said Thursday. The protest began Monday, when organizers said as many as 30,000 inmates refused food. By Thursday, a total of 12,421 prisoners had skipped nine consecutive meals -- the official definition of a hunger strike, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation -- and another 1,300 others have skipped work assignments or classes, prison officials reported. Organizers say the strike is a resumption two similar protests in 2011, one of which lasted for three weeks. "I would say if the demands have been met, they wouldn't be going on a hunger strike," said Kamau Walton, a member of the Prisoner Hunger Strike Solidarity Coalition. "People don't starve themselves for no reason." U.S. to keep force-feeding hunger-striking Guantanamo prisoners . Inmate demands include an end to long-term solitary confinement and halting what's known as the "debriefing" policy, in which inmates are required to provide information on prison gangs to get out of solitary. Other demands include warmer clothing, better mattresses and better food. In a letter to Gov. Jerry Brown and Corrections Secretary Jeffrey Beard, protest leaders say the quality of prison food "dramatically decreased" since the California Prison Industry Authority began supplying the cafeterias. The strike's leaders are in the maximum-security prison at Pelican Bay, near the Oregon state line, Walton said, but inmates in other participating lockups are encouraged to add their own demands. The Corrections Department said the strike is organized by prison gangs and that inmates will face disciplinary action for taking part. "Mass hunger strikes, work stoppages and other disruptions have the potential to impact programs, operations, staffing, safety and security," a statement from the agency read. The department said it had instituted reforms to its solitary confinement policies in 2012. Since then, more than 300 "Security Housing Unit" inmates have either been transferred back to the general population or are taking part in a program to gradually return them there, it said. State prisons house about 120,000 inmates, according to a June report from the Public Policy Institute of California. South Carolina to stop separating HIV inmates from other prisoners . | More than 12,000 California inmates are now officially considered hunger strikers .
Inmate demands include halting long-term solitary confinement and better food .
Prison officials say strikers will face disciplinary action . |
42,603 | 78203f2b17c8396ccccd6d75d565f1f7a2907cae | London (CNN) -- Whether or not the British parliament decides to subject the proposed takeover of UK-based AstraZeneca by American pharmaceutical giant Pfizer to a public interest test, it's clear we have already seen much more political intervention than is typically involved in an acquisition of one company by another. The chief executives of both companies are being hauled in front of not one, but two parliamentary committees this week to give evidence about the possible implications of a deal, when an offer hasn't even been accepted yet. Pfizer's pursuit of AstraZeneca has stirred up a wealth of protectionist feeling in Britain, despite the fact the company was originally created from a merger with Sweden's Astra and has the bulk of its employees outside of the UK. The reaction to Pfizer's bid raises the question of what nationality really means for modern multinationals. Over 50% of shares on the UK stock market are owned by investors from the rest of the world and many of the companies have employees and customers on several continents. They make their investment decisions based on a range of commercial and reputational factors, with nationalism way down the list. When companies choose to locate their operations in the UK, they do so because it is an attractive place to do business. The UK accounts for 10% of world's pharmaceutical research and development spending and AstraZeneca says it supports more than 33,000 jobs. Companies have chosen to conduct their R&D here in part because of the strength of Britain's universities and a positive tax system, including the "patent box" which incentivizes businesses to invest in research. Government has a significant role to play in promoting life sciences, and creating a stable tax and regulatory regime, but ultimately it will always be up to companies to make those investment decisions. Many have argued that the government should be doing all it can to protect these R&D jobs, but that displays a degree of wishful thinking about the state's ability to pick winners. British politicians have a poor record in this area, as shown notably with British Leyland in the 1970s and 80s. Some have argued that, while not intervening in the running of companies, the government should require firmer commitments to retain research facilities and employees. The memory of the Kraft takeover over Cadbury, which saw significant lay-offs soon after the takeover, is fresh in the memory. The Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Chuka Umunna, is right to argue that there are no assurances that a company could give that they would be able to preserve jobs forever after a takeover, but it doesn't follow that we should demand ever more promises. The merged company, large as it would be, would still be subject to commercial pressures, and forced to adapt as necessary to an ever-changing world. The very impossibility of cast-iron guarantees should convince us that politician intervention is at best futile, and at worst risks undermining the UK as a destination for investment. This may have been an unusually large reaction, but foreign companies looking at Britain may be entitled to think that being the subject of a parliamentary debate and receiving a grilling from two select committees are not the hallmarks of an economy which allows firms to conduct their lawful business as they think best. None of this, of course, is an argument in favor of the takeover. There may even be good reasons to think that the tax benefits for Pfizer give the whole thing a fishy smell. But the people to decide this are the board and the shareholders. This isn't about making a quick buck from the sale. Under the UK Corporate Governance Code, the company's directors are explicitly required to deliver success over the long-term. The board of AstraZeneca must consider a range of stakeholders, including employees and the scientific community. If it continues to feel that it has a stronger future as an independent company, as it did when it rejected the recent bid, then the board should continue to advise shareholders to ignore Pfizer's advances. Ultimately, the decision is in the hands of shareholders. They must consider carefully whether even an increased offer should make them sell up -- after all, any deal would involve part payment in shares of the combined company, not something you want to hold if you think it's a bad deal. READ MORE: Pfizer seeks to save AstraZeneca bid . READ MORE: Wall Street's addiction to healthcare mergers . The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the Roger Barker . | Institute of Director's Roger Barker says the Pfizer bid for Astrazeneca has prompted significant political intervention .
He said Pfizer's pursuit of Astrazeneca has stirred up a wealth of protectionism, even if it's a global company .
Ultimately the decision is in the hands of the shareholders who must consider the deal carefully . |
141,986 | 439c370bbfc0d2b5ebf0c678c5263eaa4b65dc62 | By . Kelly Rose Bradford . Carefully manoeuvring the pushchair through the doors of my local bank, I return the friendly smiles from customers. As usual, Matilda and I are treated like royalty, with bank staff fussing over her in the stroller and remarking how pretty and placid she is. Every mother knows just how precious the ‘buggy years’ are. When my son William outgrew his eight years ago (he’s 11 now), I missed it enormously. Scroll down for video . Kelly's 'Baby Girl': Kelly Rose takes a stroll in the park with Matila, tucked away in her stroller . Strolling along together is such fun, a chance for mum and her young charge to enjoy quality time outdoors in the fresh air. There are other plus points, too. I would load the pram with shopping bags, strategically park it in cafes to make sure I had plenty of room, relishing that ‘Out of the way! Mum coming through!’ power that only a baby-carriage allows. It’s fair to say that as a single mum just months away from my 41st birthday, I didn’t think I’d once again be pounding the pavements surrounding my West London home with a trendy, jogger-style three-wheel buggy. But I am, and I’m loving it because it makes me feel like a young mum again. However, the attention I attract with Matilda is very different to what I experienced when William was a golden-haired little boy. And why? Because Matilda is a four-year-old West Highland White Terrier, and we are using a pet pushchair. The reaction from passers-by as we walk around town varies greatly. I’ve been laughed at, asked if she is ill, told I’m cruel, and even accused of being an attention-seeker. In fact, I was inspired by a sweet old lady I met in Battersea Park a few months ago. Hitting the town: Kelly is pictured above hitting the shops with Matilda and pram - she is pictured left outside Sainsbury's and right near a Costa Coffee branch . Aged 90 if she was a day, she was pushing three elderly Pekingese dogs (all in various states of decline) down a wooded path. She told me the stroller had transformed all their lives and that she wouldn’t be without it. ‘And it makes me feel just like I’m wheeling a baby around,’ she confided in hushed tones. I was immediately sold on the idea. When Matilda was a puppy, I’d experimented with dog carry bags and had taken her out in a holdall-like contraption over my shoulder. But she didn’t like it - and neither did I. It was heavy and, to my mind, hot and stifling for her. A pushchair would be more comfortable; it would let her see the world yet still give me control over where she goes. Pets Pyjamas, the company I got my cream-coloured model from, tell me the 90 strollers they have sold in the past year have gone mainly to owners who have elderly dogs, or pets with mobility problems. They are also popular for people with puppies, as young dogs get tired walking longer distances. Having a browse: The pair pause for a while to look at a shoe display, with Matilda sat calmly in her pram . There are dozens of different types on the market in an array of colours, starting from about £40 and rising to £260 for a top-of-the-range model. Some of the more expensive ones have cupholders so the owner can enjoy a coffee, and there’s a built-in tray for treats. Other features include mesh panels to aid ventilation and stop insects flying in, clip-on straps so your dog can’t fall or jump out, hoods with clear plastic windows so your dog can watch the world go by but stay dry when it rains, sun canopies for hot, cloudless days and large, air-filled wheels ideal for bumpy terrains. Most are suitable for medium-sized dogs such as a beagle or Airedale, but you can get one big enough for a labrador. Matilda is not immobile in any way, as her energetic dashes around the local park show. But in many ways she is my baby, so it makes sense to place her in a pushchair. After all, she is absolutely one of the family, and I dote on her as much as I do my son. In fact, ‘Baby Girl’ is one of my pet names for her. The pushchair, which cost £139, also allows us to spend time together we wouldn’t otherwise have. Just last week, I took Matilda to North Wales for a four-day break. Out and about: According to Kelly, the stroller lets her take Matilda further afield without piling on the stress . Usually she’d go to our fabulous dog-minder, but she was away so I had no choice but to take Matilda along, too. In the past, taking Matilda has been stressful for all concerned. When visiting attractions, it always means one person has to wait outside on dog duty. Despite being a nation of dog lovers, we are pretty intolerant when it comes to allowing our four-legged friends into shops and restaurants. Now, thanks to Matilda’s pram, establishments with dog bans aren’t as much of a problem. Tucked up in her buggy with the hood down and a plentiful supply of biscuits to keep her sweet, no one was any the wiser when I popped in with Matilda in tow. And those who did spot she is a dog and not a toddler were generally so taken aback and intrigued that they were happy to let us stay. Stowed away: The pushchair can be carried around in the back of her car . Happy to pose: Matilda enjoys simply being wheeled along and watching the world go by . Critics say Matilda should be running freely in the park on her own four legs, and not cooped up in a pram. Of course she still enjoys those pleasures — but she also clearly enjoys being wheeled along and watching the world go by. I also feel that with my buggy I am being extremely responsible when I take her out - which is not the case with many other owners. I have lost count of the number of times out-of-control animals have jumped up at my son, and we routinely see dogs tied up outside shops or tethered to tables in pubs, all barking, yapping and generally getting very distressed - and being an absolute nuisance to everyone around them. Even more worryingly, I have witnessed disturbing numbers of pets being left in boiling hot cars by irresponsible owners. This is extremely dangerous. So I feel I am beyond criticism for keeping my dog with me. Safe in her stroller, Matilda is secure and cannot cause a nuisance to anyone else - while I bask in the mostly positive attention it attracts. Matilda, too, delights in being taken out in her stroller. In fact she leaps with excitement the moment she sees it being unfolded. Call me barking mad, but I’m revelling in this second chance at motherhood. | Kelly Rose Bradford, 41, loves hitting the town and strolling with pet Matilda .
The West Highland White Terrier, aged four, is pushed around in a pram .
Using her £139 stroller Kelly can take Matilda on long journeys stress-free .
Pushing her around is also 'a second chance at motherhood' for Kelly .
Says some people criticise her - but she and Matilda love using the pram . |
242,109 | c55837eba1320425ec0a727e084ef4827582adf5 | Laughing all the way to the bank: Barclays executive Rich Ricci . While most of us were worrying about whether the Budget would leave us worse off, there was one man in no doubt that things had just got even better. Barclays revealed yesterday that top ‘casino banker’ Rich Ricci had received a staggering £18million windfall. And the jackpot was just one share of an astonishing £40million bonus payout split between nine Barclays executives. But the bank provoked outrage for slipping out the announcement on the same day as the Chancellor delivered his austerity Budget – to pay for an economic crisis caused by bank bosses. Still, the Budget cuts must have seemed like small change to the flamboyant Ricci, who owns 11 horses which raced at Cheltenham Festival last week. They include Champagne Fever, which earned him a £68,340 bonus by winning the opening race, and the provocatively named Fatcatinthehat. In all, Ricci and his wife Susannah own 30 horses with Ireland’s champion trainer Willie Mullins, and have won £588,125 in prize money this season. They are said to travel to Dublin by private jet most weekends to watch the horses train. Ricci, who is worth an estimated £57million, was a key lieutenant of disgraced former Barclays boss Bob Diamond. The 49-year-old has managed to cling on to his job despite jointly running the investment bank when Barclays was fined £290million for rigging Libor interest rates last summer. Yesterday’s jackpot, of £17.6million in shares from awards dating back over the past three years, is just the latest in a long line of big wins for Ricci, who also received £9.7million in share bonuses last year and cashed in a £40million pay and share package in 2010. The bank’s directors, including Ricci, chief executive Antony Jenkins and finance chief Chris Lucas, all gave up their bonuses for last year’s work after the bank was rocked by a string of scandals. Row: Senior Barclays staff, many of whom are based here in London, received £40million in payouts today, the bank announced . But this week they were handed giant share bonuses awarded from previous years. It included a huge windfall for Jenkins, who has called for restraint on pay and promised to overhaul the bank’s culture. In addition to the £2.6million he was paid for his work last year, he received awards worth £5.6million. Critics accused Barclays of using the ‘lowest form of corporate trickery’ to bury unwelcome news by revealing the ‘grotesque’ bonus figures on Budget day. Deborah Hargreaves of the High Pay Centre, a think-tank which monitors income distribution, said: ‘Just after we’ve seen one of the bleakest Budgets in modern times, Barclays is showing its insensitivity by engaging in the lowest form of corporate trickery.’ Len McCluskey, general secretary of trade union Unite, said Barclays had made ‘a complete mockery of any claims banks are cleaning up their acts’. He added: ‘On the day the Chancellor cruelly demands more austerity from working people, to pay for an economic crisis caused by bank bosses, Barclays bury the news that senior bankers are pocketing millions.’ Winning the race: Banker Ricci, who is worth an estimated £57 million has a total of 11 horses competing at Cheltenham Festival this year (file photo) Taking the lead: Champagne Fever, in the lead, won the first race of the Cheltenham Festival yesterday, making an already rich Rich Ricci richer . David Hillman, spokesman for the Robin Hood Tax campaign group, said: ‘A scandal-hit bank attempting to bury news of its grotesque rewards on Budget day is hardly evidence of a reformed financial sector. 'This tells you all you need to know – banks cannot be trusted to put their own house in order.’ Barclays was the first bank to be fined for rigging Libor interest rates and is facing a £270million fine from US regulators for manipulating energy prices. It also set aside £1.6billion last year to compensate customers mis-sold payment protection insurance. Despite this, more of its staff received ‘millionaire’ pay packages last year than any bank in the UK – with 428 scooping more than £1million. Barclays insisted last night that it had not tried to bury the news of its payouts and had decided when it would release the information before the date for the Budget was set in December. A spokesman added: ‘The share releases include deferred shares awarded from previous years’ annual performance bonuses.’ Winning streak: Ricci with his horse Champagne Fever at Cheltenham . | Barclays executive Rich Ricci was also given a £6m bonus last month .
Nine executives get a total of £40m in share awards on Budget day .
'Barclays bosses are wired into another planet,' Unison's Dave Prentis . |
156,580 | 5672e92bdceac95880cdc6248ea65641ecd756a1 | Philadelphia (CNN) -- A Philadelphia abortion provider who killed babies by cutting their spinal cords with scissors was found guilty of first-degree murder on Monday. The conviction on three counts of first-degree murder means Dr. Kermit Gosnell, 72, could be sentenced to death. Assistant District Attorney Joanne Pescatore sobbed after the verdict in the high-profile case was announced. Gosnell appeared shocked. He let out a sigh and shook his head back and forth. Defense attorney Jack McMahon told CNN it's too soon to tell whether he will appeal the conviction. "We were disappointed. We put on a vigorous defense. We think it went well for us in the courtroom," he said. "But the jury spoke, and we respect the jury's verdict." Gosnell also was accused in the death of Karnamaya Mongar, 41, who died of an anesthetic overdose during a second-trimester abortion at his West Philadelphia clinic. In that case, the jury found him guilty of involuntary manslaughter. Gosnell, who is not a board-certified obstetrician or gynecologist, was also found guilty of 21 counts of abortion of the unborn, 24 weeks or older. In Pennsylvania, abortions past 24 weeks are illegal unless the health of the mother is at stake. Abortion doctor case triggers painful memories for ex-patient . The case next moves to the penalty phase, when jurors will weigh whether to give Gosnell a death sentence. It's possible the doctor will testify, said William Brennan, an attorney who represented Gosnell earlier in the case. "I would think there would be a lot of mitigation in this case and I think probably, and this is a guess, but probably at that time the jury would hear from Dr. Gosnell," he said. Earlier Monday, the jury, after deliberating for two weeks, said it was hung on two counts, and the judge instructed them to continue trying to reach a verdict on them. Judge Jeffrey P. Minehart also told jurors that their progress showed they were "considering the evidence seriously." Gosnell's co-defendant, Eileen O'Neill, 56, was found guilty of conspiracy to operate a corrupt organization and two counts of theft by deception for operating without a license to practice medicine. O'Neill, a medical school graduate, was not charged with performing illegal abortions. Both pleaded not guilty. Eight people involved in Gosnell's clinic, called the Women's Medical Society, have pleaded guilty to various charges, including four to murder. The grand jury report from 2011 says the "people who ran this sham medical practice included no doctors other than Gosnell himself, and not even a single nurse," yet they still made diagnoses, performed procedures and administered drugs. McMahon, in an impassioned, 2½-hour closing argument, said that none of the infants was killed; rather, he said, they were already dead as a result of Gosnell administering the drug Digoxin, which can cause abortion. Gosnell also was accused of reusing unsanitary instruments; performing procedures in filthy rooms, including some in which litter boxes and animals allegedly were present at the time; and allowing unlicensed employees -- including a teenage high school student -- to perform operations and administer anesthesia. The remains of aborted fetuses were stored in water jugs, pet food containers and a freezer at the clinic, the city's chief medical examiner Sam Gulino testified. Former employee Kareema Cross said Gosnell regularly performed illegal late-term abortions that he routinely recorded as "24.5 weeks." McMahon, who called no witnesses, accused prosecutors of "the most extraordinary hype and exaggeration in the history of the criminal justice system," even adding that they are "elitist" and "racist." Gosnell has been accused by authorities of preying on low-income, minority women. McMahon argued that Gosnell offered access to health care for people who were poor and without health insurance. During his closing remarks, Philadelphia Assistant District Attorney Edward Cameron turned to Gosnell and yelled, "Are you human?" Gosnell smirked at Cameron without speaking. Cameron then continued, declaring, "It's time for us to extinguish the fire he created." The doctor was first charged in January 2011. The case has drawn national attention and sharp criticism from anti-abortion activists. But that doesn't mean it sets a precedent, CNN legal analyst Paul Callan said. "The testimony in this case was so graphic and so horrific. It was described literally as a house of horrors taking place in this Philadelphia clinic," Callan said. "So I think that most objective observers will say that ultimately this will be an isolated case, hopefully, and that it's simply a case where prosecutors had to act. It had nothing to do with being pro- or anti-abortion." After Monday's verdict, the leader of one anti-abortion group said justice had been served. "Even as we celebrate this verdict, we honor and mourn as well those among our nation's weakest children who did not receive 'their day in court' -- and we must remember that Gosnell is not an outlier within the abortion industry," Lila Rose, president of Live Action, said in a written statement. "We cannot allow these 'guilty' verdicts, welcome as they are, to make us complacent when it comes to the continuing abuses happening even now in abortion facilities throughout our nation." More restrictions on abortions will lead to more cases like the Women's Medical Society, not fewer, abortion rights advocates argue. "We thought we had said goodbye to back-alley abortionists," said Jessica Arons, head of the Women's Health and Rights Program at the Center for American Progress. "Legal access to abortion helps counteract "predators" who "prey on vulnerable women," Arons said. "It's not that we need more laws or stricter laws," she said. "Pennsylvania just didn't do its job in enforcing the laws against him earlier." CNN's Catherine E. Shoichet, Josh Levs, David Ariosto, Jason Hanna and Dana Ford contributed to this report. | Defense attorney: "The jury spoke and we respect the jury's verdict"
Dr. Kermit Gosnell is convicted of three counts of first-degree murder .
A jury also finds him guilty of involuntary manslaughter .
The first-degree murder conviction means Gosnell could face the death penalty . |
24,570 | 45a65726512400e750cd7cb49f4b38bec0d8bd6c | Some 54 years after stealing several newspaper racks, a U.S. Navy veteran has sent a letter of apology and a check for $200 to The Ledger of Lakeland, Florida. Bernard Schermerhorn says he's followed the rules for most of his 73 years, but caved to peer pressure as a teenager and went along with a friend's scheme to steal several racks from The Ledger. In a Sept. 30 letter to the newspaper, Schermerhorn says they took a handful of change and then dumped the racks. Some 54 years after stealing several newspaper rack (not pictured) a U.S. Navy veteran has sent a letter of apology and a check for $200 to The Ledger of Lakeland, Florida . 'I wish to now return many times over the cost of six newsstands and the few papers, also the amount of approximately $10 in small change,' he wrote to The Ledger. 'The fact that he talked me into going along with the idea doesn’t in any way lessen my responsibility for what we did collectively,' Schermerhorn added. Schermerhorn, who lives in Le Mesa, California, told the newspaper the check would more than cover the damage and theft of about $10. He said he had no specific moment that made him send the money, but had long wanted to repay the debt. 'I just got to thinking about it, you know, and thought, ‘Hey, send them the money.’' he told the paper. 'It’s just not right to not pay it back. I thought about it many times over the years.' Publisher Kevin Drake says he's sending Schermerhorn a thank-you letter and will donate the money to a children's charity in Lakeland. 'I appreciate his honesty and desire to make things right,' Drake told his reporterss. 'Our country would be much better off if there were more people like him who took responsibility for their own actions.' | Bernard Schermerhorn, 73, says he caved to peer pressure as a teen when friends wanted to steal copies of Lakeland's The Ledger .
Says he always thought he should repay the debt .
Publisher will donate the money to a children's charity . |
113,364 | 1e502e68afe390422d04cda692a6571838f2142d | The £4billion battle for live TV coverage of the Premier League is set to be a three-way contest. The current dominance of Sky and BT Sport is likely to be challenged by Discovery Communications, the American documentary channel, when bidding for the 2016-19 seasons closes Friday. The fierce competition for the seven packages of matches up for grabs, which total of 168 live games a season, could see the price of a single live game rise to an amazing £8m. Sky and BT Sport are set to battle Discovery Communications as well for 2016-19 Premier League rights . Such a bonanza would bring in more than £4bn over three years from the domestic TV market alone with another healthy increase on the current £2bn from overseas deals to come later. This is as well as the £204m already agreed with the BBC for Match of the Day highlights. The biggest winners from this windfall will, as ever, be the Premier League players with £200,000-a-week contracts for the elite stars likely to become more commonplace. Sky are expected to pour all their resources into retaining at least four of their prime first pick packages while BT will want an increase on their 38 live games per season. And Discovery Comunications, who own Eurosport, are also keen on a slice of the live PL action. There are seven packages of matches up for grabs, which total of 168 live games a season . And there’s still speculation in a tender, in which all those involved have had to sign strict confidentiality agreements, over whether Qatar-based beIN Sport, the richest TV network in the world, will make a bid. Meanwhile, broadcast regulators Ofcom have, as expected, turned down Virgin Media’s fanciful appeal to postpone the rights auction until their complaint about the sales process is fully investigated. Such a bonanza would bring in more than £4billion over three years from the domestic TV market alone . | Discovery Communications will bid for Premier League rights .
American documentary channel looking at 2016-19 seasons .
Sky and BT Sport will also be bidding for total of 168 live games a season . |
230,824 | b6e72a36fb683d39023a4a092fb87a4dc86fdb21 | (CNN) -- The charm of Ventotene is apparent the moment you spot it from the boat transporting you to its shores. Sitting there like a lonely sponge cake protruding from the surface of a clear blue plate, the island's sheer size -- or lack thereof -- promises something not only special but personal. Ventotene lies in the Tyrrhenian Sea just west of the mainland region of Campania. Arriving on this tiny island off the west coast of Italy, you enter the port built into the side of the volcanic island by the ancient Romans and only recently developed and expanded to provide for heavier traffic. The fishermen's boats lining the harbor along with pizza and scuba shops give the island that quintessential small-town Italian feel. To get to the center of the island, you walk the winding ramp to Piazza Castello, where the town hall sits. Grab a cappuccino at one of the two cafes there, which moonlight as restaurants during peak season from May to October. If caffeine doesn't satisfy you, grab a bottle of wine at one of the local alimentari and sit in the park right off the square for majestic views of the small uninhabited island of Santo Stefano (used to detain Mussolini's adversaries during his rule). Part of the cluster of islands known as the Pontines, Ventotene -- which gets its name from the Italian word for wind, "vento" -- lies in the Tyrrhenian Sea just west of the mainland region of Campania. It occupies less than a square mile, and its history dates to the Roman Empire, when emperors such as Augustus and Tiberius found the island's isolation perfect for banished troublemakers. During World War II, it was used as a listening post by a German garrison before being captured by the Allies in 1943. The island also has a rich literary history. It is thought that Homer intended this to be the spot where Ulysses confronted the sirens during his long journey home. John Steinbeck wrote about the 1943 U.S. raid on Ventotene while he was a war correspondent for the New York Herald Tribune. During the day, you can sunbathe at one of the three main beaches. Cala Nave is the preferred choice for its accessibility, black volcanic sand and rock outcroppings that make for ideal basking in the intense Mediterranean sun. Ventotene has become a scuba diving destination because of its lush and mostly undisturbed aquatic life. There are several scuba-diving schools on the island, one of which was erected in the late '70s and is the oldest scuba academy in the whole of Italy. Private and group lessons start at 100 euros. Ventotene's size makes it perfect for simply setting off and exploring. Walking is cheap, and traversing the bright landscape -- which often doubles as cliff's edge because of the island's narrow width -- is rewarding not only for its brilliantly colored vegetation but also for its panoramic views and lack of entry fee. Lower on the island, discover the chiseled rocks pockmarked by saline (little crevices used to collect fresh salt water in ancient times) and the sea caves down by the port where transparent pools often act as windows into the astonishing marine life that surrounds the island. If you're looking for something a little less nature-oriented, there are two museums. Villa Giulia -- which is less enclosed museum than outdoor relic -- is the ancient remains of a structure that housed/imprisoned Emperor Augustus' daughter, Giulia, who was exiled there for her promiscuity and immorality. The other is the Archeological Museum, which in its more standard presentation holds many artifacts that have been uncovered on the island over the years. Unlike its more frantic (by Italian standards) and popular southern neighbors, Ischia and Capri, Ventotene has barely been touched by international tourism. The hotels are affordable, and the food isn't overpriced. Today, it's home to a year-round population of about 600. That number skyrockets during the summer months, especially in August, when it seems that every Italian heads to the seaside, or September, when the Festival of Saint Candice (Festa di Santa Candida) turns the island into one extended party. Ventotene's real appeal isn't in its breathtaking 360-degree sea views, its clear, clean water or even its architecture and people. There are other places in Italy just as stunning. Its charm is in the sense you get that you're experiencing something not discovered by the tourists who flock en masse to the rest of Italy year-round. A sense you're among Italians. | Ventotene lies in the Tyrrhenian Sea off the west coast of Italy .
Roman emperors found the island's isolation perfect for banished troublemakers .
Its lush and mostly undisturbed aquatic life makes it attractive to scuba divers . |
101,862 | 0f44675cada1235eb8e14b0b69de1adab7265bfe | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 20:41 EST, 20 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 05:12 EST, 21 January 2014 . The UN's International Atomic Energy Agency has ruled Iran has stopped enriching uranium to 20 per cent. Hassan Rouhani's nation has always insisted the process was for energy purposes only . Iran has halted its quest for weapons-grade uranium, according to the UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency. Inspectors from the IAEA reported that Iran had stopped enriching uranium to 20 per cent purity, which is just one step away from the material required for a viable nuclear weapon. The move, which comes after November’s talks between Iran and leading nations in Geneva, marks the first stage of an agreement that could open the way for sanctions on the oil-dependent regime to be eased. Tehran has always insisted that its uranium enrichment was for energy purposes, despite Western concern. The United States and European Union both suspended some trade and other restrictions against the OPEC oil producer after the United Nations' nuclear watchdog confirmed that Iran had fulfilled its side of an agreement made on November 24. The announcements, which coincided with a diplomatic row over Iran's role at peace talks on Syria, will allow six months of negotiation. Under the interim deal, Iran agreed to suspend enrichment of uranium to a fissile concentration of 20 percent, a short technical step away from the level needed for nuclear weapons. It also has to dilute or convert its stockpile of this higher-grade uranium, and cease work on the Arak heavy water reactor, which could provide plutonium, an alternative to uranium for bombs. The IAEA said Tehran had begun the dilution process and that enrichment of uranium to 20 percent had been stopped at the two facilities where such work is done. 'The Agency confirms that, as of January 20, 2014, Iran has ceased enriching uranium above five percent U-235 at the two cascades at the Pilot Fuel Enrichment Plant (PFEP) and four cascades at the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant (FFEP) previously used for this purpose,' its report to member states said. It was referring to Iran's two enrichment plants, at Natanz and Fordow. Cascades are linked networks of centrifuge machines that spin uranium gas to increase the concentration of U-235, the isotope used in nuclear fission chain reactions, which is found in nature at concentrations of less than one percent. The announcement coincided with a diplomatic row at the UN, hosted by Ban Ki-Moon, over Iran's role in the Syria peace talks . However, analysts said much was still unclear about how world powers could achieve their goal of ensuring Iran cannot, secretly or otherwise, develop the capability to build a nuclear weapon. Mark Dubowitz, head of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies in Washington and a proponent of tough sanctions on Iran, said that by providing short-term economic relief, the West was losing future bargaining power with Tehran. 'The interim deal does nothing over the next 12 months to prevent Iran from proceeding with the nuclear-weapon and ballistic-missile research that are the keys to a deliverable nuclear weapon,' he said. 'Ahead of final negotiations, Tehran will be in a stronger position to block peaceful Western efforts to dismantle its military-nuclear programme.' | Move follows November talks warning oil-rich nation to take action .
Coincided with diplomatic row over Iran's role at Syria peace talks .
Tehran has always insisted its uranium enrichment was for energy reasons . |
197,703 | 8be333756d2942b2dba3dc0920a36627211e1690 | (CNN) -- If you've ever wondered what happens when you mix a sentient gorilla with a helicopter, look no further! This and many other questions are answered during the course of Rupert Wyatt's compelling and invigorating "Rise of the Planet of the Apes." And if you're looking for a summer popcorn film that won't talk down to you, you've found it. I went into the screening of "Rise" with low expectations, and there were many reasons for my trepidation. "Congo" would be one of them ("Oh, no! The bad apes have the crystal lasers!") and pretty much every other misguided reboot or "intelligent animal" movie since the original "Planet of the Apes" series ended in 1973 would be the others. Thankfully, you don't have to worry, as Fox's restart of the legendary franchise delivers on almost every front. To my surprise and delight, "Rise" is what had become a summer movie rarity: fun, engrossing and a way to escape the heat without being treated like a 10-year-old boy. Believe it or not, "Rise" is also reasonably intelligent. Well, as intelligent as is possible, given the subject matter. It is, after all, basically a popcorn flick. With several nods and winks to the previous franchise, "Rise" clearly knows which side of its bread is buttered, and fan boys and girls will not be disappointed. References are made both verbally and visually to the original, but don't worry if you're not (yet) a fan of the classic. No prior knowledge is required. The film opens with Will Rodman (James Franco) working in a biotech lab at a company called Gen-Sys (get it?) developing what he hopes is a cure for Alzheimer's by experimenting on chimpanzees. You see, Will's father (John Lithgow) has the disease, and Will's hellbent on curing him. As this is an "animals in a lab" movie, something is bound to go wrong. In this case, one of Will's subjects, Bright Eyes, seemingly goes berserk, and Will's project is shut down on the eve of its approval for human testing. Not allowing himself to be constrained by anything as trite as rules or ethics, Will not only takes his research home with him (he adopts an infant chimp that has been exposed to the experimental drug), but he also begins treating his father Charles with the serum. Here is where the film takes off, both emotionally and technologically. Unlike the animatronics of old, the special effects of "Rise" are astonishing. While the film ostensibly stars Franco, Lithgow, Freida Pinto and several other noted actors, the real star of the show is Caesar, the digitally created chimp brought to life by Weta Digital -- the company that sprang to prominence for its work on Peter Jackson's "Lord of the Rings" trilogy -- and by actor Andy Serkis. Serkis (Gollum in "Lord of the Rings"), who has become the go-to guy for performance capture roles, plays Caesar from infancy to adulthood, growing from a vaguely Curious George-like childhood into your everyday, sullen, teenaged hyper-intelligent ape and eventually into an adult. Caesar is a complex character, a first-of-his-kind artificially created leap in evolution, and as such, has a lot on his mind, all of which Serkis has to portray through movement and facial expressions. It's an extraordinary achievement and is the heart of the film . As with any "wild animal lives with human" story, things go off the rails. Will's obnoxious and confrontational neighbor (David Hewlett, playing against type) reacts badly to a young Caesar trying to play with his daughter and later assaults an Alzheimer's-addled Charles when the latter tries to drive the former's car and damages it. Caesar sees Charles as a member of his family and defends him, attacking the neighbor. (How Caesar lived with humans for so long without someone calling the cops is one of a few serious suspensions of disbelief in which one must indulge.) Animal control is called, and the second act begins with Caesar incarcerated in what is supposedly a paradise for wayward simians, but as anyone who's seen a movie knows, is basically a maximum-security prison for apes. Here, Caesar begins to suspect that not all humans are as kind as his "dad," Will, and that maybe it's his job as a super-intelligent chimp to balance the scales a bit. The scenes in the chimp prison ("Esc-Ape From Alcatraz," anyone?) are where our empathy with Caesar and his fellow primates turns to full-on "Get those guys!" blood lust as the evil jailers -- played by a criminally under-used Brian Cox and his less-than-humane son, played by "Harry Potter's" Tom Felton -- routinely abuse their charges, even selling some to Gen-Sys. No one likes to see animals abused -- especially ones with thumbs -- and It's here that Caesar begins his transformation into a chimp Che Guevara. The tension of "Rise" increases so gradually through the film's first hour-plus that before you notice it, you're on the edge of your seat, virtually gagging for the the promised ape revolution. And when it comes, you won't be disappointed. Here is where Weta's genius combines with Wyatt's direction, Andrew Lesnie's cinematography and Patrick Doyle's score to deliver a rousing finale with Serkis' Caesar at the forefront. iReporter talks to James Franco . The original "Planet of the Apes," while clearly a sci-fi film, was also a thinly veiled 1960s-style allegory about civil rights and the rising threat of nuclear proliferation. Much of that is lost here, although new "lessons" about the dangers of tampering with nature are reasonably constant. That film's stunning revelation at its climax is one of the most famous scenes in movie history, and since we've now been treated to a prequel (and assuming this is the start of a new franchise), the filmmakers are going to have to work pretty hard to find an equally compelling ending to the next film, since we already know the "surprise." Here's hoping they manage it. "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" is rated PG-13, and despite how cute some younger children might think chimps are, this is not the film for them. There's far too much violence for the younger set. | Fox's restart of the legendary franchise delivers on almost every front .
The tension of "Rise" increases gradually through the film's first hour-plus .
Unlike the animatronics of old, the special effects of "Rise" are astonishing . |
117,370 | 2390ea88f035487da28e39d0de2d387c7377f669 | Hong Kong (CNN) -- Shares in Asia slumped on Monday on fears the death of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il could lead to instability on the divided Korean peninsular. South Korea's Kospi Index fell 4.9% to 1,750.60 in mid-morning trading in Seoul before climbing slightly to 1,766,82 to be 4% off by midday. Key stocks tumbled, with Samsung Electronics, the largest stock on the Kospi, falling 3.5% and LG Display, the world's second largest panel maker, down 7.2% in early trading. Already battered by fears that possible credit downgrades in European countries could derail a solution to the euro zone debt crisis, Asian markets fell across the board. Enigmatic North Korean leader Kim Jong Il dies at the age of 69 . At the open, Japan's Nikkei 225 index was down 1.1 % at 8,304.47, Hong Kong's Hang Seng slid 2.5%t to 17,833.42 and the Shanghai Composite Index fell 2.6% to 2,167.68. June Park, senior economist at Meritz Securities, told Reuters.com the death of Kim Jong Il had rattled investor confidence. "This is definitely negative factor for markets with no detailed information on his death. It will drive the stock markets lower and the Korean won to depreciate sharply as geopolitical risks are rising and foreign investors could withdraw money out of South Korea," she said. With South Korea's military on "high alert" and South Korea's President Lee Myun Bak convening a national security council meeting, Markets in Taiwan, the prospect of further instability caused by succession problems in North Korea also weighed on markets across the region. Markets in Taiwan, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand and Indonesia also fell. Chung Young-Tae of the Korea Institute of National Unification was quoted by Reuters.com as saying that while the death was not unexpected, what happens next will be "very important." While Kim's son, Kim Jong Un, is widely believed to have been groomed as a successor, no official announcement has been made. "Kim Jong-un is not yet the official heir, but the regime will move in the direction of Kim Jong-un taking center stage," he said. "There is a big possibility that a power struggle may happen. "It's likely the military will support Kim Jong-un," he added. | Death of North Korean leader rattles markets across the region .
South Korea's Kospi index slides almost 5% at the open .
Markets from Australia to Japan also sink on the news .
Concerns grow over succession struggle in North Korea . |
56,077 | 9ef2560300f77b261f3257533400c62b82e1c8fe | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 23:57 EST, 5 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 08:04 EST, 7 August 2013 . It's usually the players - not the spectators - who strike-out at baseball games. But hopeless romantic David was thrown a curve ball after asking his girlfriend Jessica to marry him at a New Britain Rock Cats minor league game in Connecticut last week. And judging by his reaction, it seems the brave Lothario wasn't prepared for the outcome. SCROLL DOWN TO WATCH THE HUMILIATING REJECTION . Down on one knee: Spectators were shocked when 'Jessica' apparently rejected her boyfriend David's public proposal . All a ploy: The employee who acted out David looked anxious but excited as he prepared to ask his girlfriend Jessica if she will marry him . Romantic: The crowd saw David drop to one knee to propose . The couple were on the field answering questions when the announcer passed the microphone to David, who one commenter claims worked for the team. 'Will you marry me Jessica?' he asked. Stepping back with her hands over her mouth, Jessica stammered: 'David, I'm sorry, I can't.' She then sprinted out of the stadium as the announcer laughed. 'Sorry, I don't mean to laugh David, I don't think we've ever had this happen before,' he said. The rejected suitor turned as red as his T-shirt as he ran out away, with the mascot still dancing around the field. The Big Lead speculates the proposal could simply be a hoax, but the Huffington Post reckons . the 'woman's off-microphone reaction seems pretty real'. Witness, John Poutre, commented on YouTube that he believed the proposal was legitimate. 'I was there, my first thought was that it was fake. But what would the point of that be?' he wrote. 'The . guy worked for the team in some way, he ran in the dugout (saw him . later) and she ran out of the stadium. All I can say is KNOW THE ANSWER . BEFORE ASKING!!!' Shocked: Jessica, stepping backward, looks distressed as she rejects David's offer. Some believe her acting skills were lacklustre . Humiliating: David runs off the baseball field after Jessica tells him she doesn't want to marry him in the prank . Other Rock Cats fans, shocked at what they witnessed, took to Twitter to sympathize with David. Donald . Salvesen tweeted on August 2: 'At the #rockcats game and we witnessed a rejected, . on field marriage proposal. The crowd gasped, the players were laughing . as the girl ran off humiliated. Very bizarre moment.' Meanwhile, Anthony Falcone wrote: 'Just saw a rejected proposal onfield at this #rockcats game. So awkward and unfortunate.' Professional . photographer Scott Blanchette managed to get a picture of the beaming . wanna-be groom as he got down on one knee and held out his hands. He . posted the image, which shows Jessica looking decidedly uncomfortable, . wringing her hands, on Twitter with the comment: 'On field #proposal at . the @RockCats game last night, she said no and ran off. :-(' | Footage captures the awkward moment David asked girlfriend Jessica to marry him at a baseball game .
Some media speculates the proposal was a hoax . |
1,771 | 051a37223bdc79d6f97efddef0a45f1f2f3d515b | A woman has been put into isolation at Northampton General Hospital with a suspected case of Ebola, it has emerged. The hospital released few details about the patient last night but it is believed she had recently travelled abroad. A spokesman for the hospital said: 'I can confirm that we have a suspected case of Ebola. It is a female adult. She will be in isolation if she is suspected of having the illness.' Scroll down for video . The woman has been placed in an isolation unit at Northampton General Hospital (pictured) with what is suspected to be Ebola . The hospital spokesman said she was unable to provide further details about the identity of the woman or how she may have contracted the illness. It comes just two days after it was revealed the condition of Pauline Cafferkey had improved - the 39-year-old nurse was struck down by the virus after returning from Sierra Leone in west Africa. In recent months Northampton General Hospital has attempted to reassure the public it has plans in place to manage cases of Ebola in the event of an outbreak. A spokesman said: 'We have robust systems and processes which will ensure we are able to identify and isolate a patient who presents with symptoms of Ebola or any other infectious disease. 'We have sufficient supplies of personal protective equipment, and access to expert testing and advice. Pauline Cafferkey (pictured) was a volunteer with Save the Children in Sierra Leone but only became ill with Ebola after having returned to Britain . 'We would like to reassure local people that the risk of infection in the UK remains very low. 'Nevertheless we are being extremely vigilant and taking all appropriate measures to ensure we are fully prepared. Our plans are being kept under continuous review and amended as the situation changes.' Miss Cafferkey had been a volunteer with Save the Children at the Ebola Treatment Centre in Kerry Town but only became ill when she returned to Britain just after Christmas. After taking an experimental anti-viral drug and receiving blood plasma transfusions from a European Ebola survivor at the Royal Free Hospital in north London, her condition improved. A hospital spokesman said Monday: 'The Royal Free Hospital is pleased to announce that Pauline Cafferkey is showing signs of improvement and is no longer critically ill. 'She remains in isolation as she receives specialist care for the Ebola virus.' David Cameron welcomed the news during Prime Minister's Questions at the House of Commons. He said he was sure everybody was thinking of her, adding: 'It is very good news that she is out of critical care, but there is still a long way to go.' He was responding to Conservative Nicola Blackwood, who said: 'I'm sure the whole House will want to honour the bravery of NHS Ebola volunteers and welcome the news that nurse Pauline Cafferkey is off the critical list.' She also raised the work going on in Oxford to develop a vaccine, which the Tory leader called 'vitally important'. He added: 'The minister for government policy is leading the work on this and making sure we do everything to try and cut through some of the bureaucracy that otherwise would be in place so that we can develop a vaccine fast.' There are currently no specific drugs to cure Ebola, nor any approved vaccines to prevent the disease. Two experimental vaccines are currently being trialled on human volunteers in the UK, US, Mali and Uganda. Experts expect to see the first results of those trials early next year. The Royal Free Hospital is the only High Level Isolation Unit in the UK to house two high-security containment beds. They are located inside isolation 'bubbles' - specially-designed tents with controlled ventilation allowing medics to provide clinical care while containing the infection. Three other hospitals - The Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne Royal Victoria Infirmary and Sheffield Teaching Hospitals - are designated centres for escalation if more patients are diagnosed with Ebola. There are around 50 other designated Ebola beds at these three centres. Around 45 per cent of those infected in the current outbreak have survived without treatment. ZMapp, developed by US biotech company Mapp Biopharmaceutical Inc, is manufactured in the leaves of genetically modified tobacco plants. The process could yield 20 to 40 doses a month. Evidence suggests that effective treatment with ZMapp requires three doses of 15 milligrams per kilogram of body weight. It is thought the blood of those who have survived the disease may contain antibodies, which can prove effective in fighting the disease. The nurse, from Cambuslang, South Lanarkshire, had volunteered with Save the Children at the Ebola Treatment Centre in Kerry Town, Sierra Leone, before returning to the UK. Save the Children has launched an investigation into how she was infected, but admits it may never establish the exact circumstances. She flew back to the UK via Casablanca in Morocco. Her temperature was tested seven times before she flew from Heathrow to Glasgow and she was cleared to travel. She later became feverish and followed advice given to her at Heathrow to contact local services and was admitted to an isolation facility at the Brownlee unit in Gartnavel Hospital, Glasgow, at 8am on December 29. After a blood sample tested positive for Ebola, she was transferred in a military plane to the Royal Free Hospital by 8am on December 30. | Woman believed to have recently been abroad has been placed in isolation .
Northampton General Hospital confirmed it was a suspected case of Ebola .
The hospital has stated it has 'robust' systems in place to deal with it .
Meanwhile, nurse Pauline Cafferkey is now showing signs of improvement .
She fell ill with the virus after returning from Sierra Leone after Christmas . |
11,072 | 1f7662cbb43b169a409b7cb4bd2313df79951acd | (CNN) -- To start with, Cordell Jude was hungry. He was 22, the spring days were growing longer and the temperature in Phoenix had climbed to 80 degrees that Tuesday in April 2012. It was not much cooler as the sun slipped behind the Sierra Estrella mountains, so shortly before 8 pm, Jude drove with his pregnant fianceé toward a suburban intersection crowded with fast-food restaurants, a Home Depot, a Starbucks, drug stores and gas stations. Not far off, another man was headed the same way. Daniel Adkins was 29, older than Jude, but mentally disabled. His family described him as more like a 12- or 13-year-old. Adkins was walking his yellow Labrador retriever named Lady past a Taco Bell in the gathering evening, when he stepped around a blind corner and was nearly hit by Jude's vehicle. Police say the two men exchanged angry words, the dispute rapidly escalated, and it ended when Jude pulled out a .40-caliber pistol and shot Adkins dead. Jude, who was still in his car at the time of the shooting, told police it was self-defense, that Adkins had lunged at him with a bat of some kind. But investigators found no such weapon, and even if they had County Attorney Bill Montgomery says, "The threshold that people believe needs to be crossed when they brandish a weapon, never mind actually use it ... is a lot higher than what it actually is." Jude is now charged with murder in that killing last year, and because he is black and Adkins was not, the case is drawing comparisons to the killing of Trayvon Martin by George Zimmerman. Why the comparison? If Jude is convicted, some would argue there's racism in the justice system. In the Florida case, a black teen is killed and an Hispanic shooter is acquitted. In the other, a black man who claims self-defense faces prison time. Unstable ground: The fine line between self-defense and murder . The key questions being asked by many: If Zimmerman was acquitted because he felt threatened, shouldn't Jude also walk? And if he doesn't, will his race and that of the victim have played a role? The nation has a long history of self-defense laws. Almost every state allows some version of the "castle" defense, as in "a man's home is his castle." These laws generally allow people to defend themselves, their family and their property against anyone who intrudes upon their living space, with deadly force if necessary. CNN legal analyst Mark NeJame says, "If you walk into my house uninvited, odds are you aren't going to be walking out. And most people support that. You're going to protect your home and your family, and there's very little argument about that." It gets trickier when we start talking about so-called "stand your ground" laws which exist in more than 20 states. Those laws extend the castle principle so that if you are legally in some place --a parking lot, a mall, a football stadium -- it becomes like your home. Accordingly, if someone attempts to attack you there, once again you are free to fight back and are under no compunction to attempt to avoid the conflict. U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder finds such laws troubling, saying they "senselessly expand the concept of self-defense and sow dangerous conflict in our neighborhoods. These laws try to fix something that was never broken." But if self-defense laws have never been broken, many legal analysts have long noted that they can certainly be bent. Rob a bank, steal a car, set fire to a house and authorities usually don't much care how you feel about the crime. But self-defense cases are all about feelings. Why did the person feel afraid? Was that fear justified? Was the response warranted? NeJame says that is where the slope gets slippery. "The standard is generally what a reasonable person would do under the circumstances and do you reasonably fear death or bodily injury? That's a very subjective standard. It's not an objective standard. We're all human beings. Everyone is going to perceive something differently." The Zimmerman case illustrates his point perfectly. Many African-American trial watchers had no trouble seeing Zimmerman -- trailing after Martin with his cell phone on a rainy night -- as the aggressor. That interpretation makes sense if you frame it with a long history of black people feeling unfairly targeted by police, security guards and others. As President Barack Obama put it Friday, "I don't want to exaggerate this, but those sets of experiences inform how the African-American community interprets what happened one night in Florida." Many whites, however, have enjoyed a different relationship with the police and saw Martin as an architect of his own violent end. They asked: Why didn't he call the police if he felt threatened? Why didn't he ask Zimmerman if something was wrong and explain where he was going? Everyone who watched the trial saw the same facts and heard the same witnesses, but like characters in the old Japanese film "Rashomon" they came away with different stories. Grappling with such vagaries is the challenge in a great many self-defense cases. To be sure, sometimes cases in which people are purportedly protecting themselves or their property are easy to sort out. Protesters stand up to 'stand your ground,' but laws likely here to stay . Just this past week in Milwaukee, 76-year-old John Spooner, who is white, faced charges that he killed a 13-year-old neighbor who was black. Spooner accused Darius Simmons of burglarizing his home, and two days later accosted the young man as he retrieved his family's trash cans from the curb. On a surveillance tape, Spooner is seen emerging from his house with a pistol in hand, waving the weapon at Simmons, and ultimately shooting him at a distance of five or six feet. The boy, who offered no visible signs of resistance during the entire confrontation, died on the street in his mother's arms. Spooner's lawyers argued that their client suffers from mental illness, saying "He didn't appreciate the wrongfulness of what he was doing" as he railed about his property. The court did not buy it, and Spooner was convicted. But so many other matters of self or property defense involve difficult, complicated questions. Was the defendant previously assaulted and thereby living in a state of heightened alarm? Was he or she a naturally excitable or nervous type? Did something else happen near the same time or in close proximity to the final incident that might have spurred an excessive reaction? "We have to defend ourselves if someone is truly coming after us," NeJame says. "The last thing anyone wants to do is put themselves, their home or their family at risk. On the other hand, we need to make it so that we don't have a trigger-happy society." All of that means in the end, as much as people may want to find a perfect parallel to the Zimmerman case; a "gotcha" verdict from some other place in which a black man is convicted for doing just what Zimmerman did, it is unlikely. Because self-defense cases that look alike from a distance on a dark evening, may be substantially different when the details and defendants are dragged into the light of day. | Arizona fatal shooting raises questions of self-defense .
It has drawn parallels to Zimmerman case .
But varying circumstances can make comparisons difficult . |
262,635 | e033bffbbe1a970b1bc03e3ee1e3213f803fcb04 | Mario Balotelli isn't missed by AC Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi. The controversial striker departed the San Siro for Liverpool this summer in a £16million deal and has so far failed to find his shooting boots at Anfield. And Rossoneri head honcho Berlusconi believes his side are better off without the new Kop star - whom he brands a 'rotten apple'. Mario Balotelli signed for Liverpool in a £16million deal during the summer but has failed to impress so far . Balotelli has been described as a 'bad apple' and isn't missed by AC Milan owner owner Silvio Berlusconi . Balotelli at AC Milan (Jan 2013-Aug 2014) Matches: 51 . Goals: 29 . Yellow cards: 20. Red cards: 1 . 'I remember [Balotelli] was bought against my advice,' Berlusconi told La Gazzetta dello Sport. 'We have many champions: (Jeremy) Menez, (Keisuke) Honda, (Stephane) El Shaarawy, (Fernando) Torres, (Nigel) De Jong. 'The base is there. And we no longer have a rotten apple in the dressing room.' Milan are sitting in fifth place in Serie A after a dreadful campaign last season which saw the former giants languishing in eighth. However, Berlusconi believes his side can get back to the winning ways that saw them as one of the continent's premier clubs - targeting a home Champions League final in 2016. Fernando Torres is one of many champions among the base of the AC Milan squad, says Berlusconi . 'Our goal is to return to Europe. We want to build a winning side,' said Berlusconi. 'I think there are cycles in football, with years of success, then breaks, then back to winning. But the fans should rest assured - the team is already competitive and we'll soon be leaders in Europe again. 'The 2016 Champions League final is in Milan. Why shouldn't we dream of being there?' AC Milan owner Berlusconi spoke to La Gazzetta dello Sport and is hopeful the club can make the 2016 Champions League final in Rome . | Mario Balotelli has failed to impress since signing for Liverpool .
The Italian joined the Reds from AC Milan in a £16million deal .
Serie A club's owner Silvio Berlusconi has described Balotelli as a 'rotten apple' and claims he never wanted to sign the frontman . |
131,567 | 362074e9f7937af15b68b6b3b2e8aecab95e9a9b | A bio-drone that dissolves after use leaving no trace it ever existed may sound like the stuff of a James Bond film, but NASA and a team of researchers are actually building one. Made from a substance that combines mushroom fibers and cloned paper wasp spit, the drone might resemble a propeller-powered egg carton, but its designers say it has the ability to fly into environmentally sensitive areas and leave almost no trace. Lynn Rothschild, the NASA developer guiding students from Stanford-Brown-Spelman working on the project, says the drone could be made to disappear simply by ditching it into a stream or puddle. She said her interest in unmanned aerial vehicles was sparked by work on environmentally sensitive areas in her Earth Science group at NASA. "Periodically, UAVs get lost -- for example on coral reefs or in other sensitive habitats," she said in an interview with the project team. "As I started to hear about this, I thought, 'Well, wouldn't it be useful if the UAV was biodegradable, so if it crashed somewhere that was sensitive, it wouldn't matter if it dissolved." The mushroom-like substance known as mycelium, which makes up the chassis of the drone, is being hailed as the new plastic -- a plastic that has the advantage of degrading quickly. The team grew cellulose "leather" to coat the fungal body of the flying craft and then covered the sheets with proteins sourced from the saliva of paper wasps -- a water resistant material that the insects use to cover their nests. The circuits are printed from silver nanoparticle ink in an effort to make the machine as biodegradable as possible. Despite a heavy preponderance of biological parts, the team said the project had its limits. "There are definitely parts that can't be replaced by biology, " said Stanford University's Raman Nelakanti. At its first short flight at the International Genetically Engineered Machine competition in Boston, the team used a standard battery, motor and propellers to fly the drone. Nevertheless, the team is working on making other parts biodegradable and is studying how to build its sensors from modified E. coli bacteria, the bacteria most commonly found in the intestines of humans and animals. The team said that ultimately the drone could be sent into areas where it might not be expected to return such as wildfires or nuclear accidents, sending data and never coming back. While the parts degrade naturally, the team also experimented with enzymes that would help the drone self-destruct, breaking it down further on impact. Creating a drone that does not infect the environment has been another challenge for the team. "If you have living organisms acting as biosensors and the plane crashes, there certainly could be problems as the plane interacts with the environment," Rothschild said. "Hopefully people could think of this in advance, and design such that this never becomes a problem. "For example, on crashing, the cells might die. Or the cells could be attenuated. There are all sorts of other processes to keep them from contaminating the environment. But that, to me, is the largest concern with a biological UAV - having living things on the UAV." Read more from Tomorrow Transformed: . The first ever 3D-printer President . The hottest apps in tech right now . What can you buy off the Darknet? | NASA is guiding a team building a bio-drone that can self-destruct and leave no trace if it crashes .
The drone is made from a substance that combines mushroom fibers called mycelium .
The unmanned aerial vehicle is also coated in substance made from a protein found in wasp spit .
NASA says the UAV could be used to fly into environmentally sensitive areas such as coral reefs . |
14,984 | 2a8a7ffd689328fd965c185e765b43e7617c403e | Most parents teach their children how to make animal noises at a young age. But one father from Newcastle in New South Wales has turned his one-year-old daughter into an internet sensation by teaching her how to make sounds of car engines. Pete Witt's video of his daughter Daisy Annabel has racked up almost 200,000 views and more than 2500 shares on Facebook since he posted it four days ago. Scroll down for video . Daisy Annabel Witt, from Newcastle, has become an internet sensation with her imitations of car engines . A video of the one-year-old has racked up almost 200,000 views and more than 2500 shares on Facebook . In the clip Mr Witt, 32, asks his daughter: 'Daisy, what does a two-stroke say?' Straight away she responds saying: 'Ring ding ding.' Daisy is also quick to identify the noises made by a V8 ('Vroooooom!'), a turbo ('Whaach!'). The funniest part of the video comes when Mr Witt asks Daisy: 'And when we beat somebody at the lights, what do we say?' 'Chopped!' Daisy answers her father. Since posting the video online Mr Witt, a Holden enthusiast, has been overwhelmed by its popularity. Mr Witt, who is a pastor at Hunter Bible Church, said he started teaching Daisy how to make car noises in the bath but never imagined his daughter would eventually go viral. Her father Pete Witt (pictured) said he started teaching Daisy how to make car noises in the bath but never imagined his daughter would eventually go viral . 'It's just us mucking around in the bath, and me filming it for a couple of lads at church and it blowing up in our face,' he told Daily Mail Australia. Mr Witt said Daisy was now building up a repertoire of engine sounds. 'She knows tractor and rotary and we're working on Volkswagen,' he said. But Mr Witt said he didn't teach Daisy to say 'Chopped' intentionally, she just picked up the word by imitating him in the car. 'It just kind of happened in the backseat of the car, if we overtook someone I just said "chopped",' he said. 'And she started saying it all by herself, if we overtook someone she'd say chopped. 'Now if you do a scissors action with your hand she'll say "chopped" on cue.' Since the video went viral, Mr Witt has even been sent a gif someone made of Daisy. | Daisy Annabel Witt, from Newcastle, has become an internet sensation .
Video of the one-year-old imitating car engines has almost 200,000 views .
Her father Pete Witt said he started teaching her the noises in the bath .
Mr Witt said he never imagined his daughter would eventually go viral . |
79,995 | e2bce44886b6fb7365ec99c470be943bf3b27f1d | Tesco is at the centre of cruelty allegations over its stores in China, where turtles are being butchered or suffocated in front of customers. In some instances the reptiles are plucked from tanks and triple-wrapped in plastic bags, where they suffocate over a period of an hour. Soft-shelled turtles – a popular delicacy priced at £5 – have their heads chopped off. Cruelty: The reptiles and plucked from tanks and triple-wrapped in plastic bags, which slowly suffocates them . The scenes were witnessed by the Daily Mail in Beijing yesterday and continue despite repeated promises from Tesco dating back to 2007 to protect and promote animal welfare. The UK-Based One World Wildlife is demanding Tesco reassess its business ethics and stops selling live creatures in their supermarkets. The group is behind a petition calling on the chain’s chief executive, Philip Clarke, to stop the turtle sales, which has been signed by some 45,000 people. It says the supermarket giant should take responsibility for all stages of these creatures ‘tortured existence’ from being farmed in terrible conditions to being sold alive or butchered in store. Spokesman for the group, Dominic Neate, said: ‘We may think of turtles as pets like kittens and puppies, but Tesco will butcher them in front of your eyes, or wrap them live in plastic, unable to breathe, advising you that it’s best to eat them within the hour. ‘It is incredible for a company that claims to have high standards of animal welfare. Just because it’s in China, doesn’t make it right. This must stop now.’ China is proving to be a tough market to crack for Tesco, which is struggling to make money in the country. Last month it announced a joint venture with China Resources Enterprise (CRE), and the UK firm will combine its Tesco China business, which includes 134 stores, with the 2,986 stores held by CRE. Suffering: The Daily Mail witnessed a store attendant try repeatedly to behead a turtle . The Daily Mail went to the same Tesco stores in Beijing that were visited by David Cameron during a UK trade mission in 2010. In one, members of staff in white uniforms were standing around the meat and fish counters where tanks held live turtles, fish, bull frogs and terrapins. One caught a turtle in a pair of 10-inch metal tongs and wrapped it in three thin plastic bags. The turtle desperately fought to get out of the bag until it was returned to the customer service desk. At the Fengtai East branch, a member of staff hacked at a soft shell turtle for seven minutes, trying to chop its head off. The middle-aged staff member turned with an impatient expression, and said: ‘Look, I’ll let you know when it’s done. The head won’t come out.’ Five minutes later the grisly job was done and the butcher, with dark blood speckles on his apron, asked if we also wanted the head, too. Animal activists say a turtle remains aware and able to move its eyes for up to an hour after decapitation unless their skulls are crushed with a hammer. An assistant explained: ‘First you chop the head off and then you lift the turtle up so as to let the blood drain. ‘When you get home, put it in boiled water to sterilise it. After a few minutes later, take a knife and cut the shell off the turtle, remove the innards and rinse it. ‘Then chop into pieces and it’s done.’ The fresh water turtles are shipped from farms in Dalian, a Northeast China coastal city. The meat sells for £6-£10 a kilo. Tesco customer Wang Shen, a 30-year-old from Beijing, said: ‘It’s no big deal selling live turtles and bull frogs in the supermarket. ‘Each country has its own tradition. The British people are against killing turtles or bull frogs because they don’t have a tradition of eating them. ‘What do the British people think about eating cows and sheep?’ Tesco insisted it operates to higher welfare standards than any other retailer in China and that its policies are driving up standards in the country’s food supply industry. Last night, a Tesco spokesman said: 'We have listened to the concerns raised by our customers and as a result we have made several significant improvements, to ensure that the welfare of turtles sold in our China stores is of the highest possible standard. 'We hope that these actions will help to drive up standards further throughout the supply chain.' | Customers can order the animals over the counter .
They are triple-wrapped in plastic, and suffocate slowly over an hour .
Soft-shelled turtles - at £5 each - are beheaded by staff in front of shoppers .
Tesco has 134 Chinese stores, but has struggled to make money . |
256,317 | d7c59b1e3fe53da51059cb0fba132d9a308ff0a8 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 09:55 EST, 22 September 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 10:06 EST, 22 September 2012 . Prof Nicholas Roe claims the poet continued to use the drug after he took it to relieve a chronic sore throat . John Keats was an opium addict while he wrote some of his most famous poems, a contentious new biography claims. Dismissing other experts who believe that the English Romantic poet experimented with the drug only briefly, author Prof Nicholas Roe claims that after using the drug to relieve a chronic sore throat, he continued dosing himself to ‘keep up his spirits’. Prof Roe admits his findings in the biography John Keats – A New Life, to be published in October will be contentious. ‘This has never been said before: Keats as an opium addict is new,’ he told The Guardian. The professor of English literature at the University of St Andrews in Scotland said: ‘My biography takes the contrary view that the spring of 1819 was not only one of Keats' most productive periods but also his most heavily opiated. ‘He continued dosing himself to relieve his chronically sore throat; and that opium-induced mental instability helps to explain his jealous and vindictive mood swings regarding (his financee) Fanny Brawne. Keats’ famous poems Ode on Indolence and Ode to a Nightingale were inspired while the poet was under the influence of opium, Prof Roe said. He said: This explodes entrenched conceptions of him as a delicate, overly sensitive, tragic figure. ‘That Keats was using opium to enhance what it meant to “fade far away, dissolve, and quite forget” the world gives us a different Keats: a Keats whose struggle with life was more complex, and darker than we have previously thought.’ ‘Keats's odes of spring 1819 have often been read as his most “philosophical” engagement with the intractable contraries of beauty and mortality, time and eternity. ‘To find those two odes and, I suspect, La Belle Dame sans Merci, arose from opium reveries gives us a less intellectual or “philosophical” Keats, and a poet who is closer to the mystical aspects of Romantic tradition associated with Blake, Baudelaire, Coleridge, De Quincey, Yeats, Huxley and Bob Dylan. Professor's claims: The biography, left, by author Nicholas Roe, right, of the University of St Andrews claims that the spring of 1819 was one of Keats' most productive periods but also his most heavily opiated' ‘Like Coleridge's Kubla Khan and like Thomas de Quincey's Confessions of an English Opium-Eater, Ode to a Nightingale is one of the greatest re-creations of a drug-inspired dream-vision in English literature – a poem that frankly admits his own opium habit.’ According to Prof Roe, the poet - who was also a trained physician - had access to laudanum to administer it to his sick brother Tom in 1818 who was dying of TB. After Tom died of the disease which he gave to Keats, who would eventually die from it three years later, started using the drug regularly ‘to keep up his spirits’ according to his close friend Charles Brown. Brown, a writer, is said to have warned Keats of the ‘danger of such a habit’ which Prof Roe believes ‘suggests Keats was indeed an “habitual” user of opium and had been dosing himself for a considerable time’. Keats first showed symptoms of TB in 1820, after losing Tom as well as his mother to the illness. 'Vindictive': Keats' jealousy and mood swings regarding financee Fanny Brawne, pictured, can be attributed to his drug addiction, the biography claims . Poem Ode on Indolence was inspired by ‘a reverie induced by taking laudanum to ease the pain of a black eye, got while playing cricket on Hampstead Heath in March 1819’. Prof Roe said: ‘Apparent from his up and down moods, and the increasing turmoil of his relationship with Fanny Brawne in 1820, a phase of his life that resembles Coleridge's opiated anguish over his unrequited passion for Wordsworth's sister-in-law, Sara Hutchinson, in the years 1802 to 1804.’ ‘The final, tragic twist of this story (comes) when Keats and the young painter Joseph Severn were voyaging to Naples, en route, they hoped, to find a cure for Keats's TB. Keats was ordered by his doctors to flee the English winter and move to Italy so he went to Naples and Rome accompanied by friend, Severn. Prof Roe claims that Severn stopped Keats taking laudanum by hiding the bottle in 1820. Prof Roe said: ‘As a result, Keats endured the protracted suffering of pulmonary consumption and faced his death without the panacea that had helped his brother and called into being some of the greatest poetry in the language.’ Although the move improved his health at first, he collapsed and died on February 23, 1821. TB is a bacterial infection which . commonly attacks the lungs and can be passed to others through kissing, . sneezing, spitting or breathing. While it is now curable, it was responsible for one in four deaths in England in 1815. Andrew Motion, who won the Whitbread prize for biography and wrote a biography of the poet said of Prof Roe’s book: ‘It's not beyond the bounds of possibility that he explored (the effect of the drug in his poems) from these remembered experiences rather than from a full-on vantage point. ‘Nick is making assumptions, just as I made assumptions - that's all we can do, because there is no hard evidence either way.’ The Romantic poet fell in love with the teenage Miss Brawne when she moved in next door to his home in Hampstead, north London but their relationship was never consummated because of his highly contagious illness. | A controversial biography claims John Keats was an opium addict .
Prof Nicholas Roe claims that Keats continued using the drug after he took it for pain relief for a chronic sore throat . |
114,213 | 1f5ac23c389aeefc71c44a31584782c3e1e7194b | By . Helen Collis . PUBLISHED: . 04:03 EST, 16 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 04:04 EST, 16 August 2013 . A man who stepped into the frame of a picture being taken outside a bar was beaten so badly he has been blinded in one eye. The 30-year-old victim was knocked unconscious but the attackers continued to beaten him after he accidentally photobombed their shot. The unidentified man suffered intra-cranial haemorrhage and facial fractures, and he will never see again in his right eye, according to the New York Daily News. Charged: Terrell Moore (left), Lindsye Newton (centre) and Bryanna Warren (right) were all charged with assault after beating a man unconscious following a mistaken photobomb incident outside a Denver bar . The attack happened early in the morning outside a bar in LoDo, Denver, shortly after the venue had closed. People were out in the street and taking photos of each other when the mistaken photobomb incident happened. Bryana Warren, 25, was infuriated and started arguing with the victim and hitting him, according to The Denver Channel. Police documents revealed she pushed the man, and then he pushed her back before walking away. But Warren and her friend Lindsye Newton, also 25, followed him and hurled abuse at him. The victim once again pushed them away. Reacting, Terrell Moore, 27, jumped in and knocked the 30-year-old unconscious - a punch that was witnessed by police. The assault happened on the corner of Market Street and 14th, in LoDo, Denver . The officer came over to protect the out-cold victim, but a crowd was growing around him. When he was distracted by the crowd, the officer turned around to see Newton repeatedly hitting the unconscious man around the face with her purse, The Denver Channel said. Police initially charged the trio with public fighting, but after the medical report of the man's injuries came back, their charges were upgraded, the news service said. The NY Daily News added that Moore was charged with second-degree assault causing serious bodily injury; and Newton and Warren were each charged with third-degree assault on an at-risk adult. Moore's bond was set at $10,000, Newton's at $5,000 and Warren's at $2,000. They are scheduled to appear in Denver County Courtroom August 22 and 23. | Mistaken photobomb incident caused a fight outside a bar in Denver .
30-year-old man was knocked unconscious and beaten while out cold .
He suffered facial fractures, intra-cranial bleeding and was blinded in one eye .
Terrell Moore, Lindsye Newton and Bryanna Warren all charged with assault . |
8,105 | 16ee51f1f04db908dc12515d02857774b8b66ee4 | (CNN) -- Poor Steve Ballmer. The burly Microsoft CEO, who announced Friday that he will retire next year, has been the victim of some unfortunate timing. When he took over leadership of Microsoft in 2000 Ballmer had to follow iconic co-founder Bill Gates, who had built the software titan into the most valuable company in the world. Then Ballmer was blindsided by the swift rise of Steve Jobs and Apple, whose iPod, iPhone and iPad led a mobile revolution and made Microsoft appear slow and out of touch. On a more positive note, Ballmer has been credited more recently for re-imagining the company's core product with the bold Windows 8 operating system and leading a 2013 revival of Microsoft's once-flagging stock. Under his reign, Microsoft has a mixed record of success with its consumer products. Here's a look at some of the company's more notable hits and misses of the Ballmer era. Hits . Windows XP -- This version of Microsoft's desktop operating system was released in 2001 and used on more than 80% of PCs at its peak. The software also showed surprising staying power: Many IT managers, frustrated by the buggy Microsoft Vista, downgraded to the older but more reliable XP. Today, 12 years after its launch, XP still runs almost 39% of the world's desktop computers. Xbox -- Launched in 2001, the venerable video gaming console and its successor, the Xbox 360, have sold more than 100 million units. Some blockbuster games, such as the "Halo" and "Gears of War" series, are available only for the Xbox. Its Kinect system was hailed as a step forward in motion-control gaming, while Xbox Live, Microsoft's online multiplayer gaming network, now has more than 46 million members worldwide. Microsoft will release its next-generation console, the Xbox One, in November. Bing -- Ballmer in 2009 introduced Microsoft's Bing search engine, which drew praise for its attractive visuals and predictive-text features that produced search suggestions before users were done typing queries. It won't challenge Google's dominance any time soon, but Bing has emerged as a credible rival. It has gradually increased in popularity and now commands almost 18% of the U.S. search engine market. Windows Phone 7 (and 7.5) -- With this launch in late 2010 and early 2011, Microsoft completely rebuilt its mobile operating system from the ground up by adding a more intuitive interface, better social-networking tools and a high-def screen with colorful "live tiles." It was a radical move for a company that for years had been playing it safe. Misses . Internet Explorer 6 -- This version of Microsoft's widely used desktop browser was roundly criticized for its security flaws and lack of support for modern Web standards. Zune -- In 2006, Microsoft finally launched its answer to Apple's hot-selling iPod. But the clunky Zune line of portable media players never caught on, and by late 2009 their market share had dropped to 2%. It didn't help that at midnight on December 31, 2008, all of Zune's 30GB models froze up for a day -- a problem with the way the device's internal clock recognized (or didn't recognize) leap years. Microsoft put the Zune out of its misery in 2011. Vista -- Released in 2007, this successor to Windows XP was an immediate dud. Critics complained about its cost, sluggish speed, restrictive licensing terms and how Vista aimed to discourage the copying of protected digital media. One survey of corporate users found only 8% said they were "very satisfied" with the operating system. Stung by the reaction, Microsoft rushed out Windows 7 less than three years later. Surface tablets -- Again, Microsoft found itself chasing Apple, this time with a belated attempt to dethrone the market-leading iPad. Launched in October 2012 -- more than two years after the original iPad -- the Surface tablet was Microsoft's first attempt to integrate its new Windows 8 operating system with its own hardware. Despite some good reviews, the Surface hasn't clicked with consumers. Microsoft earned only $853 million from the Surface between its launch last fall and the close of the company's fiscal year -- a small fraction of iPad sales revenue during that time. Said AllThingsD, "That's a particularly sad showing for the tablet, given the blustering smack-talk with which Microsoft launched the device." | Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer announced Friday that he will step down in the next 12 months .
Under Ballmer's reign, Microsoft has had a mixed record of success with its products .
The Xbox console has been a consistent seller, while the now-defunct Zune music player was a dud . |
83,649 | ed4fa263cea6c711a3808211d01d2cb183fd903a | (CNN) -- Arsenal and Hull City were charged with failing to control their players by the English Football Association (FA) on Wednesday after their fiery Premier League match on December 19. The match at the Emirates Stadium, won 3-0 by title-chasing Arsenal, became heated just before halftime when Arsenal's Samir Nasri clashed with Hull's Richard Garcia. Stephen Hunt then had a confrontation with Nasri and a mass brawl ensued, with home goalkeeper Manuel Almunia running the length of the field to get involved. Referee Steve Bennett had to battle to get things under control and then showed yellow cards to both Hunt and Nasri. The clubs have until January 13 to launch any appeal. In other Premier League news on Wednesday, Liverpool could give Italian midfielder Alberto Aquilani his full debut for the crucial Boxing Day clash with Wolves. Aquilani, a big summer signing from AS Roma, has yet to start a league game for Liverpool, having battled to recovery from an ankle injury. Manager Rafael Benitez has been criticized for his reluctance to play Aquilani, but with the player recovering from a calf injury which kept him out of last weekend's match all the indicators are that he will take his place at Anfield. Premier League champions Manchester United have been clearance to play Senegal striker Mame Biram Diouf after he was granted a work permit. United signed Diouf from Molde in July before loaning him back to the Norwegian club. He scored 16 goals in 29 games in Norway and with Senegal failing to qualify for the African Cup of Nations, United have pressed to get him the proper clearances. | Arsenal and Hull City face FA charge of failing to control their players in December 19 match .
Mass brawl marred clash at the Emirates which Arsenal won 3-0 .
Manchester United get work permit clearance for Senegal striker Mame Biram Diouf . |
133,213 | 383b50c7def3e3b6549d456df12795d8b802aa53 | (CNN) -- Comedian Jerry Lewis on Tuesday apologized for using the word "fag" as he broadcast his annual Labor Day Telethon for Muscular Dystrophy. Jerry Lewis celebrates the Muscular Dystrophy Telethon's record take at the end of the broadcast. "That something like this would distract from the true purpose of the telethon pains me deeply," Lewis said in a written statement. "The success of the show and all the good that will come of it shouldn't be lost because of one unfortunate word. I accept responsibility for what I said. There are no excuses. I am sorry." Earlier Tuesday, the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation called on Lewis to apologize. "Jerry Lewis' on-air use of this kind of anti-gay slur is simply unacceptable," GLAAD President Neil G. Giuliano said in a statement posted on the group's Web site. "It also feeds a climate of hatred and intolerance that contributes to putting our community in harm's way." Watch how Jerry Lewis apologized » . In the 18th hour of the telethon Monday, Lewis, with his bow-tie undone and his shirt collar open, stumbled around the set at the South Coast Hotel, Casino and Spa in Las Vegas, Nevada, marveling at the cameraman's ability to keep up with him. "Look how good he moves that camera, you son of a gun. Wherever I go, he goes," said Lewis, 81. "Let's see what you do with this over here," said the comedian and actor, who became famous as Dean Martin's slapstick partner on stage and in several films in the 1950s. Lewis then gestured toward two other cameras on the set. "Oh, your family has come to see you. You remember Bart, your oldest son," he said, pointing to one camera. "Jessie, the illiterate fag," Lewis said, pointing to the other. "No," he said then, as some audience members laughed. In Tuesday's statement, Lewis said, "I apologize to anyone who was offended. "I obviously made a poor choice of words. Everyone who knows me understands that I hold no prejudices in this regard. In the family atmosphere of the telethon, I forget that not everyone knows me that well." Giuliano said GLAAD was requesting a meeting with the comedian, who has done the Labor Day telethon for 42 years. "We want to sit down with him, help him understand why these words are so hurtful, and give him an opportunity to raise public awareness about the destructive impact of these kinds of anti-gay slurs, even more so in attempted humor," he said in his statement. The 21½-hour telethon raised a record $63.8 million in pledges and contributions, according to the Muscular Dystrophy Association Web site. E-mail to a friend . | NEW: Lewis apologizes for using the word "fag" during telethon .
Lewis was joking with cameraman in 18th hour of telethon .
GLAAD denounces Lewis' use of "fag"
Annual Muscular Dystrophy Association telethon raises $63.7 million . |
286,960 | ffd037dbfd57355e7f0497ed2fa464b0cbeba1fb | By . Tom Mctague, Mail Online Deputy Political Editor . A team of police disaster specialists will be sent to Ukraine to bring back the nine tragic Britons killed in the Ukrainian air disaster, Downing Street announced today. The Scotland Yard experts will join a Dutch-led emergency team after a request from the country's prime minister Mark Rutte. A separate team of air-accident investigators have been put on standby to help an international investigation into what caused the crash. Both operations depend on the pro-Russian separatists granting international access to the crash site. 'That’s why we are pushing so hard internationally to make sure that there is the access,' Mr Cameron's spokeswoman said today. Britain is pushing for a UN resolution granting access to international investigators to discover what happened . The plane came down in an area of eastern Ukraine controlled by pro-Russian separatists around the city of Donetsk . Number 10 this morning said getting to the site of the disaster was the Government's first priority. The UK has called an emergency session of the UN Security Council to get international agreement for access. Moscow and the Russian rebels have both said they will back an investigation, but Downing Street said they needed to back up their words. A spokesman for Mr Cameron said: 'President Putin has said on this there should be an investigation. 'That is why we said very clearly that people should do all they can to enable that to happen - not just words.' At least nine Britons are believed to be among 298 passengers and crew who were on board the plane, which was apparently shot down by a surface-to-air missile. Mr Cameron chaired an emergency meeting of the Governent's crisis committee Cobra this morning to agree how to respond to the crash. A team of Scotland Yard specialists has been put on standby to help recover the bodies of the nine Britons killed in yesterday's crash . He was joined by the new Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond and new Defence Secretary Michael Fallon. The Prime Minister's national security advisor Sir Kim Darroch and representatives from the secret services also attended. Mr Cameron's spokeswoman said this morning’s emergency meeting focused on the need for a 'swift and independent investigation' into the causes and securing access to the crash site for international experts. Mr Cameron spoke with his Dutch counterpart Mark Rutte, the Australian prime minister Tony Abbott, and sent messages of condolence to Malaysian PM Najib Razak. The Prime Minister's spokeswoman said: 'Clearly it will be the Ukrainian government that are in the lead on this. We are keen to work with them closely and we think there needs to be an independent international investigation. 'So that would look to the role of people like ICAO, the International Civil Aviation Organisation, or looking into Air Accidents Investigation Branch. 'The point I would make is that the crash site is in a separatist-held area and therefore part of the work we are doing is talking closely to the OSCE [Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe], who are clearly the ones that have the monitoring mission in the broader region, about how we can work together and access [the site]. 'And it is also why we are pushing for a clear statement at the UN on the need for access.' Mr Cameron's spokeswoman added: 'The focus was on the huge tragedy that this is for the Netherlands, the need to have an independent investigation. 'It is true that this crash has taken place in the context of a wider crisis in Ukraine and one element of that [is] we have been sending a very clear message to the Russians, along with our European partners and the US, for several weeks now about the need for them to exert their influence on Russian separatists and stop the flow of weapons across the border. Will we keep reiterating that message in the days ahead? Yes.' | Prime Minister orders specialist Metropolitan police team to Ukraine .
Officers will work under Dutch investigation after request to Downing Street .
Crisis UN Security Council meeting called today to get access to crash site .
Cameron has also ordered specialist air investigation team to go to Kiev .
Experts will form part of international probe into cause of the crash .
Rebels controlling area around Donetsk yet to allow international access . |
233,364 | ba1e9a4429885a4376d1ead067cef8931513aeb2 | By . Kieran Gill for MailOnline . Follow @@kie1410 . Diego Simeone had to watch his Atletico Madrid team conquer their neighbours Real in the Spanish Super Cup from the stands after being sent off for patting the fourth official on the back of the head. The Atletico manager cut an animated figure at the Vicente Calderon and was punished 25 minutes in by referee Fernandez Borbalan for laying hands on Antonio Santos after a heated exchange. That didn't calm Simeone down, though, as the 44-year-old paced back and forth in the terraces and witnessed his side beat Real 1-0 on the night and 2-1 on aggregate. Heated exchange: Diego Simeone gives the fourth official his opinion during the Super Cup second leg final . Pat: As the fourth official walks away from the Atletico Madrid manager, Simeone pushes his hand to his head . On my head: Antonio Santos gets a tap to the back of his head for his troubles on Friday night from Simeone . Reaction: The fourth official was not amused and referee Fernandez Borbalan sent off the Atletico boss after . Regret that, Diego? Simeone was given his marching orders during the Super Cup second leg final on Friday . Frustrated: The Atletico manager leaves the touchline (left) but gives an ironic thumbs up (right) afterwards . Alan Pardew knows a thing or two about being punished for laying hands on match officials. The Newcastle boss was sent to the stands, given a two-match touchline ban and fined £20,000 for pushing linesman Peter Kirkup during a 2-1 win over Tottenham in 2012. Before leaving the touchline, the fiery Argentinian instructed the home faithful to get noisier as they tried to keep Real quiet. That hot-headed approach made its way on to the pitch, as Real midfielder Luka Modric was sent off for a second yellow card in the dying moments. The game between the Madrid and La Liga rivals saw a total of eight yellow cards as the Spanish referee took a no-nonsense approach to the hefty challenges flying in on Friday night. The game was settled by a Mario Mandzukic goal just two minutes in as the new signing made an instant impact since making his move from Bayern Munich as a replacement for Diego Costa. Earned: Mario Mandzukic celebrates with the Super Cup trophy after beating Real 1-0 on Friday night . Feel good? Atletico earned the bragging rights over their noisy neighbours Real ahead of the La Liga season . Team: Atletico gather for pictures in front of their home crowd at the Vicente Calderon on Friday night . Uninspired: Cristiano Ronaldo couldn't help Real produce a comeback as they lost 2-1 overall after two legs . Gutted: James Rodriguez scored in the first leg against Atletico but could not add to his tally in the second tie . VIDEO Bird's eye view for banned Simeone . | Diego Simeone taps fourth official on back of head following heated exchange during Atletico Madrid's 2-1 win on aggregate over rivals Real .
Referee Fernandez Borbalan sent Simeone to stands 25 minutes in for action .
Cristiano Ronaldo, James Rodriguez and Co fail to inspire Real to comeback . |
191,078 | 8373df2dcd8b58c8438ab931b9689a86d94be7f6 | Rory McIlroy suffered a disastrous second round at the Memorial Tournament in Ohio as three consecutive double bogeys and three bogeys saw him tumble down the leaderboard. The Northern Irishman led by three shots after a nine-under-par 63 in the first round to continue his good form after victory in last week's BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth. But, after starting on the back nine, McIlroy reached the turn in 43 strokes - 12 shots worse than on Thursday. His change of fortune coincided with . former fiancée Caroline Wozniacki having updated her picture on Twitter . to that of her stirring a cauldron. Round from hell: Rory McIlroy lost the lead after a second round 78 at the Memorial Championship, Ohio . In form: McIlroy had arrived in Ohio after winning the BMW PGA Championships in Wentworth . Spellbound: Caroline Wozniacki updated her picture on Twitter to that of her stirring a cauldron . England's Paul Casey stormed into a three-shot lead after a second successive six-under-par round of 66, which included an eagle, six birdies and just the two dropped shots, left him on 12 under for the tournament and with clear daylight to the chasing pack heading into the weekend. 'I was ecstatic with the way I played,' Casey said on www.pgatour.com. 'There was a couple of mistakes in there but that's Muirfield Village. It's a tricky golf course and you don't need to do a lot wrong to make a mistake.' In second spot, three shots back after a 69 is Bubba Watson, while Chris Kirk is a further shot adrift in third after a second-round 70. Casey, Watson and Kirk were all joint second following the first day, which was dominated by McIlroy. The Northern Irishman boasted a three-shot advantage of his own after shooting a brilliant 63 as he continued the form he showed in winning the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth on Sunday. However, the 25-year-old had a day to forget on Friday as he carded a six-over-par 78 to tumble down the leaderboard. Great Dane: Thorbjorn Olesen has taken the lead in Ohio at six under par after the second round . Most of the . damage was done on a disastrous opening nine where three consecutive . double bogeys saw him go out in 43 at Muirfield Village. Starting . on the back nine, McIlroy bogeyed his opening hole, the par-four 10th, . before parring 11 and picking the shot back up on 12. It . went rapidly downhill after that, though, as double bogeys followed on . 13, 14 and 15 before two pars and a further bogey saw him reach the turn . four shots off the lead. That . represented a 12-shot collapse on the back nine from Thursday where he . had picked up two eagles, three birdies and a double bogey to record a . 31. McIlroy . did manage to turn things round a bit on the back nine though, picking . up birdies on the second and seventh while only dropping the one shot in . between as he ended the day on three under par overall. Frontrunner: England's Paul Casey stormed into a three-shot lead after a second successive 66 . Despite . that partial recovery though, McIlroy found himself nine shots behind . Casey at the end of the day as the 36-year-old Englishman enjoyed . another good round in Ohio. McIlroy hurt his knee during Thursday's round, but he insisted it did not affect him too badly on Friday. He . said: 'The knee's OK. It was a little bit sore this morning on the . range but out on the course it was fine, the painkillers kicked in. I . felt it a little bit but it didn't really bother me too much. 'I . missed fairways, that was a big thing, I didn't realise how thick the . rough was until I got into it today. Obviously that three-hole stretch, . 13, 14, 15, didn't help. Take those three holes out of it and it . wouldn't actually have been that bad a day. 'It's not disastrous even though I had such a bad day.' After . Watson and Kirk, Hideki Matsuyama (67) and Martin Flores (68) were . joint fourth on seven under, followed by a group of four on six under - . Thorbjorn Olesen, Hunter Mahan, Ryan Moore and Scott Langley. Justin Rose was among those who failed to make the cut after the former US Open winner added a 72 to his opening-day 73. | Rory McIlroy hit a disastrous 78 in the second round at the Memorial Tournament, Ohio .
McIlroy arrived at the tournament having won the BMW PGA Championships, Wentworth .
Denmark's Thorbjorn Olesen leads the field on six under par . |
74,945 | d4777b4b81f36cfb68f1476b5d942d87ad1e0827 | (CNN) -- Dharun Ravi, the former Rutgers University student convicted of bias intimidation by use of a hidden webcam, is expected to appear in court on Wednesday, one day after he apologized for his behavior and said he plans to submit to his impending jail sentence. "I accept responsibility for and regret my thoughtless, insensitive, immature, stupid and childish choices that I made on September 19, 2010, and September 21, 2010," Ravi said in a written statement on Tuesday. Ravi was sentenced to serve 30 days in jail, three years of probation and must complete 300 hours of community service aimed at assisting victims of bias crimes. He plans to surrender himself on Thursday. Ravi also must pay more than $11,000 in restitution. The state's decision to appeal the sentence automatically stayed it, according to Ravi's attorney Steven Altman. He is allowed, however, to chose to go ahead and serve it so long as he waives any double jeopardy claim, the attorney said. The purpose of Wednesday's court appearance is to place that waiver on the record, said Altman. "I decided to accept and hopefully complete the sentence as soon as possible. It's the only way I can go on with my life," Ravi said in his statement. Ravi's gay roommate killed himself by jumping off New York's George Washington Bridge. Tyler Clementi, an 18-year-old freshman, plunged to his death into the Hudson River after learning Ravi had secretly spied via a webcam as Clementi had an intimate encounter with another man. Middlesex County Prosecutor Bruce J. Kaplan has said Ravi's crimes warranted "more than a 30-day jail term" and called Superior Judge Glenn Berman's sentence "insufficient under the sentencing laws of this state, the facts that were determined by a jury and long-standing appellate precedent." Was 30-day sentence fair? Calling the appeal "a registering of outrage," CNN Senior Legal Analyst Jeffrey Toobin said there is "very little chance" the sentence will be overturned. He noted that under New Jersey law, the judge had the flexibility to sentence Ravi to anything from zero to 10 years in prison. | NEW: Dharun Ravi is expected to appear in court on Wednesday .
He was sentenced to serve 30 days in jail and three years of probation .
Tyler Clementi, an 18-year-old freshman, plunged to his death into the Hudson River .
Ravi had secretly recorded Clementi in a sexual encounter with another man . |
7,842 | 1634a3ae0b3283acd8e08c75249c859769b0bbd9 | KABUL, Afghanistan (CNN) -- The Taliban said its gunmen opened fire on an aid group's vehicle in eastern Afghanistan on Wednesday, killing four International Rescue Committee workers and prompting the organization to suspend its operations. Three IRC female staffers -- a British-Canadian, a Canadian, and a Trinidadian-American -- were killed, as well as an Afghan driver who also worked for the New York-based aid group, the IRC said in a statement. Another Afghan driver was critically wounded in the attack in Logar province, south of Kabul, IRC said. "They were traveling to Kabul in a clearly marked International Rescue Committee vehicle when they came under fire," according to the statement. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack. The aid workers were in a two-car convoy when gunmen opened fire on them in Pul-i-Alam, the capital of Logar, according to provincial governor Abdullah Wardak. IRC, which provides relief to refugees and victims of armed conflict around the world, said it "has suspended its humanitarian aid programs in Afghanistan indefinitely." "We are stunned and profoundly saddened by this tragic loss," said IRC president George Rupp. "These extraordinary individuals were deeply committed to aiding the people of Afghanistan, especially the children who have seen so much strife. Words are inadequate to express our sympathy for the families and loved ones of the victims and our devoted team of humanitarian aid workers in Afghanistan." Earlier this month, aid groups in Afghanistan issued a report that said 19 of their workers have been killed in the country this year. The deaths Wednesday add to the count. The groups, in a report issued by the Agency Coordinating Body for Afghan Relief, said the attacks have forced them to scale back on relief work. "This year there have been over 84 such incidents, including 21 in June, more than in any other month in the last six years," the report said. "So far this year 19 NGO (non-governmental organization) staff have been killed, which already exceeds the total number of NGO workers killed last year." | Gunmen shoot and kill four international aid workers and driver near Kabul .
Shooting occured during ambush on their convoy south of capital .
Taliban claims responsibility for attack . |
47,198 | 8501853184e03cb57f56c29fb96ff5ee23f806dc | Founded in 1823, the world’s most famous debating society has proved a valuable training ground for many future politicians. But the brightest young minds in the country packed out the Oxford Union last week to discuss whether Yorkshire puddings should be served with roast chicken. The union - which has hosted former prime ministers, top sportsmen and actors among other high-profile names - argued whether it is wrong to serve the puddings with just roast beef. Animalistic behaviour: Passions ran high at the Oxford Union as members argued over whether Yorkshire puddings can be eaten with chicken . The long-held tradition was talked about being ‘outdated and out of touch’ with modern British life, the room of more than 300 members and future politicians claimed. Passions ran high as the debate heard that Yorkshire puddings now also have a ‘rightful place’ on a plate with roast chicken. Meanwhile others argued British traditions need to be ‘treasured, upheld and preserved’ during the hour-long discussion. Fierce debate: The long-held tradition was talked about being ‘outdated and out of touch’ with modern British life, the room of more than 300 members and future politicians claimed . The Oxford Union has a reputation for bringing international guests and speakers to debate in its halls. Previous guests include the Dalai Lama, Mother Teresa, former US presidents Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan, and ex-prime ministers Sir John Major and Winston Churchill. Formula One racing legend Sir Jackie Stewart, actress Dame Judi Dench, theoretical physicist Albert Einstein and author and presenter Stephen Fry have also spoken at the debating society. The Yorkshire pudding discussion made a change from the usual cut and thrust debate of world politics. Last month, new research by Aunt Bessie’s found that more Yorkshire puddings are now being eaten with roast chicken than with roast beef on British dinner tables. Oxford Union: Founded in 1823, the world’s most famous debating society has proved a valuable training ground for many future politicians . As a result, the Oxford Union decided to deem whether this was now a ‘socially acceptable’ thing to do. Oxford Union spokesman Mayank Banerjee said: ‘Whilst the majority of our debates focus on world affairs, we do have a lighter side, and debates about popular culture can become quite fierce. ‘This is our first foodie debate and might well pave the way for more in the future.’ To help spark the debate, the students first tucked into a roast chicken dinner with Aunt Bessie’s Yorkshire puddings. ‘Mums see a role for Yorkshire puddings irrespective of whether it’s beef or chicken and often face complaints from family members if they are left off the menu. ‘We’re pleased that some of Oxford Union’s greatest minds are in agreement.’ The union’s membership is drawn primarily but not exclusively from the University of Oxford. | Long-held tradition is talked about being 'outdated and out of touch'
Yorkshire puddings said to have 'rightful place' with roast chicken .
But others claim British traditions must be 'treasured and preserved' |
279,601 | f6369cda0e8f9faa80206c0f4178de4af8805392 | Belfast, Northern Ireland (CNN) -- Gerry Adams' arrest in connection with the 1972 abduction and killing of a mother of 10 by the Irish Republican Army is being praised by the family of the victim. Jean McConville's daughter, Helen McKendry, told CNN that the arrest was a welcome step in the family's long struggle to find justice. "There's been silence over my mother's murder for 22 years and then I went public, and then we got her body back in 2003 and gave her a proper burial. Now we have learned Gerry Adams has been arrested in connection with the murder," McKendry said. "I can only do like everyone else in my case and hope that he will be brought to a court of law and be charged with my mother's murder, so my family can get truth and justice for my mother." Adams has long denied having any role in the death of McConville, a widowed mother of 10 who was reportedly killed by the IRA because the group believed she was a spy for the British army. The Sinn Fein leader continued to be questioned Thursday, a day after he surrendered himself to police, his party said. Martin McGuinness, a Sinn Fein member and the Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland, told reporters in Belfast that the arrest was unnecessary, unjustified and politically motivated. He said he had seen the "dark side" of Northern Ireland policing "flex its muscles in the course of the past couple of days" and that the arrest was a "'deliberate attempt to influence the elections that are due to take place in three weeks' time." McGuinness said he was confident that Adams would be able to rejoin election campaigning shortly and would "continue to lead our party in a very positive way." 'Take away the fear' McKendry said she hoped that the progress made in the peace process in recent years would make it more likely that charges could be brought over her mother's death. "I do think that there would be people willing to come forward when they take away the fear, and will come forward to help," she said. "A lot of the members of the IRA have approached myself and my husband and spoke about what happened and a lot of them did not agree with what happened. A lot of them wanted to see Gerry Adams stand trial for this." Earlier, her brother, Michael McConville, echoed her words. "The McConville family is glad to see police are taking our mother's murder seriously and are doing all they can to bring the people that murdered her to justice," he said. "An awful lot of people in the north and south of Ireland are glad to see Gerry Adams being arrested for this." Adams: I am innocent of abduction, killing . In a statement released shortly before the Sinn Fein leader surrendered himself for questioning Wednesday, Adams, 65, vehemently denied any involvement in the killing. "I believe that the killing of Jean McConville and the secret burial of her body was wrong and a grievous injustice," Adams said in the statement posted on his party website. "Malicious allegations have been made against me. I reject these." The questioning of Adams was not unexpected. Adams said he told authorities last month that he was willing to meet with investigators. "While I have never disassociated myself from the IRA and I never will, I am innocent in the abduction, killing or burial of Mrs. McConville," Adams said. Long associated with the IRA, once considered the armed wing of Sinn Fein, Adams is a prominent Catholic politician who helped broker peace in Northern Ireland. Today, Sinn Fein is Ireland's second-largest opposition party. The Police Service of Northern Ireland said a 65-year-old man, whom it declined to identify but described as a suspect in the McConville case, remained in custody Thursday. Single gunshot wound . Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom, and Protestant loyalists wanted to keep it that way. Catholics were fighting to force the British out and reunite the north with the rest of Ireland. Known as the Troubles, the conflict lasted 30 years, ending in 1998 with the Good Friday Agreement that brokered peace. The agreement provided a political framework for power-sharing among the parties. The IRA admitted in 1999 to killing a number of people who have become known as "The Disappeared" -- those who vanished during the Troubles. Among the victims was McConville, whose remains were found partially buried on a beach in County Louth in 2003. She died of a single gunshot wound to the back of the head. McConville, 38, was taken from her home in Belfast in December 1972, McKendry told CNN in a 2012 interview. "They came about tea time and they dragged her out of the bathroom and dragged her out," said McKendry, who was a teenager at the time. "All I ever wanted was to know the reason why they killed my mother." The investigation into McConville's killing was revived by authorities after the release, following a protracted legal battle, of certain interviews given by members of the IRA, who implicated Adams. The recordings were made by Boston College as part of the Belfast Project, which is a collection of interviews conducted with former Northern Irish paramilitary fighters. They provide an oral history of the decades of fighting. How tapes made by U.S. library could solve N. Ireland murder . Participants in the project were told their recorded interviews would be kept secret until their deaths. Last year a U.S. court ruled that tapes of deceased interviewees that contained claims about the killing be given by Boston College to police in Northern Ireland. One of those featured in the tapes was Brendan Hughes, a now-deceased former commander of the Irish Republican Army. Gerry Adams arrested for questioning over 1972 IRA slaying . Peter Taggart reported from Belfast, Laura Smith-Spark wrote and reported from London and Chelsea J. Carter reported and wrote from Atlanta. CNN's Greg Botelho and Nic Robertson contributed to this report. | Daughter welcomes Gerry Adams' arrest, wants to see him brought before a court .
Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness says Adams' arrest is politically motivated .
Adams has vehemently denied any involvement in the widow's 1972 killing .
He has described her killing and secret burial as "wrong and a grievous injustice" |
156,004 | 55a97270a3da28c587df48b2d21cdcc872e511f4 | By . Deni Kirkova . If you happen to see a tiger-striped pony cantering past, don't panic, it's not the result of some freakish medical experiment gone wrong. It's all down to a fun new range of non-toxic, water-based paint, designed to be painted onto equine subjects. As a result, UK kids have been getting busy turning their mounts into trotting canvasses, daubing them with stars, butterflies, peacock feathers, hearts and leopard spots. It's like My Little Pony come to life. The British company behind the product, Fred & Bill, says the paint is the first of its kind in the UK. They assure us it's perfectly safe for the animal's skin and washes off easily. Paint My Pony is a fun range of paints encouraging horse lovers of all ages to bond with their ponies. Freddie, 9, paints his 13 year old chestnut roan, Trumpton . They explain: 'Paint my Pony is a fun . range of paints encouraging horse lovers of all ages to bond with their . ponies in a creative and imaginative way.' Children are getting creative . and decorating their pets with flowers, hearts, stars and even tiger . stripes. Cosmetically tested and kind to equine skin, it is available in a range of four vibrant colours, including Hot Pink, Tinsel Blue, Midnight Blue and Fiery Orange. One pot of paint costs £7.50, and the pigment can be used freehand with a brush, hands or fingers to create personalised designs on mane, tail, coat and hooves. The company also sell a mini painter's palette for just £1.85. For the less arty, a range of stencils is also available, which ensure a masterpiece every time. Paint My Pony is water-based, non-toxic paint that can be harmlessly applied to equine friends . Fred & Bill say the paint first of its kind in the UK, safe for the animal's skin and wash off easily . And for fans of bling, there are . rhinestone-encrusted stickers in skull, cupcake, . unicorn and many other designs. The firm, which delivers worldwide, says the paint is ideal for shows, rallies, gymkhanas, Boxing Day meets, fancy dress, team identification or a spot of fun in the sun. The owner came up with the idea for the company after an accident allowed her time to refocus. A little girl paints a colourful love heart on her equine friend in the animal-friendly colours . You can paint stars, big cat spots or any sort of pattern you like . 'Some say "more haste, less speed" and they would generally be right,' says Beth Cooper, the brains behind Paint My Pony. 'As . a rule, slowing down has never come easily to me but when I had a bad . fall from my horse earlier this year, it forced a change in pace and . time to reflect… . 'During those quieter months, the idea for Fred & Bill was formed and our first product, Paint My Pony, was born. 'Named . after my children, our aim is to produce, and share with you, some fun, . creative and exciting products, which we think are brilliant! It's . been an interesting journey and a stimulating learning curve.' A pot of paint costs £7.50 and can be used freehand with a brush, hands or fingers . Also available for the less arty are a range of stencils, which ensure a masterpiece every time . For fans of bling and jazz there are safe-for-animals rhinestone encrusted stickers . | British company Fred & Bill sell non-toxic paints, stencils and stickers .
Tools, which can be sent worldwide, allow art fans to decorate their horse . |
281,510 | f8a853114dc0f1913733ce2e75c50805c0b3c6e5 | School children as young as four have been moved after it was feared rats had invaded classrooms. Forty reception pupils, aged four and five, had to be moved from St Joseph's Catholic Primary, in Wallasey, Merseyside, after reports of rodents. Three classrooms had to be closed after staff at the school suspected the pest problem on Tuesday, and informed Wirral Council. Kelly Cotton, (centre), was forced to keep her daughter Lexie, four, (right) home from St Joseph's Catholic School in Wallasey, Merseyside when she heard about the rat scare, pictured with her youngest daughter Isla, 18 months . Mother-of-two Kelly Cotton, 23, kept her five-year-old daughter Lexie off school because of the alleged rat problem. Ms Cotton, from Wallasey, said: 'The whole school needs cleaning inch by inch, not just the ones in question. 'Who’s to say they havnt spread across the whole site?' Forty children have had to be temporarily relocated from their classroom at St Joseph's Catholic Primary School in Wallasey, Merseyside after the rat scare . 'I’m not taking any chances they should be closing the school and having every single room treated. 'Me and plenty of other mums aren't sending our kids back until we’re satisfied it’s clean enough. 'Apparently they knew about the rats before Easter but they’re only doing something about it now. 'They had a terrible OFSTED report last term so this rat scandal will make them look even worse.' Ms Cotton said that her and 'plenty of other mothers' were keeping their children away from school until they were sure it had been properly cleaned . The 40 pupils have been relocated to a local nursery - while another 20 children affected will be moved to other classrooms in the school. Wirral Council said the headteacher and staff were making 'every effort to reduce disruption for the children'. Pest controllers deep cleaned the affected rooms and 'pest-proofing' measures had been put in place, it said. One parent said: 'My fear is that they could get bitten or catch something. 'I haven't had anything from the school, it's all just playground rumours. 'Some people are saying it's just droppings, others are saying they've seen rats.' Another parent said: 'The health and safety professionals have been in and cleaned up the whole area. 'They only found three juvenile rats, which I think have come in from a piece of grassland by the school.'It is expected youngsters relocated will not be able to return to their school until early next week. A Wirral council spokesman said: 'The . school is being supported by the council's pest control services and the . health, safety and resilience team to help them to manage the . situation.' Headteacher Kathryn Vernon said: 'We are working closely with Wirral Council after evidence of rodents was seen on school premises. 'We are unsure whether there is still a problem as no vermin have been seen since we reported the issue. 'Wirral Council Pest Control have up to this moment found no evidence of rats. However mouse droppings have been identified, so it is important that we investigate properly and act on any advice given. The situation is being kept under review. 'Our key priority is the well-being and education of our children so we have temporarily relocated some classes to make sure they can continue their lessons, accompanied by their usual teachers.' Wirral Council Pest Control have said they have found no evidence of rats although 'mouse droppings' have been identified . | Parents at Merseyside primary school fear the building has a rat problem .
Kelly Cotton, 23, has decided to keep her daughter Lexie, 4, at home until the problem is fixed .
Council officials admit there is evidence of mouse droppings but no sign of any rats .
Three classrooms closed while pest control officers clean the problem area . |
117,534 | 23c525e31745c14864699ada2336ba5c16f4c4a8 | The New England Patriots, the Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos clinched divisional titles and playoff berths with wins on Sunday while the Green Bay Packers' five-game winning streak was ended by the Buffalo Bills. The Patriots (11-3) secured their sixth straight AFC East divisional crown with a 41-13 triumph over the Miami Dolphins (7-7) at Foxborough. New England led 14-13 at the half but turned it on in the third quarter as they racked up 24 points to pull clear. Tom Brady and Bill Belichick celebrate yet another AFC East title for the New England Patriots . Rob Gronkowski scored one touchdown as the Patriots smashed the Miami Dolphins 41-13 . Pittsburgh 27-20 Atlanta . Jacksonville 12-20 Baltimore . Green Bay 13-21 Buffalo . Tampa Bay 17-19 Carolina . Cincinnati 30-0 Cleveland . Houston 10-17 Indianapolis . Oakland 13-31 Kansas City . Miami 13-41 New England . Washington 13-24 New York Giants . Denver 22-10 San Diego . New York Jets 16-11 Tennessee . Minnesota 14-16 Detroit . San Francisco 7-17 Seattle . Dallas 38-27 Philadelphia . Quarterback Tom Brady threw both his touchdown passes in the third, finding tight end Rob Gronkowski with a 27-yard pass and then connecting with Julian Edelman for a six-yard score. Brady completed 21 of 35 passes throwing for 287 yards, two touchdowns and an interception as the Patriots gained revenge for the opening game loss at Miami. The divisional title is the 12th New England have won with head coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Brady. The Colts came from behind to beat the Houston Texans 17-10 at Lucas Oil Stadium and claim their second consecutive AFC South title. Kendrick Lewis gave the Texans a first-quarter lead with a 27-yard return after picking off Colts quarterback Andrew Luck. Luck recovered to throw two touchdown passes in the second quarter, while the Texans (7-7) lost their quarterback when Ryan Fitzpatrick was carted off the field with what was reported to be a suspected broken leg. Demaryius Thomas celebrates a touchdown in Denver's win over San Diego in California . Peyton Manning (right) and Philip Rivers shake hands after Denver sealed the AFC West division title . Rookie Tom Savage took over for Houston and he too was hurt, in the fourth quarter, before throwing an interception that was picked off by Vontae Davis to secure the win for the Colts (10-4). Luck completed 18 of 34 passes for 187 yards as the Colts earned their fourth division title in six seasons and made the playoffs for the 12th time in 13 years. A third AFC playoff slot was taken by the Denver Broncos who won the AFC West title after a 22-10 win over divisional rivals the San Diego Chargers took them to an 11-3 record. The Indianapolis Colts won the AFC South after beating the Houston Texans on Sunday . Marcus Thigpen returns a punt for a touchdown during Buffalo's victory over the Green Bay Packers . Aaron Rodgers was intercepted twice as the Packers were beaten 21-13 in Buffalo . The victory ensures the Broncos, beaten by Seattle in last season's Super Bowl, will enter the postseason for the fourth straight year. Quarterback Peyton Manning completed 14 of 20 passes for 233 yards and one touchdown, despite having to leave the field late in the second quarter to receive treatment for a thigh injury, returning after the interval. In the much-anticipated NFC West clash in Seattle, defending Super Bowl champions the Seahawks effectively ended the San Francisco 49ers hopes with a 17-7 win. Running back Marshawn Lynch put up 91 yards on 21 carries and put Seattle ahead with a four yard touchdown run in the third quarter. The Seahawks (10-4) now have four straight wins and are locked in battle with the Arizona Cardinals (11-3) for top spot in the division. The Seattle Seahawks beat the San Francisco 49ers to end their hopes of making the play-offs . The day's biggest surprise came with the Bills stunning the Packers 21-13 in a game where Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers threw two interceptions. The win keeps the Bills in the AFC wild card hunt and sees the Packers slip to 10-4. The standout individual performance on Sunday came from New York Giants receiver Odell Beckham Jr who grabbed three touchdown catches as part of a 143-yard performance on 12 receptions in a 24-13 win over the Washington Redskins. Rookie quarterback Johnny Manziel's first start for the Cleveland Browns ended in a 30-0 loss to AFC North rivals the Cincinnati Bengals. Manziel, the 2012 Heisman Trophy winner, was taunted by Bengals defenders showing him his trademark 'money' sign. Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant catches a pass for a touchdown as Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Bradley Fletcher defend in the fourth quarter at Lincoln Financial Field . Manziel was sacked three times as he threw two interceptions and put up just 80 yards on 10 of 18 passing. In the final game on Sunday, fired up receiver Dez Bryant scored three touchdowns to ignite Dallas' 38-27 win over the rival Philadelphia Eagles as the Cowboys regained control of the NFC East. Bryant got into a pre-game shouting match with Philadelphia's Malcolm Jenkins and carried his rage onto the field where his 114 receiving yards gave the Cowboys their biggest win of the season. Dallas (10-4) moved one game in front of the Eagles (9-5) for first place in the division after they had relinquished the top spot on Thanksgiving when Philadelphia handed them a 33-10 blowout defeat. In the rematch, the Cowboys raced out to a 21-0 lead before the Eagles responded with 24 straight points to seize the lead. Dallas responded with a long drive and a two-yard TD run from DeMarco Murray, and Bryant caught his third score to give the visiting Cowboys a 35-24 lead. Both teams added late field goals, and Philadelphia's chances were hurt by a fourth-quarter Brent Celek fumble - one of their four turnovers on the night. | New England Patriots beat Miami Dolphins to win AFC East .
Denver Broncos clinch AFC West with win over San Diego Chargers .
Indianapolis Colts seal AFC South title after beating Houston Texans .
Green Bay Packers are beaten 21-13 by Buffalo Bills .
Detroit Lions regain NFC North lead after win over Minnesota Vikings .
Seattle Seahawks beat San Francisco 49ers to end their play-off hopes .
Dallas Cowboys beat Philadelphia Eagles 38-27 . |
205,247 | 95b12e75cfd24e2839a95cddf4d89047ca1b46e4 | (CNN) -- Singer Sean Kingston has been moved from the trauma center of a Miami hospital to its intensive-care unit a day after he and a female passenger were injured in a Jet Ski accident, his publicist said Monday. "Sean Kingston is now stabilized," said Joe Carozza, Kingston's publicist at Epic Records, in a statement. Hip-hop singer Trav, who features Kingston in his latest song, said Monday Kingston is "doing well. He just opened his eyes this morning." Jorge Pino, spokesman for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, said the watercraft apparently crashed when it went under a small bridge about 6 p.m. They were taken to Jackson-Ryder Trauma Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami. Carozza said Sunday night in a statement that the 21-year-old musician "was in an accident." Trav told CNN Sunday night in an e-mail he visited Kingston at the hospital and "he is good in stable condition." Earlier Sunday, Kingston posted the following message on his Twitter account, which has more than 1.5 million followers: . "South beach... #nicee... bout to get fresh and cause that movie!!..." The Miami-born artist changed his name from Kisean Anderson to Kingston to reflect his Jamaican heritage. He shot to fame in 2007 when his debut song "Beautiful Girls" became a No. 1 hit in the United States. CNN's Alan Duke contributed to this report. | NEW: Hip-hop singer Trav says Kingston "just opened his eyes this morning"
Sean Kingston moved to ICU .
His publicist says Kingston has stabilized .
Florida agency: Kingston's Jet Ski apparently crashed when it went under a bridge . |
221,991 | ab55f86a3038c6062e5c96a5ea7521c935d41006 | By . Associated Press Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 22:29 EST, 23 September 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 22:33 EST, 23 September 2013 . A woman whose bludgeoned body was found in the burning home of a family friend who allegedly killed her son and abducted her 16-year-old daughter died from at least a dozen blows to the head, according to an autopsy report released Monday. Christina Anderson, 44, was found with duct tape wrapped around her neck and mouth several times and her ankles tied with a plastic cable, the San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office said. Anderson had cuts in her neck that were likely inflicted through the tape after she died. The coroner said she died from blunt head trauma. The cause of death was undetermined for Anderson's 8-year-old son, Ethan, whose charred remains were found in the rubble. A family destroyed: Christina Anderson, left, and Ethan Anderson, right, are believed by authorities to have been killed by James DiMaggio . Investigators said they couldn't determine how Ethan died due to extensive burns and tissue loss. They said gunshot wounds, asphyxiation or burns from the house fire were all possibilities. James DiMaggio, 40, was killed by FBI agents in the Idaho wilderness Aug. 10, one week after he allegedly abducted 16-year-old Hannah Anderson and killed Christina and Ethan Anderson at his home in Boulevard, 65 miles east of San Diego. Hannah Anderson was rescued and returned safely to California. Christina Anderson asked DiMaggio to take Hannah to cheerleading camp Aug. 3 because she was at Ethan's football practice and unable to take her, San Diego County Sheriff's Detective Troy DuGal said in the autopsy report. Hannah's disappearance triggered a massive search spanning much of the western United States and parts of Canada and Mexico. Authorities have said DiMaggio set fire to his home with a timer, giving him a 20-hour jump on them. Heartbroken: Kidnap victim Hannah Anderson (R) and her father Brett (L) attend a memorial service for her mother Christina Anderson, 44, and her 8-year-old brother Ethan . San Diego County Sheriff Bill Gore has called Hannah "a victim in every sense of the word." He has declined to discuss a possible motive and investigators haven't publicly addressed other aspects of the case, including why the family went to DiMaggio's home, and how Hannah was treated in captivity. The autopsy report says Christina Anderson suffered blows to the back of her head, forehead and nose but doesn't describe which instruments were used. Authorities have said firefighters found a crowbar near her body. | Officials found Christina Anderson's charred body alongside her dead son Ethan's in the burnt out remains of James DiMaggio's home .
Mr DiMaggio is believed by officials to have killed both before lighting the house on fire .
Mr DiMaggio infamously fled with 16-year-old Hannah Anderson before being shot dead by authorities days later . |
190,952 | 8347d4d308c763875dfc3e2c259d8c199133094d | (CNN) -- Businesses in parts of Pakistan's most populous city shut down Thursday, amid uncertainty and tension tied to the recent arrest, by London police, of the leader of one of the country's most powerful regional parties. Video from CNN affiliate Geo TV showed shops that had closed or were in the process of closing in Nazimabad, Liaquatabad and other parts of Karachi. "There are elements that are forcing people to shut down their shops and businesses," local trade society president Tajir Ittehad Ateeq Mir told reporters. Such shutdowns have been connected to the arrest in London of Altaf Hussain, head of Pakistan's Mutahida Qaumi Movement, on Tuesday morning. Metropolitan Police said they arrested a 60-year-old man, who they did not name, at a home in northwest London on suspicion of money laundering. But officials in Pakistan subsequently identified him as Hussain. Members of the Mutahida Qaumi Movement, which is known as MQM, have staged protests, including sit-ins, since that arrest. But party officials insist they have nothing to do with shutting down businesses, accusing others of manipulating the situation. "The MQM Central Coordination Committee has strongly condemned the miscreant elements who are involved in closing down businesses and aerial firing in some areas of Karachi and Hyderabad," the party said in a press release. "It seems that some elements want to deteriorate the situation deliberately so that MQM can be blamed." The party appealed for people to go about their business as usual and remain peaceful, with senior leader Haider Abbas Rizvi telling reporters that Hussain himself has related that he doesn't want supporters to take the law into their own hands. MQM is the fourth-largest party in Pakistan's parliament, holding 25 out of 446 seats, though it is a greater force in Sindh province, including Karachi. It is led by Hussain from his base in the United Kingdom, where he sought asylum in 1991 because of an attempt on his life, his party has previously said. Hussain -- who had been ill and was preparing to leave his home to get checked at a hospital when he was arrested, according to MQM Senior Deputy Gov. Nadeem Nusrat -- was still in a hospital Thursday under police watch. Pakistan's High Commissioner to the UK Imran Mirza has visited Hussain at the hospital and given him documentation -- including a Pakistani passport -- so that he and other Pakistani officials could continue to have access to him, said Pakistani Information Minister Pervez Rasheed. Some protests called by MQM after Hussain's arrest turned violent, something that the party condemned. Thursday saw more bloodshed in Karachi. A bomb placed on a motorcycle exploded outside of a mosque, killing one person and injuring five others, according to Ahmed Chinoy, the chief of the citizen's police liaison committee told CNN. There is no indication whether that attack had anything to do with MQM or Hussain's arrest. More arrests made in stoning death of pregnant Pakistani woman . CNN's Saima Mohsin contributed to this report. | Trade officials says "elements ... are forcing people to shut down their businesses"
This comes days after the arrest of Mutahida Qaumi Movement leader Altaf Hussain .
Hussain's party condemns the shutdowns and "aerial firing" in Karachi, Hyderabad .
Hussain is in a hospital in London, where he was arrested; a Pakistani official visits him . |
212,024 | 9e964ed7fcafc17989ca1d8965f104a942016f2b | Empowered Patient is a regular feature from CNN Medical News correspondent Elizabeth Cohen that helps put you in the driver's seat when it comes to health care. Studies have shown that acupuncture can ease pain, but researchers aren't sure of the exact mechanism. ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- Dr. Andrew Weil wasn't sure exactly how he hurt his knee; all he knew was that it was painful. But instead of turning to cortisone shots or heavy doses of pain medication, Weil turned to the ancient Chinese medicine practice of acupuncture. "It worked -- my knee felt much better," says Weil. Americans spend billions of dollars each year on alternative medicine, everything from chiropractic care to hypnosis. Weil says alternative medicine can work wonders -- acupuncture, certain herbs, guided imagery. For example, Dr. Brian Berman, director of the Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, has done a series of studies showing acupuncture's benefits for osteoarthritis of the knee. Extensive studies have also been done on mind-body approaches such as guided imagery, and on some herbs, including St. John's wort. But on the other hand, there also is a lot of quackery out there, Weil says. "I've seen it all, [including] products that claim to increase sexual vigor, cure cancer and allay financial anxiety." So how do you know what works and what doesn't when it comes to alternative medicine? Just a decade ago, there weren't many well-done, independent studies on herbs, acupuncture, massage or hypnosis, so patients didn't have many facts to guide them. But in 1999, eight academic medical centers, including Harvard, Duke and Stanford, banded together with the purpose of encouraging research and education on alternative medicine. Eight years later, the Consortium of Academic Health Centers for Integrative Medicine has 38 member universities, and has gathered evidence about what practices have solid science behind them. Here, from experts at five of those universities, are five alternative medicine practices that are among the most promising because they have solid science behind them. 1. Acupuncture for pain . Hands, down, this was the No. 1 recommendation from our panel of experts. They also recommended acupuncture for other problems, including nausea after surgery and chemotherapy. 2. Calcium, magnesium, and vitamin B6 for PMS . When pre-menstrual syndrome rears its ugly head, gynecologist Dr. Tracy Gaudet encourages her patients to take these dietary supplements. "They can have a huge impact on moodiness, bloating, and on heavy periods," says Gaudet, who's the executive director of Duke Integrative Medicine at Duke University Medical School. 3. St. John's Wort for depression . The studies are a bit mixed on this one, but our panel of experts agreed this herb -- once thought to rid the body of evil spirits - is definitely promising. "It's worth a try for mild to moderate depression," says Weil, founder and director of the Program in Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona. "Remember it will take six to eight weeks to see an effect." Remember, too, that St. John's wort can interfere with some medicines; the University of Maryland Medical Center has a list. 4. Guided imagery for pain and anxiety . "Go to your happy place" has become a cliché, but our experts say it really works. The technique, of course, is more complicated than that. "In guided imagery we invite you to relax and focus on breathing and transport you mentally to a different place," says Mary Jo Kreitzer, Ph.D., R.N., founder and director of the Center for Spirituality and Healing at the University of Minnesota. There's a guided imagery demo at the University of Minnesota's Web site. 5. Glucosamine for joint pain . "It's safe, and it looks like it's effective," says Dr. Frederick Hecht, director of research at the Osher Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco. "It may be the first thing that actually reverses cartilage loss in osteoarthritis." All our experts warn that since alternative medicine is financially lucrative, a lot of charlatans have gotten into the business. They have these tips for being a savvy shopper: . 1. Look for "USP" or "NSF" on the labels . "The biggest mistake people make is they don't get a good product," says Dr. Mary Hardy, medical director of the Sims/Mann-UCLA Center for Integrative Oncology. She says the stamp of approval from the United States Pharmacopoeia or NSF International, two groups with independent verification programs, means what's on the label is in the product. 2. Find a good practitioner . Make sure the alternative medicine practitioner you're going to is actually trained to practice alternative medicine. One place to start is the Consortium for Academic Health Centers for Integrative Medicine . 3. Be wary of crazy claims . "Anything that sounds too good to be true probably is," says Weil. And once you do start on your journey with alternative medicine, here's a piece of advice: Take it slow. Alternative medicine works, but sometimes not as quickly as taking a drug. "I tell people it's going to take a while," says Hardy. "I tell them to do a six- to eight-week trial, or even 12 weeks." E-mail to a friend . Elizabeth Cohen is a correspondent with CNN Medical News. | A number of alternative medical practices have solid science behind them .
Acupuncture highly recommended for pain, nausea .
Research mixed, but St. John's wort viewed as worth a try for depression . |
235,163 | bc6e9881fbe814213554b6481e00c306d6f853c7 | (CNN) -- Faster than you can catch the red-eye from New York to London, the world's airlines have to keep evolving in order to stay resilient in the global world of commercial aviation. With 8 million passengers taking a plane each day, the 3 billion journeys made last year are more than just a flight for many. They are the hopes and dreams of deals to be done, families to be reunited and ambitions to be realized. The first commercial flight 100 years ago was a 23-minute journey in a flying boat across Tampa Bay, Florida in 1914. The Mayor of St. Petersburg, Florida, at that time paid $400 -- about $9,000 today -- to become the world's first paying passenger. Since the birth of commercial aviation the airline industry has been characterized by the concept of risk versus reward, with some of the best-known names failing, many merging and consolidating along the way. Pan American World Airways was one of the first to blaze a trail across the Atlantic with its spacious cabins, ladies-only powder rooms and modest overhead lights. But even for Pan Am it wasn't enough to keep the company financially astute. "These names have gone, the Pan Ams and the British Caledonian and others, but of course their businesses went into other businesses, and that tells us that consolidation is the way forward in this industry," Tony Tyler, CEO of International Air Transport Association (IATA), told CNN's Richard Quest at the group's 70th AGM in Doha, Qatar. The industry has suffered as much turbulence in the pocket as it has in the air, and American Airlines is another example of risk versus reward. After its recent bankruptcy, it was the last major U.S. carrier to merge, with U.S. Airways. There's no better example of risk and reward than the Boeing 747, the Jumbo Jet. The world's first wide-bodied, double decker plane, it was built by Boeing in the 1960s, which literally bet the company on the plane's success. According to Tyler, a key to success in the future is sticking to a global mindset. "The point is this is a global industry, it's become global over the last 100 years," he told Quest. "We are the industry that makes global possible and what that means is that everyone in it needs to understand they are part of a global network. They're part of a global system and they need to think globally in everything they do." While today's airplanes are a century away from that flying boat that crossed Tampa Bay, there's no doubt that the risk and reward still remain just as high as they did 100 years ago. Timeline: 100 years of commercial aviation . | The first commercial flight took place 100 years ago in Tampa Bay, Florida .
Since then, many airlines have been consolidating .
Today's airlines must be global in every way in order to survive, says IATA chief . |
185,515 | 7c4e111117f0f5614425e120491dfaa4d6183c4e | By . Anthony Bond . PUBLISHED: . 10:40 EST, 19 July 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 11:15 EST, 19 July 2013 . Held: Mother-of-nine Antonia Benitez has been accused of starving her 4-year-old daughter . A mother-of-nine has been accused of starving her four-year-old daughter who weighed just 18lbs. Antonia Benitez, 35, of Santa Ana, was arrested yesterday after leaving her daughter at a hospital last month. The 4-year-old was suffering from an infected wound on her leg and malnutrition. Doctors at the hospital called social services who then alerted police officers. As reported by NBC, Benitez is now facing multiple counts of child abuse. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, the average 4-year-old weighs 34lbs. However, Benitez’s daughter was just 18lbs when taken to the hospital. Police said the 35-year-old mother was raising her nine children on her own. They are now been looked after by social services or family members. The Orange County District Attorney has now filed three counts of felony child abuse against the mother, who is scheduled to appear in court today. If Benitez is convicted, she faces a maximum jail term of 14 years and six months. Benitez allegedly took her daughter to the hospital for being underweight In July 2012. However, it was not reported to the police. Arrested: Police said the 35-year-old mother was raising her nine children on her own. This is the home they lived in . Sorry we are unable to accept comments for legal reasons. | Antonia Benitez, 35, was .
arrested after leaving her daughter at a hospital .
Toddler was suffering from an infected wound on her leg and malnutrition . |
166,238 | 62f3f3626e25c6f5deaaca2ceb9f507018820863 | (CNN) -- Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger apologized to the club's fans and said he had been "hurt" after his side suffered their worst ever defeat against Manchester United on Sunday. The Gunners were beaten 8-2 at Old Trafford, with a Wayne Rooney hat-trick, a brace from England winger Ashley Young and goals from Danny Welbeck, Park Ji-Sung and Nani sealing a comprehensive win for the English Premier League champions. "I can only apologize for the score," Wenger told Arsenal's official web site. "It hurts very much. "The players go away for two weeks [on international duty] and maybe that is a good thing. "When they come back we'll have to prepare. Big scores are humiliating and difficult to swallow but I don't think they have a special meaning. They are always under special circumstances." Later Monday, the north London club announced that fans who attended the match would receive a free ticket to another Arsenal away game in the EPL. "Sunday's result was obviously disappointing for everyone connected with the club. Our traveling fans were magnificent throughout and we want to recognize their fantastic support. We will be writing to them shortly with the details," read a statement. The defeat leaves Arsenal -- who were without forward Gervinho and defensive duo Bacary Sagna and Thomas Vermaelen for the United defeat -- with just one point from their opening three matches and languishing in 17th place in the table. The defeat comes after a controversial start to the season for the London side following the sale of star duo Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri to Barcelona and Manchester City respectively. Despite the 61-year-old French manager signing four new players -- including Ivory Coast's Gervinho and the young trio of Carl Jenkinson, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Joel Campbell from Charlton, Southampton and Saprissa -- the former Monaco coach has been criticized for not investing in experienced players. However, Wenger insisted he would spend money if the right players could be found. "We have to find the right players and if we do we will sign them," he told the BBC ahead of the current transfer closing on September 1. "We have the money and if we find players to strengthen the team we will do it. If we don't do it, it is because we haven't found them. "I try to make the right decisions and the two players we sold [Fabregas and Nasri], I brought them to the club. In 15 years I have brought some good players. You know me, so you should give me some more time to see if I have got it completely wrong." Arsenal's next league match will see them play host to newly-promoted Swansea City on September 10. | NEW: Arsenal to offer fans who traveled to Old Trafford a free ticket .
Arsene Wenger has said he is "hurt" after Arsenal's 8-2 defeat to Manchester United .
Wenger also apologized to fans after Arsenal's worst defeat in over a century .
Arsenal are without a win in their opening three league games, with just one point . |
273,600 | ee6caebd7065cde0fbe690e62b162d01c76f4203 | After escaping into the world of spiritual healing, an Australian couple made an unambiguous move to leave their comfortable lifestyle to run a retreat in the Amazon Jungle of Peru. It was a life-changing experience for Julian, 30 and Angela Moran, 31, when they discovered an ancient psychedelic plant medicine called ‘ayahuasca’, which is used to heal extensive mental, emotional and physical problems and produces a 'hallucinogenic experience'. Sprawled across 490 hectares of rainforest, the Refugio Altiplano Healing Centre offers tourists a natural paradise and the perfect environment to practice Ayahuasca Shamanism and natural medicine healing within a ceremonial setting. Leaving behind their normal working jobs in engineering and mining, the Perth couple work full time at the centre in the north-eastern city of Iquitos, which is only reachable via a 40-kilometre boat ride. Scroll down for video . Julian and Angela Moran left their comfortable lifestyle in Perth to run a retreat in the Amazon Jungle of Peru . Walking away from the life of comfort, there are limited facilities, a petrol generator used for power for about five hours per night, reception drops in and out and no hot water. But the pair felt obligated to inject ‘money, energy and love’ into the popular tourism industry after the previous owner passed away. ‘We felt so fortunate to have had the gift of transformation that we couldn’t bear to think of ‘The Refugio’ being shut down and denying others the same opportunity,’ Mr Moran told Daily Mail Australia. 'As we are from the mining and resources sector we are passionate about helping those from our industry [among others] who are under extensive pressure from work and the related high stress. 'We were living in Perth for over 20 years but we feel strongly about this line of work and saw the positive results in ourselves and others and felt that we could provide the safety, comfort and support to those wishing this experience for themselves.' The hallucinogenic tea is being prepared by a shaman for guests during a traditional ceremony at the retreat . The centre provides healthy, balanced meals, accommodation in jungle-styled two storey houses . The identification of stress and its source, as well as the tools to deal with it, may become accessible during the ayahuasca experience . The mind-expanding tea contains a compound called DMT, which is illegal in most countries, causing controversy and concerns around the globe after reports of several-related deaths. It comes after British teenager Henry Miller was found dead after taking the drug in a tribal ritual in Columbia and his body was dumped on a lonely dirt road last year. But Mr Moran ensures the centre’s professional supervision, authenticity and highly qualified staff offering a safe environment distinguishes it from the deceitful operators. 'The class of ‘drugs’ that ayahuasca belongs to is known as ‘psychedelics’. But what most people don’t understand is that they are non-addictive and non-toxic,’ Mr Moran said. ‘Our services provide you with a qualified shaman of high integrity, the medicine is authentic and absent of additives so you are safe, controlled and supervised environment – you are not at risk. ‘The fatalities have occurred when one or more of the above has been compromised.’ Leaving behind their comfortable jobs in engineering and mining, Julian and Angela wanted to pursue a career help those who are suffering from extensive mental and emotional and physical problems . Given the potential for ‘burn out’ in highly pressurised work environments, ayahuasca may assist an individual in the avoidance of problematic thinking and overloading . ‘The medicine’ is known for its ability to heal extensive mental and emotional, and physical problems . Mr Moran said there is a sewage system for their flushable toilets - which is one of the luxuries out there . Mr Moran said it creates a hallucinogenic state that is 'like being awake inside a dream'. 'The chemical responsible for this experience is DMT. It is involved in birth, sleep (dreaming) and death, which is why it is unnecessarily controversial,' Mr Moran explains. 'DMT is produced by the human brain and used by it daily - For it to be illegal, is illogical. 'I believe there is a very close relationship between dreaming and the state that is created by the ingestion of ayahuasca.' As hundreds of tourists from around the world travel to the Peruvian jungle to seek for ‘healing and introspection’, the drug has also helped people with certain types of ailments. It was originally Mr Moran’s background in Anthropology that first interested him in medicinal plants, but this was compounded when he experienced significant relief from depression, bi-polar disorder and alcoholism through the pursuit of natural remedies. ‘The brew is currently being rediscovered by Western medicine, with extensive anecdotal evidence suggesting its application to conditions such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, alcoholism and addiction, physical illness and mental and emotional problems,’ he explains. ‘I have seen excellent results in people suffering from depression, PTSD, anxiety and other mental illness. It is also effective in physical ailments, such as IBS, digestive issues, skin conditions etc. ‘We have also seen great results with eating disorders - both obesity and anorexia.’ The Refugio Altiplano Healing Centre is a natural paradise for healing and introspection. The course of accommodation ranges from three nights and two ceremonies, 12 days and seven ceremonies to even a month long. It costs USD$160 per night to stay with us, or USD$1500 for a 12 Day Retreat or $100 per night if people want to stay long term (30 night minimum). The centre provides healthy, balanced meals, accommodation in jungle-styled two storey houses and can accommodate up to four people. Hundreds of tourists from around the world travel to the Peruvian jungle to seek for ‘healing and introspection' Moran describes the feeling after consuming the medicine, saying: 'Think of it as being awake inside a dream' The mind-expanding tea contains a compound called DMT, which is illegal in most countries . Mr Moran said ayahuasca shamanism refers to the use of ayahuasca to attain a modified state of consciousness, during which participants are able to process trauma and repressed memories. Given the potential for ‘burn out’ in highly pressurised work environments, ayahuasca may assist an individual in the avoidance of problematic thinking and overloading. ‘Our guests often include people who want to break their reliance on pharmaceutical drugs. They are sick of dealing with the symptoms, and want to address the root-cause of their problem,' his wife Angela said. Before the ceremony, the user will usually fast for more than five hours prior to consuming the medicine and there are negative side effects that may strike during the experience. ‘The ayahuasca vine is a purgative. It is a necessary component of the medicine, as it allows for the cleansing of the body,' Mr Moran said. 'Physical 'purges' include vomiting and diarrhoea, while the emotional purges include yawning, crying, shaking, sweating. In all cases, it allows your body to expel toxins, and energy, that you do not need. ‘It is not uncommon for people to feel as though a weight has been lifted following a powerful purge. ‘In the West, vomiting is reflective of being 'sick'. Here, [in relation to ayahuasca] it is referred to as 'getting well'.’ Guests pay $US1500 for a 12-day retreat, which includes seven ceremonies and accommodation . The retreat includes seven ceremonies with ‘strict processes governing the pouring of medicine, the blessings and protection of the room’ The pair felt obligated to inject ‘money, energy and love’ into the popular tourism industry after the previous owner passed away . Once the tea is consumed after being made by brewing two Amazonian plants in water on high heat for many hours, guests may experience a range of affects where they enter an 'altered state of consciousness'. ‘They may experience the presence of something or someone or 'other worldly' and may also experience their 'higher self',’ he said. ‘The ayahuasca experience has been described as being like having “the best doctor, the best psychologist and the best Priest at your beck and call”,’ Mr Moran said. ‘Now, the ayahuasca experience lasts 6-10 hours. Compared to costs of conventional therapy via psychologists or psychotherapists, not including medication, these costs are small. 'While we have a small percentage of repeat guests, the vast majority use the medicine in a ceremonial setting with us over the course of a number of days, and return to their lives happier and healthier and more in control of their lives.' The centre is located in the north-eastern city of Iquitos, which is only accessible via a 40 kilometre boat ride . It comes after Julian and Angela Moran experienced a spiritual ceremony that was life-changing . While Peru is a long way from home, Julian and Angela encourage Australians to take control of their lives and make the journey for themselves . Hundreds of tourists from around the world travel to the Peruvian jungle to seek for ‘healing and introspection' The retreat includes seven ceremonies with ‘strict processes governing the pouring of medicine, the blessings and protection of the room’. Other activities include a tour around the local villages, swim in the river, go on jungle hikes, visit botanical garden and use the centre’s ‘sweat lodge’ inspired sauna. While Peru is a long way from home, Julian and Angela encourage Australians to take control of their lives and make the journey for themselves. 'This is an ancient practice and allows people to connect with themselves on a level that is not available in ordinary, waking consciousness,' Mr Moran said. 'I would encourage people to research why substances within this class of 'drugs' are illegal, before discounting them as valid avenues of exploration in the search for a healthier life. 'This medicine provides healing, insight, direction and purpose.' The retreat includes seven ceremonies with ‘strict processes governing the pouring of medicine, the blessings and protection of the room’ At the Amazon jungle, mobile phones and internet reception drops in and out on a regular basis . While Peru is a long way from home, Julian and Angela encourage Australians to take control of their lives and make the journey for themselves . | A Perth couple left their comfortable lifestyle to run a retreat in Peru .
It comes after Julian and Angela Moran experienced a spiritual ceremony .
They discovered an ancient psychedelic plant medicine called ‘ayahuasca’
It is used to heal extensive mental, emotional and physical problems .
The tea also produces a 'hallucinogenic experience' for up to 10 hours .
Used in ancient ceremonies, the plant is illegal in most countries .
There have been reports of related-deaths in previous years .
But Mr Moran ensures the centre’s professional supervision, authenticity and highly qualified staff offers a safe environment . |
154,055 | 53201ec17833228fa2c667af2cec7bbdd758623e | Barcelona residents will no longer be allowed to walk their dogs without a lead under new by-laws passed . Residents of Barcelona will no longer be allowed to walk their dogs without leads after a number of by-laws designed to help people and animals 'coexist' were passed. People in the Catalonian capital are also now prohibited from leaving their cats indoors for too long and will face fines for feeding pigeons. Meanwhile, those caught feeding stray cats will face fines of €750 (£618). Owners, who do not keep their dogs on leashes or immediately pick up their pet's mess, will be charged up to €1,500 (£1,236). According to the Telegraph, the new by-laws – passed on Monday – are to improve ‘co-existence between residents and animals’. Previously, people were allowed to let dogs off their leashes if they behaved. Now, they will only be allowed to walk free in designated areas, which - according to the paper - residents feel are too few and far between. The paper reports senior city councillor Jordi Marti as saying that the laws are being imposed because of an ‘uncivilised’ minority. On the decision to pass the by-laws, El Pais reports him as saying: 'This is the 21st century, not the 19th century.' New by-laws also state that people may not leave their animals home alone for certain times – more than 12 hours for dogs, and three days for cats. Barcelona residents are now prohibited from keeping monkeys and horses as pets in the city. They are also prohibited from breeding animals for sale. Barcelona residents are also now prohibited from keeping monkeys and horses as pets in the city . Under the by-laws, dogs will now be allowed on to the city’s metro system. New animal owners, meanwhile, will only be able to buy or adopt a pet when they have signed a document saying they have not abused an animal. They will be charged with a crime if they are found to have lied. According to El Pais, there are an estimated 120,000 dogs, but only 30,000 of these are registered. New by-laws also state that people may not leave their animals home alone for certain times - more than 12 hours for dogs, and three days for cats . | People also prohibited from leaving cats indoors for more than three days .
Dog owners who do not keep their pet on a leash or immediately pick up its mess will be fined up to €1,500 (£1,236)
The new by-laws, passed on Monday, are intended to improve 'coexistence between residents and animals'
Barcelona residents are also now banned from keeping monkeys and horses as pets within the city area . |
192,764 | 858b1b806e5541be11df5030deca6c4e4077ee48 | One in seven patients can no longer be helped by antibiotics because they are increasingly ineffective after being handed out too freely by GPs, it emerged last night. Experts warn that the deepening problem could be fatal for a significant number of Britons with common but potentially life-threatening infections. For some infections, the failure rate was one in three. Overall, it has increased by 12 per cent in 22 years as the number of prescriptions has steadily increased. Antibiotic-resistant bacteria, such as this strain of E. coli are becoming more common (file picture) For infections such as pneumonia, which commonly affects the elderly, the consequences are fatal. Dame Sally Davies, the Chief Medical Officer, has already warned the problem is so severe that routine hip operations, caesarean sections and even minor scratches could become deadly. It has been declared a public health crisis by the World Health Organisation. The issue has been caused by GPs prescribing antibiotics too readily, sometimes for viruses such as coughs and colds for which they are ineffective. Vets have also been using the medication too widely on animals. As a result, the bacteria that make humans ill have evolved to become resistant to treatments that used to kill them. Drug firms have also not produced more effective antibiotics because they are not deemed profitable. Researchers from the University of Cardiff looked at the records of almost 11 million patients prescribed antibiotics between 1991 and 2012 for sinusitis, sore throats, skin infections, bronchitis and pneumonia. For 15.4 per cent of patients given an antibiotic in 2012, it did not work. The failure rate was only 13.9 per cent in 1991. Doctors sometimes give out antibiotics as a catch-all when they are unsure whether an ill person is suffering from a virus, which cannot be treated with the drugs, or a bacterial infection (file picture) In cases of bronchitis and pneumonia – which can be deadly – this rate can be as high as 35 per cent, or one in three. Professor Craig Currie, of Cardiff University’s School of Medicine, said: ‘The growing ineffectiveness of antibiotics is very worrying. We need to minimise unnecessary or inappropriate treatment which could be fuelling microbial resistance to antibiotics, prolonging illness and in some cases killing people. ‘People are given antibiotics inappropriately. We can’t always test whether it’s due to a virus or bug, so antibiotics are a fallback.’ Dame Sally said: ‘The research shows the urgent need to develop new antibiotics, something this Government is looking to address through a review on anti-microbial resistance commissioned by the Prime Minister.’ The study also found that the number of patients given antibiotics had risen from 60 per cent in 1991 to 65 per cent in 2012. GPs cannot test whether a sore throat or a rash is caused by bacteria or a virus, which cannot be treated by antibiotics. But when put under pressure by patients they may prescribe them in the hope they will work. There are thought to be 25,000 deaths a year in Europe from infections caused by bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics. Dr Simon Clarke, associate professor in cellular microbiology at the University of Reading, said: ‘Antibiotic resistance is one of the major global health concerns we face. ‘While it is not surprising that the amount of resistant infections has increased, the sheer numbers are of great concern.’ Not enough children are receiving vital vaccinations that protect against serious infections and illnesses. In the past year in England, 94.3 per cent of children who turned one were given the so-called five-in-one jabs to protect against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio and haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib), according to the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC). This falls below the 95 per cent recommended by the World Health Organisation. The HSCIC’s latest statistics on immunisation also show that just 92.7 per cent of children reaching their second birthday had received the MMR jab, which protects against measles, mumps and rubella. Even though this coverage is at its highest since the vaccine was introduced in 1988, England still remains below the WHO minimum of 95 per cent. HSCIC said coverage in England was below that of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland for all routine childhood vaccines at the ages of one, two and five. Across the country, it was lowest in London. | Some bacteria that makes people ill has become resistant to antibiotics .
Experts warn the deepening problem could lead to British fatalities .
Antibiotics fail one in three times for some infections, research finds .
Hip ops, caesarean sections and even minor scratches could become deadly .
The World Health Organisation has declared a public health crisis . |
12,599 | 23b7181e3b35a286265529e46edffb48461b4852 | (CNN) -- The U.S. Postal Service has just entered "The Twilight Zone." "The Honeymooners" is one of 20 classic TV stamps that will soon find its way on the corner of envelopes. The classic show appears on one of 20 stamps released this week, featuring 1950s hit television shows. The first-class stamps include images of "Dragnet," "The Ed Sullivan Show," "The Honeymooners," "I Love Lucy," "Lassie," "The Lone Ranger," "Ozzie and Harriet" and "Perry Mason." "All of the classic television shows represented on these stamps represent the collective memory of a generation well deserving of entertainment," said James C. Miller III, a Postal Service board member. "It was a generation that survived the Great Depression and fought World War II. They were pioneers -- creative geniuses -- who brought television shows of the 1950s into our homes, breaking new ground to provide entertainment for everyone." The retro-style stamps, featuring black-and-white images of the shows, were designed by Carl Herrman, an artist from Las Vegas, Nevada. The Postal Service releases several commemorative stamps annually. This year's releases have included civil rights pioneers, President Abraham Lincoln and author Edgar Allan Poe. | New postage stamps will commemorate "Golden Age of TV"
"The Honeymooners," "I Love Lucy" among 20 classic TV shows honored .
Retro-style stamps were designed by artist Carl Herrman . |
5,960 | 10e790c1e0647faa125621c77c93235c16f4bf43 | A breakthrough in the design of batteries could mean the days when your mobile phone spends half the time plugged into the wall are numbered. A remarkable new prototype battery needs just 12 minutes to fully recharge, rather than the hours conventional cells need to replenish. What's more, researchers at the University of Maryland say their new invention could bring about the long sought-for miniaturisation of energy storage components. Cross section: A new kind of battery made from millions of tiny nano-sized cells could revolutionise electrical energy storage and slash the time it takes to charge our electronic devices . That's the breakthrough that might finally allow electric cars to give petrol-powered vehicles a run for their money. The battery uses structures called nanopores to hold electrolyte to carry electrical charge between nanotube electrodes at either end. Many millions of these nanopore cells can be crammed into one larger battery the size of a postage stamp. Co-author Eleanor Gillette said: 'A nanopore is a tiny hole, 80,000 times smaller than a human hair, that's made in a sheet of ceramic material.' Chanyuan Liu, lead author, added: 'We coat energy storage material at two ends of this nanopore, then after fuelling the electrolyte each single nanopore will become a battery and all of them are connected in parallel.' Miss Liu, a Ph.D. student in materials science and engineering, says the battery, described in the journal Nature Nanotechnology, can be fully charged in 12 minutes and it can be recharged thousands of times. 'Fast charging is a very appealing quality,' she told The Times. At the moment, she said, her batteries have the potential to equal the capacity of mainstream batteries, but researchers are working on increasing their energy. 'But the best bit is how fast it can be,' she said. An electron microscope view of the battery: Each end of the tiny pore is treated to add nanotubes that collect the electrical charge conducted by the liquid electrolyte filling the pore . In a statement announcing the nano battery, researchers say they have identified improvements to the design that could make their next batch of batteries ten times more powerful. Such an advance could revolutionise electronics and electric-powered devices, finally making devices like electric cars a viable product. While a kilo of petrol stores about 13,000 watt hours of energy, a kilo of battery can only hold 500, making e-cars difficult to use over long distances. Miss Liu's battery is at the moment just a small, very thin slice of ceramic sheet. But the Maryland team say the device should be scalable. In a single postage stamp-sized area more than a billion nano-sized cells could be wired in parallel, they say. The research was funded by the U.S. Department of Energy. | Researchers say their battery could be a breakthrough in energy storage .
It uses structures called nanopores to hold electrolyte to carry charge .
University of Maryland team say next batch will be ten times more powerful . |
56,022 | 9ec9cc803cff2111dab0a4e3f041019453acab30 | A 12 year old son's refusal to continue fitness training nearly cost him his life as his father has been accused of attempting to kill the child with a knife, a court heard. The boy pleaded that he 'didn't want to die' as his father is alleged to have whipped him with a belt at their Highgate hill home, in south Brisbane, at about 5.15m on Monday, The Courier Mail reported. The father, who was charged with attempted murder and torture, is alleged to have said to his son that he 'wished he had never been born', the Brisbane Magistrates Court heard on Tuesday. A boy was allegedly whipped with a belt by his father after refusing to continue training in their Brisbane home . The father is alleged to have attempted to stab his son in their Highgate Hill home as he said to the child that he 'wished he had never been born' The police prosecutor said the child did not want to keep training but the father said he had to continue training or 'continue with the belting'. Neighbours notified the police after hearing the boy's cries of distress. The boy tried to escape by scaling a neighbouring balcony during the attack where the father tried to have stab his son, the court heard. 'It's as if what (the father) was saying about wishing the child was never born was actually true,' the prosecutor said according to The Courier Mail. 'It's not a temper thing alone, he has had two clear occasions to calm down.' The 44 year old man was refused bail following concerns for the young boy's safety. The 44 year old man was refused bail Brisbane Magistrates Court after concerns for the young boy's safety . Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | Father charged with attempting to kill his son who refused to keep training .
Boy, 12, pleaded he 'didn't want to die' as father whipped him with a belt .
Man allegedly told boy to continue training or 'continue with the belting'
Court heard father said to son that he 'wished he had never been born'
Police said father tried to stab boy who tried to climb neighbour's balcony .
44 year old man refused bail at Brisbane Magistrates Court on Tuesday . |
224,739 | aefcd6343bcf5eb5cbc45f66030d85199e364ca7 | Marikana, South Africa (CNN) -- The headlines Friday in South Africa spoke of a bloodbath, of war. The morning after carnage at a platinum mine, South Africans grappled with shock, memories of an ugly era resurrected in their minds. The word apartheid surfaced again as people debated the need for such police force. The police, meanwhile, explained themselves at a news conference, giving reporters the grim toll: 34 mine workers killed, 78 others wounded, 259 arrested on various charges, including malicious damage to property, armed robbery, illegal gathering and possession of weapons. That according to Police Commissioner Riah Phiyega. She said police "were forced to utilize maximum force to defend themselves." South African President Jacob Zuma cut short a trip to Mozambique to visit the scene of the shootings Friday afternoon. He announced the government will open an inquiry of the incident. He told South Africans that they must come together to overcome national challenges as they had done before. "This is not a day to apportion blame," Zuma said. "It is a day for us to mourn together as a nation. It is also a day to start healing." Mourn, yes, but also a time to think about what had been done, some cried. Rising tensions explode into grisly violence at South African mine . "African lives cheap as ever," read a headline in a Soweto newspaper. It editorialized that South Africa's economic woes do require a war. "But a different kind of war -- a war of ideas. Not a war that dispenses with human life in as cheaply a manner as we have seen in Marikana." The tragedy began unfolding a week ago when miners went on strike demanding pay hikes at the mine near Rustenburg, about two hours northwest of Johannesburg. They were rock drillers who worked at the dangerous depths of the mine, their bodies vibrating for the duration of their eight-hour shifts. "When there is a rock fall, it is generally the drillers who are the victims," wrote journalist Greg Marinovich in the Daily Maverick newspaper. "It is the most dangerous job in the business." The miners, who earned $300 to $500 a month, wanted their salaries raised to $1,500. It came as no surprise that their multi-national employer, Lonmin, said no to the whopping increase. The world's third-largest producer of platinum said the strike was illegal. The larger problem, however, went beyond a wage dispute. It had to do with a vicious rivalry between two unions -- the dominant and established National Union of Mineworkers and the splinter Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union which has been encroaching on the former's role. What's behind the Marikana massacre? The National Union of Mineworkers is a close ally of the country's ruling African National Congress. The miners, according to several South African media outlets, feel they are not adequately represented by the battling unions. They say politics gets in the way and that each union vies for miners' support and yet they don't always seek their best interests. In January, at least three people were killed during a strike at the world's second-largest platinum mine, Impala Platinum. The violence there, too, was blamed on union rivalry. The two unions, accused of trying to outdo each other in negotiating wages, denied instigating the clashes. Tensions at Marikana had mounted throughout the week. The striking miners carried traditional panga machetes and gathered Thursday around a small hill. Police carried anti-riot equipment and encircled the protesting workers. By then, at least 10 other people were dead from incidents that had occurred in the days before. Among them were two police officers who were hacked to death. Journalists who were at Marikana said police seemed fed up with the miners and determined to resolve the issue. "Yesterday the police were clear that today we are going to disarm them and remove them from the hill because the gathering is illegal," said Xolile Mngambi, a reporter for CNN affiliate ETV. By Thursday afternoon, another round of negotiations among the striking miners, the unions and Lonmin had failed. The miners chanted war songs, witnesses said. A heavily armed police Tactical Response Team moved in to disperse the miners. What happened next is unclear. How diamonds, mining fuel Africa's conflicts . To hear Phiyega, the police commissioner, describe it, the police weighed all their options and decided to fence in the miners with barbed wire -- to compartmentalize them into more manageable groups. She defended police actions, saying it was a desperate last measure against dangerous protesters. "The armed protesters moved toward the police," she said. "They were driven back with tear gas and rubber bullets. But when they fired, police used maximum force." But journalists at the scene could not say whether the protesters fired first. "We cannot say to you the police were provoked," Mngambi said. Then, the police unleashed a barrage of gunfire. One witness said it went on for three minutes. Men dropped to the ground. Some lay motionless; others were still moving. Blood spilled onto the parched earth. The images spread fast on the news, on the Internet. Marikana was one of the bloodiest incidents since apartheid ended in 1994. South Africans were taken back to that time of mandated racial separation and horrific incidents of police brutality against black people. Some likened Marikana to Sharpeville, where in 1960, police fired on a crowd of black demonstrators, killing 69. There was clear evidence, the South African Institute for Race Relations said, that policemen randomly shot into the crowd with rifles and handguns. "There is also evidence of their continuing to shoot after a number of bodies can be seen dropping and others turning to run. This is reminiscent of the Sharpeville massacre in 1960. "In our view," the institute said, "what happened at Lonmin is completely unacceptable. We hold no brief for the use of violence in labor or any other disputes. But even if the police were provoked or shot at during yesterday's incident, or were angry at the killing of two police officers in the days before, no disciplined and properly trained policeman would shoot into a crowd. Yesterday's incident was a disaster waiting to happen." Marikana, said some, exposed deep-rooted problems that have been bubbling in South Africa. "I think this us a sign of underlying structural issues which you have seen in South Africa for a long time," said Mark Rosenberg, an Africa analyst with the risk research firm Eurasia Group. "There has been an increase in violent protests both by miners and also by citizens living in townships who are upset with the level and pace of service delivery," he said. People are no longer willing to sit and wait around for the African National Congress to deliver. "They are becoming more and more impatient and they're becoming more and more violent as a result," Rosenberg said. Lonmin's chief financial officer, Simon Scott, called the situation "tragic" and expressed condolences to the family and friends of the workers and police officers who died this week. He said the company would assist with funerals and grief counseling. Scott said Lonmin has worked for years to achieve good labor relations and said the "illegal strike we've seen is so disappointing and damaging." "If the industry continues to be damaged by illegal actions it is not just the economy which suffers, but all our employees, their families and dependents," Scott said about South Africa's vital mining sector. "We need our employees to come back to work and we need to get mining again." But Friday at Marikana, all was quiet. The Lonmin mine remained shut. On the dry, dusty surrounding streets, a heavy police presence remained. And women searched desperately for husbands, fathers and brothers who did not come home. A 9-year-old boy said he saw his father shot on television. One of the miners, who did not want to be identified, told CNN that none of the mine workers fired at police. But regardless of whether their actions were legal or illegal, he said, none of this should have happened. "They should not have died," he said. "All they want is a wage increase." He said he thought South Africa was a democracy, a nation of free people. But it didn't feel that way this week at Marikana. How to avoid buying 'blood phones' CNN's Nkepile Mabuse and Diane McCarthy contributed from South Africa, and Moni Basu and Faith Karimi, from Atlanta. | President Jacob Zuma announces a government inquiry of the incident .
Some South Africans compare incident to apartheid-era Sharpeville massacre .
Police say they fired at the striking workers in self-defense .
44 people were killed this week in violence at the mine -- 34 on Thursday . |
274,707 | efd9503e6a79c7e18b869f62526515736b9bad13 | By . Rachel Quigley . PUBLISHED: . 10:01 EST, 23 July 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 14:16 EST, 23 July 2013 . An unemployed husband accused of shooting his 34-year-old orthodontist wife to death in April and leaving their two-year-old daughter with the body has been allowed to live in the home where the brutal murder occurred. A Williamson County judge ruled yesterday that Randolph Maidens, 42, from Brentwood, Tennessee, can return to the Governors Club family home he shared with his wife and daughter until April 21, when Dr Rachael Maidens was found dead. A restraining order on money the couple jointly held is still in place and his passport has been revoked. Murdered: Randolph Maidens allegedly killed his wife Rachael Maidens in their gated community home . Scene: He later emerged from trees at the back of their plush home in Brentwood, Tennessee . Court Hearing: Randolph Maidens appears in court in May during a preliminary hearing in his trial for murdering his wife, Dr Rachael Maidens . Dr Rachael Maidens' body was found wrapped in a blanket with multiple gunshot wounds on April 21 by police. A note 'expressing regret for what happened' and asking for custody of the child to go to Dr Maiden's mother was on the kitchen . counter, the shotgun by the couch and the car trunk stuffed with $87,200. His young daughter told responding officers when they came to the home to perform a welfare check: 'Daddy gone.' The two-year-old was not injured. A manhunt was launched for the former pharmaceuticals representative and the community was put on lockdown but he walked into the home the next morning with his hands in the air and surrendered. Rachael Maidens’ mother, Elizabeth . Frisbie, brought a civil action against her former son-in-law that . included time to conduct an inventory of the house’s contents, joint . bank accounts and other personal property held by the couple. Maidens has pleaded not guilty to all . charges, including homicide, a charge of child abuse/neglect for . leaving his child alone while he fled and two counts of tampering with . evidence. Court Date: Randolph Maidens is charged with shooting his orthodontist wife dead on April 21st with a shotgun in their Tennessee home . Arrest: Maidens fled the home after allegedly killing his wife and leaving their daughter, 2, with her body . Together: Police have not revealed a motive and friends and neighbors said the family had seemed happy together . At the time of Rachael's death, one neighbor described how she witnessed Maidens acting bizarrely three weeks before the shooting. 'I saw him running through the woods behind our house, and he a had on a black ski . mask and a backpack that looked like a quiver,' the neighbor told WKRN-TV. 'It was daytime . and he was running through the woods... and down to the ravine, right past our house, and I followed him . and he laid down in the ravine and pulled off the ski mask.' When she asked him what he was doing, 'He made some . kind of statement that made no sense' before adding, 'Well, I was walking my dogs, I got lost', she said. Hunt: Police deployed helicopters and K-9 units to search for Maidens after the body of his wife was found but he surrendered the next day . Ripped apart: Maidens is out on bond and is free to live in the marital home he shared with his wife . Rachael Maidens owned an orthodontist practice, RM Orthodontics, in Maryland Farms. 'I think to say just how sorry I am and I'm going to miss coming to the office and seeing her,' former patient Cindy Bayer told News Channel 5. 'She always had a smile and was always friendly. She obviously enjoyed what she did, so it's a shame that her life's work is gone.' Mrs Maidens, who grew up in Brentwood, met her husband while practicing in Atlanta for three years. The couple's daughter has been placed with relatives. | Randolph Maidens 'left his toddler daughter alone with wife's body and fled'
Police launched massive manhunt and Maidens turned himself in the next day .
The little girl told police when they found her: 'Daddy gone'
Maidens has pleaded not guilty to all charges . |
244,267 | c821a55614df075af54abc9c10d4ef70d9fed4ad | By . Lizzie Edmonds . William Henry Welch, 53, escaped punishment for driving without licence because his wife incorrectly told him he would be covered if he borrowed a friend's car . A star of My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding escaped punishment for driving without insurance after his wife checked his documentation as he can 'barely read', a court heard. William Henry Welch, 53, avoided six penalty points on his driving licence because his wife incorrectly told him he would be covered if he borrowed a friend's car, a court was told. Welch told Magistrates he asked his wife to look at his documents as he struggles with reading. He was granted an absolute discharge after admitting driving without insurance at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates' Court. Welch is a well-known campaigner for traveller and gipsy rights - and has appeared on My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding among other reality shows. Speaking after the case Welch said: 'It isn’t all doom and gloom when you go to these courts, if you go and you have a reasonable argument the magistrates are willing to listen. 'You should never just give up and think that they won’t listen to you because they will.' The court heard how Welch’s own car had broken down when he was working in Leominster, Herefordshire, and a friend loaned him a Vauxhall Vectra to drive back home. Welch told the court he had rung his wife, Rachel, to check he was covered to drive the Vectra. After reading the insurance policy she told him that he was. Welch of Darlington, Durham, told the court he left insurance documents to his wife because: 'I can barely read.' Mrs Welch, 49, told the court: 'We were both named on the insurance document and so I thought we were both policy holders.' Andrea Milson, prosecuting, told the court that as policyholder, Mrs Welch was covered to drive any car. However, as Mr Welch was a named driver he was only covered to drive the family car and not the borrowed Vectra. Welch, a well-known Gypsy campaigner, told the court he asked his wife to look at his documentation as he can 'barely read'. He has starred in numerous television shows including My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding . The car was stopped by police on the A456 in Worcestershire last August and Welch was subsequently charged with driving with no insurance and no MoT. Welch admitted both charges but, in a rare ‘special reasons hearing’, his solicitor, David Dedman, argued that the licence should not be endorsed with the usual six penalty points. 'This was an honest mistake,' said Mr Dedman. 'He genuinely believed he was insured and was misled by his wife, not deliberately or intentionally.' Magistrates granted Welch an absolute discharge on the matter of no insurance. They imposed no penalty points, but he was ordered to pay costs of £85. He was fined a further £100 for the offence of driving a vehicle with no MoT test certificate. Paddy Doherty walked free from court after headbutting his stepbrother in March . In March, Paddy Doherty, 55, walked free from court after admitting he headbutted his stepbrother. The 55-year-old breached the terms of a suspended jail sentence when he committed the assault at a pub in Flintshire, north Wales, in October 2013. He was given a six-month supervision order instead of jail time. The 2011 winner of Celebrity Big Brother had previously been handed a 31-week jail term, suspended for two years, in January 2012, after he brawled in the street with a fellow traveller. The show's infamous dressmaker Thelma Madine was sued by her head designer for unfair dismissal at the end of 2013. A court ruled Ms Madine dismissed Leanne Phillips, who was paid £400 a week to design dresses for the Nico Bridal Company, based in Liverpool, after a heated row. Ms Madine fired the 31-year-old, who she had previously praised with taking her business to 'another level' after six years. | William Welch, 53, avoided six points for driving without licence .
Told court his wife helps with insurance documents as he can 'barely read'
Welch is a well-known campaigner for gipsy and traveller rights .
Appeared on Channel 4's documentary series My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding . |
201,190 | 9079b8092fed761d6f75707ebf36193142fdaa88 | (CNN) -- Qatar's youthful new ruler, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, has acquired another jewel in his burgeoning crown. The archaeological site of Al Zubarah on the northern tip of the tiny Arab emirate has been added by UNESCO to its list of World Heritage sites. The fortified ruins of the 18th century pearl fishing town will be Qatar's first world heritage site. The coastal town's exceptionally preserved remains provide an invaluable insight into the daily lives of the traders who populated the region in the 1700s. The site in located on the north-easternmost side of the Arabian Peninsula that juts into the Persian Gulf. The town flourished as a trading village for over a hundred years prior to its ultimate destruction in 1811. It was eventually completely abandoned in the early 1900s, but remains an important artifact offering insight into how life would have looked in the region prior its rapid expansion in the twentieth century. Qatar was once one of the poorest states in the Gulf region but thanks to oil and gas reserves is now an economic powerhouse, with an influence that far outreaches its size. Prior to the emirate's boom -- which has seen the construction of towering skyscrapers, state-of-the-art stadiums, gleaming hotels and expansive water parks -- the people who lived in Al Zubarah traded mainly in pearls. At its height, it is thought that the 400 hectare site was home to between 6,000 and 9,000 people. Today, Qatar is home to 1.9 million people. The archaeological treasure was one of 19 new sites to be added to UNESCO's World Heritage list last month -- the top honor for monuments, buildings, sites or natural features "of outstanding universal value." | UNESCO names Al Zubarah as Qatar's first world heritage site .
The coastal town provides an invaluable insight the region in the 1700s .
The town flourished as a trading village for over a hundred years . |
26,698 | 4bcb93253090b160fbdf387748b89db4743d5c43 | (CNN) -- As alumni and friends of Princeton University descended on the Ivy League institution to celebrate homecoming, the school's board of trustees met over the weekend to consider whether to offer students emergency shots of a vaccine against meningitis after seven cases of the potentially fatal disease occurred on campus. The final decision, to be made in concert with medical staff and university administrators, is expected sometime this week, said Barbara Reynolds, a spokeswoman for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The sole meningococcal vaccine that targets meningitis group B, Bexsero, is made by Novartis. Though it was approved this year in Europe and Australia, it has not been approved for use in the United States. "We have filed an Investigational New Drug application for our MenB vaccine in the U.S., but have not yet come to an agreement on a pathway to licensure for this vaccine with regulatory authorities," Novartis spokeswoman Elizabeth Power told CNN Saturday in an e-mail. Still, company officials have been coordinating with officials at Princeton, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the state Department of Public Health about getting a vaccine to the school in New Jersey, she said. The CDC says it is considered "a safe vaccine." Group B meningitis is a strain of the bacterial form of the disease that is rare in the United States. Symptoms can include stiff neck, headache, fever, vomiting, rashes, sensitivity to light and confusion. Untreated, the disease can lead to complications such as hearing impairment, brain damage, limb amputations and death. Antibiotic treatment of the most common types of bacterial meningitis "should reduce the risk of dying from meningitis to below 15%, although the risk remains higher among young infants and the elderly," according to the CDC. Bacterial meningitis is an infection of the membranes that cover the brain and the spinal cord, known as the meninges. In the United States, about 4,100 cases of bacterial meningitis, including 500 deaths, occurred each year between 2003 and 2007, the CDC says. What is meningitis? "Usually, when you see this kind of meningitis on the campus, it's meningitis C," said Dr. William Schaffner, professor of preventive medicine at Vanderbilt University, in a telephone interview with CNN. "This is very, very unusual." Schaffner added that, in the United States, Group B meningitis typically strikes infants, and only rarely adolescents and young adults. Though the mechanism needed for health officials to administer an unapproved vaccine in the United States is "very elaborate," it would be justified in this case, he said. "If I were around the table with the board of trustees, I would be gently encouraging them to do this." Princeton's first reported case developed in a student who had returned to the campus after spring recess in March, according to the state health department. Two months later, after several other students and one visitor had contracted the disease, an outbreak was declared. All have recovered except for the last case, a male student who remains hospitalized after being diagnosed on November 8. No common link has been identified among the cases, New Jersey health officials said. CDC: Bacterial meningitis explainer . Meningitis can spread via the exchange of saliva and other respiratory secretions through kissing, coughing, sharing drinks and living in close quarters, such as in dormitories, according to the health department. The bacteria can reside for months in the back of the throat before causing symptoms, Schaffner said. But the disease is not wholly understood. Cases of meningococcal disease in general -- including Group B -- have dropped in recent years to the lowest levels since the 1930s. "Nobody knows why," he said. And cases sometimes occur more frequently in Oregon. "We've never understood that, either." The New Jersey outbreak is also puzzling. "Why this is occurring is not clear, but the trick everybody is working on is how to stop it, how to prevent further cases," he said. If the board approves, as many as 8,000 undergraduate and graduate students at the school could be offered the vaccine. Meningitis vaccines urged before NYC Pride events . CNN's Alexandra Field, Chris Welch and Miriam Falco contributed to this report . | Seven cases of meningitis have been reported on the New Jersey campus .
University officials to discuss offering vaccine .
Feds OK use of vaccine not approved in the United States . |
177,167 | 71598814e0fd88beb49f3f7362610d38908f682e | (CNN) -- A Louisiana woman who said she had been set afire by white supremacists inflicted her injuries herself, police said Tuesday. Sharmeka Moffitt was found in a city park in Winnsboro, in rural northeastern Louisiana, on Sunday night with burns over 90% of her body. The 20-year-old told police she had been attacked and set ablaze by three men who wrote "KKK" on her car, but Winnsboro Police Chief Lester Thomas said Tuesday afternoon that evidence found on a cigarette lighter and a bottle of charcoal lighter fluid showed "this was not an attack, but a self-inflicted incident." Investigators released little else at a Tuesday afternoon news conference. "This has been a very disturbing case for everyone involved," Franklin Parish Sheriff Kevin Cobb said. Moffitt was in critical but stable condition at a Shreveport hospital Tuesday night, Franklin Parish Sheriff's Deputy Bettye McCoy said. CNN's John Fricke contributed to this report. | The woman was found in a park in Winnsboro, Louisiana .
She suffered burns over 90% of her body and said she was set afire by three men .
Police said evidence found in the park points to "a self-inflicted incident" |
259,623 | dc21097453fa41c4619064dd4dc33bf306de8923 | By . Amanda Williams . Under-fire MP Maria Miller has bought a countryside Tudor barn worth £1.2million - almost exactly the profit she made from the sale of her taxpayer funded home. The Culture Secretary's new . 16th-century home comprises of a main barn with four bedrooms, three reception . rooms and a study, with an annexe barn with another bedroom and living . area. The Grade II-listed property is set in . 1.6 acres of private gardens, has a large cart shed and a range of outbuildings . including a summer house. Mrs Miller was ordered to pay back just £5,800 pounds after overclaiming £45,000 pounds in expenses for mortgage interest payments and council tax on the south London property where her parents lived, while designating her main home as a rented property in Basingstoke. Under-fire MP Maria Miller has bought a countryside Tudor barn worth £1.2million - almost exactly the profit she made from the sale of her taxpayer funded home. The Parliamentary Standards committee heard Mrs Miller, who has three children, bought her three-bedroom London property for £237,500 pounds in 1996 with a 90 per cent mortgage. Having extensively renovated the house, it was then remortgaged to a value of £575,000 pounds. She later sold the home for £1.47million pounds . Former Conservative chairman Lord Tebbit has become the most senior Conservative to call for Mrs Miller to resign as Culture Secretary, amid controversy over her response to an investigation into her expenses claims. Lord Tebbit said that the Culture Secretary's 'arrogant' handling of the scandal had revived voter anger over MPs' expenses and undermined the Government's message that 'we're all in it together', adding: 'The best way out of this is for Mrs Miller to resign.' His call came as Labour promised to reform Parliament's standards system in the wake of controversy over the decision of a panel of MPs to overrule a watchdog's judgment on Mrs Miller. Pressure on the embattled Mrs Miller has also been ramped up by a poll suggesting a large majority of voters think she should be dropped from the Cabinet, stripped of her responsibility for press regulation and thrown out of the House of Commons. It comes after her apology in Parliament which lasted just 32 seconds. A Survation poll for the Mail on Sunday found that almost three-quarters of voters (73 per cent) thought her 32-second apology was inadequate, and similar numbers (75 per cent ) felt David Cameron was wrong to offer her his support. Mr Cameron has twice publicly voiced his support for the Culture Secretary, but yesterday omitted her from a list of several Cabinet ministers who he singled out for praise in a speech to the Conservative Spring Forum. Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith suggested that she was suffering a backlash for being the minister responsible for the same-sex marriage Bill, which was deeply unpopular with many grassroots Tories. Culture Secretary Maria Miller, pictured leaving Parliament after her 32-second apology, is under pressure over the investigation into her expenses . Former Conservative chairman Lord Tebbit has become the most senior Conservative to call for Mrs Miller to resign as Culture Secretary . Lord Tebbit said that the Culture Secretary's 'arrogant' handling of the scandal had revived voter anger over MPs' expenses and undermined the Government's message that 'we're all in it together' Speaking on BBC1's Andrew Marr Show, Mr Duncan Smith said: 'I think she has done a very good job in a very difficult set of circumstances, with the Leveson Inquiry, which has stirred up a lot of media antipathy to her. And also the gay marriage stuff - there's a lot of Conservatives out there who perhaps weren't necessarily supportive, who also feel rather bitter about that.' Asked if she should rethink her position, he replied: 'No, I don't think so.' And he warned: 'My view generally is that I'm supportive of Maria, because if we are not careful we end up with a witch-hunt of somebody.' A member of staff at Savills estate agency, which sold it, said: 'It was sold at the beginning of March, it went quite quickly in the end.' The firm's website shows the property as being under offer at £1.2million pounds, with a note stating it may have been sold or removed from the market. The impressive home is described as having: 'A classic 'A' framed oak structure, believed to date back to the 15th or 16th centuries. 'Much of the oak timber was originally reclaimed from older structures some as far back as the 12th century. The barn was sympathetically restored following gales in 1984.' The Parliamentary Standards committee heard Mrs Miller, who has three children, bought her three-bedroom London property for £237,500 pounds in 1996 with a 90 per cent mortgage. After she extensively renovated the house, it was then remortgaged to a value of £575,000 pounds. She later sold the home for £1.47million pounds. 'I . wish to make a personal statement in relation to today’s report. The . report resulted from an allegation made by the Member for Bassetlaw. 'The . committee has dismissed his allegation. The committee has recommended . that I apologise to the House for my attitude to the Commissioner’s . inquiries, and I of course unreservedly apologise. 'I fully accept the recommendations of the committee, and thank them for bringing this matter to an end.' Mrs Miller said she spent the majority of her time in her constituency home, but tended to spend three nights per week at her London home when the Commons was sitting. The committee ruled that she should have made a formal arrangement to reduce her mortgage claims in 2008 when the base rate dropped, so her parents, who lived with her, were not benefiting from expenses claims. It found that her parents' living costs were not being paid by the taxpayer and cleared her of making false expenses claims, but said her submission of 'incomplete' evidence to the inquiry had breached the MPs' code of conduct. The Department for Media, Culture and Sport's Twitter feed was hacked on Saturday, with the rogue poster tweeting: '@Maria-MillerMP is like a modern day Robin Hood, she robs the poor to help the rich' and 'Seriously though guys, which one of us hasn't embezzled and cheated the taxpayer?' Mrs Miller could not be reached for a comment. Miller bought her house in Wimbledon, south-west London, for £234,000 in 1995 . Many . of the questions raised over Maria Miller’s expenses claims centred on . the Wimbledon property that she designated as her second home. Critics . felt that because her parents lived in the house, it should be . designated as her main residence – not the rented cottage in her . Hampshire constituency. The . Culture Secretary bought the property with her solicitor husband Iain . for just £234,000 in 1995 – while she still worked as an executive for . London agency Grey Advertising. Taxpayers . were billed for the interest on the mortgage for four years from 2005 – . the year Mrs Miller became MP for Basingstoke – because she designated . it as her second home. The couple made more than £1.2million on the property when it was sold in February for £1.47million. Mrs . Miller, a 50-year-old mother of three, was appointed Culture Secretary . and minister for women and equality in a 2012 Cabinet reshuffle. | She had designated a house in South London as her 'second home'
It allowed .
her to claim mortgage interest payments from the taxpayer .
But the report said the property appeared to be her main residence .
She has since sold the house in Wimbledon for £1.47million .
Miller has today faced calls to resign but has been backed by Cameron . |
82,068 | e8983420a87db8dccbb582c5628f55d7a9f4cd2d | With matches as richly entertaining as this one, even UEFA could warm to the Premier League Under 21 International Cup. West Ham’s youngsters tasted defeat in their first experience of European competition as Athletic Bilbao claimed the points but both teams played their full part in an eight-goal thriller. This new 16-team competition, set up in defiance of UEFA interference, will offer all kinds of intriguing contests between the best of English talent and the continent’s production lines. Athletic Bilbao's Aitor Sequin is congratulated after scoring his side's second goal against West Ham . West Ham United: Raphael Spiegel; Kyle Knowle, Joshua Pask, Emmanuel Onariase, Lewis Page; Matthias Fanimo (Kieran Bywater 68), Sebastian Lletget, Danny Whitehead, Djair Parfitt-Williams, Elliot Lee, Jordan Brown (Moses Makasi 68) Subs not used: Tim Brown, Amos Nasha, Olatunji Akinola, Grady Diangana . Scorers: Fanimo 18; Lee 77; Bywater 90 . Booked: Lee . Athletic Bilbao: Alejandro Remiro, Markel Exteberria, Gorka Perez, Unai Bilbao Arteta, Urtzi Iriondo, Inigo Baque (Urtzi Urcelay 63), Gorka Iturraspe (Martin Bengoa 55), Mikel Vesga, Aitor Seguin (Gorka Guruzeta 81), Jorge Luis Garcia, Mario Barco . Subs not used: Hodei Oleaga, Imanol Corral, Jon Aguirrezabala . Scorers: Luis Garcia 2, 89; Seguin 19; Pask own goal 32; Barco 90+1 . Booked: Iriondo . Referee: Ashvin Degnarain . And on a soggy evening at Upton Park, it was one-nil to the Europeans - but only just. The Basque club, who take enormous pride in their ‘Cantera’ policy of only fielding players from their own region, looked vastly superior in the first half and goals from Jorge Luis Garcia and Aitor Seguin, followed by a Joshua Pask own goal, saw them establish a commanding 3-1 lead. But the Hammers, with a proud academy track record of their own, had equalised at 1-1 through Mathias Fanimo and stayed in touch thanks to late goals from Elliot Lee and Kieran Bywater. It meant Bilbao needed two late goals of their own - from Luis Garcia again and then Mario Basco - to claim the spoils and take an early advantage in a group that also features Fulham and PSV Eindhoven. A hastily-arranged opening game, played before a sparse crowd of a few hundred hardy souls who braved torrential rain, hardly felt like history in the making but the Premier League deserve immense credit for getting this idea off the ground. Concerned that a continental competition at Under 21 level would impact on the Under 19 Youth League, itself only in its second season, UEFA had scuppered the initial masterplan of staging games right across Europe. West Ham's Matthias Fanimo is congratulated after equalising to make the scores 1-1 at Upton Park . But the Premier League persevered, adroitly outmaneuvering the UEFA red tape and regulations by playing all the matches in England under their own jurisdiction. A worthy tournament is born, and let’s hope many stars of the future flourish in it. They couldn’t have asked for a better start. The two teams posed for a photograph together ahead of the kick-off - a nice souvenir for the annals - and the only thing that remained was to see who would have the honour of scoring the International Cup’s first goal. We didn’t have to wait long to find out. Inside two minutes, Bilbao’s very first attack had the Hammers defence slipping and sliding, allowing Luis Garcia to pinch the ball ahead of grounded goalkeeper Raphael Spiegel and roll it into an empty net. The hosts responded very well and a nicely-worked move down the left involving Elliot Lee and Jordan Brown led to the unmarked Matthias Fanimo curling a shot over the bar. West Ham are one of a number of Premier League clubs taking part in this season's brand new competition . Winger Djair Parfitt-Williams then struck the outside of the post after a moment of hesitation in the Bilbao defence saw him connect with Danny Whitehead’s perfect through ball. West Ham were on top and they equalised on 18 minutes. Lewis Page combined well with Parfitt-Williams on the left and his deep cross found Fanimo unmarked. He found the net via a deflection and it was England 1-1 Spain. Not for long. Straight from the kick-off, Bilbao won a free-kick wide on the right and Seguin had only one thought in his mind. His immaculate inswinger evaded everyone and nestled in the net at the back stick. Think Angel Di Maria for Manchester United against QPR a few weeks ago, albeit a little closer in. West Ham were again unbowed by a setback - Fanimo was found at the back post again, this time by Lee, but Alejandro Remiro blocked at his near post. The miss proved costly as Bilbao claimed a third before half-time. West Ham were again guilty of loose defending and Urtzi Iriondo at the back post drilled across goal, the ball hitting Pask and then Emmanuel Onariase as it ricocheted in. This new competition, created despite strong opposition from UEFA, brings together eight U21 Premier League teams and eight development sides from the continent. European football’s governing body blocked the initial proposals to have a tournament along similar lines with games played right across the continent, fearing it would overlap with their Youth League competition for U19s. But the Premier League have managed to out manoeuvre UEFA by staging all matches at English venues. As well as West Ham, the English clubs involved in the tournament are Chelsea, Everton, Fulham, Leicester, Manchester City, Norwich, and Sunderland. Benfica, Borussia Monchengladbach, Celtic, Schalke, Porto, PSV Eindhoven, and Villarreal join Bilbao on the list of teams participating from outside England. Group matches will be played between October 15 and January 31 with all games organised by the Premier League. The groups have been drawn as follows: . Group A: Chelsea, Norwich City, Porto, Borussia Monchengladbach . Group B: Fulham, West Ham, Athletic Bilbao, PSV Eindhoven . Group C: Leicester City, Manchester City, Benfica, Sevilla . Group D: Everton, Sunderland, Celtic, Villarreal . The rain abated but Bilbao’s pressure didn’t. Spiegel saved well from Mario Barco and Pask was needed to hack away another shot close to the goalline. But out of nothing, with just 13 minutes left, West Ham gained a lifeline when Lee pounced on Pask’s knock-down from a Kieran Bywater free-kick to apply a simple finish. And they could have equalised when Pask’s headed was blocked on the line. Then a flurry of late goals kept the match swinging in the balance. First, Bilbao re-established their two-goal cushion when Garcia fired home from an indirect free-kick after Spiegel had picked up a backpass. But as the clock ticked over into stoppage time, West Ham again had hope as Bywater fired high into the net from the edge of the box. The hope didn’t last too long - Basco flung himself at a right-wing cross to beat Spiegel with a diving header and set the seal on the Basques’ win. | West Ham Under 21s beaten in first experience of European competition .
Hammers taking part in the Premier League Under 21 International Cup .
Defeated by Spanish side Athletic Bilabo at Upton Park . |
188,159 | 7fa93084155f7f02fa003fedf62b6aaebe0872e5 | (CNN) -- With its post-apocalyptic setting, Giancarlo Esposito in the role of endearing villain, and J.J. Abrams as an executive producer, creator Eric Kripke's "Revolution" is a surefire hit -- on paper. In fact, NBC ordered a full season of "Revolution," which also stars Billy Burke, after airing just three episodes, which is the same amount of time it took the network to axe "The Playboy Club" last year. Yet, it seems viewers become more disillusioned with the freshman drama each week. Still, with its mid-season finale airing tonight, "Revolution" has garnered competitive ratings, and helped NBC win November sweeps for the first time in nine years. On Tuesday, CNN.com commenter Bret wrote, "I've watched every episode, but I'm ready to give up" on the show, which takes place 15 years after a global blackout causes the government to collapse and prompts militias to take over. "The story moves at a snail's pace," Bret continued. "Even if we buy the science behind the show's premise, the individual episodes are so infuriating with their slow pace and stupid and unbelievable character interaction that I'm not watching anymore." As with many new shows, ratings for "Revolution" have declined since its September 17 premiere drew 11.7 million viewers and a 4.1 rating among adults 18 to 49. Of late, ratings leveled off at about 7 million viewers and a 2.6 rating. Despite NBC's apparent confidence, "Revolution" will soon embark on a three-month hiatus, to return on March 25, so it can continue benefiting from its current lead-in show, "The Voice." As Yahoo! TV's Dave Nemetz notes, a long hiatus "could be deadly. There are a ton of new shows coming out in January that could step in and take that audience away." But it's likely that if "Revolution" doesn't succeed during the second half of its first season, it won't be because of winter break. "A lot of people wanted to see how the world reacted when the power went out," Nemetz said. "They were disappointed that, basically, the story jumped forward and they didn't get to see the aftermath." Sure the show revisits these moments in flashbacks, but viewers "don't want to derail the storyline in the current time to keep going back," Nemetz said. "People have been burned with shows like 'Lost' and 'Heroes.' They get invested in them, and seasons later they still don't have answers to the questions they tuned in for, so they get a little disillusioned and give up. That might be happening earlier than usual (with 'Revolution')." As CNN.com commenter Martyr2 wrote on Wednesday, "I can't believe 'Revolution' continues to be a success. I was really interested in it at first but I think it has really lost steam." Apart from pace, it's the shows characters that seem to anger viewers. Though fans appear to enjoy Burke as protagonist Miles Matheson and Esposito ("Breaking Bad") as Major Tom Neville of the Monroe Militia, Tracy Spiridakos in the driver's seat as Charlie Matheson hasn't been as well received. In October, The Huffington Post's Maureen Ryan wrote, "If Spiridakos has any strengths as an actress (and that's not at all apparent), the show's writers haven't learned to write to them, and every week, despite 'Revolution's' general efficiency and the skills of its other cast members, there's a clunky Charlie moment that makes me want to delete the show's Season Pass from my DVR." CNN.com commenter Bret agrees: "Charlie is such an annoying, whiny, stupid character. It's not all the fault of the actor. The writers give her such dumb dialogue. Danny (Graham Rogers) is a much more interesting character, but the entire season is spent trying to rescue him (from the militia)." While other supporting characters like Zak Orth's Aaron Pittman and Elizabeth Mitchell as Rachel Matheson have garnered more positive feedback, TVLine.com editor-at-large Matt Webb Mitovich reminded viewers not to get too attached in an October recap: "NBC's 'Revolution,' in its fourth outing, busted out one of the oldest tricks in the book: inviting us to care, more than we had done to date, about a major-ish character, before killing that person off." "I believe that people love exploring 'What if?' scenarios, and the one at the heart of 'Revolution' is compelling, especially in an era where so many of us are 'wired in' and immersed in a digital age," Webb Mitovich told CNN via e-mail. "If anything (detracts) from the 'Revolution' experience -- and mind you, this is a show whose producers vetted with a physicist the very foundation of the global blackout -- it is other 'leaps' and lapses in continuity," he continued, "such as the seemingly fresh-from-Urban Outfitters wardrobe and a surprising dearth of bicycles." | "Revolution" has helped NBC win November sweeps for the first time in nine years .
NBC ordered a full season of the Billy Burke-starrer after airing just three episodes .
Ratings for "Revolution" have declined since it premiered in September . |
112,112 | 1c9c22b1221b32314cf57575c70ca02d729aa83f | Russia and China have the blood of Syrian children on their hands, David Cameron suggested yesterday. The Prime Minister effectively blamed the countries for the torture and killing of children by Bashar al-Assad’s regime because they have refused to sanction any intervention by the United Nations in the war-torn Middle East state. The failure to act had left a ‘terrible stain on the reputation of the UN’, he said at the UN General Assembly in New York. Scroll down to watch . Speech: David Cameron addresses the 67th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York today . Citing a report by the charity Save . the Children, Mr Cameron told delegates: ‘If anyone was in any doubt . about the horrors that Assad has inflicted on his people, just look at . the evidence published this week; schools used as torture centres, . children as target practice. ‘A 16-year-old Syrian called Wael who . was detained in a police station in Dera’a said: “I have seen children . slaughtered. No, I do not think I will ever be okay again”. ‘The blood of these young children is . a terrible stain on the reputation of this United Nations. And in . particular, a stain on those who have failed to stand up to these . atrocities and in some cases aided and abetted Assad’s reign of terror. Angry: In a thinly-veiled attack at the UN General Assembly in New York, Mr Cameron effectively blamed the pair for the torture and killing of children by Bashar al-Assad's brutal regime . Unhappy: The Prime Minister cited a report by Save the Children this week which highlighted the appalling impact of the civil war on Syria's young people . Mr Cameron denounced the killing of US ambassador to Libya Chris Stevens (right) earlier this month as a ‘despicable act of terrorism’. But . he added that he was inspired by the response of the Libyan public, who . were not prepared to allow extremists to ‘hijack their chance for . democracy’. He said: ‘The . right response is to finish the work Chris Stevens gave his life to. And . that's what the vast majority of Libyans want too.’ ‘If the United Nations Charter is to . have any value in the 21st Century we must now join together to support a . rapid political transition.’ Russia and China have repeatedly blocked UN action against Assad. Although he did not name the . countries, Mr Cameron’s aides confirmed his remarks were directed at . them. The angry tone of his speech risks sparking a diplomatic row. Before his address Mr Cameron held a 30-minute meeting with Egypt’s new president Mohamed Morsi. British sources said President Morsi had urged him to step up pressure on Russia and China to end their veto over UN action. With no sign of movement in their . positions, aides admit there is little the West can do. Britain . yesterday announced an extra £8million in aid to Syria but has stopped . short of arming the rebels. Children of Syria: Mohamad (left) sits in his tent in Za'atari Refugee Camp, Jordan, after his family escaped Syria; while Ahmed (right), center, mourns his father Abdulaziz Abu Ahmed Khrer, who was killed, in Idlib, Syria . 'Today . is not the time to turn back - but to keep the faith and redouble our . support for open societies, and for people’s demands for a job and a . voice' Prime Minister David Cameron . The Prime Minister also argued that . the West should continue to back the uprisings of the Arab Spring, . despite the civil war in Syria and fears that they could result in . Islamists seizing control. He said: ‘Today is not the time to . turn back – but to keep the faith and redouble our support for open . societies, and for people’s demands for a job and a voice.’ In a swipe at Tony Blair he . criticised governments that had cosied up to Arab dictators in the past . ‘on the basis that they would both keep their people safe at home and . promote stability in the region and the wider world. In fact, neither . was true.’ War-torn country: Syrian army soldiers talk to residents in the Al-Arqoub area of Aleppo, Syria, on Tuesday . Blast: Black smoke rises from Syria's army command headquarters in Damascus earlier today . A Syrian rebel bomb attack reduced the . army headquarters in Damascus to a smouldering wreck today as world . leaders, unable to break the diplomatic deadlock in the conflict, met . at the United Nations. The rebels said the assault on President Bashar al-Assad’s power base in the centre of the capital killed dozens of people. The . army said four guards were killed and 14 wounded in what it said were . suicide attacks. No senior officers were hurt in the blasts, which shook . the whole city just before the start of the working day, it said. It . was the biggest attack in Damascus since July 18 when a bombing killed . several senior security officials, including Assad’s brother-in-law, the . defence minister and a general. State . television showed CCTV footage of a white minibus pulling up by the . side of the road and exploding in a ball of flames. It showed another . blast 10 minutes later, apparently inside the complex. | Prime Minister David Cameron talks at UN General Assembly in New York .
He blasts two countries for refusing to sanction UN intervention in Syria .
Said failure to act against Assad leaves 'terrible stain on reputation of UN' |
87,584 | f8864031135d48128828173544c7c31549a39eff | An entertainment executive pledged a collection of paintings by Pablo Picasso, Claude Monet, Edgar Degas and other major artists to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art on Thursday, a donation the institution called the largest in its history. 'Los Angeles helped make my career possible,' said Jerry Perenchio, the former chairman and CEO of Univision who has lived in the city for 70 years. 'My family and I are proud and honored to be able to give something back to a wonderful city.' Hollywood mogul Jerry Perenchio seen speaking today during a news conference at Los Angeles County Museum of Art announcing his donation of the largest collection of art in the history of the museum . Nympheas by Claude Monet from ca, 1905 is one of the paintings that was donated . The collection consists of about 47 pieces, including paintings, works on paper and sculpture, and the majority of it focuses on the 1870s through the 1930s. Among the pieces are Impressionist paintings by Monet, Edouard Manet and Paul Cezanne; a surrealist work by Rene Magritte; and a 1909 portrait by Picasso that presages his later Cubist efforts. The museum declined to put a value on the collection, but CEO Michael Govan said at a press conference that 'LACMA could never afford to buy these artworks on our own.' The collection also includes works by Fernand Leger, Camille Pissaro and Pierre Bonnard. 'In sum, this collection comprises the greatest gift of art to LACMA in its history,' Govan said. The bequest, which goes into effect after Perenchio's death, comes with one condition: The museum must first complete construction of a new building designed by Swiss architect Peter Zumthor, which is planned for 2023. An image of a painting from the the collection of art being donated by Hollywood mogul Jerry Perenchio (pictured second left) appears on a monitor during a news conferencetoday . Edgar Degas' Au Cafe Concert: Le Chanson de Chien, from 1875 was also donated . The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Wednesday approved a tentative plan for a $600 million redesign of the museum's campus, which would include tearing down and replacing most of its structures. The centerpiece of the renovation would be a huge, amoeba-shaped building featuring gallery space in the form of a bridge over Wilshire Boulevard. The usually camera-shy Perenchio said he came into the spotlight to encourage gift-giving by others, calling a dedication to the arts the 'heart and soul' of any city. He said he hopes to 'encourage all types of donations, large and small. Hopefully more large than small.' In 2006, Perenchio announced the sale of Univision to an investor group for $13.5 billion. Prior to that, he co-owned Loews Theaters and Tandem Productions, which was responsible for television hits including 'All in the Family' and 'Diff'rent Strokes.' Perenchio began his career as a talent agent, with a roster of clients including Marlon Brando and Elizabeth Taylor. Claude Monet's The Artist's Garden at Vétheuil, painted between 1840 - 1926, 1880, oil on canvas - is one of the paintings donated . Portrait of M. Gauthier-Lathuille, son of the owner of 'Le Pere Lathuille' restaurant (pastel on canvas) by Manet, Edouard (1832-83) pastel on canvas was also donated . | Jerry Perenchio began his career as a talent agent, with a roster of clients including Marlon Brando and Elizabeth Taylor .
The former chairman and CEO of Univision has donated painting by Picasso, Monet, Cezanne and more . |
202,580 | 9249042a1d254a680b8f728c524dd0de86dbffa8 | Astronomers have discovered a black hole that is consuming gas from a nearby star 10 times faster than previously thought possible. The black hole, known as P13, lies on the outskirts of the galaxy NGC7793 about 12 million light years from Earth. Researchers say it is ingesting a weight equivalent to 100 billion billion hot dogs every minute. The black hole, known as P13, lies on the outskirts of the galaxy NGC7793 about 12 million light years from Earth, and researchers say it is ingesting a weight equivalent to 100 billion billion hot dogs every minute. The black hole, known as P13, lies on the outskirts of the galaxy NGC7793 about 12 million light years from Earth. Researchers say it is ingesting a weight equivalent to 100 billion billion hot dogs every minute. Scientists first noticed P13 because it was a lot more luminous than other black holes, but it was initially assumed that it was simply bigger. When Dr Soria and his colleagues from the University of Strasbourg measured the mass of P13 they found it was actually on the small side, despite being at least a million times brighter than the Sun. It was only then that they realised just how much material it was consuming. The discovery was published today in the journal Nature. International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research astronomer Dr Roberto Soria, who is based at ICRAR's Curtin University node, said that as gas falls towards a black hole it gets very hot and bright. He said scientists first noticed P13 because it was a lot more luminous than other black holes, but it was initially assumed that it was simply bigger. 'It was generally believed the maximum speed at which a black hole could swallow gas and produce light was tightly determined by its size,' Dr Soria said. 'So it made sense to assume that P13 was bigger than the ordinary, less bright black holes we see in our own galaxy, the Milky Way.' When Dr Soria and his colleagues from the University of Strasbourg measured the mass of P13 they found it was actually on the small side, despite being at least a million times brighter than the Sun. It was only then that they realised just how much material it was consuming. 'There's not really a strict limit like we thought, black holes can actually consume more gas and produce more light,' Dr Soria said. Scientists first noticed P13 because it was a lot more luminous than other black holes, but it was initially assumed that it was simply bigger. Dr Soria said P13 rotates around a supergiant 'donor' star 20 times heavier than our own Sun. He said the scientists saw that one side of the donor star was always brighter than the other because it was illuminated by X-rays coming from near the black hole, so the star appeared brighter or fainter as it went around P13. 'This allowed us to measure the time it takes for the black hole and the donor star to rotate around each other, which is 64 days, and to model the velocity of the two objects and the shape of the orbit,' Dr Soria said. 'From this, we worked out that the black hole must be less than 15 times the mass of our Sun.' Dr Soria compared P13 to small Japanese eating champion Takeru Kobayashi. 'As hotdog-eating legend Takeru Kobayashi famously showed us, size does not always matter in the world of competitive eating and even small black holes can sometimes eat gas at an exceptional rate,' he said. Dr Soria said P13 is a member of a select group of black holes known as ultraluminous X-ray sources. 'These are the champions of competitive gas eating in the Universe, capable of swallowing their donor star in less than a million years, which is a very short time on cosmic scales,' he said. | Black hole known as P13 lies 12 million light years from Earth .
Consuming gas from a nearby star 10 times faster than previously thought possible .
Researchers liken galaxy to competitive eater Takeru Kobayashi - and say it is ingesting a weight equivalent to 100 billion billion hot dogs every minute . |
63,941 | b5861c30426c333e8835f234fe9b9baf4da4a2bb | Military action against Colonel Gaddafi is not working and hostilities must end urgently, according to France’s defence minister. In a startling admission, Gerard Longuet said the Libyan tyrant must be welcomed to negotiations with pro-freedom rebels because airstrikes were failing to break the deadlock. He also raised the extraordinary possibility of the dictator clinging to power in a bid to thrash out a diplomatic solution. Supporters: Crowds shout slogans in support for Muammar Gaddafi . His apparent U-turn exposed deepening cracks in the Nato-led mission and were played down on this side of the Channel. A source close to Prime Minister David Cameron insisted: ‘That is not our position.’ A Foreign Office spokesman said: . ‘Time is not on Gaddafi’s side: the diplomatic, economic and military . pressure on his regime continues to build. ‘Whilst there has to be a political . solution, Gaddafi’s brutal actions have stripped him of all legitimacy . and he must go immediately.’ One military insider said: ‘It’s . dispiriting when we are trying to keep up military and diplomatic . pressure on Gaddafi and the French all of a sudden decide to sing from a . different hymn sheet.’ Coalition leaders – including Mr Cameron – have made it clear the dictator must go. Ceasefire? Opponents of the Nato bombing campaign against Libya protest in front of the White House in Washington . But despite nearly four months of bombing raids against his forces and command centres Gaddafi stubbornly remains in power. Speaking in Paris, Mr Longuet said: . ‘We must now sit around a table. We will stop bombing as soon as the . Libyans start talking to one another and the military on both sides go . back to their bases. We’ve shown there is no solution through force.’ Negotiations between Tripoli and the . National Transitional Council, the rebels’ de facto government in . Benghazi, should not be conditional on Gaddafi stepping down, he said. He added that the dictator could remain in Libya ‘in another room of the palace, with another title’. The development is significant . because France and Britain were the driving forces behind the onslaught . against Gaddafi, after the dictator vowed to exterminate rebels who . supported the uprising which began in February. Last month France admitted parachuting weapons and ammunition to the rebels. U-turn: French defence minister Gerard Longuet, left, said Gaddafi could remain in Libya ‘in another room of the . palace, with another title' Millions of taxpayers’ money has been spent on the military mission yet Libyan forces continue to repel rebel attacks. Melissa Bell, international affairs . editor for France 24 television news network, said: ‘It was always a . question of Gaddafi leaving. The French were so gung-ho at the . beginning, and are more battle weary now and realise the military . solution is not as easy as they imagined.’ Tory MP John Baron, who voted against . the UK joining the mission, said: ‘This seems to be the longest . assassination attempt in history. The bombing of Gaddafi’s family homes . is hardly within the terms of the UN resolution. What we need is . diplomatic negotiation – more jaw jaw, less war war. ‘The French position also doesn’t easily square with the fact that they are dropping arms to the rebels.’ Shadow defence secretary Jim Murphy . said: ‘Some of these comments seem to add fog to this conflict. It is . important our armed forces join allies to protect innocent civilians.’ Saif al-Islam, Gaddafi’s son and heir . apparent, claimed yesterday that Tripoli was already in talks towards a . peace settlement with France, although Paris denied ‘direct’ negotiations with the regime. Further strains are likely to surface . this week when the ‘contact group’, which brings together the countries . allied against Gaddafi, gathers in Istanbul on Friday. The Ministry of Defence said British . troops carried out successful airstrikes on Sunday. RAF jets destroyed . an armed vehicle near the vital oil town of Brega in eastern Libya and a . rocket launcher at Zlitan in the west. | Diplomacy is the answer, says defence minister in 'U-turn'
Gaddafi 'may be able to retain some power once troops pull out' |
158,233 | 5896ad03287839139d043b325078611d85d5b504 | By . Kieran Gill . Christian Atsu made the decision to join Everton on a season-long loan from Chelsea after recognising that his time on the pitch at Stamford Bridge would have been severely limited. The 22-year-old passed his medical at Goodison on Wednesday to become Everton's fifth signing of the summer, and followed in the footsteps of former Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku in doing so. Atsu stressed playing a role in the team was important to him, and believes he will be given more of a chance under Roberto Martinez rather than Jose Mourinho. VIDEO Scroll down for 'Martinez: Aiming to maintain last year's form even with Europe' CLICK HERE to start picking your Fantasy Football team NOW! There's £60,000 in prizes including £1,000 up for grabs EVERY WEEK... Fresh: Christian Atsu joined Everton on a season-long loan from Chelsea and was revealed on Wednesday . All smiles: Atsu became Roberto Martinez's fifth signing of the summer ahead of the Premier League campaign . Looking good: Atsu will hope to help Everton push on for a coveted Champions League place after last year . CLICK HERE to start picking your Fantasy Football team NOW! There's £60,000 in prizes including £1,000 up for grabs EVERY WEEK! 'I can't tell you the future but I don't know how long it will take for me to get back to Chelsea,' said Atsu. 'At the end of the season, we will see what will happen. 'I think looking at the players Chelsea has, my playing there would be not much. For me, I have to play football. Everton is a really good club and I'm here to work hard to help the team. 'I had a possibility to go elsewhere but I chose Everton. 'I think (Martinez) played an important role for me being here but also, I made the decision to come because they are a good club and I believe I'll be more successful here.' And Atsu can't wait to make his Premier League debut. 'This is my first season in the Premier League and it's a really high level for me, and this is a big opportunity for me to prove myself and also to help the team,' he continued. 'I'm very happy and proud to be an Everton player. Since I came here, I've been happy with the coach and the fans on Twitter. It's been a great moment. 'I think it's a really good move for me because they play football, they're a hard-working team and they have a great coach with fantastic fans. 'So far now, I'm really happy and I think I'll continue to be happy at Everton. 'It was really good experience to be in the World Cup. I want to help the team, to enjoy myself and to play football. That's what I hope to achieve here. 'I believe in the team, I believe in the players we have, the fans, and at the end of the season we will all be happy.' Atsu became Everton's fifth signing of the summer, following the arrivals of Lukaku, Gareth Barry, Muhamed Besic and Brendan Galloway. Busy: Martinez has brought in five new faces to Goodison Park with a new Premier League season ahead . | Roberto Martinez signed Christian Atsu on a season's loan on Wednesday .
Atsu: 'I had the possibility to go elsewhere but I chose Everton'
Chelsea winger admits time on the pitch at Stamford Bridge would have been limited and adds: 'For me, I have to play football'
Martinez brought in Romelu Lukaku, Gareth Barry, Muhamed Besic and Brendan Galloway over the summer ahead of new Premier League season . |
198,615 | 8d18e7db82642ed2a95c432f2c3aaaeb156e51c0 | By . Ashley Collman . and James Nye . PUBLISHED: . 16:49 EST, 10 February 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 17:21 EST, 10 February 2014 . A 21-year-old suspected drunk driver killed her sister, a friend and an entire family of four after speeding 100 miles per hour in the wrong direction on a California freeway early Sunday morning. Olivia Culbreath was the only survivor when her red Chevrolet Camaro crashed into a Ford Explorer near Diamond Bar. All four in the explorer died at the scene. The coroner identified the victims of that car as Gregorio Mejia-Martines (47), his wife Leticia Ibarra (42), their daughter Jessica Jasmine Mejia (20), and relative Ester Delgado (age unknown). Scroll down for video . Wrong way: Suspected drunk driver Olivia Culbreath, 21 (left), was driving 100 miles per hour in the wrong direction on a California freeway early Sunday morning which resulted in the death of six people - including her 24-year-old sister Maya (right) Speeding: Witnesses say Culbreath driving her red Chevy Camaro around 100 miles per hour going the wrong direction on the freeway when it slammed head-first into a Ford Explorer - killing all four family members inside . Both passengers in Culbreath's car passed away as well including older sister Maya Louise Culbreath (24) and Kristin Melissa Young (24). Another Ford Freestyle was got caught up in the crash but driver Joel Cortez, 57, only experienced minor injuries. Culbreath has spoken to investigators about the accident on the 60 Freeway, police spokesperson Steve Urrea told MailOnline. Witnesses told investigators that the Camaro was going more than 100 miles an hour when the collision happened. Family killed: Gregorio Mejia-Martinez, 47 (left), and his 20-year-old daughter Jessica Jasmine Mejia (right) were two of the four riding in the Ford Explorer who died in the crash. His wife Leticia Ibarra (42) and relative Ester Delgado (age unknown) also died . Devastating: A family of four is among the six people killed Sunday morning in a suspected drunk-driving wrong-way crash in California . Hunting for clues: Officials investigate the scene of the horrific accident . Alcohol is suspected to be the primary factor in the accident after Culbreath was observed by law enforcement as acting drunk both at the scene and in the hospital. However, her blood alcohol content has not been made public. She suffered a broken femur and a ruptured bladder but is listed in stable condition, sources told NBC Los Angeles. Culbreath has been arrested and charged with counts of vehicular manslaughter and felony DUI, Urrea told MailOnline. She is in custody but remains at the hospital while recovering from injuries sustained in the crash. Adding more tragedy to the deadly crash, KTLA learned that Culbreath had just given birth to a child last June. Recovering: Culbreath is still healing from her injuries in the hospital. When she gets better, police will officially take her into custody. She faces charges of vehicular manslaughter and DUI . Shut down: The entire westbound side of the highway is shutdown while investigators comb the scene for evidence . | Authorities believe Olivia Culbreath, 21, was driving drunk when she crashed into a Ford explorer going to wrong way on a California highway .
She hit a Ford Explorer carrying a family of four going more than 100 mph .
All four members of that family were killed in the crash, as well as the two passengers in Culbreath's car .
Culbreath has been charged with six counts of vehicular manslaughter and felony driving under the influence .
She is recovering from a broken femur and ruptured bladder at the hospital .
Olivia Culbreath gave birth to a baby last June . |
175,668 | 6f65a24b9d733ecdbe0af22e4ee9c0a3ac227004 | By . Deborah Arthurs . PUBLISHED: . 11:33 EST, 4 September 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 11:38 EST, 4 September 2013 . Earlier this year teenager Dwayne Ward was subject to a horrific and bloody assault while on holiday in Turkey with his family. After Dwayne, 17, became separated from his brother Darren, 32, while out drinking on the famous Bar Street in the holiday resort of Marmaris he was approached by two Turkish men who proceeded to stab him 19 times, slash his body, face and neck with a razor blade, strip him naked and leave him for dead in a park. Dwayne's life was left hanging in the balance, all because he had kissed a local girl earlier in the evening. Earlier this year teenager Dwayne Ward was subject to a horrific assault while on holiday in Turkey with his family . Turkish surgeon Dr Selim Mavili, who carried out emergency life-saving surgery on Dwayne, from Middlesbrough, Cleveland, said the teen was 'lucky to be alive' when he arrived at the local hospital. The teenager made an incredible recovery, and left hospital just one week later, but the ordeal has left his family deeply shaken. Today Dwayne and his mother Doris appeared on ITV's This Morning to warn other tourists not to go to Bar Street and to beware of making themselves vulnerable. Dwayne and his mother Doris appeared on This Morning on Wednesday to warn other tourists to stay away from Marmaris's Bar Street . Doris said: 'We were happy on that first day, I thought: this will be a holiday we will remember. 'The following day we went into the town centre to have a meal. We left the boys to it at 12:30, they wanted to have fun. Dwayne wanted to go to Bar Street, which is what teenagers do.' Doris, already concerned for her sons' safety, warned the boys to look after one another, and, most importantly, to stay together. She said: 'I was saying to them: "Don't lose each other, stick together like glue."' But the boys were soon separated, leaving Dwayne vulnerable. He told This Morning host Holly Willoughby: 'Mum left, we went down to Bar Street and went in a few bars and pubs.' The last thing Dwayne remembers is getting hit in the back of the head. His next moment of consciousness came when he awoke in a Turkish hospital with police by his bedside. Doris first realised that something might be wrong when Darren came back to the hotel alone asking where his brother was before flaking out on his bed, worse the wear from too much alcohol. Doris sais: 'I jumped up, started shouting at Darren, "You've lost him!" 'I got ready and went out looking for him. I hadn't been to that part of Marmaris before and went four or five blocks before I went back thinking I was going to get lost. 'I just sat waiting in the hotel. I knew something had happened. 'The man on reception said "You're son has been arrested," I was quite relieved, at least I knew he was safe.' Horrifying: The naked body of Dwayne Ward, was discovered by horrified local residents in this public garden in Marmaris - he'd been stripped and stabbed more than a dozen times . Doris didn't see her son until eight hours later, she described the time as a surreal experience: 'I didn't feel like it was me standing there. It was like I was on the outside looking in.' With the help of the town's CCTV cameras the police were able to piece the evening together. Some footage showed Dwayne walking with some men, more footage showed him being dragged as his head lolled to one side. By this point he was unconscious. Two men Attila Dincer, 26, and another . named only as Ismail A, 24, have since admitted a series of offences including attempted murder and intent to kidnap. Dwayne suffers from regular flashbacks and is still on medication following the incident. His advice for other young people on holiday in the area is simple: 'Bar Street is dangerous. Don't go to Bar Street.' Dwayne was pictured leaving hospital with his family one week after the attack . | Dwayne Ward was found naked in a garden in the Tepe district of Marmaris .
Attackers had 'tried to slit his wrists to finish him off'
Two men were charged after a huge police manhunt .
17-year-old takes medication and suffers flashbacks .
Today Dwayne and his mother Doris appeared on This Morning . |
143,379 | 456bcd79772c88eb10ce51d96b90d44674484015 | Lost and Found at Amsterdam airport just got a whole lot cuter, with the introduction of an investigative beagle. Airline KLM has employed a cute, uniform-wearing dog to help reunite passengers with lost items that they leave behind on planes. The pooch - appropriately named Sherlock - uses its tracking skills to smell the lost item then dash through Amsterdam Schipol Airport to find the appropriate owner. The energetic beagle can be seen bounding through the airport with mobiles and headphones tucked in his pouch and even carrying stuffed toys back to their rightful owners. A video released by the airline shows how Sherlock is doted on by staff. Sandra List, a member of KLM's Team Lost & Found said: 'I think he is a real asset to the company . Puppy power! Sherlock the beagle comes to the rescue to return a missing phone . Leaps and bounds: The unusual lost and found system has delighted passengers at Amsterdam Schipol . 'Our main goal is to return lost items to owners as fast as possible. I really love that we're getting some help with that.' But rescuing abandoned items from planes is a tough job and Sherlock certainly needed some training. His handler Dirk van Driel, explained: 'We train for muscle strength endurance and of course socialisation. On the trail: The dog sniffs the item then dashes through the airport to find its owner . Reunited: One man shows his delight as his expensive headphones are returned to him . Star of the show: Sherlock happily poses for pictures with grateful passengers . 'When you see the reactions of the passengers that really is amazing.' Sherlock has become something of a star at the airport, with grateful customers posing for selfies with him and staff showing him with attention. One woman who works on KLM's check-in desk said: 'He drops by regularly but I have to admit I do spoil him a bit.' | Sherlock work with KLM's lost and found team to return forgotten items .
The pup picks up valuables from planes then hunts for their owners .
The dog detective carries the items in a special pouch in his jacket . |
33,999 | 609e8cc6cb4d29f90933026fd0aee89da7911b9c | By . Steph Cockroft . A British flower containing a lethal poison which can lead to serious illness or even death has been found near to a National Trust lighthouse - despite once being extinct. Dougie Holden, assistant ranger at the lighthouse, found the lone corn-cockle flower in the grounds of Souter Lighthouse in Whitburn, Sunderland. But the Royal Horticultural Society has now warned curious members of the public to neither pick up nor touch the 'very rare' flower, due to the noxious poison and toxins that it contains. Scroll down for video . National Trust assistant ranger Dougie Holden found a lone corn-cockle flower - real name agrostemma githago - in the grounds of Souter Lighthouse in Whitburn, Sunderland. The flower was once believed to be extinct due to modern farming methods . Experts say every part of the plant is filled with glycoside githagin and agrostemnic acid that could lead to severe stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, dizziness, weakness, slow breathing and, in extreme cases, even death. The sighting comes after the flower, which goes by the real name agrostemma githago, was thought to have disappeared from the UK due to modern farming methods. Mr Holden said: 'It is highly toxic and shouldn’t be touched. I have never seen one before. I am delighted. 'If it disperses, we might get a small population of them which would be great. It will be interesting to see if we get more growing in the future.' Guy Barter, chief advisor at the Royal Horticultural Society, said the plant is barely seen in the UK and is very dangerous. He said: 'This is indeed a very rare flower and was once extinct in Britain. The seed may have found its way into a wildflower mix and blown from a garden but they do lay dormant for years. Experts say every part of the plant is filled with a poison that can lead to serious illness and, in extreme cases, death . 'It‘s more likely the soil has been disturbed and the flower popped up. 'They are poisonous and harmful - but as long as you wash your hands thoroughly you should be okay. But I certainly wouldn’t recommend eating one.' The corn-cockle, a pink or purple flower, originates from other parts of Europe and is believed to have been brought into England by Iron Age farmers. At one time, most fields would have been filled with the poisonous flower, but modern agricultural methods and weed-killers all-but wiped it out. It was also a very common weed in the 19th century. The plant was used for generations in folk medicine and even receives a mention in Shakespeare’s Coriolanus. It can grow up to three feet tall and is covered with fine hairs, which can cause skin irritation if touched. Its poison was discovered centuries ago, when doctors thought it could have medicinal properties. They used it to experiment on patients and animals. In the summer, the plant produces pink or purple flowers with black lines on the petals. They can grow in various places such as fields, roadsides, railway lines and wasteland. | Dougie Holden found plant at Souter Lighthouse in Whitburn, Sunderland .
Experts say poison in all parts of plant can cause severe illness or death .
Flower - real name agrostemma githago - was extinct due to modern farming . |
108,013 | 174379550589b8ff9e063d9e8a8932cdf71cdf21 | (CNN) -- When White House press secretary Josh Earnest said this week that President Barack Obama had "substantially improved the tranquillity of the global community," many observers reacted with disbelief. When the President refused to go to the U.S.-Mexico border last week to see the crisis of young people flooding into the United States because "he's not interested in photo ops," lesser mortals noted he had played pool with Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper, dropped by a brewery to have a beer and shook hands with a man wearing a horse-head mask. When he went to Delaware on Thursday and opened with a few sentences about the shooting down of a Malaysian airliner in Ukraine before joking about Joe Biden and going back to his prepared text on infrastructure, many thought he had failed to take seriously an international disaster. They were even less impressed when he had lunch at the Charcoal Pit and ordered burgers and fries (not a photo op, of course). It was not until 24 hours later that he took to the podium to promise an aggressive investigation. With the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria causing the collapse of Iraq and continued violence in Syria, the Syrian dictatorship consolidating its power, the Iranians failing to take steps to end their nuclear weapons program and Hamas firing more than 1,000 rockets at Israel, the President and his team have moved decisively to brief The New York Times on his passion for late-night intellectual dinners exploring physics, architecture and questions far more profound than the fate of the Middle East. It is as though the more dangerous the world becomes the more Obama hides in a fantasy world of avoiding the responsibilities of the presidency. He uses the office to surround himself with court jesters who distract him in an enlightened and noble way from the growing failures of his policies and the rapidly expanding threats to the civilized world. Finally, as Russian President Vladimir Putin continues to flex his muscles and expand his policies, there is a psychologically bizarre pattern of the President's staff referring to Obama as "the Bear." The President refers to himself when he asserts "the Bear is loose." Of course with a President who last week used "I", "my" or "mine" 207 times in one speech, the concept is beyond bizarre. The White House staff, thinking somehow that this was clever, promptly turned the phrase into a Twitter hashtag, #TheBearIsLoose. Obama's idea of a loose bear is an unplanned walk to a Starbucks near the White House. Putin's idea of a loose bear is stealing Crimea. Obama's idea of risk-taking is shooting pool with a Democratic governor. Putin's idea of risk-taking is handing out anti-aircraft missiles to rebels in Ukraine. Putin's actions remind us of a time when America was threatened by a real metaphorical bear, as a 1984 Reagan campaign ad referred to the Soviet Union. The self-image of Obama as a bear is so delusional that it brings into question the degree to which he is simply out of touch with reality. Which brings us back to Earnest's quote about tranquillity in the international community. What he's channeling is Obama's personal tranquillity. From his perch in the amazingly Obama-centric world in which our President lives, look again at what the rest of us think of as serious problems. Have any of the 1,000-plus Hamas rockets been aimed at Obama? No. That is why Obama is tranquil. Have any of the thousands who are crossing the border tried to move into the White House? No. That is why Obama is tranquil. Is ISIS an immediate threat to the United States that is likely to blow up the next golf course the President is playing at? No. That is why Obama is tranquil. If you can reduce your presidency to a Starbucks visit, a man with a horse-head mask, shooting pool and visiting Joe Biden's burger joint for lunch, you can have a successful presidency as you have defined it, even if the world is disintegrating. The President's detachment from reality is fast infecting the rest of his party. How else can we explain fellow Democrat and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid stating this week that "the border is secure"? This "tranquillity" line was a Freudian slip by the President's spokesman that reveals the deep gap between reality and the Obama White House. Obama is rapidly becoming the weakest president since James Buchanan failed to stop the drift toward Civil War. Self-delusion and a rich fantasy life are dangerous in a president. They often lead to disasters that are unimaginable until they happen. That is what we have to worry about for the next two years until he leaves public office for a private fantasyland. Join us on Facebook.com/CNNOpinion. | Newt Gingrich: The more dangerous world becomes more Obama hides in fantasy world .
He says Obama's self-image as a "bear" is delusional and out of touch with reality .
Gingrich: Putin's muscular approach makes Obama look weak and disconnected . |
184,256 | 7aaa64de17e8dfbedf244b8cdad22dec3b5df379 | (CNN)According to Selena Gomez, life in the spotlight isn't all it's cracked up to be. The 22-year-old actress and singer appears topless and in a pair of short shorts on the cover of the spring issue of V magazine, proving that she's moved on from her days as a Disney child star. The Huffington Post reports that Gomez discusses in the accompanying interview the anxiety that fame has brought into her life. Things got really bad, she said, with all the tabloid scrutiny over her relationship with pop star Justin Bieber. "There were a few months where I was a little depressed, where I wouldn't leave (the house) as much," Gomez said. "I think I drove myself crazy for a little bit. It was just easier to say, 'Hey, do you mind running to the grocery store and picking some stuff up, I don't want to get photographed.' " The "Spring Breakers" star said she's grown since being involved with Bieber. The pair were involved in an on-again, off-again relationship from 2011 to 2014. "I was 18 years old, and it was my first love," she said. "The older I get, I'm guarding certain things more." Gomez said she's also learning to cope better with the fame. "I'm finally getting a little bit more comfortable," she said. "It's a process." | Gomez appears in V magazine's spring issue .
She says tabloid attention gave her anxiety .
The actress and singer calls Justin Bieber her "first love" |
263,553 | e15a2cbdd4d67e2b453f64efb4c922bdad8e67ad | Wayne Rooney has admitted he watched Manchester United's latest superstar signing Radamel Falcao in action on YouTube before his deadline day move to Old Trafford. The Manchester United captain is a keen admirer of the Colombian forward and said he used the global video-sharing website to see a collection of the 28-year-old's career goals. He told the Sunday Mirror: 'Yes, I've YouTubed his goals of course. But I have seen him play throughout the years for Atletico Madrid. It is exciting for us at United and also for the Premier League that he has signed. You can like our Manchester United Facebook page here . Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney celebrates scoring against Swansea in the opening game . Radamel Falcao speaks to the press during a Manchester United press conference . 'Falcao is a world-class player and one who could have gone to a number of other clubs so it's great we've got him. 'I just hope he hasn't picked up any little injuries while he has been away with Colombia. It's a great signing but it's also a great statement of intent from the club.' Rooney conceded that while last season was unacceptable he remains hopeful the glory days will now return to Old Trafford sooner rather than later. New Manchester United skipper Wayne Rooney is all smiles alongside assistant boss Ryan Giggs in training . Louis van Gaal and Radamel Falcao pose for photos at a Manchester United press conference . He added: 'Obviously last season, we all know we were not good enough. But the time is now right to get these top players to get us back to where we belong – winning titles again.' The Red Devils take on newly-promoted QPR at Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon as they look for their first league win of the season, which could see Falcao, as well as Daley Blind, Marcos Rojo and Luke Shaw handed their United debuts by Louis van Gaal. | The Manchester United captain says he watched Radamel Falcao's goals on YouTube ahead of his deadline day move to Manchester United .
Wayne Rooney is delighted that Falcao has joined the United revolution .
The 28-year-old accepts last season was unacceptable but believes the future is now bright at Old Trafford under Louis van Gaal . |
40,009 | 70e523f36ea80e9e33a6c337c801c0da0f6cc679 | West Ham have joined QPR by expressing an interest in . Marseille midfielder Mathieu Valbuena. The 29-year-old France international midfield schemer is . available for around £7million but is keen on a move to Spain. Despiet being a key part of Didier Deschamps' side in World . Cup, Valbuena is not wanted by new Marseille manager Marcelo Bielsa. Pocket rocket: Mathieu Valbuena has attracted interest from West Ham and QPR . Marseille had agreed a fee with Dinamo Moscow but the player . refused to go. West Ham formally announced the signing of striker Enner . Valencia from Pachuca on Tuesday, their fifth signing of the summer. With . club-record signing Andy Carroll ruled out for four months following . surgery on an ankle injury, Sam Allardyce was desperate for a boost to . his fortunes and with three goals in three games at the World Cup . Valencia could be news he needed. Valencia, 24, joins on a five-year contract after attracting attention from around Europe. Upton spark: West Ham have confirmed the signing of Enner Valencia . | West Ham and QPR are interested in signing Mathieu Valbuena .
Marseille playmaker is available for around £7m but wants La Liga move .
Valbuena was part of the France team that reached World Cup quarter-finals .
The Hammers have confirmed the signing of Ecuador's Enner Valencia . |
1,564 | 047c86eb405ce7d29eef0558192cf171b4e9de1f | The United States military should launch 'targeted' strikes against the 'terrorist army' of ISIS in Iraq - if the situation deteriorates so that it threatens the security of the West said David Petraeus. The retired general - who led commanded the surge eight years ago that rid the war-torn nation of al-Qaeda - said that he does support limited military action to stem the flood of ISIS troops. Former CIA chief Petraeus made these remarks on Thursday, the same day that President Obama declared he was sending 300 special forces advisers to Iraq in addition to the 275 'combat ready' troops he has deployed to protect the US Embassy in Baghdad. Scroll Down for Video . Action: (former) General David Petraeus (pictured here in 2011) has called for military strikes in Iraq to stem the flow of the ISIS terror army . In an exclusive interview with the UK's Daily Telegraph, Petraeus said that he favored using drones to specifically target the ISIS leader, Abu Bakr el Baghdadi. 'If ISIS is seen as a terrorist organization with the potential to engage in terrorist acts beyond the Middle East, then that could warrant the targeting of high value targets,' said Petraeus. He referenced the complicated sectarian friction that currently exists in Iraq between Sunni and Shia Muslims. 'We must be careful not to take sides if we offer military support. But the growing threat posed by Isis means that military action will be necessary,' said Petraeus to the Daily Telegraph. Leader of the surge: Former US General David Petraeus (L) walks with his entouage in the Shorja market area while on foot patrol to meet shopkeepers and other Iraqis March 3, 2007 in the downtown area of Baghdad, Iraq . Survey: (then) US Army Gen. David H. Petraeus (R), commander of the Multi-National Force in Iraq, speaks with then Democratic presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) during an aerial tour July 21, 2008 in Baghdad, Iraq . 'We must realize that Isis poses a threat not only to Iraq but to the UK and other countries as well. 'Isis poses two challenges, to the stability of Iraq, and also the emerging threat it poses beyond Iraq and Syria.' Speaking in London, Petraeus said that he was worried that Syria and Iraq could become havens for terrorist planners and was 'disappointed' that Iraq has descended into chaos again. 'I certainly do not think it was in vain,' he said to the Daily Telegraph. 'The surge provided Iraq with an excellent opportunity. However it is undeniably very sad to see the tragic turn of events in Iraq knowing personally how great the sacrifice and the cost was for the US, Britain, Iraq and all the other coalition partners.' Leader: (Then) General David Petraeus, commander of multi national forces in Iraq, walks down a street in the Ghazaliya neighborhood August 18, 2007 in Baghdad, Iraq . On Thursday President Barack Obama announced his intention today to send up to 300 U.S. military advisers into Iraq to help train the country's military. The president expressly stated that the move does not 'foreshadow' a military intervention and said sending troops back into Iraq to fight radical extremists would not benefit the U.S. 'American forces will not be returning to combat in Iraq,' Obama said, ' but we will help Iraqis as they take the fight to terrorists who threaten the Iraqi people, the region and American interests, as well.' The president also said the U.S. was currently ‘identifying targets’ associated with the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria terrorist group and that the U.S. would take ‘targeted and precise military action if and when we determine that the situation on the ground requires it' - an obvious nod to air strikes. President Barack Obama announced today that the U.S. would send in up to 300 soldiers to train and advise the Iraqi military. American forces still won't be engaging in combat he promised . After meeting with national security advisers early this afternoon, the president said in a statement that the U.S. intended would coordinate with Iraqi security forces, put up joint operation centers in Baghdad and share intelligence with the Iraqi government. Already, the president had deployed 275 armed marines to protect State Department personnel working at the embassy in Baghdad. He had also sent the USS George H.W. Bush aircraft carrier with . its usual battleship escort, the USS Mesa Verde, an amphibious transport . ship that can carry 550 marines and helicopters and armed F-18 Super Hornet warplanes to do surveillance. Obama told members of Congress during a meeting on Wednesday that he did not need their permission to take the actions he was considering. However, he said on Thursday that he would continue to work with Congress to provide additional equipment to the Iraqi military through his newly created Counterterrorism Partnership Fund and that he would consult Congress, as well as Iraqi leaders, if he decided to pull the trigger on air strikes. Iraqi . Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, a Shiite, has asked President Obama for air . strikes against the Sunni Islamist militants who have been carving a . wide swath through his country, but Obama has been slow to comply. The President told congressional leaders yesterday that the U.S. does not have strong enough intelligence at this time to carry out the strikes, an aide with knowledge of the discussion told the Huffington Post yesterday. Obama also expressed anxiety about the number of civilian casualties that the strikes could cause, as well concerns about instability within Iraq's government. The president said last week that he would not provide Iraq with military assistance until the country's leaders made serious moves toward putting their sectarian differences aside. Standing up for themselves: More than 200,000 Iraqis have volunteered to defend their country, including this group of farmers . Vice President Joe Biden spoke on Wednesday with Maliki, the country's Sunni parliamentary speaker and the the . president of the country's self-ruled Kurdish region. He . praised their efforts to bring together their respective communities in . a televised show of unity against ISIS, the White House said. Lawmakers . have been putting pressure on Obama to call for Maliki's resignation . for days, and the Associated Press said reported Thursday morning that . Obama might ask Maliki to resign as a Hail Mary effort to stop the . country's civil war. However, Obama repeatedly said on Thursday, 'It's not the place for the United States to choose Iraq's leaders.' There . is an 'urgent' need for Iraq to convene a new parliament that gives all . Iraqis the sense that they are part of a unity government, though, Obama said. 'Right now what is happening is the fate of Iraq hangs in the balance.' The U.S. president hedged when asked at a presser Thursday after his statement if he had lost faith in Maliki to lead . the country and referred back to his previous statements. US President Barack Obama meets with Congressional leadership including Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (2nd R), Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (L), House Speaker John Boehner (2nd L), and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (R), in the Oval Office of the White House on June 18, 2014 in Washington, DC. The leaders met to discuss strategy on Iraq . Former U.S. general David Petraeus, . who led the 'surge' that finally brought calm to Iraq, struck a cautious . note on Western intervention on Wednesday. Speaking . at a conference in London, General Petraeus said the Iraqi government . needed to reach out to the Sunni minority before the US got involved . militarily. He said: 'If . the US is to support the Iraqi government it would have to be a . government against terrorism, rather than one side in a civil war.' 'This . cannot be the United States being the air force for Shia militias, or a . Shia on Sunni Arab fight,' he told the Margaret Thatcher Conference on . Liberty. President Obama . expressed concern at doing just that on Thursday and again called on . Iraq's government to come together to fight the common treat to their . nation. He also fired a warning shot at Iran. The . U.S. welcome's the country to play a 'constructive role' in Iraq, he . said, but 'If Iran is coming in solely as an armed force on behalf of . the Shia, and it is framed in that fashion, that probably worsens the . situation.' 'Obviously . what has happened in Syria in part is the result of Iran coming in hot . and heavy' on one side, Obama said, referring to the upheaval in that . country. Obama said he hopes Iran will take a 'more promising path' in Iraq, 'but old habits die hard.' Deployment: F-18 launches off the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush during flight operations in the Arabian Gulf after the ship was deployed into the Gulf in response to the crisis in Iraq . MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter lands on the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush during flight operations in the Arabian Gulf on June 17, 2014 . Yesterday's surveillance missions mark the first declared U.S. flyovers since American troops left Iraq at the end of 2011. Reports . first surfaced on Twitter from ABC, NBC and Fox News about the sorties, . which are taking off and landing on the USS George H.W. Bush, an . aircraft carrier in the Persian Gulf. The Obama administration had already authorized 'manned and unmanned' surveillance flights, Fox News reported. But F-18s are not surveillance aircraft. They are attack planes. A . U.S. official hinted to Fox that part of the strategy is to project . strength by rolling out the big guns even on routine video and photo . missions. 'It's not so much about looking as it is being seen,' the official said. The White . House told reporters on Wednesday afternoon that the president is still . undecided about whether to commit military force to the country that . once hosted 143,000 American servicemen and women. Obama said on Thursday that he would prefer Iraq's neighbors in the region step up instead. On that note Obama said he would be sending Secretary of State John Kerry to the Middle East and Europe to meet with the U.S.'s allies abroad about working together to quell the violence in Iraq. 'Rather than play whack-a-mole where these terrorist networks pop up,' the president said, the U.S. has to be able to build effective partnerships. The big picture: ISIS has taken the red-shaded areas in this map and are making progress in their advance toward Baghdad . | Former General David Petraeus believes that drone strikes against the leadership of ISIS is necessary .
Claims that ISIS could become a hotbed of terror planning against the West .
The former CIA said he was disappointed that Iraq had descended into chaos .
Petraeus led the troop surge which forced al-Qaeda from Iraq eight-years ago .
President Obama announced today that he would send 300 soldiers into Iraq to train, advice and support Iraqi security forces .
He had also sent in 275 marines to protect State Department personnel in Baghdad, the USS George H.W. Bush aircraft carrier, the USS Mesa Verde and armed F-18 Super Hornet warplanes to do surveillance .
But U.S. will only take ‘targeted and .
precise military action if and when we determine that the situation on .
the ground requires it' Obama said . |
108,349 | 17b477d86e5c18d6f673d5efef04923a7bbc3694 | By . Louise Boyle . A known sex offender has been charged with the death of a female friend whose body was found in a ravine 25 years ago. Gabriel Rey O'Neill, 45, was charged with . murder and the special circumstances of committing murder in the course . of a rape, a kidnapping and an act of forced oral copulation, according to authorities on Monday. Hikers found the body of 27-year-old Sheila Lorraine Hatcher, a mother-of-three, in a ravine on San Bruno Mountain in San Mateo County, California, on March 12, 1989. Gabriel O'Neill, 45, has been charged with raping and murdering 27-year-old Sheila Lorraine Hatcher in California 25 years ago . Sheriff's . Deputy Rebecca Rosenblatt said that Hatcher had been sexually assaulted and . suffered blunt force trauma. Investigators at the time were unable to . find sufficient evidence to identify a suspect. Last year, the victim's family asked sheriff's investigators to reopen the cold case. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, investigators discovered that O'Neill, Hatcher and three other people went to the mountain to use drugs. The group separated, leaving O'Neill alone with Hatcher. O'Neill, then 20, allegedly attacked, raped and killed Miss Hatcher and stole her jewellery. The exact relationship between the victim and O'Neill is still being established. After investigators pored over old records and case files, Rosenblatt said that evidence was resubmitted to the forensics lab which linked O'Neill to the killing. The officer would not elaborate further as the investigation is ongoing. Deputy Rosenblatt told MailOnline today that she had no details on the family's reaction to the potential solving of the murder but added: 'It always feels good when you can finally give a family some closure.' The suspect, who lives in Brisbane, had not been part of the original investigation. O'Neill is a registered sex offender, according to the San Jose Mercury News. O'Neill was taken into custody on Monday. If convicted, O'Neill could face the death penalty or life in prison without parole. Prosecutors have yet to make a decision on whether to seek lethal injection. The accused was booked into the Maguire Correctional Facility in Redwood City and is being held without bail. O'Neill, 45, could face the death penalty if convicted of the mother-of-three's brutal murder on San Bruno Mountain . | Gabriel O'Neill, 45, charged with .
murder, committing murder in the course .
of a rape, kidnapping and forced oral copulation .
Hikers found body of Sheila Lorraine Hatcher, 27, in a ravine on San Bruno Mountain in California, on March 12, 1989 .
Investigators turned up new forensic evidence which allegedly linked O'Neill to the murder of the mother-of-three . |
6,322 | 11eeffa6f033febd785c26476aa21afe7f72fb55 | By . Luke Salkeld . PUBLISHED: . 17:28 EST, 1 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 07:57 EST, 2 November 2013 . A pet rabbit has apparently become the latest victim of false widow spiders. Only hours earlier one-year-old Molly had been hopping happily around the garden. But she was found dead in her hutch after it was infested by the poisonous creatures. Recently false widow spiders have put several people in hospital after biting them and even caused a school to be closed temporarily. Victim: The body of the pet rabbit, called Molly, was found next to a spider's web with five false widows crawling around . Molly’s owner Samantha Davies found her dead when she went to feed her two rabbits, Molly and Milly. When the 21-year-old removed Molly’s body, she found a hammock-shaped web and up to five spiders scuttling around the hutch. After using the internet to identify them as false widows, Miss Davies became worried for the safety of her 18-month-old daughter, Rosie. She contacted her local environmental health department in the hope of having her home treated for infestation. Her request was declined, but an officer told her he was 98 per cent certain the spider was responsible for Molly’s death. Yesterday Miss Davies, a kitchen assistant, said: ‘We couldn’t believe it when we saw the spiders. I was really upset when Molly died. Devastated: Samantha Davies, 21, pictured with her 18-month-old daughter Rosie and partner Scott Barnes, was told by an environmental health officer he was 98 per cent certain the pet's death was caused by the spiders . ‘I really didn’t want the spiders around my daughter. We asked environmental health if they could help us, but they refused. ‘If it had been a rat, they would have done something, but not with poisonous spiders.’ Miss Davies, who lives with her partner Scott Barnes and their daughter in Mountain Ash, South Wales, has since disinfected the hutch where Milly still lives, and killed the spiders she found last weekend. Venomous: The false widow spider has caused a school to be closed and has left people with horrific injuries after the attack in recent weeks . The false widow is the most dangerous of the 12 species of biting spider known to be in Britain and cases of people being bitten by the venomous creature have been on the rise. John Catlin, 66, from Bromley, Kent, is still recovering a year after a bite that caused his organs to start shutting down. Bodybuilder Gary Meadows from Teesville, Middlesbrough, required a skin graft when he was bitten in 2011 and has suffered severe reactions to any insect bite since. Layla Benton, 14, was off school for three weeks after her knee swelled up when she was bitten in her bathroom in Basildon, Essex. And last month Dean Academy in Lydney, Gloucestershire, had to close its doors to pupils after the dangerous spiders were found there. The spiders are shiny and black with distinctive cream markings on the abdomen that resemble a horseshoe – or, to some eyes, a skull. They have long, spindly legs and are easily confused with the black widow, a far more venomous cousin not found in Britain. As with most species of spider, it is the female false widow which is the force to be reckoned with. Males tend not to grow much bigger than two centimetres, while females reach up to three centimetres. The first false widow is thought to have come to Britain from the Canary Islands or Madeira in the 1870s in a bunch of bananas. The first recorded sighting was in Torquay, Devon, in 1879. | Samantha Davies, 21, found Molly's body lying next to a spider's web .
She became worried for the safety of her 18-month-old daughter Rosie .
Environmental health department was '98 per cent certain' spiders caused the pet's death . |
43,321 | 7a2aa1a61ec3e0357023a1c584aad44946bbc748 | Senior Lib Dems have privately warned Nick Clegg will only be able to stay on as leader if he wins more than 45 MPs at the election. If the party falls below this threshold it will be too small to enter into Coalition with Labour or the Tories, MPs believe, leaving Mr Clegg’s position as party leader untenable. The Deputy Prime Minister is expected to ‘fall on his sword’ if he cannot lead the party back into Government after the election. But if he manages to limit Lib Dem losses to single figures he is almost certain to win a vote of the Parliamentary party to allow him to form another Coalition. One senior MP told MailOnline: ‘At some point it just becomes a matter of numbers. ‘You have to fill Cabinet positions, junior ministerial positions, select committee chairs – things like that – while also having places for MPs sulking or who don’t want to sit in Government. ‘It’s also about balance. You can’t have one massive party and one tiny party with little or no say. ‘If we do go into another Coalition then Nick will stay on as leader – he will have to. If we don’t, then the parliamentary party will have to talk about what we do. But will Nick want to stay? He will fall on his sword, is my guess.’ It comes amid revelations that Mr Clegg has given up on the idea of stopping Lib Dem president Tim Farron from taking over as leader if he is ousted after the election. The Deputy Prime Minister and his supporters had hoped that a leading contender on the right of the party like Danny Alexander could mount a challenge. But allies of Mr Clegg have told MailOnline that left-winger Mr Farron is 'unstoppable', and could mount a challenge even if the Lib Dems are returned to government in a new coalition. Some opinion polls put the Lib Dems behind both Ukip and the Greens, with experts predicting the party could lose up to half of its 57 MPs in May. Mr Clegg has vowed to lead his party into the election, and will refuse to step down if he gets the Lib Dems back into government, regardless of how few of his MPs survive. Party sources suggest he could even cling on for several months if the Tories or Labour can take power without the Lib Dems for a 'transitional period'. But hopes of a Lib Dem minister mounting a challenge against Mr Farron are fading fast. 'Tim is unstoppable now,' said one senior Lib Dem source. 'He is a relentless campaigning politician. 'He replies to every tweet, he speaks to every councillor, he turns up to every dinner. He's got the time because he has never had to run a department.' Scroll down for video . Mr Farron, pictured hugging Mr Clegg in 2012, is seen to have spent the last five years build support amongst the party's 40,000 members while others have been 'tarnished' while serving as ministers in the coalition . Mr Farron has previously been dismissed by some in his party as a 'cheeky chappie telling jokes about Margaret Thatcher and the miners'. But he is understood to have built huge grassroots support, unencumbered by taking difficult decisions in coalition. Supporters of Mr Clegg insist that if he gets the Lib Dems back into a coalition after the election, his position is safe. 'He will be able to go on and on,' said on MP. 'But that doesn't mean Tim won't try to find a way to position himself as a leader in the wings.' Mr Clegg had hoped that his close friend Mr Alexander would have been able to succeed him as leader, to prove the party was serious about being a force in government. Allies saw Mr Alexander as the standard-bearer of the 'responsible' wing of the party. Mr Alexander, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, has been considered to be 'on manoeuvres' for the last 12 months, raising his personal profile and distancing himself from Tory George Osborne. But he has a huge struggle to cling on to his own seat in the Scottish highlands, and has been tarnished in the eyes of many Lib Dem activists by his close association with Tory austerity. Allies of Mr Clegg had pinned their hopes on his close friend Danny Alexander as the standard-bearer of the 'responsible' wing of the party . Energy Secretary Ed Davey has already thrown his hat into the ring, declaring his willingness to lead the party if it 'falls' to him. He said it was 'not unreasonable' that he and others wold launch a challenge 'when Nick Clegg hangs up his clogs as leader'. He added: 'If one day it falls to me to lead it, then obviously, I'd like to do that.' But he faces a strong challenge from the Tories in his seat, and has failed to impress some of his colleagues. 'If Ed Davey didn't exist as a politician, no-one would invent him,' said one Lib Dem MP. Health minister Norman Lamb is also being urged by colleagues to prepare a leadership bid, but he and his wife are reluctant to embrace the degree of exposure the job would involve. If Mr Clegg is forced out, there is some doubt about who will be in charge in his absence. Sir Malcolm Bruce, the party's deputy leader, is standing down at the election so would not be in the Commons. Vince Cable, who was caretaker leader before Mr Clegg took over, was once tipped as a successor. Health minister Norman Lamb is being urged to prepare a leadership bid, while Energy Secretary Ed Davey has said he would be interested in the job when Nick Clegg 'hangs up his clogs' But his leadership chances suffered a fatal blow when his old friend Lord Oakeshott carried out polling designed to undermine Mr Clegg. Mr Cable denies having any knowledge of the plot, and friends say he has not spoken to Lord Oakeshott since. In a fresh setback, Mr Clegg sacked Mr Cable as the party's economic spokesman for the election campaign, handing the high profile role to Mr Alexander. It means he will debate with Mr Osborne and Labour's Ed Balls, with Mr Cable on the sidelines. Mr Clegg has refused to speculate on his future after the election, but insisted he had survived a barrage ofcriticism from all sides since entering coalition in May. Earlier this month he told BBC One's Andrew Marr show: 'Look I've tried to deal, with as much good grace as I can muster, all the criticism I get day in/day out, left, right and centre. 'It is unsurprising - if it wasn't me, whoever would be leader of the party - that you get that kind of incoming flack because what we're doing is deeply unsettling to the vested interests on right and left in British politics.' | Clegg will stay as party leader if he leads Lib Dems back into Government .
MPs say Lib Dems need at least 45 MPs to be tenable Coalition partner .
If the party falls below this number Clegg expected to 'fall on his sword'
Clegg has accepted Tim Farron is 'unstoppable' as his replacement .
Danny Alexander, Ed Davey and Norman Lamb also in the running . |
43,869 | 7bc22514128d4c1556635b9435b7bf31886967fa | Arsenal and Tottenham are fighting for the loan signing of Shakhtar Donetsk’s Brazilian forward Douglas Costa, with Roma and AC Milan also keen. Costa is one of six Shakhtar players refusing to return to Ukraine as conflict rages around the club’s home city – and the two North London rivals are offering an exit route. But the 23-year-old’s current club are reluctant to sanction a move for one of their top stars, with owner Rinat Akhmetov already stating that: ‘There won’t be a clearance sale.’ VIDEO Scroll down to watch Douglas Costa scoring with deceptive left foot shot for Donetsk . Quality addition: Douglas Costa would offer Spurs or Arsenal a loan signing with Champions League expertise . Impressive: The Brazilian playmaker celebrates scoring against Real Sociedad in Europe last season . And Costa does not want to try to force a move as he does not want to look like a mercenary. The Shakhtar players 'all run a deadly risk if we are in the region,' Costa said on his Instagram page. He claimed he . and the other five absent players wanted to train in Switzerland during . the conflict and were not seeking a transfer. 'I like . the club, the people, the city, but I'm afraid,' he said in comments . posted alongside a picture of the Shakhtar badge. 'We want to stay at . the club, but we must have risk-free working conditions.' Costa is a former Manchester United target, and a move to Arsenal or Spurs would see either side gain a player with Champions League experience from his time in Donetsk. Keen on Costa: Both North London sides are interested in bringing the 23-year-old in on a loan deal . VIDEO One trophy not enough - Arteta . | Roma and AC Milan also want to sign the 23-year-old .
Costa has refused to return to Ukraine during Russia conflict .
But Shakhtar are reluctant to let any of their stars leave .
Brazilian is reluctant to try to force a move out of Donetsk .
Manchester United were once interested in signing him . |
275,867 | f1617f3b1a109c829f98f848cd7c8e7fb0143700 | Dirty stethoscopes may be helping to spread dangerous bugs around GP surgeries and hospital wards, a study suggests. One of the instruments was found to be more contaminated with bacteria than the palm of a doctor's hand after being used to examine 71 patients. Among the microbes spreading from patients was the potentially deadly superbug MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus). Dirty stethoscopes may help to spread bugs around GP surgeries and hospital wards, a new study suggests . Dr Didier Pittet, from the World Health Organisation Collaborating Centre on Patient Safety at University of Geneva Hospitals in Switzerland, said: 'By considering that stethoscopes are used repeatedly over the course of a day, come directly into contact with patients' skin, and may harbour several thousands of bacteria (including MRSA) collected during a previous physical examination, we consider them as potentially significant vectors of transmission. 'From infection control and patient safety perspectives, the stethoscope should be regarded as an extension of the physician's hands and be disinfected after every patient contact.' Dr Pittet's team conducted a study in which 71 patients were examined by one of three doctors using sterile gloves and a stethoscope. After each examination, the tube and diaphragm of the stethoscope and four regions of the physician's hands were checked for bacteria. The stethoscope's diaphragm, the part of the instrument that is pressed onto a patient's skin, was more heavily contaminated than all regions of the hand except the fingertips. In addition the stethoscope tube was covered in more bugs than the back of the doctor's hand. One of the bugs found on stethoscopes is the potentially deadly superbug MRSA (pictured) The study, published in the journal Mayo Clinic Proceedings, is the first to make a direct comparison of bacterial contamination of hands and stethoscopes. However, if a report published last month is to be believed, doctors will soon be hanging up their stethoscopes for good. A medical mainstay since 1816, they are being elbowed out of the way by new technologies such as ultrasound which has only been about since the 1950s. Mobile devices are becoming increasingly popular, accurate, smaller to the point of being handheld and cheaper to make. However, Professor Jagat Narula, editor of the journal Global Heart, said: 'At the time of this writing several manufacturers offer handheld ultrasound machines slightly larger than a deck of cards, with technology and screens modelled after modern smartphones.' | Among the microbes found on stethoscopes is the superbug MRSA .
Experts say that they should be disinfected after each patient .
Some recent reports have suggested stethoscopes will soon be a thing of the past as more modern devices replace them . |
116,515 | 22624547d7f03753e39a216ce782e8fd00f5b219 | The World Cup is just 29 days away and excitement is building. Each week our man in Brazil, Joe Callaghan, brings us the latest news and views from South America - as well as traveller tips for those heading out there - and provides a flavour of exactly how the World Cup in Brazil is shaping up. If Zico's so worried, shouldn't England be a little bit concerned too? With all the focus on the World Cup opener against top seeds Italy in the Amazon a month from today, Uruguay are in danger of flying a little under Roy Hodgson's radar. Not Zico's though. We told you last week how the greatest never to win a World Cup insisted the one team he didn't want Brazil to meet in the knock-out stages was none other than England's second opponents next month. 'I would prefer to meet Argentina in the final. Not Uruguay,' he said. 'I think Uruguay could be the only team who could psychologically shake the Brazilian team.' VIDEO Scroll down to view inside the Arena Amazonia stadium and see England's training camp . Dangerous: Luis Suarez is expected to cause England problems in the Group D World Cup match in Brazil . Geographically, Uruguay sits beneath Brazil and citizens here like to think of their neighbours that way. But in the Brazilian sporting lexicon Uruguay is a dirty word. It might come as a surprise to some that no matter what way the tournament progresses, the hosts cannot play at the Maracana until the final. Wouldn't the sacred, spiritual home have been a helpful, inspirational staging point come the last 16 or quarter-finals? Not in a World Cup it wouldn't. The place is the graveyard of World Cup dreams here and the Maracanazo, when Brazil needing only a draw to win the 1950 cup on home soil imploded and handed glory to their noisy neighbours, still send shivers down spines in Rio de Janeiro. Hodgson might just have felt a slight chill over the past 48 hours too when he saw the 25-man squad assembled by his counterpart Oscar Tabarez. High on talent, high on tenure, high on terrifying attackers, it's a big tournament calibre squad from a country that just loves big tournaments. Fearful: Brazil legend Zico believes that Uruguay are the team best equipped to cause the hosts problems . Winners of two of the four previous World Cups to be played in their home continent, Uruguay have also been losing semi-finalists another three times. All in all, not too shabby a record for a country with an almost identical population to Wales. Hodgson's embraced the movement for change and called upon his young lions, but experience counts too. Uruguay have just three players with 10 caps or less in their panel and could have just one by the time the final squad cut is made. England on the other hand, will bring nine such inexperienced men to Brazil. Of course there are question marks, no country is immune from those. A lot of those centre on the skipper Diego Lugano, who endured a horror campaign in the Premier League with West Brom. But he has always been a different beast with the national team's armband strapped on. And around him, Benfica's Maxi Perreira, Atletico Madrid's Diego Godin and Martin Caceres of Juventus could join camp with league winners medals from three different countries. Goal getter: Uruguay's Edinson Cavani has proven himself to be a reliable frontman at the top level . Midfield is full of competition with three insiders based here in Brazil - Nicolas Lodeiro, Sebastien Eguren and Alvaro Pareira - joining Atletico's Cristian Rodriguez and a host of other European-based veterans and a couple of younger faces, among them Southampton's Gaston Ramirez. It is up front though where the chills really begin to kick in. The triumvirate of Luis Suarez, Edinson Cavani and Diego Forlan might not match Argentina's trio of Messi, Higuain and Aguero as the tournament's most ferocious front three. But they're a close runner-up. Between them they have scored 94 international goals. England's entire 23-man squad have scored just 15 more. For now, all roads may lead to Manaus but the trajectory will quickly shift to Sao Paulo and what will be the defining match of England's campaign. Uruguay may have been the last team to book their ticket to Brazil but it would be foolish to expect them to be the first going home. Even if it would make the hosts breathe a whole lot easier. Lots to think about: England's players face two tough group games against Italy and Uruguay in Brazil . The countdown clock has hit the 20s and still Brazil scrambles to welcome the world. Incredible though it may seem four weeks out from the kick-off, but three stadiums still remain unfinished. The venue for the opening ceremony will mercifully host its first proper match this weekend when Corinthians make their debut in their new home. Because they simply have to be, all arenas will be completed. But a report in yesterday's Sao Paulo newspaper Folha, laid bare just how little else will be ready. Of the public transport upgrades and projects promised when Brazil won the staging rights, an eye-wateringly low 10 per cent have been delivered. Fortaleza's airport might just be the most prime of all examples. The city which had the first stadium over the line, inexplicably none of the other 11 projects promised in Fortaleza are finished. And instead of a shiny new terminal to welcome the hundreds of thousands of fans pitching up for a whopping six games in the city, visitors will instead be herded through a temporary canvas structure. If you're thinking something along the lines of the opening credits of M.A.S.H. you're not alone. It's unlikely to be nearly as funny though. It's a crying shame. Way behind schedule: Construction workers frantically try to finish off the Arena de Sao Paulo Stadium on time . Not only did he welcome new plus one Gabriella Lenzi to Barcelona this week for a flying visit during which she hit the town with the WAGs but he might just feature in this weekend's title decider against Atletico Madrid. Expected not to play a competitive game again until the World Cup after picking up a foot injury last month, Brazil's talisman is ahead of schedule. 'I am in the home straight in terms of recovery and I’ll see if I am able to play (against Atletico),' he confirmed on Monday. And the nation breathes a sigh of relief. Introductions: Neymar's girlfriend Gabriella Lenzi joined the Brazil superstar briefly in Barcelona . The Brazilian championship is a full four rounds old. But that's more than enough time for the most trigger-happy league in the world to start catching up with the Premier League in the sack race. This Fred goal from a couple of inches out helped Fluminense to a 2-0 victory over arch rivals Flamengo in the Rio derby on Sunday. It led to Flamengo sacking Jayme de Almeida, who in the process became the sixth manager shown the door in the top tier already this season. Sixth...in less than a month. Makes England's top flight look like a pleasant place to work . Remember me? Diego Cavalieri (Fluminese and Brazil) The rejection felt by Liverpool duo Philippe Coutinho and Lucas last week as Big Phil ignored the merits of both when picking his final squad was also shared by a former Red. Diego Cavalieri once cost Liverpool £3million when he joined from Palmeiras in 2008. But after just two seasons at Anfield during which he never once featured in the league, in spite of a couple of impressive cup cameos, he was allowed to leave by Roy Hodgson. Back home with Fluminense he rediscovered his form and was part of the Confederations Cup-winning Brazil panel last summer. But he was the odd man out last week as Julio Cesar, Jefferson and Victor were picked for World Cup duty. That's kind of in keeping with how things have been going for everyone linked with Liverpool of late. Old face: Diego Cavalieri, formerly of Liverpool, narrowly missed out on the Brazil squad after a run of good form . Scurge: Mosquitos will be feasting on the many World Cup visitors . Travellers tip: Bring the bug spray . Not brave enough to venture up to Manaus? Then you don't have to worry about tropical diseases, right? Wrong. Dengue fever is alive and really kicking throughout Brazil, even in urban centres with 1.4million cases last year. Speaking from painful experience, native mosquitoes take a particular shine to pasty European skin. So pack the strongest bug spray lawmakers will let you bring on a plane. Amazon forecast: How’s the weather up in Manaus? We finally got some first-hand experience of just how hot and wet it gets up there during a brief visit last weekend. There is not a garment invented by man that can soak up all the sweat when the humidity hits. Thankfully . though, the next tropical downpour is never too far away and a socking . rain is actually pretty refreshing. Small mercies. | Brazil legend Zico claims England's Group D opponents Uruguay are the team best equipped to beat the host .
The World Cup is set to kick off with most of the transport infrastructure in Sao Paulo and Fortaleza unfinished .
Brazil star Neymar has introduced girlfriend Gabriela Lenzi to Barcelona and he expects to play in the La Liga title showdown against Atletico Madrid .
Six managers have been sacked in the first four rounds of Brazil's Championship . |
226,034 | b0b6a59c22a73666dd61e90467c73b5787f50b44 | By . Phil Duncan . Follow @@PhilDuncanF1 . Mercedes have trialled a modified exhaust system in a bid to raise the sound levels of Formula One. The noise produced by the new 1.6-litre turbo engines has come under scrutiny from most corners of the sport this season with a working group subsequently tasked to find a solution. Mercedes, who supply engines to four teams on the grid, have led the development process in cooperation with the FIA and under Bernie Ecclestone's insistence. Picture that: The tail pipe on the back of Nico Rosberg's Mercedes has been widened to improve the noise . On track: Rosberg, who now trails Lewis Hamilton in the world championship, exits the pits on Wednesday . New look: The tail pipe has been dramatically widened since Sunday's Spanish Grand Prix . The 'trumpet' design was unveiled for the first time on the back of Nico Rosberg's W05 hybrid during Wednesday's test at the Circuit de Catalunya. The tail pipe, which has been widened in order to create more volume, will then be evaluated by the FIA, who are taking measurements to assess its impact. Speaking to Spotrtsmail last week, Rosberg, who finished second in Sunday's Spanish Grand Prix, said: 'Mercedes have done lots of work on trying to make the cars louder and have a greater engine noise. They have come up with good solutions, we have tested them in the factory and they work, so now we will test them on the track next week. Admission: Rosberg, pictured testing on Wednesday, admits the cars are not loud enough for the sport's fans . 'Then it is a matter for the FIA to get all the teams to agree and try and get the things on the cars.' Rosberg, three points adrift of Lewis Hamilton in the championship after the Briton's win in Spain, was hesitant to put a timescale on when the louder engines would be introduced at a grand prix weekend, and warned that all of the teams would have to reach an agreement before they were ratified. 'I understand the cars are not loud enough for the fans and that's part of the sport's attraction,' added Rosberg. 'It depends on the teams agreeing so it is going to take a bit of time.' Sauber's Giedo van der Garde ran in Tuesday's session, with Esteban Gutierrez replacing him on Wednesday but the former Caterham driver was on the pit-wall and also did not think Rosberg's car sounded much different to other runners. 'You hear a bit more sound, but it was not huge,' he told Sky Sports News. 'Everyone is complaining about the sound but it is how it is. The cars go fast in a straight line and I quite like it. You get the whistle from a turbo and I'm quite pleased by it. For me it is fine.' | Nico Rosberg tested the modified exhaust system in Spain on Wednesday .
Mercedes have led the development process to amplify the noise in F1 .
A working group was tasked to improve the noise of the new engines . |
226,867 | b1c467a9b6fa2690e2f8001a802a34f729a6421a | Washington (CNN) -- No veteran should be forgotten, President Barack Obama said Saturday while commemorating the end 60 years ago of the Korean conflict, sometimes described as the "forgotten war." He laid a wreath at the Korean War Veterans Memorial on the National Mall and spoke to veterans and family members with ties to both U.S. and Korean troops, an audience estimated by event organizers to number 5,000. Active hostilities on the Korean conflict halted six decades ago with the signing of an armistice agreement, leaving the war between the North and South in suspension, and the peninsula divided by a demilitarized zone where tensions remain tense to this day. More than 36,000 U.S. troops died and 103,000 were wounded in the three-year conflict. Fast facts: Korean War . The military says just over 7,900 U.S. troops remain missing, and Obama expressed a commitment to "give these families a full accounting of their loved ones." For example, the family of Sgt. 1st Class William Robinson, who went missing at 26 in 1950, will bury his remains in Pennsylvania this week, he said. He noted that returning veterans were not welcomed by parades or protests and said these veterans, as do all, "deserved better." Pondering Pyongyang: Beijing's problem child . "Here in America, no war should ever be forgotten, and no veteran should ever be overlooked," Obama said, pronouncing the war a definitive win. "Korea was a victory," he said, because South Koreans live "in stark contrast to the repression and poverty of the North." North Korea, meanwhile, observed what they called "Victory Day" on Saturday in the capital city Pyongyang with a lengthy military parade that was reviewed by leader Kim Jong Un and the Chinese vice president, Li Yuanchao. Cosmetic change, but no real reform, in North Korea . Obama's remarks come as the U.S. military draws down from over a decade of war in Afghanistan. He said the nation should "make it our mission to give (veterans) the respect and the care and the opportunities that they have earned." His wife, first lady Michelle Obama, has led an initiative for veterans and military families called Joining Forces. Talking peace with a backdrop of war . The president was joined by Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, a Vietnam War veteran who is the first former enlisted soldier to hold that position, as well as representatives from the South Korean government and military and the U.S. government. Hagel said the nearly two dozen nations who aided South Korea "showed the world that different nations and different peoples and different nations can accomplish many, many good things in the world when we work together." Veteran POWs recall misery of North Korean captivity . | The president lays a wreath at the Korean War Veterans Memorial .
Family members with ties to both U.S. and Korean troops are on hand .
"No veteran should ever be overlooked," he says . |
134,208 | 3984c09d717f911b48a52bbf506a970791bc0c4f | A Scotland Yard report on the Plebgate affair shows ‘industrial levels of dishonesty by police working in Downing Street’, a senior Tory MP said last night. David Davis hit out after the Met published a series of documents summarising its inquiry into the aftermath of the incident, which resulted in four police officers being sacked. The Met also identified a female officer who texted a colleague two days after the incident to declare that she could ‘topple’ the Tory government. And it released new CCTV footage, of the heated disagreement between diplomatic protection officer Toby Rowland and then Chief Whip Andrew Mitchell at the gates of Downing Street in September 2012. Scroll down for video . CCTV footage of the plebgate row shows a passer-by watching as the then Tory chief whip attempts to cycle out of the main gates of Downing Street . The new material - released by Scotland Yard from its investigation into the Plebgate affair 'dubbed Operation Alice' - shows the witness stopping to watch the confrontation . The witness turns back on himself after seeing Mr Mitchell told by police officers to wheel his bike through the side entrance . Previously-unseen CCTV images of the Plebgate row reveal that a passer-by witnessed the confrontation between police and Mr Mitchell. The man, who is clearly seen following the exchange, has never been traced. Today’s CCTV footage shows Mr Mitchell cycling down the middle of the street and then talking to three officers at the gate while a fourth stands nearby outside. In the original police account, several members of the public are said to have witnessed the exchange and were ‘visibly shocked’. A Dispatches documentary for Channel 4 challenged this with images obtained from CCTV shot from within Downing Street. But today's separate CCTV footage shows there were at least three members of the public outside the gates at the time of the row. At least one appeared to be listening to the exchange. PC Rowland alleges Mr Mitchell called police officers ‘****ing plebs’ during their exchange. Mr Mitchell denies he used the word ‘pleb’ but has apologised for swearing. Tory MPs and supporters of Mr Mitchell said that, despite the report being a ‘police report into the police’, it still showed dishonesty by officers working in Downing Street. They said serious questions must now be asked about whether the Diplomatic Protection Group in charge of guarding No. 10 was fit for purpose. Mr Davis, a former shadow Home Secretary, said: ‘What we have got here is evidence of industrial-scale dishonesty. There was a pack of policemen telling a pack of lies. This involved serious collusion between police officers who set out to harm the democratically elected Government. ‘Despite their attempts to justify their action on security grounds, it transpires that the only written guidance was that ministers should have ‘unfettered access at any time of day or night and at any entry point’. Tory MP Dominic Raab said: ‘This overdue report offers further evidence of the concerted deception used by police officers to stitch up Andrew Mitchell. ‘It’s shocking that specialist officers recruited to protect Downing Street saw fit to engage in such an outrageous plan to topple a senior minister. It’s a serious blow to public confidence in the police.’ Further details were also revealed of how a policewoman on duty in Downing Street on the night of the Plebgate incident texted a colleague two days later to say she could bring down the Government. WPC Gillian Weatherley saw, but did not hear, what happened between Mr Mitchell and PC Rowland. In the text, which had grammatical errors and was sent on September 21, 2012, to a colleague referred to as Officer 18, Weatherley wrote: ‘This will make you feel better, I’m the officer that stopped the chief whip leaving Downing St in Wednesday. He didn’t swear at me but Toby that let him out the side gate. I could topple the Tory government x.’ At a misconduct hearing, Weatherley said she had known the recipient of her text for more than 20 years and the message was just ‘banter’.But a month later, on October 21, a text message was sent from her phone number to a neighbour called Nick. It read: ‘Not today but I’m at the front gates tomorrow so I still have time to bring the government down…’ Weatherley lost her job after she failed to provide an honest account of her role in the handling of an email by PC Rowland that described the incident. She denied having passed on PC Rowland’s email when she had in fact sent a picture of the email to a colleague. This was passed to a newspaper. Conservative MP Andrew Mitchell was targeted by a police conspiracy after swearing when blocked from cycling through the main Downing Street gates . CCTV footage shot from within Downing Street and published by Channel 4's Dispatches programme was held up by Mr Mitchell's allies as proof that there was no sign of any passers-by said to have overheard him rowing with police . In April, two of the most senior officials in the scandal-hit Police Federation quit – days after the Daily Mail revealed that the union, unhappy about proposed cutbacks, had hired a PR firm to mastermind a ‘guerrilla’ and ‘blitzkrieg’ campaign against the Government in the run up to Plebgate. Deputy Assistant Commissioner Patricia Gallan, who led the inquiry into Plebgate – codenamed Operation Alice – said: ‘We understand the public interest in this case, which is why we have taken the unusual step of publishing this material. ‘Ultimately four police officers have been dismissed from the Met, one of whom was sent to prison. Every serving police officer has cause to feel let down by those colleagues who fall below the standards we all strive to uphold.’ The report also unearthed details of Mr Mitchell’s previous altercations with police in Downing Street. A former head of security and business continuity at No 10, who is not named, said there were two incidents dating back to 2011 when the Tory MP swore about not being allowed through a rear entrance. Mr Mitchell is involved in two potentially expensive libel actions over Plebgate. He is suing the Sun newspaper over its original report about his row with PC Rowland, who, in turn, is suing Mr Mitchell over comments he made at a press conference last year. The case is due before the courts in November. PC Rowland is being backed by the wealthy Police Federation. Critics say the police should not be able to bring civil suits against members of the public, because it could stop them challenging an officer’s version of events. | Fresh evidence published today from police investigation into Plebgate .
Tory MP Andrew Mitchell accused of calling police officers 'f****** plebs'
Former chief whip admitted swearing but denied using the word 'pleb'
Scotland Yard today admitted police 'conspired' to undermine Mr Mitchell .
Never-seen-before CCTV footage of the 2012 incident also released today .
Video shows witness stopping to watch row between police and Mr Mitchell .
Mystery witness has not been traced and could hold key to what happened . |
52,196 | 93d8174914c62c0c9d7cb896da8130d17e5157e3 | Real Madrid striker Alvaro Morata has revealed he is on the verge of a move to Juventus. The forward is set to undergo a medical with the Serie A champions by the end of the week before signing a four-year contract, with the move believed to be worth around 22million euros (£17.5m). Morata, behind Karim Benzema, Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Jese in the pecking order in Madrid's attack, was the subject of interest from Arsenal and Wolfsburg but revealed that Juventus have won the battle for his signature. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Alvaro Morata's 'cheeky' gesture to Sergio Ramos in training . Out of favour: Morata struggled for regular football last season behind the likes of Karim Benzema . Hot prospect: The 21-year-old striker has been prolific for Spain throughout their youth age groups . 'I can't wait to get to Turin, everyone has told me it's a great city and I am looking forward to getting to know it,' Morata told Marca. Once the deal goes through, the 21-year-old will join up with compatriot Fernando Llorente, who joined Juventus from Athletic Bilbao last summer and went on to score 16 goals in the league. 'I haven't had the chance to speak to Fernando, but it's always good to have someone you know in the dressing room when you get to a new club,' said Morata. As with Dani Carvajal, who Madrid sold to Bayer Leverkusen in 2012 before repurchasing him a year later, a buy-back clause has been inserted into the contract, giving the Spaniards the option to take the forward back to Madrid at the end of next season for 30million euros (£23.8m). Morata, the top scorer at the European Under-21 Championship in 2013, first broke into the Madrid first team in Jose Mourinho's final year in charge but failed to cement his place in the team under Carlo Ancelotti, playing a total of just 558 minutes in the league last season. Hot prospect: The 21-year-old striker has been prolific for Spain throughout youth levels . | Alvaro Morata says he 'can't wait to get to Turin'
Real Madrid striker set to undergo medical before end of week .
Morata moves for a £17.5m fee on a four-year contract .
Real have the option of buying him back for £23.8m after one year . |
278,434 | f4ad7e007be01d6fbbc0a7fad87bba22bc000b64 | By . Meghan Keneally . and Reuters Reporter . Experts have determined the disease that has brought Florida orange production to its lowest levels in 30 years and led to a massive price spike throughout the country. A gnat-sized bug called the Asian citrus psyllid is believed to be the insect spreading the deadly bacteria that has cut the state's production dramatically. The gnat is not the only problem facing the plants, as citrus greening disease and an unexpectedly harsh winter posed their own problems for the crop. Lower production: A combination of a new strand of bacteria, a brutally cold winter and other standard threats have led the Department of Agriculture to set lower production targets for Florida's orange crop in coming years . Farmers don't know what to do to fix the issue, as they have kept on check with insecticide and mineral treatments in the soil. Harder work: Farmers are trying their best to fight off the bacteria by being diligent with their use of insecticide but that isn't enough . 'We spray at least every four weeks... but we are not keeping pace with the spread,' said Ellis Hunt, a family farmer whose 5,000 acres near Lake Wales have been struck by the spreading disease. 'It feels we are losing the fight,' he told the AFP. As a result, American orange juice prices hit two-year highs last week after a government crop report trimmed last month's forecasts for production and yield from Florida. The U.S. Department of Agriculture cut its latest estimates for Florida's orange output and yield in a report issued after one of the most brutal winters in decades. Florida's orange output for 2013/14 had been reduced to 110 million boxes from a previous forecast of 114 boxes in March, the USDA said. 'The Florida all orange forecast, at 110 million boxes (4.95 million tons), is down 4 percent from the previous forecast and down 18 per cent from last season's final utilization,' it said. Yields for frozen concentrated orange juice were revised to an estimated 1.6 gallons a box, from last month's forecast of 1.61 gallons. The yields were 'down 1 per cent from the March forecast but up 1 per cent from last season's final yield of 1.59 gallons per box,' it added. Backlash: As a result of lower production, American orange juice prices hit two-year highs last week . Adding to farmer's problems is the fact that orange juice consumption has dropped by 30 per cent since 2003 as a result of the growing number of drink options available and the growing tendancy to skip breakfast. 'Juice is often associated with breakfast and as our society changes, we rush ourselves a little bit and we have a tendency to skip it,' said Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services official Daniel Sleep. | A gnat-sized insect is spreading a rare bacteria throughout Florida's orange farms .
Hurting an already-low crop that was hit by a harsh winter .
Driving prices up across the country . |
278,506 | f4c5be3ccace57856e7f7266d05bc89004c66e29 | Office workers lucky enough to be based in London's latest development will be spoiled for views of some the city's most famous landmarks from their very own park in the sky - from not one, but six decks. When completed, Verde SW1 will be 150ft high and will boast a 20,000sq/ft rooftop, set across six landscaped roof terraces. Collectively the decks would take up almost half of a football field, which is around 77,000sq/ft. Workers will be able to look out over Buckingham Palace and the Royal Parks. Verde SW1 in London's Victoria will boast 20,000sq/ft of rooftop, set across six landscaped roof terraces . Office workers will be spoilt for choice, having six cascading decks to chose from to view the city during their breaks . The building, due to be completed in 2016, will be cyclist friendly and feature storage for 400 bicycles as well as showers and lockers . Office workers in the new development will enjoy views over iconic London buildings like Buckingham Palace and the Royal Parks . The building will also be cyclist friendly, with easy access, storage for 400 bicycles and 40 folding bikes in the basement, and will feature 40 showers and 400 lockers and changing facilities. Work is just beginning on the ten-storey high building in the heart of Victoria, which developers Tishman Speyer hope to complete by 2016. The building which is being pitched at Blue Chip tenants, will feature 282,000 sq/ft of office space. The ten-storey building will feature 282,000sq/ft of office space and is being aimed as Blue Chip tenants . Dan Nicholson, managing director at Tishman Speyer, said: 'We are creating the next big company HQ in a dynamic area, which is being transformed into the best place to do business in London. 'With a statement new glass faade and six dramatic roof gardens, we are creating a 21st century workplace, designed with the wellbeing of workers and productive business in mind.' | Victoria development will have six viewing decks that would span almost half of a football field .
Office workers at the ten-storey building will have views over Buckingham Palace and the Royal Gardens .
The building is set to be completed in 2016 and will be cycle friendly featuring storage for 400 bicycles . |
161,031 | 5c2d6e76ae2e3e7376a239d72f0b9f1ccab30251 | By . Sara Malm . PUBLISHED: . 05:18 EST, 5 February 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 07:50 EST, 5 February 2014 . An obstetrician who worked at an IVF clinic used by former French president Nicholas Sarkozy and his wife Carla Bruni, is on trial for rape and sexual assault allegations involving his former clients. Dr Andre Hazout denies rape but has admitted to having sexual intercourse with several of his clients during their fertility treatment after dozens of women came forward. The gynecologist has also admitted that he may have fathered children with some of the more than 30 women who are accusing him of rape or sexual assault, Paris Criminal Court heard. Accused: Dr Andre Hazout, pictured arriving at his trial, denies rape but has admitted to having sexual intercourse with several of his clients during their fertility treatment after dozens of women came forward . Dr Hazout has been called the 'Magician of Babies' due to his high success rate, and practiced at Clinic de la Muette in Paris for more than 20 years. Both Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, who had daughter Giuliana in 2011, and former Justice Minister Rachida Dati have given birth at the IVF clinic, The Times reports. A total of 33 women have come forward accusing Dr Hazout of rape or sexual assault, but he only stands trial accused of six counts of rape of assault, as the other 27 incidents happened too long ago to be prosecuted. Cecile Poitevin, 56, filed a criminal lawsuit accusing Dr Hazout of sexual assault in 2006. In the wake of the investigation, Dr Hazout's history of sleeping with his clients was unraveled. Love doctor: Dr Hazout, who worked at Clinique de la Muette (pictured), admits he may have fathered children his clients had following fertility treatments and says all the women consented to sexual intercourse . 'Magician of Babies': Dr Hazout practiced at Clinic de la Muette, where Carla Bruni and Nicholas Sarkozy's daughter Guiliana was born in 2011, for more than 20 years . Marie Jezequel, 51, was one of 33 women who came forward, saying she was raped and assaulted by Dr Hazout during consultations in the mid-80s. 'He told me that if my husband couldn't get me pregnant, he would. I was 20, I was awestruck. He raped me straight away. The court heard that she went back to see Dr Hazout twice and 'each time he raped me. I was in his grip because I wanted a baby so much,' Mrs Jezequel said, comparing Dr Hazout to a guru in a sect. Dr Hazout denies all the allegation and insists that none of the women refused to have intercourse with him. The trial continues. | Fertility doctor at clinic used by Sarkozy and Carla Bruni, accused of rape .
Andre Hazout denies rape, but admits having sex with his clients .
The obstetrician has admitted he may have fathered his clients' children . |
166,013 | 62ac40506b31acfc2da06638058cb8834043afa7 | (CNN) -- When the likes of George Clooney, Matt Damon, and Bill Murray come storming across film screens this winter, in the drama The Monuments Men, viewers will be immersed in the world of Nazi art theft. The Monuments Men were a group of some three-hundred Allied officers charged with locating, protecting, and recovering art and monuments that were endangered by the fighting in World War II. They would eventually learn of Hitler's elaborate and highly-organized plan to strip Europe of its art. Indeed, Hitler had established a military unit solely dedicated to art and archive theft and made detailed plans to restructure the entirety of his boyhood town of Linz, Austria, into a city-wide "super museum," containing every important artwork in the world. We have the so-called Monuments Men to thank for the salvation of tens of thousands of masterpieces, among the estimated five million cultural objects stolen during the war. But while the film will focus on two great trophies, Jan van Eyck's Adoration of the Mystic Lamb, and Michelangelo's Bruges Madonna, there will be something of an elephant in the screening room. For a fascinating question remains, and one with a complicated answer: did the Nazis steal the Mona Lisa? The answer is that they thought they did. Mona Lisa's vanishing act . The most famous act of theft associated with the Mona Lisa took place about a century ago. December 14, 2013 marks the 100th anniversary of the return of the world's most famous painting to public display, after it was stolen in 1911 from the world's most famous museum. Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa was swiped from the under-secured Louvre Museum by an amateur Italian painter and handyman named Vincenzo Peruggia. Peruggia was under the mistaken impression that the painting had been looted by Napoleon, during his Italian campaign. This was a pretty good guess, for through his art theft unit (the first military unit in history dedicated to art theft), Napoleon had made off with tens of thousands of artworks during his Italian campaign. Leonardo's painting was not among them, however, as it had left Italy with the elderly Leonardo, when he spent his twilight years under the protection of the French king, Francois I, who legally purchased several of his paintings after his death, the Mona Lisa among them. Read more: Christie's: Evolution of the Asian art market . But Peruggia had missed the lecture on this historical detail. He saw an opportunity to repatriate the painting when the firm for which he worked as a carpenter and glazier was hired to build protective cases to cover some of the Louvre's most famous works, ostensibly to protect them from attack, after an anarchist had slashed an Ingres painting in protest. Peruggia found himself with a Louvre worker's uniform, and direct contact with the Mona Lisa. On the night before August 2 1911, he hid inside a closet in the Louvre, waiting for the footfalls of the night guards to fade into the distance. In the early morning hours, he slipped out of the closet, removed the Mona Lisa from its wall in the Salon Carre of the Louvre, and retreated to a service staircase. There he took the painting out of its frame, wrapped it in a white sheet, and headed down the stairs. There was surely a moment of great panic, when Peruggia twisted the doorknob at the foot of the stairs, and found it locked from the inside. He was prepared for an eventuality such as this, and had tools with him. He unscrewed the doorknob and slipped it into his pocket, thinking this might unlock the door, but it didn't. He was trapped inside the Louvre, with the world's most famous painting tucked under his arm...and then he heard the sound of footsteps approaching. Up the stairs came a plumber, making his morning rounds. To the plumber, Peruggia looked like a Louvre worker who had accidentally been locked in overnight—not an unheard-of occurrence. He opened the door and let Peruggia out, thinking nothing of the Mona Lisa-shaped package that Peruggia carried with him. It would be two years before the Mona Lisa was seen again. The investigation was a fiasco that resulted in the dismissal of the head of the Louvre and the head of the Paris police. International media mocked the lack of security at the Louvre -- in fact, this was the first theft to spark the interest of the world media, kicking off a love affair with the elite world of high-priced art, and its theft. Read more: Rare Psalm book sells for $14.2 million . Priceless loot . The most cinematic and resounding success for the Monuments Men was the salvation of the 12,000 masterpieces destined for Hitler's planned Linz museum, which were stored in an ancient salt mine at Altaussee, in Austria, which had been converted by the Nazis into a secret stolen art warehouse. It was supervised by a ferocious SS officer, August Eigruber, who was determined to destroy all of the art if he could not defend it against the Allies. This is where the most famous pieces were kept, including gems by Vermeer, Raphael, Rembrandt, and a who's-who of Old Master artists. But there is some confusion as to whether the Mona Lisa was there, as well. There are two primary source documents that attest to the Mona Lisa's presence in the Altaussee salt mine. The report of a secret mission called Operation Ebensburg, in which four Austrian double-agents were parachuted into the alps to delay the destruction of the Altaussee mine until the Allied Third Army could arrive, stated that the double agents "saved such priceless objects as the Louvre's Mona Lisa." Another document from 12 December 1945 notes that "the Mona Lisa from Paris [is included in] 80 wagons of art and cultural objects from across Europe" that were found in the mine. And yet there is no record beyond these two documents of the world's most famous painting being part of the world's most famous hoard of looted art. Surely that would have been noteworthy, a rescued prize as famous as Adoration of the Mystic Lamb. Shrouded in mystery . The Louvre remained reticent about whether it had lost the Mona Lisa at all. The only documents about the painting during World War II attest to its having been crated up on August 27, 1939, and sent with other French national treasures to a series of five chateaux, for safe-keeping—theoretically just ahead of the advance of the Nazis south through France, though the invaders quickly overtook the entire country. The next document that refers to the painting is not until 16 June 1945, when the painting was listed as having been returned safely to the Louvre. Its whereabouts during the war are unrecorded. But are they unknown? The latest word from the Louvre is that an identical copy of the Mona Lisa, also from the 16th century and difficult for any non-specialist to distinguish from the original, was one of a few thousand works that were gathered at the Musee Nationaux de la Recuperation, for whom owners could not be found. This copy was marked MNR 265. After five years had passed with no one able to prove ownership, it went to the Louvre. From 1950 onward, it hung on the wall outside the office of the director of the museum. Based on the available evidence, and a little detective work, a plausible (though unconfirmed) conclusion may be reached as to what happened to the Mona Lisa during the war. A painting was crated up in 1939 and sent to various castles, just ahead of Nazi hands—but it was this 16th century copy, not the original. Knowing that the Mona Lisa would be such an obvious target for Nazi art hunters, the Louvre may have kept the original hidden in Paris, while the copy led the Nazis on a wild goose chase. This would explain why the "Mona Lisa" did return from Altaussee, but why it may also be that the "Mona Lisa" never left Paris. It was the copy that was stolen, hidden at Altaussee, and recovered. Some who saw it assumed it was the original, while others, specifically the art-savvy Monuments Men who catalogued the art saved from the salt mine, recognized that it was only a copy. To see Dr Charney giving a TEDx talk about the 1911 Mona Lisa theft, click here. Read more: Addicted to art: The A-listers who can't stop splashing cash on canvas . Read more: Beauty from the crypt: Mystery of Europe's jeweled skeletons . | December 14 marks the 100th anniversary of when Mona Lisa was returned after being stolen .
It was snatched by an Italian handyman who worked inside the Louvre .
He had mistakenly thought that Napoleon had looted it and wanted to repatriate it .
Confusion remains where Mona Lisa was kept during WWII . |
124,684 | 2d26a4c019f2e386fbc5ef0d14b5d466c3cc3767 | They're the couple who made headlines after they met, fell in love and married - despite the visible disparity in their looks. Now beautiful bride Kate Cathcart, 24, has revealed that she doesn't think her striking looks are particularly spectacular. 'I don't think I'm anything special,' she said during an appearance on This Morning with her new husband. 'I got bullied at school so I don't think of myself like that - I don't see it personally.' Scroll down for videos . No looker: Kate Cathcart, now Donaghey, says her looks are 'nothing special' and can't understand the fuss . Happy: The delighted newlywed appeared on This Morning alongside her husband Darren Donaghey, 29 . The couple, who married five months after Kate's new husband Darren Donaghey was crowned winner of a 'Punching Above Your Weight' competition, were neighbours when they first met eight years ago. 'We first met when I moved into Darren's street,' adds Kate. 'I thought he was gorgeous, he had lovely eyes.' She married Mr Donaghey, . 29, at Matfen Hall in Northumberland on Sunday and says she is delighted to have married her partner of eight years in an 'amazing' ceremony. The full-time mother added: 'Our wedding was amazing, we had pale pink roses, neutral flowers and lots of candles. It was really romantic. 'I was nervous at first about walking down the aisle but as soon as I saw Darren I was alright. Dearly beloved: Darren Donaghey and his new wife Kate Cathcart pose for a photo following the ceremony at the luxurious Matfen Hall in Northumberland . In the spotlight: The couple tied the knot in front of around 80 guests eight months after they won the 'Punching Above Your Weight' competition . The happy couple: Darren Donaghey, 29, and Kate Cathcart, 24, cut their wedding cake after tying the knot at Matfen Hall in Northumberland at the weekend . Loving look: The couple who have been together for eight years make their union official . Competition champion: Mr Donaghey, from Walker, Newcastle upon Tyne, was crowned 'Punching Above Your Weight Champion' earlier this year for the comparison between him and his stunning partner Miss Cathcart . Neighbours: . The couple, pictured with their son Jaxon, met when Kate moved into the . same street as Darren in Walker, Newcastle upon Tyne . 'Darren was dressed in a black tail suit on with a grey waist coat. My dress was a fitted, sweet heart type, it was lovely. 'We . had 53 close friends and family there and it was magical. Everybody is . really happy that we are finally married. They are all saying it is about time.' The couple, who have a two-year-old son called Jaxon, met when Mrs Donaghey moved into her future husband's street in Walker, Newcastle upon Tyne. Over the past eight years, Mr Donaghey said he had become used to getting abuse about his appearance in comparison to his partner's. 'Lucky': The public voted Darren one of the North East's luckiest men as he scooped the award on Metro Radio . 'For years I’ve had stick about how I managed to woo Kate and it’s not . unusual to be out together and other guys to innocently start chatting . Kate up, thinking that I couldn’t possibly be with her,' said the sales adviser. 'Even when we are out shopping at Asda I get these funny looks from blokes and I know what they are thinking.' Happy: The couple will be going on a two-week honeymoon to Rhodes, Greece, in September . Mrs . Donaghey said her husband had entered them into the 'Punching Above Your . Weight' radio competition following years of 'stick'. 'When . we first won the competition people had been flooding the emails at . Metro Radio saying how strange it was for Darren to be with me,' she said. 'And . when the local press got hold of it even more comments came through . saying how shocked they were that I was with Darren and how ugly Darren . was. 'But for every horrible comment there was at least three lovely comments saying what a lovely family we were. 'People say love is blind and I guess I must be a prime example to that, but to me, Darren really is my Prince Charming.' She added: 'I love Darren dearly and as most people know, looks aren’t everything. We joke about it all the time.' The couple picked up the award live on the Metro Radio Steve and Karen Breakfast Show. As part of their competition prize, they won a two-week honeymoon in Rhodes, Greece, which they will take up in September. Presenter Steve said: 'When they walked in my jaw dropped. She was simply stunning and... what can I say about Darren. 'There was some innocent flirting going on from my side. Seriously though, they were a fantastic couple and we were chuffed to bits to see them win.' Hundreds of couples from the North East entered the Punching Above Your Waist competition hosted by Metro Radio earlier this year. Despite being labelled as odd couples, they all submitted their best photos in a bid to win a free holiday. The entries were then put to a vote online, with listeners putting four mismatched couples through to the final. Darren and Kate - now Mr and Mrs Donaghey - were eventually named the winners. Here are some of those who missed out: . Smile: Emma Kipling and Michael Stubbs entered this photo for the Newcastle-based competition . Newlyweds: Natash Aazdi and her husband Ben entered the competition after their wedding day . Raising eyebrows: Ben and Steph were one of the couples who missed out on the free holiday to Greece . Couple selfie: Lizzie Webster and Andrew Telfer look into the lens while dressed smartly for their entry photo . Kiss on the cheek: Pavinder Kaur Singh receives a peck from her boyfriend Sean Roudh . Last year's winners: Mark and Claire met when they were 15, and were crowned as the winners of the competition in 2013 . | Kate Cathcart said her looks were nothing special during TV appearance .
Revealed that she started to doubt looks after being bullied at school .
She married Darren Donaghey, 29, at Matfen Hall in Northumberland .
In March, her groom won 'Punching Above Your Weight' competition .
As part of the prize, he won two-week all-inclusive honeymoon to Rhodes .
The couple have now been together eight years and have two-year-old son . |
125,048 | 2da3a637ff1012d01b668910f361722664309e22 | Masato Mizuno was made president of the Mizuno Corporation, which was founded by his grandfather in 1906, in 1989. Masato is not just a businessman, but is also an avid supporter of the Olympians, athletes, the Olympic Movement, sport and environmental protection. Masato Mizuno, who has a strong commitment to environmental protection, is a Member of the IOC Sport and Environment Commission. He was awarded the Olympic Order in 2001 for his outstanding services to the Olympic Movement and has served as President of the World Federation of the Sporting Goods Industry, of which he is now Vice President. In 2004 he was awarded the Medal with Blue Ribbon by his native Japan, for his services to public welfare, and his philanthropy. E-mail to a friend . | Masato Mizuno became president of Mizuno in 1989 .
Mizuno was founded by his grandfather in 1906 .
Awarded Olympic Order in 2001 for services to the Olympic Movement . |
11,858 | 21a4ba771831030fa52adde6fa413eccb404f30f | By . Victoria Woollaston . PUBLISHED: . 11:43 EST, 4 February 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 12:54 EST, 4 February 2014 . Given the amount of hours that are wasted playing games on phones and tablets, it was only a matter of time before someone put all this game play to good use. Cancer Research UK has teamed up with agency Guerilla Tea to develop a game that will help scientists research faulty genes. Called Play to Cure: Genes in Space, the game is similar to Space Invaders, and as players navigate through the on-screen asteroids they are helping to create new genetic patterns. Cancer Research UK teamed up with agency Guerilla Tea to develop a game to help scientists research faulty genes. Called Play to Cure: Genes in Space, pictured, the game is similar to Space Invaders, and as players navigate through the on-screen asteroids they create new genetic patterns . A computer app for GPs that tells them their patient might have cancer could save hundreds of lives a year. The app, created by the University of Exeter Medical school, costs £50 per surgery and can help doctors diagnose some of the deadliest forms of the disease far more quickly. The app works by recording patients’ symptoms whenever they visit the surgery even if they see a different doctor or nurse and turn up out-of-hours. If a patient has a number of symptoms which could be cancer – but might otherwise be dismissed as harmless – a message flashes up on the doctor’s screen. Researchers believe it could enable up to 3,000 more cases of cancer to . be detected sooner leading to 300 lives saved annually due to earlier . treatment. To create the game, Cancer Research UK collected over two million pieces of data from 2,000 breast cancer patients in the UK and Canada. Travelling in a world set 800 years in the future, players guide a spaceship safely through an intergalactic assault course, gathering along the way a fictional cargo called Element Alpha. Each route that gamers choose to fly the spaceship, and each piece of Element Alpha collected, uses data taken from these cancer patients' genes to create a new genetic pattern. Every time the game is played, these patterns are fed back to scientists who can detect hot spots in faulty genes within these patterns that could be targeted with new treatments. This in turn should help them develop new drugs that target specific genetic faults, and new ways to figure out how to stop cancer developing in the first place. The researchers created the game because there was too much data for a scientists to sift through manually. To create the game, Cancer Research UK collected two million pieces of data from 2,000 UK and Canadian breast cancer patients. The game is set 800 years in the future and players have to gather a fictional precious cargo called Element Alpha along the way . Each route that gamers choose to fly the spaceship, pictured, uses data collected from cancer patients' genes to create a new genetic pattern. Every time the game is played, these patterns are fed back to scientists who can detect hot spots in faulty genes within these patterns . The free game, available on iOS and Android, has already been downloaded 1,700 times. The more people that play the game, the more accurate the results, and once 10,000 people have downloaded and played the game, scientists will start to analyse the data. All the information will be fed back to a Cancer Research laboratory at Cambridge University. Hannah Keartland, from Cancer Research UK, said: 'Our world-first smartphone game is simply out of this world. ‘Not only is it great fun to play - but every single second gamers spend directly helps our work to bring forward the day all cancers are cured. The researchers created the game because there was too much data for a scientists to sift through manually. The more people that play the game, the more accurate the results, and once 10,000 people have downloaded and played the game, scientists will start to analyse the data . The free game, available on iOS and Android, has already been downloaded 1,700 times. All the information will be fed back to a Cancer Research laboratory at Cambridge University . 'Our scientists' research produces colossal amounts of data, some of which can only be analysed by the human eye - a process which can take years. 'We hope thousands of people worldwide will play the game as often as possible, to help our researchers get through this data. 'If the game is successful, it could be used to look at data for other types of cancer such as prostate and lung cancer.' BBC comedian Dara O Briain, who launched the game in London, said: 'Teenagers will now be able to turn to their parents and say 'I am curing cancer as opposed to wasting my time playing games. 'It's fantastic, we couldn't have done this 10 years ago. This technique of using crowd-sourcing to look at huge amounts of data is a new science.' Scientists generally use computer software to trawl through large amounts of data generated by microarrays, yet but in many cases these are not accurate enough. | Play to Cure: Genes in Space was created by Cancer Research UK .
The charity collected two million pieces of data from 2,000 cancer patients .
Players guide a spaceship across the screen collecting cargo .
Each route that gamers take collects gene data to create genetic patterns .
These patterns are sent to scientists who use them to detect faulty genes .
This can help develop new drugs that target these faults, and stop cancer . |
131,312 | 35cd5f83cb6a07fe4f82a740f58589927554f05f | By . Harriet Arkell . PUBLISHED: . 04:26 EST, 13 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 07:22 EST, 13 November 2013 . Murderer Jeremy Bamber would torment his magistrate father by covering himself in make-up for trips to the local shops, a new documentary will reveal tomorrow. Bamber, now 52, enjoyed doing 'outrageous' things to provoke his adoptive parents, Nevill and June, both 61, before he went on to shoot them dead at their Essex farmhouse alongside his adopted sister Sheila and her six-year-old twins. Farm secretary Barbara Wilson, who worked at the Bambers' farm before and after the August 1985 murders, told a new investigation: 'He'd wear lipstick, eye shadow, and paint his eyelashes and put on make-up.' Nevill and June Bamber, both 61, were shot dead by their adopted son Jeremy, right - Nevill foresaw his death . Farm secretary Barbara Wilson says Jeremy Bamber would wear full make-up to provoke his father, Nevill . Sheila Caffell, Jeremy Bamber's adoptive sister, and her twin sons Daniel and Nicholas, six, were killed . 'He used to do outrageous things that used to upset Mr Bamber. He was a Jekyll and Hyde character.' Mrs Wilson said the the atmosphere at the Bambers' White House Farm in Tolleshunt d'Arcy changed dramatically a few months before the killings. It was alleged that Bamber had stumbled across his parents' wills and was outraged to discover he was to share their wealth equally with his adopted sister, Sheila. Despite being set to . receive around £400,000, worth around £1million today, it was said . that he decided to kill Sheila and anyone else who might have a claim to . the money to ensure he got it all. On the night of 7 August 1985, 25 rounds were shot at the farmhouse, leaving Nevill and June, Sheila, and her sons Daniel and NIcholas, dead. The small boys had been shot in the head. The Bambers' farm secretary said there was 'a lot of bickering' in the run-up to the murders, and said the elder Mr Bamber, who looked tired and worried, told her he feared something appalling was going to happen. Mrs Wilson said: 'For some weeks he looked really drawn and ill. He seemed to stoop and seemed to have the worries of the world on his shoulders. Killing scene: White House Farm, at Tolleshunt D'Arcy, where the mass murder took place in August 1986 . 'I thought he might have cancer... He said he hadn't got anything like that but he had got great problems. 'I . asked him to elaborate and he said that he thought he might die. I . said "What makes you think that?" and he said there might be a serious . shooting accident.' 'Knowing what had been going on, [I] thought that he knew that Jeremy was going to perhaps shoot him.' Bamber was said to envy his sister, . nicknamed Bambi, and the attention she and her two sons got from Nevill . Bamber, a former RAF pilot, and his wife. Police initially accepted Bamber's . version that his sister had had a psychotic episode and shot her whole . family dead before shooting herself, and was seen sobbing at his . family's funerals. He said he was alerted to the tragedy when his father rang him in the middle of the night to say that Sheila had gone mad, before the phone went dead. But detectives became suspicious of . his behaviour, and when Bamber's then girlfriend Julie told police he'd confessed to her, they pieced together the truth. Bamber, now 52, has always maintained his model sister Sheila, right, killed her family in a psychotic episode . Prosecutors said Bamber's theory was impossible because a silencer was found hidden . in a cupboard with Sheila's blood on it, and he was was found guilty on . a 10-2 majority verdict. The prosecution said he shot his family dead, . leaving the gun and an open Bible beside his sister to make it look as . if she killed herself last, before climbing out of a window and cycling . three miles home to the cottage his father had given him. Bamber was sentenced to life in prison . at the Old Bailey in 1986. In a TV interview for tomorrow's . documentary, Countdown To Murder, Mrs Wilson said that Bamber tried to . provoke his mother, June, by riding his bike round and round her in . circles, trying to knock her with the bicycle. On another occasion, he left a bag of live rats in his mother's car. Mrs Wilson added: 'Jeremy would put over a face of being a very sort of nice person and then he would go and do something really nasty... Jeremy Bamber, seen here with his then girlfriend Juilie Mugford at one of the funerals after the slaughter . She said that when Bamber took over his father's farm after the murders, she never once saw him grieving for his family. 'I wanted to shout out to him "I know what you've done" but I didn't have the guts to do it.... 'I think I might have ended up the same way as Mr and Mrs Bamber.' In court it was argued that without a silencer, the 25 shots that were fired would have alerted the victims to the danger. And if the silencer had been attached to the gun, it would have been too long for Sheila to have shot herself with it. The prosecution argued that Jeremy Bamber had no interest in inheriting his father's business, but wanted the £436,000 family fortune. When Nevill Bamber offered his son a job on the farm in 1986, it was the catalyst for the younger man, who lived in a cottage provided by his parents a few miles away, to plan a way to get the money for himself. Bamber, one of only 38 prisoners in England and Wales serving a whole-life sentence, has pleaded innocence consistently since he was sent to jail in September 1986. However despite several appeals and reviews, and despite former Tory MP Andrew Hunter saying last month that he believed Bamber was innocent, the mass murderer remains in jail. Slaughter At The Farm: Countdown To Murder will be shown on Channel 5 tomorrow at 9pm. | Bamber, now 52, would wear a full face of make-up for trips to local shops .
Farm secretary Barbara Wilson says he enjoyed tormenting his parents .
Mr Bamber, his wife June, 61, their daughter Sheila, 28, and her twin sons Nicholas and Daniel, six, were shot dead at Essex farm in August 1985 .
Their adopted son Jeremy, now 52, is serving life sentence for the murders .
Mrs Wilson interviewed in TV interview Countdown To Murder tomorrow . |
98,600 | 0af8ac4ac65b20d6414e2cfe67ad816936413d53 | Sunderland skipper John O'Shea has urged his team-mates to pay back the club's fans in the best way possible - by beating Arsenal on Saturday. The Black Cats players this week offered to refund the cost of tickets for supporters who made the trip to Southampton last weekend and witnessed a humiliating 8-0 Barclays Premier League defeat. However, the 33-year-old O'Shea knows victory against the Gunners would do even more to repair the damage. John O'Shea (above) wants Suderland to hit back from 8-0 Southampton defeat with a win against Arsenal . He told the Journal: "Three points is the biggest thing we need to give everyone - fans, ourselves and the staff. Ultimately, you have to confine that to a one-off. "Whatever team we were playing this weekend, we need to see what we had been seeing previously - intensity in our play, putting pressure on teams and stopping them playing. "Arsenal are a good team, they'll have spells where they're going to have the ball. But we need to put them under pressure, particularly when they've got a few injuries at the back and a midweek Champions League game. Let's see if we can use that to our advantage. "In terms of how the season had been going, that result was a big disappointment for the manager. Obviously he's spoken to us and that will remain in-house. But hopefully there'll be a reaction on Saturday and in the games coming up." Sunderland were humiliated 8-0 by Southampton last Saturday, and players refunded the fans' ticket price . Sunderland manager Gus Poyet (above) has led the inquisition this week into how his team got thrashed . Head coach Gus Poyet and his squad tackled the grisly task of analysing just what went wrong at the St Mary's Stadium on Tuesday and ensuring it was a one-off. O'Shea admitted: "It's been very raw. It's happened. You analyse everything and you have to make sure the level of intensity and tempo is maintained every week in the Premier League. "It doesn't matter who you're playing against. We had maintained that up until Southampton. That was the disappointing aspect." | Sunderland skipper John O'Shea demands three points against Arsenal .
The Black Cats were thrashed 8-0 away to Southampton last weekend .
The side refunded fans' tickets, now O'Shea wants to repay them with a win . |
234,037 | bafa41499d3967658bad8a610b7d23ec5d273a97 | As a former England footballer, he might not be the first person you would expect to deliver an impassioned critique of the literary canon. But John Barnes has blamed authors such as Agatha Christie, Rudyard Kipling and Edgar Rice Burroughs for making Britain a country of ‘passive racists’. The ex-Liverpool winger insisted classic tales such as Ten Little Indians, Tarzan of the Apes and The Jungle Book have instilled bigotry in the minds of generations of British children. Bigotry: England footballer, John Barnes told students at Liverpool University that 'passive racism' was in everyone because of hundreds of years of subtle bigotry in British culture . Barnes launched his fierce attack on literature in a lecture to students at Liverpool University about the causes of racism in football. The father of seven told the audience that ‘passive racism is inherent in all of us’ because of ‘preconceived ideas’ planted through books and films. He said: ‘Over the last 200 years we have had negative images of black people ... in literature by Rudyard Kipling to Agatha Christie. Tarzan showed that. Abused: John Barnes, pictured kicking away a banana thrown at him from the stands, was subjected to racist abuse throughout his career . Racism: Authors Agatha Christie, left, and Rudyard Kipling, right, have been accused of perpetuating bigoted views of black people which has contributed to created a nation of racists, according to John Barnes . ‘Racism came from the idea of race, which is a man-made construct. Race is not scientific or genetic. It does not actually exist. Race came about to validate and justify colonialism and slavery.’ He added: ‘There are examples everywhere. Rudyard Kipling, one of our greatest heroes, wrote The White Man’s Burden, in which he wrote it was incumbent on the Americans to go and civilise the savages in the Philippines. ‘Colonialism in Africa – Agatha Christie wrote a book called Ten Little N*****s. Would we accuse Agatha Christie of being racist? No, but that is passive racism.’ Controversial classics: Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book, left, Edgar Rice Burroughs' Tarzan of the Apes, and Agatha Chrisite's Ten Little Indians are inherently racist, according to John Barnes . Barnes moved to England aged 13 in the late 1970s when his father was Jamaica’s military attaché to London. He is among England’s most-capped black players, but at Liverpool FC he was regularly subjected to racist abuse from spectators and infamously had a banana hurled at him during a Merseyside derby with Everton at Goodison Park. The Commission for Racial Equality has called for the comic hero's adventure Tintin in the Congo to be banned . Twice married, Barnes has called for the National Curriculum to be revised so all children are taught that race is only a concept. He said: ‘If we get rid of passive racism then overcoming overt racism will take care of itself.’ Ross Dawson, a senior lecture in English at Liverpool John Moores University, denied Barnes had branded the authors as racists. He said: ‘He identified the contemporary idea of race and racism as originating in the history of transatlantic slavery and colonialism. These were three writers which he used as examples of popular national literature which reproduced these racial assumptions. ‘His reference to passive racism was an attempt to show how we all have assumptions about race... without really understanding where those assumptions come from.’ Christine Blower, general secretary of the National Union of Teachers, said: ‘The curriculum could do with being more explicit on this issue. A key role of education is to foster respect and understanding.’ Last year, one of Tintin’s classic adventures was banished to the adult shelves of bookshops because it was deemed overtly racist. Tintin In The Congo was given warning labels by many retailers over fears it could negatively affect children. Rudyard Kipling’s reputation has come under attack over recent years with some critics branding him a ‘racist’ and a propagandist for the elite. One of Kipling's most controversial poems The White Man's Burden, published in 1899, is often cited as revealing Kipling’s contempt for the colonised people, it begins: . Take up the White Man's burden,Send forth the best ye breed,Go, bind your sons to exile,To serve your captives' need;To wait, in heavy harness,On fluttered folk and wild,Your new-caught sullen peoples,Half devil and half child. The poem was originally written for Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee, but exchanged for ‘Recessional’; Kipling changed the text of ‘Burden’ to reflect the subject of American colonization of the Philippines, recently won from Spain in the Spanish-American War. Some scholars of the Nobel Prize winner, who was born of English parents in Bombay in 1865, at the height of the Raj, have advanced the view that Kipling used the poem to imply that white people have an obligation to subjugate other 'lesser' people. Other students of the poem have said it alludes to the philanthropic view, common in Kipling's formative years, that the rich have a moral duty and obligation to help ‘the poor’ ‘better’ themselves whether the poor want the help or not. | Former international footballer blames some of country's favourite writers for perpetuating 'negative images of black people'
Jamaican-born Barnes said racism exists because of ‘preconceived ideas’ that are planted through books and films that validate colonial prejudices .
The 48-year-old called for children to be taught the non-existence of race as a concept on the National Curriculum . |
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