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190,149 | 822eea2da0e9f2a18ff7af601d2ed2e64098bd9b | (CNN) -- Americans are in a period of amazingly negative thinking about the state of our country. A recent Gallup analysis drove home how deep and how threatening the current mood is. Gallup asked Americans in early June how much confidence they had in our nation's institutions. The answer: not much. Only 30% had "a great deal" or "quite a lot of confidence" in the Supreme Court. Just 29% felt that way about the presidency. And an abysmal 7% had faith in the Congress. Who is the worst president since WWII ? Think about what this means. Our most trusted national institution, the unelected Supreme Court, has the confidence of almost (but not quite) one out of every three Americans. The presidency is slightly weaker and the Congress collapses to fewer than 1 in 10 Americans. Gallup also did some comparative analysis using findings from its World Poll and the trends regarding Americans' views on government are even more sobering. In the poll, 79% of the American people believe corruption is widespread in government. That is a jump of 20 points since 2006, when 59% of the country thought government was corrupt (a year when the country was dissatisfied enough that the ruling Republicans lost control of both the House and Senate). The Gallup analysis demonstrates that Americans are more likely to believe their government is corrupt than people in Brazil, Hungary or Tajikistan, to cite just three examples. In January of this year, Gallup found that more Americans picked bad government and corruption as our biggest problem than picked any other challenge, including the economy and unemployment. These are stunning numbers. When four out of five Americans believe government is corrupt, something is profoundly wrong. It is a lot bigger than Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton or for that matter George W. Bush. Under the weight of this negativity, there has been a dramatic decline in satisfaction with the freedom we have to choose how we live our own lives. The number of people saying they are dissatisfied has jumped from 9% in 2006 to 21% in 2013. This 12-point jump in dissatisfaction tied the United States for No. 10 among countries suffering the most rapid decline in satisfaction. The other countries that have experienced drops of that scale are seriously troubled places, including Pakistan, Yemen, Cyprus, and Spain (where youth unemployment is approaching 60%). To put this in context, the Gallup numbers show that in 2006 the United States was one of the top countries in the world when it came to satisfaction with freedom. By 2013 it had dropped out of the top 25% of all countries. A country in which 4 out of 5 people believe their government is corrupt is a country teetering between a populist uprising and a collapse into cynicism, passivity, and fatalism. These results suggest we will either renew our commitment to the rule of law, the punishment of corruption and the insistence on honest self-government or we will cease to be America as the land of the free and the land of opportunity. This Fourth of July weekend, we need to remember what our Founding Fathers did to create the liberty we enjoy and dedicate ourselves to a new burst of freedom and a new wave of political reform that cleans up the corruption and re-establishes the right of every American to dream and to work to fulfill that dream. Join us on Facebook.com/CNNOpinion. | Newt Gingrich is concerned about poll showing Americans have little faith in government .
Gingrich: If most believe government is corrupt, we are teetering between an uprising and cynicism .
Without change, he says, we could cease to be the land of the free and of opportunity . |
162,994 | 5ec478f677939fa8be96cc1732c2302772fd45fa | New York (CNN) -- This could have caused a major blast from the past. Workers cleaning a cannon, last fired more than 200 years ago, were shocked to find Friday that it was still loaded with gunpowder, wadding and a cannonball. The preservation workers from New York's Central Park Conservancy were removing rust from the antique cannon, which once fired munitions aboard the British warship HMS Hussar, when they made the explosive discovery, New York police Detective Brian Sessa said. Dena Libner, a spokeswoman for the Central Park Conservancy, said the workers found the munitions after removing a concrete plug from the mouth of the cannon. Workers immediately called 911, and technicians determined that the gunpowder was still active. Authorities removed about 1.8 pounds of black gunpowder from the scene and took it to a gun range for disposal, the detective said. Libner said the cannon was a gift from an anonymous donor to the city in 1865 and was stored for a period of time because of vandalism concerns. It is now part of the organization's restoration program, she said. "We silenced British cannon fire in 1776, and we don't want to hear it again in Central Park," New York police said in a statement to CNN affiliate WCBS. The loaded artillery piece was one of two Revolutionary War-era cannons being stored at the park's Ramble shed, near the 79th Street transverse, according to the affiliate. "This was an amazing surprise," John Moore, author of the upcoming book "The Secrets of Central Park," told WCBS. "It was there for so many years, and people were sitting on it when it was a loaded cannon." The Hussar sank in November 1780, according to the New York Journal of American History. | NEW: Workers removed concrete plug before discovery .
The cannon fired munitions aboard the British warship HMS Hussar .
Authorities remove about 1.8 pounds of gunpowder and dispose of it at a gun range .
Author: "It was there for so many years, and people were sitting on it" |
67,231 | beb7bdd63a3c43f39372fc75cb9d1e40932d6993 | By . Corey Charlton for MailOnline . A jet black Rolls Royce Silver Shadow which belonged to legendary country singer Johnny Cash is going up for auction this week. The plush British-built vehicle was gifted to Cash in 1970 by television network ABC when he was at the height of his fame. At the time, Cash - nicknamed the Man in Black because of his trademark black stage outfit - was the star of the network thanks to his successful weekly music variety show The Johnny Cash Show. However, it's not clear how much the vehicle will go for with the auctioneers refusing to name an estimate price and no reserve placed on it. The sleek Rolls Royce Silver Shadow was originally ordered as a gift for singer Johnny Cash . It was used to chauffeur Cash around in the 1970s, but was then sold into private hands the following decade . The TV network's order specifications included it being left hand drive with a privacy partition between the front and back seats, and having Cash's initials emblazoned on to the rear doors . Cash pictured on the set of The Johnny Cash Show in 1969. It was an extremely popular music variety show, for which the ABC television network thanked him by giving him the state of the art Rolls Royce . The luxury classic also boasts a twin-carburettor V8 engine and independent front and rear suspension . The programme featured the great and good of rock and roll and country music including Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell and James Taylor. Cash, then 38, opened each show with a performance and the programme often included songs from his wife June Carter Cash and the Carter Family singers. The show was a hit with viewers, and in recognition ABC forked out $9,500 - around $60,000 or £37,000 in today's money - to have the Roller custom made in Cash's trademark black throughout. They even had his initials JRC embedded into the doors in gold. Cash sold the 1970 long wheelbase Silver Shadow in the mid 1980s and it has since passed through the hands of several private collectors. The luxury classic boasts a twin-carburettor V8 engine, three-speed automatic transmission, independent front and rear suspension and four-wheel disc brakes. The auction house is refusing to place an estimate value on the car and say it is being sold without a reserve . It is going under the hammer with 32,000 miles on the clock at an auction in Las Vegas held by classic car specialists Barrett Jackson. Experts say the historic motor will be auctioned with no reserve - but they are remaining tight-lipped about how much they expect it to sell for. Craig Jackson, chairman of Barrett Jackson, said: 'In the early 1970s Johnny Cash was pulling in phenomenal ratings with his TV show. It ran for 58 episodes and had some of the biggest stars of the time on it. 'It was one of the biggest shows on TV at the time and as a reward ABC gave Johnny this Rolls Royce Silver Shadow - a black Rolls for the 'Man In Black'. 'They paid $9,500 dollars, a substantial amount of money, to have it custom-made in England and shipped out to the USA. To make it even more special they had his initials painted in gold on the rear doors. 'Johnny used it until the mid 1980s when he sold it to a private collector. 'Johnny Cash was a huge star and with this car you're not just buying a piece of rock and roll memorabilia, you're buying something that he actually used. 'There has been a lot of interest in this car. It is in mint condition and it could well be bought by a museum or a fan. 'It's selling with no reserve so it will sell regardless of price. We don't put estimates on cars - we will find out what its real value is on the auction day.' | Music legend Johnny Cash's car up for auction this week with no reserve .
The Rolls Royce was given to him by studio executives in early 1970s .
It has golden initials 'JRC' attached to rear doors as well as privacy partition .
Car was sold by Cash in the mid 1980s and has since been privately owned . |
195,760 | 8961685955523a1bbe1de1a4c299a0bcf75d68b3 | (CNN) -- When Nucky Thompson shot Jimmy Darmody point blank in the head in last season's finale of "Boardwalk Empire," viewers were shocked: How could a father figure kill his surrogate son? But this is the land of gangsters and bootleggers, and blood isn't the currency here -- it's alcohol. That episode, "To The Lost," nabbed an Emmy nomination for director Tim Van Patten (amongst its many other nods, including best drama and best actor for Steve Buscemi), but it also signified a tonal shift in how the characters on this Prohibition-era drama would operate in the next season, which kicks off Sunday, September 16 on HBO: no more Mr. Nice Guy. As the show jumps ahead to New Year's Eve in 1922, "the stakes are higher," said showrunner Terence Winter. "The '20s had really started to roar, so it's when radio was everywhere, music made the charts, and the flapper as we know her started to come out," Winter said. "The economy had started to boom, which lead to young people buying cars and traveling more from home. And while a lot of people had stockpiled alcohol, by 1923, they were running out, so there was a lot more competition (in bootlegging) and it became a lot more violent. It's the era of the Tommy-gun." So while Nucky survived an attempted coup on his market share last season, in order to stay on top, he has to try new strategies, which includes streamlining -- instead of selling to multiple buyers, he wants to sell to only one -- and those cut out of the supply line are none too pleased, including a hot-tempered new antagonist named Gyp Rosetti, played by Bobby Cannavale. "A guy like that, he's got such a hair trigger, you could end up dead over something you said that you didn't even know was taken as an insult," Winter said. "There's an upcoming line where Nucky says, 'Gyp Rosetti can find an insult in a bouquet of roses.' " The audience's introduction to Rosetti comes when he has car trouble, and he requires assistance to fix his tire from a helpful stranger who is out walking his dog to fix his tire. The pooch plays a role in what follows and it's the type of touch that may give audiences some pretty good insight into Rosetti's character. "It's a very funny idea," Cannavale said. "You get to see guys like Nucky who are more professional in the way they go about their work, and this guy, it seems like he might be in the wrong profession, you know? He's got a lot of zingers, which is good, because that's how I'm like in real life. My favorite line is when I call Steve (Buscemi) 'a breadstick with a bow tie.' " Nucky takes that one in stride, for now -- but he's not too keen on taking any guff from his wife Margaret anymore, as he's not about to forgive her actions last season, when she signed over a tract of land he bought between Atlantic City and Philadelphia to the Catholic Church shortly after their wedding ceremony. Their union is now a shaky one, and Margaret finds herself in a tricky position. "I'm just delighted that she's not passive anymore," said Kelly Macdonald, who plays Margaret. "She knows how to look after herself, and she's becoming stronger. She's very complex. You never quite know where she's going to go next." Married or not, Nucky shares his bed with new flapper/showgirl Billy Kent, played by Meg Steele. "She's a fun girl," Steele said of her character. "The flappers weren't feminists, but they were enjoying the new-found feminism. So she's living life to the fullest, and she has her own apartment, her own life. She's not as needy as (Nucky's former mistress) Lucy was." Speaking of Lucy, Winter said it's "a long shot" that we'll see her again, even if her child is now being raised by Michael Shannon's character. The disgraced Prohibition agent Nelson Van Alden is now living under an assumed name as a door-to-door salesman in Cicero, Illinois, which puts him in proximity with Al Capone's power base. "I don't have a gun, and I don't make whiskey in my bathtub, so I don't identify with these people much!" Shannon laughed. "But Van Alden is still in hiding." "He's constantly dealing with the fact that he could be caught, arrested, and sent to jail for the rest of his life," the actor added. "He's got a family to take care of. And he lost a pretty good job, so now he's faced with a pretty harsh economic reality, because it's a hard time to make a living and support yourself. I don't think he can really see himself as a lawman anymore." Like Cannavale's character, Van Alden is now in a position that's ripe for both tragedy and comedy, particularly when he accidentally walks into a turf war between Capone and Dean O'Banion, a real-life adversary of Capone's who also worked as a florist. "Even if the storyline is dark or something bad happens, it doesn't mean it's not fun to do it," Shannon said. "But Van Alden is never going to have an easy time on this show. That's not why he's on the show. He's a tragic character, and the tragedy is going to unfold." Still reeling from their own personal tragedy, in the aftermath of the deaths of both Jimmy and Angela Darmody, Gillian Darmody and Richard Harrow are raising Tommy Darmody together. This is not without some tension, since Gillian wants to be considered Tommy's mother, not his grandmother, while Richard tries to help the boy remember Angela. "I've become the surrogate au pair, for a lot of it," said Jack Huston, who plays Harrow. "I would think Angela would want Tommy to be very far away from Gillian and the kind of opportunities of what that show is about," laughed Aleksa Palladino, who played Angela. "Richard is the better parent for Tommy." But Gillian being Gillian, has always got a scheme up her sleeve. "For her, it's about power," said Gretchen Moll. "It's really fun, because that's not where I love. I'm not really an angry person. But she's trying to figure out her next move. It comes out as the season unfolds." Could that mean a revenge plot against Nucky for killing Jimmy and leaving his son an orphan? An alliance between Van Alden and Al Capone? Who will be in power and who will die? The cast won't reveal trade secrets, but they all hint the new season will be more explosive than the last. "It's an amazing time for TV drama," showrunner Winter said. "It's daunting to even think we're competing against "Breaking Bad," "Homeland," "Downton Abbey," "Game of Thrones," and "Mad Men" in any category, let alone best drama. It's thrilling, and I don't even mean to sound humble." "Was I disappointed about Michael? Winter said, referring to Michael Pitt, who didn't get nominated for his portrayal of Jimmy Darmody. Yes, because he was terrific, but who knows how this works? And we have an amazing supportive cast -- Michael K. Williams, Michael Shannon, Michael Stuhlbarg, any other Michael on the show. And you don't have to be named Michael to be on the show anymore. You can be named Bobby." | "Boardwalk Empire" returns on Sunday on HBO .
"To The Lost," nabbed an Emmy nomination for director Tim Van Patten .
Winter: As the show jumps to New Year's Eve in 1922, "the stakes are higher" |
18,045 | 331c4c3ea91bb2b52fb0d6fa854989f52cc24534 | By . Helen Lawson . PUBLISHED: . 05:21 EST, 22 June 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 09:44 EST, 22 June 2013 . Terminally ill people should turn to Jackie Collins and Jilly Cooper instead of Jesus to take their minds off death, according to a retired minister. The Rev Ian Gregory says the dying should read bodice-rippers and bonkbusters rather than the Bible to resurrect 'joyful, rude memories' in their final days. The retired Congregational minister, best known for founding the Polite Society, makes his recommendations in The Great Adventure, a pamphlet about preparing for death. The novels of Jackie Collins, left, and Jilly Cooper, right, could help the terminally-ill take their minds off death . He suggests that the Bible's talk of sin, judgment and eternal damnation could be unsettling for those living with a terminal illness and recommends reliving romantic highs instead. Mr Gregory said: 'When people are told they are dying reading the Bible might be the last thing they want to do. 'But they shouldn't be afraid to read a rude or lively book... something a bit saucy. 'The subject of death is still a bit taboo, like sex used to be, so why not? 'It might trigger some happy, joyful, rude memories.' A book like Jilly Cooper's Riders could trigger 'happy, joyful, rude memories', says the Rev Ian Gregory . Racy novels, which could include Collins's Chances or Cooper's Riders, could cheer the soul, he said. Mr Gregory, who used to celebrate mass at the Basford Congregational Church in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, was inspired to write the pamphlet after he was approached by a terminally-ill stranger. The man had three months to live and wanted Mr Gregory to conduct his funeral. The retired minister told the Daily Telegraph: 'I had thought about airing some of the material in my brochure before, but that chance meeting triggered me off. 'I have been approached by people to take their funerals several times, usually because they want it done by someone who knows about them, but this was a stranger. 'The man was obviously in distress because he had just been told about his condition and was trying to prepare for his demise. I have spoken to him a few times since and we have been over some of the things included in the brochure but I haven’t asked him what he thinks.' Mr Gregory founded the Polite Society, which later became the Campaign for Courtesy, in the mid-1980s to promote good manners. The campaign counts Esther Rantzen and June Whitfield among its patrons. He later had a Stoke-on-Trent pub, The Polite Vicar, named after him. | The Rev Ian Gregory has written a pamphlet about preparing for death .
He says racy and romantic novels could bring back happy memories . |
57,747 | a3adfa70856f0a8a7cc14b27a078387b7635d21f | Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel ordered a comprehensive review of the military health care system on Tuesday in the wake of the growing VA scandal. Hagel's move comes the same day the Department of Veteran Affairs announced veterans waiting for appointments for more than 30 days at VA hospitals and clinics will have an opportunity to see a doctor sooner. Pentagon spokesman Rear Adm. John Kirby told CNN that Hagel had been considering the review for some time but decided to act now as he saw the VA scandal, first uncovered by CNN, unfold. The review, which is expected to last for 90 days, will focus on three areas: access to care, hospital safety and quality of care. Meanwhile, amid heavy pressure to address allegations of scheduling tricks and secrets lists to hide monthslong waits for care, the VA released details of its "Accelerated Access to Care Initiative." Those accusations have mushroomed since CNN first reported the problem in November in a detailed investigation examining several VA hospitals, reports that prompted President Barack Obama and lawmakers to call for investigations. Part of the initiative, which the VA says was implemented on May 23, calls for all veterans waiting more than 30 days for an appointment to be contacted by the VA to determine whether they want to be seen by a doctor sooner. According to the initiative, the VA will make at minimum three attempts to contact each veteran. If the veteran wants to see a doctor sooner, "and the capacity and resources exist -- (following the facility assessment), the veteran will be scheduled into new appointment openings," according to a fact sheet provided by the VA. If a facility can't handle all of the patients, "non-VA medical care referral will begin," it said. Under the initiative, reviews have been ordered of each VA facility to determine whether it can handle its current patient load. This includes examining whether VA clinics need to extend hours or approve overtime so more veterans can be seen. The reviews are expected to be completed by Friday, according the VA. Obama has promised to hold accountable anyone found to have manipulated or falsified records. The most disturbing problems emerged at the Phoenix VA, with sources revealing details of a secret waiting list. According to the sources, at least 40 American veterans died while waiting for care at the VA there. The top officials at the Phoenix VA denied any existence of a secret waiting list after CNN's initial Phoenix report went out. A fatal wait: Veterans languish and die on a VA hospital's secret list . The director of the Phoenix Veterans Affairs Health Care system and two others were placed on administrative leave after the allegations made headlines and raised ire in Washington. The allegations have been followed by news of investigations at more than two dozen facilities across the nation. Timeline: VA's troubled history . | Military review will focus on three areas: access to care, hospital safety, quality of care .
Meanwhile, the VA is pledging to decrease veterans' waiting times for appointments .
The actions come in the wake of a growing VA scandal first uncovered by CNN . |
63,912 | b57236079f72f4711a147b9e6ec7a980b33f6685 | High-profile Muslim scholars have taken to YouTube to warn terrorists holding British aid worker Alan Henning that their actions are 'totally prohibited' under Sharia law. The latest plea to free the former taxi driver from Manchester who travelled to the region as an aid worker last year is made by a judge on the Sharia council in London, a director of Prophetic Guidance and an Imam. It comes after more than a hundred representatives from Britain's Muslim community signed a letter urging Isis to release the 47-year-old who appeared at the end of a video last Saturday in which fellow captive David Haines was killed. Scroll down for video . Muslim scholars have taken to YouTube to warn terrorists holding British aid worker Alan Henning that their actions are 'totally prohibited' under Sharia law . Judge Shaykh Haitham Al Haddad (pictured), a judge on the Sharia council in London, said executing Alan Henning would be 'prohibited according to Sharia' Ustadh Abu Eesa (pictured), a director of Prophetic Guidance, is based in Manchester and said on the YouTube video that he would 'personally vouch for' Alan Henning . In a YouTube video Judge Shaykh Haitham Al Haddad said: 'This is to confirm that executing this man is ... impermissible, prohibited according to Sharia.' Ustadh Abu Eesa, a director of Prophetic Guidance, is based in Manchester and said he would 'personally vouch for' Mr Henning, adding that his would-be killers are defacing the religion of Islam. Imam Shakeel Begg, of Lewisham Islamic Centre quotes from the Koran, explained that there is 'no justification in our religion that allows you to continue to hold him let alone harm him'. Footage earlier this week showed Mr Henning with other aid workers on the Greece-Turkey border in December last year saying the dangerous journey to Syria is 'worthwhile' to help those in need. Imam Shakeel Begg (pictured), of Lewisham Islamic Centre quotes from the Koran, explained that there is 'no justification in our religion that allows you to continue to hold him let alone harm' Alan Henning . The latest plea to free Alan Henning (pictured left and right, in the Isis video) who travelled to the region as an aid worker last year is made by a judge on the Sharia council in London . On Thursday a video of British photojournalist John Cantlie was released, showing the hostage reading from a prepared script, saying he would talk about the self-proclaimed IS movement. Unlike previous Isis videos there was no threat made on camera to Mr Cantlie's life. Meanwhile, Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said today that 49 hostages who were seized by Islamic militants in Iraq have been freed and safely returned to Turkey. The announcement brings to an end Turkey's most serious hostage crisis. The hostages were kidnapped from the Turkish Consulate in Mosul, Iraq on June 11, when the Islamic State group overran the city in its surge to seize large swaths of Iraq and Syria. Their release contrasts with the recent beheadings of two U.S. journalists and a British aid worker by the Islamic State group. Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu gets into his plane with hostages today at the airport of the southern Turkish city of Sanliurfa near the Syrian border . But it wasn't immediately clear what Turkey had done to secure the safe release of the hostages or where the release took place. Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc said the hostages are 49 Turkish consulate employees - 46 Turks and three local Iraqis - including Consul General Ozturk Yilmaz, other diplomats, children and special forces police. The hostages were released early on Saturday and had arrived in Turkey, Davutoglu told Turkish reporters during a visit to Baku, Azerbaijan. Davutoglu said the release was the result of the intelligence agency's 'own methods,' and not a 'point operation' involving special forces, but didn't elaborate. Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu (pictured) said 49 hostages seized by Islamic militants in Iraq have been freed and safely returned to Turkey . 'After intense efforts that lasted days and weeks, in the early hours, our citizens were handed over to us and we brought them back to our country,' Davutoglu said. Meanwhile, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the Turks were freed through 'a successful operation.' 'I thank the prime minister and his colleagues for this operation which was pre-planned, whose every detail was calculated, which lasted through the night in total secrecy and ended successfully this morning,' Erdogan said in a statement. Thirty-two Turkish truck drivers who were also seized in Mosul on June 6 were released a month later. Turkey did not provide information surrounding their release. | Muslim scholars call for release of kidnapped Alan Henning in YouTube plea .
Describe threats to murder taxi driver as 'totally prohibited' under Sharia law .
The 47-year-old appeared at end of video last week in which fellow captive David Haines was killed .
Comes as 49 Turkish hostages are freed by Islamist militants and returned to Turkey . |
169,596 | 677b4bd0464a2ad10eb2f533a34ce665ae6b86d9 | (Oprah.com) -- I have this friend, Sarah. Since meeting in our thirties, we've shared many of life's essentials: hairdressers, dog-walkers, phobias (airplanes and mice), health scares, worries over our kids, and insomnia caused by husbands who snore. But lately I'm aware that whenever Sarah calls I feel a tightness in my chest and, more often than not (thanks to caller ID), I don't pick up the phone. I feel guilty, but that's preferable to spending hours listening to Sarah complain. I've been meaning to tell her how I feel, but I haven't quite worked up the nerve. Most of the time I feel like a bad boyfriend. Then there's Natalie, whom I fell in love with when I was 9. We became inseparable and, at one point, I secretly tried to find out if it was possible to be adopted by your best friend's family if your own parents were still alive. It wasn't until college and postcollegiate life on opposite sides of the country that we drifted apart. But we never lost touch and, years later, when I moved with my husband to the city where Natalie lives, she seemed thrilled. She threw a dinner party in our honor and did everything possible to make us feel at home. Then, after about six months, Natalie suddenly stopped calling, and whenever I tried to make a date she claimed she was too busy and got off the phone, fast. To this day -- ten years later -- I have no idea why she gave me the boot. Now when our paths cross, we greet each other like distant acquaintances and I feel bruised all over again. Oprah.com: What to do when you feel left out . It is strange that friendships, which nourish and sustain us and often provide our deepest source of connection, lack the sort of standards that are routine in romantic relationships. If your significant other stops calling, makes impossible demands, or treats you like roadkill, you deal with it. It may not be easy -- you may put it off -- but eventually you'll find out where you stand. Not so with friends. "You don't get together and say, 'I'm really mad at you, I'm not going to see you anymore,'" says Ruthellen Josselson, PhD, a Baltimore psychotherapist and coauthor with Terri Apter, PhD, of "Best Friends:The Pleasures and Perils of Girls' and Women's Friendships." "To the extent that we have a ritual, it's not calling, not getting together. But that makes it difficult to know when someone is distant because she doesn't want to be your friend or because something's going on in her life that's keeping her from being in touch." Oprah.com: The friendship test . So how do you know you're being fired? And what do you do when you're at your wit's end -- as I am with Sarah -- and ready to issue a pink slip of your own? "It's a complicated dance. We start learning the steps when we're quite young, and they don't change all that much," Josselson says. If nobody calls or makes a move, if you run into each other and say, "Let's do lunch," but don't, if one person is suddenly booked until 2013, sooner or later the message gets through. Luckily, most friendships have a natural life cycle. Often we're drawn together by circumstance -- work, the single life, kids -- and as our situations change, we gradually drift apart. On a deeper level, our friendships mirror our internal life. "As we gain a stronger sense of self, what used to matter no longer does, and we're bound to outgrow certain friendships," says Florence Falk, PhD, a New York City psychotherapist. "Once you're aware of that, without being cruel or feeling guilt-ridden, you can begin to let go of relationships that no longer nourish your most authentic self." Occasionally, though, a friend all but forces a clean break. My pal Nancy reports, "I'd been close to Anne for years, but at a certain point I felt overwhelmed by her need for me. She acted as if I belonged to her and became resentful when I socialized with other people. I felt drained, suffocated. When I tried to talk to her about it I got nowhere, so I wrote her an e-mail explaining that I just couldn't be friends with her anymore." Anne was predictably enraged and fired off a response accusing Nancy of being selfish and uncaring. But even though the exchange was painful, Nancy emerged feeling as if a great weight had been lifted. In my own life, I seem to have a knack for attracting needy friends. Even though I joke about my nonpaying "caseload," I struggle to set limits. "Women seem to be both hardwired and socialized to be nurturing," says Sandy Sheehy, author of "Connecting: The Enduring Power of Female Friendship." The upshot is that many of us get stuck in draining relationships. Sheehy tells the story of Martha, a graduate student, wife, and mother who felt sucked dry by an emotionally dependent friend. After unsuccessfully trying the usual stop-calling-and-drift method, Martha found a way to extricate herself while allowing the other woman to preserve her dignity. She said, "I can't be the friend you want me to be." Sheehy says, "Martha took the burden of inadequacy on herself." It's like a boyfriend telling you, "I can't love you the way you deserve," instead of saying, "I don't love you." Oprah.com: The cure for a compulsive helper . Sheehy also recommends explicitly calling it quits if you have what she terms an enabling friendship. "Maybe you started out as drinking pals or shared a shopping jones, but now you want to stop the behavior that brought you together," she says. "It's more responsible to admit that you don't think you can maintain intimacy and not binge than to pretend you can't see her because you've suddenly taken up scuba diving." Although the troublesome twins -- envy and jealousy -- are at the root of many breakups, they're more difficult to address gracefully. Ruth, a moderately successful painter, remained silent on the occasion of her friend Carolyn's first solo art show. When Carolyn asked her why, Ruth said she thought it best not to respond because she hated the work. "It was obvious that she hated me for getting a one-woman show before she did, but she couldn't admit it," Carolyn says. The former bosom buddies haven't exchanged a word since. Sadly, many friendships end needlessly because we're afraid to acknowledge conflict. "If you notice you're withdrawing from someone who really matters to you, you have to ask yourself why," Josselson says, adding that we anticipate tension in our relationships with men, but not with other women. But at some point, any meaningful friendship is bound to provoke difficult feelings. "Once you accept that, you can talk about things as they come up and there's a good chance you'll become closer," she says. Oprah.com: Who's never going to let you down? Sometimes the conditions of a relationship change, especially one forged during a time of mutual crisis, but the unspoken contract on which the friendship is based stays the same -- which is what happened to my cousin Paula and her best friend, Elaine. The two women became joined at the hip when both were having marital problems. "It was almost like another marriage," Paula says. "We did everything together." Eventually, Paula and her husband resolved their differences, while Elaine and her husband parted. "I was terrified to tell Elaine that even though I still loved her, our friendship could no longer be as all-consuming," Paula says. "But I knew that if I didn't say something, I'd withdraw completely." Fortunately, Elaine was able to adjust her expectations and the pair found a new way of relating that was comfortable for both. Despite our best intentions, talking doesn't always repair the rift: Not everyone is able to listen without becoming defensive or blaming the other person. Feelings stirred up by a close friend often echo unresolved issues from childhood, like sibling rivalry or fear of abandonment, and unless those feelings are acknowledged, no amount of discussion can save the relationship. "My friend Gail seemed to have me confused with her older sister, whose attention she'd always craved," says Joan. "I spent years trying to convince her that I really cared, but eventually I threw up my hands. I told her I didn't have the time or energy to give her the constant reassurance she needed." Gail felt hurt and rejected, and a 20-year bond was severed in a single phone call. Bottom line: There's no single template for friendship. Some people are in our lives because they carry a precious shard of our history, while others reflect our passions and priorities right now. Still others are in danger of becoming ex-friends because we're either too preoccupied to pick up the phone or too scared to speak our minds. As Virginia Woolf said, "I have lost friends, some by death -- others through sheer inability to cross the street." Which brings me back to Sarah: I'm not sure where this friendship is headed, but I realize I still care enough to cross the street and let her know why I've been so out of touch. As for Natalie, I hope that one day she'll do the same. Oprah.com: More than a shoulder to cry on: The surprising benefits of friendship . Subscribe to O, The Oprah Magazine for up to 75% off the newsstand price. That's like getting 18 issues FREE. Subscribe now! TM & © 2011 Harpo Productions, Inc. All Rights Reserved. | Techniques for ending a friendship you can't stand any longer .
Women are "bound to outgrow certain friendships," says New York City psychotherapist .
If a friend is suddenly booked until 2013, it's a sign the friendship is over . |
145,479 | 4820b9d6f1a92b82e877341738beea896739a96e | Moscow, Russia (CNN) -- Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin sent a strong signal Thursday that he has full hands-on control of his country. As part of his annual town hall forum, Putin spoke for four hours and fielded 80 questions out of 2 million-plus submitted on a live call-in program, "Conversation With Vladimir Putin -- Continued." Responding to a question on whether he had any plans to retire and enjoy the life of an ordinary citizen, Putin tersely replied, "Don't count on that." And when asked whether he plans to run for the presidency again in 2012, he said, "I will think about it. There is plenty of time for that." Speaking of his "tandem" with President Dmitry Medvedev, Putin said he had "known him for many years, graduated from the same universities, having been taught by the same professors." "Those common principles allow us to effectively work together," he said, responding to the never-ending speculation about which one of the duo is more important and whether a rift between them is possible. Putin juggled a myriad of facts and statistics, giving instructions to subordinates along the way to fix problems, as he responded to questions mostly on Russia's domestic issues. These covered pensions, medication prices, the overhauling of entire industries and Russia's accession to the World Trade Organization, Amur tigers and hip-hop music, and everything in between. The program was broadcast live on government television and radio. It marked Putin's eighth annual year-end "town meeting," first launched in 2001 when he was president. This year's forum was his second as prime minister. Representatives from all Russian industries as well as university students packed the auditorium in Gostiny Dvor, a large conference hall next door to the Kremlin, where Putin appeared. Putin took questions from the hall's floor, with live cameras positioned in towns and cities across Russia, and he also responded to phone calls, e-mails and mobile SMS messages. He started off by addressing the issue of terrorism, coming nearly a week after the derailment of a luxury Moscow-St.Petersburg express train, which left 26 people dead and more than 100 injured. Russia's Federal Security Service said an improvised explosive device, which unknown bombers placed beneath the railroad bed, caused Friday's derailment. It was the biggest terror act outside Russia's troubled North Caucasus region since 2004. "We did a lot [in recent years] to break the backbone of terrorism, but the threat has not been eliminated yet," Putin said. "The entire society, each of us, should be conscious of this threat and be vigilant." Addressing the economy, Putin said the peak of the global economic crisis has passed, "although turbulent trends in the global and, as a result, the Russian economy, are still in place." "It will take time and effort to overcome the crisis," he said. The past year has been "one of the most difficult" for Russia in this decade, Putin added, saying the 2009 gross domestic product will shrink by 8.5 percent to 8.7 percent. The slump in the country's industry will be even bigger, he said, around 13 percent, but the projected inflation for 2009 will be lower than in the past year, about 9 percent. The prime minister also cited what he called "positive developments" in the Russian economy. He said some industries, such as military hardware production and agriculture, are even growing. In the arena of international politics, Putin told a questioner that he and former President George W. Bush had a good relationship but have not been in touch. The prime minister described Bush as a "very honest and nice person," saying that if the ex-U.S. leader wanted to continue their relationship, he would be glad to do so. Putin's press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, said the wide range of issues on which Russians posed questions "provides an excellent instrument for sociological study, and all questions that are being raised, are carefully studied. That [call-in show] gives a very reliable sociological survey." Putin's popularity ratings at home demonstrates his political dominance in Russia. Confidence in the prime minister stood at 70 percent, as opposed to 59 percent for Medvedev, according to a recently published opinion poll conducted by Russia's Public Opinion Foundation. While Putin had his town hall forum, Medvedev was holding meetings in Italy with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and Pope Benedict XVI. | Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin dismisses notion of retiring at town hall forum .
Putin: "Common principles" let him, President Dmitry Medvedev work well together .
Putin calls George W. Bush a "very honest and nice person"
Putin says it will take time to overcome global financial crisis . |
42,463 | 77ba5ad360bf28bbbb80e3d03727912b830cd9ac | LONDON, England (CNN) -- A British woman who suffers from multiple sclerosis has lost her appeal to clarify Britain's laws on assisted suicide, a charity working with the woman said Thursday. Debbie Purdy and husband Omar Puente pictured outside the High Court in October 2008. But the woman did get a strong hint that anyone who helped her travel to a country where assisted suicide is legal would not be prosecuted. Debbie Purdy, 45, had asked the Court of Appeal to clarify Britain's laws on assisted suicide -- an option she has said she wants if her pain one day becomes unbearable. Under the current laws, Purdy says, it is not clear at which point her husband would be breaking the law if he helped her to travel to an assisted suicide clinic. Purdy was appealing an October ruling by the High Court, which also refused to clarify the laws. Purdy suffers from primary progressive multiple sclerosis, in which symptoms become progressively worse over time. She has said she wants the option to travel abroad to have an assisted death should her condition deteriorate. Under Britain's current law, Purdy's husband, Omar Puente, could face 14 years in prison if he accompanies her to a country, such as Switzerland, where assisted suicide is legal. Purdy had asked the High Court judges to tell her at what point Puente would be subject to prosecution -- whether it would include helping her into a car, sitting with her on the plane to the clinic, or helping her with her bags. In its judgment Thursday, the appeal court did imply Puente would be safe from prosecution. The judges referred to the earlier case of Dan James, a 23-year-old British rugby player who died in an assisted suicide last year. James had been paralyzed from the neck down in a rugby accident. James' parents, Mark and Julie James, flew with their son to an assisted suicide clinic in Switzerland. They faced questions on their return to Britain but were not prosecuted. The court said the decision not to prosecute the Jameses "is illustrative not only of the care with which the issue in these cases would be approached, but also an extremely helpful example of the kind of broad circumstances in which ... the ultimate decision would be that a prosecution should not be mounted," according to an excerpt released by Dignity in Dying, the charity that worked on Purdy's case. "If the prosecution amounts to an abuse of process, the court will dismiss it," the court said in its judgment. Purdy said that wording made her feel like she had won her argument, even though she lost the appeal. "I am very grateful for, and respect the ruling of the appeal court," she said in a statement. "They have done everything they can do to clarify that, given the Dan James judgment, Omar would be unlikely to be prosecuted if he were to accompany me abroad for an assisted death, and we are therefore one step closer to the clarification I need." Dignity in Dying has said it is important for the British government to distinguish between people who maliciously encourage suicide and those who accompany a loved one abroad to die. Under current law, the 1961 Suicide Act, assisting a suicide is a crime punishable by up to 14 years imprisonment. Anyone who aids, abets, counsels or procures the suicide of another, or an attempt by another to commit suicide, is liable. Dignity in Dying has said it ultimately wants British law changed to allow the terminally ill the choice of assisted death. To date, no one who has accompanied a loved one to the Swiss clinic Dignitas has been prosecuted, but they have been questioned by police and threatened with prosecution, according to Dignity in Dying. "The courts have done all they can," said Sarah Wootton, chief executive of Dignity in Dying. "They make quite clear that only Parliament has the authority to change the law. If there's no public interest in prosecuting, there must be a public interest in updating the law to remove doubt." | UK court rejects appeal calling for clarification of laws on assisted suicide .
But verdict hints anyone helping another go elsewhere to die wouldn't be prosecuted .
MS sufferer Debbie Purdy wants option to travel abroad for assisted death .
Parents of rugby player who died in Switzerland last year were not prosecuted . |
96,556 | 083ca52e39a361b9278aa60d4d11c698f7f50873 | The government and London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC) agreed to allow West Ham to bank all of the revenues from executive boxes and corporate hospitality under the terms of the 99-year lease they were awarded to move into Olympic Stadium - at a cost of millions of pounds a year to the taxpayer. It has been confirmed that the government agreed to demands by the Hammers to retain 100 per cent of the corporate cash generated from 16 ‘super boxes’ and a wide range of executive packages. The key element of the deal was revealed by the European Commission (EC) to The Charlton Athletic Supporters' Trust. The Trust is also trying to force LLDC to reveal the exact details of the rental contract between the LLDC and West Ham, amid concerns the Hammers move may impact negatively on local clubs such as Charlton and Millwall. An artists impression shows what the Olypic Stadium could look like in West Ham's colours . (From left to right) West Ham chairman David Sullivan, London Mayor Boris Johnson, Hammers chief executive Karren Brady, Newham Mayor Robin Wales and West Ham chairman David Gold in front of the Olympic Stadium in 2013 . The Olympic Stadium will contain 3,400 premium priced seats compared to Upton Park, which has less than 2,000 VIP seats. The Olympic Stadium will also have double the number of VIP lounges of Upton Park, to enable the Hammers a substantial uplift on the £18million a year in revenues the club currently generates from match days. The EC has also confirmed that LLDC has agreed to reduce the estimated £2m a year rent West Ham will pay to use the 54,000-seat stadium if they are relegated to the Championship and that The Hammers won’t be required to pay £15m towards the stadium until they have completed the sale of Upton Park to London developer Galliard Group for an undisclosed amount. Artist's impression of what the stadium could look like from the inside after West Ham move there in 2016 . West Ham will start playing in the Olympic Stadium from the start of the 2016-17 season . West Ham and LLDC have agreed to share the revenues from match day tickets and catering, as well as any revenues generated from a potentially multi-million pound stadium naming rights deal yet to be announced. The Hammers were awarded the 99-year lease by the LLDC to become anchor tenants of the Olympic site from August 2016. | West Ham will move to the Olympic Stadium for start of the 2016 season .
Club will bank all the revenue generated by corporate and executive seats .
But will share other match day ticket and catering revenue with LLDC . |
165,377 | 61dc120cd4b728ffb519ef429eb192c0dce652b5 | By . Leesa Smith for Daily Mail Australia . It's a case of spot the difference between Australia's poster promoting the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup and the other competing countries. The 'I root for' slogan is emblazoned across the other 23 teams' promotional material but Australia's poster was wisely changed to 'I support Australia' for the World Cup championship that runs for the next two weeks in Spain. Although 'rooting' is a term widely used across the globe to imply you support or follow a particular team or country in sport, the word is more commonly used as a slang word among Aussies for having sex. Using the word 'support' was the better option for Australia instead of 'root' like the other 23 posters . One of the 23 posters that have the slogan ' I ROOT FOR' Americans very commonly used the term 'root' to talk about their support for a team . The change was made after Basketball Australia suggested FIBA alter the marketing material in question to suit the Australian market. 'Given the connotations of the original slogan – we think basketball is exciting enough as it is without other activities on top,' a Basketball Australian spokesperson said. The alteration of the poster started a debate on Reddit with some thinking the Aussie term should have been changed to 'barrack'. 'If they understood Australian slang it would be 'I barack (sic) for Australia' one said. Another replied suggesting that 'barrack' was only a Victorian term while others chimed in saying the word was also used in NSW, Perth and Adelaide. Some Aussies think the word 'barrack' should have been used instead of 'support' Then the conversation went onto whether barrack was used across the country . Then someone suggested it was an old-fashioned term: 'I've heard it rarely and it was mostly other people saying it'. 'I think it's Australia wide....but is slowly falling out of fashion an some areas are just hanging onto it longer,' another posted. But others thought 'barrack' was only used in the football code of AFL which was originally known as the VFL and only played in Victoria. 'I have a suspicion it's just an AFL thing. I've never heard someone say they barrack for their team unless they're talking about Vickers.' New Zealand don't seem to have a problem with using the 'I root' slogan . Some suggested that 'barrack' was just possibly an AFL term . Others thought it was simply an old-fashioned word that was dying out . | All 23 countries except Australia have the poster slogan 'I root for' to promote the FIBA Basketball World Cup .
Basketball Australia requested the material be changed to 'I support'
The sport is exciting enough 'without other activities on top' it said .
'Root' is more commonly used as slang among Aussies for having sex . |
190,083 | 821a2d9a018759fccc416992a25febb4b9eabbbe | We've all been guilty of over-packing for a holiday abroad. Even if you're only jetting off on a quick weekend jaunt, it's easy to start dreaming up every possible weather contingency or holiday activity scenario that could have you needing those knee-high wellies, your full gym kit, or one of your many hair-styling gadgets. But does anyone ever actually use these 'must have' items? Almost never. Scroll down for video . Don't let this happen to you! Ensure that you never over-pack again with these top expert tips . To help you solve any of your potential packing problems, we've gone right to the source, polling several top travel writers, fashion bloggers and beauty gurus on their must-have - and must-leave-behind - holiday items. Blowdryers, flat irons, curling irons . This one often winds up being completely redundant. 'Almost all hotels and many hostels have them,' says Julie Falconer, writer and owner of travel blog, A Lady in London. 'Hairdryers just take up a lot of space in luggage.' 'Plus, if you're travelling abroad, you'll often find that your hairdryer doesn't even work due to different electric voltage in other countries.' Leave your blowdryers at home... most hotels and hostels have them these days anyway . More than one jacket or coat . This is a packing faux pas with one heavy price to pay - it will weigh your bag down and may even require you to opt for a checked case over carry-on luggage. 'Too many coats and jackets can be a pain because they take up space and weight,' British fashion blogger, Susie Bubble, admits. 'On cold breaks away, I've now learnt to just wear one on-board and stick to it.' You won't wear those flimsy summer dresses - and if you do, you'll wind up freezing, like this woman (left) Seasonally inappropriate dresses . 'I always pack lots of slip dresses,' Susie continues. 'I don't even know where one buys slip dresses anymore but I have a stash of vintage ones that in my head are 'handy' for holidays. I'll layer them, I think. That never happens.' Noted: leave all rarely worn flimsy frocks at home. Trainers take up a lot of space in your carry-on, and, be honest: will you really hit the hotel gym? A full gym kit . It's been a busy week leading up to your holiday in the sun and you haven't had time to exercise. No problem, you think, I'll work out in the hotel gym once I arrive. This is rarely the case. Instead, you wind up taking up precious space with trainers, spandex leggings and a sports bra that you won't look at again during your getaway. If you pack your best lingerie, you're more likely to meet the man of your dreams, right? Er, maybe not... Lingerie . If you plan for it, that must mean that you'll meet the man of your dreams on holiday, doesn't it? Of course there's always a chance, but that stiff corset you shoved into your bag probably isn't even all that necessary when it comes to wooing said hypothetical guy. Way too many tampons . Even if it's not that dreaded time of the month - doesn't matter - a lady must always be prepared. Nevermind the fact that almost any destination you're heading off to will likely sell the products in question, we all know those women who insist on bringing the entire variety pack. Even if it's not that time of the month, many women still feel the need to pack several variety packs . Several handbag options . You need one for touring during the day, a smaller option for a night out, and a carry-all for the plane, right? Before you know it, half of your suitcase is comprised of handbags. We went to the experts to find the perfect all-round option. 'I take a rucksack or a roomy crossover bag with secure closures,' Susie says. 'I don't do clutches on holiday - too easy to lose or get stolen and not enough room to carry all the essentials.' Think you'll read that book you've been meaning to for months? Probably not on the plane... That book you’ve been meaning to read . Chances are, if the book has been collecting dust on your bookshelf for several weeks, your upcoming plane ride is almost certainly not the time you'll finally crack it open. Excessive amounts of beauty products . An array of moisturisers and cleansers? Leave them. Nail varnish remover? Nope, you won't use it. When it comes to bringing beauty products abroad, stick to the basics and try to opt for an all-in-one compact. Makeup artist and Pixiwoo video blogger, Samantha Chapman, says: 'I tend to take products that have multiple purposes, like BB creams that have coverage and SPF or lip and cheek duos.' 'Micellar water is also great as it removes makeup from eyes, lips and cheeks,' adds Susannah Taylor, editor of beauty website, Get The Gloss. Instead of taking your entire beauty bag, opt for products that pull double duty or an all-in-one compact . Expensive jewellery . Why risk it? Those shoes you never wear (be it sky-high stilettos or rubber wellie boots) 'One pair of shoes for walking around during the day and another for any dressier occasions in the evening is usually sufficient,' Julie says. 'Leave the 'just in case' shoes at home. They can take up a lot of packing space, often unnecessarily.' Those sky-high stilettos you never wear? The best time to try them out is definitely not during a holiday . Stay aware from alluring airport bargains! The only travel accessory you really need is an adaptor . Loads of travel gadgets and accessories . All you really need is an adaptor (depending on where you're headed) and your smart phone to keep you connected. And when it comes to those bargain travel accessories, skip the airport shops and their allure - including those inflatable pillows, hand-held fans and under-clothes money belts.‘I have a leopard eye mask that I always think I will use, but in reality, am far too embarrassed to take out of my bag,’ says Todd Plummer, a New York City-based fashion writer. Full-size shampoo and conditioner . This can be a tempting one. After all, you never know how the cold air, or alternatively, the heat and humidity, will mess with your hair. Still, most hotels do leave mini versions out for guests and, really, is packing the gargantuan bottles really worth being forced to check your bag? | Most women fall victim to over-packing when heading off on holiday .
Fashion expert Susie Bubble shares her most recent packing faux pas .
Travel blogger, A Lady in London, also reveals what she leaves at home . |
222,541 | ac1918cb6fb046419b1bd09a8df9242e166fec3c | A drunken secretary has admitted hurling racist abuse at fellow passengers on the London Underground after a video of her appeared on the internet. Jacqueline Woodhouse, 42, directed a drunken, expletive-ridden rant at passengers on the Central Line between St Paul’s and Mile End stations on January 23. The court was told that Woodhouse had . drunk an 'unknown' quantity of champagne at a retirement party before . getting on the Tube at 11pm. She now faces jail, after police launched an investigation into a seven-minute long video of the verbal assault that was uploaded to YouTube. Scroll down for video . Vile: A child in the Central Line carriage looks on as Jacqueline Woodhouse hurls abuse at other passengers . Foul-mouthed: Woodhouse was caught on camera making racist remarks as she travelled on the Underground . It has since been viewed more than 200,000 times. Today . at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, Woodhouse, of Romford in Essex, . admitted causing harassment alarm and distress to the Sikh man who filmed her . - Galbant Singh Juttla. The video clip begins with Woodhouse shouting in a thick Essex accent about 'foreign s*** heads'. She turns to her passengers and asks: 'Where do you come from? Where do you come from? Where do you come from? 'I would like to know if any of you are illegal? I am sure like 30 per cent of you are.' She then turns on the Pakistani man sitting next to her, who is singing his national anthem, and threatens to 'punch him in the face.' 'I wouldn’t mind if you loved our country,' she adds. She then turns to Mr Juttla's camera, as he assures her he would rather be listening to his music than to her. Woodhouse pleaded guilty to one count of causing racially aggravated 'harassment, alarm or distress' by using 'threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour' after she was filmed by Galbant Juttla, right . 'Oh look he’s filming, hello,' she says. 'Hello government.' She goes on: 'Why don’t you tell me where you’re from?' He replies: 'I am British.' She gets her phone out of her black handbag and looks as if she is filming him too. Mr Juttla warns her: 'Watch what you are saying.' She replies: 'I used to live in England and now I live in the United Nations.' As he tells her to keep her mouth shut, informing her that she has had too much to drink, she becomes extremely agitated and starts screaming. 'It’s not your country anyway so what’s your problem?' she yells. 'It’s been overtaken by people like you.' The court heard that Mr Juttla decided to film Woodhouse after she started berating an unidentified black female. She then sat down between two men and began another barrage of abuse. Woodhouse ignores the anger of other passengers as she continues her aggressive seven-minute tirade . Prosecutor Claire Campbell told the court: 'She then leaned towards the gentleman sitting next to her and said ‘I will have you arrested because you do not live here’. 'The male pushed her away and she fell on to the adjacent seat. 'She stated: "I hope you are not claiming benefits and I hope you pay your taxes". 'Mr Juttla responded: "I pay more taxes than you, love". 'Mr Juttla pulled the emergency alarm fearing an escalation of events and to enable her to be removed from the train.' Single father of two Mr Juttla, from Ilford, Essex, had been attending a funeral of a close family friend that day. Ms Campbell said Woodhouse went to Mile End police station following a media campaign.Woodhouse told police she could not remember the rant but recognised it was her in the video. She attended court today wearing a black suit and white shirt. She sat in the court with her brow furrowed and her head bowed as the magistrate was shown the video clip. Appalling behaviour: The court was told that Woodhouse had drunk an 'unknown' quantity of champagne at a retirement party before getting on the Tube at 11pm . Ms Campbell told the court that Woodhouse was fined following a similar offence on the Docklands Light Railway in December 2008. Ms Campbell said Woodhouse verbally abused a male passenger while on a train to Stratford. She asked whether he had paid taxes, adding: 'I have had enough of it, why don’t they go back to where they come from?' Outside court Mr Juttla, who runs a print company, said: 'I found it very distressing. 'I uploaded it to YouTube because I thought that was the fast-track process to catching this person. 'I also needed to show the public that kind of person is out there and not to put up with this kind of behaviour. 'My kids have seen the video and they are disgusted by it. They don’t expect for someone to shout abuse at their dad.' Before officers asked him to take the video down, it had been watched 21,000 times. Since duplicates have been made, it has been watched by hundreds of thousands of people. Spate of incidents: Police took Emma West into custody in December after a video . (pictured) appeared on the internet showing a woman apparently abusing . tram passengers . Mr Juttla added: 'She needs to be set an example of. People should look at what happens to her and say "we can’t behaviour like this in the public domain".' Woodhouse pleaded guilty to one count of causing racially aggravated 'harassment, alarm or distress' by using 'threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour'. The prosecution offered no evidence on one charge of racially aggravated common assault. Adjourning sentence, District Judge Elizabeth Roscoe said: ‘Bearing in mind the level of abuse, the persistence of the abuse, the number of people on the train unable to leave without aborting their journey, and the children present, means that I think the court has to have a pre-sentence report. ‘I make it clear that all options are open to the sentencing court, including committal or immediate custody.’ The judge imposed stringent conditions banning her from the Tube network and she was ordered to keep to a daily curfew between 10pm and 6am, which will be monitored by electronic tag. She will be sentenced at the same court on May 29. The video emerged after a spate of similar clips were uploaded on to the internet. Emma West was charged with a racially aggravated public order offence in connection with an incident on a tram in December. Another video called 'Welcome to London' showed a woman holding a pink rose on the London Underground as she abused passengers. Another . was of a drunk woman who tried to punch a black passenger on a London . bus, but ended up falling over herself then being thrown into the . street. | Jacqueline Woodhouse, 42, abused passengers on the Central Line train .
Film uploaded to YouTube has been watched 200,000 times .
'I used to live in England and now I live in the United Nations,' she said .
Sikh man on his way back from funeral who filmed it, said he put it on YouTube to ensure speedy justice . |
225,130 | af89e24b973944b490c1e79925293ac16e62e0b7 | By . Hugo Gye . These pictures show the dramatic aftermath of a car crash which saw a Renault flip through the air and end up balanced on a garden fence. No one was seriously hurt in the 70mph smash, which happened early yesterday morning in an area known to be a hotspot for speeding drivers. The teenager who was driving the car - thought to have been stolen - was arrested in the aftermath of the crash in Milton, outside Stoke-on-Trent in Staffordshire. Smash: This Renault Clio ended up impaled on a concrete fence post following a crash yesterday morning . Escape: The two teenagers inside the car both managed to get out with only minor injuries . Residents said they saw the black Renault Clio somersault through the air at 5.10 yesterday morning. It ended up impaled on a 6ft concrete fence post, balanced precariously on its end - but both occupants of the car were able to get out. Images of the aftermath were captured by Clifford Beeton, a milkman who was on his morning round at the time. 'It was amazing anyone came out of the car alive,' he said. 'I was taking a break from my round and was eating a banana when this car zoomed past me at around 70mph. 'It missed my van by a matter of inches and I could see the driver staring wildly ahead. Close call: A 6ft concrete gate post was impaled through the roof of the car after the accident . Area: This map shows the suburban area of Staffordshire where the accident took place . 'The next thing I head was a screech, a scrape and a bang and as I turned the car double-somersaulted through the air and landed on the fence post. 'It was like a scene out of a James Bond movie - the car seemed to fly through the air in slow motion. 'I was convinced whoever was in the car must be dead but as I approached the car the two lads in the front seats were dangling upside down by their belts. 'They managed to free themselves and stumble away. It was a miracle anyone survived.' A female passenger was taken to the University Hospital of North Staffordshire to be treated for minor injuries. Scene: Local residents say their quiet neighbourhood has been plagued by dangerous driving . The 19-year-old man who was behind the wheel was subsequently arrested on suspicion of stealing the vehicle, according to Staffordshire Police. 'Police were called to a report of a road traffic collision in Caton Crescent / Magnolia Drive, Stoke-on-Trent, at around 5.10am on Monday 26 May,' a spokesman said. 'A Renault Clio had been in collision with a garden wall and overturned. 'A 19-year-old man from Stoke-on-Trent was arrested nearby on suspicion of taking a motor vehicle without the owner's consent. He was released on bail pending further inquiries until a date in June. 'A 19-year-old woman from Stoke-on-Trent, believed to be a passenger, was taken to the University Hospital of North Staffordshire for treatment to minor injuries. ' Inspector Kevin Treacy added: 'A black Renault Clio left the road and ended up on its roof in the garden of a property on that road. 'The car was recovered away from the property. The fire service did go to make the vehicle stable, but there was no fire risk.' Locals say they frequently see drivers travelling dangerously fast in the area, and have called for lower speed limits and traffic-calming measures. | The crash took place in Milton, Staffordshire at 5.10am yesterday .
Witnesses saw the Renault Clio somersault through the air before being impaled on a garden fence .
A teenage girl in the car were taken to hospital and the driver was arrested on suspicion of stealing the vehicle . |
37,442 | 6a0a6f44de4059e1d7ef83841b3fd5e95e278ba2 | By . Katy Winter . PUBLISHED: . 10:58 EST, 31 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 11:05 EST, 31 January 2014 . A couple who tipped the scales at 45 stone have shed almost a third of their body weight in time for their wedding day. Kim James, 35, and Lee Coggins, 37, from Bristol, gained weight on a calorie-packed diet eating junk food for breakfast, lunch and dinner. On a typical evening, they would consume garlic bread, two large pizzas, ice cream and three bags of chocolate, between them washed down with beer and wine. Kim James (right) and her partner Lee Coggins, pictured here with daughters Georgina and Grace, have lost seven stone each and now plan to get married . At their heaviest, Kim weighed 19st 10.5lbs and was a size 24, while Lee weighed in at 25st 4lbs and had to have his 56-inch waist trousers made online. But after joining a slimming club two years ago they shed 14 stone between them and are now at their ideal weights for their wedding in March. Kim said: 'I couldn’t bear people watching me eat because I was just worried they were thinking why is she eating all that when she is so fat already? 'Sometimes I would deliberately not buy any chocolate but by 7pm we would usually crack and drive to the garage which is literally a few minutes’ walk away.' The couple, here holding their old trousers, used to eat garlic bread, two large pizzas, ice cream and three bags of chocolate in one evening, washed down with beer and wine . Kim and Lee are set to tie the knot in a VW themed ceremony in line with their love for camper vans, which Kim says may not have happened if they hadn't lost weight. She said: 'I would have hated having my photos taken on my wedding day. In fact If I was the same size we would not be getting married. 'There will be some very shocked friends at the ceremony - especially ones that haven't seen us for a while.' The couple decided it was time to lose weight after Kim saw a picture of herself holding her newborn daughter and Lee's weight exceeded the maximum measured by their Nintendo Wii. The parents of Georgina, six, and Gracie, two, joined Slimming World in September 2011 and immediately began to shed their excess weight. Kim and Lee say they are much happier now and that the wedding might never have happened if they hadn't lost weight . Lee said: 'When I found out what my weight was I was actually scared. 'I went on the scales on the Nintendo Wii but it only went up to 23st and then it told me to get off. 'I didn’t think I could be heavier than that but when I did weigh myself I was 25st 4lbs. Unbelievable.' Kim, who lost seven stone, added: 'I always knew I was overweight but until I saw a photo I didn’t realise just how bad I'd become. 'The hardest part was it was a photo with my two girls, one of whom was brand new, and I didn't want to show anybody because I looked awful. 'I had always struggled with my weight but had just avoided having my pictures taken. 'I have no photos with Georgina when she was tiny because I didn't like having cameras anywhere near me. 'It makes me say because I can never have that time back.' Lee, who also lost seven stone, said their decision to shed the pounds has had a beneficial effect on the happiness of the family. He said: 'Now as a family we can do a lot more. We can go swimming or go to the beach. 'It's great being able to go on the adventure playground with the kids and seeing how much happier it makes them. Before we would have sat having a cup of tea and a cake whilst they played. 'There is a lot more laughter in our life now, we enjoy life so much more. We are like big kids.' | Couple lost 7 stone each after ditching their junk food diet .
Used to eat pizzas, garlic bread, ice cream and bags of chocolate a night .
Kim dropped from 19st 10.5lbs and size 24, to 12st 10lbs .
Lee has reached 18st from 25st 4lb and a 56 inch waist .
They say they might not be getting married if hadn't lost weight . |
29,584 | 5415d9b33f045693358fd76bce1757be314ac9b4 | Rockets from Gaza hit Israel early Friday morning, breaching a cease-fire that had held for more than two days, the Israeli military said. "Moments ago, 2 rockets fired from Gaza hit southern Israel. Terrorists have violated the cease-fire," the Israel Defense Forces wrote on Twitter. It wasn't immediately clear how Israel would respond. The IDF pulled its ground forces out of Gaza on Tuesday but said they were maintaining "defensive positions" around the territory. "I suspect the Israelis are going to wait to see if it was just these two rockets," said CNN's Wolf Blitzer. "These could be isolated rockets." But if more rockets are fired from Gaza, "the Israelis will strike back," Blitzer said. The two rockets landed near Eshkol in southern Israel but didn't cause any damage or casualties, the Israeli military said. It wasn't immediately clear who in Gaza, where multiple militant factions are active, launched them. Hamas, which holds power in Gaza, denies firing the rockets, said Sami Abu Zuhri, a spokesman for the group. The allegations "are based on Israeli reports aimed at confusing the situation," the Gaza-based spokesman said. Talks in Cairo . Earlier, negotiators in Cairo had been scrambling to extend the Gaza cease-fire, which was set to expire at 8 a.m. Friday (1 a.m. ET). A Hamas official had told supporters in Gaza City that the group was ready to resume fighting if it didn't win key concessions in the talks. "We are ready to return to the battle if the Palestinian demands are not met in Cairo," Hamas spokesman Mosher al-Masry told a crowd of supporters waving the group's green flags. A spokesman for Hamas' military wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, was even more pointed. "We demand from the negotiating team to pull out from negotiations if the enemy continues to be stubborn; we are ready for a long war," Abu Obaida said on Hamas-run Al-Aqsa television. "We demand that the negotiating team not extend negotiations without the agreement on a seaport," he said, demanding that the blockade against Gaza be lifted, and all the crossings into Egypt and Israel be opened. "We will not accept anything less," the spokesman said. "We will make the tanks of the enemy a toy in the hands of the children of Gaza." As the spokesman suggested, Hamas wants Israel to end border restrictions that limit the flow of people and goods into and out of Gaza. Israel wants Hamas to give up its weapons. Israel is willing to extend the truce unconditionally, Dore Gold, a senior foreign policy adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, told CNN on Thursday. Earlier, in a heated interview with CNN's Chris Cuomo on "New Day," Hamas spokesman Osama Hamdan said if the cease-fire was to hold, Israel must show signs of willingness to reach a broader deal before the truce expires. "There is no decision to undermine the talks, there is no decision to go back to fight," he said. "But we have to evaluate what the Israelis are doing, what the Israelis are saying." Officials from Israel and the Palestinian side -- including Hamas, Islamic Jihad and the Palestine Liberation Organization -- are communicating through Egyptian intermediaries in an effort to reach agreement on extending the truce. Hoping for a breakthrough . A Palestinian official said Thursday morning that there had been progress in the talks so far but declined to give any details. "I am not sure how or when it will come, but we hope for a breakthrough," said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the talks. The warring sides are far apart. Israel says Hamas must disarm as part of any larger deal that might lead to the end of border restrictions and greater economic freedom for Gaza residents. Hamas, meanwhile, says the blockade must end before a lasting peace deal can be reached. Israel must also stop activities in response to the kidnapping of three Israeli teens who were later found dead and facilitate reconstruction of the territory's devastated infrastructure, Hamdan told CNN. "We can't talk about future while the Israelis are putting a pistol to our heads or a knife to our necks," he said. Gold told "New Day" that the border restrictions and Gaza's economic and redevelopment needs can't be separated because they are "intimately linked." "If you want cement for building homes or schools, you've got to make sure the cement goes there and not rebuilding attack tunnels that go into Israel," he said. He also said Hamas' demands for a Mediterranean Sea port raise serious security concerns for Israel. "We're of course concerned if something like that occurs, that the Iranians or others will bring missile boats into the Mediterranean and to that Gaza port," Gold said. "So it's not so simple as to say, 'Give them a port.' " Latest death toll . On Thursday, the Palestinian Ministry of Health issued new casualty numbers for the conflict -- 1,888 deaths, including 446 children, and 9,804 injured. It's unclear how many of the Palestinian dead were militants. The United Nations has estimated that at least 70% of the dead were civilians. The Israel Defense Forces believes it killed about 900 militants -- roughly half of the dead. Israeli officials have said 64 Israeli soldiers and three civilians in Israel died. Additionally, about 65,000 Gaza residents lost their homes to the fighting, according to U.N. estimates. Palestinian-American: 'Living in occupation felt normal' Israeli regret over civilian deaths . Israel has come under growing international criticism over the number of civilian casualties, notably from the United Nations, which accused the Israeli military of shelling its shelters. In Jerusalem on Wednesday, Netanyahu said Israel "deeply regrets" civilian deaths, accusing Hamas of placing rockets and other military targets in crowded population centers. "The responsibility for this tragedy belongs with Hamas," Netanyahu said. Apparent evidence of the Israeli argument came with the release of video from France 24 and India's NDTV that appears to show at least one rocket launcher located in a residential area. CNN reporters were blocked from reaching the area. Maen Areikat, the PLO ambassador to the United States, sought to play down the significance of the launcher. "We don't know the circumstances of this particular rocket launcher," he told CNN. "And if there has been incidents in which fighters from Palestinian factions fired at Israel from civilian populated centers, I think they were isolated centers. But to portray that this was the rule and not the exception is not a fair representation of what is happening in Gaza." Hamdan went further, calling allegations of rocket fire from civilian areas nothing more than "Israeli lies." "We challenge anyone to prove there were any rockets launched from civilian areas," he said. In fact, he said, Israel intentionally bombed civilians to punish Palestinians after strikes on rocket sites in open areas failed to achieve results. "Israel is murdering innocent people on purpose," he said. CNN exclusive: Inside the mind of Hamas' political leader . Nobel laureate Wiesel: Hamas must stop using children as human shields . Gaza conflict: Can economic isolation ever be reversed? Life in Gaza: Misery heightened by war . | Hamas denies responsibility for firing the rockets, a spokesman says .
Two rockets hit southern Israel without causing casualties, IDF says .
End talks if Israel "continues to be stubborn," Hamas military wing says .
Israel demands Hamas disarm before any border restrictions can be eased . |
250,996 | d0d46b70bb2b3d975a62bce12e8c1023794187e9 | By . Associated Press . PUBLISHED: . 22:16 EST, 2 July 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 02:29 EST, 3 July 2013 . Pope John Paul II has cleared the final obstacle before being made a saint, awaiting just the final approval from Pope Francis and a date for the ceremony that could come as soon as December 8, a Vatican official and news reports said Tuesday.The ANSA news agency reported that a commission of cardinals and bishops met Tuesday to consider John Paul's case and signed off on it. A Vatican official confirmed that the decision had been taken some time back and that Tuesday's meeting was essentially a formality.One possible canonization date is December 8, the feast of the Immaculate Conception, a major feast day for the Catholic Church. This year the feast coincidentally falls on a Sunday, which is when canonizations usually occur. Sainthood imminent: Pope John Paul II, seen here releasing doves from the window of his apartments in Vatican City in 2005, will be made a saint as soon as December . Controversial: Some of the Vatican's problems, including sex abuse cover-ups and financial scandals, date from the time of Pope John Paul II, leading to questions about his fitness for a sainthood . The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized by the church to discuss saint-making cases on the record, confirmed reports in La Stampa newspaper that Pope John Paul II could be canonized together with Pope John XXIII, who called the Second Vatican Council but died in 1963 before it was finished. There is reasoned precedent for beatifying or canonizing two popes together, primarily to balance one another out. John Paul II has been on the fast track for possible sainthood ever since his 2005 death, but there remains some concern that the process has been too quick. Some of the Holy See's deep-seated problems - clerical sex abuse, dysfunctional governance and more recently the financial scandals at the Vatican bank - essentially date from shortcomings of his pontificate. All saints: Pope John Paul II and Mother Teresa, who was beatified in 2003, together in Calcutta in 1987 . Defenders of the fast-track process argue that people are canonized, not pontificates.But the Vatican in the past has sought to balance concerns about papal saints by giving two the honor at the same time. Such was the case in 2000, when John Paul beatified John XXIII, dubbed the 'good pope,' alongside Pope Pius IX, who was criticized by Jews for condoning the seizure of a Jewish boy and allegedly referring to Jews as dogs.By canonizing John Paul II along with John XXIII, the Vatican could be seeking to assuage concerns about John Paul's fast-track sainthood case by tying it together with the 50-year wait John XXIII has had to endure. Spiritual leaders: Pope John Paul II in 1986 in New Delhi with the Dalai Lama . Rites: Pope John Paul II gives communion to a Zairean woman in 1985 . Former leader of the Catholic Church: Karol Józef Wojtyła was born in Poland and became Pope John Paul II at the age of 50, in 1978 . Many Poles have been awaiting the final steps of John Paul's progress, which has been pushed for by Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz, the Polish pope's longtime private secretary.'We should be very happy if it is confirmed,' Dziwisz's spokesman, the Reverend Robert Necek told Polish TVN24 television. 'This is the next and the last step towards canonization. It will be presented to Pope Francis and the pope will take the appropriate decision.'During John Paul's 2005 funeral Mass, chants of 'Santo Subito!' or 'Sainthood Now!' erupted in St. Peter's Square. Heeding the calls, then-Pope Benedict XVI waived the typical five-year waiting period and allowed an investigation into John Paul's life to begin immediately. The investigation determined that the beloved Polish-born pope lived a virtuous life, the first step in the sainthood process.Subsequently, the Vatican determined that a French nun who prayed for his intercession was miraculously cured of Parkinson's disease. A second miracle is needed for canonization. The Vatican hasn't divulged any details about that second purported miracle. | A meeting of cardinals and bishops has signed off on the sainthood of Pope John Paul II, whose tenure as Pope ended with his death in 2005 .
The last step is the final approval of Pope Francis and a date for the ceremony which could be as soon as December 8 .
Two miracles must be performed to rate a sainthood: the first of Pope John Paul II was the curing of a nun of Parkinson's disease after she prayed for his intercession; his second has not been revealed as yet . |
145,393 | 4806753ded2df5ba52ccfa2cb24c1c6efec9c70a | By . Simon Jones . Chelsea are willing to let forward Islam Feruz, leave . the club on loan - with Cardiff City, Derby, Reading and Brighton are all keen in the talented youngster. The 18-year-old signed a new deal at the start of the year after impressing for the Blues' Under 21 side - helping them win the Under 21 Premier League championship last . season . Jose Mourinho is keen for the youngster to gain first team experience on loan next . season to aid his development. Loan star: Chelsea are ready to let Islam Feruz leave to get more first team experience on loan . Meanwhile, the Somalia-born teenager has sensationally . has recently turned his back on Scotland – earning a sharp rebuke from the man . whose rule change fast-tracked the former Celtic striker into the . international game. Feruz featured for Scotland . at Under-17 and Under-21 level but has not played for his adopted nation since a 6-0 . hammering by England Under-21s in Sheffield last August. Snubbed: Islam Feruz has turned his back on Scotland after representing them at youth levels . SFA chief . executive, Gordon Smith pushed through a change allowing youngsters who . had gone through a country’s education system to represent their adopted . nation. Smith . told Sportsmail that he was saddened – but not surprised – to learn of . Feruz’s decision, saying: ‘He is a real talent, of that there is no . doubt. There’s a reason he was capped at age groups several steps beyond . his actual years – he is a great talent. ‘But I . felt his attitude was wrong when he left Celtic, to be honest. Celtic . did a lot for him, helped his family, helped him enormously. ‘I . felt it was a slap in the face, leaving Celtic the way he did and . throwing in his lot with Chelsea. I was personally disappointed with . that, because I thought he should have shown more loyalty.' | Islam Feruz is set to leave Chelsea on loan next season .
Championship clubs Cardiff, Reading, Derby and Brighton are interested .
Jose Mourinho wants the 18-year-old to get regular first team experience .
Somalia-born Feruz has turned his back on represented Scotland . |
189,410 | 8148fc38a5f3ba404d9bd61120e71cc316f4bf9d | Two protesters have been injured after the Lebanese army today opened fire on a group blocking a road in protest of the massive car bomb that rocked Beirut yesterday. It comes as Lebanon's prime minister said today that the explosion is linked to the civil war in neighboring Syria, fuelling fears that the Syrian civil war could spill over into Lebanon. The bomb exploded during rush hour in the mainly Christian district of Ashrafiya killed eight including a top security official, and injured nearly 100 - deadliest bombing in Beirut in four years. Prime Minister Najib Mikati said the blast is linked to the intelligence chief's recent case, in . which he exposed an alleged plot by Syria to sow chaos in Lebanon. GRAPHIC CONTENT WARNING . Fired upon: The army opened fire on protesters in the village of Bar Elias as a group blocked roads with burning tyres and rocks today in response to the car bomb in Beirut, the deadliest in the city for four years. Pictured are protesters in southern city of Sidon . War to cross borders: There are fears that the Syrian civil war could spill over into Lebanon after a car bomb exploded in Beirut yesterday . Protesters in mostly Sunni . areas closed roads with burning tyres and rocks in Beirut, the southern . city of Sidon, the northern city of Tripoli and several towns in the . eastern Bekaa Valley. The army opened fire on a group in the village of Bar Elias in the eastern Bekaa Valley region. A witness said: 'The Lebanese army were trying to open the road and started firing their guns.' The government declared a national day of mourning for victims, who included Brig. Gen. Wissam al-Hassan, head of the intelligence division of Lebanon's domestic security forces. Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati, whose government includes ministers from Hezbollah, said his government was trying to identify the perpetrators and they would be punished. A protester fuelling the fires in the southern city of Sidon today . Security: The protests came as the Lebanese Cabinet held an emergency meeting to discuss how to keep the peace . The Lebanese Cabinet held an emergency meeting today as the country's opposition called for Prime Minister Najib Mikati to resign. The state-run National News Agency said security commanders would attend the meeting to discuss how to keep the peace. Iran, Syria’s most powerful regional ally, has condemned a car bomb attack in Beirut today and suggested that Israel was to blame. A statement posted on the Iranian Foreign Ministry’s website today said: ‘This action was taken with the aim of sowing dissension among different currents and segments of the Lebanese people and was conducted by an element who has never had in mind the interests of the Lebanese people and government and who only strives for its own impure interests and goals. Iran condemn: Syria's most powerful ally Iran has condemned the a car bomb attack in Beirut today and suggested that Israel was to blame . Day of mourning: The government declared a national day of mourning for victims of the blast, which included Brig. Gen. Wissam al-Hassan, head of the intelligence division of Lebanon's domestic security forces . Rush hour: A car burns at the site of the explosion in the mainly Christian district of Ashrafiya which killed eight and injured nearly 100 . ‘Without a doubt the main enemy of the people of Lebanon and the region is the Zionist regime (Israel), which benefits from insecurity and instability in the region.’ The statement offered no evidence for the suggestion of Israeli involvement. Senior Israeli official Yigal Palmor has dismissed the suggestion as ‘beyond pathetic’. He said: ‘After the Iranian regime accused Israel of even the bad weather conditions prevailing in Iran, is there anything at all that they would not automatically blame on Israel? ‘This is beyond pathetic. It's pathological.’ Highway hindrance: The highway linking central Beirut with the city's international airport was closed due to the protests . Deadliest bomb: Police and army troops sealed off the site of Friday's blast as military intelligence agents investigated the bombing in Beirut . Many observers said the attack appeared to have links to the Syrian civil war, which has been raging for 19 months. Brig. Gen. Wissam al-Hassan, head of the intelligence division of Lebanon's domestic security forces, who died in the blast headed an investigation over the summer that led to the arrest of former Information Minister Michel Samaha, one of Syrian President Bashar Assad's most loyal allies in Lebanon. Samaha, who is in custody, is accused of plotting a campaign of bombings and assassinations to spread sectarian violence in Lebanon at Syria's behest. Also indicted in the August sweep was Syrian Brig. Gen. Ali Mamlouk, one of Assad's highest aides. Al-Hassan also played a role in the investigation of the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri with a massive truck bomb. A U.N.-backed tribunal has indicted four members of militant group Hezbollah, which along with its allies, now holds a majority in Lebanon's Cabinet. Hezbollah denies involvement in Hariri's killing and has refused to extradite the suspects. His department also had a role in breaking up several Israeli spy rings inside Lebanon over the past few years, Lebanese officials said. Lebanon's fractious politics are closely entwined with Syria's, sharing a web of political and sectarian ties and rivalries, often causing events on one side of the border to echo on the other. Lebanon's opposition is an anti-Syrian bloc, while the prime minister and much of the government are pro-Syrian. The civil war in Syria has also exposed Lebanon's sectarian tensions. Assassin must be punished: Lebanon's top Sunni cleric, Grand Mufti Mohammed Rashid Kabbani, condemned the assassination, calling it a 'criminal explosion that targets Lebanon and its people' Many of Lebanon's Sunni Muslims have backed Syria's mainly Sunni rebels, while Shiite Muslims have tended to back Assad. Al-Hassan was a Sunni whose stances were widely seen to oppose Syria and Shiite Hezbollah, the country's most powerful ally in Lebanon. Lebanon's top Sunni cleric, Grand Mufti Mohammed Rashid Kabbani, condemned the assassination, calling it a ‘criminal explosion that targets Lebanon and its people’. He called for self-restraint and that ‘the criminal will get his punishment sooner or later’. Police and army troops sealed off the site of Friday's blast as military intelligence agents investigated the bombing in Beirut. Sharbal Abdo, a Beirut resident who lives down the block from where the car bomb detonated, brought his six-year-old son Chris and 12-year-old daughter Jane to see the debris today. Both children were at school when the blast ripped through the area. Mr Abdo said: ‘They were very afraid yesterday, and cried a lot late into the night. ‘Today I decided to bring them here and show what happened. They need to face this situation. It may be their future.’ Rafik Khoury, editor of the independent Al-Anwar daily newspaper, said the assassination was an attempt to draw Lebanon into the conflict in Syria, which has been the most serious threat to the Assad family's 40-year dynasty. He wrote: ‘The side that carried the assassination knows the reactions and dangerous repercussions and is betting that it will happen. Strife is wanted in Lebanon.’ The highway linking central Beirut with . the city's international airport was closed, as well as the highway that . links the capital with Syria, the officials said on condition of . anonymity in line with regulations. The side of a building near the scene was seriously damaged in the blast . | Two protesters were injured when the army opened fire on a group blocking a road .
The protests, happening across Lebanon, are in response to the car bomb blast in Beirut yesterday .
The country's prime minister said the explosion was linked to the Syrian civil war . |
264,170 | e229acf3205bfb7e44b614de4d6f59c10ccd873e | Tory chairman Grant Shapps ruled out making a deal with Ukip after the election . David Cameron will not go into a coalition with Ukip if his party fails to win a majority at the General Election, it was claimed today. Grant Shapps, the Tory party chairman, publicly ruled out a pact with Nigel Farage’s party, saying ‘we are not going to do pacts and deals with Ukip.’ He conceded it would be ‘an incredibly close election’, with the polls showing the Conservative and Labour neck and neck and a high probability of another hung Parliament. The Tories have not ruled out another coalition with the Liberal Democrats if they emerge the largest party, but fall short of the 326 seats required for an overall majority. But recent analysis suggests that even with the support of the Lib Dems, who are set to lose around half their seats in May, they may still fail to win enough seats to form a government. Ukip, who currently have two MPs, could win as many as five or six seats in May, including one for Mr Farage who is standing in the Tory-held seat of Thanet South in Kent. Mr Shapps this morning gave a speech highlighting the ‘chaos’ which would come with a future Labour government, especially if it went into Coalition with the Scottish Nationalists, who are expected to take at least a dozen Labour seats in Scotland. Asked if he would rule out a Coalition between the Conservatives and Ukip, he said: ‘I can rule [it] out, we are not going to do pacts and deal with Ukip, we are looking for an overall majority’ He said the only poll which mattered was on election day, in 97 days’ time, and said there would be many voters still undecided as the public tend to think about an election ‘until the last ten days’. ‘We have seen the polls close and I’m the first to concede this is going to be an incredibly close election’ he said. ‘With the Conservatives you know what you’re getting. ‘You’re getting a competent government who is serious about running the economy, serious about reducing the deficit and eventually producing a surplus. With any of the other choices, you are going to get a large degree of chaos.’ Ukip MEP today dismissed Mr Shapps' claim that the Tories would not go into Coalition or enter into a 'confidence and supply' deal . Mr Farage said last year that he could form a tactical alliance with the Tories or Labour if his party wins a string of seats in May. Under a so-called ‘confidence and supply’ deal, his MPs could agree to support key measures such as the Budget, but the party would not enter into a formal Coalition or hold ministerial posts. Mr Cameron has promised £7.2billion of tax cuts if he wins a second term – by raising the level at which people start to pay income tax from £10,500 to £12,500 and increasing the salary level at which people start to pay the higher 40p rate of tax from £41,865 to £50,000 by the end of the Parliament. The Prime Minister had suggested he would start to cut taxes in his first year, although the deficit will not be eliminated until 2018 at least. But Mr Shapps would not be drawn on this yesterday, saying: . ‘The commitment is by the end of the next Parliament and the timing will of course be dependent on the economic performance of the British economy.’ But he added: ‘It’s absolutely do-able and I think we’ve got the economic credibility to show we can both reduce taxes and reduce the deficit in this Parliament and in the next one.’ | Tory chairman said ‘we are not going to do pacts and deals with Ukip’
But Grant Shapps conceded it would be ‘an incredibly close election’
Tories not ruling out a coalition with the Lib Dems if they are largest party . |
269,366 | e8e9f7d3adcbf209d9350424afa183cae0ca48be | A Massachusetts man is lucky to be alive after a practical joke went horribly wrong and he was left clinging to a capsized kayak in freezing cold conditions. Easthampton firefighters rescued the man from Nashawannuck Pond at about 8 p.m. on Monday. The man, who hasn't been named, was trying to install a Charlie Brown cutout on a raft that holds a Christmas tree in the middle of the pond when he lost his balance and fell in. The man, who hasn't been named, was trying to install a Charlie Brown cutout on a raft that holds a Christmas tree in the middle of the pond when he lost his balance and fell in (stock image) A 3-foot-tall cutout depicting the likeness of cartoon character Charlie Brown was found in his kayak. 'I can see what his intent was, but a practical joke isn't worth losing your life over,' Fire Chief David Mottor told The Daily Hampshire Gazette. He estimates the water temperature was in the low 40s. 'It's cold enough to cause hypothermia,' he said. Police Captain Robert Alberti said that he does not believe the man will be charged with a crime because it does not appear any laws were broken. A Massachusetts man is lucky to be alive after a practical joke went horribly wrong and he was left clinging to a capsized kayak in freezing cold conditions in Nashawannuck Pond . | A Massachusetts man is lucky to be alive after a practical joke went horribly wrong .
The unnamed man was left clinging to a capsized kayak in freezing cold conditions in Nashawannuck Pond on Monday night .
He had been trying to install a Charlie Brown cutout on a raft that holds a Christmas tree in the middle of the pond when he lost his balance .
The man is unlikely to be charged with a crime because it does not appear any laws were broken . |
273,433 | ee3699b35c5aa01ae031306489c14c66ade6b291 | OIympic skeleton champion Lizzy Yarnold claimed the European title in Austria on Sunday. Yarnold was fastest in both runs at Igls to beat home competitor Janine Flock and fellow Briton Rose McGrandle. Lizzy Yarnold, Austria's second placed Janine Flock and Britain's third placed Rose Mcgrandle celebrate . The 26-year-old also triumphed in the World Cup event held at the same venue on Saturday. She is third in the overall World Cup standings heading into the final round in Sochi - 53 points behind leader Flock. The European Championships had been moved to Igls after weather problems forced the cancellation of the scheduled event at La Plagne in France. Yarnold later tweeted: 'I am hugely proud to say that I am the 2015 European Champion! Today was a dream come true.' Yarnold celebrates after winning the women's Skeleton World Cup race in Igls . Yarnold jumps on her skeleton during her first run in the women's Skeleton World Cup race in Igls . | Olympic skeleton champion Yarnold was fastest in both runs at Igls .
Yarnold is third in the overall World Cup standings heading to Sochi .
She is now just 53 points behind overall leader Janine Flock .
Yarnold later tweeted that her win was 'a dream come true' |
12,836 | 24615a8dfb3d9796c850bb76674c6b6208c5bd5c | By . Beth Stebner . PUBLISHED: . 14:10 EST, 12 March 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 17:35 EST, 12 March 2012 . It is a joyride gone wrong, with a somewhat old-fashioned twist. Four Amish teens have been arrested and charged with illegal possession of alcohol after one of their buggies collided with a police car. The police were responding to a report of teens holding an underage drinking party in their buggies while parked on deserted country roads. As a patrol car arrived on the scene, one of the Amish buggies changed lanes and collided with the police vehicle. Joyride: Four Amish teens were arrested in upstate New York for underage drinking after one of their buggies crashed into a police patrol car . Rural: The town of Sherman is near the Pennsylvania border . The Chautauqua County Sheriff's Office said the crash occurred around 7:15 Sunday in the rural town of Sherman, near the Pennsylvania border in New York's southwest corner. As a patrol car arrived at Clymer Hill Road, the Post-Journal reported that one of the Amish buggies suddenly changed lanes, colliding with the police vehicle. The impact caused the buggy to flip onto its side, causing minor injuries to Marvin Byler, 19, one of the people riding in it. He was arrested, along with Marty Troyer, 20, Marianne Troyer, 18, and Leroy Troyer, 20. Marianne was also riding in the buggy that flipped, but was unhurt, Newscore reported. Leroy was driving a second wagon and stopped it after the accident.Police say several other buggies fled the scene. Not-so-quick escape: Police said several other buggies fled the scene . According to Buffalo News, Marty was also charged with unlawfully dealing with a child, as he appeared to be the host of the rural get-together. Police said they recovered several containers of alcohol from the two carriages. Driving a buggy has proved perilous for many Amish whether or not alcohol has played a factor, as they face off against large SUVs, trucks, and inattentive drivers. Last July, an Amish teen in Wango, New York led police on a slow-speed chase when they spotted him driving with an open beer container. In 2009, a man was arrested in Paradise, Pennsylvania, for getting behind the reins after a few too many. He was found slumped over and asleep in his buggy with a blood-alcohol level of .18 per cent. | Police were on scene investigating reports of underage drinking party .
Four Amish teens charged with illegal possession of car .
Officers say several buggies fled the scene . |
214,780 | a21057803972690479ab9009f5904b0fd9e157c8 | By . Mia De Graaf . PUBLISHED: . 13:07 EST, 23 September 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 13:32 EST, 23 September 2013 . Guilty: Steven Topham, 36, was sentenced to three years in jail at Teesside Crown Court . A council IT boss who tricked Vodafone into giving him £724,000 - and used the cash to buy a hot tub and a caravan - has been jailed for three years. Steven Topham, 36, manipulated the mobile phone giant's customer credit offer, which rewards you for making purchases. The data network team leader realised he could make orders for Redcar and Cleveland Council, quickly cancel them, and still retain his bonus. Topham, from Middlesborough, then bought more than 1,700 high value phones, which he sold for a mark-up on eBay through an associate in Oldham. He bought a hot tub, sauna, holiday caravan and electrical goods with his earnings - but kept some handsets for himself or to give as presents. The boss also paid off substantial debts and bought theatrical lights which he rented to local productions. The fraud was exposed when Vodafone’s courier company grew suspicious about making a delivery of 32 Samsung Galaxies and an internal inquiry was launched. Police found £15,500 in cash in the boot of his car when they arrested him. Topham pleaded guilty to fraud by abuse of position at Teesside Crown Court earlier this year. Judge Howard Crowson blasted Topham for breaching the trust of many. He said: 'You set out on what was clearly a professional fraud.' The court heard Topham and his eBay seller would contact each other over the internet and meet in a Teesside lay by to exchange cash. Caught: A Vodafone courier got suspicious delivering 34 Samsung Galaxies to the council worker's home . Breach of position: Topham was a voice and data network team leader at the council in North Yorkshire . He told the hudge he did mot know how many phones he had sold or how much money he had made. Rachel Masters, prosecuting, said after his arrest: 'He regretted what he had done and put it down to his stupidity and greed.' Uzma Khan, defending, said: 'Mr Topham is an utterly remorseful man full of shame. 'Not only because he find himself before the court today, but also for the shame he feels he has brought upon his family, his friends, his colleagues and the effects upon the council and Vodafone.' A proceeds of crime hearing will take place next year. Share what you think . The comments below have been moderated in advance. Geordie1892, . Ryton, Gateshead, . 17 hours ago . Redcar and Cleveland isn't classed as North Yorkshire it's classed as Cleveland DM! qm, . Hove, . 17 hours ago . Being a "data network team leader" does not make him a "boss", it makes him a team leader! loris, . milan, . 18 hours ago . three years.. is that it.. wow so much for justice.. and we users of vodafone have to pay for this through higher charges . sean poodle, . darwen, United Kingdom, . 18 hours ago . someone ripping off a phone company! never. DaveR1, . Hertfordshire, United Kingdom, . 18 hours ago . Perhaps he should have been an investment banker? evans, . liverpool, . 18 hours ago . how is this fraud he made an order then cancelled, it was the Vodafone system that was at fault . dave, . stone staffs, United Kingdom, . 18 hours ago . THATS INTERESTING BEING A RECEIVER FROM VODAFONE . Sam, . Toon, . 18 hours ago . No sympathy for vodafone until they pay their tax . peter mail, . milton keynes, . 18 hours ago . so vodafone are actually giving a bribe but calling it a reward for purchasing ! Tim Coleman, . Nottingham, United Kingdom, . 18 hours ago . Ordered phones then cancelled them what's wrong with that. Maybe Vodaphone offers these bonuses to employees of councils to encourage them to pay a higher price for each contract/phone than competitors. Isn't that bribery on the part of Vodaphone. Buy off us and there's something in it for you ! Maybe the Vodaphone website operators didn't mind him cancelling because they had already collected their commission on each sale too. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. | Steven Topham, 36, has been jailed for three years .
He was a data network team leader for Redcar and Cleveland Council .
Topham made thousands of orders at work and quickly cancelled them - but retained his customer reward .
He used the bonuses to buy phones and sell them for more on eBay .
He bought a hot tub, sauna and holiday caravan and paid off his debts .
Police found £15,500 in cash in the boot of his car . |
211,715 | 9e29fff792fc095a70947272fbafa0c9a216fcce | A mother-of-six has defended her decision to share her bed with her two children every night – and even claims it saved her marriage. Amanda Moss, 43, from Liverpool, sleeps with her six-year-old and two-year-old daughters while her husband Simon is banished to the spare room. Appearing on ITV’s This Morning, Amanda revealed she ‘cherishes’ waking up with Ezme, the youngest, and Darling – calling it a ‘beautiful moment’. Scroll down for video . Amanda Moss, left, who shares her bed with her two children every night, and mother-of-one, Ally Einsten, right, who thinks co-sleeping is 'disgusting, wrong, lazy and bad parenting' on This Morning . Amanda, right, with Ezme, two (bottom left), Darling, six (top), and Albany, nine (middle) She said: ‘I spend all day with my husband and we have a very healthy marriage. Our children are the most important things at this moment. ‘Now, it's the right thing for our family.' Amanda also revealed she snuggles up with all of her children at bedtime, including Saxon, 14, Honey, 12, Floyd, 11, and Albany, nine, before the eldest go to their own rooms. Discussing her reasoning for sharing her bed with her two youngest children, Amanda, who runs Lifestyle Monthly magazine and is director of Liverpool Fashion Week, said: 'It started because I was made redundant and I was setting up a new business. 'I already had four kids who were in their own beds and, with a baby, I needed to be able to sleep through the night so that I could attend breakfast networking meetings so I needed to have my sleep. Amanda said sleeping in separate rooms made her marriage to Simon stronger . Amanda, pictured right with Ezme, centre, and Darling, left, says it's lovely waking up with her children . 'Just because I breastfed the baby, it was easier to have her in bed next to me, in between me and my husband Simon. ‘And then the next one came along and rather than getting up in the night to tend to her, it was much easier to have her in the bed.’ Amanda explained that when she welcomed her new baby, her five-year-old daughter, Darling, didn't want to get out of the bed. 'I thought: "Why should she?".’ Explaining how her husband Simon felt about the situation, Amanda said: 'If I don't get my sleep, I'm not the easiest person to live with. ‘It actually kept our marriage together, he went off to the spare room and we both got our sleep.' Amanda added: 'It's lovely waking up with your children and feeling them in the night and cuddling up to them. Ally questions how Amanda will ever get her children into their own rooms if they're constantly in a bed with her and tells her to teach them independence by giving them their own space on This Morning . 'My kids are extremely independent. They have boundaries but I am creating a nice safe and secure environment for them.' Amanda’s comments come after This Morning research revealed 70 per cent of mothers have allowed their youngsters to sleep next to them. And a third admits they regularly let their child snooze alongside them and will continue to let them do so until they are well over the age of six. Mother-of-one Ally Einsten also appeared on the show. However, she said she completely disagreed with Amanda’s views. ‘It's a beautiful moment that doesn't last forever so I think it's nice to cherish that time.’ She continued: ‘It's only in the last 150 years that parents have put their children into their own rooms. ‘Historically it's very normal for parents to sleep with their children, and in other parts of the world it's normal. Mother-of-two Amanda believes sharing her bed with her two children (Darling, left, six, and Ezme, two, right) is so important she's even forced her husband to sleep in the spare room . She said: 'I have one child and initially I had her in the bed with me for a few weeks but we put her into the cot and it's important that children develop routine and if you have them in the bed with you for a long period of time, they think that's normal. 'They flourish on boundaries, it's very important with relationships with your children and your partner that you set those boundaries. 'Why can't then come in for a cuddle and then go in their own bed? Co-sleeping isn't appropriate.’ She added: ‘We will see more and more families divorcing because mothers are choosing their children over their relationship.' Caroline Hartwell, Nanny, Maternity Nurse and Childcare Expert at Tinies (www.tinies.com) said: 'We all know the risk of co sleeping , the risk of smothering etc. But what about the long term effect on your child? How they miss out on independence, and be taught their coping mechanisms. 'The benefits I do believe initially are fabulous, for breast feeding and bonding with your baby. And although it is not recommended I do feel at the age of a few weeks they should definitely be put in a Moses basket / cot. This encourages independence for the baby and teaches them to self sooth and that it is OK to be put down and sleep without being so close to a parent . 'Another benefit is to be able to sleep with limited interruptions. I'm also a great believer that the behaviour patterns you install from a very early age with your baby will help them grow and develop into independent and less anxious individuals that will have the coping mechanisms to embrace life and all its challenges with strength and gusto. All because they have been taught to be strong, trust their ability and be as independent as they can with their thinking .' | Amanda Moss, from Liverpool, shares bed with six- and two-year-old .
Says it has helped strengthened relationship with husband Simon .
Appeared on This Morning after research shows 70% let kids sleep in bed .
Mum-of-one Ally Einsten believes co-sleeping is 'disgusting, wrong' |
158,572 | 58fe26b759dda7f545423e765e7c5a3dbc341622 | By . Ellie Zolfagharifard . DJ decks powered by the sun could soon be coming to a street near you. And you don’t even need a back catalogue of records to show off your musical talent – all that’s required is a smartphone and some good weather. The technology, dubbed Fono, allows budding DJs to place their device in the middle of set so that it can amplify the audio. Scroll down for video... Fun in the sun: Budding DJs place their device in the middle of the Fono's mobile pickup pad so the DJ decks can amplify the audio . The solar panels are fitted to the roof of the DJ booth and users can use the decks to mix their music. Based on a professional DJ set, the decks feature a crossfader as well as Scratch, Filter, Pitch, Delay, Flanger and Crush effects. The system is also hooked up to an battery-system that is charged by the sun during the day, allowing the Fono set to be played at night. The creators of the eco-friendly DJ booth, Yalp InterActive a Dutch-Finnish company, said the Fono DJ table is intended to be a meeting place for young people. They want the technology to ‘challenge them to express themselves in a creative way.’ Green music: The creators of the eco-friendly DJ booth, Yalp InterActive a Dutch-Finnish company, have said the Fono DJ table is intended to be a meeting place for youth that 'challenges them to express themselves in a creative way' Rock DJ: Fono designer, Rob Tuitert said: 'Fono is a unique product that relates to trends among young people' Fono allows budding DJs to place their device in the middle of set so that it can amplify the audio. The solar panels are fitted to the roof of the DJ booth and users can use the decks to mix their music. Based on a professional DJ set, the decks feature a crossfader as well as Scratch, Filter, Pitch, Delay, Flanger and Crush effects. The system is also hooked up to an battery-system that is charged by the sun during the day, allowing the Fono set to be played at night. Rather than streaming music on their phone is unsociable settings, such as public transport, the team hope the technology could help develop a hub of creativity. Fono designer, Rob Tuitert said: ‘The Fono is a unique product that relates to trends among young people.’ All the electronics are encased inside the concrete table, making them resistant to both harsh weather and vandalism attempts. The team said a variety of the £19,800 ($33,200) Fono systems are available in Amsterdam, the Hague and in the small city of Made in the Netherlands. Elsewhere in Europe, Fono systems can be found in Helsinki in Finland, Enköping in Sweden and Solrød in Denmark. Safety first: All the electronics are encased inside the concrete table, making them resistant to both harsh weather and vandalism attempts . City roll out: The team said a variety of Fono systems are available in cities throughout the Netherlands, Finland, Denmark and Sweden . | Fono system has solar panels on its roof and electronics in concrete table .
Users place their smartphone on the pickup pad and can use the decks to amplify the sound of their music as well as create different DJ effects .
It is currently in use in the Netherlands, Finland, Denmark and Sweden .
Back to Mail Online home .
Back to the page you came from . |
258,370 | da6a352087e13633a9efb612afcdad821919da2f | Sunderland have announced the signing of midfielder Jack Rodwell from Manchester City for £10million. Despite City’s lack of homegrown talent, Rodwell was allowed to leave the Etihad Stadium this summer and has signed a five-year deal. The fee could rise to over £13m with add ons. Rodwell was at Sunderland's training ground on Monday and has now completed his move. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Jack Rodwell take part in Sportsmail's freestyle . Done deal: Jack Rodwell has signed a five-year deal with Sunderland after leaving Manchester City . Eyes on the prize: Jack Rodwell will be hoping to reignite his career at Sunderland . Shining light: Jack Rodwell was one of the brightest young players in the country when he moved to Man City . Back on track: Jack Rodwell will be looking to prove his doubters wrong . New surroundings: Jack Rodwell poses for pictures in Sunderland's home dressing room . VIDEO Rodwell joins Sunderland . Disappointing: Rodwell has failed to fulfil his potential during a two-year spell at Manchester City . In-form: Rodwell impressed as a regular starter under David Moyes' reign at Everton . Rodwell was at one time viewed as one of the brightest young England hopes after making his debut for Everton at the age of 16 in 2007. He became a regular for Everton, making 109 appearances before joining City for £12m in the summer of 2012 despite missing out on Euro 2012 due to a hamstring injury. His career at the Etihad stalled however, not helped by further injury problems, and he made only seven Premier League starts during his time at City. He will not be the first player to leave City in order to attempt to resurrect a career at Sunderland - winger Adam Johnson made the same switch in 2012 with notable success, while Joe Hart's understudy Costel Pantilimon has followed this summer. However Johnson claimed last season it was almost impossible for players not belonging to the eight leading Premier League clubs to break into Roy Hodgson's England squad ahead of the World Cup. Stop-start: Rodwell has endured an up-and-down few years on the domestic and international stage . | Jack Rodwell has signed a five-year deal with Sunderland .
The 23-year-old was free to leave Manchester City this summer .
Rodwell played 10 times for the Premier League champions last season .
Rodwell was at Sunderland's training ground on Monday to complete deal . |
60,723 | ac9054d59378a1928d2ef01a2b99f36f3a4ad584 | The Queen is to become the first monarch to attend Cabinet since Queen Victoria . The Queen is to attend a Cabinet meeting in Downing Street, it was announced today. Ministers have been told to be on best behaviour when the monarch takes a seat at the famous Cabinet table tomorrow morning. One minister today admitted the politicians will be 'minding their Ps and Qs'. She will become the first head of state to attend Cabinet since Queen Victoria. The visit is the latest stage in her Diamond Jubilee celebrations, which last week took in a trip to the Bank of England where she made headlines by criticising 'lax' financial regulators. She will have 'observer status' for half an hour at the weekly meeting of the senior members of the government, but any contribution she makes will be closely analysed. Since the coalition was formed the Cabinet room has occasionally been the scene of explosive rows, often between the Tories and Lib Dems. But both parties will want to present a united front for their special visitor. The Queen is expected to sit along . side Prime Minister David Cameron, meaning either Foreign Secretary . William Hague or Permanent Secretary Sir Jeremy Heywood will have to . give up their seat. Downing Street said Cabinet ministers have had a whip round to buy the Queen a present to mark 60 years on the throne. Prince Philip will not join her on the visit. Downing Street announced the news on Twitter, with the message: 'The Queen will visit Downing St tomorrow. 'She will be presented with a gift to mark her Diamond Jubilee and attend Cabinet as an observer.' News of the Queen's visit to Cabinet was announced by Downing Street on Twitter . Musical chairs: Ministers will be told to budge up to make room for the Queen to sit alongside David Cameron at a Cabinet meeting . It is the second time the Queen will have been to Downing Street to mark her Jubilee year. In July she attended a lunch with Mr Cameron, and former Prime Ministers Sir John Major, Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. Lib Dem Energy Secretary Ed Davey said: 'It is a great honour that she is attending Cabinet in her Diamond Jubilee year. It has been a very exciting year for everybody. Ministers will be excited but minding their Ps and Qs even more than normal.' Announcing the plan this morning, Downing Street said it was the first time since Queen Victoria that a reining monarch has attended Cabinet. The Prime Minister's official spokesman told a regular briefing of journalists: 'I think she will sit round the table and I think she will sit alongside the Prime Minister. 'It has been long planned as part of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations. I think it will be well attended.' As head of state the Queen does not get involved in party politics, and merely signs off legislation brought forward by 'Her Majesty's Government'. However, last week she came close to expressing a personal view on government policy when she expressed dismay at the role of the regulators in the 2008 financial crash. Queen Elizabeth toured a gold vault during a visit to the Bank of England, where she appeared to criticise 'lax' financial regulators for the 2008 economic crash . In a highly controversial foray into government policy, the monarch appeared to criticise the regime created by the Labour government when Gordon Brown was Chancellor. Touring the Bank of England, the Queen claimed some in the City had become 'lax' and were not focussed on the potential problems which triggered the credit crunch when banks were over-run by debt. Meeting staff at the Bank, she was head saying: 'People had got a bit...lax, had they?' She was told: 'A lot was going on under the surface that perhaps regulators weren't so focussed on.' But the Queen replied: 'The Financial Services - what do they call themselves, the regulators - Authority, which was really quite new...it didn't have any teeth.' In July the Queen was in Downing Street for a Diamond Jubilee lunch with four of her Prime Ministers, including (left to right) David Cameron, Sir John Major, Tony Blair and Gordon Brown . Both the Bank of England and the Financial Services Authority played down the significance of the remarks, which will be seen as a major rebuke from the head of state for failing to prevent the biggest economic crash since the Second World War. The Bank of England said it was 'very grateful to Her Majesty for her visit today and for taking such an interest in its work'. And the FSA admitted it made mistakes. | Queen to become first monarch to sit in on Cabinet deliberations since Queen Victoria .
Visit is latest stage of Diamond Jubilee celebrations .
Energy Secretary Ed Davey says ministers will be 'minding their Ps and Qs' |
99,552 | 0c459cfabcf8a01b16431037a2e39037beb713f2 | (CNN) -- Officers arrested the son of legendary actor Clark Gable this week on suspicion of drunken driving after he crashed into six parked cars in Malibu, California. John Clark Gable, 52, was driving a white Ford pickup Tuesday near the Malibu Pier when the crashes occurred, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department reported. No one was injured, but Gable was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol, and hit-and-run. It isn't the first time an heir of the "Gone With the Wind" actor has been in trouble with the law. In 2011, Clark Gable's grandson, then 22, was accused of pointing a laser inside the cockpit of a Los Angeles police helicopter, endangering the pilot who was flying over Hollywood. Police arrested Clark James Gable and charged him with a felony. He later was sentenced to 10 days in jail, CNN affiliate KTLA-TV in Los Angeles reported. At the time, his manager said it was an accident. "Boys will be boys, and he was playing with what he thought was a toy and not a felony piece," Roxane Davis, the manager, told CNN then. "From what he told me from jail, he had it out the window, and he was shining it out the window, and the next thing he knew was that he had a spotlight on him." Clark Gable, once dubbed the King of the Hollywood, is probably best known for his portrayal of Rhett Butler in the 1939 classic "Gone With the Wind." He died in 1960. John Clark Gable was born four months after his father's death. | John Clark Gable is arrested in Malibu, California .
The 52-year-old is the son of legendary actor Clark Gable .
It's not the first time a Gable family member has been arrested . |
174,351 | 6daa482727a811c4e9f1adad874c8981259a039f | By . Sean Poulter . PUBLISHED: . 19:55 EST, 13 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 19:55 EST, 13 January 2014 . Families threw away mountains of good food over Christmas amid complaints supermarkets continue to encourage people to buy too much. One in five people threw away or wasted more than 10 per cent of the food they bought over Christmas and New Year, according to a new study. Tonnes of fresh vegetables and salad, mince pies and turkey were piled into bins after they went off before they could be eaten. A new study has found that one in five people wasted more than 10 per cent of the food they bought over the festive period . Families blamed supermarket promotions for over-indulging on food purchases they could not eat. Some 70 per cent said supermarkets urged them to increase their food purchasing over the festive season – with 45 per cent saying they did buy more. Seventy-two per cent of shoppers said they were tempted by Buy-One-Get-One-Free Offers(BOGOFS), while 70 per cent said they bought extra because of half-price deals. More than a third named discounts such as vouchers, money off single items and loyalty card offers as other routes to increased and often unnecessary buying. The study was commissioned by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, and comes one year after it published a major study - Global Food; Waste Not, Want Not – estimating that between 30 to 50per cent of all food produced is never eaten. Dr Tim Fox, Head of Energy and Environment at the Institution, said: ‘This latest survey shows that UK shoppers still feel they are encouraged to buy too much food, despite significant progress on raising awareness of food waste in 2013, and some retailer action to reduce over-purchasing. Seventy-two per cent of respondents said they were tempted by Buy One Get One Free deals, while 70 per cent said they had bought extra because of the deals . ‘There are various reasons why around a third to a half of all food produced in the world never reaches a human stomach, and while it would be wrong to lay all of the blame for waste with the supermarkets - deals like Buy-One-Get-One-Free, “half price” offers and various other price discounting methods do exacerbate the problem.’ He said: ‘It is certainly a concern that over a fifth of the people surveyed said they had thrown away more than 10per cent of the food they bought over the festive period. ‘This food could be used to help feed those in hunger today, and is also an unnecessary waste of the considerable land, water and energy resources that were used in the production, processing and distribution of this food - resources that could be used to meet other human needs. ‘If we are to have a sustainable future on a planet with over nine billion people on board it is important that everybody, from the Government and retailers through to consumers at home, tries to reduce the amount of food that is wasted and thinks about the land, water and energy resources involved in bringing food to the plate.’ The survey of 2,023 people found that the older generation threw less food away. Some 45per cent of over 65s said they did not waste or throw away any of the food, which compares to just a third of those aged 18-24. The Institution said the world produces about four billion metric tonnes of food per year, but between a third and a half of this is wasted through poor practices and inadequate infrastructure. The study, Global Good; Waste Not Want Not estimated that between 30 and 50 per cent of all food produced is never eaten. File picture . The group said it would be possible to feed the world’s growing population without the need to increase production greatly, if more of the food that is produced was eaten rather than wasted. Supermarkets have attempted to shift the blame for food waste from themselves to customers. A senior executive at Tesco caused controversy in December by suggesting that fussy customers, who were unwilling to buy misshapen or blemished fresh produce, were to blame. Matt Simister, food sourcing director at Tesco, told a House of Lords inquiry, that customers will also select the freshest and best looking fruit and vegetables. He said: ‘Customers naturally select, they always pick the cream of crop first and the rest of it then gets left. ‘Then the new deliveries come in and you have the new cream of the crop – the old, ugly misshapen produce goes to waste. ‘Customers will always make the choice of the one that cosmetically looks better. That’s a very difficult reality to us.’ In October, Tesco revealed that it generated almost 30,000 tons of food waste in the first six months of the year. It found that up to two thirds of supermarket food ends up in the bin, including 68 per cent of bagged salads, half of bakery goods and a quarter of grapes. Much of the food was thrown away by customers but large amounts were lost because they have been on display for too long. The supermarket subsequently scrapped confusing ‘display until’ dates on fresh fruit and vegetables, and ended buy one get one free offers on salads. Research by the Waste and Resources Action Programme suggests families waste £60 a month by throwing the equivalent of almost a meal a day into the bin. It said a staggering £12.5billion worth of food is wasted annually. | One in five people threw away or wasted more than 10 per cent of the food they bought over Christmas and New Year .
Study found 72 per cent of respondents said they were tempted by Buy One Get One Free offers .
70 per cent bought more because of the tempting deals .
Between 30 and 50 per cent of all food produced is never eaten . |
33,577 | 5f83b5592ea2c43ac9857f6a21ed2d1d8be25f8c | (EW.com) -- One Direction dropped their new Ed Sheeran-penned single, "Little Things" — a followup to their hit "Live While We're Young" and the second track released from the upcoming Take Me Home — Monday, and as expected, there's nothing "little" about its online reaction. Though the official lyric video has only been live for a few hours, it has already received over 127,000 likes and 55,000 comments on YouTube, and as young girls across the U.S. wake up and check their Tumblrs, those metrics are only going to soar higher. Because of that massive, adoring fanbase of occasionally irrational Directioners, I realize what I'm about to write might not be especially popular, but I've got to be honest: this song is kind of messed up. Yes, it's a pretty, strummy offering that gives each boy his own solo (for the first time, every individual's voice is clearly recognizable), and yes, the stripped-back melody is rather lovely and characteristically Ed Sheeran-y, but it's the lyrics that I find troubling. I mean, just look at 'em: . "I know you've never loved the crinkles by your eyes," sings Liam Payne during the second stanza of the song. "You've never loved your stomach or your thighs / the dimples in your back at the bottom of your spine / but I love them endlessly." Later in the song, during Harry Styles' verse, he sings, "You still have to squeeze into your jeans / but you're perfect to me." Perhaps I'd hear those lyrics differently if Ed Sheeran had released this song for his own fans, but this is officially a One Direction song now, and there's something icky about the endlessly coiffed and tailored (not to mention athletically-built) boys delivering those words. Last I checked, One Direction's fans aren't composed mainly of aging obesity victims — they're little girls who range in age from about 8-14. At the older end of that spectrum are girls currently enduring middle school, who may very well be feeling insecure about their bodies. In that case, it seems terribly misguided (or at least ruthlessly conniving) to tap into that insecurity with "Little Things" and ask girls to find their validation in One Direction's blanket affection. But I could maybe see how people would find the words sweet. More troubling to me are the younger fans who listen to this song. The carefree 9-year-olds who nibble on fruit roll-ups on the way to gymnastics class. The ones who watch Good Luck Charlie before bed, getting one last year out of their Sleeping Beauty nightgowns. "Little Things" presupposes insecurity in order to be effective lyrically, but for all those happily naive fans that (thankfully!) aren't dealing with body image issues, One Direction literally provides insecurities for listeners to feel. But that's just part of why the whole pseudo-chivalrous "You'll never love yourself half as much as I love you" vibe feels so disingenuous. One Direction doesn't — they simply can't — love each of their fans as much as they say they do. Not in the way an insecure person needs to be loved to escape that awful cycle of self-reflection. They're an international phenomenon touring the globe and clinking glasses with the rich and beautiful, not psychiatric counselors. Their therapy by way of crooning is simply undercooked. See original story at EW.com. CLICK HERE to Try 2 RISK FREE issues of Entertainment Weekly . © 2011 Entertainment Weekly and Time Inc. All rights reserved. | One Direction released a new song on Monday .
The group has a massive, adoring fanbase .
The song was written by British singer Ed Sheeran . |
28,177 | 4fde962bd51ee002983d7802f311f6afab589504 | (CNN) -- As the streets of New York and other cities filled with people protesting the non-indictment in the choking death of Eric Garner, defenders of the police generally fixated on Garner's health. Because Garner was obese, diabetic, asthmatic, suffered from sleep apnea, and had a heart condition, goes the argument, he was somehow to blame for his own death. Representative Peter King, R-New York, for example, went on CNN to thank the grand jury for not indicting Officer Daniel Panteleo. "You had a 350-pound person who was resisting arrest. The police were trying to bring him down as quickly as possible," King said. "If he had not had asthma and a heart condition and was so obese, almost definitely he would not have died." King's comments have been echoed elsewhere, including by many law enforcement commentators on the site, PoliceOne.com. Their comments repeatedly invoke Garner's health, saying things such as, "This guy would have died going up a flight of stairs," "He died because of his preexisting medical conditions," and "His family should sue Papa Johns, Dominos, Pizza Hut, Burger King, McDonalds." What we are seeing in the death of Eric Garner and the reaction to the initial exoneration of his killer, is the intersection of racism, fat-hatred (as discussed by Melissa McEwan), and the failure of law enforcement to accommodate disability. Garner's case is not the first to suffer from these deadly intersections -- the language we've heard echoes numerous other cases in which police and their defenders blame disability for the results of police violence. Sadly, it also won't be the last, unless we stop letting people use one type of discrimination to defend against another. When Ethan Saylor, a man with Down syndrome, was allegedly killed by asphyxiation by "off-duty deputies moonlighting as security guards," Saylor's disability and weight ended up being blamed. Their sheriff reportedly said that Saylor died because of a "medical emergency." The coroner likewise blamed Down syndrome and size for the death, and the grand jury didn't indict. As with Garner, there is some truth to the focus on health, but none of that would have mattered if law enforcement hadn't applied pressure to the throat. It's not just physical disability. It seems that every time a person with schizophrenia or other psychiatric disabilities gets hurt by law enforcement, the officers justify their actions by explaining that the individual acted in unpredictable ways, was potentially threatening, and so force had to be applied. We saw this after the death of Kajieme Powell in St. Louis last August. More recently, Tanesha Anderson died after allegedly being taken down to the ground by an officer. In Bessemer, Alabama, Donald Wilson was shot (but survived). Wilson and Powell both had small knives, were alleged to have known to be in mental-health crisis, and were shot after they reacted to officers entering close proximity. In all these cases, patience would likely have saved lives. According to the American with Disabilities Act (ADA), we must all provide "reasonable accommodations" to people with disabilities. I have argued before on CNN that this principle must be applied by the police even when they want to take people with disabilities into custody. In fact, this argument is the core question of Sheehan vs San Francisco, a case that the Supreme Court just agreed to hear. Sheehan, a woman with psychiatric disabilities, was shot by police in 2008. She's sued under the ADA, claiming that her disability was not reasonably accommodated when police charged into her room without backup, got close to her, and then shot her when she didn't immediately comply. How the high court rules on the case will shape law enforcement reactions to disability for the foreseeable future. I argue that far from exonerating Panteleo, the focus on Garner's health merely tries to conceal structural racism under the cloak of ableism. It is not "reasonable" to place an unarmed man like Garner in a chokehold. He was not a threat, he was known to be suffering from health issues, and he was obviously obese. Yes, without those health issues Garner might well have survived, but their presence excuses nothing. Rather, they reveal the ways in which one form of discrimination intensifies when linked to another. When something like Garner's death happens, we have to be willing to approach it as an intersection of multiple factors. Ableism doesn't excuse racism. Racism doesn't excuse fat-hatred. Fat-hatred doesn't excuse the class-based discrimination. Rather, they sweep together, enabling us to see patterns of prejudice and their horrific outcomes. And when we can see the whole, then we can concentrate on solutions that address them all, such as demanding reasonable accommodations, reforming police procedure, and reinforcing basic civil rights for all Americans. | David Perry: Defenders of police in Garner case have focused on health .
One type of discrimination cannot be used to defend against another: Perry .
Not "reasonable" to place unarmed man like Garner in a chokehold, he says . |
235,917 | bd64c49fd80db49e9ceb836dd46171f6d2f7ad00 | By . Michael Zennie and Hayley Peterson . PUBLISHED: . 00:13 EST, 19 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 00:46 EST, 19 August 2013 . A Michigan father is standing by his autistic son - even after he returned home in February to find that the 19-year-old had horrifically slashed his wife to death and was sitting in a bathtub playing in her remains. Ronald Grow stood and hugged his mentally-ill son David Kellen Grow on Friday as a judge in Jackson, Michigan found the teen not guilty, but insane. He will be committed to a high-security psychiatric ward, where he will likely stay for the rest of his life. Mr Grow testified that he still visits his son every week in the mental hospital where he is currently housed. New medication has made him sleepy, but ensured that he is 'the boy I've always known.' Judge Thomas Wilson ruled Friday that David Grow - who has autism and a history of mental illness and hallucinations - was not in control of himself when he brutally slaughtered his mother Robin Grow, 49. For love: Ronald Grow hugs his son David Kellen Grow, 19, after the teen was found no guilty of slaughtering Robin Grown in February. Mr Grow has stood by his troubled son since the horrific killing . Ronald Grow tries to comfort his son as he appears in a Michigan court. A judge ruled that David Grow was insane and will likely spend the rest of his life in a high-security psychiatric ward . Ronald Grow came home February 20 to find a truly horrific scene. His wife has been flayed open in the family's bathroom. The wounds were grievous that her entrails had spilled out onto the floor, the Jackson Citizen Patriot reports. Detectives later found the murder weapon, a steak knife, inside Mrs Grow's body cavity. Mr Grow found his son sitting in the bathtub with Mrs Grow's intestinal tract wrapped around his neck. 'That wasn't my son,' Mr Grow testified, speaking of the condition he found David in. 'He was victimized by something that he had no control over,' he told the Citizen Patriot after the hearing. Mr Grow broke down only once as he described the unimaginable scene he found in his Concord, Michigan, home. Mr Grow broke down only once as he described the unimaginable carnage he witnessed in February . David Grow has said he is sorry for killing his mother. Doctors do not believe he was in control of himself at the time . Since that time, he was been working to support his son and help him avoid prison. Before he took the stand Friday, Mr Grow visited David at his psychiatric cell and told him that he was going to have to describe that day in February to the court - but that they would 'get through it together.' He said he visits his son every Saturday and will continue to work with him after he is committed to the Center for Forensic Psychiatry, a maximum security state mental hospital. State psychiatrists thoroughly examined David Grow and concluded that he was having a psychotic episode when he killed his mother. The 19-year-old's parents had hospitalized him for mental instability for 10 days in January until a judge ordered that he be released against his parents wishes. It was 23 days later that he allegedly murdered his mother. Grow 'had delusions of a demon getting . in his second floor bedroom window and harming him and his family,' Grow’s father, Ronald Grow, wrote in a chilling 'petition for . hospitalization' dated January 25. David Grow is charged with open murder in the death of his mother, Robin Grow . Grow 'had delusions of a demon getting in his second floor bedroom window and harming him and his family,' Grow¿s father, Ronald Grow, wrote in a chilling 'petition for hospitalization' dated Jan. 25 . When he was hospitalized on Jan. 18, . he was 'having disorganized speech' and actively chanting and . hallucinating, physician assistant Jennifer Underwood wrote in a . petition for hospitalization. The petition noted that his behavior was . 'substantially supportive' of the expectation that he would hurt . himself or someone else. Dr. Aurif A. Abedi reported in the petition that Grow was unable to communicate and lacked 'total insight.' Another doctor wrote that he was confused and incoherent, while a third doctor called him 'acutely psychotic.' But Judge Diane Rappleye denied the petition to keep him hospitalized and ordered him discharged. Twenty-three days later, he killed his mother. At his arraignment in February, Grow was somewhat unresponsive and barely spoke, apart from mumbling to himself. Judge Daniel Goostrey had to ask him to confirm his identity several times before he eventually nodded to acknowledge his name. David Grow has autism spectrum disorder and psychosis. When he was hospitalized on Jan. 18, he was 'having disorganized speech' and actively chanting and hallucinating . | David Kellen Grow killed his mother Robin Grow in February after he was released from a mental hospital against his parents' wishes .
Ronald Grow came home to find his wife dead and his son with her intestines wrapped around his neck .
Mr Grow has supported his son, who has autism and a history of hallucinations, throughout the trial .
Mr Grow told a judge that the David Grow he saw the night of the killing 'wasn't my son' |
199,671 | 8e7a0393d08861c1d07c02890b71c3e043633c13 | (CNN) -- No one ever expected the humble pencil to kickstart a revolution. But, by peeling apart pencil graphite into atom-thick layers using regular adhesive tape, two Russian-born scientists, Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov, earned a Nobel Prize in 2010. With it, they sparked the beginnings of a material that could change the world. It is no exaggeration to say that graphene, the substance that the two scientists -- along with others -- discovered in 2004, is a miracle material. Now a Korean research lab may have made the leap from theoretical to practical with the development of a new way to synthesize it, potentially on a commercial scale. The substance, "the perfect atomic lattice," boasts a number of hugely attractive properties, meaning it has the potential to be used in myriad industries, and for a huge range of purposes. Attractive properties . As well as being super-strong -- 20 times stronger than diamond, 200 stronger than steel and six times lighter -- it is also remarkably conductive, both electrically and thermally. If that wasn't enough, it is also almost perfectly transparent, impermeable to gas, and its properties are, scientists say, easily alterable. Graphene is one form -- an allotrope -- of carbon, the basis of all life on earth. More familiar carbon allotropes include diamonds and graphite. What makes it unique is its thinness -- at one atom thick it is as good as two-dimensional. Its flexibility means that it could potentially be used for flexible or wearable devices. "Graphene has a lot of potential, especially in terms of industrial applications for optical and electronic devices," says Ping Sheng, a Professor of Nanoscience at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. "The caveat is really in the quality of the graphene that can be produced on a large scale ... If they can overcome that then it will be a big breakthrough." Another byproduct of its remarkable thinness is its low weight. It could be used to create ultra-light components for, say, the aviation industry, dramatically reducing the weight of aircraft -- and thus significantly improving fuel efficiency -- without compromising strength or integrity. The substance is so versatile that it has even been touted as the future of condoms. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation last year awarded a $100,000 grant to fund the development of graphene prophylactics. Drawbacks . Currently, its limitations include the fact that its conductivity can't be turned "off," meaning that as a semiconductor it is useless, although researchers are experimenting with the substance to figure out a way around this problem. One possible fix could be to build artificial breaks in the substance, allowing for circuits to be opened and closed, or to alter its properties with the use of chemicals. If this deficiency can be overcome, however, graphene could be used in a huge range of devices as a super-fast replacement for silicon transistors, which are already reaching their capacity. Graphene has one hundred times the electron mobility of silicon. Another limitation comes in the form of its production -- currently it can only be synthesized in small crystals. While this is enough for researchers to test its properties and understand the tantalizing benefits of the material, it is not sufficient to produce it for mass commercial use. But with an announcement made last week, all this could change. Public- and private-sector funding . Governments and the private sector are actively exploring the potential of the substance, with the EU devoting €1 billion ($1.3 billion) to it between 2013 and 2023, funding research which could potentially transform a range of sectors, including electronics, energy, health and construction. The Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology last week announced it had developed "a breakthrough synthesis method" of producing graphene, and the hopes are that this will pave the way for the commercialization of the material. The results were published in the journal Science. Samsung sees graphene as the "perfect material" for next generation device, and the breakthrough could have huge implications for its commercial production. "This is one of the most significant breakthroughs in graphene research in history," researchers said in a statement released by the company. "We expect this discovery to accelerate the commercialization of graphene, which could unlock the next era of consumer electronic technology." In partnership with with Sungkyunkwan University, the Institute has pioneered the growing of large-area, single crystal wafer scale graphene. Previously, small graphene particles had been combined to form large-area graphene, but the process diminished both the mechanic and electric effectiveness of the substance. The material's conductivity would make charging a device take a matter of seconds, and its strength, durability and flexibility would allow Samsung to truly innovate with a whole range of new devices and ways to interact with technology. It has not been revealed if Samsung plans to make the groundbreaking synthesis process public, a move that would rapidly accelerate the adoption of graphene into daily use. However, Sheng thinks that it won't be long before the process is widely available. "I don't think they can keep it proprietary very long, even if they want to ... This will start many factories around the world doing the same thing." READ MORE: Graphene: The nano-sized material with a massive future . READ MORE: Graphene: 'Miracle material' will be in your home sooner than you think . Correction: We erroneously stated that carbon was the most abundant element in the universe. This has since been removed. | The "miracle material" graphene is super-light, super-conductive, and super-strong .
Samsung's research unit announces new way to synthesize material, potentially opening the door to commercial production .
Graphene has the potential to transform a huge range of industries . |
286,308 | fefb0302ad8a8106f40a221d5efa2838e580f37f | A day after he was heckled by new New York Police Department officers at an academy graduation ceremony, the city's mayor sat down with union heads in a bid to clear the air between the two sides. Mayor Bill de Blasio was joined by Police Commissioner William Bratton on Tuesday afternoon at the Police Academy in Queens for the private meeting with union heads. De Blasio had requested the meeting with the heads of all five police unions following several displays of disrespect against him by officers in the wake of the shooting deaths of officers Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu. Scroll down for video . A day after he was heckled by new New York Police Department officers at an academy graduation ceremony, Mayor de Blasio sat down with union heads in a bid to clear the air between the two sides . A rift between de Blasio and much of the NYPD's rank and file has widened recently following the two murders on December 20 and City Hall's response to protests over police conduct. Union leaders have blamed the mayor for fostering an anti-NYPD atmosphere and said it contributed to the officers' deaths. Present was one of the mayor's harshest critics Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association chief Pat Lynch whose son, Kevin, graduated from the academy on Monday. He has accused de Blasio of having 'blood on his hands' over the two deaths at the hands of Ismaaiyl Brinsley. The Democratic mayor was elected last year on promises of keeping crime low while reforming the NYPD. Meanwhile, police unions have been seeking new contracts. Another union leader, Captains Endowment Association President Roy Richter, has informed officers not to turn their backs on the mayor at the upcoming funeral of Officer Liu. Among the NYPD union leaders that de Blasio met with on Tuesday was Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association chief Pat Lynch, left, and Captains Endowment Association President Roy Richter, right . 'In this forum the appropriate protest is not a sign or turning away from mourners, or people the family has asked to speak, but rather cold, steely silence,' he wrote in a memo to his membership on Tuesday. Three days ago, dozens of police officers showed their disdain for de Blasio byturning their backs to a video monitor as the Mayor spoke at the funeral of Liu's partner, Rafael Ramos. Richter says there can be no repeat of this at Liu's wake and funeral this weekend, reports the New York Daily News. 'In the coming days and weeks you will be looked upon by many for guidance, leadership and advice at a time when many of our peers and officers under our care are deeply angry,' he wrote. 'Unfortunately, but understandably, this anger provided visual displays of back-turning at the funeral of Police Officer Ramos that caused pain for his loved ones.' NYPD officers are letting minor crimes slide in the wake of the murder of two cops shot while on duty in Brooklyn just over a week ago, claim sources within the department . De Blasio angered police by expressing sympathy for protesters demonstrating against a Staten Island grand jury's decision not to prosecute a white cop for killing Eric Garner with a chokehold. NYPD officers are letting minor crimes slide in the wake of the murder of two cops shot while on duty in Brooklyn just over a week ago, claim sources within the department. An unnamed supervisor told the New York Post on Monday that his officers are writing significantly fewer summonses and 'probably only making arrests when they have to - like when a store catches a shoplifter.' 'I'm not writing any summonses. Do you think I'm going to stand there so someone can shoot me or hit me in the head with an ax?' one cop told the Post. 'I'm concerned about my safety. I want to go to home to my wife and kids.' A union mandate requiring that two patrol cars respond to all police calls – introduced following the shootings of Officers Ramos and Liu – has also contributed to slower response times to non-emergencies. The PBA's directive is creating a manpower shortage that is delaying response times to crimes such as burglaries and car crashes to as much as four hours, according to the paper. Mayor de Blasio was booed on Monday by the newest members of the NYPD as he delivered a speech at the academy graduation ceremony. Several boos could be heard at Madison Square Garden as de Blasio took the podium in front of 884 newly-minted cops. Mayor de Blasio ignored the boos and thanked the new recruits for their service to the city of New York . At least one cadet could be heard shouting 'traitor!' Then, when de Blasio remarked that the new officers would be confronted with problems they didn't make, someone from the crowd shouted, 'You created them!' The heckler was met with applause and cheering. The incident shows that mistrust has taken hold even among the NYPD's newest officers. On Saturday, hundreds of cops turned their backs on de Blasio as he spoke at the funeral for Officer Rafael Ramos, one of two NYPD cops gunned down by a fanatic who was enraged about recent police brutality cases - including the death of Staten Island resident Eric Garner. The Mayor has come in for sharp criticism from the police union after expressing sympathy for protesters who took to the streets in the wake of a grand jury's failure to indict the NYPD cop who allegedly put Garner in a chokehold. At least one of the new NYPD academy graduate shouted 'traitor!' as the mayor took the podium in front of 884 newly minted cops . Tense: The Mayor (left) and NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton (second from left) stood on stage with police union president Patrick Lunch (second from right) - who has said de Blasio has 'blood on his hands' Thousands of friends and family members filled Madison Square Garden - along with the nearly 900 recruits . In a speech following the grand jury decision, de Blasio, whose children are half-black, recounted how he told his teenage son Dante how to deal with the police and that he might be discriminated against by the NYPD. Patrolman's Benevolent Association President Patrick Lynch said de Blasio had 'blood on his hands' in the death of Ramos and his partner Officer Wenjian Liu, who were assassinated on December 20 as they sat in their squad car in Brooklyn. Police Commissioner Bill Bratton said on Sunday that the strife between de Blasio and the rank-and-file officers is likely to last 'for some time.' City Hall and the Patrolman's Benevolent Association are in the midst of rancorous contract negotiations that are set to go to arbitration - further exacerbating the strife. The Mayor and Lynch - his most outspoken critic - came face-to-face on Monday when they posed together for a photo for an award that the PBA gives out for the top squad sergeant from the graduating class. Lynch's son Kevin is among the graduating class. | The mayor sat down with union heads on Tuesday in a bid to clear the air between the two sides .
De Blasio had requested the meeting with the heads of all five police unions following several displays of disrespect against him .
Union leaders have blamed the mayor for fostering an anti-NYPD atmosphere and said it contributed to the murder of two officers .
Present was one of the mayor's harshest critics Patrolmen's Benevolent Association chief Pat Lynch .
Captains Endowment Association President Roy Richter has informed officers not to turn their backs on the mayor at the funeral of Officer Liu . |
93,198 | 03e45049bad2baee767c6ba4634a1ef1986a240e | The parents of brain cancer boy Ashya King say they are scared of returning to Britain in case the authorities try to take their sick son away from them. Ashya's father Brett, 51, said he asked his MP to speak to social services so they can give the family assurances the five-year-old boy will not be placed in care on his return to the UK, but was told to 'keep out of the way'. Mr King, who fled abroad with Ashya and his mother, Naghmeh, earlier this year to seek pioneering proton treatment denied by the NHS, says the family feel like 'refugees'. Scroll down for video . The parents of brain cancer boy Ashya King say they are scared of returning to Britain in case the authorities try to take their sick son away from them . Speaking to the Sunday People from the family's holiday home in Malaga, Spain, Mr King said: 'My local MP Mike Hancock has asked social services, "What would happen if the King family return to England? Would you involve yourself with them?" 'They haven’t been able to give a clear answer, so my MP said to keep out of the way for the time being. 'He said, "If anything happens, like your child grazes his head and you take him to the hospital, maybe social services will try and take the child away". 'It's like we're refugees. We're not happy here [in Spain], it's not our home. Our home is in England.' Earlier this month, Mr King claimed he was 'treated like a criminal' when he returned to Britain for the first time after fleeing the country with his cancer-stricken son. He said Border Force officials took his and his older son's passports at Gatwick Airport and made the pair wait in a holding area while they phoned other authorities and called in two uniformed police officers - who later decided to let the father and son go. Ashya's father Brett, 51, said he had asked his MP to speak to social services so they can give the family assurances the five-year-old boy will not be placed in care on their return to the UK . Mr and Mrs King sparked an international manhunt when they removed Ashya from Southampton General Hospital on August 28 without medical consent. Under the belief that British doctors were not taking the best course of treatment for their son, they fled to Spain with the sickly boy in their care. Police traced the couple to Malaga and arrested Mr and Mrs King, holding them in a Spanish jail at the request of British authorities. Ashya was put in hospital under armed guard and was unable to see his parents for days. Then, in a dramatic turnaround amid a national outcry, the parents were told they would not face charges. Their son was taken for 30 rounds of experimental treatment at the Proton Therapy Centre (PTC) in Prague and is now said to be 'improving every day' with the family in Spain. | Cancer boy Ashya King's parents fear bringing their son back to Britain .
Ashya's father is afraid social services will take his son away from him .
Brett King says his MP asked him to 'keep out of the way for the time being'
The Kings fled abroad with Ashya for cancer treatment denied by the NHS .
Ashya is said to be recovering at family's holiday home in Malaga, Spain . |
23,395 | 427816b50f73c14cd2b6ea9dc088ddeb4e7f72a3 | Douglas Engelbart, whose invention of the mouse transformed the way people interact with computers, has died. Engelbart died Tuesday night at his home in Atherton, California, SRI International -- the research institute where he once worked -- said in a statement. He was 88. "Doug's legacy is immense — anyone in the world who uses a mouse or enjoys the productive benefits of a personal computer is indebted to him," Curtis R. Carlson, SRI's president and CEO, said in a written statement. Decades ago, Engelbart came up with the idea we now know as a mouse. His first prototype, which featured a carved out wooden block, wheels and a tiny red button, looks quite different from the sleek plastic designs now seen in homes and offices around the world. A radar technician during World War II, Engelbart worked at the Stanford Research Institute during the 1960s. It was there that a vision of people sitting in front of a video screen, interacting with a computer, came to him. "I knew enough engineering and had enough experience as a radar person to know that if a computer can punch cards or print paper, it can draw anything you want on a screen," he told CNN in 1997 after receiving a $500,000 prize for American innovation. Engelbart invented and patented what he called the "x-y position indicator," receiving a $10,000 check for the invention. He told CNN he couldn't recall who on his team had decided to call it a mouse. At the time, it wasn't easy to convince fellow scientists to follow his vision, Engelbart said. But he persisted. Later, he went on to found the Doug Engelbart Institute, a nonprofit dedicated to boosting the collective ability to solve complex, urgent problems on a global scale. "Sometimes I reflect on how naive somebody has to be in order to get visions -- and plug away at them -- that ultimately proceed, and how many other people with visions that are as naive just fall off the cliff," Engelbart told CNN in 1997. In addition to the computer mouse, Engelbart's work at SRI from 1957 to 1977 helped develop tech innovations such as display editing, online processing, linking and in-file object addressing, use of multiple windows, hypermedia, and context-sensitive help, the institute said. "Doug was a giant who made the world a much better place and who deeply touched those of us who knew him," Carlson said. "SRI was very privileged and honored to have him as one of our 'family.' He brought tremendous value to society. We will miss his genius, warmth and charm." Engelbart is survived by his wife and four children. People we lost in 2013: The lives they lived . | Douglas Engelbart invented the computer mouse .
He died Tuesday night at home in California, SRI International says .
Research institute chief: "Anyone in the world who uses a mouse ... is indebted to him" |
159,251 | 59db1171b9706dd5ef6d04a9a8540d15b3500b15 | Teresa Giudice spent the last few hours with her family at mass in New Jersey before reporting to a Connecticut prison to begin serving a 15-month prison sentence for bankruptcy fraud. The infamous 42-year-old reality star smiled at her four bundled-up daughters - Gia, 13; Gabriella, 10; Milania, 8; and Audriana, 5 - and husband Joe as they attended mass at the Sacred Hearth Church in New Jersey. The Real Housewives of New Jersey star was picked up in a black SUV by her lawyer just after midnight and driven to the prison from her lavish $4million Towaco mansion. The 42-year-old reality star bid farewell to her daughters who will be cared for by her husband Joe - when Teresa is released he will then begin his 41-month sentence. Scroll down for video . Behind bars: Teresa Giudice reported to a Connecticut prison in the middle of the night on Monday to begin serving her 16-month prison sentence for fraud. Pictured: Teresa puts on a brave face as she attends mass on Sunday with her family . Savoring those family moments: The troubled 42-year-old smiled at her four bundled-up daughters - Gia, 13, Gabriella, 10, Milania, 8, and Audriana, 5 - and husband Joe . Although the group looked jovial, they knew that in less than 24 hours Teresa would be behind bars . Despite being about to go to prison, Teresa still looked glamorous in her attire . James J. Leonard Jr., her attorney, told ABC News that the drive took 90 minutes and they arrived at at the Federal Correctional Institution in Danbury, Connecticut, about 2 a.m., ahead of her 3 a.m. reporting time. He said Teresa ate at a diner before reporting to prison, but added 'I think she was anxious to get in, get this thing started, get it behind her, and get back to her family.' The attorney said his client had been mentally preparing for her time behind bars by corresponding with recently released female prisoners who told her to be 'friendly but guarded' during her sentence. He told NJ Advance Media: 'When we arrived at Danbury, everyone we encountered was extremely courteous and respectful. 'She was ready. Teresa is a very strong woman. She won't have any problems in there.' A BOP spokesman confirmed that she surrendered early this morning. On Monday morning her husband Joe was seen driving out of the family home to take their daughters to school. On Monday morning, her husband Joe was seen driving out of the family home to take their daughters to school . Joe drives out the family home on Monday morning - the girls bid farewell to their mother on Sunday night . The girls said goodbye to their mother on Sunday hours before she reported to the prison to begin her sentence . Joe - born Giuseppe - will be allowed to remain with the children until Teresa is released at which point he'll begin his 41-month sentence . The $4million home that Teresa is leaving behind to serve her sentence in Connecticut . Teresa is now serving time in the same Connecticut penitentiary where Piper Herman set her memoir Orange Is the New Black and Lauryn Hill did three months for tax evasion in 2013 . The former Celebrity Apprentice contestant will have to pay for up to 300 minutes a month of precious evening phone time . One of the girls hugs their father as they walk to the church on Sunday . Teresa is now serving time in the same Connecticut penitentiary where Piper Herman set her memoir Orange Is the New Black and Lauryn Hill did three months for tax evasion in 2013. People reports that the raven-haired socialite's first moments will involve a strip search and a 'squat and cough' to see if she is hiding anything. The former Celebrity Apprentice contestant will have to pay for up to 300 minutes a month of precious evening phone time. According to TMZ, she will have to curb her extravagant spending habits due to the $320/month max allowance for the FCI Danbury store. Teresa will only be allowed 12 visits per month with her family, and she'll likely have to work in the prison factory. Minimum security prison camp: Teresa will only be allowed 12 visits per month with her family, and she'll likely have to work in the prison factory . Wake-up is at 6am and Giudice will report to her prison-assigned job from 8am-3pm. On Saturday, her teenage daughter tweeted 'can't sleep, to much stuff on my mind,' along with a nervous face and gun emojis. On New Year's Day, Gia shared a snap with her mother captioned: 'Happy New Years with my best friend!! @Teresa_Giudice.' Giudice's last public event was watching her eldest perform with her girl-group 3KT at Iplay America in Freehold. The New York Times best-selling author has been spending her final days before surrender with her princesses - at a hockey game and a ski trip to Crystal Springs Resort. Inspirational quote on Twitter page: 'Happiness keeps you sweet, trials keep you strong, sorrows keep you human, failures keep you humble, success keeps you glowing, friends and family keep you going' Stressing: On Saturday, her teenage daughter tweeted 'can't sleep, to much stuff on my mind,' along with a nervous face and gun emojis . On New Year's Day, Gia shared a snap with her mother captioned: 'Happy New Years with my best friend!! @Teresa_Giudice' Seeking stardom: Giudice's last public event was watching her eldest perform with her girl-group 3KT at Iplay America in Freehold (pictured December 26) 'My family is probably one of the strongest families I know,' her daughter Gia - who's shopping around a reality show - told Access Hollywood in November. 'So we'll get through this. It's gonna be fine. And when it's over, we're gonna be better than ever.' The Real Housewives of New Jersey star has told daughters Gia and Gabriella about the family's legal woes, but she's reportedly keeping her incarceration a secret from her youngest girls. 'She told [Milania and Audriana] she is going to jail to work on a book about jail,' a source told Radar Online. 'Teresa and Joe feel that they are too young to fully comprehend what is going on.' Surrendering soon: The New York Times best-selling author has been spending her final days before surrender with her princesses - at a December 6 hockey game and a ski trip to Crystal Springs Resort . Teresa and Joe Giudice first came under suspicion in 2009 when the pair filed bankrupcy and then withdrew the filing just before an auction of their home's furniture was to take place. In 2013, the couple were charged with about four dozen crimes including conspiracy to commit mail fraud, wire fraud and bank fraud to take $5million over a decade. The couple was also accused of lying on loan applications and on their bankruptcy papers. Husband Joe, who is an Italian citizen, was also accused of not filing his tax returns from 2004 to 2008, when the family made $1million. While they originally planned to plead not guilty, the married couple eventually admitted guilt on 41 fraud charges. In addition to their individual prison sentences, the couple will also have to pay $414,000 in restitution. At least there's a river and forest: The raven-haired socialite's first moments will involve a strip search and a 'squat and cough' to see if she is hiding anything . Wake-up is at 6AM! It's the same Connecticut penitentiary where Piper Herman set her memoir Orange Is the New Black and Lauryn Hill did three months for tax evasion in 2013 . 'If it would make her happy and make her life better, then I'm[all for it]!' The reality star's executive producer Andy Cohen has already offered to visit her in prison . The reality star's executive producer Andy Cohen has already offered to visit her in prison. 'If it would make her happy and make her life better, then I'm [all for it],' the 46-year-old Emmy winner said on Ask Andy. Her 42-year-old high school sweetheart is also facing deportation upon release because he is not a U.S. citizen. Back in October, the Italian-American duo were both sentenced due to their bankruptcy fraud and conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud. | The Real Housewives of New Jersey star is serving a 15-month sentence .
Reported to a federal prison in Danbury, Connecticut, at about 3 a.m .
Husband Joe is taking care of their four daughters until he begins his own sentence once his wife comes out of prison .
The Giudices pleaded guilty to 41 charges of fraud for lying on loan applications and a bankruptcy filing .
BOP spokesman confirmed she surrendered early this morning . |
258,504 | da921338cfb49447070ce638a105423d58a3c093 | (CNN) -- Formula One has returned to Bahrain amid conflicting views about the sport's place in a country where political tensions are running high. The head of the sport's governing body the FIA, Jean Todt, insists the sport coming to Bahrain can be a force for good. But that view is not shared by anti-government protesters, who recently staged a drum march in the village outside Bahrain's capital Manama to urge F1 not to come under the current circumstances. Many issues in the kingdom remain unresolved after an uprising in 2011 where the majority Shiite population demanded more rights from the rulers who belong to the minority Sunni sect. Those protests were violently crushed by Bahrain's security forces with troops from Saudi Arabia coming in to support the government. In the aftermath of the protests the government promised reform including a special unit set up to investigate claims of rights abuses but critics say little has changed, so the opposition continues to do battle. The former team principal of F1's famous Ferrari marque, Todt is not attending the Bahrain Grand Prix, though officials have played down the significance of his absence, with a spokesman reportedly sayng the event was never on his schedule. Todt recently drew criticism, accused of failing to voice his views on why F1 is continuing to race in the volatile Gulf Kingdom. In 2011 the race was canceled because of ongoing civil unrest but was reinstated last season. The FIA president went some way to addressing that criticism this week by sending a letter to an umbrella group of human rights activists in Bahrain. In the letter, seen by news agency Reuters, Todt explained: "Sport, and the F1 Grand Prix, can have a positive and healing effect in situation where conflict, social unrest and tensions are causing distress." Protesters view the Bahrain GP as a rare opportunity to raise awareness of the country's political situation for a global audience. "The media doesn't cover the demonstrations like this revolution which is part of the Arab Spring," Sayed Yousif Al-Mahfdah from the Bahrain Center for Human Rights, told CNN. "This is why we tell them come over to the Formula One race and come see the women and the men marching in the streets demanding democracy and human rights." Bahrain maintains that has worked to resolve political differences, and the government argues the race will bring benefits to many Bahrainis. "F1 brings significant benefits to everyone in Bahrain, especially economically," the government said in a statement. "Bahrain upholds the right to peaceful protest. It is a country made up of many communities with different views on its development. "This is why it has launched a dialogue between all political groups to address political issues in a manner that will ensure the country develops in a sustainable way. "It should be noted that in some cases protests encouraged by extreme opposition groups result in deliberate and targeted violence. "Only in these case do security forces respond and they do so while exercising appropriate restraint. Some unfortunately believe that continued unrest on the streets affords them a political advantage, when it results in greater divisions between communities in Bahrain. Violence can never be tolerated." However, a number of leading human rights organizations argue the sport provides credibility to a government accused of human rights abuses. Read more: Is Bahrain serious about reform? "Many people in Bahrain no longer see Formula One as a sport, but as an organization which supports a repressive regime," said a protest group comprised of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights, the Bahrain Press Association, the Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights and the Campaign Against Arms Trade. This week a group British MPs wrote letter to F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone urging him to call off the grand prix. Ecclestone has voiced sympathy for the protesters but the race is still scheduled to go ahead. When F1 returned to Bahrain in 2012, the race weekend was undisturbed although two members of the Force India team returned to the UK after being caught up in petrol bomb attacks on their journey from the Sakhir circuit. | Formula One returns to Bahrain amid anti-government protests .
FIA president Jean Todt says the sport's return to Bahrain can have a "healing effect"
Some protesters say the race is a chance to raise awareness of the country's political plight .
Other human rights groups have called for the race to be canceled . |
23,822 | 439bc01f6c1965ed91278fdcd41f6e6f6b69d0aa | A Nevada math teacher is being hailed a hero after he was killed confronting a 7th grader who opened fire at his school on Monday morning. Michael Landsberry, a popular 8th grade math teacher at Sparks Middle School, ran unarmed across the basketball courts towards the 14-year-old shooter and told him to put the handgun down, witnesses said. The boy responded by shooting Mr Landsberry, hitting him once and killing him. The middle school student then turned the handgun on himself. It is believed the student stole the semi-automatic handgun from his parents' home. Mr Landsberry, a 45-year-old veteran Marine and member of the Nevada Army National Guard, had spent the past weekend celebrating his wedding anniversary with wife Sharon, family members said. The teacher also has two stepdaughters. Scroll down for videos . Hero: Michael Landsberry, 45, pictured with his wife Sharon, was shot dead by a teenage boy at the school where he taught in Sparks, Nevada on Monday . Hero: Michael Landsberry, an 8th grade math teacher, gave his life to protect his students when a 7th grader opened fire at the school on Monday morning . Landsberry is believed to have been a married father who had just celebrated his wedding anniversary this weekend . Fun-loving: Dozens of students posted messages about math teacher Michael Landsberry who was shot and killed on Monday at Sparks Middle School. He was remembered as a tough but fair teacher who made students laugh (pictured) Mr Landsberry had served several tours of Afghanistan before becoming a much loved teacher. Mayor of Sparks Gino Martini told Piers Morgan on Monday: 'It's nothing that you ever think about happening to your town. He discussed the tragic loss of Mr Landsberry: 'Hard to believe that he went through what he did in Afghanistan, to be shot at school.' It was announced on Monday evening that police are investigating the school shooting as a homicide. Dozens of students posted comments on . social media on Monday remembering the teacher who was known for his tough but . fair attitude and sense of humor. He had his own school website, where he adopted a jokey 'tough love' approach with his kids. He wrote: 'I have one classroom rule and it is very simple: ''Thou Shall Not Annoy Mr. L.''' One . student Marlene posted a fond memory of her bald teacher on Twitter. The pupil wrote: 'When i took a picture with Mr.Landsberry he always . told me, "Wait i gotta make sure my hair looks okay."' Others posted messages saying that the fun-loving teacher would let them rub his bald head for luck. Students, many of whom played on the soccer team that Mr Landsberry coached at the school, posted tributes to him. A tearful Michelle Hernandez, left, is led away from Agnes Risley Elementary School following a shooting at Sparks Middle School on Monday morning . Law enforcement personnel gather at the scene of a shooting at Sparks Middle School. The scene was cleared by SWAT teams and a bomb disposal unit . Evelyn Nunez tweeted: '@_andreababee: my hero, friend, motivator and now my guardian angel. Mr Landsberry.' Mr Landsberry's brother Reggie told Anderson Cooper that his brother was an 'all-round good person'. He added: 'He was the kind of person, if someone needed help, he would be there.' The shooter's name has not been released . and neither has a motive for the shooting which took place around 15 . minutes before the school bell rang for the start of classes. Before the shooting, witnesses said they . could hear the gunman saying 'my life is over' and demanding 'Why you . people making fun of me?' and 'Why you laughing at me?' Around 20 to 30 middle school students witnessed the multiple shootings. A seventh-grade student called Andrew Thompson told IBNlive: 'A kid started getting mad and he pulled out a gun and shoots my friend, one of my friends at least. 'And then he walked up to a teacher and says back up. The teacher started backing up and he pulled the trigger.' There were other reports from school students that the shooter had been a target for bullies. A school friend of the shooter told Piers Morgan on CNN: 'He was a really nice kid. He would make you smile.' Her mother added: 'He was getting picked on regularly... but he was a very nice boy to everybody.' Sparks students struggled to cope with the violence that interrupted their Monday morning classes . Police have cleared out the school and searched the building room-to-room. They say Sparks Middle School is safe and they were convinced there was only one shooter . Relief: A mother holds her Sparks Middle School student tight after finding him safe following a shooting that left two classmates badly wounded . Police in Sparks, a city located east of Reno in northwestern Nevada, confirmed a student and a teacher were both dead. Two 12-year-old male students were taken to hospital in critical condition after one was shot in the stomach and the other shot in the shoulder. One young man underwent surgery. Both students are now said to be in stable condition. Reggie Landsberry confirmed that his teacher brother, Michael Landsberry had been killed at the school, according to KNRV-T. Within minutes of the shooting, 911 calls began to flood the Sparks Police Department. Around 200 officers were on the scene within three minutes, according to police chiefs at a news conference on Monday evening. Police commended staff at the school for their 'outstanding' job after they herded terrified students inside to classrooms and placed the school on lockdown. A SWAT team cleared the school and a bomb squad was brought in as a precautionary measure. Homeland Security and FBI are now involved in the investigation. Candice Stocke, 27, who lives across the street from Sparks Middle School in Nevada says she awoke to gunfire and saw students fleeing the school in a panic . Reno Police Department Deputy Chief Tom Robinson said Mr Landsberry died protecting his students. 'My estimation is that he is a hero,' he said. 'To hear he was trying to protect those kids doesn’t surprise me at all,' his sister-in-law Chanda Landsberry told the Reno Gazette-Journal. 'He could have ducked and hid, but he didn’t. That’s not who he is.' Student Kyle Nucum, 13, told the newspaper that he watched a boy wearing a Sparks Middle School uniform shoot Mr Landsberry when he tried to stop the violence. It is the first picture to emerge of the chaos and terror that broke out when a gunman opened fire at the school just before classes started about 7.10am on Monday. Outpouring: Lansberry's current and former students paid tribute to their slain teacher and the bravery he exhibited . Michael Landsberry serves in the Nevada Air National Guard. Police say he died protecting his students . Panic: Students gathered in the cafeteria of Sparks Middle School after the shooting that left two students wounded and a teacher dead . Sparks Middle School students were bussed to the high school, where parents picked them up hours after the terrifying shooting . Locked down: SWAT team officers went room-to-room to clear Sparks Middle School after the shooting. The only shooter committed suicide after shooting three people, police say . Nucum told the newspaper: 'We were at the basketball court and we heard a pop, like a loud pop, and everybody was screaming and the teacher came to investigate. 'I thought it was a firecracker at first, but the student was pointing a gun at the teacher after the teacher told him to put it down and the student fired a shot at the teacher and the teacher fell and everybody ran away.' Student Michelle Hernandez said the gunman may have been bullied before he started shooting Monday morning. 'I heard him saying, "Why you people making fun of me? Why you laughing at me?"' she told the Gazette-Journal. Police have detained several students and members of staff for questions, though they say the shooters has been 'neutralized'. Students fled Sparks Middle School after a shooting before class Monday left two dead and two critically wounded . Members of the local SWAT team cleared the school and ensured it was safe Monday morning. Police said the threat had been 'neutralized' Police say classes at Sparks Middle School are canceled for the remainder of this week. Classes at Agnes Risley are only canceled for the rest of Monday. After-school activities at Sparks Middle School are also canceled for the rest of Monday. Nevada Senator Harry Reid today released the following statement about the shooting at Sparks Middle School. 'My condolences go out to the victims' families and my thoughts are with the teachers, administrators, parents and students at Sparks Middle School who have experienced a traumatic morning. 'No words of condolence could possibly ease the pain, but I hope it is some small comfort that Nevada mourns with them. I stand by to be of any assistance if there is anything that can be done and I will continue to monitor the situation.' Governor Brian Sandoval issued a statement on Monday morning saying he and his wife were 'deeply saddened' by the violence at the school. 'My administration is receiving regular updates and the Nevada Highway Patrol is assisting at the scene. 'Kathleen and I extend our thoughts and prayers to the victims and those affected by these tragic events,' he said. Terror: A tearful parent embraces her son from Sparks Middle School after the shooting that saw a student shoot two classmates and kill a teacher . Officials locked down the school immediately after the shooting then evacuated students so they could be picked up by their parents . | Popular math teacher Michael Landsberry, 45, tried to stop the shooting and was killed .
The teacher and former Marine had been celebrating his wedding anniversary this weekend. He has two stepdaughters .
Male student, aged 14, opened fire with handgun at Sparks Middle School in Nevada on Monday morning before classes started .
A friend of the shooter told CNN: 'He was a really nice kid. He would make you smile.'
Two 12-year-old male students wounded - one in the shoulder and the other in the stomach - but are in stable condition in hospital .
Shooter was heard saying 'Why are you laughing at me?' before rampage . |
87,407 | f7fa76b5348cb4a49412802b51b5ffd2f81e3a83 | (CNN) -- In the heart of Northern California's wine country, piles of stemware lay shattered on the ground. Building facades in historic downtown Napa crumbled into the streets. And residents who enjoyed decades of calm received a harsh reminder that intense quakes can strike anytime. "I was in shock to see people's homes and offices on the floor," Napa resident Elise Martinez said. "This is life-changing." But even as the Bay Area tries to clean up from its strongest earthquake in 25 years, the tremor could have been much worse. No one was killed in the 6.0-magnitude earthquake that jostled residents awake early Sunday. The Queen of the Valley Medical Center said it has treated "approximately 208" patients since the earthquake struck. Of those, 17 were admitted to the hospital, and one is still in critical condition. The majority of patients sustained injuries that were not life-threatening. But the hospital has not seen any patients related to the earthquake since 11 p.m. PT Sunday. Although 70,000 customers lost power after the quake, power was restored for all customers Monday afternoon, according Pacific Gas and Electric. 'We need more help' Still, the recovery will be daunting. "Everything and everyone in Napa was affected by the quake," said CNN iReporter Malissa Koven. "My house, along with everybody else's, is a disaster. It looks like somebody broke in and ravaged the place, room by room." Napa City Manager Mike Parness said the damage is beyond what the city can handle. "We have exhausted our local resources," he said. "We need more help from the outside." California Gov. Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency. The earthquake triggered six major fires that destroyed several mobile homes, Napa Division Fire Chief John Callanan said. Safety measures are still in effect for dozens of buildings across the city. Upwards of 200 commercial and noncommercial structures have been marked by yellow tags, meaning "property owners can go into the building to clean up but have been advised not to occupy until further notice," said Rick Tooker, Napa community development director at a news conference Monday evening. "Seventy commercial and noncommercial structures have been red-tagged and cannot be occupied," added Tooker. And it could take up to a week to get the water system back to normal after dozens of reported water-main breaks, Napa Public Works Director Jack Rochelle said. But he said running water is safe to drink. More aftershocks expected . About 50 to 60 aftershocks rattled the area in the hours after the quake, said John Parrish, chief of the California Geological Survey. The strongest had a magnitude of 3.6. "We do think the aftershocks will continue for several weeks," Parrish said. The quake was the strongest to hit the Bay Area since 1989, when a 6.9-magnitude temblor struck during the World Series. The Loma Prieta earthquake caused 63 deaths, 3,757 injuries and an estimated $6 billion in property damage, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The damage from Sunday's earthquake was relatively minor compared with the buckled highways and destroyed homes 25 years ago. But some said Sunday's quake seemed more intense. "Honestly, it felt much worse than the '89 earthquake," CNN iReporter Garret Gauer said. "The refrigerator relocated itself to the other side of the kitchen." One child hurt when a fireplace collapsed was airlifted to UC Davis Medical Center, hospital spokeswoman Vanessa deGier said. Nearly 160 people were treated for minor injuries at the emergency room at Queen of the Valley Hospital, though hospital CEO Walt Mickens could not confirm that all of those patients were injured in the earthquake. How did it feel? Sunday's earthquake was centered 6 miles southwest of Napa and 9 miles southeast of Sonoma, according to the USGS. The U.S. Geological Survey estimated based on their locations that 15,000 people experienced severe shaking, and 106,000 people felt very strong shaking. The quake struck about 7 miles deep and was considered "strong" by the Geological Survey. Major quakes start at a 7.0 magnitude, according to the agency's scale. The economic loss will probably top $1 billion, according to USGS data. At Silver Oak Winery, owner David Duncan tried to clean up hundreds of broken wine bottles that tumbled off the shelves. "Those bottles were very unique," he said. They were part of his private collection and worth hundreds of dollars. California Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom stressed that it's not just the wine country that needs help. "There's a mythology about Napa, that it's all fancy wineries," Newsom said. "But underneath that there are a lot of folks here -- very low income -- that are going to need support." Follow the story in a CNN Storify. Did you feel it? Weigh in at Facebook, Twitter or CNN iReport. CNN's Dan Simon, Susanna Capelouto, Josh Levs, Melanie Whitley, Dave Alsup, Scott Thompson and Carma Hassan contributed to this story . | "Approximately 208" patients have been treated since the earthquake struck .
"We have exhausted our local resources," Napa's city manager says .
California Gov. Jerry Brown declares a state of emergency . |
204,144 | 94473a97dcede744302152dcbfe487eb235fc1a0 | PUBLISHED: . 02:42 EST, 17 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 02:42 EST, 17 January 2014 . Robin van Persie is convinced David Moyes has the ability to turn round Manchester United's league season. - read more . Also: Bernie Ecclestone's command over Formula One has been diluted for the first time in 40 years with the announcement that he is no longer signing the cheques... - read more . Also: Mauricio Pochettino is ready to walk away from Southampton in the summer after hiring a team of lawyers to study the fine print in his contract at Southampton. - read more . Mauricio Pochettino refused to commit his long-term future to Southampton last night. Also: Robin van Persie is backing under-fire Manchester United boss David Moyes - and wants the doubters to give him time... Jonas Gutierrez has blasted Alan Pardew for booting him out of Toon. Mauricio Pochettino last night put himself on collision course with his employers by threatening to quit as Southampton manager if his players are sold. Also: Tom Ince is ready to sign for mega-rich Monaco, placing major doubt over the future of dad Paul as Blackpool boss. Mauricio Pochettino, the Southampton manager, insisted yesterday that that he would not follow Nicola Cortese out of St Mary's Stadium in the short term but admitted that he could not guarantee that he would see out the remaining 17 months of his contract. Also: Sergio Aguero sounded a warning to Manchester City's rivals by saying that he expects it to take no more than a week before he returns to peak form and fitness. Mauricio Pochettino has cast fresh doubt over his long-term future at Southampton by revealing that a decision on whether he remains manager next season will be put off until the summer. Also: Ravel Morrison has been left confused over whether West ham want to sell him this month. Mauricio Pochettino has pledged to remain at Southampton until the end of the season, when he will assess his options regarding the final year of his contract as he digested what he called the "heavy blow" of the departure of chairman, Nicola Cortese, on Wednesday evening. Also: Formula One will never be the same again following the news that Bernie Ecclestone has lost absolute power over the sport he transformed into a global empire. The Southampton owner, Katharina Liebherr, has reacted with surprise to the notion that former chairman Nicola Cortese was forced out, the club having offered him a new salary package last year and requested minor changes in the way the club was run. Also: The Manchester United striker, Robin van Persie, has described David Moyes as "our leading man" and, in his strongest affirmation of faith in the manager, has declared that he will change the club's fortunes. Mauricio Pochettino has vowed to stay as Southampton manager until the end of the season but could change his mind if the club sell players without his agreement. Also: Bernie Ecclestone insists he will continue to run F1, despite stepping down from the sport's management board after being told he will stand trial in Germany on bribery charges. Southampton have slapped a £30m price tag on teenage star Luke Shaw. Also: Jose Mourinho has earmarked scoring sensation Diego Costa as his major summer signing......Robin van Persie has backed David Moyes to recover from his horror start at Manchester United. | Bernie Ecclestone's power diluted in Formula One .
Mauricio Pochettino could still leave Southampton .
Sergio Aguero says he's one week from full fitness . |
215,896 | a37917c3e76f6462ee1830053aefb28aa713d7e4 | Britain's Disasters Emergency Committee is launching an appeal over the Ebola crisis - the first time it has ever called for donations in response to a disease outbreak. The committee, made up of 13 of the UK's major aid charities, said it took the decision because the effects of the killer virus is threatening to become 'a humanitarian catastrophe'. International Development Secretary Justine Greening said the government would match the first £5 million of donations from the public because the outbreak demands 'a huge global response'. The DEC described the spread of the disease, which has killed almost 5,000 people, as 'explosive' saying it is devastating communities, health services and people's ability to support themselves. Quarantine: A Kenyan Port Health Services worker commands a small boy returning from Ebola-hit Liberia to return to an observation room for screening. Britain's Disasters Emergency Committee is launching an appeal over the Ebola crisis . On alert: Kenyan Port Health Services workers receive a woman and her child prior to their Ebola screening as they arrive at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, Kenya. The DEC, made up of 13 of the UK's major aid charities, said the crisis is threatening to become 'a humanitarian catastrophe' The deadly illness, which has infected more than 10,000 people, has hit the West African countries of Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea the hardest and the DEC said some parts of the region face disaster within 60 days unless urgent help is provided. The UK's main broadcasters are due to screen the appeal tomorrow. DEC chief executive Saleh Saeed said: 'This appeal is completely unprecedented and that is a sign of just how serious the situation in West Africa has become. 'In its 50-year history the DEC has launched appeals for humanitarian disasters caused by floods, famines, earthquake, typhoons, and countless conflicts. 'We have never run an appeal in response to a disease outbreak - until today. Escalating crisis: Kenyan Police officers wearing protective masks stand guard as Port Health Services workers (not pictured) receive nine Kenyans, who were stranded in Ebola hit country Liberia, for Ebola screening as they arrive at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi, Kenya . 'While many chronic diseases cause untold suffering in poorer countries, the worst acute outbreaks of deadly diseases such as measles or cholera have usually occurred in the wake of another type of disaster. 'In West Africa today we are seeing a disease create not just a medical crisis but a humanitarian emergency. 'Without urgent action to stop the spread of Ebola and to help those affected by the crisis, parts of West Africa face catastrophe within 60 days.' Members of the DEC, which includes British Red Cross, Oxfam and World Vision, have already been involved in helping with the disposal of bodies of victims of the disease, running treatment centres and providing food aid to affected families. The BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and Sky will carry the appeal, the DEC said, with support from the committee's major partners including ITN, BT, Post Office, British Bankers Association, Royal Mail, RadioCentre and NewsNow. To make a donation to the DEC Ebola Crisis Appeal visit www.dec.org.uk, call the 24 hour hotline on 0370 60 60 900 or donate £5 by texting the word SUPPORT to 70000. | First time DEC has ever called for donations to tackle a disease outbreak .
Described crisis in West Africa as 'explosive' as the death toll nears 5,000 .
DEC chief: 'Appeal is a sign of just how serious this situation has become'
Government said it would match first £5million of donations from the public .
BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and Sky will broadcast appeal tomorrow . |
187,285 | 7e8c87e84ceca705169e5c7c4991080d572102b0 | West Bromwich Albion are facing the prospect of losing further sponsors, depending on the outcome of the Football Association's investigation into Nicolas Anelka's 'quenelle' gesture. The Black Country club counts German clothing company Jack Wolfskin among its partners and the firm has issued a statement in which it does not rule out the possibility of ending its backing. Gesture: Anelka is to discover his fate after an FA investigation into his goal celebration at West Ham . Tackle: Anelka has asked the FA to drop the charges for his quenelle gesture in December . So far this week, property company Zoopla, West Brom's club sponsors, have confirmed they will be finishing their £3m-a-year deal with the club at the end of the current campaign. Click here to read our chief sports writer's debate column on Anelka's nasty strain of anti-Semitic Nazi posturing . And now Marvin Troemer, a corporate communications spokesman for Jack Wolfskin, said: 'We are following the developments closely but has no decision has been taken yet. 'The FA is waiting for a statement of Nicolas Anelka before coming to a final judgment. We consider the charges as serious and strongly disapprove of any gestures or statements which are meant to discriminate a single person or a certain group of people. 'We are now awaiting the judgment of the Football Association before taking further steps. Absent: Anelka was selected in Monday's 1-1 draw with Everton, but was largely unimpressive . 'And depending on what our partner West Brom says, which measures they will take and considering our legal possibilities (contract) we would also consider to end our sponsorship as one option.' 'Zoopla . pay £3million to sponsor West Bromwich Albion. That gives them the . right to spoil the famous striped shirts a little, but not to pick the . team.' Click here to read. One other sponsor, Holler Watches, have also admitted to monitoring the events at the Hawthorns after Zoopla's announcement earlier in the week. Zoopla.co.uk is a property website and is part of the Zoopla Property Group Ltd, a privately held company whose shareholders include DMG Media, a division of DMGT plc, the company which owns the Daily Mail and MailOnline. Anelka meanwhile has until 6pm on Thursday to ask for a personal hearing following the charge that he made an improper gesture that was an aggravated breach as it included 'a reference to ethnic origin and/or race and/or religion or belief. In a new post on his Twitter feed, the 34-year-old has written 'Rien a ajouter', which when translated reads 'Nothing to add'. Pertinently, Anelka includes a link to a video clip on Le Figaro that shows an interview with Roger Cukierman, president of Crif, the council representing French Jewish institutions. Bittersweet: Anelka performed the salute after scoring the first of two goals in a 3-3 draw with West Ham . Discount: A sale in the West Brom club shop offers up to 60 per cent off shirts donning the sponsor Zoopla . In the short 40-second segment, Cukierman claims Anelka's gesture was not anti-Semitic and that he should not be heavily punished. The FA have the power to sentence him to a minimum five-match ban. Cukierman said: 'It seems a bit severe to me because it seems to me that this gesture only has an anti-Semitic connation if the gesture is made in front of a synagogue or a memorial to the Holocaust. 'When it's made in a place which is not specifically Jewish it seems to me that it's a slightly anarchic gesture of revolt against the establishment, which doesn't deserve severe sanctions.' No more: West Brom announced the that Zoopla would not extend their contract with the club . Other pressure groups, however, have called for Anelka to be handed more than a five-game suspension due to his lack of an apology. Jonathan Arkush, vice-president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, said: 'I know under the rules that on a first-time offence there is a minimum five-game suspension. 'But I think what he did was sufficiently serious to justify a longer suspension than five matches. 'He has not indicated one bit of remorse or regret or apologised for his actions. 'He has simply said he wouldn't do it again and that is not good enough.' December 28, 2013 . After . scoring in West Brom’s 3-3 draw at West Ham, striker Nicolas Anelka . celebrates by making the quenelle — an inverted Nazi salute created by . his friend, controversial French comedian Dieudonne M’bala M’bala — . which has anti-Semitic connotations. The . gesture is relatively unknown in the UK but there is an angry reaction . in France with the country’s sports minister calling Anelka’s actions . ‘disgusting’. Headline: Martin Samuel called for Anelka to be kicked out for the gesture . December 29 . Anelka . says on Twitter: ‘I am neither racist nor anti-Semitic. The meaning of . quenelle is anti-system. I do not know what religion has to do with this . story. With regard to the ministers who give their own interpretations . of my quenelle, they are the ones that create confusion.’ December 30 . The . FA begins investigating the incident while Sportsmail’s Martin Samuel . calls for Anelka to be banned for knowingly bringing an anti-Semitic gesture to a wider audience. January 10, 2014 . The FA reveal that they are working with an ‘appointed expert’ as part of their investigations into Anelka’s quenelle. But the delay in making a decision is widely criticised. January 17 . West . Brom’s shirt sponsors Zoopla threaten to end their £3million deal . unless Anelka is axed. They say they will remove the Zoopla name from . the home shirts if he is picked for the next match. January 20 . Just hours before Monday’s . kick-off against Everton, Zoopla, who have sponsored West Brom since . 2012, announce that they will not renew their deal with the club at the . end of the season as a result of Anelka’s gesture. Defiant: A group performs the 'quenelle' salutes in front of the theatre Dieudonne's performing at . When . West Brom striker Nicolas Anelka scored the first of his two goals in . Saturday's 3-3 Premier League draw at West Ham, he celebrated by making a . gesture largely unfamiliar to fans of English football. But . the salute, known in France as 'la quenelle', is the subject of a . fierce national debate that has reached the French interior ministry and . stands accused of sparking a spate of attacks across Anelka's homeland. Here, . we explore the origins of the controversial gesture and the motives of . its self-proclaimed inventor, the stand-up comedian and political . activist Dieudonne M'Bala M'Bala: . Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | German clothing company Jack Wolfskin say they are following the FA hearing closely and consider the charges as serious .
Zoopla this week announced they would not be renewing their £3m-a-year deal with the club .
The Frenchman has asked the FA to drop the charge over his salute .
Gesture was performed after scoring in December's 3-3 draw with West Ham . |
146,268 | 492368a7c760cf54599a6f3a4142e7f5bd1fe57f | By . Sam Greenhill . PUBLISHED: . 15:25 EST, 13 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 19:50 EST, 13 February 2013 . A woman involved in the case arrives at Central London Employment Tribunal. It is alleged that a property tycoon slept with his PA then sacked her when his wife found out . A property tycoon slept with his PA then sacked her when his wife found out, a tribunal has heard. The chief executive allegedly treated his mistress to a car and a luxury flat in London during the course of their three-year relationship. He took her on holidays to Cuba and Australia and promoted her to a £40,000-a-year position, it was claimed. He is even said to have asked the 32-year-old to arrange a threesome with an Australian employee – offering to help with her visa if she agreed. But when his wife found out, the 56-year-old boss fired the PA and told her: ‘Don’t you ****ing come back,’ the tribunal heard. London Central Employment Tribunal, which heard the case last week, ordered that none of those involved can be named. The chief executive, whose property company has a portfolio worth billions, routinely harassed women in his office, the tribunal was told. It was claimed he had a preference for recruiting pretty, young female surveyors and admin staff, and would call them ‘slappers’. The PA, who began her affair with her boss soon after she started at the company in 2008, claimed he got rid of her after a former business associate sent his wife a letter disclosing their affair. She told the hearing: ‘In December 2010, he told me his wife had received a letter from somebody telling her about our relationship, and about various details like the flat, and that we had gone on holidays. ‘After that, he started asking me to leave. He said that his wife was putting pressure on him to sever all ties with me. [But] he told me he wasn’t going to get rid of me just to please his wife.’ The pair continued to sleep together, but he became rude and dismissive in the office, she said. She wept as she added: ‘I did feel at certain times that if I didn’t sleep with him then he would get very angry.’ She claimed he eventually offered her a £50,000 tax-free redundancy package to leave, as his children would no longer speak to him because of his cheating, but that she refused. Two months later, in a heated phone call, he sacked her, she said. ‘I asked, “Are you firing me?” and he replied: “Yes, don’t you ****ing come back”, and told me I was sacked.’ The claimant told the hearing: ‘His attitude was that female staff members could get ahead in business not on their merits but by using their sexuality. ‘When we were recruiting a receptionist, he instructed me to tell the recruitment agency not to send anyone fat, old or male. Accusations: A property tycoon slept with his PA then sacked her when his wife found out, a tribunal has heard. The chief executive allegedly lavished treats on the woman, including a swanky flat in London's trendy Belsize Park, pictured . Jetsetter: The chief executive is also alleged to have taken his mistress on swanky holidays to Cuba, pictured, and Australia . ‘Throughout my time at the company he would choose attractive female staff members to attend meetings with external parties or difficult clients and would say “we’ll ask her to wear a short skirt” or “we’ll ask her to wear a low cut top”.’ She also claimed he ‘pestered’ her to encourage an Australian staff member to have a threesome ‘in return for sponsoring her visa so she could stay in the UK’. David Massarella, representing the company boss, put it to the woman that it ‘simply didn’t fit’ that his client tried to force her out, because he had recently given her a pay rise, renewed the lease on her flat and said he would pay for her to take her property surveyor exams so she could further her career. Mr Massarella said the PA had repeatedly accused her boss of seeing other colleagues and even of spending the night with a prostitute. She said: ‘I’d heard from someone he was seeing a prostitute. At the time, we were having unprotected sex and I was concerned.’ But when he told her he had not slept with a prostitute, just gone out with her, his mistress said: ‘He always told me lots of lies.’ Asked why she would want to work for someone who was a habitual liar, she said: ‘I loved that job.’ Mr Massarella accused her of bombarding his client with texts and phones calls – at one point calling him 29 times in one day. She is suing the property company for unfair dismissal and sex discrimination. The hearing was adjourned. Sorry we are unable to accept comments for legal reasons. | Chief Executive lavished treats on his mistress including a .
car and flat .
Tribunal also told he routinely harassed women in .
his office .
He allegedly called his .
female staff ‘slappers’ |
150,148 | 4e20c5b9d2f1e8fe5902545258a09d959176dd0b | By . Leon Watson . PUBLISHED: . 07:55 EST, 21 August 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 18:44 EST, 21 August 2012 . A senior carer at a nursing home routinely drugged six dementia patients with unprescribed medication so she could get a good night’s sleep on the job, a court has heard. Mirela Aionoaei allegedly gave four women and two men anti-insomnia, anti-depressant and anti-psychotic pills before pushing two chairs together to form a makeshift bed and turning off the lights while working the night shifts. The drugs were so powerful that the poisoned patients, who previously would wander around during the night, fell into a sleep so deep they had to be taken to their beds in wheelchairs. Mirela Aionoaei (right), who is accused of drugging six dementia patients with anti-insomnia, anti-depressant and anti-psychotic pills, arriving at Harrow Crown Court . The jury heard how concerned staff at . the Southern Cross-owned home in Hayes, West London, became suspicious . after finding that the patients were unsteady on their feet and . suffering from slurred speech whenever Aionoaei was on duty. ‘The residents were being poisoned, . of that there is no doubt,’ prosecutor Guy Dilliway-Parry told Harrow . Crown Court on Monday. ‘The defendant liked to sleep when on duty. Why . else put two chairs together?’ ‘She was seen to administer on many . occasions over a considerable period of time and the residents would . fall asleep almost straight away.’ Aionoaei, 37, has pleaded not guilty . to six counts of administering a poison or noxious substance to the six . residents of Ashwood Care Centre between July 1 and December 31, 2010. Mirela Aionoaei is on trial at Harrow Crown Court where a jury was told she drugged six dementia patients . Aionoaei, who lives in a £150,000 . one-bedroom flat in Hayes, studied at the University of Westminster . according to her Facebook account. At the time of the alleged offences . there were 22 residents on the dementia ward, aged between 58 and over . 100 years old. Aionoaei was the senior member of staff in charge and the . only one permitted to dispense medicine as a trained and authorised . health professional. ‘They all suffered from mental health . conditions that left them vulnerable and unaware of their . surroundings,’ Mr Dilliway-Parry said. ‘They could do very little for . themselves. ‘Some would walk around at night and . needed hourly checks, but Aionoaei would put two chairs together and go . to sleep, even if the residents were walking around. Her priority seemed . to be to get some sleep herself.’ 'The residents were being poisoned, of that there is no doubt.' Prosecutor Guy Dilliway-Parry . A suspicious colleague began . observing Aionoaei because the residents became excessively drowsy only . when she was on duty and she was keen to get them into bed only 30 . minutes into her shift. ‘She was observed approaching . residents with a glass of orange juice in one hand and observed putting a . small cream-coloured tablet in the residents’ mouths and they would all . be asleep within five to eight minutes. ‘Other staff noticed the residents . were very sleepy after being administered medication by Aionoaei. They . would be unsteady on their feet and slur their words more than usual.’ On January 31 last year the . suspicions were reported to police and hair samples were taken from a . total of nine residents – one at a post-mortem examination – and six . returned positive for the presence of unprescribed drugs. Among them were a fast-acting . sleeping pill, which usually works for six hours, a drug prescribed to . patients with depression and panic attacks, which has a side-effect of . drowsiness, and an anti-psychotic drug used to treat restlessness. ‘They had been administered over a considerable period of time,’ added the prosecutor. ‘It shows they were being drugged.’ When questioned by police, Aionoaei . admitted pushing two chairs together, but denied she slept, and claimed . the reason for turning off the light near her was to prevent residents . being disturbed. The trial continues. Sorry we are unable to accept comments for legal reasons. | Mirela Aionoaei, 37, accused of using unprescribed anti-insomnia, anti-depressant and anti-psychotic pills on patients .
Court hears patients at the west London care home often had to be taken to bed in wheelchairs after the doses . |
126,510 | 2f814568092df2e18fb4dec72901710f3e2d96bc | (CNN) -- Milwaukee, Wisconsin, police have arrested a man whose DNA linked him to the bodies of nine women killed over 21 years, officials said at a news conference Monday night. Walter E. Ellis, 49, was arrested after police matched a DNA swab taken from him last week to the victims. Walter E. Ellis, 49, was arrested after police matched a DNA swab taken from him last week to DNA left on the bodies of nine women killed since 1986. Police said eight of the women were prostitutes and one was a runaway involved with drugs. They were all killed within a 3-square-mile area of Milwaukee's north side. "This case was solved with shoe leather and science," Milwaukee Police Chief Edward A. Flynn said. "Continuing advances in DNA technology have enabled us to link these homicide cases, and it was good police work pursuing numerous leads that led to the arrest of a suspect." The homicides occurred between 1986 and 2007, police said. See where the bodies were found » . Ellis was charged Monday with two counts of first degree murder relating to two of the deaths: 41-year-old Joyce Mims, who was killed in 1997, and 28-year-old Ouithreaun Stokes, who was killed in April 2007. Police said more charges are likely. It wasn't immediately clear whether Ellis had obtained an attorney. Police said other victims linked to Ellis through DNA were: Tanya L. Miller, killed in 1986; Deborah L. Harris, killed in 1986; Sheila Farrior, strangled in 1995; Florence McCormick, strangled in 1995; Irene Smith, killed in 1992; Carron D. Kilpatrick, killed in 1992, and Jessica Payne, killed in 1995. Flynn told CNN it was hard for investigators to discern a geographic pattern for the homicides. In the 20-year period, more than 2,000 slayings occurred in Milwaukee, he said -- 200 of them in the same area where the bodies were found. Another challenge investigators faced was the developing technology of DNA evidence. The technology in 2009 far exceeds that available in 1986 or even 2002, he said. It was only this year that police were able to link the nine homicides with the same DNA pattern. Even then "we did not have anyone to match our DNA profile against, until we were able to get [Ellis'] toothbrush," he told CNN. A Wisconsin law passed in 2000 mandated the DNA collection from convicted felons. Ellis was released from prison in 2001 without having his DNA sample collected, Flynn said. Because his name had surfaced in the investigation and because he was also listed in two FBI databases, authorities decided to investigate him further and were able to obtain the search warrant that allowed them to collect his DNA from his toothbrush, the police chief said. News of Ellis' arrest shocked those who knew him. "That was just my ex-boyfriend," his former girlfriend, Chanita, told CNN affiliate WISN-TV. She asked that her last name not be used. "I didn't know nothing about nothing like this. I'm getting shivery now cause you're talking about some strangling stuff. Lord have mercy on me. I'm just a wreck right now. I can't believe this. I'm trembling in here. I'm shakin'." Chanita said she dated Ellis for four years. "I can't believe it. This is a shock," she told WISN. "I got like goose bumps on my arms instantly when you told me that. I'm like no way -- not Walter -- I can't see him hurting nobody." For relatives of the victims, the news brought mixed emotions. "I knew they was gonna get him, I knew it," Patricia Donald, best friend of victim Deborah Harris, told WISN. "Finally he can't hurt nobody anymore." For her and others, like Sandy Farrior, whose daughter Sheila was linked to Ellis, it was news that helped bring closure. "Late justice is better than no justice," he told WISN. In addition to advances in DNA technology, officials attributed the break in the case to the repeated investigation of cold cases by the Milwaukee Police Department's Homicide Task Force Cold Case Unit. Although Mims and Stokes were strangled about a decade apart, similar DNA on their bodies helped lead police to a suspect. Watch where cops got DNA sample » . Mims was found strangled and lying on her back wearing only socks on June 20, 1997, in a small closet near a living room in Milwaukee, according to court documents. Police found DNA on her body, but there were no matches in the system, the court documents show. On April 27, 2007, Stokes was found strangled, partially clothed and lying face down in a living room in Milwaukee, according to court documents. When lab technicians tested the DNA found on her body, they found it directly matched the DNA found on Mims. On August 29 of this year, armed with a search warrant, police took a toothbrush and razor from Ellis' home. Testing showed the DNA found on Mims and Stokes was a match to Ellis, according to court documents. Ellis has been charged at least 10 times with varying offenses ranging from violent crimes to property crimes between 1981 and 1998, though some of the charges were dismissed, online court records in Wisconsin show. He was sentenced to five years in state prison after he pleaded no contest to a reckless injury charge in 1998. None of the victims linked to Ellis was killed during the time he was in jail. However, two men were charged in slayings later linked to Ellis, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Curtis McCoy was charged in October 1994 with killing Kilpatrick, but he was later acquitted by a jury, the newspaper reported. It also said Chaunte Ott, who was convicted of killing Payne, served 13 years in prison before being released in January, after DNA analysis showed semen found on the girl's body was not his. CNN's Gabriel Falcon contributed to this report. | DNA found on bodies of nine women matched to Walter E. Ellis, police say .
Ellis charged in two killings and more charges likely, police say .
Police chief hails arrest: "This case was solved with shoe leather and science"
The women were killed between 1986 and 2007 . |
4,964 | 0e2634192c3007d600e03a6036fe4f3ca92dcad0 | This baboon wasn't monkeying around, it just wanted a ride. Jericho the horse looked less than impressed by the unwanted passenger as he tried to enjoy a lazy afternoon in the sun at an animal sanctuary in Plettenberg Bay, South Africa. Nevertheless, patient Jericho gave the cheeky primate a reasonable ride around the grounds of Monkeyland and Birds of Eden, much to the amusement of onlookers. All aboard: Jericho the horse looks rather unimpressed by the baboon who has hitched a ride on his back . Come on up: A baboon gestures to a fellow primate to climb on to Jericho's back and tour the grounds . That's the spot: The baboon uses Jericho's rump to seemingly scratch an itch during the ride . How about a lift? The baboon makes friends with Jericho, left, and right, appears to be grooming the horse . The cheeky primate played jockey on Jericho's back and even rolled around, seemingly using the horse to scratch an itch. Monkeyland, which opened in April 1998, bills itself as the world's first free roaming multi-specie primate sanctuary and aims to rehabilitate and free previously caged primates. | Jericho the horse gives baboon a tour of the animal sanctuary grounds .
The baboon tries to entice a fellow primate up to take a ride .
While on tour the baboon uses the horses back to scratch itself . |
108,751 | 183c83c42f51454e58040b044d4484b01de93094 | By . Beth Stebner . PUBLISHED: . 08:40 EST, 20 September 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 09:09 EST, 20 September 2012 . A second man in Vermont has died from a rare but deadly brain infection transmitted through mosquitoes. Scott Sgorbati, who was only 49, died from Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE), after spending weeks in intensive care. Only two weeks prior, 87-year-old Richard Hollis Breen died from the virus, which causes swelling of the brain. Fatal disease: Scott Sgorbati, left, was the second person in Vermont to die of Eastern Equine Encephalitis in two weeks; the other was 87-year-old Richard Hollis Breen, right . Transmission: EEE is transmitted through mosquitoes, and although rare, is fatal in humans in a third of cases . Mr Sgorbati, who worked as a carpenter in the small town of Sudbury, was said to have been in good health before contracting EEE. His death was confirmed earlier this week by the Vermont Department of Health. His sister-in-law Susan Sgorbati told Vermont Public Radio that he was ‘very compassionate and always there for people.’ Following the two deaths, Vermont Health Commissioner Dr Harry Chen said that the disease is still extremely rare, saying there are on average only six cases a year. ‘What’s important now is that Vermonters are aware of EEE and take steps to avoid exposure,’ he said, according to the Addison County Independent. Rarity: According to the CDC, there have been no reported cases of EEE between 1964 and 2010; Florida tops the list, with 70 reported cases since 1964 . Precautions: EEE is transmitted through mosquitoes to humans; the CDC suggests wearing long sleeves and insect repellant when out of doors to avoid contact with the pests . He called the deaths of the two men ‘a tragedy,’ but added: ‘This is a very rare disease. The risks are low.’ Virus: EEE is a member of the genus Alphavirus, family Togaviridae . According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are two types of the illness. Approximately a third of those infected die from the disease, but it is only fatal when it affects the central nervous system. The symptoms of EEE are often abrupt and severe, and can include fever, headache, irritability, restlessness, drowsiness, vomiting, convulsions, and in more serious cases, coma. The most cases have been reported in Florida, with 70 cases reported since 1964. Next up was Massachusetts, with 37 cases. The CDC has no record of the disease in Vermont from 1964-2010. Now Vermont health officials are looking forward to the temperature dropping, as a cold snap will likely kill off any mosquitos carrying the disease. Until then, officials advise those outside to thoroughly coat themselves in bug repellent, wearing long sleeves and trousers, not shorts. They also say to avoid being outside at dusk and dawn, when mosquitoes are out in droves. | Scott Sgorbati, 49, contracted Eastern Equine Encephalitis and died earlier this week .
Only two weeks ago, Richard Breen, 87, died from disease .
CDC says fatal infections are rare but to take precaution when outside . |
24,098 | 446167a185e0439fa0a84a7a8f03821188ed47bd | By . Associated Press . PUBLISHED: . 10:53 EST, 30 July 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 14:10 EST, 30 July 2013 . U.S. home prices jumped 12.2 per cent in May compared with a year ago, the biggest annual gain since March 2006. The increase shows the housing recovery is strengthening, despite home ownership slipping to an 18 year low. The Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller 20-city home price index released today also surged 2.4 per cent in May from April. Cities included: Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Las Angeles, San Diego, Las Vegas, Pehoenix, Denver, Dallas, Minneapolis, Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland, Atlanta, Tampa, Miami, Charlotte, Washington D.C. New York, Boston . San Francisco, Ca - 24.4% . Las Vegas, NV - 23.3% . Phoenix, AZ - 20.6% . Atlanta, GA - 20.1% . Los Angeles, CA - 19.2% . Detroit, MI - 19.1% . San Diego, Ca - 17.3% . Miami, FL - 14.2% . Minneapolis, MN - 14.1% . Portland, OR - 12.5% . Seattle, WA - 11.9% . Tampa, FL - 10.9% . Denver, CO - 9.7% . Chicago, IL - 8.5% . Dallas, TX - 7.6% . Boston, MA - 7.5% . Charlotte, NC - 7.0% . Washington D.C - 6.5% . Cleveland, OH - 3.4% . New York, NY - 3.3% . The month-over-month gain nearly matched the 2.6 per cent increase in April from March - the highest on record. The price increases were widespread. All 20 cities showed gains in May from April and compared with a year ago. Prices in Dallas and Denver reached the highest level on records dating back to 2000. That marks the first time since the housing bust that any city has reached an all-time high. Home values are rising as more people are bidding on a scarce supply of houses for sale. However, figures released today showed that home ownership is at its lowest since 1995. The seasonally adjusted home ownership rate, the share of households owning a home, slipped to 65.1 per cent, the lowest since the fourth quarter of 1995, the Commerce Department said on today. The rate, which peaked at 69.4 per cent in 2004, was 65.2 per cent in the first quarter. Americans are still locked in a rental market, one of the lingering legacies of the recession. High unemployment, a shortage of homes for sale and stringent lending practices made renting more appealing, economists said, warning that the share of Americans owning a home would continue to drift lower. 'There is a big shortage of homes and the amount of households and people that need to live somewhere is increasing,' said Guy Berger, an economist at RBS in Stamford, Connecticut. 'It's difficult to buy a home, they have to look somewhere, so they are renting.' Ownership among people between 55 and 64 fell 0.3 percentage point in the second quarter. But there were small gains in the 35-44 age range. Another concern is that higher mortgage rates could also slow home sales. But many economists say rates remain low by historical standards and would need to rise much faster to halt the momentum. Svenja Gudell, senior economist at Zillow, a home price data provider, said a big reason for the recent price gains is that foreclosed homes make up a smaller proportion of overall sales. Foreclosed homes are usually sold by banks at fire-sale prices. 'Typical home values have appreciated . at roughly half this pace for the past several months, which is still . very robust,' Gudell said. Gudell . said higher mortgage rates and a likely increase in the number of homes . for sale in the coming months should slow the pace of price gains and . stabilize the housing market. The . index covers roughly half of U.S. homes. It measures prices compared . with those in January 2000 and creates a three-month moving average. The . May figures are the latest available. They are not adjusted for . seasonal variations, so the monthly gains reflect more buying activity . over the summer. Despite the recent gains, home prices are still about 25 per cent below the peaks they reached in July 2006. That's . a key reason the supply of homes for sale remains low, as many . homeowners are waiting to recoup their losses before putting their . houses on the market. Dallas and Denver, the two cities . that reached record highs, were not hit hard by the housing bust and . therefore didn't experience the sharp price swings like cities in . Nevada, Arizona, California and Florida. In Dallas, prices fell only 11.2 per cent from their previous peak in June 2007 through February 2009. That's . far less than Las Vegas, where prices plummeted by more than half. Since bottoming out, home prices in Dallas have increased nearly 14 per . cent. In . Denver, prices dropped 14.3 per cent from August 2006 until they also . hit bottom in February 2009. Since then, they have risen 17.3 percent. U.S. home prices are still about 25 per cent below the peaks they reached in July 2006 . The biggest price gains are occurring in many of the states that experienced the worst housing bust. Prices jumped 24.5 per cent in San Francisco in May from a year earlier, the largest increase. Las Vegas reported the next biggest gain at 23.3 per cent, followed by Phoenix at 20.6 per cent. All three remain well below their peak prices. The smallest yearly gains were in New York, at 3.3 per cent, followed by Cleveland with 3.4 percent and Washington, D.C. at 6.5 per cent. Higher home prices help the economy in several ways. They encourage more sellers to put their homes on the market, boosting supply and sustaining the housing recovery. And they make homeowners feel wealthier, encouraging consumers to spend more. Banks are also more willing to provide mortgage loans when homes are appreciating in value. Mortgage rates have surged since early May, though the increase would have had little impact on the current report. The average rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage has jumped a full percentage point since early May and reached a two-year high of 4.51 percent in late June. Mortgage rates jumped after Chairman Ben Bernanke said the Federal Reserve could slow its bond-buying program later this year if the economy continues to improve. The Fed's bond purchases have kept long-term interest rates low, encouraging more borrowing and spending. In recent weeks, Bernanke and other Fed members have stressed that any change in the bond-buying program will depend on the economy's health, not a set calendar date. Since those comments, interest rates have declined. The average on the 30-year mortgage was 4.31 percent last week. The Fed begins a two-day policy meeting today and could clarify its remarks further when the meeting concludes on Wednesday. | Prices in Dallas and Denver reached the highest level on records dating back to 2000 .
The smallest yearly gains were in New York, at 3.3% .
Home prices are still about 25% below the peaks they reached in July 2006 . |
241,473 | c48e082d46b37ddb1e5105c99d7c9f6f496208c3 | Andy Murray and Amelie Mauresmo have held talks with French coach Loic Courteau about him joining the former Wimbledon champion’s team next year. The 50-year-old well-respected Frenchman is seen as having the credentials to add a wealth of experience to Murray’s staff after the departures this year of eight-time Grand Slam winner Ivan Lendl and long-term coach and friend Dani Vallverdu. Andy Murray and Amelie Mauresmo are looking at potential new additions to the coaching team . Loic Courteau worked with Mauresmo during her own career at the top of women's tennis . Courteau is a former coach and still a confidant of Mauresmo and helped guide the French two-time major winner to world No 1 in her own illustrious career. Courteau is currently coaching another Frenchman, the world No 25 Julien Benneteau, and has nurtured him to an Indian summer in his career. But he is said to be open to the idea of teaming up with Murray in 2015. Murray started working with Frenchwoman Mauresmo ahead of Wimbledon in June 2014 . Benneteau is 33 and, while Courteau is committed to working with him at next month’s Australian Open, it is possible he could be persuaded to switch to Team Murray after that. Such a move would further entrench world No 6 Murray’s relationship with coach Mauresmo. The 27-year-old Scot’s support group is currently looking somewhat depleted after Venezuelan Vallverdu left to coach Murray’s Czech rival Tomas Berdych and his long-term fitness trainer and good friend Jez Green also departed for pastures new. | Andy Murray and Amelie Mauresmo looking to add to coaching team .
Loic Courteau worked with Mauresmo during her career at the top .
Murray and Mauresmo started working together last June . |
136,398 | 3c70002ddb7c23125f5e1ffee87d7f09314a908c | (CNN) -- Like many things in life, it's going to get worse before it gets better. That lardy layer of humid, sticky heat oozing over the Northeast and Midwest is getting hotter and spreading out Thursday. But cooling rain will wash it away in some places in the evening. The worst of it started out on the National Weather Service map as bright orange spots over parts of New England and Michigan this week. The spots have grown nearly together like a bad rash, forming a seething blotch from Massachusetts to South Dakota. Temperatures above 90 degrees will combine with roughly 100% humidity to put heat indexes -- how hot it feels -- in the 100s. New York City is expected to have a heat index of 103 Thursday. Hartford, Connecticut, along with Detroit and Baltimore, are expected to hit 105, CNN meteorologist Indra Petersons said. "What makes heat so dangerous is not just the maximum temperature for one day, but how long the heat wave lasts," she said. "New York City is in its fifth day, and we're not over with it yet." The temperatures are above normal for what is already one of the hottest times of the year, she said. A cold front from Canada will work its way south, bringing some temperature relief to the Midwest on Friday and to the Northeast on Saturday, but also bringing severe storms, CNN meteorologist Dave Hennen said. Sweltering conditions . The heat has already caused problems in major cities this week. Thousands of people were stuck in a commuter train in rush hour Wednesday as they headed out of Manhattan to Long island, New York. In Detroit, some schools are closed for the rest of the week. "Daily Show" reporter John Oliver summed up the misery with a joke: "On my way to work this morning, I saw a squirrel stab a pigeon over a piece of ice." Health dangers . Extreme heat causes more deaths than all other extreme weather conditions, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. It killed over 8,000 people between 1979 and 2003, more than "hurricanes, lightning, tornadoes, floods, and earthquakes combined." From 1999 to 2009, there was an annual average of 658 heat-related deaths in the country, the CDC says. At least six people have died this summer in the Northeast, health officials in Maryland and New York state reported. A elderly man in Kentucky found dead this week after he wandered away from his home passed away from heat exhaustion, a local coroner's office said Thursday. The hot weather is of particular concern for children, the elderly and people with heart and lung conditions, as air quality plummets while ozone levels soar. Officials advise everyone to stay cool and drink plenty of water. Letting off some steam . Some people could find no relief from the heat and took their complaints to social media. "Melting. Way too hot in this place to sleep," tweeted Morgan Sable from Ontario. Twitter user @annielaa2 in Pennsylvania didn't have air conditioning Wednesday and turned a fan on herself and her cat. "Getting hot air blown in your face really doesn't help," she tweeted. From Toronto to Indianapolis, many people chose not to hide indoors in front of the air conditioner and opted for water instead, flocking to beaches, pools, fountains and splash parks. CNN's Ben Brumfield, Leslie Bentz, Sunlen Miller and Laura Ly contributed to this report. | NEW: Heat exhaustion kills man in Kentucky .
The longer the heat wave lasts, the greater the dangers, meteorologist says .
Severe storms are expected Friday in the Midwest, Saturday in the Northeast .
Heat indexes are expected to hit 105 in some cities Thursday . |
263,973 | e1e333e5cdc9a4a09f1eebb941cdb404dabe17dd | Six friends were killed in a single avalanche during a black weekend in the Alps which also claimed the life of an international ski 'ambassador' from the USA. The deadly period began on Friday when Dave Rosenbarger, a 38-year-old from Oregon, was caught in a tide of snow and ice on the Italian side of Mont Blanc. Three friends who were with Mr Rosenbarger, who spent every winter in the nearby resort of Chamonix and was known as 'American Dave', looked on as he was buried. 'Ski ambassador': Dave Rosenbarger, 38, in a publicity picture for the Patagonia clothing range. He died after he was buried under an avalanche of ice and snow on the Italian side of Mont Blanc on Friday . Beautiful but deadly: Mr Rosenbarger was caught in a tide of snow and ice on the Italian side of Mont Blanc . They managed to dig him out, and he was airlifted by helicopter, said a local police spokesman, but 'he sadly died of his injuries in hospital.' The next day – Saturday – four men and two women aged between 50 and 70 died in the Queyras valley, in the Haute-Alpes department. The party had set off to ski the range, which also straddles France and Italy, but triggered a another massive slide. Pierre Besnard, the Haute-Alpes prefect, said 'the bodies of three of the skiers were found overnight Saturday to Sunday', while the rest were recovered on Sunday morning. All were French nationals, and had spent many years skiing, said Mr Besnard, who said rescue teams had worked tirelessly to try and find them. A helicopter and rescue dogs were all involved in the emergency effort, with police saying an entire plate of compacted snow and ice had dislodged. The skiers had begun their ascent by ski life in the resort of Ceillac, and they were found in Bacha valley, at an altitude of 2500 meters. All had been expected back on Saturday, but the alarm was raised by relatives and friends when there was no sign of them. 'When they set off, the sky was clear and the risk of avalanche estimated at 3 out of 5', said Mr Besnard. An investigation into the tragedy has been opened by the high mountain police Briancon, while surviving family of the deceased are receiving psychological care. Dangerous: Four men and two women aged between 50 and 70 died in the Queyras valley, in the Haute-Alpes department, an entire plate of compacted snow and ice dislodged and buried them . Two skiers, including a guide, were also found dead in the nearby Ecrins range, also in the Hautes-Alpes, on Thursday morning, after being swept away by an avalanche. Mr Rosenbarger, who is survived by his wife, Rosanna Hughes, was an Ambassador for the Patagonia ski and snowboard manufacturer. Company spokesman Josh Nielsen, said: 'He was the epitome of a pure passion skier—someone who didn't do it for the cameras or for the limelight—and was deeply committed to the sport for all of the right reasons. 'Dave was a calculated risk taker and a talented athlete who dedicated his life to climbing and skiing some of the most challenging lines in the world, especially in Chamonix, his winter home.' Some 17 people have died in avalanches in France since the beginning of this season, with the number rising to 30 across the entire Alps range. | Dave Rosenbarger, 38, from Oregon, buried by snow in Chamonix .
Friends dug him out and he was airlifted to hospital but later died .
Six others died in the Queyras valley, Haute-Alpes, in a separate avalanche . |
31,820 | 5a905e4b463178e2c7a041254aa98e6ee9744ba7 | A man outside a McDonald's was struck by a driver who collected his food from the drive-thru before taking off, local media reported over the weekend. The incident took place Saturday outside a Laurelton, Queens, McDonald's at 4:55am, The New York Daily News reported. The wounded man was in the drive-thru lane and hit after he had already dropped to the ground, according the newspaper. Scene: A man stumbled to the ground while outside a Laurelton, Queens, McDonald's - then was hit by a driver who collected his food and took off . Witness and restaurant manager Jonathan Brown told The New York Daily News 'The guy, I think he was drunk, was in the drive-thru leaning on a car randomly.' 'Then he fell and I thought he was dead so I went to call the cops,' he continued. 'Thirty seconds later a car came and just hit him.' Brown also told the newspaper 'I’m traumatized. [The driver] ran over his head and the guy was trying to get up with the car still on top of him!' He also relayed to The New York Daily News that 'The car just backed up and drove around him and picked up his food.' The incident was not witnessed by the other McDonald's workers and there wasn't enough time for Brown to inform them, the newspaper reported. Police told the newspaper the 48-year-old victim was transported to Jamaica Hospital and is in critical but stable condition. The New York Post reported Sunday that the driver was behind the wheel of a Nissan Altima, and that he hasn't been found yet. Hospitalized: The 48-year-old victim was transported to Jamaica Hospital and is in critical but stable condition . | The incident took place at Saturday outside a Laurelton, Queens, McDonald's at 4:55am .
The driver was in a Nissan Altima and hasn't been found yet . |
272,739 | ed3c0d0c517e8521290217099efbadcda34a070f | The soaring number of female doctors working part-time in surgeries is contributing to a crisis in GP recruitment, an official government study has revealed. The Migration Advisory Committee said the 'feminisation of the GP workforce' meant more trainees were needed to maintain the same service for patients - because women are more likely to work shorter hours than men after they have children. This has contributed to an annual shortage of 450 to 550 GPs, the committee warned. In its report published this morning, the committee said more needed to be done to recruit family doctors – including hiring extra foreign doctors from across the EU. The Migration Advisory Committee said the 'feminisation of the GP workforce' meant more trainees were needed to maintain the same service for patients . The report said: 'It seemed that the health service could do more to source recruits from within the EU not withstanding what was said about problems with language and competency requirements.' It said there are only around 20 GPs recruited each year from elsewhere in the EU – blaming the requirement to meet language and strict NHS standards. But the committee also said more could be done to make becoming a GP more attractive to medical students. It said: 'We did not see any evidence suggesting that there is a shortage of medical students who could continue into general practice. 'Therefore, any shortage of GPs could potentially be overcome by changing the incentive structure of GPs compared with other medical roles, in order to encourage more take-up on GP training programmes.' NHS England recommends that there are 70 GPs per 100,000 population, but the UK is currently below this - at around 64 per 100,000 - and has been for some time. Jeremy Hunt is struggling to fill an annual shortage of 450 to 550 GPs and has been encouraged to do more to hire doctors from abroad . Overall there are around 60,000 licensed doctors on the GP register. The committee said it had considered adding GPs to the so-called shortage occupation list after a request by the Department of Health to allow the NHS to recruit doctors from outside the EU. But it said there are enough medical students in the UK and Europe to fill the need. The committee also rejected claims that there is a shortage of nurses that can be fixed by further recruitment from overseas. But the committee has, for the first time, recommended that paramedics can be recruited through Britain's points-based skilled migration system after it found no other options to ease pressure on the existing workforce across the country. | Migration Advisory Committee warns of 'feminisation of the GP workforce'
Women more likely to work shorter hours than men after they have children .
This is contributing to annual shortage of up to 550 GPs, ministers warned .
NHS told more needs to be done to recruit doctors from across the EU . |
232,972 | b9a2393b0f2e1fb63302742342ee0426ca4122f0 | A stoppage-time goal from Devante Cole, son of former Manchester United striker Andy Cole, was not enough to prevent Barnsley from falling to a 5-3 defeat by MK Dons. Cole struck after Conor Hourihane's brace for Barnsley, but it was too little, too late for the home side as MK Dons clinched all three points. The on-loan Manchester City forward has scored three times in five games this season. Devante Cole scored in injury time but Barnsley were beaten 5-3 by MK Dons . MK Dons clinched three points and moved into third place in league one with a 5-3 victory . MK Dons surged into a 5-0 lead thanks to goals from Benik Afobe, Samir Carruthers, Dele Alli, Will Grigg and Ben Reeves. That was before the home team salvaged some pride with three goals in the last eight minutes to give the scoreline some respectability. The victory for MK Dons left them third in League One, four points adrift of leaders Bristol City while Barnsley sit 13th. | On loan Manchester City forward scored in injury time in 5-3 defeat .
MK Dons surged into 5-0 lead before being pegged back at Oakwell . |
93,582 | 0458b724897c21b1986724288ba6cc1b0b546209 | Martin Keown believes his old side Arsenal have always been liable to a suckerpunch during big games, but the former England international was hugely encouraged by the recent victory against Manchester City. Arsenal produced an impressive away performance at the Etihad earlier this month as goals from Santi Cazorla and Olivier Giroud earned a rare victory on the road against one of the Premier League's big teams. Arsene Wenger's side delivered an effective defensive display against the champions, the likes of which Arsenal fans haven't seen in recent years. Olivier Giroud celebrates after scoring his side's second goal against Manchester City this month . Santi Cazorla gave Arsenal the lead in the first half from the penalty spot . And Keown, who likened his former team to a boxer that was susceptible to a knockout, was full of praise for the way the Gunners midfield protected a defence that has looked vulnerable all to often. 'Sometimes Arsenal can be like a boxer. Yes they throw punches but it might not be long before they’re dropped to the canvas. 'That’s what had happened with Arsenal in recent times – losing the big games early on. Joe Hart dives in vain as Cazorla's penalty nestles in the City net . Giroud and Cazorla celebrate as Arsenal won at the Etihad earlier this month . 'But against City they were much more controlled and protected their defence far better with their midfield players before breaking with purpose and energy. 'It was such a controlled, professional performance. You can’t always win games by strangling the opposition through possession. 'But that message will have 100 per cent come from Arsene Wenger, not the players.' | Martin Keown likened Arsenal to a boxer susceptible to a knockout .
Arsenal beat Manchester City 2-0 at the Etihad earlier this month .
Keown praised the Gunners midfield for protecting the defence .
Former defender said Arsenal have history of losing big game early .
But produced a controlled, professional performance against City .
Click here for more Arsenal news . |
218,263 | a690ceb1e020df10711a227be1da3fddfcc3e914 | Barack Obama yesterday outlined plans to close a loophole that lets companies such as Apple and Microsoft avoid paying taxes on overseas profits. The US President used the Budget for 2016 to impose a one-off 14 per cent tax on profits stashed abroad by American corporate giants, . The huge sums expected to be raised - nearly £160 billion - will pay for improvements to roads and bridges in the US, before the rate is increased to 19 per cent in future. U.S. president Barack Obama speaks at the Department of Homeland Security earlier today to deliver the administration's fiscal year budget for 2016 . The move comes amid an international backlash against firms such as Google and Starbucks that have been accused of avoiding tax on the profits earned in countries around the world, including the UK. But the tax raid proposed by the Democrat president needs to be approved by Republican-controlled Congress – setting the scene for months of wrangling. Prominent Republicans have already the criticised the ‘tax and spend’ budget although it has been previously thought that American companies have around £1.4trillion of profits stashed overseas. Firms do not currently have to pay US tax on foreign profits unless the money is brought back into America. Critics claim that the huge piles of cash stored overseas is down to aggressive tax planning policies by US companies, but businesses argue that the country’s tax rates are uncompetitive. The top rate of corporation tax in the US is 35 per cent compared with 21 per cent in Britain. George Osborne has said UK corporation tax will fall to 20 per cent in April – but Labour has pledged to reverse this tax cut if it wins power in the general election in May. In the last Autumn Statement George Osborne, pictured, also unveiled the so-called ‘Google tax’, which aims to target the profits earned by multinationals in the UK but diverted elsewhere . In the last Autumn Statement Mr Osborne also unveiled the so-called ‘Google tax’, which aims to target the profits earned by multinationals in the UK but diverted elsewhere. President Obama plans to go much further, however, raising far higher sums of money by targeting the profits both diverted and earned overseas. He wants to levy a 14 per cent one-off ‘transition’ tax on US profits held overseas as well as a 19 per cent levy on future profits as they are earned. The White House expects the one-off levy to raise £158 billion which will be used to fund infrastructure projects in the US including new roads and bridges. The proposals effectively amount to a huge tax raid on technology and drug companies that stash profits overseas in low tax countries such as Ireland and Bermuda. ‘This transition tax would mean that companies have to pay US tax right now rather than being able to delay paying any US tax indefinitely,’ a White House official said. A report by research firm Audit Analytics last year showed that General Electric had the most profits stored overseas at £73billion. Tech giants Microsoft and Apple and drugs companies Pfizer and Merck made up the rest of the top five. The proposals were part of a Budget that was aimed at boosting America’s Middle Class through higher taxes on corporations and the rich. Mr Obama said: ‘This country’s better off than it was four years ago, but what we also know is that wages and incomes for middle class families are just now ticking up. They haven’t been keeping pace over the last 30 years compared to corporate profits and what’s happening to folks in the very top.’ The Budget, for the fiscal year starting on October 1, forecast the deficit falling from 3.2 per cent of national income this year to 2.5 per cent or £315billion next year. The deficit would stabilise at that rate over the next 10 years, not rising above 2.6 per cent of national income under the plans. The Treasury estimates that George Osborne’s Google tax will raise just £25 million in the next financial year, rising to £270 million the following year. This figure will rise to £355 million by 2019/20 - still a drop in the ocean next to Obama’s tax. | Obama outlined plans to impose 14% tax on companies' overseas profits .
Would target firms such as Apple, Microsoft, Google and Starbucks .
Money raised - around £160billion - to be used to improve infrastructure .
Comes after business has been accused of avoiding tax on profits abroad .
U.S. companies thought to have £1.4trillion of profits stashed overseas .
In the Autumn Statement UK Chancellor George Osborne also announced a 'Google tax' |
251,923 | d20d1af09083548e3a620da824ec0f82b5badce1 | Pretoria, South Africa (CNN) -- Prosecutors trying to prove that Oscar Pistorius murdered his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp appeared to have won a round on Tuesday morning, but it was the defense team that was smiling by the end of the day. Tuesday's testimony began with the expert who conducted the autopsy on Steenkamp, Gert Saayman. He backed two key points of the state's case. He estimated that Steenkamp had eaten about two hours before she died, which contradicts Pistorius' version of events, and he said that the victim would have been able to scream after the first two bullets hit her, as the prosecution argues. "I think it would be somewhat abnormal if one did not scream when sustaining a wound of this nature," Saayman testified of the "particularly devastating" injury to Steenkamp's right arm. A day earlier he described in graphic detail the damage that Pistorius' bullets did to Steenkamp's body, leaving the defendant vomiting, dry heaving, weeping and clutching his head in his hands. Pistorius, 27, was calm in court on Tuesday. He pleaded not guilty to murder, although he admits killing his 29-year-old girlfriend by shooting her through a locked bathroom door. He mistook her for a burglar in his house in the middle of the night, he maintains, saying he made a tragic but understandable mistake. The prosecution is trying to build a circumstantial case that Pistorius is trigger-happy and that the couple argued before he killed her. Pistorius is also charged in connection with two other alleged incidents of guns going off in his hands, unrelated to the killing of Steenkamp. Pistorius' friend Darren Fresco, who was present for both incidents, was on the stand for the state most of the day on Tuesday. A furious Pistorius fired a gun from a car sunroof after a police officer handled his weapon during a traffic stop, Fresco testified. Fresco was driving the car in late 2012 when police pulled him over for speeding. "(The) officer had picked up the accused's weapon, to which the accused said 'You can't just touch another man's gun,'" Fresco said. "He was furious about it, that someone else had touched his gun," Fresco said. Pistorius later that day fired through the sunroof "out of the blue ... no warning," he said. On Friday, Pistorius' ex-girlfriend Samantha Taylor testified about the sunroof shooting incident, saying the two men laughed and joked about shooting a "robot," a traffic light, before the gunfire. Fresco denied he had been joking with Pistorius before the gun went off. Restaurant gunshot . Fresco also testified about an incident at Tashas Restaurant, where Pistorius is accused of asking him to take the blame after he discharged Fresco's pistol under the table one month before Steenkamp's death. Fresco told defense lawyer Barry Roux that his written witness statement was prepared with a lawyer's help "to make sure I wasn't going to put myself into any kind of trouble," but he insisted it was the truth. Judge Thokozile Masipa told Fresco he would be immune from prosecution for self-incriminating testimony if he tells the truth. At times Tuesday Fresco seemed evasive, insisting he did not remember what happened after dinner on the night of the sunroof incident, despite having described the day in detail up to that point. At other times he got testy with the acerbic Roux's cross-examination, saying he did not have a ruler with him when Roux asked how close he and Pistorius were when the gun changed hands at Tashas. And there were sharp intakes of breath in court toward the end of the day when Fresco let slip that he had been following some of the trial on Twitter. Fresco had volunteered on the stand that he was not wearing "tracksuit bottoms" at Tashas because it was summer. Roux pounced, asking who had said anything about tracksuit bottoms. "People have said to me, 'Your name's been mentioned; your name's been mentioned; your name's been mentioned," Fresco said. "I wanted to find out what was said." Witnesses are not supposed to listen to the testimony of other witnesses in order to keep their testimony from being tainted. Gun at his bedside . The case against Pistorius is largely circumstantial, prosecutor Gerrie Nel conceded in his opening statement last week. Pistorius and Steenkamp were the only people in his house when he killed her in the early hours of Valentine's Day 2013. Nel has been building a picture of what happened through the testimony of neighbors who heard screaming and bangs that night, current and former friends of the South African track star, and a security guard who sped to the scene because of reports of gunshots. Defense lawyer Roux has gone after holes, doubts, discrepancies and inconsistencies in prosecution witness stories. He is trying to sow reasonable doubt that their memories of events are correct. Many prosecution witnesses' stories are consistent with Pistorius' version of events, that he got up in the night, went out to his balcony to get a fan, came back inside, and heard noises in the bathroom that he thought to be an intruder. He said he took the gun and fired while calling for Steenkamp to call the police. When she didn't answer he realized it could have been her in the bathroom, he said. Taylor, his former girlfriend, testified Friday that he reacted similarly once when she was sleeping at his house. She said Pistorius, the first double-amputee to run in the Olympic Games, once heard something hit a bathroom window and woke her up to ask if she'd heard it, too, before taking his gun and going to investigate. Taylor said Pistorius woke her up other times when he thought he'd heard a noise. Taylor also testified that Pistorius slept with a pistol on his bedside table or on the floor beside his prosthetic legs, and he once became so angry after a traffic stop that he shot a gun through the sunroof of a car. Prosecutors appear to have been trying to demonstrate that Pistorius and Steenkamp had a loud argument before the shooting, suggesting it's the reason he killed her. Neighbors said they heard a woman screaming before the shots were fired. But the defense is proposing that what neighbors thought was Steenkamp screaming in fear for her life was in fact Pistorius when he realized what he had done. Pistorius and at least two neighbors made phone calls to security after the shooting, allowing the defense to use phone records to establish a timeline of events. Masipa will decide Pistorius' verdict. South Africa does not have jury trials. In South Africa, premeditated murder carries a mandatory life sentence with a minimum of 25 years. Pistorius also could get five years for each gun indictment and 15 years for a firearms charge he also faces. If he isn't convicted of premeditated murder, the sprinter could face a lesser charge of culpable homicide, a crime based on negligence. The sentence for culpable homicide is at the judge's discretion. The trial is expected to take at least three weeks. INTERACTIVE: Oscar Pistorius on trial: Explore each side's case . CNN's Richard Allen Greene reported from Pretoria, Marie-Louise Gumuchian wrote from London. CNN's Ed Payne and Emily Smith also contributed to this report. | Pistorius became furious after police officer handled his gun, court hears .
"'You can't just touch another man's gun,'" witness quotes athlete as saying .
Pathologist back on stand, under cross-examination .
Defense questions pathologist's finding that Steenkamp ate less than two hours before she died . |
207,828 | 9915d4b46dbb0a6f4aa4b63fbedb0910e9c36812 | By . Ryan Gorman . and Associated Press Reporter . A controversial fire retardant chemical has been removed from some Powerade sports drinks after being taken out of Gatorade last year. Brominated vegetable oil has been removed from fruit punch and strawberry lemonade flavors in some metro areas, an indication it is being phased out due to consumer pressure. The chemical had been the target of a petition by a Mississippi teenager who questioned why it was being used in a drink marketed toward health-conscious athletes. Taking action: A controversial ingredient, brominated vegetable oil, is being removed from some Powerade sports drinks . The petition on Change.org noted that the ingredient is linked to a flame retardant and is not approved for use in Japan or the European Union. PepsiCo said last year it would drop the ingredient from Gatorade in response to customer feedback. At the time, Coca-Cola declined to say whether it would remove the ingredient from the two flavors of Powerade that contain it as well. Bottles of Powerade in fruit punch and strawberry lemonade flavors being sold in the Detroit, Michigan; Omaha, Nebraska, New York and Washington, D.C. areas no longer list the ingredient as of this week. Other bottles still list it, however, suggesting Coca-Cola may have started phasing it out recently. Representatives for the Atlanta-based company weren't immediately available to provide details on the change. The Food and Drug Administration says brominated vegetable oil is used as a stabilizer for flavoring oils in fruit-flavored drinks. Coca-Cola has said in the past that it uses the ingredient to 'improve stability and prevent certain ingredients from separating.' Already resolved: Gatorade moved last year to remove the chemical from its products . The decision by Coca-Cola to remove brominated vegetable oil from Powerade is just the latest evidence that food makers are coming under pressure for the ingredients they use. While companies stand by the safety of their products, some are making changes in response to the movement toward foods that people believe are natural. Earlier this year, for instance, Subway said it would remove an ingredient dubbed the 'yoga mat chemical' from its breads. The ingredient, azodicarbonamide, is approved for use by the FDA and can be found in a wide variety of breads. The petitioner, Vani Hari of FoodBabe.com, said she targeted Subway because of its image for serving healthy food. Likewise, brominated vegetable oil can also be found in several other drinks. But the Mississippi teenager, Sarah Kavanagh, said she targeted Gatorade and Powerade in petitions because they're designed for athletes, who are likely more concerned about what they're putting into their bodies. As Americans cut back on soda, sports drinks have become more important for Coca-Cola and PepsiCo, which is based in Purchase, New York. Although Coca-Cola has long dominated rival PepsiCo on the soda front, it lags the company in the growing sports drink category. According to the industry tracker Beverage Digest, Gatorade has 64 percent of the sports drink market. | Brominated vegetable oil has been removed from some flavors, but not all .
The chemical has already been removed from Gatorade . |
49,038 | 8a8304d77a042f01eb55dfc2bba20549e588ffc3 | By . Jill Reilly . PUBLISHED: . 05:07 EST, 28 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 06:40 EST, 28 May 2013 . Across the pond: Michael and Carole Middleton own Party Pieces - a website which sells toys, decorations and fancy-dress costumes . The Duchess of Cambridge's parents have their sights set on the Big Apple as they plan to expand their family business to America, according to reports. Michael and Carole Middleton own Party Pieces - a party supplies website which sells toys, decorations and fancy-dress costumes. And now it has been revealed the couple are planning to expand their party empire to the US, perhaps in a shrewd move to fully use their daughter's celebrity status overseas. Party Pieces overseas business has . been extraordinary with America dominating much of the interest. It has . prompted the Middletons to look at establishing an office in the U.S. so . that they can bolster their brand and even tie into other companies and . ventures. They feel New York offers them a good starting point,' a . source told the New York Daily News. Pippa, who has toiled for Carole and . Michael Middleton’s retail website for nearly three years, editing an . online blog, Party Times, has reportedly been helping her parents work . out a location as she is more familiar with the area. 'I am not sure if they will even . announce the move or just let it happen and move on from there. They are . adamant they will never trade off Kate’s royal links to get ahead in . business.' the source added. Since their daughter married Prince William in April 2011, the Middletons have had a tightrope to walk. This . involves balancing the needs of their business with the desire not to . embarrass Kate by being accused of cashing in on her royal standing. 'The . Middletons have been extremely careful not to upset Buckingham Palace . by seemingly trading off Kate’s link to royalty,' the source added. 'I . am not sure if they will even announce the move or just let it happen . and move on from there. They are adamant they will never trade off . Kate’s royal links to get ahead in business.' Accusations: Kate Duchess of Cambridge talks to Prince Charles and Camilla Duchess of Cornwall, at a Garden Party hosted by Queen Elizabeth II in the grounds of Buckingham Palace. The Middleton's have often been accused of cashing in on their daughter's fame . Helping hand Pippa has reportedly been helping her parents work out a location as she is more familiar with the area . The Middleton's have often been accused of cashing in on their daughter's fame. Only . weeks after the official announcement that the Duchess of Cambridge is . expecting her first child, her parents were seen promoting a range of baby . goods on their party supplies website. The ‘Little Prince’ and ‘Little . Princess’ party packs are described as suitable for American-style baby . showers, christening parties or first birthday celebrations. Each pack includes paper cups, napkins and plastic cutlery. They also include paper plates . decorated with a pink or blue crown and the words ‘a new little prince’ or ‘a new little princess’. The products left the Middletons open to accusations that they are cashing in on the royal pregnancy. And it would not be the first time the . website, set up by Carole Middleton in 1987, has landed the family in . hot water. Last year it offered paraphernalia themed around the . Royal Wedding and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. Its street party items included state . carriage-shaped cardboard teapot vases, coat of arms cups printed with . ‘Long Live G&T’ and canape flags featuring crown-wearing corgis. The company – which Mrs Middleton . started from scratch by making party bags around her kitchen table – had . a dispute with Britain’s Got Talent after using the show’s logo on the . site without permission and on another occasion fell foul of strict . advertising laws covering the London Olympics. It also rowed with Bond . film producers Eon Productions after using the logo for the latest James . Bond film, Skyfall. Although accounts for the company are . not publicly available, it is clearly a success for the Middletons, who . recently bought a £4.7million country home and put their three children . through private school. Party Pieces were contacted by the MailOnline - they have not yet commented. Business: The company was started by Mrs Middleton From scratch in 1987 . | The Middleton's own Party Pieces - a website which sells supplies for parties .
The family has previously been accused of 'cashing-in' on events .
Couple have reportedly earmarked Manhattan as the best place to set up . |
230,166 | b609c7e8eec3e88f3fd0bcbd5d49568cbda3774c | By . Sadie Whitelocks . PUBLISHED: . 12:36 EST, 15 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 14:27 EST, 15 May 2013 . A mother is desperately trying to find out why her 11-year-old has ballooned to 400lbs. Earlene Johnson from Kansas City, Missouri, told Fox4 News that medical experts have not been able to say what is behind her daughter, Falica's extreme weight gain and that one doctor believes the blame lies with her. But she insists that blood tests show good glucose and cholesterol levels, indicating a healthy diet, and she has tried in vain to stop her child from becoming obese. Mystery: Earlene Johnson (left) from Kansas City, Missouri, is desperately trying to find out why her 11-year-old daughter Falica has ballooned to 400lbs - so far doctors have been unable to come up with a diagnosis . 'We exercise everyday. We’ve been in nutrition classes every since 2007,' she explained. In . September 2012, Falica’s primary care doctor apparently referred her to a children's hospital in Missouri in an attempt to get a diagnosis. However, Ms Johnson claims that instead of getting help she encountered prejudice. 'They . would not do any blood work, they wouldn’t do any X-rays, they wouldn’t . do any testing on my daughter,' the frustrated mom said. Hunting for an answer: Ms Johnson insists that blood tests show good glucose and cholesterol levels, indicating her daughter has a healthy diet . 'They were saying that they believe that . she overeats and that I can stop it. Basically they were telling me that it was my fault. 'Everyone should have proper medical care regardless if you’re white, black, purple, pink, red or whatever.' Ms Johnson . said that she was instructed to follow up with the nutrition clinic. But after making . an appointment she received a surprise visit from Child Services. 'The . next day, when I got home, the State of Missouri and Child Services was . at my house,' she recalled. Fitness regime: The mother and daughter visit their local park everyday for a gentle workout . No action was taken and Ms Johnson and her daughter are still looking for what’s causing the dangerous weight gain. Ms Johnson says that she takes Falica to the local park everyday for stretching sessions. At the adventure playground they use the slide steps to do gentle step-ups and take long walks. Falica is now attending a program at the Healthy Hawks program at the University of Kansas Medical Center Department of Pediatrics, which helps children and their families. To date, she has already lost ten pounds. | Earlene Johnson says blood tests show good glucose and cholesterol levels, indicating a .
healthy diet, and she has tried in vain to stop daughter Falica from becoming .
obese . |
200,761 | 8fe3799c189993e799e7747203ad7e7c1191ad05 | Tesca Fitzgerald will be heading off to grad school, but when she finally begins classes at the Georgia Institute of Technology, her classmates will be several years older than her. In college at age 12, Tesca just graduated from Portland State University and is on the fast track to receive her PhD in cognitive science and human robotic interaction by age 22. Her mom Ami Fitzgerald says its all down to their homeschooling that has allowed her daughters the freedom to study at their own speed. Looking to the future: 16-year-old college graduate Tesca Fitzgerald is headed to Georgia next month to start working on her Ph. D . Her parents, Ami and Mark Fitzgerald began homeschooling all of their three daughters early on because they were being bullied. 'I guarantee, if you home school your kids for eight hours a day every day, they’ll be in college at age 12, too,' Ami told The Oregonian. The girls worked through coursework in a summer that would take other students an entire year to understand. Tesca skipped middle school and high school and instead enrolled in college at the age of 12. That . transition into college took some getting used to, Tesca says, both for . herself and for her classmates, who were not used to the idea of a . 12-year-old taking advanced math courses. Not your average teen: Those who know Tesca well say she is always fun to be around and likes to try new things . 'It was a love/hate relationship,' she says. 'It was a great new class that I looked forward to, but I kept getting the same questions from students day after day.' By the end of the year, however, the novelty of her presence wore off, Tesca told The Times. 'Now, most people don’t say anything,' she adds. 'They think I’m 19 or 20, most of the time.' She says that she doesn't miss skipping out on the 'traditional high school experience.' 'I ask people about if they enjoyed high school or wish they had skipped it, and I get answers both ways,' Tesca says. 'I liked the way that things turned out for me, and I wouldn’t change anything if I could go back.' Tesca says she has always been drawn to computers, like her father, a computer programmer. Fast learner: At age 8, a pony-tailed Tesca Fitzgerald made a chess move in a game against her big sister, Tayt. The two super-smart sisters went through high school, Portland Community College and Portland State University together . We are family: Tesca (right) with her two sisters and mom, Ami . 'There was always some computer or something around to play with,' she says. She says that she is especially excited to work with human-robotic interactions and wants to start studying cognitive science. 'It is something that I have always found fascinating,' she says. 'We will never fully understand how the brain works. It’s the kind of field that you could start learning and never get to the end of it because we don’t know, and it ties in closely to computer science and artificial intelligence.' She just graduated from Portland State University with honors in computer science and will pursue a doctorate in the same field at Georgia Tech for the next six years. She chose Georgia Tech because it offers a computer science specialty called interactive computing that will allow her to delve into cognitive science, neuroscience and other interdisciplinary arenas. 'My passion lies in finding new solutions to new problems,' she says. Not only is Ms. Fitzgerald a genius, but she also has a knack for artificial intelligence. 'It was because I wanted to do something different that nobody had done before.' At the age of 15-years-old, Fitzgerald worked 600 hours to create her own artificially intelligent robot who could make its own decisions and operate itself. I've got all my sisters with me: Tesca, 16, (left), Tayt, 19, (center) and Ty Fitzgerald (right), 13, are some of the smartest kids around. Tesca and Tayt graduated from Portland State University last week. Ty said she plans to do the same . Before that, Tesca also attended the coveted Google Science Fair as a keynote speaker in 2011. After building her mini-robot zenith, designers of the robotics program flew from Europe to meet with Tesca Fitzgerald to learn more on how she pushed the limits of their software to create such an exceptional feat. Her talent for computing showed early, thanks in part to an unusual home environment. Her parents, both with MBAs, worked at home a lot, half time for her trust-manager mom, Ami, full time for her self-taught database designer dad, Mark. He had a lot of computers, enough that all three daughters could bang around on them from infancy and got one of their own as preschoolers. Colorful character: Tesca Fitzgerald, left, then a 14-year-old community college student, took part in a state robotics competition with friends . One scene from a plane, as recalled by Ami Fitzgerald: When Tesca was not yet 2, she and her mother took a flight, each with her own laptop, unusual for a toddler in the 1990s. While Ami worked, Tesca played a simple interactive game, appearing to deftly use the computer as she sucked on her pacifier. Other passengers gaped. At landing time, mother told daughter to shut down her computer, and she did. But Ami struggled to get hers off, even after she yanked out the battery pack. A flustered flight attendant insisted she shut it down. From the back of the plane, a chorus of voices shouted: 'Ask the baby.' Fitzgerald passed the laptop to Tesca, who did, indeed, turn it off. 'The whole back of the plane erupted,' Ami Fitzgerald says. Good friends: Tesca (second from left), says she doesn't mind having skipped out on high school . The program Tesca played was a Reader Rabbit game designed to teach 4- to 6-year-olds letters, sounds and words. Her parents assumed she was just enjoying the goofy graphics and punching random keys. Tesca, not yet 3, said what any little sister might: 'My turn.' Then, to her mother's astonishment, 'She read and read and read. Every book you could put in front of her, she could read.' At age 2, with help only from Reader Rabbit, she had cracked the code. Dad, Mark, says he is proud of his daughter and everything she has accomplished. 'When your kid graduate from college, it’s always a proud moment,' he says. 'But the fact that they are going to grad school is also very inspiring for us. And the fact she is at such a young age too.' But, he adds, watching Tesca graduate was a bittersweet moment. 'The trouble with having a girls a smart as her is that you have to see them advance a lot sooner than you were planning,' he laughs. 'You have to deal with it.' | Tesca Fitzgerald began to play with computers at before the age of two .
She skipped middle and high schools and went straight to college .
Now a graduate, she is about to start her PHD later this year .
Her two sisters appear to be just as clever . |
146,432 | 4959ca5e6cff68f19762e23842c59aeeaa1db767 | Tens of thousands of woman could suffer a rare cancer caused by a banned drug taken by their mothers or even grandmothers. The drug, Diethylstilboestrol (DES), was freely prescribed to pregnant women in Britain for three decades up to 1973, and was supposed to prevent miscarriages. But it was belatedly banned in Britain after it was found to increase the risk of miscarriage – and it is now feared that it can lead to a deadly cancer to a second and even third generation. Hundreds of thousands of pregnant mothers are estimated to have been exposed to DES but there is no confirmed figure . Some 2,000 women have already sought compensation in America, with payouts totalling up to £1bn from the numerous drug companies that sold DES, while scores more are launching more legal action. Now fresh compensation cases are set to begin here, with tens of thousands of British women to be asked if they could be potential victims of the drug nicknamed ‘the silent Thalidomide’. As well as causing a rare cervical and vaginal cancer, and possibly breast cancer, in the daughters, and potentially grandchildren, of the women who took it long ago, DES is also being blamed for causing fertility problems. The drug, a synthetic copy of the female hormone oestrogen, was created in Britain in 1938, and was soon being prescribed to millions of women around the world. Dominique Albert, 40, lives with her husband Dom and three daughters in Bristol. She found out she had been exposed to DES when she was a teenager and miscarried when she was 29. She told the Independent on Sunday it was tiring having to educate GPs on the effects of DES, and made her feel paranoid. 'It has been a battle for me,' she said. 'DES . daughters are at risk of (breast) cancer over 40, yet my GP said I . can't have regular breast examinations because I am not 50.' She will have to pay for private check-ups as a result. Mrs . Albert said her mother felt guilty even though she didn't know she was . putting her daughter at risk. She herself is worried that her own . daughters may suffer. Doubts about the wisdom of using it surfaced in 1953, when an American study showed it caused more, rather than fewer miscarriages. But it was not until 1971 that US authorities told doctors to stop prescribing it - after it was found that one in a thousand of the daughters of women prescribed DES had developed the cervical and vaginal cancer ‘clear cell adenocarcinoma’ (CCAC). And it was only in 1973 that British doctors were advised to stop prescribing the drug. The Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology has suggested 7,500 British women took DES, but there are other claims that up to 300,000 could be at risk. Figures suggest that daughters of women who took the drug are made 40 times more likely to develop the cancer CCAC, often when young adults. The cancer is fatal in more than a quarter of cases. One study suggested that breast cancer risk is also doubled. It will be impossible for many possible victims to find out, of course, whether their mothers or grandmothers used the drug. Research on rodents has lent weight to the fear that DES dangerously alters DNA not only in the individual taking the drug, but also that those changes are passed on at least two generations. Washington DC lawyer Aaron Devine, who is representing the 80 American women currently seeking compensation, is due in Britain in a fortnight to arrange a search for potential victims here. The first woman in Britain found to have suffered as a result of DES taken by her mother is Heather Justice, 59, of Jarrow in Tyne and Wear. She was diagnosed with vaginal cancer aged 25, then went through a hysterectomy and other surgery. Records showed her mother had taken DES in the 1950s, but because she did not know which company produced it, has been unable to bring legal action. Mrs Justice said: ‘One of the problems is that unlike Thalidomide, where you see the problem the minute the baby was born, women who took DES had healthy babies. ‘Problems were hidden until the teens and twenties, by which point we were forgotten about. When I asked my mum what she had taken, she didn’t even remember the name of the stuff. It is a complete and utter minefield.’ Among others who believe they have been afflicted in Britain are Janet Hall, 61, of Bournemouth - whose mother died from lung cancer aged 32 – who had to have much of her cervix removed when she was 20. She suffered a miscarriage, then had two daughters. One, Hannah, 26, has had pre-cancerous cells found in her cervix, she said. Mrs Hall said: ‘I feel guilty for my girls. It messes with your mind; it makes you ask why you had to have children.’ A spokesman for the Department of Health spoke of having ‘every sympathy’ for self-proclaimed victims, but said: ‘With regard to compensation for people who believe they have been adversely affected by this drug, this is a matter for the manufacturer(s) and/or the UK licensees of the drug.’ | Recent study found drug doubled risk of breast cancer in DES daughters aged over 40 .
Around 2,000 women have brought cases against drug companies in America after DES exposure . |
26,724 | 4bdf8b3a03e8bcbab14157fbb1c2e1afa0becbd5 | Sanford, Florida (CNN) -- Current and former neighbors call George Zimmerman caring, passionate and polite, a regular guy they enjoyed being around. But critics of the investigation into the death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin at the hands of the Florida neighborhood watch volunteer have portrayed Zimmerman in other terms. They say he recklessly pursued Martin and possibly engaged in racial profiling. They're demanding that Zimmerman, 28, be arrested in the death of Martin, who was shot last month while walking to the house of his father's fiancee after a trip to a Sanford convenience store. Zimmerman has said he acted in self-defense. The debate that has riveted the nation in the past few days has largely been framed in racial terms. A police report describes Zimmerman as white; his family says he is Hispanic and he has wrongly been described as a racist. Martin was African-American. On Wednesday, Martin's father, Tracy, said race played a role in the police investigation. "Had Trayvon been a white kid ... Zimmerman would have been arrested," he said. Critics have accused the Sanford Police Department of mishandling the case. Police Chief Bill Lee announced Thursday he is stepping down "temporarily" because he was becoming a distraction to the investigation. The president of the NAACP, Benjamin Jealous, said Lee failed to do his job. "The reality is that this chief had probable cause to lock up a man who shot a boy in cold blood -- because he shot a boy in cold blood -- and he failed to do that," Jealous said. Gov. Rick Scott announced Thursday that he was appointing Angela B. Corey of the 4th Judicial Circuit as state attorney in the investigation. Members of Martin's family were among demonstrators Wednesday in New York for a "Million Hoodie March," a reference to the attire the 17-year-old was wearing when he was shot. "A black person in a hoodie isn't automatically suspicious," an online protest page said. "Let's put an end to racial profiling." A former high school classmate painted a different picture of Zimmerman. "A race thing? That is definitely not the case," Eric Gross of Greenville, South Carolina, said on Thursday. "He is by far not anywhere near a racist. I wasn't there, but he was a good guy." The two attended Osbourn High School in Manassas, Virginia. Zimmerman attended a four-month law-enforcement program in 2008 at the sheriff's office, said Kim Cannaday, spokeswoman for the Seminole County sheriff's office. In his application for the course, Zimmerman wrote: "I hold law enforcement officers in the highest regard and I hope to one day become one." Opinion: Why black people don't trust police . Zimmerman has remained quiet over the shooting. His father said Zimmerman moved out of his home after receiving death threats. CNN has made numerous attempts to contact him, but has been unsuccessful. The paths of Trayvon Martin and Zimmerman intersected on February 26. The watch volunteer saw the youth and called 911 to report a suspicious man, authorities said. "Something's wrong with him. Yep. He's coming to check me out," Zimmerman told a police dispatcher in a 911 call released Monday. "He's got something in his hands. I don't know what his deal is. Send officers over here." The teen started to run, Zimmerman reported. When he said he was following, the dispatcher told him, "We don't need you to do that." Shortly afterward, neighbors began calling 911 to report a fight, then a gunshot. By the time police arrived, Trayvon Martin was dead. Martin was unarmed. In a police report, Officer Timothy Smith said Zimmerman stated he was "yelling for someone to help me," but the victim's family said it was the teen asking for help. The death has sparked allegations that Zimmerman took Florida's "stand your ground" law too far by chasing after the teen. Police added that while it was suggested Zimmerman not chase him, it is "not a lawful order that Mr. Zimmerman would be required to follow." "Mr. Zimmerman was not acting outside the legal boundaries of Florida Statute by carrying his weapon when this incident occurred," Lee said recently. "He was in fact on a personal errand in his vehicle when he observed Mr. Martin in the community and called the Sanford Police Department." Lee added that Zimmerman had a permit for the weapon. Zimmerman's family has denied that race played a role, saying he has many minority relatives and friends. "The portrayal of George Zimmerman in the media, as well as the series of events that led to the tragic shooting, are false and extremely misleading," his father, a retired magistrate judge, wrote in a letter published in the Orlando Sentinel. "Unfortunately, some individuals and organizations have used this tragedy to further their own causes and agendas." "George is a Spanish-speaking minority with many black family members and friends," Robert Zimmerman wrote. "He would be the last to discriminate for any reason whatsoever." Frank Taaffe, a neighbor in Florida, told CNN's John Zarrella that Zimmerman "had a passion for the safety of our neighborhood and he demonstrated to the rest of us that one person could make a difference. And he was an average guy, just like me." Zimmerman was a student at Seminole State College, but the college said Thursday that it had "taken the unusual but necessary step this week to withdraw" him from enrollment. It cited the high-profile nature of the controversy and said the decision was based on concern for the safety of Zimmerman and the students on campus. Heated debate has erupted over whether Zimmerman used a racial slur during the 911 call, a recording of which was released this week. "We didn't hear it. However, I am not sure what was said," said Sgt. David Morgenstern of the Sanford Police Department. "I have listened to the tapes, and I have not heard them use a racial slur," concurred City Manager Norton Bonaparte. A top CNN audio engineer enhanced the sound of the 911 call, and several members of CNN's editorial staff repeatedly reviewed the tape but could reach no consensus on whether Zimmerman used a racial slur. Whether Zimmerman used such language before shooting Martin is key, according to CNN Senior Legal Analyst Jeffrey Toobin. "It's extremely, extremely significant because the federal government is not allowed to prosecute just your ordinary, everyday murder," he said. "Two people fighting on the street is not a federal crime. However, if one person shoots another based on racial hostility, racial animus, that does become a federal crime." Toobin said that if "very shortly before" the shooting, "Zimmerman used this racial epithet to refer to the person he openly shot, that very much puts it within the FBI's and the Justice Department's ambit of a case that they could prosecute." Police say they have not charged Zimmerman because they have no evidence to contradict his story that he shot in self-defense. Taaffe told HLN's Jane Velez-Mitchell that his friend was only inquiring about why Martin was in the area, considering there had been documented incidents involving young black men in the neighborhood committing crimes. But he said that in no way did Zimmerman target Martin. "Zimmerman is not a racist," he told Velez-Mitchell. "George Zimmerman is a caring man." In Manassas, Virginia, former neighbor George Hall recalled Zimmerman as being a polite young man. Hall wrote a positive recommendation for Zimmerman, who he said wanted to attend a police academy. Hall called the Zimmermans good neighbors. "They were all good. Helpful, friendly, cheerful. I never saw anything negative in any of them," he told CNN's Brian Todd. "I just never did. I'm floored. I really am." CNN's Kim Segal, Mallory Simon and Dugald McConnell contributed to this report. | Protesters have called for George Zimmerman's arrest .
They say race has played role in investigation .
Neighbors say Zimmerman is caring and polite .
Florida college withdraws him from enrollment . |
194,741 | 88156cbe57c238c706ae17b94c47da06f40283c6 | The father of Malala Yousafzai has described how his entire family has been traumatized by the massacre of at least 132 children and 16 staff at a school in Peshawar, Pakistan. Education campaigner Ziauddin Yousafzai called the attack the 'extreme of extremism' and told how his wife Tor Pekai collapsed into unconsciousness for 15 minutes after hearing news of the attack. He added that he has never seen his Nobel Peace Prize-winning daughter Malala, 17, 'so sad and upset' after details of the slaughter emerged, adding that his family members' 'hearts are bleeding'. Mr Yousafzai's comments came as local media attacked the Pakistani government for the atrocity, saying Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has wasted time trying to win the cooperation of the Taliban rather than cracking down on the group's terrorist activities. Condemned: Ziauddin Yousafzai (pictured with his Nobel Peace Prize-winning daughter Malala) said his entire family has been traumatized by the massacre of at least 132 children and 16 staff at a school in Peshawar . Trauma: Education campaigner Ziauddin Yousafzai called the attack the 'extreme of extremism' and told how his wife Tor Pekai collapsed into unconsciousness for 15 minutes after hearing news of the attack . Horror: Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai has released a statement condemning the attack as 'atrocious and cowardly' adding: 'I am heartbroken by this senseless and cold blooded act of terror' Mr Yousafzai condemned yesterday's sickening slaughter of children at a school in Peshawar and said it was an unprecedented attack in Pakistan. 'Peshawar has been witnessing this kind of terror for the last many, many years, but what happened yesterday has no example in the history of Pakistan,' he told BBC Radio 4. 'When my daughter was attacked, the world turned into a dark hole for our family and I can imagine how much sadness and terror and horror the families will be passing through now,' he added. 'Schools should safe places for children... I'm afraid that if they [the Taliban] are not countered, we will see more horrible things in the future,' Mr Yousafzai went on to say. His comments came just a day after his Nobel Peace Prize winning daughter Malala released a statement condemning the attack as 'atrocious and cowardly'. 'I am heartbroken by this senseless and cold blooded act of terror in Peshawar that is unfolding before us,' she said. Malala added that she stood united with the government and armed forces of Pakistan, describing their efforts to address the attack as 'commendable'. Depraved: The Taliban gunmen who slaughtered 148 innocent people, including 132 children, are pictured just hours before the massacre. The white banner they pose in front of is the flag of the Pakistani Taliban and reads: 'There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is Allah’s Messenger’ In disguise: The photographs show the six heavily armed men wearing everyday clothing - a chilling disguise that meant security guards did not recognise them as being members of the Taliban . Armed: Released by the terror group's spokesman Mohammad Khurasani the third image shows the same group of men wearing full military fatigues - an outfit that would outed them as Taliban to security guards . Terror leader: Maulana Fazlullah - the firebrand militant, whose thick black beard reaches halfway down his chest - took control of the Pakistani Taliban 13 months ago . Accused: Pakistani media has partially blamed the Pakistani government for the atrocity, saying Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif (pictured) has wasted time trying to win the cooperation of the Taliban . Mr Yousafzai explained his fears over Pakistan's ability to counter the Taliban, saying that although political parties make comments pledging a united front against terror in the aftermath of such atrocities, these promises tend to fall apart once the reality and difficulty of doing so hits home. 'The Taliban doesn't know anything about condemnation. The more you condemn them, the worse they are, the more violent they are,' he said. His comments came as Prime Minister Nawaz declared that his government can no longer claim there are 'good' elements within the Pakistani Taliban and would now be targeting the group in its North Waziristan stronghold without discrimination. Dismissing claims that Pakistan had supported elements within the Taliban that it considered to be less of a security threat, he said: 'No non-state actor is being backed by the government.' His statement came after local media said the Pakistani government had to take some of the blame for the atrocity. An editorial in The Nation read: 'The truth is this: Not just terrorists, but everyone, from the wider population to the civil and military leadership is responsible for the barbarity our children were subjected to.' The newspaper went on to accuse Nawaz of doing 'absolutely nothing towards building a narrative against extremism' and said he had no 'meaningful political ownership' of anti-Taliban operations. The editorial also accused the Pakistani Army of refusing 'to employ a blanket policy against non-state actors and continuing 'to protect sectarian elements'. Harrowing: A blood-splattered doorway leading to an auditorium at the school in Peshawar, with spectacles on the floor belonging to one of the victims of the massacre . Shocking: The scene of the final gun battle between the jihadists and Pakistani soldiers . Devastation: Mrs Kazi's office, where a terrorist blew himself up during a nine-hour rampage . Horror: This morning the first devastating images emerged of the blood-soaked classrooms where 132 innocent children and nine teachers were massacred by the Taliban . Elsewhere The Express Tribune appeared to criticise Imran Khan for having earlier proposed 'peace talks' with the Pakistani Taliban, adding that he had not effectively condemned the Taliban. The newspaper referred to Khan as someone who had 'havered and equivocated, who offered mealy-mouthed justifications for appalling acts of terror.' Another Pakistani newspaper, the Daily Times, said: 'There is no way the country and its leadership can let this one go; there is no way a solid, chapter-turning decision cannot be made after what is, no doubt, a national tragedy.' 'The government and military must understand once and for all that we are at war,' the newspaper added, demanding a 'a final end to this terror' following what it branded 'the blackest day we have ever lived through.' A Pakistani woman holds up a placard showing a number of the victims of the savage Taliban attack . Tragic: Among the victims of the slaughter are (from left to right) Talha Munur Paracha, Rafiq Bangash, Hassan Javed Khan and Muhammad Yasseen . Victims: Rafiq Bangash (left) and Mubeen Shah Afreedi (right) were among the children slaughtered by jihadis . Murdered: Mubeen Shah Afreedi and Mohammad Ali were slaughtered by the Taliban in Peshawar . Friends took to social media to pay tribute to Amish Salman, who was among the murdered Class 9 pupils . This morning horrifying pictures emerged showing the Taliban gun squad who slaughtered the innocent children as it was revealed the terror group is planning more attacks at schools in Pakistan. Released by the terror group's spokesman Mohammad Khurasani, the photographs show six heavily armed men posing in front of a white Islamic banner shortly before the attack in Peshawar. In an email released this morning, Khurasani attempted to justify the attack by claiming that said the Pakistani army has long killed the innocent children and families of Taliban fighters. He vowed more such militant attacks and told Pakistani civilians to detach themselves from all military institution, adding: 'We are still able to carry out major attacks. This was just the trailer.' In the email, the terror group warned Muslims to avoid places with military ties, saying it attacked the school to avenge the deaths of children allegedly killed by soldiers in tribal areas. Three photographs of the murders were released by the Pakistani Taliban this morning. The group are seen wearing full military fatigues and posing in front of a white banner daubed with religious slogans. Following the release of the photographs, authorities in the capital Islamabad issued a letter calling on schools to increase security and to check underneath buses and other vehicles. | Ziauddin Yousafzai said family is traumatized by the Peshawar massacre .
Described how wife Tor Pekai collapsed into unconsciousness for 15 minutes after hearing news of the attack .
Added that he has never seen his daughter Malala 'so sad and upset'
Nobel Peace Prize winner, 17, has branded attack 'atrocious and cowardly'
Comes as Pakistani media attacked Pakistani government over atrocity .
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif accused of wasting time trying to win cooperation of Taliban rather than preventing terror attacks . |
163,067 | 5edcf6033a57c68ef861830777ee108ed9e4cba9 | New York (CNN) -- It's primary day in New York City, where a whole lot of Democrats and not that many Republicans will select their nominees for mayor and a slate of other city offices. Given the city's liberal bent, the primary serves as a de facto general election. Most of Tuesday's Democratic winners will sail to victory in November against token Republican opposition. But New York hasn't elected a Democratic mayor since 1989, when David Dinkins became the city's first African-American mayor. This is shaping up to be the year that streak ends. Mayor Michael Bloomberg has presided over more than a decade of economic expansion in the city, but his tenure has left a sour taste in the mouths of rank-and-file Democrats, who say the mayor cares more about wealthy Manhattan elites than the outer borough middle class. The issues flaring this election season all seem to come back to Bloomberg: affordable housing, income inequality, education, a city council vote that handed the mayor a third term, and the controversial New York Police Department tactic known as stop-and-frisk. Bloomberg fatigue is the prime reason that Bill de Blasio, the city's public advocate, has surged into the lead in a crowded field of underwhelming Democratic candidates. De Blasio is promising a "clean break" from the Bloomberg years. He's running as an unabashed liberal, pledging to raise taxes on the wealthy and end stop-and-frisk. De Blasio, who is white, also happens to be leading his opponents among African-American voters, in part because of his telegenic mixed-race family, which has been at his side throughout the campaign. Polls suggest De Blasio is certain to win Tuesday's primary. The main question is whether he can run up the score high enough to avoid a runoff against one of his two main challengers: City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, a lesbian who would be New York's first female mayor, and Bill Thompson, the city's former comptroller. Former U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner, whose campaign imploded in July after he admitted to sending another round of lewd online chats well after he resigned from Congress, is running in a distant fourth place. Here are five things to watch in Tuesday's election, which will also determine whether former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer can make a political comeback after a prostitution scandal forced him from office five years ago: . 1. Can de Blasio avoid a runoff? De Blasio was handed a big fat gift over the weekend when New York Magazine posted a buzzy new interview with Bloomberg in which the mayor described de Blasio's campaign, which has showcased his interracial family in a bid to win African-American support, as "racist." The New York City Public Advocate promptly put his family in front of television news cameras to hit back against the mayor, who has steadfastly backed the NYPD's stop-and-frisk policy, a deeply unpopular practice in the city's black community. A former political operative and onetime city councilman from Brooklyn, de Blasio was already surging before the comments hit the Web on Saturday morning. Now de Blasio might be able to reach the crucial 40% threshold needed to avoid a three-week runoff campaign, a once unthinkable scenario given the number of Democrats in the race. A Marist poll released Monday by NBC 4 New York and the Wall Street Journal pegged de Blasio's support among Democrats at 36%. With all the political wind in the race at his back, it's possible he might win the nomination outright on Tuesday. 2. Where do African-American voters go? The most influential person in the mayor's race isn't even on the ballot. That would be de Blasio's 15-year old son Dante, who starred in a memorable television ad that vaulted his father to the top of the polls in August. He hasn't looked back since. In the ad, Dante, who boasts an impressive Afro, looks into the camera and pledges that his father is "the only Democrat with the guts to really break from the Bloomberg years" and "end a stop-and-frisk era that unfairly targets people of color." The Dante spot, produced by former Obama campaign media consultant John del Cecato, sparked one of the most intriguing developments of the primary: de Blasio has steadily been growing his support among African-American voters -- even against Bill Thompson, the lone black candidate in the field. De Blasio now leads Thompson among black voters by a 39-25 margin, the Marist poll showed. He's also identified as the candidate most likely to end stop-and-frisk. Thompson was the 2009 Democratic nominee for mayor and bucked conventional wisdom -- and many polls -- by coming within five points of defeating Bloomberg that November. If Thompson is to have any chance of making the runoff and beating de Blasio, he better hope the polls are wrong again. 3. Chelsea and the Village . Quinn's city council district encompasses Chelsea and stretches of Greenwich Village, which represent the historic heart of New York City's gay and lesbian community. The Moonstruck Diner, on the corner of 23rd Street and Ninth Avenue, serves as Quinn's second office. Last Friday evening, Quinn rallied hundreds of gay and lesbian supporters outside the Stonewall Inn, site of the historic 1969 gay rights demonstrations against the New York Police Department. But disgruntled Quinn supporters have faulted her for not drawing more attention to the history-making nature of her candidacy. Quinn, once the front-runner, now desperately needs her West Side base to show up if she has any hope of making a runoff. There are hints her support could be fracturing under the weight of her complicated relationship with Bloomberg in the city council, and de Blasio's late burst of momentum. When de Blasio showed up late last week to campaign in Quinn's backyard, on the corner of 23rd Street and Eighth Avenue, he was mobbed by photo-seeking supporters and held court for nearly an hour, jamming up foot traffic and putting the City Council speaker on notice. On Monday night, Quinn's campaign added a last-minute campaign swing through Chelsea to shore up her base. 4. Can Spitzer make a comeback? Spitzer, who resigned from office in a 2008 prostitution scandal that roiled Albany, surprised pretty much everyone in politics in July when he suddenly jumped into the Democratic race for city comptroller, the city's chief fiscal officer. With the help of his real estate fortune, his unabashed anti-Wall Street rhetoric and his near universal name recognition, Spitzer led his Democratic primary opponent, Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, for most of the summer. But Stringer has worked overtime to remind voters of Spitzer's baggage, attacking him in debates, in the mail and on the television airwaves. Spitzer has returned fire, accusing Stringer of being a lifelong member of the political establishment who accomplished little during his public career. The race is the most intriguing head-to-head match-up on Tuesday. Recent polls paint a mixed picture but suggest the race is something of a toss-up, though Spitzer may have a slight edge thanks to his steady 2-1 edge among African-American voters. If he wins the nomination, he's a sure bet to become comptroller against nominal Republican opposition and see his name bandied about as a potential future mayor, attorney general or governor. A win Tuesday would be his first step toward political redemption. 5. The end of "Cats" The Republican primary contest has been largely overlooked given the city's Democratic leanings. Roughly 700,000 Democrats are expected to cast ballots in Tuesday's primary, while Republican turnout may be as low as 60,000. Joe Lhota, a fedora-wearing veteran of Rudy Giuliani's administration, is expected to win the GOP nod. If the liberal de Blasio wins the Democratic primary as expected, Lhota might have an outside shot in the general election if he's able to enlist Bloomberg allies and the business community, no fans of de Blasio's tax-the-rich agenda, to help defeat him. But a Lhota win would also be the political death knell for John Catsimatidis, arguably the most colorful figure of the 2013 election cycle. Catsimatidis, the Greek-born billionaire founder of the Gristedes grocery store chain and a longtime Republican donor, poured millions of dollars of his own money into the race, blanketing the television airwaves with quirky television ads. According to The New York Times, "He has even created his own eight-page newspaper, The Cats Chronicle, which includes no fewer than 27 photographs of Mr. Catsimatidis." Politically incorrect, often disheveled and definitely overweight, Catsimatidis has some regular guy appeal but is nevertheless prone to missteps and cringe-worthy statements that make him hard to take seriously. He even fell asleep in the middle of an interview with a New York public radio reporter, who recorded him snoring and used the sound in her story. Russell Schaffer, a New York Democrat who tweets prolifically under the handle @RussOnPolitics, spoke for political junkies everywhere on Sunday when he mourned Catsimatidis' imminent demise: . "I'll never let @JCats2013 go, even after he loses the GOP primary for NYC mayor on Tuesday," he tweeted. "He is a treasure to behold and quote." | Mayoral race will mark the end of Bloomberg's decade of control of mayor's office .
Disgraced former U.S. Rep. Andrew Weiner is running a distant fourth in Democratic race .
Biggest question on Tuesday will be whether front-runner can avoid runoff . |
130,668 | 34fdd2ed57dd6d3d388b6d54b7c5dd178adc1f2b | By . Deborah Arthurs . PUBLISHED: . 10:58 EST, 27 September 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 10:43 EST, 28 September 2012 . He is a fresh-faced boy of 18 - but Harry Styles has proved he's got more business sense than most boys his age. Not for him frittering away his hard-earned cash on drugs, sex and rock 'n roll. Instead, the One Direction superstar, whose band is worth a staggering £100m, has invested a hefty chunk of his earnings in bricks and mortar. It was reported today that Styles, who found fame on Simon Cowell's X Factor two years ago, has just purchased a £3m mansion in an exclusive area of North London - and the spacious four-bedroomed pad is already being dubbed Harry's Party Palace. The impressive stucco-fronted house, which has previously been advertised on property finding website primelocation.com, boasts 2,300sq ft of living space, with a large rear south-west facing garden, already equipped with Ibiza-style loungers. There are four spacious bedrooms, three bathrooms and three reception rooms, making the house perfect for entertaining. And to satisfy any burgeoning passion for cars, there are four spaces to park cars off-road, as well as a double car lift - all very 007... Until now, Styles, who is currently single but has been linked to various women this year, including Caroline Flack and Cara Delevingne, had been living in a flat in the East End of London but wanted to move closer to friends - including 28-year-old Radio 1 DJ Nick Grimshaw, who lives near by. Impressive: The stucco-fronted mansion is a . world away from the East End flat that Harry lived in until now. The . reception rooms have double doors leading out into the attractive garden . Ibiza chic: The large, south west-facing garden has been neatly landscaped and already has a double sun lounger in place . Spacious: The property boasts three separate reception rooms . Harry's kitchen: The house is kitted out with all mod cons - but will Styles be ordering in more than slaving over a hot stove? Let me entertain you: The luxury property has a large dining area with skylights lending an airy feel to the space . Big business: Harry, second left, and his One Direction bandmates are said to be worth £100m . | One Direction star purchased four bedroom house in exclusive London postcode .
Making the move from East End flat to palatial pad .
House boasts three reception rooms, three bathrooms and a large south-west facing garden .
Parking available for four cars - and there's double car lift too . |
245,085 | c93509db5574ad540f269f1a2ad0d16dd114bfe9 | By . Graham Smith . Last updated at 12:35 PM on 4th October 2011 . A Muslim American accused of plotting to fly . explosives-packed remote-controlled model planes into the Pentagon and . the U.S. Capitol has pleaded not guilty. Rezwan Ferdaus, 26, is charged in the plot to fly three tiny aircraft into the government buildings and to follow up the attacks with a ground assault. He is also accused of attempting to provide material support and resources to the global Islamist militant network Al-Qaeda for attacks on U.S. soldiers overseas. Accused: Rezwan Ferdaus (right) and his attorney Catherine Byrne stand during Ferdaus' arraignment hearing in federal court in Worcester, Massachusetts, yesterday. He denies all the terrorism charges against him . Ferdaus' brother and his mother Maria leave the federal courthouse after Ferdaus' arraignment hearing . Ferdaus, an American citizen and resident of Ashland, Massachusetts, yesterday pleaded not guilty to all charges in U.S. District Court in Worcester. It marked his first public appearance since he was arrested on September 28 following a months-long undercover investigation led by the FBI. Ferdaus, a 26-year-old with a physics degree from Northeastern University, was arrested in Framingham after federal agents posing as Al-Qaeda members delivered what he is said to have believed was 24 pounds of C-4 explosive. Authorities said the public was never in danger from the plot. The accused's lawyer Catherine Byrne said the case was 'orchestrated and facilitated by the government'. She told reporters after yesterday's hearing: 'We have asked for a continuance for additional time in order to prepare and to further investigate so that we can present a more complete picture of what happened.' Conduit: A scale model of a U.S. Navy F-4 Phantom fighter plane similar to one of three Ferdaus allegedly planned to use in a coordinated attack . Chilling: This model F-86 Sabre is similar to another of the three tiny planes that Ferdaus allegedly planned to load with plastic explosives . The arrest was the latest in a string of terror arrests to emerge from similar sting operations. A . federal affidavit says Ferdaus began planning jihad - or holy war - . against the U.S. in early 2010 after becoming convinced through jihadi . websites and videos that America was evil. A group of nearly a dozen family members and friends attended Ferdaus' court appearance. Several . women, including his mother, wept as the charges against him were read. They shouted 'We love you!' as he was led out of the courtroom; he . quietly answered, 'I love you, too.' Target: A surveillance photo of the Pentagon, said to be taken by Ferdaus on a visit to Washington last May . Charged: Ferdaus, 26, has a degree in physics from Northeastern University . Also . in attendance were the parents of Tarek Mehanna, another Massachusetts . man arrested in a separate terror plot. They said they did not know . Ferdaus' family but went to show their support. Mehanna . is scheduled for trial later this month. Authorities say he conspired . to provide material support to Al-Qaeda and kill U.S. troops in Iraq. Ferdaus . faces up to 100 years in prison on charges including attempting to . damage and destroy national defence premises and attempting to provide . material support to terrorists. A detention hearing is set for October 20. Also . in attendance were the parents of Tarek Mehanna, another Massachusetts . man arrested in a separate terror plot. They said they did not know . Ferdaus' family but went to show their support. Mehanna . is scheduled for trial later this month. Authorities say he conspired . to provide material support to Al-Qaeda and kill U.S. troops in Iraq. Ferdaus . faces up to 100 years in prison on charges including attempting to . damage and destroy national defence premises and attempting to provide . material support to terrorists. A detention hearing is set for October 20. Landmark: The U.S. Capitol was on a list of buildings Ferdaus planned to hit, according to prosecutors . | Rezwan Ferdaus, 26, is accused of plotting to launch an attack using explosives-packed remote-controlled planes . |
198,184 | 8c88ebc8c9882c43e8d9fcaeff0cf35736a6bcbe | By . Katy Winter for MailOnline . The Countess of Wessex today attended the Falmouth to Royal Greenwich Tall Ships Regatta, meeting sailors at the finish line. Sophie looked relaxed and happy as she chatted with the young sailors, even happily posing for a selfie with one lucky young man. The 49-year-old wore a causal outfit for the outdoor event, choosing a bold pair of bright green cropped trousers, purple T-shirt with a white dolphin design, and navy blazer. Scroll down for video . HRH The Countess of Wessex at the finish of the the Falmouth to Royal Greenwich Tall Ships Regatta, gets a selfie with Leading Sea Cadet Morgan Smith . With her hair loosely pulled back off her face, the Countess looked youthful in minimal make-up . Old meets new: The tall ships beside the 02 on the Thames . The beautiful ships looked liked they had sailed out of a Turner painting . It's behind you! The masts peek out over a hedge unnoticed by a passerby . While their observer was keen to get a good shot of the ships . The trendy mother-of-two even wore a pair of tanned Converse trainers; an unusually youthful option even for the increasingly modern Royal family. With her hair loosely pulled back off her face, the Countess looked youthful in minimal make-up. Almost half of the vessels competing in the regatta are members of ASTO, the UK’s Sail Training umbrella organisation. ASTO has vessels from all over the British Isles taking part including Scotland, Wales, East Anglia and the South of England, and at least half of the trainees on board each boat will be under 25. Over 280 young people from a wide range of backgrounds are sailing on board 19 boats operated by ASTO members. It is the first time a Tall Ships Race has both started and finished in a UK port, and one of the few events in recent months that Sophie has attended solo, usually seen with Prince Edward at official engagements. The couple recently took a break from royal duties on a family holiday with their two children James, Viscount Severn, seven, and Lady Louise Windsor, 10. The mother-of- two spent time with many of the ships' crews, smiling as she posed for photos . The 49-year-old wore on-trend bright emerald green cropped trousers and Converse trainers . Over 280 young people from a wide range of backgrounds are sailing on board 19 boats in the race, in the first time a Tall Ships Race has both started and finished in a UK port . Nelson watching over the Tall ships at Park Row,Greenwich at the start of the 2014 festival today, marking the beginning of a week-long festival filled with wonderful displays on the River Thames . Almost half of the vessels competing in the regatta are members of ASTO, the UK’s Sail Training umbrella organisation . The tall ships will be moored until 9th September between Greenwich and Woolwich . It is the first time a Tall Ships Race has both started and finished in a UK port . Edward and Sophie enjoyed a vacation last month, on the tiny uninhabited island of Espalmador, off Ibiza, which is famous with some visitors for its naturist beaches and mud baths. Sophie showed off the results of her rumoured new health and fitness regime on the beach in a red swimsuit. Sophie has dropped a dress size and shed a stone in weight after taking hour-long exercise sessions several times a week with a personal trainer. Edward, who celebrated his 50th in March, also looked trim. He has been so impressed by his wife’s transformation that he engaged the same trainer. The couple, who celebrated their 15th wedding anniversary last month, now go on twice-weekly five-mile runs around the grounds of their home at Bagshot Park, near Windsor. | Wife of Prince Edward met and chatted to sailors on finish line .
Countess wore trendy Converse trainers and emerald cropped trousers .
Even posed for a selfie with Leading Sea Cadet Morgan Smith .
Over 280 young people from a range of backgrounds sailing on 19 boats .
At least half of the trainees on board each boat will be under 25 .
It is the first time a Tall Ships Race has both started and finished in UK port . |
21,819 | 3e0009d688b241d132c1a71aeb13c62a51776506 | A Maine man has been charged with throwing his three-month-old son down a flight of stairs, causing a skull fracture. Authorities say 39-year-old William Lord Jr. was charged with aggravated assault and domestic violence assault on a child less than six-years-old, as well as domestic violence terrorizing. He was held in lieu of $5,000 cash bail following a court hearing Monday afternoon. Police say the child was unsecured in a car safety seat when the intoxicated Lord threw him down the stairs at about 3.30am Monday. Charged: William Lord Jr., 39, was charged with aggravated assault and domestic violence assault on a child less than six years old, as well as domestic violence terrorizing, for allegedly throwing his son down the stairs . The boy's mother took the child to the hospital where he was treated for skull fracture that is not considered life threatening. According to WLBZ2, Lord went to bed after his partner left the house. He was woken Tuesday morning by police, who called for him to come out of the house on a PA system. Lord came outside and was arrested. The child's mother, Ericka Melanson, 21, told police that Lord had recently been fired and was becoming increasingly difficult, according to The Portland Press Herald. She told police she feared Lord would have shot her if she didn't leave. 'Ericka advised that on several different occasions, William has made comments that if she brings police to the residence again, he will shoot the police and will feel bad for their families,' police wrote in an affidavit. Lord is being held in jail and it's unclear if he has a lawyer. Police said there was another child in the house that was not injured. | Incident occurred 3.30am Monday in Wayne, Maine .
The little boy was unsecured in a car seat at the time .
Baby's mother told police she feared William Lord Jr., 39, would shoot her .
He has been charged with aggravated assault, domestic violence assault and domestic violence terrorizing . |
67,863 | c087e2af172aed145b177c9a1a68029205bc732a | (CNN) -- If you think drag racing is extreme, you should try doing it uphill and on sand. Dune bashing is an action-packed motorsport popular in the Gulf, enjoyed by both local Emiratis and foreign tourists alike. It is not for the fainthearted and accidents are not uncommon. It is a sport that enthusiasts say requires not only speed and power, but also nerves of steel. Perhaps nothing tests all of these better than the Liwa International Festival, which ended last month, where 100 dune-bashing competitors battled it out to be the fastest up the tallest sand hill in the UAE. The 30-meter-high "Scary Hill" (Tel Moreeb in Arabic) earns its name thanks to the dizzyingly 50-degree steep slope. The government-funded festival is claimed to be a celebration of the desert landscape and the Bedouin culture. One competitor who shrugged off the fear factor at the recent event was Ahmed Al-Mashgouni of Team Sandtoyz. "For me, it's normal because I'm Bedouin," he said. "This is not scaring me." The annual event also features a classic car show, as well as traditional sports such as falcon, camel and horse racing. But this year it was the dune-racing challenges that attracted most attention, with spectators and participants coming from across the region. Read more: Bollywood dreams of Dubai's migrant workers . Al-Mashgouni had an American mechanic to tune his buggies. His roaring, six-cylinder vehicles, with modified, turbo-charged engines, were the fruit of his travels around the region -- Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait -- that brought back homemade, sometimes crudely built, bikes and buggies. "We are using a two-speed transmission," said Al-Mashgouni, winner of his class in the latest tournament. "The normal one is one speed. It's especially built for us." In contrast, Jasem Al-Ali of Team Victory learned how to build his vehicle from online videos. "It was a 200-horsepower engine. Now it's 1,100 horsepower," he said. Sand dune racing is not a cheap hobby. The cars are built mostly with foreign parts. And even in this oil-rich region, the fuel needs to be imported from America. Salem Al-Dahmani's modified truck cost him $100,000 -- about ten times the modest prize the race awarded. But passion not money is motivation for the competitors. "If you go to Japan, people are crazy for drifting," said Al-Dahmani of Team Champions. "If you go to the U.S., people are crazy about drag racing. Here, we're crazy about this sport." Read more: Dinosaurs in the desert . | Dune bashing is an action-packed motor sport popular in the Gulf .
A hundred sand dune competitors raced to the top of Tel Moreeb, the tallest sand hill in the UAE .
The 30-meter-high "Scary Hill" earns its name thanks to the dizzyingly 50-degree steep slope . |
104,100 | 124ef6885553e83399898998b0ac3d95af387640 | Militants in Iraq have seized nuclear materials used for scientific research at a university, the United Nations has been warned. Iraq warned of the seizure in a letter on Wednesday to the U.N. in which it appealed for help to 'stave off the threat of their use by terrorists in Iraq or abroad.' In the letter, which has been obtained by Reuters, Iraq's U.N. ambassador Mohamed Ali Alhakim said nearly 40kg of uranium compounds were kept at Mosul University. The city of Mosul, Iraq's second largest city, was captured last month in a seizure led by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIS). Militants in Iraq have seized nuclear materials used for scientific research at a university in Mosul. Pictured is an Isis supporter waving a flag in Raqqa, Syria, last month . The U.N. atomic agency has today said it believed the nuclear material was 'low grade' and did not pose a significant security risk. 'Terrorist groups have seized control of nuclear material at the sites that came out of the control of the state,' Alhakim told U.N Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, adding that such materials 'can be used in manufacturing weapons of mass destruction.' 'These nuclear materials, despite the limited amounts mentioned, can enable terrorist groups, with the availability of the required expertise, to use it separate or in combination with other materials in its terrorist acts,' said Alhakim. He warned that they could also be smuggled out of Iraq. The International Atomic Energy Agency . (IAEA) 'is aware of the notification from Iraq and is in contact to seek . further details', IAEA spokeswoman Gill Tudor said. Isis took over swathes of Syria and Iraq before renaming itself the Islamic State on June 29 and declaring its leader caliph - a title held by successors of the Prophet Mohammad. 'On the basis of the initial information we believe the material involved is low grade and would not present a significant safety, security or nuclear proliferation risk,' she said. 'Nevertheless, any loss of regulatory control over nuclear and other radioactive materials is a cause for concern.' A U.S. government source said the . materials were not believed to be enriched uranium and therefore would . be difficult to use to manufacture into a nuclear weapon. Earlier this week, video footage was published of ISIS militants taking sledgehammers to centuries-old graves in Mosul. Olli . Heinonen, a former IAEA chief inspector, said that if the material came . from a university it could be laboratory chemicals or radiation . shielding, consisting of natural or depleted uranium. 'You cannot make a nuclear explosive from this amount, but all uranium compounds are poisonous,' Heinonen told Reuters. 'This material is also not "good" enough for a dirty bomb.' In a so-called 'dirty bomb', conventional explosives are used to disperse radiation from any radioactive source, such as from hospitals and factories which are less well protected. 'These nuclear materials, despite the . limited amounts mentioned, can enable terrorist groups, with the . availability of the required expertise, to use it separate or in . combination with other materials in its terrorist acts' - Iraq's U.N. ambassador Mohamed Ali Alhakim . Citing U.N. investigations dating back . ten years or more, Heinonen said there should be no enriched uranium in . Mosul. The Vienna-based IAEA helped dismantle Iraq's clandestine nuclear . programme in the 1990s - during Heinonen's three decades there. Any loss or theft of highly enriched uranium, plutonium or other types of radioactive material is potentially serious as militants could try to use them to make a crude nuclear device or a 'dirty bomb', experts say. Because radioactive material is less hard to find and the device easier to make, experts say a 'dirty bomb' - which could cause panic and have serious economic and environmental consequences - is a more likely threat than an actual atom bomb. Earlier this week, video footage was published of ISIS militants taking sledgehammers to centuries-old graves in Mosul. Meanwhile, Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called on the Islamic State to release 49 people seized from the Turkish consulate in Mosul, before the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Erdogan appealed to the group during a Ramadan fast-breaking dinner late on Wednesday. Ramadan ends on July 27 in Turkey. The state-run Anadolu Agency quoted Erdogan as saying: 'If they are true believers they need to release our brothers. That's what we expect.' The Turks were seized from the consulate on June 11, when the group overran Mosul. They include diplomats, children and special forces police. Thirty-two Turkish truck drivers also seized in Mosul were released last week. | Iraq warned U.N. of seizure in letter which appealed for help to 'stave off the threat of their use by terrorists in Iraq or abroad'
Iraq's envoy to U.N. said nearly 40kg of uranium compounds were kept at university .
U.N. atomic agency has today said it believed the nuclear material was 'low grade' and did not pose a significant security risk . |
164,698 | 60f77ceac4ec335e3a9fb4998a063134f3888baa | Your perspective on the immediate situation at Barcelona probably revolves around how you view sleight of hand and misdirection in magic tricks like find the lady, three-card-monte or the shell-game. It takes great confidence and skill from those who shuffle cards around to hide where the Queen of Hearts is, or to whizz the cups about so that the one with the shell under it is undetectable. ‘Magic’ couldn’t exist without it. However, it’s usually just a con — aimed at robbing you of, at least, your attention, probably your common sense and, at worst, all your cash. Lionel Messi (left) looks to advance past Elche's Chilean defender Enzo Roco on Thursday night . Messi scores from the penalty spot at the Nou Camp during the Copa del Rey last-16 match against Elche . Messi celebrates after scoring Barcelona's third goal against Elche at the Nou Camp on Thursday night . Thus it is that all attention is centred on the farcical did he/didn’t he? mini-drama concocted by a Catalan television station when they announced that Barcelona’s greatest-ever footballer Lionel Messi demanded the removal of current coach Luis Enrique. By late on Friday night, Catalan journalists were running around in a frenzy. The rumours ranged from Enrique quitting, Messi staging some sort of putsch for power — to a decision for him to move to Chelsea already being taken. All of which has served to neatly divert eyes away from the fact that this is very nearly the situation which the football vandalism of the Sandro Rosell era has been on target to create from the outset. In case his name has slipped your mind, Rosell is the man who has always wanted to reinvent the wheel. A vice-president when Joan Laporta came to power in a footballing renaissance fuelled by Johan Cruyff-ist philosophy back in 2003, Rosell always detested the Dutchman’s manner, legacy and influence at the Nou Camp. Smack bang in the middle of Barcelona’s Field-of-Dreams vision and painstaking construction, Rosell walked away from the club in 2005, contending that everyone was out of step except for him. He wanted big, athletic, preferably Brazilian footballers — he wanted physical power and powerful spending. He wanted power. Barcelona were producing intelligent, balletic, technical geniuses like Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Messi while scouting, training and developing to a Cruyff/Ajax/Rinus Michels template. Former Barcelona president Sandro Rosell is the man who has always wanted to reinvent the wheel . Barcelona's ex-manager Gerardo 'Tata' Martino (right) shakes hands with then-Barcelona president Rosell . It yielded football which has taken its place in the all-time pantheon of excellence in this sport. Laporta’s personal hedonism left a vacuum at the end of his final mandate into which Rosell stepped — winning a landslide presidential victory. But, from 2010 onwards, there has been a steady drive towards this point when, having been nearly unstoppable as recently as the middle of 2012, Barcelona are now unravelling dramatically. Under Rosell’s direction, a director of football Andoni Zubizarreta was appointed who has singularly failed to guide the club to an appropriate coaching appointment following the illness and death of Tito Vilanova, who repeatedly failed to re-stock Barca’s back four or midfield and who was a party to the rule breaking which has caused FIFA to ban the club from two transfer markets. From the beginning of his regime, I predicted Rosell would dedicate himself to finding ‘his’ Messi — an iconic footballer who would, in theory, give Rosell his place in the history books and allow Barcelona to edge the Argentinian towards a vastly lucrative transfer to fund the vanity project of a new stadium. Neymar is probably the guy who is now closest to Messi in the squad. However the at-any-cost pursuit of the Brazilian did two key things. Firstly, Barcelona’s board became blind to the obvious need to reinvigorate the first-team squad with the kind of power, height and pace lost via the departures of Yaya Toure, Thierry Henry, Seydou Keita and Eric Abidal. Secondly, given the club’s vomit of half-truths, the process via which Rosell dashed Real Madrid’s equally determined pursuit of Neymar cost him all credibility and also his position at the club. Throughout Messi’s emergence as a true genius of football, Barcelona had repeatedly chosen to cosset and reassure him. It worked. 'Messi drives Barca to despair' ran the headline on the front of AS after he followed Chelsea on Instagram . 'Barcelona fall apart' ran the headline on Tuesday's edition of Marca after Messi failed to attend training . Catalan newspaper Sport devoted plenty of pages to dissecting the growing crisis at the Nou Camp . Ferran Soriano, now in charge at Manchester City, was part of a strategy, formed with fellow vice-president Marc Ingla and director of football Txiki Begiristain nearly 10 years ago now, to ensure that the player’s contract would be spruced up every 12-14 months. The idea was firstly to ensure the Messi entourage would keep Barca abreast of which club was sniffing about this or that year. Secondly, it emerged that improving his terms and his ‘sense of wellbeing’ regularly began to be wholly in step with the improvement in his performances, worth, and importance to the club’s trophy winning. Rosell’s era became so different that his finance director felt free to moan publicly about having to increase Messi’s salary so regularly. Why on earth break a successful formula? Why make sentiments like that public? But here is the key thing which the recent media misdirection has helped keep in the background. Barcelona were a repeat-Superbowl winning franchise with an almost perfect playbook — and Rosell burned the formula. He launched an offensive against Cruyff so malignant that the club icon handed back his entitlement to be honorary president and hasn’t been to the Nou Camp since. Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has previously played down speculation linking his side with a move for Messi . Messi fuelled speculation he could be keen on a move to Chelsea by following the club's Instagram account . Here's what Messi would look like if he was to seal a move to the Premier League's west London outfit . The Cruyff ideology becoming verboten inevitably coincided with Pep Guardiola beginning to feel a cold and distant relationship with president Rosell. It all caused Barcelona to prematurely lose a tired, burned-out coach in whose hands lay the right way to progress and renew this era. The abandonment of the ideals which had guided and created almost unparalleled footballing excellence gradually led to an erosion of the kind of daily intensity, hard-nosed competitiveness and crystal-clear philosophy of positional play upon which this squad depended. So, admittedly, it is a legitimate news line to pursue whether Messi did or didn’t demand the removal of Enrique. But it isn’t the real issue. The central problems include the fact that Rosell, who quit in disgrace, isn’t around to take the criticism for the horrendous botch he made of what he inherited. The next key issue is that, while no player can be allowed to hold a club hostage and dictate their decision-making, Messi is wholly within his rights if he a) chooses to express his unhappiness and b) finally opts that he wants to leave. Messi started Barcelona's defeat against Real Sociedad on the bench before coming on in the second half . Barcelona manager Luis Enrique future at the Catalan club is in doubt after a fall-out with senior players . Barcelona president Josep Bartomeu is reportedly already looking at candidates to replace Enrique . Moyes beat Messi's Barcelona on Sunday night . It was as if David Moyes had borrowed some of the magic of the FA Cup on Sunday as Real Sociedad became giant-killers and took the scalp of Barcelona. CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL REPORT . Aged 27, it is feasible that the best is yet to come for him. Some will tell you that his best is in the past but such opinions are based on the performances of a genius in a declining team and at a club which has been turning wine into water. If Enrique, who faces Spanish champions Atlético at the Nou Camp on Sunday night, is going to get things right then it will be a dramatic turnaround. He’s given few signs thus far. Irrespective of how many years of his contract he has left, Messi could justifiably demand a summit with the incumbent president and assess the direction in which the club is headed. To assess whether presidential elections in the summer might put Barcelona back on course. Right now, I’m guided, his intention is to catalyse positive changes and stay. But leaving has never been so high on his agenda. The financial behemoth of obtaining Messi’s registration via a forced buy-out, using the €250million recision clause and paying the €100m+ VAT, is unimaginable under current football regulations. Thus, should Messi feel that he needs to leave then he’ll have to demand a transfer. If he were to do that what would it tell you about his club? The club to which he owes a lifelong debt, the club via which he has become an all-time great, the club where he has been immensely happy and settled? Precisely what the player did or didn’t say to a president whose days are numbered about a coach who is not up to the task is of less overall significance than how and why the perfect marriage of Barcelona, scintillating football and Messi is on course to end in the divorce courts. Barcelona's main player Messi has been linked with a move to Premier League club Chelsea in recent weeks . | Lionel Messi has been linked with a move from Barcelona to Chelsea .
The Barcelona and Argentina star followed Chelsea on Instagram .
There have been reports Messi told Barcelona to get rid of Luis Enrique . |
40,097 | 7129576b6eff7ec655f35a99ae5a563fca479781 | An unknown possessing an iconic football name lit up world football’s most iconic knockout competition, as 2013 winners Wigan were ousted from this year’s FA Cup at the first hurdle. This was the one piece of major silverware that eluded managerial great Brian Clough but his namesake Zach etched a chapter of his own with a virtuoso performance and delightful debut goal at the Macron Stadium. Clough, 19, was plucked from obscurity by Bolton manager Neil Lennon and thrust into the third-round Lancashire derby to devastating effect. By the time he was withdrawn to a standing ovation seven minutes from time everyone was talking about him. Zach Clough (centre) clips the ball over Ali Al Habsi to score the winner for Bolton in the FA Cup third round . Clough watches his shot sail over the Wigan keeper to give Bolton the lead on 76minutes . The Bolton striker wheels away to celebrate as Al Habsi (right) looks on dejected . Bolton players rush to congratulate Clough after his winner earns the Trotters local bragging rights . BOLTON (4-3-1-2): Bogdan 7; Vela 7, Wheater 6, Dervite 6, Ream 7; Pratley 6, Danns 7, Trotter 7; Clough 9 (Gudjohnsen 83); Feeney 6, Heskey 6 (C Davies 62, 6). Subs (not used): Lonergan, Spearing, Wilkinson, Threlkeld, Medo. Booked: Vela. WIGAN (3-5-2): Al Habsi 8; Perch 7, Ramis 7, Kiernan 6; Tavernier 6 (Boyce 64, 6), Forshaw 6, Watson 6 (Cowie 53, 6), McCann 7, Taylor 6; McClean 7, Fortune 5 (Maloney 46, 5). Subs (not used): Nicholls, Waghorn, Chow, Cosgrove. Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire) 6. Yet, it is fair to say some of those supporters would not previously have heard of him. The official club website did not have him numbered in the first-team squad until kick-off. But with Chung-yong Lee away on Asia Cup duty, Clough was selected as Wanderers’ wandering waif behind the front men. Everything went through the 5ft 4in playmaker, and when he was given a fourth sight of goal with just under a quarter of an hour remaining he showed there is a composed finish in the armoury too. Accepting Liam Trotter’s pass in his stride, he glided into the Wigan area, drew the otherwise excellent former Bolton goalkeeper Ali Al-Habsi, delayed, and then dinked over his opponents’s sprawled frame to settle the game. ‘It augurs well,’ said Lennon. ‘We know with young players there may be a dip here or there but he is a talent. He is very diminutive but he’s very strong, has a great low centre of gravity. He can drop the shoulder and go by people, and run with the ball at pace, and nine times out of 10 he takes the right option. He was a real threat.’ Wigan manager Malky Mackay greets his Bolton counterpart Neil Lennon (right) ahead of the game . Veteran striker Emile Heskey (right) made his return to the FA Cup after a spell in Australia . Former Chelsea striker Eidur Gudjohnsen watches the game from the Bolton bench . Wigan keeper Ali Al Habsi (2nd left) denies Bolton's Liam Trotter with one of many saves . Indeed, Clough’s solo slaloms were a feature of Bolton’s most dominant period — the opening quarter of the second period — when he witnessed one effort destined for the top corner deflect wide, another force Al-Habsi into a full-length save and a third fizz the wrong side of an upright. After such an introduction it was only fair to question where Bolton had been hiding this prodigious talent. Lennon suggested his physicality — or lack of it — has held him back. ‘When you are that small, you have to be special and I think he is. We just have to be mindful we don’t get carried away.’ Wigan — unbeaten in 13 FA Cup matches discounting shoot-outs, and semi-finalists last season — did not field a single starter from the win over Manchester City two years ago, although their goalscoring hero from the bench that day, Ben Watson, wore the armband. Wigan midfielder James Perch (ground) slides in to deny Liam Feeney of Bolton a golden opportunity . Bolton keeper Adam Bogdan (right) makes a save from Adam Forshaw during a rare Wigan attack . Clough finally managed to break through the Wigan keeper's resistance deep into the second half . Clough's clipped effort gave the home side a deserved victory after recording a total of 15 shots . Yet it was not until the half-time introduction of Shaun Maloney, one of those XI, that they threatened. Maloney, who is expected to leave for a fee this month with four suitors pursuing him, was one of a trio of Wigan players foiled by Adam Bogdan, whose best save came during Bolton’s purple patch, when he spectacularly tipped Adam Forshaw’s close-range header over the top. So Malky Mackay failed to keep up the rich recent record of progress in the cup managed by Roberto Martinez and Uwe Rosler, although he insisted it was not for the want of trying. ‘We came here to win it, I have got great respect for the FA Cup and that showed,’ Mackay said. ‘It was a strong team and we could have won it.’ | Bolton defeated Wigan 1-0 in the FA Cup third round at the Macron Stadium .
Latics keeper Ali Al Habsi pulled off a series of important saves .
Teenager Zach Clough scored the winner with a clipped shot after 76mins . |
122,700 | 2a954db7ade30ed3d8d908e11b0706f946d3ce97 | (CNN) -- Brazilian football icon Pele has told CNN his record during a playing career spanning 25 years is unrivalled by anyone else in the sport. The former Santos striker was part of three World Cup winning Brazil squads and was named FIFA player of the century in 2000. The 70-year-old, whose full name is Edson Arantes do Nascimento, said modern players do not achieve success over a prolonged period like their illustrious predecessors. "Nobody did what Pele did," the one-time New York Cosmos forward told CNN. "Being champion of the world at 17-years-old, won three World Cups, scored more than 1,208 goals, only him. "Then until now nobody did this, to me, Pele is the best. You can mention players that played for 10 years, for example [Franz] Beckenbauer, [Michel] Platini, [Eric] Cantona, Bobby Charlton, George Best, then come [Diego] Maradona, Zico. "Those players used to play a long time. Now the players they play one year, two years, then disappear." His final World Cup was in 1970 and Pele rates the Brazil team that lifted the Jules Rimet trophy in Mexico as the finest the South American country has ever produced. "In 1958, 1962, Brazil had excellent individuals. We had Garrincha, we had Didi, Djalma Santos. Also Pele, [Mario] Zagallo were excellent players. But as a team all together I think 1970 was no doubt the best team." Brazil will host the tournament they have won a record five times in 2014, and their former number 10 said the nation will be ready for one of sport's biggest competitions, but Pele warned the speed of preparations must be increased. "Of course they [the stadiums] will be ready. The state of San Paulo ... we don't decide yet, we don't start [building] the stadium yet. This I think is a little bad for the reputation of Brazil, for the reputation of those who work for Brazil. That's my worry." After 18 years with Santos, Pele made the decision to sign with the Cosmos in the now defunct North American Soccer League (NASL) in 1975. A project to bring back the Cosmos -- which includes former Manchester United striker Cantona as the team's director of football -- has been launched and Pele is acting as a representative for his former club. "When I retired, at that time I had a lot of proposals to play in Europe, England, Italy, Spain, Mexico. But I said no, after 18 years I want to rest, because I want to retire. "They wanted to make soccer big in the United States. That was the reason I come back to play. Then I start my mission. Now I am here because of this. "We are going to revive New York Cosmos, to be fantastic. Because [when when I started] with New York Cosmos [football] became a very big sport in the U.S., and now we come back." | Pele has told CNN no one can match his achievements in football .
The Brazilian won three World Cups, more than any other player .
The 70-year-old is confident his homeland will be ready to host the 2014 World Cup . |
241,595 | c4b1469416d99e7a0305b565f3d33521929c271a | (CNN) -- The body of a retired firefighter, who was missing after apparently falling off a moving Amtrak train, was found Friday in Nebraska, the man's family said. Charlie Dowd, 69, a retired San Francisco firefighter, was reported missing on September 14, Amtrak officials have said. He was traveling to visit family and had spoke to his son by cell phone on September 13, saying he was just outside of Denver, according to his family. But when his train arrived in Chicago, he was not on it. His luggage, cell phone and medication were found in his sleeping car, the family said on a Facebook page they set up to find him. Amtrak officials had told Dowd's family that a door of the train was found ajar and passengers saw Dowd acting disoriented near a door. On Friday, the body was spotted by a railway worker in the western Nebraska city of Haigler, the family said. "While the family is devastated, they would like to express their gratitude for the many prayers, support, and messages posted to the Charlie Dowd Facebook page, and for the efforts of the many volunteers who have helped search for him this past week," a statement on the family's Facebook page said. Amtrak officials said a coroner tentativley identified the body as Dowd. "Amtrak employees are saddened by this development and the case remains an active investigation by the Amtrak Police and other agencies," Amtrak said in press statement. | Dowd's family says they are 'devastated'
He was not on the train when it arrived in Chicago .
Police found his phone, luggage and medication on board .
His family says he was seen looking disoriented near the door of the train . |
5,001 | 0e3f9a5fd54e3330646d7d7189d3997872daba69 | NEW YORK (CNN) -- McDonald's new ad campaign is taking a non-too-subtle jab at Starbucks. McDonald's placed this billboard near Starbucks' corporate headquarters in Seattle, Washington. Residents in Seattle, Washington, the birthplace of Starbucks, can now see approximately 140 McDonald's billboards emblazoned with "large is the new grande" or "four bucks is dumb." In a statement released Thursday, McDonald's called it "a light-hearted, fun approach to our brand," aimed at promoting the company's McCafe coffee products. However, Starbucks is not finding the ad campaign funny. "Comparative campaigns are all well and good but only when they're credible and authentic. If the claim is not supportable or the tone is off, you risk losing credibility," Deb Trevino, director of global communications for Starbucks, told CNN. A 12-ounce cup of coffee at Starbucks in Seattle costs just $1.40, only a penny more than the average price for a same size cup at McDonald's. Credibility is something that Starbucks claims it is not short on. A portion of coffee sales currently goes towards health care for Starbucks' baristas, while another goes towards helping AIDS victims in Africa, according to the company. "We will not enter into a tit-for-tat," Trevino said. "Our customers are interested in more than just the coffee, they come for the experience." For now, McDonald's said it does not plan to take its "four bucks is dumb" campaign nationwide. | McDonald's new ad campaign pokes fun at Starbucks .
McDonald's billboards in Seattle, Washington, read "four bucks is dumb"
"We will not enter into a tit-for-tat," Starbucks official says . |
253,254 | d3ce0be7eedf8778f4296ce805c9115743efa3ae | By . Ashley Collman for MailOnline . The former child star who played Robin Williams' youngest daughter in Mrs Doubtfire, has written a touching tribute to her on-screen father. Mara Wilson was just 5 years old when she starred in the hit-comedy about divorce and hadn't spoken to Williams in a few years when she learned the news about his suicide last week. In a post on her blog Mara Wilson Writes Stuff, the 27-year-old playwright fondly recalls her days on the Mrs Doubtfire set and how she regrets losing touch with Williams. 'I wish we had talked more. I wish I had reached out more,' she writes. Scroll down for video . Father figure: Mara Wilson (left), the former child actress who played Robin Williams youngest daughter in Mrs Doubtfire, has written a touching tribute to her on-screen father . Wilson was just 5 years old when she appeared in Mrs Doubtfire. She is now 27 and working for a nonprofit organization in New York. She says she was shocked and saddened to learn of Williams death. Wilson pictured on the left in June 2013 . Mrs Doubtfire is one of Williams defining roles, in which he plays a father who cross-dresses as a nanny to get closer to his three children in the midst of a bitter divorce with his wife, played by Sally Field. While Wilson was quite young during filming, she still remembers Williams constantly trying to entertain her and the other kids even when the cameras weren't rolling. 'Those hand puppets that dance alongside the genie in Aladdin's "Friend Like Me"? That must have been his suggestion, because Robin made those in real life. He’d break them out between takes to entertain us between takes. '“I don’t like you,” his left hand would say to his right. “You smell like poop!” I would laugh uproariously — I was five, so poop jokes were the height of hilarity — as his right hand yelled back “Well, there’s no toilet paper at my house!” Entertainer: Mara says Williams would do anything to make her and the other kids laugh on set . Remembering: The home that served as the exterior for the Mrs Doubtfire house in San Francisco became the sight of a memorial after news of Williams suicide . For Robin: Some of the flowers and memorabilia set on the steps of the Mrs Doubtfire house . 'When we were filming the climactic dinner party scene, he would make his carpet bag bark like a dog under the table, then order it to be quiet. 'He seemed to know instinctively what we would find funny, and never had to resort to saying anything that was inappropriate for children. He was, after all, a father himself.' Wilson and Williams lost touch, and she says the last time she saw him was a few years ago, when she was a freshman at NYU and she ran into him while he was filming August Rush in Washington Square Park. 'He told me how grown up I looked and asked how I liked NYU. It was small talk, but something about the way Robin looked at me made it feel like he truly cared. This was someone for whom everything mattered,' Wilson recalls. Wilson says she regrets losing touch with Williams, and especially not getting to explain to him why she declined a role in the planned Mrs Doubtfire sequel. 'I had thought maybe the next time I saw Robin I would explain myself to him, let him know that I had loved working with him but didn’t feel like we could do it again, and that being in major studio films again meant a level of scrutiny I didn’t think I could deal with. Heartbroken: Wilson says she's been too sad to give an interview. Above, a tweet she posted after learning of Williams' death . 'I wanted to apologize and know he understood. It hurts to know I can’t,' she says. Wilson says news of Williams death has left her shocked and sad, and that she still hasn't been able to muster the strength to give an interview. However, she says she's been comforted by the outpouring of love for Williams online. 'If you can affect someone when they're young, you're in their heart forever. It is remarkable how many lives Robin touched, and how many people said, just as I had, that he reminded them of their fathers,' Wilson writes. Young Wilson issues one of Mrs Doubtfire's most famous lines, mimicking her father by precociously telling her mother 'we're his goddamn kids too' when she picks them up from a visitation day. Wilson says that line rings true today, for anyone who grew up watching Williams' films. Mara Wilson no longer acts, but lives in New York as a playwright. She also works for non-profit organization Publicolor. In addition to Mrs Doubtfire, Wilson starred in Matilda and Miracle on 34th Street. | Mara Wilson, 27, was just 5 years old when she filmed the comedy that became one of Williams' defining roles . |
232,301 | b8cbe95a168926e83be80429167826f8bc55d59e | By . William Turvill . PUBLISHED: . 08:26 EST, 1 March 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 13:52 EST, 1 March 2014 . Millionaire's wife Kim Maher, 47, has been acquitted of assaulting a pensioner following an appeal . A millionaire's wife who was involved in a brawl in a posh restaurant has been acquitted of assaulting a pensioner following an appeal. Kim Maher, 47, from Hale, near Altrincham, Cheshire, had a conviction overturned when a key witness failed to appear at Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester. Mrs Maher, who is married to wealthy businessman Vincent Maher, was convicted in October of attacking 65-year-old David Snelson at the upmarket Hale Grill in Altrincham, Cheshire. Her husband had also been accused of assaulting Mr Snelson but he was cleared when the case was heard at Trafford Magistrates' Court in October. He was cleared when a key witness, Richard Davies, a chef at the Hale Grill, who was working the night the disturbance took place, told the court that he had not seen Mr Maher involved in the incident. Mrs Maher, who lives with her husband in an exclusive gated development, where house prices exceed £1million, just outside the village, has now challenged her conviction and was acquitted when Mr Davies failed to show up for the appeal hearing. The defendant's lawyer, Paul Anthony Lawton, told the court that Mr Davies was able to observe the disturbance in the restaurant through a hatch from the kitchen - and his evidence had called the alleged victim's account into question. Mr Lawton said: ‘The reality is that Mr Davies destroyed the credibility of Mr Snelson.’ He also told the court that Mr Snelson had accused Mrs Maher of grabbing him and spinning him around before her husband attacked him by poking him in the eyes. But Mrs Maher was acquitted when Mr Davies, who was a witness for both the prosecution and defence, failed to turn up at court. The prosecution told the court there had been several attempts to contact Mr Davies but that he was no longer working at the Hale Grill or living with his father as he had been at the time. A police officer had spoken to the witness over the phone and told him about yesterday's hearing. Mrs Maher, who is married to wealthy businessman Vincent Maher, was convicted in October of attacking David Snelson, 65, at the upmarket Hale Grill in Altrincham (pictured) She had her conviction overturned when a key witness failed to appear at Minshull Street Crown Court . Judge Adrian Smith was reluctant to adjourn the case to wait for the witness who had 'chosen not to come'. Instead, he asked the prosecution to seek advice from the CPS. Mr Lawton said: ‘I think the whole incident is what the old recorder used to refer to as a brouhaha.’ He said there had clearly been a disturbance in a public place. He explained that Mr and Mrs Maher knew Mr Snelson but there was a suggestion that they had fallen out with him. Judge Adrian Smith overturned Mrs Maher's conviction and the original punishment of £100 fine, £20 victim surcharge and £300 costs. He instead ordered her to be bound over to keep the peace and refrain from any disorderly behaviour for 12 months. Judge Smith said that by agreeing to be bound over the defendant accepted a degree of responsibility. The Mahers live in this exclusive property in a development just outside the village of Hale . The Mahers live in an exclusive property in a development just outside the village of Hale, near Altrincham. There are four houses in the enclosure, hidden away behind electric gates on a country road, which are valued at more than £1million each. A short walk from the village itself, one of the four houses was advertised for on Right Move as a five-bedroom property on sale for £1.575million. The advertisement said: ‘The property offers spacious and well planned accommodation which extends to over 3200 sq ft. At ground floor there are three reception/living rooms a study/office and a fitted breakfast kitchen. ‘There are five double bedrooms at first floor, three of which have en suite bath/shower rooms and a family bathroom. The property stands in a generous plot with parking for several vehicles to the front as well as a double garage. ‘To the rear of the house there is a private lawned garden ideal for those with young families.’ | Kim Maher, from Hale, Altrincham, Cheshire, is married to Vincent Maher .
The 47-year-old was convicted of attacking David Snelson, 65, at Hale Grill .
Her husband was also accused of assaulting Mr Snelson but was cleared .
Mrs Maher has now challenged her conviction and was acquitted . |
13,312 | 25d1104e4ca5ab250957927cde4bd7d73fc6a78e | By . Associated Press Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 16:53 EST, 3 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 03:30 EST, 4 November 2013 . Toronto Mayor Rob Ford apologized Sunday for being 'hammered' in public and acknowledged the need to curb his drinking, but the mayor of Canada's largest city didn't address allegations of drug use and said he will remain in his job despite mounting pressure to resign. 'I'm going to weather this storm,' Mr Ford said. Mr Ford made his remarks on his local weekly radio show at a time when he is facing growing pressure to resign after police said they had obtained a copy of a video that appears to show him puffing on a crack cocaine pipe. Mr Ford didn't address the contents of the tape, saying he cannot comment on a tape he hasn't seen. Big talker: Toronto Mayor Rob Ford on his weekly radio show Sunday in Toronto . 'I just got to maybe slow down on my drinking,' Mr Ford said. Mr Ford acknowledged making 'mistakes' and that he can't change the past, but vowed 'to ride the storm out.' 'I want to move forward but to move forward I also have to make changes in my life which I will assure I will do,' Mr Ford said. Ford declined to take a leave of absence or resign. 'I sincerely apologize, there's absolutely no excuse, no one to blame but myself,' Mr Ford said. 'I am going to fight like no one has seen before to win the next election.' Ford said he shouldn't' have been drunk in public when he appeared at the Taste of the Danforth street festival in August. 'That was pure stupidity,' Mr Ford said. 'I shouldn't have got hammered down at the Danforth. If you are going to have a couple of drinks, you stay at home and that's it. You don't make a public spectacle of yourself,' Ford said. Still defiant: Despite mounting public outcry, from people such as this protester outside the radio studio, Mr Ford declined to resign . Mr Ford also said he got 'a little out of control' after St. Patrick's Day in 2012. A city spokeswoman released last week an incident report from city hall security guards who said they witnessed a 'very intoxicated' Ford having trouble walking and swearing at aides that day. The incident report said that at 2:30 a.m. on St. Patrick's Day, Mr Ford 'visited the security desk alone with a half empty bottle of St. Remy French Brandy.' The report states the mayor said his car had been stolen and that he wanted to call police. Security told Ford his car was at home and took the bottle from him before finding him a taxi. Mr Ford said you can't be 'running around with a half bottle of brandy' at City Hall at 2 a.m. Mr Ford met Saturday with Deputy Mayor Norm Kelly, who had said he wanted to express the concerns of city council members after news of the video emerged. Police on Thursday announced that the video had been recovered from a computer hard drive during an investigation of an associate of the mayor suspected of providing him with drugs. Allegations that Mr Ford had been caught on video smoking crack cocaine surfaced in May. Two reporters with the Toronto Star and one from the U.S. website Gawker said they saw the video but did not obtain a copy. Police Chief Bill Blair told a news conference Thursday that he was 'disappointed' in Ford but said the video did not provide grounds to press charges against him. Mr Ford told a woman who called into his show that she was a great mother for explaining to her kids that his behavior is not acceptable, but said 'I'm not resigning. I'm not going away.' All four major Toronto newspapers have called on Mr Ford to resign. Many city councilors and The Toronto Board of Trade have also called on him to step down. Mr Ford called on the police chief to release the video. 'Whatever this video shows, Toronto residents deserve to see it and people need to judge for themselves what they see on this video,' Ford said. He wants to run for reelection: Not only has Mr Ford declined to resign, he plans to run next year for a second term . Police said the video will come out when Mr Ford's associate and occasional driver, Alexander Lisi, goes to trial on drug and extortion charges. Mr Lisi, who was released on bail Friday morning, is accused of threatening two alleged gang members who had been trying to sell the video to the media. Police said they can't release the video because the case is pending before the court. The mayor is not facing any charges. However, police have said they want to talk to him, but his lawyer has so far declined the request. Municipal law makes no provision for Mr Ford's forced removal from office unless he's convicted and jailed for a criminal offense. Voters may have the final word in the October 2014 mayoral election, in which Mr Ford has said he plans to run. | Rob Ford admitted to drinking too much, but deflected questions about accusations of smoking crack cocaine .
He apologized for his actions, but declined to resign .
The first-term mayor plans to run next year for reelection . |
198,574 | 8d08ba7b1962e1aea52c530e224250b3249d4d12 | Samir Nasri is clearly doing his best to party away Les Bleus as he and girlfriend Anara Atanes attend a post-birthday bash while on holiday in Los Angeles. The Manchester City star celebrated his 27th birthday on Saturday while his French team-mates prepare for their last 16 World Cup match against Nigeria. Atanes took to social media to post a picture of the pair and a friend as she wrote 'Day Party #LABaby.' VIDEO Scroll down to get up close and personal with Samir Nasri's girlfriend Anara Atanes . Vacation: Manchester City star Samir Nasri (right) attends a party in Los Angeles . Post: Anara Atanes put a picture of herself and Samir Nasri on Instagram for his birthday . Selfie: Atanes started off the celebrations with her own photo before posting her and Nasri . Message: Nasri's club wished him a happy birthday as the midfielder turned 27 . Anger: Atanes also let rip after her boyfriend Nasri was left out of the France squad . Keeps in shape: Anara posts a picture of her toned body on Twitter, which has since been set to private . Delighted: Atanes and Nasri pose with the Premier League title after City's win against West Ham . Nasri was controversially snubbed from France's World Cup squad, after manager Deschamps claimed the midfielder didn't take well to sitting on the bench. What happened next, though, was even more controversial as Atanes took to Twitter to launch a foul-mouthed rant against Deschamps and the France team. She posted: 'F*** france and f*** Deschamps! What a s*** manager!' To reiterate her point further, the . British model then tweeted: 'Incase u didnt read my tweet properly.... Ill repeat myself..... f*** FRANCE!!!!! And f*** Deschamps!' Atanes has since set her account to private after it caused a stir with Deschamps, who immediately threatened legal action. X-rated: Anara Atanes' tweet on Tuesday evening . Wish you were here: Bacary Sagna's wife Ludivine poses for a picture while in Brazil . Roar: Nasri celebrates scoring for Manchester City but will not be doing so with France in Brazil . VIDEO France fans optimistic about knockout stage . | Samir Nasri pictured with girlfriend Anara Atanes partying in Los Angeles .
Nasri snubbed from France squad by manager Didier Deschamps .
Atanes tweeted 'F*** France and f*** Deschamps!' after Nasri was left out .
Deschamps filed civil law suit against Atanes for foul-mouthed rant . |
204,558 | 94d34eb3e8b1827e3e13e2eb816fb0e8a3f5eb39 | For the most populous nation on the planet, the Chinese certainly are terrible at football, its most popular sport. But president Xi Jinping wants to change all that by making it compulsory for children to play, with the aim of turning his country into a football powerhouse. A massive fan of the beautiful game, he and many of his 1.37 billion countryman are said to be ashamed at the lowly number 88 ranking of the Chinese men's national team, according to The Economist. China's then Vice-President Xi Jinping kicks a football during a 2012 visit to Croke Park in Dublin, Ireland . Soccer-mad President Xi will make football compulsory in schools for all Chinese children . The national team's lowly number 88 ranking is a source of shame for many Chinese, including Mr Xi . Mr Xi has loved football since he played at school . So, at the end of last month, it was announced football would become a compulsory part of the national curriculum in Chinese schools. Education official Wang Dengfeng said improving the standard of football in China must 'start with children'. In 2016 the sport will become an option in the national university entrance exam. The idea behind this is that parents will be happier to let their children play where they have previously been reluctant on the basis they were wasting valuable time which could be spent studying. By 2017, the plan is that 20,000 schools will have received new football pitches and training facilities, which it is hoped will create 100,000 new players. Mr Xi has been a football fan since he played for his school team as a youngster. He dreams his country will again qualify for a World Cup – they last did so in 2002 but went out after failing to score – will have the opportunity to host the tournament and, most optimistically, will one day win it. China's leader wants to avoid any more days like June 15 last year, his 60th birthday, when the men's side were thrashed 5-1 by a Thai youth team despite the fact they were playing at home in Hefei, Anhui province. The team had lost to Uzbekistan and Holland in friendly matches earlier that month, but this was the last straw as fans swarmed around China's Spanish coach, José Antonio Camacho, and smashed cars in protest. Mr Camacho subsequently resigned. The country's women's team aren't so bad however – they are ranked 14th in the world and reached the 1999 World Cup final, which they lost to the USA. China's men take on Uruguay at the Wuhan Sports Center Stadium in October 2010. President Xi wants to create 100,000 new players to challenge for a place in the national team . | Football to be a compulsory part of national curriculum, it is announced .
President Xi Jinping is ashamed at China's lowly number 88 ranking .
Lifelong soccer fan wants country to qualify for, host and win World Cup .
By 2017, 20,000 schools will have received new football pitches and training facilities, which it is hoped will create 100,000 new players . |
80,661 | e49fa305e7bf60be40071f42ea925a6a4274050d | Beijing (CNN) -- Chinese officials said they killed seven members of the Uighur ethnic group in the restive western region of Xinjiang in order to free two hostages -- an account the Uighurs disputed. The hostages -- local villagers looking for their lost sheep in the rural county of Pishan outside of Hotan city-- were kidnapped by a group of Uighurs on Wednesday night, said Hou Hanmin, a spokeswoman for the chief of the regional information office in Xinjiang. The operation to rescue them left one police officer dead and wounded another, he said. However, Dilxat Raxit, a spokesman for the Stockholm-based World Uighur Congress, said the shooting did not stem from a rescue operation. Police opened fire when locals clashed with officers during a demonstration outside the police bureau, he said. The Uighurs were protesting a recent security crackdown in Hotan city. "This is incident was not an accident," he said. "It is a direct result from the Chinese crackdown on Uighurs. It has become unbearable for Uighurs there to accept the oppression and current rule from the Chinese government." The Chinese authorities have often blamed militants of Uighur descent for outbreaks of violence in Xinjiang in recent years. Uighurs are ethnic Turks who are linguistically, culturally and religiously distinct from China's majority Han population. Beijing has said Uighur militants are often based overseas and has linked some of them to the East Turkistan Islamic Movement that allegedly trains in Pakistan. The clash comes after a two-month security crackdown, which ended in October, against violence, terrorism and radical Islam across the resource-rich region, which borders Pakistan, Afghanistan and numerous unstable Central Asian states. The tightened security measures included 24-hour security patrols of troubled areas, identity checks and random street searches of people and vehicles. Uighur activists say the crackdowns have only heightened anger among Uighurs who already accuse the government of religious and political repression. Uighurs also say they feel economically disadvantaged as a thriving Han population continues to move into the region. | NEW: The World Uighur Congress says police opened fire on protesters .
NEW: "This incident was not an accident," says a Congress spokesman .
A Chinese official says the operation killed one police officer dead .
The official says the Uighurs took two local villagers hostage . |
107,860 | 170c3f9d4a26b587f60bfc9baa43fb471b122372 | By . Annabel Fenwick Elliott for MailOnline . CNN anchor Dana Bash has revealed that she too has been the target of inappropriate comments about her weight made by male senators. Speaking to fellow CNN news anchor Brooke Baldwin, Ms Bash, 43, said she wasn't surprised 'in the least' to learn of New York senator Kristen Gillibrand's recent admission that she had been called 'porky' and 'fat' by male colleagues. 'After I had my son three years ago, I got some comments that would blow you away from male senators,' the political correspondent, based in Washington D.C. said. 'Talking about getting my figure back and things like that.' Scroll down for video . Weight jibes: Dana Bash, 43 (pictured), said that after she gave birth to her son, she received comments from male senators 'about getting my figure back' Although the mother-of-one declined to outline any further specifics, she remarked that these men maybe 'didn't realize' they were being inappropriate, and largely blames their age for the comments. '[Ms Gillibrand] mentions very clearly that these are law-makers in their sixties, seventies and eighties, and it is very much generational,' she agreed. 'I can't even think of one law-maker in either party, either chamber, who would do this who is maybe 50 years old or younger.' Ms Bash - who was recently honored by ELLE magazine as part of its annual Women in Washington Power List - mentioned that she had spoken 'in private' both to Ms Gillibrand and to other female members of congress about such matters. Age matters: Ms Bash, pictured pregnant in 2011 (left) and in May (right) said, '[Ms Gillibrand] mentions very clearly that these are law-makers in their sixties, seventies and eighties, and it is very much generational' Ms Bash is currently CNN's chief congressional correspondent. She split with fellow CNN anchor John King in 2012, after less than four years of marriage and is now a single mother. Her comments come just days after Ms Gillibrand spoke openly of the sexism she has faced at various points in her political career. In her new book Off the Sidelines, the 47-year-old - who has two young sons with her husband Jonathan - recalls how a male colleague once said to her at the gym: 'Good thing you're working out, because you wouldn't want to get porky!' On a separate occasion, a Southern congressman was walking her down the aisle in the House chamber when he said to her: 'You know, Kirsten, you're even pretty when you're fat.' New York Senator: Ms Gillibrand, 47, who has fluctuated between size four and size 20 throughout her career, has been called 'porky' and 'fat,' by male colleagues. Pictured in 2009 (left) and in April (right) Like Ms Bash, Ms Gillibrand acknowledged that the comments were derogatory, but probably not meant in earnest. 'I believed his intentions were sweet, even if he was being an idiot,' she said. The senator, who says she has fluctuated between size four and size 20 throughout her career, admits that regardless of other people's opinions, appearance is something that she does have to pay attention to. 'I've learned that how I look and feel is important, for reasons beyond health and vanity,' she writes. 'If I look and feel good, I'm more positive and confident and people are more likely to listen to me. If more people are listening, I have more power to fight effectively for what I believe in.' | Ms Bash confirms she has spoken to Ms Gillibrand and other female members of congress 'privately' about the matter .
Male senators have called Ms Gillibrand 'porky' and made comments to Ms Bash about 'getting her figure back' after childbirth .
She claims weight jibes are a 'generational' matter . |
149,598 | 4d6b83ba2d311e0d0bda3fa129e3ef93d31240e9 | It seems anyone who claims something is 'better than sex' are in a minority, after a study found making love is the most enjoyable human activity. Researchers used text messaging to build up a map of what activities people routinely rated as bringing the most and least happiness to their daily lives. They found that sex ranked first in all three categories measured in the . survey: Pleasure, meaning and engagement. Sex tops the survey: Making love was found to provide the most pleasure and meaning of all daily activities . Drinking alcohol or partying came second in terms of pleasure but only 10th in terms of meaning. Feeling sick was lowest rated in terms of pleasure, while surprisingly using Facebook rated last in meaning. The study was compiled by Carsten Grimm from the University of Canterbury in New Zealand. With depression levels hitting all-time highs in western societies everyone from academics to governments have become interested in ways to measure and track happiness. He said: 'So . far governments around the world and media have focused mainly on life . satisfaction in the discussion about well-being; it turns out happiness . is a far more complicated topic. 'One . of the areas I’m researching - orientations to happiness - looks at . whether there are different ways of going about seeking happiness. 'Psychologists . have proposed that individuals may seek to increase their well-being . through three main behavioural orientations; via pleasure, via . engagement, and via meaning. 'Endorsing pleasure as a way to happiness means you enjoy 'eating dessert first' or you focus on feeling good and enjoying sensory pleasures. 'Engagement is what you experience when you’re totally absorbed in what you’re doing; either skiing down a hill or being immersed in your work. People call this experience a state of flow and this may be a dominant orientation to happiness for some people. 'Having meaning in a person’s life was a way to pursue happiness; being part of something bigger and contributing to the greater good.' Mr Grimm used mobile-phone text-messaging to collect data on what people did during the day and how they felt about it, a technique called 'experience sampling'. 'I texted people three times a day over a week and the response rate was really high,' he said. 'People are never far from their cellphones these days. People replied to on average 97 percent of all text-messages, and texts were sent at random times, so there is a really rich sample of everyday life to look at. 'From my research I can see what activities are routinely rated as highest and lowest in people's daily lives. Having sex is (no surprise) highest on all measures of happiness. 'Being sick is again, no surprise, relatively low on all measures. Going to lectures, or studying, is low on pleasure and happiness, but ranks relatively high on meaning. 'The results have implications for what psychologists have called `the full life’. 'Those who tend to be high on all three orientations to happiness not only score high on life satisfaction, they also tend to have higher experiences of pleasure, meaning, engagement and happiness in their daily lives. 'This means that being able to seek happiness in different ways may enrich your everyday experience and increase your overall well-being. 'This is a fascinating area of study and one I am really excited to be a part of. Hopefully as we learn more about what contributes to a full life we can help people increase their happiness in their daily lives.' | Sex ranked first in the three happiness categories of pleasure, meaning and engagement .
Using Facebook and doing housework both ranked low on the happiness scale . |
27,718 | 4e91fcbcc168aa09e0581d9f9049c406a479493e | An airman who recently returned from the Middle East proposed to his cheerleader girlfriend during Sunday night's NFL game between the Arizona Cardinals and the Washington Redskins. Cardinals squad member Claire Thorton was performing for fans at the home ground ahead of the fixture. But the excitement of match day was stepped up a notch when her partner, Air Force Captain Erick Straub, marched onto the pitch, in full military attire, and got down on one knee and proposed. VIDEO Scroll down for She says yes! Cardinals cheerleader accepts boyfriend's proposal . Claire Thorton was in shock when her boyfriend Air Force Captain Erick Straub proposed mid-game . Her fellow Arizona Cardinals cheerleaders celebrate as Thorton says yes to the proposal . Captain Straub is believed to have recently returned from a tour of the Middle East . There was good news on the field as well as the Arizona Cardinals stormed to a 30-20 victory . Thankfully, Thorton said yes while her Cardinals side went on to win 30-20 in front of a packed crowd at the University of Phoenix Stadium. The Redskins sought to end a three-game losing streak by stealing an away victory but were dispatched by Bruce Arians' side. Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer, who returned from a five-week lay-off, stole the show. He threw two touchdown passes to send his side top of the NFC West, . Carson Palmer starred for the Cardinals throwing two touchdown passes during his side's victory . | Arizona Cardinals cheerleader Claire Thorton was performing for fans .
Air Force Captain Erick Straub proposed to girlfriend Thorton on sideline .
Cardinals defeated Washington Redskins 30-20 later in the evening . |
157,563 | 57b9d44e0bca50f5b6cc254fe1d3976a84f57125 | (EW.com) -- Joseph Gordon Levitt is coming back to a small-screen near you. The former "3rd Rock from the Sun" star is set to host a variety show based on his collaborative site, hitReCord, for Participant Media's newly announced cable network, pivot. The series, "HitRECord on TV!," will feature contributions—like films, live performances, animation and more—from online community members, which Levitt will select, piece together and present on-air, the network announced at its upfront presentation in New York City today. 'New Girl' recap: Sweet home Chicago . The millennial-geared network will also feature a host of other original series, including a period saga about William Shakespeare by Craig Pearce, the writer behind "The Great Gatsby," "Moulin Rouge," and "Romeo + Juliet," and a docu-series with Meghan McCain. See the original article at EW.com. CLICK HERE to Try 2 RISK FREE issues of Entertainment Weekly . © 2011 Entertainment Weekly and Time Inc. All rights reserved. | Joseph Gordon Levitt is heading back to TV .
The former "3rd Rock from the Sun" star is set to host a variety show .
The show, based on hitReCord, is for Participant Media's newly announced cable network . |
140,336 | 4178069f3113291edbe00ee07ab88aec18c5244c | More than six months since Mark Zuckerberg unveiled plans to connect the world to the web using drones, more details have emerged about how exactly these flying Wi-Fi hotspots will work. At a summit in New York, Facebook's engineering director announced the vehicles will be closer in size to jumbo jets, than traditional drones, and they'll soar at 65,000ft (19,800 metres). The firm also announced it will begin testing the drones in an unspecified location above the US as soon as next year. Facebook has revealed more details about its plans to provide web access to the world. Drones as large as jumbo jets are set to extend the reach of Wi-Fi around the world. They will be powered by the sun and hover some 65,000 feet (19,800 metres) above the ground . Facebook aims to use a mix of solar-powered aircraft and low-orbit satellites to beam signals carrying the internet to hard-to-reach locations. The drones, flying at 65,000ft (19,800 metres), will be capable of staying in the air for months. They are relatively cheap and will be most effective for suburban areas that do not have the cables or infrastructure to carry internet or telephone signals. The drones are effectively mobile phone masts in the sky and bounce smartphone communications between satellites and base stations on Earth. Low-orbit and geosynchronous satellites, which have orbits that match the Earth’s rotation and are effectively stationary, will cover more remote areas in Africa and Asia. The internet access would be transmitted in the form of free-space optical communication, or FSO, which transmits data using infrared laser beams. It could then be just three to five years until the super-sized, solar-powered drones are hovering above remote parts of the world to provide internet access. Yael Maguire, engineering director of Facebook’s Connectivity Lab, told the Social Good Summit that the planes will be ‘roughly the size’ of a Boeing 747, but much lighter than the popular aeroplane, which weighs around 600,000lbs (272,155kg) without passengers or fuel. Facebook previously said the drones will be 'relatively cheap' - although did not specify a cost - and will be most effective for suburban areas that do not have the cables or infrastructure to carry internet or telephone signals. The California-based tech giant has joined forces with Nokia, Qualcomm, Samsung and other tech firms to develop the planes in an initiative called Internet.org. Today, around 2.7 billion people have access to the internet, which is just one third of the global population. The members of the initiative said in a report that connecting the world is 'one of the fundamental challenges of our time' and they plan to do it using a variety of technologies, including drones. 'When people have access to the internet, they can not only connect with their friends, family and communities, but they can also gain access to the tools and information to help find jobs, start businesses, access healthcare, education and financial services and have a greater say in their societies. 'They get to participate in the knowledge economy,' the report said. A recent study by Deloitte found that the internet is already an important driver of economic growth in many developing countries. Yael Maguire, engineering director of Facebook’s Connectivity Lab said that the planes will be ‘roughly the size’ of a Boeing 747 (stock image), but much lighter than the popular aeroplane, which weighs around 600,000lbs (272,155kg) without passengers or fuel . Expanding internet access could create another 140 million new jobs, lift 160 million people out of poverty and reduce child mortality by hundreds of thousands of lives. In terms of how this could be achieved, Mr Maquire has previously explained that Facebook is 'looking at a new type of plane architecture.' The drones are set to fly at 65,000ft (19,800 metres), because this altitude is a point where winds are at their lowest. It's also above commercial airliners, and even above the weather, and this means the drones will be able to safely stay in the air for months at a time. ‘These planes are solar-powered and they sit there and circle around, and have the ability to broadcast internet down.’ Facebook’s founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced in March that the social network’s Connectivity Lab was building ‘drones, satellites and lasers to deliver the internet to everyone' The large drones will be capable of broadcasting a powerful signal that covers a city-sized area of territory with a medium population density, according to Internet.org. The large drones will be capable of broadcasting a powerful sThe drones will be tougher and able to fly for longer periods of time than balloons, while also being able to have their location precisely controlled. In March this year, Facebook acquired British drone maker Ascenta for an estimated £12.5 million ($20.2 million). The company is run by chief engineer Andrew Cox who has helped set records for the longest flights for unmanned aircraft powered by the sun. | Facebook's drones are set to soar at 65,000ft (19,800 metres)
They will provide web access to remote areas of the world .
The crafts will be as large as Boeing 747 jet liners, but much lighter .
They will be trialled over an unspecified location in the US next year .
Drones could be fully operational and deployed within five years .
Facebook has joined forces with other tech firms to help develop the planes . |
202,550 | 923dd295bbec52f48088451ee83d29aa80c2e4ba | By . Anna Edwards . PUBLISHED: . 12:44 EST, 24 April 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 13:36 EST, 24 April 2013 . Retired archbishop Desmond Tutu has checked into a South African hospital for treatment of a persistent infection. The Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation said the Nobel Peace Prize laureate will undergo tests to discover the cause of the infection. The foundation says 81-year-old Tutu spent this morning in his office before going to a Cape Town hospital and was in good spirits. Former Archbishop Desmond Tutu's non-surgical treatment is expected to take five days - and the campaigner is said to be 'good spirits' It added the non-surgical treatment is expected to take five days. Tutu was a vigorous campaigner against the system of white racist rule known as apartheid, which ended when democratic elections were held in 1994. The Nobel Pirze winner is going to a Cape Town hospital for the procedure . The Nobel Prize Winner was also the first black South African Archbishop of Cape Town, South Africa and primate of the Anglican Church of South Africa. He became a prominent leader, crusading for justice and racial conciliation in South Africa. In 1984 he received a Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of his contributions to that cause. His hospitalisation comes weeks after Nelson Mandela, South Africa's first black president, was taken into hospital. The Nobel Peace Prize winner has not been seen in public since 2010 and in April was discharged from hospital following a nine-day stay for treatment of pneumonia. It was the third hospital visit for the former anti-apartheid leader since December when he underwent treatment for gallstones and a lung infection. He is currently receiving medical care at his Johannesburg home. Mr Mandela became South Africa's first black president in 1994 after elections were held, bringing an end to the system of white racist rule known as apartheid. Following his release from prison in 1990, he was widely credited with averting even greater bloodshed by helping the country's transition to democratic rule. Following the elections in 1994, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) was set up to bear witness to, record and in some cases, grant amnesty to perpetrators of crimes relating to human right violations. President Mandela asked the former archbishop to chair the TRC, which heard harrowing accounts of the struggle for liberation. He retired from the Church in 1996 to focus solely on the TRC, and was later named Archbishop Emeritus. In 1997 he was diagnosed with prostate cancer and underwent successful treatment in the US. | Nobel Prize winner in 'good spirits' before going to Cape Town hospital .
Non-surgical procedure for persistent infection expected to take five days . |
255,048 | d61f3a70c50cf1fe5dc293d67382e8f9edf2c317 | By . Joshua Gardner . PUBLISHED: . 21:15 EST, 13 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 09:45 EST, 14 January 2014 . Two people plunged to their deaths into the icy Chicago River on Monday in what began as a man's reckless attempt to retrieve a dropped cell phone. It was shortly after midnight when an 26-year-old Ken Hoang of St. Paul, Minnesota jumped over a downtown fence to retrieve a cellphone he'd dropped into the partially frozen river. Haong's terrified friends, Quoc-Viet Phan Hoang, 23, and 21-year-old Lauren Li tried to help, but fell in after him. Gone: Ken Hoang (left) and Lauren Li perished after midnight Monday after Haong ventured onto the icy Chicago River to retrieve his cell phone and fell in. Li and their friend Quoc-Viet Phan Hoang went in after Hoang. Neither Hoang nor Li made it out alive . Tragedy: A diver and a police officer from the Chicago Marine Unit did what they could to save three twenty-somethings who plunged into the icy Chicago River around midnight on Monday but only one survived . Rescuers pulled the men from the . water, but spent hours looking for Li. Ken Hoang died at a hospital . while the Li is presumed dead in the river. Phan Hoang was taken to St. Joseph Hopsital, where he is in stable condition. 'My . friend said he heard a yell [for] help, you know. At first I didn't . believe it, so we still kept walking this way to keep sightseeing. As we . got closer, he heard it again and I heard it again, too. And as we got . closer, we yelled out, "Where you at?"' a witness told WLS. Survivor: Quoc-Viet Phan Hoang was the only survivor of the tragedy. Rescuers pulled him from the icy river and took him to an area hospital where he remained in stable condition Monday night . 'I kept saying who was he with? And . they said he had a friend and girlfriend, too, that went under the . water, but he couldn't find her. We called the police.' Phan Hoang posted a wrenching Facebook response to the tragedy he witnessed Monday evening. 'Life's . too short..I hope no one would ever have to go through something so . unfortunate such as what has happened...from the bottom of my heart I am . sorry for what happened...RIP Ken Hoang Lauren Li,' he wrote. Outpourings . of grief and support for Li have appeared on friends' Facebook pages . and Hoang's family has created a memorial fund page at Youcaring.com. 'Rest in peace Ken Hoang and Lauren Li': The rescue mission for Lauren Li became a recovery mission as Chicago officials searched for the 21-year-old who fell into the icy Chicago River on Monday. Facebook posts honoring Li began appearing Monday evening . 'In loving memory of Ken Hoang to support his family who lost a Son, brother and friend': Ken Hoang's family created a memorial fund on Youcaring.com . Terrible: A 26-year-old man fell through the ice while trying to retrieve a cellphone. His 23-year-old male friend and 21-year-old female friend went after him . Victim: The 26-year-old reportedly scaled this fence to retrieve his phone then fell though the ice. He was pulled from the ice and later died . 'This fund was created in loving memory of Ken Hoang to support his family who lost a Son, brother and friend,' the site reads. After less than a day, the fund had raised nearly $5,500 of a $15,000 goal to benefit the bereaved Hoang family. While . her body had yet to be found Monday night, Chicago police had termed . their search for the woman a recovery mission by nightfall. 'The . lesson learned here is real simple,' said Chicago Police Superintendent . Garry McCarthy. 'If your pets go onto ice, if you drop a cell phone or . wallet, do not try and retrieve it.' Presumed dead: The 23-year-old man survived the ordeal and remained in stable condition Monday while the 21-year-old woman remained missing and was presumed dead . 'The lesson learned here is real simple,' said Chicago Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy. 'If your pets go onto ice, if you drop a cell phone or wallet, do not try and retrieve it' | Ken Hoang, 26, of St. Paul, Minnesota leaped over a fence and fell through ice in the Chicago river just after midnight Monday .
Two friends-- 23-year-old Quoc-Viet Phan Hoang and 21-year-old Lauren Li--followed him in an attempt to help .
Rescuers pulled both men from the river, but only one survived .
Li remained missing Monday night as the rescue mission became a recovery . |
185,660 | 7c7c7d8a2ac0fb9e77a49c05bc64cb1f16a30e3d | (CNN) -- We've never seen a more rapt group of people hovering over salt-crusted sea bass. To kick off season 2 of Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown, CNN hosted a whirlwind scavenger hunt in Hong Kong last weekend, in association with Little Adventures in Hong Kong, the city's premier private food tour company. We sent 12 teams racing through restaurants, streets and market stalls on an intense foodie-themed series of challenges, with Anthony Bourdain judging the challenge remotely via Instagram and Twitter. Chefs and judges were stationed at various locations to preside over each endeavor. Sweet odds . It may have been the one in six odds of winning, but the race was hilariously intense from the beginning. With challenges ranging from eating as many "suicide wings" as possible in three minutes to wrapping dim sum to fileting fish, six local teams and six expat teams battled it out to win two grand prizes of a trip to Tokyo, and customized food tours of Hong Kong with Little Adventures for runners up. Anthony Bourdain judged the roast goose leg challenge -- it's his favorite Hong Kong food -- that had teams hunting for a secret kitchen to chop up goose legs. "You really get to see why Hong Kong is Asia's food capital," food blogger Andy Yeo of team The Twits said of the day's event. "It pushes you off the deep end." Hunger in Hong Kong . The tests weren't all about taste buds. The Market Challenge had each team heading to the street market to bargain for as much choi sum (a leafy green vegetable) as possible for HK$30, the average amount people in Hong Kong living under the poverty line spend on food each day. The veggies were then donated to Feeding Hong Kong, CNN's charity partner for the event. Social media was another important element of the contest, as contestants were required to have a Twitter and Instagram account to register. Despite rampant competitiveness, CNN Travel editor Hiufu Wong observed that contestants spent more time feeding the event to their social media networks than on the actual challenges. The winners . The winners heading to Tokyo are teams HELL YEAH! and HUNGER HUNTER. "We liked the fact that the challenge covered not just local Cantonese food," said Davis Ng, member of team HELL YEAH! "It covered different genres and we actually learned something very interesting from the chefs." You're welcome, Davis. Have fun in Japan! The partners . You can retrace the challenge at the following Hong Kong locations: . Nico's Spuntino Bar & Restaurant, 49 Elgin St., Central . DimDimSum DimSum Specialty Store, 7 Tin Lok Lane, Wan Chai . Kowloon Soy Company, 9 Graham St., Central . Corner Kitchen, 21 New St., Sheung Wan . Chôm Chôm, 58-60 Peel St., Central . The Big Bites, 196-202 Java Road, North Point . Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown Season 2 airs Mondays at 9 a.m., Fridays at 10 p.m. and Sundays at 9 a.m. HKT on CNN International. This season, traditional Chinese subtitling will be available for Hong Kong viewers. | CNN hosted a whirlwind, foodie scavenger hunt in Hong Kong last weekend .
The event marked season 2 of Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown .
Two winning teams won trips to Tokyo .
Event helped raise awareness of hunger in Hong Kong . |
104,804 | 13334f62a1ed7c68c6ed5af471e67492901a29fc | By . Ian Drury . PUBLISHED: . 19:24 EST, 31 July 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 02:18 EST, 1 August 2012 . In a grimy underground car park, row upon row of camp beds are crammed together. These are the spartan sleeping conditions facing many of the British heroes helping provide security at the Olympics. More than 2,000 soldiers guarding London venues are forced to share a sweltering, cramped and poorly-lit concrete bunker at a disused shopping centre. Poor: These are the spartan sleeping conditions facing many of the British heroes helping provide security at the Olympics . Grim: More than 2,000 soldiers guarding London venues are forced to share a sweltering, cramped and poorly-lit concrete bunker at a disused shopping centre at Tobacco Dock . Horrific: The stench from a row of overflowing portable lavatories wafts through Tobacco Dock, near Tower Bridge . The stench from a row of overflowing portable lavatories wafts through Tobacco Dock, near Tower Bridge, which has green military cots spread along nearly every corridor as every available piece of space is used. Local businesses and shops have stepped in to top up the soldiers’ Army rations – offering half-price pizzas and fast food. The living conditions outraged relatives of personnel from the 1st Battalion The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment (1PWRR). One soldier’s furious mother said the billets were ‘worse than Afghanistan’. The Ministry of Defence said it was ‘working hard’ to make accommodation comfortable. Many of the uniformed troops had their annual leave cancelled after returning home from six gruelling months on the front line in Afghanistan to cover for the troubled private security firm G4S. Fiona Mason, 51, from Fair Oak, Hampshire, whose son Paul, 21, serves with 1PWRR – known as the Tigers – said: ‘It’s absolutely disgusting. Help: Local businesses and shops have stepped in to top up the soldiers' Army rations - offering half-price pizzas and fast food. This picture shows the sleeping quarters at the temporary Army barracks . Not happy: The living conditions outraged relatives of personnel from the 1st Battalion The Princess of Wales¿s Royal Regiment (1PWRR) Making a home: A soldier prepares his bed in the sleeping quarters at Tobacco Dock . 'They were treated better in the desert.’ Simon Lynch-Garbett, 56, from Tenerife, whose son James, 28, was deployed to the Olympics, said: ‘They’ve spent months in Afghanistan fighting for our country and this is the way they’re being treated. ‘I understand they have got some free tickets but that’s only because the seats are empty.’ A soldier, who asked not to be identified, told the Mail: ‘Everyone’s feeling really miserable about it. Morale is really low. ‘We’re proud to be part of the Olympics but the conditions we are being asked to live in are grim.’ One military source said: ‘It’s nightmarishly hot in some of the rooms because they heat up all day and then are crammed full of the lads. They’re bringing more and more men in and just lining up rows of camp beds anywhere they can find. Furious: One soldier's mother said the billets were 'worse than Afghanistan'. The Ministry of Defence said it was 'working hard' to make accommodation comfortable . Heroes: Many of the uniformed troops had their annual leave cancelled after returning home from six gruelling months on the front line in Afghanistan to cover for the troubled private security firm G4S . ‘It really does stink in there when it’s hot. If the RSPCA found dogs being kept like that they’d take them away.’ Around 18,000 troops were drafted in at the last minute to provide security at the Games after G4S admitted it did not have the manpower to fulfil its Olympic contract. Labour MP John Denham said: ‘When the troops were put on standby, we were told that this was part of a contingency plan being put in place. If it was a contingency plan you have got to ask what plans did they make to accommodate the soldiers?’ An MoD spokesman said: ‘The specific area shown in the photograph is underground; it is dry, lit, equipped with ablution facilities and has power and WiFi capability. ‘It compares very positively with the type of living arrangements soldiers will have experienced on overseas operations and on regular military exercises in the UK.’ | More than 2,000 soldiers guarding London .
venues are sharing a sweltering, cramped and poorly-lit .
concrete bunker at a disused shopping centre .
One soldier’s furious mother said the billets were ‘worse than Afghanistan’ |
371 | 01176065ec41c9c63280f36a4d0b3b27e9143570 | (CNN) -- It's been a year since the Occupy Wall Street movement sprang up. Since then, it has fizzled, but this does not mean that the underlying issues that gave rise to the protests have gone away. Until last year, mainstream political discourse did not include nearly as much emphasis on such populist concerns as rising income inequality, tax policies that favor the rich, growing influence by large corporate interests in elections and the reckless deregulation of financial institutions that resulted in the 2008 crisis. It is hard to miss them now. These concerns still impact 99% of Americans. Even if Occupy protests have petered out, the movement has affected the political narrative in our country. Meet the original 'Occupiers' We can see Occupy's impact in the current presidential campaign. Whereas Bill Clinton's 1996 re-election strategy focused on the idea of "triangulation" -- taking centrist positions on key economic issues to isolate his Republican opponent on the right -- President Barack Obama has taken on much more of a populist stance, mobilizing his Democratic base and economically stressed independents against an opponent whom his campaign is depicting as the quintessential representative of the 1%. Occupy activists justifiably express skepticism over how much to trust the president's left-leaning rhetoric when his actual economic policies have been decidedly centrist. Still, the fact that Obama's re-election campaign recognizes the advantage of decrying unfair tax laws and similar policies that affect middle class Americans is indicative of how the tone has shifted. Unfortunately, much of the decline of the Occupy movement can also be attributed to the distraction from this year's election campaigns. Despite the Democrats' mixed record, the unions and many other potential allies necessary in building a real movement have felt obliged to focus their energy on re-electing Obama and helping other Democratic candidates. Some police repression and serious violations of civil liberties by city authorities certainly crippled the Occupy protests as well, as did the media's tendency to focus too much on its more violent or flaky elements. But, this does not mean that all is lost. What was the point of the Occupy movement? Share your view with CNN iReport . The Egyptian Revolution and other unarmed civil insurrections that have swept the world recently did not start and end during a few dramatic weeks or months when millions of people were on the streets. They were the culmination of many years of struggle, often initiated by young radicals engaging in small but creative demonstrations. The Occupy protesters, even at their greatest numbers, were never able to do what successful movements must do in terms of developing a well-thought-out strategy, clearly articulated political demands, a logical sequencing of tactics and well-trained and disciplined activists who don't vandalize property or fight cops. Indeed, the Occupy protesters never developed enough of the structural elements necessary to truly be considered a "movement." Most importantly, those involved never recognized that colorful protests are no substitute for door-to-door organizing among real people. A look back: Meet the 99% . The United States has a long history of popular social and economic struggles, from the abolitionists to the Populists to the suffragists to the civil rights movement and, throughout much of that history, the trade unions. As Thomas Jefferson once beckoned his fellow Americans: "crush... the aristocracy of our moneyed corporations which dare already to challenge our government to trial and bid defiance to the laws of our country." If the pressing concerns of the 99% are not addressed, don't be surprised if new incarnations of the Occupy movement emerge in the near future. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Stephen Zunes. | It's been a year since the Occupy Wall Street movement sprang up .
Stephen Zunes: The movement has fizzled, but it affected our political narrative .
He says Obama has taken on populist issues such as income inequality, unfair tax policies .
Zunes: If concerns of the 99% are not addressed, new versions of Occupy will emerge . |
50,454 | 8eba070eb4263ba245af5e08fc81c6ef75f4290a | By . Chris Wheeler . Follow @@ChrisWheelerDM . and Adam Crafton . Follow @@AdamCrafton_ . Manchester United defender Patrice Evra is on the brink of a permanent move to Italian side Juventus. The Frenchman is prepared to accept a two year deal in the region of £55,000-a-week and the Italian club have made formal contact with United over a £2milion transfer. Juventus are confident of concluding a deal in the next 48 hours after Evra asked the club to respect his decision to leave Old Trafford. His primary motivation is believed to be for family reasons, with his wife Sandra keen to live abroad. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Manchester United target Arturo Vidal scoring for Chile . Departed: Patrice Evra (left) and Rio Ferdinand (right) have left Manchester United . Near: Barring an unexpected U-turn, Juventus are confident of concluding a deal by the end of this week . Evra’s place in the United team has also been placed into jeopardy following the arrival of Luke Shaw from Southampton and Sportsmail revealed in June that the new £28m recruit has been assured that he will be the first-choice left-back at Old Trafford as the Louis van Gaal era dawns. As United will not have European football this season, they will often be playing just one match a week, thus limiting the first-team opportunities available to Evra. The full-back saw his contract extended for a further year at the end of the season but it now seems extremely like that he will begin next season wearing the black and white stripes of Juventus, where he will team up with French international team-mate and former Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba. United were reluctant to lose the experience and dressing room influence of Evra but will not stand in the way of a player who has provided almost a decade of sterling service with the club. Senior officials were extremely . impressed with Evra’s commitment and dedication to the United cause . under David Moyes last season, especially after Moyes had launched a . very public pursuit of Leighton Baines, and his departure will be met . with sadness by many within the corridors of power at Old Trafford. Future sorted? Evra returns home after France were eliminated from the World Cup against Germany . VIDEO Juventus keen on Evra . The French defender has spent eight trophy-laden years at Old Trafford, winning five Premier League trophies and appearing in three UEFA Champions League finals in his spell at Old Trafford, including the 2008 penalty shoot-out triumph over Chelsea in Moscow. It marks the culmination of a mass exodus of senior stars from the United dressing room, after Ryan Giggs retired at the end of the season, while Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic both left at the end of their contracts. Giggs has remained as Van Gaal’s assistant manager but the loss of experience on the playing side will be keenly felt, with the four players racking up an extraordinary 2097 United appearances and a combined 80 medals between them in their distinguished careers at Old Trafford. Meanwhile, United remain keen on Juventus midfielder Arturo Vidal but the Turin-based club want £37m for their Chile star. Van Gaal is believed to be keen to sign the Chilean, who represented his country at the World Cup in Brazil. United have made tentative enquiries as to Vidal's availability but they are currently miles away from Juve's valuation. On to new things: Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand both left United at the end of their contracts . VIDEO Inter Milan not a step back - Vidic . Target: United have made contact with Juventus over a transfer for Chile midfielder Arturo Vidal . VIDEO United looking to add Vidal . | Evra is on the brink of a permanent move to Italian side Juventus .
Juventus are confident of concluding a deal by the end of this week .
Frenchman thought to be considering a deal around £55,000-a-week .
The full-back saw his contract extended for a further year in the summer .
But Evra’s place in the United team has also been placed into jeopardy following the arrival of Luke Shaw . |
40,337 | 71da5642a4ad9a866a6b71663852fda924d38bb8 | There are buses and then there is the AutoTram Extra Grand which debuted in Germany this week as the longest of its breed in the world. Developed by the boffins of the Fraunhofer Institute for Traffic and Infrastructure Systems, the bus is nearly 101 feet long, has four steering axles and can carry 256 passengers. The big bendy bus premiered in the eastern city of Dresden this week where it will soon roll into service with the local transportation authority on trial runs as Beijing and Shanghai placed their orders for the vehicle which costs $1.25 million (almost £778,000) per bus. World's longest bus: Debuted in Germany, the megabus AutoTram Extra Grand is nearly 101ft long and can carry 256 passengers . Unsafe and unreliable: Bendy buses on several routes in London were banned in 2009 amid claims they were unsafe, unreliable and encourage fare-dodgers . The total development is costing $10 million and the good news for environmentalists is that it can run for long stretches on electric power. Matthias Klingner, the institute's director said: 'There is a lot of know-how invested in it. It's computer is highly efficient. 'The innovation of the AutoTram lies not . only in its length, but most of all in its ability to be manoeuvred . like a conventional 12 metre (39ft) city bus. 'There's no problem with the manoeuvrability and stability, but we have to see how such a long bus affects normal city traffic.' Already orders: Made in Germany, the new bendy bus has already been ordered by Chinese cities Shanghai and Beijing . German trial: This week the vehicle debuted in Dresden and will be part of the local transport on a trial basis . It combines the passenger capacity of a . small train with the manouverability of a bus and runs on a hybrid . engine that kicks in when the electric batteries run down, charging them . as it propels the vehicle. Bus drivers will not require a special licence to drive the long, bendy bus thanks to a unique computer steering system which keeps the length of the bus precisely in line with the front carriage. The system is less expensive to run . and cheaper to put into operation than a rail commuter system, prompting . other cities to inquire about the super-sized buses. Dr Klinger said: 'The AutoTram has a considerable advantage compared to light rail systems.' While it is the longest bus in the . world, the bus with the largest capacity is China's New Liner Series . which has 300 seats on a 82ft bus. Combines transport: The bus combines the passenger capacity of a small train and the maneouverability of a bus . Bendy buses in London were banned on several routes in 2009 after they were found to be responsible for many accidents. London's mayor Boris Johnson struggled to sell the 31 vehicles amid claims they were unsafe, unreliable and encourage fare-dodgers. They were taken out of service temporarily in 2005 after three caught on fire. Many were eventually sold to Malta in 2011. According to The Guardian Mr Johnson said at the time: 'These bulky and ungainly monstrosities were always more suitable for the wide open vistas of a Scandinavian airport than for London. 'I am glad to see the back of them.' | The AutoTram Extra Grand is being trialled in Dresden, Germany .
It is the longest bus in the world at nearly 101ft long vehicle .
Beijing and Shanghai have placed orders for the bus .
It runs mostly on electric power .
The vehicle combines the capacity of a small train with the maneouverability of a bus . |
108,665 | 181f18f687090cd04fb4758cc645ac986486d857 | Editor's note: Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, the former lieutenant governor of Maryland and daughter of late U.S. Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, is a former U.S. deputy assistant attorney general and serves on the board of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. She is a Democrat. Paul Helmke, the former mayor of Fort Wayne, Indiana, is a Republican and president of the Brady Campaign. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend says the bloody Mexican drug war is being fueled by American guns. (CNN) -- America's neighbor to the south is engaged in a bloody war with ruthless drug cartels. It is a war that is threatening to bring down the government of Mexico, is spilling over into neighborhoods in the United States and is fast becoming a serious national security concern. American gun sellers supply the cartels with 95 to 100 percent of their guns, according to the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. While the Mexican drug war has the media and Washington abuzz, there has been little mention of our role in supplying the terrorists: We need to realize that the Mexican drug cartels are arming themselves here because our gun laws have loopholes so large that criminals and gun traffickers can easily drive gun-laden trucks through them. Mexican Attorney General Eduardo Medina Mora correctly called American gun laws "absurd." This crisis is not happening because our border is loose. It is happening because our gun laws allow guns to be sold by unlicensed sellers without background checks required by the Brady Bill, military-style assault weapons to be freely sold and corrupt gun dealers to thrive. We need to prevent Mexican criminals and the traffickers who supply them from buying guns by changing our gun laws and strengthening U.S. law enforcement's ability to crack down on corrupt gun dealers. Although it is urgent that we help stem the violence in Mexico, we must realize that the same legal loopholes and corrupt gun sellers that help arm Mexican criminals also arm American criminals. We should heed the call of Mexican officials to help stop the violence there, but we also should heed the call of the vast majority of Americans to stop the violence in their communities. Proposals from Washington have ignored these central points, instead focusing on border issues, enforcement of current laws and a possible federal ban on assault weapons. Though helpful, those proposals do not address some other fundamental weaknesses of our gun laws. If we want to help the Mexican people and our own, we must eliminate the loopholes and gaps in federal law that allow guns to be sold without Brady background checks by unlicensed sellers. The ATF has found that gun sales without background checks are a major source for supplying dangerous people with guns. Under current federal law, only gun sales by a federally licensed gun dealer are subject to Brady background checks. "Private sales" by unlicensed sellers don't require a background check. At gun shows -- sort of like flea markets for firearms -- so-called private sellers sell guns to anyone, no questions asked, except in states that have closed this loophole under state law. Texas and Arizona continue to allow private sellers to sell without background checks, and gun shows in those states are one of the sources of guns recovered in Mexico. Mexican drug cartels are exploiting this loophole. We all agree that criminals should not be allowed to buy guns. We should also agree that all gun sellers should check to make sure they are not arming criminals. There is more we should do. We must get rid of the riders, known collectively as the Tiahrt Amendment, attached annually to Justice Department appropriations legislation since 2004. These riders weaken enforcement of our laws by prohibiting the ATF from releasing gun crime gun data to law enforcement and others, prohibiting the ATF from requiring gun dealer inventory audits and requiring the destruction of critical Brady background check records within only 24 hours. We also should further strengthen the ATF by making it easier to revoke the licenses of reckless dealers, give it the power to suspend licenses and levy civil penalties, and eliminate the bizarre restriction that limits the ATF to only one spot inspection of a gun dealer per year. In addition to strengthening the ATF's enforcement power, we need to attack gun trafficking at its source by limiting the high-volume gun sales that fuel trafficking from licensed dealers. Under federal law, there is no limit to how many handguns or assault weapons a purchaser can buy at a time, allowing gun traffickers to quickly amass guns suitable for an army. Every year, 30,000 Americans are killed with guns, but all too often, Washington has ignored the pleas of the vast majority of Americans calling for sanity in our gun laws. Politicians frequently echo the gun lobby refrain to only "enforce the laws on the books," refusing to admit that there are very few laws on the books. But the Mexican drug war has upped the ante. Now that our weak gun laws threaten the stability of an important ally, fueling one of our nation's most ominous global security threats, the question is whether we will strengthen our gun laws to protect Mexicans, and Americans, or whether we will cater to the extremist gun lobby. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Kathleen Kennedy Townsend and Paul Helmke. | Townsend, Helmke: U.S. guns are helping fuel the Mexican drug war .
They say U.S. should close loophole letting guns be sold without background check .
They say Congress should drop limits on federal release of gun data .
Townsend, Helmke: U.S. should strengthen powers of federal firearms agency . |
160,724 | 5bc61f3373c2c726026b997932df6e975f2d6cfc | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 15:51 EST, 1 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 21:08 EST, 1 January 2014 . Three bombs have exploded within an hour of each other outside a hotel in the Somali capital, killing at least 11 people, it has been reported. It is believed at least 17 more people have been wounded after the triple blasts earlier today. The three bombs exploded within an hour outside the front of the Jazira hotel, which is popular with government officials and tourists, and is in a heavily fortified district of the capital. Scroll Down for Video . Three bombs exploded within an hour outside the front of the Jazira hotel, which is popular with government officials and tourists, and is in a heavily fortified district of the capital . Reuters reports the first two bombs came in quick succession and were followed by heavy bursts of gunfire by Somali security forces. The third blast took place about an hour later when a bomb went off inside a car that was being searched by the military. 'At least 11 people are dead and 17 . others are wounded. That is what we have carried,' Abdikadir Abdirahman, . the director of a private ambulance service said. A doctor at the Madina hospital said at least one body and 10 wounded people had been brought in. 'First we heard a big crash and the security forces immediately opened fire,' said Abdullahi Hussein who lives 300 metres behind the hotel. 'After a few minutes another explosion took place and there was more gunfire.' There was no immediate claim of responsibility but the Islamist rebel group al Shabaab has carried out a campaign of attacks over the past two and a half years in Mogadishu, underscoring the huge security challenges the government faces . The Associated Press has put the death toll lower - with at least six dead and eight wounded. There was no immediate claim of responsibility but the Islamist rebel group al Shabaab has carried out a campaign of attacks over the past two and a half years in Mogadishu, underscoring the huge security challenges the government faces. Al Shabaab suicide bombers have targeted the Jazira hotel before, in an attack late last year. The al-Qaida-linked Islamic rebels frequently stage lethal attacks in Somalia near the seat of government and at sites popular with foreigners. In a radio message on Tuesday, a senior al-Shabab commander warned civilians to stay away from government buildings as well as sites controlled or owned by foreigners. The commander, Ali Mohammed Hussein, said attacks were imminent in Mogadishu. Al-Shabab once controlled Mogadishu, but it was ousted from the capital in August 2011. In September, the militants claimed responsibility for an attack on the Westgate Mall in neighboring Kenya that killed 67 people. | At least 17 more people have been wounded after triple blasts earlier today .
Three bombs exploded within an hour outside the front of the Jazira hotel .
It's popular with government officials and tourists - in heavily fortified area .
No-one has yet claimed responsibility for the attack .
But Al Shabaab suicide bombers have targeted the Jazira hotel before . |
60,474 | abe62fa8059c13d2f24de4236da4ad368537f9ae | President Barack Obama started his presidency by removing a bust of Winston Churchill from the Oval Office, sending the Queen of England an iPod filled with his own speeches and gifting a boxed set of 25 DVDs to then-Prime Minister Gordon Brown – which he reportedly couldn't play in the UK. There were no apologies for the Borat-like gaffes, leading pundits to predict that America's new chief executive would insist being president means never having to say you're sorry. Not so much. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO . WORLD RECORD IN THE 40-METER BACKTRACK: Obama apologized after comparing his performance on a bowling alley to the Special Olympics . I NOW PRONOUNCE YOU BUMPED: Obama's golf game displaced a military couple's wedding last month in Hawaii, bring another apology . REMEMBER THIS? Obama apologized in July 24 after he said Cambridge, Massachusetts police had 'acted stupidly' by arresting a black Harvard professor in front of his home . A list published by The Washington Post includes 13 Obama apologies, not including what his conservative adversaries consider an overall apologetic tone about America's position of dominance in the world. The list also omits the tepid mea culpa the White House offered Monday for sending no one of importance to a massive anti-terror rally held Sunday in Paris. 'I think it's fair to say that we should have sent someone with a higher profile' than the U.S. ambassador to France, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest conceded Monday. The words 'sorry' and 'apologize' didn't make cameos, but they have in the past, beginning just a few months into Obama's presidency. After comparing his awkward style of bowling to handicapped athletes who compete in the Special Olympics in March 2009, Obama called Special Olympics Chairman Tim Shriver to apologize personally. He made the comment on 'The Tonight Show,' and offered his mea culpa in the evening before the show even aired. Obama had told host Jay Leno that he was embarrassed after he scored just 129 on the White House's private bowling alley. 'It's like – it was like Special Olympics or something,' he said. Then-Press Secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters the next day that Obama understood special olympians 'deserve a lot better than – than the thoughtless joke that he made last night, and he apologizes for that.' A more recent Obama slight brought a different kind of apology after his golf game in Hawaii forced an engaged military couple to move their wedding at the last minute. The bride's sister said it was 'emotional, especially for her – she’s the bride and in less than 24 hours they had to change everything they had planned.' Ultimately, she said, Obama called personally for a 'wonderful talk' and 'apologized and congratulated them.' On the world stage, the president has apologized to at least two heads of state. Following an incident in 2012 where American NATO troops were caught burning Qu'rans in Afghanistan, Obama apologized to that country's then-president, Hamid Karzai. The apology rankled some in the U.S. since violent protests after the holy-book burnings resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers. The Qu'rans had been confiscated from Muslim prisoners on a U.S. military base because it was feared they were using the books to pass information to each other. The soldiers failed to follow Army regulations covering the proper disposal of religious books. And in October 2013 German Chancellor Angela Merkel got a personal apology from Obama after it emerged that the National Security Agency had tapped her cell phone, beginning in 2002. He offered his hat-in-hand confession when Merkel called him – most likely on a land line – to discuss the unusual breach of trust. 'ENTSCHULDIGUNG': Obama apologized to German Chancellor Angela Merkel after the NSA tapped her phone . His fellow Democrats have had a few presidential admissions of guilt. California Attorney General Kamala Harris, now on the short list of likely Democratic contenders for the Senate seat soon to be vacated by Barbara Boxer, had hers in November 2013. Obama found himself behind the feminist 8-ball when he complimented Harris on her beauty. 'GOOD LOOKING': California Attorney General Kamala Harris was offended by a presidential compliment, and got an Obama mea culpa . 'She is brilliant and she is dedicated and she is tough, and she is exactly what you'd want in anybody who is administering the law, and making sure that everybody is getting a fair shake,' the president said during a Democratic fundraiser in San Francisco. 'She also happens to be, by far, the best looking attorney general in the country. It's true! C'mon!' Jay Carney, then the White House Press Secretary, told reporters the next day that Obama 'did speak with Attorney General Harris last night, after he came back from his trip, and he called her to apologize for the distraction created by his comments.' Two apologies have come from the president following the initial debacles related to his Affordable Care Act. After Obama made at least 37 public promises that Americans who liked their medical insurance would be able to keep it under Obamacare, the opposite turned out to be true. Millions of Americans found themselves with canceled insurance policies. In November 2013, Obama apologized – but gave no quarter in insisting that the policy move forward as planned. 'I am sorry that they are finding themselves in this situation based on assurances they got from me,' he said during a television interview. His more heartfelt apology, though, was to Democrats who found his deception politically damaging. 'I feel deeply responsible,' he said during a White House press conference, 'for making it harder for them rather than easier for them to continue to promote the core values that I think led them to support this thing in the first place.' | US president has fallen on his sword more than a dozen times including apologies to the leaders of Germany and Afghanistan .
Apologized for millions of health insurance cancellations that followed his promise that 'if you like your plan, you can keep your plan'
Early gaffes that drew apologies included a crack on The Tonight Show that his inept bowling 'was like Special Olympics or something'
Once had to offer a feminist mea culpa after he described California's female attorney general as beautiful .
White House offered a tepid apology on Monday for the lack of senior US officials at a massive unity march in . |
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