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144,374 | 46b6369569c98b73049cb5cc2029ed980a119ce3 | A welfare cheat who took £20,000 in state handouts by claiming he could barely walk was caught working as a delivery driver - and clambering over walls. Steven Higgins, 50, told the Department for Work and Pensions he was in constant pain, needed a walking stick and even required help cooking meals at home. But a fraud investigator saw him using steps and carrying out his business as a courier without any discomfort and at one point was event filmed climbing over a 5ft wall. Scroll down for video . Steven Higgins, pictured, bends his legs as he prepares to leap up over the wall. He is being filmed by a DWP fraud officer . Over the top: Despite claiming he could hardly walk, Steven Higgins hitches a leg on top of the wall and hauls himself over . Mission accomplished: In seconds, benefits cheat Steven Higgins has flipped over the wall and carries on walking on the other side . Inquiries revealed Higgins of Crawshawbooth, near Rossendale in Lancashire, had claimed Disability Living Allowance (DLA) over five years and netted £19,492. He is no longer in receipt of the benefit - yet is appealing the DWP’s decision to remove it. At Burnley magistrates' court, Higgins admitted two counts of dishonestly making a false statement to obtain a benefit, between May 9, 2008 and September 10, 2013. He was sentenced to 18 weeks in prison, suspended for a year, and was ordered to pay £85 costs and an £80 victim surcharge. Prosecutor Andrew Robinson said Higgins made his claim for DLA, saying he could walk less than 20 metres in seven to 10 minutes and that would permanently be the case. He told the DWP he sometimes needed a walking stick, was in constant pain, would not feel comfortable out on his own and needed help at home. Higgins also claimed he could not prepare meals. But Mr Robinson said evidence was available to show his situation changed and was no longer as severe as his original claim. Steven Higgins, pictured outside Burnley Magistrates court, who claimed £20,000 in disability benefits, was kater seen working as a courier and climbing over walls, a court heard . He was self-employed as a courier driver for a company and had not notified the department of this or any improvement in his condition. The prosecutor said a fraud investigator saw the defendant working and he was observed climbing over walls, using steps and 'going about his business in a normal manner with no discomfort.' Mr Robinson added it was not a fraud from the outset. The defendant, who had no previous convictions, had not yet repaid any of the money. In mitigation Jeremy Frain, defending, said the criminality was not the fact Higgins was working. But there was an 'indiscretion' if a person put on the original claim form they could only walk five feet without having to stop for a breather and were discovered to have walked six or seven feet without stopping. The defendant had attended a rheumatology clinic and Mr Frain read out part of a medical letter, which stated his client had 'progressive destructive disease' and marked damage to his hands and feet which would undoubtedly limit his ability to perform daily functions. Mr Frain said Higgins had been suffering anxiety and had to have treatment as a result of the protracted court proceedings. The solicitor added: 'I am quite sure he’s extremely remorseful. He’s terrified at the prospect of an immediate custodial sentence. 'It’s his first conviction and he loses his good name because of this. I don’t think for one minute it will be repeated. At the moment he’s not in receipt of DLA and it will be the subject of an appeal. 'He regards himself as trying to help himself by working to keep him going, rather than sitting sedentary at home and his condition getting worse rather than better. Walk in the park: Benefits cheat Steven Higgins claimed he was in constant pain, needing a walking stick. But he was filmed strolling along in a park and climbing over a wall . Steven Higgins admitted two counts of dishonestly making a false statement to obtain a benefit when he appeared at Burnley magistrates' court, pictured . 'This is a serious matter but I would ask you to give him a chance to retain his liberty. The family are generally very much in debt.' After the case, Jane Baker, DWP Fraud Manager in the North West, said: 'It is unfair that some people get support when they do not have a disability, while many people depend on the benefits system to provide a safety net. 'We are determined to find those who we suspect are cheating the system by following up on tip-offs, undertaking surveillance and working with local councils. If you suspect someone of benefit fraud, please call the Benefit Fraud Hotline on 0800 854 440 so we can continue to tackle the problem in your area.' | Steven Higgins took Disability Living Allowance claiming he could barely walk .
But the 50-year-old was later spotted by a fraud officer climbing over walls .
He had made the claims over a five-year period netting a total of £19,492 .
Higgins no longer in receipt of the benefit but is appealing the decision .
Admitted two counts of dishonestly making false statements to obtain benefits . |
281,210 | f84a2199a138a3b6cdaf27b4df392ddfc96cd80c | Editor's note: CNN.com has a business partnership with CareerBuilder.com, which serves as the exclusive provider of job listings and services to CNN.com. Locksmiths have realistic personalities. They are results-driven, hands-on people who like problems and solutions. Everyone knows how hard it is to get along with others when there's a personality clash -- so imagine how hard it is to be happy in career that does the same thing. Similar to when you're looking for a mate, you want to find a career that complements your character, not conflicts with it. For example, if you're active and outgoing, you might not do well sitting behind a desk all day. On the same token, if you're shy and soft-spoken, you might not do well in a job that requires a lot of social interaction, and if you like working alone, you wouldn't thrive in a team setting. Here we have six personality groups which seem to encompass the majority of people. From there, we've listed what jobs might be suited to best fit your needs. Please note that each requires different education, training and qualification requirements. Personality: Artistic . What you're like: Artistic personalities are creative by nature, with imaginations that stretch further than others can conceive. These people like to express themselves through their work versus completing structured tasks. They like to work without rules, and enjoy working with forms, designs, colors, words and patterns. Job matches: Editor ... $47,811* Graphic designer ... $48,891 High school drama teacher ... $52,856 Landscape architect ... $53,241 Perfumer ... $21,791 Producer ... $79,310 . Personality: Conventional . What you're like: Conventional people like conventional things: Rules, procedures, schedules and instructions are all things that appeal to them. They prefer working with details and data versus ideas; they are practical and like routine and order. Job matches: Accountant ... $46,171 Actuary ... $97,354 Building inspector ... $47,735 Cost estimator ... $53,413 Financial planner ... $63,837 Technical writer ... $55,747 . Personality: Enterprising . What you're like: Enterprise people are leaders. They like to see projects through from start to finish, business ventures in particular. They are doers more than thinkers and are more interested in the "big picture" than the small pieces that make it up. Job matches: Advertising sales agent ... $39,103 Financial officer ... $77,019 Management analyst ... $63,610 Program director ... $48,382 Sales representative ... $44,784 Sales manager ... $85,091 . Personality: Investigative . What you're like: Investigative people prefer to work alone. They like using logic over imagination, solving problems and mysteries, putting together pieces of a puzzle, precision, science and they pay extreme attention to detail. Job matches: Computer systems analyst ... $61,549 Librarian ... $48,025 Optometrist ... $95,058 Science professor ... $73,532 Software engineer ... $75,850 Statistician ... $59,830 . Personality: Realistic . What you're like: True to their name, realists are ... well, realistic. They are results-driven, hands-on people who like problems and solutions. They like working outdoors, as well as with machines, tools and jewelry. Job matches: Diagnostic medical sonographer ... $56,603 Electricians ... $35,158 Highway patrol pilots ... $69,098 Locksmiths ... $34,148 Nuclear engineer ... $84,044 Orthodontist ... $271,373 . Personality: Social . What you're like: Social people like helping others and working with teams. They communicate well, thrive on human interaction and they'd rather talk than work with machines or data. The best jobs for them are ones that let them be with other people. Job matches: Family practitioner ... $160,264 Personal coach ... $64,523 Personal trainer ... $24,881 School psychologist ... $49,622 Student affairs director ... $71,093 Teacher ... $44,137 . *Salaries according to CBSalary.com . Copyright CareerBuilder.com 2009. All rights reserved. The information contained in this article may not be published, broadcast or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority . | Find a career that complements your character, not conflicts with it .
Artistic personalities are creative by nature with imaginations that stretch .
Social people like helping others and working with teams .
Enterprise people are leaders that like to see projects through to the finish . |
58,736 | a69db1fb86599869084d0370468e49cf4fec4811 | (CNN) -- A Chinese town has been on lockdown since last week after a man died of the plague. Parts of the city of Yumen was sealed off by police after a 38-year-old man died in a hospital on July 16, according to state news agency Xinhua. He had contracted pneumonic plague. On the same day of the patient's death, a quarantine zone was set up, affecting at least 30,000 people living in Yumen city in China's northwestern Gansu province. The original quarantine period is set for nine days. The deceased had been in contact with a dead marmot, a small furry animal in the squirrel family, according to Xinhua. He had chopped up the dead animal to feed to his dog, reports the AFP. It is not known whether the dog became infected. The plague is a severe bacterial infection of the lung that affects rodents, some animals, and humans. Caused by the same bacteria that leads to the bubonic plague, the pneumonic type is considered more rare but more dangerous as it can be transmitted between humans through inhalation, without the involvement of animals. The China Daily said four quarantine sectors had been set up in Yumen and 151 people who had come into close contact with the deceased patient are under medical observation. None of them have reported any symptoms so far, according to Xinhua. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention in the U.S. says when plague is left untreated, all forms of the disease will rapidly progress to death. Antibiotics that fight the plague bacteria should be given to a patient within 24 hours of the first symptoms. The plague occurs in many places in the world today, including Africa, North and South America and Asia. | A middle-aged man died from pneumonic plague in China last week .
151 people who came into contact with the patient have been quarantined .
Parts of Yumen, a city in northwestern China, have been sealed off . |
108,481 | 17e01da78750381ed1f45dcbc943432e521c1e0d | (CNN) -- A Toyota Prius was not the cause of a March 9 crash in Harrison, New York, said authorities citing "black and white" results in their investigation. Harrison, New York, Police Capt. Anthony Marraccini revealed at a news conference Monday that evidence extracted from the wrecked 2005 Prius' data recorder showed no indication of brake compression as the car headed toward a stone wall. Rather, the accelerator was pressed 100 percent, authorities said. Marraccini said the data, which he described as "black and white," was collected in a cooperative effort between Harrison police, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Toyota. "Toyota has been very cooperative," said Marraccini. "There's no possibility of any distortion of this data," he continued. "These are the facts that surround this." A housekeeper was driving the car at the time of the accident. She told police the vehicle accelerated on its own as she eased forward down her employer's driveway, causing her to crash into a stone wall on the other side of the road. The incident, which did not involve other vehicles nor injuries to anyone, drew attention because the 2005 Prius was part of Toyota's November recall to address the risk of pedal entrapment in the floor mat. But police said early on that floor mats were not a factor in this accident. A recall to address a sticky accelerator problem did not include the Prius. Monday's announcement corroborates a NHTSA statement from early in the investigation, explaining that "information retrieved from the vehicle's onboard computer systems indicated there was no application of the brakes and the throttle was fully open." The statement suggested at the time that the driver may have been stepping on the accelerator, instead of the brake as she told police. "We do see these accidents on occasion," Marraccini said Monday. "I think with all this hype about Toyota, people are just looking to point fingers," he said. Marraccini said that he spoke with the housekeeper about the findings of the investigation, but she remains "very passionate about her statement." "When a driver believes they are on the brake pedal, they believe it. But there is no indication of that," Marraccini said. Toyota spokesman Wade Hoyt called the investigation "thorough" and "conscientious," and praised authorities for their "really outstanding piece of detective work." CNN's Dana Garrett contributed to this report. | The wrecked 2005 Prius' data recorder showed no indication of brake compression.
Police say there was no indication the driver engaged the brake.
Police say the data was collected in a cooperative effort with NHTSA and Toyota. |
8,746 | 189d9415836938c00baa34ab087069b10a4d2d78 | Port-Au-Prince, Haiti (CNN) -- In the wake of Hurricane Tomas, cholera has reached the congested capital of Port-au-Prince, where as many as 73 people have come down with the potentially deadly infection. Dehydration is one of its tell-tale signs. In a camp in Cabaret, just east of Port-au-Prince, children lie on cots as life-sustaining fluids are pumped intravenously into their bodies. The cholera outbreak in Haiti has now killed 583 people and another 9,123 people have been hospitalized, according to Gabriel Timothe, director general of Haiti's Ministry of Health. Medical personnel fear rising waters over the banks of Haiti's Arbonite River, which they say is a source of contamination, have increased the risk of a wider rate of infections. "We're doing everything we can to mitigate [the] spread," Dr. Jon K. Andrus, deputy director of the Pan American Health Organization, said during a press conference on Tuesday. Health officials had braced for problems after Tomas, fearing the hurricane that battered the Caribbean nation over the weekend could worsen the cholera outbreak. On Monday, Dr. Toni Eyssallenne of Hospital Bernard Mevs confirmed the first case of cholera -- in a 3-year-old boy -- to originate and manifest entirely in Port-au-Prince. Two more cases were confirmed Tuesday by Eyssallenne. A 41-year-old woman who contracted the disease has not traveled in a year, the official said. A 33-year-old who lives in a tent city uses a communal water source. She, too, did not bring the infection into the city. Previous cases had been centered in Haiti's Artibonite and Central Plateau regions, including the city of St. Marc, north of the nation's capital. Until Monday, health officials said that those being treated for cholera in Port-au-Prince all contracted the disease elsewhere. The young Port-au-Prince boy lived in a tent city across the street from a place that sells macaroni, and he had not traveled in over a year, and he hadn't had any contact with people from St. Marc or the Artibonite region, Eyssallenne said. After suffering from nausea and diarrhea, the boy was treated and released from the hospital after his condition improved. Hurricane Tomas' trek past Haiti killed 20 people and injured another 36, a Communications Ministry official said Monday. Seven people were missing and 5,954 were homeless, the official said. Health officials fear that the water dumped by the storm will worsen the outbreak. The concern is that overflow from latrines and septic tanks could contaminate the supply of fresh drinking water and contribute to the spread of the bacteria. In the capital, the canals were not overflowing, said American Red Cross spokeswoman Andrea Koppel. But that was not the case in cities west of the capital, which bore the brunt of Hurricane Tomas, she said. Still, even Port-au-Prince looks and smells like a dump -- a caldron of water, garbage and human waste. "We get used to it," said one resident. Ten months after a magnitude-7 earthquake laid waste to much of the nation, people compete with animals scavenging through the ubiquitous dumps for scraps of food. "The quick solution is management," said Environment Minister Jean Marie Claude Germain. "Management meaning that you have a structure in place, but the structure was not conceived with the slums in mind." But most of the residents of Port-au-Prince live in slums. "We're working on it," Germain said. "We will work with the private sector." CNN's Paula Newton contributed to this story. | NEW: Two more Port-au-Prince cases confirmed .
The official death toll from cholera in Haiti is 583 .
More than 9,000 cases have been confirmed .
As many as 73 people have come down with cholera in Port-au-Prince . |
174,237 | 6d7ec240ca9a40e7afd100fa90661a8f3bb483bd | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 05:08 EST, 26 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 16:49 EST, 26 November 2013 . A man paralysed from the waist down after being crushed during the World Trade Centre rebuild has miraculously completed a gruelling walk - thanks to a $70,000 bionic suit. Architect Robert Woo was working on Goldman Sachs' World Trade Center headquarters in New York on December 14, 2007, when a crane collapsed sending seven tons of steel plummeting 25 storeys onto his makeshift office. Rescuers found Robert folded in half underneath the rubble - his head by his knees and his spine crushed. Doctors told him he would never walk again. Bionic man: Robert Woo defied the odds and walked more than a mile for charity as part of Generosity NYC - an event in New York which raises money for numerous charities . The accident: Robert was working on Goldman Sachs' World Trade Center headquarters in New York on December 14, 2007, when a crane collapsed sending seven tons of steel plummeting 25 storeys onto his makeshift office (pictured) But on November 17, Robert, now 45, incredibly defied the odds and walked more than a mile for charity as part of Generosity NYC - an event in New York which raises money for numerous charities. He used a bionic suit, called ReWalk, which is equipped with motion sensors detecting when patients are ready to take a step and then uses a number of motors and gears to take the step for them. Following his accident Robert sank into depression - he said life as a paraplegic was not one he was interested in living, spending three months in hospital where he refused to look under the blanket at his legs. Walking again: He used a bionic suit, called ReWalk, which is equipped with motion sensors detecting when patients are ready to take a step and then uses a number of motors and gears to take the step for them . Huge help: Robert said the $70,000 suit reduced his need for everything from bladder to muscle spasm medication, built muscle in his legs and helped him avoid the bowel accidents that had plagued him since he became paralysed . He and his wife also divorced eight months after the accident. But his depression didn't dissolve his determination to walk again and almost immediately after the accident he started researching treatment for paraplegics. One solution he came across was bionics, with several companies creating exoskeletal suits helping patients get out of their wheelchairs and on their feet. Robert, who no longer works with the same architectural firm, helped bring a trial program to Mount Sinai Hospital in Manhattan, where he was undergoing outpatient treatment. In October 2011, he took his first steps since the accident and over the next six months trained with the ReWalk three times a week, two hours at a time. Challenge: Robert walked the 1.06 mile course in 58 minutes and six seconds . He called the training regime 'life-changing' and said using ReWalk reduced his need for everything from bladder to muscle spasm medication, built muscle in his legs and helped him avoid the bowel accidents that had plagued him since he became paralysed. Robert, using the $70,000 bionic suit, walked the 1.06 mile course in 58 minutes and six seconds. He said: 'Finishing the walk brought tears to my eyes - it gave me a sense of purpose. 'When I saw the ReWalk suit and saw someone paralysed walking, my eyes opened up and I thought 'wow - I want to walk.' 'At the time of the accident things went black - I knew being paralysed meant more than just losing the use of your limbs. Determined: Following his accident Robert sank into depression - he said life as a paraplegic was not one he was interested in living - but refused to give up his dream of walking again . 'It's not a life I wanted to go through. 'I was bedridden, not doing anything, all I felt is a lot of pain and it wasn't a life I wanted to continue. 'Like a baby I was helpless - I had to be fed, I had to be changed, washed and cleaned up. I'd lost my manhood. 'I was just a wreck and hated being in this life unable to function completely. 'Now my quality of life has improved so much. It's a feeling of being able to be like everyone else.' | Robert Woo was working on Goldman Sachs' HQ when crane fell on office .
Rescuers found him folded in half beneath the rubble in the 2007 accident .
Following the accident he fell into depression and couldn't look at legs .
But he has defied doctors and walked more than a mile for Generosity NYC .
The $70k suit develops muscles and reduces need for various medications . |
190,159 | 82343b67b3216883bbacf13b8cb3001bd9e60ff2 | By . Matt Chorley, Mailonline Political Editor . PUBLISHED: . 05:15 EST, 7 January 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 07:21 EST, 7 January 2013 . The UK Independence Party could help form the next government, leader Nigel Farage claimed today. Despite not having a single MP in Parliament, Mr Farage claimed his party’s trajectory could mean he plays the role of deciding who becomes Prime Minister in the event of another hung parliament. The extraordinary boast comes as David Cameron tries to see off the electoral threat posed by the Eurosceptic party with a landmark speech in the Netherlands on Tory policy for Britain’s future relationship with Brussels. UKIP Leader Nigel Farage claimed he could help form a coalition in the event of another hung parliament in 2015 . Tensions have been growing between the Conservatives and UKIP after Mr Farage’s party’s poll ratings soared, reaching 16 per cent in a poll yesterday – up from 4.5 per cent a year ago. Mr Cameron yesterday branded UKIP 'pretty odd people' in a fresh attack which Mr Farage had suggested would make an electoral pact before polling day impossible. But the UKIP boss said that if the progress in the polls continues, he could help form the next government if there was another hung parliament. ‘Don’t think about UKIP forming the government in 2015 but if we continue at anything like our current progress, who knows? ‘The “first-past-the-post” system is brutal to a party like us, we’ve got a lot of work to do on that and to build up our stronger areas, but who’s to say that in 2015 UKIP may well be needed in a coalition?’ However, he warned against getting carried away by good poll ratings. ‘When David Steel said to the Liberal party “go home and prepare for government”, it made him a laughing stock and people are still laughing at him about that now. ‘We’ve got to keep our feet on the ground. We are making progress, we’re not yet a party that is poised to take government in this country,' he told BBC Radio 4. ‘We are a voice for good, ordinary people in this country, we are not hidebound by political correctness, we’ve proved ourselves to be great campaigners, let’s see how the UKIP story evolves.’ David Cameron took a swipe at UKIP supporters, branding them 'pretty odd people' as former Labour minister Lord Mandelson warned putting a question mark over Britain's EU membership was 'economically insane' UKIP are predicted to win the European Parliament elections in 2014 and beaten both Tory and Lib Dem candidates in by-elections. A Survation survey for the Mail on Sunday put Labour on 38 per cent, the Tories on 29, UKIP on 16 and the Lib Dems on 11. Translated . into votes at the next General Election, that would cost the . Conservatives 51 seats and present Labour with a thumping victory and an . overall majority of 94. Mr Cameron renewed his attack on UKIP yesterday, saying it contains some ‘pretty odd people’. He spoke as a poll suggested that the anti-Brussels party is enjoying record support, at 16 per cent, taking third place from the Lib Dems. Asked yesterday on the BBC about his previous description of UKIP supporters as ‘fruitcakes, loonies and closet racists’, Mr Cameron said: ‘There are some pretty odd people.’ But Mr Farage hit back: 'Do I want a party where we've got some eccentrics and occasionally someone causes us an embarrassment – or do I want a party made up of a bland lot of ghastly people whose names I don't even know? 'I'm in politics, and I've never heard of half the MPs who come on the telly. I meet them at cocktail parties and after 30 minutes I can't remember their name,' he told The Guardian. The Prime Minister is expected to give a major speech on repatriating powers from Brussels in the Netherlands before the end of the month. He will rule out the idea of leaving the EU to become a trading partner, like Norway, and instead advocate using moves by eurozone countries towards closer integration to bring powers back to London. The 'fresh settlement' would then be put to British voters in a referendum. But today former Labour Business Secretary Lord Mandelson, an ex-European commissioner, warned the Prime Minister not to think he can '"put a gun' to the heads of EU leaders over repatriating powers. In an article for the Guardian he wrote: 'The Prime Minister seems to think he can only pacify his party by conceding to anti-Europeans their long coveted referendum. 'I think his hopes for buying peace will be disappointed. The Tories risk dividing into irreconcilable factions, those who want to adjust the terms of Britain's EU membership in order to stay in, and those who will do everything they can to get Britain out. 'That's what happens when madness takes over a political party. Ask anyone who was in the Labour party in the 1980s. 'Beginning 2013 by placing this large and indefinite question mark over our membership of the EU, and all the trade and investment privileges it brings us, can only be described as economically insane.' | Party boss says surge in polls could secure enough MPs to hold the balance of power in another hung parliament .
David Cameron branded UKIP 'pretty odd people' as poll suggests UKIP seeing record support . |
279,354 | f5e5a541b5389ece795a14cb82045f356c1133f0 | (CNN) -- Three of the largest Sikh advocacy groups in the United States are opposing airport passenger screening measures they say require hand-searches of turbans, despite the use of electronic imaging technology. The Sikh Coalition, United Sikhs and the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund are lobbying members of Congress in an effort to pressure federal transportation authorities to re-examine a policy they say unfairly scrutinizes members of the Sikh community. "Sikh Americans are already looked at differently in this country," said the Sikh Coalition's director of programs, Amardeep Singh. "Once you start pulling Sikhs aside for extra screening, it sends a message that the government is suspicious of them for the same reasons [other passengers] are suspicious of them." The U.S. Transportation Security Administration adjusted security procedures in 2007 to include provisions for "bulky" clothing that includes headwear, according to an agency statement. Removal of all headwear is recommended, it said, but the rules are meant to accommodate passengers who may not want to remove the items for religious, medical, or other reasons. Transportation officials would not confirm whether "advanced imaging technology" can sufficiently see through turbans, citing security reasons. Despite the advent of the advanced technology, transportation security officers are permitted to use "professional discretion" in determining if a particular item of clothing should be subject to further screening, according to the statement. Authorities say the policy has remained unchanged since 2007, but Sikh advocacy groups argue that airport security procedures were recently ramped up to include extra screening for all turban-wearing passengers. Singh said U.S. Sikh groups that had once observed "a patchwork of [airport security] policies" are now witnessing a process in which "all turbans are searched." CNN was not able to independently verify that claim. | Sikh groups oppose airport screening rules they say now require searches of turbans .
Transportation officials say the policy has not changed .
Security officials can use "professional discretion" to supplement imaging technology . |
234,148 | bb20355c42a329519d1b0bc7cec03dd5a9d1ba21 | By . Suzannah Hills . PUBLISHED: . 06:53 EST, 19 July 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 11:39 EST, 19 July 2013 . Onlookers could be forgiven for doing a triple take after scores of triplets from around the world attended an annual convention. Trios of siblings jetted in to Baltimore from as far afield as Bolivia and Puerto Rico - including one set who have become triplet models. More than 33 families - and nearly 40 sets of triplets - attended the 2013 event held at the Holiday Inn at Inner Harbour, Baltimore, earlier this week. Triple trouble: Nearly 40 sets of triplets pose on the stairs of the Inner Harbor Hotel in Baltimore, Maryland, where the annual Triplet Convention was held earlier this week . Three times the charm: 18-year-old Adrianna, Laurel, and Elizabeth, from Tall Timbers, Maryland,were at the event . Quadruplets - referred to as super triplets - were also invited to the event. The attendees took part in a mass photo-shoot and workshops on how to deal with splitting up the trios at school. Elizabeth Kamosa - who is one of three triplet sisters along with 18-year-old sisters Adrianna and Laurel - said: 'It's really fun. We do everything together. It's a unique situation. 'Everything we go through, we go through together. We share experiences with each other - and how we feel about them. 'It's a connection with another person the same age - so it's a really fun time.' Going for a ride: Three-year-old triplets Kenya, Cadence, and Shayla, from Rockville, Maryland, in matching pink outfits . Matching: Adrianna, Laurel, and Elizabeth wore matching tops but made themselves distinguishable from each other with different coloured shorts and shoes . Seeing triple: The identical Hernadez-Adorno triplets Gabriela, Astrid, and Myrna from Milton Freewater, Oregon . The Kamosa sisters have also capitalised on their triptych prowess and have been signed up for triplet modelling in print ads and TV commercials. Over the years, they've attended six Triplets Conventions. Elizabeth added: 'We meet a lot of fun triplets and we usually keep in touch and try talking to each other - until we go to the next convention. 'Once we meet up, it's a happy time because we get to meet up with more triplets. You don't get to do that on a daily basis.' Richard Blasdell, from Edgewood, Maryland, is a father to an incredible two sets of triplets. He said: 'The second set kicked my butt because they were six years difference in age. We have problems going places because triplets are so rare. The triplets often stop traffic.' Five sets of teenage triplets at the convention pose for a photo after going on a parade through Inner Harbour, pictured, in Baltimore . Proud parents: Jumpers with 'They're triplets. I'm glad they're mine and not yours too!' written on them were on sale at the annual Triplet Convention in Baltimore, Maryland . Parade: All the triplets at the convention took part in a parade through the streets of Inner Harbour in Baltimore holding up signs with their names on them . Dana Bishop from Santa Barbara, attended along with sisters Kelly and Lauren. She said: 'I really like it [being a triplet] because you constantly have someone to grow up with. 'Almost everything you are going through - so are they. You always have someone who understands you - and I really like that. 'You get to meet a lot of people through it - as soon as people know you're triplets - they're going to ask you about it.' The convention was started in 1991 by Kree Lindsey, a single mother with seven children - including a set of nine-month old triplets. To date the largest was in 1995 when a staggering 200 sets joined together. Easy rider: Strollers built for three were a common sight at this year's Triplet Convention in Baltimore . Sticking together: Six-year-old identical boys Granifin and Tyler, with their fraternal triplet sister, Rylie, join a parade of Triplets during the annual Triplet Convention . Kree said: 'There's just some kind of forces that causes people to meet with other people who have had the same life experiences as they've had. 'The convention is extremely successful for the emotional well-being of the triplets themselves and the parents - that's why it's is so well worth it.' Current director of the showpiece event in the triple-sibling calendar is Kim Jones. She was in attendance this year with . her own trio of 17-year-old boys, and added: 'We are a community that . comes together and have lots of fun. 'One thing people don't realise - although they are usually seen as a group, they are very much individuals. 'That's . something we work hard to maintain - their individuality. It's probably . not as much fun as people think, being grouped together all the time.' Three times lucky: Fraternal Three-and-a-half year-old triplets Cristina, Brianna and Arielle Kirchhofer, from Bayside, New York, even have identical shoes . 'Triplets are terrific': The triplet convention was started in 1991 by single mother Kree Lindsey who has seven children - including a set of nine-month-old triplets . | Triplets from around the world attended event in Baltimore, Maryland .
More than 33 family and close to 40 sets of triplets stayed in the same hotel . |
59,960 | aa5cf06112e78a26081525b3b6f53727b77701d4 | LONDON, England (CNN) -- The British government said Saturday was a "historic day" after two loyalist paramilitary groups announced they had completed the process of decommissioning their weapons. The Ulster Defense Association also said it was decommissioning its weapons. The Ulster Volunteer Force and Red Hand Commando made the announcement Saturday, the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) said. A third loyalist group, the Ulster Defense Association, announced it had begun the process of decommissioning, according to the NIO, which is the British government department responsible for Northern Ireland affairs. Loyalist paramilitary groups are those that want Northern Ireland to remain a part of the United Kingdom. While it was not clear what led up to Saturday's announcements, the three groups had faced an August deadline to demonstrate substantial progress toward decommissioning. A report last month by independent monitors questioned whether the groups were serious about completing the decommissioning process. Shaun Woodward, the secretary of state for Northern Ireland, then said he was tired of "foot-dragging" on the issue. If there was no substantial progress by August, Woodward said, he would end the amnesty the groups currently enjoy. Current legislation ensures that individuals handling illegal arms with the purpose of decommissioning them are immune from prosecution. "Today's announcement is a culmination of a long and difficult process," Woodward said in a statement Saturday. "The leadership of the UVF and RHC have delivered on what they said they would do. In decommissioning their weapons they have clearly signaled that loyalism has nothing to fear and is confident in the political institutions and wants to play a positive role in the future of Northern Ireland." The two groups made a "bold and courageous decision," he said, and he urged the UDA to continue decommissioning. "For those who have doubted the political process, it is proof that the politics works and that guns have no place in a normal society." he said. "This is proof that decommissioning works and today's acts of leadership (are) further testimony to the transformation in Northern Ireland." U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton praised the move, calling it a "courageous step." "Leaders on all sides deserve our praise for their continued commitment to moving the process forward," she said in a statement Saturday. The Ulster Volunteer Force was formed in 1966 and has conducted bombings, assassinations, kidnappings, extortion, and robberies, according to GlobalSecurity.org. Before its 1994 cease-fire, targets included nationalist paramilitary groups -- those fighting for the reunification of Ireland. The Red Hand Commando is a splinter group of the UVF. The Ulster Defense Association is the largest loyalist paramilitary group in Northern Ireland, with between 2,000 and 5,000 members, according to the U.S. State Department. It has evolved into a criminal group deeply involved in drug trafficking, but it has also targeted the Catholic community, the State Department says. | Ulster Volunteer Force and Red Hand Commando made the announcement .
Both groups want Northern Ireland to remain a part of the United Kingdom .
UK minister: Two groups made a "bold and courageous decision"
Ulster Defense Association said it has started process of decommissioning . |
249,077 | ce4f4f5e75cf45641b93351595c5e2e164daf719 | The Australian jihadi bride who ran off to the Middle East to marry a playboy turned extremist has posted chilling messages and photographs to authorities on social media. The Twitter account, believed to be linked to 21-year-old Zehra Duman, from Melbourne, shows a photo of a fighter, posing with a rifle and a dagger along with a caption: 'Catch me if you can'. It comes after her husband Mahmoud Abdullatif, who is known as the 'playboy jihadist', was reportedly killed fighting for ISIS in Syria two weekends ago. Under the Twitter name Umm Abdullatif, another photograph was uploaded on Saturday of Abdullatif standing on the side of a road with snow in the background. Picture shows a figure kneeling on the ground and posing with a rifle, along with a dagger: 'Catch me if you can' A Twitter account linked to Zehra Duham, has posted chilling messages and photographs to authorities . 'A few days before he attained shahadah. Was so excited to see the snow! Lol. Oh how I miss you, may Allah reunite us,' the caption said on the photo. As security agencies continue to set up airport terror checks and monitor the watch list, Daily Telegraph reports authorities have been alarmed with around 40 Australian foreign fighters who have managed to return on Australian soil after joining the fight with IS in Iraq and Syria. Up to 400 Australians are estimated to be fighting with IS in the Middle East or supporting the death cult across the country. Around 20 Australians have reportedly been killed in air strikes against IS, which has attracted up to 20,000 foreign fights around the globe, according to Australian intelligence. Playboy jihadi: Mahmoud Abdullatif was reportedly married to the Melbourne woman and was killed recently . Another photo was uploaded to Twitter of Abdullatif standing on the side of a road with snow in the background . A senior government official told the Daily Telegraph that these estimates of active home-grown jihadists was more than the published figures revealed by the government. 'What has us concerned is that there has been no let up in the flow,' they said. 'What we [coalition air strikes) are doing in Iraq and Syria is not deterring them from going over and joining up. 'So the rate that they are taking up with these groups means there will be many we don't know about yet.' Pictured: Mahmoud Abdullatif was reported killed in the Middle East . It follows after Melbourne man Abdullatif reportedly only became a jihadist as an excuse to 'be a part of the violence' to satisfy his aggressive nature. Abdullatif's former girlfriend came forward recently, opening up about the man she knew - a bully from Brunswick Secondary College who had a penchant for violence. Sahini Sendeera, 21, says her ex-boyfriend was a man of extremes. Abdullatif was a rebel and a womaniser who never lived a religious lifestyle, yet was fiercely proud to be a Muslim according to Fairfax Media. 'I think he liked the extreme culture of Islam and I think he just wanted to be a part of the violence,' Ms Senadeera told SMH. 'I think for him Islam was just an excuse to behave like that.' | A widow of 'playboy jihadist' has posted chilling photos on social media .
The Twitter account linked to Zehra Duman reveals a photo of a figure posing with a rifle and a dagger, captioned: 'Catch me if you can'
It comes after her husband Mahmoud Abdullatif, of Melbourne, was killed .
Authorities have been alarmed with around 40 Australian foreign fighters who have managed to return after joining the fight with IS, report says .
Up to 400 Australians are estimated to be fighting with IS in the Middle East or supporting the death cult across the country . |
85,569 | f2b0838ddf2dfbf2e9b0ee9e82fc09dc40cff402 | A knife-wielding man who was shot and killed by a New York City police officer Friday night had previously attacked a regular on Keeping Up With The Kardashians,according to reports. Jonathan Cheban - a friend of the Kardashian sisters who has appeared in numerous episodes of their reality series - was lunged at by a man in May as he left a sushi restaurant in Brooklyn, but a bodyguard managed to thwart the assailant, TMZ reported. The attacker, identified as Denis Volchkin, was armed with a knife at the time. Volchkin was killed by police during a domestic dispute on Friday. Attacked: Former PR director Jonathan Cheban, a regular on Keeping Up With The Kardashians, was attacked outside a Brooklyn sushi restaurant in May. His assailant was reportedly shot dead by police Friday night after officers were called to a domestic dispute between the man and his mother . Officers were initially called to a home in the Sheepshead Bay section of Brooklyn around 5:30 p.m. to address a problem between the man and his mother, but he left before officers arrived, police said. They were called to the same home again around 8 p.m., when the mother escorted them inside. The son lunged at the officers with a knife in hand, and an officer shot him once in the torso, police said. His name and age weren't immediately released. However TMZ reported that the son was Denis Volchkin, citing law enforcement sources and Cheban himself. The website also said Volchkin appeared to be on drugs at the time of the attack. Cheban is the former CEO of public relations firm CommandPR. He briefly had his own reality show, The Spin Crowd, which was executive produced by Kim Kardashian, but it was axed after one season. Scene: The shooting occurred at an address in the Sheepshead Bay section of Brooklyn around 8pm . Domestic: Police had been called to the home earlier in the afternoon, about 5pm, but the male suspect was not home. They then received another called and returned about 8pm . The confrontation between police and Volchkin came four days after police shot and killed two men — one accidentally — amid another domestic dispute in Brooklyn. In that case, one of the men, Francisco Carvajal, was carrying a knife and had pushed his way into his ex-girlfriend's apartment Monday night, police said. After Carvajal had shown up earlier that evening, she had called another man, Rafael Laureano, for help. As Carvajal used the knife to cut through the door of the bathroom in which the woman had locked herself and her children, officers broke down the front door, and the unarmed Laureano bolted into the apartment, although a sergeant tried to stop him, police spokesman Stephen Davis said Thursday. Carvajal tried to attack Laureano with the knife, and officers repeatedly ordered Carvajal to drop the weapon, police said. But instead, he came at them, and officers fired at least 10 times, killing both men, police said. Nine rounds hit Carvajal; one hit Laureano in the back. | Man shot dead at a home in Brooklyn by police during a domestic dispute about 8pm Friday .
Suspect reportedly the same man who attacked Jonathan Cheban in May .
Cheban, former Hollywood PR director, is a regular on Keeping Up With The Kardashians .
He was leaving a Brooklyn sushi restaurant when he was followed by a man .
The man, identified by TMZ as Denis Volchkin, was subdued by Cheban's bodyguard at the time . |
19,783 | 382b0289c55a74ac8ca682c359ac805b5e1213dc | Veteran actor Sir Michael Gambon has taken the 'heartbreaking decision' to quit his stage career because he can't remember his lines. The 74-year-old, who is best known for playing Albus Dumbledore in the Harry Potter films, has struggled with memory problems for years and has previously revealed that he has been checked by two doctors for Alzheimer’s disease. Happily, the tests were negative for the illness. But the Irish-born actor was so concerned by his memory loss that he took to using an earpiece linking him with a stage prompt while acting in case he forgot his lines. Scroll down for video . Veteran actor Sir Michael Gambon has taken the 'heartbreaking decision' to quit his stage career because he can't remember his lines . The 74-year-old, who is best known for playing Albus Dumbledore in the Harry Potter films, has struggled with memory problems for years and has previously revealed that he has been checked by two doctors for Alzheimer’s disease . In an interview with the Sunday Times magazine, Sir Michael - who trained at the National Theatre under Laurence Olivier and was knighted in 1999 - said he was now admitting defeat. He said: 'It's a horrible thing to admit but I can't do it. It breaks my heart.' He revealed that it was an audition for a new West End play which made him realise he had no future in theatre, when a girl in the wings was reading him his lines over an earpiece. He said: 'And after about an hour I thought, "This can't work. You can't be in theatre, free on stage shouting and screaming and running around, with someone reading you your lines."' The star - who began his stage career with minor Shakespearean roles alongside Lord Olivier – confessed that it was his ‘overwhelming fear’ of forgetting his words on stage that forced him to pull out of a 2009 National Theatre production of The Habit of Art by Alan Bennett. Michael Gambon as Falstaff at the Olivier Theatre. He said: 'It's a horrible thing to admit but I can't do it. It breaks my heart' He will star in Scandinavian thriller Fortitude later this month, and the BBC's adaptation of JK Rowling's The Casual Vacancy . At the time, it was simply announced he had pulled out because of ‘ill health’. Richard Griffiths, who had starred in Bennett’s 2004 play The History Boys, replaced him. Last year Sir Michael - who has played Shakespeare's Falstaff, King Lear, Othello, and Mark Anthony - said he believed the only roles he can play on stage are those with few lines, such as butlers. He added: ‘You know, the sort of part where he comes on and says a few words. ‘A role that’s played for laughs – like when the phone goes, he doesn’t know where it is.’ The Irish-born actor (pictured with Dame Judi Dench) was so concerned by his memory loss that he took to using an earpiece linking him with a stage prompt while acting in case he forgot his lines . Sir Michael became well known in 1986 when he starred in BBC crime drama The Singing Detective. He took over the part of Hogwarts headmaster Dumbledore in the third Harry Potter film after Richard Harris died in 2002, aged 72. He said: ‘Richard Harris had just died and they approached me and I decided to play it with a posh Irish accent, rather like Harris. ‘I’d never seen any of the previous films but working on the series was huge fun - and for lots of dosh.’ He also told how he trained as an engineer before becoming an actor, and once dreamed of being an airline pilot. He will star in Scandinavian thriller Fortitude later this month, and the BBC's adaptation of JK Rowling's The Casual Vacancy . | 74-year-old stage veteran has struggled with memory problems for years .
He has now decided to quit the stage after a recent West End audition .
He said: 'It's a horrible thing to admit but I can't do it. It breaks my heart' |
16,046 | 2d7e4a10dc8337dd197d25c5f4f06ad7db54cd17 | (CNN Student News) -- April 28, 2011 . Download PDF maps related to today's show: . • Afghanistan • Hawaii . Transcript . THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED. CARL AZUZ, CNN STUDENT NEWS ANCHOR: I'm Carl Azuz, and in today's show, we're talking about the U.S. economy, education, defense -- could be a presidential Cabinet meeting. And we're gonna be talking about the cabinet, too. CNN Student News starts right now! First Up: Afghanistan Violence . AZUZ: First up, violence in Afghanistan, where a gunfight broke out at an air force compound in Kabul. Eight U.S. service members and an American contractor were killed in the shooting Wednesday. Coalition officials said an Afghan military pilot started the gunfight. The Taliban said it's responsible for yesterday's shooting. The Taliban is the group that the U.S.-led coalition removed from power when the Afghanistan war started in 2001. A Taliban spokesman said the group had worked with the shooter. But coalition authorities -- and the shooter's brother -- denied that. The shooting happened at the North Kabul International Airport. Officials say it started as an argument between the Afghan pilot and an international colleague. That argument led to the gunfight. Defense Dept. Shift . AZUZ: Some changes getting ready to happen inside President Obama's administration. In fact, it's going to be one of the biggest shifts since Obama took office. And it starts with this man: Defense Secretary Robert Gates. Secretary Gates has been leading the Defense Department since George W. Bush was president. He stayed on at President Obama's request, but he's planning to retire later this year. And this is who President Obama wants to replace Secretary Gates: name is Leon Panetta. He's currently the director of the CIA. He also served as former President Bill Clinton's chief of staff. President Obama plans to nominate Director Panetta to be the new defense secretary. The U.S. Senate has to confirm him for that position. Obama Birth Certificate . AZUZ: That wasn't the only announcement at the White House yesterday. President Obama publicly showed off his birth certificate, which says that he was born in Honolulu, Hawaii. Okay. Why? Well, there are two requirements to be U.S. president. You have to be at least 35 years old, and you have to be a "natural born" citizen. Some people had doubts that President Obama was born in the U.S. They wanted to see this: his long-form birth certificate. Because without that proof, their argument was that he might be constitutionally ineligible to be president. This issue's gotten a lot of attention in the media recently. The White House released the birth certificate yesterday to try to put an end to the questions. Shoutout . TOMEKA JONES, CNN STUDENT NEWS: Today's Shoutout goes out to Ms. Cormican's enrichment class at Clinton Township Middle School in Clinton, New Jersey! What is the term for financial aid that companies get from the government? Here we go! Is it: A) Subsidy, B) Commodity, C) Liability or D) Security. You've got three seconds -- GO! Financial aid given out by the government is called a subsidy. That's your answer and that's your Shoutout! Gas Prices, Oil Profits . AZUZ: Subsidies are usually designed to help companies or industries that produce things for the public. For example, farmers might get money from the government to grow crops. This next report from Lisa Sylvester is about subsidies for the oil industry. With gas prices increasing, so are the questions about whether those subsidies should continue. (BEGIN VIDEO) LISA SYLVESTER, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: The oil and gas industry rakes in billions of dollars in profits a year. Last year, Exxon Mobil made more than $30 billion; Chevron, $19 billion; ConocoPhillips, more than $11 billion; and Royal Dutch/Shell, $20 billion. Meanwhile, it's costing consumers a load of money just to fill up their tank. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There's no reason for the price to continue to go up, because there's lots of gas. I mean, lots of oil, I hear. SYLVESTER: Average price for regular gasoline is $3.87 a gallon. But in cities like Washington, D.C., gas at some stations is already at the $5 mark or higher. Those prices are expected to contribute to huge first-quarter profits for oil companies. On top of the mega-profits, the oil industry enjoys $4 billion in federal tax breaks. There's now a growing chorus to end those subsidies. FADEL GHEIT, FINANCIAL ANALYST, OPPENHEIMER AND COMPANY: The oil companies do not need subsidies, especially when you have $100 oil. It's outrageous for an oil company or oil lobbyist to ask for a subsidy when you have this high level of profitability. SYLVESTER: The American Petroleum Institute represents the largest oil companies. API's senior economic adviser, Rayola Dougher, says when profits are up, it's the shareholders who benefit. She says they are, for the most part, regular joes. RAYOLA DOUGHER, ECONOMIC ADVISER, AMERICAN PETROLEUM INSTITUTE: And at the end of the day, the final earnings, the profits to these companies, broadly go to tens of millions of Americans. Anybody with a 401(k), a pension plan, retired firefighters, teachers. These are the folks that, at the end of the day, benefit from these earnings. About 98.5 percent of the stock of these companies is broadly owned by the American people. SYLVESTER: The American Petroleum Institute says taking away those subsidies would be like a tax on the companies and could cost American jobs. But it is a hard case to make when so many Americans out there are getting squeezed at the gas pump, when we are seeing $5 a gallon for gasoline, and when the companies are making billions in profits. Lisa Sylvester, CNN, Washington. (END VIDEO) Southern Storms . AZUZ: This next headline is one you've heard a lot lately, and not one we like reporting: the southern U.S. recovering from another round of severe weather that plowed through the region yesterday. At least 12 deaths were reported. Hundreds of thousands of people lost power. This is what some Arkansas residents woke up to Wednesday morning: damaged buildings, downed trees, no power. That's from another storm system that moved through the South Tuesday night. And this severe weather may not be over. The National Weather Service issued tornado watches for parts of the South yesterday, as the storms worked their way east. In fact, there were 25 tornado warnings across parts of Alabama last night. And officials said a tornado hit the city of Cullman. These images you're seeing are some of the damage that was caused. Show Your Teacher Appreciation . AZUZ: We've been asking you to head to CNNStudentNews.com and send us your iReports for Teacher Appreciation Week. Keep at it, don't give up; Teacher Appreciation Week is next week. There's just something we want you to remember: You need to be at least 13 to send us an iReport. Also, you can show your teacher appreciation on our blog! I just put the post up last night, and you know where to find it: CNNStudentNews.com! Don't Fail Me Preview . AZUZ: CNN's "In America" series explores different aspects of U.S. society. The newest documentary we worked on focuses on something you are all very familiar with: education. I had the chance to sit down recently with CNN's Soledad O'Brien. She's the correspondent for the "In America" programs, and we talked about what this new program is all about. (BEGIN VIDEO) AZUZ: Soledad O'Brien, you've worked on CNN's "In America" series. We've seen "Black in America," "Latino in America." Your latest report is titled "Don't Fail Me." What's the story behind that title? SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT: It really is an "Education in America" series. "Don't Fail Me" is the story of three students who represent different geographical and also socio-economical areas in the United States. And what we wanted to look at in that particular title was really the position students, American students, are in today. You know, American students rank 17th and 25 in math and science, respectively, in this country, when you look at all industrialized nations. Those are terrible, terrible, terrible statistics. And so, the question was: How do you change that? How do you move the United States back up to number one, where we used to be several decades ago? The question is really these three students, who are great students, ambitious students, motivated students. Who, their plea is very much "don't fail me." Sometimes teachers fail students, sometimes systems fail students, sometimes students fail themselves; they're not ambitious. In this particular case, we're looking at the entire educational system. Is it failing these young people? (END VIDEO) AZUZ: Those of you who participated in FIRST Robotics will wanna check this out too; that's part of this program. You are not going to want to miss it. "Don't Fail Me" airs on May 15th -- that's a Sunday night -- at 8 p.m. ET on CNN. And if you want to check out my full interview with Soledad O'Brien, learn what else she has to say about the upcoming documentary, you can check that out on our home page: CNNStudentNews.com. Before We Go . AZUZ: All right, before we go, we've got time for a speedy lesson. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Take your foot off the brake and we'll go forward. AZUZ: Move forward, all right. This ain't driver's ed. It's pace car 101. Rachel Gilbert's been a big NASCAR fan for 50 years. And since she's turning 100 years old today -- happy birthday -- her family got her an amazing gift: the chance to tool around the track in a pace car. Ms. Gilbert hasn't been behind the wheel of any car in about 16 years, but it was smooth sailing as she revved it up to about 50 miles per hour. Goodbye . AZUZ: Maybe this'll be her new motor -- mode or -- method of transportation. She probably bragged that she was going more than 50, but that's just rev-isionist history. Especially since the course tracked her speed. We were gonna drive through a few more of these puns, but we gotta learn to pace ourselves. So we'll brake for now. For CNN Student News, I'm Carl Azuz. See you later. | Learn about the details of a deadly gunfight at an Afghan airport .
Consider the debate over continuing subsidies to the oil industry .
Check out a CNN documentary that looks at science education in the U.S.
Use the Daily Discussion to help students understand today's featured news stories . |
280,445 | f74a2d46cd13ddce2dd1679a43baad276e40cbfe | Click here to read Sami Mokbel's match report from the Emirates . When 5ft 7in Alexis Sanchez hoisted himself above a hulking pair of Burnley defenders to head in the opener and put Arsenal on the path to victory even his own manager was surprised. Arsene Wenger has seen the Chilean’s skill and hunger for goals, confounding defenders with quick feet and a fizzing shot. But here he acted as an English No 9, adding another feather to his cap. ‘It was a typical English goal and I didn’t expect that from him,’ said Wenger. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Wenger: Alexis Sanchez dangerous playing in the middle . Alexis Sanchez celebrates his second, and Arsenal's third, goal at the Emirates against Burnley . Sanchez's stats at the weekend were impressive, with the Chilean proving a real handful for Sean Dyche's side . Arsenal had more shots on goal - 32 -than in any league game since the 1-0 defeat by West Ham in 2007 . ‘I didn’t count on him in the air at all. But I know that in the air it is more about desire and he has that. He is a winner and finds the resources to get you a goal when it is 0-0. That’s what is important.’ Wenger had praised Sanchez’s street-fighting qualities in the lead-up to the game and it was his willingness to scrap for a goal that provided the breakthrough on 70 minutes. After Calum Chambers had doubled Arsenal’s lead Sanchez added a third in stoppage-time, his seventh goal in eight Premier League starts. The £30million signing is starting to look priceless for Arsenal and Wenger believes he is only going to get better. ‘We are in a job where you can always improve,’ said Wenger. ‘He is unbelievably keen and every day wants to practise.’ Sean Dyche, whose Burnley side are without a win in 10 league games, admitted it was a mismatch after they came undone in the final 20 minutes. ‘Teams like Arsenal are beyond us,’ he said. ‘But there’s no point being down in the dumps because they have hurt bigger sides than us.’ The Burnley defence can only look on as Sanchez opens the scoring for Arsenal . Sanchez was the star man in the Premier League match at the Emirates at the weekend . | Alexis Sanchez scored twice in Arsenal's 3-0 win over Burnley on Saturday .
Arsene Wenger heaped praise on his forward in the aftermath of the game .
The Arsenal manager described his strike as a 'typical English goal'
Wenger says that previously, he didn't count on Sanchez in the air . |
139,156 | 3ff35731a0d05a07ef3a33c656b66d09c655fe4d | (CNN) -- A lawyer for the family of Robert Champion, a Florida university drum major who died this month in what officials have called a hazing-related death, said Monday he will sue the school. "We are intending to file a lawsuit to get answers" about hazing at Florida Agriculture and Mechanical University, lawyer Chris Chestnut told reporters. "We are concerned about the culture of cover-up, that hazing has been covered up at the Band FAMU for generations. So, it's time now that we expose the truth, eradicate this culture and come up with creative remedies on how to continue the excellence of FAMU's band, but without hazing." Chestnut said he was not at liberty to discuss the facts of the case and noted that the medical examiner has not issued a report on the cause of death of the 26-year-old musician. But, he added, the facts that have emerged to date "point to the fact that hazing was a cause of Robert Champion's death, and it was under FAMU's watch." He said he could not address the scope of the lawsuit but added, "I can tell you that FAMU will be named in it." Chestnut described hazing at the school as a don't ask, don't tell culture. "The family's message today is: Please, tell." Because FAMU is a state institution, it is protected by sovereign immunity, which means that Chestnut must file a notice of intention to sue as a prerequisite to the suit, the lawyer said. "After a six-month window, we will file a lawsuit," he added. "He loved the band -- so much, I always called him Mr. Band," Champion's mother, Pam Champion, told reporters of her son. "That was his life." She added that she was in suburban Atlanta, where the family lives, when a phone call informed her of her son's death. The call came shortly after her son had called to say he was coming home for Thanksgiving. "I thought it was some kind of mean joke. ... Maybe it's the wrong kid, maybe it's somebody else." "They had no idea of anticipating that he'd be coming to Willie Watkins' Funeral Home when he came back to Atlanta," Chestnut said. "That's not what you send your kid to college for." "It needs to stop," Pam Champion said. "No one wants to hear on a phone call that your son collapsed and died." Champion became ill at an Orlando hotel after a game on November 20. He reportedly threw up in the parking lot and started complaining of not being able to breathe, authorities said. Champion was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings told CNN last week that hazing was involved but added that authorities were trying to determine an official cause of death. Under Florida law, any death that occurs as the result of hazing is a third-degree felony. After the death, FAMU President James H. Ammons suspended all band performances and said he will convene a task force "to determine if there are any unauthorized and questionable activities associated with the culture of the Marching 100." In addition, FAMU moved to fire longtime band director Julian E. White. White had led the 420-member band since 1998 and has hired an attorney to fight for his job. "We believe that he was not treated with the respect that was due," Tallahassee attorney Chuck Hobbs said. He described as "ludicrous" the university's assertion that White did not do what he could do to address hazing. White, who said he will speak Wednesday at Champion's funeral, said he had told the victim's parents about their son's death. "That was extremely difficult for me," he said. "I wish that this could have been avoided. I took the necessary steps that this tragedy could have been avoided." He said he had ordered the suspension of 26 band members two weeks before Champion's death. "I thought that that would really be the end of these kinds of things," he said, adding that his move brought criticism from some band members and parents who asked him whether the band would be able to perform adequately without 19 trombone players and others. "My comment was: 'It doesn't matter,' " he said. "I am not going to sacrifice the performance for the principle." White added that he wished the administration had suspended from the school the students allegedly involved in hazing. "If some strong actions had been taken, then Robert Champion may well be alive now, and we may not be having this gathering," he said. White added that he sent memoranda in 1989 and in the 2000s about hazing's presence on campus, not just among band members. "It's no secret," he said. "It's just a culture -- as much as I regret it -- that kids nowadays engage in." Every year, he offers hazing workshops, and anytime a band member has been suspended for hazing, White sends a note to the school president, the vice president of student affairs, the chief of police and the band staff. "I probably have more than 100," he said. "I don't know how many." He added, "I feel very comfortable that I did everything that I could to eradicate hazing. I coined the phrase, 'Zero tolerance for hazing in the Florida A&M U band.' " Asked whether he believes he is being made a scapegoat, White said, "Yes, I do." He said he had tried his best to make the administration aware of the problems. "How would I be negligent in reporting the activities when I did report them?" he asked. David Frank, a Tallahassee lawyer who represented another hazing victim, said it was not clear whether it was White or others who were at fault. "He's a legend over there," he said. "He walks in a room, people listen. Maybe he did. Maybe it's the rest of the system over there that fell apart." Frank filed a suit against the school on behalf of a band trumpeter, Marcus W. Parker, who was beaten in 2001. Frank won the case for undisclosed damages (FAMU's sovereign immunity caps its liability for a negligence action at $100,000) and won another case against those who beat his client for $1.8 million, he told CNN in a telephone interview. Frank described the hazing as part of a deep tradition with the band, where each section acts like a fraternity. "The trumpet section was the Screaming Eagles," Frank said. "The school says you don't have to be a member of this fraternity. That's just horse s***. You couldn't survive as a trumpeter if you were not a member of the Screaming Eagles." The beatings meted out were carried out with paddles, but that doesn't fully describe what happens, he said. "Paddling is just the wrong word for it. It's vicious beating. I think one guy got hit over 100 times. And this is a solid, wood paddle. This isn't some Wiffle bat. This is something that would kill you." In Parker's case, he was hit 30 times in his buttocks -- "so hard they put him into renal failure," Frank said. "His kidneys stopped working and he had to go into the emergency room. He almost died." Parker spent at least five days in critical condition, endured several surgeries and quit school, the lawyer said. The former student is now living in Jacksonville, where he is in poor physical condition, has never fully recovered and is struggling, Frank said. "It ruins their life," he added. "You don't have to be beat to within an inch of your life to play a trumpet. That's nonsense, and they know it, and this tradition is just way off base." A spokeswoman for the school did not return a call seeking comment. On Wednesday, Gov. Rick Scott sent a letter to Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Gerald Bailey asking the department to join the investigation "to assure that the circumstances leading to Mr. Champion's death become fully known, and that if there are individuals directly or indirectly responsible for this death, they are appropriately brought to justice and held accountable." Ammons has acknowledged that at least 30 band members were let go this semester because of possible involvement in hazing. | "That was his life," mother says of the victim's band work .
Robert Champion, a 26-year-old drum major, became ill and died after a game .
At least 30 band members were let go this semester because of alleged hazing .
"We are concerned about the culture of cover-up," family lawyer says . |
170,295 | 686d08f78659b83cf4ed02fe3fbbf59c8f8df2e2 | By . Ap Reporter . Finally going to court: Charles Black stands accused of pushing his then-wife Lisa off 800-foot Maiden Cliff in Maine's Camden Hills State Park in April 2011 in an attempt to kill her and claim a $4 million inheritance . Charles and Lisa Black moved to Maine after careers as teachers in Kansas, pursuing an idyllic retirement that prosecutors say was destroyed by arguments over money and infidelity before both plummeted off a cliff. Prosecutors say 71-year-old Charles Black hit his wife on the head with a rock before pushing her off the 800-foot Maiden Cliff in April 2011 in in Camden Hills State Park. Lisa Black, 55, says she believed Charles was chasing her when he, too, tumbled down the mountain, according to a police report. His trial is set to begin Monday in Rockland with jury selection. Law . enforcement officials have said Lisa Black received a $4 million . inheritance from her father, and she and Charles Black had a dispute . over how he spent some of the money without her permission. Lisa has . also accused Charles Black of having an online affair. Charles . Black now lives in Salt Lake City and faces numerous charges, including . attempted murder, which carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in . prison. The prosecution has also asked the court for permission to . introduce evidence that he had earlier tried to poison Lisa Black. Black's . attorney, Walter McKee, attempted to have the charges dismissed over . the way prosecutors obtained hundreds of pages of Black's medical . records. He has said prosecutors used 'secret search warrants' to get . Black's the records and should have subpoenaed them instead. McKee lost . the bid for dismissal in April. McKee . said he expects the trial to take two weeks. He said the recent . accusation of poisoning is 'bizarre' and the state can expect 'a . vigorous challenge.' Calls . to Lisa Black and Charles Black were not returned. Police said the . couple was hiking on Mount Megunticook when the fall occurred. He told police he fainted, fell forward and hit the back of Lisa Black's head with his own head, but he had no memory of pushing her off the cliff. They divorced in 2013 after nine years of marriage. The Blacks are former Johnson County, Kansas, teachers who had moved to Maine about a year earlier. Lisa Black had taught fourth grade while Charles Black was a social studies teacher. A judge banned Charles Black from staying in Camden during the trial. Prosecutors have said Lisa Black is concerned about her safety if Charles is allowed in town. In addition to attempted murder, Black is charged with two counts of elevated aggravated assault and three counts of aggravated assault. | Charles Black is accused of pushing Lisa Black, 55, off the 800-foot Maiden Cliff in Maine in 2011 .
Prosecutors say Lisa tumbled a short distance before landing a running for help .
Charles fell after her and is now accused of attempted murder . |
285,203 | fd8e0271e8fce199de3ddc5aefd9816279516dc4 | (CNN) -- The Chinese Super League has seen its global profile skyrocket over the last 12 months with the arrival of several high-profile football stars in big-money deals. The trend continued on Thursday with the announcement that Italy's 2006 World Cup-winning coach Marcello Lippi will take over the reigns at ambitious Guangzhou Evergrande on a two-and-a-half-year contract. "I dispatched an assistant to go see the club's matches, which made me even more determined," the 64-year-old told a press conference which was broadcast live on Chinese state television. "I am very enthusiastic about coming to China." Lippi has an impressive managerial record, having coached Juventus to five Italian Serie A titles and the European Champions League in 1996. Guangzhou, China's reigning champions, started the spending spree last year by signing Argentine playmaker Dario Conca from Brazilian side Fluminense for a national record transfer fee. Conca has since been joined in China by former France striker Nicolas Anelka, who, after a prolific career across Europe, swapped Chelsea for Shanghai Shenhua in January. Paraguay's Lucas Barrios will become the latest recruit when he signs for Guangzhou from German champions Borussia Dortmund on June 1, for a fee which eclipses the one paid for Conca. So what is attracting such stellar names to a country which has a limited football heritage? "There are things happening in Chinese football but there is still a long way to go," Asian football expert John Duerden told CNN. "I can't imagine that Lippi has been always been desperate to work in the Chinese Super League, though China is a fascinating place and some of the cities are fantastic." Previous coach Lee-Jang soo had achieved on-field success with Guangzhou, leading the club out of the second tier, to the 2011 Super League title and into the Asian Champions League. But Duerden said Lee's profile was not big enough for a club with grand ambitions. "It's all about the name," he said. "While Lee is well-liked in China and east Asia, outside the region he has little standing. Hiring Lippi sends the message that Guangzhou want to be Asia's first superclub." Duerden said the surge in football spending in China has been financed by powerful political figures, but that it may be detrimental to the future of the sport in the country. "The spark is all down to politics, power and connections. The next generation of China's leaders, including the next president are fans of football, and it is a great way for business leaders to get close to the decision-makers. "There is a huge disconnect between what the game actually needs and what it is getting. There are less than 10,000 registered under-12 players in China (Japan, with a tenth of the population has over 300,000) and you have to wonder what a similar amount of money would do if invested in the grassroots." Since arriving in Shanghai, Anelka has seen his role at Shenhua change. Last month, the 33-year-old was added to former Fulham manager Jean Tigana's coaching staff. Tigana then resigned from his position, paving the way for Anelka to assume a surprise player-coach role. "The situation is fairly chaotic at Shanghai and the team is pretty mediocre," said Duerden. "Big money was spent on new strikers but what the team really needs is midfielders. "He (Anelka) does seem committed and is starting to talk to the press a little more. He also has the respect of the players, for obvious reasons, and he seems to be taking the coaching role quite seriously." Meanwhile, Manchester United announced on Thursday that striker Michael Owen has left the English club following the expiration of his contract. The former Liverpool and Real Madrid star has been ravaged by injury during his three years at Old Trafford, scoring just five goals in 31 Premier League appearances. | Italy's World Cup-winning coach Marcello Lippi is the new coach of Guangzhou Evergrande .
Lippi has won five Italian titles and the European Champions League with Juventus .
Former Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka joined Shanghai Shenhua in January .
The former France international is now Shanghai's player-coach . |
105,551 | 141f0f4924b14bc150209cb0c6c4485cb038599a | By . Richard Shears . Seven people are dead after a boy climbed into a well to retrieve a coin worth just 45 pence - and six others who tried to rescue him succumbed to oxygen starvation. The 11-year old who slid into the well on a bamboo pole in a village in the Banteay Srei district was the first to lapse into unconsciousness and die - and today the tragic series of events that led to their deaths was revealed by police. Acting district police chief Muy Nan told the Cambodia Daily that the tragedy began when 50-year-old father Tuy Chen accidentally dropped a 3,000 riel coin and his lighter into his well while drawing up water. Seven people are dead after a boy climbed into a well to retrieve a coin worth just 45 pence - and six others who tried to rescue him succumbed to oxygen starvation . Desperate to find the coin because of his poverty, he used the bamboo pole to slide down but while he recovered his lighter he did not find the coin which was too valuable to lose. 'The father was safe when he climbed back,' said Mr Nan. 'What no-one realised was that in the morning and night oxygen exists in the well, but there is none there in the evening when this occurred.' The police officer said that unaware of the air changes in the well, Mr Chen's 11-year-old son Che Aun descended down the pole in the early evening hoping to have better luck than his father in finding the coin. When he failed to surface, his two sisters, Che Kea, 13, and Che Ratana,15, went in after him, setting off a chain of doomed rescue attempts. Hay Chandy, 12, and his brother Hay Sangda, 20, went in after the sisters, followed by Chhem Sokhy, 15, and Teab Puon, 32, said the Cambodia Daily. Only the final person to descend, Soy Peam, 27, survived - but even he was rushed unconscious to hospital.. The incident happened late last night in a remote area of the north western province of Siem Reap (pictured) when an 11-year-old boy and six other people went into the well to collect 3,000 riel (45p) Police, who said the tragedy was played out in less than an hour, did not explain how the survivor was rescued. 'We tested the well by tying a chicken to a rope and lowering it down,' said commune police chief Phon Pheap. 'After a few minutes, the chicken was unconscioius. The people died because there was no oxygen in the well. Village chief Daung Check said the family of Mr Chen was extremely poor. 'They are so poor that they don't have enough rice to eat,' he said. Despite the death of three of his children, he and his wife will continue to struggle on with their remaining eight children, said the authorities. The bodies were brought up from the well by villagers using a rope. Police said the process took several hours as the rope had to be tied around the bodies one by one. Scientists have told the Phnom Penh Post that at oxygen levels between four and six per cent humans fall into a coma within 40 seconds, followed by convulsions and then death. Above ground, oxygen levels are normally about 21 per cent. Che Chhan, a 30-year-old sister of the three siblings who died, blamed her family's poverty for the tragic series of events. 'My 11-year-old brother knew that my father had lost 3,000 riel in the well and he wanted to get it back without thinking it would be dangerous. And now so many people have died like this,' she told the Post. I wanted to blame my father because if he did not tell them about the money they would not have died But it's over now. They would not come back if I blamed my father. 'But the villagers blame my father and say he was careless.' The seven victims have been cremated in the village - and the well is to be destroyed. | Incident happened in remote area of north western province of Siem Reap .
11-year-old boy and six other people went into well to collect 3,000 riel (45p)
Police: Victims died due to a lack of oxygen at the bottom of 16ft -deep well . |
232,558 | b91da0a9b93be8f96824407269eff1af1864dfc5 | Execution would be Alabama's fifth this year . Thirty-five inmates put to death in the U.S. in 2011 . By . Daily Mail Reporter . Last updated at 12:25 PM on 23rd September 2011 . A man convicted of the 1994 execution-style shooting death of a store clerk in Alabama is scheduled to be put to death on Thursday by lethal injection in what would be the third U.S. execution this week. The execution of Derrick O'Neal Mason, 37, is set for 6 pm local time at Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore. Mason has been on death row for 16 years. His execution, if carried out, would be the third this week in the U.S., following two high-profile cases in Georgia and Texas. Executed: Derrick Mason was put to death in Alabama last night . In a case that drew international attention, Troy Davis was put to death in Georgia late Wednesday for the murder of a police officer, despite claims by his advocates that he may have been innocent. Texas on Wednesday executed a white supremacist convicted of helping to kill a black man by dragging him behind a truck, in a case that sparked a wave of hate crime laws. Mason's execution would be Alabama's fifth this year. Thirty-five inmates have been put to death in the U.S. in 2011. He was convicted of killing 25-year-old Angela Cagle during the attempted robbery of a convenience store in Huntsville, Alabama. Authorities said he forced Cagle to strip naked and shot her twice in the face at close range. Alabama Governor Robert Bentley on Wednesday said he would not intervene to halt the execution. Earlier this month, the judge who sentenced Mason to death asked Bentley to spare the inmate's life. In a September 8 letter, Judge Loyd Little Jr. did not dispute that Mason 'terrorized the victim.' But he wrote that if he had tried the case as a more experienced jurist, he would have sentenced Mason to life without the possibility of parole. Neither Little nor the defense team had any experience in capital murder cases before the Mason trial, the judge said. Little said that compared to other cases he presided over later, this one was not as 'heinous, atrocious, or cruel.' The judge wrote that without that aggravating factor to consider, the jury 'would have recommended life without parole and I would have followed that recommendation.' In court filings, appellate attorneys for Mason argued that his defense team omitted key mitigating factors during the sentencing phase, including his claim that he smoked a marijuana cigarette the night of the crime that, unknown to him, was laced with psychoactive substances. In a court filing to the state Supreme Court on Wednesday, Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange quoted the judge's sentencing remarks about the heinous nature of the crime. Strange concluded that the judge's 'change of heart is not a basis for this court to grant Mason's petition for a stay of execution.' | Execution would be Alabama's fifth this year .
Thirty-five inmates put to death in the U.S. in 2011 . |
79,978 | e2b406c300841d1e69f46d0e9950e3b8b273a2d3 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . A pregnant woman was arrested after sharing photos of herself wearing a leopard-print dress she allegedly stole just hours before. Danielle Saxton, 27, allegedly took clothes and jewelry from Mortie's Boutique in Illinois while staff were in the storeroom on July 11. The West Frankfort woman then posted four snaps of herself in the merchandise, making one her profile picture. Mortie's co-owner, Kert Williams, said he posted about the theft on Facebook and people who'd seen Saxton's photos made the connection and called police. Scroll down for video . Arrested: Danielle Saxton (right) posted this picture of herself online wearing a leopard print dress which she allegedly stole from an Illinois boutique that day . Williams told WSIL-TV he was returning to the store when he saw Saxton leaving with items including a dress, shirts and jewelry. Suspecting it was a theft, he checked security footage which, he said, confirmed his fears. 'Her excuse was there was nobody in . here,' Williams said. 'We were in the back working, and that she could just take it. You . know, not really much of an excuse there.' Social media users reported Saxton when Williams posted about what was stolen on the shop's Facebook page. 'What she stole was a very distinct leopard dress,' Williams said. Accused: Police said 27-year-old Danielle Saxton, who is pregnant, is a shoplifter (pictured left and right) Small world: Mortie's co-owner, Kert Williams, said he posted about the theft on Facebook and people who'd seen Saxton's photos made the connection and called police . Scene: Mortie's Boutique is a clothes and jewelry store on East Main Street in West Frankfort, Illinois . Police Chief Shawn Talluto said when officers arrested Saxton at her home, she still had the clothes in her hand. 'We just had a description and a direction of travel, but when the social media aspect played into it, we were able to identify who it was. And by looking at the background of the photograph we were able to pinpoint where she was at,' he told WSIL-TV. 'When you put something out there, it's a matter of minutes before it can go viral, and it can go to the world.' Saxton was released from jail on her own recognizance. | Danielle Saxton allegedly stole clothes and jewelry from an Illinois boutique on July 11 .
Hours later, she shared images online of her wearing one of the dresses .
When shop staff posted about the theft on Facebook, strangers who saw Saxton's photo dobbed her in . |
139,068 | 3fd77e4586119b59a9ed46e0bd27ec2eeb2a03d0 | Manchester City will come out on top in one of the closest Premier League title races of all time this season, closely followed by Chelsea, according to Bloomberg Sports data. The world's leaders in sports analytic technology revealed their annual season predictions on Wednesday, calculating the percentage probabilities for league finishes using match analysis. Based on their accurate readings it should be a happy season for City especially, while their Manchester rivals are expected to make the top four under Louis van Gaal. But Aston Villa may be heading out of the Premier League for the first time... WATCH Scroll down for 'Van Gaal: Manchester United is the biggest club in the world' Glory days: Manchester City could be celebrating another title win at the end of the 2014/15 season . Final table: Bloomberg's table is calculated from efforts in previous seasons as well as transfer changes . Race for the title: Games were simulated 100,000 times to work out Premier League contenders . Back on the march: Data suggests Louis van Gaal could lead Manchester United back into the top four . Premier League woe: But it could be a glum season for Aston Villa fans, with relegation predicted . Bloomberg power ratings and multiple data points from numerous seasons of every team are analysed, supplemented by the additional value that each club gained from the transfer window. Once this Bloomberg Sports rating is calculated using the data above, each match of the 2013/14 season was simulated 100,000 times providing an accurate sample . League projections are based on probability of finishing top, in Champions League positions, top or bottom half, or chance of relegation . Goals for and goals against also taken into consideration . Accuracy is tested against bookmaker odds, with strong results . League table is updated throughout the season . The graphic suggests it should be a two-horse race for the trophy this year. Manchester City are given a 38.7 per cent chance of retaining their title, while Chelsea are ranked at 38.4 per cent as Jose Mourinho looks to galvanise his new squad. The nearest challengers are Arsenal (8.5 per cent), Manchester United (7.5 per cent) and Liverpool (5.8 per cent), whose Bloomberg rating will have decreased given the departure of star striker Luis Suarez this summer. Tottenham and Everton are the only other teams valued as having even a slight chance of glory, with other teams chances ranked below 0.05 per cent after their Premier League fixtures were simulated 100,000 times. The race for the Champions League should also be fascinating this season. As you would expect, City and Chelsea have a probability of over 90 per cent to finish in the top four. Arsenal, whose value will have supplemented after their transfer dealings, are expected to be in tight competition with United and Liverpool to extend their 17-year stay in Europe's finest competition. Close: Arsenal, United and Liverpool were split by just three points, as their percentage probability suggests . Star signing: Arsenal's rating will have increased over the summer with the likes of Alexis Sanchez joining . Sure things: Diego Costa and Chelsea are heading for a title shoot-out with City . VIDEO Costa a key signing - Mourinho . 2.5 per cent chance that all three promoted teams get relegated . 83.4 per cent chance that at least one promoted team does get relegated . 23.7 per cent chance that Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal finish in the top three . 88.0: average number of points needed to win the league . 74.8: average number of points needed to ensure a top four finish . 36.1: average number of points needed to avoid relegation . United suffered an uncharacteristic blip under David Moyes last season, but with Van Gaal at the helm they are down to beat their rivals to fourth place by just two points. New signings Ander Herrera and Luke Shaw will help the cause at Old Trafford, and with more expected to arrive, don't be surprised to see the Red Devils move up the predicted league table as it is updated throughout the season. Such is the helter-skelter of the Premier League, there are 12 teams who could be relegated according to the statistics. Newcastle are in least danger, expected to finish eighth after some decent transfer action at St James' Park. But for West Ham, Sunderland, Crystal Palace, Leicester, West Brom, Hull, Aston Villa, QPR and Burnley the table makes much more grim reading. Pointing the way to go: Alan Pardew's Newcastle have been in fine form during pre-season . Straight back down? But Sean Dyche and Burnley's stay in the Premier League is expected to be brief . For the gap between 12th and 19th at the end of this season could be just three points, with the Clarets slightly adrift on 34 points. QPR will be joining them down with Villa after a solitary season in the top flight with Harry Redknapp. Bloomberg's data system is aimed at beating the bookies, and with Burnley at 57.8 per cent to be relegated, it may be best to get your money on now. As last year's season proved, the Premier League is anything but easy to predict. But given the detail here, don't be surprised to see City be looking down on the rest of the field come May. | Just one points separates City and Chelsea according to Bloomberg data .
Bloomberg take into account performances from numerous seasons .
Rankings are also adjusted to reflect transfer dealings in summer .
Each Premier League game is simulated 100,000 times for great accuracy .
United fourth, three points separate Arsenal (third) and Liverpool (fifth)
Aston Villa out of Premier League for first time, with QPR and Burnley .
Three points separate 12th and 19th, could be closest PL season of all time . |
278,123 | f44ea56ade45d773d7ca49e8ef8d31a131713def | By . Eddie Wrenn . PUBLISHED: . 07:58 EST, 10 April 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 03:33 EST, 11 April 2012 . This satellite view shows the area of Political Prison Camp 15 in Yodok, North Korea, where 150,000 inmates are allegedly kept . More than 150,000 North Koreans remain incarcerated in a Soviet-style, hidden 'gulag' despite the communist government's denial it holds political prisoners. The shocking claim is made in a report released today by the U.S.-based Committee for Human Rights in North Korea, and is based on interviews with 60 former prisoners and guards. It includes satellite images of what are described as prison labor camps and penitentiaries. The report documents the alleged incarceration of whole families, including children and grandparents for the 'political crimes' of other family members. It also documents infanticide and the forced abortions of women prisoners, who illegally crossed into China and got pregnant by men, and were then forcibly repatriated to North Korea. The committee, a private group, is holding a conference Tuesday in Washington, timed for Pyongyang's celebrations to mark the centennial of the repressive nation's founder. U.S. envoy on North Korean human rights, Robert King, is due to address the conference. The conference comes as the international spotlight shines on the North over its plans to launch a long-range rocket and, according to South Korean intelligence, a third nuclear test. 'It is not just nuclear weapons that have to be dismantled,' said Roberta Cohen, chair of the committee's board of directors, 'but an entire system of political repression.' The report says the camp system was initially modeled in the 1950s on the Soviet gulag, to punish 'wrong thinkers' and those belonging to the 'wrong political class' or religious persuasion. It cites estimates from North Korean state security agency officials who defected to South Korea that the camp system holds between 150,000 and 200,000 people - out of a total population of around 24 million. It urges North Korea to allow the International Committee of the Red Cross access, and to dismantle the camps. Amnesty International raised awareness of the issue last year, asking North Korea to ensure basic humanitarian treatment and due process at the camp . In this Amnesty video, workers point out where prisoners are incarcerated . The camp, in North Korea, is very large and contains an estimated 150,000-200,00 inmates . The UN hopes that North Korea, ran by Kim Jong-Un, will release his people from their torment . The 200-page report described different kinds of detention facilities, including penal labor colonies where it says political detainees are imprisoned without judicial process for mostly lifetime sentences in mining, logging or agricultural enterprises. The labor colonies are enclosed behind barbed wires and electrified fences, mainly in the north and north central mountains of the country, the report says, alleging high rates of death in detention due to systemic mistreatment, torture, execution and malnutrition. The report alleged provides precise geographical locations of the political prison camps. It says former prisoners were able to identify their former barrack and houses, work sites, execution grounds and other landmarks in the camps via imagery available through Google Earth. The committee says the report's findings contradict a December 2009 statement by North Korea to the United Nations Human Rights Council that the political prisoner camps do not exist. Greg Scarlatoiu, the committee's executive director, said that more than 30,000 North Korean defectors have now fled the country - up from just 3,000 a decade ago - so Pyonngyang cannot hide the harsh reality of its political prison camps. | U.S. alleges the camp holds political dissidents of 'political repression'
Documents cases of infanticide and forced abortions .
'Whole families kept in camp' due to 'crimes' by relatives .
North Korea denies existence of camp - but it is visible on Google Earth . |
67,328 | bf094fd02da49b2ac5a456396f0db8ddd51ac710 | Friday marks the anniversary of the assassination of Osama bin Laden in Pakistan by U.S. forces. Three years on, the core organization of al Qaeda has been significantly depleted. However, the danger from so-called "home-grown" terrorism may yet be on the rise, fuelled by foreign nationals returning from key international theatres of war such as Syria. In the United Kingdom, for instance, Charles Farr, director of the Office for Security and Counter-terrorism, recently asserted that the threat from UK nationals travelling to participate in the Syrian conflict is the "biggest challenge" to UK security services since 9/11. The total number of UK nationals who have fought in Syria is estimated at up to 366 by the International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation (ICSR) at Kings College London, with a significant number believed to have been killed there. Moreover, ICSR estimates that as many as 11,000 foreign fighters overall may have fought in Syria, from more than 70 countries, a number which is reported to be a higher concentration than anywhere since Afghanistan in the 1980s. A central concern here is that many of these individuals, which include potentially as many as 2,000 from Western Europe, plus individuals from North America, Australia, South-east Asia, and Africa, will return from Syria to their respective homelands battle hardened with significantly greater terrorist capability and resolve. And given that the relatively large number of these foreign fighters makes them collectively difficult to track with precision, further home-grown attacks appear increasingly likely. While this offers propaganda value for al Qaeda, such individuals often lack thorough indoctrination of the network's core messages, even though some, including last year's London and Boston terrorists, appear to have been partially motivated or inspired by them. This reflects, in part, the continued diminution of al Qaeda's central organization which is unlikely to be able to provide operational support for home-grown terrorists. It also means that these people, while highly dangerous, do not individually represent the same level of threat to international interests as larger cells and terrorist groups, and are thus less likely to be able to perform major, spectacular attacks in the mould of 9/11. Thus, while bin Laden's successor, Ayman al-Zawahiri, has sought to seize on home-grown Western terrorism, and indeed the chaos in Syria, for propaganda purposes, this cannot disguise the central al Qaeda organization's declining fortunes. Al-Zawahiri lacks bin Laden's personal authority within the terrorist network, and the core has also been weakened by the assassination of numerous other senior terrorist leaders. A fundamental challenge for al-Zawahiri is that while the central al Qaeda leadership appears to remain located largely in Pakistani tribal areas and borderlands, the wider network has becoming increasingly de-centralized and dispersed. The problems this can cause were underlined earlier this month in Syria when a jihadist group called Islamic State of Iraq and Greater Syria (ISIS) accused al Qaeda of having "deviated from the correct path," and "divided the mujahedeen in every place." The origin of the dispute probably lies in an edict from al-Zawahiri to ISIS to confine its activities to Iraq after it was accused of abuses of civilians and rival rebels in Syria. Al-Zawahiri has instead recognized the al-Nusra Front as the official al Qaeda affiliate in Syria and called for jihadist unity behind it. Accompanying this dispersal and de-centralization has been shifting the focus of al Qaeda groups and franchises whose attention is more on "local" national or regional issues, rather than the broader international designs of bin Laden. In part, this also reflects the greater difficulty of attacking key international targets many of whose defences have significantly hardened since 9/11. There has also been evolution in the geographical focal points of al Qaeda activity with terrorist nodes of growing importance, for instance, in key African and Middle Eastern countries, such as Yemen, where political upheaval since bin Laden's death has allowed terrorists and other insurgents to secure greater foothold. And reflecting this changed risk pattern, U.S. forces are re-deploying as a result. For instance, the CIA has expanded its staff in Yemen, and also enhanced its air bases in the Gulf from which it can launch drone strikes into the country. Only last week, Washington launched a major drone attack which, according to the Yemeni government, killed at least two dozen militants, including foreign fighters, in an al Qaeda training camp in the remote mountainous area of Abyan. Meanwhile in Africa, U.S. forces have also scaled up facilities in numerous states, including Kenya, Ethiopia, and the Central African Republic. This is intended to allow for greater aerial surveillance coverage and drone strikes, especially in North Africa, plus sites for military hardware storage. So while the central core of al Qaeda has been diminished since bin Laden's demise, much of the wider terrorist network remains potent, albeit more focused on local grievances than grander international ambitions. However, danger may be growing from home-grown threats fueled by battle-hardened individuals returning from foreign theaters of war, especially Syria, with greater terrorist resolve and capabilities. | Friday marks third anniversary of assassination of Osama bin Laden in Pakistan by U.S. forces .
Al Qaeda is depleted, but danger of home-grown terror on rise, writes Andrew Hammond .
11,000 foreign fighters overall may have fought in Syria, from more than 70 countries .
Al Qaeda franchises now focus more on "local" issues, Hammond says, threatening Western security . |
182,514 | 785966c05fb5fe10addeca3a86f1857329957fb0 | Transgender military personnel from 18 countries across the world gathered today to talk about their experiences and discuss whether the US military could join them. The conference attendees, who are all from militaries that allow transgender service, gathered in Washington, DC. The gathering, Perspectives on Transgender Military Service from Around the Globe, is the first-ever and largest international conference of transgender military service members on US soil. Transgender Major Alexandra Larsson of the Swedish Armed Forces speaks during a conference entitled 'Perspectives on Transgender Military Service from Around the Globe' The conference was organized by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the Palm Center in Washington . The conference included currently serving transgender personnel from the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Sweden. An estimated 15,500 transgender individuals currently serve in the US military, but they are banned by Pentagon rules from serving, and if their identity is discovered, the military is required to discharge them. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) supports the elimination of rules that ban transgender people from openly serving in the military, her office told the Washington Blade. Drew Hammill, a Pelosi spokesperson, told the Blade on Friday she believes gender identity should not be a factor in prohibiting Americans from serving in the military. 'Leader Pelosi believes there is no place for discrimination in the U.S. Armed Forces, including on the basis of gender identity,' Hammill said. Earlier this year a report found there is 'no compelling medical reason' for U.S. armed forced to ban transgender Americans from serving. Transgender Major Donna Harding of the Australian Army Nursing Corps speaks alongside Sergeant Lucy Jordan (left) of the Royal New Zealand Air Force . Transgender military personnel from 18 countries who allow them to serve openly, gathered to talk about their experiences . They also discussed at the conference whether the US military could join them . Earlier this year a report found there is 'no compelling medical reason' for U.S. armed forced to ban transgender Americans from serving . The independent commission led by a former U.S. surgeon general also concluded that President Obama could lift the decades-old ban without approval from Congress. About 15,500 transgender personnel are currently serving, nearly all under their birth genders and not transitioning in an appearance-altering way, according to the Williams Institute, a think tank. Dr. Joycelyn Elders, who served as surgeon general during Bill Clinton's first term as president, and Rear Adm. Alan Steinman, a former chief health and safety director for the Coast Guard, led the report that was released on Thursday. 'We determined not only that there is no compelling medical reason for the ban, but also that the ban itself is an expensive, damaging and unfair barrier to health care access for the approximately 15,450 transgender personnel who serve currently in the active, Guard and reserve components,' it said. The panel, convened by a think tank at San Francisco State University, said the ban has existed for several decades and apparently was derived in part from the psychiatric establishment's consensus, since revised, that gender identity issues amounted to a mental disorder. About 15,500 transgender personnel are currently serving, nearly all under their birth genders and not transitioning in an appearance-altering way, according to the Williams Institute, a think tank . The ban has existed for several decades and apparently was derived in part from the psychiatric establishment's consensus, since revised, that gender identity issues amounted to a mental disorder . The ban also appears based on the assumption that providing hormone treatment and sex reassignment surgeries would be too difficult, disruptive and expensive . Transgender Major Alexandra Larsson of the Swedish Armed Forces speaks at the conference . The ban also appears based on the assumption that providing hormone treatment and sex reassignment surgeries would be too difficult, disruptive and expensive. But the commission rejected those notions as inconsistent with modern medical practice and the scope of health care services routinely provided to non-transgender military personnel. 'I hope their takeaway will be we should evaluate every one of our people on the basis of their ability and what they can do, and if they have a condition we can treat we would treat it like we would treat anyone else,' Elders said in an interview with The Associated Press. At least a dozen nations, including Australia, Canada, England and Israel, allow military service by transgender individuals. Transgender rights advocates have been lobbying the Pentagon to revisit the blanket ban in the U.S. since Congress in 2010 repealed the law that barred gay, lesbian and bisexual individuals from openly serving in the military . The commission argued that facilitating gender transitions 'would place almost no burden on the military,' adding that a relatively small number of active and reserve service members would elect to undergo transition-related surgeries and that only a fraction might suffer complications that would prevent them from serving. It estimated that 230 transgender people a year would seek such surgery at an average cost of about $30,000. Retired Brigadier General Thomas Kolditz, a former Army commander and West Point professor on the commission, said he thinks allowing transgender people to serve openly would reduce gender-based harassment, assaults and suicides while enhancing national security. But Center for Military Readiness President Elaine Donnelly, whose group opposed the repeal of the ban on openly gay troops, predicted that putting transgender people in barracks, showers and other sex-segregated could cause sexual assaults to increase and infringe on the privacy of non-transgender personnel. 'This is putting an extra burden on men and women in the military that they certainly don't need and they don't deserve,' Donnelly said. | The conference attendees gathered in Washington, DC on Monday .
At least 18 nations, including Australia, Canada, England and Israel, allow military service by transgender individuals .
Gathering is first international conference of transgender military service members on US soil .
About 15,500 transgender individuals currently serve in US military secretly . |
91,030 | 0111f8d644bc20a49a545ce5397f0babfc3276a8 | If you’re lucky enough to look about 18, there’s a good chance you’ll be asked to provide ID at the supermarket to buy alcohol, knives or glue. Now an addition has been made to that list of potentially hazardous items – chocolate pudding. Robert Nemeti was amazed when he was asked for ID while buying a microwaveable pudding at Tesco. Proof is in the pudding: Shopper Robert Nemeti was stunned when he was asked for ID as the dessert posed a risk to the roof of his mouth . Mr Nemeti, 24, was going through the . self-service checkout when an on-screen warning announced that his . purchase had to be ‘approved’. A member of staff at the store in Southampton hurried over and asked Mr Nemeti to produce identification. When asked why, the female assistant told him that the Cadbury Hot Chocolate Pudding would get hot when cooked and may burn him. Mr Nemeti, a photographer, yesterday described the policy as ‘crazy’ health and safety. He said he did not have any ID on him because he had just ‘nipped to the shop to buy something sweet after work’. Tesco said the machine should not have requested proof of age for the dessert (file picture) A member of staff at the store in Southampton demanded Mr Nemeti produce identification showing he was over 18 . Luckily the shop worker approved the . purchase anyway, saying she was satisfied he looked old enough to be . trusted with the £1 dessert. Mr Nemeti, from Southampton, said: ‘I . scanned through a pint of milk without any problem and then the pudding. ‘The machine beeped, flashed up a warning on the screen and an annoying automated voice warned “approval needed”. ‘I only bought two items – and they . weren’t alcohol, cigarettes, solvents or sharp – so I was clueless as to . why they would need approval. The 24-year-old described the request for his age as 'health and safety gone mad' ‘The woman who was monitoring the . self-service checkouts came over and asked me for identification showing . I was 18. I asked her why and was stunned when she told me: “It gets . hot when you cook it – and you may burn yourself”. Surely the same can . be said of many of the products they sell in any supermarket? Health and . safety has gone crazy if you now have to prove you can be trusted with a . chocolate pudding.’ He added: ‘I explained that I didn’t . have any ID. Thankfully she agreed that I looked over 18 and she scanned . her staff pass to approve the sale.’ Mr Nemeti managed to cook and eat the dessert that evening without injury. Tesco said: ‘The self service machines . can be temperamental. The pudding should not be an age-restricted . product. It’s a mystery why the machine prompted staff to ask for ID.’ | Robert Nemeti's purchase had to be 'approved' at self-service checkout .
Staff member asked for ID to buy the £1 dessert in case he burned himself .
He described the policy as 'crazy' health and safety .
Tesco said self-service machines can be 'temperamental' and that the pudding should not be 'an age-restricted product' |
69,957 | c65ad0c35b284601d88352c308143bd3a0dd3d66 | (CNN) -- Penn State's Board of Trustees on Friday authorized the school to offer settlements to some of the men who say former assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky abused them. No settlement agreements have been signed, the board said in a statement after its meeting Friday. The settlement offers apply to a number of people who have made claims against Penn State arising from the Sandusky case, the board said. "Today's action is yet another important step toward the resolution of claims from Sandusky's victims," Penn State President Rodney Erickson said in a statement. "As we have previously said, the university intends to deal with these individuals in a fair and expeditious manner, with due regard to their privacy." The board said the settlement offers are "within a range of dollar values" that is being kept confidential. It said there would be no more comments until the settlements have been finalized and agreed to. Painful chapter closes with Sandusky's conviction . A judge sentenced Sandusky in October to more than 30 years in prison for sexually abusing 10 boys over a 15-year period. The sex abuse scandal led to the 2011 firing of Penn State's head football coach, Joe Paterno, and the ouster of the university's longtime president, Graham Spanier. Paterno died last year of lung cancer. Penn State antitrust suit against NCAA tossed out . CNN's Chandler Friedman contributed to this report. | Board of trustees authorizes Penn State to offer settlements to some victims .
The settlements are for those who have made claims against the school .
No settlement agreements have been signed, the board says .
Sandusky was sentenced in October for sexually abusing young boys . |
194,303 | 8786f8cb9e33066505918b3a62978d2e1a014597 | Jihadists from the Islamic State have agreed a ceasefire with Syrian rebels in a suburb of the capital Damascus, it has been revealed. The deal was agreed between Isis and moderate and Islamist rebels in Hajar al-Aswad, south of the city, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. It comes as it was revealed that Isis had seen revenues from black-market oil sales plummet - after key engineers fled from oil fields captured by the terrorists in Iraq and Syria. Scroll down for video . Jihadists from the Islamic State have agreed a ceasefire with Syrian rebels in a suburb of the capital Damascus, it has been revealed. A Syrian soldier is pictured firing a heavy machine gun in a village near the city . The deal was agreed between Isis and moderate and Islamist rebels in Hajar al-Aswad, south of Damascus. In this picture, residents of nearby Douma clear debris following air strikes that activists say was carried out by President Bashar al-Assad . Under the deal, 'the two parties will respect a truce until a final solution is found and they promise not to attack each other because they consider the principal enemy to be the Nussayri regime.' Nussayri is a pejorative term for the Alawite sect, an offshoot of Shiite Islam to which President Bashar al-Assad belongs, Agence France-Presse reports. Syria's armed opposition initially welcomed jihadists including Islamic State members in their fight against Assad. But the group's interpretation of Islam and quest for domination of captured territory sparked a backlash against it that began in January. A coalition of rebel groups pushed IS out of much of northern Syria, but it has recaptured much of that territory in recent months and has a strong presence in Hajar al-Aswad. Islamic State has seen revenues from black-market oil sells plummet - after a number of key engineers fled from oil fields captured by the terrorists in Iraq and Syria . Isis has captured oil fields at Sasan, Ajeel and Sadid in Iraq as well as Omar in Syria while large refineries have also been captured at Fallujah, Aksas and Tikrit . Meanwhile, there are claims that the terrorist group has seen revenues from its illegally-held oil fields halved after many workers abandoned the facilities. Some estimates suggest the terrorist group had been making up to $3million (£1.8million) a day in July from oil fields they have seized during the conflict. The Times reports that military setbacks in recent weeks may have prompted a dramatic reduction in revenue from the criminal enterprise. And there are reports that this could drop further amid plans by the United States and its partners to launch airstrikes on key Isis strongholds in the two countries. The newspaper quotes Michael Stephens from the Royal United Services Institute think-tank as saying: 'Revenues are down below $1.5million a day now. 'I can see Isis running out of oil down the line. They are not at that point yet - production in Syria is still pretty stable - but I think they're in trouble.' U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry (left) talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi during a meeting at the presidential palace in Cairo today . The terrorist organisation has gone about 'plundering' oil and gas facilities since its emergence in 2012, The Times reports, and has even appointed an 'oil minister' to run the illegal industry after its operatives stole 200 lorries in Iraq. It has captured oil fields at Sasan, Ajeel and Sadid in Iraq as well as Omar in Syria while large refineries have also been captured at Fallujah, Aksas and Tikrit, the newspaper reports, adding that many staff were persuaded to stay on with pay rises or 'at the barrel of a gun.' But many of the existing engineers have since fled with Isis running with 'skeleton staff' at some of the facilities including Omar, which has changed hands three times since the conflict started. It is understood that Isis was taking about 80,000 barrels a day from oil fields it was controlling in the two countries - but that has halved in the last two months. The newspaper says Isis makes up to $25 a barrel, using smuggling networks to transport their product across borders. Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry arrived at Cairo International Airport today ahead of a for a short visit of less than a day to discuss how Egypt can help in the fight against Islamic State. He has been on a regional trip to gather support for Barack Obama's plans to counter the militant group. | Islamic State agrees truce with moderate Syrian rebels in Damascus suburb .
Deal between Isis and rebels was reached in Hajar al-Aswad, in south of city .
It comes as $3m-a-day oil revenues from Islamic State started to dry up .
The figure may now have halved after engineers starting fleeing facilities .
Terrorists' revenues also slashed as a result of military setbacks recently . |
67,770 | c0401362dc62680318d20def1341533f5dab54ba | (CNN) -- The last white president of South Africa said the post-apartheid land is still trekking toward prosperity for all and a better democracy. "Fact is that in South Africa, transition is taking its time," F.W. de Klerk said in an interview aired Thursday on "Amanpour," hosted by CNN's Christiane Amanpour. "I'm convinced it's a solid democracy and it will remain so, but it's not a healthy democracy." Two decades ago, de Klerk joined with then-African National Congress leader Nelson Mandela to end the notorious system of racial separation known as apartheid. Their efforts led to a Nobel Peace Prize. Read more: South Africa 'secrets' bill sparks outcry . Today, de Klerk said, the ANC -- the party in control -- is too powerful, its leaders have lost their "moral compass," and it needs to split. "Any democracy in which one party has 65 percent of the vote and all the other parties share in the remaining 35 is not healthy," said de Klerk, who spoke with Amanpour during a summit of Nobel laureates in Chicago. "On paper, we have a wonderful constitution. We've had a number of successful, free elections. We've had peaceful handover of power from one president to the other. So we really comply with the definition of a good democracy. But the party political situation needs to be normalized." De Klerk said the system is failing to deliver to the people. "The main failure, why we haven't made better progress," he said, "does not lie in any way whatsoever in the agreements we reached, which we negotiated between 1990 and 1994 and 1996. We agreed upon a good constitution, which is a transformational document. "It is practical policies which have failed to bring a better life to the masses, which led to the enrichment only of the few, also amongst the new black elite. The middle class is growing fast, but somehow or another, the quality of service delivery had deteriorated substantially. Education has actually moved some steps backwards." De Klerk cites high unemployment as a grinding problem, with a rate of 50 percent among blacks between ages 18 and 34. He was asked about a proposal by activist Desmond Tutu for whites to pay a wealth tax, given their heritage of privilege. "I think already, if you analyze who pays tax, the tax structure is quite stringent on high-income earners," he said. "Inasmuch as the white forms the biggest percentage of high-income earners, they pay tax comparable to what very rich people pay in other countries. "The whites in South Africa don't mind putting their hands in their pockets. They realize that all of us share a joint destiny, a common destiny, that we need to win the war against poverty. There isn't a resistance against paying tax. "There is irritation if the high taxes paid are misspent. If there is not a frugal administration of the finances, if millions and millions are spent on non-worthwhile get-togethers and on luxury cars and on this and on that. There is not a resistance against being part of the solution by putting their hands deep in their pockets." Asked about a statement from Tutu calling the ANC worse than the apartheid regime, de Klerk said he was "slightly surprised." "I think it explains that those who say it's only the whites who are concerned about what is happening at the moment, it demolishes that assumption. It proves that moderate, well-disposed, serious black South Africans are as concerned about the loss of its moral compass by the present ANC leadership." Mandela became president of South Africa on May 10, 1994, after decades of white minority rule. De Klerk said he and Mandela have been "close friends." "Not the closest in the sense that we see each other once a week. Also we live apart. But he's been in my home as a guest; I've been in his home as a guest. When I go to Johannesburg, my wife and I will have tea with him and Graca, his wife. No, we call each other on birthdays." Mandela is age 93 and de Klerk is 76. "There is no animosity left between us," he said, even though there once were tensions . "The main cause for the tensions when there were tensions between us was the ongoing political violence," De Klerk explained. "His accusations and personal attacks upon me, as if I were responsible for it, as if I were looking away and allowing it to happen, not recognizing that extensive efforts which I made to identify the culprits. So that was the main cause of the tension." He said he first met Mandela when he was brought "under the cover of darkness" to his office from a prison where the longtime activist was being held. "I have read, of course, everything I could read about him beforehand. I was well briefed. I was impressed, however, by how tall he was, by the ramrod straightness of his stature, and realized that this is a very special man. He had an aura around him. He still has an aura around him. He's truly a very dignified and a very admirable person." De Klerk said it was true that Mandela said he had to persuade his associates "to sit down with the enemy." "I had to convince some of my supporters in the same vein," he said. "But can I say that from the beginning, in the negotiations, I realized that he was also a good listener, reaching out to the one speaking, trying to understand what lies behind what was being said. I felt it that first evening. And both of us later wrote in our respective autobiographies, after that very first meeting, we could report back to our constituencies, I think I can do business with this man." Amanpour noted that Mandela had once called de Klerk "a man of integrity" but had taken it back, regretting that de Klerk had never renounced the principle of apartheid. De Klerk said he wasn't aware Mandela said he "never renounced apartheid." "I have made the most profound apology in front of the Truth Commission and on other occasions about the injustices which were wrought by apartheid," he said, referring to the panel established to help uncover past government errors and abuses and to foster amity. He said he hasn't issued an apology for "the original concept of seeking to bring justice to all South Africans through the concept of nation states," the creation of separate black and white states. "In South Africa it failed," he said. "And by the end of the '70's, we had to realize, and accept and admit to ourselves that it had failed. And that is when fundamental reform started." He was then asked if apartheid failed because it was unworkable, or because it was simply morally repugnant. "There are three reasons it failed," he said. "It failed because the whites wanted to keep too much land for themselves. It failed because we (whites and blacks) became economically integrated, and it failed because the majority of blacks said that is not how we want our rights." Still, de Klerk would not back off his belief in the validity of the original concept of "separate but equal" nation states. "I don't apologize for saying that what drove me as a young man, before I decided we need to embrace a new vision, was a quest to bring justice for black South Africans in a way which would not -- that's what I believed then -- destroy the justice to which my people were entitled. My people, whose self-determination (was) taken away by colonial power in the Anglo World War." That, de Klerk said, is how he was raised. "And it was in an era when also in America and elsewhere, and across the continent of Africa, there was still not this realization that we are trampling upon the human rights of people. So I'm a convert." | F.W. de Klerk is the last leader of white-ruled South Africa .
He says the ANC is too powerful and that is a problem .
There's grinding unemployment in the country, he says .
He says he and Nelson Mandela are "close friends" |
147,360 | 4a845ed534764051146c843073cd4d173e42416c | The United States appears to have just scored a big win in Syria in taking out a key al Qaeda bomb-maker plotting to blow up American passenger jets, but it could come at significant cost because the same strikes appear to have also killed fighters belonging to two powerful jihadist rebel groups who were fighting ISIS and not previously focused on targeting the United States. U.S. officials said the strikes overnight Wednesday in Idlib province to the west of Aleppo targeted Khorasan, a group of veteran al Qaeda operatives previously based in Afghanistan and Pakistan. A U.S. defense official told CNN's Barbara Starr one strike likely killed David Drugeon, a skilled French bomb-maker in the group, while he traveled in a vehicle. U.S. strike reportedly kills key bomb-maker. Drugeon, 24, was one of the most active bomb-makers within the Khorasan group, a U.S. intelligence official told Pamela Brown, and was working on non-metallic explosive devices which the group hoped to smuggle on board Western passenger aircraft. Among the devices Khorasan were developing to try to beat airport security: bombs made out of clothing dipped in explosive solution and explosives concealed in personal electronics and printer cartridges. Drugeon was also looking to recruit and train Western operatives for attacks in Europe, according to officials. Bomb-maker's beginnings . The Pentagon said the strikes, in the vicinity of Sarmada, hit five Khorasan targets, including vehicles, buildings, and bomb-making and training areas. But reports from the ground suggest that facilities and vehicles belonging to Jabhat al Nusra and Ahrar al Sham were the ones hit overnight and that there were civilian casualties. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the strikes hit a Jabhat al Nusra vehicle in Samarda, the Jabhat al Nusra headquarters in the town of Harim -- just 14 miles from Sarmada, another Nusra building in al-Muhameen and a headquarters building belonging to Ahrar al Sham near the Bab-al Hawa border crossing with Turkey just a few miles from Samarda. Airstrikes target another Islamist group . This suggests U.S. intelligence believed Khorasan operatives were being hosted by elements belonging to the two jihadist groups. The strikes "did not target the Nusrah Front as a whole," the Pentagon stated Thursday, in an apparent concession that Nusra facilities were indeed in the firing line. On September 22, Nusra fighters were also apparently killed in cruise missiles strikes in Idlib province that the United States said were targeting Khorasan. Eyewitnesses interviewed by Human Rights Watch said the strikes hit a Nusra compound near the village of Kafr Deryan, but also killed several civilians in the village. Stirring the hornets' nest . The deaths of Nusra and Ahrar al Sham fighters could create serious blow-back for the United States. Although Jabhat al Nusra is an al Qaeda affiliate and has ties to -- and some overlap of personnel with -- the Khorasan Group, its top leadership has not to date made attacking the United States and the West priority. The worry is that al Nusra could pivot away from its current focus on overthrowing the Assad regime toward plotting attacks in the West. While Khorasan has at most dozens of operatives, Nusra has thousands of fighters in its ranks, including hundreds of Western passport holders. It also operates training camps on a significant scale, controls a significant and growing swath of territory in Syria and has deep financial pockets. Nusra leader Muhammad al-Julani -- in a rare public declaration -- described the Western missile strikes as an assault on Islam, and warned the Western public: "This is what will take the battle to the heart of your land, for the Muslims will not stand as spectators watching their sons bombed and killed in their lands, while you stay safe in your lands." Islamist rivals in Syria find a common enemy . Ahrar al Sham, a powerful and well-funded Salafi-jihadist rebel group with widespread popularity among Syrian Sunnis, has to date kept its distance from al Qaeda and shown virtually no interest in its ambitions of global jihad. According to Charles Lister at the Brookings Doha Center, its leadership in recent months appeared to be gravitating toward more moderate positions. And Ahrar al Sham, like Jahbat al Nusra, has been involved in fierce fighting against ISIS over the last year. But Ahrar al Sham and Nusra leaders' anger over Wednesday night's strikes could see them soften their opposition to ISIS. In a Twitter message posted Thursday, Ahrar al Sham railed against the U.S.-led coalition for "leveling to the ground" a headquarters building and called for an immediate halt to fighting between different rebel groups in Syria. Khorasan likely still a threat . U.S. intelligence is still assessing the impact of the strikes on Khorasan. Several of the group's leaders may still be alive. U.S. intelligence agencies were almost certain that the head of the group -- Muhsin al Fadhli, a 33-year-old Kuwaiti operative who was part of Osama bin Laden's inner circle before 9/11 -- survived the September 22 cruise missile strikes. Another senior operative in Khorasan is Abdul al Charekh, a 29-year-old Saudi former internet propagandist who ran al Qaeda's finances in the tribal areas of Pakistan before decamping for Syria at some point after 2012. And the group has at least one other operative with bomb-making knowledge: Abdelrahman al Johani, a Saudi operative in his mid-40s who U.S. intelligence believes has been plotting terrorist attacks against the West from Syria since becoming one of the founding members of the Khorasan Group in mid-2013. Al Johani, who remains on Saudi Arabia's most wanted list, was part of al Qaeda's leadership council and its counterintelligence chief in the tribal areas of Pakistan before moving to Syria around 2012. Saudi counterterrorism officials believe he previously received training in explosives and toxins. According to the United Nations, before joining Khorasan, al Charekh and al Johani had senior positions with Nusra in Latakia province, with the latter being in charge of foreign fighter networks, illustrating the overlap and ties between the two groups. Technological race to keep Western planes safe . U.S. officials believe al Qaeda's affiliate in Yemen, al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, has transferred bomb-making know-how to the Khorasan Group. Between 2009 and 2012, AQAP master-bombmaker Ibrahim al Asiri orchestrated three terrorist plots to bring down American aviation. In 2009, al Asiri fitted out a Nigerian AQAP recruit with an explosive underwear device containing PETN, a white, powdery, difficult-to-detect explosive, but the attempted attack failed to bring down a passenger jet landing in Detroit on Christmas Day. Al Asiri used the same explosive compound concealed in printer cartridges in a plot to blow up cargo jets headed to the United States just before the 2010 midterm elections. And according to Western counterterrorism officials, he used ETN, a closely related chemical compound, in a third plot targeting U.S. aviation with a more advanced form of the underwear device. The plot was thwarted by a Saudi-British spy in 2012 who was recruited for the suicide attack and retrieved the device. Experts tell CNN the latest generation of airport security scanners, including multi-view X-ray machines, and "explosive trace detection" -- which involves running a hand-held device over the surface or inside of cabin and checked luggage, "sniffing" the air for minute quantities of explosive -- have a good chance at detecting PETN and similar explosive compounds but offer no 100% guarantee, especially if the explosives are well-concealed and sealed. Western intelligence agencies believe al Qaeda groups such as AQAP and Khorasan are continuously trying to develop new ways to beat airport security. It is an arms race between al Qaeda bomb-makers and outfits developing explosive detection technologies that could not have higher stakes. | Official: A U.S. airstrike in Syria appears to have killed French bomb-maker David Drugeon .
Drugeon is part of the militant Khorasan Group .
But airstrikes likely killed other fighters not directly targeting U.S.
And that could possibly soften their opposition to ISIS . |
128,109 | 3191cb766c91367a91f607dc0ee0199bacb4500c | By . Graeme Yorke . Manchester United face a fight to keep Danny Welbeck and Tom Cleverley, with Everton planning a double swoop for the pair. Manager . Roberto Martinez will consider a move for Welbeck if Everton fail to . strike a deal to keep on-loan Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku, who is also wanted by Tottenham and would command a transfer fee of more than £20million. A deal for Cleverley would be easier, as the midfielder has only 14 months on his contract. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Former United manager David Moyes defending Tom Cleverley . Being driven out? Tom Cleverley, arriving for training at Manchester United, is wanted by Everton . On the list: Tom Cleverley has become a target for the Old Trafford boo-boys . On the move: United striker Danny Welbeck could move to Everton if the Toffees fail to land Romelu Lukaku . Admirer: Roberto Martinez insists the criticism of Cleverley has been unfair . Martinez, who had the Manchester . United man on loan at Wigan Athletic, sees Cleverley as a replacement . for Leon Osman, with £8million the likely price for the 24-year-old. The . Spaniard is an admirer of the England midfielder, whose contract runs . out next summer, and insists the criticism he has received is . unfortunate. 'What has happened is not Tom’s fault, I think he is as good a talent as we have in the English game, and he is still growing,' said Martinez. 'There are only a few players in this country who have had the sort of education where they look as if they could have been brought up in Holland, Spain or France. 'You wouldn’t get this in other countries, and I find it disappointing that he is being judged so aggressively when he has not even reached 200 games. 'Such a young player does not need that sort of scrutiny or pressure, but I am sure he will come through it and be even more motivated.' Martinez claims Cleverley wasn't suited to the English game, and instead would have fitted in well in the Eredivisie or in La Liga. Previously: Cleverley played under Roberto Martinez while on loan at Wigan . Tom Cleverley enjoyed a fruitful season in the Premier League with Wigan in 2010-11, playing 25 times and scoring four goals . If Cleverley does move to Goodison Park, he could fit in to the style of Everton's play, which has brought success this term. He said: 'I always said that, technically and tactically, Tom wasn’t a normal player in this country – he could have easily fitted into the Dutch way of playing and also had the ability of the Spanish side. 'He is a real example of someone who has the talent but just needs the platform and environment and direction to be allowed to express himself.' Like for like: Cleverley could be used as a long-term replacement for Leon Osman (right) Last month, after an online campaign was started to keep Cleverley out of the England squad, Martinez said: ‘I don’t understand it. Tom is part of this new generation of outstanding English talent. ‘There are only a few players who look as if they could have been brought up in Holland or Spain or France because of their understanding of the game, their tactical awareness and their technical quality. Tom has got that. ‘Then as a boy, he has got the perfect temperament. He is a level-headed boy. I just don’t understand this campaign.' | Martinez sees Cleverley as a replacement for Leon Osman .
Everton could move for Welbeck if club fail to land Lukaku .
United midfielder Cleverely has one year left on his Old Trafford deal .
The 24-year-old played for Martinez at Wigan in 2010-11 .
Martinez claims Cleverley would fit in better in Spain or Holland .
Everton boss is 'disappointed' by criticism of Cleverley . |
100,976 | 0e1e834bb5fb8a42fb3ba96b94375a3e70762fa2 | By . Sara Malm . PUBLISHED: . 17:50 EST, 25 November 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 05:39 EST, 26 November 2012 . Disgraced former Labour MP Margaret Moran was spotted enjoying herself at a pub only five days after a judge ruled she was too depressed to stand trial. The 57-year-old former MP cheated the taxpayer out of £53,000 in one of the worst cases of fraud to emerge from the parliamentary expenses scandal. As a consequence of the judge's ruling on her mental health the former MP for Luton South will not be jailed nor receive a criminal record, despite her conviction of 21 counts of fraud earlier this month. Out and about: Former MP Margaret Moran is pictured leaving a pub in Southampton only five days after she was deemed unfit to stand trial . Moran, who resigned in 2010, appeared to be enjoying a glass of wine with her husband at a pub in West End, Southampton, a few miles from their Hampshire home last week, despite being deemed too depressed to defend herself in court. Ms Moran and her husband were also seen around 20 miles away at Lepe Country Park, where they spent an hour walking their dog. Moran did not have to appear at Southwark Crown Court on November 13 nor enter a plea to the 15 charges of false accounting and six of using false information after a judge ruled her ‘severe depressive disorder’ meant she was unable to defend herself. The charges included submitting ‘bogus’ invoices for more than £22,000 for goods and services which did not exist. Up and running: Ms Moran did not have to appear at Southwark Crown Court to enter her plea in the case against her over her fraudulent expenses claims . Able to drink: Despite a judge ruling she was too fragile to defend herself in court, MP Margaret Moran appeared to enjoy a glass of red wine at the pub near her Hampshire home . Up for a walk: Ms Moran was later seen at Lepe Country Park, walking her dog with her husband . Between April 2004 and August 2008 she submitted fraudulent claims of around £60,000 – more than double that of any of the other four MPs who have been tried – of which she received more than £53,000. The jury found that the case against ‘broken woman’ Moran, who earned a £64,766 salary as an MP, was ‘proved’. Mr Justice Saunders said he cannot ‘punish her as such’ through a prison sentence or fine. Instead, he can give her a hospital order, supervision order or absolute discharge. He adjourned his decision but indicated a supervision order is most likely. Meanwhile, Moran is being treated by psychiatrists at home in Southampton. Matthew Sinclair, chief executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, added: ‘The verdict does not feel like justice done.’ 'Depressed': Margaret Moran is pictured leaving Westminster Magistrates Court after she was officially charged over her fraudulent expenses claims . The court heard how Moran, an MP from 1997 until her resignation in 2010, ‘abused’ the system of claiming parliamentary expenses, which was largely based on trust. Peter Wright QC, prosecuting, said MPs were permitted to receive expenses for a designated second home, but she had twice swapped the designation of her second home ‘in a process known as flipping’. She had exploited the system to ‘kit out’ homes in London, Luton and Southampton. In 2006 she submitted a claim for £4,756.40 for replacement kitchen units for her second home, which was accompanied by an invoice from a firm called Elite Builders that was a ‘complete forgery’. A year later, she submitted invoices for £14,805 and £1,823 for work in the name of Mandere Construction, but the bills were ‘utterly false’. In 2008, she ‘flipped’ her designated home to Southampton, which belonged to her then fiancé and now husband Michael Booker. She submitted false bills for £22,500 of building work at this property, including dry rot repairs, which was for work completed in the previous financial year, when she had already exhausted her parliamentary allowance, and when her designated second home was in Luton. | Ex-Labour MP was ruled too depressed to defend herself at expenses trial .
As a result of her 'severe depression' she cannot be sent to jail .
Margaret Moran was convicted of 21 counts of fraud after unlawfully claiming £53,000 of taxpayers money . |
20,639 | 3a8c009b5453d4ecde92965120e8de4b04184cd4 | A rapist has been jailed after his schoolgirl victim confronted him more than 30 years later and asked 'do you remember me?' Father-of-two Christopher Martin pounced on his victim, then aged 15, after he offered to walk her home from a social club in Manchester in 1980. After the attack the landscape gardener, now aged 51, was able to return to his 'care-free' life, as the girl kept quiet about the ordeal. Christopher Martin, 51, has been jailed for seven years after being convicted of the historic rape of a teenage girl in 1980 . But a chance encounter more than 30 years later, led his victim to finally find the courage to report Martin to the police. The court heard the woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, approached Martin after seeing him and his family enjoying themselves at a festival and said: 'Are you Christopher Martin. Do you remember me?' He was jailed for seven years after a jury convicted him of rape following a trial at Manchester Crown Court. Martin had claimed that his was the victim of mistaken identity, but the jury disbelieved his version of events. The jury heard his victim had trusted him to walk her home from the social club more than 30 years ago. 'She was excited at the prospect of being walked home by you', said Judge David Stockdale QC, sentencing. 'She thought you were something of a catch, and that your offer meant an indication that you were interested in her. As it turned out you were interested in her, but in all the wrong ways.' The victim, now a grown woman, repeatedly slapped Martin around the face as he launched his attack. After Martin had raped the girl he left her 'covered in blood', in the dark, isolated corner of the park. At the time the girl only confided in her best friend about what had happened in the park. It was not until June 2013 that she saw Martin again, enjoying himself with his family at the Didsbury Festival in Manchester, and confronted him. She saw him and again days later in the pub and made the decision to go to the police. Martin was convicted following a trial at Manchester Crown Court, pictured above, in which the jury were told that he was confronted by his victim in 2013 . Police said the victim finally had the courage to come forward after seeing him again and reading in the press about a number of historic rape cases. Martin's barrister said he had lived 'a very ordinary, unremarkable, blameless life', working consistently and caring for his elderly parents and disabled older brother. She said: 'He has two very small children. Those two children are of an age where they will notice their father is no longer present. The two children inevitably will feel the consequences of the custodial sentence which is imposed upon Mr Martin.' Martin of Fallowfield, Manchester, was also ordered to sign the sex offenders register for life. After the case, Detective Constable Laura Hughes said: 'The victim was so scared after she had been raped that she felt she could not report it to the police. 'However recently she saw Martin a number of times and her memories of the attack came back to her and this along with the media reports regarding historic rapes gave her the confidence to come forward and report the incident to the police. 'I would like to praise her for having the courage to come forward and speak to us over three decades after the attack happened. 'I hope that this sentence provides some encouragement to other people who may have been victims of this sort of abuse to report it to the police.' | Christopher Martin, 51, convicted by a jury of a historic count of rape .
His terrified victim,15, kept silent about the attack for more than 30 years .
She confronted Martin after bumping into him at a music festival in 2013 .
After the encounter found the courage to report the father-of-two to police .
Martin was jailed for seven years by a judge at Manchester Crown Court . |
86,860 | f685fe5969ebaa23ee2fd0abed5a30538df169d9 | Forget feminism: Laura Howard says women aren't as successful in business because they want to have children . Whether it's their views on immigration or admiration of Adolf Hitler, UKIP politicians are never far from controversy. Now a new supporter has spoken out in an attempt to refresh the image of her beloved party, although she may not have been entirely successful. UKIP follower Laura Howard has given an interview to The Debrief in which she said she hopes to debunk the myth that the party is a just 'bunch of old white men'. But in doing so, the 19-year-old student nurse from Birmingham could enrage many with her anti-feminist sentiments. She told Rosamund Urwin that she's against modern feminism because 'it’s gone almost beyond equality: they want women to have more rights than men. They want quotas for women in businesses and I don't agree with that.' She believes it isn't sex discrimination preventing women taking on more highly paid, powerful roles but their own life choices. 'I think the main reason behind that is that women want to have children and a family life,' she said of the male domination of company boards. She added that politics is also male dominated not because of a lack of opportunities for her gender, but because women are simply not as interested in it. 'If you look at someone like Theresa May, she's a really well-established politician. I just think women aren't as interested as sad as that is,' she said. Scroll down for video . Not interested: Laura says that the lack of women in politics is due to the female gender's lack of interest rather than unequal opportunities but she thoroughly admires Theresa May (pictured) The outspoken teenager's opinions echo those of UKIP leader Nigel Farage who said earlier this year that mothers are 'worth less' to employers in the City than men. He said that women can succeed in the industry as long as they are willing to 'sacrifice the family life'. Laura has been campaigning for UKIP for the last two years and stood to be a councillor in Quinton in Birmingham. She has ambitions to one day run for parliament and her converts to the party so far include many of her own family members. Mutual values: The outspoken teenagers opinions echo those of UKIP leader Nigel Farage (pictured) Where they once supported the Conservatives and Labour, she's now persuaded her parents and grandparents to vote UKIP. She said it was the party's animal rights and EU stance that attracted her to them. 'I am anti-the EU because I'm pro-democracy,' she says. She adds that she doesn't think of UKIP as far right but 'just something different.' The student believes the party has much to offer people her age as 'immigration affects jobs and house prices - those are things that really affect young people today.' The full article appears on www.thedebrief.co.uk . | Laura Howard, 19, is an active UKIP supporter .
She agrees with party's immigration policies .
Admits she is against modern feminism .
She thinks women aren't as successful because they prioritise family life .
Says politics is male dominated because her gender just isn't interested . |
67,697 | c0060f1f6048cb2ea0175c2519a8a9480c122cde | A mother has spoken for the first time since losing her legs and fingers from a dog bite infection as she learns to walk again. Mother-of-four Robin Sullins, 48, of Austin, Texas, who owns a chihuahua, a terrier and a boxer lab, was breaking up a fight between one of her dogs and her daughter Hannah's pet on Christmas Day when she was bitten. She failed to notice that she had been scratched until two days later when she became seriously ill. Her condition rapidly deteriorated and she fell into a coma before doctors were forced to carry out the amputations. Scroll down for video . Dog attack: Robin Sullins had both legs and all her fingers amputated after suffering a minor dog bite last Christmas Day . Small steps: Robin Sullins is learning to walk again with prosthetic legs following her amputations . Road to recovery: Ms Sullins, from Texas, is fighting back from her devastating illness with the support of her loving family . Eight months on, the brave mother is learning to walk again with prosthetic legs and the loving support of her partner, children and two grandchildren. Ms Sullins has a fundraising website set up to help with her rehabilitation and living costs. She told KHOU this week: 'I feel really blessed to be here. I'm here because people wanted me here. People prayed and stayed and wanted me to be here.' However she is determined not to allow her devastating injuries prevent animal lovers from owning a cat or dog. Her website describes how Ms Sullins' pet dogs 'are her best friends' and says she's rescued more 'four-footers than we can count'. On the brink: Ms Sullins slipped into a coma as her organs began to fail from an infection contracted through a small bite from a dog . 'Blessed': The mother-of-four said that she survived thanks to the prayers and love of her family . Texas style: Robin posted this picture of a cowboy boot-inspired prosthetic leg on her Facebook page . Ms Sullins was infected with Capnocytophaga Canimorsus, a bacteria commonly found in the mouths of healthy cats and dogs and not normally dangerous. However, an unusual reaction left her having to have both her legs amputated below the knees and all her fingers removed apart from her thumb. Ms Sullins' daughter Hannah was eight months pregnant at the time her mother fell dangerously ill. Hannah had a little girl named Averie Rose on January 24 this year. Rescuer: Robin Sullins is well-known for her love of dogs and has saved many over the years. She was breaking up a fight between two dogs when she was bitten . Mother-of-four: Robin Sullins, of Austin, Texas, says she survived thanks to the love and support of her family including her four children . | Robins Sullins, 48, from Texas was given a small scratch from her daughter's pet dog on Christmas Day . |
178,346 | 72e9107aee7f5b179b6f1b327bee559efb513d62 | Car manufacturers may be working on eco-friendly cars using hydrogen fuel cells and ‘green’ electricity. But three amateur inventors have come up with a steam-powered bike that uses sustainable wood chips for fuel. The Cornish trio are testing their bike on local moorland and hope their biogas engine could one day be used to power homes and other machines in a more eco-friendly way than diesel. Scroll down for video . A new approach to cycling: Three amateur inventors have come up with a steam-powered bike that uses sustainable wood chips for fuel. Richard Backborow, Graham Waldren and Mat Thompson are pictured from left to right . The machine is endorsed by celebrity chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and is a cross between a bicycle and trike. It works by woodchips being burnt inside the contraption’s biomass engine, which gives off gas that is condensed into steam. Rather than pedalling, the rider uses their feet to pump air into the ‘expansion motor’ to generate one horsepower – making the machine three times more powerful than the average cyclist. Inventor craftsman Graham Waldren designed and built the bike with his friends Richard Blackborow, a gallery curator, and Mat Thompson, who works in healthcare. Friends in high places: The machine is endorsed by celebrity chef Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall (pictured) and is a cross between a bicycle and trike, relying on wood chips for fuel . For when the chips aren't down: The bike works by burning wood chips (pictured) inside the contraption’s biomass engine, which gives off gas that is condensed into steam. Rather than pedalling, the rider uses their feet to pump air into the ‘expansion motor’ to generate one horsepower . The bike uses wood chips for fuel. The chips are burnt inside the contraption’s biomass engine, which gives off gas that is condensed into steam. Rather than pedalling, the rider uses their feet to pump air into the ‘expansion motor’ to generate one horsepower – making the machine three times more powerful than the average cyclist. They are currently testing their new technology on moorland near Zennor, Cornwall and hope one to day to see it power homes and other devices. Mr Waldren said: ‘No-one has made any developments in steam technology for 200 years. ‘The motoring manufacturers are locked into what they are doing. The funding doesn’t exist for this. ‘Once we can put together the engine it will be a platform to demonstrate what we are doing and give us data.’ The bike can currently do around 25 miles for every 2.2lbs (1kg) of wood chips and takes about five minutes to start up. Mr Thompson explained: ‘It won’t replace the car, it might not work for bikes, but [it may work] for a small generator, for taking you off grid. The unusual bike is being put through its paces on the moors of Zennor in Cornwall (shown on this map) The trio of inventors hope one to day to see their biogas engine power homes and other devices. Here, they release a flame from the prototype engine . ‘We don’t have a lot of trees in Cornwall but there will be countries that could use this technology.’ The trio say renewable energy experts from the University of Exeter have expressed an interest in their designs. They are currently raising funds via the Crowdfunder website for further research into the so-called Phoenix Project, which is backed by River Cottage boss Fearnley-Whittingstall. He said: ‘I can’t resist getting behind these guys, if only so I can get a step closer to my dream of a carbon neutral wood-chip powered flail mower for River Cottage. And maybe an eco-jet ski.’ | Three inventors from Cornwall came up with the steam-powered vehicle .
They hope the biogas engine could one day be used to power homes .
Wood chips are burnt inside the vehicle's biomass engine and riders pump air into an 'expansion motor' to generate one horsepower .
Invention is being tested on moorland near Zennor and the machine is endorsed by celebrity chef Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall . |
83,842 | edce56899d02d56f9e0f512aeb427bf27fae594d | By . Tara Brady . PUBLISHED: . 13:33 EST, 12 September 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 02:23 EST, 13 September 2013 . Second World War fighter planes swooped overhead as Prince Charles thanked the 'remarkable' Battle of Britain veterans who helped to win the war at their spiritual home today. The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall were visiting Bentley Priory in Harrow, north-west London, the headquarters of Fighter Command during the decisive air battle. A Spitfire and a Hurricane flew low overhead as the Prince spoke to a crowd including 10 veterans of the air and eight women who assisted them from the ground, tracking enemy movements from what was known as the 'filter room'. The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall tour the Filter Room with Patrica Clark (second right) and Eileen Younghusband, at the opening of the new Bentley Priory Battle of Britain Museum . The Royal told them: 'Having just . become a grandfather, one of the great things I remember when I was very . small is having stories told to me about the war. 'I wanted to know everything in those days as I was born in 1948.' The . Prince explained that during his youth he had been lucky enough to meet . people who had risked their lives defending Britain as part of Fighter . Command. He added: 'I at . least have some idea of the remarkable nature of such people like, of . course, the wonderful lady veterans who are here today from the filter . room. The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall pose with members of the 'Beauty Chorus' (left to right) Kate Orchard, Gladys Eva, Patricia Clark, Georgie Caudwell, Trish Mantell, Marias Hart (wheelchair), Vera Organ, Eileen Younghusband and Joan Fanshaw . History lesson: The Duchess of Cornwall talks to veteran Ken Wilkinson during afternoon tea at Bentley Priory . The Prince of Wales talks to veteran Squadren leader Nigel Rose at Bentley Priory . 'At the age of 18, 19, 20 they were ensuring that this country never gave up.' Charles, who is patron of the Bentley Priory Battle of Britain Trust, opened a new £9.5m museum at the mansion house. He . also unveiled a bust of Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh Dowding, Fighter . Command's leader and creator of the strategy which saw Britain defeat . Germany's planes, averting Hitler's planned invasion of the British . Isles. Veteran Patricia . Clark, 92, posed for a picture with Charles and Camilla in the restored . filter room, which boasts a statue of her with her colleagues tracing . the movements of Nazi aircraft. The Prince of Wales makes a speech before unveiling the bust of Air Chief Marshal Hugh Dowding who led RAF Fighter Command during the Battle of Britain . Historic: The Prince of Wales unveils the bust of Air Chief Marshal Hugh Dowding who led RAF Fighter Command . The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall attend the opening of the new Bentley Priory's new museum . To mark the occasion a Spitfire flew over Fighter Command HQ in north-west London . Mrs Clark, a grandmother of eight who lives in Marsh Green, Kent, said: 'We have never been recognised, this is the first time. 'We were a secret for 30 years after the war and weren't made public until 1975. 'Of course by that time everybody was utterly fed up of war stories and there wasn't much interest anymore. 'If anyone asked what you did during the war and you said 'I was in the filter room' and no one would know what you were taking about.' Serving in the Women's RAF from 1940 to 1945, Mrs Clark rose to the role of supervisor working from the balcony of the filter room and went on to become a writer after the war. The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall watch Second World War aircraft fly over Bentley Priory . Delighted: The Duchess of Cornwall talks to the mayor of Harrow Nana Asante at the opening of the museum at Bentley Priory . Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall leave Bentley Priory - the headquarters of Fighter Command during the Battle of Britain . The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall tour the 'Filter Room' where German aircraft were monitored . | The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall visited Bentley Priory .
It was the headquarters for Fighter Command during the Battle of Britain .
A Spitfire and Hurricane flew overhead as the Prince opened museum .
Veterans attended the HQ in north-west London where the movements of Nazis aircraft were tracked which stopped Hitler invading Britain . |
239,372 | c1e9b14db9db90861bd56c3b83f819239a0cd93c | If your ancestors were members of the upper class, chances are you will be - even centuries after they've died. Researchers have found that a person's surname is a strong indicator of social status, going back generations, and a status from years ago can still exert its influence on a person's life today. In fact, the study found that social status is more consistently passed down among families over hundreds of years, than height. Scroll down for video . The researchers analysed the surnames of students who attended Oxford (pictured) and Cambridge universities between 1170 and 2012 and rich property owners between 1236 and 1299. They found that a person's surname is a strong indicator of social status, going back multiple generations . The results were published by Gregory Clark from the University of California, Davis and Neil Cummins from the London School of Economics in the journal Human Nature. They used the Oxbridge attendance of people with rare English surnames to track social mobility from 1170 to 2012. They discovered that social mobility in England has always been slow, and today it is not much greater than it was in pre-industrial times. Social mobility is the movement of individuals, or families, between social classes. The researchers analysed the surnames of students who attended Oxford and Cambridge universities between 1170 and 2012, rich property owners between 1236 and 1299, as well as the national probate registry since 1858. These databases were used as they indicate that the people included on them are of a high social standing, as well as highly educated. The names on them were also cross-referenced with each other to get a wider, overall picture about a family's social standing. Rare surnames studied included Atthill, Bunduck, Balfour, Bramston, Cheslyn, and Conyngham. They found that social status is consistently passed down among families over multiple generations. For example, members of the Bunduck family attended the universities consistently from the 12th century until the modern day - shown because their name regularly appeared on the register throughout. This suggests that the Bunducks of the 12th century had enough standing and intelligence to attend the university, but so did their ancestor's ancestors. The Bunducks were additionally found on the rich property owners' database, which also suggested they were of a higher class during the 13th century. And again during the 19th century, as seen by the presence on the probate registry. Social status is generally seen as a ranking of families and is based on a variety of elements including education, their income, wealth, occupation, and health. Mr Clark and Mr Cummings used databases to calculate the social trajectory of families with rare English surnames over the past 28 generations. They analysed the surnames of students who attended Oxford and Cambridge universities between 1170 and 2012, rich property owners between 1236 and 1299, as well as the national probate registry since 1858. These databases were used as they indicate that the people included on them are of a high social standing, as well as highly educated. The names on them were also cross-referenced with each to get a wider, overall picture about a family's social standing. Rare surnames studied included Atthill, Bunduck, Balfour, Bramston, Cheslyn, and Conyngham. The researchers chose rare surnames as it was more likely that the different records would refer to direct descendants. They found that social status is consistently passed down among families over multiple generations. For example, members of the Bunduck family attended the universities consistently from the 12th century until the modern day - shown because their name regularly appeared on the register throughout. This suggests that the Bunducks of the 12th century had enough standing and intelligence to attend the university, but so did their ancestor's ancestors. The Bunducks were additionally found on the rich property owners' database, which also suggested they were of a higher class. 'Strong forces of familial culture, social connections, and genetics must connect the generations,' said Mr Clark. 'Even more remarkable is the lack of a sign of any decline in status persistence across major institutional changes, such as the Industrial Revolution of the eighteenth century, the spread of universal schooling in the late nineteenth century, or the rise of the social democratic state in the twentieth century,' added Mr Cummins. 'Status persistence measured by education status is just as strong now as in the pre-industrial era.' They said their findings show there 'really are quasi-physical "Laws of Inheritance."' This chart plots the relative frequency of the selected surnames compared to their educational status. This is plotted against the general population and the elite groups over two different generations. The study found that social status is more consistently passed down among families over hundreds of years, than height . | Experts analysed the social movement of unusual surnames across the UK .
This included Oxford and Cambridge students between 1170 and 2012, rich property owners between 1236 and 1299, and the national probate registry .
Rare surnames included Atthill, Bunduck, Balfour, Bramston and Cheslyn .
Experts found that that social status is consistently passed down among families over multiple generations . |
129,337 | 332a4f5b0b18bede9c51ff8affad0d4488f86f66 | Houston (CNN) -- Back in 1982, Chelsea McClellan -- just 15 months old -- needed immunizations. It was routine stuff, so Chelsea's mother took her to a local clinic in Kerrville, Texas. What happened there was anything but routine. That's because Genene Jones was the nurse on duty. Chelsea's mother recalled the day. "She gave her her first shot in her left thigh and she immediately started gasping for air," said Petti McClellan-Wiese. "Gave her another one, and she immediately just went limp and quit breathing." In the chaos of rushing Chelsea from the clinic to the hospital, Jones somehow slipped into the ambulance and gave the little girl a third shot. McClellan-Wiese would learn later that the nurse had injected her daughter with a drug called Succinylcholine, which causes muscle relaxation and short term paralysis. It stopped Chelsea's heart. Jones was convicted of infanticide and sentenced to 99 years in prison for killing Chelsea, plus 60 years for injuring another child. She maintains that she did nothing wrong. For Chelsea's parents, the verdict was bitter sweet. Their daughter was gone but her killer would spend the rest of her life behind bars. At least that's what they thought. But it turns out, Jones is set to walk free in a matter of a few years. She is scheduled to be released from prison as early as May 2018 because of an old Texas law designed to prevent prison overcrowding. The Mandatory Release law allows inmates convicted of violent crimes between 1977 and 1987 to be automatically released if their "good behavior" credit plus their time served equals their sentence. The law was changed in 1987 to exclude violent criminals, but it isn't retroactive. So now McClellan-Wiese and Andy Kahan, a victim's advocate for the city of Houston, are desperately trying to find other mothers whose babies may also have been killed by Jones. A new conviction could keep her locked up. Kahan says that two mothers have already reached out to him, including Marina Rodriguez. Rodriguez lost her son in 1981 after, she says, Jones gave him a shot at a San Antonio clinic. At just 5 months old, he had a heart attack and died. "All of a sudden he turned blue, and all of a sudden, I started hearing code blue. And then of course they put me to the side because I'm a young mommy and I'm freaking out," she said. Back then, Rodriguez was 15 years old. She couldn't read and was too young to afford a lawyer. Her parents were migrant farmers. When asked how she would feel if Jones were to walk free, she said she couldn't contemplate the possibility. "She's not getting out! She's not going to get out! If my son has to be exhumed to prove that she murdered him, then that's the step we'll take. They're not dealing with a little girl anymore, this is a woman now," Rodriguez said. Watch Anderson Cooper 360° weeknights 10pm ET. For the latest from AC360° click here. | Genene Jones, a nurse, was sentenced to 99 years in prison for killing a 15-month-old .
She maintains she did nothing wrong .
Jones could be released early because of an old law designed to prevent overcrowding . |
142,573 | 44641d72a588cab8f29af1aec4b5fa924ce6fb7a | (CNN) -- Retired Lt. Gen. Russel Honoré was highly praised for his leadership of recovery efforts in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005, so he's well-versed in what works and what doesn't in disaster management. The general told CNN last week that the U.S. military should have responded sooner to the earthquake in Haiti because "time is of the essence" in helping quake survivors. CNN's Nicole Dow talked to Gen. Honoré Wednesday about his assessment of the situation in Haiti since he made those remarks. CNN: There are reports of looting in Haiti. Is it looting, or an attempt at survival? Gen. Russel Honoré: In the first days after a disaster, people are generally scavenging for food. They are trying to find food where they can. People are going into survival mode. Due to challenges and logistical issues, they use the food they have and what they can get their hands on. I would use the word "looting" lightly -- these people are surviving. It's reminiscent of what was seen during Katrina in the convention center. They survived because they found food in the surrounding areas. CNN: With the potential for violence running high, how can civilians protect themselves? Honoré: People should stay in their family groups and be with people they trust. During a disaster, in the case of not having enough communication, some of the information coming out is speculation and rumor. The role of the military is to provide a sense of order and try to keep people from becoming too excited when food and water are distributed. They also assure that help is on the way. What people are missing is information. You have someone sitting on a sidewalk with a baby, someone who is elderly, disabled, or pregnant, probably wondering what to do. Their house is in rubble, they have members of their family who need to go to the hospital or special care. Where can they go to be cared for? Or to help care for themselves in a humane manner? This is a humanitarian matter of global proportions. CNN: Previously, you've mentioned "adapt and overcome." How difficult is it to achieve this in Haiti? Honoré: You need the U.S. military. One airfield? Let's build two more. We adapt and overcome. USAID said, we have one airfield, how are we going to use it? They don't look at possibilities of building another one. Building another airfield is something that should have been considered the first day. You can take a road and create another airfield. We have a capability to airdrop teams in with equipment to create airfields. USAID said airdrops are unsafe, and it's disorderly to do airdrops. They were concerned that some would get food and others wouldn't. They started to drop five days after event -- the first drop of MREs (meals ready to eat). CNN: So why did the U.S. wait before starting to drop supplies? Honoré: If you don't have enough trucks, the optimal system is to use helicopters. But we don't have enough on the ground to get the job done. Ospreys, Marine planes, we have not seen them in use. There are some in Afghanistan, but not many there. They fly like a plane, land like a helicopter and can also carry a lot of cargo. They can lift things and set them down. We spent 20 years developing that aircraft. We don't have enough helicopters -- between the Coast Guard and the military, there are 60 helicopters in use now. Four days after Katrina, there were 200 helicopters flying in. I don't know if the flow of supplies can keep up with demand, unless we evacuate the injured, elderly, pregnant women, babies, and the disabled. Hospitals will be overflowing with people who have injuries, there will be infections that will need treatment. It is wishful thinking to add more hospitals. We need to think how these airplanes can leave with patients to the U.S. and other countries to be distributed to hospitals to stabilize them. I am hoping that the State Department and the White House will start pushing for a U.N. resolution to start an evacuation plan for Haiti. It will need billions of dollars to sustain its people and to start its recovery. CNN: How did the Israelis immediately set up a working hospital? Honoré: Our military is fully deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan. The president didn't sign mobilization of reserves until Sunday. We are making right decisions, but making them too slowly to have an immediate impact on the ground. We decided [Tuesday] to open another airfield, they should have done that days ago. CNN: You led the Joint Task Force for Hurricane Katrina. Can you draw some parallels between Katrina and the earthquake in Haiti? Honoré: In my book, "Survival," there's a chapter that talks about dealing with the poor. I think sometimes we talk security, because as a culture, we are afraid of poor people in large groups. In Haiti, right after the earthquake, there were doctors who left. One said, "We don't have any security so we left." That, in and of itself, is indicative of my Katrina experience. People start talking security. And the slower we go, the more there's the possibility of that happening. We have to work on establishing the community government officials in Haiti so they can start communicating with their people. We have to get food and water there to local government officials to distribute it. The local government officials should be authorized to hire young men. The local economy will crank up if we pay people in Haiti to do the cleanup and to run the distribution centers. There's no need to send Americans there to distribute food and water when you have able-bodied people there who can do that. CNN: What are the top five points to keep in mind in the aftermath of natural disaster? Honoré: 1) Improve communications. 2) Get food and water in. 3) Take care of the health and needs of people. 4) Evacuate people, particularly those who are pregnant, disabled, injured, babies, those who cannot take care of themselves. 5) Establish who's in charge. The president of Haiti [Rene Preval] is in charge. It's different when the president and his government are victims. They are going to need help. Someone needs to be the face of the operation to help the president keep people alive. You must have communication to establish a way of giving information to the people in their communities. You have to be your own first responder in a disaster like Haiti, and the Haitian people did that. These situations have a tendency to get worse before getting better unless you start evacuating vulnerable people. Also, you have to take a risk [about security] during the search-and-rescue phase. In that phase of the operation, search-and-rescue takes priority over security. | Gen. Russel Honoré says Haitians should be paid to clean up, do distribution .
Says our culture is afraid of poor people in large groups so we focus on security .
Honoré says supplies can't meet demand; U.N. should start an evacuation plan for Haiti .
General: They should have started to build second airfield the first day . |
101,438 | 0ebe8ce4209c52aa97c2b4b655a06e95ef71b147 | By . Corey Charlton . Once bitten, twice shy, the old saying goes. It’s advice that Michelle Spencer clearly has no time for. After being left penniless and broken-hearted by a Tunisian toyboy she met online, the 51-year-old claims to have found love again. And amazingly, her new love is another young man from Tunisia ... whom she met while surfing the same Internet chatrooms. Scroll down for video . Michelle Spencer and her former husband Rami Selmi, who she spent her life savings on over two years . The divorcee says she blew £18,000 of her benefits money on toyboy No1, smooth-talking 22-year-old Rami Selmi, after he showered her with compliments online and begged her to come to his country to meet him in person. She agreed, and at the end of a two-week holiday Rami proposed. Despite warnings from her family, Miss Spencer said yes, and used her savings to arrange the wedding in Tunisia before flying home without her new husband, as he had no UK visa. As soon as she returned to Stockport in Greater Manchester, she claims, Rami started bombarding her with messages asking for money. Then, when she visited him again in Tunisia, his ardour appeared to have cooled and he insisted they sleep in separate beds. Miss Spencer, who claims incapacity benefit for depression, said she spent her entire life savings on Rami during their two-year marriage, which ended when their divorce was finalised two weeks ago. Michelle Spencer said she fell in love with 22-year-old Rami Selmi as the two got to know each other via an internet chat room . Now, however, she claims she is turning things around with the help of her new 26-year-old Tunisian boyfriend Mesbeh, saying: ‘I know he wants me for who I am.’ She added: ‘I am very happy with Mesbeh and I have definitely learned from my mistake.’ Miss Spencer’s problems began three years ago when she met Rami in an online chatroom following her divorce from her first husband of 24 years. ‘It all happened very quickly but it was a whirlwind and it felt so right,’ she said. ‘I didn’t mind spending the money at first. I was completely swept off my feet.’ Her daughter Rachel, 19, warned her she was being taken for a ride but Miss Spencer ignored the advice, saying: ‘I thought she was being silly.’ Ms Spencer with her new Tunisian love interest Mesbeh, who she talks to online for several hours each day . Her new boyfriend, 26-year-old Mesbeh, is also from Tunisia and Ms Spencer says it is true love . She added: ‘Rami would ask me for money for things like driving lessons so he could get a job. ‘I didn’t mind sending it over, because he was my husband after all, and I was sure he would treat me as soon as he got a job. ‘I feel foolish giving him the money now, but I loved him and I thought he loved me. But now I feel as though he was using me. He even disappeared to go out drinking with friends on our wedding day.’ Despite her heartbreak, Miss Spencer insisted she is not worried about the same thing happening with her new boyfriend. ‘I’ve been with Mesbeh for 19 months and it’s going really great,’ she said. ‘He is so different from Rami. Despite losing her savings on the failed marriage, Ms Spencer is happy to have found love with another Tunisian man . ‘He doesn’t ask me for money at all and we talk online for a couple of hours every day. I’ll try and go and see him again as soon as I can, but it’s hard now I have spent all my money on Rami. ‘Mesbeh is a trained sports coach so he doesn’t need my money. That’s why I know it’s love. All he will ask me for is a bottle of vodka from duty free when I come and visit him.’ Miss Spencer added: ‘My advice to anyone chatting to men online is watch out for the sweet-talkers. ‘Never send money, no matter how much they pester you. I was foolish and I don’t want anyone else to make the same mistake.’ | Michelle Spencer blew £18,000 on whirlwind marriage to 22-year-old Tunisian .
Was swept off her feet by him after the two started chatting on the internet .
Things turned sour soon afterwards with his repeated requests for money .
But she has now healed her broken heart with another Tunisian toyboy . |
171,633 | 6a248c7ef95cb330abd04048d58c4226ae0071b8 | Royal piano tuner Gordon Bell has admitted he can't play the instrument . He is one of the country's top piano tuners and counts the Queen herself among his customers. So it may come as a surprise that Gordon Bell can't actually play the instrument. The 39-year-old, who has been tuning pianos since he was 16, is one of only three piano experts with a Royal Warrant, which he was awarded in 2008. 'I can't play the piano. It's an advantage to be able to play, but not essential,' Mr Bell admitted. The father of two, from Aberdeen, visits Balmoral regularly. He said he once went to get some tools from his van and saw the Queen and Prince Philip right next to it – while his pregnant wife sat oblivious inside. He also revealed the strangest place he's tuned a piano was in a jail's recreation room. 'Prisoners were mopping the floors around me. No one spoke.' Mr Bell was always interested in music as a youngster, but confesses he was not good enough to be a performer. His mother noticed the three-year Higher National Diploma course in strings, keyboard and instrument technology at Edinburgh's Stevenson College and he signed up. After graduating, he went on to launch his own prestige business in Aberdeen's Rosemount Viaduct in 2003 and landed the Royal Warrant five years later, aged 32. He said: 'The staff at Balmoral called Aberdeen's Music Hall to find out who tuned their pianos and they recommended me.' His first visit to the Royal residence was nerve-racking, but they invited him back and he was later awarded the 'by Royal Appointment' tag. 'Being a piano tuner has its moments,' he said. 'When my wife Lisa was pregnant she decided to come with me to Balmoral and joked with her friends that she was going to see the Queen, never thinking she actually would. Mr Bell, who has been tuning pianos since he was 16, is one of only three piano experts with a Royal Warrant . 'I was inside the castle and came out to get some tools from the van when I noticed Her Majesty and Prince Philip with the corgis standing right beside it. 'They were chatting to their house keeper and my wife was inside the van reading her magazine. She didn't even look up or notice they were there.' He says he is one of a dying breed, with few young people signing up for the last of the training courses in the trade. Meanwhile, he says demand for 'acoustic' pianos - those that are not digital - is buoyant. 'The fact that the piano industry survives in this day and age is remarkable,' admits Mr Bell. 'The piano is 300 years old, it has seen off X-Boxes and 3D TVs. If anything, the digital era has helped. People who learn on electric pianos often want to move up to the real thing.' He has hit the right note where business is concerned. He and his buddies in the trade - Elgin-based Moray Firth Pianos and Scotland's oldest piano specialists, Allan Makin and Sons in Edinburgh - have never been busier in the tuning and remodelling stakes. They are also kept on their toes with sales. 'I can't play the piano,' the father of two said. 'It's an advantage to be able to play, but not essential' The Makins have Susan Boyle for a client. And Glyn Morris at Moray Firth Pianos (which specialises in hire) has had a string of star customers including Jools Holland. Glyn provided pianos for the weddings of Take That singer Mark Owen and Madonna. He said: 'The most treasured moments I brought away from Madonna's wedding were meeting Sting and seeing Madonna teaching Gwyneth Paltrow the dance move from her then latest single, Don't tell me' - only four feet away from where I was installing and tuning the piano.' Mr Bell, who was educated at the Biggar Academy, says he fell foul of Julian Lloyd Webber during one of many tuning sessions for the stars of stage and screen. 'I was once working on the piano accompanying Julian Lloyd Webber. As I went to move my tool case, he swore at me and told me to watch his cello.' Mr Bell said he once went to get some tools from his van and saw the Queen and Prince Philip right next to it – while his pregnant wife sat oblivious inside . | Gordon Bell is one of only three piano experts with a Royal Warrant .
'It's an advantage to be able to play, but not essential,' Mr Bell admitted .
The 39-year-old father of two, from Aberdeen, visits Balmoral regularly . |
194,379 | 879d243119bd205b267eeca349489479d2209a06 | Drunk at school: Music teacher Neil Bowden drove back to school three times over the drink-drive limit after having lunch at a nearby pub . A high school teacher who drove back to school after a drunken pub lunch has been caught three times over the drink-drive limit. Neil Bowden - a music teacher for eight years - quit his job at Trinity High School in Hulme, Manchester, after staff suspected he was under the influence when he returned from lunch at a pub just a couple of hundred yards from the school gates. The 35-year-old from Stockport, Greater Manchester pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol at Manchester City Magistrates’ Court. Tess Kenyon, prosecuting, told how the headteacher was waiting for Bowden when he drove into the school car park just after 2pm. Staff had suspected Bowden was under the influence of drink before going to the Ducie Arms in Hulme, on June 5. The court heard that several empty cider bottles were found in his car and Bowden had been drinking the night before and resumed drinking at 11 o’clock the next morning. Bowden admitted he had driven to and from the nearby pub. Believing that Bowden was drunk, the headteacher called police. A breath test showed he had 118 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath - the drink-drive limit is 35. Bowden had fully co-operated with police and entered his guilty plea at the earliest opportunity, the court heard. Peter Belshaw, defending, said his client had to accept that he may have been over the limit when he drove to work that morning. The court heard that prior to the incident he was a man of ‘unblemished reputation’. Mr Belshaw said: ‘He wishes to express his deep remorse and contrition over what happened. He has always set for himself the highest professional standards.’ Bowden was given a 28-month driving ban, sentenced to carry out 80 hours of unpaid community work and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £60 surcharge. After the hearing, Trinity head David Ainsworth said: ‘The situation happened at lunchtime. Mr Bowden did not teach in the afternoon and the following day I accepted his resignation with immediate effect.’ Suspected ciders: The headteacher at Trinity High School was waiting for Bowden when he returned to school after having lunch at the Ducie Arms (pictured), just a couple of hundred yards from the school gates. Empty cider bottles were found in his car, the court heard . In 2011, primary school teacher Penny Truman got so drunk on her lunch break that the headteacher thought she had suffered a stroke but paramedics who examined her found she was simply inebriated. The teacher at a school in Putney, south-west London attempted to teach four and five-year-olds after downing an entire bottle of wine. Malcolm West, a teacher entrusted with instructing pupils at a public school how to use firearms at a school in Kent, was charged after he drove into a garden wall while twice the drink-drive limit. Driving ban: Bowden quit his job as a music teacher at Trinity High School (pictured) after he was caught under the influence by a police breath test. He was given a 28-month driving ban and sentenced to 80 hours of community service . | Teacher Neil Bowden quit his job at Trinity High School after the incident .
The headteacher called police after Bowden returned after his lunch .
Bowden drove back from the nearby pub, the Ducie Arms .
He was given a 28-month driving ban and sentenced to 80 hours unpaid community service . |
253,320 | d3e2b461bbac76bdf8d8e17fabac18f36da0b592 | Sam Robson and Adam Lyth will open the batting when England Lions begin their tour of South Africa with a three-day game against an Invitational XI in Soweto on Monday. The selection of Middlesex batsman Robson means Lyth's Yorkshire team-mate and opening partner at county level, Alex Lees, will drop down the order to number three. Jonathan Trott will captain a side which includes a strong pace attack of Liam Plunkett, Boyd Rankin, Jack Brooks and Mark Wood. Adil Rashid completes the bowling line-up as a leg-spinning all-rounder. Adam Lyth will open the batting for England Lions' first game of their South Africa tour . Jonny Bairstow will keep wicket as one of five players in the side who have can boast Test experience with England. Captain Trott claimed earlier this week he needed to prove himself on the tour before he could think about rejoining the full England squad. He said: 'I am like everyone else playing county cricket in that I have aspirations to play for England. 'I remember going on previous Lions trips in 2007 and 2008 and having to do my time on those and prove myself. That is something that I need to do again.' Lyth (Yorkshire), Robson (Middlesex), Lees (Yorkshire), Trott (Warwickshire, capt), Vince (Hampshire), Bairstow (Yorkshire, wk), Rashid (Yorkshire), Plunkett (Yorkshire), Wood (Durham), Rankin (Warwickshire), Brooks (Yorkshire). Middlesex batsman Sam Robson will partner Lyth in the game against an Invitational XI in Soweto . Lions captain Jonathan Trott (right) said he hopes to use the tour to prove himself to the England selectors . | England Lions face Invitational XI in first game of their South Africa tour .
Sam Robson and Adam Lyth will open the batting on Monday .
Warwickshire's Jonathan Trott will captain the side . |
95,583 | 06d83f27d23c8087194061646629bc1648330732 | Chinese workers masterminded a super efficient way of moving huge chunks of stone 43 miles in order to build China's famous Forbidden City, engineers have claimed. Records dating from around the time of which the walled city was built, from 1406, tell that workers hauled stones weighing over 100 tonnes from a quarry 43 miles away from the site of the Forbidden City, using a network of man-made paths. However, 600 years later, engineers have revealed that a system of wells and frozen roads were used to make the stones slippery and easier to move and were more efficient than alternatives. Engineers looked into the efficiency of how the workers moved the chunks of stone. They calculated that without using the warm water (top image) 338 men would be needed to pull a stone weighing 123 tonnes and measuring 31 feet long. But using warm water to lubricate the icy road, just 46 men would be needed to move it (pictured bottom) The Forbidden City was the Chinese imperial palace from the Ming Dynasty to the end of the Qing Dynasty. It is located in the centre of Beijing, China and now houses the Palace Museum. For almost 500 years, it served as the home of emperors and their households. Built from 1406 to 1420, the complex consists of 980 buildings and covers 720,000 sqaured metres. The site of the Forbidden City was situated on the Imperial City during the Mongol Yuan Dynasty, but upon the establishment of the Ming Dynasty, the Emperor moved the capital from Beijing in the north to Nanjing in the south, and ordered that the Yuan palaces be burnt down. When his son Zhu Di became the Yongle Emperor, he moved the capital back to Beijing and construction began in 1406 of what would become the Forbidden City. Construction lasted 14 years and required more than a million workers. Materials used include whole logs of precious Phoebe zhennan wood found in the jungles of south-western China, and large blocks of marble from quarries near Beijing. The floors of major halls were paved with 'golden bricks' Experts from two universities in Beijing and Princeton University in the U.S. believe the workers dug small wells every 500 metres along the man-made paths to reach water that they would pour to ice the paths in the winter, as well as lubricate them. It is believed teams of men pulled the vast pieces of stone themselves. Engineers calculated the amount of friction different methods of moving the stones would produce, including the use of logs as rollers - which are believed to have been used in the creation of many ancient stone monuments. But their calculations showed sliding the stones over ice and using water to lubricate it, was the most efficient method of all, PopSci reported. The team of engineers said winter in Beijing, 600 years ago, was cold enough to keep the roads frozen but so chilly that the ice alone would not have made a good lubricating layer of water between the bottom of wooden sledges used to carry the stones and the surface of the icy paths. However, they believe the men poured just enough warm water onto the ice so that it would stay liquid and help them slide the sled along more easily. The engineers calculated that without using the warm water, 338 men would be needed to pull a stone weighing 123 tonnes and measuring 31 feet long. However, using warm water to lubricate the icy road, just 46 men would be needed to heave the same massive stone along. The weight and dimensions of the stone used for the calculations come from a document written in 1557 after the huge architectural project was finished, which says men transported stones 43 miles. Chinese workers master-minded a smart way of moving huge chunks of stone 43 miles in order to build China's famous Forbidden City (pictured). Engineers said their system of icy paths lubricated with water to transport the stones, was the most efficient method . The modern engineers believe that pulling sledges over ice paths lubricated with water, was a more efficient option that rolling the stones over logs. In the study published in journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, they said the coefficient (a quantitative expression of a specific property of matter) of friction for logs rolling along a path is 0.2 to 0.4, while using the water-and-ice-sliding method, has a coefficient of just 0.02. The experts also said that sliding sledges is easier than using logs as it is easier to make a smooth ice road than to have to make a level one of planks and manoeuvre the log rollers as well as the huge chunk of stone. Wheeled vehicles of the time would not have been able to support the weight of the large stones, according to the engineers, who think that the maximum weight carts would have been able to pull would have been 95 tonnes. They said that ice roads and men were also more reliable than mules and carts, especially as the architects of the Forbidden City were reportedly worried about keeping the expensive stone safe. The team of engineers said winter in Beijing 600 years ago was cold enough to keep roads frozen, which was useful for transporting stones. Here, Chinese paramilitary police officers shovel snow off a walkway in front of an old building in the Chinese capital . | Engineers from universities in Beijing and Princeton University calculated the amount of friction methods of moving the stones would produce .
Their calculations showed sliding .
the stones over ice was a good idea and using water to lubricate the ice was even more efficient .
Wheeled vehicles of the time would not have been able to support the weight of the large stones, according to the engineers . |
144,717 | 472b5ef00662a7f414e06380f61bb845d8a115e7 | (CNN)For a pop star with millions of frenzied fans, Taylor Swift does a pretty good job keeping tabs on them. She has a history of stalking -- er, "Tay-lurking" -- fans on social media, figuring out their likes, dislikes and what's going on in their lives. And she loves to shower super loyal ones with some enormous gifts. But the package that Rebekah Bortniker received may be one of the most complicated presents yet. The giant box, labeled "SwiftEx" instead of "FedEx," contained so many meticulously wrapped gifts that it took Bortniker several minutes to open them all. "Hi you. I was thinking about you today, and how you have been there cheering me on in the most thoughtful and creative ways," the singer wrote on a card. "I'm not a good painter but I think you're so beautiful and positive, even though you're dealing with the stress life brings, so I wanted to make you something." Yep, the Grammy winner sent a custom-made floral painting to her fan. She even sent a Polaroid of herself doing so as proof. Then there was a necklace. "Was mine, now yours," Swift explained. Finally, a gift to help ease Bortniker's student loan debt. "Rebekah, now you're $1989 closer to paying off those student loans," Swift wrote. 1989, of course, isn't just Swift's birth year -- it's the name of her latest album and world tour. By this point, Bortniker could barely speak from all the emotion. "I don't even know what to say," she managed to say. Fortunately she has time to think of a response before September -- when she'll be at two of Swift's concerts. Taylor Swift's year-end gift video brings all the feels . CNN's Lisa Respers France contributed to this report. | Taylor Swift sends a fan $1,989 to help with her student loan debt .
She also sends a custom-made painting, even though "I'm not a good painter"
Swift has a history of surprising fans with care packages she assembles herself . |
199,024 | 8da933bdd3e9cfd57585d37d1c1cfdb5b60e321b | Craig Bellamy has returned to Cardiff City as an academy coach. The Welshman, 35, has ambitions to manage and previously claimed he was offered the top job at Cardiff after Malky Mackay was sacked in 2013. He left the club in the summer after their relegation to the Championship, but is now working with prospects between the ages of 12 and 18. Craig Bellamy has returned to Cardiff City, who he left in the summer, as academy coach . Bellamy has been working as a television pundit on Sky Sports in recent months . 'Our Under 12s and Under 13s in particular enjoy working with Craig and he enjoys working with them,' said academy manager James McCarthy. 'Craig has come in over the last few weeks and helped out with teams from Under 12 to Under 18. The young players have so much respect for him. 'During his first week back at the club he ran a finishing session with our Under 12 and Under 13 strikers, including one-on-one situations. The former Cardiff striker will help youngsters between the ages of 12 and 18 at the Welsh club . 'In the next match one youngster scored a hat-trick against Swansea City and two of the goals came from moves Craig had worked on with him. He has been exceptional. 'Craig is working with us because he wants to become a better coach. Working with our young players and planning sessions helps him with that. He cares about the game and this football club.' The former Wales striker claimed he was offered the Cardiff manager's job after Malky Mackay was sacked . | Craig Bellamy retired from football after Cardiff City's relegation .
The 35-year-old has returned to the Welsh club as academy coach .
He will work with club prospects between the ages of 12 and 18 .
Bellamy claimed he was previously offered Cardiff manager's job after Malky Mackay was sacked in 2013 . |
228,929 | b46c4cf9da60238764133cd22c63cab3aa4ce8c2 | (CNN) -- Ever since Robin Williams' turn as the Genie in "Aladdin," voice artists who specialize in character work for animated movies have been sidelined by celebrities, no doubt tickled to do something they can show to their children. Jack Black tackles the voice of an energetic panda in the animated feature "Kung Fu Panda." DreamWorks Animation especially has invested in star power -- though the studio's rationale must be to flatter an older, media-savvy audience. (After all, it's the place that teamed Robert De Niro and Martin Scorsese in "Shark Tale" and loaded the "Shrek" franchise with the dulcet tones of Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz and Antonio Banderas.) Too often though, DreamWorks movies coast on lazy pop cultural references in place of the deeper story and character development found in Pixar productions. "Kung Fu Panda" goes a step further. It's essentially an old-fashioned star vehicle, a virtual Jack Black movie that saves us the dubious pleasure of watching the real Jack Black doing the splits. (If you doubt that he could, check out the gravity-defying stunts an effects-enhanced Adam Sandler is capable of in "You Don't Mess With the Zohan." Or, on second thought, just take my word for it.) Black is Po, a tubby panda who dreams of kung fu "awesomeness" but whose career prospects boil down to inheriting his father's noodle stand. That is, until doddery turtle Master Oogway (Randall Duk Kim) baffles everyone by anointing Po the "Dragon Warrior," a champion who will defend the valley from the wrath of mighty snow leopard Tai Lung (Ian McShane). This inexplicable appointment not only threatens the safety of the entire community, it infuriates Oogway's small ratlike lieutenant, Shifu (a petulant Dustin Hoffman), who has dedicated himself to grooming a group called the Furious Five for just this task: Tigress (Angelina Jolie), Monkey (Jackie Chan), Mantis (Seth Rogen), Viper (Lucy Liu) and Crane (David Cross). iReport.com: Share your review of "Kung Fu Panda" How can a chubby novice such as Po compete with these fierce warriors, let alone his former protégé, Tai Lung? Shifu puts Po through the wringer in the hope that he'll see sense and quit, but along with his prodigious appetite for chop suey, it turns out the panda is also quite the glutton for punishment. In other words, this is a fortune cookie variation that heroic slacker Black has played many times before: Po may look out of shape, but what he lacks in strength, discipline and intelligence, he more than makes up for in gut(s). You don't mess with the Po, man. The action tends to blur into a whirlwind of slapstick chaos. Choreography of kung fu between a snake or a mantis and a leopard may be too anatomically mindboggling to animate in greater detail. Bruce Lee was fast, but at least he had hands. The highlight is Po's breakthrough training bout with Shifu, a brilliantly inventive comic tour de force built around a solitary dumpling. Directed by Mark Osborne and John Stevenson, the film is brisk and businesslike, with an appropriately ersatz Chinatown look, but it doesn't betray any personality beyond Black's. Not that he isn't engaging, but it seems a waste of resources that Chan, Rogen, Liu and Jolie share about a dozen lines between them. "Kung Fu Panda" is fun as far as it goes, but unless you're 12, you'll be hankering for something a bit more substantial half an hour after it's over. "Kung Fu Panda" is rated PG and runs 95 minutes. For Entertainment Weekly's much more laudatory take, click here. | "Kung Fu Panda" is a virtual Jack Black vehicle, says reviewer Tom Charity .
Animated film is about panda picked as chosen one to defend valley .
Black has plenty to do, but rest of name cast wasted, reviewer says . |
132,923 | 37de3860939138e3765e3299a7ec7ea3c5c698bb | By . Katy Winter . PUBLISHED: . 09:52 EST, 20 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:16 EST, 20 May 2013 . Women will place their faith in all manner of weird and wonderful beauty buys in their quest for eternal youth, and a product that slows the effects of ageing without having to resort to surgery is the holy grail for the image conscious. However the latest product to hit the market promising a youthful complexion may leave even the most dedicated beauty disciple at a loss for words. In the same way that you can lift weights to tone up your sagging arms, you can now exercise your facial muscles using a ‘Face Trainer.’ The Face Trainer by no!no! by Radiancy is a new fitness device that applies the principles of resistance training to the muscles on your face . The Face Trainer works to reduce the signs of aging by toning the underlying muscles through a series of exercises . Claiming to offer ‘resistance training’ for facial muscles, the Face Trainer resembles a futuristic-looking balaclava that covers the head and neck. Ten minutes a day of wearing the contraption while completing a range of ‘exercises’ including The Puppy Dog and The Frog is supposedly enough to tighten sagging skin and ease the signs of ageing. Made by the company No!No! the Face Trainer fits firmly against the skin to provide resistance and helps muscles build and tone to all 44 bilaterally symmetrical muscles of the face and neck. 91 per cent of the participants who took part in the clinical trials said they would recommend the Face Trainer to a friend- though that may just be to see them pull the funny faces the exercises require . The device comes with detailed instructions of the exercises, which, if done for 10 minutes a day, are meant to help build up the muscles under the face and improve wrinkles . The Face Trainer is the only FDA registered product of its kind, and . the idea is that as the facial muscles become stronger and build they . become larger, filling out under the skin and giving a fuller look to . the face. In clinical trials 71 per cent of users saw an reduction in sagging while 91 per cent of participants said they would recommend the product to a friend. Just under half of participants (42 per cent) also reported a reduction in both fine and course lines. | £98 product is FDA approved .
Follows the same resistance training principles as weight lifting for arms .
Product to be worn for ten minutes a day while performing facial exercises . |
83,168 | ebd081a12988028883d657bda5f38eeb49c0955e | (CNN) -- SeaWorld's "Bands, BBQ and Brew" concert series may be down to just food and beer soon as Trisha Yearwood joins the list of artists canceling shows. Willie Nelson, Heart, Barenaked Ladies and Cheap Trick previously withdrew amid pressure from fans who signed online petitions, tweeted and posted on Facebook pages demanding they not play at the Orlando theme park. Fans became upset after watching the CNN documentary "Blackfish," which first aired on CNN in October. The film tells the story of the killing in 2010 of a SeaWorld trainer by an orca. It raises questions about the safety and humaneness of keeping killer whales in captivity. Learn more about CNN Films 'Blackfish' "In light of recent concerns, Trisha has decided to remove the February 22 date from her upcoming tour plans," the country singer's representative told CNN Thursday. The news quickly lit up Twitter. "We expect that other artists will be targeted in this campaign," SeaWorld spokesman Nick Gollattscheck told CNN after Cheap Trick canceled Wednesday. Joan Jett to SeaWorld: Stop rockin' the whales . The park's concert schedule -- which also previously listed REO Speedwagon, Martina McBride, 38 Special, Justin Moore and Scotty McCreery -- has disappeared from SeaWorld's website. It now simply promises "incredible concerts with top artists in classic rock and country music." SeaWorld is working to book replacement acts, Gollattscheck said. "We'll announce the full lineup of bands when all artists have been confirmed. We'll repost the schedule on our site then." Filmmaker: Why I made 'Blackfish' The Canadian rock band Barenaked Ladies was the first to cancel, reacting to a petition posted on Change.org. "This is a complicated issue, and we don't claim to understand all of it, but we don't feel comfortable proceeding with the gig at this time," the band said on its Facebook page. Sisters Nancy and Ann Wilson of Heart did not elaborate last week when they announced their decision to cancel at SeaWorld, although they acknowledged it was "due to the controversial documentary film." "While we're disappointed a small group of misinformed individuals was able to deny fans what would have been great concerts at SeaWorld," Gollattscheck said. SeaWorld said it would like the musical artists to learn for themselves about SeaWorld. "The bands and artists have a standing invitation to visit any of our parks to see firsthand or to speak to any of our animal experts to learn for themselves how we care for animals and how little truth there is to the allegations made by animal extremist groups opposed to the zoological display of marine mammals," Gollattscheck said. SeaWorld says the documentary ignores the park's conservation efforts and research. SeaWorld challenges ban limiting interaction between whale and trainer . CNN's Jane Caffrey and Carolyn Sung contributed to this report. | Trisha Yearwood cancels SeaWorld gig "In light of recent concerns," rep says .
Willie Nelson, Heart, Barenaked Ladies and Cheap Trick previously canceled .
Fans became upset after watching the CNN documentary "Blackfish"
SeaWorld says it would like the artists to learn for themselves about SeaWorld . |
132,347 | 37247de872dd99a97deb743237e6e75525d40241 | (CNN) -- Announcement of a Nintendo 2DS handheld console is causing a collective "eh" among fans of the pioneering gaming company. The new console hopes to entice the entry-level gamer (i.e. kids) with a large catalog of games designed for the Nintendo 3DS and DS while appealing to parents with a low price point ($129). Unlike its counterpart, the 2DS does not have 3-D visual effects, nor can it be folded shut like other DS handheld consoles. Instead, the 2DS remains flat and fixed, much like a tablet. The controls are similar to other Nintendo handheld consoles and screen sizes are the same as the 3DS unit. While critics are split over whether this is a good idea for the company in the long term, fans in forums and social media are shaking their heads. Some are asking why a 2DS model is needed when 3-D can be turned off on the current console, while others are calling for Nintendo executives' heads. Much of the confusion lies in the naming convention. While the Nintendo DS can only play DS games, the 2DS and 3DS can play games designed for the DS or the 3DS. The problem arises because the games are clearly labeled for the DS or the 3DS, but not for the 2DS, and could have parents wondering, "Where are the 2DS games?" It was a similar problem when the Wii U was announced and players couldn't play Wii U on Wii systems. The names weren't distinct enough to create separation for a casual audience. The move to a non3-D environment for the handheld console is a welcome one to some fans. "Oh I'm so happy they're creating a 2DS," said @omglazerkittens on Twitter. "That's the whole reason I haven't bought one yet." Nintendo, for its part, has said the new device is designed for young kids, despite having promotional videos with adults using it. Despite the nonplussed reaction from many older gamers, some fans understand the need for a device aimed at the young audience. The new console may appeal to "parents who want to buy their kids Pokémon and a 3DS at an affordable price," wrote Haziq, a member of popular online video-gaming forum NeoGAF. "Plus, the flat design kind of reminds me of a tablet. I wouldn't be surprised if this is Nintendo's way of directly competing with that market for small kids." The October 12 release for the Nintendo 2DS is the same day the company plans to launch the latest titles in the Pokemon universe, "Pokemon X" and "Pokemon Y." But other gamers aren't so quick to accept the need for the new console or Nintendo's explanation. "To those who say the 2DS is a kid-friendly option, where does the inability to protect the screen with folding fall into that?" wrote @JustinMcElroy on Twitter. Twitter user @kellyherron27 wonders whether Nintendo is not happy with the 3DS market anymore. "Feels like they're saying, 'OK, so our novelty really is a gimmick. Oops.' " But in explaining the need for the Nintendo 2DS, another NeoGAF member may have offered the most clear-eyed assessment. "Parents will be buying this for kids and that's the point, hence the price," wrote Alpha_eX. "They're aiming at kids wanting the new Pokémon game and if parents can get it cheap, it'll sell over a more expensive 3DS model." "This console isn't aimed at any of us (adults)." | Many gamers appear less than excited about Nintendo's forthcoming 2DS console .
The handheld device does not have 3-D visual effects and is shaped like a small tablet .
Console may be aimed at kids, not adults . |
52,908 | 9612a3e49e408d122b51b9427a2e64c6a1bcfd1d | By . Francesca Chambers . President Barack Obama's 'flippant dismissal of the Constitution' is 'utterly beneath the dignity of the office,' House Speaker John Boehner said in a op-ed on Sunday explaining why the House is suing the president. 'I know the President is frustrated. I'm frustrated. The American people are frustrated, too,' Boehner wrote on CNN. But that irritation doesn't give the president the right to enact his own laws, the Republican leader argued. 'That's why, later this . month, we will bring legislation to the House floor that would authorize . the House of Representatives to file suit in an effort to compel . President Obama to follow his oath of office and faithfully execute the . laws of our country.' House Speaker John Boehner and House Republicans are taking Obama to court. Boehner is pictured here last month at the press conference . When Republicans took over the House in 2011, the first-term Democratic president and Republican congressman embraced the split party control over Congress and pledged to work together to resolve the issues plaguing the nation. As a display of his willingness to work with and not against Republicans, the president even allowed the newly minted House Speaker to play golf with him, an invite usually reserved for close friends and aides. Boehner and Obama's once friendly relationship has deteriorated throughout the past four years, however, as the president has grown increasingly impatient with the opposing party's reluctance to pass bills addressing his favored issues. With no end in sight to congressional gridlock, and the final term of his presidency nearly half way over, Obama has taken on a more aggressive approach to moving forward his legislative agenda, using executive orders to make reforms when and where he sees fit. The president says he has only used powers afforded to him as the country's executive to make changes to administration policies. Republicans claim only Congress has the authority to make changes to U.S. laws, however, and the president is playing fast and loose with the Constitution. Boehner, left, and Obama, right, were still on friendly terms when the president invited the House Speaker to play golf with him in June of 2011. Their relationship has greatly deteriorated throughout the last two years, however . In a memo to fellow members of Congress last month, Boehner said Obama is in violation of Article II Section III of the Constitution, which says the president 'shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed.' 'Under the Constitution’s separation of powers principle, only the Legislative Branch has the power to legislate,' Boehner wrote. 'On one matter after another during his presidency, President Obama has circumvented the Congress through executive action, creating his own laws and excusing himself from executing statutes he is sworn to enforce – at times even boasting about his willingness to do it, as if daring the America people to stop him. 'On matters ranging from health care and energy to foreign policy and education, President Obama has repeatedly run an end-around on the American people and their elected legislators, straining the boundaries of the solemn oath he took on Inauguration Day,' the Speaker of the House continued. In response to Boehner's lawsuit the president definitely told ABC's George Stephanopolous, 'I'm not going to apologize for trying to do something while they're doing nothing.' A few days later he mockingly told Republicans who think he's acting outside the law: 'So sue me.' In an op-ed that appeared on CNN's website over the weekend, Boehner took on the president's comment, calling his behavior 'disappointing.' He also defended House Republicans' record, saying they'd passed more than 40 bills aimed at creating jobs that have died in the Senate, along with other House-led legislation. 'I don't take the House . legal action against the President lightly. We've passed legislation to . address this problem (twice), but Senate Democrats, characteristically, . have ignored it,' Boehner wrote. 'There must be accountability,' he said. 'When there are conflicts like this -- between the legislative . branch and the executive branch -- it is my view that it is our . responsibility to stand up for this institution in which we serve, and . for the Constitution.' Boehner's lawsuit is perfectly timed to coincide with a previously scheduled congressional recess that will last from the first week of August through the first week in September. While the president and Democrats are out campaigning against Republican obstructionism, Republicans will be able to use the certain-to-pass suit as proof of the president's malfeasance. Republicans are expected to keep the House after this year's elections, but there's still four months on the clock. The president plans to actively campaign for his party in the coming weeks and is making trips to both Colorado and Texas for fundraising events this week. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has also pledged to come out for Democrats this fall after she finishes her book tour this month. Clinton still enjoys a high approval rating, and candidates who receive the potential 2016 candidate's public support could see a bump in the polls. | President Obama says Republicans in Congress are keeping vital legislation from becoming laws and so he must go around Congress to make reforms himself .
Boehner and his Republican colleagues say the president doesn't have the authority to change laws passed by Congress, and in doing so, he is violating the Constitution .
The House is now suing the president for what it sees as lawless behavior, and the president doesn't seem to care .
The president's nonchalant attitude about the House's suit stuck a nerve with Boehner, and the House Speaker took the president on over the weekend in an op-ed . |
194,730 | 881173b92189a12c3381cd1611f01d8077fd4b11 | Editor's note: Campbell Brown anchors CNN's "Campbell Brown: No Bias, No Bull" at 8 p.m. ET Mondays through Fridays. She delivered this commentary during the "Cutting through the Bull" segment of Monday night's broadcast. CNN's Campbell Brown says nonemergency legislation needs time to be read by the public and Congress. (CNN) -- Whether by omission or commission, both the White House and Congress get a dose of blame for not living up to the new era of transparency promised by President Obama. The president's old campaign Web site still has this commitment there for all to see: . "As president, Obama will not sign any nonemergency bill without giving the American public an opportunity to review and comment on the White House Web site for five days." Well, the president broke that promise barely a week after taking office when he signed the Lilly Ledbetter Bill dealing with equal pay for men and women. A good bill, and certainly one that could have survived a five-day comment period. So, maybe the White House folks just forgot? But then there is Congress and the Stimulus Bill. How fast could you get through it? According to the nonpartisan Sunlight Foundation, lawmakers had just 13 hours to read 1,100 pages of material that would cost the American taxpayer $787 billion. That's less than a minute and a half per page, with no time for bathroom breaks. No wonder so many of our lawmakers didn't seem to notice that last-minute exemption clearing the way for bailed-out companies like AIG to pay out big bonuses. So, the House tried to clean up the mess last week by rushing through another bill -- a tax on AIG bonuses. That bill was just 11 hours old before it went on the floor to be argued and then quickly approved. And the list goes on well before the president took office. The bank bailout got all of 29 hours, the rescue of Fannie and Freddie was only available for 19 hours. This is how bills could literally become, to borrow a phrase, too big to fail -- and too fast to stop. The Sunlight Foundation is calling on Congress to allow the American people three days, 72 hours, to read a nonemergency bill online before debate begins. We strongly agree. And yes lawmakers, you can have three days to read it over, too, before taking a stand. As for President Obama's promise of a five-day public review once a bill leaves Capitol Hill headed for his desk, it would be nice if he kept his word on this going forward. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Campbell Brown. | Brown: Obama said he'd post legislation on Web for 5 days before signing it .
He broke that promise with the Lilly Ledbetter Bill, Brown says .
Congress also should take more time to study bills, she says . |
44,887 | 7e82b04babf9a028098fa013f620c6746a97e127 | By . Kieran Corcoran . PUBLISHED: . 10:58 EST, 31 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 09:57 EST, 1 November 2013 . A violent stalker has been spared jail despite sending his ex-girlfriend texts threatening to kill her, following her home from work and trying to punch her. Daniel Rowlands, 27, was let off with a community order after Jade Davies, 25, asked the judge to be lenient on her former boyfriend. Cardiff Crown Court heard that Rowlands sent messages her messages including 'Get yourself a fire extinguisher, it's going to get a little smoky', 'Don’t wear anything flammable' and 'I’m going to kill you, I swear.' Stalker: Daniel Rowlands, left, sent a series of threatening messages to Jade Davies, right, before creeping into her house, looking through her things and trying to hit her . He then crept into her home to look for evidence of her having a new boyfriend, before trying to attack her. Rowlands, from Caerphilly, South Wales, . had previously accused her of having a new boyfriend. He sent a message . asking 'Who's that boy?', and when she denied there was one, replied . with 'Liar'. Prosecutor James Evans told Cardiff Crown Court that Rowlands: 'ran into the Miss Davies’s room and started looking through the drawers for evidence of some kind of infidelity. 'He aimed a punch at her but fortunately didn’t make contact. Then he pushed her with both hands to the chest.' But despite his campaign of intimidation against her, Rowlands was spared prison thanks to Miss Davies. In light of an 'eloquent' letter Miss Davies sent to him, Judge David Wynn Morgan avoided a prison sentence, saying Rowlands he would benefit more from rehabilitation after his crimes.. Merciful: Miss Davies wrote to the court asking them to be lenient on her former boyfriend . Rowlands admitted burglary, assault by beating and stalking with a fear of violence, for which he was given an 18-month community order and instructions to complete a domestic abuse programme. Sentencing, Judge David Wynn Morgan told Rowlands: 'Jade Davies has written a very eloquent letter to the court. The fact is you are someone who would benefit more from rehabilitation than from going to prison.' | Daniel Rowlands, 27, sent the messages to former partner Jade Davies, 25 .
He also followed her home from work and rifled through her drawers .
Rowlands even tried to attack her, but missed his punch .
He was spared jail after Miss Davies begged the judge to be lenient . |
154,345 | 53744c182b54e52be3e989edf5305d26003a7809 | His face contorted in pain, this is the end of the road for one migrant’s desperate bid to reach Britain. The picture shows the extreme lengths young men and women living in squalid camps in the port of Calais will go to for a new life in the UK. The migrant had managed to sneak on to a lorry after heavy traffic caused queues on the approach road to the Channel Tunnel. When he tried to hide he accidentally wedging himself between the cargo of paper bales and the trailer wall, injuring himself in the process. Police were alerted after the lorry driver heard his cries of pain. Scroll down for video . Help: A police officer helps the migrant, who was wedged between the cargo of paper bales and the trailer wall . Meanwhile French authorities were forced to call in mediators yesterday following two days of violent clashes between rival migrant groups. And the town’s deputy mayor raised fears of a descent into lawlessness as police lose control of the desperate gangs. Philippe Mignonet also warned the number of migrants in the small port area were expected to swell to 5,000 in the coming weeks. Calais has been under siege for the past few days as rival ethnic groups battle each other for access to lorries at the ferry port. Mr Mignonet claimed his town had been ‘sacrificed’ by the British and French governments and Europe. Left, the lorry he was caught in. Police were forced to step in when immigrants in Calais caused a disturbance, using canisters of tear gas on the camps as the immigrants retaliated by throwing stones and sticks . An officer searches an immigrant after the scuffle between Ethiopian and Eritrean gangs . ‘There has been an increase in crime in recent months with migrants stealing phones and breaking into shops,’ he said. ‘We do not know why this is happening, but we suspect that there are people smugglers here who are causing problems in the communities. Most of the migrants are good people, but there are a few bad people who are committing crimes.’ Aid workers say up to 2,000 migrants are currently camped in Calais but Mr Mignonet predicts this could swell to 5,000 before winter sets in. Tensions have risen in recent weeks as growing numbers of migrants are forced to compete for access to coveted sites where they try and jump onto lorries heading for Britain. Earlier this week riot police used tear gas on 400 illegal migrants who tried to storm lorries heading for Britain in a seemingly co-ordinated attack. Tensions have risen in recent weeks as growing numbers of migrants are forced to compete for access to coveted sites where they try and jump onto lorries heading for Britain . Selemawl Gimay, 24 with her child in her arms who is currently living in the migrant camp in Calais . And last month terrified ferry workers had to use a power hose to keep back up to 250 migrants who forced their way onto a vessel in the port. On Tuesday a 16-year-old Ethiopian girl was killed as she crossed the Channel Tunnel approach road. Hers is the third such death in as many weeks. Her distraught sister Gent only discovered that her younger sibling had died when she arrived in Calais yesterday. ‘I’ve been to the hospital to identify her body. My family doesn’t know she is dead,’ she said. ‘I have just arrived from Spain and was told that she was killed.’ Calais sub-prefect Denis Gaudin, has asked the Catholic Relief Services to act as a ‘mediator’ between migrant communities. ‘I believe that the use of police to ensure law enforcement is necessary, but it is also important that mediators can intervene to try to resolve conflicts,’ he said. ‘We have reminded them [the migrants] that Calais welcomed them and in return they had to behave properly.’ | The man was injured when he was crushed between cargo and the trailer .
His plight shows the desperation of those looking for a way into Britain .
French authorities are buckling as frustrations in camp rise . |
75,871 | d723aa4771e74e1518e74adefd10aa849ea35883 | (CNN) -- IN FOCUS: Ramadan Ratings . Across the Middle East, Muslims are observing the holy month of Ramadan. From the UAE to Turkey, MME takes a look at how Ramadan is affecting businesses. From the change in working hours to what's being watched on the small screen. FACETIME: Saad Al Barrak . Although businesses generally slow down during Ramadan, it's a peak period for advertising. Some ad agencies spend around 20% of their annual budget at this time of year. It's a profitable time for big name companies, and as MME found out especially for Middle Eastern brands aiming to go global. Saad Al Barrak, former CEO of Zain Telecom shares his experience. Marketplace Middle East airs weekly at the following times (all GMT): . Thursday: 1545, . Friday: 0845, . Saturday: 0615 . Sunday: 0515, 1545 . | Across the Middle East, Muslims are observing the holy month of Ramadan .
MME takes a look at how Ramadan is affecting businesses .
Saad Al Barrak, former CEO of Zain Telecom talks about advertising during the holly month . |
210,735 | 9cf540d47d7cdff6a66dc62ccb18ec97c3d74d43 | By . Ryan Gorman . PUBLISHED: . 17:48 EST, 16 September 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 17:51 EST, 16 September 2013 . A 23-year-old man with Down Syndrome in mixed martial arts (MMA) training for years is now fighting to get into the ring. Garrett Holeve, of Florida, has been denied permission to fight against David Steffan, another disabled fighter. The two men were presented with a cease-and-desist order Aug 2 by the Florida State Boxing Commission just before they were scheduled to step into the ring, according to reports. The fight was organized against Mr Steffan because, having cerebral palsy, he was seen as a fair opponent. Let him fight: Garrett Holeve (pictured) has amputee fighter Nick Newell in his corner . Though state boxing commissions do not . typically regulate amateur MMA fights, they stepped in to stop the fight . between the two disabled men on grounds it was unsanctioned, according . to Headline News. Despite training non-stop for two months and having the backing of promoters, Mitch Holeve, Garrett Holeve’s father, fears the fight might never happen. ‘It's our belief, based on conversation with people within the MMA community, that getting it done in any state isn't going to be easy,’ the father told HLN. Mitch Holeve further explained that he feels his son not being allowed into the ring is a public relations move by the sport. ‘There is a core group of people involved in MMA that are trying to protect the sport from bad PR,’ Mitch Holeve told the network. "They feel having disabled people compete would give the sport a 'black eye.' They are also afraid of the 'sideshow' effect.’ A conspiracy: Mitch Holeve, the 23-year-old aspiring fighter's father, feels his son isn't being allowed into the ring because insiders want to protect the sport's image - a sentiment with which a promoter who spoke to MailOnline agreed . A prominent New York-based promoter echoed Mitch Holeve's concerns in comments to MailOnline. ‘This . is all image, if somebody gets hurt on your show… I don’t see the . upside to doing that,’ a New York-based fight promoter said. ‘If somebody gets hurt, then you’re the guy who put [a disabled person] in the ring,’ the promoter added. There is a wide gulf between the people in favour of G-Money – as Garrett Holeve is known in the ring – fighting, and those against it. ‘One respected athletic inspector said that allowing Garrett Holeve to fight in an MMA bout was exploitative, no matter if the audience cheered and gave Holeve a standing ovation after the fight,’ Zach Arnold, editor of MMA website Fight Opinion told HLN. ‘The concept of allowing someone with… limited cognitive ability and brain issues to take punches and get slammed drew a swiftly negative reaction amongst the people I interviewed,’ Arnold added. It's his dream: All Mr Holeve wants to do is get in the ring, in a fair fight - he's not gunning for the UFC . Nick Newell, famous for going undefeated in his first 10 professional MMA fights as an amputee, has trained with Holeve – and feels he’s getting a raw deal. ‘I think we should give him a chance,’ Mr Newell told MailOnline. ‘Everyone deserves an equal chance.’ Explaining that he’s also trained with Mr Steffan, Mr Newell – who goes by ‘Notorious’ in the ring, said that both men are equal competitors. ‘I think that’s a good fair fight, the kid’s not asking to fight in the UFC,’ said Mr Newell, adding that ‘he just wants a small-time, amateur fight.’ Explaining that ‘it’s not a street fight,’ and that there are referees and medics, Mr Newell said ‘it’s safety first... it's not like he's even going to be on TV.' Notorious: Mr Newell has won his first 10 pro fights and is a champion, he doesn't feel it's fair to keep Mr Holeve out of the ring . Mr Newell said that he noticed no physical limitations with Garrett Holeve when he trained and that it will not matter if he wins or loses, he just wants to get into the ring. 'People said the same things about me… and look at me, I’m 10-0 and a world champion,' the undefeated fighter said. For now, according to HLN, the two fighters are looking to fight in Nebraska – and Mr Newell is all for it. ‘If the kid’s training hard and chasing his dream, who’s anyone to say he can’t… it’s not fair.’ | Garrett Holeve, 23, was set to fight David Steffan, an opponent with cerebral palsy .
The state of Florida instead issued a cease-and-desist order just before the fight took place .
Nick Newell, an amputee MMA champion, has trained with Mr Holeve and thinks he should be given a chance . |
147,396 | 4a91029872db7dec8502ef9e6badaa679e55e3bc | By . Anna Edwards . PUBLISHED: . 05:45 EST, 16 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 17:23 EST, 16 February 2013 . A reality TV show starring model Reeva Steenkamp will be aired today just two days after she was allegedly shot dead by her boyfriend, athletic superstar Oscar Pistorius. The law graduate died in the early hours of Valentine's Day at the home of the double amputee, who has been charged with her murder. South African Miss Steenkamp, 29, was shot four times in the head, waist, arm and hand by the 26-year-old, a court heard yesterday. Scroll down for Miss Steenkamp's tribute video . Reeva, pictured in advertising shots for the Tropika Island of Treasure show, had Tweeted excitedly about appearing on the reality programme . Fun and friendly: Miss Steenkamp can be seen playing with dolphins as part of her challenge on the TV show . Reeva was excited to be part of the challenge, and had planned many more projects for her future . Her violent death has devastated her family and friends, and stunned the rest of the world. But now a TV show that she made an appearance on has, after a 'struggle', decided to air the episode. In The Tropika Island of Treasure, Ms Steenkamp competes alongside seven South African celebrities and seven other contestants to win a prize of one million rand prize (£72,500). Today the SABC station showed footage of the model in which she says : 'Not just your journey in life but the way that you go out and make your exit is so important. 'You have either made an impact in a positive way or a negative way.' The programme's website issued a message saying: 'We are deeply saddened and extend our condolences to Reeva's family and friends.' Reeva, pictured in photos for the show and seen on her graduation day in 2005 (right), had Tweeted excitedly about appearing on the reality programme . Executive producer Samantha Moon told the BBC: 'As we grieve today with Reeva's family and friends and struggle to make sense of this shocking tragedy, it has taken much deliberation to come to the decision to continue screening Tropika Island of Treasure 5 as planned.' The show, set in Jamaica, asks contestants to describe themselves in three words and Miss Steenkamp said: 'Brainy, blonde, bombshell'. A tribute will be aired ahead of the reality show, on SABC1 at 6.30pm local time (16.30 GMT). In the tribute, Miss Steenkamp says that she has 'fallen in love with Jamaica' and that there is 'one love, everywhere'. She can be seen swimming with dolphins and says that she has 'amazing memories that I'll treasure forever' of her time on the show. VIDEO Reeva Steenkamp talks about 'being true to yourself' in tribute video . The model can be seen in an interview . to her fellow contestants that it's important to 'maintain dignity, . maintain class and always be true to yourself.' Miss . Steenkamp had taken to her Twitter account to excitedly write about her . part in the show, asking followers to help her decide what to wear for . her publicity events. On the . website, it describes how Reeva was born in Cape Town and moved to Port . Elizabeth as a child where she continued her studies after . matriculating, eventually graduating with a degree in law. It . says: 'She moved to Johannesburg 6 years ago after being scouted and . named the first face of cosmetics giant Avon South Africa. 'Since then, Reeva has travelled between JHB and Cape Town to film and shoot some of SA’s leading campaigns and commercials. 'Toyota, FHM, Clover and Italian brand Zui are some of the more prestigious clients she has worked for. Miss Steenkamp described herself as 'Brainy, blonde, bombshell' on the show, and said she had 'amazing memories' of her time on the programme . Reeva was filmed in high spirits and enjoying herself on the programme, which saw her swim with dolphins . In the show, Reeva said she had a passion for cooking and loves spending quality time with her friends and family . On the show which will be broadcast today, Reeva said she liked reading books on her days off . 'With . a background in TV presenting, once the live roaming presenter for . FashionTV in South Africa, Reeva is currently working on some major . projects that include smaller TV roles as well as a lead in a new . reality TV show. 'Reeva has a passion for cars and . cooking and prefers to read a book on her off days and spend quality . time with friends and family.' The series of this show is based in Jamaica, and sees contestants battle with each other to stay on the island. They have to complete a series of challenges, including diving off 75-foot cliffs into the ocean, tug of wars, and races. Miss Steenkamp had reportedly been hoping to branch out of modelling and begin starring in some television roles. On . her Twitter biography, Miss Steenkamp described herself as a 'Model, . Cover Girl, Tropika Island Of Treasure Celeb Contestant, Law Graduate, . Child of God'. Miss Steenkamp's publicist Sarit . Tomlinson paid tribute to her, saying she was 'the sweetest human being . and an absolute angel on earth'. Miss Steenkamp had been due to deliver an inspirational speech about abusive relationships to schoolchildren . She added: 'She was the kindest, most unbelievable girl.' The popular woman had planned to . deliver an inspirational and touching speech to schoolchildren just . hours after she was gunned down at the Paralympian's home. She . was expected to tell pupils that she had previously been in an abusive . relationship which had led to a 'loss of self worth', prompting her to . move to Johannesburg to rebuild her life. Miss Steenkamp was due to warn the secondary school pupils in Johannesburg: 'No matter how many people say that they "love" you, if you do not love your person then you will never step outside of the physical you. 'The physical you can only do so much if your mental you is lost inside of all the confusion.' Her speech said that it 'took some serious soul searching to remind myself of my value in this world.' Miss Steenkamp and Pistorius had only been going out since November. The Tropikana Island of Treasure . She . tweeted the day before Valentine's Day: 'What do you have up your . sleeve for your love tomorrow??? #getexcited #'ValentinesDay.' Pistorius appeared to have serious concerns about his safety and was said to sleep with a revolver by his side. It . was reported that she was hit by bullets fired through the door of a . bathroom at the luxury complex on the outskirts of Pretoria where . Pistorius, a keen marksman, kept a pistol and machine gun. A 9mm pistol was recovered by police investigating the scene. Police spokeswoman Lt Col Katlego Mogale said: 'Paramedics declared the woman dead on the scene and police proceeded with their investigation. 'The woman sustained wounds to her head and the upper body.' Pistorius is being held at Brooklyn Police Station prison in Pretoria and strongly denies the charge. Oscar Pistorius, who shot Reeva Steenkamp dead at his home in South Africa, had been dating since November . Prosecutors are expected to argue that the killing was pre-meditated murder, which carries a life sentence. Lawyers for Pistorius are said to be preparing to argue the shooting was a tragic accident. If found guilty of premeditated murder Pistorius would not be eligible to be considered for parole until he is aged 51. Pistorius had been expected to apply for bail, but this has been postponed until Tuesday after the defence and prosecution agreed to allow more time for this to be heard. He will be held in custody at Brooklyn Prison in Pretoria, next door to the firearms registration centre, until then. The athlete made history at the London 2012 Olympics becoming the first amputee sprinter to compete in the able-bodied Games, running in the 400m and 4x400m relay. The star was born without fibulas and underwent below-the-knee amputations at just 11 months old. | Tropika Island of Treasure show featuring Miss Steenkamp will air today .
Law graduate and model described herself as 'brainy, blonde, bombshell'
Boyfriend Oscar Pistorius charged with her murder, which he denies .
South African was shot four times in the early hours of Valentine's Day . |
196,272 | 8a015ea15d08ab847127b56c3bc4258f301a924c | Rome (CNN) -- Two inmates testified Saturday that Amanda Knox, the American student convicted of murder in Italy, was not actually involved in the killing of her roommate. But they offered two different accounts on who the actual killers were. Three other inmates testified as well. Knox was sentenced last year to 26 years in prison for the death of Meredith Kercher at a house the two shared in Perugia, the central Italian town where both were students. Knox has vehemently proclaimed her innocence and her family has continued to fight the conviction. Two hours of legal wrangling between attorneys passed before the judge decided to allow inmates Mario Alessi and Luciano Aviello to testify. Alessi is serving a life sentence for kidnapping and killing an 18-month-old boy. Alessi testified that Rudy Guede, who has also been convicted in Kercher's murder and is serving a 16-year sentence, told him that neither Knox nor her Italian boyfriend at the time, Raffaele Sollecito, were involved in the killing. Later in the day, Aviello, who has ties to the Naples Mafia, testified that it was his brother who was the killer, together with an Albanian man. According to Alessi, Guede said that he and an unnamed friend visited Kercher to try to get her to participate in sexual acts. When Kercher denied them, Guede's friend forced himself on her, and Guede also participated, Alessi said. At one point, the friend pulled out a knife, and then Guede, who was holding Kercher at the time, noticed she had started bleeding, Alessi testified. Alessi told the court that Guede tried to stop the bleeding, but that his friend urged him to leave. "We need to finish her otherwise she will tell on us," Alessi quoted the friend as telling Guede. The friend then proceeded to inflict another wound on her, Alessi testified. Alessi said Guede remained by himself with Kercher for a while, but eventually left her injured. Prosecutors and the lawyer for Kercher's family questioned the validity of Alessi's testimony. Through his lawyers, Guede denied Alessi's version of events. During his testimony, Aviello gave a different account. Aviello said that on the night of the killing, his brother came home with scratches and other wounds. As Aviello tended to the wounds, his brother confessed to him that he had killed Kercher, he said. According to Aviello, his brother said that he and an Albanian man entered the residence to steal a painting, and in the act ended up killing the girl. Aviello said he hasn't seen his brother in three years. "Inside me I know that a miscarriage of justice has taken place," Aviello said of Knox and Sollecito's conviction. Prosecutors questioned his credibility and Aviello admitted that he has been convicted of defamation seven times. The appeals process will continue June 27, when Guede is expected to testify. In an additional twist Saturday, another inmate who the defense put on the stand to verify Alessi's version of events, testified that he, in fact, did not know anything about who carried out the killings. Even though his cell was adjacent to Alessi's and Guede's, the inmate was Romanian and didn't know what they discussed, he said. Another witness Saturday was Marco Castelluccio, a Mafia member who testified from behind a screen because he is a protected witness. Castelluccio said that he also heard from Guede that Knox had nothing to do with the crime. Kercher, 21, was found dead on November 2, 2007, seminaked with her throat slashed. Knox and Sollecito were both found guilty of the murder. Knox was sentenced in December 2009. Guede, a drifter originally from Ivory Coast, was tried separately. As part of her appeal, forensic experts are retesting evidence that was used to convict Knox. That evidence includes a knife found in Sollecito's apartment with Knox's DNA on the handle and what Perugia prosecutors say is Kercher's DNA in a tiny groove on the blade. The prosecution contends that the knife was used to stab Kercher in the neck and that it had been cleaned. The DNA matter attributed to Kercher consists of flesh, not blood, they say. The sample, however, was so small that forensic scientists investigating Kercher's murder were not able to double-test it in accordance with international forensic science norms, which Knox's legal team says raises doubts about its validity. The second piece of evidence the forensic experts are testing is the tiny metal clasp from Kercher's bra, which was cut from her body after her slaying. Forensic scientists in the investigatory phase determined that Sollecito's DNA is present on the metal clasp. The clasp was identified on an investigatory video the same day Kercher's body was found. But it was not collected until nearly six weeks later, giving the defense cause to question whether the sample may have been contaminated. | Inmates tell different versions of who was behind killing .
A total of five inmates testified Saturday .
Knox was convicted of murder in the death of her roommate .
The group of convicts include a child murderer and a Mafia boss . |
29,798 | 54c9c93a7351fa381540c9af201a2316186cbb06 | The Three Bears consortium seeking boardroom change at Rangers were no closer on Saturday to discovering what agreement — if any — might be struck with the current regime in a deal for acceptance of their £6.5million funding rescue package. As wealthy Rangers-minded businessmen Douglas Park, George Letham and George Taylor wait and hope for a resolution in the coming days amid gravely uncertain times for the club, there remains mystery, too, concerning the involvement of the football man linked to their push for change. Felix Magath, the former Bayern Munich and Fulham manager, was in Glasgow over a week ago for discussions with a representative of the group and it has been revealed that the 61-year-old is keen to adopt a technical director-style role. Felix Magath purchased a one per cent stake in finacially troubled Rangers last week . One friend and former colleague is convinced that a man of Magath’s stature, talent and knowledge would be a brilliant asset to Rangers. Nevertheless, he is baffled by the development that the German would consider turning his back on management to seek such a role at a Scottish club where finances are tight and entirely unpredictable. Mark McGhee was a team-mate of Magath at Hamburg in the 1980s and their relationship has continued throughout their coaching careers nearly 30 years on. McGhee has recruited players on the recommendation of the German, most recently at Bristol Rovers, and the pair met up again to talk football when Scotland played a friendly against Nigeria at Fulham’s Craven Cottage stadium last summer. The Scotland assistant manager was linked with a role at Fulham during Magath’s brief reign in charge but that never came off and his first stint in Britain ended with the sack in September. In the wake of his dismissal, Magath (below) maintained his methods would be suitable for the English game and stressed that his next job would be in the UK. The former Fulham manager has held talks about taking on a director-style role at the club . McGhee, however, does not view a rebuilding job of Rangers from top to bottom as an obvious attraction for his friend. McGhee said: ‘If Felix is up for trying to turn Rangers around as a club on the football side, then they will have a great asset because he is a top man. ‘He is studious, intelligent and bright. He is also very single-minded, always with a very clear picture of what he wants from players and people around him. ‘He does not compromise much on that. He has a fairly established model of how he thinks it should be done and what he wants to do. ‘He has a great work ethic and requires that of his players. So Rangers would certainly get their money’s worth with him. ‘But if it’s a director of football role or technical director, then I can’t imagine what he will do if there is no money to spend on players. ‘From what I know of him, he would be frustrated. I find it a bit mysterious. If he is finished as a manager, then that’s a surprise to me. To give up now? That’s a bit of a mystery.’ Scotland assistant Mark McGhee (right) played with Magath at Hamburg and finds the mystifying . Magath was unveiled last week as having a one-per-cent stake in Rangers, an investment of £200,000. His interest is understood to extend to wishing to overhaul Murray Park where the Rangers development and scouting areas have been stripped to the bare bones over years of mismanagement and disregard by the hierarchy. McGhee added: ‘To be fair, Felix is a gambler, a punter. He doesn’t mind speculating. So it could be there’s a bit of that going on which he finds attractive. ‘I’d have thought, though, someone of his Champions League credentials would still have commanded a big- money post. ‘One of the things Felix requires is control, so I can’t imagine him going anywhere and staying long where he will have to kowtow to anyone. If he’s given autonomy, then the move (to Rangers) could work.’ McGhee praised Magath's football knowledge and said he would be a fantastic asset to Rangers . Magath will be waiting in the wings to see if the Three Bears can seize control at Ibrox. Some hurdles were cleared during last week’s talks but there remain others to be addressed with the main stumbling blocks being the make-up of any new Rangers board. It is believed the Rangers-friendly consortium are cautiously optimistic of striking a deal early in the week. Both parties should be keen to reach a resolution without the costly and lengthy resort of an EGM but that would be the most likely step if the proposal is not accepted by the current regime. Phoenix Suns basketball owner Robert Sarver’s camp have yet to learn of the Rangers board’s response, either, to his improved offer of £20m, including a short-term £6.5m loan. Sarver was told his earlier £18m bid was thrown out because it undervalued the club. His push is unlikely to succeed as he requires 75-per- cent support but the Park/Letham/Taylor alliance plus Dave King control 33 per cent of votes. | Felix Magath is keen to adopt a technical director-style role at Rangers .
A former team-mate Mark McGhee says the move is mystifying .
But said Magath would be a great asset to if the move materialises . |
25,341 | 47c753e8cfd221cdfcadf29a92bd9039ee81dd2a | (Lonely Planet) -- So you're ready to go. You've booked your flight, arranged your accommodation and booked a rental car. Awaiting is a week of motoring through Italy's magical countryside. But what's it really like to drive in Italy? Is it as nerve-wracking as it's made out to be? Do you need the skills of a Formula One driver to cut it on the nation's dog-eat-dog superstrade? Certainly, driving in Italy's main cities can be a white-knuckle experience but head out to the country and you'll find that the pace slackens and the roads are a lot less stressful. To help you on your way here are some insights based on years of experience and tens of thousands of kilometers. Lonely Planet: Italy for honeymooners . Driving styles . Italian drivers are fast, aggressive and skillful. Lane hopping and late braking are the norm and it's not uncommon to see cars tailgating at 130km/h. Don't expect people to slow down for you or let you out. Rather, seize the moment. As soon as you see a gap, go for it. Italians expect the unexpected and react swiftly but they're not used to ditherers so whatever you do, do it decisively. Road etiquette . Much driving etiquette is dictated by unwritten rules. Flashing, for example, means 'Get out of the way' or 'Don't pull out 'coz I'm not stopping'. But if an approaching car flashes you, it's warning you that there's a police check ahead. Similarly, the car horn can mean everything from 'Watch out' to 'Ciao' to 'Let's celebrate, the traffic light's just turned green'. City challenges . When driving in cities watch out for traffic restrictions. Many city centers are off-limits to unauthorized traffic and if you slip into a ZTL (zona a traffico limitato -- reduced traffic zone) you risk being caught on camera and fined. City driving also involves dealing with one-way systems, scooters appearing out of nowhere and narrow streets better suited to horse-drawn chariots than modern cars. To escape the worst mayhem, drive in the early afternoon when traffic is at its lightest and parking is easier. Which brings us to... Parking . Parking is a major headache. Space is at a premium in towns and cities and Italy's traffic wardens are annoyingly efficient. Car parks do exist but they usually fill up quickly, leaving you to park on the streets. If you park between blue lines make sure to get a ticket from the nearest meter (coins only) or tabaccaio (tobacconist) and display it on your dashboard. Note, however, that charges don't apply overnight, typically between 8pm and 8am. Lonely Planet: Driving Burgundy's Route des Grands Cru . Petrol stations . You'll find filling stations all over but smaller ones tend to close between about 1pm and 3.30pm and on Sunday afternoons. This isn't as irritating as it might sound as many have self-service (fai da te) pumps that you can use any time. Simply insert a bank note into the payment machine and press the number of the pump you want. Remembering, of course, to distinguish between benzina (petrol) and gasolio (diesel). What to carry in the car . Apart from your driving license, car documents, insurance papers and reflective safety vest, which you're legally obliged to carry, it's worth having some coins for parking meters. Also, if you're travelling with kids, keep some plastic bags to hand. Car sickness is a real possibility on winding country roads and things can prove messy unless you're prepared. Car hire . Hiring a car in Italy is easy enough -- agencies are widespread and all the usual rules and regulations apply. But bear in mind that a car is generally more hassle than it's worth in cities, so only hire one for the time you'll be out on the open road. Also, think about what kind of car to get. Rural road surfaces are not always the best and many agriturismi and beaches lie at the end of long, axle-busting tracks. Similarly, road signs can be iffy in remote areas, so consider paying for sat nav. Top drives . Here are a few roads to try out. • Bolzano to Cortina d'Ampezzo, Dolomites. • Montepulciano to Montalcino via Pienza, Tuscany . • Sulmona to Pescasseroli via Scanno, Abruzzo . • Chia to Porto Teulada, Costa del Sud, Sardinia . • Vietri sul Mare to Sorrento, Amalfi Coast, Campania . • Potenza to Metaponto, Basilicata . Lonely Planet: How to survive a boring road trip . © 2011 Lonely Planet. All rights reserved. | Italian drivers are fast, aggressive and skillful, so make sure to drive decisively .
Watch out for traffic restrictions because many city centers are off-limits to unauthorized traffic .
Apart from a driving license and car documents, it's worth having some coins for parking meters . |
117,846 | 2427898354a7759ddee9922ef09010e7b4eb6219 | By . Mark Duell . PUBLISHED: . 16:14 EST, 7 January 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 02:33 EST, 8 January 2013 . The Queen is recruiting a washer-up who must be willing to travel for up to three months of the year around her palaces - just to do the dishes. The £14,200-a-year employee will be based at Buckingham Palace but must be able to travel with a dishcloth to Windsor and Sandringham, and also to Balmoral and Holyroodhouse in Scotland. A ‘General Catering Assistant (Wash Up)’ - as it has been described in a job advert - will work for 40 hours per week on the team 'responsible for maintaining the cleanliness of the staff restaurant'. Lots of washing up: Staff members lay the state banquet table in the ballroom of London's Buckingham Palace . Job opening: Queen Elizabeth II (pictured a fortnight ago on Christmas Day) is recruiting a washer-up . The employee should be ‘punctual and reliable’, ‘able to work well in a team and have a flexible and willing attitude’ and ‘happy to travel and work at other royal residences in the UK and at weekends’. The advert on the British Monarchy’s website added that it was ‘desirable’ for potential employees - who must get in their applications by next Tuesday - to ‘have experience of a similar type of role’. ‘You must be willing to work away at other royal residences for approximately three months of the year,’ it said, adding that the person will help ‘ensure smooth operation of the staff restaurant’. ‘You will join the team responsible for maintaining the cleanliness of the staff restaurant, (and) wash-up areas and equipment in accordance with the health and hygiene regulations,’ it added. Posting: A 'General Catering Assistant (Wash Up)' - as it has been described in a job advert - will work for 40 hours per week on the team 'responsible for maintaining the cleanliness of the staff restaurant' Other job vacancies currently on the . Queen's website include openings for a ticket sales assistant, building . surveyor, retail assistant and warden team leader. In October the Queen advertised for a gardener to maintain her Buckingham Palace lawns to 'the highest standards', encourage wildlife and recycle waste at her home - all for less than £300 a week. The green-fingered candidate for the £14,950-a-year job also had to be proficient in 'good organic horticultural practices' when tending the Palace's shrub, herbaceous and rose borders. In the same month the Queen also advertised for a new £26,000-a-year Royal party organiser, as she looked for someone to help manage and co-ordinate private and official royal functions. | Advert for 'General Catering Assistant (Wash Up)' on Queen's website .
Based at Buckingham Palace but will travel to Windsor and elsewhere .
Employee responsible for 'maintaining cleanliness of staff restaurant' |
182,341 | 781ddf11e26a4889475f5d01ff264b64480f7df1 | (CNN) -- A small amount of radioactive gas escaped from a steam generator at Southern California's San Onofre nuclear power plant during a water leak, but there was no threat to public health, federal regulators said Wednesday. Operators shut down the plant's No. 3 reactor on Tuesday after the water leak was discovered, Nuclear Regulatory Commission spokesman Victor Dricks said. The gas was vented from the steam generator into an auxiliary building, where it triggered a radiation monitor, he said. The amount of gas that leaked was not immediately known, but it was a small amount that won't endanger the public or plant workers, Dricks said. He said the water leak was about six-hundredths of a gallon per minute, far below the levels required to declare an "unusual event" -- the lowest of four NRC alert levels. NRC inspectors will conduct a follow-up review of the incident, Dricks said. The plant's owner, Southern California Edison, reported the problem Tuesday, but had no new comment on Wednesday. The water leak occurred in the thousands of tubes that carry heated water from the reactor core through the steam generator, a 65-foot-tall, 640-ton piece of equipment that boils water used to drive the unit's turbines. Though leaking tubes periodically occur in older units, Dricks said, Southern California Edison replaced the steam generators at San Onofre between 2009 and 2011. CNN's Karan Olson and Matt Smith contributed to this report. | A small amount of radioactive gas escaped from a steam generator, the NRC says .
The leak does not pose any threat to human health, an NRC spokesman says .
Operators shut down the No. 3 reactor at California's San Onofre plant as a result . |
155,866 | 557abdaa5b3ea3e281198089b4a11cbd658c3358 | (CNN)Pope Francis cut his trip to Tacloban short Saturday as an approaching typhoon with blistering winds threatened the city in the Philippines. The Pope donned a slicker to conduct an outdoor Mass for hundreds of thousands who gathered despite stormy weather. The Mass in Tacloban was shortened after sustained winds of 80 mph and higher gusts howled toward the city. Tacloban is still recovering from the 2013 disaster of Super Typhoon Haiyan, described as one of the strongest storms ever recorded with 195 mph sustained winds. It killed 6,300 people nationwide. Typhoon Mekkhala was upgraded from a tropical storm and made landfall in the Philippines in the afternoon just northeast of Tacloban. The Mass began about a half-hour after he landed. Wind rustled the hood on the pontiff's slicker as he spoke to a crowd clad in raincoats. Typhoon Mekkhala, which is called Typhoon Amang in the Philippines, was arriving on the island of eastern Samar -- about 50 miles from where the Pope was in Tacloban. Just two weeks ago, a tropical storm struck Tacloban and surrounding areas, causing a commercial passenger plane to slide off the runway while landing. Tropical Storm Jiangmi, renamed Seniang in the Philippines, killed 54 people in landslides and flash floods in that region, CNN affiliate ABS-CBN reported. During the Pope's visit to Tacloban, he will have lunch with survivors of the 2013 Typhoon Haiyan, renamed Typhoon Yolanda in that country. That typhoon displaced 918,000 families nationwide, the government says. He is also to bless the Pope Francis Center for the Poor and will meet with clergy and more typhoon survivors in the cathedral in Palo. The pontiff is also scheduled to perform an outdoor Mass in Manila on Sunday before millions of Filipinos. By then, the storm should weaken to a tropical depression. Still, Manila could face gusty winds and significant rain during the Mass. The Pope's trip to Asian isles began Tuesday in Sri Lanka, and he landed in the Philippines on Friday. On Friday, Francis met with President Benigno Aquino, and the pontiff urged the political leader to reject corruption and promote "honesty, integrity and commitment to the common good," the Vatican said. He also spoke of "the moral imperative of ensuring social justice and respect for human dignity," according to a copy of his remarks provided by the Vatican. "Here in the Philippines, countless families are still suffering from the effects of natural disasters. The economic situation has caused families to be separated by migration and the search for employment, and financial problems strain many households. While all too many people live in dire poverty, others are caught up in materialism and lifestyles which are destructive of family life and the most basic demands of Christian morality," the Pope said in other remarks. The Pope leaves Manila for Rome on Monday. | Pope Francis celebrates outdoor Mass in stormy weather .
Typhoon Mekkhala could also make another Mass, on Sunday, a wet, windy service in Manila . |
81,033 | e5a5c6be963364dc377d953b10a76348c418705e | Kabul, Afghanistan (CNN) -- The bodies of three American contractors who died in a plane crash in Afghanistan earlier this month have been recovered, NATO's International Security Assistance Force said Tuesday. The C-12 plane went down in the mountains of Nuristan province October 13, but the military withheld information about it until the recovery operation was complete, ISAF said in a statement. The crew were subcontractors working for Lockheed Martin, the company confirmed. A spokesman named two of them as Jeff Lehner, a former Air Force member working for Sierra Nevada, and Randolph Bergquist, a former Marine working for Avenge. They are not releasing the third name at the family's request. Thomas Casey of Lockheed Martin confirmed the third victim was the co-pilot and also worked for Avenge. The cause of the crash that killed them is not yet clear, but it is not thought to be enemy action, ISAF said. A helicopter sent to recover the remains October 17 itself made "a hard landing" that required the crew to be rescued, ISAF said. The helicopter was stripped of sensitive parts Wednesday and destroyed in place Sunday, ISAF said. | 3 contractors killed when plane went down in mountains of Nuristan province .
Plane, a C-12, crashed October 13; crew worked for Lockheed Martin .
Cause of crash not yet clear, but it is not thought to be enemy action .
Crew of copter sent to recover remains had to be rescued after hard landing . |
147,415 | 4a98f74e9270b21d0f3a2c12a3fcb633ad40253f | WESTERPLATTE, Poland (CNN) -- On a sand swept stretch of Afghanistan, a high-ranking Polish general put his country's mission there into perspective. The repurcussions of World War II lasted decades for Poland. He explained to a NATO delegation that Polish troops remind Afghan locals of two things about the mission: They are not Soviets and they know how difficult it is to live under foreign occupation. It is hard to ignore the incomparable price Poland paid during World War II. It was attacked by Germany, invaded by the Soviets, and became home to the notorious Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz. After six brutal years, Poles were the victors in war but losers in peace, living for four decades under Soviet repression. Many here will tell you they still have not come to terms with their fate after the war. Seven decades after the start of World War II, the conflict still defines Polish identity and history. September 1, 2009 in Westerplatte, Poland turned out to be a blue sky day even as dignitaries and notably the leaders of Poland, Russia and Germany turned out to remember the dark horrors that so changed their histories. The leaders laid wreaths to honor the 'Defenders of Westerplatte', the men who died in the battle that started it all. It was here at this strategic port on the Baltic Sea, Danzig, now Gdansk, that Nazi Germany's surprise attack on Poland triggered six years of bloodletting, a savage Holocaust and the death of more than 50 million people. The Polish Prime Minister, Donald Tusk, called it a war against humanity itself. Tusk also answered critics who felt his country and the world should now move on from World War II. He warned that if anniversaries are not marked and ceremonies not planned, there may be nothing to shield us from the brutality of future wars. But still today the events of the last 70 years have left their mark and fueled some modern day controversies. Send us your war stories . Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin tried to appeal directly to the people of Poland in an open letter. He reminded them that at least 27 million Russians died in the conflict but also warned against equating the Soviet Union's role in World War II with the menace of Hitler's Nazism. "..exploiting memory, anatomizing history and seeking pretexts for mutual complaints and resentment causes a lot of harm. " wrote Putin. He backed that up with public comments saying, "If we talk about an objective assessment of history, we should understand that it had no one color. It was varied and there were huge number of mistakes committed by many sides. All these actions, in one way or another, created conditions for the beginning of a large-scale aggression by Nazi Germany." Putin was at the heart of a tug-of-war over the war. Some Poles say Stalin was as evil and complicit as Hitler during the war. Russians say that callously overlooks the sacrifice of Russians in defeating Nazism and liberating Europe. In fact, it took German Chancellor Angela Merkel to put their achievement in perspective. She said that a unified, peaceful Europe was a blessing and indeed a miracle. | Poland helped win the war but lost the peace .
It was invaded by Germany but put under Soviet influence after the war .
70 years from the start of WWII, the war still defines Polish identity and history .
Polish military says its history helps its work in Afghanistan . |
61,646 | af206b935fed95222e5325bc579a9c86345640ac | Israeli fighter jets have bombed warehouses they believed were holding military equipment used to launch chemical weapons. Israelis officials confirmed the raid and said the targets were 'game-changing' weapons bound for the Lebanese militant Hezbollah group. The airstrike happened in the early hours of Friday, but the Israeli officials did not say where it took place. Strike: The Israeli planes targeted a suspected chemical weapons site in Syria, according to US officials. An IDF F-16 is pictured . It followed days of heightened concerns that Syria might be using chemical weapons against opposition forces. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly warned in . recent weeks that Israel would be prepared to take military action if . chemical weapons or other arms were to reach Hezbollah. In January, an Israeli airstrike hit a convoy believed to be carrying advanced anti-aircraft weapons to Hezbollah. Earlier this week, Hezbollah leader Sheikh Hassan . Nasrallah said his group would aid Syrian President Bashar Assad if . needed to put down the two -year-old uprising. Defence: Syrian anti-aircraft gun is positioned in a wheat field close to the radar position in eastern Lebanon's Bekaa valley . Lebanon's army released a statement saying Israeli warplanes had flown over Lebanese airspace for hours during Friday. President Michel Suleiman denounced the flights and accused Israel of breaking international law. President Obama: No 'American boots' on the ground in Syria . The statements did not mention possible strikes against Syria. An Israeli embassy spokesman in Washington declined to comment on the air strike. But he added: 'What we can say is that Israel is determined to prevent the transfer of chemical weapons or other game-changing weaponry by the Syrian regime to terrorists, especially to Hezbollah in Lebanon.' In 2007, Israeli jets bombed a . suspected nuclear reactor site along the Euphrates River in northeastern . Syria, an attack that embarrassed and jolted the Assad regime. It led . to a build-up of the Syrian air defense system with Russia providing the . hardware for the defense systems upgrade. It continues to be a reliable . supplier of military equipment to the Assad regime. The airstrike, first reported by CNN, . came hours before President Barack Obama told a press conference in Costa Rica that did not expect the U.S. to send ground troops into Syria. He said: 'I do not foresee a scenario in which boots on the ground in Syria, American boots on the ground, would not only be good for America but also would be good for Syria.' More than 70,000 people have died and hundreds of thousands have fled the country as the Assad regime has fought rebels. Locator map of Israel, Lebanon and Syria . Dictator: Syria's President Bashar Assad delivers a speech at the parliament in Damascus, Syria. Israel is thought to have targeted chemical weapons belonging to his regime . Mr Obama has called evidence of the use of chemical weapons a 'game-changer' that would have 'enormous consequences'. The Israeli airstrikes are believed to be part of a cautious, step-by-step plan in Washington to rally support for an international momentum which supports the rebels in Syria. While the U.S. has been providing . non-lethal aid to opposition forces in Syria, stepping up support in . recent days, the Obama administration has resisted calls from some . American politicians to arm the rebels, or work to establish a no-fly . zone to aid the insurgency. Israel struck on the same day that reports of the most gruesome massacre filtered through to western media of ‘assassinations’ and ‘burning’ of bodies on a city near the port of Baniyas. Assad's regime was accused of committing a 'large-scale massacre' of up to 100 men, women and children with guns, knives and blunt objects. Massacred: This image provided by The Syrian Revolution against Bashar Assad reportedly shows dead bodies at Bayda village, where scores of people were allegedly killed by regime forces . Running battles: News reports broadcast on Ugarit News showed Syrian rebels clashing with government forces in Damascus . The killings were targeted at the village of Bayda which is inhabited primarily by Sunnis, who dominate the country's rebel movement. On Thursday, Defense . Secretary Chuck Hagel said the administration is rethinking its . opposition to providing arms to the rebels. He said it was one of . several options as the U.S. consults with allies about steps to be taken . to drive Assad from power. Officials in the administration who spoke on . condition of anonymity to discuss strategy said earlier this week that . arming the opposition forces was seen as more likely than any other . military option. Obama followed Hagel's comments by . saying options will continue to be evaluated, though he did not cite . providing arms specifically. Concerns that U.S. weapons could end up in . the hands of al-Qaida-linked groups helping the Syrian opposition or . other extremists, including Hezbollah, have stood in the way of that . change in strategy. "We want to make sure that we look . before we leap and that what we're doing is actually helpful to the . situation as opposed to making it more deadly or more complex," Mr Obama . said. | The weapons were 'game-changing' say Israel officials .
Lebanese president accuses Israel of breaking international law .
'No American boots on ground in Syria' vows Obama . |
135,284 | 3afed68583fb335e3e280f41f5bc575e2bff8ee4 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . Michael Jackson's chimpanzee, Bubbles, was physically abused and beaten whilst living with the singer according to Jane Goodall, a British primatologist. Ms Goodall told TMZ that she even confronted Jackson regarding the abuse, and that it 'ticked him off.' Ms Goodall is not the first person to accuse Jackson of hurting the chimpanzee, however she did not elaborate on the circumstances that lead up to the beatings. As part of her statement, Goodall mentioned that as chimps age, they become dangerous. Scroll down for video... Wacko Jacko: Michael Jackson¿s chimp Bubbles was once the most pampered pet in pop, traveling the globe with the superstar . Monkey business: The world's leading chimp expert says Michael Jackson's famous pet monkey Bubbles was beaten at his Neverland Ranch and she blames the pop start . Partners: Although Jane Goodall did not elaborate on the circumstances leading up to the alleged beatings, she is not the first person accusing Jackson of hurting the chimpanzee . LaToya Jackson’s former husband, Jack Gordon, told TMZ that he once saw the king of pop punching the monkey. 'I saw Michael punch Bubbles, kick him in the stomach. Michael used to say, 'He doesn't feel it. He's a chimpanzee. I have to discipline him,' Gordon told TMZ. In the past, those close to Jackson have claimed the chimpanzee was treated like a king, often sleeping in a crib in Jackson’s room with constant access to unlimited treats. At his ranch, Bubbles was fed in the dining room and even had access to Jackson’s private toilet. World's most famous chimp? These days, Michael Jackson's former pet Bubbles lives at the Centre for Great Apes in Wauchula, Florida . No truth: People close to Jackson have denied claims that he bulled the chimp saying he was treated like a king. Reportedly, he slept in a crib in Jackson¿s room and had constant access to the unlimited treats kept for him . Bubbles accompanied Jackson to Japan during his Bad World Tour and had the opportunity to drink tea with the mayor of Osaka. It Jackson’s attachment to Bubbles led to media mockery and garnered him the nickname 'Wacko Jacko,' as the pair often dressed in similar outfits. These days, Bubbles is now 30 years old and lives in an animal sanctuary in Florida. After giving up the chimpanzee, Jackson had plans to visit Bubbles in the sanctuary, but he never made it. Besides Bubbles, Jackson is believed to have kept two other chimps as pets. New home: These days, Bubbles is at an animal sanctuary in Florida. Staff there say that the best tribute they can pay to Jackson is to take excellent care of his dear friend . World's most famous chimp? Michael Jackson's former pet Bubbles has been discovered alive and well at the Centre for Great Apes in Wauchula, Florida . At his trial in 2005, jurors learned from a video interview with the singer that his chimpanzees would help him clean the house. 'They run around and help me clean the room. They help me dust and clean the windows,' he said. When Jackson’s maids testified, they were not nearly so impressed by the state of the animals. One housekeeper claimed that she had to clean up the droppings of one of the chimpanzees, after it decided to throw its waste at the bedroom wall. Meanwhile, another maid described how messy chimp Max would tear off his nappy before crawling into Jacko’s bed. | Jane Goodall claims she confronted Jackson over his treatment of pet and says that her was regularly beaten .
Jackson earned his nickname 'Wacko Jacko' from his close relationship with the chimp .
Bubbles is now 30 and living in an animal sanctuary in Florida . |
96,477 | 082425b30e08da0eb186811447c5a600df43b8c8 | George Osborne will deliver a larger than expected boost to the NHS in this week’s Autumn Statement – injecting £2 billion to try to blunt Labour’s electoral advantage on the issue. Government sources say that the Chancellor has found the money for the windfall from budget surpluses across Whitehall departments. No 10 is acutely conscious that despite Ed Miliband’s rock-bottom personal ratings, the NHS remains the only policy area in which Labour consistently polls ahead of the Conservatives. Scroll down for video . Chancellor George Osborne is expected to announce the massive cash injection in his Autumn Statement on Wednesday to blunt Miliband's party which consistently polls ahead of the Tories on NHS policies (file photo) The expected announcement in Wednesday’s speech comes after days of behind-the-scenes jostling between the Tories and Liberal Democrats to claim credit for the NHS funding boost, with Liberal Democrat Health Minister Norman Lamb publicly calling for more resources to prevent a ‘crash’ in services over the winter. It had previously been rumoured that the NHS boost would amount to only £1 billion. The Autumn Statement is also expected to contain a number of big budget infrastructure announcements, with priority given to major new roads. Ministers are under orders from No 10 to be photographed next to the projects for use in ‘puff’ pieces for local papers. Mr Osborne will claim in the statement – his last major pre-Election Commons setpiece other than March’s Budget – that his handling of the economy has enabled him to free up extra resources for the health service. No 10 is aware despite Ed Miliband’s (pictured) low personal ratings, the NHS remains the only policy area in which Labour polls ahead of the Tories . ‘You can’t have a strong NHS without a strong economy to pay for it. If you don’t have a long-term plan for the economy, you don’t have a plan for the future of the NHS,’ he is expected to say, adding: ‘We have both. It’s because our economy is growing, and we’ve kept a tight control on the finances, that we can do more for the NHS.’ The Chancellor is also planning to make the political point that extra NHS funding should be allied to the more efficient management which he claims would be ensured by a Conservative administration. ‘This will support the day- to-day work of our incredible nurses, doctors and other NHS staff; but it is also a down- payment on the future of our health service. ‘This new money will be used to buy the new facilities and services that will help transform the NHS so it becomes more efficient for taxpayers and effective for patients.’ Mr Osborne will also claim credit for the fact that ‘the British economy is growing faster than any other major economy in the world’ – but will also repeat David Cameron’s warning earlier this month about the risks of a new global downturn hitting the UK economy. Labour fought back last night, with Chris Leslie, the party’s Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury, saying: ‘This week George Osborne will have to admit that he has broken his promises. ‘He has failed to deliver rising living standards and that failure is why he’s also set to break his promise to balance the books by next year. ‘We need a plan to save and transform our health service too. Labour will raise an additional £2.5 billion a year, on top of Tory spending plans, for an extra 20,000 nurses and 8,000 GPs.’ | Chancellor found cash from budget surpluses across Whitehall - sources .
No 10 aware NHS is only policy area in which Miliband's party tops polls .
Expected windfall is part of effort to avert a potential 'crash' in services .
Autumn Statement also believed to contain a priority for major new roads . |
192,906 | 85be89c1fdec78bd6f9c8e835c44f3460c839e74 | Google will appeal to the High Court to block a breach of privacy legal action launched against it in the UK by a group of British internet users. The internet giant's lawyers are seeking a declaration that the court has no jurisdiction to try their claims - which relate to the Apple Safari internet browser. The British group, known as Safari Users Against Google’s Secret Tracking, accuse the company of bypassing security settings in order to track their online browsing and to target them with personalised advertisements. Doesn't apply: Google (UK headquarters pictured) claims the privacy case cannot be brought in the UK . The group includes editor and publisher Judith Vidal-Hall, with Robert Hann and Marc Bradshaw, who are both IT security company directors. They say Google’s 'clandestine' tracking and collation of internet usage between summer 2011 and spring 2012 has led to distress and embarrassment among UK users. They argue Google’s bid to block a trial is 'misconceived' and the company should 'answer to British justice.' Allegations against the company include misuse of private information, breach of confidence and of the 1998 Data Protection Act. The users action group says the information was collected and sold to advertisers who used its DoubleClick advertising service. Google, the most dominant internet search engine site in the world, is powered from a site in Silicon Valley, California. The company is multinational and therefore argues that the privacy claim should not be heard in a British courtroom. It is the latest controversy involving Eric Schmidt's £170bn company after tax avoidance scandals . Antony White QC, appearing for Google, today argued the British claimants had failed to establish that their claims fell within one or more of the legal “gateways” which would allow them to go ahead. Mr White told Mr Justice Tugendhat that the only potential gateway available required there to be a real basis for concluding that the conduct complained of between summer 2011-spring 2012 would be 'continued or repeated'. He said: 'There is no suggestion there is any risk of repetition or continuation of that conduct - and good reason to think that it will not be repeated or continued'. In written arguments before the judge, Google Inc, contends any damages recovered if the claimants win are likely to be 'very modest'. A trial would be likely to last six to seven days and cost in the region of £1.2m and be disproportionately expensive, it said. A trial was likely to be 'substantial and complex' and involve a great deal of highly technical evidence about the operation of browsers, websites and cookies, it added. Campaigner Ms Vidal-Hall said before the court hearing, expected to last two days: 'Google is very much here in the UK. It has a UK specific site. It has staff here. 'It sells adverts here. It makes money here. It is ludicrous for it to claim that, despite all of this very commercial activity, it won’t answer to our courts. 'If consumers are based in the UK and English laws are abused, the perpetrator must be held to account here, not in a jurisdiction that might suit them better. 'Google’s preference that British consumers should travel all the way to California to seek redress for its wrongdoings is arrogant, immoral and a disgrace. We will fight this attempt to dismiss the case robustly.' Hugh Tomlinson QC, appearing for Safari users, said he rejected Google’s criticism that the claims being brought were uninteresting and made for 'trivial' amounts. Mr Tomlinson told the judge: 'These claimants are holding Google to account for what they have done.' He said no regulatory authority had taken action against Google in the UK, though there had been action in the US. One of two US investigations related to the very breaches underlying the basis for the UK court action. The Safari users wanted 'to find out what information has been obtained (by Google) and how it has been used', said Mr Tomlinson. Privacy: Claimants say the web giant has tracked their phones or laptops without permission . 'We say there are very serious and important issues which relate to how Google, a corporation of immense wealth and power, deals with private information and the individuals who use their services. 'We wholly reject the idea these are trivial and uninteresting claims sounding in trivial sums and the court should not entertain them.' The attempt to bypass British privacy rules will further fuel controversy over how Google tries to avoid regulation in overseas markets. Google avoids hundreds of millions of pounds in corporation tax by legally booking UK profits through its international headquarters in Dublin - claiming profits from sales of online advertising for UK companies should not be taxed here as its intellectual property is in Ireland and the US. But Dan Tench, a partner with Olswang, which is representing dozens of claimants in the lawsuit, has previously said: ‘Google has a substantial presence here and earns substantial revenues here. ‘This is yet another instance of Google being here when it suits them and not being here when it doesn’t.’ The claimants argue Google’s policies ‘don’t respect’ British privacy laws. The lawsuit follows on from Google being hit with a record £14.4m fine in America after the company bypassed the privacy settings found on iPads, iPhones and Macs. It also paid out a further £10million to resolve a related complaint. The privacy breach concerns Apple’s search browser, called Safari, which is designed to block the software that allows Google to track users’ online. However, Google disabled this safeguard between summer 2011 and spring 2012 without notifying those using it. Earlier this year, a British judge granted permission for the case to go ahead. In its submission to the High Court, Google’s lawyers argued that any information gleaned from the search engine is not ‘private or confidential’, meaning it has no obligation to keep it confidential. Other internet giants, such as Facebook, Yahoo and Microsoft, all offer some services through European bases - meaning there is some protection for users under EU privacy laws. | Web giant accused of breaching privacy by tracking phones and laptops .
But £170bn company claims case could only be heard in the US .
Claimants blast debacle as search engine firm operates in the UK . |
186,579 | 7dac6614733848deb73f9d569251444fe7bd9bfe | (CNN) -- His was a suicide with a macabre twist. In February, former Chicago Bears safety David Duerson shot himself in the chest, but not before leaving behind a note requesting his brain be studied for evidence of a disease striking football players. The plaintive note read, "Please, see that my brain is given to the NFL's brain bank." Today, scientists announced that Duerson's brain tissue showed "moderately advanced" evidence of chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a dementia-like brain disease afflicting athletes exposed to repeated brain trauma. "Dave Duerson had classic pathology of CTE and no evidence of any other disease," said Dr. Ann McKee, a neuropathologist with the Bedford VA Medical Center, and co-director of the Boston University School of Medicine Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy. "He had severe involvement of areas that control judgment, inhibition, impulse control, mood and memory." CTE has been found in the brains of 14 of 15 former NFL players thus far studied at the center. Their cases share a common thread -- repeated concussions, sub-concussive blows to the head, or both. The picture beginning to emerge from these cases is that trauma could be causing brain damage. A brain with CTE is riddled with dense clumps of a protein called tau. Under a microscope, tau appears as brown tangles that look similar to dementia. Except the cases of CTE have shown this progressive, dementia-like array in players well in advance of a typical dementia diagnosis, which typically occurs in the 70s or 80s. Mike Webster, an offensive lineman with the Pittsburgh Steelers whose CTE was also diagnosed posthumously, was 50 when he died. John Grimsley, a nine-year NFL veteran who played most of his career with the Houston Oilers, was 45, and Duerson was 50. Scientists at Boston University have found evidence of CTE in the brain of an athlete as young as 18. "To see the kind of changes we're seeing in 45-year-olds is basically unheard of," said McKee in an earlier interview with CNN. Duerson suffered a minimum of 10 known concussions during the course of his career, some of them involving loss of consciousness, said Dr. Robert Stern, co-director of the Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy. Symptoms that nagged Duerson after he retired from the NFL in 1993 were typical of cases such as Webster and Grimsley, including problems with impulse control, an increasingly short fuse and headaches. Duerson's ex-wife said that while playing professionally, the head trauma he bore on the field would become plain after games ended. "Sometimes he would come home with extreme headaches," said Alicia Duerson during an interview with CNN in February. "We would meet after the game and he would want me to drive because he felt dizziness or he just didn't feel stable." Alicia Duerson said that several years before he died, her husband had been extremely bright, articulate and gifted. But as time wore on, he began to lose those faculties. Duerson began to have trouble forming coherent sentences and spelling. Alongside cognitive and emotional problems, a business that he established after his NFL career was failing. The tragic culmination of his problems was his suicide February 17 of this year. "We do seem to be seeing an increased rate in athletes who have early and moderate stage CTE," said McKee, adding the caveat that the Boston University sample is autopsy-based and therefore inherently biased. Duerson's death, and specifically the decision to shoot himself in the chest, apparently to avoid damaging his brain tissue, shocked members of his family and the football community. Duerson's is the first case in the CTE narrative in which a player ostensibly took his own life to have his brain studied. "It's important for people to understand that it does not help our research or our mission of the CSTE to take their own lives because they fear they have this disease," said Stern. "The future will lead to successful treatment of this disease." Duerson's son Tregg said the analysis of his father's brain -- the answers to questions about his death -- has given the family a measure of closure. "It is my greatest hope that his death will not be in vain and that through this research his legacy will live on and others won't have to suffer in this manner," said Tregg Duerson. | Dave Duerson had classic pathology of CTE and no evidence of any other disease .
CTE has been found in the brains of 14 of 15 former NFL players thus far .
Duerson suffered a minimum of 10 known concussions during the course of his career . |
252,274 | d281139177b407ca763bb40524147f87fa9507cd | A nine-year-old boy with a brain tumour told there was 'no hope' has defied expectations to beat cancer for the second time - just in time for Christmas. Shane Edwards, from Bradford, was first diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumour in February 2012, when he was just six years old. After undergoing two major operations, radiotherapy and months of chemotherapy, scans showed he was cancer-free and his family believed he had beat the disease. But they were hit with another bombshell in July this year, when they were told his cancer had returned. Doctors broke the heartbreaking news that there was 'no hope', but his family begged them to continue treatment. Joy: Shane Edwards (front) has been given the all-clear from cancer in time for Christmas, much to the relief of his mother Tracy, brother Kyle (left) and and twin brother Scott . Due to Mrs Edwards' insistence, Shane received treatment and was taking chemotherapy tablets at home. Three months later, to their utter relief, a scan has revealed Shane has defied medics - as the tumour seems to have disappeared. He is now looking forward to spending Christmas day with his twin brother Scott, his two older brothers, Callum, 11, and Kyle, 12, and his parents Tracey and Philip. Mrs Edwards, 33, said Shane has just finished his fourth round of chemotherapy and the family will spoil the youngster this Christmas after such a traumatic year. 'We were devastated when the doctors told us the cancer had come back,' she said. 'Shane had been clear for over two years and we could not believe it. It is such a relief to hear the tumour has gone once again. 'We thought there would be a little bit of shrinkage following the chemotherapy, but we didn't expect the tumour to be totally gone. 'Now we can really celebrate Christmas without the worry of thinking about it. All the boys are going to be extra spoilt this year.' Shane will still have to undergo two further courses of chemotherapy at Leeds General Infirmary, which will finish in March, but doctors have dropped his regular scans from every three months to every six months. Mrs Edwards has also thanked a number of friends, family and well-wishers that helped raise money to pay for treatment, and for items on Shane's wish list, such as a petrol buggy. She and her husband were completely devastated when Shane was first diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2012. Brotherly love: Shane (left) with his twin, Scott. The youngster has just finished his fourth round of chemotherapy and the family are looking forward to celebrating this Christmas . After suffering intense headaches, and doctors ruling out various causes, he was eventually sent for a scan. His parents were devastated to be told he had a particularly fast-growing tumour called a grade 4 glioblastoma. According to Cancer Research UK, only about 20 in 100 children (20 per cent) diagnosed with glioblastoma will live for five years. A glioblastoma is an aggressive and fast-growing form of brain tumour. Fast growing tumours are much more likely to come back after treatment than slow growing tumours. The outlook is not good for people with more aggressive grade 3 and 4 tumours. Only about 20 in 100 children (20 per cent) diagnosed with glioblastoma will live for five years. Many adults live for less than a year. Source: Cancer Research UK . Despite the poor odds, Shane underwent two major operations as well as chemotherapy and radiotherapy. His parents were delighted to hear the treatment had kept the cancer at bay. Months of regular scans came back clear, and they believed they could breathe a sigh of relief. However, another headache he suffered in July this year rang alarm bells, and further tests showed the tumour had returned. Following the chemotherapy tablets and a recent scan, Shane's consultant in paediatric oncology, Dr Sue Picton, confirmed the tumour seemed to have disappeared, although he would have to continue his chemotherapy until the course is complete. Dr Picton said: 'This is really great news for Shane and his family. 'We're really pleased that the tumour seems to have responded so well to the chemotherapy treatment, and while not out of the woods just yet, this response to chemotherapy is much better than I expected.' Mrs Edwards added: 'I could not thank the staff at Leeds General Infirmary enough. They are all really good with Shane.' | Shane Edwards was diagnosed with a brain tumour in February 2012 .
Underwent two major operations, chemotherapy and radiotherapy .
Scans showed he was clear, but in July 2014 the cancer returned .
Doctors said there was 'no hope' but his parents demanded treatment .
Now a scan has revealed the tumour seems to have disappeared . |
152,415 | 50f89edca50b995c706e2f3e04f01337a4d794a5 | Los Angeles (CNN) -- Lindsay Lohan checked into a California rehab center early Friday, ending -- at least for now -- a drama that has had more twists and turns than a high-speed car chase. Shawn Holley, the lawyer who guided Lohan through years of legal turmoil until the actress abruptly fired her in January, helped her avoid jail once again by brokering a deal, her father told CNN Friday. "I am so thankful to Shawn Holley and Evan Haney, her manager, for doing this," Michael Lohan said. While he wouldn't name the California facility his daughter entered, he noted it is a rehab program she's been in before. The actress underwent three months of court-ordered substance abuse rehab at the Betty Ford Clinic at the end of 2010, but she was in legal trouble again weeks later -- facing a shoplifting charge that led to her current woes. Lohan, 26, "wants to settle in" for a few days while arrangements can be made to transfer her to the Lukens Institute in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, which bills itself as a "luxury rehab center," Michael Lohan said. "The Lukens Institute is where she wanted to go all along -- a place she will get the right treatment and finally get better," Michael Lohan said. Santa Monica City Attorney Terry White, who must approve any transfer, has not responded to CNN calls for comment. The actress was supposed to start a 90-day stint in a "lockdown" rehab center Thursday, an alternative to a three-month jail term for two misdemeanor convictions and a shoplifting probation violation finding in March. But she abruptly left the Southern California facility where she had gone Thursday morning because "she was not happy with the place," her father said. Michael Lohan said he was not happy with it either because of the revelation that the facility -- Morningside Recovery in Newport Beach -- can't provide alcohol and drug rehab treatments because California officials revoked its license. "If a 24-hour residential facility is providing treatment or services to promote the recovery of alcohol and drug abuse then they must possess a license," said Millicent Tidwell, deputy director for the California Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs. None of Morningside's several locations in California are licensed, Tidwell said. The company previously had three licenses, but all were revoked. The state's licensing agency is in litigation with Morningside's unlicensed Newport Beach facility, she said. It's unclear whether Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge James Dabney knew Morningside was unlicensed when Lohan's lawyer, Mark Heller, informed him in court Thursday morning that she would spend her rehab sentence there. White objected at Thursday's hearing, saying Heller didn't get prior approval for Lohan to go to Morningside. White said he needed time to investigate it. "Lindsay had no idea that Morningside wasn't approved," Michael Lohan said. Heller has not respond to several CNN requests for comment. The judge ordered the treatment after Lohan entered pleas of no contest on charges relating to a traffic accident and, with those convictions, she was found in violation of her shoplifting probation. Her six years of legal troubles trace back to two drunken driving arrests in 2007 and include other incidents in which she was behind the wheel. Lohan was charged with reckless driving and lying to a police officer about a June 2012 car crash in which her Porsche hit a dump truck on the Pacific Coast Highway in Santa Monica, California. Her arrest triggered the probation violation charge. The police report said Lohan denied being behind the wheel, but the prosecutor was expected to call witnesses who say she was driving. Lindsay Lohan acknowledged her drug and alcohol addiction in past court appearances. She's spent 250 days in five rehab facilities since January 2007, including one long court-ordered stint after a failed drug test. The actress has appeared in court at least 20 times before four Los Angeles judges who have now found her in violation of probation six times and sentenced her to a total of nine months in jail. Lohan has spent about two weeks behind bars in six trips to the Los Angeles County jail, served 35 days under house arrest and worked about 67 days of community service at the county morgue. | NEW: The lawyer Lindsay Lohan fired in January returns to help her avoid jail again .
NEW: The actress faced jail unless she entered rehab .
Lohan abruptly left another rehab center Thursday .
The actress must spent 90 days in rehab, a judge ordered . |
75,173 | d5220a0993178aeb8a37e0023d82b7d3e3a0a5b1 | By . David Kent . Former England defender Sol Campbell believes his fellow black players are 'too scared' to speak out about racism. The 39-year-old, who retired two years ago after playing for Tottenham, Arsenal, Portsmouth, Notts County and Newcastle, claimed in March he could have been England captain for 10 years had he been white. Campbell admits he has been disappointed by the reaction of several black ex-professionals, accusing them of being 'too scared to own up' to the fact they have been victims of - or witnessed - racial abuse. Hitting out: Sol Campbell captains England against the USA during an international in 2005 . Experienced: Sol Campbell played for Arsenal, Newcastle, Tottenham and England during his career . 'They are seeing what is happening around them and they don't do anything about it. They love the status quo. They just want to toe the line,' he told the Daily Mirror. 'It's a case of, "I'm all right, I don't care who is coming up behind me. I'm too scared to own up". Well, I'm not like that and I am never going to be like that, I'm just going to be me. 'People could have said what they did in a different way. John Barnes had bananas thrown at him. He is almost acting like nothing happened to him. People like him could have said, "Maybe not 10 years, but I could see where he was coming from. Articulate it in a different way".' Ex-Manchester United and Liverpool midfielder Paul Ince, who captained England seven times during the 1990s, was one such prominent former international team-mate of Campbell's who rejected his claims, saying the defender 'wouldn't have been England captain for 10 years - nobody is'. Fighting talk: Paul Ince (right, in action against Italy at the 1998 World Cup) rejected Campbell's claims . Difference of opinion: Campbell and Ince (left and second left) disagree over the racism issue . Glory days (from left): Alan Shearer, Sol Campbell, David Beckham and Paul Ince train with England . Referring to the newspaper interview in question, Campbell added: 'Then you've got Paul Ince in the Daily Mail. It's like "Really?". What position are you protecting when your position can so easily be taken away? 'I know some of the political people are trying to kind of move the FA in certain ways. 'But you just get to the stage where, if I've got black ex-players going against me then you start to think, "What is going on here?". I'll just let people drift and carry on doing my own thing.' | Campbell says players are only out to protect themselves .
Campbell claimed he would've captained England for 10 years if he was white .
Paul Ince rejected Campbell's views in interview with Sportsmail . |
199,289 | 8dfa59e3c88fc6042394a795fcb810a58e4cb07c | WASHINGTON (CNN) -- When you see people at the office using such Internet sites as Facebook and MySpace, you might suspect those workers are slacking off. A social-networking site for the world of spying officially launches for the U.S. intelligence community this month. But that's not the case at the CIA, the FBI and the National Security Agency, where bosses are encouraging their staff members to use a new social-networking site designed for the super-secret world of spying. "It's every bit Facebook and YouTube for spies, but it's much, much more," said Michael Wertheimer, assistant deputy director of national intelligence for analysis. The program is called A-Space, and it's a social-networking site for analysts within the 16 U.S. intelligence agencies. Instead of posting thoughts about the new Avenged Sevenfold album or Jessica Alba movie, CIA analysts could use A-Space to share information and opinion about al Qaeda movements in the Middle East or Russian naval maneuvers in the Black Sea. The new A-Space site has been undergoing testing for months and launches officially for the nation's entire intelligence community September 22. "It's a place where not only spies can meet but share data they've never been able to share before," Wertheimer said. "This is going to give them for the first time a chance to think out loud, think in public amongst their peers, under the protection of an A-Space umbrella." Wertheimer demonstrated the program to CNN to show how analysts will use it to collaborate. "One perfect example is if Osama bin Laden comes out with a new video. How is that video obtained? Where are the very sensitive secret sources we may have to put into a context that's not apparent to the rest of the world?" Wertheimer asked. "In the past, whoever captured that video or captured information about the video kept it in-house. It's highly classified, because it has so very short a shelf life. That information is considered critical to our understanding." The goal of A-Space, like intelligence analysis in general, is to protect the United States by assessing all the information available to the spy agencies. Missing crucial data can have enormous implications, such as an FBI agent who sent an e-mail before September 11, 2001, warning of people learning to fly airplanes but not learning to land them. "There was the question, 'Was that a dot that failed to connect?' Well, that person did this via e-mail," Wertheimer said. "A-Space is the kind of place where you can log that observation and know that your fellow analysts can see that." Even though Facebook, MySpace and other social-networking sites that inspired A-Space are predominantly the domain of young people, there apparently is no such generational divide on A-Space. "We have found that participation in A-Space crosses every conceivable age line and experience line. People are excited, no matter what age group," Wertheimer said. Of course, the material on A-Space is highly classified, so it won't be available for the public. Only intelligence personnel with the proper security clearance, and a reason to be examining particular information, can access the site. The creators of A-Space do not want it to be used by some future double agent such as Jonathan Pollard or Robert Hanssen to steal America's 21st-century secrets. "We're building [a] mechanism to alert that behavior. We call that, for lack of a better term, the MasterCard, where someone is using their credit card in a way they've never used it before, and it alerts so that maybe that credit card has been stolen," Wertheimer said. "Same thing here. We're going to actually do patterns on the way people use A-Space." Yes, analysts can collect friends on A-Space the way people can on Facebook. But nobody outside the intelligence community will ever know -- because they're secret. CNN's Barbara Starr and Pam Benson contributed to this report. | U.S. intelligence agencies are urging staffers to use a new social-networking site .
Called A-Space, it's for analysts within the nation's 16 intelligence agencies .
Analysts can use A-Space to share information about al Qaeda, other issues .
Only intelligence personnel with the proper security clearance can access the site . |
41,003 | 73a23e0b3a43a180e1359e8e5f7dbb5845eec7b5 | Australia has long prided itself on its commitment to fairness. It is a signatory to a range of international conventions intended to protect the vulnerable and has in the past provided sanctuary for those seeking refuge, most notably in the wake of the Vietnam War. In recent years, however, successive Australian governments have adopted increasingly punitive measures to deter asylum seekers from coming to Australia by boat. This is despite Australia hosting relatively low numbers of refugees. Now the Australian government has adopted a military response to the arrival of boats: its Operation Sovereign Borders is led by a three-star general and implemented by Australian Navy and Customs personnel. Boats attempting to bring asylum seekers to Australian territory are intercepted and either towed or escorted back to Indonesian waters. If an intercepted boat is unseaworthy, Australia may transfer asylum seekers to lifeboats, with limited provisions, and release them close to Indonesian waters. They then have no choice but to return to Indonesia. In implementing this extraordinary policy, Australia has entered Indonesian waters on a number of occasions, sparking protest from Indonesia over incursions into its sovereign territory. Perhaps the most disturbing aspect of Australia's policy is its failure to identify and protect refugees among the asylum seekers it intercepts at sea, despite its obligation under the Refugee Convention to protect refugees from being returned to persecution. As Indonesia is not a party to the Refugee Convention, Australia has no assurance that refugees returned to Indonesia will not be deported to their home countries where they face harm. Offshore processing . A further troubling aspect of the policy is the refusal to process the claims of those arriving by boat in Australia. Asylum seekers are transferred to the Pacific island nations of Nauru and PNG's Manus Island for detention and processing within 48 hours of arriving in Australian territory. The detention centers on Nauru and Manus Island are grossly overcrowded, lack adequate health services, are prone to outbreaks of disease and have inadequate water and sanitation. Asylum seekers have engaged in self-harm and attempted suicide. The centers have been criticized by Amnesty International and the UNHCR for not meeting required protection standards. In fact, the Australian Minister for Immigration and Border Control has conceded that Australia is unable to guarantee the safety of every asylum seeker in the PNG detention facility. The stark reality is that a young Iranian asylum seeker, Reza Berati, was murdered on Manus Island in February 2014. Asylum seekers have reported living in constant fear in detention and staying awake in shifts to watch over each other; and many asylum seekers have suffered serious injuries there. The situation in the Nauru detention center is equally grave. Asylum seekers burnt down a significant portion of the detention facility in July 2013, there have been allegations of sexual assault and the UNHCR has highlighted the gross inadequacies of the detention centre, particularly for children. Who's responsible? Disingenuously, Australia has attempted to argue that it only plays a support role in the facilities and has no responsibility for asylum seekers in these detention centers because Nauru and PNG are sovereign nations. However, Australia has clear power and effective control in the facilities. It is responsible for selecting and transferring asylum seekers to the centers and for their day-to-day operation. Australia is also solely responsible for the high financial costs of running these detention centers. It pays for the operation and service provision at the centers, pays a visa fee in Nauru for every asylum seeker detained or resettled there and is paying the legal costs PNG is incurring to fight the Constitutional challenge to the Manus Island detention center. Australia's clear power and effective control in the centers means that it has certain responsibilities under international law to the detained asylum seekers. By failing to determine the suitability of detention for each individual detainee and exposing asylum seekers to unacceptable conditions, Australia is arbitrarily detaining asylum seekers and subjecting them to "cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment and punishment," according to Amnesty International. Such treatment violates its obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Further, the current indefinite detention of children in Nauru places Australia in violation of its obligations under the Convention on the Rights of the Child and Operation Sovereign Borders targets asylum seekers who come to Australia by boat, in violation of Australia's obligation under the Refugee Convention to refrain from punishing refugees for their mode of arrival in a country. Resettlement plans . Australia has vowed not to resettle any of the refugees it sends to Nauru and PNG. Nauru has agreed to issue five-year visas to refugees processed in Nauru and PNG has also indicated a willingness to resettle refugees processed in that country. In addition, Australia has reached in-principle agreement with Cambodia to resettle some of the refugees processed in Nauru. Relying on impoverished nations, which may not be in a position to protect the rights or safety of refugees, is deeply concerning. The Australian government's unwillingness to resettle refugees in Australia is another reminder of the deliberate harshness of its asylum policies. These extreme measures are intended to make asylum in Australia an unattractive option for the vulnerable people who may wish to seek protection. They repudiate the country's reputation for fairness and commitment to human rights. | Australia has adopted increasingly punitive measures to deter asylum seekers .
Azadeh Dastyari says the measures "repudiate the country's reputation for fairness"
Last year government introduced offshore processing, opened new detention centers .
Amnesty has called the treatment of asylum seekers "cruel, inhuman and degrading" |
101,102 | 0e4903bc2e683b95da9b0ccde6e915f0c2977c6d | Determined: Home Secretary Theresa May said the Government must 'redouble' its efforts to stamp out female genital mutilation . The public would be 'shocked' to know how many young girls are subjected to female genital mutilation in the UK, Home Secretary Theresa May said yesterday. Speaking in the Commons, she said the Government was doing everything it could to warn young women about the dangers of the practice. Although the secrecy surrounding female genital mutilation (FGM) means it is hard to determine the scale of the problem, . there are thought to be around 66,000 affected women and girls living in England and Wales. The . practice occurs in 28 African and Middle-Eastern countries, and . is most common among Britain's 600,000 ethnic Africans. Mrs May said: 'Sadly, what we see are too many examples of this terrible crime continuing to take place. I think most people would be shocked to know how many young girls within the United Kingdom are subjected to female genital mutilation. 'We need to redouble our efforts to make sure we educate young girls about the prospects of being taken abroad or having this done to them, but also ensure that we educate others not to do this terrible act.' Her comments followed a question from Conservative MP Amber Rudd (Hastings and Rye), who noted that yesterday was the United Nations' International Day Against Female Genital Mutilation, and called the practice a 'violent and dreadful crime'. Also known as female circumcision or simply as 'cutting', female genital mutilation involves removing all or part of the clitoris, the surrounding labia (the outer part of the vagina) and sometimes the sewing up of the vagina, leaving only a small opening for urine and menstrual blood. The barbaric tradition has no medical benefits, and is carried out for cultural reasons, often because it demonstrates a girl's virginity on her wedding night. In cultures where mutilation is common, 'uncut' girls are considered more likely to be promiscuous, unhygienic, and prone to diseases such as HIV/Aids. Families often club together to fly professional 'cutters' to the UK from Africa, after which they perform mutilations on pre-pubescent girls for as little as £40, often without anaesthetic, using blunt knives, razor blades or scalpels. Painful secret: Many women who have suffered genital mutilation are too frightened to speak out because they risk being shunned by their communities (picture posed by model) In other cases, girls are flown abroad to their family's native country to help minimise the risk of detection. The practice is illegal under the 2003 Female Genital Mutilation Act, and carries a jail term of up to 14 years. Despite this, no-one has yet been successfully prosecuted. In the short-term FGM may cause severe pain, potentially life-threatening bleeding and infection. In the longer-term, it can lead to severe complications in childbirth, substantial pain during intercourse and lasting psychological trauma. An All-Party Parliamentary Group on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) was launched in December 2011 to raise awareness and eliminate FGM in the UK. More than 50 MPs and Peers of all parties are now involved. Julie Christie-Webb, head of UK programmes at the anti-mutilation charity FORWARD, described this as 'a small step towards improvement'. She said there are presently around 24,000 girls in Britain aged under 15 who are thought to be at high risk of genital mutilation. FORWARD exists to help safeguard women and girls, as well as supporting those living with the consequences of FGM. Mrs Christie-Webb praised parliament's increased focus on the practice, but said the results had not yet become visible on the ground. she said: 'I have had around 15 child protection queries come to me since August. There hasn't been a recent decrease in the number of referrals we get that relate to FGM. 'One big shift in how FGM could be dealt with is if there was an improvement in data collection. 'Often I think female genital mutilation is not treated as a priority, and that needs to change.' | 66,000 women and girls in England and Wales subjected to illegal and barbaric practice, say experts .
24,000 under 15-year-olds believed to be at high risk . |
59,795 | a9d7f2669a5c713ade8c0e8fd823972ceb810ae4 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . He is the latest new resident of Albert Square having signed up to play ill-tempered retired fishmonger Stan Carter. But Timothy West said yesterday he realises he is in the minority when it comes to TV soaps and older people. The 79-year-old star, who is married to actress Prunella Scales, enjoyed a guest stint as businessman Eric Babbage in Coronation Street last year and has now joined BBC1 soap EastEnders. Timothy West, 79, now plays grandfather Stan Carter in EastEnders. He said that soap operas undervalued older people . Asked whether there are enough older . people in soaps, he told Radio Times: 'I find they’re not valued so much . and I suspect that’s one of the reasons why I’ve been brought in (to . EastEnders). 'From what I hear, there hasn’t been enough interest in older characters. Or enough older characters to be interested in.' The veteran actor said that he . signed up to play Stan Carter 'because it’s a good part' and will see . him perform alongside Albert Square veteran and co-star June Brown who . plays long-suffering Dot. West said he had 'enormous respect' for Miss . Brown. EastEnders, . whose new faces include hardman actor Danny Dyer, 36, as Queen Vic . landlord and Stan’s son Mick Carter, has been undergoing a revamp as . part of an attempt to reinvigorate the drama following a ratings slump. Annette Badland, 63, who plays busybody Babe Smith, was also brought into the soap to help reinvigorate its older generation. Timothy West was brought onto EastEnders to reinvigorate its older audience. Actress Annette Badland, 63, who plays Babe Smith, also recently joined the soap . West . said of today’s television: 'I do miss things like the single play. It . was the event of the week. Now you have more channels, you don’t get . that conversation at the bus stop about what you saw last night.' Asked whether he had any guilty TV . pleasures, he joked: 'Things I’m a little bit ashamed of? Well, I don’t . watch any porn! To be honest, I don’t think I watch enough television to . feel guilty about it.' The . actor and his wife, actress Prunella Scales, recently embarked on four . canal journeys across Britain for a More4 documentary. In the series, West told how former Fawlty Towers star Scales has been suffering from 'a sort of mild Alzheimer’s'. In 2012 a BBC report revealed TV viewers feel that the elderly get less air-time than other age groups, and older women in particular are ‘invisible’, a BBC report reveals. The research showed viewers felt there was a perceived habit of treating the elderly as ‘peripheral’ or ‘token figures’ in drama, comedy and entertainment shows. They said the elderly were treated as ‘props’ for other stories, and regularly portrayed in a ‘humorous’, ‘mocking’ or ‘insulting’ manner. Pensioners were often said to be portrayed as stubborn with a ‘tendency to moan about things’ or in some cases as an ‘adorable idiot’. Timothy West, pictured here with his wife Prunella Scales, will join EastEnders at the age of 78. West said older actors were 'not valued so much' in TV soaps . | West said he did not think older soap characters were 'valued so much'
Joined EastEnders in January 2014 at 79 to play grandfather Stan Carter .
Annette Badland, 63, who plays Babe Smith was also brought on to the soap .
Older characters portrayed in 'insulting' manner - according to viewers . |
139,836 | 40cd612ec2658b12fa32d0fc3b9ad5c16718e878 | By . Emily Sheridan and Mark Duell . PUBLISHED: . 09:14 EST, 12 September 2012 . UPDATED: . 01:43 EST, 14 September 2012 . Glamorously walking around the set with a sparkling dark top, long red dress and black heels, this is the first look at Jane Fonda's extraordinary transformation into Nancy Reagan. The 74-year-old US actress was yesterday spotted filming The Butler in New Orleans, Louisiana, with Harry Potter star Alan Rickman playing her husband Ronald Reagan. Fonda has undergone a dramatic makeover for the film - as has 66-year-old Londoner Rickman, who looked remarkably like the late 40th US President, with his hair dyed dark brown. Transformation: Jane Fonda, 74, was yesterday spotted filming new film The Butler in New Orleans, Louisiana . Transformation: Jane Fonda and Alan Rickman as Nancy and Ronald Regan on the set of The Butler this week . Rickman was certainly sporting a strikingly different look to play Reagan, who died in 2004, than for his most famous role as Hogwarts teacher Severus Snape in the Harry Potter films. Fonda was done up in full hair and make-up to play the former Republican president's wife, Nancy, who is now 91. Co-star Oprah Winfrey, 58, shared a snapshot from the set on Instagram yesterday. Fonda later posted a picture of herself alongside a dapper-looking singer Lenny Kravitz, 48, who plays a character called James Holloway in the film, directed by Lee Daniels. The Butler tells the story of White House butler Cecil Gaines, played by Forest Whitaker, who worked for eight presidents at the iconic Washington D.C. residence over his 34 years there. Resemblance: The real-life Nancy Reagan, with the couple's pet King Charles spaniel Rex, as she strolled along the White House in December 1986 with her husband Ronald Reagan, who died in June 2004 . Sneak peek: Co-star Oprah Winfrey, with director Lee Daniels, tweeted this behind-the-scenes picture . Famous faces: Jane Fonda and Harry Potter star Alan Rickman, from London, as they usually appear . The movie has a stellar cast with a . host of big names playing the remaining presidents. Oprah Winfrey will . play Cecil's wife Gloria. Also cast is Robin Williams as Dwight D . Eisenhower. Meanwhile John . Cusack will play Richard Nixon, James Marsden as John F Kennedy and Liev . Schreiber as Lyndon B Johnson, for the film which is due to be released . next year. Among the First . Ladies are Minka Kelly as Jackie Kennedy and Melissa Leo as Mamie . Eisenhower. Other cast members include Cuba Gooding Jr, David Oyelowo, . Terrence Howard, and Alex Pettyfer. In . real life Fonda, a mother-of-two who was born in New York City, has . had three divorced husbands but now lives with her boyfriend, music producer . Richard Perry, who is 70 years old. Star cast: Rickman plays the last President to be served by White House butler Cecil Gaines (Forest Whitaker) Doesn't he look different: Jane Fonda poses on set with Lenny Kravitz, for the film which is due out next year . Famous names: Oprah Winfrey as Gloria Gaines and Lenny Kravitz as James Holloway in The Butler . VIDEO: Top model shocker & Buble's wife strips off . | Jane Fonda and Alan Rickman seen filming The Butler in New Orleans .
Film also features Oprah Winfrey, Robin Williams and Lenny Kravitz .
It tells story of White House butler who worked for eight presidents . |
20,762 | 3ae87eff696bcc1fb2b8412bc38f6ac1ff66203e | (CNN) -- FBI agents arrested Najibullah Zazi, a 24-year-old Colorado resident and Afghan national questioned in an alleged terrorist plot in the United States. FBI agents raided Najibullah Zazi's home on Saturday and took him into custody. Zazi and his father, Mohammed Zazi, were handcuffed without incident late Saturday as authorities raided Zazi's home in the Denver suburb of Aurora, according to CNN's Jim Spellman. FBI agents in New York arrested Ahmad Wais Afzali, 37, a resident of Flushing, New York. Officials said Afzali is a legal permanent resident from Afghanistan. All three men are charged with knowingly and willingly making false statements to the FBI. Arthur Folsom, attorney for the Zazis, met with them at the FBI offices in Denver Sunday morning, said Wendy Aiello, the attorney's spokeswoman. Watch Zazi being taken into custody » . Najibullah Zazi and Mohammed Zazi are scheduled to appear in federal court in Colorado on Monday. Afzali is scheduled to make his initial court appearance in New York on Monday. Earlier on Saturday, Najibullah Zazi, who had been questioned for the past three days by federal investigators, declined to attend a fourth day of interviews. Watch why authorities want to talk with Zazi » . Zazi has admitted to having ties to al Qaeda, an administration official familiar with the matter told CNN on Friday. Folsom denied the allegations Friday night and said Zazi did not admit to having ties to the terror group. He also said the FBI has not made an offer. "He never admitted going to a terrorist training camp," Folsom told CNN affiliate KUSA in Denver. "Some of the information in news reports was not true," Folsom said. "There have been no plea negotiations ... they (FBI) haven't made any offer." Zazi also told The Denver Post on Saturday that he has not admitted any ties to the terrorist group. He also denied taking part in insurgency training in Pakistan or involvement in a terror plot. "It's not true," Zazi said in a phone interview with the newspaper. "I have nothing to hide. It's all media publications reporting whatever they want. They have been reporting all this nonsense." He said he lived in Pakistan before moving to New York as a teenager. While in Pakistan, he said, he spends a lot of time with his wife. "I was there (at her house) the whole time," Zazi said. The alleged terrorist plot, which came to light this week after raids in New York, may have involved a major transportation center, like a large railroad or subway station, sources close to the investigation told CNN on Thursday. There were plans for an attack, presumably in the New York area, where crowds are large and security screening for nonairport travelers is lax, the sources said. Two sources familiar with the investigation said that Zazi had video of New York's Grand Central Terminal, a massive junction of rail and subway lines, as well as shops and restaurants, which see an average of more than a half million visitors per day. A former counterterrorism official said backpacks, computers and maps were found during searches in the New York City borough of Queens, and field tests turned up positive for explosives. But such tests often yield false positives, and the former official was unaware whether more definitive test results had been obtained. On Wednesday, federal agents searched Zazi's apartment in Denver and another home in a Denver suburb in connection with the investigation. A law enforcement official told CNN that diagrams showing how to make bombs were found on the computer that Zazi had with him when he was stopped in New York during a recent visit, but Folsom has denied those allegations. | Najibullah Zazi taken into custody late Saturday .
Zazi is charged with making false statements to FBI .
Zazi had been questioned about alleged terror plot in United States .
Zazi's father, New York man also arrested in ongoing terror investigation . |
157,198 | 573d85e0b45e4dde54c3b6524b5c44821aed6a9a | TOKYO, Japan (Reuters) -- Ordered to sacrifice themselves for the nation by crashing their planes into U.S. warships as Japan vainly battled to stave off invasion in the final months of World War Two, some young pilots instead returned alive. Young pilots from the Japanese Royal Navy drink cups of sake before their kamikaze suicidal attack mission. As a documentary released in Japan on Saturday shows, not all the young men trained for the suicide missions that struck terror into U.S. servicemen faced their almost certain death gladly. "I wanted to live," Kazuo Nakajima, one of the now elderly 'failed cherry blossoms' tells the filmmakers with an embarrassed laugh. "I didn't want to die." Japanese-American director Risa Morimoto sought out former kamikaze after discovering her much-loved uncle had been among those prepared to carry out what were called "special attacks." Instead of finding the fanatics she had expected, she met a group of gentle, elderly men who confessed their mixed emotions about the past, she says on the film's Web site. One veteran even criticized the emperor, treated as a living god until Japan's defeat, for failing to surrender sooner. The film, "Wings of Defeat," has already been shown to some surviving crewmen of the U.S.S. Drexler, a destroyer sunk by kamikaze near the end of the war. "They said, 'We were told we were killing madmen. We were lied to,'" producer Linda Hoaglund told a recent news conference. She and Morimoto have arranged for two 81-year-old U.S. survivors to meet some of the former kamikaze in Japan next week. The film struck a chord with one elderly Japanese man who said he trained in the same suicide unit as one of the pilots in the documentary. "It was exactly like that. We thought we were fighting and giving our lives for our families and our comrades," said Masaaki Kobayashi, 79, after watching the film with a group of his former comrades. "As soldiers, that was the only thing we could do." The film's release coincides with controversy over efforts by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and other conservatives to shed what they consider a masochistic attitude to Japan's wartime past. Last month, lawmakers from the southern island of Okinawa -- site of a bloody 1945 battle that killed some 200,000 civilians and soldiers -- blasted the government for deciding to tone down school textbook references to soldiers ordering civilians to commit suicide rather than surrender to U.S. personnel in the war. Abe also drew criticism when he denied that the military or government had hauled Asian women away to serve as sex slaves for Japanese soldiers before and during the war, although he has said he stands by a government apology to the women who suffered. The documentary is being shown two months after a feature film on the kamikaze penned by Tokyo's nationalist governor Shintaro Ishihara, celebrating the young kamikaze as heroes. Many Japanese say wartime reality should be taught to a younger generation too young to remember. "We shouldn't beautify it, but we shouldn't forget it either," said a 34-year-old system engineer who watched the film. Vice-Admiral Takejiro Onishi conceived of the the desperate kamikaze strategy when Japan was on the verge of losing the Philippines to U.S. forces. The first attack took place off the coast of the island of Leyte in the Philippines in 1944 and its success inspired Onishi to recruit more young men for suicide missions. Roughly 4,000 kamikaze pilots died and 34 U.S. ships were sunk in the last few months of the war, according to the filmmakers. "They thought they were doing it for their country, but if you think about it now, they never should have adopted that strategy," said one 82-year-old woman, who served as a nurse during the war and cried as she watched the film. "Everyone knew Japan was losing. They should have surrendered sooner." E-mail to a friend . Copyright 2007 Reuters. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. | Documentary shows not all kamikaze pilots faced their death gladly .
Film found veterans were not just fanatics but had mixed emotions about the past .
Director found veteran who criticized the emperor for not surrendering sooner .
4,000 kamikaze pilots died and 34 U.S. ships sunk in last months of the war . |
166,329 | 6310ce2cb207bfd7be7f1e91368d86d88c883d97 | (CNN) -- It was a foggy winter's night on the remote Ballymany Stud Farm in Ireland when its head groom Jim Fitzgerald heard a knock at the door. What lurked outside was to spark one of the most extraordinary unsolved kidnappings of the 20th Century. Thirty years ago this week -- on February 8, 1983 -- Fitzgerald was confronted by three masked gunmen. They had come for Shergar -- then the most valuable race horse in the world and the pride of a nation. "Shergar was the best race horse in the world, owned by the richest man in the world. It was the most sensational sports story of all time," racing commentator Derek Thompson told CNN. "We were staggered. A horse kidnapped? Nothing like this had ever happened before." The retired champion race horse, owned by billionaire businessman the Aga Khan, was worth a staggering £10 million ($16 million) -- around £28 million ($44 million) by today's standards. Were Shergar here today, he would be the ninth-most valuable athlete in the world, just ahead of Real Madrid's prized footballer Cristiano Ronaldo on $42.5 million. The five-year-old breeding stallion, who had mated with 35 mares in his first season, was set to be worth millions in the coming years with owners paying up to £80,000 ($126,000) for his highly sought-after offspring. This, after all, was the champion colt who two years earlier annihilated the field at Britain's prestigious Epsom Derby, winning by 10 lengths -- the biggest margin in the race's 226-year history. For racing-mad Ireland, Shergar was the darling of a nation in turmoil during the darkest days of "the Troubles," with violence between nationalists and unionists in the north as they vied for political power. The bandits demanded £2 million ($3 million) for Shergar and conspiracy theories abounded, with the New Orleans Mafia and the Libya's Colonel Gaddafi linked to the thoroughbred's kidnapping. But the most popular accused culprit remains the Irish Republican Army (IRA), whom the Aga Khan and his syndicate of owners officially blamed for the kidnap, though authorities have never named a suspect. While the IRA, which has disbanded, took responsibility for a number of attacks over the years, it never claimed to have kidnapped Shergar. Back at Ballymany on that fateful night, the stallion with a distinctive white blaze on his face and four white "socks" was loaded into a horse box never to be seen again. Father-of-six Fitzgerald was bundled into a car and driven around for hours before being dumped a few miles from home. He was warned not to call the police. Then a series of mismanaged calls ensured almost eight hours elapsed before police were alerted. Hampering their investigation was the clever timing of the kidnapping -- it was the day before Ireland's major Goff's racehorse sale and roads were filled with horse boxes identical to Shergar's. The kidnappers demanded negotiations through three horse racing journalists at the time -- John Oaksey, Peter Campling, and then 32-year-old television presenter Thompson. "We were taken to the Europa Hotel, whose claim to fame was that it was the most bombed hotel in Europe," Thompson said. "Don't forget, this was 1983 at the height of the 'Troubles' and Belfast was one of the most dangerous cities in the world." At the hotel, which still had cracked windows from a previous bombing, Thompson got a call from the kidnappers telling him he was being watched from across the road. He was told to go to a deserted farmhouse 30 miles away for negotiations. There, Thompson said he received eight phone calls from the kidnappers over eight hours. Each call lasted around 60 seconds, but the police needed at least 90 seconds to trace the call. "When the last call came at 1.30 a.m. I managed to keep him talking for one minute and 35 seconds," Thompson said. "I thought, 'That's it, we've got him,' but the police told me 'Sorry Mr. Thompson, the man who does the tracing goes off duty at midnight.' "That was the best chance we had of catching them and it was gone." Shergar was owned by a syndicate of 34 people, each with a share worth £250,000 ($394,000). The syndicate refused to pay the ransom, fearing it would encourage other kidnappings. "The following Monday we received a call saying the horse had had an accident and was dead. That was the last time we heard from them," Thompson said. Thompson believes the IRA was responsible, pointing to evidence in former member Sean O'Callaghan's 1999 autobiography "The Informer." "Every time I took a call from the kidnapper I used a different code word -- the name of a famous race horse -- so I would know it was the same guy calling back," Thompson said. "But there was always one name I kept to myself, I never told anyone else, and when I read O'Callaghan's book it was there. That really shook me to the core." Jockey Walter Swinburn, who as a 19-year-old rode Shergar to that historic Epsom Derby win, said the kidnapping had a profound effect on tightening racing industry security. "Shergar's stable was very impressive but anybody could have walked into it," he said. "Today it's more like a padded cell, they can't afford for the horse to get injured, with CCTV and a large number of grooms." The thoroughbred has since been immortalized in Ascot's annual Shergar Cup and the 1999 film "Shergar" starring Mickey Rourke. Swinburn regrets that Shergar's achievements on the track will always be overshadowed by his dramatic abduction. But the image of him pounding over the hill at Epsom, his seemingly tiny competitors trailing behind, lives on. | Thirty years after "world's greatest" race horse was stolen, his legend lives on .
Shergar was kidnapped from Northern Irish stud farm, but was never found .
The £10 million stallion was owned by billionaire Islamic leader Aga Khan .
Irish Republican Army was widely accused of kidnapping but was never charged . |
164,413 | 609bccba42f9feb5f6ca637e772c4cc084fc603e | Paipote, Chile (CNN) -- In short order, freed miner Victor Antonio Segovia dispatches with some of the myths swirling around the 33 men rescued from the depths of the earth this week: He has no plans to write a book about what he endured in the San Jose mine, he isn't going to sue anyone for the collapse, and he intends to go back to working in the area's mines. "Just not that one," Segovia says. All day Friday in the hardscrabble mining town of Paipote, Segovia's family and neighbors ready the Segovia family home for his arrival from the nearby hospital. All 33 men underwent a barrage of medical testing to see how their record days of imprisonment underground had affected them mentally and physically. All but two miners were released from the hospital Friday, and all the men are expected to make a full recovery. The Segovia family was particularly hard hit by the collapse. Two of the other trapped miners, Esteban and Pablo Rojas, are Segovia's cousins. "Welcome home Victor Segovia," one neighbor said as she carried a handwritten sign greeting the miner into his home. "If God has given you a new life and chance, grab on to it with everything you have." The family has received gifts. While Victor's brother Pedro Segovia waits under the scorching sun of Chile's Atacama desert, he nervously toys with a brand new Sony media player. An anonymous gift left for the now famous miner. Pedro Segovia said his brother is tough and untouched by how close he came to dying in the dark recesses of the earth. "We missed him a lot," Pedro Segovia said. But for him its just like another shift. As if he worked for eight hours and came home. If Segovia has troubling memories of his long, forced stay in the mine, so far he hasn't shared them with his brother. "He'll tell me at some point," Pedro Segovia said. "What happened, what he lived through." Inside the Segovia house are hints of how he passed the long weeks of eternal darkness. Two Chilean flags decorate a wall in a courtyard behind the Segovia's home. In carefully etched blue ink Victor drew a miner with a drill over a 33 on the white section of the flag. Below, each miner wrote his name and put his signatures in ordered columns. "For you with all my heart," Segovia wrote his mother Blanca. The flags were a gift for her 50th wedding anniversary and were delivered by way of the "paloma" tube system that sent food and letters to the men. "He likes to play the guitar, accordion and organ," Blanca Segovia said with pride about her son, who learned to play the instruments without any formal training. "We are going to have a nice party for him." But for the guest of honor just getting to the party will be almost as difficult as the previous legs of his journey. As the afternoon wears on, more and more media trickle into the neighborhood. Tripods and cameras are posted like sentries in front of the Segovia home. It has all the makings of an ugly media scene. So photographers agree and shake hands that all will stay in a fixed line so everyone can get an unobstructed shot of Segovia's homecoming. But hours later as Segovia steps from a van, a still photographer lurches forward and the plan is scrapped. Pushing against the wave of cameramen, Chilean police nearly have to carry the miner into his family's home. One of the photographers gets into a showing match with an officer after the melee. As the party gets under way, though, clapping and joyous chants of "Chi Chi Chi, Le Le Le, los mineros de Chile," can be heard from outside the house. Then journalists still hanging around the house receive an invitation to come in and speak with the miner. Segovia appeared understandably worn from his ordeal and the crush of media attention. As reporters ask him questions, he looks down. His voice is soft and his answers are clipped. "That was quite something," he said simply of the August 5 mine collapse. "That was something very ugly." He said he has been to Camp Hope, where family members waited for the miners' rescue. "I don't need to go back," he said. Segovia said he missed his family terribly while in the mine. And, he said, he has become someone who "thinks more about God." "We were a team," he said of the 33 men. "But all the same there were problems. So much time together, like any family, the problems start but were ones we worked out." Other miners have told CNN that the 33 men swore an oath never to discuss the details of what took place as the men struggled to survive in the mine. Before he goes back to the party, Segovia makes it clear he is not completely free of the mine. "Down there you were always tired and didn't have any nightmares," he said. "Here you have nightmares until you realize you are out." | Victor Segovia, two of his cousins were trapped in the San Jose mine .
Pedro Segovia says his brother is tough and untouched by how close he came to dying .
Segovia says he doesn't feel the need to visit Camp Hope .
Segovia says he has become someone who "thinks more about God" |
114,107 | 1f34f5d658c371a60ad82f1a7d02984474892dd4 | By . Daniel Miller and Martin Robinson . Last updated at 9:18 PM on 7th October 2011 . Three inspirational women who have campaigned for equal rights and an end to violence in Liberia and Yemen were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize today. Liberian, Leymah Gbowee, who mobilised fellow women against the country’s civil war by organising a 'sex strike' was named along with her nation's president Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf. The third recipient who will share the prize worth more than $1.5 million was Tawakkul Karman, who has campaigned tirelessly for women's rights in Yemen. Girl power: Left to right, Yemeni activist Tawakkul Karman, Liberian President Ellen . Johnson Sirleaf and Liberian 'peace warrior' Leymah Gbowee have jointly . won the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize . Prior to the announcement bizarre rumours had circulated that the award would go to Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, reflecting the role of social networking sites in the Arab Spring uprisings . Announcing the award committee chairman Thorbjoern Jagland said: 'We . cannot achieve democracy and lasting peace in the world unless women . obtain the same opportunities as men to influence developments at all . levels of society. 'The Nobel Peace Prize for 2011 is to be divided in three equal parts between Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, Leymah Gbowee and Tawakkul Karman for their non-violent struggle for the safety of women and for women’s rights to full participation in peace-building work.' Johnson-Sirleaf, 72, is Africa’s first freely elected female president and the 24th President of Liberia. Joy: Yemeni activist Tawakkul Karman laughs as she speaks on the telephone after the announcement of the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize in Sanaa, Yemen, today . Business as usual: Nobel Prize winnerTawakul Karman demonstrating in the Yemeni capital Sana'a today. She has received numerous threats for her work campaigning for women's rights . She served as Minister of Finance . under President William Tolbert from 1979 until the 1980 coup d'état and . faces re-election for a second term as president on Tuesday. Her . fellow Liberian Gbowee mobilized and organized women across ethnic and . religious dividing lines to bring an end to the civil war in Liberia, . and to ensure women’s participation in elections. 'I believe we (Gbowee and I) both accept this on behalf of the Liberian people, and the credit goes to the Liberian people,' Johnson-Sirleaf told reporters outside her private residence in Liberia's capital. Gbowee was on a book tour in the United States, her Accra, Ghana-based office said. Tawakul Karman is a Yemeni politician and human rights activist who created the group Women Journalists Without Chains (WJWC) in 2005. Cheers: Liberia's President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who jointly won the Nobel Peace Prize 2011 today, waves to supporters at her house in Monrovia . The group aims to promote human rights 'In particular particularly freedom of opinion and expression, and democratic rights'. Karman has regularly led demonstrations and sit-ins in the Freedom Square in the capital Sana'a. 1905 - Bertha Sophie Felicita von Suttner, an Austrian baroness who wrote an anti-war book 'Lay down your Arms' 1931 - Jane Addams, the U.S. philanthropist who organised social work among the poor in Chicago . 1946 - Emily Greene Balch, a U.S. pacifist and honorary international President of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom . 1976 - Betty Williams and Mairead Corrigan, co-leaders of the 'Community of Peace People', a movement to end sectarian violence in Northern Ireland. 1979 - Mother Teresa of Calcutta . 1982 - Sweden's minister for disarmament Alva Myrdal . 1991 - Detained Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi . 1992 - Guatemalan human rights leader Rigoberta Menchu . 1997 - Jody Williams, co-ordinator of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines . 2003 - Iranian human rights lawyer Shirin Ebadi . 2004 - Kenyan environmentalist Wangari Maathai . 2011 - Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, Liberian human rights activist Leymah Gbowee and Yemeni women's rights and democracy activist Tawakul Karman. She said today the award was a victory for Yemen and all Arab Spring revolutions and a message that the era of Arab dictatorships was over. 'This is a victory for the Yemeni woman. Today the whole world can hear our joy. I am very very happy and I thank God for this award,' the 32-year-old mother of three said. 'This is a victory for the Yemeni people, for the Yemeni revolution and all the Arab revolutions. This is a message that the era of Arab dictatorships is over. This is a message to this regime and all the despotic regimes that no voice can drown out the voice of freedom and dignity.' Mr Jagland added: 'In the most trying circumstances, both before and during the Arab Spring, Tawakkul Karman has played a leading part in the struggle for women’s rights and for democracy and peace in Yemen.' 'It is the Norwegian Nobel . Committee’s hope that the prize to Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, Leymah Gbowee . and Tawakkul Karman will help to bring an end to the suppression of . women that still occurs in many countries, and to realise the great . potential for democracy and peace that women can represent.' Committee . chairman Jagland had fueled speculation that the award would go to . Facebook CEO Zuckerberg after remarks he made during an interview with . the Associated Press. He said: 'For me and the committee it is quite obvious if you look at the world today and see what is happening out there. 'What are the major forces pushing the world in the right direction?' He added that the winner would be 'obvious' and would reflect 'the most positive development' of the year. Commentators . were quick to link his words to the Arab Spring Uprisings and more . specifically the role of social networking sites such as Facebook and . its rival Twitter in spreading the dissent. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has welcomed the announcement that the women received the Nobel Peace Prize, saying it was 'a testament to the power of women.' 'Above all, it underscores the vital role that women play in the advancement of peace and security, development, and human rights,' he said. 'I really congratulate all three winners from the bottom of my heart.' Praise: 'We cannot achieve democracy and lasting peace in the world unless women obtain the same opportunities as men to influence developments at all levels of society,' committee chairman Thorbjoern Jagland said today . Award: Thorbjoern Jagland, General Secretary of the Council of Europe and Norwegian chairman of the Nobel Peace Prize award (centre) announces the winners in Oslo . ELLEN JOHNSON SIRLEAF . Politician Johnson-Sirleaf earned the nickname 'Iron Lady' by challenging warlord Charles Taylor for the presidency in 1997 during Liberia's brutal civil war. She lost by a landslide, but that never shook her resolve. She won the 2005 presidential run-off against football icon George Weah, who alleged fraud although the polls received a clean bill of health from observers. She was sworn in as Africa's first elected female head of state in January 2006. Johnson-Sirleaf vowed to create a 'government of inclusion' to heal the wounds of war and toured the streets to win over Liberia's poor youth, many of them former child soldiers who believe Weah was cheated. In January 2010, she went back on her campaign promise to be president for only one term when she announced she would contest the 2011 presidential election, to be held on October 11. She has won widespread international praise for her work rebuilding Liberia, but is still struggling to convince many in the country that change is coming fast enough. LEYMAH GBOWEE . Activist Leymah Gbowee, 39, mobilised and organised women across ethnic and religious divides to help bring an end to the war in Liberia and to ensure women's participation in elections. Following the 2003 peace treaty, her network encouraged many more women to vote and was instrumental in the victory of Johnson-Sirleaf. Since 2004, Gbowee has served as a commissioner on Liberia's Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Since 2006, Gbowee has been executive director of Women in Peace and Security Network - Africa, an organization that works with women in Liberia, the Ivory Coast, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone to promote peace, literacy, and electoral politics. TAWAKUL KARMAN . Both before and during the 'Arab Spring', protester and campaigner Tawakul Karman, 32, has played a leading part in the struggle for women's rights and for democracy and peace in Yemen. Founder in 2005 and chairwoman of Women Journalists without Chains, Tawakul Karman is a Yemeni journalist and activist who has devoted herself to the fight for media freedom. She is also a member of the Islamist party Islah Was. A thorn in the side of the government, she was briefly arrested early this year after leading protests against autocratic Arab rulers. She vowed in February to galvanise a youth-led uprising against President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who has ruled Yemen for 33 years.'We started rallies before Tunisia's revolution and were demanding reforms and other rights. But after Tunisia, we realised the solution is for this regime to go,' she said. | Liberian Leymah Gbowee mobilised women against civil war .
Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf is the serving Liberian president .
Tawakkul Karman was out protesting Yemen when she won award .
Bizarre rumours circulated prize would go to Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg . |
34,977 | 63646813881058bb59a8db0147888b36a16c8d3a | A couple's £3,000 state-of-the art sofa started a blaze which swept through their home killing their pet dog. Fire fighters discovered the body of Ross and Kim Marvin's four-year-old pet after they battled their way through flames and thick black smoke. The Jack Russell and Chihuahua cross was overcome by fumes, after the inferno was sparked by an electrical fault in the couch. File photo - this is not the sofa referred to in the article . The couple are now planning to sue sofa giants ScS after they claim they have 'been left with nothing' after the blaze. The Marvin's brought the Endurance Invincible sofa, which contained a Bluetooth-capable sound system with speaker and sub woofer, from furniture giant ScS for £3,149. Mr Marvin, a recruitment consultant, said: 'If it had happened while we were sleeping we would be dead.' The 28-year-old told how he was fought back by the choking black smoke after arriving home and discovering the blaze. 'I thought the curtains were drawn at first, it was that black,' he said. 'I went round the back to the kitchen because I knew Rolo was inside. 'I went in through the smoke - you couldn't see your hand in front of your face. I only got as far as the kitchen table before I had to come outside. 'I nearly passed out and had to lean on a fence to recover. The firemen offered me oxygen, but I gradually recovered.' Rolo was found by fire fighters in an upstairs bedroom at the couple's home in Wigston, Leicester, and despite fire fighters efforts was declared dead. 'We've had him (Rolo) since he was a pup,' said Mrs Marvin, aged 29 years. 'He was a wedding present to ourselves. 'It's just devastating, Rolo was like my little baby. We treated him just like a baby. 'The only consolation is we're still here. If it had happened at a different time of day, it could have been a different story.' A spokesman for Leicester Fire and Rescue Service confirmed that the cause of the fire was accidental and started following an electrical fault within the sofa unit. The Marvins', who had no contents insurance, now face a hefty bill to repair the damage to their rented semi-detached home. ScS have stopped the stricken couple's monthly repayments on the sofa and offered them new furniture. 'I'm afraid their offer is not acceptable,' said Mr Marvin. 'We have lost everything in the fire and now we've been told the landlord is holding us responsible because it was our sofa that started the fire.' 'The landlord's agent called us and said sorry for our loss and asked what state the house was in. 'They told us we would have to meet the cost of all the damage to the landlord's property - and carry on paying rent. 'But a clause in the tenancy agreement says the landlord is responsible for insuring the property and his own contents. We have no insurance on the property.' A spokeswoman for ScS said: 'Our thoughts are entirely with the family at this time. We have offered to assist them if we can. 'We do not know what the cause of the fire was, and a full investigation is required. As such, it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time.' | Ross and Kim Marvin brought the Endurance Invincible sofa from ScS .
Fire fighters confirm electrical fault within couch to blame for blaze .
Jack Russell and Chihuahua cross, named Rolo, overcome by fumes .
Marvins' claim they have been left with nothing after the fire at their home .
They are now planning legal action against the furniture giants . |
19,145 | 3638183bc3734c80a91ca915eb22a36854804004 | As a self-confessed expert in ‘supermarket sociology’, David Cameron may have just been carrying out research for his theories on people’s shopping habits. But just days after being called ‘stuck up’ for preferring the type of people who shop in Waitrose, the Prime Minister popped in to a branch of value chain Asda. Mr Cameron made a point of chatting with Ange on the fish counter, before meeting customers and hugging babies as he hailed the creation of 12,00 new jobs by the supermarket giant. David Cameron tweeted this picture of himself speaking to Ange on the fish counter of Asda in Clapham Junction, south London . In the tradition of politicians on a walkabout, the Prime Minister found a baby to hug, 11-month-old Luca who was hopping with mum Tara Leniston . Mr Cameron, pictured talking to Tara Leniston and her son Luca, wanted to promote tax changes which he says will help workers and businesses . Last week Mr Cameron made a brave intervention into the politics of the weekly shop, claiming there was ‘something about’ Waitrose customers who are more ‘engaged people’. Labour accused the PM of making a ‘bizarre and empty-headed intervention’ at a time when many families were struggling to make ends meet. In an apparent attempt to prove he is just as comfortable at the budget end of the market, Mr Cameron toured an Asda store in Clapham Junction, London today. Admiring the fish counter, he tweeted a picture of himself ‘talking to Ange at Asda, a company announcing 12,000 new jobs and helping show our Long Term Economic Plan is working’. He also toured the meat section and had a cup of coffee with some Asda staff in the store café. Mr Cameron posed for photos with Luca, as Asda staff and customers looked on . This was the picture Tara Leniston took of her son Luca with Prime Mr Cameron . In the tradition of politicians meeting ordinary members of the public, Mr Cameron also took time to hug a baby – 11-month-old Luca who was shopping with mum Tara Leniston. Mr Cameron did not seem to struggle striking up conversation, despite his theory that people in other supermarkets usually ignore him. Speaking last week, Mr Cameron said: ‘I have got a piece of supermarket sociology, which is that there is something about Waitrose customers ... they are the most talkative. ‘I found that if I shop in Waitrose it takes me about twice as long as everyone wants to stop you and have a chat. Whereas in other supermarkets I find I can dart round very quickly and get everything. ‘It is something about your customers, they are very talkative, engaged people.' Mr Cameron revealed that he shops at Waitrose - regarded as a favourite of the middle classes - whenever possible. Mr Cameron said he was 'delighted' that Asda is continuing to invest heavily in the UK . After claiming the people in Waitrose were more talkative and engaging, Mr Cameron was keen to show that staff in Asda were chatty too . On the up: Mr Cameron was in the store to promote the news that Asda is to create 12,000 new jobs over the next five years . But today he was in Asda to promote the firm’s announcement that it is to create 12,000 jobs in the UK over the next five years. Mr Cameron said: ‘Supporting business, creating jobs and cutting taxes are all part of our long-term economic plan. ‘Yesterday, our tax reforms cut income tax for 26million people and will help businesses to create jobs. ‘I am delighted that Asda is continuing to invest heavily in the UK, creating another 12,000 jobs that will give people financial security for the future.’ | Prime Minister revealed he has a theory about 'supermarket sociology'
Last week said shoppers in Waitrose were more talkative and engaging .
Today he spent the morning in Asda, Clapham Junction meeting customers .
Asda announced it would create 12,000 jobs over the next five years . |
107,320 | 166cf8d19a1ba951030897211112d47635f56f89 | (CNN) -- An Iowa family that's been hoping for good news since two young cousins disappeared in July is now grappling with the worst. Hunters discovered two bodies in a wooded area Wednesday afternoon, Black Hawk County sheriff's Capt. Rick Abben said. He said the family of Lyric Cook, 10, and her cousin Elizabeth Collins, 8, had been notified even though the identification process was not complete. The bodies were taken to the state medical examiner's office in Ankeny, Iowa. "Right now, it's looking like the outcome was not the one that we wanted," Abben said at a news conference in Evansdale, Iowa. While the medical examiner's office has not publicly confirmed the identity of the bodies, Elizabeth's mother, Heather Collins posted a message on Facebook late Wednesday night expressing gratitude for the prayers and outpouring of support amid the "gut-wrenching news." "We know that they are up in heaven with our savior," she said on the Facebook page. "Lord we know that you have them in your loving arms and we are so blessed." The girls were last seen by their grandmother on July 13 when they left for a bike ride. The girls' bicycles and a purse were found near Meyers Lake hours after they were reported missing. A search of the 25-acre lake in July turned up nothing, and authorities said they believed the cousins were abducted. "Cooperation with law enforcement is the key factor in discovering the whereabouts of Lyric and Elizabeth," FBI spokeswoman Sandy Breault said in July. "Unfortunately, in this case, law enforcement has not received total cooperation from all family and close friends," she said. Abben said the investigation is ongoing, and he thanked the public and the media for their assistance and support in the case. Read more on KCRG . Previously on CNN.com: Family of missing Iowa girls 'bracing for the worst, but hoping for the best' Previously on CNN.com: Iowa mom thinks missing girls may have been 'taken' CNN's John Fricke and Tina Burnside contributed to this report . | NEW: A mother says the bodies are those of her daughter and niece .
Two bodies have been found in Iowa near where two girls disappeared in July .
The bodies were headed to the state medical examiner for identification .
"It's looking like the outcome was not the one that we wanted," sheriff's deputy says . |
206,643 | 97898423402786424834171f72a92ed1f1430a71 | Volkswagen today announced production of what they claim is the world's most fuel efficient car - capable of a staggering 313 miles per gallon. The radical VW XL1 will be powered by a tiny 800cc diesel engine and a separate electric motor and battery pack. This will give the plug-in hybrid a 0-62mph time of 12.2 seconds and a top speed limited to a modest 99mph. Scroll down for video . The XL1 will be on show at next month's Geneva Motor Show with the first models produced by the end of 2013 . Volkswagen have so far refused to give any indication on how much the two-seater will cost . But the XL1 is not about sporty performance but environmentally-friendly driving - with Volkswagen claiming it will be capable of a record breaking 313mpg. This means when driven in a fuel-conserving fashion the lightweight vehicle would cost around £1.40 to travel 62 miles. It can also cover a distance of up to 31 miles (50km) in all-electric mode where it emits zero carbon dioxide. Overall emissions are a mere 21g/km - less than a quarter of the amount produced by the ultra-green Toyota Prius. Volkswagen plan to produce 50 of the carbon fibre cars by the end of the year . VW claim the car will have a range of up to 31 miles in its all-electric mode . The two engines sit at the rear, with the high-voltage battery that powers the electric motor at the front . Despite weighing just 795kg, the XL1 is tough thanks to its carbon fibre. Volkswagen confirmed it will build an initial 50 models at the company's Osnabrueck factory in Germany alongside its Golf Cabriolet and Porsche Boxster. However, the firm refused to give any indication on how much the aerodynamic two-seater will cost. The XL1 will be on show at next month's Geneva Motor Show with the first models produced by the end of 2013. It will appear alongside McLaren's recently announced supercar, the P1 - a 903bhp beast that goes from 0-62mph in under three seconds -but also boasts environmental credentials. McLaren say the £800,000 car's carbon dioxide emissions are 'less than 200g/km' - which is better than a 2.4-litre Honda Accord family saloon. The P1 will make its global debut at next month's Geneva Motor Show, with deliveries of the £800,000-plus car expected by the end of 2013 . McLaren's P1 will emit less carbon dioxide than many family saloons . The Toyota Prius has become the benchmark for environmentally friendly cars . Vauxhall AmperaAlso boasting an electric-drive and petrol-powered generator for when the estimated 40-mile range is reached. The combined economy figure is an impressive 235.4mpg.Toyota Prius Plug-in Can manage an all-electric range of up to 15 miles before the petrol engine kicks in, giving a combined consumption figure of 134.5mpg.Fisker Karma With 397hp under the hood, this luxury saloon isn’t slow, and 0-60mph takes just 6.3 seconds - all while managing a claimed 62.4mpg. Toyota Yaris HybridBecause it's much lighter than the bigger editions, it's more fuel-efficient, averaging up to 81mpg. It can travel for around a mile using electric power alone.Renault Clio 1.5 dCi 90 ECO Has a 1.5-litre diesel engine that’s capable of 88.3mpg.Hyundai i20 1.1 CRDi Blue This diesel model, using a 1.1-litre three-cylinder engine, averages an impressive 88.3mpg. Kia Rio 1.1 EcodynamicsWith 88.3mpg, Kia said it was the most economical conventional-engine car on sale anywhere in the world at launch.Smart Fortwo cdiFor a long time it was the most economical car on sale in Britain, with an impressive 85.6mpg.Peugeot 208 1.4 e-HDi 70 EGC It is capable of returning up to 83.1mpg, partly thanks to its stop-start system cutting inner city exhaust emissions.Citroen C3 1.4 e-HDi 70 Airdream EGS Citroen's most fuel-efficient supermini, with a diesel fuel economy of 83.1mpg. | The VW XL1 will have an 800cc diesel engine and separate electric motor .
It can travel 31 miles using the electric motor - emitting zero carbon dioxide .
Normal mode produces less than a quarter of the carbon dioxide pumped out by a Toyota Prius .
Meanwhile Audi unveiled a more practical new plug-in petrol-electric hybrid A3 e-tron model which it says will manage 188.3mpg with ultra low C02 emissions of just 35/km.The manufacturer says the car will still accelerate from rest to 62mph in just 7.6 seconds and have a top speed of 138mph. It is to be launched officially at next month’s Geneva Motor Show. |
108,548 | 17f69703132632e3ef2feee3a711460967070837 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 11:43 EST, 28 February 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 18:51 EST, 28 February 2014 . It sounds like a scene from National Lampoon's Animal House: furniture rearranged for drinking games, smell of marijuana all around and over 1,000 empty beer cans. But, in an unprecedented move, four Boston University students have spent three nights in jail on charges of repeatedly throwing raucous parties at their house in Allston. Police allege a recent knees-up thrown by the four accused - Michael Oldcorn, 20; John Pavia, 20; Sawyer Petric, 19, and Terry Bartrug, 20 - violated the probation terms they were given following a party in September, which involved more than 200 people. The groups faced court Friday morning and we released after three nights in jail, however all four kept their faces covered with the hands for the duration of the appearance - even when they were being addressed by Judge David Donnell. Their dramatic arrests come as police continue to crack down on noise disturbances from parties in the area, with calls of complaint said to have now been halved. In hiding: Facing court this morning but hiding their faces, the four accused - (from left) Michael Oldcorn, 20; John Pavia, 20; Terry Bartrug, 20 and Sawyer Petric, 19 - were charged with violating probation terms they were given following a party in September . The boys try their best to hide from the press while facing court in Boston on Friday morning . Boston police Sergeant Michael O’Hara told The Boston Globe that officers were left with no choice but to arrest the group after consistent warnings. 'It gets to the point you have to say enough is enough,' he said. 'These kids were given every opportunity, and they blew it.' The first incident occurred in September, when police were called to the 'animal house' on Linden Street. Upon their arrival, revelers raced back inside the property and turned off the music and lights. Once inside, officers said there 200 . people at the house, which was scattered with empty liquor bottles and . smelled of marijuana. Jailed: Michael Oldcorn, 20 (left) and John Pavia, 20 (right), along with their two other fraternity brothers, were arrested for allegedly violating their probation and throwing a house party on Tuesday night . Terry Bartrug, 20, was one of four Boston University students charged and jailed after all;allegedly throwing a wild party while on probation. The group were party of the Z.B.T. fraternity . At 19, Sawyer Petric (pictured) is the youngest of the Z.B.T. frat brothers jailed for their house parties . The house, at 85 Linden Street in the Boston suburb of Allston, is one of about 63 on the Boston Police Department's 'Party Call Hotsheet', based on regular noise complaints . The four hosts were given one charge each of keeping a disorderly house. They were put on pretrial probation, police said, and were told that if they stayed out of trouble, all would be forgiven. However on January 26 - four months later - they threw a second a party. Police say doors were slammed and locked in their faces when they arrived at the house at 1am. Scores of people, many underage, began pouring out of doors and windows. When police did get in, they found more than 1,000 beer cans. The four students were arrested, with Judge David Donnelly revoking their bail for violating probation. The four have been held here, at Nashua Street Jail, since Tuesday, police said. They are expected to go before a judge on Friday . As raucous parties go, O’Hara said these two were in 'the top 10 percent'. 'But they’re not being put in jail for being a keeper of a disorderly house,' he said. 'They’re being put in jail because of the fact that they violated the probation. . . That’s a serious offense. That’s an affront to the court.' According to the police report, the house was being used by the BU fraternity Z.B.T., Zeta Beta Tau. However the website, Facebook and Twitter accounts for the fraternity have been disabled. On Friday it emerged that BU Dean of Students Kenneth Elmore suspended the fraternity, Zeta Beta Tau, because the school believes the Jan. 26 party was part of a recruitment effort by the fraternity and that underage drinking was taking place. The news coincided with a court appearance by the four, who stood shoulder to shoulder and kept their faces concealed throughout the hearing. They were released from jail on personal recognizance, after three nights behind bars, however Judge David Donnelly was was scathing in his statements. 'Their parents have gone to great lengths, great sacrifice, great expense, for these four young men to go to a world-class university,' he said. The students had learned their lesson and 'manned up', said defense attorney David R. Yannetti, adding that all four were moving out of the house. Boston University is one of the more expensive colleges in the country, with students paying about $58, 530 per year. In 2012, O’Hara said, when he took over as community service supervisor at District 14 in Brighton, he and his officers came up with a plan to track houses with lots of complaints. Michael Oldcorn, 20, one of the four alleged party animals, is seen here in a photo from Facebook . Terry Bartrug, 20, and his three housemates were charged with keeping a disorderly house in September. After allegedly throwing another party this week, they were arrested . Now, residents who attract loud-party complaints are usually asked to perform 30 hours of community service in the Allston-Brighton area in exchange for dismissal of the complaint. A second offense, however, will result in partiers going before a judge, said O’Hara. 'The residents who have been affected by these kids like the program,' he said. 'They like to see the kids giving back, instead of just paying a $100 fine and walking out the door. These kids have no problem writing a check.' The house is one of about 63 on the Boston Police Department’s “Party Call Hotsheet,” O’Hara said, because it regularly receives noise complaints . The Allston-Brighton area, he said, has the highest concentration of college students in the city, and landlords often pack more tenants than are legally allowed into homes to make extra rent money. Terry Bartrug, 20, along with his three other frat brothers, were released from jail on Friday morning following a court appearance. They spent three nights behind bars . The unusual circumstances surrounding the jail time brought out a chorus of complaints from students that attend the school. 'It was just a party, won’t be the first, won’t be the last,' one wrote. 'What the heck kind of crime is “keeping a disorderly house”? How did the MA lawyers on the legislature dream up a way to get this charge around the 4th amendment? Is it not my right to keep my house as I desire?' posted another. 'I mean yeah, a college party. Let’s ruin those kids lives. God forbid BU help have responsible parties instead of forcing them underground. You really shouldn’t have any fun while mortgaging your future away.' WHDH-TV 7News Boston . | Police called to frat house in Linden St, Allston, in September, with some 200 people found smoking and drinking .
Four frat brothers - Michael Oldcorn, 20; John Pavia, 20; Sawyer Petric, 19, and Terry Bartrug, 20 - charged with keeping a disorderly house .
They were placed on probation .
Allegedly threw a second party on January 26 and were jailed without bail for violating probation on Tuesday .
Police say they found over 1,000 beer cans inside house .
Arrests come as part of a crackdown on noise disturbances in the area .
The four were released on personal recognizance on Friday following a court appearance, in which they kept their faces concealed .
The fraternity, Zeta Beta Tau, has been suspended over the incident .
Boston University fees are set at about $58,530 per student per year . |
246,589 | cb1d1f5ef1f946d9a2765a1083aecce5b02727b7 | Madrid, Spain (CNN) -- Spain's capital may not be causing shivers to Monaco's famed Monte Carlo casino just yet, but Madrid hopes to muscle in on Europe's appetite for gambling. The first phase of a controversial, multi-billion dollar casino and hotel complex that Spaniards are calling "EuroVegas" is scheduled to open in 2017 in the Madrid suburb of Alcorcon, about eight miles southwest of the city center. A top executive from Las Vegas Sands Corporation -- founded and run by American billionaire political activist Sheldon Adelson -- unveiled the exact location of its large complex during a news conference on Friday. The new resort could bring tens of thousands of new jobs to recession-gripped Spain as it lures travelers hungry for a taste of Vegas in Europe. Opponents say the Vegas-style resort would create only low-skilled and low-paying jobs -- not the development model needed to put Spain get back on its feet economically. They also have concerns that the resort would attract organized crime. At Friday's packed news conference, Las Vegas Sands chief operating officer Michael Leven said he's confident of securing financing for the first phase of the project, which would cost approximately $9 billion and include 12,000 hotel rooms. Las Vegas Sands is financing $3.6 billion, or 40%, of the cost of the first phase, and Leven said he has "assurances from many banks" about financing the remaining 60%. But an aide later said that no contracts have been signed yet. That may be because Las Vegas Sands must still formally compete to win the right to build the development through an open public bid process. That process opens in March, officials said, and results should be announced by September. If the company wins the bid, groundbreaking could begin by the end of this year. Leven said the first phase could easily generate some tens of thousands of jobs, based on the company's experience at its similar, but smaller, gambling resort in Singapore. A company spokeswoman later said the entire $22 billion project, when completed over 20 years, could create 250,000 jobs. Las Vegas Sands' CEO Adelson has built the company into a leading global developer of gambling, entertainment and convention resorts. It owns The Venetian and The Palazzo gambling resorts in Las Vegas, Nevada, and has expanded into Asian markets, including resorts in Singapore and Macau. Last September, Adelson announced that he'd chosen Madrid, instead of Barcelona, as the site for the project in Spain. That set off months of debate over which of three potential locations in the Madrid area would get the nod, something that was finally resolved publicly on Friday. Las Vegas Sands had previously said that the resort's access to Madrid's international airport was a priority. Yet, the suburb of Alcorcon and the airport are located on opposite sides of city center. Spanish authorities are considering rail links between the airport and the resort, Madrid regional government president Ignacio Gonzalez said Friday, although such a plan would require input from Spain's national government. Another detail being worked out is whether visitors to Madrid's "EuroVegas" resort will be able to light up, something that's commonplace inside the large casinos on the Vegas Strip. Spain has strict no-smoking laws in public places and the national government would have to grant a special waiver to allow smoking in the casino resort. | Company announces exact Madrid location for upcoming Vegas-style casino resort .
Groundbreaking is scheduled for the end of the year .
There are plans to create a rail link between Madrid's airport and the resort .
It's unclear if Spain will allow smoking inside the casinos . |
73,894 | d18243fb3919e08a39c96420ce2260faf78f53b4 | By . Associated Press . and Taylor Auerbach . A Chinese actor who apologised to his pregnant wife online for cheating on her has set a new record on the communist superpower's version of Twitter. Wen Zhang - a popular Chinese film and television star - was recently snapped canoodling with Yao Di, his co-star on the appropriately named TV series Naked Marriage. The images shocked millions due to Zhang's public image as 'a sensitive and happily married family man,' the Associated Press reports. Damning photos: The snaps that forced Zhang to apologise . Oops: Chinese actor Wen Zhang (right) apologised to his pregnant wife Ma Yili (left) after he was caught up close with another woman . Zhang, 29, has been married to fellow actress Ma Yili for six years and took to Weibo - a Chinese social media platform - in an attempt to patch things up. 'I have brought this upon myself. A mistake is a mistake. This has nothing to do with anyone else,' The Hollywood Reporter translates Wen's message as reading. 'Today, I am willing to accept all the consequences. I've let down Ma Yili and our children. My mistake does not deserve to be forgiven, and it will be difficult for me to make amends for all the harm I've caused. But I want to do it. I have to do it. This is what I'll do for the rest of my life.' Zhang's wife is currently pregnant with the couple's second child. Bad boy: Wen Zhang (left) described his actions as 'unforgivable' His heartfelt confession was posted on Monday to his more than 52 million followers along with the admission: 'the children could have had a warm and nice life, but everything was destroyed by me.' By Wednesday, his post had been forwarded more than 1.2 million times and received nearly 1.9 million comments. Many followers expressed anger towards the rising Asian star. His wife later responded, somewhat philosophically, 'Cherish what you have at the moment. Being in love is easy, being married is not.' At one point the topic was trending above the mystery of missing Malaysian Airlines flight MH370, which has gripped the region and the world. Government censorship restricts what can be said on social media in China but Zhan Jiang, a journalism professor at Beijing Foreign Studies University told Associated Press that unlike political news, 'entertainment news isn't restricted or censored by the authorities. Lovers? Wen Zhang (left) with co-star Yao Di who he was snapped canoodling with recently . 'From the authorities' point of view it isn't good if the public cares too much about politics, but entertainment is safe.' Sina Weibo (the official name of the micro-blogging service) said on its site Monday evening that the vast majority of people discussing Zhang's post were educated women and girls aged 24 and under. Wen's 'tweet' broke a record set by pop singer Faye Wong in September when she announced via Sina Weibo that she was getting a divorce. But it is yet to catch up to the now legendary 3.4 million retweets garnered on Twitter after American chat show and Oscars host Ellen DeGeneres posted a 'selfie' of her alongside a bevy of A-list Hollywood stars at this year's Academy Awards ceremony. The photo - which includes Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts, Meryl Streep and Kevin Spacey - was such a hit it caused Twitter's servers to crash for minutes. It has since inspired myriad parodies across the world. ___ . AP news assistant Fu Ting contributed to this report. Lovers? Wen Zhang (left) with co-star Yao Di who he was snapped canoodling with recently . Lovers? Wen Zhang (left) with co-star Yao Di who he was snapped canoodling with recently . Chinese record: Zhang's apology was forwarded more than 1.2 million times by his followers on Weibo . | Popular Chinese actor caught up close with TV co-star .
Posts heartfelt apology to pregnant wife on Weibo to 52 million followers .
Confession attracts record number of retweets and comments in China .
Still short of worldwide record set by Ellen DeGeneres at Oscars ceremony . |
194,365 | 879aae861a8ef051cdc4853031c0f2ca0d2a9f4c | By . Paul Newman . Follow @@Paul_NewmanDM . It may be a little cruel to suggest the green look on Friday to the Ageas Bowl pitch for the third Test will suit India more than England’s bowlers but there is no question it is not just Alastair Cook under severe pressure on Sunday. The failure of England’s attack to take advantage of conditions made for them at Lord’s means there are question marks over the senior bowlers going into a match where the consequences of another defeat would not bear thinking about. The success of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and then, with short-pitched bowling that had failed England, Ishant Sharma was a salutary lesson to an England attack who should have had the Test won on the first morning after Cook won the toss. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Alastair Cook and his squad playing rugby ahead of third Test . Decision time: England captain Alastair Cook must decide whether to change his bowling attack . Old guard: James Anderson (left) and Stuart Broad (right) could be dropped after a poor second Test . New generation? Simon Kerrigan (left) or Chris Jordan (right) could come into the side for the third Test . Agonising: Cook tilts his head back in frustration as he plays rugby during England training . Clearly, Cook had his senior players in mind when he said in the aftermath of the second Test embarrassment that England had not lost because of his captaincy and he will consider two changes on Sunday to a misfiring attack. Peter Moores famously brought Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad into the England side at the expense of Steve Harmison and Matthew Hoggard in New Zealand during his first reign as coach and now he must decide whether the time is right to call time, at least temporarily, on one of the big two. Neither Anderson nor Broad are coming to the end of the line but, with three back-to-back Tests still to come, the time is surely right to freshen up the attack and allow Chris Jordan and Chris Woakes a chance to prove their worth. The last thing England need is to go back to the days in the 80s and 90s when their constant chopping and changing undermined a fragile side but there is a strong case for Jordan, in superb form for Sussex, to replace Ben Stokes. Jordan was unlucky to be dropped in the first place after making an outstanding impression in one-day cricket but there was a feeling he was still stuck in limited-overs mode in a Headingley Test against Sri Lanka where he failed to take a single wicket. New generation? England coach Peter Moores may change one, or both, of Anderson and Broad . Recall? Chris Jordan could return to the side having featured in both Tests against Sri Lanka this summer . Falling over: Woakes will hope to get his chance to stake his claim to be an England all-rounder this week . Still smiling: All-rounder Ben Stokes is likely to be dropped after a horrendous run with the bat for England . Laugh and joke: Anderson (left) runs with a rugby ball during training as Moeen Ali (right) tries to catch him . Taking on the field: Cook's captaincy has come under scrutiny recently and he needs a big third Test . Looking up? England lost the second Test and trail 1-0 in the series but need to avoid defeat at the Ageas Bowl . Now Jordan is said to have got his wrist position right again for first-class cricket and was swinging the ball at pace at Horsham against Warwickshire this week. Stokes has a huge role to play in England’s future but his woeful run with the bat means he will surely miss out now. It is whether Woakes replaces either Anderson, Broad or even Liam Plunkett that provides England with an intriguing question on a pitch that Hampshire believe will have pace, bounce and carry. Clearly it is harsh to blame Anderson for what has gone wrong this season because he was man of the series against Sri Lanka, man of the match against India at Trent Bridge and has thrown his heart and soul into the ‘new’ England. Yet his failure to live up to his billing as the best swing bowler in the world when it most mattered at Lord’s was an indication, as much as anything, of his severe workload that is exacerbated by the retirement of Graeme Swann. Anderson looked out on his feet at Lord’s and has the threat of suspension for the last two Tests of the series hanging over him so England must decide whether to utilise him now or take him out of the firing line. Broad simply did not look fit at Lord’s, where he had perhaps his worst Test for England for many a year, and clearly the knee injury that has restricted his potency will need an operation sooner rather than later. Yet he is a fighter and both wants and expects to play in the first ever Test in England to start on a Sunday, a move which has seriously hampered Hampshire’s chances of cashing in on only their second Test at this purpose-built ground. Debutant: Exciting wicketkeeper-batsman Jos Buttler will replace Matt Prior in the England side . Entertainer: Buttler (right) is an explosive batsman who could excite the Ageas Bowl crowd during the Test . Poor form: Broad (second right) is under pressure to perform having had his worst match for England at Lord's . Looking on: James Anderson (centre) talks to his team-mates during a meeting on the pitch in training . Ticket sales have been sluggish with the ground expected to be no more than half full from Monday onwards but one man who just might provide the spark that could put more bottoms on Ageas Bowl seats is debutant Jos Buttler. All the young players brought into the England side this year have made an impression but none are as potentially exciting as the gifted Buttler, who must now try to bring his innovative, explosive game to Test cricket. ‘Test cricket has been my ultimate goal and this has probably come a bit sooner than I expected,’ said Buttler on Friday. ‘But it means I’m going in the right direction and I’m excited about Sunday.’ Buttler had insisted after his sublime one-day century against Sri Lanka at Lord’s earlier this season that he was not ready for Test cricket but the physical demise of Matt Prior has elevated him to the all important batsman-keeper slot. Out: England wicketkeeper Matt Prior is taking a break from cricket as he recovers from injury . Throwing it away: England do not want to go 2-0 down in the series with a defeat at the Ageas Bowl . ‘Mentally I’ve come round to the fact I was closer than I thought at the time because my cricket has progressed quickly,’ said the softly-spoken Buttler. ‘Test cricket is going to be completely different but this year I’ve been scoring more runs in the championship and everything’s been going well.’ Now Buttler, who admits he will have to adapt his game to the ultimate format, has the added responsibility of having to excite as well as score runs and provide glovework that he admits is ‘still a work in progress.’ ‘If you look around the world there are people who play in an aggressive manner and do well,’ said the man who joined Lancashire this season to keep regularly. ‘When Kevin Pietersen played for England people were excited to watch him and David Warner has filled that role with Australia. It would be silly of me to go into my shell completely and curb my natural instincts.’ There is much for Buttler and whatever bowlers form the England attack to play for on Sunday. Goal: Captain MS Dhoni will be hoping to help India to go 2-0 up in the series at the Ageas Bowl . Form: India's Ishant Sharma used some brilliant short bowling to help beat England at Lord's . | Captain Alastair Cook and coach Peter Moores have big decision to make .
England were out-bowled by India on green pitch in second Test at Lord's .
Anderson and Broad have been below par and one or both may be replaced .
Chris Woakes and Chris Jordan are in line to be called into the Test side .
Ben Stokes likely to be dropped after dismal run with the bat .
Jos Buttler will make his Test debut at wicket-keeper, replacing Matt Prior .
Third Test against India starts at the Ageas Bowl in Hampshire on Sunday .
India lead five-match series 1-0 after 95-run victory at Lord's . |
165,555 | 62178c54bf6ea1f329f3a935f75ba57853d8269c | By . Ian Sparks . The French fear a new serial killer is on the run after a gunman claimed the life of his fourth victim yesterday before fleeing on a motorbike. The murders have chilling echoes of Muslim fanatic Mohamed Merah’s killing spree in south-west France last month. An urgent hunt is underway for the new killer who killed his first victim with a shot to the body, while his next three targets died from a bullet to the head. Probe: Forensic officers investigate after a 47-year-old woman was shot in the head by a gunman who fled on a motorbike. He has been linked with another three killings . Police said the new killer has used the same 7.65mm handgun each time having carried out the four killings in the space of six months. District prosecutor Marie-Suzanne Le Queau said that witnesses had also seen a man ‘staking out’ the building where the latest killing took place today. A neighbour of the latest victim, said: ‘There were at least four loud bangs and then terrible screaming. There were people standing around saying “He killed her – he killed her”. ‘The man was tall, and he was white. After the shootings he leapt on to the moped and drove off at high speed.’ Murder: The same killer is believed to have shot three other people over the last six months in Grigny, Paris . The killings have drawn instant comparisons with murders carried out by Toulouse Al-Qaeda fanatic Merah. He shot seven people dead before he was shot himself by marksmen. The latest victim of the new killer was a 47-year-old mother who was killed yesterday outside her home in the suburb of Grigny. The murderer, who was wearing a crash-helmet, then made his escape. In at least two of the previous shootings between November and April - all in the same southern Paris district - the killer had also fled on a bike. Similarities: The serial killer has drawn comparisons with Toulouse Al-Qaeda gunman Mohammed Merah who killed seven people . The 23-year-old Al-Qaeda follower shot dead three soldiers in Montauban, then days later gunned down a rabbi and three children at a Jewish school in Toulouse - always escaping on his Yamaha T-Max scooter. He died in a hail of gunfire while leaping from a window after a 32-hour siege at his flat. Interior minister Claude Gueant said today: 'This series of killings is worthy of our attention and we have put all our energies into the investigation.' The first victim was a young woman shot as she was parking her car outside her flat in the suburb of Juvisy-sur-Orge on November 27. That murdered woman’s neighbour was then shot and killed in the street on February 22. An 81-year-old man was killed as he entered his apartment block in the nearby suburb of Ris-Orangis on March 17. Then a 47-year-old mother was shot in Grigny yesterday. Asked if he believed the killings were linked, Mr Gueant replied today: 'Yes, this is a concern.' Investigation: Police probe the killing of a 47-year-old woman in Grigny, France, who was shot in the head by a gunman . Mr Gueant also said in a separate interview that Islamist groups in France may now be plotting to to seek revenge for the death of Merah. He told Europe 1 radio: 'We have noticed a renewed enthusiasm and a desire to avenge the death of Mohammed Merah. 'Some radical Muslims may follow in his footsteps and try to become a martyr. We have to be vigilant.' French news media stressed that the first two killings pre-dated Merah’s murders in south-west France, but LCI TV news added: 'The similarity of the modus operandi is both striking and frightening.' A Paris police spokesman added today that they did not yet have any ‘political or religious profile’ of the person responsible for the latest spate of shootings. | Murders have chilling echoes of Muslim fanatic Mohamed Merah's killing spree .
Three of the victims shot in the head with the same 7.65mm handgun used for each killing .
Shootings took place in the same Paris suburb as attack last November . |
114,902 | 20495cb8611f1b4905a922d42fd565d7ec28aa07 | By . Ellie Buchdahl . PUBLISHED: . 09:58 EST, 18 September 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 11:05 EST, 18 September 2013 . Bail: IT Paul Anthony Lovell at Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court today . An man accused of trying to have sex with a sheep next to Tottenham Hotspur’s new training ground appeared in court today. Paul Lovell, 61, allegedly exposed his genitals when he was caught with the animal close to the state-of-the-art facility on Hotspur Way, Enfield, north London, on September 4. It is thought stars from the Premiership team were training at the centre on the day of the incident. Lovell, an IT worker, has denied two charges, one of indecent exposure and another of outraging public decency, and has opted to be tried by a jury. He was released on bail today by Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court. His bail is on condition that he does not return to Whitewebbs Lane or Archers Wood in Enfield, where it is claimed he was found 'behaving in an indecent manner'. The first charge alleges that Lovell, of Enfield, Middlesex, intentionally exposed his genitals 'intending that someone would see them and be caused alarm or distress contrary to section 66 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003'. The second claims he committed an act of outraging public decency, ‘namely trying to commit a sexual act with a sheep and trying to encourage a sheep to perform a sexual act on you’, which is contrary to common law. Lovell will now face a plea and case management hearing at Wood Green Crown Court on 2 October. Decency: Lovell is accused of trying to perform a sexual act with a sheep (file photo), which is prohibited in common law . Sorry we are unable to accept comments for legal reasons. | Paul Lovell allegedly exposed his genitals when caught with animal .
Sex with sheep an 'outrage of common decency' in common law .
Lovell released on bail and awaits Crown Court trial . |
78,461 | de5a66289ebfded0471d7b273fa2e75c3038f068 | Washington (CNN) -- Mitt Romney on Tuesday didn't back away from remarks he made in a secretly recorded video casting supporters of President Barack Obama as dependent on welfare, and instead said the comments that generated more problems for him in a tight race were an honest reflection of his campaign's message. "This is a message I'm carrying day and day out and will carry over the coming months," Romney said on Fox News. "This is a decision about the course of America, where we're going to head. We've seen the president's policies play out over the last four years." Romney cited an opposition research video that Republicans began circulating on Tuesday afternoon that shows Obama speaking at Loyola University in 1998 about making government more effective. "I think the trick is how do we structure government systems that pool resources and hence facilitate some redistribution, because I actually believe in redistribution, at least at a certain level, to make sure that everybody's got a shot," Obama is heard saying. 'Anatomy of a leak' of the Mitt Romney video . In his interview Tuesday, Romney framed Obama's remarks as an endorsement of redistributing private wealth, rather than on making sure government agencies were well supported. "The president's view is one of larger government," Romney said. "There's a tape that came out today where the president's saying he likes redistribution. I disagree. I think a society based upon a government centered nation where government plays a larger and larger role, redistributes money, that's the wrong course for America, that will not build a stronger America, or help people out of poverty." Republicans have used the issue against Obama in the past. Romney's charged comments at a May fund-raising event were recorded with a hidden camera. The video shows him telling his donors that nearly half of Americans back Obama because they rely on government support. "There are 47 percent of the people who will vote for the president no matter what," Romney says in one clip first posted on Monday afternoon. "There are 47 percent who are with him, who are dependent on government, who believe that, that they are victims, who believe that government has the responsibility to care for them. Who believe that they are entitled to health care, to food, to housing." The fund-raiser video was the latest in what has been a shaky stretch for the Romney campaign following last month's political conventions and as the candidates hurtle toward three presidential debates next month. How candidates are preparing for the debates . Romney's remarks generated reaction from both sides of the political spectrum. The president suggested that Romney was "writing off a big chunk of the country." In an interview taped for the "Late Show with David Letterman" in New York, Obama said he didn't know what Romney was referring to in the video but was quick to add, "One of the things I learned as president is you represent the entire country. If you want to be president, you have to work for everyone." Obama was caught in a secret camera moment in 2008, when he was recorded at a private fund-raiser saying that some voters "cling to their guns and religion." At the time, Republicans quickly pounced on the comment and now Romney's running mate, Congressman Paul Ryan, uses the quote against the president on the campaign trail. Conservative commentator William Kristol wrote in his Weekly Standard column Tuesday that Romney's comments insulted some of his own supporters -- such as senior citizens on Medicare. However, other conservatives supported Romney for highlighting what they call the increasing dependency of American society on government programs. The latest flap also bled into other races, including two contests viewed as crucial for Republican hopes of taking control of the Senate. Sen. Scott Brown of Massachusetts and challenger Linda McMahon in Connecticut sought to distance themselves from Romney's remarks. "As someone who grew up in tough circumstances, I know that being on public assistance is not a spot that anyone wants to be in. Too many people today who want to work are being forced into public assistance for lack of jobs," Brown said. CNN Fact Check: Who really receives government assistance? But it wasn't an entire lost day for Romney. The latest Gallup daily tracking poll showed the post-convention bounce for Obama fading. The survey's seven-day rolling average shows 47% of registered voters supporting Obama and 46% supporting Romney, returning the race to narrow, pre-convention margins. A CNN poll taken the week after the Democratic National Convention earlier this month showed Obama with a six point advantage. Democrats pounce on Romney comments . A CNN-ORC poll conducted after the Democratic convention showed Obama with a 52%-46% lead over Romney after the two were tied at 48% in the same poll the previous week. And a Washington Post poll released Tuesday showed Obama continuing to lead Romney in Virginia, one of the vital battleground states of 2012. CNN's Polling Center . Another clip from the event, posted later Monday, shows Romney questioning the prospect of ever reaching peace between Israelis and Palestinians. "I'm torn by two perspectives in this regard," Romney is shown saying. "One is the one which I've had for some time, which is that the Palestinians have no interest whatsoever in establishing peace, and that the pathway to peace is almost unthinkable to accomplish." Romney goes on to describe the obstacles he sees toward developing a so-called "two-state solution" that would establish an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel. He cites problems of geography, including the proximity to Tel Aviv of a potential border between the two states, as preventing any real progression toward the two states. "These are problems - these are very hard to solve, all right?" Romney says on the tape. "And I look at the Palestinians not wanting to see peace anyway, for political purposes, committed to the destruction and elimination of Israel, and these thorny issues, and I say, 'There's just no way.'" In public, Romney has previously declared support for the two-state solution. CNNMoney's Jeanne Sahadi and CNN's Tom Cohen, Ashley Killough, Jim Acosta, Kevin Liptak and Rachel Streitfeld contributed to this report. | NEW: Romney not backing away from controversial comments .
NEW: Obama says in interview that the president represents entire country .
NEW: Republicans in key Senate races seek to distance themselves from Romney comments .
NEW: Tracking poll shows Obama bounce fading overall; Other poll shows Obama still leads in Virginia . |
205,555 | 96176d6f6d9e90cf5c79486d238ae07cbb3d5968 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . Last updated at 5:05 AM on 17th February 2012 . Josh Powell's mother yesterday spoke out and said that her son would not be buried with her grandsons, whom he killed in an explosive house fire. Terri Powell had bought a burial plot for Josh in the same Washington cemetery as his sons Charlie, seven, and five-year-old Braden - a decision which her son-in-law said was 'clueless'. But this news provoked outrage from the relatives of Powell's missing wife Susan - and members of the public, including police officers, bought plots surrounding the boys' graves to ensure that their father could not be buried there. Happier times: Josh Powell blew up the property when he found out he was not getting custody of his two sons . Now Terri Powell has confirmed that . the family has given up a plot at Woodbine Cemetery, overlooking the . boys' graves, which was tentatively reserved for their father. 'We have tried so hard to be loving . and considerate and respectful in making Josh's burial arrangements,' she said in a written statement. 'We love our little Charlie and Braden and want their resting place to be a place of peace and comfort.' Powell's grave had already been dug . earlier this week, and a city official said at the time that the . cemetery had no policy on blocking individual burials. Preventative measure: Crimestoppers has purchased the plots on either side of the gravesite of Charlie and Braden Powell (shown still covered by a cemetery canopy) Empty plot: A cement cover is placed on top of an empty grave that has been reserved for Josh Powell up the hill, but not alongside the boys' grave, shown left under the canopy . Powell killed his sons and himself in a gas-fueled blaze two weeks ago at a home he was renting in Graham, Washington. More than 1,000 mourners attended the . boys' funeral on Saturday. They were later buried in a single casket at . Woodbine, a municipal cemetery in Puyallup. Terri Powell, wracked by grief, . realized early this week that no one else was planning for what to do . with Josh Powell's remains, said her son-in-law, Kirk Graves. She visited a funeral home and a few . cemeteries, he added, and she 'cluelessly' picked a gravesite just up . the hill from where the boys are buried. Loss: Susan Powell's parents Chuck and Judy Cox remember their grandsons, seven-year-old Charlie and five-year-old Braden, during their funeral service on February 11 . Senseless: The casket bearing the bodies of Charlie and Braden Powell is shown during a funeral service for the boys in Tacoma, Washington on Saturday . The decision prompted a public . firestorm. The parents of Susan Powell threatened legal action to keep . Josh Powell from being buried so close, and the anti-crime organisation . Crime Stoppers of Tacoma-Pierce County purchased the plots on either . side of the boys to ensure that he didn't wind up next to them. Crime Stoppers raised about $20,000 in donations for the effort in less than a day. 'We felt very strongly that it wasn't . appropriate to put him anywhere near the boys, and we did our best over . the last 48 hours to convince her to do something different,' Mr Graves . said. 'It wasn't that hard to convince her - she just got started off on the wrong path.' Attorney Steve Downing, who represents Susan Powell's parents, Charles and Judy Cox, said they were immensely relieved. Sham: The house that Josh Powell blew up to kill himself and his two sons was used as a ruse for social workers. He did not live there but placed photographs around to give the impression he did . Inferno: At a meeting for residents, police said Powell slashed the boys with a hatchet before lighting gasoline . Destroyed: The house, which neighbours thought was empty and abandoned, exploded within seconds . Questions: Powell was the sole person of interest in the case of his missing wife Susan . Josh Powell was a suspect in Susan . Powell's 2009 disappearance from their home in West Valley City, Utah. He had always claimed that he didn't know what happened to his wife. He took the boys - then 2 and 4 - on a . midnight camping trip in freezing weather in the Utah desert, he said, . and when he returned home the next day authorities were at the house . looking for her. Weeks later, he moved the boys to his . father's home in Puyallup. After Steve Powell's arrest on voyeurism and . child pornography charges last fall, the boys were removed from the . house and turned over to the Coxes. A social worker brought them to Josh Powell's rental home for what was supposed to be a court-sanctioned supervised visit. Josh Powell let the boys inside, . locked the social worker out, hit them with a hatchet and set fire to . gasoline, authorities said. A judge had recently ordered that . Josh Powell undergo a psycho-sexual evaluation if he hoped to regain . custody, and in a last-minute message to his sister he said he couldn't . live without his boys. Steve Powell remains in custody, and authorities are interested in knowing whether he has information about Susan Powell's fate. On Tuesday, he filed a written notice . in Pierce County Superior Court asserting his constitutional right to . remain silent and not discuss any matters with Utah, Washington or . federal law enforcement. | Terri Powell says grandsons' grave should be 'a place of peace and comfort'
Gives up plot she selected for Josh in same cemetery as Charlie and Braden .
Police officers and others bought land near grave to stop father's burial .
Josh Powell attacked sons with a hatchet and exploded house in a gas-fuelled blaze on February 5 . |
207,157 | 98379c3394c1201e5162d642eb04561412414923 | A New York University professor who posted a message on Twitter suggesting that obese PhD students are not capable of completing the program has backtracked and claimed that his tweet was part of a research project. Geoffrey Miller, who specializes in evolutionary psychology, tweeted on Sunday: 'Dear obese PhD applicants: If you don't . have the willpower to stop eating carbs, you won't have the willpower to . do a dissertation. #truth.' It is understood that he will keep his job as a visiting professor at NYU's Stern School of Business. Academic slip-up: Visiting NYU professor Geoffrey Miller caused outrage when he tweeted this message last month . Crass: The professor, who has tenure at the University of New Mexico, quickly apologized for his remarks . However, according to nymag.com, Miller's future may be uncertain at the University of New Mexico where he is a tenured professor. He reportedly claimed to his boss that the tweet was 'part of a research project'. Professor Miller quickly deleted the message on Sunday after a . backlash from students and professors alike. Jay Rosen, who teaches journalism at the New York school, wrote: 'Astonishing fat-shaming tweet, since deleted, from an academic, @matingmind. The mind boggles.' Miller's transgression brought into question the academic's impartiality when it came to picking students for highly competitive PhD programs. Dr Jason DeCaro, a former PhD student who is now a biological anthropologist in Alabama, tweeted: 'Dear rejected UNM psychology applicants: save now-deleted tweet for potential lawsuit. Jerk.' Miller posted a hasty apology: 'My sincere apologies to all for that idiotic, impulsive, and badly judged tweet. It does not reflect my true views, values, or standards.' Backlash: NYU journalism professor Jay Rosen criticized his colleague's actions . Outrage: Fellow academics and former PhD students including Dr Jason DeCaro in Alabama posted angry responses to Professor Miller . It was quickly followed by the . remark: 'Obviously my previous tweet does not represent the selection . policies of any university, or my own selection.' MailOnline was awaiting a response from Professor Miller as to what criteria he uses to select PhD students. Miller, who is a tenured professor at the University of New Mexico, has joined NYU's Stern School of Business for eight months until this August. He has been published in a wide range of international academic publications and conducted research at the London School of Economics, the Max Planck Institute for Psychological Research in Munich, Germany and UCLA. All apologies: The academic quickly retracted his offensive remark on June 2 . | Tenured Professor Geoffrey Miller, who teaches evolutionary psychology, quickly removed the tweet after colleagues and students complained . |
246,409 | caea760b3da97bcc796d690d0bbd622369875d4d | (CNN) -- Before there was a Tea Party, there was Mary Rakovich. Rakovich is an anti-abortion rights, pro-environment vegetarian living in Florida with her husband and nine cats. Many Tea Party activists believe she was one of the first people to publicly protest President Obama's economic policies. In February 2009, Obama was in a Fort Myers, Florida, event hall pitching his stimulus plan. Rakovich stood alone outside the hall, speaking against it. For that, she is considered to be a sort of "Godmother" of the Tea Party movement. Nine days after Rakovich's protest, CNBC business reporter Rick Santelli publicly mounted his own campaign against the president's $75 billion plan to help struggling homeowners. It happened as Santelli reported live from the floor of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange on February 19, 2009. "The government is promoting bad behavior," he said in a tirade, claiming that all Americans would be forced to "subsidize the losers' mortgages." The stimulus bill "had nothing to do with job creation whatsoever," Rakovich said in an interview with CNN last summer. And though she rails against government spending, Rakovich relies on one of the biggest spending programs, Medicare, to care for her two bad hips. "I do believe that there are times when we need the government to have some type of stopgap measures to help get people back on their feet," Rakovich said. "Those types of people need help. I also believe that as an overall system, that Medicare, as well as Medicaid, they're broken systems -- they are systems that need to be revived and revamped." "You know, I'm very glad that it was there for me and will be there for me." | In February 2009, Mary Rakovich stood alone and spoke against president's spending plan .
Some in Tea Party say she was one of the first to publicly protest Obama's economic policies .
Though she rails against government spending, she does rely on Medicare .
But she says that Medicare and Medicaid "need to be revived and revamped" |
183,190 | 79467fc706ffc1ba270f29c916e3b573ae830a64 | Washington (CNN) -- The FBI announced that it has concluded its investigation into the 2001 anthrax mailings, saying Friday that a biodefense researcher carried out the attacks alone. The anthrax letters killed five people and sickened 17 shortly after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The letters, filled with bacterial spores, were sent to Senate Democratic leaders and news organizations. "By 2007, investigators conclusively determined that a single spore-batch created and maintained by Dr. Bruce E. Ivins at the United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID) was the parent material for the letter spores," said a report released Friday by the FBI. "Evidence developed from that investigation established that Dr. Ivins, alone, mailed the anthrax letters." There was no immediate response from Ivins' lawyer. Ivins, 62, committed suicide in July 2008 as federal agents were closing in on him, police said. In September and October 2001, at least five envelopes were mailed to Sen. Patrick Leahy and then-Sen. Tom Daschle, as well as to news organizations in New York and in Boca Raton, Florida. Each envelope contained a photocopy of a handwritten note. The five who died included two Washington postal workers, a New York hospital worker, a supermarket tabloid photo editor in Florida and a 94-year-old woman in Connecticut. The investigation into the anthrax mailings, code-named "Amerithrax," was one of the largest and most complex in the history of law enforcement, according to the FBI. He had spent more than 30 years as a civilian microbiologist at the Army's biological research laboratory at Fort Detrick, Maryland, where he was trying to develop a better vaccine against anthrax. At the time of his death, Ivins was under a temporary restraining order sought by a social worker who had counseled him in private and group sessions. He also had been hospitalized in the weeks leading up to his death for psychiatric examination after he threatened to kill co-workers, investigators "and other individuals who had wronged him," according to documents released in the case. Federal prosecutors named Ivins the culprit in the anthrax attacks after his death. Court records released by authorities showed that Ivins was "the custodian of a large flask of highly purified anthrax spores that possess certain genetic mutations identical to the anthrax used in the attacks." The government had taken steps in the weeks leading up to Ivins' death to restrict his access to his lab. But critics point out that then-Attorney General John Ashcroft publicly declared another Fort Detrick scientist, Steven Hatfill, a "person of interest" in the anthrax attacks. Hatfill was never charged but sued over the matter, settling with the government for $5.8 million. His case has fueled skepticism about the allegations against Ivins. In November 2008 the U.S. Supreme Court threw out Hatfill's libel lawsuit against The New York Times over reports linking him to the anthrax probe. A federal appeals court had concluded Hatfill was a "public figure" and failed to prove the reports were "malicious." In the report released on Friday, the FBI said Hatfill had been eliminated as a suspect. The report outlines the government's evidence against Ivins, saying that the researcher was alone late at night in the lab where the anthrax strain RMR-1029 was stored in the days leading up to the mailings. The lab also contained the equipment capable of drying the anthrax, a function that was forbidden, the report said. "Dr. Ivins was never in the habit of working excessive late night hours in the lab, either prior to or after the mailings," it said. Ivins was under "intense personal and professional pressure" in the months leading up to the anthrax attacks, the report said, citing the researchers' e-mails and statements to friends. "The anthrax vaccine program to which he had devoted his entire career of more than 20 years was failing. The anthrax vaccines were receiving criticism in several scientific circles, because of both potency problems and allegations that the anthrax vaccine contributed to Gulf War Syndrome," it said. "Short of some major breakthrough or intervention, he feared that the vaccine research program was going to be discontinued. Following the anthrax attacks, however, his program was suddenly rejuvenated." The report also said that Ivins' e-mails and statements show a "man driven by obsessions." "In the month before his suicide," it said, "his homicidal tendencies became more pronounced, as he posted violent messages on the Internet regarding a reality TV star and made death threats during a group therapy session." It also says that Ivins made several statements and actions that showed "evidence of a guilty conscience." They included sending an e-mail to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that suggested "nonsensical explanations for why the first victim might have contracted inhalation anthrax," and repeatedly made efforts to shift the blame for the mailings to friends and colleagues. "At one point, he sent an e-mail to himself documenting 12 reasons why two of his former colleagues, who were also his two best friends, likely committed the anthrax attacks," the report said. | Biodefense researcher Bruce Ivins acted alone, FBI says .
Letters filled with anthrax sent to Senate, media after September 11 attacks .
Letters killed five, sickened 17 . |
146,555 | 4984f43540d3a1b1e0efba1fb025127cd7acc5fb | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 08:23 EST, 15 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 09:49 EST, 15 May 2013 . An 84-year-old baseball lover who holds the world record for 'Most Durable Batboy' has celebrated a staggering 55 years on the field for a university team. Stan 'The Man' Bronson, Jr. first took to the field for the Tigers at the University of Memphis in 1958 and has been going strong ever since - earning campus renown and the moniker of 'living legend'. Bronson, who has a learning difficulty and a speech impediment, took up the honorary, unpaid role after he was fired from a job at the athletic department at Rhodes College in Memphis. His mother took him to the University of Memphis and they spoke with the football coach, Billy 'Spook' Murphy, NPR reported. Living legend: Stan Bronson Jr. has been the batboy for the University of Memphis Tigers for 55 years . 'Coach Murphy said, "Well, son, I'm . sorry but I don't have money in my budget to pay for anybody else." And . Stan said, "Don't need money. Need a job",' Bob Winn, associate athletic director, said. His first job with the university involved picking up footballs as team members practiced on the sidelines, and he worked as an equipment manager for the football team until he was in his 60s. Since 1958, he has also served as the team's batboy - the person who carries the bat to the team and lays out equipment for the game - and has become a stalwart on the field. He was awarded the title of 'most durable batboy' by the Guinness World Records at a ceremony in May 2007 and featured in the 2008 record book. The game's announcer, Jeff Brightwell, calls him a 'living legend'. Through the years: Bronson, who said he was fired from his former job for his 'attitude', grins in his role . Stalwart: Mr Bronson, pictured left at an early game, joined the Tigers as their batboy in 1958 . One of the boys: Bronson (front, right) has been a famous face on campus through the years . At work: As the batboy, an honorary position, Bronson retrieves the bats for players on the field . Even when the Tigers are losing, many . spectators stick around to watch Bronson carry out a famed tradition of . tipping his hat at the end of the seventh inning in recognition of the . fans who have come out to support the team that day. 'You . always want to see Stan come out and tip his cap,' Brightwell told NPR. 'He is probably one of the most recognizable figures... Everyone knows . and loves Stan.' Students . have praised Bronson across the team's Facebook page, while other fans . are known to give him rides or take him to dinner. 'He's . an icon of this institution,' Eddie Cantler, a former Memphis athletic . trainer, said. 'Stan is everything that is innocent and pure.' Record holder: Bronson won the Guinness World Record for 'most durable batboy' in May 2007 . Going strong: The university now unofficially oversees care of Bronson, who has a learning difficulty . Staying: Even though he is now 84, Bronson has no plans to leave the role at the university, where he lives . And even though he's reached a staggering 55 years on the field, he's not giving up just yet. Bronson is in fine health for his age and takes no medication. He now lives in an independent living community overlooking the campus, has a lifetime pass to the school cafeteria and the university unofficially oversees his care. The school does have concerns about his medical needs in the future and has thrown fundraisers for costs that he may later need to pay off. But he has no need for the money just yet. 'We think, really, quite frankly, that athletics has kept Stan alive and going,' Winn said. Loved: Every game he tips his hat and takes a bow at the end of the seventh inning to thank the fans . | Stan 'The Man' Bronson joined the University of Memphis Tigers in 1958 .
He was awarded a Guinness World Record in 2007 and is still going strong . |
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