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135,582 | 3b69d6b55cee2414bd3216528da1787e0a827502 | (CNN) -- The Lunar New Year gallops ever closer and with it the world's largest human migration. The Year of the Horse will stretch China's transport system to its limit. Officials are expecting people to go on 3.62 billion journeys -- 200 million more than last year. China's state-run news agency Xinhua says 42 million of those trips will be by air, as more cash-rich mainlanders turn their backs on the traditional extended family reunion to celebrate the most important festival of the year abroad. They're part of a sharp, upward trend in globetrotting. The Chinese travel and spend more than anyone else on the planet. They shelled out $102 billion on 83 million trips in 2012, according to the United Nations; and they'll continue to dominate the market. By 2020, more than 200 million Chinese will go overseas, according to a report from Asia-Pacific brokerage firm CLSA -- double the number that did in 2013. This explosion is due in part to higher wages, more annual leave and easier visas. "Mainlanders are rapidly switching travel to overseas to explore new cultures, shop, gamble and escape the overcrowded domestic tourist sites and worsening pollution," Aaron Fischer, head of consumer and gaming research at CLSA and the report's author, told CNN. Here's a look at how some tourist hubs in the Asia-Pacific region are scrambling to capture a slice of this lucrative market. Bali, Indonesia . The number of Chinese arrivals on the island during "Golden Week" could reach 1000 a day, thanks to a new direct flight between Beijing and Bali. Around 30,000 Chinese tourists are expected to hop onto the Hainan Airline route -- which started on January 15 -- and pump $90 million into the economy during the festive season. Not to be outdone, hundreds of miles away West Javan provincial officials told the Jakarta Post they're prioritizing the Chinese tourist market. They're urging the local hospitality industry to improve workers' skills and upgrade infrastructure at main tourist sites, such as erecting signs in Mandarin. Attracting deep Chinese pockets is central to Indonesia's national tourism strategy. The country launched a Chinese-language website in November and aims to bump up the numbers of Chinese arrivals by 37% to 1 million by the end of 2014. Japan . Japan's weak yen, great cuisine, cultural and natural heritage are hooking wealthier Chinese. Popular items to buy include Louis Vuitton bags and $1000 rice cookers, according to TravelZoo Asia-Pacific. The website said 29% of Chinese with an annual household income of roughly $50,000 ranked Japan as their number one travel destination. But the overall number of Chinese traveling to Japan has slipped by 11% since 2012, deterred by regional animosity between Asia's number one and two economies. Critics also say that more could be made of "Cool Japan," the brand that put a stamp on Japan as a cultural powerhouse in 2002. They want a concerted national strategy to hit Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's target of 30 million foreign visitors by 2020. Australia . Chinese herbal tea sachets, Chinese TV channels and disposable slippers -- just some of the things that Australian tourist officials recommend hoteliers make available to the Chinese tourist in the land of sunshine. Chinese tourists added $4.04 billion to the Australian economy last year, rivaling New Zealand as the number one source market in spending power. However, Chinese arrivals fell 9.4% in November from a year earlier, sending ripples of concern through the Australian travel industry. The government says this could be due to a law introduced by Beijing last October banning tour companies from operating low-cost shopping tours abroad. Despite the November fall, Chinese arrivals and spending are up at around 16% for the past 12 months, according to Leo Seaton, Manager of Media Relations for Tourism Australia. "Feedback so far suggests a tale of two markets -- declines in the group market, being offset by a robust independent, higher-spending, traveler market, enjoying higher quality visitor experiences," Seaton told CNN. Philippines . The Philippines is also a winner, with 18% more Chinese tourists visited the archipelago in 2013 than in 2012. The country's tourism department has deemed 2015 the "Visit Philippines Year," adding to the upbeat "It's More Fun in the Philippines" campaign. The easing of air traffic agreements between the Philippines, its regional neighbors and China may help boost numbers. Meanwhile, the Shanghai Morning Post newspaper recently named the Philippines the "Best Tropical Island Destination." The Philippines' Department of Foreign Affairs says the number of Chinese arrivals is growing by around 70% year-on-year. This breakneck pace of growth comes despite a territorial dispute between the two countries. Thailand . Thailand is losing some of its appeal among Chinese travelers amid anti-government protests that have disrupted life in the capital, Bangkok. The tourism authority stresses that it is business as usual in the Chinese tourist's favorite foreign destination after Hong Kong and Macao, despite a state of emergency afflicting the capital. But Bert van Walbeek, chairman of the Thai chapter of the Pacific Asia Travel Association, told CNN there are likely to be 60-70% fewer Chinese tourists landing in Thailand for the Year of the Horse. Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and Pattaya have profited as tourists venture away from Bangkok. But Van Walbeek's overall prediction was upbeat. "As with all crises in Thailand there has been a temporary glitch. Whatever they do to Thailand, the country will bounce back," he said. Last year's bumper figures may be hard to match. Around 3 million Chinese tourists trotted into Thailand, seduced by its beaches, food, shopping, nightlife and the box office hit film, "Lost in Thailand" about a mismatched pair on a journey of self-discovery. | Chinese tourists travel and spend more than anyone else .
Tourist hubs are scrambling to capture a slice of this lucrative market .
Indonesia hopes better infrastructure and worker training will help draw visitors .
Experts say political unrest in Thailand has hurt tourism in the short term . |
115,825 | 217e16ffb66caae372cb643ccc60f099400559f0 | (CNN) -- Bayern Munich capped a successful week by returning to the top of the German Bundesliga with a 2-1 victory away to title rivals Schalke on Saturday despite having a man sent off in the first half. Louis Van Gaal's team followed up the midweek Champions League victory over Manchester United with a win that puts them a point clear of previous leaders Schalke ahead of Wednesday's trip to England for the second leg of the quarterfinal. Bayern took a 2-0 lead after only 26 minutes as Franck Ribery and Thomas Muller scored within 60 seconds of each other, but Schalke's former Germany striker Kevin Kuranyi reduced the deficit soon after. The Bavarians had Hamit Altintop sent off for a second booking four minutes before halftime, but Schalke -- beaten by Bayern in the German Cup semifinals 10 days ago -- could not claim a point and had Marcelo Bordon dismissed at the end of the match. Bayern were again without Dutch forward Arjen Robben, who missed the United game with a calf problem, but surged into a two-goal lead when French playmaker Ribery fired home from a corner and Tuesday's match-winner Ivica Olic set up Muller. Kuranyi followed up his double from last weekend with another strike from a pass by Rafinha, who was fouled by Altintop to see the Turkey international an early bath. Kuranyi should have leveled just before the break but missed from close range, and Schalke failed to seriously threaten the Bayern goal in the second spell. Third-placed Bayer Leverkusen suffered another blow to their title hopes with a 3-2 defeat at Eintracht Frankfurt which left the former leaders six points adrift of Bayern after a run of just one win in seven league outings. Frankfurt, who upset Bayern two weeks ago, moved up to eighth with a third successive win thanks to Maik Franz's 89th-minute winner. Leverkusen led 2-1 straight after halftime through Stefan Kiessling's second goal, but had Daniel Schwaab sent off three minutes later for a rash tackle on Umit Korkmaz. Caio leveled on 62 with a super long-range effort, and Franz snatched victory from close range. Borussia Dortmund consolidated fourth place with a 2-1 victory at home to Werder Bremen, scoring both goals in the first half through Kevin Grosskreutz and Neven Subotic before Aaron Hunt pulled one back in the 65th minute. Dortmund closed to with a point of Leverkusen, who hold the final Champions League place, and went four clear of fifth-placed Bremen. Stuttgart moved up to seventh with a 2-1 victory at home to Borussia Moenchengladbach, while Nuremberg moved three points clear of the relegation zone with a 2-0 win at home to 10-man Mainz. Bochum joined Nuremberg on 28 points with a 1-1 draw at third-bottom Freiburg, while bottom side Hertha Berlin earned a surprise 3-0 win at Cologne in Saturday's late match thanks to two first-half goals from Raffael and a 75th-minute effort from fellow Brazilian Cicero. | Bayern Munich return to top of German Bundesliga with 2-1 victory at title rivals Schalke .
Bavarians beat previous leaders despite having Hamit Altintop sent off late in first half .
Third-placed Bayer Leverkusen six points behind Bayern after losing at Eintracht Frankfurt .
Borussia Dortmund close on Leverkusen with a 2-1 victory at home to Werder Bremen . |
142,792 | 44abfd9878ccfdea478c9c1b568ea150d465e651 | (CNN) -- The alleged terror incident aboard a passenger flight from Amsterdam to Detroit has raised questions as to how a Nigerian man carried explosives through stringent security measures. Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab has been charged with attempting to destroy a passenger plane after he detonated a device on board a jet on Friday. Authorities in the United States are investigating whether Abdulmutallab had any connections with terrorist organizations or was acting alone. Airports intensify security after plane attack . With Dutch officials scrutinizing security procedures at Amsterdam's Schiphol airport that allowed the 23-year-old man to smuggle the explosives on the aircraft -- here are some of the key questions still hanging over the incident. Where did the explosives come from? The man charged with igniting the device claims he obtained the explosives in Yemen, along with instruction on how to use it. He carried these onto a flight from Lagos, Nigeria, to Amsterdam, Netherlands where he transferred to Northwest Flight 253 to Detroit. Was he on any security watch lists? U.S. authorities say they were contacted by the man's father ahead of the attack, but whether he was placed on any so-called No-Fly list maintained by the United States is unclear. Dutch officials say the passenger's name appeared on a manifest supplied by the airline, which was passed to U.S. authorities, who cleared the flight to depart. Were the proper security checks performed? Yes, say Dutch authorities, who say he passed through normal procedures and that "security was well-performed." He is known to have passed through a metal detector and his luggage was X-rayed. Extra attention is normally applied to passengers arriving from Nigeria because of concerns over fraud and smuggling. Nevertheless airports around the world have stepped up security procedures in the wake of the incident, increasing pat-downs and secondary searches. So how did the explosives get through? Dutch authorities are at pains to point out that if the passenger had powders concealed upon his person or secreted bottles of liquid somewhere else, they certainly would not have been picked up by the metal detector. Is there any way of detecting these kind of explosives? A preliminary FBI analysis indicates the device contained PETN, also known as Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate, a highly explosive chemical. Experts say this would have been picked up using a swab commonly used in secondary screening. A body scan, particularly the new 3D imaging scanners being trailed at some airports, would also have spotted something strapped to his body, even in the crotch area. Why were there no U.S. air marshal security officers on the flight? U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano told CNN federal air marshals are not posted on all flights. She said this was not due to budgetary constraints, but down to standard procedures, which see marshals posted randomly on certain routes. CNN's Jeanne Meserve, Richard Quest and Barry Neild contributed to this report. | Dutch authorities say normal security procedures were carried out .
Authorities say they would not have picked up secreted powders or liquid .
Secondary checks should pick up similar devices . |
284,555 | fca9f53ef48f876b53524249e212f12c026b8485 | Police and protesters in Ferguson, Missouri, clashed once again Wednesday night as tensions boiled over during a planned demonstration against the shooting of Michael Brown by police officer Darren Wilson in August. Between 100 and 150 protesters marched to the police station from just blocks away from Brown was shot. They chanted, demanding justice for Brown and calling for the arrest of Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson. When the group finally arrived at the police station, the march then turned ugly and into a stand off against Ferguson police, who brought out riot gear and protective shields as they erected a barricade on the opposite side of the street. The spark for the rise in tensions came after Michael Brown's official autopsy was leaked and shows how the 18-year-old was shot in the hand at close range during a struggle with the Ferguson police officer who fatally shot him. Demonstrators march toward the police station as protests continue in the wake of 18-year-old Michael Brown's death in Ferguson, Missouri . Police police move in to arrest a demonstrator outside the police station as protests continue . Accounts: Details emerged earlier this wee Darren Wilson (left), the police officer who killed Michael Brown (right), describes a violent encounter in which Wilson was allegedly hit in the face several times before firing a gun which Brown was trying to wrest away from him . The St. Louis Post-Dispatch obtained the St. Louis County medical examiner's autopsy and an accompanying toxicology report that shows Brown had used marijuana. The newspaper reported that St. Louis medical examiner Dr. Michael Graham and another pathologist not involved in the investigation reviewed the report and said it indicates a wound to Brown's hand came at close range. Activists said the leak of the report to the newspaper simply added to tensions in the community, which has been the site of numerous protests, including last nights where there have been regular clashes between demonstrators and police, in the 10 weeks since the shooting. Yesterdays protest was scheduled to coincide with a day of action planned to take place nationwide to draw attention to police brutality . It was on August 9th when the shooting happened. It was shortly after noon when Brown was walking down the middle of a neighborhood street with a friend and Officer Wilson, who was driving by, ordered them out of the street. Accounts then differ but witnesses and law enforcement officials have agreed that Wilson and Brown became embroiled in an altercation through the window of the Wilson's vehicle and Wilson exited his vehicle and shot Brown several times. Brown was shot once in the hand and was eventually killed outside the vehicle. Graham told the Post-Dispatch that the autopsy report 'does support that there was a significant altercation at the car.' Aftermath: Pictured above in a grainy cellphone photograph grab, Wilson stands over Brown after the fatal - and hotly-disputed incident . Michael Brown's official autopsy shows the 18-year-old was shot in the hand at close range during a struggle with the Ferguson police officer who fatally shot him, two experts said in a published report . The leaked report indicated a wound to Brown's hand came at close range . Brown family attorney Benjamin Crump said that the autopsy offers no insight into why Wilson killed Brown . Brown family attorney Benjamin Crump told the Associated Press that the autopsy offers no insight into why Wilson killed Brown. The newspaper posted a copy of the autopsy and toxicology report on its website. Medical examiner's office administrator Suzanne McCune confirmed the posted information was accurate but said her office won't officially release the documents until the investigation is complete. The newspaper did not say where it obtained the documents. Wilson remains on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation into the shooting that has sparked sometimes violent protests in Ferguson. On Tuesday, Gov. Jay Nixon appointed a special commission to look at how the region can move forward after the concerns raised by the shooting and its aftermath. Wilson confronted Brown and Dorian Johnson as they walked back to Brown's home from a convenience store. After the shooting, Brown died at the scene. Between 100 and 150 protesters marched from the corner of Canfield Drive and Florissant Avenue, a few blocks from where Brown was shot . The protestors demanded justice for Michael Brown and called for the arrest of Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson . Some witnesses have told authorities and news media that Brown had his hands raised when Wilson approached with his weapon and fired repeatedly. The leaked report comes days after the New York Times, citing federal government officials briefed on a civil rights investigation, reported that Wilson told investigators he feared for his life and battled with Brown in his vehicle over his gun. A grand jury is considering charges against Wilson, who has not spoken publicly about the shooting. Protesters have said they expect widespread unrest if he is not charged and local and state authorities have said they are preparing for that possibility. "There is a lack of trust. That is why people are protesting every single night," said Rashad Robinson, executive director of Color of Change, a civil rights organization. "They have a fundamental belief that the system is stacked against them. These continual leaks raise a lot of suspicion." Ferguson, Missouri, police and protesters clashed on Wednesday night after tensions escalated during a scheduled demonstration, part of the Ferguson October movement . Michael Brown's gunshot wounds included a shot in the hand at close range, his official autopsy shows, according to an analysis reported by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch newspaper . At least two people were detained after demonstrators threw water bottles at the police barricade . Wilson told investigators that during a struggle for his pistol inside a police SUV, Brown pressed the barrel of Wilson's gun against the officer's hip . The officer tried to prevent Brown from reaching the trigger, the source told the newspaper, and when he thought he had control, he fired . Once the group arrived at the Police Department the march turned into a standoff against Ferguson police, who had erected a barricade on the opposite side of the street . Ed Magee, a spokesman for the St. Louis County prosecutor's office, said a decision is expected sometime in mid-November. Brown's death has sparked protests across Ferguson, a primarily black community with a mostly white police force and city government, and has drawn global attention to race relations in the United States. The St. Louis County medical examiner's autopsy indicates that Brown's hand was close to Wilson's weapon, according to forensic experts interviewed by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The autopsy said a microscopic examination of Brown's hand tissue showed particles "consistent with products that are discharged from the barrel of a firearm." The medical examiner also found that Brown tested positive for marijuana. A representative for the county medical examiner verified the authenticity of the autopsy report the newspaper posted and said the office did not provide the report to the Post-Dispatch. Wilson said he fired two shots, and Brown was hit in the hand and ran. Wilson told investigators he fired again when Brown turned back and charged at him . Immediate response: In this image investigators crowd round Brown's body immediately after the shooting . Wilson said he had no choice but to draw his pistol when faced with the 'incredibly strong' teen. Brown was 6-foot-4 and nearly 300lb at the time of his death. Wilson said he couldn't use his pepper spray in the close quarters because it would have hit him too. His baton was out of reach at the back of his belt. In the statement Wilson told how Brown grabbed at the pistol and continued to hit him in the face. The officer, who said he almost passed out in the attack, then told how he felt Brown, whose strength he found remarkable, twisting the barrel towards his own body. At one point, the muzzle of the gun was pointed at Wilson's own hip. Wilson went on to describe how he jerked back inside the car, loosening Brown's grip on the gun enough for him to squeeze the trigger. Vigils: Demonstrators - pictured on October 20 - have continually held vigils for Brown since the shooting in August. They are pictured above on Canfield Street, where he died . But, he said, the first time nothing happened - because Brown had his finger in the gun's hammer, which stopped it from firing. Separate accounts of the events which have been made public have also claimed there was a scuffle of some sort inside the police car - citing blood and skin samples picked up in investigations. When Wilson pulled the trigger again, the pistol went off, hitting Brown's hand and sending glass cascading around the car. Evidence presented by the Post-Dispatch from the autopsy report also seems to support a close-range impact. The document told how the entry wound in Brown's hand had no 'stippling' - a feature of mid-range impacts - suggesting a point-blank release. In his account, Wilson then described firing a second shot - which missed. Brown then ran away. Response: Police have donned riot gear to meet the protesters in ugly confrontations . Wilson said he was left unable to radio for backup because his transponder had been knocked away from the right setting in the chaos. So, on his own, Wilson said he got out of the car and gave chase. It was at that point when Brown turned. Wilson said Brown then 'charged' at him and wouldn't stop when he yelled. He started firing, and hit four times. One shot, Wilson said, hit Brown's forehead and brought him down. He also denied - as many witnesses have claimed - that Brown had his hands up in a gesture of surrender. Wilson's extensive account is at odds with several others which have emerged in the wake of the killing, which has sparked widespread and ongoing protests in the Missouri town. Others have said Brown was fleeing, or had unambiguously surrendered. It has also been suggested that Wilson himself was more aggressive toward Brown than suggested in the latest account. | Scheduled demonstration turns tense as protesters and police clash .
An official autopsy says Michael Brown suffered six gunshot entrance wounds .
Brown's blood was on the officer's uniform and in his car .
Officer Darren Wilson's full grand jury testimony leaked to media .
He still has to explain why he fired all the shots .
A separate leaked autopsy report claims that Brown had marijuana in his system . |
148,944 | 4c96e76cc2a50ca439d59154dc99beba126c150d | England Under 19s hammered hosts Luxembourg 8-0 on Sunday to all but ensure their progression from the first qualifying round for the 2015 European Championship. Braces from Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Patrick Roberts and Brandon Barker, as well as goals from Charlie Colkett and Bradley Fewster, saw England followed up their opening win over Belarus with another victory. Sean O'Driscoll's side have now scored 11 goals in two games without reply and face Belgium on Wednesday in their final Group 1 game, knowing they have almost ensured progression to the tournament in Greece next year. Ruben Loftus-Cheek, pictured playing against Ukraine in May, scored twice in England Under 19s' 8-0 win . ENGLAND UNDER 19s: Smith, Aina (C), Burke, Galloway (Dickie 46), Roberts, Colkett, Fewster, Smith-Brown, Loftus-Cheek (Morris 67), Winks, Barker (Kiwomya 46) Goals: Loftus-Cheek (7, 50), Colkett (13), Barker (pen 21, 43), Roberts (pen 21, 90), Fewster (88) The Three Lions started the match at the Stade rue Henri Dunant in Luxembourg City quickly and were ahead inside seven minutes. Chelsea's Loftus-Cheek exchanged some neat passes with Fulham's Roberts before smashing home. And just six minutes later England were two up. Manchester City winger Barker put in an exquisite cross for Chelsea's Colkett who prodded home. It was then Barker's turn to provide for himself as he converted an unstoppable penalty after being tripped in the box after 21 minutes. A second penalty soon arrived too as Roberts was felled and, after being forced to re-take the spot kick, he coolly slotted the ball the opposite way to the goalkeeper. Barker then ensured it was 5-0 at half-time when he curled a magnificent free-kick from the edge of the area into the top corner. The second half did not get much better for the hosts either, as Loftus-Cheek broke clear five minutes after the restart to slot in England's sixth. But then Luxembourg did enjoy their best chance of the game - after 66 minutes Cedric Sacras shot and the ball took a wicked deflection off Colkett and on to the crossbar. England added two further goals in the final moments through Middlesbrough forward Fewster and Roberts to put some added gloss on the scoreline in what was an emphatic victory. | England Under 19s make it two wins out of two to top Group 1 .
Victory over Luxembourg all but secures progression from first qualifying round for the 2015 European Championship which will be held in Greece .
Braces from Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Patrick Roberts and Brandon Barker .
Charlie Colkett and Bradley Fewster also on target for Three Lions .
Sean O'Driscoll's side have scored 11 without conceding in last two games . |
273,161 | edd680b4b82a597c3ea55b8877e5ab7bdb28cd28 | Real life Baywatch hunk Michael Newman has given a fascinating glimpse behind the scenes of the 1980s TV hit. The former LA lifeguard starred in a never-before seen 'teaser tape' that was used to sell Baywatch to TV chiefs, which today he unveils to MailOnline. Now 59, Michael was a regular stand-in for David Hasselhoff because of the star’s ‘chicken legs' - and even taught Baywatch bombshell Pamela Anderson how to run on the beach. Stand-in: Michael Newman with Baywatch star David Hasselhoff. Newman's legs were used to cover up The Hoff's 'chicken legs', he says . Chicken legs: Professional lifeguard Michael Newman (right) said he often stood in for 6ft 4ins tall David Hasselhoff (left) due to his skinny legs . Michael - affectionately nicknamed Newmie - said: 'There were many times when Alex Daniels, who was David’s stunt double on the show, and I filmed dangerous scenes together, and I would be driving a powerful race boat and Alex would be having to jump down into the boat going at some 60mph from a 70ft cliff edge and not land in the ocean, then he has to trust me to the right place at just the right time. ‘Most of the time, when you saw Hasselhoff’s legs, you were often looking at my own legs. Hasselhoff always had very skinny chicken legs!' Newmie also worked as a technical advisor on Baywatch and admitted that although slender, many of the actors weren't fit enough for the show - so he had to put them through his own training camp. He said: 'I’d teach them how to run with the lifeguard can and how to swim with your head up and get the basics down, so that when Pamela Anderson ran with the can it didn’t look like she was holding a purse!’ ‘I was technical consultant on the show and was constantly asked by the writers about every action scene we shot. 'The head writer on the show would call me up and say: "Ok Mike, what kind of equipment would we use in this scene? What kind of radio equipment would the actors use? What would the traffic sequence be? What would they be saying on the radio?" And I would dictate all this information to these guys and they would repay me by writing me some good stuff in the show.’ The show never did win an Emmy as Newmie says: 'It’s so hard to remember all the storylines, but one thing I will say about the scripts is that we used to laugh because they they would adapt stories from all over the place and make them work for Baywatch. ‘There was an episode with an electric eel that was attacking one of our guys in a cave, and so we used defibrillator patterns, the heart shocking device, to shock the eel and kill it, but it was a rubber eel. It was the stupidest thing I had ever seen!' You get the idea: Michael Newman starred in a 'teaser tape' for what his childhood buddy and fellow lifeguard Greg Bonnan would use to sell his idea for Baywatch to TV chiefs . Co-stars: Michael Newman with Baywatch bombshell Pamela Anderson. The professional lifeguard trained Pam and other show stars . Baywatch was the brainchild of his schoolpal and fellow lifeguard Greg Bonnan, who got him on board to film a trailer on Santa Monica beach - complete with the now famous slow-motion running. Bonnan, Newmie said, had long dreamed of making a show about lifeguards, telling his pal: ‘You know, if that piece of s**t show CHIPS can be so popular, why can’t we make a television show about lifeguards?’ After a busy day on the Santa Monica shore, Newmie said: ‘We’d had one of those days where we’d had lost kids and rescues and fights and drunks and people breaking into cars and umbrellas stabbing people - it was just a crazy chaotic day. ‘And so we decided to go and have a beer after work and think some more about it.’ Fate dealt a hand when Bonnan rescued the 13-year-old son of TV executive Stu Erwin in 1978. When asked how he could repay him, Bonnan asked for help with his TV idea, which the pair worked on for 10 years. Fun in the sun: Greg Bonnan's tape of course included glimpes of bikini-clad girls on the beach . Eighties-style: Baywatch became a byword for scenes of scantily-clad girls . A smash hit: Baywatch was axed by NBC after its first season in 1989 - but Hasselhoff and the show's creators teamed up with producters FreemantleMedia to turn it into a syndicated, international hit . Newmie also reveals that fate again stepped in when Bonnan’s sister married a successful TV writer called Doug Schwartz, who ended up becoming a producer on Baywatch. Greg sold the show to NBC after showing them the tape and the show launched in 1989. But even though it featured the star of Knight Rider, Baywatch was axed after one season, prompting Hasselhoff and the producers to sell it to FreemantleMedia which sold the show internationally and created a syndication deal. It went on to become the most watched TV series in the world, running up until 2001, and Hasselhoff, who played Mitch Buchannon, is believed to have made $70 million from the series. Key player: Michael Newman with Baywatch star Alexandra Paul, who played Lt. Stephanie Holden . Today: Michael Newman, now aged 59, is battling Parkinson's Disease. A trained lifeguard and firefighter, he ended up being the technical advisor on Baywatch and appeared in 159 episodes . Despite his long history on Baywatch - Newmie appeared on 159 episodes - he would never quite make it to stardom - or achieve the same pay as the show stars. He says: ‘The ratings went up, and then the ratings came down. And as the ratings came down, their way of fixing that problem was by firing everybody and getting a whole new crew, and one of the best ways to do that is to get the hell out of town, so that’s when they took the show to Hawaii.' And he smiles: ‘To give you an idea of the kind of money I made, I bought a property next door to my house and renovated it and sold it. ‘I made more money building that one spec house than I made in all the years that I worked on Baywatch. If I hadn’t been wasting my time on Baywatch and had been building spec houses instead, I would have made some real money.’ Fit: Michael Newman, a trained firefighter and lifeguard, subjected all new cast members to his boot camp as he says none of them were fit enough for the series! Star: Pamela Anderson had her breakout role on Baywatch as C.J. Parker. Michael Newman says his show pay rate was 'quite a bit less' than hers . He continued: ‘The way I was treated on Baywatch, they didn’t give me a lot of respect and it would have been real easy for them to thank me, but for the seven years I was a screen actor, I got paid the absolute legal minimum, which when I started was like $350 per day. ‘I have no idea what it is now, and it’s obviously gone up since then, but just the stinginess and the lack of grace on the show wasn’t great. My rate was quite a bit less than Pamela’s. I have no idea what she was on, she may have been up at the $60-80k mark, where other girls on the show were on $1,000 an episode, so that could be seen as quite disrespectful, but it didn’t really have to be that way.’ Similarly, he says, some of the actresses would only end up making $50,000-a-year, when the taxman took his slice. After Baywatch, Newmie became of one of Hollywood’s leading water star trainers. Copied: The final scene on the Baywatch teaser tape shows Newman standing against the sunset - an image copied on Baywatch's titles . He trained Ashton Kutcher in The Guardian, Kevin Costner and Tom Hanks for his role in Angels and Demons. However, Newmie, married to his wife Sarah with two children, is now battling Parkinson’s Disease. He was diagnosed in 2011 after seeking help for a tremor in his leg and is retired, dividing his time between homes in Hawaii and the Pacific Palisades, California. He says: ‘I suffer with the shaking and get tremors, I also don’t walk very well due to an accident I had a few years before I got Parkinson’s and although I had the foot treated it was always weak, and now the Parkinson’s just makes worse. He adds: ‘But as soon as I step into the ocean, I don’t feel like I have Parkinson’s. I can still swim, surf and enjoy the life I love and know.' Action: Michael Newman and pal Greg Bonnan taped their teaser on Santa Monica beach - with the lifeguard on duty turning a blind eye . Reboot: Michael Newman says about the upcoming Hollywood movie: 'It better show some respect towards the profession of lifeguards in some way. I'm not asking for much' Asked about the Hollywood Baywatch reboot, Newmie said: ‘My first feeling about The Rock being confirmed to star in the new Baywatch movie is that I'm available for some swimming lessons! ‘He's definitely majestic, generally angry, so they'll have to have some fun. I don't want him to be serious. I would want him to play the role tongue-in-cheek. If they want to do comedy, then they can do comedy. But if they're going to do a lifeguard movie, it better show some respect towards the profession of lifeguards in some way. I'm not asking for much.’ Newmie’s charity work is done with the Cedars Sinai Regenerative Medicine Institute and he works closely with Dr Clive Svendsen, PhD, who is the Director of Regenerative Medicine Institute. He will attend a fundraiser for the Regenerative Medicine Stem Cell Lab on December 2. | Trained lifeguard Michael Newman was childhood pals with Baywatch creator Greg Bonnan .
He starred in the 'teaser tape' Bonnan made to sell the show and reveals it for first time to MailOnline .
Newman got a key role on the show and was also Hasselhoff's leg stand-in .
He also taught Pamela Anderson how to run on the beach like a real lifeguard .
Baywatch is now being turned into a Hollywood movie with The Rock . |
62,533 | b19d11f289eba939bd0ee9e2ab524aeab9149aed | Barcelona coach Luis Enrique says the thought of having a team without Lionel Messi is 'not even something we contemplate'. The future of the Argentina forward as been the subject of much speculation recently, following reports that he had fallen out with Enrique. Messi has been linked with a move to Premier League champions Manchester City and leaders Chelsea, but Enrique does not want to see the four-time former world player of the year leave the Nou Camp. Lionel Messi, arriving at the Ballon d'Or ceremony, will not be sold by Barcelona say Luis Enrique . Messi had partner Antonella Roccuzzo with him for the award ceremony in Switzerland on Monday . 'I don't know what the future holds for us,' the 44-year-old told the Spanish media on Wednesday. 'We all think that Messi will be at Barca in the next few years and that is what all the cules (Barca fans) want. 'The thought of having a team without Messi is not even something we contemplate.' Messi, who is Barca's all-time top scorer in all official club competitions, is under contract with the Catalan giants until June 2018. He has been instrumental in helping Barca win 21 trophies, including six La Liga titles and three Champions League. Enrique left says Barcelona have not contemplated selling Messi . Messi (right) celebrates with Barcelona team-mates Luis Suarez and Neymar (centre) against Atletico Madrid . Barca overcame champions Atletico Madrid 3-1 on Sunday night to provide some much-needed cheer after an unsettled start to 2015. A number of players are said to be unhappy with Enrique's tactical and coaching methods since he replaced Gerardo Martino in the summer. But Enrique, whose side take on Elche in the second leg of their Copa del Rey last-16 tie on Thursday holding a 5-0 advantage from the first leg, insists his squad is united. 'We are running away from controversies and we are looking to find the best atmosphere possible,' he said. 'The changing room is united. Messi (right) challenges Atletico Madrid's Diego Godin for possession at the Nou Camp . Messi conceded the penalty that led to Atletico Madrid's consolation goal in the 3-1 defeat earlier this month . Messi received a trophy ahead of the game against Atletico in honour of breaking the La Liga scoring record . 'This is what we are looking for, even though we know that things on the outside can change within five seconds.' The Catalan club began 2015 with a 1-0 defeat to Real Sociedad and the following day sacked sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta, with former captain Carles Puyol leaving his role as Zubizarreta's assistant hours later. When asked about reports in the local media that former player Jose Mari Bakero was the leading candidate to replace Zubizarreta, Enrique said: 'This is a question for our president (Josep Maria Bartomeu). All I can say is that I have a good opinion of him.' | Lionel Messi's future has been the subject of much debate in recent weeks .
Messi has fallen out with Barcelona manager Luis Enrique .
Enrique insist 27-year-old will not leave the Nou Camp despite unrest .
Click here for Barcelona news . |
194,557 | 87d96e21a9a3a4a61bfd1e198a3eaea6b534b5ba | Washington (CNN) -- O.J. Simpson, Casey Anthony, George Zimmerman: Sensational trials with national buzz covered gavel-to-gavel on television and on the Internet. All ended with verdicts that, to some, seemed to make a mockery of the law. But did they really? Did George Zimmerman really get away with murder as one of the jurors -- juror B-29 -- in the case suggested in an ABC interview? That same juror said she stands by the verdict, even though she clearly agonized over the outcome. 'Boycott Florida' isn't so simple, experts say . From a public opinion standpoint, the question is whether Zimmerman committed a crime for which he was acquitted. But from a legal standpoint, the question is whether the prosecution was able to prove each and every element of its case -- whether murder or manslaughter -- beyond a reasonable doubt. In the Zimmerman, Simpson and Anthony cases, the answer was no. For the prosecution working one of these high profile trials, the failure to prove the case is almost never a result of failure to try. More often than not, it's a result of missing pieces of the puzzle, and the unpredictability of taking a case to trial in the first place. Think about it. Prosecutors and defense attorneys go to war over a defendant. They chose jurors from a pool presented to them. The jurors promise to decide the case on the merits. But each and every juror brings his or her own life experience to the table. And when they start to deliberate the case, they are on their own. While we only get see to the biggest cases on TV, this drama over reasonable doubt plays out all across the country every day. And just like juror B-29 in the Zimmerman case, some of the people who decide the facts walk away with a deep sense of regret that marks them for life. That happened to me, too. I am one of those former jurors who is still haunted by a verdict. Probably my most painful experience with the justice system was when, in the mid-'90s, I was called on to help decide a case. I was chosen as foreman of a jury in a criminal trial in D.C. Superior Court. It was a horrible set of facts. Child molesting. And the outcome is still bitter to me. The child in question -- a little girl -- had been sexually assaulted. And a grown man with a long list of personal problems had been charged in the case. Part of the evidence showed the girl had contracted a venereal disease as a result of the encounter the defendant was charged with. Police: Robbers tell man, 'This is for Trayvon Martin' The defense was simple and straightforward. The defendant had gotten a checkup right around the time authorities said the girl was assaulted. And the defendant's medical report indicated that he had tested negative for the venereal disease. The defendant admitted he had been near the child. But he adamantly denied sexually assaulting her. There were no other witnesses. The trial lasted for a couple days, and I believe we deliberated almost as long. On the first vote, shortly after hearing the judges instructions and retiring to the jury room for deliberations, I was shocked to discover that only two people, myself and a woman juror, had come to the conclusion that the defendant was guilty. I was suspicious of his demeanor. I was skeptical about the medical report. I struggled, I fought. I demanded that my colleagues on the jury use their common sense. I suggested maybe he took penicillin or something. But all that was conjecture, the other jurors said. There was no evidence of treatment for the disease. We insulted each other. We yelled. But we kept coming back to that single piece of paper, the medical report that was impossible to deny. Reasonable doubt. After a truly bitter experience, and fighting for justice for that little girl and her family, I voted not guilty and so did the other "holdout". And the most bitter moment of all, as the jury foreman, was the reading of the verdict. I felt I had let that little girl down. I still do. I left the courthouse and sat on a stoop in front with my head in my hands. I will never forget that feeling. Reasonable doubt is a bitter pill to swallow sometimes. But it is the law. | In recent high profile cases -- Zimmerman, Anthony, O.J. -- verdict didn't always match popular sentiment .
Juries were asked to rule on guilt vs. reasonable doubt .
Although decisions may be consistent with the law, not guilty verdicts leave some wondering . |
217,463 | a58a23054d6d6ccd9806609fc926f17cbfed6979 | An elementary school suspended a boy who arrived at school last week with what he alleged was a powerful ring that appears in J.R.R. Tolkien's 'The Hobbit' and 'The Lord of the Rings' fantasy books. Aiden Steward was suspended from Kermit Elementary School in Kermit, Texas, over a Thursday incident, The New York Daily News reported. While speaking to another boy, 9-year-old Steward said he would able to use the One Ring and turn the fellow student invisible, according to the newspaper. Powerful: Aiden Steward was suspended from school after telling a boy he had the One Ring and could make a student become invisible, like in J.R.R. Tolkien's fantasy books . Speaking to The New York Daily News, father Jason Steward said 'It sounded unbelievable.' The One Ring, as it is known, features in both Tolkien's prequel 'The Hobbit' as well as 'The Lord of the Rings.' At various points in the books, characters Bilbo Baggins and Frodo Baggins put on the ring to make it seem as if they have vanished into thin air. 'The Lord of the Rings' trilogy follows a group of characters that set to destroy the One Ring, since it can also be used to control other peoples and kingdoms. Steward told The New York Daily News 'Kids act out movies that they see. When I watched Superman as a kid, I went outside and tried to fly.' The newspaper reported that the Steward family recently viewed 'The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies.' Peter Jackson directed film adaptations for both 'The Lord of the Rings' and 'The Hobbit.' Magical: Bilbo Baggins (portrayed here by Martin Freeman) is able to get his hands on the One Ring after an encounter with the creature Gollum . Scene: The incident took place at Kermit Elementary School, pictured . Jason Steward told the newspaper 'I assure you my son lacks the magical powers necessary to threaten his friend’s existence. If he did, I'm sure he'd bring him right back.' Speaking to The Odessa American, he said the school considered his son's behavior to be a threat. Principal Roxanne Greer did not comment to the website, and said 'All student stuff is confidential.' The website reported 'The 9-year-old has been in in-school suspension for referring to another student’s skin color and got in trouble for bringing a kids’ book about pregnancy to school.' Greer and Kermit Independent School District Superintendent Bill Boyd did not immediately return messages seeking comment from Daily Mail Online. | Aiden Steward was suspended from Kermit Elementary School in Kermit, Texas, over a Thursday incident .
While speaking to another boy, Steward said he would able to use the One Ring from J.R.R. Tolkien's books and cause the student to become invisible .
The ring grants invisibility as well as power over peoples and kingdoms in both 'The Hobbit' and 'The Lord of the Rings' |
237,974 | c00512223ee06f12ee91a5da8ef1cb295c7482fd | LONDON, England (CNN) -- The Berlin Wall came down 20 years ago and in that time the world game has opened its arms to a tidal wave of talent from behind the former Iron Curtain. Czech Republic midfielder Pavel Nedved has spent almost 15 years at the top of European football. Here, Football Fanzone picks the 11 finest footballers to emerge from the old Eastern Bloc since 1989. Let us know what you think of our selection in the Sound Off box below. 1 Pavel Nedved (Czech Republic) Nedved, who has announced his retirement at the end of the season, has become Mr. Czech Republic in the eyes of football fans of the last 20 years. And this is for a country not short on talented players -- Vladimir Smicer, Karel Poborsky, Jan Koller and Tomas Rosicky to name but four. His breakthrough came at Euro 96, after which he signed for Lazio; four years later he was nothing short of inspirational for the Czechs at Euro 2000. When Zinedine Zidane left Juventus for Real Madrid in 2001, the Old Lady paid a staggering $54M for Nedved. It proved to be an inspired move: The midfielder, with his flowing hair, thunderbolt shot and all-action style, proved an able replacement. Now 36, he is one of Europe's finest players of the last 20 years. 2 Gheorghe Hagi (Romania) Romania's most famous footballer, Hagi was known as the "Maradona of the Carpathians" during a 16-year international career. Blessed with a left foot from the gods, the audacious midfielder could dance past opponents at will and he would shoot from anywhere -- witness his goal at World Cup 1994 against Colombia, a swirling, dipping strike from 40 yards. At club level, Hagi played for both Real Madrid and Barcelona and is still idolized in Turkey for his achievements with Galatasaray from 1996 until his retirement in 2001. Hagi, who was a member of Pele's 125 top living footballers, holds the record for most goals for his country. 3 Andriy Shevchenko (Ukraine) Shevchenko might now be considered one of the game's great goal scorers, but things might have been very different had he not been evacuated with his family in the aftermath of the Chernobyl disaster of 1986. After starring for Dynamo Kiev alongside Sergiy Rebrov -- and scoring a hat-trick in the Nou Camp against Barcelona in the Champions League -- Shevchenko earned a move to AC Milan in 1999. At the San Siro, Shevchenko scored at will, so it was a big surprise that he flopped so badly after an eye-watering $43M move to Chelsea in 2006. A return to Milan has not revived his career, but 127 goals in 208 games from 1999-06 ensures his legacy is intact. Have we missed one of your favorites out? Tell us in the Sound Off box below. 4 Matthias Sammer (Germany) Elegance personified, Sammer's career high point came at 1996 in a Germany side that would go on to lift the European Championship trophy. Sammer could play in midfield or as a "libero" and it was in the latter role that he underscored just how good he was. Time after time, Sammer brought the ball out of defense, echoing Franz Beckenbauer's peerless ability to start attacks from the back. He was named European Footballer of the Year in 1996. One of the first notable East German players to join a Western club after German reunification, Sammer signed for Stuttgart from Dynamo Dresden in 1990. He went on to play for Inter Milan before returning to help Borussia Dortmund win the 1997 Champions League. 5 Hristo Stoichkov (Bulgaria) Stoichkov was an explosive left-sided attacker and remains the finest player to emerge from Bulgaria, Berbatov included. "The Raging Bull" was not just explosive for his speed off the mark and trademark free-kicks; he also had a short fuse and wore his heart on his sleeve. While playing for Barcelona, he was given a two-month ban for stomping on a referee's foot, and his rows with coaches, including Johan Cruyff, were legendary. But these only added to his reputation as a fan's favorite at the nine clubs he played for in a 21-year career. His six goals at the 1994 World Cup gave him a share of the golden boot, and the European Footballer of the Year accolade followed later that year. 6 Michael Ballack (Germany) No one swans around the pitch better than Ballack, who, at 32, is still Germany's star player. Having impressed at Bayer Leverkusen during their brilliant but ultimately fruitless 2001-02 season, Bayern Munich swooped. By that time, Ballack had become the key man for the national side for his ability to control play from the middle of the park and score goals. He did the same for Bayern until 2006 when Chelsea signed him on a free transfer. Ballack has never replicated his international form in West London, but he has been confirmed as Germany captain for the 2010 World Cup. 7 Petr Cech (Czech Republic) In Cech, the Czech Republic can lay claim to the world's best goalkeeper. Tall and commanding yet alert and agile, his glaring mistake at last summer's European Championships, which resulted in Turkey's progressing at the Czechs' expense, was a rare blip in his short trophy-laden career. Rennes spotted him playing for Sparta Prague while he was still a teenager in 2002 and two years later moneybags Chelsea spent $10M on him -- a fee that now looks like a bargain. After helping Chelsea to back-to-back Premier League titles, Cech fractured his skull in 2006, but he has returned -- headgear and all -- just as good. Only 26, his best years are ahead of him. 8 Dimitar Berbatov (Bulgaria) Berbatov was always one of Europe's semi-hidden gems while he was plying his trade for Bayer Leverkusen. After scoring a goal every other game for CSKA Sofia in his homeland, Berbatov made the move to Germany until Tottenham Hotspur signed him in 2006. His touch, vision, movement, skill, strength and goal scoring prowess made it seem likely he would move on to a more successful club. And so it proved when Manchester United paid $44M in 2008. The languid Berbatov has yet to set Old Trafford alight but 41 goals in 67 appearances for Bulgaria speaks volumes for his class. 9 Alexander Hleb (Belarus) Is there a more delicate player in world football? Such a wonderful talent, but one capable of driving fans and doubtless teammates to distraction at times. Hleb's assets are also his weaknesses -- a deft touch, two feet, dribbling ability, an elusive style and a keen eye for a pass, especially the killer one. But on an off day, he can be frustratingly ineffective. Given he is now at Barcelona, though, it's fair to say the Belarusian forward has talent. He showed it plenty of times for Arsenal, although he didn't find the net as often as he should have. Tall and wiry, Hleb came to the fore as Stuttgart's creative force before the Gunners paid $15M for him in 2005. 10 Andrey Arshavin (Russia) Like Berbatov, Arshavin has been a late bloomer. Arshavin was little known outside Russia in his early days but he shot to prominence in 2007-08, when he was the inspiration behind Zenit St Petersburg's UEFA Cup triumph. Arshavin then demonstrated his wonderful dribbling and playmaking abilities at Euro 2008 for a Russian side beaten only by eventual winners Spain. The pint-sized Arshavin had been linked with moves to Europe's biggest clubs for a while but it was Arsenal who made the deal happen -- after much wrangling -- in 2009. 11 Adrian Mutu (Romania) Unfortunately for Mutu, his career will forever be tarnished by his dismissal by Chelsea for testing positive for cocaine in 2004 and his subsequent ban from the game. Up to that point, he was a star on the ascent. Prolific for Dinamo Bucharest, Mutu was snapped up by Internazionale in 2000, but it took moves to Verona and then Parma for him to begin to shine. Skillful and tricky, Mutu's move to Chelsea in 2003 looked like a perfect move for both parties and after a difficult first season the striker was beginning to justify his $21.5M fee. Then came the failed drug test. Subsequent moves to Juventus and Fiorentina, where he has scored freely, have helped his career recover. | All 11 players come from former Eastern Bloc countries from the last 20 years .
The list contains mostly attacking players, with just one defender and keeper .
Let us know what you think by posting a comment in the Sound Off box . |
112,949 | 1dc175806c0e12ab2fe36bb6931bf86aeb1133ab | By . Lucy Waterlow . PUBLISHED: . 13:01 EST, 19 July 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 13:01 EST, 19 July 2013 . Most of us have committed a fashion faux pas as teenagers that we'd rather forget. But for actress Christina Ricci, her past style disasters are plastered all over the internet. As the child star of films including The Addams Family and Casper, she had to grow up in front of the camera and made some red carpet dress choices she now looks back on in horror. 'I was a . 17-year-old fright fest!' she told net-a-porter.com's digital magazine, The Edit, referring to her outfit when she attended the Cannes Film Festival for the first time in 1997. In style: Christina Ricci wears a Temperley London dress in the fashion shoot for net-a-porter . Former child star: The actress said she became more comfortable in her own skin in her twenties. She wears dress by Valentino and shoes by Jimmy Choo, left, and jacket and skirt by Oscar de La Renta, shoes by Christian Louboutin, right . 'I'd dyed my hair blonde for a role . and I was overweight. But then, I don't know anyone who looks back and . says, "Oh, you should see what I looked like at 17…'" She added that at that time she wasn't lent designer gowns to wear so instead she picked her own from Barneys. But at the age of 33 with her acting career still going strong, she said she's found her style and now has her pick of the best dresses to wear. In the magazine's shoot with photographer Victor Demarchelier, she models romantic pieces by Alexander McQueen, Oscar de la Renta, Temperley London, Valentino, Alberta Ferretti and Dolce & Gabbana. Grown up: Now, left in an Alexander McQueen dress, and in 1997 at the Cannes Film Festival in a gown she bought from Barneys . She said: 'I got smaller and more comfortable with myself. It was a gradual thing. As I got older, I became more like my mother. I began to wear what I wanted to wear. 'I'm finding I don’t want to stick to my rigid rules any more. Now I think, "Well, I’ve never worn those kind of pants before - let’s try them!"' Now the actress has to make her biggest style choice of all as she decides what dress to wear when she weds fiancé James Heerdegen. White wedding: Christina is currently planning her nuptials. She wears an Alberta Ferretti dress, left, and jacket and skirt by Dolce & Gabbana, right, but hasn't yet revealed who will design her bridal gown . The pair met on the set of TV show Pan Am and Christina said she hasn't turned into a bridezilla over their nuptials. 'I just want everyone to have a nice time and to feel happy,' she said of her wedding day. 'I could have easily gone the other way, where I was controlling every detail, but it’s so unpleasant to be like that. If the flowers aren’t exactly the right shade, then so be it.' She remained tight-lipped on who is designing her gown but confirmed it would be white and she hadn't had any creative input. Fashion faux pas: The actress, with her Ice Storm co-stars, does not look back on her outfit at the Cannes Film Festival with pride . Career spanning the decades: As Wednesday in the Addams Family, left, and recently in TV show Pan Am . She said: 'A reporter asked me about it and I said I was looking at sketches. Somehow that ended up as "Christina’s designing the dress," which I have no intention of doing... My mother wore a baby-blue Betsey Johnson for her wedding. At first, I thought it would be sweet to be a bride in blue, and then I thought, no. It’s the one time, God willing, that I’ll wear a wedding dress, so I’m wearing white.' She added that once she's tied the knot she'd love to start a family. | Actress said she looks back in horror at red carpet choices as a teen .
She said she became 'more comfortable' with herself as she got older .
Now planning wedding to fiancé James Heerdegen . |
23,791 | 438cd557c574382a34b1113c5b53cd7a63be35e7 | New York (CNN) -- After losing a lengthy legal battle to avoid extradition to the United States, Egyptian-born cleric Abu Hamza al-Masri confronted a host of terror charges Saturday when he was presented before a federal judge in Manhattan. The one-eyed radical preacher faces 11 terrorism-related charges and is one of five men who departed England late Friday, hours after the High Court in London ruled the men could be extradited "immediately." Amid high security, authorities temporarily removed al-Masri's prosthetic limbs, devices he uses after apparently sustaining injuries in Afghanistan. Two planes carrying the men left the British Air Force base Mildenhall so they could face trial in the United States, Home Secretary Theresa May said in a statement. Al-Masri will be arraigned Tuesday morning, officials said. Separately, Khaled al-Fawwaz and Adel Abdul Bary pleaded not guilty before a judge Saturday. The trio are being held at New York's Metropolitan Correctional Center in Manhattan, a federal law enforcement source told CNN. Two others, Babar Ahmad and Talha Ahsan, clad in green and yellow prison jumpsuits, also pleaded not guilty Saturday before a judge in New Haven, Connecticut, according to the U.S. Attorney's office there. "The extraditions of Abu Hamza, Bary and al-Fawwaz are a major milestone in our effort to see these alleged high-level terrorists face American justice," said FBI New York acting assistant director-in-charge Mary Galligan. "When an indictment alleges the murderous intent of international terrorists, the government will not waver in its determination to achieve justice, no matter how long it takes." BBC apologizes to Queen Elizabeth over Abu Hamza revelation . The charges against al-Masri include conspiracy in connection with a 1998 kidnapping of 16 Westerners in Yemen, and conspiring with others to establish an Islamic jihad training camp in rural Oregon in 1999. He could be sentenced to life in prison if convicted. The cases of Ahmad and Ahsan are both linked to a website called azzam.com, which U.S. prosecutors say was run by the two men to support terrorism around the world. Meanwhile, al-Fawwaz and Bary are accused of being al Qaeda associates of Osama bin Laden in London during the 1990s. Al-Masri is one of the highest-profile radical Islamic figures in Britain, where he was already sentenced to seven years for inciting racial hatred at his north London mosque and other terrorism-related charges. Born in Egypt in 1958, he traveled to Britain to study before gaining citizenship through marriage in the 1980s. A one-time nightclub bouncer in London's Soho district, al-Masri -- also known as Mustafa Kamal Mustafa -- has said he lost both hands and one eye while fighting against the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan. He often wears a hook in place of one hand. In 1997, al-Masri became the imam of a north London mosque, where his hate-filled speeches attacking the West began to attract national attention and followers, including Richard Reid, the so-called "shoe bomber" who attempted to blow up a Miami-bound passenger airplane three months after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Al-Masri has called the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center "a towering day in history" and described bin Laden as "a good guy and a hero." He also described the Columbia space shuttle disaster in 2003 as "punishment from Allah" because the astronauts were Christian, Hindu and Jewish. Lawyers for al-Masri told the British court their client suffers from deteriorating mental health and was unfit to plead. CNN's Raelyn Johnson, Jonathan Wald, Andrew Carey and Dan Rivers contributed to this report. | Abu Hamza al-Masri confronts a host of terror charges Saturday in federal court .
Al-Masri is among five men extradited to the U.S. after losing a legal battle in London .
He is one of the highest-profile radical Islamic figures in Britain . |
90,448 | 005c25fb18e5222631a7fb1ef6e77ec2e8dd317d | Before his family urged him to flee the fighting in Syria, 17-year old Firas saw a bullet strike his sister in the head while they were in a car together. Maher, 16, has not seen his father for nearly two years, ever since he was detained and tortured alongside him before being released. These young boys, separated from loved ones, are among the many thousands of children who've escaped the shelling in their native Syria. But they now face the daily hardships of refugee life in neighboring Lebanon and Jordan. Starting a new life away from the old comforts of home, many are growing up in fractured families and are often the household's main breadwinners, according to a report released Friday by the United Nations' refugee agency, UNHCR. Scarred by the horrors of war, they suffer from psychological distress, live alone or separated from their parents, receive no education or are thrown into illegal child labor, the agency said. "Our lives are destroyed," the report quoted 14-year-old Nadia, a newly arrived refugee in Jordan. "We are not being educated, and without education there is nothing. We're heading towards destruction." Syria's ongoing conflict has torn countless families apart. Entire communities have been uprooted, scattering large populations within Syria and driving more than 2.2 million people into surrounding countries. Children have been particularly affected. In its first in-depth survey of Syrian refugee children since the conflict began in March 2011, UNHCR spoke to those now living in Lebanon and Jordan. But there are many others who fled to other countries such as Turkey and Iraq. The report found that more than 70,000 Syrian refugee families live without fathers and over 3,700 refugee children are either unaccompanied by or separated from both parents. In many cases, not only are their fathers absent, but many children have no idea where they are. "If we do not act quickly, a generation of innocents will become lasting casualties of an appalling war," U.N. high commissioner for refugees Antonio Guterres said in a statement. Isolated and insecure . The report, entitled "The Future of Syria -- Refugee Children in Crisis," paints the picture of a painful life -- one of isolation, exclusion and insecurity for many refugee children. Scars are both emotional and physical. In Jordan's Za'atri camp, more than 1,000 children have been treated for war-related injuries over the past year. Anger and other emotional responses were also common, UNHCR said, adding that some refugee boys had expressed a desire to return to Syria to fight. Researchers also heard a report of boys being trained to fight in preparation for return to Syria, UNHCR said. Of the refugee children researchers interviewed, 29% said that they left their home once a week or less -- home is often a crammed apartment, a makeshift shelter or a tent. In many cases, refugee families lacking a financial income send their children to work, to survive. Abdallah, 13, said he wakes up every morning at 7 a.m. to buy dry bread from other refugees living in the Za'atri camp to help sustain his family. They then sell the bread to a Jordanian man who uses it to feed his animals. "If people didn't work, how would they survive?" the young boy said in a video released by UNHCR. "I feel like a man because I am working. I put food on the table for my family." In such tough conditions, there are more Syrian child refugees out of school than in. More than half of those in Jordan are not in school. In Lebanon, it is estimated that some 200,000 school-aged Syrian refugee children could remain out of school at the end of the year, UNHCR said. Many babies are also born in exile without birth certificates -- an essential document in the battle against statelessness. UNHCR says there are more than 1.1 million Syrian refugee children, most living in neighboring countries. "The world must act to save a generation of traumatized, isolated and suffering syrian children from catastrophe," Angelina Jolie, UNHCR special envoy, who has worked to shine the spotlight on Syria's refugee crisis, said in a statement. Syria's conflict began after government forces cracked down on peaceful protesters during the Arab Spring movement. It has now become a full-blown civil war. The United Nations estimates that more than 100,000 people have died in the fighting. Editors' Note: This article has been edited to remove plagiarized content after CNN discovered multiple instances of plagiarism by Marie-Louise Gumuchian, a former CNN news editor. | More than 1 million Syrian children are refugees, authorities say .
That's half the Syrian refugee population .
As many as 100,000 people have been killed in the Syrian conflict . |
173,260 | 6c3a2b8349f4535c0ae00ec3353930e59fd5e6a5 | By . Katy Winter . PUBLISHED: . 07:50 EST, 16 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 11:09 EST, 16 January 2014 . Your socioeconomic status is based on a combination of factors including income, education and occupation . Those looking to improve their sex life may think key factors are sexual chemistry, physical attraction and energy. However new research suggests that your socioeconomic status (based on income, education and occupation) affects how satisfying you are likely to find your love life. A new analysis based on the first Spanish National Sexual Health Survey, carried out in 2009, confirms that socioeconomic factors affect sexual satisfaction and found that people with a lower economic status claim to be less sexually satisfied, particularly women. Investigators at the Barcelona Public Health Agency (ASPB) have analysed the influence of various socioeconomic factors on the results of the first Spanish National Sexual Health Survey carried out by the Centre for Sociological Research. This survey, for which 9,850 interviews were carried out, showed that approximately 90 per cent of men and women claimed to be very satisfied or quite satisfied with their sex life in general, and that 95 per cent were satisfied with the sexual relations they had had during the previous year. Furthermore, people claimed to be more satisfied with sexual relations they had with a stable partner (97 per cent of men and 96 per cent of women) than with a casual partner (88 per cent of men and 80 per cent of women). With the new study, the experts confirmed that socioeconomic factors affect sexual satisfaction. 'People of a lower socioeconomic status claim to be less satisfied sexually, which especially applies to women, who seem to be more influenced by these factors,' explains Dolores Ruiz, the main author of the study, to SINC, a Spanish scientific site. 'People that have a more . disadvantaged socioeconomic status tend to have less satisfying and less . safe sexual relations, as well as suffering more experiences of sexual . abuse. The higher your socioeconomic status the more likely you are to be satisfied with your sex life (and practice safe sex) 'Furthermore, women usually suffer more experiences of sexual . abuse than men and they claim to have less sexual gratification during . their first sexual intercourse,' she states. Those with a higher socioeconomic status seem to have a better . awareness of their own needs and a greater capacity for developing their . sexuality in a way which is satisfying for them. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), sexual health 'is a state of physical, emotional, mental and social well-being in relation to sexuality; it is not merely the absence of disease, dysfunction or infirmity. 'Sexual health requires a positive and respectful approach to sexuality and sexual relationships, as well as the possibility of having pleasurable and safe sexual experiences, free of coercion, discrimination and violence'. Socioeconomic standing was also found to affect how much people practice safe sex, with those at the lower end using less contraception. In relation to experiences of sexual abuse, more than 4 per cent of men and 6.5 per cent of women claimed to have had some kind of sexual relation against their will during their life, and 1.6 per cent of men and 6.1 per cent of women claimed to have been sexually abused or raped at some time in their life. 'Once again, it's particularly women of a lower socioeconomic status who suffer more experiences of sexual abuse. It's important to bear in mind that these women also might have more problems when it comes to contacting the various organisations that can provide help for them,' the ASPB researcher points out. 'There is a need to introduce public policies which aim to reduce socioeconomic and gender inequalities that we have found in sexual satisfaction, in the use of contraceptives and in abusive sexual relations,' Ruiz concludes. | Results from analysis of Spanish National Sexual Health Survey .
Found higher your socioeconomic (SE) status the more fulfilled by sex life .
Those with higher SE status also more likely to practice safe sex .
People are more satisfied with sex with a stable partner than casual . |
243,875 | c7abb3d975b65eb4c1cd41d6ced63ffc2d14063a | Sorry: The family of Russell Joslin, a BBC journalist who killed himself after allegedly being harassed by a female colleague, has received an apology from the Corporation . The BBC has ‘apologised unreservedly’ to the family of a radio presenter who committed suicide after claiming his bosses ignored complaints that he was being sexually harassed. Russell Joslin, 50, died in October after reporting to managers that a senior woman colleague had bullied him for five years. Mr Joslin, the son of a chief constable, believed he was sidelined after rejecting her advances and his family demanded an inquiry after his death. Yesterday, the corporation apologised to Mr Joslin’s family after a report found the way the BBC had dealt with the complaints was ‘not good enough’. It also reported criticism of the female colleague, who cannot be named for legal reasons, with others describing her as a ‘strong and dominating personality’, who ‘created an atmosphere of intimidation’. Referred to as ‘colleague A’, the woman is said to have been ‘very difficult to work with,’ with ‘managers scared to confront her’. Mr Joslin, who was a reporter at BBC Coventry and Warwickshire, died at a psychiatric hospital in Warwick, three days after he tried to kill himself by walking in front of a bus. He had been tormented by work-related stress and had only recently returned part-time to the station. He is believed to have received a series of phone messages from his female colleague branding him a ‘flake’ and a ‘loser’ after they argued during a meal out in 2007. He had allegedly walked out on her in a restaurant, leaving her to find her own way back to Coventry, where she was working at the time. Upset: Russell Joslin's father Peter, 78, pictured at his home in Kenilworth, has blamed Corporation bosses for failing to stop his son's death . According to reports, one of the . phone messages sent to Mr Joslin said: ‘Thanks for abandoning me. Don’t . ever, ever think of me as your mate again. 'Do what you have to at the BBC cause you are a loser on 27 grand a year. But don’t ever encroach on me or my talent.’ After bosses failed to act on his . complaints he was left ‘a shadow of his former self’, Mr Joslin’s family . said. Yesterday, they added that the BBC had ‘clearly let Russell . down’. ‘They could and should have done . more. All of their staff regardless of role should be treated equally . and have the same standards expected of them. 'Whilst we do not blame any individual . and nor should anyone involved in Russell’s care do so, tragically it . is possible that Russell might still be alive if the BBC system had . pro-actively handled his complaints with more competence, openness, and . humanity.’ Mr Joslin’s father Peter, a former . Warwickshire chief constable, previously said that after his son . rejected the advances of his colleague ‘life became very tough for him’. Case: Russell killed himself at St Michael's Hospital (pictured) having previously tried to walk in front of a bus . Yesterday a BBC spokesman said: ‘The . BBC extends our deepest sympathies to Russell’s family, friends and . colleagues. Russell was a respected and much loved member of the team at . Radio Coventry and Warwickshire and he is greatly missed. 'We would also like to thank the Joslin family for their participation in this investigation. ‘The BBC acknowledges that aspects of . the handling of Russell Joslin’s case were not good enough. We have . apologised unreservedly to the Joslin family.’ For . confidential support about depression, call the Samaritans on 0845 790 . 9090 or visit a local Samaritans branch. See www.samaritans.org for . details. | Coventry and Warwickshire journalist Russell Joslin killed himself last year .
50-year-old claimed he was harassed by colleague trying sexual advances .
The unnamed woman allegedly sent him texts and left angry voicemails .
She is said to have called him ‘flaky’ and a ‘loser on 27 grand a year'
Report into his treatment at BBC finds his complaints were not dealt with . |
201,182 | 90761342df4926788f242a83b5aaa630ff93b5c5 | By . Ellie Zolfagharifard . PUBLISHED: . 05:46 EST, 2 September 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 06:16 EST, 2 September 2013 . The Curiosity rover has turned its cameras on Mars' moon, Phobos, to capture the most detailed image of any Martian lunar transit ever taken. The larger of Mars’ two moons, Phobos, passed directly in front of the sun on the 369th Martian day of Curiosity's work on the planet. Phobos does not fully cover the sun, as seen from the surface of Mars, so the solar eclipse is what’s called a ring, or annular, type. Scroll down for video... This set of three images shows views three seconds apart as the larger of Mars' two moons, Phobos, passed directly in front of the sun. Curiosity photographed this annular, or ring, eclipse with the telephoto-lens camera of the rover's Mast Camera on the 369th Martian day of Curiosity's work on Mars . The pictures of the eclipse were taken three seconds apart with the rover’s telephoto lens. The rover's observations of Phobos will help make researchers' knowledge of the moon's orbit even more precise. Because the eclipse occurred near mid-day at Curiosity's location on Mars, Phobos was nearly overhead, closer to the rover than it would have been earlier in the morning or later in the afternoon. This timing made Phobos' silhouette larger against the sun- as close to a total eclipse of the sun as is possible from Mars. ‘This event occurred near noon at . Curiosity's location, which put Phobos at its closest point to the . rover, appearing larger against the sun than it would at other times of . day,’ said Mark Lemmon a . co-investigator for use of Curiosity's Mastcam. Nasa's Mars Science Laboratory project is using Curiosity (a computer-generated illustration is pictured) landed on Mars in August last year for a two-year mission to determine if the planet most like Earth in the solar system has, or ever had, the an environment to sustain life . According to the Nasa, the position of Phobos crossing the sun was a mile or two closer to the centre of the sun's position than researchers anticipated. Phobos has a diameter of less than one per cent of the Earth's moon and it orbits much closer to Mars than our moon's distance from Earth. The larger of Mars' moons measures just 22km in diameter but orbits just 3,700 miles from Mars' surface. Phobos is the larger of Mars' two moons and just 22km in diameter but orbits just 3,700 miles from Mars' surface. It is so close to the planet's surface that in some locations on Mars it cannot always be seen. Phobos is nearing Mars at a rate of 1.8 m every hundred years; at that rate, it will either crash into Mars in 50 million years or break up into a ring. Its most prominent feature is the 6-mile crater Stickney, its impact causing streak patterns across the moon's surface. When viewed from the surface of Mars, Phobos looks about half as wide the Earth's moon appears to viewers on Earth, according to the scientists. The Earth's moon is vast compared to the Martian moons, with a diameter of around 2,160 miles but orbits much further away from it's planet's surface at an average of 239,000 miles. The rover landed on Mars in August last year for a two-year mission to determine if the planet most like Earth in the solar system has, or ever had, the an environment to sustain life. Curiosity is now trundling along to its final destination - Mount Sharp - where it will look at the lower layers of the mountain that towers over the centre of Gale Crater by almost three and a half miles. Mount Sharp is of interest to scientists because its layers of rock can reveal information about the planet's changing environment over time. Last month, Curiosity captured the eclipse of the moons - Phobos and Deimos - for the first time from Mars. The larger moon, Phobos, passed in front of Deimos in the 30-second video comprised of 41 images taken by the robotic vehicle that were stitched together by scientists working at Nasa's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. | Phobos passed directly in front of the sun on Curiosity's 369th Martian day .
Images were taken three seconds apart with the rover’s telephoto lens .
Position of moon was a mile or two closer to the sun than originally thought . |
33,642 | 5fb164e0dc97008b500be58859c7011c28e3d1e5 | The U.S. House will vote Thursday on holding Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt of Congress for withholding documents involving the failed Fast and Furious weapons crackdown, Speaker John Boehner said Wednesday. "We're going to proceed," Boehner, R-Ohio, told reporters. "We've given them ample opportunity to reply." Late Wednesday, the House Rules Committee approved the procedure for Thursday's debate and vote, which could bring the unprecedented contempt citation of a sitting attorney general. The move came the day after House Republicans rejected the latest offer by the White House and Justice Department to turn over some of the documents sought by congressional investigators. Administration and justice officials met Tuesday with senior aides to Boehner and House Oversight Committee Chairman Darrell Issa, R-California, to try to head off the House vote. However, a senior House Republican aide said an offer to let congressional investigators see some of the requested documents in return for dropping the contempt measure was insufficient. A group of House Democrats, led by the Congressional Black Caucus, said it was planning to walk out of the House chamber on Thursday and boycott the vote. In a letter to House members that was still being circulated late Wednesday for signatures, the Democrats opposed to voting on the GOP-sponsored resolutions said, "Contempt power should be used sparingly, carefully and only in the most egregious situations. The Republican Leadership has articulated no legislative purpose for pursuing this course of action. For these reasons we cannot and will not participate in a vote to hold the Attorney General in contempt." The letter went on to say the signers would refuse to participate in any vote that "would tarnish the image of Congress or of an Attorney General who has done nothing but work tirelessly to protect the rights of the American people. We must reflect upon why we are elected to this body and choose now to stand up for justice." A senior Democratic aide told CNN that, in addition to the Black Caucus, which includes more than 40 members, the Hispanic Caucus, the Asian-Pacific American Caucus, and the Progressive Caucus may also participate. It was unclear whether any Democratic leaders would join the boycott. The move would mirror a similar walkout by House Republicans in 2008, when Democrats, who then controlled the House, voted to hold two top Bush Administration officials in contempt of Congress. The ranking Democrat on the oversight committee called Wednesday for Boehner to try to work out a solution with Holder instead of holding a vote on Thursday. "Why are we steamrolling ahead on a matter of such gravity?" asked Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Maryland. "In my opinion the answer is plain and simple: politics." There was no word Wednesday whether Cummings would participate in the planned boycott. In a letter to Boehner, Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas, asked him to reconsider his decision to bring the contempt citation to the floor. "Holding the nation's top law-enforcement officer in contempt of Congress would be a drastic, disproportionate action on the part of this body," she wrote. Fast and Furious investigation started with agent's death . President Barack Obama has asserted executive privilege on some documents in the dispute, preventing them from being turned over on grounds they include internal deliberations traditionally protected from outside eyes. At Tuesday's meeting, the Justice Department also offered to conduct a briefing, give Congress documents related to whistle-blowers in the case and work with the committee to respond to any questions it may have had after reviewing the materials. "This was a good-faith effort to try to reach an accommodation while still protecting the institutional prerogatives of the executive branch, often championed by these same Republicans criticizing us right now," White House spokesman Eric Schultz told CNN. "Unfortunately, Republicans have opted for political theater rather than conduct legitimate congressional oversight." Boehner, however, said Wednesday that a failure to cooperate by the Obama administration had forced House Republicans to take up the contempt measure. Republicans on the House Oversight Committee last week recommended citing Holder. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives launched Operation Fast and Furious out of Arizona to track weapons purchases by Mexican drug cartels. It followed similar programs started in the Bush administration. However, Fast and Furious lost track of more than 1,000 firearms it was tracking in the operation, and two of the lost weapons turned up at the scene of the 2010 killing of U.S. Border Patrol agent Brian Terry. Issa and Republicans contend that Holder and the Justice Department are concealing details of how Operation Fast and Furious was approved and managed. Democrats argue that Issa and his GOP colleagues are using the issue to try to score political points by discrediting Holder and, by extension, the president in an election year. The showdown between Issa and Holder over the program dates back to subpoenas issued last year by the House committee. At the Rules Committee meeting Wednesday, Issa conceded that investigators lack any evidence that Holder knew of the failed weapons-tracking tactics of Fast and Furious. The contempt citation, he said, was for Holder's failure to comply with subpoenas seeking specific documents. "It's not for what the attorney general knew about Fast and Furious," Issa said. "It's about the attorney general's refusal to provide the documents." Issa, White House clash over Fast and Furious executive privilege . Cummings and other Democrats contended that Issa conducted an improper investigation of Holder and Operation Fast and Furious. They complained the chairman refused to let witnesses proposed by Democrats give public testimony and was demanding documents outside the scope of the subpoenas Holder is accused of violating. A video released Tuesday by Democrats on Issa's panel showed the chairman making past allegations of White House links to Fast and Furious, juxtaposed with Issa saying Sunday there was no evidence of a White House cover-up. Some gun rights advocates, including the National Rifle Association, maintain that the program that allowed hundreds of weapons, including assault rifles, to end up in the hands of Mexican drug cartels was a way for the Obama administration to press for new gun-control laws. Issa said Sunday he had e-mails showing the administration planned to point to the operation and push for a "weapons ban or greater reporting." However, Cummings pushed back at Issa's claim Tuesday, telling reporters, "I don't believe that, and I think it's very unfortunate that people are coming up with these theories." Democratic leaders in the House concede that some Democrats could join with Republicans to hold Holder in contempt, citing pressure from the NRA. "There's been no polling of our membership on how they will respond to the NRA, but suffice it to say certainly that the NRA is a major force" in Washington, Rep. John Larson, D-Connecticut, told reporters Wednesday. He predicted the "strong majority" of the Democratic caucus would oppose the contempt measure. The committee vote last week was on strict party lines, with Republicans supporting a contempt recommendation and Democrats opposing it. The vote occurred before the gun lobby formally registered its support for the contempt resolution. Rarely has any pro-gun-rights Democrat representing a rural and Southern district broken with the NRA's position on key votes, especially in an election year. "The reason we support the contempt resolution is the same reason we first called for Attorney General Holder's resignation more than a year ago: the Department's obstruction of congressional oversight of a program that costs lives in support of an anti-gun agenda," said a letter to Issa last week from NRA Executive Director Chris Cox. The NRA, which frequently weighs in on congressional races with endorsements and support of a national grassroots network, also warned of electoral consequences for anyone voting against the contempt measure. "This is an issue of utmost seriousness, and the NRA will consider this vote in our future candidate evaluations," the organization said. Opinion: Don't be nosy about Fast and Furious . House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi, D-California, said last week that Republicans were targeting Holder because he is fighting their efforts to suppress voter turnout in November. On Wednesday, Larson chastised Republicans for pushing ahead on the contempt vote as part of a strategy to prevent economic progress and harm Obama's re-election chances in November. "This is just all part of a continuing plan, and whether it's suppressing the vote or suppressing the economy -- this obstructionist regime that we see that continues to block because they think they would rather see President Obama fail than the nation succeed," Larson said. Issa's panel has been seeking documents that show why the Justice Department decided to withdraw as inaccurate the February 2011 letter. However, Holder has refused to turn over materials containing internal deliberations, and asked Obama to assert executive privilege over such documents last week. | "We're going to proceed," Speaker Boehner says .
The House Rules Committee sets the procedure for Thursday's debate .
The House is scheduled to vote on holding Attorney General Holder in contempt .
At issue is whether Holder complied with a subpoena from congressional investigators . |
237,360 | bf36125b63faba912fa3cc26452d327d9f4595af | By . Sarah Dean For Daily Mail Australia . Footy star Andrew Fifita has reportedly kicked off during a burst of road rage on Sunday afternoon. The Cronulla Sharks player allegedly punched and kicked a Subaru car on Taren Point Road, Miranda, in southern Sydney, after angrily jumping out of the Jeep he was driving. The 25-year-old also allegedly chucked an object at the Subaru, Acting Inspector Michael Stuart told the Sydney Morning Herald. 'Both vehicles stopped on Taren Point Road. The 25-year-old allegedly made threats and punched and kicked the vehicle causing some damage to it,' said Acting Inspector Stuart. Cronulla Sharks star Andrew Fifita allegedly kicked a car during a case of road rage on Sunday . Fifita is said to have made a statement to police after the alleged victim reported the incident. The Sharks released a statement to Triple M saying they were aware of the incident. 'The Club are aware of an incident last night involving Andrew Fifita. No Charges have been laid and police investigations are continuing. The NRL have been informed. No further comment will be made at this stage.' The NRL player is currently out for the season after breaking his arm last week in a game against New Zealand Warriors. Fifita is currently out for the season after breaking his arm in a game against the New Zealand Warriors last week . Fifita (left), seen here fending off Lewis Brown of the Panthers during the round 20 NRL match between the Penrith Panthers and the Cronulla Sharks, is said to have made a statement to police . The 116kg Shark had to have surgery on August 11 to to fix the break. He wrote on Twitter: 'Devastated I snapped both bones in my arm. Can’t wait till 2015. But still the boys have a job to do first. Thanks 4 da nice tweets.' The 6ft 4 star from Blacktown, Sydney, was locked in a nasty contract dispute with Canterbury Bulldogs at the beginning of the year. He was thought to have agreed to a $3.2 million four-year deal to leave the Sharks but it never came through. Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Fifita for comment. The incident allegedly happened at Taren Point in souther Sydney on Sunday afternoon . | Cronulla Sharks star allegedly in road rage incident in southern Sydney .
Police said incident is being investigated but no charges have been made .
Fifita is currently injured and out for the footy season . |
70,220 | c70a949c9ea11e2faf9e6d88d16ca4d1f216138d | By . Richard Shears . PUBLISHED: . 10:00 EST, 15 August 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 14:52 EST, 15 August 2012 . Two vast tent cities are to be set up on Pacific islands to house the hundreds of asylum seekers expected to make their way to Australia in coming weeks. The decision to call in the troops to set up the canvas homes on Manus island, off Papua New Guinea, and on Nauru island in the Pacific came as the Australian parliament agreed today to stop boat people reaching the nation’s shores on ill-equipped boats. Parliament approved laws to bring into play off-shore processing of asylum seekers – and the legislation is expected to be passed by the Senate on Thursday. Outraged: Supporters of the Refugee Action Coalition protest outside Sydney Immigration Office as they demonstrate against new legislation that will reopen offshore processing centres on Nauru and Manus Island . Protest: Speakers at the Refugee Action Coalition protest use a megaphone to address the crowd . The tents will house the asylum seekers until disused detention centres on the two islands, abandoned in 2008, can be refurbished. Once broken doors and fences have been repaired and air conditioning units installed, would-be migrants would be checked out in the what are currently run-down concrete structures before they could be considered to be suitable to live in Australia. Prime Minister Julia Gillard said she had been advised that the troops would be able to set off for the islands almost immediately . Despite the unattractive prospect of living in tents for what will be weeks, asylum seekers waiting to board boats in Indonesia told local reporters today that they would still be prepared to risk their lives at sea for the chance of an eventual better life. It is expected that preparing the facilities to hold up to 2,100 asylum seekers will cost at least £350 million. Before the tent cities plan was approved, the government had even considered loading asylum seekers onto hired ships – floating islands – until the detention centres could be repaired. The troops are expected to start the task of assessing the state of the detention centres on Manus island – which was abandoned in 2004 – and on Nauru, which was closed in 2008, by the end of this week. Labour Prime Minister Julia Gillard said she had been advised that the troops would be able to set off for the islands almost immediately. She said Defence Force chief General David Hurley had told her that ‘within a month we would hope to see people being processed in Nauru and in PNG (Papua New Guinea).’ She added that the temporary facilities would involve tents and ‘other sorts of temporary structures’. But immigration experts have told of their concerns about housing would-be migrants in tents, when there were problems such as riots in permanent detention centres on Australian territory. Risky: A boat laden with refugees was driven onto rocks at Christmas Island in December 2010, killing many of those on board . Reduced to tears: Asylum seekers from Afghanistan, Iraq and Iran had to be rescued after their wooden boat began to sink off the coast of Indonesia in April . On Nauru, local people have raided the abandoned detention centres and taken away air conditioners and other furnishings and in one case an entire hut has been broken down and carted off. After parliament passed the bill to allow offshore processing today, Immigration Minister Chris Bowen said this was not the end of efforts to deal with people smuggling. ‘This is not the end of the efforts to deal with what is the very, very, very, very pernicious trade of people smuggling, which trades on people’s lives and gives people the expectation that in return for very significant sums of money they can be brought to Australia for passage.’ | Manus island, off Papua New Guinea, and on Nauru island in the Pacific are both selected .
The tents will house the asylum seekers until disused detention centres on the two islands, abandoned in 2008, can be refurbished .
Julia Gillard: Advised that the troops would be able to set off for the islands almost immediately . |
164,064 | 602b8f7e198344b0509caf82b123349edef64807 | A British pensioner has been trampled to death by a wild elephant at a jungle waterhole in India. Retired geography teacher Colin Manvell, 67, went off alone on foot to take photographs of a kingfisher – and never returned. According to a forest warden, the keen birdwatcher was attacked by a bull elephant which knocked him to the ground with its trunk, then stomped on him. Keen photographer Colin Manvell, 68, (left) was taking pictures of the animals in a southern Indian reserve when he was trampled to death by an elephant . The retired teacher, 68, suffered serious injuries and died before he reached medical attention from a doctor . Photographer: Mr Manvell was a bird enthusiast and keen photographer who loved to travel . He was found badly injured as the elephant trumpeted nearby. With no doctor present at the local hospital, he died soon after. A friend in England said last night that the skilled photographer was hard of hearing, so may not have heard the animal approaching. Police in India were checking how the tragedy happened, with some reports suggesting Mr Manvell should not have been in the spot where he died. The pensioner, of Havant in Hampshire, had become a regular visitor to India in recent years, and produced impressive photographs of wildlife, including images of elephants at play, and close-ups of birds and butterflies. His latest trip to the sub-continent began just over a week ago. He was so used to going to the country that when he found all hotels booked up he was able to stay with a friend instead, and with the help of a forest guide – named only as M Kumar – planned a visit to the Masinagudi zone of the Mudumalai National Park in the southern state of Tamil Nadu. The park contains extensive forest and includes a protected tiger reserve. It also has a number of areas where guides are not supposed to take their clients. Wild: Elephants roam wild in Masinagudi National Park, where reports say tourists tried to warn the man before he was trampled . Treks: Tourists can go on treks in Masinagudi National Park, pictured, to see the diverse wildlife in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu . Guide Mr Kumar said yesterday: ‘After lunch on Thursday, sir (Mr Manvell) went out on foot for bird watching near a lake which is a watering hole of wild elephants. ‘When he did not return by 4.15pm, we followed his trail and heard the sounds of a tusker (elephant) trumpeting loudly.’ A forest warden who goes by one name, Gnanadoss, supported the suggestions that Mr Manvell did not notice the adult male elephant until it was too late. He said: ‘It swiped him with its trunk and then trampled him on the ground.’ The forest warden added that the tragedy occurred 100 yards from a site where a woman was killed by elephants in 2009. The retired geography teacher loved to travel and was a keen photographer . He had been visiting a tour guide in India whom he travelled with twice a year when the fatal elephant attack happened . Generous: Mr Manvell's brother described his sibling as 'generous;' saying he would make curries for the whole of his tennis club team when they had matches . Mr Manvell's brother Derek, said without a doubt, Colin's biggest love was tennis and he had been involved in his local tennis club for years . Mr Manvell was taken from the scene bleeding from his injuries but there were no doctors at the local hospital to treat him. He was driven to a medical centre in Cuddalore, more than 14 miles away, but died on the way. Mr Kumar added: ‘He knew his way all around here. He was aware of the wild elephants and also the other dangers that lurk in the jungles. This is tragic.’ Last night Mr Manvell’s brother Derek, 74, said: ‘In the last five years safaris have become his passion. He has been out there twice a year. ‘His guide and friend found him on the ground. He died doing something he loved.’ Mr Manvell’s nephew Roger Manvell, 47, said: ‘Our main focus is trying to get the body back home.’ Divorcee Mr Manvell had been head of geography at Warblington School in Havant. The man was trampled to death by the elephant in Masinagudi National Park, shown in red, south west of Bangalore . | Colin Manvell, 68, from Havant, Hampshire, died at the Masinagudi National Park, in the state of Tamil Nadu, India .
A forest warden said he didn't see an elephant which knocked him over with its trunk then trampled him on the ground .
A guide said Mr Manvell was a softly-spoken bird photographer who knew the park and its animals well . |
176,521 | 70897c7a80dbf5000a6aa6b6e0c619f74334b438 | Channel 4 has been labelled tawdry after paying Holocaust denier David Irving £3,000 for what he says is a lock of Adolf Hitler’s hair. The strand will be DNA-tested in a TV show to be broadcast this week. Labour MP Ian Austin – whose Jewish father lost his family in the Treblinka extermination camp – said it was a ‘sick’ and ‘tawdry’ stunt. He told the Daily Mirror: ‘It’s appalling that Channel 4 would get involved with a Holocaust denier in some bizarre and tawdry show purporting to be entertainment. It’s disgusting, and raises questions about Channel 4’s public broadcasting remit.’ Channel 4 paid David Irving, 75, pictured, who was convicted of Holocaust denial in Austria in 2006, for a lock of Adolf Hitler's hair . Irving, 75, was convicted of Holocaust denial in Austria in 2006 and fined after claiming the Nazi leader did not order the annihilation of Jews. He has praised Hitler as ‘a great man’ and said his Gestapo were ‘fabulous policemen’. Irving also insulted the memory of victims further in 2009 by trying to sell Nazi memorabilia online – including the hair – allegedly collected by Hitler’s barber using sticky tape on the sole of his shoe. The hair will be used in Dead Famous DNA – which will also feature Marilyn Monroe, Napoleon and Charles Darwin – which starts on Wednesday night. According to the Channel 4 website, the show ‘tracks down remains of some of history’s most important and infamous figures and uses cutting-edge DNA analysis to find out more about what made them who they were’. A Channel 4 spokesman said that the DNA tests could provide a ‘key biological component’ to the dictator’s biography. He added: ‘We believe the potential importance of the scientific and historical insight justified the purchase.’ Channel 4 will test the hair of Adolf Hitler, pictured in 1933, for new TV show Dead Famous DNA and said it could provide a 'key biological component' to the dictator's biography . | David Irving, 75, was convicted of Holocaust denial in Austria in 2006 .
The lock of hair will be used in new programme called Dead Famous DNA .
TV show said tests could provide ‘key biological component’ to biography . |
269,446 | e90418e9ad03c6a33ac6e0ca6c6916fdd9b12a90 | As the crisis in Syria enters its third year and the death toll exceeds 70,000, America's values and interests are increasingly at risk as others fill the void left by our inaction. I saw this firsthand during a recent trip to the Middle East during which I met with Jordanians, Syrians and Israelis concerned about the fallout of a brutal civil war. In Jordan, the government and international aid agencies are scrambling to deal with more than 400,000 refugees fleeing the fighting, many of whom are women and children. Meanwhile, our allies in Israel are increasingly concerned about the nightmare scenario of chemical and advanced anti-aircraft weapons falling into the hands of terrorist groups such as Hezbollah or Islamist groups linked to al Qaeda. In April 2011, when the death toll stood in the low hundreds, I called on President Barack Obama to support the Syrian people's desires for freedom and an end to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime. I proposed a series of measures to immediately isolate al-Assad, including tough economic sanctions and severance of diplomatic ties. Unfortunately, this and similar calls by Democrats and Republicans went unheeded at the time, only to be implemented by this administration months later -- slowly, hesitantly and ineffectually. There are now two conflicts underway in Syria. One is the battle to oust al-Assad. The second is the emerging fight for control of a post-Assad Syria. This latter fight will pit more moderate groups within the armed opposition against Sunni Islamists. We need to ensure that the responsible actors win this battle and that Syria is no longer an ally of Iran and a staging point for destabilizing terror. America must not turn its back on the Syrian people. Our interests are still served by the rapid resolution of the conflict and the removal of al-Assad from power. What might a successful Syria strategy look like? First, we cannot expect Syria's post-Assad rulers to respect our interests and wishes if we are not willing to support them in their fight. While recent reports indicate that the rebels are increasingly in possession of much of the weaponry they have long sought, what they need now is ammunition. We should do everything possible to get moderate elements within the opposition the ammunition, intelligence support, training and other equipment they need to help hasten al-Assad's fall. Ghitis: Syrian war is everybody's problem . While some worry that the Syrian opposition is entirely anti-American and made up of radicals, the reality is that Islamist forces remain in the minority. Continued inaction, however, will only empower these anti-American elements of the opposition. We thus need to work more closely with groups such as the Syrian Opposition Council. The SOC has made great strides in unifying the more reasonable elements of the opposition and attempting to be inclusive of Syria's minorities, but it has suffered from slow and lukewarm support from Washington. The Obama administration should back their efforts to form a transitional government that can begin to govern rebel-controlled areas of Syria as soon as possible and put to rest any doubts about our support. The additional nonlethal assistance to the SOC and to armed opposition groups announced by Secretary of State John Kerry in Rome on Thursday is a positive step, but much more needs to be done. Just as the Berlin airlift in the late '40s created a generation of Germans who remembered American support in their hour of need, Syrian children suffering today in refugee camps should understand that the U.S. government and American people care about their plight and are taking action to assist them. Although most of it cannot be traced back to us, the U.S. has actually provided hundreds of millions of dollars in humanitarian aid and nonlethal assistance since the conflict began. However, in the camps outside of Syria, international aid agencies, often supported primarily by U.S. funds, have not made the source of their funding apparent to the refugees they are hosting. Similarly, citing security concerns, the administration has been slow to brand U.S. assistance inside of Syria and make its origins clear to the populace. Even if these concerns are justified, there are ways to work with aid groups to utilize social media and with local leaders to highlight America's humanitarian assistance at work. We should also be more willing to rely not just on international nongovernmental organizations and aid agencies, but also use the moderate groups we wish to strengthen as conduits for aid, helping them legitimize themselves with the Syrian people. We need decisive American leadership to avoid the worst outcomes in Syria. As one Syrian opposition figure recently told me, as long as "the United States remains not present," the crisis is likely to only be prolonged. This may result in a post-Assad Syria that is a failed state in which Islamic radicals and Iranian agents with little interest in a liberal order flourish. For the sake of our security interests and the safety of our allies, we can and must do more to prevent such an outcome. | Marco Rubio: U.S. must step in with more assistance or other actors will fill void .
He says Obama's slowness to act to end bloodshed risks increasing instability in region .
He says U.S. should help moderates get ammunition and training to oust al-Assad .
Rubio: U.S. should back opposition; the Syrian people will remember U.S. help . |
77,738 | dc6410c8d6a6ff14a26c18a6be251b681de0856c | MIAMI, Florida (CNN) -- A Florida high school student was killed Tuesday by another student during an altercation at the school, officials said. One student was killed following an argument between first and second periods, police at the scene said. The incident occurred just after 9 a.m. at Coral Gables Senior High School in Coral Gables, the officials said. The school was placed on lockdown after the incident. Two students were arguing between the first and second period at the school, and one produced a weapon and killed the other, police at the scene told reporters. Miami-Dade Public Schools identified the victim Tuesday afternoon as Juan Carlos Rivera, 17. The students involved were both males, the district said. CNN affiliate WSVN reported the student was killed in the courtyard area of the school, where the 17-year-old was stabbed in the chest. A suspect was taken into custody just after the incident and was being interviewed, officials said. His name was not released. Miami-Dade County Public Schools Superintendent Alberto Carvalho said students' parents were being contacted after the incident, and crisis psychologists were being made available to students, faculty and parents. Watch as bystanders gather at the Florida high school » . "I think we need to understand that whether it's Liberty City, Opa-Locka or Coral Gables, children are responding to everyday stressful situations in very negative ways," Carvalho said. "... Random acts of violence like the one we saw here today are almost not preventable." Coral Gables is about 8 miles southwest of Miami. CNN's Shawn Nottingham contributed to this report. | NEW: Victim identified in high school stabbing in Coral Gables, Florida .
NEW: Juan Carlos Rivera, 17, was killed in altercation in school courtyard area .
A male suspect is taken into custody, but police do not identify him .
Superintendent: Violent acts such as this "are almost not preventable" |
119,352 | 262aaf660bb39946dd3795886a1ec21b8d9e2ae4 | By . Nick Enoch . PUBLISHED: . 13:24 EST, 25 May 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 13:26 EST, 25 May 2012 . A lonely and debt-ridden constable stole money seized in police raids and used the force computer to contact women after a relationship ended, a court heard today. James Hughes, 31, was jailed for 12 months at Leeds Crown Court after admitting theft and three charges of misconduct in a public office . The court was told he was lonely and £60,000 in debt after a relationship came to an end. He used the force computer to access information about three women and stole nearly £4,000 which had been recovered in raids at suspected brothels and lap dancing clubs. James Hughes (above), 31, turned to crime after his relationship failed, leaving him owing £60,000. He used the force computer to access information about three women. Pictured outside Leeds Crown Court today . He was able to steal the money, which was stored in bags, as he was an exhibits officer. Today, prosecutor Richard Walters said Hughes was lonely, heavily in debt, spending money on women and 'trying to impress people'. He described how on 24 occasions, Hughes accessed information about a leisure club receptionist whose details were on the police computer system after her flatmate was arrested. He also accessed the details of a woman whose handbag had been stolen, looking at her details three times in three minutes on one occasion. Hughes stole nearly £4,000 which had been recovered in raids at suspected brothels and lap dancing clubs (posed by model) A third woman had her computer details accessed on seven occasions, the court was told. Hughes did not use the information for commercial gain or profit and initially he had accessed the details for legitimate police purposes. However, the court was told he did eventually use the information for his 'personal life'. Police matched his mobile phone billing to people he had accessed on the police computer system, the court heard. Hughes, from Leeds, resigned from his job with West Yorkshire Police last July. Judge Neil Clark said the matters were so serious and the breach of trust so significant that a custodial sentence was necessary. He said: 'It gives me no pleasure in having to deal with someone like you in this court. 'You have let yourself and those who admire, trust and support you down.' He said the police officer, who was highly regarded by colleagues, had committed a 'dreadful breach of trust'. Mitigating Nicholas Worsley said his client was devastated as his 'entire life is the police force'. He said his life spiralled out of control when the relationship ended and 'depression set in'. He said he was 'batting above himself' in terms of the relationship and as a result had got into debt buying presents and holidays. 'This is a man who has lost everything. He has brought shame on himself and his family.' The offences took place between February 2010 and July last year. | James Hughes owed £60,000 after failed relationship .
Ex-West Yorkshire policeman, 31, jailed for a year . |
184,641 | 7b28d878347489b34aaa529d508c64e48a5979a2 | The politicians chatted over lunch about healing relations between the two countries . Nations remain at loggerheads over the region of Kashmir and 2008 Mumbai attacks . By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 15:17 EST, 8 April 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 15:18 EST, 8 April 2012 . India and Pakistan’s leaders have vowed to heal the damaging rift between their countries. The pledge came at the first visit of a Pakistan head of state to India in seven years. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and visiting Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari held their first meeting in nearly three years in India's capital New Delhi – and said it was friendly and constructive. Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari, left, shakes hands with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh . Mr Singh said: ‘Relations between India and Pakistan should become normal. That’s our common desire.’ Mr Zardari said: ‘We would like to have better relations.’ Tensions hit a new low after Pakistani terrorists slaughtered 166 people in Mumbai, India, in 2008. The nations remain at loggerheads over their rival claims to the Himalayan region of Kashmir. In talks: Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari, left, chats with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during their rare meeting . Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari (left) waves as his son Bilawal Bhutto Zardari looks on and right the pair wave as they stand next to Indian Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal (centre) Mr Singh has accepted an invitation from Mr Zardari to visit Pakistan as soon as mutually acceptable dates are worked out. Before Sunday, the two had not seen each other since June 2009, when they met in the Russian city of Yekaterinburg. 'We have a number of issues, but we are willing to find practical and pragmatic solutions to all those issues,' Singh said. 'That’s the message President Zardari and I would like to convey.' Although Zardari was in India on what was called a private religious trip, the visit gave him a chance to meet Indian leaders amid a thaw in relations between the two countries. Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari (centre) visits a renowned 13th century shrine on his visit to India . He later left for Ajmer Sharif, a revered Muslim shrine in India’s western state of Rajasthan. Zardari’s visit to India is the most visible sign that the two countries have put behind them the enmity that followed the 2008 attacks in the Indian financial capital of Mumbai in which 10 Pakistani terrorists killed 166 people. India has blamed the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba group for the Mumbai attacks and demanded that Islamabad crack down on the militants. Indian Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai told reporters that during their 40-minute meeting, the two leaders agreed to take a step-by-step approach to resolve the many long-standing problems that have dogged their countries’ relationship. Singh told Zardari that 'it was imperative to bring the perpetrators of the Mumbai attacks to justice and prevent activities aimed against India from Pakistani soil,' Mathai said. However, both sides remain far from resolving their conflict over the Himalayan region of Kashmir, which both claim. Zardari was accompanied by about 25 family members, including his son, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, who has been anointed his political heir. | The politicians chatted over lunch about healing relations between the two countries .
Nations remain at loggerheads over the region of Kashmir and 2008 Mumbai attacks . |
246,391 | cae4c82f4de1407cf28b65ee824c81f276561d0e | (CNN) -- Texas health officials are recommending that state residents make sure they're vaccinated against pertussis, a sometimes fatal disease that is on track to sicken more Texans this year than at any time in decades. "If we continue to have cases in Texas at the rate we've had them so far this year, we'll have more cases than has been reported for the last 50 years," said Dr. Carol J. Baker, professor of pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine and executive director of the Center for Vaccine Awareness in Research at Texas Children's Hospital in Houston. The threat grows when one considers that scientists estimate 10 cases of pertussis, popularly known as whooping cough, occur for every one reported, she said in a telephone interview, adding, "We're clearly having an epidemic." So far this year, Texas has tallied nearly 2,000 cases, two of them fatal, and the total is expected to exceed the 3,358 recorded in 2009, when the last such outbreak occurred, the Department of State Health Services said. There does not appear to be any single explanation for the spike, said Chris Van Deusen, a spokesman for the department. "It really looks like several things working together," he said in a telephone interview, noting that outbreaks tend to occur in cycles. "We see a peak and a lot of people will be exposed and develop natural immunity," leading to fewer cases. "Then it wears off and it (the number of cases) will go up again." It is not clear how much bigger this outbreak is when compared with previous ones. That's because increased public awareness and improved diagnostic tests appear to have led to more cases being identified, he said. But there is no debate about the seriousness of the disease. As many as two in 100 adolescents and five in 100 adults with pertussis are hospitalized or have complications, including pneumonia and death, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The federal health agency recommends that women get the vaccine during each pregnancy, ideally between the 27th and 36th week -- since an estimated 30% to 40% of babies who contract whooping cough get it from their mothers -- and that their children undergo a series of five pertussis vaccinations beginning at 2 months of age. That first shot is to be followed by injections at 4 months and 6 months, and boosters at 15 to 18 months and again at 4 to 6 years of age so that children's immunity will be robust during the first months of life when they are most vulnerable. Both of the Texas fatalities were in children younger than 2 months. "We want to make sure that they are getting the immunizations on that schedule so that the waning immunity won't be as much of an issue," Van Deusen said. A separate vaccine is recommended for children ages 11 to 13 and for adults. It is considered especially important for people who are around newborns since the bacteria that cause the disease spread easily. Antibiotics are used to treat the disease. Texas' peak is not being replicated nationwide, according to the CDC. The numbers are declining this year, with 14,270 cases reported through August, compared with 32,680 cases through August 2012. A CDC spokesman said he was aware of no major outbreaks this year. "We do not keep a comprehensive list of pertussis outbreaks since states only alert CDC to those if they need assistance," said Jason McDonald in an e-mail. But Washington state declared an epidemic last year, and California did so in 2010. "It's our turn," Baker said of Texas. Since January, her hospital in Houston has seen 63 pertussis patients younger than 7 months of age, 62% of whom were hospitalized, she said. Of those, 41% were treated in the intensive care unit, three of them for more than a month. "It's a very severe disease," she said. The younger the patients, the greater the risk to their lungs. "All those airways are small," she said. "When they're all blocked up, it's a huge problem, and they have to go on breathing machines and sometimes cardiac bypass just to get oxygen into the brain." The disease can cause coughing so violent that patients' ribs fracture and they pass out. Pertussis got the name whooping cough because of the characteristic sound some stricken patients make. "Children have a whoop after the cough because they're out of breath, so they go 'whoop, whoop,' " Baker said. Increasing vaccination rates are a problem, particularly because the series required to confer protection is so complex. Though more than 90% of children nationwide get the first three doses, the number who get boosters is far lower, said Baker, who served from 2008 to 2010 as chair of the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, which sets U.S. policy on vaccines. In all, 45% of pregnant women at Texas Children's Hospital Pavilion for Women get inoculated during pregnancy, far outstripping the state average of less than 10%, but that's not good enough, she said. "We need to do better." During the 1930s and 1940s, before widespread vaccination against pertussis, its annual toll comprised nearly 300,000 cases and more than 4,000 deaths, she said. In 2006, there were 15,600 cases and 27 deaths. Still, pertussis is the most prevalent disease among the pantheon of illnesses against which Americans get vaccinated, and there is no indication that it will go away soon, said Baker, who cited as obstacles to progress those parents who refuse the vaccine for their children and those adults who don't know they need it. Though reporters may be writing about Texas this year, they could easily be writing about New York or Georgia next, she said. "Pertussis is going to be, in my prediction, an ongoing problem." | Nearly 2,000 pertussis cases have been reported in Texas .
"We're clearly having an epidemic," a pediatrics professor says .
Ten cases are estimated to occur for every one that's reported .
Nationwide, the number of cases is down this year, the CDC says . |
141,001 | 4252156b79cfee596d298bb49dc99de9698562c2 | By . Alice Smellie . PUBLISHED: . 17:00 EST, 7 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 17:10 EST, 7 December 2013 . There is nothing initially surprising about Ford Park Road, near the centre of Plymouth. At the top is a perfectly standard busy shopping street. But a few minutes down the hill, and past a park, there is a large and very pretty cemetery, dotted with yew trees, with lush grass growing among the headstones. At the very bottom, before a thick wood of oak trees and behind the iron gate, appears a Victorian house. With Gothic arches, stained-glass windows and a sturdy wooden front door, it brings to mind the Gingerbread House in Hansel And Gretel. Authentic: Old Oaks Lodge, set in the Ford Park Cemetery in Plymouth, was built in the 1840s for the cemetery groundskeeper . A cemetery may seem a strange place to live. But if you want a quiet setting, easy access to a busy city centre and an old house with a history, then five-bedroom Old Oaks Lodge, set in the Ford Park Cemetery and on the market for £390,000, might be ideal. ‘As soon as we saw the lodge, we knew we had to have it,’ says Philip Johnson, 70, who used to run a water taxi business on Plymouth quayside. Now retired, he and wife Janice, 67, want to move somewhere with more outdoor space for their collection of vintage cars. ‘The house was built in the 1840s – about the same time as the cemetery and chapel – for the groundsmen who maintained the graveyard,’ Philip explains. Indeed, when they moved in, the house was very basic, with just a couple of large rooms and not even a proper staircase. The Johnsons have maintained the original church-like feel while also making a cosy living area. Gothic romance: One of the five-bedroom Old Oaks Lodge's sitting rooms has stained glass windows . ‘We wanted to create an open-plan space downstairs which wasn’t chilly,’ says Philip. This is successfully achieved by having three rooms – the sitting room, kitchen and dining room – all flowing into each other, with no doors. The 15ft-high ceiling of the sitting room has gold mouldings. A wood burner ensures that the room is pleasantly warm. ‘There is underfloor heating as well,’ Philip points out. This comes up through a church-style green painted iron grate. All the windows in the house have stained glass. In this room, the sun shines through yellow and green glass. The kitchen has an Aga as well as a double oven – Janice finds it easy to cook for 20 when they have the whole family over for Christmas, including their two children and four grandchildren. The dining room leads through to another sitting room – with high ceilings and a massive original fireplace. These windows are stained red and blue. Upstairs are two bedrooms and a bathroom, which the couple use as a master suite, with the smaller bedroom acting as a dressing room. It is downstairs – down a winding ornate red iron staircase – that the house takes on a Tardis-like quality. Hero: George Hinckley was awarded the Victoria Cross for rescuing wounded comrades during the Taiping Rebellion in 1862 . Here, below the house and where women used to make the funeral wreaths, there are three further bedrooms and two more bathrooms. ‘When we have family to stay, we all feel as though we have our own space,’ says Philip. In the main bedroom, a French window leads out into the garden, and an en suite bathroom has a Jackson Pollock-style painted red glass door. ‘I did that myself,’ Philip says proudly. A huge green-tiled bathroom has mirrors around all the walls and a working fireplace next to the porcelain bath. ‘Light the fire, light a few candles, and it’s bliss,’ says Janice. The garden is walled, with a Victorian-style summer house and a three-car garage which has a utility room, including a washing machine, sink and toilet. ‘This could be used as separate accommodation,’ muses Philip. He uses it for his vintage car collection, which includes a 1935 Daimler, one of the procession cars from the funeral of George VI. For some, the thought of being surrounded by gravestones may be disturbing, but in fact there is an air of quiet peace . . Walking up the hill to the chapel, where there is a separate visitors’ centre and cafe, friendly dog-walkers nod and smile, and the gravestones make fascinating reading. On one lies a poppy wreath, left over from Remembrance Sunday. Although the engraving on the headstone is now faded with time, Captain Andrew Henry, VC, is still remembered by Plymouth residents. The cemetery also contains the final resting place of another VC hero, naval rating George Hinckley, who was awarded the honour for rescuing wounded comrades during the Taiping Rebellion in 1862. When the cemetery’s gates close every afternoon, the Johnsons’ grandchildren can play in the 34 acres of grassy cemetery. ‘It’s beautiful and safe for them,’ says Janice. ‘This stunning Grade II listed property is one that’s brimming with character and history,’ says Gareth Cooper at estate agent Fulfords. ‘This is one of those unique homes that are rarely available.’ fulfords.co.uk, 01752 223 355 . | Old Oaks Lodge is set in the Ford Park Cemetery in central Plymouth .
On the market for £390,000, it was built in the 1840s for the groundskeeper . |
15,727 | 2ca5dfee030d9606550d01336a771f9d90f90a14 | A pensioner branded a neighbour from hell has been warned that she must keep the peace for six months or face a fine after destroying a homeowner's flower bed - in an apparent row over a squirrel. Marion Webster, 78, has been reported to police at least 40 times by long-suffering neighbours for her anti-social behaviour. She was found guilty of criminal damage last October for tearing out £50 of flowers from a neighbour's flower beds at Solihull Magistrates Court. 'Neighbour from hell': Marion Webster has been warned by magistrates to keep the peace for six months after she was found guilty of criminal damage after ripping up a homeowner's flowerbeds . And yesterday she was ordered by magistrates to keep the peace for six months and warned she would be fined £50 if she continued to torment her neighbours. Neighbours say that the attack on the flowers came after Miss Webster became convinced that a resident had trained a squirrel to enter her garden. Kaya Ball, prosecuting, said police had been called to the pensioner's home numerous times over the past decade. She said: 'This isn't just an isolated incident of cutting some flowers. 'On the face of it, it seems trivial, but when it is presented as part of a long-standing neighbour dispute you can see there are several incidents.' But Sam Christopher, defending, said she was an elderly lady of 'previous good character.' Following sentencing, neighbours today branded Webster 'a neighbour from hell' and expressed anger at her lenient sentence. Row: Neighbours say that Miss Webster attacked a neighbour's flowers after a row over a squirrel that had been coming into her garden . One said: 'The last thing you expect to have when you move into a nice quiet neighbourhood like this one is an elderly woman acting like a yob. 'She is very proud of her garden and she got it into her head that someone had it in for her and was jealous of her flowers. 'She put up a big metal gate, extended the height of her fences and made the place into a fortress. 'Then she became convinced a resident had trained a squirrel to enter her garden after dark and tear up her flowers but everyone thought it was a joke. 'One night she cut someone's flowers up and tore up plants from the roots.' Another reported her to police for playing loud classical music at 3am. One claimed: 'She seems to enjoy causing a fuss and making everyone's life hell.' West Midlands Police confirmed they had been contacted more than 40 times since 2002 about alleged incidents including claims from Webster herself that she was a victim of flower vandals. A spokeswoman said: 'The force has been working in partnership with a vulnerable persons officer, social services and Solihull Community Housing to engage with everybody concerned and to resolve the problems in the area. 'There have been no complaints since October 2012.' | Marion Webster was found guilty of criminal damage .
She was ordered to keep the peace for six months or face a £50 fine .
Police have been contacted by neighbours 40 times in a decade . |
81,000 | e5931de0e4acf2c8e3406eaf1cc736097ead9a94 | By . Helen Nicholson . There is no need to request a room with a view if you’re planning to book a night at London’s latest luxury hotel, which opens today. The Shangri-La Hotel, At The Shard is located in one of the tallest buildings in Western Europe and each of its 202 guestrooms features floor-to-ceiling windows that offer a breathtaking perspective on the capital. Living the high life: The hotel will be home to London's highest champagne bar, which will be located on the 52nd floor . 'Cocoon of quiet luxury': Guests will be whisked up to the 'sky lobby' on the 35th floor via a high-speed elevator . The five-star hotel will occupy floors 34 to 52 of Renzo Piano’s iconic 1016ft tall building on the banks of the River Thames. Rooms will cost from £450 a night and each of them will feature a unique layout and design thanks to The Shard’s spiral shape. Floor-to-ceiling windows will offer guests vertigo-inducing views that take in Tower Bridge, Canary Wharf, the O2 Arena and beyond. Inside, there will be body-contouring Shangri-La beds, marble bathrooms with heated floors, Acqua Di Parma toiletries and televisions integrated with mirrors. Expanding portfolio: The new venue is the Hong Kong-based luxury hotel group's first property in the UK . Top table: The hotel's signature restaurant, Ting, will be located 420ft up on the 35th floor and will offer a 360-degree view of London . But it is the hotel’s three ‘signature suites’ - which will be unveiled in September - that will feature some of the most jaw-dropping views. All three overlook St Paul’s Cathedral and Tower Bridge, and the Shangri-La suite on the 39th floor will offer a 180-degree view of the Thames that takes in the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, the Tower of London, Tate Modern, Shakespeare’s Globe theatre, and Canary Wharf. Not surprisingly, the stunning vistas come with an equally stunning price tag: a suite is expected to cost up to £3,250, but the fee includes a personal butler who will ensure you don’t have to avert your gaze to top up your champagne. Height of luxury: Ting, whose name is derived Chinese word for 'living room', will serve a European menu with a 'hint of Asian flavouring' Room with a view: The rooms all feature floor-to-ceiling windows, which make the most of the hotel's location . A clean sweep: The hotel's guests can even enjoy the view while in the bath - though luckily no-one can see in to the rooms . The site is the Hong Kong-based luxury hotel group’s first property in the UK and its third in Europe: the group opened a hotel in Paris in 2010 and one in Istanbul in 2013. The owners describe the new property – which cost £40 million and was due to open last year - as a ‘cocoon of quiet luxury’. It will have a dedicated entrance on St Thomas Street, where a high-speed elevator will whisk guests up to the ‘sky lobby’ on the 35th floor for a complimentary cup of jasmine tea. Breathtaking panorama: The best suites will offers views that take in Tower Bridge, Canary Wharf, the O2 Arena and beyond . Tall order: Láng, a patisserie and artisan deli, will serve cakes and savoury snacks on the hotel's ground floor . Private entrance: A high-speed elevator on St Thomas Street will whisk guests up to the hotel's 'sky lobby' on the 35th floor . The hotel’s show-stopping facilities include London’s highest infinity pool and highest champagne bar, which will both be located on the 52nd floor and will open in July. The Shangri-La’s signature restaurant, Ting, will be located 420ft up on the 35th floor and will offer a 360-degree view of London. The restaurant, whose name is derived from the Chinese word for ‘living room’, will serve a European menu with a ‘hint of Asian flavouring’ It will be open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and British ingredients – including Scottish scallops, Welsh lamb and Kentish apples - will feature heavily on the menu. Guests will also be able to book in for afternoon tea, opting for either a classic English version or an Asian-inspired alternative, and can take their pick from over 30 different teas. Water feature: The hotel's show-stopping facilities include London's highest infinity pool, which will open in July . Iconic backdrop: The event space on the 34th floor offers unrivalled views of The City of London . Meanwhile Láng, a patisserie and artisan deli, will serve cakes and savoury snacks, along with ‘seasonal’ hampers, on the hotel’s ground floor. There will also be three event spaces on the 34th floor facing the Thames that will offer state-of-the-art conferencing technology. And the hotel’s grand staircase, which sweeps across double length floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking St Paul’s Cathedral, is being billed as the perfect spot for a wedding shoot. Darren Gearing, executive vice president and hotel general manager said: ‘We are thrilled to be opening our doors in May after a number of years of planning and preparation. 'The hotel’s inspiring views will connect emotionally with guests, while our service hallmarks will position the hotel at the forefront of the world’s finest hotels.’ | The Shangri-La Hotel, At The Shard is located in one of the tallest buildings in Western Europe .
Rooms at the five-star hotel will cost from £450 per night and offer breathtaking views of London .
The hotel’s show-stopping facilities include London’s highest infinity pool and highest champagne bar .
Shangri-La suite on 39th floor will offer a 180-degree view of the Thames and comes with its own butler . |
165,691 | 62488782cfd531affdc78352aea31ceeaa695b1a | By . Sadie Whitelocks . PUBLISHED: . 14:03 EST, 6 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 15:23 EST, 6 December 2013 . An adorable Beagle transforms from pup to fully-grown pooch in a YouTube video montage watched more than 250,000 times. The film titled 'Beagle puppy Louie from eight weeks to eight months' shows how the dog goes from standing almost as high as a ketchup bottle to outgrowing his pet bed. Along with his size, Louie's antics get increasingly mischievous with footballs punctured, mailbags ripped open and slippers seized. Scroll down for video . Baby steps: An adorable Beagle transforms from pup to fully-grown pooch in a YouTube video montage watched more than 250,000 times . Tiny tot: The film titled 'Beagle puppy Louie from eight weeks to eight months' shows how the dog is almost the same height as a ketchup bottle in the beginning . His owner, who does not reveal his identity, shows in one clip how he has resorted to hiding his slippers in the bathtub to stop Louie from destroying them. 'No! You ain't [sic] getting my slippers!' he states in a caption overlapping the screen. But the tactic fails and seconds later the dog is seen running around the garden with one shoe in his mouth. A man's best friend: At eight weeks old Louie is so small, one clip shows him happily sleeping in the nook of his owner's shoulder . Sought-after: Although Beagle-type dogs have existed for over 2,000 years, the modern breed was developed in Britain around the 1830s . Another scene shows the bathroom door . open with toilet paper strewn all over the floor and later Louie is . seen hauling a patio scrapper through the snow with his teeth. Demonstrating . his strength, he also appears to be taking the lead in a photograph . showing him on a stroll through the countryside. In a description for the four-minute-33-second-long video Louie's owner describes him as 'demolition dog.' On the scent: The most famous Beagle of all is Snoopy from the comic strip Peanuts . Top dog: And according to the American Kennel Club Registration Statistics the breed is one of the most popular in the U.S. Up to no good: Along with his size, Louie's antics get increasingly mischievous with footballs punctured, mailbags ripped open and slippers seized . But he adds that training has improved his behavior and now, aged one-year-and-four-months oldLouie can sit, lie down, stay, shake hands and roll over on command. Among Louie's 'firsts' caught on camera are him taking a run, producing a howl and stepping out into the snow. Thousands of fellow pet owners have left comments stating how they can relate to the footage. Throw him a bone: His owner, who does not reveal his identity, shows in one clip how he has resorted to hiding his slippers in the bathtub to stop Louie from destroying them . Strange feeling: Among Louie's 'firsts' caught on camera are him stepping out into the snow . One female viewer said: 'I am a beagle . owner too. I had the exact experience watching my baby growing up but I . am still proud and love him to bits.' Another . wrote: 'Gorgeous beagle. I've watched this video about five times and . never gets old. I wish I had made videos when my beagle was younger.' Louie's owner has uploaded more than . six videos documenting the pup's antics. He concludes: 'Beagles you just . gotta [sic] love them! . . Best breed ever!' Come along! Demonstrating his strength, Louie appears to be taking the lead in a photograph showing him on a stroll through the countryside . Well-earned rest: Add after all of that fresh air the dog seems exhausted . Sprawling out: At the end of the movie Louie is too big for his pet bed and takes to the sofa instead . Although beagle-type dogs have existed for over 2,000 years, the modern breed was developed in Britain around the 1830s from several breeds, including the Talbot Hound, the North Country Beagle, the Southern Hound, and possibly the Harrier. Beagles have been depicted in popular culture since Elizabethan times in literature and paintings, and more recently in film, television and comic books. The most famous Beagle of all is Snoopy from the comic strip Peanuts. According to the American Kennel Club Registration Statistics, the breed is one of the most popular dogs in the U.S. | Among Louie the dog's 'firsts' caught on camera are him taking a run, producing a howl and stepping out into the snow . |
200,345 | 8f57303d07847853482ac2eac6f9f1cd3bbebc5b | A U.S.-born singer of northern Mexican 'banda' music has been shot to death at a restaurant in the border state of Sonora. State police in Sonora said Tomas Tovar Rascon was born in Phoenix, . Arizona, and was shot several times at the restaurant in Ciudad Obregon. Tovar Rascon, 33, was better known by his stage name, 'Tito Torbellino.' Tomar sang narco-corridos songs about the life and death of drug kingpins . His Facebook page said he was scheduled to perform at a concert in . Ciudad Obregon on Friday. A U.S. booking agent listed for Torbellino . confirmed his death. Police said two gunmen entered the restaurant Thursday and shot Tovar . Rascon at close range. He died on the way to a local hospital. Members of other musical groups have been murdered in Mexico in recent . years, usually groups that perform 'narcocorridos' that celebrate the . exploits of drug traffickers. But while some guns appear in Torbellino's music videos, his songs mainly focused on unrequited love, not drug gangs. Experts say drug capos sometimes target musicians because of their ties to rival groups, or sentimental involvements. In 2013, South Texas singer Jesus "Chuy" Quintanilla was found shot in . the head near Mission, Texas. Quintanilla was well known for his . ballads, including some about the exploits of Mexican drug cartels. Singer Tomas Eduardo Tovar, 33, was gunned down late Thursday while dining at a restaurant in Ciudad Obregon . Elijah Wald, author of the book, 'Narcocorrido: A Journey into the Music . of Drugs, Guns and Guerrillas,' noted previous victims have included . singers of a number of genres, not only narcocorridos. Getting entangled . with the girlfriend of a criminal, for example, could be dangerous. 'In that world, it's probably more dangerous to be singing romantic . songs than narcocorridos because it increases the chances that . somebody's girlfriend will suddenly decide that you're the cutest thing . ever,' he said. Wald said he didn't have any information on the motive in the . Torbellino's killing, but noted that the singer appears only recently to . have become successful. 'It's often just a matter of somebody sponsoring someone who isn't . paying them back or isn't being properly respectful once they make it,' Wald. 'You're in a world where's it's very, very easy to be in the wrong place . at the wrong time, or have the wrong friends or look sideway at the . wrong girl. The list of things you can do wrong once you're in that . world gets very large.' | Tomas Eduardo .
Tovar, 33, was gunned down by two men late Thursday while dining at a restaurant .
Performed under the stage name Tito Torbellino .
Tovar sang narco-corridos, which chronicle the life and death of drug kingpins . |
282,938 | fa7f0034e9dea0f5831ad32468ef1b86a58d2ce5 | By . Martha Cliff . Dita Von Teese brandishing a set of knives, nudity at every turn and lashings of latex can only mean one thing: the work of late photographer, Bob Carlos Clarke. Now a selection of the photographer's most iconic images will make a return to London next month as part of a new exhibition. Living Dolls will mark the tenth anniversary since the photographer's legendary final exhibition in 2004, Love-Dolls-Never-Die, before his suicide in 2006. One Bob Carlos Clarke's most famous images, Dita Von Teese as Dita Doll (left) and one of his iconic black and white images (right) The new exhibition - Living Dolls - will mark the tenth anniversary since the photographer's final exhibition . The new collection includes several one-off works by the photographer plus 18 of his classic black and white images. Clarke is most famous for creating provocative images of women in compromising positions that are intended to jar the viewer. Nevertheless, Clarke also photographed A-lister Rachel Weisz, whom he shot in an oil-slick rubber cat suit, a pregnant Yasmin Le Bon, celebrity chef Marco Pierre White and the burlesque star, Dita Von Teese who was pictured in her trademark corset and heels, while wielding a set of sharp knives. Clarke was born Ireland in 1950, and came to England in . 1964 to study art and design at the West Sussex College of Art where he . developed an interest in photography. Bob Carlos Clarke is famous for producing controversial images of women . Bob Carlos Clarke's images were nearly always black and white . Bob Carlos Clarke was a troubled photographer which often showed in his unsettling pictures . The photographer's pictures are known for being provocative yet shocking . The models in his images were very often photographed topless . He then went on to study at the London College of Printing, before completing his degree at the Royal College of Art in 1975. While controversial pieces may have shocked some, his images have been widely acclaimed by the art world and have even proved a commercial hit. As . well as several advertising campaigns, including one for hair care brand . GHD, and various exhibitions, Clarke produced six books: The . Illustrated Delta of Venus (1979), Obsession (1981), The Dark Summer . (1985), White Heat (1990), Shooting Sex (2002), and Love-Dolls Never Die . (2004). His images are now highly collectable . and have been acquired by national art galleries including the National . Portrait Gallery, National Media Museum, and the Rock and Roll Hall of . Fame Museum. Describing the late, great photographer, Terence Pepper, Curator of Photographs at the National Portrait Gallery said he was 'one of the great photographic image-makers of the last few decades.' While Clarke is gone, his images, it seems, look set to live on. The . exhibition, Bob Carlos Clare: Living Dolls, sponsored by Olympus, will . go on show at The Little Black Gallery, London from 10 May- 21 June . 2014. Visit thelittleblackgallery.com for more information. If clothed, many of the models are pictured in black latex . As well as advertising campaigns and exhibitions, Bob Carlos Clarke has also produced six books . One of Bob Carlos Clarke's colour images entitled Sunset Strip . Terence Pepper described Bob Carlos Clarke as, 'One of the great photographic image-makers of the last few decades.' A model pictured posing in a latex mermaid tail . The new exhibition will see the photographer's work showcased for the first time in ten years . His images are now seen as highly collectible and have been acquired by several high-profile galleries . | Bob Carlos Clarke is famous for his erotic, shocking photographs .
His images often feature women in compromising positions .
He was a troubled man and committed suicide eight years ago .
A new exhibition will mark 10 years since his final show .
WARNING: NAUGHTY CONTENT . |
239,844 | c27f6e6a662a3521db1ca1c80042556827ca309a | Polished Chrisley Knows Best star Julie Chrisley grew up in a trailer and had two children out of wedlock it has emerged. A source told RadarOnline that the 41-year-old mother-of-five from Georgia, who appears on USA Network's fly-on-the-wall show without a hair out of place, 'is hardly the Southern belle she claims to be' and is a 'totally fake.' They added that she also did not win the title of Miss South Carolina in her teenage years as stated in the show and 'it’s total BS.' Indeed, on the Miss South Carolina website in the 'Hall of Fame' sections for both adult and teen entrants there is no Julie Hughes (her maiden name) listed. Scroll down for video . All surface? Chrisley Knows Best star Julie Chrisley grew up in a trailer and had children out of wedlock it has emerged - in the show she takes on the role of a picture perfect millionaire's wife . Instead, Mrs Chrisley apparently grew up 'living the simple life' in a double-wide trailer in Winchester, South Carolina - a far cry from the 30,000-square-foot mansion she lives in now. She shared the cozy abode with her parents, who worked as a mechanic and bank teller, and her brother who reportedly committed suicide a the age of 25. However, Mrs Chrisley escaped the trailer lifestyle after meeting her millionaire husband Todd - who was still married at the time - in the early Nineties. It was a whirlwind relationship and she soon fell pregnant, having two children - Lindsie and Kyle - out of wedlock. The simple life: The trailer in which Mrs Chrisley is believed to have grown up, in Winchester, South Carolina . Luxury living: The 30,000-square-foot mansion in Atlanta, Georgia, where the Chrisleys now live . Longtime loves: Mrs Chrisley escaped the trailer lifestyle after meeting her millionaire husband Todd - who was still married at the time - in the early Nineties . Following his divorce, Radar reports that Mr Chrisley married a heavily pregnant Mrs Chrisley on May 25, 1996. She gave birth to their third child, Chase, just a week later. Mr Chrisley went on to become very successful in the real estate business and made millions. However, over the years he ran up massive debts and was forced to file for bankruptcy. He allegedly owes the banks around $49million. This is news that emerged only after Chrisley Knows Best made its TV debut this March. On the show . the Chrisleys maintain a picture perfect image, rambling around their . enormous mansion, and do not mention their financial woes. Picture perfect: The Chrisley's lavish lifestyle is the subject of the hit reality show Chrisley Knows Best - but it could come to an end due to financial woes . In one episode Mrs Chrisley muses, while dressed in designer clothes and expensive-looking jewelry: 'I love beautiful things. We saw this house and I said "oh my gosh I would love to have it" and [Todd] made it happen . . . It's been a great place for the children. 'When it comes to what truly matters, I got it all I do believe.' But the Chrisleys’ lavish lifestyle could come crashing to the ground as the banks are now knocking on the door and a bankruptcy case is in motion. Due to its popularity, a second season of their reality show is due to air which will no doubt provide some financial relief. | The mother shot to fame this year as the star of Chrisley Knows Best .
In the series her life as a millionaire's wife is documented .
Her brother's suicide at 25 is also not mentioned on the show . |
201,316 | 90aad18817745ab2917b6b733954f3d62f9ed86a | By . Sara Malm . This is the disgraced Rev. Paul Flowers, posing in a dressing gown surrounded by members of the Boys' Brigade, in a photograph from his days as a Labour party secretary in the 1980s. Next to the former Co-Op Bank chairman is former House of Commons Speaker Baroness Betty Boothroyd, who today branded him a ‘Jekyll and Hyde’. The 63-year-old, who earned the nickname 'The Crystal Methodist' following his very public fall from grace, is currently on bail facing drug charges after being secretly filmed apparently buying cocaine, crystal meth and ketamine. Scroll down for video . 'Jekyll and Hyde': Rev Paul Flowers poses in a dressing down with then MP, later Commons Speaker, Baroness Betty Boothroyd and members of the Boys' Brigade in West Bromwich in 1982 . The photo was taken in 1982 while Flowers worked with Baroness Boothroyd as a secretary for Labour in West Bromwich, West Midlands. Former Speaker of the House of Commons, Baroness Boothroyd has spoken about her experiences working with Flowers in the 1970s and 1980s. Before becoming chairman of the Co-Op bank, Flowers worked as party secretary when Baroness Boothroyd was the local MP. Yesterday she said Flowers would often call party meetings but fail to attend himself. Disgraced: The former chairman of Britain's Co-operative Bank, Paul Flowers, is currently on bail facing drugs charges after footage emerged of him allegedly buying crystal meth and cocaine . Speaking out: Baroness Betty Boothroyd, pictured at Margaret Thatcher's funeral last year, worked with Flowers in the 70s and 80s, when he worked as a secretary for the Labour Party in her constituency of West Bromwich . She said: ‘He was very helpful. But he let the party down. He was happy to do a lot of work and was secretary of the party. ‘But he seemed to grow weary of it. I think West Bromwich was not big enough for him. ‘He was a bit of a Jekyll and Hyde character. Not in a nasty way. He had a wonderful enthusiasm but there was no real commitment there.’ Baroness Betty Boothroyd, born 1929, is the first and only female Speaker in the House of Commons. She served as a Labour MP for West Bromwich and West Bromwich West from 1973 until she became speaker in 1992. She served in the position until she resigned in October 2000. The 84-year-old supports West Bromwich Albion Football club and enjoys paragliding in her spare time. In November 1981 he was photographed . for his local newspaper wearing a bath robe as he prepared to take part . in a sponsored weight loss challenge and moustache shave. He promised to shed 15lbs in weight and was pictured with members of the Boys' Brigade accompanied by Baroness Boothroyd. Flowers, who was a minister at Hill . Top Methodist Church in West Bromwich, became a Labour candidate for . Meriden, Warwickshire, in September 1985. In his campaign he pledged to bring ‘honesty, humanity and humour’ back to politics. He resigned less than three months later after accusing party members of conducting a ‘whispering campaign’ against him. In . his resignation letter he blamed party officials of using his . conviction for gross indecency - reportedly concerning a sex act in a . toilet - to attack his sexuality. 'Within a relatively short time a whispering . campaign began - not on political issues - but on the face that I happen . to be gay, and that I was once convicted of the sort of offence to . which gay people are susceptible within a pressurised and intolerant . society,' he wrote. ‘I owe it to my own . sense of self-respect and to those who employ me in the Church - and . who have supported me through this charade - to resign now.’ The disgraced former chairman of The Co-Operative Bank Paul Flowers (centre) talks to Peter Marks (right) and guest at a reception at Downing Street for the launch of a Co-Op venture in 2010 . West Yorkshire Police officers search the Bradford home of former Co-op Bank chairman Paul Flowers . Earlier . this week Flowers was accused of inviting a teenage rent boy to . accompany him to the summer party of Labour peer Baroness Thornton. Following . the publication by the Mail of the video showing Flowers allegedly . purchasing drugs in Leeds new reports have emerged claiming he was spending . 'vast' sums every week. The footage has led to his suspension from the Methodist church and Labour Party. Even . after his alleged secret drug taking was made public and he apologised, Flowers appears to have kept up a stream of texts to his dealer referring to . 'Charlie' (cocaine), 'ket' (ketamine), and crack cocaine. He . also bragged about having two bottles of date-rape drug GHB, lusting . after a 17-year-old 'straight' boy and talked of going 'dogging'. | Paul Flowers worked with Baroness Betty Boothroyd in the 80s .
He was a Labour party secretary for her constituency in West Bromwich .
The former Commons Speaker branded Flowers a 'Jekyll and Hyde'
Flowers wore a dressing gown for a sponsored weight loss challenge .
The 63-year-old former bank boss is on bail facing drugs charges . |
121,092 | 2886e19a986d8cbb2a0b59c2fa8fcd870dabd912 | By . Lawrence Conway . PUBLISHED: . 02:18 EST, 16 June 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 06:40 EST, 18 June 2012 . Children are to be banned from a city centre under draconian plans to tackle anti-social behaviour. Critics said the decision to stop anyone under 16 walking the streets of Bangor after dark was akin to something ‘you’d expect in North Korea, not North Wales’. Police are introducing the curfew, believed to be the first time children have been banned from an entire city centre, to rid the area of yobbish behaviour. Ban: Children will be banned from Bangor town centre from Monday as police and the council in the Welsh city attempt to tackle anti-social behaviour . The strict rules, which apply between 9pm and 6am from today, mean anyone caught in the forbidden zone over the next six months could be jailed for three months or face a £2,500 fine. But parents and politicians have criticised the move, which they claim will ‘criminalise’ all young people. Membership of sports groups, youth centres and even churches could be affected, they say. Nick Pickles, director of civil liberties campaign group Big Brother Watch, said: ‘The idea you could be fined or imprisoned for walking through the town centre simply because you are 15 and not accompanied by a parent is simply madness. ‘To say that anyone under 16 who is unaccompanied between 9pm and 6am is a criminal is the kind of draconian law you’d expect in North Korea, not North Wales. Criminalising every young person in Bangor – without any need for them to be engaged in any wrongdoing – is an unwarranted and disproportionate intrusion into the civil liberties of thousands of perfectly law-abiding young people.’ One mother, Jo Owen, of nearby Caernarfon, said: ‘My son is 16, our local cinema is 25 miles away. He wouldn’t be allowed to walk from the bus stop with these rules.’ Councillor Nigel Pickavance, chairman of the People of Bangor Community Group, said the curfew was a ‘total over-reaction’. ‘It is totally unjust and a massive over-reaction to do this to young people in the city,’ he said. ‘The police are making out Bangor is much worse than it is - believe it or not this is not the Bronx we are living in. Draconian: Drastic new rules mean unaccompanied under-16s will be banned from Bangor town centre . ‘There doesn’t seem to have been any consultation with the local community – everyone I’ve spoken to thinks it is a bad move.’ Banned areas include city parks, public areas and 24 individual streets. The curfew is being introduced despite claims violent crime has fallen by almost a quarter in the city after a previous measure which led to 110 individuals being banned from the area. Keith Towler, the Children’s Commissioner for Wales, said imposing a blanket ban was ‘heavy-handed’ and an ‘ineffective way of combating anti-social behaviour’. ‘It demonises under 16s, isolates them from their communities, alienates them from police and spreads the misconception all young people are troublemakers,’ he said. Speaking on behalf of North Wales Police and Gwynedd County Council, who are jointly introducing the measure, Inspector Simon Barrasford defended the move. ‘Many people are working very hard to improve and regenerate the city centre as well as just wanting to enjoy their daily lives without being intimidated or harassed and I have no doubt dispersal order areas will assist in that endeavour,’ he said. Last night a ‘Stop the Curfew’ Facebook page had almost 1,000 members. Tory MP David Jones, a minister in the Welsh Office, said he would be raising the curfew with Mark Polin, chief constable of North Wales Police, later this week. ‘I am concerned we have a measure that is indiscriminately barring a whole section of the population from the town centre,’ he added. | Unaccompanied under-16s barred from the Welsh city of Bangor .
Civil rights groups complain: 'This is North Wales, not North Korea' |
27,832 | 4ee28ef3583c042c665bc9f462c6d3f9c9fe8af8 | Timothy DeFoggi, pictured, was downloading child abuse imagery the very moment his house in Maryland was raided by the FBI . A former federal cyber-security expert who used his professional skills to hide his membership of a 'dark web' child pornography ring called PedoBook has been jailed for 25 years. Timothy DeFoggi, 56, of Germantown, Maryland, joined a Tor-based website which featured images of child sex abuse believing that his activity would be completely anonymous. However, federal investigators discovered DeFoggi, who was the former acting director of cyber-security at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, joined the Tor-network-based website on March 2, 2012 until the site was taken down by the FBI on December 8, 2012. According to court documents, DeFoggi wanted to meet up with a fellow PedoBook member to fulfil his fantasy of raping and murdering a small child. Five other members of the PedoBook network have been jailed for between 12 and 20 years after they pleaded guilty and in some cases testified against DeFoggi during his trial in August 2014. Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell of the Justice Department's Criminal Division said: 'Using the same technological expertise he employed as Acting Director of Cyber Security at HHS, DeFoggi attempted to sexually exploit children and traffic in child pornography through an anonymous computer network of child predators. 'But dangerous criminals cannot be allowed to operate on-line with impunity. Today's sentence shows that the Department of Justice will bring criminals and child predators to justice, even when they employ anonymous networks like Tor.' DeFoggi was found guilty on August 26, 2014 following a four day trial of 'engaging in a child exploitation exercise', which carried a minimum jail term of 20 years and a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. According to the Government's sentencing memorandum: 'Trial evidence demonstrated beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant, acting through his online aliases "PT***eater" and "****christ" joined and participated actively in the Tor-network-based "PedoBook" online social networking community. 'During the course of his membership in that community the defendant repeatedly accessed child pornography depicting infant and toddler-aged children being raped by adults or engaging in other sexually explicit activity; joined public and private groups such as "Boys Hardcore," "Kids with dog & other animals," "Toddler Girls Forced" and "0-2 Year Little Girls Private Sharing Group 2012".' Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell, left, said DeFoggi used the skills he had developed while working as a cyber-security expert with the Department of Health to try and avoid detection . Federal prosecutors discovered that DeFoggi encouraged 'others to interact with him in order to further his particular interest in violent child pornography and child sexual abuse'. He also solicited child abuse images from fellow members and 'discussed his desires to commit the violent rape and murder of children; and south to meet at least one fellow member to share in and facilitate that desire.' According to federal prosecutors the PedoBook social network routed all communication through several computers before reaching their final destination in a bid to prevent them being intercepted by the authorities. 'The defendant deployed multiple software programs, including Eraser and CCleaner, to delete evidence of his computer and web browsing activity. And when finally confronted by law enforcement agents executing a search warrant in his home, he immediately ran for his laptop computer (which was in the process of downloading a child pornography video from a Tor-network-based child pornography archive) and had to be physically removed from it by an FBI agent.' US Attorney for the District of Nebraska Deborah R. Gilg said: 'Today's sentence and the others imposed earlier demonstrate that those who exploit children will be aggressively pursued and prosecuted to the full extent of the law . 'Those who think they are acting anonymously on the Internet will be found and held accountable.' FBI Special Agent in charge Thomas Metz said: 'The production and distribution of child pornography is one of the most saddening, tragic crimes the FBI investigates . 'Today's sentencing sends a message to those who advertise, distribute, possess, and trade child pornography that the FBI will look for you, will find you and will make sure you are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.' Timothy DeFoggi, 56, formerly of Germantown, Maryland, was convicted on Aug. 26, 2014, following a four-day jury trial before Chief U.S. District Judge Laurie Smith Camp in the District of Nebraska of engaging in a child exploitation enterprise, conspiracy to advertise and distribute child pornography and accessing a computer with intent to view child pornography. The PedoBook network was run by a single administrator Aaron McGrath, who was jailed for 20 years on January 31, 2014. He received a 10-year reduction in his sentence for providing 'substantial' assistance ot the government. Jason Flanary, 43, formerly of Chicago, Illinois but living in the Philippines and Guam received a 20 year jail term in June 2013. Wesley Cameron 23, of Ashford, Alabama was jailed for 15 years in October 2014. Charles MacMillan, 29, of Rockville, Maryland and Zackary Austin, 28, of Reno, Nevada received 12 and 16 years respectively, when they were jailed in November 2014. | Timothy DeFoggi, 56, was a member of the PedoBook social network .
DeFoggi used a Tor-network-based website in a bid to hide from the FBI .
He was downloading child pornography videos as the FBI raided his home .
DeFoggi ran to his laptop and had to be 'physically removed' from it .
Cyber-security expert spoke online of his desire to rape and murder . |
127,704 | 3112445e9ef4a6c13e814ce4ac7e512d2a10c264 | (CNN) -- Despite being allowed to tell her husband he won the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize, the wife of Liu Xiaobo was detained in her apartment in Beijing, China, according to a human rights group and her attorney. Liu Xia has not been charged with a crime, but "appears to be under a de facto house arrest," said Beth Schwanke, legislative counsel for the U.S.-based group Freedom Now. She was taken to see Liu Xiaobo in a prison several hundred miles northeast of Beijing, Schwanke said, and tell him of the honor. Upon hearing he had received the peace prize, Schwanke said, Liu Xiaobo began to cry, and said, "This is for the martyrs of Tiananmen Square." But upon return to Beijing, Liu Xia was not allowed to leave her apartment, Schwanke said. No one is allowed in, and her telephone is believed to be "destroyed," Schwanke said. Liu Xia has been able to post to some Twitter accounts, said Schwanke, who called the action "absolutely outrageous." "Brothers, I have come back," said a Twitter post purportedly from Liu Xia. "I have been under house arrest since the 8th and don't know when I'll get to see everyone again. They broke my mobile phone so I can no longer make or receive calls." "I saw Xiaobo, who learned about his winning the prize in prison on the evening of the 9th," she wrote. "We'll talk about the future later." Since her husband was named as a 2010 Nobel laureate, Liu Xia has gained 1,000 new Twitter followers. "Xia can't use her mobile phone anymore," tweeted Chinese dissident Wang Jinbo. "I got in touch through some other means. She can't leave home -- they've tightened the security outside." He said Liu Xia can tweet -- "a little freedom." "Liu Xia is under enormous pressure," said Dr. Yang Jianli, a member of Liu Xiaobo's defense team and a human rights specialist with Freedom Now. "We hope that world leaders will immediately condemn this shameful act by the Chinese government and urge Liu Xia's immediate and unconditional release." See more of CNN's special coverage of China . Beijing did not comment immediately on the report of Liu Xia's detention, and the official news agency Xinhua was silent on the subject. On Friday, Liu Xia said she was packing to visit her husband under the surveillance of police officers, who promised to take her to visit Liu Xiaobo Saturday. She said she could not wait to see him to tell him he is this year's peace laureate. Liu Xiaobo won the prize Friday, but news of the win has been blacked out in China, with no mention of it on Chinese media. The same censorship applies to Chinese blogs, and authorities have blocked the Nobel Peace Prize section of the official Nobel website. At least two international television networks -- CNN and BBC -- were blacked out as the Nobel committee announced the winner on Friday, and CNN's reports on Liu remained blacked out for most of the day. Liu was sentenced in 2009 to 11 years in prison for inciting subversion of state power. He is the co-author of Charter 08, a call for political reform and human rights, and was an adviser to the student protesters at Tiananmen Square in 1989. His wife called the Nobel Prize "an affirmation of what he has fought for." Schwanke said Liu Xiaobo is doing well in prison -- much better physically than when he was held in solitary confinement. Mentally, he remains very strong, she said, adding that this prison sentence is his fourth and "he knows this is necessary to secure democracy and human rights in China." Freedom Now attorneys, as Liu's international counsel, will leverage international political and legal support while his attorneys in China will continue to work on his behalf in Beijing, she said. Liu Xiaobo's longtime friend Pu Zhiqiang said the prize may not help Liu right now, but it will have effects for the future. "In the long run, it will leave a legacy that is sure to help bring democratic reform and freedom to China, that will far outlast Liu's life," Pu told CNN outside the gates of Liu's apartment complex. The Chinese government was angry at the win, calling it "blasphemy against the peace prize" that could harm relations between China and Norway, where the Norwegian Nobel Committee is located. "Liu Xiaobo is a convicted criminal sentenced to jail by Chinese justice. His acts are in complete contradiction to the purpose of the Nobel Peace Prize," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu said. Human rights groups like Amnesty International, world leaders such as U.S. President Barack Obama, and governments around the world all praised the awarding of the prize to Liu, with many calling on the Chinese government to free him. CNN's Brian Walker and Steven Jiang contributed to this report. | NEW: Liu Xiaobo: "This is for the martyrs of Tiananmen Square"
Liu Xia is not allowed to use her phone or leave her apartment, human rights group says .
She was able to tell her jailed husband he had won the Nobel Peace Prize .
China blacked out CNN and the BBC as the prize was announced . |
147,013 | 4a1979860865d86b64830c2463555ef02b3cc51d | By . James Nye . Carol the elephant has been welcomed back to Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus in Mississippi after her mysterious drive-by shooting this time last year. The 40-year-old circus favorite will take to the stage in Tupelo on Thursday night after rehabilitation from being shot in the shoulder in the early hours of April 9 while in her enclosure. No one has ever been arrested for the attack despite a $34,000 reward - the only lead being grainy surveillance footage showing a white SUV speeding away from the scene at 2am. Scroll Down for Video . Return: Carol the elephant was shot last year in April while in Tupelo, Mississippi in a shocking crime that has never been solved . 'She's back with a vengeance,' trainer Kathy Carden said. 'She's awesome.' Tupelo Police Lt. Jerry Davis said he’s frustrated, but will not give up hope of making an arrest. 'The case is still being investigated,' he told NBC News. 'Detectives are still working on it; we just do not have any new information to follow up on at this time.' The Mayor of Tupelo, Jason Shelton, said the attack was cruel and he is annoyed they have not caught the culprits. 'It was quite frankly an embarrassing moment for the city, but hopefully those days are behind us,' said Shelton. The shooting led to improved security for the animals of the circus in their fenced-in parking lot home. Elephant and trainer: Kathy Carden said that Carol is ready for her return and has not been affected by the shooting . Wound: This is where Carol was shot - just behind the neck in the shoulder . All healed: There are still bullet fragments in Carol's wound which means that police have not been able to do a full ballistics analysis of the shooting . And for the past year, trucks have been parked in a ring around the animals to add to their protection. And for this week, Tupelo Police said that they will increase their patrols around the animals while the Barnum & Bailey's show is in town. Kathy Carden said that Carol is not nervous about returning to action. 'I’m excited to get there and see everybody and show everybody in Tupelo that Carol is great,' she said. Headlights: The only evidence that police have to go on is this surveillance footage which shows two faint car lights of a white SUV . Friends: Cathy and Carol stare into each others eyes - happy to be reunited on the stage for Thursdays circus . Head over heels happy: Carol happily performs - ready for her return to Tupelo tonight in Mississippi . Cathy said that despite their reputation, she believes that Carol doesn't fully comprehend what happened to her. 'She doesn’t understand that somebody tried to maliciously hurt her; she doesn’t understand that. She just had a little boo-boo; we fixed it right away,' said Carden. However, Cathy says she has not forgotten. 'They intentionally tried to harm Carol, kill Carol, but they could have killed anyone of us. We were all in R.Vs. We were parked in my R.V. with my family, my two little boys and my husband.' | Carol the elephant was shot on April 9 while in Tupelo, Mississippi for the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus .
Hit in the shoulder - she required months of rehabilitation before she was ready to perform again .
Is preparing to take to the stage on Thursday night on her return to Tupelo . |
49,951 | 8d3ebd0aca578b5ddf7509630a031b683fdf769c | By . Mark Prigg . For five years, Nasa's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) has circled the moon, sending back thousands of images of the lunar surface. Nasa has now revealed the most stunning five images of the lunar surface - and has asked the public to pick their favourite. The space agency is planning to create a special site called 'The Moon as Art' - with the winning image as the cover photo. Scroll down for video . Linné (2.2 km diameter) is a very young and beautifully preserved impact crater on the lunar surface.. LROC stereo images provide scientists with the third dimension - information critical for unraveling the physics involved in impact events. LRO entered lunar orbit in June 2009 equipped with seven instrument suites to map the surface, probe the radiation environment, investigate water and key mineral resources, and gather geological clues about the moon's evolution. The robotic mission set out to map the moon's surface and, after a year of exploration, was extended with a unique set of science objectives. LRO observations have enabled numerous groundbreaking discoveries, creating a new picture of the moon as a dynamic and complex body. These developments have set up a scientific framework through which to challenge and improve our understanding of processes throughout the solar system. ''The Moon as Art' collection gives the public the opportunity to see the moon as others have seen it for centuries – as an inspirational muse – but this time from the perspective of being in orbit with a series of 'eyes' that see in different parts of the electromagnetic spectrum,' said Brooke Hsu, science education specialist at the Lunar and Planetary Institute/Universities Space Research Association in Greenbelt, Maryland. LRO launched from Florida on June 18, 2009. After a four-day journey, the orbiter successfully entered lunar orbit June 23. The winning cover image will be announced June 18 with the release of the full Moon as Art collection of 24 images. Voting is already underway here and will close June 6. In the five years since, LRO has brought the world astounding views of the lunar surface and a plethora of exciting science data. 'LRO has been a remarkable mission with discoveries that have given us insight into solar system history and the inner workings of the moon,' said John Keller, LRO project scientist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. 'After five years, LRO continues to make ground breaking discoveries.' The craft will celebrate five years in orbit June 18. LRO entered lunar orbit in June 2009 equipped with seven instrument suites to map the surface, probe the radiation environment, investigate water and key mineral resources, and gather geological clues about the moon's evolution. On 10 June 2011 the LRO spacecraft slewed 65° to the west, allowing the LROC NACs to capture this dramatic sunrise view of Tycho crater. Tycho's features are so steep and sharp because the crater is young by lunar standards, only about 110 million years old. The interior wall of the Clerke crater has many distinct flows of granular material which narrow as they reach towards the floor of the crater. The crater is 7 km in diameter located at 21.7°N, 29.8°E near the Taurus Littrow Valley where Apollo 17 landed on 11 December 1972 and is named after Agnes Mary Clerke. This image features night time temperatures at the Moon's north pole as measured by the Diviner instrument. Areas in blue and purple represent colder temperatures, while areas in orange and red represent warmer temperatures. At any given point in the Moon's orbit, half of the Moon is in daylight, while half of the Moon is in darkness. The Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter (LOLA) aboard the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) sends laser pulses down to the surface of the Moon from the orbiting spacecraft. These pulses bounce off of the Moon and return to LRO, providing scientists with measurements of the distance from the spacecraft to the lunar surface. As LRO orbits the Moon, LOLA measures the shape of the lunar surface, which includes information about the Moon's surface elevations and slopes. | Images released to celebrate fifth anniversary of Nasa's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO)
Nasa planning to create a special site called 'The Moon as Art' - with the winning image as the cover photo . |
22,138 | 3ed2b0e2d9c99bcce2c463d73264805de1126ef2 | David Davis last night established himself at the head of a growing Tory rebellion over Syria. The former shadow home secretary, who stood against David Cameron for the Tory leadership, said there were ‘huge risks’ in bombing Syria. He added: ‘This will be interpreted around the Middle East in ways we can’t predict. I’m also not at all sure that it will improve the safety of British citizens.’ Testing: U.N. chemical weapons experts wearing gas masks carry samples collected from one of the sites of an alleged chemical weapons attack in Damascus yesterday . Mr Davis also warned he had yet to be convinced the lethal chemical attack was a ‘deliberate act of the Assad government’. Fellow Tory Crispin Blunt, a former minister and soldier, said he would vote against the Syrian intervention tonight and in any potential second vote. He said: ‘I haven’t seen any evidence that suggests whether or not the regime was responsible for this and identifying who in the regime (gave the order). ‘The UN weapons inspectors will establish that there was a chemical attack, they’re not going to be able to establish who carried it out.’ John Baron, who has helped organise a Tory rebellion that now numbers dozens, said: ‘I am starting from a position of voting against but let’s see what Cameron comes up.’ Rebels: Former shadow home secretary David Davis says bombing in Syria carries 'huge risks' and leadership aspirant Adam Afriyie is wary of the British people's reaction . Live tweeting: Number 10 tweeted a picture showing Prime Minister David Cameron chairing a National Security Council . Former defence minister Gerald Howarth warned of the risk that the UK and allies ‘get our hand caught in the mangle’ by intervening in the civil war. ‘Where will this military intervention lead on?’ he said. ‘Will that be the end of the story or will there be calls for further action and are we then at risk of having our hand caught in the mangle? ‘I hope that when the Government says no decision has been made, that that is genuinely the case.’ Fellow Tory Sir Roger Gale said he remained to be convinced that ‘any intervention now will be other than too little, too late and ineffective’. He said he was ‘gravely concerned’ about the implications of punitive action against the regime. ‘Any such response must be based first upon legality, must be proportionate and must be effective,’ he added. Across the road: As Government discussed actions, a protest calling for no military attack took place on the other side of the road . Possible attack: A victim is rushed to hospital for suspected napalm or white phosphorous burns after a suspected attack which the opposition claimed Assad's regime was responsible for . Sir Roger said the experience of being persuaded to vote in favour of the Iraq war on false information ‘has left with me deep cynicism about the veracity of “military intelligence” that may or may not have been adjusted to suit a particular political purpose’. Self-styled Tory leadership hopeful Adam Afriyie also came out against a military strike. He said: ‘The British public have absolutely no appetite for being unnecessarily dragged into yet another Middle Eastern conflict. ‘They just don’t want us to get involved. I am with them.’ Former security minister Baroness Neville-Jones said the Government needed to be ‘cautious’ about the evidence it was considering, and publish legal advice on military intervention. She said: ‘The public should be informed of the legal basis on which the Government is acting. Having a good evidence trail is going to be extremely important.’ Ukip leader Nigel Farage last night slammed the ‘rush for military action’. He said: ‘Sending cruise missiles into Syria as a punishment for possibly using chemical weapons – how does that make anything better?’ Would bombing Syria be lawful? Britain . and the US insist it would be, but the truth is far from clear. It’s . hard to see how Syria’s reported chemical attacks against its own . citizens present a direct threat to either country. What specific laws or UN conventions might be used as justification? The . UN Charter allows for military action on only two grounds – in . self-defence, or if action is approved by the UN Security Council. Neither applies here. Russia has made clear its intention to veto any . proposed Security Council resolution authorising action – as has China. Can a military strike be legal without a UN resolution? Unclear. In 1999, the Nato bombing campaign against Serbia was launched without . one, with Tony Blair and President Clinton seeking to justify it on . humanitarian grounds to protect Kosovan civilians. The intervention was . widely welcomed, but its legality was questionable. A similar . humanitarian argument is being used to defend intervention in Syria. If . President Assad is proved to have launched poison gas attacks on his own . people, he will be in breach of the Geneva Gas Protocol, an . international agreement dating back to 1925 – to which Syria is a . signatory – banning the use of chemical weapons. But breaching the . protocol doesn’t provide a clear justification for military action and . it normally applies to international conflicts, rather than civil wars. Does the UN have a ‘Responsibility to Protect’ the Syrians? In . 2005, following the hideous atrocities committed in Rwanda and Bosnia . in the 1990s, the UN brought forward an initiative called the . ‘Responsibility to Protect’. It was designed to protect the innocent . from genocide, war crimes and ethnic cleansing and places a duty on . individual states to prevent such horrors within their borders, and an . obligation to intervene if they see it elsewhere. But former UN . assistant Secretary-General, Francesc Vendrell, says the doctrine does . not necessarily justify the use of force. All diplomatic efforts must . have been tried first, and even then military intervention requires the . backing of the Security Council – taking David Cameron and President . Obama back to square one. Does the PM need Parliamentary backing for a bombing campaign? Technically, . no. He retains the power, under Royal Prerogative, to use military . force without Parliamentary approval. However, all recent major military . interventions – including the wars in Iraq and Libya – have been . preceded by a Commons vote. The Government has made clear it will . ‘respect the outcome’ of tonight’s. | Several Tory MPs hesitant over military action against Assad .
David Davis said bombing Syria carried 'huge risks'
Demand evidence Assad used chemical weapons on civilians . |
117,443 | 23a6efba27193f0180644d80e503205684298df1 | By . Eddie Wrenn . PUBLISHED: . 04:11 EST, 12 June 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 09:44 EST, 12 June 2012 . It's no secret that Mars is a beaten and battered planet - astronomers have been peering for centuries at the violent impact craters created by cosmic buckshot pounding its surface over billions of years. But just how beat up is it? Really beat up, according to a University of Colorado Boulder research team that recently finished counting, outlining and cataloging a staggering 635,000 impact craters on Mars that are roughly a kilometer or more in diameter. Scroll down for video: . History written on its face: The surface of Mars is covered with thousands upon thousands of crater impacts over the planet's life . As the largest single database ever . compiled of impacts on a planet or moon in our solar system, the new . information will be of help in dating the ages of particular regions of . Mars, said CU-Boulder postdoctoral researcher Stuart Robbins, who led . the effort. The new crater atlas also should help . researchers better understand the history of water volcanism on Mars . through time, as well as the planet's potential for past habitability by . primitive life, he said. 'This database is a giant tool that . will be helpful in scores of future Mars studies ranging from age-dating . and erosion to planetary habitability and to other applications we have . not even thought of yet,' said Robbins, who is affiliated with . CU-Boulder's Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics. 'In a sense it's like building a new and better hammer, which quickly becomes used by everyone. 'We have all this new information . coming from Mars orbiters and landers that have helped generate far . better maps illustrating the planet's topography and surface details. I . basically analyzed maps and drew crater rim circles for four years.' One crater in particular reveals dark traces of sediment thought to have been cemented together by water from an ancient groundwater reservoir, before being carved away by howling Martian wind . Co-author Brian Hynek, a LASP research . associate and assistant professor in the geological sciences . department, said knowing more about the history and extent of Martian . cratering has implications for better understanding the potential for . past life on Mars. He said: 'Many of the large impact . craters generated hydrothermal systems that could have created unique, . locally habitable environments that lasted for thousands or millions of . years, assuming there was water in the planet's crust at the time. 'But large impacts also have the . ability to wipe out life forms, as evident from Earth's dinosaur-killing . Chicxulub impact 65 million years ago.' While there are only about 150 to 200 known impact craters left on . Earth, both the moon and Mercury are still peppered with craters due to . their lack of atmosphere and plate tectonic activity, he said. Cataloging the cratering of Mars and the moon is helping scientists . understand a time a few hundred million years after the inner solar . system formed, including an event about 3.9 billion years ago known as . the 'Late Heavy Bombardment' in which asteroids as large as Kansas . rained down on Earth. 'Although Earth has lost most of its geologic record due to tectonic . plate movements and erosion, understanding the impact crater history on . the moon and Mars can help us reconstruct our early days,' said Hynek. The asteroids litter the landscape - as they would on Earth except we have a geologically active world . Robbins said most of the smaller . diameter craters on Mars are younger than the largest craters and form . the bulk of the planet's crater population. 'The basic idea of age dating is that . if a portion of the planet's surface has more craters, it has been . around longer,' said Robbins. Much of the planet has been . 'resurfaced' by volcanic and erosional activity, essentially erasing . older geological features, including craters. The new database also is expected to . help planetary scientists better understand erosion on the planet, said . Robbins, who earned his doctoral degree from CU-Boulder's astrophysical . and planetary sciences department. 'Our crater database contains both rim . heights and crater depths, which can help us differentiate between . craters that have been filled in versus those that have eroded by . different processes over time, giving us a better idea about long-term . changes on the planet's surface.' Having a better handle on the size and . distribution of Martian impact craters also has implications for . future, manned missions to the planet, said Hynek. NASA wants to know where the craters . are and their particular features both from a safety and research . standpoint. 'Craters act as a 'poor man's drill' that provide new . information about the subsurface of Mars,' he said. Since the most complete databases of . lunar craters include only those roughly 10 to 15 kilometers in diameter . or larger, and databases on Mercury's craters contain only those over . roughly 20 kilometers in diameter, it is difficult to compare them with . the Martian crater database, said Robbins. See video here: . | Giant database will help plan future Mars landings, and reveal history of water on Mars .
Will shed light on 3.9billion years ago - when asteroids 'the size of Kansas' smashed into Earth . |
165,749 | 625b0e7683eca0c346780d8ec5723b4bf7e3c9f8 | London (CNN) -- Authorities in Britain arrested three people Thursday in two meat plants amid an investigation into the sale of horse meat as beef in Europe. French prosecutors continue to investigate, the country's consumer affairs minister said. The announcement comes as UK inspectors said that horse carcasses contaminated with an equine painkiller harmful to humans may have entered the food chain in France. A number of meat plants that handled the horse meat as it made its way through the food chain are facing questions about what they knew and whether fraud was involved. The arrests in Britain involved workers at Farmbox Meats near Aberystywth and Peter Boddy Slaughterhouse in Todmorden, West Yorkshire, the country's Food Standards Agency said. Inspectors toured the plants Tuesday and suspended their permits to operate on Wednesday, the agency said. The three men were arrested under the Fraud Act and are being detained at a police station, where they will be questioned by police and FSA investigators, according to the agency. It's the latest twist in a Europe-wide crisis over rogue horse meat in beef products. Over the past week, unauthorized horse meat has been discovered in a variety of products labeled as beef that were sold in supermarkets in countries including Britain, France, Sweden, Switzerland, Germany and Ireland. French Consumer Affairs Minister Benoit Hamon said Thursday that the French firm Spanghero should have known that the meat it labeled as beef was actually horse. Spanghero was the first company to label the meat as beef, the minister said, adding that 750 tons of horse meat were involved over a period of at least six months. Spanghero should have identified the meat as horse from its Romanian customs code, as well as its appearance, smell and price, he said. The matter has been passed to the Paris prosecutor to be investigated as fraud, Hamon said. The offense is punishable by up to two years in prison and fines of up to 187,500 euros for the companies involved. Hamon said there was no reason to doubt that the Romanian supplier of the horse meat was acting in good faith. Before it reached Spanghero, the horse meat also passed through the hands of a Dutch company, Draap Trading, run by Jan Fasen. Fasen had previously been imprisoned for meat trafficking, Hamon said. CNN has not been able to reach Draap Trading for comment. Hamon said another firm implicated in the scandal, Comigel, should also have noticed anomalies in labeling of the meat it received. A Spanghero representative said the company acted in good faith. "The company has never ordered horse meat and we never knowingly sold on horse meat," the representative said. Fears over the rogue horse meat surfaced after it was discovered that eight out of 206 horse carcasses checked between January 30 and February 7 tested positive for the drug phenylbutazone, widely known as bute, the UK Food Standards Agency said. EU health chief vows plan to restore confidence in wake of horse meat scandal . Of these, six went to France, raising concerns they may have entered the food chain there. The agency is working with French authorities to try to trace the six carcasses, which were slaughtered at an abattoir in Somerset, England. The two others that tested positive, at a different slaughterhouse, did not leave the premises and have been disposed of, the agency said. What's behind the horse meat contamination scandal? Bute is not allowed to enter the human food chain. The drug is no longer approved for human use in the United States, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration website says, because "some patients treated with phenylbutazone have experienced severe toxic reactions." The drug can cause various blood conditions and is a carcinogen, the FDA says. But the UK's chief medical officer, Professor Dame Sally Davies, sought to reassure worried consumers. It is "extremely unlikely" that anyone who has consumed affected horse meat will suffer harmful side effects, she said in a statement Thursday. "Phenylbutazone... is a commonly used medicine in horses. It is also prescribed to some patients who are suffering from a severe form of arthritis," Davies added. British authorities raid slaughterhouse over horse meat scandal . "At the levels of bute that have been found, a person would have to eat 500 to 600 burgers a day that are 100% horse meat to get close to consuming a human's daily dose. And it passes through the system fairly quickly, so it is unlikely to build up in our bodies," she explained. German supermarket chain Real confirmed Wednesday that samples of a frozen beef lasagna had tested positive for horse meat. Fellow supermarket chains Rewe and Tengelmann said they are examining certain beef products as a precaution. Ministers met for emergency talks in Brussels, Belgium, on Wednesday on how to tackle a crisis that has thrown the European meat industry into disarray. Battle over blame after horse meat found in beef products . It was already reeling from a bombshell last month, when Irish investigators found horse and pig DNA in a number of hamburger products. The discovery of pig DNA in beef products is of particular concern to Jews and Muslims, whose dietary laws forbid the consumption of pork products. Jewish dietary laws also ban the eating of horse meat. After Wednesday's talks, Irish Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney said the ministers had agreed to implement measures including random DNA testing of processed beef products across the European Union's 27 member states. The United Kingdom is awaiting the outcome of "authenticity" tests on beef products ordered last week by the Food Standards Agency across the UK food industry. The results are due by Friday. Investigations into what could be criminal fraud somewhere in the supply chain also are being led by Europol, the European Union's law enforcement agency. UK Environment Secretary Owen Paterson, who met with Europol officials Thursday, said, "This is an incredibly important step. It's increasingly clear that this case reaches right across Europe. "It's clear that Europol is the right organization to coordinate efforts to uncover all wrongdoing and bring criminals to justice, wherever there may be." Meanwhile, steps have been taken to tighten up the legitimate slaughter of horses in the United Kingdom. Beginning January 30, the Food Standards Agency ordered 100% testing of horse carcasses, and, as of this week, their meat will not be allowed to enter the food chain until the all-clear has been given. Previously, a random sample was tested. In 2012, 6% of horse carcasses tested positive for bute, the agency said. CNN's Antonia Mortensen, Susannah Palk and Erin McLaughlin contributed to this report. | Three people are arrested in the British horse meat investigation .
French officials name the company that first mislabeled the meat .
The company, Spanghero, says it acted in good faith .
UK authorities are working with the French to try to trace six suspect horse carcasses . |
231,268 | b76f127a2de5191249846417892fa448670db87e | Los Angeles (CNN) -- The mother of Grammy-winning singer Bruno Mars died of a brain aneurysm in a Honolulu, Hawaii, hospital Saturday, a Mars representative told CNN Sunday. Bernadette Hernandez was 55. Mars -- born Peter Gene Hernandez in Hawaii 27 years ago -- was just 4 when he began performing in his family's show as an Elvis impersonator. He moved to Los Angeles as a young adult to write and produce for other artists, but his last three years have been his most successful. His debut album for Atlantic Records, "Doo-Wops & Hooligans," includes "Just The Way You Are," which won him a Grammy for best male pop vocal performance in 2010. The album and his hit single "Grenade" were nominated for three Grammys in 2011. His second album, "Unorthodox Jukebox," includes the hits "Locked Out of Heaven" and "When I Was Your Man." Mars is set to resume touring on June 22, but it was not immediately clear whether the concert schedule would be affected by his mother's death. CNN's KJ Matthews contributed to this report. | Bruno Mars was just 4 when he began performing as an Elvis impersonator .
Mars grew up in Hawaii and moved to Los Angeles to write songs .
It's not clear whether his scheduled tour will be affected by his mom's death . |
130,617 | 34ecead9b59f42127baa15e98928e241f91f1e8c | FLORENCE, Italy (CNN) -- Never one to follow the crowd, fashion designer Roberto Cavalli's clothes are bright, sexy and fearless. His innovative techniques, especially with leather and silk, and his love of adornment -- embroidery, applique, patchwork and diamante -- have made him the A-list's red-carpet darling. Designer Roberto Cavalli in Florence . My City, My Life spoke to Cavalli about his fashion creations, his inspiration and his city of Florence. CNN: What do you feel passionate about? Roberto Cavalli: I'm passionate to be a fashion designer, because fashion is part of our life. When you wake up in the morning you say, "What do I have to wear to look beautiful, fantastic, sexy, special?" Fashion is our mind. That is the reason I love being a fashion designer because I can use it to measure your mood, your life. I love being a fashion designer. CNN: What's so special about Florence? Roberto Cavalli: Florence is such a special city. I travel a lot, today I am here, tomorrow maybe in London or Paris or New York. New York is a city where I feel more excited, sometimes I say New York is like a drug it gives you so much energy, but afterwards I need Florence, I live to come back here. I need to continue to breathe art, the air that is in Florence, to walk in my city, to walk in my streets. It's so charming -- Pitti Palace, the Ponte Vecchio, Michelangelo's David. That is Florence. I love it. CNN: How has the city inspired you? Roberto Cavalli: Florence has helped me to judge what is beautiful, what is less beautiful, gave me the feeling of art. Florence and art is something that is part of my life and is part of myself. CNN: What do you love most about the city? Roberto Cavalli: What I love most about my city is the architecture, the buildings. Every time I discover something new and something different. The color of the stones, for example: I say, "Oh my God, that stone is 700 years old; 700 years ago America doesn't exist." It's something so special. CNN: Do you think that the architecture, the surroundings, inspire you? Roberto Cavalli: Sure, because to live in Florence means to breathe art and my collection, my fashion, why it's so unusual, so colorful. My dream, maybe because of my family of course, was to be a painter. I chose in one moment the direction of textiles; from textiles I went to fashion; but for me, I make one fashion show, it is like making one art exhibition. I would like the people that buy my clothes to understand that for me it's one small piece of art. CNN: Have you seen Florence change since you were young? Roberto Cavalli: Everything has changed, all over the world. I believe Florence has changed less than many other cities because we are more conservative, we try to keep everything that is fantastic, everything that is unbelievable, in Florence. In the next 1000 years we need to take care about the beauty and the fantastic things that are in Florence. CNN: What are your favorite colors? Roberto Cavalli: It depends on my mood. Sometimes it depends on where I am, sometimes I adore and love red, sometimes the yellow when I am in the country because the yellow that is with the green and around me I say, "Fantastico!" I love the turquoise when I am in my boat and around me you have the light blue, the dark blue, and I say, "My God, I love this special turquoise combination." I love the combination of colors. Color is my life. CNN: Where do you go to relax? Roberto Cavalli: Florence for me is my relaxing place. Also there is my factory, I have all my workers, some workers for 25, 40 years -- they love me, I love them -- but this is my relaxing place. My office, my first factory, my house -- the greenness of my house, my animals. I love my animals, they are all my babies. I love being here, being outside to read, I have music all over here. The winter, Florence is a city where we don't see the snow so much. I love to appreciate the changing of colors, the brown to red of the autumn, I love the beginning of the spring, I love to see the small flowers in the cherry trees and I can see day-by-day the difference. I like to appreciate how nature is born again. See Cavalli's Tuscan farmhouse . CNN: Where else do you like to go? Roberto Cavalli: I am a helicopter pilot. Something that gives me pleasure sometimes is taking my helicopter to go high, 2000 meter, 6000 feet, to go there and feel like a bird. In this moment I feel free. I feel in this world and life we've lost our freedom, maybe because we are too confused about the politics, maybe confused about the television that washes your brain. I love to be there flying. To feel that in the moment I move my clutch I feel like I move my wings. CNN: Is there anything about Florence that you would like to change? Roberto Cavalli: No, no, no absolutely nothing has to be changed in Florence. Florence is beautiful like it is. CNN: Where do you think your self-belief comes from? Roberto Cavalli: If you want to be successful, you have to believe in yourself. When you are not sure, you show weakness. To be strong you have to show your power, not your muscle power but the brainpower, the character of your heart. If you shoot people with the energy of your mind you become something special. CNN: You're famous for having collections that celebrate women. What kind of woman do you design for? Roberto Cavalli: I don't like to speak sometimes about beauty. I love to speak about feminism: I love to speak about a woman with a lot of personality. That is my woman. A woman that loves to show you how intelligent she is. I love women. Maybe I am the only man in the world who says the woman is stronger than the man, the woman has more personality in the world than the man, because the woman is my muse. I don't have one muse. All the women are my muse. CNN: Do you think you are a typical Florentine? Roberto Cavalli: Yes, I think I am a typical Florentine. CNN: Why? Roberto Cavalli: Because I'm a crazy artist! | Fashion designer Roberto Cavalli speaks about his hometown, Florence .
The Italian city is famous for its Renaissance works of art .
Cavalli cites Florence as an inspiration for his colorful clothes .
He says he feels most free when flying his helicopter above the city . |
193,270 | 863947715b2f5a538f94183a8caa48c70acf43a3 | By . Mario Ledwith . PUBLISHED: . 03:26 EST, 18 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 04:21 EST, 18 February 2013 . One in three patients is putting their health at risk because they do not take their medication properly, costing the NHS an estimated £500 million every year. Fears about potential side-effects and poor understanding of doctors' instructions are partly responsible for the issue, according to a study. Researchers analysing one million prescriptions found that the absence of symptoms and a lack of trust in pharmacists also played a part in people deciding to stop taking their medication. Understanding: The Aston Medication Adherence Study analysed one million prescriptions and found that a number of factors, such as side effects and poor instructions from doctors, were responsible for people not taking medication properly . The Aston Medication Adherence Study, is thought to be the first research project looking at adherence to medication in the UK. It found that certain ethnic groups are more likely to experience difficulties in understanding how to take medication. People whose primary language is Urdu or Bengali are particularly susceptible, as are those living in poorer inner-city areas. They found that people aged over 60 struggled with adherence to medication patterns. The study, carried out by researchers at Aston University’s Pharmacy School, was centred on the Heart of Birmingham Teaching Primary Care Trust, looking at those suffering from type 2 diabetes, hypothyroidism and high cholesterol. Health bodies are facing increasing pressure to manage treatable, long-term conditions in an attempt to reduce hospital admissions. Findings: The study, carried out by researchers at Aston University¿s Pharmacy School, looked at those suffering from type 2 diabetes, hypothyroidism and high cholesterol . The report recommended that healthcare systems should take account of a patient's first language and offer more advice to those taking medication for long-term conditions. Professor Chris Langley, principal investigator for the AMAS said: 'What is important about the AMAS is that it identifies adherence patterns within an ethnically diverse inner city area with high levels of deprivation; this is currently unchartered territory. 'The results from this study have provided an intriguing insight into adherence behaviour within an inner-city population, whilst the focus group data provided context and understanding of the barriers to adherence from the patients’ perspective.' Dr Joe Bush, investigator for the AMAS added: 'We identified numerous groups in which adherence levels were lower than in the general population, but it is not possible at this time to identify why adherence is lower in these groups. 'Whilst the focus groups suggested possible reasons for non-adherence, we hope to explore these issues further and identify the primary reasons for non-adherence in these patient groups in future research.' | Aston Medication Adherence Study analysed one million prescriptions .
People often put off by side-effects and not understanding instructions .
Certain groups more susceptible to a lack of adherence to guidelines .
Those whose primary language is Urdu and Bengali struggled as did over-60s . |
209,641 | 9b7e6365ba3e939340a29b75211ebd040d7fb37f | Everybody loves a hug - but would you want to snuggle up to twenty total strangers? The pair running London's 'cuddle club' certainly hope so. Anna Nathan Shekory, 37, and Tom Fortes Mayer, 40, are the brains behind the Cuddle Workshops - and they're proving a hit with affection-starved Londoners. The class, held in upmarket Hampstead, offers a 'safe space for people to indulge in therapeutic non-sexual touching'. There, you'll find men and women spooning, hugging, nuzzling, snuggling, holding hands - and piling in for group cuddles of twenty or more. Scroll down for video . Anna set up the class after experiencing an epiphany about the therapeutic power of cuddling . 'I grew up in a Middle Eastern family. My family were very cuddly, we used to all pile on to the couch like little monkeys,' Anna said. 'As I grew up I got very confused about why people in our society weren't doing that. British culture in general was very closed-off physically.' Anna experienced an epiphany about the therapeutic power of cuddling during a hug with a group of strangers at a festival in 2010. After touring the site with her new-found friends offering hugs to festivalgoers, she set up the Cuddle Workshop. People cuddle up to each other during the class in the Cuddle Workshop in West Hampstead . Anna got together with Tom, a Harley . Street hypnotherapist, a year ago after meeting at a Language of Love workshop event. 'A very big part of our relationship is cuddling,' Anna said. 'Tom is super cuddly and that makes such a big difference for me. I couldn't date someone who wasn't a good cuddler.' Tom is now an integral part of the Cuddle Workshop and leads some sections of the class. Anna is keen to dispel the idea that the £29, four-hour class is only for the lonely and affection-starved. Cuddle Workshop facilitators and real-life couple Anna and Tom interact with people in their class . Anna directs the class in a spot of 'freestyle cuddling' in which attendees engage in a mass cuddle . 'I think people come to the workshop for many different reasons, there are some people who're single and they want to have physical contact with people in a safe environment where nothing's expected of them,' she said. 'Some people come because they're used to lots of cuddles from their family, and perhaps they're living in a new town or a new country. 'Then there are those who simply love cuddling and meeting new people.' Cuddling releases oxytocin - the so-called love hormone - which Anna says boosts people's self-esteem and helps them feel more comfortable in their own bodies. The class also includes a section in which attendees can have their 'cuddle wishes' fulfilled - for example by pretending to be a cat being stroked. The workshop finishes with a spot of 'freestyle cuddling', in which attendees engage in a mass cuddle. 'Freestyle cuddlers', some of whom may be 'people who're single and they want to have physical contact' Group hug: Some cuddlers snuggle up en masse, while others prefer to hug in pairs . 'A lot of people just lie down in the middle, there's a lot of spooning, there's a chance for people just to be really loving with each other, to just be relaxed and connected and loving,' Tom said.'It's just the most beautiful thing to facilitate, to see and participate in.' Cuddle club attendees are encouraged to go at their own pace and are taught how to politely turn down a cuddle if they feel in any way uncomfortable. Anna has plans to expand her cuddle empire by setting up Cuddle Workshop all over the country. 'I really hope the workshop can make a difference and help Britain become more cuddly as a nation,' she added. Anna got together with Tom, a Harley Street hypnotherapist, a year ago after meeting at a workshop event . | Anna Nathan Shekory, 37, and Tom Fortes Mayer, 40, run Cuddle Workshop .
Hampstead class offers 'safe space for non-sexual touching'
Some are single and 'want physical contact in safe environment'
Cuddling releases oxytocin - which Anna says boosts self-esteem .
Some have 'cuddle wishes' fulfilled - e.g. to be a cat being stroked . |
261,291 | de64e79a1fa55512fd71fada70b188dea5e1e74f | By . Daniel Martin . Fraud is costing the NHS up to £5billion a year – the equivalent of 250,000 nurses or the entire annual budget for cancer, a report claims. Dentists charging for patients who do not exist, or drugs being stolen and sold on eBay are just two examples of the corruption. A further £2billion could be missing due to financial error, it is claimed. Emergency: A fraud expert says Government figures underestimate level of loss in the NHS from corruption . The Government records the level of fraud against the NHS at £229million a year – but an expert will tell BBC's Panorama that this is a wild underestimate. Jim Gee, a former director of NHS Counter Fraud Services, says this total does not include examples of fraud such as NHS staff being paid for hours they did not work, or private companies over-charging trusts for operations and other services. He told Panorama that the true level of fraud could be more than 20 times the government estimate. He said comparisons with other countries' health systems had led him to believe that healthcare fraud takes £5billion away from caring for patients in the UK. This would be enough to pay for 68,000 new consultants or 244,000 new nurses. The total is the equivalent of the entire NHS bill for cancer services. Professor Mark Button, of the Centre for Counter Fraud Studies at the University of Portsmouth, said the increase in private sector firms doing work for the NHS had played a part in the rise. Patient: The scale of fraud is equivalent to the amount spent on cancer treatment (file photo) Panorama uncovered a whole array of fraud, with stolen medical products being sold on eBay and a GP using patient records to obtain prescriptions for their drug addiction. Other examples include dentists claiming for work they have not done. Mr Gee said he had studied 15 years' worth of international fraud and error figures. If the NHS is in line with other health systems around the world, it would mean it has lost between 7 and 15 per cent of its budget each year to fraud. 'The NHS budget is around £100billion, so that would equate to around £7billion lost,' he said. More than £5billion is down to fraud, with the rest being financial error, he said. If the figures are right, that is around £14million every day. 'If the NHS was only losing £229million a year it would be doing 30 times better than any other healthcare organisation in the world, something I think is completely implausible,' he said. And he pointed out that the figures only relate to pharmaceutical and dental services, and ignore the losses that might be taking place in payroll or procurement expenditure. The Department of Health told Panorama that it 'did not recognise' Mr Gee's figures. The frauds unveiled by Panorama included Joyce Trail, a dentist in Birmingham who visited care homes and used residents' details to claim payment from the NHS for work she had not done. In court, it was revealed that she had defrauded the NHS out of £1.4million. She was jailed in 2012 for seven years. The figures were the result of research by BDO LLP and the University of Portsmouth’s Centre for Counter Fraud Services . | Government figures put level of fraud against NHS at £229m a year .
But fraud expert says figure wildly underestimates level of loss .
Jim Gee says a further £2bn could be missing due to financial error . |
63,033 | b30b5dbd755f2574cc5fc1cf9c6e2fbf2977b322 | (CNN) -- Arsenal have confirmed that the supporter who threw a banana at Brazilian striker Neymar was a German national sitting in a section made up of official Brazilian ticket holders. Neymar complained that he was subject to racist chants after scoring both goals in Brazil's 2-0 win at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium on Sunday, resulting in a banana being thrown onto the pitch. However, on Monday both the Metropolitan Police and the Scottish Football Association praised the behavior of Scotland's fans, rejecting the claims that any racism had taken place. Will Neymar win 2014 World Cup for Brazil? Now the English Premier League club have issued a statement revealing that the culprit was not a Scottish supporter. The statement read: "After consultation with the Metropolitan Police, Arsenal Football Club can confirm that a German teenage tourist has admitted throwing a banana onto the pitch during the Brazil v Scotland international friendly at Emirates Stadium on Sunday. "The youngster was sitting in the North Bank of Emirates Stadium, an area of the stadium which was occupied by the official allocation of tickets to Brazil supporters, when he threw the banana onto the pitch during the second half of the match. "The Metropolitan Police is satisfied there was no racist intent and have confirmed that no further action will be taken on this matter." The statement backs up the claims of the Scottish Football Association (SFA), who had issued their own statement on Monday denying any racist actions from their supporters. The SFA statement read: "There was no evidence of such instances but the Scotland supporters have confirmed they booed the player for perceived unsporting behaviour during the match. "The tens of thousands of Scotland fans who travelled to London were, in fact, commended for creating a carnival atmosphere not just inside the stadium but across the city throughout the weekend." | Arsenal confirm a banana thrown at Neymar came from a German fan .
The teenage supporter was sitting in a section reserved for Brazilian ticket holders .
Neymar complained of racist abuse during Brazil's 2-0 win over Scotland at Emirates Stadium . |
66,618 | bcf3745c27ca4a6dbea811d710cfc81653be3bd8 | Washington (CNN) -- Democratic and Republican leaders don't see eye to eye on much these days. But political veterans on both sides of the aisle do agree on one point -- the stakes are high in the rapidly approaching 2014 midterm races. For Democrats, the midterms are all about holding their slim Senate majority and, if possible, defying historical odds by retaking the House of Representatives. They want to give President Barack Obama a working congressional majority for his last two years in office to help secure his legacy and lay the best possible groundwork for the party's standard bearer in 2016. For Republicans, it's the polar opposite. 2014 is all about finally realizing their maddeningly elusive goal of recapturing the Senate while also boosting their House majority, ensuring Obama's a powerless lame duck, and pounding away at presidential accomplishments like the Affordable Care Act in the run-up to 2016. Poll: Voters split over Republicans, Democrats in 2014 . Which party will come out on top next year? It's too early to know. But here are seven key factors to keep in mind: . 1. Obamacare . Republicans have promised to keep this issue front and center throughout 2014. And the botched rollout of the HealthCare.gov website -- combined with news of canceled insurance policies and problems with the new exchanges -- has given the GOP plenty of ammunition. The number of Americans citing health care as the country's biggest problem recently jumped seven percentage points -- from 12% in October to 19% in November -- according to Gallup. Meanwhile, the public's opinion of Obamacare has soured. Net disapproval of Obamacare jumped from three points (44% approval versus 47% disapproval) in October to 15 points (40% approval versus 55% disapproval) in November, according to Gallup. Pelosi defends Obamacare claims, can't predict effect on 2014 . This month, Democrats came close to losing a gubernatorial race in Virginia that most analysts believed they'd win easily. Why? Part of the reason appeared to be Obamacare's sinking numbers. More than a quarter of Virginia voters said health care -- a traditional Democratic strength -- was their most important issue. They narrowly broke for the Republican nominee. Congressional Democrats are spooked. Thirty-nine of them voted last week for a GOP bill that would let insurers continue to offer policies not in compliance with the minimum standards outlined in the Affordable Care Act. Obamacare rattles Democrats with midterms looming . "Even if the Obama administration fixes Obamacare in the near term or before November 2014, this ineptitude ... has shaken voter confidence in government to its core," said Brown University political scientist Wendy Schiller. "Democrats have relied on government solutions to a wide range of problems to win campaigns. I believe that strategy is now threatened and the Democrats will have to work on their policy messaging for November 2014 if they want to hang onto the Senate." GOP taints 2014 Democrats with Obama health care pledge . 2. Shutdown fatigue . How badly did the Republican party hurt itself during the recent government shutdown? For the first time since the GOP won back the House in 2010, a majority of Americans said in mid-October they believe GOP control of the House is bad for the country. A majority of Americans -- 54% -- had a negative view of Republican control of the House, up 11 points since last year, according to a CNN/ORC poll. The question now is whether voters' collective memory of the shutdown has been eclipsed by Obamacare's problems. "The GOP has to avoid the kinds of disastrous politics that surrounded the recent government shutdown and debt ceiling fights," Schiller said. "They have to appear more rational, reasoned and caring as a national party." "Ironically," she added, "the GOP leadership looks more justified (now) in calling for a delay in Obamacare but their tactics were so extreme that voters are still wary of them." Top GOP congressional leaders are promising there won't be another shutdown, but will they be able to control their rank and file? And if they can't, will that play into Democratic charges that the GOP is now a party under the control of its extreme fringe? 3. The economy . It seems like common sense. If your bank account's hurting, the president's party is hurting. If you're doing well, the president's party does well. Except that this isn't always the case. Real Clear Politics' Sean Trende said it best four years ago: . "Is the President pursuing an unpopular war and controversial policies at home (Lyndon Johnson in 1966, George W. Bush in 2006)? Then it probably doesn't matter that the economy is blazing ahead. Is the President waging a successful war and getting ready to take out a longtime nemesis (George W. Bush in 2002)? The public is going to be more forgiving of the sluggish growth in real disposable income and rising unemployment. "The bottom line is that every election becomes something of an explainable, unique event." That said, some of the worst midterm losses for the president's party -- 1930, 1938, 1946, 1958, 1974, 1982, 2010 -- occurred during or shortly after a downturn. "A bad recession occurring close to a midterm election isn't a necessary condition for a disastrous midterm election, but it seems to be sufficient," Trende notes. There are special factors at play in every election cycle, but all things being equal the Democrats should be in better shape if the economy's in better shape. Republicans should be in better shape if the economy's in worse shape. No. 2 Democrat says GOP could easily lose House . 4. Six-year itch . One of the biggest factors working in the GOP's favor next year could be the simple fact that Americans are ready for a change six years into a Democratic presidency. The president's party almost always loses congressional seats in the sixth year of his term. Almost. The one recent exception to this rule came in 1998, in the midst of an apparent voter backlash against the Clinton impeachment. Could GOP overreach on Obamacare or other issues create the perfect storm for another exception in 2014? 5. Gerrymandering in the House . While all 435 House seats are up in 2014, the reality is that the overwhelming majority of those seats will not be seriously contested. The art of gerrymandering has evolved into a virtual science over the last couple of decades, leading to greater incumbent protection and a much smaller political playing field. CNN has tentatively identified 45 House races to watch in 2014 -- 25 Democratic seats and 20 Republican seats. Given the fact that the Democrats now hold 200 seats (201 assuming they hold Ed Markey's open Massachusetts seat), virtually everything would have to break the Democrats' way for them to recapture the House. 6. Who turns out? Midterm turnout is typically lower, which translates to whiter, older, and more Republican. Core GOP constituencies are more likely to turn out at the midterm polls. Take a look, for example, at the most recent two election cycles. The electorate in 2012 was 72% white, 16% age 65 or older and 53% Protestant. Forty-two percent of voters attended religious services weekly. In 2010, the electorate was 77% white, 21% age 65 or older and 55% Protestant. Forty-eight percent of voters attended religious services weekly. All four of these groups vote solidly Republican. If 2014 turns out to be a "typical" midterm in this respect, it will be a critical advantage for the Republicans. 7. Electability versus purity . Republicans have been burned over the last couple of election cycles by primaries that led to the nomination of sub-par general election candidates. In 2010, the GOP blew great opportunities to win Democratic Senate seats in Colorado, Delaware, and Nevada when they nominated three tea party favorites -- Ken Buck, Christine O'Donnell and Sharron Angle -- who subsequently stumbled and proved unacceptable to larger general election electorates. In 2012, the Republicans tossed away a safe GOP seat when six-term moderate Sen. Richard Lugar lost his primary fight to more conservative state Treasurer Richard Mourdock. Democrats pounced on remarks Mourdock made during the general election suggesting that pregnancies resulting from rape are "something God intended." The seat was ultimately won by Democratic nominee Joe Donnelly. In Missouri, Republicans lost a golden opportunity to oust vulnerable Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill last year when GOP nominee Rep. Todd Akin declared that in instances of "legitimate rape" a woman's body "has ways to try to shut that whole thing down." McCaskill trounced Akin by roughly 15 points. In 2014, GOP primary voters will help decide more Senate and House where conservative tea party candidates have been pitted against Republican establishment types. One of the most notable of these contests is happening in Kentucky, where Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is facing off against tea party favorite Matt Bevin. This is not to say that the establishment choice is always the best one for Republicans. It's not. And the grassroots energy provided by tea party activists is critical to GOP chances. But the lesson of recent cycles shouldn't be ignored in 2014. Primaries matter. Battle for the House in 2014: Obamacare vs. shutdown . | Obamacare fiasco has shaken voter confidence in Democrats' government solutions .
Will voters' memories of October shutdown be eclipsed by Obamacare a year from now?
Worst losses have occurred to president's party during or shortly after economic slowdown .
Could GOP overreach on Obamacare or other issues break cycle of six-year itch? |
73,389 | d0114c7c73d5f76bad7dc408652671f53dcb30c8 | Istanbul, Turkey (CNN) -- The score was tied at the start of the game's second half. Nigeria and Cameroon had both scored three goals apiece. "I'm getting so nervous, no doubt about that," said Chukwunonso Favour. He was on his feet with the rest of the crowd in the Nigerian section of the stands, surrounded by a rowdy group of fans who were beating traditional African drums, banging cowbells, dancing and singing syncopated chants in support of their team. Just a few meters away, a more subdued group of Cameroonian supporters was also standing and cheering, one of them waving a Cameroonian flag. The two teams had history. Nigeria and Cameroon faced each other in the finals during last year's tournament, with the Nigerians ultimately capturing the championship. Despite the intensely competitive game, Favour was thrilled that the gathering demonstrated a show of African unity for expats in Turkey. "It's a good time, it's a time of happiness," said the Nigerian, who runs an import-export business. "It's an important thing for us to do here in Istanbul, to make Africans happy and show that we are all one, that all blacks are still one wherever we are." This is the African Community Football Championship -- an annual tournament held in the heart of Turkey's largest city, and thousands of miles from the homelands of the competition's players and fans. For a few afternoons in the summer, these games give Istanbul's African community -- which isn't always made to feel welcome here -- a chance to feel at home. And with the exception of the occasional interruption of the call to prayer from a nearby mosque and the line of curious Turks watching the match through the outer fence, for a few moments the stadium looked and sounded like a pocket of West Africa -- especially when the Nigerian players danced, some of them waving their shin-pads in the air, while performing a full-throated song in the crowded locker room before the match. "The way the country is, the way life for Africans here is -- this is the only place we ever get to come together to have fun," said Taju Hamza, one of the Nigerian-born organizers of the championship. When he first helped launch the Africa cup nearly a decade ago, he could barely raise enough money to rent the field. On at least one occasion in the early days, police were summoned to restore order, after the sudden influx of large numbers of Africans for a cup game raised tensions with residents here in Ferikoy, a working class neighborhood in the center of Istanbul. Women's football in Turkey . But after eight years, the championship has become a tradition that has attracted sponsorship from local businesses and even Turkish talent scouts and sports columnists. More importantly, Hamza said the games offer a chance to better integrate new waves of African immigrants showing up on Istanbul's shores. "This competition is a platform whereby you educate the new ones coming not to be involved in illegal things like crime," Hamza said. "We are concentrated on the community, those who are legal here and those who are not legal...trying to educate them." Turkey is a major gateway for migrants who struggle to illegally cross its Western borders and reach Europe. According to Turkish police statistics, authorities caught more than 32,000 illegal immigrants in Turkey in 2010 alone. Migration experts and human rights activists estimate more than 300,000 people try to smuggle themselves through this backdoor to Europe every year. How match fixing ruined the beautiful game . The majority of the migrants are from the Middle East, as well as central and southern Asia. While Afghans, Iranians and Arabs have little trouble blending in with Turkish society, Africans represent a visible and often persecuted minority of the foreign migrant population. "There is a sort of double-marginalization that African migrants are confronted with, which is the discrimination and mistreatment that is sometimes directed at them by local populations, combined with a lack of protection from the police or actual violence that is directed at them by the police," said Rachel Levitan, a lawyer and co-founder of the first legal clinic to defend refugee rights in Istanbul. She pointed to the case of Festus Okey, a Nigerian immigrant who was shot dead after being taken into custody in an Istanbul police station in 2007. Stenciled portraits in memory of the slain Nigerian are still spray-painted on some streets and alleys of Istanbul. A police officer is facing charges of negligent homicide in a Turkish court, but to date, Turkish authorities have not convicted anyone in connection with the killing. Levitan said Istanbul's Africa Cup marked a success for integration of the African community in at least one sector of Turkish society -- football. "It is an incredible sense of progress over the last eight years that this tournament has been going on, because it started out with a really scrappy group of guys playing football and it has developed into something that is a very significant sporting event that has been sponsored," Levitan said. At least one of the Turks watching the Nigeria-Cameroon match described himself as a fan of the annual African immigrant championship. Women's football in Africa . Taxi driver Ahmet Ozkan, 66, said he had been coming to see the Africans play for the last five years. "Sometimes I even watch them training in the morning. I like their football and I like them as people," Ozkan said. Not all the Turks were as enthusiastic about the African players and fans. "They litter. Sound-wise, they make noise and shout in ways we don't understand and scare small children," said Oktay Kabatas, a 22-year-old Turkish university student who watched the match through the bars of the stadium. "But their football is nice. It is joyful." Like many of the players competing in Istanbul's Africa cup, Hamza, the tournament's Nigerian organizer, first came to this city with dreams of breaking into professional Turkish football. Instead, he found himself engaged in community activism and working for a local company. From the sidelines of the match, where he commanded a team of volunteer security guards with the help of a walkie-talkie, Hamza said he too had been subjected to harassment from Turkish police in the past. "There was a lot of harassment," Hamza said, adding "but now things are better." Hamza also took comfort in the fact that some of the tournament's players had gone on to play for professional Turkish football clubs. Fans spilled out of the stadium into the streets after the Nigeria-Cameroon match ended in a 3-3 draw. Later in the summer, the two teams battled again, this time for third place in the championship. Nigeria ended up winning 4-1. The winner of this year's African Community Football Championship was Ghana, which edged out Ethiopia in a 2-1 victory. CNN's Yesim Comert and Dan Morgan contributed to this report . | Africans play for national sides in soccer competition that has atrracted widespread Turkish interest .
Tournament started in a rented field; now professional scouts can be watching .
Competition sees expat Africans in Turkey playing for their national team .
It gives players and fans a chance to bond and create a little bit of Africa in Istanbul . |
54,590 | 9aa437b269d60b161be0462348f82ffd5906b3bd | Couples who decide to get healthy together are more likely to be successful, suggests a new study. Researchers found people are more successful in taking up healthy habits if their partner makes positive changes too. Scientists at University College London (UCL) looked at how likely people were to quit smoking, start being active, or lose weight in relation to what their partner did. Scroll down for video . Scientists at University College London (UCL) looked at how likely people were to quit smoking, start being active, or lose weight in relation to what their partner did . The findings, published in the journal Internal Medicine, show that people were more successful in swapping bad habits for good ones if their partner made a change as well. Among women who smoked, 50 per cent managed to quit if their partner gave up smoking too at the same time, compared with 17 per cent of women whose partners were already non-smokers, and eight per cent of those whose partners were regular smokers. The study found that men were equally affected by their partners and were more likely to quit smoking, get active, or lose weight if their partner made the same behaviour change. The research looked at 3,722 couples, either married or living together and over the age of 50. Researchers found people are more successful in taking up healthy habits if their partner makes positive changes too . Study co-author Professor Jane Wardle, director of Cancer Research UK's Health Behaviour Research Centre at UCL, said: 'Unhealthy lifestyles are a leading cause of death from chronic disease worldwide. 'The key lifestyle risks are smoking, excess weight, physical inactivity, poor diet, and alcohol consumption. 'Swapping bad habits for good ones can reduce the risk of disease, including cancer.' Dr Sarah Jackson, lead author of the study at UCL, said: 'Now is the time to make New Year's resolutions to quit smoking, take exercise, or lose weight. 'And doing it with your partner increases your chances of success.' Dr Julie Sharp, Cancer Research UK's head of health information, said: 'Making lifestyle changes can make a big difference to our health and cancer risk. 'And this study shows that when couples make those changes together they are more likely to succeed. 'Getting some support can help people take up good habits. For example if you want to lose weight and have a friend or colleague who's trying to do the same thing you could encourage each other by joining up for a run or a swim at lunchtime or after work. 'And local support such as stop smoking services are very effective at helping people to quit. 'Keeping healthy by not smoking, maintaining a healthy body weight and being active can all lower the risk of cancer, and the more people can help and encourage each other the better.' | Scientists at University College London tested couples giving up habits .
Looked at how likely people were to quit smoking, lose weight and be fitter .
50% of female smokers were able to give up if their partner did too .
Compared with 17% of women whose partners were already non-smokers . |
47,088 | 84b0aff1716a843e961991ad55aacd117a964af2 | Vasagel, pictured, is a 'polymer hydrogel' which is injected into the tube which sperm pass through to reach the penis, blocking it rather than cutting it as in a vasectomy . Men could be using long-lasting birth control - which doesn’t involve condoms - within the next three years, according to a not-for-profit organisation. Trials of a new male birth control injection, Vasalgel, are showing promising results. Developers hope the new drug will be cheap, reversible and long-lasting. Vasalgel is a 'polymer hydrogel' that is injected into the vas deferens - the tube that sperm passes through on the way to the penis. The gel acts to block sperm, thus preventing pregnancy. It is being developed by the Parsemus Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation who develop low-cost medical solutions. They said the procedure has the same effect as a vasectomy, but is less invasive as surgery is not required because the vas deferens is blocked with the gel, rather than cut. They hope the new contraceptive will be affordable, adding they want it to cost 'less than a flat screen TV'. During current trials on baboons, three males were injected with the Vasalgel contraceptive. Each baboon was then left living with 10 to 15 female baboons. After six months, no female baboons became pregnant, although the trial is not quite over. By the end of the year, the Parsemus Foundation said they will have a lot more information on whether Vasalgel is effective. They added that if all goes well they will be planning for clinical trials with humans to start next year. It is also more reversible, they said. If a man wants his sperm unblocked, another polymer gel can be injected to flush out the Vasalgel that is blocking the sperm. The product is based on another male contraceptive being developed, which is called RISUG. Both RISUG and Vasalgel work on the principle of using a gel to block the vas deferens, but are formulated differently. While the Parsemus Foundation have not said how long a Vasalgel injection would last as a contraceptive, a RISUG injection is said to last 10 years. Men could be using long-lasting and reversible contraceptive Vasalgel within three years if clinical trials go well . A spokesperson from the Parsemus Foundation said: ‘We want to get Vasalgel on the market as soon as possible, but all the proper efficacy and safety testing needs to be completed. ‘Vasalgel is currently in animal testing, with human trials expected to start in early 2015and 2015-2016 (larger trials). 'If everything goes well and with enough public support, we hope to get Vasalgel on the market in 2016-2017.’ The Parsemus Foundation will be asking for public donations to fund the clinical trials on humans next year. Another male contraceptive in early stages of development is the ‘clean sheets’ or ‘dry orgasm’ pill. This is a drug that could be taken before sex which leads to a semen-free orgasm. The orgasm feels the same but semen is not released. Developers intend to design a drug which will take effect within a few hours of being ingested, which will wear off within 24 hours. A man could take this pill only as needed before having sex. Researchers said this could also be effective in reducing the transmission of HIV from male to their partners. Kings College London researchers Dr Nnaemeka Amobi and Dr Christopher Smith are seeking partnership with a pharmaceutical company, which should speed the process of bringing a product to market. | Vasalgel is a gel that is injected into the vas deferens as a contraceptive .
Vas deferens is the tube that sperm pass through on the way to the penis .
The gel blocks the tube, meaning sperm cannot be released .
Trials of the gel involving baboons have been promising .
Contraceptive is long-acting and reversible .
Developers Parsemus Foundation say there will be clinical trials next year .
They want it to cost 'less than a flat screen TV' |
234,201 | bb3316c472d662320b59c5e765cd14a3dcadc620 | Looking uncannily like an Egyptian pyramid, it is not something you would expect to see on the surface of Mars. Nasa engineers were so intrigued by the unique, football sized rock, they have driven the Curiosity rover up to it for a closer rock. The football-size rock will be the first on Mars to be examined by rover's robotic arm . Scroll down for video . The mysterious 'pyramid' rock on Mars Nasa engineers want to take a closer at. It will be the first test for Curiosity's robot arm which contains several analysis instruments. Nasa has named the rock after the late . engineer Jacob Matijevic, who was the surface operations systems chief . engineer for Mars Science Laboratory and the project's Curiosity rover. He passed away on August 20th, at age 64. Matijevic also was a leading engineer for all of the previous NASA Mars rovers: Sojourner, Spirit and Opportunity. Curiosity is about 8 feet (2.5 meters) from the rock. It lies about . halfway from the rover's landing site, Bradbury Landing, to a location . called Glenelg. The team plans to touch the rock with a . spectrometer to determine its elemental composition and use an . arm-mounted camera to take close-up photographs. Both the . arm-mounted Alpha Particle X-Ray Spectrometer and the mast-mounted, . laser-zapping Chemistry and Camera Instrument will be used for . identifying elements in the rock. Nasa hopes this will give them a new insight into the structure of the red planet, and also allow cross-checking of the . two instruments. The rock has been named 'Jake Matijevic' after a Nasa employee who recently passed away. It has previously renamed the rover's landing site as 'Bradbury Landing' after the late sci-fi author ray Bradbury . Curiosity now has driven for six days in a row. Daily distances range from 72 feet to 121 feet (22 meters to 37 meters). 'This robot was built to rove, and the team is really getting a good rhythm of driving day after day when that's the priority," said Mars Science Laboratory Project Manager Richard Cook of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena. The team plans to choose a rock in . the Glenelg area for the rover's first use of its capability to analyze . powder drilled from interiors of rocks. Three . types of terrain intersect in the Glenelg area -- one lighter-toned and . another more cratered than the terrain Curiosity currently is crossing. The light-toned area . is of special interest because it retains daytime heat long into the . night, suggesting an unusual composition. 'As . we're getting closer to the light-toned area, we see thin, dark bands . of unknown origin,' said Mars Science Laboratory Project Scientist John . Grotzinger of the California Institute of Technology, Pasadena. The route driven by NASA's Mars rover Curiosity since it landed on the Red Planet. The Glenelg area farther east is the mission's first major science destination. 'The smaller-scale diversity is becoming more evident as we get closer, providing more potential targets for investigation.' Researchers are using Curiosity's Mast Camera (Mastcam) to find potential targets on the ground. Recent new images from the rover's camera reveal dark streaks on rocks in the Glenelg area that have increased researchers' interest in the area. In addition to taking ground images, the camera also has been busy looking upward. On two recent days, Curiosity pointed the Mastcam at the sun and recorded images of Mars' two moons, Phobos and Deimos, passing in front of the sun from the rover's point of view. Results of these transit observations are part of a long-term study of changes in the moons' orbits. NASA's twin Mars Exploration Rovers, Spirit and Opportunity, which arrived at Mars in 2004, also have observed solar transits by Mars' moons. Opportunity is doing so again this week. This mosaic from the Mast Camera on NASA's Curiosity rover shows a close-up view looking toward the "Glenelg" area, where three different terrain types come together, and where Curiosity is headed. 'Phobos is in an orbit very slowly getting closer to Mars, and Deimos is in an orbit very slowly getting farther from Mars,' said Curiosity's science team co-investigator Mark Lemmon of Texas A&M University, College Station. 'These observations help us reduce uncertainty in calculations of the changes.' In Curiosity's observations of Phobos this week, the time when the edge of the moon began overlapping the disc of the sun was predictable to within a few seconds. Uncertainty in timing is because Mars' interior structure isn't fully understood. Phobos causes small changes to the shape of Mars in the same way Earth's moon raises tides. The changes to Mars' shape depend on the Martian interior which, in turn, cause Phobos' orbit to decay. Timing the orbital change more precisely provides information about Mars' interior structure. During Curiosity's two-year prime mission, researchers will use the rover's 10 science instruments to assess whether the selected field site inside Gale Crater ever has offered environmental conditions favorable for microbial life. The Curiosity rover observes the moon Phobos grazing the sun's disk on Martian day, or sol, 37 (September 13, 2012) | Football sized rock will be the first test for Curiosity's robot arm .
Instruments will touch the rock with a .
spectrometer to determine its elemental composition and use an .
arm-mounted camera to take close-up photographs . |
26,201 | 4a42e7a4a7fdfad2ba288adb0f5b24fe0478774a | (CNN) -- It's the end of an era at New York radio station Hot 97. The hip-hop and R&B station is losing one of its major talents, Angie Martinez, who has abruptly jumped ship to rival station Power 105, the Washington Post reports. Martinez, who had been with Hot 97 for more than 20 years and is a favorite of hip-hop fans and performers alike, posted about her departure on social media. "Today I resigned from HOT97," she posted. "I am grateful to the Emmis family for my time with the company and the immeasurable way that it has shaped my life. We made history together in so many ways and I will cherish those memories and my friendships forever." Calling it "one of the toughest decisions I've ever had to make," Martinez went on to thank her fan base. "Thank you HOT97 and most importantly....the listeners... for an unimaginable journey," she wrote. Very quickly, the morning crew from Power 105 tweeted, welcoming Martinez aboard. "Welcome @angiemartinez the 'Voice of New York' to @Power1051 !," they wrote. The two stations have been rivals for years. Martinez will reportedly also be heard on The Beat in Miami. | Martinez has been with Hot 97 for decades .
She announces on Instagram that she's leaving the station .
A rival station tweets back to welcome her . |
254,120 | d4e8293a5059fa594a3eb9379c066e27753ec601 | By . Mark Duell . PUBLISHED: . 06:53 EST, 19 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 11:46 EST, 19 August 2013 . A 13-year-old boy was seriously injured after being attacked by a dog as he visited his cousin. The boy was reportedly dragged downstairs by the animal while visiting a relative yesterday and attacked in the kitchen of the terrace house in the Little Horton area of Bradford, West Yorkshire. Police were called to the house at 7.26pm yesterday and had to shoot the animal so paramedics could treat the boy, who suffered serious neck injuries and has been named locally as Luca. Incident: A man stands outside the house in Little Horton where police were called and had to shoot the dog so paramedics could treat the boy, who suffered serious neck injuries . Horrific: The boy was reportedly dragged downstairs by the animal while visiting a relative yesterday and attacked in the kitchen of the terrace house in the Little Horton area of Bradford, West Yorkshire . During the ten-minute attack, . the dog is believed to have dragged him down stairs and into the . kitchen, while people nearby tried to rescue him as he shouted: ‘I’m . going to die, I’m going to die.’ At the end-of-terrace house where a . 13-year-old boy was attacked by a dog, two men and a woman . appeared to be cleaning today. They . wore blue rubber gloves and carried mops and buckets into the house, as . well as putting black liners full of rubbish into bins. Later, one of . them took their other dog, Coco, for a walk. Asked . what had happened, one of the men claimed the teenager, named as Luca, was . antagonising the dog. He said: ‘We only got the dog on Friday, we didn’t . know what it was like. ‘It . was an American Bulldog called Patch. Luca had come round on Sunday and . was teasing the dog, provoking it. I told him to stop it, but he . didn’t.’ Location: The incident happened on Frank Street in the Little Horton area of Bradford, West Yorkshire . House: A man leans out of his upstairs window at the property in Bradford where the boy was attacked . One person on the street said there was ‘blood everywhere’ in the property after the attack. 'Luca had come round on Sunday and was teasing the dog, provoking it. I told him to stop it, but he didn't' Man at house . Two women who live nearby said the . alarm was raised when a girl who was also at the house ran to the door . screaming. One of the women told how her partner tried to help the boy. She . said: ‘I’ve heard that the boy was upstairs and the dog managed to get . upstairs somehow. The dog was just attacking him and there were two . girls there. They were just screaming and shouting. ‘They . thought the dog might be trying to get them too. Dean, my partner, went . in and heard what was happening. He saw the little boy lying on the . floor and the dog was attacking him. Scene: A man walks a dog on the street in Bradford where the 13-year-old boy named as Luca was attacked . Breed: A man claimed that the dog involved in the attack was an American Bulldog (file picture) called Patch . ‘He didn’t know what to do, so he hit the dog with a shovel just to try and get him off the little boy and he started kicking him. The dog kept on going back to the boy who was trying to get away. 'My partner didn't know what to do, so he hit the dog with a shovel just to try and get him off the little boy' Witness . ‘The little boy managed to drag himself upstairs. He was crying and was saying, “I’m going to die, I’m going to die”. Dean said to him, “Get upstairs and shut that door”. Luckily he managed to do that. ‘When he got upstairs he was dizzy and his eyes were all over the place,’ the woman said, adding that the boy then passed out. ‘Dean didn’t even let the police in, he shoved them out. ‘He said, “You don’t want to be in there”. The police shot the dog twice so that they could get in. They couldn’t get upstairs with it there. The little boy was in danger. Even the police said if it wasn’t for Dean, the boy could be dead.’ Response: A police community support officer stands with his bicycle near where the dog attack happened . Attack: Two people are pictured outside the house on Frank Street, in the Little Horton area of Bradford . The woman, who reported the attack and did not wish to be named, said that the dog had been given to a family on the road, Frank Street, just two or three days earlier. 'Dean' was labelled a 'real hero' by one neighbour. And Katrina Green, who lives nearby, said she heard sirens and other commotion in the street and did not know what was happening. 'The police shot the dog twice so that they could get in. They couldn’t get upstairs with it there' Witness . ‘We thought it was a murder at first,’ she said, ‘or that it was a fight. I'm really shocked. It's not the . dog's fault, it's how they bring them up.’ A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said the incident was being investigated and confirmed that the dog, whose breed has not been confirmed, had been shot dead. A police statement said: ‘The child was then taken to Leeds General Infirmary where his condition is this morning described as stable, with injuries which are not believed to be life threatening. 'Enquiries are now ongoing as to the breed of the dog and to establish whether any criminal offence has been committed.’ | Boy dragged downstairs by the animal while visiting a relative yesterday .
Attacked in kitchen of a terrace house in Little Horton area of Bradford .
Police had to shoot dog so paramedics could treat boy, named as Luca .
Man at property says dog involved was American Bulldog called Patch .
Claims teenager was teasing and provoking dog before attack happened .
Man hailed hero after going into house and fighting animal with a shovel . |
46,762 | 83c2669e0e319a1a80de38b139348fef728d810a | MPs condemned the commission, which now faces a fresh investigation . By . Steve Doughty . PUBLISHED: . 19:07 EST, 3 June 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 02:51 EST, 4 June 2013 . The Cup Trust was granted charitable status - a move approved by the regulator's controversial then-chairman Dame Suzi Leather . The Charity Commission was accused of ‘unacceptable’ and ‘damaging’ failures yesterday for allowing a huge tax avoidance scam to masquerade as a children’s charity. The Cup Trust was granted charitable status – a move approved by the regulator’s controversial then-chairman Dame Suzi Leather – despite a lack of checks, MPs said. Its decision was made even though the trust was set up in the British Virgin Islands by a company whose directors were known tax avoidance specialists. The affair was the ‘tip of the iceberg’ of fake charities exploiting charity tax law, the Public Accounts Committee said. MPs condemned the commission, which now faces a fresh investigation, for ‘lack of rigour’ in policing rogue organisations over the past 25 years. Their report follows a series of political rows over the commission’s priorities following Dame Suzi’s appointment in 2006. The 57-year-old Labour Party member was handed 13 prominent quango jobs after Tony Blair’s 1997 election victory. The Charity Commission role, which she quit last summer, paid £80,000 for a three-day week. The Cup Trust applied for charitable status in 2009. But it was a front for a £176million tax avoidance scam which the Charity Commission did not begin investigating until a year later. The trust spent only £55,000 on charitable causes but tried to claim £46million in charity tax relief. MPs said that it was ‘unacceptable’ that the Cup Trust was ever registered as a charity. ‘My committee does not believe the Cup Trust ever met the legal criteria to qualify as a registered charity,’ said committee chairman Margaret Hodge. ‘Its purpose was to avoid UK tax. ‘The trust’s true purpose might have been easily detected by the Charity Commission had they carried out more checks before registration, including with HM Revenue & Customs.’ The scandal had damaged the reputation of the commission and the charity sector, she said. ‘It was only after it had registered the trust as a new charity that the commission found out that it had been set up by people active in tax avoidance schemes. The commission has investigated but a year later its findings have not been published.’ The Charity Commission said last night: ‘We regularly share information with HM Revenue & Customs. We are discussing better ways to work together to tackle abuse of charity. ‘We are targeting our resources on the areas of highest risk, with a particular emphasis on tackling fraud, terrorist abuse and risks to vulnerable beneficiaries. ‘We have strengthened our board with new members with considerable experience of regulation in such areas.’ Committee chairman Margaret Hodge said that the committee did noy believe the Cup Trust ever met the legal criteria to qualify as a registered charity . The Cup Trust was launched by tax avoidance expert Matthew Jenner, who in the past has numbered comedian Jimmy Carr, former Radio 1 DJ Chris Moyles and Coronation Street star William Roache among the associates of his companies. Mr Jenner’s interests have also included pawnbroking and debt collection agencies, and used car businesses. The Trust has operated by borrowing large sums from banks and using the money to buy gilts, government bonds which attract no capital gains tax or stamp duty when traded. The gilts are then sold to wealthy investors for a tiny token sum. The investors sell the gilts on the open market for the proper price. They then give the proceeds back to the charity, which takes six per cent in fees. The money is used to pay back the Trust’s bank borrowings. Investors can then claim Gift Aid, which can amount to between £250,000 and £375,000 in tax relief for every million ‘donated’ to the charity. Dame Suzi, 57, who was made Dame in 2006, is a Labour party member who was handed a series of prominent quango jobs after Labour’s 1997 election victory. She quit as chairman of the Charity Commission last summer. The job, which paid £80,000 for a three-day week, was one of three quango posts and three posts on committees running state institutions which she held last year. She has since 1997 run or been a member of 13 quangos and boards, alongside a post as Deputy Lieutenant of Devon. Her replacement at the Commission, William Shawcross, has also come under criticism from MPs, in particular for the Commission’s decision to ban a Plymouth Brethren church from charity status on the grounds that it did not do enough for the public good. The Charity Commission said yesterday that it has opened an inquiry into an organisation called The Public Safety Charitable Trust. The body rented 1,500 empty buildings at peppercorn rents and installed wi-fi transmitters to broadcast public safety messages. Landlords then claimed they did not need to pay business rates because the buildings were used for charitable purposes. Three councils who said the charity was a tax avoidance scheme won a High Court case allowing them to recover tax last month. | Cup Trust directors were known tax avoidance specialists .
Move approved by regulator’s controversial then-chairman Suzi Leather .
MPs condemned the commission, which now faces a fresh investigation . |
136,472 | 3c8ad4b5daa02a0a67b0dc813d13dca8105ca3ff | (CNN)Days after gunmen reigned terror in France, more answers are emerging in the case -- while many remain uncertain. Millions rallied in Paris against terrorism and extremism over the weekend. Thousands of police officers and at least 10,000 soldiers are being deployed across France. And the remaining suspect in last week's terror attacks remains on the loose. And the shooting of a random jogger Wednesday has reportedly been linked to the spate of violence that included the attack at French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, the deadly siege at a kosher store and the killing of a policewoman. Here's the latest on the investigation, the response and the lingering threat: . Astonishing sight: More than 3.7 million people marched throughout France in colossal anti-terrorism rallies Sunday. French officials say the outpouring was the largest gathering in the country's history. Notable absence: Forty world leaders marched in solidarity at the Paris event, but neither President Barack Obama nor any other high-ranking U.S. official was there. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry was in India, attending an entrepreneurship summit. Kerry said Monday he'll be headed to France on Thursday and called the criticism against the administration "sort of quibbling." "The U.S. has been deeply engaged with the people of France since this incident occurred," Kerry said. White House spokesman Josh Earnest said Monday, "I think it's fair to say that we should have sent someone with a higher profile to be there." Surprising gesture: Among those condemning the attack included the Palestinian militant group Hamas, which the United States and others consider a terrorist organization. "The difference of opinions and thoughts cannot justify murder," the group said over the weekend. But Hamas didn't specifically condemn the attack on the Jewish supermarket that left four people dead. Fighting back: Just as they promised to do, hackers claiming to be with the group Anonymous say they have blocked a jihadist website in retaliation for the attack. The website ansar-alhaqq.net, a French jihadist site, was redirected to the search engine Duck Duck Go. Hackers using the Twitter handle @OpCharlieHebdo claimed responsibility. Going home: The bodies of the four Jewish victims in the deadly standoff at the kosher market in eastern Paris will be taken to Israel for burial. The funerals will take place Tuesday. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also said any Jews who want to immigrate to Israel will be welcome. Ever vigilant: At least 10,000 soldiers and 8,000 police officers will be deployed across France as it elevates its national security alert system to the highest level. Prime Minister Manuel Valls said an estimated 4,700 officers will be tasked with securing 717 Jewish schools. "We must remain vigilant because the threat is still very much present," Valls told CNN affiliate BFMTV. Sleeper cells: French police were told Saturday that sleeper cells had been activated over the past 24 hours inside France, terror expert Samuel Laurent said he was told by a police source. He said officers were told to erase all visible online presence on social media and keep their weapons on themselves at all times. Newspaper firebombed: Hamburger Morgenpost, a German newspaper that reprinted the Charlie Hebdo cartoons, was firebombed early Sunday. The incendiary device was thrown into the archive section of the building. No one was inside at the time. Another newspaper -- Le Soir in Belgium -- was evacuated after someone called in a bomb threat. Ripple effect: The head of the British MI5 intelligence service issued a warning that al Qaeda is plotting to massacre a huge number of civilians in Britain and other Western countries. And the New York Police Department told officers to remain alert after someone re-released a September ISIS message that tells followers to "rise up and kill intelligence officers, police officers, soldiers, and civilians." The threat specifically named the United States, France, Australia and Canada as targets. In all, 17 people were massacred by at least three terror suspects over three days. • The first terror attack Wednesday killed 12 people at the Charlie Hebdo office in Paris. • The next day, a French policewoman was gunned down. • On the third and final day, four hostages were killed when a terrorist seized a Jewish grocery. A fourth attack? Did Amedy Coulibaly, who took customers and workers hostage at a kosher market in eastern Paris on Friday, also shoot a jogger earlier in the week? Paris prosecutor Francois Molins said the attacks on the jogger Wednesday and the supermarket were linked after a ballistic analysis of the bullet casings, French media reported. But investigators can't confirm with certainty that it was Coulibaly who shot the jogger. The jogger is reportedly still in a hospital with life-threatening injuries. In all, four people are suspected in the Paris attacks: . • Brothers Cherif Kouachi, 32, and Said Kouachi, 34, who rampaged through the offices of Charlie Hebdo. Security forces killed them Friday, ending a widespread manhunt. • Amedy Coulibaly, 32, who took hostages at the kosher supermarket and is suspected of killing the policewoman. Authorities also killed him. • Hayat Boumeddiene, 26, is Coulibaly's partner and suspected co-conspirator. She remains at large. Linked together: Three of the four suspects were thought to be part of the same jihadist group, said Pascal Disant of the Alliance Police Union. Also, at least one suspect in the supermarket standoff demanded the freedom of the suspects in the Charlie Hebdo attack. Boumeddiene was not in France at the time of the attacks, according to Turkey's Anadolu news agency. She arrived in Turkey from Madrid on January 2, then traveled to Syria. The last place authorities spotted Boumeddiene was somewhere near Turkey's border with Syria. Valls told CNN that authorities are looking into whether Boumeddiene helped prepare the attacks before leaving France. Is AQAP involved? Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula has claimed responsibility for the attack at Charlie Hebdo, the founder of the magazine The Intercept told CNN. But CNN has not independently confirmed this assertion. Possible al-Awlaki tie: But U.S. authorities believe Charlie Hebdo attacker Said Kouachi may have met with the late American terrorist cleric Anwar al-Awlaki at some point in Yemen and received orders from al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula to carry out an attack, a U.S. official told CNN's Barbara's Starr. ISIS paraphernalia found: Investigators discovered ISIS flags, automatic weapons and detonators in an apartment near Paris rented by Coulibaly, France's RTL Radio reported Sunday, citing authorities. While Boumeddiene remains at large, her partner's hideaway may provide more clues about her. CNN's Tim Lister, Jethro Mullen, Catherine E. Shoichet, Faith Karimi, Alex Felton and Christine Theodorou contributed to this report. | A historic, massive rally took place Sunday in France .
Authorities are investigating an attack on a jogger . |
226,616 | b16c03fe692694fdc8a75ac896eeebfc7039dc33 | By . Lydia Warren for MailOnline . A millionaire real estate heir who was acquitted of murdering his neighbor ten years ago has appeared in court after he allegedly urinated on candy in a Texas CVS. Robert Durst, who was acquitted of the murder in 2003 after claiming self defense, was arrested in July for allegedly urinating over . $100 worth of candy - Skittles - at the register in a Houston store. On Friday, the 71-year-old appeared before a Harris County judge charged with criminal mischief. His court appearance was reset for September 16 and he remains free on a $5,000 bond. The bizarre incident unfolded when he walked in to the store to collect a prescription in July. Back to court: Robert Durst is pictured leaving a Houston courtroom on Friday, where he faced charges of crimincal mischief for urinating on candy at a CVS. It is just his latest brush with the law . Accused: Durst allegedly urinated on $100 worth of candy in July after getting in to an argument with staff . 'He picked . up his prescription, and he then exposes himself and pees all over the . cash register and candy at the register and then walks out and walks . down the street,' Houston police spokeswoman Jodi Silva told The New York Post at the time. 'He wasn't arguing with anybody and he didn't seem agitated. He just peed on the candy. Skittles, I think.' But Durst has been making headlines for years - first over his wife's mysterious disappearance and then over the murder of his elderly neighbor in 2001. His father, Seymour, was a New York real estate mogul who amassed billions . of dollars worth of commercial property in Manhattan. Robert, a . well-connected socialite, worked for his father's Durst . Organization for years as a developer. But he was estranged from his . family around 1994 after being passed over as heir to the company . leadership in favour of his brother Douglas. The . Houston Chronicle reported that in 2006 he finally won a $65 million . court settlement from his family, restoring a piece of his family . fortune. Questions: Durst, with his wife Kathleen Durst, was suspected to be responsible for her 1982 disappearance . Ten years earlier, Durst had gained infamy in New York . due to the mysterious disappearance of his wife, Kathie, and many believed the real estate scion had something to do with it. He was questioned in her murder - and in the murder of her friend when the case was re-opened in 2000 - but was never charged. He has now re-married, KTRK reported, but the identity of his new wife was not released. Then in September 2001, remnants of the body of Morris . Black, Durst's next-door neighbor in the boarding house where he was . living, were found floating in the Galveston Bay in . Galveston, Texas. A trail of blood led police back to an apartment being rented by a mute woman, . Dorothy Ciner - who was actually Durst in a dress. It emerged that Durst had gone into hiding for years, partially to escape the increasing inquiries about the death of his wife. Killer: Durst is pictured left in a police booking photo in 2001 after he was arrested for the murder of neighbor Morris Black, right. At the time of the killing, he had been crossdressing to conceal his real identity . Acquitted: He admitted to shooting and dismembering Black but claimed he had acted in self-defense after they argued over a gun. He was acquitted and served a year for tampering with evidence . After . spending a month on the run, Durst tried to steal a chicken . salad sandwich and a single a Band-Aid from a supermarket in . Philadelphia while wearing a blond mustache and was arrested. Durst . admitted to shooting Black and dismembering him before dumping the body parts in the Bay. But he insisted that he had acted in self defense as they struggled over a handgun and he was acquitted. But he was found guilty for tampering with evidence over the disposal of the body and was sentenced to five years in prison, but served just one. Despite his run-ins with the law, he still has access to his $43 million trust fund, which he has used to buy and develop real estate in New York. Last month, it was reported that Durst sold two Brooklyn buildings for $21.15 million, after buying them for $8.65 million in 2011. | Robert Durst, 71, 'got into an altercation with staff at a store in Houston and urinated over $100 worth of candy at the register in July'
On Friday, his court date was pushed back until next month .
In 1982, Durst, the son of a New York real estate mogul, hit headlines when his wife mysteriously vanished - but he was never arrested .
Afterwards, he cross dressed for years to keep out of the public eye .
In 2001, he shot and dismembered his neighbor and scattered the body parts around Galveston Bay, Texas before going on the run .
He was caught a month later but claimed he had killed him in self defense and he was acquitted of murder in 2003 . |
77,231 | daf57b87da1235a65e39c108f91ade8b651b24ae | By . Rob Cooper . PUBLISHED: . 11:10 EST, 22 April 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 13:51 EST, 22 April 2013 . Peeping tom: Russell Singleton, 57, filmed schoolgirls using his bathroom from behind a two-way mirror over a ten-year period . An assistant headteacher secretly filmed schoolgirls using the bathroom through a two-way mirror in his home over a period lasting almost 10 years, a court heard. Russell Singleton, 57, set up a secret den behind a false wall in his airing cupboard so he could act as a peeping tom. The married man, who was a popular and highly-regarded teacher with 35 years experience, would give girls soft drinks when they visited his home so they would make regular trips to the bathroom. Nottingham Crown Court heard he would secretly film them from a wall cavity between the bathroom and the airing cupboard which was big enough for him to fit into. The teacher fitted a camcorder, which was . placed on a shelf and trained on the shower and toilet, with a remote . sensor allowing him to operate it when he wasn't there. Singleton's wife had no idea he had set up a 'sophisticated system' to covertly film the students in their detached home behind the two-way mirror. Pupils would regularly come round for production rehearsals and after-show parties. He also filmed other female victims that weren't pupils of his, including ex-students and a teacher. The court heard Singleton, of Heanor, Derbyshire, amassed a haul of 24 videos of nine different females using the bathroom. Detectives also found 366 similar images on his mobile phone. He was jailed for 38 months after admitting a string of sexual offences. Avik Mukherjee, prosecuting, said the victims were left 'disgusted, confused, violated and betrayed.' The incident left one teenage girl so traumatised that she attempted suicide. Judge Michael Stokes QC, sentencing, said: 'What is particularly concerning is, having filmed these girls and recording what they were doing, he would see them the very next day in school. 'It poisons the atmosphere and, in his secretive little mind, he was teaching girls that he had filmed naked in the shower the previous day.' At an earlier hearing, the judge told Singleton: 'This was carefully planned and pre-meditated. It is very serious because of the length of time offending happened and the degree of planning and repetition involved.' Singleton was assistant head, and head of the arts and drama department at Alfreton Grange Arts College, formerly known as Mortimer Wilson Secondary School, in Derbyshire when the offences occurred. Voyeur: Singleton, 57, set up a secret camera from behind the bathroom mirror in his home in Heanor, Derbyshire. School pupils would regularly come round for drama rehearsals, the court heard . The hearing was told he was a 'talented, enthusiastic and effective teacher who engendered feelings of loyalty, affection, and respect in the numerous pupils who had passed through the school.' Singleton was so trusted by colleagues and parents that pupils were allowed to stay over for drama rehearsals and post-production parties. But for nearly a decade, he took advantage of the trust placed in him. The court heard that on one recording of a 13-year-old girl in his bathroom, Singleton could be heard breathing heavily. He was caught out when police searched his home last year after a teenage student admitted to another teacher she and Singleton were having an affair. Mr Mukherjee said: 'They found set up in a partition between the bathroom and airing cupboard a big enough space for him to be in and a camcorder set up which enabled him to record things live. 'It involved a high degree of planning and had gone on for a considerable length of time.' After his arrest, Singleton admitted he was interested in 'voyeurism', and admitted he had filmed the pupils for his own sexual pleasure. But he claimed they were 'victimless' because they did not know were being recorded. Jailed, Singleton, 57, was given 38 months behind bars for filming the victims in his bathroom between 2003 and 2012 . Popular teacher: Russell Singleton worked as a drama teacher at Alfreton Grange Arts College, Derbyshire, for 35 years and was well-respected, the court heard . Singleton admitted nine counts of taking indecent photographs of children, two of making indecent photographs of children, and three charges of voyeurism. The offences related to children aged 13 to 17 years and adults between 18 and 24 years, and dated from 2003 to 2012. Singleton also pleaded guilty to seven charges of sexual activity when he was in a position of trust, an offence which involved a pupil when she was aged 16 and 17. Mark Watson, defending, said Singleton's wife of 31 years had been 'completely unaware' of his actions. He added that she had been left 'devastated' - but was standing by him. Mr Watson also told the court: 'His fall from grace has been complete. His reputation is destroyed. 'He faces humiliation. The consequences for him go beyond a prison sentence.' Mr Watson claimed Singleton, who has been sacked from his job, hadn't deliberately built a secret department, and a plumber had suggested the partition wall in the airing cupboard to hide unsightly pipes. In a statement, Alfreton Grange Arts College said: 'We were shocked, surprised and dismayed when we learned of the behaviour of this former member of staff. 'The charges follow a lengthy police investigation with which the school has cooperated fully. We take the safety and interests of our pupils very seriously when they are at school and in our care.' We're sorry but reader comments are currently unavailable. | Russell Singleton, 57, invited schoolgirls to his house for rehearsals and after-show parties .
He would give them soft drinks so they needed to use the bathroom .
The disgraced teacher's wife had no idea what he was up to .
He is jailed for 38 months at Nottingham Crown Court .
Singleton is caught after teenage student confesses she is having an affair with him and police launch an investigation . |
199,985 | 8eec72ab2fb06e69f612571892a929529426f296 | San Diego (CNN) -- Some elections are fueled by passion. Others are guided by a sense of urgency. This one seems to be driven by ambivalence. That is where we're at as we near Tuesday's Iowa caucuses, the kickoff to the voting portion of the 2012 election. According to the polls in the Hawkeye State, Ron Paul and Mitt Romney are virtually tied for the lead, each with no more than a quarter of the vote. A new CNN/Time/ORC poll finds that Romney has 25% and Paul has 22%, with Rick Santorum, Newt Gingrich and Rick Perry each in the teens. GOP officials would like to convince Americans that they have an embarrassment of riches on their hands, but many of us can see that they're only half right. It's just an embarrassment. A big part of the Republicans' problem is having a "front-runner" who can't seem to get out in front. Many voters feel as if the choice has already been made for them, and they're not having any of it. On a recent trip to Washington, I was reminded again that the inside-the-Beltway media and the Republican establishment have ordained Romney the party's presidential nominee and all but declared that the voting is just a formality. Yet, someone forgot to tell the voters, who elevate one candidate after another from the "anybody but Romney" pile while keeping the former Massachusetts governor trapped under a 25% ceiling in the polls. As recently noted by The Wall Street Journal, a recent Gallup poll of Republicans put support for Romney at 24%, and last month, his level of support floated between 22% and 25%. It's hard to see how Romney could cobble together a string of second-place finishes, with a possible win in New Hampshire, and wind up as a credible contender for the general election. And even if he does somehow wind up being the nominee, it's even harder to imagine that the more than three-fourths of Republicans who were thoroughly uninspired by him just a few months earlier would suddenly get excited enough to turn out and vote. In fact, even in this late hour, Republican thought leaders such as William Kristol, publisher of the Weekly Standard, are still suggesting that another Republican candidate could enter the race. That is not likely to happen, but the fact that some people would like it to tells us a lot about a level of dissatisfaction with the current crop of GOP prospects. The grass isn't any greener for Democrats. While they have the advantage of knowing who their nominee will be, they also have to contend with the same difficult task that the Republicans face: energizing the base to support the candidate. Many of those who voted for Barack Obama in 2008 don't seem all that eager to give him an encore. He lost much of his support from independents early on, but he also has an enthusiasm gap developing with liberals who think the president lacks courage and caves in to Republicans too easily. According to a new poll by the Salt Lake Tribune, while most Democrats want to re-elect Obama, one in five of them aren't so sure. Just 37% of those surveyed -- Republicans, Democrats and independents --- are certain they want to give Obama another term. And, despite all the campaigning up to this point, nearly 20% of voters are still undecided about whom to support. To be re-elected, Obama needs to recapture the support of two groups of voters: young people and Latinos. Unfortunately for Democrats, he's not doing a good job of inspiring either. Both groups still support Obama, and they certainly prefer him to every possible Republican alternative. The problem is the same kind of enthusiasm gap that Romney is facing with Republican voters. While 18-to-29 year-old Americans remain solidly in the Democratic camp, only 49% of them approve of Obama's job performance, according to a survey by the Pew Research Center. That's a 23 point drop since February 2009. Something similar is happening with Latino voters, many of whom are deeply disillusioned -- even wounded -- by Obama's broken promise to fix the immigration system combined with his heavy-handed deportation policies that have resulted in the removal of more than 1.2 million people in less than three years. According to a new Ipsos-Telemundo poll, the president's support among Latinos continues to plummet. In April 2009, 86% of Latinos approved of Obama's job performance. Today, it's only about 56%. According to an analysis done by Ipsos, that drop suggests that, "the disillusion among Latinos is more pronounced than among the general public." Add all this up, and this could be an election with one of the lowest turnouts in history -- for Republicans and Democrats. Voters are sending a message that both parties need to heed: "Don't just tell me I need to vote for your candidate. Give me something worth voting for." The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Ruben Navarrette Jr. | Ruben Navarrette: We're about to see the start of the voting for Election 2012 .
He says voters in both parties are ambivalent about the choices .
GOP can't seem to crown a front-runner; liberals lukewarm on Obama, he says .
Navarrette: Many people may choose not to vote, unless candidates rise to the occasion . |
83,978 | ee33e40574b4a4f2ab62a78f51cbfc2a2a93f73c | By . Ted Thornhill . A dog abandoned in Greece because of his extreme bow legs is going from wonky to walkies after being brought to Britain. Sandy, a loveable ten-month-old German Shepherd who is also partially sighted, had faced a life of misery with his crippling deformity. A nutritional problem is thought to have made his front legs seriously bowed and his Greek owner gave up on him. Scroll down for video . Saved: Sandy, a dog with front legs so bent he looked like a crab, has been flown more than 1,600 miles to the UK from Greece for surgery . Careful approach: Sandy is being fixed one leg at a time . Sandy, who is partially sighted, has a wonderful temperament, say those who've met him . His plight came to the attention of Pat Clark, who runs a dogs charity in Cambridge, and she launched an appeal to bring him to Britain. Generous animal lovers donated hundreds of pounds to pay for his transportation and treatment. Sandy arrived a month ago and last week had the initial operation to fix one of his legs with his right being treated first. Cause: It's thought that Sandy's condition came about through malnutrition . The complicated procedures are being carried out for free by surgeon Chaim Pilosof who is a partner at Companion Care vets in Cambridge. Chaim said: ‘So far it has gone really well. At the moment he is on cage rest because he needs to rest a lot but he is already trying to do much more than we allow him to. ‘We are seeing improvements already and he is walking much more comfortably and faster than before and that is just with one leg fixed.’ Expert team: (left to right) Sam Macaulay, Beadetta Marinucci, Kerry-Anne Hanneghan and Chaim Pilosof with Sandy . Chaim and colleagues have also started physiotherapy on Sandy's straightened right leg and hope to carry out hydrotherapy when his left leg has been treated. Other donors have provided the money for other treatment, including an MRI scan at a reduced price and a visit to an eye specialist. The plates needed to straighten his legs, which normally cost around £200, have been donated for free. X-ray: Vets established from scans (left) that Sandy needs plates inserted into his legs and the picture on the right show his leg after a successful operation . Sleep: He's pictured on the left recovering after the operation, along with his toys, and on the right having woken up . Chaim, who is carrying out the operations on his day off, added: ‘A lot of other people have helped with what he needs. ‘A lot of good people have helped him and a lot of people donated money. ‘He is a lovely dog. He is very gentle and loving. You really could not wish for a nicer dog.’ In good hands: Sleepy Sandy with Companion Care staff . The operation on Sandy was carried out by a vet on his day off . A local Pets at Home branch have also supplied Sandy with a new bed and toys. Pat Clark, who runs the Mutts in Distress charity, has decided to adopt him when his operations are complete. She said: ‘I saw his picture and that was it. We had to get him over. I am over the moon with his progress. Chaim Pilosof and Sam Macaulay examine Sandy . ‘I am speechless and overwhelmed by people's kindness and generosity shown to an abandoned dog. ‘A month ago he had no hope of ever walking properly or hope of the gift of sight. No-one had heard his name or knew of his existence. ‘Here he is now, facing a whole new life, happy and safe, thanks to people prepared to give.’ | Sandy was abandoned in Greece because of his extreme bow legs .
His plight came to the attention of a dog charity in the UK .
Thanks to generous donations he is having his legs fixed . |
100,565 | 0d8f18d022cac3bf3cc6c2b4d1306fe87a2e6081 | Washington (CNN) -- Joni Ernst is creeping away from her Democratic opponent in Iowa's contentious Senate race, building a lead of 4 percentage points in the latest poll. The Republican candidate for Senate in Iowa carries 49% of support to U.S. Rep. Bruce Braley's 45% according to a Quinnipiac University poll released Wednesday. Six days before the election, Ernst has the momentum in a race that could tip the balance of the Senate, picking up 2 percentage points since Quinnipiac's previous poll in mid-October. Ernst gained support among independents, a key bloc that favored Braley in the previous Quinnipiac poll. Ernst carried 51 percent of independent support to Braley's 41%, a seven-point upswing for Ernst. Republicans picked up an unprecedented lead in Iowa's early ballot count last week after a beefed up early voter ground game and the two parties are now neck-in-neck in the early voting game. But the poll showed Braley still winning the early voting game, as Democrats have done in the past, leading among the respondents who had already voted 57% to 36%. Braley and Ernst held onto their edge with women and men, respectively, but Ernst continues to carry male voters by a 17-point margin compared to Braley's eight-point lead among women. Hillary Clinton: Not answering questions should be 'disqualifying' Ernst has consistently led in polls over the last month, but the four-point lead is her best number yet after polling from the Des Moines Register/Bloomberg, NBC News/Marist and the previous Quinnipiac poll all showed her lead at or below 3 percentage points. Braley's slumping prospects come despite Democrats' best efforts to boost Braley's candidacy with top class surrogates like First Lady Michelle Obama and Sen. Elizabeth Warren among others. Joni Ernst defends skipping Des Moines Register meeting . Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is also returning to the Hawkeye State on Wednesday, with her husband former President Bill Clinton expected to rally voters with Braley on Monday. Ernst could also be benefiting from the prospects of Republican Gov. Terry Branstad, who leads his Democratic challenger by 19 points. | Joni Ernst has a four-point lead over Rep. Bruce Braley in Iowa's Senate race .
The reverse gender gap continued as Ernst leads among men and Braley leads with women .
The race is a key pickup opportunity for the GOP as they try to retake the Senate . |
196,054 | 89ba75a839c9b8fb2a2971a5f4c637b9d7207985 | A pastor at a mega-church has been dismissed after allegations that he committed a grave ‘sin’ with a 16-year-old female church member. Dr Jack Schaap, 54, had been pastor of the First Baptist Church of Hammond in Indiana for 11 years, but was let go after a deacon saw a text on Schaap’s phone from the teenager, allegedly with a picture of the two of them kissing. A board of deacons from the church voted to fire him, according to a public release from the church ‘due to a sin that has caused him to forfeit his right to be our pastor.’ In a sombre meeting at the church on Wednesday night, the Board of Deacons said the shamed father-of-two confessed to having an affair with the young woman - a member of the church - when she was just 16. Dismissed: Dr Jack Schaap, who was the pastor of First Baptist Church in Hammond for more than a decade, was let go in August . Big city: Shaap's wife, Cindy, second left, is the daughter of famed Baptist Rev Jack Hyles; here, they're pictured in front of Chicago's Buckingham Fountain . Caught: A deacon of First Baptist Church saw a picture on Schaap's phone from a teenage girl; the picture allegedly showed the two kissing . Schaap had been counseling the teenage girl, one former member of First Baptist Trisha Kee told CBS Chicago. The church did not confirm Ms Kee's statement, but issued a statement explaining why they fired him: ‘Our church grieves the need to take this action and the impact it will have on our people,' the statement read. 'We ask that everyone pray for the families involved, and pray that the situation will be handled in a Christ-honoring manner.’ The legal age of consent in the state of Indiana is 16, the lowest age allowed in any state. Eddie Wilson, the director of public relations for the church, told the Chicago Sun-Times that the church is in the process of finding a new pastor to lead the congregation. He added that Schaap and his wife Cindy are currently in seclusion to work out their marital difficulties. Cindy Schaap is the daughter of the late founder of the church, Rev. Jack Hyles. The couple has two children. The deacons also felt it appropriate to turn Schaap’s case over to the authorities, ‘for the sake of transparency and honesty,’ and not because they believe the former pastor committed a crime. The Lake County Sheriff’s office is currently investigating along with the FBI. Schapp's published books include Marriage: The Divine Intimacy and Dating . with a Purpose: Common Sense Dating Principles for Couples, Parents, and . Youth Workers. The pastor has received his fair share of criticism over the years due to some of his more controversial teachings. Last year, he was chastized for his views on women, believing them to be an inferior species and saying husbands should take charge of their wives and blasted Eve as being the sinner. He also said it would be a 'cold day in hell before I get my theology from a woman', adding: 'Your soul is going to hell because of what Eve did.' Long-running: Schaap, pictured preaching from the church's pulpit, had been pastor there since 2001, but was dismissed after a vote from the deacons . Place of worship: The First Baptist Church is located in Hammond, Indiana, and is partially housed in the old federal court building; its auditorium sits 7,500 . Roots: Schaap, pictured left, is married to Cindy Schaap, the daughter of the late Rev Jack Hyles, right, who founded the First Baptist Church in Hammond . FBI spokesman Robert Ramsey told CBS: ‘It is too early at this point to release any further information.’ Typically, mega-churches have more than 2,000 members or regular attendees, with several areas to listen to sermons, often with one or more pastors speaking during a Sunday service. Mega-churches are houses of worship with 2,000 or more members and weekly attendees. They have grown in popularity in recent years, and are mostly a phenomenon of modern times. According to the Hartford Institute for Religion Research, most current mega-churches were founded after 1955 after larger churches started to become more appealing to many church-goers. Many focus on ‘seeker services,’ which often offer little deep theology and instead appeal to sceptics and non-believers. They are also aimed at targeting younger audiences, often with the prospects of contemporary music and more casual settings than traditional churches. The denominations involved include Baptists, Methodists, and Nondenominational, as well as some Pentecostal churches. Many of them feature contemporary worship styles, with live music complete with worship band, and sometimes even an orchestra pit. Mega-churches have also received a fair amount of criticism, as some say they focus more on entertainment than on worship, and that large numbers detract the amount of time pastors can spend with the congregation. First Baptist itself is housed in the old federal courthouse building in Hammond, Indiana, and contains an auditorium that seats 7,500. Mr Wilson said that more than 15,000 people attend services at the weekend. Members of the mega-church have already expressed their shock at the pastor’s alleged actions. ‘The pastor been good to us,’ said Ronald Winston to WGN-TV. Mr Winston lives at the church’s mission. ‘He take care of the shelter. I don’t have no better opinion of him.’ Another member, Aranda White, said: ‘To me, he was teaching to word from the Bible. I have nothing bad to say about him.’ An informational meeting was held at the church at 7pm tonight to address the dismissal of Schaap, who has led the congregation since 2001. In the meeting of the congregation Wednesday night, church leaders said that Schaap admitted to having sex with one of the members of First Baptist Church when she was 16. The Times of Northwest Indiana reported that near the end of the meeting, Pastor Eddie Lapina said that he would serve as interim pastor as the church continues their search for a suitable replacement. Those filing out of the meeting bore grim faces, and few offered to comment for the paper. Those who did said that they would continue to pray for the family and for Schaap. More than 1,000 people attended the meeting. One member, Joseph Flores, said that he was feeling conflicted over the firing. ‘I’m glad to see they’re doing something,’ he told the Times, ‘but I hope they show the good he’s done for us, too. He straightened up this part of the city, and he’s done a lot for this community.’ | Jack Schaap, 54, has been pastor at First Baptist Church of Hammond in Indiana for 11 years .
Deacon 'found image of Schaap and teenage church member making out on pastor's phone'
Board of deacons agreed that pastor must be dismissed for 'sin'
Schaap later admitted he had sex with girl when she was 16 .
Turned him over to police for 'transparency and honesty' but do not believe he committed a crime . |
221,650 | aaee9b88336e2fca5b1d19451aa133246d0e84b9 | By . Emily Allen . UPDATED: . 16:04 EST, 11 January 2012 . They were the secret messages of resistance that Hitler’s henchmen failed to spot. Held in a Nazi camp, Major Alexis Casdagli whiled away the long hours sewing samplers in cross-stitch. His captors were so impressed by his pretty needlework they even put it on display in the camp. Yet not one of them spotted the coded messages he had stitched into his designs – which read ‘God Save the King’ and ‘F*** Hitler’. Passive resistance: Major Alexis Casdagli created this stitched tapestry in captivity in Germany. The inner border reads 'God Save The King' in Morse Code while the outer border reads 'F*** Hitler' The subversive samplers have since been displayed at the Victoria & Albert museum in London as a testament to a British soldier who never lost his fighting spirit. Defiant: Major Alexis Casdagli pictured during the war. The sampler was created using red and blue thread from a disintegrating pullover . ‘It used to give him pleasure when the Germans were doing their rounds,’ his 79-year-old son, Tony Casdagli, said. ‘It also stopped him going mad. He would say after the war the Red Cross saved his life, but his embroidery saved his sanity.’ Major Casdagli, of the Royal Army Ordnance Corps, began sewing six months into his time at a camp in Dossel-Warbung, Germany. He made his seemingly innocent sampler using red and blue thread from the jumper of a fellow inmate, a Cretan army general. Around the swastikas and a banal inscription, he also stitched a border of irregular dots and dashes – containing the messages in Morse code. His work was displayed for years at the camps in Germany where he was held. If discovered, the messages of resistance could have put his life in jeopardy, his son said. ‘He was so good at sewing the Germans had him giving classes to his fellow officers,’ he added. ‘But they never worked out his code.’ His son, a retired Royal Navy officer who lives in London with his wife Sally, told how another of Major Casdagli’s rebellious works featured a Union Flag. On it he stitched a flap with ‘do not open’ written on it, as showing the flag was banned in Nazi Germany. Prisoner: Major Casdagli created the sampler while in captivity at a prisoner of war camp in Dossel-Warbung, pictured, in Germany in 1941. He was in captivity at various camps for four years . ‘Each week the same officer would open the flap and say, “This is illegal,” and Pa said, “You’re showing it, I’m not”.’ Major Casdagli was held captive between 1941 and 1945, in four camps. He continued to sew until his death in 1990, at the age of 90. Reunited: Tony Casdagli, Major Casdagli's son, now has the sampler after it was displayed at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London recently . When Mr Casdagli was 11 his father sent him this stitched letter which read: 'It is 1,581 days since I saw you last but it will not be long now. Do you remember when I fell down the well? Look after Mummy till I get home again' Morse Code: A History . Morse code is a way of communicating text in a series of on-off tones, lights or clicks. Anyone trained to understand it can pick it up without needing special equipment. The . short and long signals are called 'dots' and 'dashes' and each letter . or number is represented by a unique sequence of dots and dashes . A dash is three times the duration of a dot. Letters of a word are separated by one dash length and two words are separated by seven dots. Samuel . F B Morse invented the first American telegraph around 1835 which sends . electrical signals over long distance through wires. It revolutionised long-distance communication. He devised an early form of Morse code with Alfred Vail in the 1840s to communicate information, . Morse . sent the first telegraphic message from Washington DC to Baltimore on . May 24, 1844. The message was 'What hath God wrought?' | Nazi captors unwittingly put sampler on display in four prison camps .
His message was stitched in Morse code and also read 'God Save the King' |
109,276 | 18dafc941e305b5566f8e1a4355f751aeffa6c08 | Javier Mascherano has posted a photo online demonstrating the less glamorous side of international football. The Barcelona midfielder uploaded the snap to his Twitter account which showed him and Sergio Aguero looking bored while Lionel Messi, Gonzalo Higuain, Angel di Maria, Lucas Biglia and others sat around playing cards. Mascherano wrote: 'Bored with @aguerosergiokun while they play cards...' Javier Mascherano and Sergio Aguero look bored while their international team-mates play cards . The former Liverpool man controls the ball during Argentina's 2-1 win against Croatia on Wednesday . The players were relaxing after coming from behind to beat Croatia 2-1 at the Boleyn Ground on Wednesday, their next match will be against Portugal on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Aguero revealed on Friday he didn't even know who Messi was the first time they met. Speaking to City TV, he said: 'I was about to turn 17. We were both called up for some friendlies. We were at the AFA (Argentine Football Association) training complex. We were sitting at the table with him, (Ezequiel) Garay and (Mauro) Formica. 'He sat beside me. I looked at him but I didn't know him. They were talking about Nike football boots and Garay was saying that they were really good. Aguero (right) reveled the first time he met Messi (left) he had no idea who the Barcelona star was . The two Argentine forwards are now good friends, despite their bizarre first meeting . 'Then Leo said: "They've brought them from the USA" so I started thinking: "Where is this guy from?" 'I couldn't resist and I asked him: "What's your name?" 'He said: "Leo" and I asked: "and what's your last name?" 'He said: "Messi" and I didn't know him. I asked him again to see if his name sounded familiar. He laughed then we all laughed. They made fun of me.' | Javier Mascherano posted a photo of him and Sergio Aguero .
It showed them looking bored while their team-mates played cards .
Argentina beat Croatia 2-1 in London on Wednesday .
Their next match is on Tuesday when they face Portugal . |
254 | 00c67840a853c432c2eae369b58a2119d960ada5 | The Israeli government released the phone numbers and addresses of every registered dog owner in the country today, including fashion model Bar Refaeli. The country's Ministry of Agriculture gave out the information as part of its 'Dogs Database', an app which allows people to search for information on every registered dog in Israel. As well as Ms Refaeli, the database allegedly included Benny Gantz, the head of the Israeli army, Yohanan Danino, the head of the country's police force and Yair Shamir, the minister of agriculture. The phone number of model Bar Refaeli was given out on the 'Dogs Database' application . The TV star had her details shown on the app which allows people to search for every registered dog in Israel . The Israeli government requires all dog owners to register their pets with the Ministry of Agriculture. A spokesman for the Ministry told Vocativ website: 'The public’s interest to create a reliable, publicly available database outweighs people’s right to privacy.' . The app aims to ensure dogs are properly vaccinated for rabies and other diseases. Bar Refaeli cuddling her teacup poodle Mishmash in one of the photos she posted on social media . Israel's Ministry of Agriculture gave out the phone numbers and information as part of its 'Dogs Database' It also lets users know the names of the dogs, their breeds and whether they have been sprayed or neutered. It also provides a list of vets across Israel. Those who use the app also put down their phone numbers and addresses of their spouses and relatives. | Ministry of Agriculture gave out information as part of its 'Dogs Database'
Included fashion model Bar Refaeli and head of country's army and police .
Israeli government requires all dog owners to register their pets . |
64,465 | b705357799a89d8174ac12b339335d65d8247227 | By . Hugo Gye . PUBLISHED: . 09:07 EST, 15 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:05 EST, 15 November 2013 . An extraordinary letter written by the future King Edward VIII to his first mistress in which he expresses frustration at having to go to the opera rather than see her has come to light. The 25-year-old Prince of Wales told married socialite Freda Dudley Ward of his excitement at sleeping with her and even used the F-word in the two-page note, which is expected to fetch £1,800 at auction. However, he lamented that he was forced to attend the opera with his family and would not be able to see her until late at night. Lovers: A letter from Edward VIII to Freda Dudley Ward full of gushing terms of endearment has come to light . Passion: The letter was written by Edward when he was the 25-year-old Prince of Wales in 1919 . Edward, who was known by his middle name David at the time of the 1919 letter, would later abdicate the throne in order to marry his lover, American divorcee Wallis Simpson. But his first furtive dalliance was with Mrs Dudley Ward, who was at the time trapped in a loveless marriage to a prominent MP. The couple had a five-year affair after they met while sheltering in a doorway during a zeppelin raid in the First World War. The letter, which was revealed after the collector from Birmingham who owned it died, is full of gushing terms of endearment, as well as swear words which Edward replaced with dashes. It is headed 'Buckhouse SW' - indicating that the prince wrote it from Buckingham Palace. Note: The letter was sent to Mrs Dudley Ward at her London home near Marble Arch . Together: Edward pictured with his lover and her husband, Liberal MP William Dudley Ward . It is addressed to 'my darling beloved little Fredie', and reads: 'Bless you for your two sweet little letters which have made me so so happy particularly the last one saying that you are arriving back this evening and suggesting that I shld look in after the opera. 'Oh! No I could'nt (sic) possibly do such a common thing as that - - - !!!! I am so so overjoyed at the thought of seeing my own precious darling little girl again so soon. 'I ought to be able to get round about 12.00 and I'll let myself in as I've (still) got the key! 'It's so so divine of you wanting your little David to come and you just can't think how happy you've made him belov'd one and how much it makes him love and adore you. 'I only wish I could come earlier but I'm told the - - opera can't be over before 11.30 so it can't be helped tho. I do say f- - - !!!! 'So till midnight Fredie darling darling tho it's a shame to keep you up so late tho how madly happy I am how how I'm looking forward to "after the opera" when I shall sleep and probably snore!!' On sale: The letter was found among the papers of a collector in Birmingham and is now going up for auction . The prince concludes by promising 'all my very great love and more kisses than I'm capable of sending my very own darling beloved precious little Fredie,' and signs off: 'Your devoted and adoring petit amoureuse David'. The letter will go under the hammer at Fellows auctioneers in Birmingham on November 25. Mark Huddleston, from Fellows, said: 'It is safe to say that Edward gets a little bit carried away in this letter. 'The letter is fascinating, as it is as if Edward had no self-censorship when writing it. He spills all his thoughts and feelings down onto paper without giving it a second thought. 'The result is a rather colourful letter that makes for quite cringy reading, peppered with terms of endearment like sweetheart and darling. 'Edward doesn't seem to be that interested in going to the opera - he makes it quite clear he would rather be cavorting with Freda. 'Edward obviously had a penchant for married women because by the early 1930s he was with Wallace Simpson and Freda's attempts to contact him were blocked. She was totally cut out of the equation. 'This letter is a fascinating piece of royal history. It is a private window into the heady relationship between the infamous Prince and his mistress in their first months together.' Playboy: Edward was known for his louche lifestyle and would later abdicate in order to marry his mistress . The prince, who was notorious for his playboy ways and string of lovers, reluctantly became king in January 1936 following the death of his father, George V. However, he abdicated in December of the same year after Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin told him he could not marry Mrs Simpson, and the throne passed to his younger brother George VI, father of the present Queen. The former King, who took the title of Duke of Windsor, went to live in Paris where he became a prominent society figure, and died in 1972. Freda Dudley Ward divorced her first husband, Liberal MP William Dudley Ward, in 1931 and married Pedro Jose Isidro Manuel Ricardo Mones, Marques de Casa Maury in 1937. They divorced in 1954 and she died in London in 1983 aged 88. Note: The letter was scribbled when Edward was at Buckingham Palace with his family . My darling beloved little Fredie . Bless you for your two sweet little letters which have made me so so happy particularly the last one saying that you are arriving back this evening and suggesting that I shld look in after the opera. Oh! No I could’nt possibly do such a common thing as that - - - - !!!! Sweetheart, how can you say 'or shall we wait till Tues'? Of course I must come and am so so overjoyed at the thought of seeing my own precious darling little girl again so soon. I ought to be able to get round about 12.00. And I’ll let myself in as I’ve (still) got the key! It’s so so divine of you wanting your little David to come and you just can’t think how happy you’ve made him belov’d one and how much it makes him love and adore you. I only wish I could come earlier but I’m told the - - opera can’t be over before 11.30 so it can’t be helped tho. I do say f - -- !!!! We lunched and dined with Rosemary and Eric at Fleet yesterday & brought Loughie back to 65 in my car afterwards. I went over to Swinley Heath in the afternoon where I played golf with Arthur of Connaught after which I looked up Violet at Fern Hill and saw the babies: it was the babies that I really went to see not that my visit was very much appreciated I don’t think tho. I just loved seeing them again sweetheart as they are so divine. But I’ll tell you all about it to-night and now I must stop or I shall be late for a family dinner. What I think of the opera!! I’ve been 'slumming' all the afternoon and have just had a game of squash with DO No 2 who is writing to Sheila which won’t surprise you. So till midnight Fredie darling darling tho it’s a shame to keep you up so late tho how madly happy I am how how I’m looking forward to “after the opera” when I shall sleep and probably snore!! All my very great love & more baisers than I’m capable of sending my very own darling beloved precious little Fredie . Bless you!! Your devoted & adoring petit amoureuse David . | 25-year-old Prince of Wales was having an affair with Freda Dudley Ward .
He wrote her a letter in 1919 complaining that he had to go to the opera .
Future King swore in the two-page note to 'darling beloved' socialite .
Letter is expected to fetch £1,800 as it goes up for auction . |
185,433 | 7c2f85aae0ef06cc041c3ae6bb2408925d3e2c8f | By . Russell Myers and George Arbuthnott . UPDATED: . 19:33 EST, 27 August 2011 . Red traffic lights will automatically turn green to speed chauffeur-driven dignitaries along special VIP lanes to the London Olympics, while millions of ordinary motorists face gridlock during the Games. High-tech sensors have been buried in lanes that will be used by VIPs to ensure they cannot be held up by traffic lights, congestion or even people crossing the road. Experts have warned that the express routes – even more exclusive than the ZIL lanes used by the Politburo in Soviet Moscow – will bring chaos to London's roads as thousands of spectators, commuters, taxis and commercial vehicles are forced off the main roadway into clogged bus lanes. Wishful thinking: A TfL computer mock-up of how London's Embankment might look with its Olympic lane in place. Right, a typical gridlocked scene from the same road, with traffic clogging lanes in both directions . The Olympic route network . International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Jacques Rogge, scandal-hit FIFA chief Sepp Blatter and executives from sponsors Coca-Cola, McDonald's and Visa are among those who will be whisked effortlessly across London. An investigation by The Mail on Sunday has discovered that every individual journey taken by Games VIPs will be tracked by computer, allowing engineers to change lights to green if they are in danger of being delayed. Inevitably, other road-users will find the lights turning red against them. Our investigation also found: . Under the terms of London's winning Olympic bid, organisers are expected to provide highly subsidised accommodation to the IOC, international sports federations including FIFA and world athletics body the IAAF and Games sponsors in opulent Park Lane hotels. Organisers are also required to transport 82,000 people dubbed members of the 'Olympic Family' from the hotels to the main event locations in Stratford, East London, in 25 minutes. Olympic VIP cars will not be allowed to exceed speed limits. Clear road ahead: FIFA president Sepp Blatter and partner Ilona Boguska. They will benefit from the preferential VIP treatment . As a result, Transport for London (TfL) and the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) received millions of pounds of Government cash to make unprecedented modifications to London's roads to meet the target times and ensure no VIP would be caught up in everyday traffic. However, it is feared that the measures will result in thousands of ordinary people sitting in single-lane jams as Olympic vehicles speed past them using the exclusive Games Lanes. Last night Mark Field, Conservative MP for the Cities of London and Westminster, said: 'What we are going to see on the streets of London, I fear, is something akin to a Third World nation, with limousines and BMWs being whisked through the traffic carrying hordes of self-appointed VIPs who have placed a raft of drastic and draconian conditions on us to be able to host the Games, while making life pretty unbearable for thousands of everyday Londoners. 'A great fanfare was made when we were all promised that London 2012 would be the most inclusive Games in history which would enrich the city. 'In reality, thousands of IOC members and a host of big-money sponsors and their entourage will be turning up in town expecting to be waited on hand and foot at the expense of everyone else.' London transport chiefs have developed a computer programme called the ONE model that allows analysts to input travel itineraries into a traffic management system which then automatically changes lights to green as dignitaries pass along the route. If the road remains clear, the signalling system will favour the Games Lane traffic, enabling the VIPs and dignitaries to arrive from their Park Lane hotels to the Olympic Stadium in the time agreed by the London 2012 bidding team and the IOC. However, if there is congestion along the route, TfL's specialised SCOOT system – which was dramatically improved using £12million of public money – can alter traffic signals in the immediate and surrounding areas to further favour the VIP cars. The SCOOT system uses pressure sensors built into the road to monitor the volume of traffic on specific busy London routes. The sensors send information to traffic signals placed just yards away to decide the timings between light changes depending on congestion. Staff monitoring the delegates' car fleet on computer screens in their Canary Wharf base can take the further step of instructing a team of 30 TfL engineers in South London to manually change lights along the Games Lane to green if the convoy is in danger of not arriving on time, giving the VIPs priority over other motorists. Olympics organisers have also admitted that heads of state will be able to bypass traffic and access the exclusive roads on the advice of security services. The 30-mile Games Lanes in London are part of a wider road map called the Olympic Route Network (ORN) linking Games venues and the surrounding areas. The total network covers 109 miles of roads as some venues are outside London. Major traffic restrictions will be enforced along the whole route between 6am and midnight during the 30 days of Olympic and Paralympic events. Rings road: The BMW courtesy cars provided for VIPs will glide along thanks to the signs denoting lanes for Olympic officials only . Organisers are still deciding whether to enforce the restrictions during a 15-day break between the Olympic and Paralympics – August 12 to 29 – even though very few dignitaries will be in London. These will include bans on parking and right turns, suspension of pedestrian crossings and phasing of traffic lights. Some roads, including Constitution Hill and Birdcage Walk, surrounding Buckingham Palace will be completely closed to the public – providing sole access to the VIP vehicles and further disrupting journeys for ordinary motorists who will be forced to take alternative routes. There will also be temporary ZIL lanes when Olympic events are taking place outside London. These will operate on the M4, M11, M3, M27 and A13. The measures, which have cost £25million to implement, are solely aimed at speeding up Games traffic. But safety concerns have been raised over the removal of pedestrian crossings. John Biggs, London Assembly Member for City and East, said: 'On some parts of the ORN it will not only be pretty horrendous for travellers, but some pedestrian crossings and right-hand turns which will be abolished previously had fatalities on them, which is a great cause for concern. 'We've spent a lot of time down the years putting in extra crossings and trying to reduce the impact of the traffic, and I think we need to be careful that we are not abandoning safety issues just to mollycoddle the Olympics bigwigs.' Opposition: Steve McNamara, left, spokesman for the Licensed Taxi Drivers' Association, said his members could take disruptive action. John Biggs, right, said the plans for VIP lanes would be 'horrendous' for travellers . Meanwhile the plan has led to a threat from London taxi drivers to hijack Olympic routes and bring the capital to a standstill in protest. They claim route restrictions will double journey times to some of the most popular shopping and tourist destinations. Steve McNamara, spokesman for the Licensed Taxi Drivers Association, said: 'Our members are extremely angry about the current plans and we can't rule out any disruptive action during the Games. 'Three years ago we did a demonstration in Trafalgar Square which brought the city to a standstill. 'All we want is somebody to see common sense and allow us to turn off the roads because at the moment we could be doubling our journey times as we aren't being permitted to turn right across these Games Lanes.' The traffic plans come as a result of a 'Host City Contract' comprising a series of legally binding requirements drawn up in 2005 between the IOC and the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG). It stipulates that 82,000 'Olympic Family' members – made up of athletes, officials and VIP guests – should be transported to event venues in times far faster than existing journey durations. Luxury: A restaurant at the London Hilton on Park Lane, where dignitaries will be staying in heavily subsidised rooms . The fleet of Olympic Family vehicles . is being provided by BMW in a sponsorship deal worth in excess of . £40million. It will include a top-of-the-range BMW 520d which has a top . speed of 144mph and reaches 0-60mph in 8.2 seconds. Legendary rock band The Who are set to be the headline act for the closing ceremony of next year's London Olympics. Founder members Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend have agreed to a request to perform but sources close to the band said details of the deal still had to be 'thrashed out'. The Who are famed for their energetic performances – and their appearance at the Olympics will guarantee them a global audience of several billion. The band was formed in 1964 by lead singer Daltrey, guitarist Townshend, bass player John Entwistle and drummer Keith Moon. Along with their musical success – they have sold about 100 million records – they also became known for their excessive lifestyle and drug-fuelled debauchery. Charismatic drummer Moon died aged 32 in 1978 after overdosing on prescription pills. Entwistle died aged 57 in 2002. Townshend and Daltrey continue to perform as The Who, and in 2006 released the album Endless Wire. It . has also been rumoured that the German car-maker's Series 7 limousines, . worth £60,000, may be used because they can be upgraded with . anti-missile warning systems, armour plating, bulletproof glass and . sealed passenger areas to resist gas attacks. The VIPs' Park Lane hotels are expected to include the five-star Intercontinental, Four Seasons, Metropolitan and the London Hilton Park Lane – where FIFA Committee members are believed to be staying. Meanwhile, athletes will be allowed to travel along the Games Lanes, but only by bus or bicycle as they are excluded from using the luxury BMW saloon cars given to IOC chiefs and sponsors. The athletes will have access to 400 BMW Pedelec electrically-assisted bicycles. Competitors will make up just one-fifth of the total number of people accredited to use the Games Lanes, with most athletes expected to be staying on the Olympic Park. Other vehicles in the fleet are 200 electric cars, including Mini Es and BMW 1 Series Active Es and R1200RT, R1200GS and F650GS BMW motorcycles. Hybrid cars may also be in operation. The car fleet will be stored in Hyde Park next to Park Lane and at East London's Excel Centre. The 1,300 official buses will be parked at three depots at locations which are still to be finalised . | 82,000 members of the 'Olympic family' will travel in special lanes .
Experts warn of chaos for ordinary road users in London .
240 VIPs will be given exclusive use of their own luxury BMW saloon, complete with a driver, while another 2,800 officials will use a pool of opulent vehicles provided free.
Along the Olympic routes all non-Olympic traffic, including private cars, lorries, buses and taxis, will have to use the bus lane. The outside lane will be reserved for Olympic officials.
Transport chiefs will remove pedestrian crossings along the route to make way for the VIP lanes.
Right turns will be banned on junctions on the route to ensure traffic does not hold up the Olympic dignitaries.
Organisers have spent £12million of public money fitting underground sensors along the dignitaries' route which will detect congestion surrounding VIP cars and then doctor nearby traffic signals to speed them on their way.
The fleet of luxury cars will not be available to Olympic athletes who will have to use special buses and bicycles.
Motorists will be slapped with a £200 fine if they ignore the restrictions and venture into the Games Lanes – imposed between 6am and midnight on 30 miles of Central London roads. |
228,390 | b3b956e74ad92530133efcea7d8635b770e2c713 | By . Ap Reporter . A Swiss football club says it will investigate reports that some of its fans urinated in a water bottle that a rival goalkeeper then drank from. Reto Felder, a goalkeeper who plays for Muri in the Swiss fourth division, claims he first though his drink was warmed by the sun. He called the prank 'crude and disgraceful', according to the Blick daily newspaper. Fans in the crowd - reportedly around 500 strong - persuaded a ball boy to pass them the bottle. Reto Felder plays for FC Muri of the Swiss fourth division and they play at the Stadium Bruehl . Baden president Thomi Braem, who promised to investigate, says fans 'should realise they have again done great damage (to the club).' Muri coach Beat Hubeli says the incident was 'the lowest of the low.' Muri lost at Baden 3-2 on Saturday. | Muri keeper Reto Felder makes claim against Baden fans .
Muri lost 3-2 to Baden in the Swiss fourth division on Saturday .
Baden president Thomi Braem says club will investigate the incident . |
270,222 | e9f6ede750bc6a10677a286d8848be16e04db083 | Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari completed his five-year term and stepped down as president Sunday, the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan reported. Mamnoon Hussain of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-N party will be sworn in Monday as Zardari's successor. Hussain, a well-known businessman from the southern city of Karachi, was elected to the largely ceremonial role in a vote by federal and provincial politicians across the country. Hussain is a close ally of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Zardari and Sharif are longtime political rivals. The presidency was more powerful under Pervez Musharraf, the army general who held the office from 2001 to 2008 after he led a 1999 military coup. But after Zardari became president, a constitutional amendment reduced presidential powers in April 2010. Pakistan to release 7 Taliban figures . Global Public Square: Time for Pakistan to face down extremists . Pakistan court indicts Musharraf in Bhutto murder . | Mamnoon Hussain will be sworn in as president on Monday .
Hussain is a close ally of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif .
He is a well-known businessman from the southern city of Karachi . |
165,971 | 629fc9c33dac388dc7baa8b4f629225e88d65d1c | (The Frisky) -- I know you are really, really upset -- but can you stop crying for a second so we can talk about the fact that Katherine Heigl is finally leaving "Grey's Anatomy?" Long overdue, as far as I'm concerned. She has been annoying me since day one. How bad can the job really be? Hmmm, let's see. You get paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to show up on set for 12 episodes -- then you get half the year off. Yeah, I think I'd quit too. Her publicist claims she's out of there because she wants to spend more time with her newly adopted daughter, and that becoming a mother has "changed [her] desire to work full-time." That's sounds like sunshine and moonbeams and all, but the truth is that she's been petitioning to get Dr. Izzie Stevens written off for the last three years. Since her BFF T.R. Knight left, I suspect. At least we can have some fun imagining how they might get rid of her. Drug overdose? Amnesia? Doctors Without Borders? Sex tape? Fun! Anyway, considering her last few movies were ludicrous rom-coms and she has a rep for biting the hand that feeds her, I'm thinking she may not be too popular in Hollywood after this. Plenty of other celebs have left cushy TV jobs for bigger and better things. Let's see how nine of them fared. The Frisky - Sandra Bullock and other celebs who ditched the dead weight . 1. Amanda Seyfried thinks she's too big for the filming schedule of "Big Love." That's why she's leaving the show -- to move back to New York City, pursue her film career, and live life to the fullest by eating spinach and seeds and popping pills. Mazel Tov, Amanda! But we're not sure how this is going to go for you. 2. Fans went crazy when ABC announced that it was canceling "My So-Called Life" after just one season. But then it came out that Claire Danes was the one who wanted the show to end -- she was ready to move on to a film career. She's had some hits, "Romeo & Juliet" and "Shopgirl," but she will always and forever be Angela Chase. 3. She's never confirmed it, but when "The O.C." killed off Marissa Cooper in the season finale of season three, most people assumed it was because Mischa Barton wanted to move on. The show trucked on without her -- for a season. Mischa's career, on the other hand: as dead as Marissa after the car wreck. Frisky - 8 female stars who dated their managers . 4. Rose McGowan replaced Shannen Doherty when good witch Prue Halliwell was "killed off" of "Charmed." Now she's working her magic on the judges of "Dancing With the Stars." Abracadabra! Save my career! 5. Never thought I'd say this, but I'm actually glad that Tina Fey left "SNL" to go on to write, produce, and star in "30 Rock." Yeah, she's pretty much taking over the industry and making money with much more than her looks. The Frisky -- Britney and J. Lo did it: How a "How I Met Your Mother" cameo can turn a career around . 6. Hunky George Clooney left "ER" in its fifth season to become the A-list movie star in the front row at the Oscars. A winning move? I'd say yes. 7. Nicollette Sheridan was so desperate to be polished like the jewel that she believed she was that she left "Desperate Housewives." She called the show "complacent," but creator Mark Cherry said her time was up because she had already slept with everyone on the show. Rumor has it that she has a new TV show coming out. Let's see if that jewel shines. The Frisky - 10 stars whose relationships went sour after they found fame . 8. Viewers cried and stuff when Kal Penn's character on "House" committed suicide only to stop crying when they found out he'd accepted a position at the White House. Because it's nobler to actually help people than to play someone who does it on TV. 9. While Kal Penn joined the real White House, Rob Lowe left the fictional one on "The West Wing" because he didn't think there was a place for his character, Democrat Sam Seaborn, anymore. And then he went on to play Republican politico Robert McCallister on "Brothers & Sisters." Politics will eat you alive, man. TM & © 2010 TMV, Inc. | All Rights Reserved . | Claire Danes was the one who wanted "My So-Called Life" to end .
Mischa Barton has never confirmed she wanted "The O.C." to kill off her character .
Heigl's publicist says she's leaving the show to spend more time with her daughter . |
89,577 | fe5ec277e38df7e834582f32714ec155bd674770 | By . Rebecca English . PUBLISHED: . 01:40 EST, 15 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 06:23 EST, 15 October 2013 . Prince William is said to be nervous about Thursday's investiture ceremony . Prince William is set to step up as a senior royal this week when he hosts his first investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace. William will represent the Queen during the hour-long event on Thursday, when he will hand out medals to luminaries – including an OBE to British tennis star Andrew Murray – and dub new knights with a sword. The 31-year-old prince has told aides he is ‘a bit nervous’ about the service, when dozens of recipients will be honoured. A royal insider said: ‘William has been practising using the sword and pinning the medals on a servant so that he gets it right. ‘He obviously doesn’t want to slice anyone’s ear off or stick a pin into their chest. ‘Above all he realises this is the biggest day in the lives of some people who are being honoured, and he wants it to go well for them.’ The source added: ‘His biggest challenge is being tall – it’s not easy to stoop down and talk to some of the smaller recipients and to pin the honours on.’ Last month Kensington Palace announced that the second in line to the throne was to leave his full-time job as an RAF search-and-rescue pilot in order to take on a greater royal role. The prince was immediately criticised, however, for suggesting that he would not significantly increase the number of official duties he does each year - which stands at just 40 or so, compared to more than 300 conducted by his grandmother – in favour of a ‘transitional year’, learning more about the way the monarchy works. The prince will hand out honours to deserving individuals, including tennis star Andy Murray . Although he has represented the Queen on official visits abroad, Thursday’s investiture will be the most significant role he has carried out her behalf to date – and is one he will regularly conduct when he is king. It is not clear why the Queen has asked her grandson to go as she has no official engagements in her diary on that date. But it is known that the 87-year-old monarch finds standing for up to an hour at a time, leaning forwards to pin on the medals and wielding her heavy sword, rather tiring and a great strain on her back. Joanne Harris receives an MBE from the Queen at an Investiture Ceremony at Buckingham Palace on October 10 . ‘The Prince was always going to start doing more royal duties but he wants to add them in slowly and do each one well without rushing into things,’ said a source yesterday. Around 25 investitures are held every year, mostly at Buckingham Palace, but also at Windsor Castle and Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh. As well as the Queen, they are sometimes performed by Prince Charles and, on rare occasions, Princess Anne. At the start of the ceremony William will enter the Ballroom attended by two Gurkha orderly officers, a tradition begun by Queen Victoria in 1876. Having served in the Army, Royal Navy and RAF, William will have a choice of uniform, but Prince Charles normally wears a Royal Navy outfit. Also on duty will be members of the Queen’s Body Guard of the Yeoman of the Guard, created by Henry VII in 1485. Music will be provided by a military band or an orchestra from the Purcell School of Music. After the national anthem has been played, either the Lord Chamberlain or a Lord in Waiting will announce the name of each recipient and their achievement. William will then award them the decoration before congratulating them, shaking their hand and having a brief chat. Those who receive a knighthood kneel on the investiture stool and are dubbed on the shoulder by the royal using a sword which belonged to the Queen’s father George VI. Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, attend the Tusk Conservation awards on September 12 . As well as Andy Murray, other notables taking part on Thursday include Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Christopher Allison, National Olympic Security Co-ordinator for London 2012, and comedy producer Jon Plowman. In October last year Her Majesty pulled out of an investiture at Windsor Castle with a bad back and Prince Charles had to fly down from Scotland to hand out 90 honours. The Queen has suffered from sciatica, which causes lower back pain and numbness in the legs, as well as knee problems that required surgery. She stands for the entire hour during every investiture, and two years ago the dais in the Waterloo Chamber at Windsor Castle was lowered by a few inches so that she didn’t have to stoop down so far to pin medals on. ‘It is quite a strenuous exercise to hand out the medals without mistakes, engage people in conversation and to keep bending down,’ said an insider. ‘The Queen has done it without complaint for years but she is now 87, and she will be delighted that William is stepping up to support her by taking on some of her duties.’ A Buckingham Palace spokesman declined to comment, saying details of royals taking part in investitures were never announced until the day. | Prince set to 'step-up' as a senior royal at first investiture ceremony .
Has been practising using the sword ahead of the event .
Will hand out honours to deserving subjects, including Andy Murray . |
258,511 | da93a25b288f98635c2a975db0450792d3426e23 | Heather Dureen Hegre, 20, has been arrested over claims she stole a man's wallet on their first date . A 20-year-old Wisconsin woman faces theft charges after running off with a man's wallet on their first date. Heather Dureen Hegre struck up conversation with Jeffrey Mack, 23, from North Plains, Oregon, on the dating website MeetMe.com and the two met in person at around 10pm on Monday at an Arby’s restaurant in Wilsonville. Hegre apparently got into Mack's car at the drive-thru, where he bought her a milkshake. But when he placed his wallet down on the center console of the vehicle, Hegre grabbed it and disappeared. The Oregonian reports that there was only two $1 bills in the money holder - change from a $5 bill Mack used to buy the milkshake. After being robbed, Mack called 911 and provided police with Hegre's cellphone number. Officers then called to arrange a meeting with her at the same Arby's restaurant. They arrested her early Tuesday morning and recovered the wallet - with the two $1 bills still inside. Sergeant Dan Kraus of the Wilsonville Police Department told The Oregonian that Hegre confessed to taking the wallet. A subsequent search of her maroon minivan revealed hypodermic needles, two jars of hash oil, marijuana pipes, a weighing scale and a pill bottle containing what is believed to be methamphetamine. Scene of the crime: Hegre struck up conversation with Jeffrey Mack, 23, from Oregon on the dating website MeetMe.com and the two met in person at around 10pm on Monday at an Arby’s restaurant in Wilsonville . Hegre was booked into the Clackamas County jail before being released on police bail pending further investigation. She faces charges related to the theft of Mack''s wallet as well as drug possession. 'It will not go down as a good first date. But at least [Mack] got his wallet and his $2 back,' Sergeant Kraus concluded. | Heather Dureen Hegre, 20, struck up conversation with Jeffrey Mack, 23, from North Plains, Oregon, on the dating website MeetMe.com .
The two met in person at around 10pm on Monday at an Arby’s restaurant in Wilsonville .
Hegre reportedly got into Mack's car and then ran off with his wallet after he purchased a milkshake - there were only two $1 bills in the holder .
He called 911 and provided police with Hegre's cellphone number .
She was later arrested and now faces charges . |
68,458 | c21cdc474dca7734c01aad05375f998516c4cfdf | 'A significant risk to the public': Andrew Cumming, 30, from Hull, has been jailed for 13 years after attacking pensioners . A man who launched violent and unprovoked attacks on defenceless pensioners has been imprisoned for 13 years. Andrew Cumming, 30, from Hull, beat one woman in her 80s unconscious and broke another elderly man's jaw, cheekbone and eye socket, Hull Crown Court heard. Judge Jeremy Richardson QC told Cumming he posed a 'significant and enduring risk to the public' and said he had considered jailing him for life, but was not allowed to by current law. He said: 'Your conduct almost defies belief. You deserve severe punishment and that is what you will get. 'You told a man you wanted to rip off "coffin-dodgers". That vile remark reveals your cruel, callous and predatory character. 'You have preyed upon the elderly and vulnerable with a vicious determination.' The court heard that Cumming, who has 78 previous convictions, many of them against the elderly, robbed an 82-year-old woman in her home in Nidderdale, east Hull, after knocking on her door complaining he had glass in his eye one day last September. When she opened her door to help him, he burst in and grabbed her, dragging her from room to room and destroying her treasured photographs. He left her unconscious on her bedroom floor before stealing £853 and her handbag. She told police how she tried to fight him off but he was too strong. Judge Richardson said: 'Out of compassion, she opened the door. You then saw your chance and seized it. 'You . left her injured and terrified. Having regard to your appalling history . of targeting the elderly, this is a particularly serious crime and you . deserve a long jail sentence.' Sentencing Cumming at Hull Crown Court, the judge said he had 'an appalling history of targeting the elderly' Cumming also set upon a couple and their friend out walking their dogs in the Yorkshire countryside. He punched a 74-year-old man four times in the face as he lay on the ground, leaving his cheekbone, jaw and eye socket broken. The man needed surgery to insert metal plates into his face following the assault in August last year. Police described the attack on the man as 'vicious and sustained', lasting up to quarter of an hour. Cumming also punched the man's wife in the face when she tried to help her husband, and snatched a mobile telephone from her friend’s hand when she tried to call police. Judge Richardson said: 'This was serious violent conduct towards senior citizens.' Cumming attacked them after accusing the woman of failing to clear up after her dog. He was also sentenced for trying to defraud two elderly sisters in the Yorkshire village of Cottingham out of more than £3,000 for garden work he had not carried out. Cumming admitted robbery, wounding and two charges of fraud. Jailing him for 13 years, Judge Richardson said: 'You are an habitual criminal of a predatory kind. 'You target elderly victims who are particularly vulnerable, which is part of your malevolent character. 'I have seriously considered imposing a life sentence, but I would not be justified in so doing under the current law. However, you will be severely punished. 'You pose a significant and enduring risk to the public, particularly elderly citizens.' Cumming was also given an extended licence period of a further five years. | Andrew Cumming, 30, from Hull, beat one 82-year-old woman unconscious .
He punched a 74-year-old man four times in the face, breaking his skull .
Admitted robbery, wounding, and two charges of fraud at Hull Crown Court .
Judge Jeremy Richardson QC told him: 'You deserve severe punishment' |
251,003 | d0d83af023b320abf658105d71a641e4ef6e5271 | By . Jessica Satherley . Last updated at 9:23 PM on 24th November 2011 . She can deal, she can shuffle, she even knows how to bluff, but what makes Alexa Fisher’s talent unique is that she is only eight-years-old. Having learnt to play poker at the age of just three, she is now taking on experienced card sharks more than seven times her age and is thought to be the youngest poker player in the world. A poker magazine has dubbed her a 'child prodigy' and she can play over 50 varieties of the game, making her a veritable threat on the poker scene in her home town in Texas. The Texan that can hold'em: Alexa Fisher might only be eight-years-old but she can deal, shuffle and knows how to bluff . She even snubbed Disneyland last year, instead begging her parents to take her to Las Vegas to hunt autographs at the World Series of Poker tournaments. There she got an autograph from professional Greg Raymer on her hat that reads, 'See you in 2024!', which is when she will finally be of legal age to enter the WSOP herself. At home in Cibolo, near San Antonio, she takes on grown men at the game they have been playing for decades, frequently pummelling the competition in weekly charity contests. And her father Justin, 35, a house husband and fellow poker enthusiast, thinks his daughter could be the next big thing in professional poker. In the game: Alexa Fisher pictured competing in a charity tournament . He said: ‘I know Alexa could play poker with the best players in the world and definitely hold her own. ‘I also know she would be more than comfortable playing the professionals at the large buy-in events that many top name players are known for. ‘When Alexa was three, I would have . ESPN and poker shows on in the background and she was attracted to the . clapping and the sounds of people being happy on the television. ‘I used playing cards to help her count and to help with her maths skills when she was young and before she attended school. ‘As . she began to learn which cards were higher, such as the aces, kings, . queens and jacks in relation to the numbers, plus recognising what a . pair, a flush, a three of a kind were, it was time to get poker chips.’ Next came plastic playing cards, chips with values on them and a dealer button. By the age of four, she was shuffling, dealing, learning about basic tell signs and bluffing strategies. By age five, she knew No-Limit Texas Hold'em solidly. From there, Justin introduced her to . other games, such as Limit and Pot Limit, and by the age of six, she . knew all of the WSOP games, along with Badugi, Double Flop Hold'em, . Crazy Pineapple, and ace-to-five and triple-draw Lowball. Alexa . has since played in several charity poker tournaments where players pay . to enter or donate to local charities in order to circumvent local . gambling laws. She played her first ever live poker tournament charity event at the age of seven. She set an age record at her first live tournament in 2009, outlasting well over half the field - including her father - and becoming an instant local celebrity. During a tournament poker charity event last year she ended up making the final table that evening and finishing in 6th place. She said: ‘The neat thing about poker is there are a lot of games to choose from and they are easy to learn and play. Idols: Alexa snubbed meeting Mickey and Minnie Mouse at Disneyland, to instead meet her poker idol Greg Raymer (right) at the World Series of Poker tournament in Vegas . World series: She begged her parents to take her to Las Vegas to hunt autographs at the World Series of Poker tournaments (library image) ‘I know how to shuffle and deal the cards, raise, check, fold, and bluff. I also know how to play deuce-to-seven Lowball, H.O.R.S.E., and Badugi. ‘I can now play any poker game with the best poker players in the world. ‘With me being a girl, when I am a professional poker player I hope I can inspire other girls and women to play poker too.’ As far as her parents know, Alexa does not play poker with her schoolmates, but she is allowed to play for money - her cash allowance for doing chores around the house - because it teaches her money management. They gave her some money to start with, and now she has a bank account. Her first win from a major cash game was $42, and her first loss was $25, while in Vegas. Ultimately Alexa's ambition is to be a professional poker player, and her parents are more than happy to encourage the youngster to follow her dreams. In addition, Alexa juggles poker with rock climbing, Zumba classes, football and weekly volleyball practices. | Alexa Fisher started playing poker aged three and now takes on card sharks seven times her age .
She can play over 50 varieties of the game, including No-Limit Texas Hold'em .
Her father taught her the game to improve her maths skills . |
86,401 | f53f333a60423a7e2ad64ef46c712ab56955c4b8 | Qatari officials have moved quickly to ease fears that heat could prove a health risk at the 2019 World Athletics Championships. Doha beat off competition from Eugene and Barcelona to earn the vote of the IAAF council following presentations from all three cities in Monaco. But the decision has already been questioned by reigning world 400m champion Christine Ohuruogu, who said endurance athletes in particular could be at risk. An aerial view of the Qatari capital of Doha - where the 2019 World Championships will be held . Qatari officials have moved quickly to ease fears that heat could prove a health risk to the games . Ohuruogu told the Guardian: 'To have the extra pressure of your body having to work against that heat, I just wonder how many people will manage. 'It's a concern. Maybe the sprinters can get away with it because they are not out there for that long but for the guys who are running laps and laps, they are pushing their bodies to the limit anyway, to add the extra ingredient of extreme heat, I would be worried about what would happen to them and their health.' The bidding victory comes amid continued controversy over the award of the 2022 football World Cup to the gulf state, and issues over when the tournament can best be staged. But organisers say they will combat the heat at the World Athletics Championships by staging it between September 28 and October 6 - rather than in August when the championships are usually held. The decision has already been questioned by reigning world 400m champion Christine Ohuruogu . FIFA last week controversially upheld their decision to award the 2022 World Cup to Qatar . Qatar Olympic Committee's senior advisor Aphrodite Moschoudi insisted during the bid presentation: 'The temperature in Doha at this time of year is no different to several recent World Championships. 'Average temperature at that time of the year is even lower than temperatures we have at our Diamond League meeting every May.' Doha pipped Eugene by 15 votes to 12 in the final round of voting after Barcelona had been eliminated at the first age with just six votes. IAAF president Lamine Diack said: 'I'm sure that we will have, in Doha, a wonderful edition of the World Championships. 'I am convinced they are committed through sport to developing their country and their community. And they are doing the right things.' Athletes compete in the men's 3,000m steeplechase at a Diamond League meeting in Doha in May . | Doha beat off competition from Eugene and Barcelona to earn the vote .
Organisers say they will combat the heat by staging it between September 28 and October 6 - rather than in August .
The decision has already been questioned by world 400m champion Christine Ohuruogu .
Event comes three years before Qatar are due to host FIFA World Cup . |
211,910 | 9e6abc32cf0c23476f1ae91b7ff54c22fb869ee7 | (CNN)American Airlines has delivered a small gift to fans of Boeing's advanced jet, the 787 Dreamliner. The airline announced routes Wednesday for the first 787s to join American's fleet. "Nice to have another U.S. airline with a 787, finally," aviation enthusiast and frequent flier Jason Rabinowitz tweeted to CNN. Since 2012, United has been the only U.S. airline to operate the sleek, super-efficient Dreamliners. "It's always nice to see a new type enter a fleet." American announced a domestic Dreamliner route from Dallas-Fort Worth to Chicago O'Hare beginning May 7. Starting in June, passengers can fly American Airlines Dreamliners from Dallas-Forth Worth to Beijing and to Buenos Aires. Appropriately for Dreaminer lovers, booking is expected to begin on Valentine's Day. The buzz began building last month, when 787 fans rejoiced at the delivery of American's first Dreamliner from Boeing's factory in Everett, Washington. The Dreamliner has been keeping a low profile since battery problems prompted aviation authorities to briefly ground it worldwide in 2013. Despite the release of the sleek, new 787-8 and its longer version, the 787-9 the Dreamliner has been at least temporarily overshadowed by a newer rival: the Airbus A350. Related: Dreamliner investigation over: 8 questions . American Airlines boasts that the new planes will be outfitted with custom-designed, forward-and rear-facing seats. "Adding the 787 Dreamliner to our network gives us the opportunity to increase our efficiency on long-haul flights across the globe and potentially open up new markets in our network," said American's Andrew Nocella. American also plans to trick out its 787 cabins with nearly 198 main cabin seats in a 3-3-3 configuration, and 48 of those with 6 inches of extra legroom. International long-haul Dreamliners will include Wi-Fi and seats that can lie completely flat. Dreamliners also offer snazzy features like color-changing interior mood lighting, improved cabin humidity and larger windows that darken and lighten with the push of a button. Aviation geeks love to talk about the 787's advanced technology, like fly-by-wire cockpit controls and dramatically sweeping wings with raked wingtips. American says it has firm orders for 42 Dreamliners, with options to purchase 58 more. It says it "will deploy the 787 to additional markets in 2015 as it takes delivery of new aircraft." American's orders reportedly include 26 of the longer version of the Dreamliner, the 787-9. | American Airlines reveals where it will fly its new Boeing 787 Dreamliners .
Initial routes: Dallas-Forth Worth to Chicago, O'Hare, Beijing and Buenos Aires .
The 787's advanced design sparks excitement among aviation enthusiasts . |
278,943 | f563bbb7e72edaf35e1e15baf68bb777dcb4285f | Vladimir Putin last night pointed to Russia’s nuclear arsenal and warned the West: ‘It’s best not to mess with us’ on Ukraine. In a menacing intervention, the Russian president denied Nato, British and American reports that Russian forces are operating in eastern Ukraine. And he warned the West against any attempt to support Ukraine in its efforts to defeat Russian separatists. Speaking at a pro-Kremlin youth camp near Moscow, he said: ‘Russia’s partners... should understand it’s best not to mess with us. Ukrainian servicemen use a brief lull in the conflict to make running repairs on their heavy armour . Mechanics have field-striped part of the engine and drive components to keep the vehicle running . Ukraine has appealed to the West for supplies of modern weaponry to help repel any Russian advance . ‘Thank God, I think no one is thinking of unleashing a large-scale conflict with Russia. I want to remind you that Russia is one of the leading nuclear powers.’ Mr Putin also launched an astonishing verbal assault on the Ukrainian government, comparing it to the Nazis and saying its actions in the east of the country ‘sadly reminds me of the events of the Second World War, when German fascist... occupiers surrounded our cities’. Russia is one of five countries which has nuclear weapons as a signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty. Mr Putin has the second largest stockpile of warheads in the world – 4,300 according to the latest estimates from the Federation of American Scientists. Of those, approximately 1,600 are long-range land and sea-based ballistic missiles. Nato believes that there are at least 1,000 Russian troops now actively engaged in the conflict . Ukrainian army fires during fighting between militants and Ukrainian forces in Donetsk region. Nato said that it believes that well more than 1,000 regular Russian troops are fighting in Ukraine . The US has an estimated 4,765, Britain has 225, France 300 and China 250. Of other counties thought to have nuclear weapons – India, Pakistan and Israel are thought to have fewer than 100 and North Korea fewer than ten. British intelligence believes Russia has made a significant incursion into Ukraine, involving at least 1,000 regular troops fighting alongside pro-Russian militias on the ground. British sources said Russia had supplied 100 battle tanks, 80 armoured personnel carriers, 500 anti-tank weapons and 100 artillery pieces to separatists. Residents of Mariupol dig trenches and make fortifications with sandbags as they help Ukrainian troops in organising their defence on the outskirts of the southern Ukrainian city of Mariupol . An Ukrainian soldier digs a trench on the outskirts of the southern Ukrainian city of Mariupol today. Nato chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen urged Russia to halt its 'illegal' military actions in Ukraine . Ukrainian servicemen repair a part of their MPC inside a military camp in Donetsk . A Ukrainian serviceman sits on a tank while speaking on the phone inside a military camp in Donetsk . Ukraine’s Ambassador at Large Oleksandr Scherba appealed to the West for military help. ‘We want the West to understand Ukraine is fighting Europe’s war,’ he said. ‘There is only one thing that separates your people driving to their jobs and a full relapse into a Cold War – and that is young Ukrainian volunteer soldiers.’ Government sources said David Cameron would press for tough new sanctions on Russia at a summit of EU leaders in Brussels today. But military intervention is not being contemplated. The crisis in Ukraine is also now set to dominate next week’s Nato summit in Newport, south Wales. A Ukrainian serviceman walks past a pile of shells stored inside a hole inside a military camp in Donetsk . Rest: Ukrainian servicemen rest at their military camp near the eastern Ukrainian city of Debalcevo, in Ukraine. Mr Putin today asked pro-Moscow rebels to open a 'humanitarian corridor' to allow Ukrainian soldier who remain hemmed in to the region to go home . Proof: Kiev said Putin's edict proved that separatists were under Kremlin control . Ukraine yesterday said it was seeking Nato membership – a request the military alliance said it would treat ‘respectfully’. Nato accused Russia of a ‘blatant violation’ of Ukraine’s sovereignty, saying the crisis ‘defies all diplomatic efforts for a peaceful solution’. On Thursday the alliance released satellite photos of Russian self-propelled artillery units moving inside Ukraine last week. Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen yesterday said that ‘despite hollow denials’, it was now clear that Russian forces had illegally crossed Ukraine’s border. Put to work: Prisoners-of-war, who are Ukrainian servicemen captured by pro-Russian separatists, clean a street in Snizhne in the Donetsk region . Held captive: Captured pro-Ukrainian fighter sits in a garage at the Novoazovsk border crossing point, in eastern Ukraine . Mercy: In a statement issued through the Kremlin today, the Russian president told the separatists to open up a 'humanitarian corridor' in eastern Ukraine to avoid the 'senseless deaths' of trapped Ukrainian troops . German foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said: ‘All our hopes of de-escalation have been disappointed and the situation is showing signs that it is now out of control.’ Polish foreign minister Radoslaw Sikorski said: ‘If it looks like a war, sounds like a war and kills like a war, it is a war.’ Sweden’s foreign minister Carl Bildt warned: ‘This is the second invasion of Ukraine in a year. We have to call a spade a spade and stop playing around.’ Meanwhile, heavily armed pro-Russia separatists held firm control of the strategic coastal town of Novoazovsk yesterday. At least half a dozen tanks were seen in the town of about 12,000 people, bearing the flags of Novorossiya, the ‘state’ proclaimed by rebels in two eastern Ukraine regions. None of the tanks bore Russian markings, but ready-made meals seen nearby had markings showing they were Russian army issue. Digging in: Civilians dig trenches and make fortifications with sandbags as they assist Ukrainian troops in organising their defence on the outskirts of the southern Ukrainian city of Mariupol . Battle weary: Armed Ukrainian servicemen comb the area after being shot at by pro-Russian militants at their checkpoint near the small city of Dzerzhynsk, in the Donetsk region . Mercy: In a statement issued through the Kremlin today, Russian president Putin told the separatists to open up a 'humanitarian corridor' through which to release trapped enemy troops to 'avoid senseless deaths' A woman rides on the back of a truck holding a flag of Novorossiya, a union between the 'Donetsk People's Republic and 'Lugansk People's Republic'. If implemented, that plan would leave Kiev with no Black Sea coastline . 'Plain to see': He spoke as President Barack Obama said it was 'plain for the world to see' that Russian forces are now fighting inside Ukraine . This map shows how 'New Russia', now eastern Ukraine, was once part of the Russian Empire . The word 'Novorossiya' literally means 'New Russia' - an imperial-era term for southern Ukraine, when it was part of the Russian Empire. It is now a term used by Russia ultra-nationalists who want to re-conquer the area. The region was seized by imperial Russia at the end of the 18th century from the Ottoman Empire and remained under its control until the October Revolution and the collapse of the empire in November 1917. The term implies a giant semi-circle of Ukraine encompassing Kharkiv, Lugansk, Donetsk, Mykolaiv, Kherson, and Odessa. If implemented, that plan would leave Kiev with no Black Sea coastline. | He said Russia's nuclear programme means 'nobody would think of conflict'
He also tells rebels to release trapped enemy to 'avoid senseless deaths'
He compares Ukraine's sieges of two cities to Nazis' siege of Leningrad .
He referred to 'Novorossiya' - or 'New Russia' - as he praised rebel 'success'
Kiev said the edict proved that separatists were under Kremlin control .
Ukrainian PM announced that country will seek to become member of Nato .
Putin spoke as Obama said it is 'plain to see' Russian forces are in Ukraine . |
121,243 | 28c0764f2fd03189ea3cf5d3ebb49f7305432cde | By . Katie Nicholl . PUBLISHED: . 17:47 EST, 25 August 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 11:18 EST, 27 August 2012 . Prince Harry’s naked high-jinks in Las Vegas may have cost him his latest girlfriend. Model Cressida Bonas, 23, a Leeds University graduate who has been dating the Prince over the summer, is said to have been ‘humiliated’ by the pictures of Harry enjoying the company of a young blonde in a hotel room. Although sources say the couple have not split up, Ms Bonas, who has seen the pictures of the naked Prince on the internet, has hinted that she wants some time out. In the pink: Cressida, right, with a friend on Sir Richard Branson's Island before Harry's Vegas jaunt . 'He's ruined his chances now.' a friend of the heiress is quoted today.' Harry has blown it. Cressida saw a future with him, but he clearly isn't as serious about her as he claimed to be.' Her torment was revealed as it emerged that one of the women who partied with the Prince on the 63rd floor of the Wynne Las Vegas and Encore Resort Hotel is set to 'tell all' on American TV in 'the next few days.' Ms Bonas, the daughter of Sixties cover girl and banking heiress Lady Mary-Gaye Curzon, enjoyed a holiday with Harry on Necker, the island owned by Sir Richard Branson, shortly before his jaunt to ‘Sin City’. Together with a group of friends, they were on Necker to celebrate the 27th birthday of Sir Richard’s son, Sam. Ms Bonas, 23, a Leeds University graduate is said to have been 'humiliated' by the pictures of Harry enjoying the company of a young blonde in a hotel room . Ms Bonas is said to be ‘less than impressed’ by the pictures that have emerged from the boys-only break in Las Vegas. Photos . of Harry naked and bear-hugging a nude blonde in his private suite have gone viral on the internet since they were . published on the American website TMZ. During the Necker holiday, the Prince and Ms Bonas were acting very much as a couple, according to friends. One told the Sunday Mirror: 'They had been for a few dates including one just before Necker. Things went further there between them and they had a great time fooling around. 'Everyone in their group thought they were getting it on. Cressida definitely saw the romance asa goer and is gutted by what happened.' Party central: The Encore Resort Hotel, centre, where Prince Harry partied with friends during his Las Vegas holiday . A friend of Ms Bonas told The Mail on Sunday: ‘The relationship was pretty low key to begin with, but some of Cressida’s friends say it won’t get off the ground now,’ ‘Cressida is pretty peeved.’ She and Harry were introduced by Harry’s cousin, Princess Eugenie. Last month they attended a screening of the new Batman movie where they were reportedly spotted in a clinch and they were recently seen at the Womad music festival in Wiltshire. Yesterday, the U.S. media firm Bad Girlz PR claimed that a woman at the Prince's party was prepared to reveal what happened that night and to take a lie detector test to back her version of events. The woman, from California, has hired a PR who acts as a go-between for people who have intimate stories about celebrities and want to go on the record. A spokesman told the Sunday Mirror: 'What she says is quite incredible and paints a different side to the prince and his behaviour.' But the spokesman added that the woman is 'nervous' about coming forward because she fears a royal backlash. A spokesman for Prince Harry declined to comment last night. | Model Cressida Bonas, 23, has been dating the prince over the summer .
She has hinted she wants 'time out' after seeing the pictures on the internet .
Enjoyed holiday with Harry on Richard Branson's island before Vegas jaunt .
'He's ruined his chances now...Harry's blown it,' says friend of heiress .
Woman at party ready to 'tell all' on TV about the Prince's behaviour . |
207,841 | 9919aada73a7d2efd96fc6188e9763bfeaaf7513 | By . Ted Thornhill . Money worries: Clive Joy was once worth £69million but is now claiming to have 80,000 euros, or £65,000, left in the bank - and facing huge legal costs . An aviation tycoon and his wife embroiled in a multi-million pound divorce have been driven to fight over a £470,000 vintage Bentley, which each hopes will fund their huge legal bills. Clive Joy, 55, whose fortune was once put at £69million, is now ‘pleading poverty’ in defending a massive financial claim by the mother of his three children, Nichola Joy, a senior judge has heard. But Mrs Joy, 47, says he is claiming to be ‘penniless’ as ‘part of a dishonest strategy’ to reduce any financial award she may receive by hiding his fortune in an offshore trust. Now, they are fighting in the British courts over a 1928 4.5litre Bentley Tourer, valued at £472,000, which is parked at Chateau Tournefort, their palatial house in Provence. Martin Pointer QC, for Mr Joy, told Appeal Court judge Lord Justice Patten that the entrepreneur is caught in legal tangles on both sides of the channel – and his cash reserves have fallen to £66,000. The couple met in April 2001 and married five years later. Mrs Joy petitioned for divorce in July 2011, the court heard. A decree nisi was pronounced in June last year, but the divorce has yet to be finalised while the couple run up enormous legal bills squabbling over the partition of their assets. Zimbabwe-born Mr Joy attended university in England and has lived with his family for spells in the Caribbean and in France. He made his fortune through a phenomenally successful aircraft leasing firm. Mr Pointer said that Mr Joy moved the money made from this venture into a trust in 2002. Valuable: The couple are fighting over this model of Bentley - a 1928 Tourer (not actual car) His wife’s lawyers say he transferred . about £69million to the British Virgin Islands-based trust. But Mr . Pointer said the family’s living expenses were funded by drawing cash . from a bank loan, secured against the trust. As . of June last year, Mr Joy had withdrawn £18million in this way. Last . May, Mrs Joy got a worldwide order freezing £35million of her . ex-husband’s assets and Mr Pointer said that had ‘catastrophic . ramifications for this family’s finances’. Mr . Pointer said Mr Joy has since been unable to borrow against the trust’s . assets and it prompted the bank to order the £18million he withdrew be . repaid. When the freezing . order was lifted last November, Mr Pointer said the bank was ‘determined . not to reinstate the loan facility’ and continued to pursue payment of . the debt – leaving Mr Joy with £66,000 in cash. Clive Joy ran a successful aircraft leasing firm and is pictured here with Prince Faisal bin Al Hussein of Jordan (left) and Royal Jordanian Airlines Chief Executive Officer Samer Majali (centre), at the Paris Air Show in 2007 . Mr . Pointer said Mr Joy agreed last November that his lawyers could take a . legal charge over the Bentley as collateral for their fees. In . January, a High Court judge ordered the Bentley’s return to England so . that it could serve as security for Mrs Joy’s legal costs. But . Mr Joy is appealing against that ruling and Mr Pointer said he ‘really . is better off leaving the car where it is’ until that case is heard. He . added that the car is in any event currently subject to a French court . order, preventing its removal from the Chateau. Lord . Justice Patten ruled in favour of Mrs Joy, adding that he did not want . to make an order which makes it more difficult for the car to be freed . from the French court order. Mrs Joy, the court heard, now lives in another chateau in the same French town, called Barbedelle (above) | Clive Joy and ex-wife Nichola are locked in a costly divorce case .
Both are fighting over a 1928 4.5litre Bentley Tourer parked in France .
The car is at Chateau Tournefort in Provence, where they used to live .
They each hope the car will bankroll their legal war chest .
Mr Joy is 'pleading poverty' in the squabble over how assets will be split . |
273,253 | edf8fd8f1ee8760335ca2dc07f5d4c9724e1e82a | By . Tom Kelly . PUBLISHED: . 20:16 EST, 29 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 20:17 EST, 29 December 2013 . For decades, they have provided a lifeline for pensioners and low-income shoppers looking to pick up second-hand goods for a snip. But charity shops have now been accused of abandoning their traditional clientele by selling used items for hundreds of pounds. Many have effectively become mini-boutiques offering cast-off designer clothes and accessories, as well as high-end art and books, at prices beyond the means of most hard-pressed consumers. Cancer Research UK are charging £250 for a faux-fur coat and £200 for an Alpaca wool coat . Shoppers have complained that some of the second-hand goods on sale cost nearly the same as buying them brand new. The rising prices come amid fears that an increase in the number of charity shops is fuelling the decline of the British high street by forcing existing retailers out. The country now has 10,000 charity shops, which enjoy generous tax breaks not available to other shopkeepers. Many of the items on sale at the weekend, while not quite as expensive as they would be new, were still priced beyond the reach of most elderly or low-income customers. Goods available at Oxfam on London’s Marylebone High Street included a £140 dusty pink Hugo Boss skirt suit and £100 gold Orciani belt with a large embellished buckle. At Cancer Research UK in Hampstead, North London, a brown faux-fur jacket was going for £250. At an Oxfam store in Cambridge a signed print by painter Sir William Russell Flint was on sale for £249.99. Another of the charity’s shops in the city was charging £20 for a Nina Ricci perfume bottle – even though it was empty. The high prices prompted complaints from shoppers out looking for bargains. In Cambridge, retired teacher Giselle Harker, 75, said: ‘Charity shops are far too expensive now. Things are overpriced – especially in Oxfam. I find the Salvation Army is the only good charity shop now.’ Marsh Ryles, a 62-year-old quality manager from Cambridge, said: ‘You can’t get the bargains you used to be able to. ‘Now they’ll charge £25 for a pair of men’s Clarks shoes that have been worn. It is ridiculous.’ A recent thread on parenting site Mumsnet also complained about the soaring cost of charity shops. One person commented: ‘The problem is they’re doing themselves out of business. ‘I think that most people consider a reasonable price for a used item of clothing/books to be around a third of what it cost new. If they overcharge, things will remain unsold and the charity makes nothing.’ Despite rising prices, Oxfam’s network of nearly 700 shops has seen profits plunge by £17.6million in the last year amid hard times for all High Street stores. Ian Matthews, its head of retail, said: ‘All our shop managers have the flexibility to set their own prices, using their judgment and some guidance, to decide what prices and products will best suit customers in their location.’ | Names such as Oxfam and Cancer Research UK selling expensive items .
They have been accused of abandoning their traditional clientele .
Many are now effectively mini boutiques selling designer items . |
18,358 | 33ef391d20f300fb3f355d6eb0dce8f692141842 | By . Victoria Woollaston . Just days after leaked images suggested Apple’s iPhone 6 will have a protruding camera, a patent has been issued giving an insight into what this feature may be used for. The patent, initially filed in 2012, describes a bayonet mount system for an iPhone camera. The system is similar to that currently used on SLR cameras and lets photographers attach and remove interchangeable lenses using a twist and lock motion. Scroll down for video . Apple filed for the patent in 2012, and it was issued yesterday. It describes a bayonet mount system for an iPhone camera, patent image pictured. The system is similar to that currently used on SLR cameras and lets photographers attach and remove interchangeable lenses easily . The bayonet mount system is currently used on SLR . cameras, for example, and lets photographers attach and remove . interchangeable lenses using a twist and lock motion. The bayonet connector system is the standard light bulb fitting in the United Kingdom, Australia, India and other countries. One side of the mount features radial pins that lock into a L-shaped slot on the other side (pictured above). Apple said the system is preferable to screw mounts because it is more discreet, and is more secure than magnetic connectors. Bayonet connectors are also the standard light bulb fitting in the United Kingdom, Australia, India and other countries. According to the Apple patent: 'it may be desirable to couple a lens to a portable electronic device including a camera. ‘The camera may not include optical zoom functionality, wide angle capability, or certain filters, and hence the addition of an accessory device may be desirable.' It continued that current lens accessory devices and attachment options for phones have been ‘unsatisfactory’, such as screw mount systems. Apple said screw mount systems can be bulky and increase in the size of the phone, and this may be ‘undesirable to a consumer.’ The . patent also explained a magnetic connection may be another option, . but didn't feel this was secure enough when walking or holding the device. ‘Additionally, . if the magnetic ring is improperly aligned with respect to the camera, . the view through the lens may be obstructed or distorted,’ said the . patent. Apple’s solution is a bayonet attachment that is functional, but takes up the least amount of space on the device. Images posted to Chinese social network Weibo earlier this week appear to show a rounded design and a protruding camera for the iPhone 6, pictured left, similar to those seen on the iPod touch. This protruding camera could be used to house the bayonet connector, pictured right, for its proposed interchangeable lenses . The protruding camera and rounded edges of the purported iPhone 6 prototypes are similar to those seen on the current iPod touch model, pictured. But this feature was purely design-led and wasn't used to add lenses . The bayonet mount, pictured, would be built onto the iPhone's rear-facing camera and would protrude marginally above the case . The mount would be built-in to the iPhone’s rear-facing camera bezel, which would protrude marginally above the case. Various lenses with bayonet-style connectors would then be attached and locked into place. To prevent damage to the lens, if the phone is dropped for example, Apple continued that the mount could be fixed on a ‘ramped surface’. This would allow the lens to detach from the device without twisting, if the lens is hit from a certain angle. Images posted to Chinese social network Weibo earlier this week purporting to show the next Apple device are thought to have been leaked by an anonymous insider working at Apple supplier Foxconn. Although . the images are blurry, they appear to show a rounded design and a . protruding camera, similar to those seen on the iPod touch. Current iPhone models feature cameras that sit flush the with rear casing. Alternatively, the models shown in the pictures could be the next generation of Apple's MP3 player. There are already detachable lenses that work with iPhone devices, such as the Olloclip. This attachment comes with four lenses that create a range of photo effects including fisheye and wide-angle, plus 10x and 15x macro zoom. Each lens can be used interchangeably, simply by screwing them on and off, and the whole system costs £69.99. | The patent describes a bayonet mount system for an iPhone .
It would mean interchangeable lenses could be added to Apple devices .
Bayonet mounts are smaller and more conspicuous than screw mounts .
They are also more secure than magnetic connectors, for example .
Images leaked this week showed an Apple case with a protruding camera - which could be used as a connector for these interchangeable lenses . |
192,420 | 851d67d9038f78b82370a608e1ea14f99626d49c | Los Angeles (CNN) -- Rapper Lil Wayne's "just resting" two days after suffering a seizure that sent him to a Los Angeles hospital and triggered media reports that he was near death. Details about the Grammy-winning and multiplatinum-selling hip hop artist's medical problem have been few, but it appears the reports of his demise were exaggerated. "He's good, just resting," said a close friend who visited the rapper at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Saturday night. Lil Wayne fans around the world were stunned by the reports. Twitter lit up with rumors, spreading fears of the worst for Wayne's outcome, but a Tweet in his name attempted to calm the tempest. "I'm good everybody," read a message from Lil Wayne's Twitter account Friday evening. "Thnx for the prayers and love." There was no weeping for "Weezy," as he's known among his friends, in the hallway near his hospital room Friday night. They talked more about a Twitter feud that erupted Friday between rappers Gucci Mane and Waka Flocka than about Lil Wayne's condition. Fellow rapper Drake was one of several of Lil Wayne's Young Money record label mates who have visited him since Friday night. Young Money publicist Sarah Cunningham acknowledged Friday that Lil Wayne had had a seizure, but members of the New Orleans artist's camp have shot down reports that he was near death. "Dont believe the nonsense about comas and tubes to breathe ... that's false!!" tweeted Mack Maine, the president of Lil Wayne's Young Money label, around 5:20 p.m. (8:20 p.m. ET) Friday. Maine didn't offer much detail, though he did say that he and Lil Wayne had been watching the Syracuse University Orange play the Georgetown Hoyas in the Big East men's basketball tournament. "Wayne is alive and well!" the record label president wrote on Twitter. The rapper's independent publicist, Kia Selby, said only, "Lil Wayne is doing well." She strongly denied reports he was in a medically induced coma, as reported by TMZ. Born Dwayne Carter, Lil Wayne is one of the rap world's most successful artists. He won best rap album for "Tha Carter III" at the 2008 Grammy awards and took home three more Grammys the next year. Beyond winning over critics, he's also been a commercial success. Last September, Billboard reported the rapper had tallied 109 hits on its Hot 100, surpassing the record previously held by Elvis Presley. But he's also run into trouble outside the studio and off stage. Lil Wayne was arrested in 2007 outside New York City's Beacon Theater after police said they found a .40-caliber pistol on his tour bus. He pleaded guilty to felony gun charges and spending eight months at New York's Rikers Island jail. CNN's Denise Quan contributed to this report. | Drake and other label mates visit Lil Wayne at hospital .
No weeping for "Weezy" among his friends near his hospital room .
"I'm good everybody," read a message from Lil Wayne's Twitter account Friday evening .
His publicist says the rapper suffered a seizure . |
166,323 | 630efc588031995c620c52499209652ea985c4f3 | By . Snejana Farberov . and Associated Press Reporter . Six climbers have gone missing while ascending Mount Rainier in Washington state, sparking a helicopter search. The missing group includes four clients of Seattle-based Alpine Ascents International and two guides. They were due to return from the mountain Friday. When they did not make it back, the climbing company notified park officials at around 4.30pm, Park Ranger Fawn Bauer said. Search operation: Six climbers, including two guides, have gone missing while ascending Mount Rainier, a dormant volcano in Washington state . 'The last contact with them was at 12,800 feet,' Bauer said. Mount Rainier, southeast of Seattle, stands at 14,410 feet and attracts thousands of climbers trying to reach its summit every year. The search for the missing climbers is focusing on the Liberty Ridge area, near from where they were last heard from, Bauer said. The search includes climber ranger teams on the ground and flyovers with a helicopter. The last contact the group had with the climbing company was at 6pm Wednesday. They were scheduled to reach the summit of Mount Rainier on Thursday, with a day to climb down. The group is equipped with satellite and mobile phones. A small weather front that brought snow flurries and hail to the mountain moved in Wednesday, Bauer said. The weather has been clear since then. Adventurers: The climb was organized by the Seattle-based Alpine Ascents International, some of whose guides are pictured here earlier this week on Mount Rainier . The search for the missing climbers (not pictured) is focusing on the Liberty Ridge area, near from where they were last heard from . Alpine Ascents' director of programs, Gordon Janow, said he wasn't ready to release information about the climbers. 'Let's hope they're found and that it goes well,' he said. Details — such as ages, gender or hometowns — for the climbers were not immediately available, Bauer said. Saturday afternoon, rescuers spotted camping and climbing equipment at 9,500 feet on Carbon Glacier, but there is no word at this time if the gear belongs to the missing party. Last month, Alpine Ascents International lost five of the 16 Sherpa guides killed in an avalanche on Mount Everest. | Missing group includes four clients of Seattle-based Alpine Ascents International .
Climbers were last heard from Wednesday while they were in Liberty Ridge area at 12,800 feet . |
30,009 | 554971bad5ac22f246d5ed7996175854eb882419 | Advances in Stone Age man’s language and culture, might have been driven by climate change, scientists claim. Scientists believe surges in innovation in early modern human populations coincided with periods of heavy rainfall. People living in the Middle Stone Age, between 80,000 and 40,000 years ago, in an area that is now South Africa, used symbols to communicate, which have been linked to the development of complex language. People living in the Middle Stone Age, between 80,000 and 40,000 years ago, in a region that now included South Africa (pictured), used symbols to communicate, which have been linked to the development of complex language, more in times of heavy rainfall . Scientists from Cardiff University's School of Earth and Ocean Sciences, the Natural History Museum in London and the University of Barcelona, said that these symbols, as well as personal adornments made of seashells, coincided with increased rainfall and receded in dry periods. They studied a marine sediment core off the coast of South Africa and reconstructed terrestrial climate variability over the last 100,000 years to come up with their findings, which were published in the journal Nature Communications. Dr Martin Ziegler, of Cardiff University, said: ‘We found that South Africa experienced rapid climate transitions toward wetter conditions at times when the Northern Hemisphere experienced extremely cold conditions.’ Professor Ian Hall, also of Cardiff University said: ‘When the timing of these rapidly occurring wet pulses was compared with the archaeological datasets, we found remarkable coincidences. Bifacial points recovered from Blombos Cave, South Africa are pictured. The tools were made during the Middle Stone Age by anatomically modern humans. The scale bar measures 5cm . Scientists found that the disappearance of industries including decorating seashells and 'writing' symbols, appears to coincide with the transition to drier climatic conditions (illustrated) People living in the Middle Stone Age, between 80,000 and 40,000 years ago, in an area that now lies in South Africa, used symbols to communicate, which have been linked to the development of complex language. Scientists said that these symbols, as well as personal adornments made of seashells, coincided with increased rainfall and receded in dry periods. The occurrence of several major Middle Stone Age industries fell tightly together with the onset of periods with increased rainfall. The disappearance of the industries appears to coincide with the transition to drier climatic conditions, they said. The South African archaeological record is so important because it shows some of the oldest evidence for modern behaviour in early humans. ‘The occurrence of several major Middle Stone Age industries fell tightly together with the onset of periods with increased rainfall. ‘Similarly, the disappearance of the industries appears to coincide with the transition to drier climatic conditions.’ Large Northern Hemisphere cooling events have previously been linked to a change in the Atlantic Ocean circulation that led to a reduced transport of warm water to the high latitudes in the north. In response to the Northern Hemisphere cooling, large parts of the sub-Saharan Africa experienced very dry conditions. Dr Ziegler said: ‘Our new data however, contrasts with sub-Saharan Africa and demonstrates that the South African climate responded in the opposite direction, with increasing rainfall, that can be associated with a globally occurring southward shift of the tropical monsoon belt.’ The South African archaeological record . is so important because it shows some of the oldest evidence for modern . behaviour in early humans. Professor Chris Stringer of The Natural History Museum, London, said: ‘The correspondence between climatic ameliorations and cultural innovations supports the view that population growth fuelled cultural changes, through increased human interactions. ‘The quality of the southern African data allowed us to make these correlations between climate and behavioural change, but it will require comparable data from other areas before we can say whether this region was uniquely important in the development of modern human culture.’ The study examines a time in prehistoric history far before the late Stone Age, some 6,000 to 2,000 years ago. People living at this time were known to carve representative pictures into rock, epitomised by famous engravings in the Kunene region in Namiba, Africa . | Research led by Cardiff University found that increased use of Stone Age symbols and seashell decorations coincided with increased rainfall .
Innovation by Stone Age men in what is now South Africa decreased in dry periods with little rainfall .
Scientists reconstructed climate variability over the last 100,000 years . |
24,899 | 468b3b7a6fd4f236d3a5a0a88b9c9a3139ef0120 | LONDON, England (CNN) -- Over the past 20 years, robotics have revolutionized surgery, and new innovations are continuing to push the boundaries of medicine. The "da Vinci" system revolutionized keyhole surgery. Mike Rustic, senior lecturer at the mechanical engineering department at Imperial College, London, says machines such as the "da Vinci" system have had a huge impact on surgery. The "da Vinci" first appeared in 1991 and lets surgeons carry out keyhole surgery remotely, allowing them to control robot arms from a console that also provides a three-dimensional image of the proceedings. While the "da Vinci" system is the most widespread robotic surgery tool, Rustic says the "Sensei Robotic Catheter System" is also starting to be used for electrophysiology procedures on the heart. Take a look at the past, present and future of surgery » . A new exhibition at London's Royal College of Surgeons called "Sci-Fi Surgery: Medical Robots" has displays ranging from the "da Vinci" system to prototype microbots designed to be swallowed and self-assembled in the human body. Rustic says there is much ongoing research into micro machines -- miniaturized robots that could be placed in a patient's body to gather information or carry out medical procedures. But he says that although pill cameras -- cameras that are swallowed by a patient to provide images of their digestive system -- are already in common use, micro machines remain some way off. "Micro machines are basically one of the holy grails, but it will take a while before we see something," he told CNN. "The difficulty is that even if you can make little motors you need to power them up and you have to be able to communicate with them and direct them." Rustic says one innovation on the horizon is a device being developed by Imperial College that would allow a surgeon to remotely control an endoscope while a patient is inside a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machine, which would give real-time image feedback during gastric procedures and prostate biopsies. But he adds that currently, robotic surgery devices are often prohibitively expensive and tend to be used for a narrow range of procedures. He told CNN that he would like to see an economical robot that can be reconfigured to perform a wide range of procedures in a standardized way, so that training can be simplified. "There is currently a gap. We are trying to produce complex machines to replace surgical tools, which are hand tools. It's like when industry moved from a chisel and hammer to machine tools." Pier Cristoforo Giulianotti is a professor at the University of Illinois department of surgery. He told CNN that as more manufacturers join the medical robotics marketplace, innovation will speed up and prices will come down. He sees the future as bringing extreme miniaturization of tools, as well as developments in augmented reality, where visual displays show computer-generated images and information overlaid onto images of the real world. Giulianotti cannot foresee a time when robots replace surgeons, but he has no doubts over the importance of robotics. "Robot surgery is the future of medicine," he said. | A new exhibition is demonstrating how robotics have revolutionized surgery .
The "da Vinci" system became the first widespread robotic surgery tool .
"Micro machines are basically one of the holy grails," says Mike Rustic . |
216,783 | a4a43507fc43f701920bad853abc2894061aa71d | Two frightening incidents of vandalism in El Paso near the Mexican border in Texas have been interpreted as warnings from drug cartels. In both instances, a mannequin wearing a suit and tie was tied to a billboard with a noose and messages were scrawled over the placards. Local station KHOU reports that one of the signs reads 'Plata o Plombo' which translates to 'silver or lead', a threat used commonly against police officers effectively warning that if they do not accept the cartel's bribes then they will be shot. Threat: The translation of the painted vandalism means 'silver or lead' which is meant to mean that police officers and business owners should either accept bribes or expect gunshots . Scary: A mannequin wearing a suit and tie was seen hanging from a noose from the El Paso billboard . 'This symbol has historically been used by Mexican drug cartels to threaten or intimidate Mexican citizens, business owners and government officials; however, we have never experienced this in El Paso,' local police said in a press release about the vandalism. The fear now for many is that the 'warnings' shows that the drug cartels- which have not been identified by name- are willing to bring the violence from Mexican border towns into Texas. 'Maybe the problems in Juarez are coming over here,' El Paso resident Javier Padilla told KHOU. Mr Padilla and his wife Maria Ramos know the terror of drug cartels on a personal level after two relatives were murdered in the area of Juarez in 2009. Second incident: The second message was written over an existing Drug Enforcement Agency billboard calling for the capture of drug lord Rafael Caro Quintero . The second instance of vandalism had a more obtuse warning, but the theme ran through since the message was written on an existing Drug Enforcement Agency billboard. The message was different this time, as the paint read: 'Dying for drugs' was written over a wanted poster calling for the capture of drug lord Rafael Caro Quintero. This second mannequin was dressed in jeans rather than the suit and tie from the other instance. The mannequins were a particularly jarring image for many familiar with the drug war, as some of the most violent drug lords south of the border regularly hang offenders off highway overpasses. While a warning from drug lords seems like one of the most likely prospects, KHOU reports that prosecutors have another theory that the vandalism also could have been caused by activist groups working against the war on drugs. | Two billboards along highways in El Paso, Texas were vandalized and had mannequins hanging off of them .
One reads 'silver or lead' in Spanish which is taken to mean that police and business owners can either take drug cartels' bribes or die .
Worries spreading that cartels that have ruled Mexican border towns with violence may be headed north . |
121,530 | 291409904c8fb423b3550324cd3e41f12ee0671b | Boynton Beach, Florida (CNN) -- Freshman Republican Congressman Allen West clashed with an advocate for Muslim-American civil rights at a sometimes-rowdy town hall meeting Monday night. The tense exchange drew boos from a standing room only, largely Republican crowd. The confrontation came as West, an Iraq War veteran who was backed by the Tea Party in last November's election, took questions from constituents. Nezar Hamze, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations in Miami, stepped to the microphone and accused West of making anti-Muslim comments in the past. "Me and my children choose to follow the faith of Islam. You consistently insult it. How can we expect you to defend our right and practice Islam as far as the Constitution is concerned?" Hamze asked. "I will always defend your right to practice a free religion under the First Amendment," West said. "But what you must understand, if I am speaking the truth, I am not going to stop speaking the truth. The truth is not subjective," he continued to loud applause. West's comments on Islam have stirred controversy in the past. He recently said Muslim Rep. Keith Ellison, D-Minnesota, represents "the antithesis of the principles upon which this country was established." The new GOP congressman pulled no punches commenting on the political crisis in Egypt, drawing parallels between the chaos in that country and the 1979 revolution in Iran. West said the U.S. must stop the Egyptian militant group, the Muslim Brotherhood, from seizing power. "President Carter, President Obama, Iran, Egypt, the Shah, Mubarak, the Ayatollah, the Muslim Brotherhood. It is a scary parallel. We cannot allow the Muslim Brotherhood to fill the void of leadership that can occur in Egypt," West said. Monday night's event was one of the country's first town hall meetings since the near assassination of Democratic Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords at a constituent event in Tucson, Arizona, in January. The tragedy was followed by calls from Republicans and Democrats to tone down political rhetoric. Determined to meet with his constituents once a month, West says he is taking his own precautions to stay safe. West, who has a permit to carry concealed weapons in Florida, also suggested to reporters he will be armed at some of his events. "I've had a concealed weapons license for quite some time, about the last two to three years, and I take it upon myself and my personal responsibility, but I choose the venues in which I'll carry," West told CNN. Asked if he was carrying a gun Monday night, West replied, "I can't tell you that." The audience at Monday's meeting sounded more like a pep rally than a town hall. West's promises to oppose the new health care law and efforts to raise the nation's debt ceiling drew rounds of applause. It was a sign that many Tea Party activists still plan to attend these constituent events, if only to cheer on members of Congress they support. Still West encouraged his opponents to speak up at his town halls. "If there is someone here who resides in Congressional District 22 who did not vote for Allen West, I want to hear from you," West said. "I want to know how I can better serve you and be a better representative." | Allen West was backed by the Tea Party in November's election .
Islamic activist accused West of making anti-Muslim comments .
West, an Iraq War veteran, has made controversial comments about Islam .
He has been seen in a bulletproof vest, has license to carry concealed weapon . |
26,604 | 4b8ea1692d79175f3b6f75acd006b49443e35805 | (CNN) -- Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross will wait until an NFL investigator meets with Jonathan Martin before holding his own meeting, the team said Tuesday. Ross had announced on Monday that he would fly to an undisclosed location on Wednesday to talk to the offensive lineman about why he left the NFL team last month. Martin's sudden departure two weeks ago ignited a controversy over locker room hazing, perceived bullying and racial slurs among professional football players. "We want to get to the bottom of it," Ross told reporters in Miami on Monday. "We want to get to hear what the real facts are. There's been so much said and done to date that I don't think anybody really knows what has happened, because nobody has really spoken with Jonathan Martin directly." The league and Ted Wells, who was appointed to investigate the controversy, asked Ross and Dolphins' President Tom Garfinkel to wait "until they have the opportunity to meet with him," Garfinkel said in a statement to CNN on Tuesday. "Out of deference to the process, we will cooperate with their request," he said. "We look forward to meeting with Jonathan as soon as possible." Martin, 24, left the Dolphins last month because of "harassment that went far beyond the traditional locker room hazing," his lawyer said. Days later, the team suspended veteran lineman Richie Incognito, 30, for conduct detrimental to the team. Incognito said in an interview over the weekend that his vulgar text messages and voice mail to Martin were misunderstood because "people don't know how Jon and I communicate to one another." "The world has changed, with social media and everything today, but one thing that will not change, there will be no racial slurs or harassing or bullying in that workplace, in that locker room and outside the locker room," Ross said. Ross, a real estate developer, has exchanged his own text messages with Martin in recent days, he said. "I would like to hear from him, what had happened, why he felt that way, the whole origin, what we did or what we could have done to really prevent something like this from happening," Ross said. "I want to hear the facts," he said. "From the facts, I can then say 'Hey, were we right? Were we wrong?' and what have you. You can't just deal with speculation, and I will not deal with speculation." Incognito acknowledged in an interview aired on "Fox NFL Sunday" that he used racist and vulgar language in voice mails and text messages to Martin but said it was "coming from a place of love." "No matter how bad and how vulgar it sounds, that's how we communicate," he told Fox Sports reporter Jay Glazer. "That's how our friendship was." "For instance, a week before this went down, Jonathan Martin text me on my phone 'I will murder your whole F-ing family,'" Incognito told Glazer. "Now, do I think Jonathan Martin was going to murder my family? Not one bit." While Martin has not spoken publicly since the controversy erupted, his attorney David Cornwell broke the silence on his behalf with a prepared statement last week. Martin tried "to befriend ... teammates who subjected him to the abuse with the hope that doing so would end the harassment" -- something Cornwell called "a textbook reaction of victims of bullying." The taunting did not stop, however, the lawyer said. He cited "a malicious physical attack on him by a teammate and daily vulgar comments," and a threat of a group sexual assault against Martin's sister. "Eventually, Jonathan made a difficult choice," Cornwell said of Martin leaving the Dolphins. "... Jonathan looks forward to getting back to playing football. In the meantime, he will cooperate fully with the NFL investigation." Ross said he called for the independent investigation by the NFL because he knew the objectivity of a team investigation could be questioned. "We need to look at ourselves," Ross said. "We have to examine everything internally. I know that this is so appalling to me." But Ross also said he wanted to avoid overreacting. He formed a committee to help guide the changes, including former Dolphin coach Don Shula and quarterback Dan Marino. "We all know that the football locker room is a different workplace than most of us are accustomed to," Ross said. "Basically, I don't want to make any excuses. I want to know that our workplace going onward will be the best workplace that you can find in the NFL." Ross said he had "total confidence" in head coach Joe Philbin. The only issue that Incognito "sidestepped and wouldn't answer" in his Fox Sports interview concerned the allegation that Miami coaches had ordered a "code red" instructing the veteran to "toughen up" the younger Martin, Glazer said. Incognito said "legal issues" prevented him from answering. "The face of bullying in America" "Right, wrong or indifferent, because of all this, you've become the face of bullying in America," Glazer told Incognito. "Someone thinks of a bully, they think of Richie Incognito." "This isn't an issue about bullying," Incognito said. "This is an issue of my and Jon's relationship, where I've taken stuff too far, and I didn't know it was hurting him." A profanity-filled voice mail from Incognito to Martin that has been made public was intended to shock him so "his buddy" would call him back, he said. "I understand why a lot of eyebrows get raised," Incognito said, "when people don't know how Jon and I communicate to one another." Incognito: "I'm not a racist" "When it's on the screen it sounds like I'm a racist pig, it sounds like I'm a meathead," he said. "It sounds like a lot of things it is not. And I wanted to clear the air just being saying that I'm a good person." He acknowledged using the n-word in his communications with Martin, who is African-American. "I'm not a racist and to judge me by that one word is wrong," Incognito said. "It, in no way, shape or form, is ever acceptable for me to use that word, even if it's friend to friend in a voice mail." He said "it was a joke." The word is "thrown around a lot" in NFL locker rooms and it's "a word that I've heard Jon use a lot," he said. "There's a lot of colorful words thrown around in the locker room that we don't use in everyday life." Martin was his "best friend" on the team, Incognito said. "You can ask anybody in the Miami Dolphins' locker room, who had Jon Martin's back the absolute most, and they'll undoubtedly tell you me," he said. Incognito said he was "miffed" by "how I missed this and I never saw it coming." Glazer asked Incognito what he would say to his former teammate today if he were in the room. "I think I would give him a big hug right now, because we've been through so much and I'd be like 'Dude, what's going on? Why didn't you come to me?'" he said. "If he were to say 'listen, you took it way too far, you hurt me.' You know, I would just apologize and explain to him exactly what I explained to you. And I would apologize to his family that they took it as malicious. But I never meant it that way." CNN's Dan Moriarty contributed to this report. | NEW: NFL asks Dolphins owner to wait before meeting with Jonathan Martin .
Ross: "We want to get to hear what the real facts are"
Committee to guide changes to Dolphins includes Don Shula and Dan Marino .
"There will be no racial slurs or harassing or bullying," Dolphin's owner vows . |
226,728 | b1939f249c548cd67ce43a8055d16dc350f6fbbe | By . Kieran Corcoran . Accused: Dr Dhanuson Dharmasena allegedly mutilated a woman after she gave birth in November 2012 . A doctor and a second man facing the UK's first prosecution linked to alleged female genital mutilation have denied any wrongdoing. Dr Dhanuson Dharmasena, 32, from the Whittington Hospital in north London, is accused of having carried out the procedure on a woman who gave birth in November 2012. Appearing at the Old Bailey today, he denied having committed an offence under the Female Genital Mutilation Act. A second man, who cannot be named, also denied aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring the doctor to commit the offence. He also entered a not guilty plea to encouraging the commission of an offence. The men will face trial on January 13 at Southwark Crown Court. Both the men, wearing dark suits, stood in the dock of oak-panelled Court Two as Mr Justice Sweeney released them on unconditional bail. He told them: 'Your unconditional bail is continued. You must attend court on each occasion that you are required to between now and your trial.' The first count on the indictment alleges that Dr Dharmasena committed FGM on November 24, 2012, and that the second man aided or abetted him. The second count alleges that the second man encouraged the doctor to commit FGM. Trial: Both men pleaded not guilty in a hearing at the Old Bailey today. They face a full trial in January . Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | Dr Dhanuson Dharmasena is accused of carrying out procedure in 2012 .
Allegedly committed offence on woman who had recently given birth .
Second man - who cannot be named - accused of aiding of abetting doctor .
The men both entered not guilty pleas at the Old Bailey today .
Both were released on unconditional bail and face a full trial in January . |
276,392 | f21bca9f780cdc41090f0beab6fbd8ac3bb567ae | (CNN) -- Pakistani army chief Gen. Ashfaq Pervez Kayani complained to U.S. Gen. John Allen about Taliban incursions from Afghanistan into Pakistan when he met the commander of NATO forces in Afghanistan, a Pakistani army source said Wednesday. Kayani urged NATO to stop militants from crossing the border, according to the source, who was not authorized to speak to the media. Such action would help strengthen relations between the Pakistani armed forces and NATO, the source said Kayani told the American general. Relations between Pakistan and the United States are tense, with Pakistanis especially frustrated by what they say are U.S. drone attacks on suspected militants in their country. NATO's International Security Assistance Force did not immediately comment on the reported meeting. The source said Allen had told Kayani that it was necessary for the two sides to cooperate since both were fighting terrorists. Allen said he would discuss the issue with authorities in Afghanistan, the Pakistani source said. | NATO's Afghanistan commander meets with a top Pakistani general, Pakistan says .
Pakistan wants NATO to stop the Taliban from crossing the border, an officer says .
Pakistan and the United States have an uneasy relationship . |
33,579 | 5f845c4a148297cdca4e1cd170b5345469911ff5 | A lesbian athletic director fired a popular male gym teacher who was married with kids because she disapproved of his traditional family status, he has claimed. Gregory Kenney, 51, taught gym at Trinity School, an exclusive private school in Manhattan's Upper West Side, for 16 years before he was sacked in 2012. The father-of-three claims in a lawsuit that the athletic director, Pat Krieger, took a disliking to him for being straight when she arrived in 2009 and treated the young, single women employees far better. Krieger allegedly made Kenney coach three sports, even though his contract required him to coach two, and when he complained about it, she was unsympathetic, according to his suit. Lawsuit: Pat Krieger, left, the sports director at Trinity School in Manhattan and a lesbian, allegedly helped fire Gregory Kenney, right, because she disapproved of his traditional family status and commitments . After Kenney told Krieger that he couldn't working extra, she reported him to the headmaster but when a young, single female teacher had the same complaints, she accommodated her, the suit said. He claims she 'routinely favored other single, younger females without children and discriminated against [him] because of his gender, sexual orientation, "traditional family status" and age'. 'I love the school. I love my job. I enjoyed the kids I was with and the classes I taught, but I have a wife and family. I'm not 16,' Kenney told the New York Daily News. 'He felt ostracized because of his family,' Kenney's attorney, Steven Morelli, told The New York Post. Kenney, who coached soccer, basketball and golf at Trinity, added that on at least one occasion he was dissuaded from going to school events 'because he was a heterosexual, married male with children, who wouldn't fit in with [Krieger's] "culture",' the Post reported. Ostracized: When Kenney complained that extra work conflicted with time with his wife Suzanne, right, and their children, Krieger allegedly gave him no sympathy - whereas she went easier on younger, female staff . Then he claimed Krieger's attack became even more personal when she accused him of illegally subletting his Trinity Tower apartment and leaving students unsupervised, the suit says. He claims that her accusations were false. 'It was very stressful and difficult,' Kenney told the Daily News. He was fired as a result and said that three other married coaches with children also lost their jobs. Kenney and his wife, who is also a gym teacher, complained to school officials about his treatment but nothing was done, he said. School: He had worked at the exclusive Upper West Side school for 16 years before being fired . After losing the job, Kenney, who has seven-year-old twin girls and a nine-year-old son, was replaced by a lesbian teacher, according to court papers. He is seeking unspecified damages in the suit. A spokesman for Trinity did not immediately comment. The school, which was founded 300 years ago and costs parents as much as $41,000 a year per student, counts Truman Capote, Ivanka Trump and John McEnroe among its alumni. | Gregory Kenney, a father-of-three, was fired from Trinity School after 16 years when Pat Krieger took over as the athletic director .
She 'upped his workload and refused to help when it clashed with family commitments - but accommodated the younger, female teachers'
He was dissuaded from work events as 'he wouldn't fit in with her culture'
In a lawsuit filed in Manhattan he claims that three other married coaches with children also lost their jobs . |
215,026 | a25cacc1819aef4d513c6b336eeea0e6b94b1c09 | The flow of refugees fleeing Syria into Turkey has reached an unprecedented level in the past two days, a U.N. official said Sunday. "I don't think in the last three and a half years we have seen 100,000 people cross in two days," said Carol Batchelor, a representative of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees in Turkey. Humanitarian officials counted "well over 70,000" crossing the Syria-Turkey border starting Friday and into Saturday, with more coming, Batchelor said. "Not everyone has been registered. It may even be over 100,000 people." The number of Syrian refugees now in Turkey is approaching 1.6 million "and quite frankly, we don't know when those numbers will end," she said. Turkey opened eight checkpoints along its border, allowing refugees trapped between the fighting and the border to enter its southeastern Sanliurfa province on Friday. As refugees move into Turkey, hundreds of Kurdish fighters from Turkey have arrived in the Syrian Kurdish town of Ayn al-Arab to join a Kurdish militia group battling to hold off advancing ISIS forces, activists said Saturday. The town, known to Kurds as Kobani, is surrounded by ISIS, which refers to itself as the Islamic State, on three fronts and the Turkish border to the north. The Kurdish militia, called the People's Protection Unit, is battling with the ISIS fighters in the area, according the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The latest ISIS advance in Syria has brought a swath of the country's north-central Kurdish region under siege. Some 60 villages fell under ISIS control in recent days, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. ISIS took 39 villages on Friday alone as Kurdish forces withdrew from their positions, it said. "The conversation is no longer about withdrawing from this village or taking control of that place. For the People's Protection Unit, it is about resisting the attack by ISIS and defending 50,000 Kurds from a massacre," Mostafa Baly, a Kurdish activist inside Ayn al-Arab, told CNN on Saturday. The influx of Kurdish fighters to the area increased tensions between the Kurdistan Workers Party and Turkish security forces, who used tear gas and water cannons against them in several clashes. Dozens of Turkish hostages seized by ISIS in Iraq . The release of 49 Turkish citizens taken hostage when ISIS took control of Mosul, Iraq's second-largest city, in June has removed a barrier to Turkey joining the international call to form a coalition to fight ISIS, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Sunday. He was quoted by his country's semi-official news agency Anadolu. The 49 hostages, including Turkish diplomats and their families, arrived on Turkish soil Saturday. Erdogan denied reports he made a financial deal with ISIS for their freedom, but conceded it was "a political, diplomatic bargain." Kurdish fighters from Turkey join battle to save Syrian Kurdish town from ISIS . | "We have seen 100,000 people cross in two days," a U.N. official says .
Turkey opened its border to refugees trapped by ISIS on Friday .
Kurdish fighters from Turkey are arriving on the border to join the fight against ISIS .
ISIS forces now control a swath of Syria's north-central Kurdish region . |
19,903 | 3884647a69643ce9ba76ad3165a4ad27d2652b3c | Eddie Lacy scored two touchdowns and rushed 105 yards as he ran the show in Green Bay Packers 42-10 rout over the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers also added three touchdown passes as the Packers scored the first 42 points in a comfortable victory. With steady rain falling at Green Bay's Lambeau Field, Rodgers kicked off the fireworks in the first quarter with a scoring throw to Randall Cobb and a 66-yard touchdown pass to Jordy Nelson. Green Bay Packers' Eddie Lacy runs during the first half against the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday . Lacy scored two touchdowns on the night as the Packers comfortably won 42-10 . Linebacker Julius Peppers then returned an interception 49 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter before Rodgers added a third touchdown toss to Davante Adams for an 11-yard score. Lacy, who had yet to reach 50 yards rushing this season, took over in the third, putting the game away with two scoring runs before Green Bay's starters rested in the fourth. Minnesota, meanwhile, were struggling with third-string quarterback Christian Ponder, who was forced into action when rookie Teddy Bridgewater had been ruled out because of an ankle injury. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers also starred on the night with three touchdown passes . Green Bay's Julius Peppers (centre) running back an interception 49-yards for a touchdown . | Lacy scored two touchdowns as Packers win 42-10 against the Vikings .
He also rushed 105 yards in the rout on Thursday night in Green Bay .
Quarterback Rodgers also added three touchdown passes during the win . |
59,993 | aa6bdcf5eac968c5b8962c186b7a419132f095ac | By . Sam Greenhill . and Daniel Martin . Authority: The former top tax official in the country, Dave Hartnett, has accepted a job with major accountancy firm Deloitte . The former taxman whose ‘sweetheart deals’ allowed Starbucks and Vodafone to avoid billions in payments sparked fury yesterday by switching sides to work for the firms’ accountants. Dave Hartnett was attacked over his lucrative contract with City giant Deloitte, which he has accepted just ten months after retiring from his post as head of HM Revenue and Customs. Experts said the move raises serious questions about the ‘cosy’ relationship between the Revenue and big companies accused of tax avoidance. Margaret Hodge, chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, accused Mr Hartnett of ‘greed’ and ‘losing all sense of what is right’. Critics said it was little surprise that the 62-year-old had been ‘welcomed with open arms’ by the same firm which had helped big business avoid huge amounts of tax every year. Deloitte dismissed any suggestion that Mr Hartnett had been hired to reveal insider secrets of how to beat the taxman and insisted there was no conflict of interest in the appointment. Mr Hartnett’s tenure at HMRC, which ended last July, was dogged by claims that he helped multinational companies shave millions of pounds off their tax bills. He was severely criticised for brokering a deal that saved Goldman Sachs £20million in interest payments. The deal was described by a judge last month as lawful, but ‘not a glorious episode in the history of the Revenue’. Another time, Mr Hartnett allowed Vodafone – a Deloitte client – to pay £1.25billion of an alleged £6billion tax bill – figures which are disputed by the telecoms company. After being accused of lying to MPs last year, Mr Hartnett left HMRC and joined HSBC as an adviser on honesty. Sick: Public Accounts Committee chairman Margaret Hodge condemned the move by Mr Hartnett to join Deloitte . He has now accepted a one-day-a-week . post with Deloitte – the firm that signed off the accounts for coffee . chain Starbucks which, entirely legally, paid no corporation tax for . three years by channelling its revenues through Luxembourg and . Switzerland. During his time as HMRC boss, Mr . Hartnett met Deloitte’s senior British partner David Cruickshank 48 . times between 2007 and 2011, including meetings about Vodafone. Mr Hartnett’s appointment with . Deloitte was approved by David Cameron and the advisory committee set up . to monitor the ‘revolving door’ between Whitehall and money-spinning . jobs in the private sector. It is subject to six caveats, . including a requirement to ensure Mr Hartnett does not ‘draw on . privileged information’ from his time at HMRC. The Deloitte buildings in New Street Square in London, where Mr Hartnett will work one day a week. File picture . But Mrs Hodge said: ‘Doesn’t it make . you sick? It is terrible when people’s individual greed means they lose . all sense of what’s right. ‘He better than most knows this isn’t . about paying a fair share of tax and playing by the rules. It is about . manipulating the rules and aggressively avoiding tax. ‘We always called the deals he reached sweetheart deals. Maybe now we understand why.’ Fellow Labour MP John Mann added: ‘It shouldn’t be allowed.’ Murray Wood, spokesman for the group . UK Uncut, which campaigns against corporate tax avoidance, said: ‘It is . no surprise Dave Hartnett has been welcomed with open arms by a company . which has helped firms like Starbucks avoid huge amounts of tax every . year. ‘Governments have for years had a far . too cosy relationship with giant corporate tax dodgers and the tax . avoidance industry. It means the UK is losing out on millions of pounds . of revenue which could be spent on public services.’ Matthew Sinclair, chief executive of . the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: ‘David Hartnett’s appointment doesn’t . look good given how the Revenue appeared to reach decisions in a number . of controversial cases, especially while many others were left to . struggle under the weight of Britain’s hideously complex tax code.’ Deloitte pledged that Mr Hartnett ‘will not work with UK companies or with HMRC’ in his new role. A spokesman said: ‘He will work as a . consultant to Deloitte advising foreign governments and tax . administrations, primarily in the developing world. ‘He has significant experience in advising such countries on the development of effective tax regimes.’ Advice: Starbucks and Vodafone, which have both faced questions over their tax in the UK, are advised by Deloitte which has just hired Mr Hartnett . Yesterday the Cabinet Office said Mr Hartnett had ‘complied with the rules’. Mr Cameron’s spokesman said: ‘The . recommendation was made by the entirely independent Advisory Committee . on Business Appointments, and the Prime Minister follows their advice.’ It approved the appointment subject to . conditions stipulating Mr Hartnett must not advise ‘any taxpayer that . he has been involved with whilst at HMRC’, nor have ‘involvement in . discussions with other fiscal authorities of UK’s confidential tax . policy’. However, critics pointed out that a condition banning him from . ‘lobbying Government’ on behalf of Deloitte expires in July 2014. Paul Flynn, a Labour member of the . Commons public administration committee, branded the advisory body ‘a . pussy cat without teeth or claws’ and ‘virtually completely useless’. He said: ‘It’s not what people do when . they retire that is the problem, it’s what they did when they were in . office. They may well take a soft line on the commercial companies that . they hope to be employed by post-retirement. ‘The revolving door is more corrupt than the financial scandals we’ve had.’ There was no answer at Mr Hartnett’s £800,000 home near St Albans last night. | Dave Hartnett will work with accountancy giant Deloitte for one day a week .
The firm's clients include Starbucks and Vodafone .
MP Margaret Hodge accuses him of putting 'greed' before what is right . |
134,925 | 3a8a874172091f8471425905357e9236f3769166 | Sipping beer in a quaint brasserie, frolicking under the Eiffel Tower and taking a sneaky peek at a painting of a naked woman, this is 1950's Paris as seen through the lens of photographer Robert Doisneau. Part of a new book celebrating the legendary photographer's work, the photos offer a glimpse of a world where the ladies were glamorous and the cigarettes plentiful and nearly always Gauloise. Doisneau, who died in 1994, made his name in the 1930's and specialised in roaming the streets of the French capital, Leica camera in hand, to capture intimate tableaux featuring the city's residents. Scroll down for video . Famous: Doisneau's most famous photograph is 'Le baiser de l'hôtel de ville' (the kiss outside City Hall) which was taken in 1950 . Striking: This photograph, taken in the 1950s, shows customers, including a newly married couple, enjoying a drink in a brasserie . Most famous of all his works is 'Le baiser de l'hôtel de ville' [the kiss outside City Hall], which shows a passionate couple puckering up in the middle of a milling crowd, and is among the 400 photos in the new tome titled, simply, Robert Doisneau. Like his contemporary Henri Cartier-Bresson, much of Doisneau's work focused on the ordinary and the mundane, although many of his photographs focus on Paris' street children at play. Their seemingly happy childhoods were a world away from his own, which came to an abrupt end at the age of four when his plumber father was killed on active duty during World War I. Brought up by his widowed mother until the age of seven, he then suffered a further tragedy when she died - leaving him to be brought up by an aunt variously described as 'unloving' and 'cold'. Favourite: Doisneau was particularly well known for his playful photographs of children, among them this shot taken beneath the Eiffel Tower . Working girl: This beautifully composed shot taken in 1947 shows a woman enjoying the sunshine with a typewriter balanced on her knees . Despite his struggles at home, Doisneau proved an adept student, in particular in art and craft, and when he graduated in 1929, got a job as a draughtsman in an advertising agency. The agency, Atelier Ullmann, also had a photography studio and Doisneau, who first got his hands on a camera aged 16, was eventually able to switch jobs and become an assistant photographer. After a stint working as an assistant to modernist photographer André Vigneau, Doisneau struck out on his own, selling his first photograph to Excelsior magazine in 1932. Work as an industrial photographer for Renault followed, as did a brief period photographing for postcards. In 1939 came Doisneau's big break - a contract with photographic agency Rapho. When war broke out months later, he was drafted into the French army as both soldier and photographer and spent much of the following year taking pictures of soldiers. Sneak peek: This knowing shot shows a gendarme (policeman) taking a sneaky look at a painting of a naked woman . Back for another look! The gendarme wasn't the only man to be caught enjoying a quick look at the naked lady by Doisneau . And again! This gentleman, wearing a neat black Homburg hat, appears pleased to catch a glimpse of the painting . Ordinary: Much of Doisneau's work focused on ordinary people going about their lives, such as this pair of women . Following the fall of France, he joined the French Resistance, using his draughtmanship and photography skills to create false passports for agents and those who needed to escape. Despite his wartime heroics, Doisneau is most famous for his post-war career, in particular his 1950's street scenes which focused on ordinary people going about their daily lives. Doisneau, who lived in the southern Paris suburb of Gentilly for most of his life, never stopped taking photos, although the rise of television in the 1970's left him with fewer magazine clients and forced a move into celebrity portraits. Nevertheless, despite the huge stars who sat for him in his studio, Doisneau, who died aged 81 in 1994, never lost his passion for the Paris streets where his life as a photographer began. Tough lesson: Doisneau caught this young child looking pained as he attempts to work out his sums in a class . Stern: A woman looks out from the doorway of her home, peering sternly at Doisneau's camera . Risque: Another knowing photograph, this shows a man relaxing with a cigarette and a wall-full of pornographic photos . | A new book of photographs showcasing the work of Robert Doisneau has been released .
He was famous for his street scenes, most of which focused on Parisian life in the 1950's .
His most famous work, The Kiss Outside City Hall, which was taken in 1950 is included .
Doisneau, who died aged 81 in 1994, is one of France's most famous photographers .
Robert Doisneau, edited by Jean Claude Gautrand, £44.99, is published by Taschen . |
38,659 | 6d4fd29176041ec099ffe03a2a1e5f265e558949 | A bullying sergeant who threatened to lock up a man for taking pictures of a dented car after a road smash has been condemned by a police commissioner. The traffic officer, who gave his name as Sgt Tony Wallace, seized the 26-year-old photographer's camera as he took pictures of the aftermath of an accident and told him: 'You're lucky I didn't knock you out.' He approached the man at the scene of the car smash in Churchdown, Gloucestershire, swore at him, and told him he would arrest him for obstructing a police officer, threatening to 'make your day a living hell'. Scroll down for video . A photographer who took this image of the aftermath of a car crash was told by a policeman he would 'make his life hell' This still from the photographer's mobile phone footage (his subtitles) shows the policeman taking his details . A still from the photographer's YouTube clip - the officer told him he was not allowed to take photographs . Today Martin Surl, Gloucestershire's Police Commissioner, said the officer appeared to have 'fallen far short of the behaviour expected and required' by the police. The incident began when the photographer, who does not wish to be named, took photographs of a damaged car after an accident involving an elderly woman, who had been taken to hospital before he got there. An hour later, the photographer walked past a dented car still at the scene, and was taking some photographs of it from the other side of the road when he was approached by Sgt Wallace. The policeman's aggressive attitude prompted him to film the episode on his mobile phone, and he later posted the footage on YouTube. The clip begins with the caption: 'He takes the camera out of my hands, . gets right in my face to the point where he’s spitting at me, swears at . me several times, says the camera is being seized and I am going to be . arrested for obstructing a police officer. The officer is seen demanding the photographer's camera and saying he can't have it back unless he deletes the pictures . The photographer insisted that the road was open to pedestrians when he took his pictures . 'After . about a minute or two of this confrontation I got my phone out but was . afraid he would seize this too. However he didn’t, and I began filming . in a subtle way.' The Scottish-sounding officer is recorded telling the photographer: 'We’ll nick you now and I will make your day a living hell, cause you’ll be in that cell all day. 'What I’ll probably do is I will ask for you to be remanded in custody and I will put you before the magistrate.... and they’ll be like, what a t** you’ve been.' The officer can also be heard telling . the photographer: 'You’re lucky that I didn’t knock you out. I swore at . you, yeah. It got your attention, though, didn’t it?' The sergeant seized the man's camera, told him he had to delete the images on it, and then stood over him as he scrolled through them before agreeing he could keep them all. The man, who insists he only began . taking pictures long after anyone injured in the accident had left the . scene, later posted a 12-minute clip of the confrontation online. In the film, he stressed he had no knowledge of what had happened in the accident, and said he was merely taking photographs of a damaged car once the police tape around the scene had been removed. Today he said he believed he was being unfairly arrested when he was confronted by Sgt Wallace.'If I had gone through the police tape, then he should have arrested me, but I didn't: they removed the tape because they were packing up, you can see all the other people freely walking about. 'I thought I would take some pictures to submit to the papers. I thought it was a very minor incident and they papers might use a small thumbnail if they decided to run an article.' He added: 'Of course now I know it was not a minor event, and someone later died. But I didn't, and would never, take pictures of the victims or their family.' 'Because I hadn't captured anything insensitive at all, and he knew it, it made the entire 15 minute interaction completely pointless.' The YouTube footage, which has been viewed more than 10,000 times, includes a map of where the accident happened in Churchdown, Gloucestershire . Gloucestershire police commissioner Martin Surl, seen here with the force's Chief Constable, Suzette Davenport, has condemned the officer's actions . Today Gloucestershire police said the officer involved was now facing a misconduct probe. Mr Surl, a former police superintendent with Gloucestershire constabulary before he became Commissioner, said he had asked the force to investigate the matter ‘with the utmost urgency’. He said: 'It appears the officer involved has fallen far short of the behaviour expected and required by the Constabulary. 'I have only seen the public-facing evidence, but it appears the officer swore at a member of the public, followed that up by saying he was lucky not to have been assaulted by the police, threatened him with arrest, mistreatment and a remand in custody. 'I appreciate the work of the police can be very challenging, but no matter what the situation they should deal with the public in a civil and responsible manner at all times. 'It appears the officer swore at a member of the public, followed that up by saying he was lucky not to have been assaulted by the police, threatened him with arrest, mistreatment and a remand in custody.' - Martin Surl, Gloucestershire Police Commissioner . 'It is the responsibility of the Chief Constable to manage complaints against police officers; my role is to hold the police to account.' Mr Surl added: 'I hope this incident will not cause the public to lose faith in the good work done every day by the majority of hard working, dedicated officers which is why I have asked for this issue to be dealt-with with the utmost urgency.' The amateur photographer posted the video hours after the incident on 19 November and it has been viewed more than 10,000 times. He said: 'I turned up there and I started taking pictures. It’s round the corner from where I live and I thought as I was local, I might as well get some photos. I know I’m allowed to take pictures on public land. 'At the time there was no police tape cordoning off the road, the ambulance had gone, everyone had gone.' The 86 year-old woman who was knocked down was treated at the scene but died later at Frenchay Hospital, Bristol. Gloucestershire police said: 'All police officers in Gloucestershire take an oath to ‘serve the public with respect to all people’. 'Any officer found to breach this oath or any allegations or complaints made about officers are thoroughly and robustly investigated.' | Aggressive officer confronted man taking pictures after a road accident .
An elderly woman had been hit by a car in Churchdown, Gloucestershire .
The photographer said anyone injured had left scene and police tape lifted .
Officer, who said he was Sgt Tony Wallace, swore at the photographer, 26 .
He threatened to arrest him, adding: 'You're lucky I didn't knock you out'
Online footage of confrontation has been viewed more than 10,000 times .
Gloucestershire police commissioner Martin Surl condemns the officer . |
58,347 | a571bee1fd48a8b6992f1cc59e1acea36dd02bd7 | By . Mark Duell . A 7ft 2in criminal has been released from custody after a judge accepted prison beds and uniforms were too small for him. Jude Medcalf, 23, of Newton Abbot, Devon, committed a spate of crimes after being diagnosed with Klinefelter syndrome, a rare growth disorder which means he is still growing. He terrified an innocent woman by firing a BB gun at her through a window, and then went on to steal £30 of Christmas presents and £20 tea money from an NHS office, Exeter Crown Court heard. Too big for prison: Jude Medcalf, 23, of Newton Abbot, Devon, committed a spate of crimes . Medcalf was later found with stolen food - including a large amount of rump steak, which was taken from The Sloop pub in Newton Abbot while it was open and staff were distracted, the court was told. He was freed from jail after the court was told he had already spent 75 days in custody. He had faced problems throughout his time in custody because there were no beds or uniforms to fit him. Medcalf - who has also been diagnosed with a chromosomal disorder that gives him adolescent emotions – got a six-month curfew and 12-month community order after being held on remand. Brian Fitzherbert, prosecuting, said that when Medcalf saw his girlfriend calling the police after he had attacked an acquaintance's car in Torquay, he fired the BB gun at her, which cracked a window. ‘The woman was left feeling very frightened,’ Mr Fitzherbert said. ‘When the gun was pointed at her she did not know it was not real and feared for her life.’ Sentencing: Exeter Crown Court (pictured) heard how he terrified an innocent woman by firing a BB gun at her through a window, and then went on to steal Christmas presents and tea money from an NHS office . Medcalf admitted possession of an imitation firearm and a bladed article, criminal damage and burglary at an earlier hearing. He had been remanded in custody for sentencing. 'He is a target because he is big enough to be seen as someone who it is impressive to assault, but immature enough that he cannot deal with it' William Parkhill, defending . William Parkhill, defending, said Medcalf had been unable to access the specialist medical and psychiatric treatment he needed since his ‘tragic’ diagnosis. He said: ‘He has spent 75 days in prison on remand and he is not somebody who copes well because of the physical aspects in terms of accommodation, bedding and clothing. ‘He is also a target because he is big . enough to be seen as someone who it is impressive to assault, but . immature enough that he cannot deal with it. ‘He has been targeted twice and had a black eye the last time he came to court.’ Theft: Medcalf was later found with stolen food - including a large amount of rump steak, which had been taken from The Sloop pub (pictured) in Newton Abbot, the court was told . Defendant: Medcalf admitted possession of an imitation firearm and a bladed article, criminal damage and burglary at an earlier hearing. He had been remanded in custody for sentencing . Confined: A typical prison cell, with a bed that would be deemed too small for Medcalf . Recorder Adam Vaitilingam QC said he was . tempted to pass a lengthy jail sentence, but he accepted Medcalf ‘had a . lot of difficulty in life’, and that his condition had caused people to . pick on him. Klinefelter syndrome was first diagnosed in 1942 by Dr Harry Klinefelter at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. Victims often develop enlarged breasts, have sparse facial and body hair, small testes, and an inability to produce sperm. Men with the condition often grow to 6ft or 6ft 2in, but the Klinefelter Syndrome Association said it knows only of two men - including Medcalf - with it who have grown to 7ft. Sufferers tend to have gender issues because they have an extra chromosome, which is a woman's chromosome. They also suffer from skeletal difficulties - problems with their bones. Mr Vaitilingam told the defendant: ‘You have had chances in the past and not taken them so the temptation is to pass a lengthy sentence. ‘I have taken into account the 75 days you have already spent in custody and accept that you have had a difficult time for the reasons your solicitor has explained. ‘In the pre-sentence report the probation service argue strongly for a non-custodial sentence and point out you have had a lot of difficulty in life. ‘You have recently been diagnosed with Klinefelter syndrome, which has no doubt caused you problems throughout your life with people picking on you.’ Sue Cook, national coordinator at the Klinefelter Syndrome Association, said after the sentencing: ‘Sufferers develop a very aggressive side and a few do get into trouble with the law. ‘If someone has the condition, this should definitely be taken into account when sentencing. Klinefelter Syndrome is not rare. It is very common. It affects one in 600 live births.' A Crown Prosecution Service spokesman said: 'The appeal against the decision of the district judge has been withdrawn as we did not serve notice of the appeal on the defence within the strict time limits necessary.' | Jude Medcalf diagnosed with rare growth disorder Klinefelter syndrome .
He shot BB gun then stole £30 of Christmas presents from an NHS office .
Medcalf was later found with stolen food including rump steak from a pub .
In custody awaiting sentencing, he could not fit in prison beds or uniform .
Medcalf, 23, received six-month curfew and a 12-month community order . |
106,335 | 152524e47dce7c802010e4847d0ef6e1c8168ff3 | Jack Ellis, 20, who had Aspergers and was diabetic, is believed to have died from a self-inflicted overdose at a supported housing flat for vulnerable adults . A tormented young Asperger's sufferer killed himself and lay dead in his flat for up to a week after he was mercilessly taunted and threatened over his sexuality. Jack Ellis, 20, who was also diabetic, is believed to have deliberately overdosed while at his home in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset. He had been living at a supported housing flat for vulnerable adults and his family say that he was supposed to be regularly monitored. His body was found on March 8 with a suicide note - but the delay in finding him meant tests could not reveal his precise cause of death, an inquest heard. Mr Ellis had been visiting his GP, Cordelia Feuchtwang, with mental health conditions for four years and often saw her once a week while she liaised with his teachers, social worker and other medical teams. In a tense inquest, his distraught mother Helen, 57, accused Dr Feuchtwang of failing her son. She shouted across the court: 'You failed him. All of you people, you failed him.' An emotional Dr Feuchtwang solemnly replied: 'I think at some level we have all failed him. I feel sad about that.' The inquest at Flax Bourton, near Bristol, heard that Mr Ellis was bullied over his sexuality at college, over Facebook and via text. He was left with a bloody and scratched face after he was physically attacked by one thug just six weeks before his death. His mother, flanked by daughters Rebecca Weeks, 39, and Amber Camm, 27, told the inquest: 'She (Dr Feuchtwang) never got together with the people who were involved with him. 'There was no multi-disciplinary hearing. She never went to see where he lived. The social worker, they failed him. They didn't know how long he laid dead in that room.' Dr Feuchtwang, who works at a surgery in Yatton, Somerset, replied: 'It's true he didn't have a multi-disciplinary team all in the same room, but we all spent a lot of time speaking on the phone about Jack. 'I think that looking after Jack for several years, there were many times I contacted the mental health team and had long discussions. 'I was also in contact with his teachers and his social worker.' Mr Ellis, who was a train enthusiast, first visited his doctor in August 2009 when he was 16 to talk about how we was being bullied over his sexuality. He had previously tried to overdose and Dr Feuchtwang and his diabetes nurse had limited his prescriptions to make sure he never had more than a week's supply of medication. She told the inquest he also confided feeling depressed over being sexually assaulted by a man involved in the 'train system' a number of years ago. 'He told me about his sexuality and the fact that he got bullied about it,' the GP added. Mr Ellis's mother, Helen, said that her son had been 'failed by everyone' while speaking at the inquest in Flax Bourton Coroner's Court (above), near Bristol . 'He was quite worried about how he would cope at sixth form and how his temper got him into trouble at school.' Speaking about a meeting in January this year, she added: 'He had just been assaulted. He was being pursued by people on Facebook. People sent him threatening messages, I think on text.' But she said he was 'more positive than normal' during what would become their final appointment in February. Mr Ellis's mother Helen last saw her son on March 3 for lunch, but when he did not reply to texts and calls for five days she visited his flat, run by housing association Curo for vulnerable people. She called an ambulance when she could not rouse him and paramedics discovered Mr Ellis dead in bed next to a stack of papers containing a suicide note. A post mortem revealed he could have been dead for a week. Recording a narrative verdict, senior coroner Maria Voisin said she could not be sure of suicide, but added: 'On the balance of probability, Jack Ellis died due to a self inflicted over dose.' Speaking after the inquest, his sister Rebecca said he was mercilessly bullied over his sexuality and was 'very vulnerable'. She said: 'He was dead in his room for a few days before anyone found him.' 'He was supposed to be in a safe place and nobody noticed he was dead. 'It was supposed to be monitored, with a key worker, but it became quite apparent when the key workers went home at 5pm people were just left alone.' His mother added: 'He was a very loving and caring boy. He had lots of friends. He was failed by everyone.' | Jack Ellis, 20, was living in housing for vulnerable adults in Somerset .
He was meant to be regularly monitored and also had weekly GP meetings .
Had previously told doctor he was bullied over his sexuality in sixth-form .
Also confided in her that he had been sexually assaulted a few years ago .
Diabetic found dead on March 8 - thought to have lain there up to five days .
Mother claims he was 'failed by everyone' - shouting at GP during inquest .
Sister said flat was meant to be 'safe place but 'nobody noticed he was dead'
Coroner ruled on balance of probabilities he died from self-inflicted overdose .
For confidential support call the Samaritans in the UK on 08457 90 90 90, visit a local Samaritans branch or click here for details . |
203,610 | 93957c5d91ec6733747e882d1906f1724f39c2f0 | (CNN) -- The San Francisco 49ers beat the Denver Broncos 24-16 as Wembley Stadium in London played host to an NFL match for the fourth time on Sunday. In a showdown between two struggling sides, the only points from a disappointing first half came from Joe Nedney's 34-yard field goal for San Francisco. However, early in the second half, Denver quarterback Kyle Orton's 71-yard pass to Brandon Lloyd stopped only one-yard short of the end zone. And in the next passage of play, young quarterback Tim Tebow carried the ball over for only his second career touchdown. A 32-yard field goal from Matt Prater put the Broncos 10-3 ahead, but the 49ers quickly rallied. Troy Smith completed a 38-yard pass to Delanie Walker and then completed a one-yard run himself to score the game-tying touchdown. And then Smith threw to Michael Crabtree for a second touchdown pass soon after. And the 49ers made the result safe when Orton's pass was intercepted and Frank Gore crossed for another touchdown. There was a late rally from the Broncos when Orton's one-yard pass found Lloyd in the end zone, but Prater missed the extra point to make it 24-16. | The San Francisco 49ers beat the Denver Broncos 24-16 at Wembley Stadium .
The 49ers recover from going 10-3 down to defeat the Broncos with three TD's .
It was the fourth time that the famous London arena had hosted an NFL match . |
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