Unnamed: 0
int64 0
287k
| id
stringlengths 40
40
| article
stringlengths 117
14.7k
| highlights
stringlengths 37
3.97k
|
|---|---|---|---|
38,406 | 6c9828c2b383af863dd59f8ebffbb0cc7d36eed6 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 06:41 EST, 20 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 09:31 EST, 20 May 2013 . Five people died in a bungled bank robbery before the gunman took his own life in southern Israel this afternoon. The robbers struck at a branch of Bank Hapoalim in the southern city of Beersheba at about 2pm local time. One of the robbers was reportedly barricaded inside the bank with one female hostage, before shooting himself. A woman hostage is evacuated by Israeli security forces following a bank robbery that escalated into a hostage situation in the Israeli city of Beersheva. Five people, including the gunman, were killed . The woman, who was held hostage by the robber, is rushed to safety by a security man in body armour . The distressed hostage is comforted by medical workers. Witnesses reported hearing gunfire during the siege, while a local school went into lockdown . Three men and a woman were reported among those dead. Witnesses reported volleys of gunfire, and a nearby school went into lockdown. During the standoff, police apprehended one of the robbers, but the other remained holed up in the bank with at least one hostage, who later emerged unscathed. 'Four people have been killed and the robber apparently shot himself dead. The scene is now clear,' regional police commander Yoram Levy told Israel Radio after his forces raided the bank. Israeli security gather outside the bank following the bungled, and ultimately tragic, heist . Several more people were injured in the attack . Israeli media reports said three bank employees and a customer were among the dead. Witnesses said at least three people were injured, including one in critical condition from an upper-body wound and two suffering from shock. One of the injured men was evacuated to Soroka Medical Center to undergo surgery. City of horror: Beersheba, in Southern Israel, where four people have been killed in a botched bank robbery . Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been informed of the tragedy . Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has informed of the incident. According to Channel 2, authorities said the two assailants were residents of the Beduin village of Rahat. Violent bank heists are rare in Israel. In 2011, a robber killed a security guard in a bank in the centre of the country. | Tragedy happened in the southern city of Beersheba .
Dramatic pictures of woman being rescued by security forces .
Four more injured, including one person in a critical condition . |
221,694 | aafdf441e1c72d3de75aef14f03f8c3bf55f9109 | By . Belinda Robinson . Guilty: Tracey Lynn Garner has been found guilty of murder August 29, after killing an Alabama woman by giving her silicone injections as a buttocks enhancement . A Mississippi woman was convicted yesterday of murder in connection to illicit silicone buttocks injections that led to a Georgia woman's death. Tracy Lynn Garner, 54, was found guilty of depraved-heart murder and conspiracy to commit wire fraud in the 2012 death of Karima Gordon, 37, after a jury deliberated for five hours, according to the state attorney general's office. The murder conviction carries a maximum sentence of life in prison. 'We felt confident that the evidence would lead to a conviction,' Attorney General Jim Hood said. 'We hope this verdict will deliver some sense of justice for Ms. Gordon's family.' Judge Winston Kidd set sentencing for Tuesday. Garner was immediately taken into custody after the verdict was read. Her attorney, John M. Collette said he could not comment on the case because a gag order remained in effect. Gordon, an Atlanta-area resident, died eight days after receiving the injections in 2012. Prosecutors said Gordon's death was caused by injections that Garner administered. They said Gordon was referred to Garner by Natasha Stewart, an adult entertainer also known as Pebbelz Da Model. Stewart was convicted of manslaughter in February and is serving a seven-year prison sentence. The prosecution said Stewart told Gordon that Garner was a nurse. During the trial, Colette suggested that Gordon wanted exactly what Garner had to offer. 'She wanted this underground, bargain basement butt enhancement,' Colette said. He . also stated that Gordon had other injections that could have caused her . death, and argued that the silicone found in Gordon's body didn't match . silicone seized from Garner's Jackson home. 'We don't know how much she'd gotten before she ever came to Mississippi,' Colette said. 'What silicone caused her death?' Gender: A jury took five hours to deliberate over a conviction for Tracey Lynn Garner, formerly known as Morris Garner, pictured here in September at Hinds County courtroom in Jackson, Miss., . Crime: After fake doctor Tracy Lynn Garner, left, gave Karima Gordon, right the buttock injections she died eight days later in 2012 . Doctor: Garner still faces similar charges in the 2010 death of Marilyn Hale, of Selma, Alabama . Authorities initially identified Garner as a man, Morris Garner, after the arrest. Her attorney has said Garner was born male and had sex reassignment surgery. Garner still faces similar charges in the 2010 death of Marilyn Hale, of Selma, Alabama. The trial date in that case has not yet been set. Sentenced: Garner was immediately taken into custody after the verdict was read . | Tracy Lynn Garner was found guilty .
of depraved-heart murder and conspiracy to commit wire fraud in the 2012 .
death of Karima Gordon .
The murder conviction carries a maximum sentence of life in prison .
Garner was immediately taken into custody after the verdict was read .
She still faces similar charges in the 2010 death of Marilyn Hale .
Authorities initially identified Garner as a man, Morris Garner, after the arrest .
Her attorney said Garner was born male and had sex reassignment surgery . |
38,878 | 6de2feb6af9c177f46c9f7c10876e4f2a7b69087 | (CNN) -- The first world records of the London 2012 Olympics have been set by a blind South Korean archer -- hours before Friday's much-anticipated opening ceremony was due to begin. Im Dong Hyun is legally classified as blind and cannot see out of his right eye, but it did not stop the two-time gold medalist bettering his own leading 72-arrow score in the qualification competition at Lord's cricket ground in the British capital. London 2012: Results and Schedule . The 26-year-old, who struggles to read a newspaper, scored 699, which put him top of the standings ahead of compatriots Kim Bubmin and Oh Jin Hyek. The efforts of the trio also delivered a second world record, as South Korea registered a landmark combined total of 2,087 for the team event -- a discipline the Asian nation has won gold in at the last two Games. The event at the home of English cricket was held behind closed doors, but it did not stop fans queuing in an attempt to gain entry to the stadium. "Tickets have not been advertised or sold by (Olympic organizers) LOCOG for the archery ranking event," read a statement from the venue. We have always made it clear that the preliminary rounds are not open for spectators. "There are a number of unofficial websites claiming to sell tickets, we therefore advise people to be extremely cautious and vigilant when attempting to buy tickets and only purchase from an official source." A non-ticketed event that people can attend is the cycling road race, which is a 250-kilometer trek from Box Hill in the English county of Surrey to the Buckingham Palace in the heart of London. Spectators will be able to line certain areas of the route free of charge to cheer on British hopefuls such as Tour de France winner Bradley Wiggins and sprint star Mark Cavendish in Saturday's men's race, while the women compete on Sunday. London welcomes world for Olympics opening ceremony . London Olympics by the numbers . Protests on opening day of Olympics . | South Korea's archery team break first world records of 2012 Games .
Im Dong Hyun betters his own 72-arrow mark, while team record also tumbles .
The 26-year-old is competing at the Games despite being legally blind .
Dong Hyun won gold medals at both the Athens and Beijing Olympic Games . |
183,254 | 795bc1037ecd485c9de81ae55f0b8f9d3b85f938 | More than a million people receiving treatment for asthma may have been misdiagnosed, experts warned today. Almost a third of the 4.1m people treated for asthma in the UK did not show any 'clear evidence' of the incurable condition, according to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) . This means they may be receiving unnecessary treatment. However, asthma charities warned diagnosing asthma is difficult and the majority of patients 'do not receive adequate care'. And experts cautioned that no one diagnosed with the condition should stop taking prescribed medication unless instructed by a healthcare professional. More than a million people may have been wrongly diagnosed as having asthma - and may be receiving unnecessary treatment . NICE has drafted new guidance, its first for asthma, for doctors in England to improve the accuracy of diagnoses. The guideline makes it clear that a clinical test should be carried out to diagnose asthma, as well as checking for signs and symptoms. It said the first test should be carried out using a spirometer, a machine which measures how much and how fast a person breathes out. Further breath tests should be carried out depending on the results from spirometry and the patient's age. For adults and young people over five years, an FeNO test should be carried out. This is a test which checks for levels of nitric oxide, a gas which is found in larger volumes in people with asthma. A BDR test4 which measures whether standard medicines which widen the airways of the lung are of benefit . Asthma is a common long-term condition that can cause coughing, wheezing, chest tightness and breathlessness. The severity of these symptoms varies from person to person. Asthma can be controlled well in most people most of the time, although some people may have more persistent problems. Occasionally, asthma symptoms can get gradually or suddenly worse. This is known as an 'asthma attack', although doctors sometimes use the term 'exacerbation'. Severe attacks may require hospital treatment and can be life threatening, although this is unusual. Asthma is caused by inflammation of the small tubes, called bronchi, which carry air in and out of the lungs. When a person come into contact with something that irritates the lungs – known as a trigger – the airways become narrow, the muscles around them tighten, and there is an increase in the production of sticky mucus (phlegm). The reason why some people develop asthma is not fully understood, although it is known that a person is more likely to develop it if they have a family history of the condition. Asthma can develop at any age, including in young children and elderly people. Source: NHS Choices . The treatment of children under five should be based on professional judgement and observation until the child is old enough to take clinical tests. Around 1 in 10 of adults with asthma develops the condition because they are exposed to certain substances, such as chemicals or dust, in their workplace. The draft guideline also recommends that healthcare professionals ask employed people how their symptoms are affected by work, to check if they may have occupational asthma. During each review, the healthcare professionals should check the patient is able to use their inhaler correctly and also consider using a questionnaire to get a better estimate of how well a person is doing, it added. Professor Mark Baker, director of clinical practice at NICE, said: 'Asthma is a long-term incurable condition that affects millions of people of all ages. 'If left untreated, asthma attacks can be life threatening. 'However, with appropriate treatment and thoughtful monitoring, most people will be able to successfully control their symptoms and be spared from serious harm. 'Accurate diagnosis of asthma has been a significant problem which means that people may be wrongly diagnosed or cases might be missed in others. 'Our aim with this guideline is to give clarity and set out the most clinical and cost effective ways to diagnose and monitor asthma based on the best available evidence.' Asthma is one of the world's most common long-lasting diseases in childhood, affecting 1.1m children and 4.3m adults in the UK. Around 10 per cent of the 5.4 million people in the UK with asthma have the most severe form, which leaves them unable to control their symptoms, resulting in frequent attacks, despite taking multiple high-strength medicines. Experts today highlighted the need for respiratory diseases to be diagnosed accurately. Professor Anna Murphy, a consultant pharmacist and spokesperson for the Royal Pharmaceutical Society said: ‘I think there are issues in primary care in diagnosing asthma. NICE says doctors should now carry out clinical test as well as observations in order to diagnose asthma. The first test should be carried out using a spirometer, a machine which measures how much and how fast a person breathes out (pictured) 'We need to do a thorough history and do objective tests to confirm the findings we suspect. ‘Unfortunately we’re often not doing these tests and so people are being misdiagnosed. ‘Getting the diagnosis right before we get suggest treatment for any disease is important. ‘If we're given asthma treatment for breathlessness and it’s not working, it could be that the person has COPD, anaemia, or heart failure, which will need to be treated appropriately. ‘Other people with these conditions could slip through the net.' There aren't too many risks for people taking inhalers at the doses generally prescribed by doctors and pharmacists, she added, but as they are steroid inhalers they could induce side-effects of oral thrush and a hoarse voice. 'There’s also a cost to the NHS of wasted treatment,' she continued. However, she said asthma can be fatal and so stressed people diagnosed with the condition should not stop their treatment without the advice of a healthcare professional. 'We can’t miss the fact that people die from asthma, so I don’t want people to think “I don’t have asthma” and stop their treatment. 'It’s a variable disease which will be well-controlled at some points, but they will have symptoms such as breathlessness, coughing at night, and wheezing at other times. Experts said people misdiagnosed with asthma could actually be suffering breathlessness for a different reason, such as COPD, lung diseases anaemia or heart failure, which should be treated appropriately . 'What we would recommend for anyone with well-controlled disease, is that it’s good practice for the healthcare professional to slowly start reducing their treatments, in a controlled way, so the need less. 'They would be monitored to make sure people are safe.' Dr Nick Hopkinson, a respiratory physician and medical advisor for the British Lung Foundation echoed these concerns. He told Mailonline: ‘Tens of hundreds of thousands of people are taking inhalers they don’t need is wasteful. ‘Some people with asthma could end up with high doses of inhaled steroids, when the correct dose for them is zero.’ Commenting on the draft guideline, Kay Boycott, chief executive at Asthma UK, said: 'We welcome the NICE guideline for the improvement of asthma diagnosis in the hope that this will help people with asthma receive more personalised care. 'Asthma has many complex causes which is one of the reasons why it is sometimes difficult to get a definitive diagnosis. 'It is also a highly variable condition that can change throughout someone’s life or even week by week, meaning treatment can change over time. 'For anyone with an asthma diagnosis, it is vital they have the right medication and a plan to better manage their condition and any asthma attacks.' | NICE says there is no evidence a third of asthma patients have the disease .
Watchdog is concerned they are receiving treatment they don't need .
Now advises doctors to carry out clinical tests before diagnosing patients .
This includes a spirometer - which measures volume of airway obstruction .
However asthma charities say patients aren't receiving adequate care . |
135,324 | 3b0caf400bcfdf2682c0035f18b8c1cd4fce39be | It's only February but already Burnley would appear to be suffering from an acute case of relegation anxiety. For the second home game running in the Barclays Premier League, Sean Dyche's team failed to hold on to a two-goal advantage. Unlike their previous home game – that they lost 3-2 to Crystal Palace – Burnley managed to hold on for a point here, a late goal line clearance from Ben Mee ensuring that disappointment didn't once again become calamity. But Burnley have now taken one point when they really should have had six and, with a fixture list featuring both Manchester clubs, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham between now and mid-April, this may yet be the kind of afternoon that ultimately sends them down. Ashley Barnes opens the scoring for Burnley early in the first half at Turf Moor in their clash with West Bromwich Albion . Goal scorer Barnes jumps over Danny Ings in celebration after scoring the opening goal on Sunday . Ings then scored the second goal of the afternoon mid way through the first half at Turf Moor . Ings, who was heavily linked with Liverpool during the January transfer window, celebrates his goal . Former captain Chris Brunt (centre) pulls one back for the Baggies in added time at the end of the first half . Substitute Brown Ideye scores the equaliser in the second half, it was the fourth headed goal of the game . Burnley (4-4-2): Heaton 6; Trippier 6, Keane 6, Shackell 6, Mee 6.5; Boyd 7, Jones 7, Marney 6.5 (Kightly 45, 6), Arfield 6.5; Barnes 7, Ings 7. Subs not used: Duff, Wallace, Vokes, Reid, Jutkiewicz, Gilks. Scorers: Barnes 10, Ings 32 . West Brom (4-4-2): Foster 6.5; Dawson6, McAuley 6.5, Lescott 7, Baird 6 (Ideye 45, 6.5); McManaman 6.5 (Morrison 81, 6), Fletcher 6, Yacob 6, Brunt 6.5; Sessegnon 6.5, Anichebe 6 (Berahino 17, 6.5). Subs not used: Wisdom, Gardner, Pocognoli, Rose. Scorers: Brunt 45, Ideye 67. Booked: Baird, Yacob, Ideye, Dawson. Referee: Mike Dean. Star man: George Boyd. Att: 16904. CLICK HERE to view Sportsmail's Match Zone feature where you can see goals (like Burnley's second, above), stats, heat maps and more. If that sounds rather negative — Burnley are not actually in the bottom three at the moment — then that’s probably because Dyche’s team do not currently seem to have the wherewithal to survive. They are not short on talent and they are capable of playing attractive, incisive football. Canny they are not, however. They are about as streetwise as a tourist walking down Oxford Street with their handbag hanging open and it is this that threatens them as the season begins to drift towards its defining weeks. For half an hour here yesterday Burnley were terrific. Playing on an uneven surface, Dyche’s players passed the ball neatly and purposefully. They were two goals up before West Brom had really got going and the game looked as though it was almost over after goals from Ashley Barnes and the excellent Danny Ings. However, a header from Chris Brunt just before half-time seemed to signal an almost total change of mood and emphasis. Sure enough, Burnley didn’t have the durability to take the blow on the chin and keep moving forward. As such, it surprised nobody when West Brom substitute Brown Ideye, the club’s £10million record signing, headed in the equaliser in the 67th minute. Ideye was close to a cut-price move to Qatar club Al Gharafa on transfer deadline day. Afterwards Dyche did his utmost to spin the result positively but the Burnley manager put his finger on the problem when he said: ‘The margins are fine in this division. You have to be tuned in every inch of the way. You can’t switch off. You have to see every game through and play hard. ‘But I thought we were excellent on the whole. Particularly in the first half I thought we were great.’ West Brom's record signing celebrates his goal on Sunday afternoon, it was his third for the club in all competitions . Nigerian forward Ideye posted this message on his Twitter account following the draw at Turf Moor . With the score tied at 2-2, Baggies centre back Joleon Lescott clears the ball off the line . Saido Berahino started on the bench against Burnley but was brought on by Tony Pulis after Victor Anichebe got injured . Darren Fletcher, who signed from Manchester United in the winter transfer window, tracks Burnley's Scott Arfield . The 31-year-old Fletcher, who was making his debut for West Brom, replaced Brunt as captain of the side . Ben Mee of Burnley tackles West Brom's January signing Callum McManaman during the first half at Turf Moor . Certainly Burnley didn’t look like a team with relegation issues in the first half. Ings could have put them ahead within a couple of minutes, striking a first time shot just over the bar from 15 yards, before Scott Arfield came even closer soon after. Moving on to a low cross from the right, Arfield’s side-foot shot was perfectly struck and seemed destined for the top corner before Ben Foster reached out a hand and touched the ball onto the crossbar. It was a terrific save from the goalkeeper and for a few minutes at least it ensured that parity remained. In only the 11th minute, though, Burnley scored the goal that already seemed inevitable as Ings won a tussle at the far post and hooked the ball back across the face of goal for Barnes to head in from a matter of yards. At this stage, West Brom really were not in the game. Burnley were proving far too purposeful and they broke to score a second goal just after half an hour. It was a neat and intelligent dummy by Kieran Trippier in the middle of the field that allowed the always dangerous George Boyd to find some space down the right. The former Hull City player still had much to do from tight on the touchline but his cross was well struck and that allowed Ings to meet it 12 yards out and head powerfully down and into the corner to Foster’s left. West Brom manager Tony Pulis commented later that his team had started the game as though they were still in bed. He had a point. Despite the appointment of Darren Fletcher as captain, the visiting team were aimless and rudderless. Brunt’s header from a corner just before the break changed everything, though, and when Ideye did likewise midway through the second half it was anybody’s game. Burnley did come again late on. They probably should have had a penalty when Gareth McAuley handled a cross from Mee but the Burnley full back’s most significant contribution was still to come as he diverted Saido Berahino’s late shot away from goal after a mistake from Jason Shackell. ‘This is gonna be a tough one,’ said Pulis, referring to West Brom’s own relegation issue. ‘There isn’t that much time to do the things that need doing. But this is a good point for us. We were much better in the second half.’ West Brom midfielder Claudio Yacob tracks Burnley goal scorer and star striker Ings during the first half . West Brom debutant Fletcher's heat map from the match on Sunday, as depicted in Sportsmail's Match Zone feature . Clarets defender Mee hooks the ball clear while being closed down by Baggies midfielder Stephane Sessegnon . Former Manchester City and Everton defender Lescott is tackled by Burnley striker Barnes . West Brom defenders Lescott and Gareth McAuley close down Burnley striker Ings during the second half . West Brom manager Tony Pulis (left) greets Burnley boss Sean Dyche (right) before the match on Sunday . A thick fog hung over Turf Moor for the Premier League clash between West Brom and Burnley on Sunday afternoon . | Darren Fletcher made his debut for West Brom and was named as their captain .
Ashley Barnes opened the scoring for Burnley early in the first half .
Danny Ings doubled their lead 20 minutes later with a powerful header .
But Chris Brunt pulled one back for West Brom just before half time .
Baggies substitute Brown Ideye scored the equaliser - it was the fourth headed goal of the game . |
147,656 | 4aeb85e2c2e1a5f651398a337331294ad4a65676 | Nigel Farage was last night accused of recruiting ‘toffs for the top’ of Ukip after a candidate in a key target seat expressed fury that he had been ousted in favour of a star of the TV programme Gogglebox. Andrew Michael, a wealthy, retired hotelier who features on the Channel 4 programme, has been parachuted in as Mr Farage’s candidate in Hastings and Rye, where the sitting Tory MP holds a wafer-thin majority. Now the deposed candidate has given vent to his anger in a leaked email to local party members in which he condemns Ukip’s policy of recruiting defecting Tory MPs and celebrities. Ralph Atkinson calls on Ukip members to bombard Mr Farage with complaints about his treatment, and claims that his party boasts ‘standards of democracy lower than the unelected European Commission’. Scroll down for video . First choice: Andrew Michael, a wealthy, retired hotelier who features on the Channel 4 programme alongside his family (above), has been parachuted in as Mr Farage’s candidate in Hastings and Rye . The row has blown up just days before Mr Farage will be seen in an alcohol-fuelled encounter with two other stars of the hit show, in which viewers watch people watching television. Steph and Dom Parker have been filmed knocking back glasses of wine and champagne with Mr Farage for a TV special which ends with the Ukip leader falling over, smashing a glass and having to borrow a pair of his host’s trousers. Row: Ralph Atkinson claims that he was kicked out in favour of Mr Michael. He has vented his anger in an email to local Ukip party members . Mr Michael, 55 – whose Gogglebox appearances with his wife Carolyne and two of their four children have included discussions about whether Ukip is racist – was selected for the seat last week shortly after Mr Atkinson was removed in a coup which he says was orchestrated by the party’s head office. In the email, seen by The Mail on Sunday, Mr Atkinson complains that he has ‘apparently been removed as Hastings & Rye Prospective Parliamentary Candidate’, and says sarcastically, in reference to the recent by-election victories of ex-Tories Douglas Carswell and Mark Reckless: ‘Obviously potential candidates who have defected from the Conservatives will be preferred to long-term party members. This is in line with party policy which is to recruit more ‘‘toffs for the top’’ in order to win votes from the disenfranchised working-class voters, who exist in great numbers here’. Mr Atkinson, a former Ukip spokesman on immigration, adds: ‘Any person wishing to complain in a civilised fashion about this situation should send to [he gives Mr Farage’s private email address].’ Hastings, which is held by Tory MP Amber Rudd with a majority over Labour of under 2,000, is number 54 on Ukip’s ‘hitlist’ of Conservative-held seats. Mr Michael is filmed for Gogglebox at his £1.5 million house, which, far from being in the Hastings constituency, is in Brighton. In one recent edition, Mr Michael, who is of Greek-Cypriot origin, discussed the alleged racism of Ukip’s ‘calypso’ song with his family. At one point his children laugh sarcastically: ‘Wouldn’t want anyone thinking Ukip is racist.’ And in another episode, Mr Michael’s wife Carolyne says: ‘That Mark Reckless is not exactly very charismatic is he?’ After Mr Michael agrees, she adds: ‘I think if you were a donkey and you had the Ukip rosette on, they would vote for you.’ Favoured: Mr Atkinson says, in reference to ex-Tories like Douglas Carswell (right with Mr Farage): ‘Potential candidates who have defected from the Conservatives will be preferred to long-term party members.' Last week it was revealed that more than a dozen party activists had resigned amid complaints that Mr Farage and his ‘undemocratic cabal’ had stopped long-serving Ukip members from standing as MPs in winnable seats. Last night, a Ukip spokesman said: ‘It is Ukip policy that candidates in target seats are verified by the NEC. In the case of Hastings, it was felt the candidate was not suitable. ‘Nobody was preferred by the party. Hastings has now selected Mr Michael. This has nothing to do with Mr Farage’s filming with the Gogglebox team, which took place months ago and was unrelated.’ | Gogglebox's Andrew Michael chosen as Hastings and Rye Ukip candidate .
Ralph Atkinson claims he was kicked out in favour of the Channel 4 star .
He vented his anger in a leaked email that was sent to local party members .
Also condemned Ukip's policy of recruiting defecting Tories and celebrities . |
80,654 | e499caec04784fe5c08063e690dfc1ca41d820c0 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 19:55 EST, 13 August 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 05:05 EST, 14 August 2012 . A North Carolina grandfather who disappeared during a New Hampshire vacation after falling, hitting his head and losing his memory has been reunited with his family. After falling down a ravine during a solitary walk, 72-year-old Hugh Armstrong lost his memory and hitchhiked 1,000 miles to his home state, gradually collecting clues about his life on the journey. Now safely home after a 16-day fugue, today he told ABC, ‘I'll tell you something, it's very nice to know who you are.’ Scroll down for video . Reunited: Hugh Armstrong lost his memory after falling and hitting his head in New Hampshire; he then traveled 1,000 miles to his home state of North Carolina and was reunited with his wife, Ellen, on Saturday - 16 days after he disappeared . On July 25, the retired IBM employee decided to go for a walk around a nearby lake. Armstrong recalled leaving a note saying he’d be back by 9 to have a pancake breakfast with his grandchildren. But he never returned. The grandfather doesn’t remember falling down a ravine but just recalls waking up after dark with no idea of who he was. ‘The only thing I could remember at that time was I didn't know who I was, but I had to go south and west, so that's where I started going,’ he told the news station. From there ensued an incredible journey home that will surely thrill Hollywood script writers. Unable to recall his name, Armstrong hitchhiked and walked 1,000 miles south. He said a farmer in Pennsylvania or Virginia hired him to help hay. The good Samaritan farmer paid him, put him up, fed him and drove him to Roanoke, Virginia. Incredible odyssey: North Carolina man Hugh Armstrong hitchhiked and walked 1,000 miles home from New Hampshire in a two-week fugue, without knowing who he was. A breakthrough then came when he was hitching a lift from a truck driver. After telling the driver that he thought he was from North Carolina, the man started listing towns. When the driver said Asheville, Armstrong knew that was where he needed to get to. Another stroke of luck came at a McDonald's when he heard a mother calling for her daughter, Emma. He remembered that he had a granddaughter named Emma living in Wilmington, North Carolina and began writing her a letter. He wrote, 'I don't know who I am, but hopefully you will,’ reported ABC. He signed the letter with the initials and date he found on the inside of his wedding ring. However, he couldn’t recall her address. But watching TV that night he heard someone mention a .410 shotgun which triggered him to remember the number of Emma’s address. He then scoured a phone book to find the right address. Desperate for someone to recognise him, Armstrong traipsed round parks and shopping malls. No idea who he was Armstrong was put up for several days by a Good-Samaritan farmer in Pennsylvania, who eventually gave him a ride to Roanoke, Virgina . Sixteen days after he disappeared, he was finally found by a sheriff's deputy, walking along U.S. Highway 70 in North Carolina at 1:30 a.m. Saturday morning. He was about 230 west of his home in Clayton. 'He's my hero. That's just a remarkable feat,' said Deputy Brian Walker of the McDowell County Sheriff's Department following the end of the remarkable tale. He told officers he didn’t know his name, only his initials, and thought he was around 71-years-old. After using a missing person’s database, officers were able to discover his identity. At 3.30am his wife, Ellen, then got the call she had been desperate for. After talking to him on the phone, she drove with their daughter to the sheriff's office to take him home. As soon as Ellen stepped out the car, Armstrong said, 'That's my wife,' the sheriff's deputy recalled. Ellen Armstrong told ABC that her husband gave them the ‘biggest bear hug’ when they walked through the door. The retired IBM employee was reunited with his family after he overheard his granddaughter's first name in a N.C. McDonald's, found her in a phone book, and penned her a letter . Not knowing who you are is ‘the worst feeling in the world’, says Ellen. ‘He just had to sit there and hopefully somebody would recognize him. [But] we knew if anybody could find his way out of the woods, it would be him,’ she told ABC. Armstrong is suffering from headaches and is more emotional than normal which doctors assure the family are symptoms of a mild concussion. The family celebrated Armstrong's miraculous return with a small pizza party as they rebuild their lives again. More than 60 people including volunteers had been looking for Armstrong in New Hampshire, searching the Stinson Lake area day and night and using helicopters, boats and dogs. By July 31, the search was scaled back to a small crew of about five divers who focused on the lake. 'I really didn't expect this outcome,' said son-in-law Craig Black. 'I'm just glad to have him home.' 'He's very, very resourceful,' said his son-in-law Craig Black. 'He's very strong. He just knows how to survive. He knows how to figure out where he needs to go, how he needs to get there.' Watch video here . video platformvideo managementvideo solutionsvideo player . | Hugh Armstrong went for a solitary walk July 25, fell, hit his head and awoke with no idea who he was .
Hitchhiked and walked 1,000 miles to home state .
The retired IBM worker was put up by a Good-Samaritan farmer in Pennsylvania for several nights .
Overheard his granddaughter's name in a McDonald's, found her name in a phone book and penned a letter .
A North Carolina Sheriff's Deputy found Armstrong Saturday morning, walking along .
a highway .
Reunited with wife and family . |
258,346 | da6398e94e9cf38e4742b1162d83dc593d652ee2 | Tour companies evacuated hundreds of vacationers from Kenya after various nations issued travel alerts that warned of a "high threat" of terrorist attacks. All-inclusive tour company First Choice and Thomson Airways said they were canceling trips to the coastal area of Mombasa until the end of October. They transported about 200 vacationers to London on Friday morning. By the end of evacuations Friday night, both said they expect all their 400 vacationers to be out. "As a precautionary measure, we have also taken the decision to repatriate all customers currently on holiday in Kenya, including our air fare passengers back to the UK on Thursday and Friday," Thomson said in a statement. A day before the evacuations, the UK Foreign Office advised against nonessential travel to various areas, including the Mombasa coastal region. It urged tourists with nonessential travel to leave. "There is a high threat from terrorism, including kidnapping ... from extremists linked to Al-Shabaab, a militant group that has carried out attacks in response to Kenya's military intervention in Somalia," the UK alert said. The United States also updated its travel warning this week, citing the potential for terrorist attacks in Nairobi and the coastal cities of Mombasa and Diani. Australia also urged its nationals to reconsider travel to those areas. Kenyan authorities described the warnings as "unfriendly acts" and said security remains a top priority. "Issuance of such travel advisories only plays to ... spread fear and panic," the Kenyan Foreign Ministry said in a statement. The Kenyan military crossed into Somalia in 2011 to battle the terrorist group Al-Shabaab, which it blamed for kidnapping tourists in the coastal region. In retaliation, the terrorist group has launched a spate of attacks, including targeting bustling bus stations with grenades. Last year, militants stormed the Westgate Mall in Nairobi and held shoppers under siege for days. At least 67 people were killed. There are about 5,000 British nationals living along the Kenyan coast, according to the Foreign Office. About 10% of those are in Mombasa and surrounding areas. | About 200 people evacuated so far .
Thomson Airways says it's canceling trips to Mombasa until the end of October .
The evacuation comes after U.S., Australia, UK issue travel alerts .
Kenyan authorities describe the warnings as "unfriendly acts" |
83,674 | ed5ce328034da4ad07e8bac9112e15f66adc5410 | LONDON, England (CNN) -- A 23-year-old British student has designed a "super-green superyacht" built using only sustainable materials and which produces virtually no carbon emissions. 600 square meters of solar panels and three giant "wings" mean "Soliloquy" can run on wind energy or solar power. "Soliloquy's" unique eco-luxury design allows the boat to run on two different sources of sustainable energy by incorporating 600 square meters of solar panels on the exterior of the boat and giant rigid "wings" that function like sails. Although the 58-meter boat has yet to be built, it would be able to run either on wind energy via the wings (known as "rigid-wing solarsails"), solar power supplied by the panels or a combination of the two. An equivalent-sized superyacht burns anywhere between 250 and 600 liters of marine diesel per hour, depending on speed and fuel efficiency, and emits three times that in CO2 emissions, according to British yachting carbon offset company, Yacht Carbon Offset. Some of the biggest SUVs on the road burn around 20 liters of fuel per hour. Both the panels and solarsails -- developed by Australian company Solar Sailor -- on the vessel can fold up or completely stretch out depending on which energy source is in use, changing the yacht's shape. "I wanted to prove that eco-luxury no longer has to be an oxymoron and doesn't have to make a yacht more expensive," designer Alastair Callender, a life-long sailing fanatic, told CNN. See more images of super-yacht Soliloquy » . "My generation is passionate about the planet and we've got to do all we can so that the earth can sustain us," he added. "At the same time, however, I am also passionate about superyachts." Soliloquy is projected to cost approximately $60 to $65 million to build -- similar in cost to conventional superyachts of its size. Callender is currently in talks with potential owners to have the vessel built. The wider superyacht community is enthused about the potential of his design and he has also been invited to speak about his ever-evolving, eco-vessel in Abu Dhabi and Monaco. Callender was originally inspired by famed architect David Fishers' design for a "constantly moving" tower in Dubai. "That's how the idea of an ever-evolving superyacht started -- with the three wings that can independently rotate through 360 degrees," Callender explained. Do you like the look of Soliloquy? Tell us in the Sound Off box below . Callender designed "Soliloquy" during his final year studying at Coventry University in England. He approached Solar Sailor, an Australian technology company for technical validation of his design. He also asked a local engineering company, Visioneering, to help construct an intricately detailed scale model. At first, some at Visioneering were taken aback by Callender's young age. "But the idea was innovative and sometimes younger people can bring on board really fresh, new ideas," said Adrian Coppin of Visioneering. "He also has a lot of experience in the yachting industry." Callender says his passion comes from a childhood spent in Portsmouth, England: "I grew up near a harbor, 200 meters away from my sailing club." After school, Callender went to Greece for six months to teach sailing. He then worked with some of the big yacht design companies, including that of his mentor, Andrew Winch. He now feels confident that with a good business plan, his project will become reality. "There are hundreds of extremely rich families who invest in green technology and until now have not wanted to buy yachts because they produce too many carbon emissions," he said. "But with a yacht like Soliloquy, I think they may consider it." | A 23-year-old British student has designed a super-green superyacht .
It runs on either solar power from panels or wind energy from giant "wings"
Yahct produces virtually no emissions and is made from sustainable materials .
Designer is now in talks with potential owners to have "Soliloquy" built . |
44,651 | 7dd75349f72b0a029b61823ec971f70b87c2fe6e | By . Jill Reilly . PUBLISHED: . 03:01 EST, 3 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:40 EST, 3 October 2013 . Killed: Wendy Lawrence was shot and killed by state troopers after high-speed chase . A grandmother was shot and killed by state troopers after high-speed chase through the streets of New Hampshire. Wendy Lawrence, 45, of Canterbury, N.H., was struck by gunfire four times by a state trooper, officials with the state attorney general's office said. Following the Monday night shooting she was taken to a nearby hospital, but was pronounced dead. Lawrence first attracted attention after a New Hampshire State Police trooper saw a Chevrolet Monte Carlo being driven 'erratically' on a southbound highway at roughly 6:30 p.m. Monday, according to a statement from Jeffery A. Strelzin, the senior assistant state attorney general. Lawrence produced a non-driver's ID when the trooper asked her to produce a licence. As the trooper checked out her ID in his car, during which time he discovered she was a habitual offender, she drove off. After a short pursuit her car was found on an inter-state road, but Lawrence then sped away, nearly striking a person who was on the highway, reported NBC News. Multiple state police troopers aided in trying to apprehend Lawrence, following her to Kennard Street in Manchester, before she was shot. It is not clear what exactly prompted the trooper to fire . his gun and officials have launched an investigation. High-speed chase: The car Lawrence was driving when she was shot . Devastated: Lawrence's boyfriend Charles Peter puts a memorial in the grass to remember his girlfriend . Shawn Healey, who was identified on Monday as the owner of the vehicle, said Lawrence had been using the car occasionally for the past eight months, reported the Chronicle Monitor. 'None of us know what happened,' Healey said. 'This doesn’t fit with (Wendy’s) character. She was a fun person to be around. She was not an aggressive person. . . . She would take the shirt off her back for anybody.' Lawrence's boyfriend Charles Peter, nailed a cross and balloon in the grass to remember his girlfriend yesterday. He told the Union Leader he had been dating Lawrence for nearly for years. 'They pretty much executed her,' he told the newspaper of the shooting. | Wendy Lawrence, 45, of Canterbury, N.H., was struck by gunfire four times .
Led police on high-speed chase following failure to produce driving licence .
She died on Monday night after being shot in Manchester . |
235,694 | bd1eceeac5282a0b92ced0dca64bbf7b0ed52362 | (CNN) -- In the wake of revelations about the National Security Agency's monitoring of traffic on the private international fiber links connecting the data centers of Google and Yahoo, Google stepped up its efforts to encrypt internal server traffic and block such monitoring. Now, Yahoo has announced its own plans to encrypt all information that travels between data centers by early next year. In a blog post, Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer reiterated that "Yahoo has never given access to our data centers to the NSA or any other government agency. Ever." Yahoo previously announced that it would protect Yahoo Mail sessions by default with Secure Socket Layer encryption by January 8, using a 2048-bit encryption key. Google moved to encrypt all its searches earlier this fall, and the company has enabled SSL encryption by default for users logged into its services since 2011. In addition to encrypting traffic between its data centers by March of 2014, Yahoo is also moving to apply SSL encryption across all its websites within the same time frame. And Mayer said that Yahoo will "work closely with our international Mail partners to ensure that Yahoo co-branded Mail accounts are HTTPS-enabled." The move will increase the privacy of Yahoo users, but it also comes after Yahoo's Web sessions and internal data center traffic were revealed to at one point be the largest single source of data collected by the NSA, according to documents shared by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden. COPYRIGHT 2011 ARSTECHNICA.COM . | Yahoo says it will encrypt all information that travels between its data centers .
The change will take place by the end of March 2014 .
CEO Marissa Mayer announced change as an effort to protect users' privacy .
Move comes after documents revealed NSA had secretly collected data from Yahoo . |
158,950 | 597b7eb2ca33ce8efa4382e8652aa813d1216218 | Tokyo (CNN) -- Even as Washington and Tokyo disagreed on the extent of the threat a damaged nuclear power plant poses, President Barack Obama told the Japanese prime minister Thursday that the United States will help Japan rebuild following last week's devastating earthquake and tsunami. The two leaders had a 30-minute phone call at 10:30 a.m. Thursday (9:30 p.m. ET Wednesday). During the phone call with Prime Minister Naoto Kan, Obama voiced sympathy for Japan's plight. "The president again conveyed his deep condolences at the tragic loss of life and the widespread suffering in northeastern Japan," a White House statement on the call said. "The president emphasized that the U.S. is determined to do everything possible to support Japan in overcoming the effects of the devastating earthquake and tsunami that struck on March 11." Kan also briefed the president on the status of Japanese efforts to contain the nuclear emergency at the Fukushima Daiichi plant in the country's northeast, the White House said. The developments came as the nations established significantly different radiation exposure warning zones. The U.S. military will not allow troops to get within 80 kilometers (50 miles) of the damaged plant. The Japanese government has told people to evacuate to at least 20 kilometers (12 miles) away from the damaged reactors. Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano said Thursday it's "understandable" that the United States would make a "more conservative decision" on the warning zone as it tries to protect its own citizens. He suggests that is, in part, because the United States is "not directly controlling" the situation. Meanwhile, a Tokyo Electric Power company official said Thursday that -- based on information gathered from a helicopter that flew over the Fukushima facility on Wednesday -- authorities believe that there is water in a key fuel pool outside one of the plant's most troubled reactors. Hours earlier, Gregory Jaczko, the head of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, told Congress that spent fuel rods in Unit 4 of the plant had been exposed, resulting in the emission of "extremely high" levels of radiation. Having water in the fuel pool is important because it helps absorb the radiation. The Fukushima complex lost its power Friday, after a 9.0-magnitude earthquake followed by a tsunami pounded northeastern Japan. | NEW: Japan and United States issue different radiation warning zones .
Obama emphasizes that the U.S. is determined to do everything possible to support Japan .
Kan briefs the president about efforts to contain the nuclear emergency at the Fukushima plant .
Kan and Obama talk for about 30 minutes . |
18,389 | 34001f4a2cc62de091fb2ceef7b9cf3fbff0dbc0 | London, England (CNN) -- A scheduled meeting between Pakistani cricket authorities and three of their country's national players over an alleged betting scandal has been postponed for a day, the team manager told CNN on Wednesday. The meeting will take place Thursday morning at the Pakistani High Commission in London, team manager Yawar Saeed said. He gave no reason for the change. The players -- Salman Butt, Mohammed Asif and Mohammed Amir -- were due to head to London on Wednesday morning from Taunton, England, where their squad is preparing for a match against the local team, Somerset, Saeed said. The three players are at the center of the betting allegations, which emerged Sunday in a British tabloid. They and Saeed were already questioned by London's Metropolitan Police over the scandal, he said earlier this week. The newspaper, the News of the World, reported that two Pakistan players deliberately bowled "no balls," or fouls, during their test series with England in London last week. It said the alleged ringleader made 150,000 pounds ($232,800) in the scam. England won the match at Lord's Cricket Ground. It ended Sunday afternoon, after the scandal broke. A 35-year-old man was arrested late Saturday on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud bookmakers and released on bail Sunday, Met Police said. They said no date had been set for a hearing or further proceedings, but that the investigation was continuing. Three people were also arrested Sunday in connection with the scandal and held on suspicion of money-laundering, a representative of HM Revenue and Customs told CNN. The head of cricket's world governing body said Tuesday he wants prompt disciplinary action if anyone on the Pakistan team was involved in the alleged betting scheme. "The integrity of the game is of paramount importance," said Haroon Lorgat, chief executive of the International Cricket Council. "Prompt and decisive action will be taken against those who seek to harm it. However, the facts must first be established through a thorough investigation and it is important to respect the right of due process when addressing serious allegations of this sort." Investigators from the cricket council are already in the United Kingdom making inquiries into the allegations, the council said Tuesday. They are working with the Met Police on the criminal investigation, according to the council. Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari ordered an investigation into the scandal, his spokesman said Sunday. CNN's Eileen Hsieh contributed to this report. | The meeting had been scheduled for Wednesday .
The three players who will take part are already heading to London .
Police have already questioned the three players . |
271,336 | eb75d48a8dbb280c6015fc19154d92f9d6315e63 | By . Julian Robinson . A scientist struck down by malaria seven times is leading the search for new drugs - to stop transmission of the deadly disease. Dr Rita Tewari, of Nottingham University, has completed what she describes as a 'Herculean study' into the roles played by enzymes as the malaria parasite develops in the body. Dr Tewari, born and brought up in Delhi, . India, said: 'This latest . study identifies how protein phosphatases regulate parasite development. Dr Rita Tewari, of Nottingham University, has completed what she describes as a 'Herculean study' into the roles played by enzymes as the malaria parasite develops in the body . 'Our research provides a systematic functional analysis for all the 30 phosphatases in Plasmodium berghei - the parasite responsible for causing malaria. 'These enzymes work in tandem with the protein kinases identified by the same team in a complementary study carried out in 2010.' Dr Tewari, who now leads her own malaria research laboratory at Nottingham University, added: 'If we can find out what proteins are essential for these parasites to develop and divide, maybe we can target those proteins and arrest them with drugs or vaccines.' Malaria remains one of the most deadly scourges of the developing world - killing up to one million people and causing disease in 300 to 500 million people every year. In humans the deadliest form of malaria is caused by the single cell parasite Plasmodium falciparum. Disrupting the life cycle of the malaria parasite could save the lives of millions of people. Malaria parasite development and cues controlling it is still not fully understood. What Dr Tewari’s team is trying to do is understand the basic developmental biology of these parasites. Dr Tewari’s new research was carried out in collaboration with the Medical Research Council’s National Institute for Medical Research (MRC-NIMR) in London, together with colleagues at Oxford University, Imperial College, London and King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia. Malaria remains one of the most deadly scourges of the developing world - killing up to one million people and causing disease in 300 to 500 million people every year. Pictured is a red blood cell infected with malaria . Dr Tony Holder, Head of the MRC-NIMR Division of Parasitology, said: 'Inhibitors of protein kinases are already used in treatments for other diseases and there is growing interest to develop phosphatase inhibitors as drugs. 'Identifying the key kinases and phosphatases in the parasite life cycle will define the targets for drug development to treat human malaria and prevent its transmission in communities by the mosquito.' Dr Tewari added: 'Interestingly, out of the 14 genes that could be knocked out, six were found to be crucial for sexual development and hence could be drug targets for parasite transmission to and from the mosquito. 'The race to uncover new vaccines and more effective drugs to treat disease and block malaria transmission is becoming ever more important.' David Brook, Professor of Human Genetics and Director of Research in the School of Life Sciences at Nottingham University, said: 'Despite being a small research group, Rita’s lab packs a powerful punch and they are really putting Nottingham on the world map for malaria research.' Dr Tewari's findings have been published in the journal Cell Host and Microbe. | Dr Rita Tewari had malaria seven times as a child while living in Delhi, India .
She is now leading the search for new drugs to stop transmission of disease .
Research focuses on role played by enzymes as parasites develop in body .
Disease remains one of the deadliest in the world killing a million a year . |
81,857 | e7f9bb7aac2522ba32fc6cc45ab873fa854ebcc3 | By . Mark Duell . PUBLISHED: . 05:04 EST, 10 March 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 13:28 EST, 10 March 2014 . A beautiful week of Spring weather began in Britain today as the country basked in sunshine, above-average temperatures and dry conditions. But temperatures have dropped to a more normal level for the season after parts of the country enjoyed their hottest weather of the year yesterday. The mercury reached 20C (68F) for the first time in nearly six months as most of the country basked in sunshine, Met Office forecasters said. Most other parts of England experienced warmth around 18C (64F) with East Anglia and the East Midlands enjoying the best of the sunshine. However, although temperatures are set to fall by 5 or 6C from the weekend high, meteorologists said the coming week will remain mainly dry. Beautiful start: A couple walk along Tynemouth Longsands on the north east coast today, as the morning sun rises. The UK is enjoying above-average temperatures . Colourful scene: Yasmine Knight enjoys the fine spring weather at Thompson's Park in Cardiff . Having fun: The glorious spring weather continues today as Gracie the Jack Russell plays amongst the crocuses on display in Darlington, County Durham . Three-day outlook: Although temperatures are set to fall by 5 or 6C from the weekend high, the coming week will remain mainly dry, according to forecasters . Met Office forecaster Laura Young told MailOnline today: ‘We always said that this week was looking to see good temperatures. ‘Part of the reason people are so happy about the weather is that it's so dry. To a lot of people this feels a complete contrast to January and February. ‘In December we saw 16C, but it is lovely now. And it's nice we can give some good news. This week is going to stay settled, right through to Saturday.’ But the weather may change at the weekend, with rain possibly moving into the North as . the high pressure system that brought the warm spell retreats. Ms Young added: ‘More unsettled weather is coming back in at the weekend to the north of Scotland. ‘You could even see some snow in the North on higher ground. In southern parts we're looking at the odd shower. Taking a break: Nicole Stott enjoys the weather at Lister Park in Bradford, West Yorkshire . Three's a crowd: Students enjoy the fine weather at Cathays Park in Cardiff . Pretty: Blooming two weeks earlier than normal, these rhododendrons are marvelled at by eight-year-old Olivia Isaacs at St Edmund's School in Hindhead, Surrey . Happy: Molly the dog enjoys the weather at Thompson's Park, Cardiff (left), and a bee feeds on the nectar from bluebells growing in Primrose Hill in North London (right) Capturing the moment: A photographer takes an image of crocuses which have bloomed on The Stray park in Harrogate, North Yorkshire . Going for a run: Joggers make their way alongside snaking daffodils at Foots Cray Meadows in Sidcup, Kent . Clear skies: In this geostationary satellite image taken at 8am, Europe is entirely clear, from Spain to Slovakia, as people across the continent enjoy summer-like weather . ‘Towards the end of March and the . beginning of April, you're looking at some showers coming in - that’s . all standard for the time of year.’ 'It's nice we can give some good news. This week is going to stay settled, right through to Saturday' Laura Young, Met Office forecaster . Gravesend in Kent was the . warmest spot in the country, recording a temperature of 20.5C (69F) at . 2.30pm yesterday, according to the Met Office. The average temperature . for March is around 12C. The . last time the 20C mark was breached was on October 8 last year. The . previous top temperature of 2014 was 16.9C (62F) in London on Friday. The . warmer weather means racegoers attending the Cheltenham Festival in . Gloucestershire from tomorrow do not have to pack the waterproofs and . gloves they needed last year, when the meet was at risk from snow. Cheltenham racecourse clerk Simon Claisse . said that the track was going to be good to soft but was expected to . dry out as the week progresses thanks to a dry forecast. Lovely day: A woman walks past white crocus flowers beginning to open at War Memorial Park in Basingstoke, Hampshire . Stable conditions: Horses exercise on the gallops at Cheltenham Racecourse. The 2014 festival will start tomorrow and run until Friday, in a wave of Spring weather . Spring scene: Daffodils blooming at Eastrop Park in Basingstoke, Hampshire . Early start: A woman walks her dog along the beach at first light in Saltburn-by-the-Sea in Cleveland . Shard on the right: The sun rises over a misty Central London as the spring weather continues . Hazy start: Tower Bridge is silhouetted as the sun rises on a misty morning in Central London, as the spring weather continues . Still problems: This Environment Agency graphic shows that there are still more than 75 areas in England and Wales under flood alerts or warnings . Making the most of it: Many parts of England experienced warmth around 18C (64F) yesterday. Day trippers are seen enjoying the sun in Brighton, East Sussex . Splashing about: From left, Summer, eight, Chloe, 10, and Cheyney, 11, cooling off in Bradford City Park yesterday, on the hottest day of the year so far . Last year bookies offered 2/1 odds that any day's racing would see a sprinkling of snow. Mr Claisse said: ‘The forecast is for dry and warm weather to continue, though it will not be as warm (as yesterday) on Monday and Tuesday. ‘The condition of the New Course, used on Thursday and Friday, will be monitored throughout the week as it is anticipated to continue to dry out.’ The Environment Agency still had 68 flood alerts, seven warnings and one severe warning in place for parts of England and Wales. | Mercury reached 20C (68F) for first time in nearly six months yesterday as most of country basked in sunshine .
Although temperatures are set to fall by 5 or 6C from the weekend high, the coming week will remain mainly dry .
But forecasters warn weather may change towards weekend, with rain possibly moving into some northern areas . |
91,704 | 01f918e06afb87e06382f51d0cc4aa0c1b5c5502 | A porn star has publicly named and shamed Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Michael Del Zotto claiming the NHL star is 'constantly pestering her to arrange dates'. Adult film actress and director Lisa Ann posted a string of embarrassing messages on Twitter suggesting the sportsman persistently asks her to organize rendezvous with other women. She calls him the 'most annoying texter in the history of my life' and notes: 'Strange, most guys want to date me, not use me to find other dates.' Embarrassing: Porn star Lisa Ann has posted a series of messages on Twitter describing how star NHL player Michael Del Zotto constantly pesters her to arrange dates with other women . Del Zotto, 24, was a New York Rangers first-round draft choice in 2008 and played in the city from 2009 until 2014, when the Blueshirts traded him to the Nashville Predators. But Nashville wouldn't re-sign him, and Del Zotto, known for his shaky off-ice reputation, became a free agent until Philadelphia Flyers signed him this summer on a one-year contract. Lisa Ann, 42, has been in the adult film industry for more than 20 years - while also making mainstream appearances on the the Howard Stern Show and in a music video for rapper Eminem. As well as posting the revelations about Del Zotto's questionable dating methods, the porn star also told her 750,000 followers the story of how they became acquainted. Defenseman: Del Zotto signed a one-year contract with the Philadelphia Flyers in August after spending time as a free agent . She wrote: '(S)hort story... It all started about 2 years ago when I was hosting an event @MichaelDelZotto reached out to the promoter to meet me.. 'I looked him up, he was with the Rangers at the time, looked cute, I thought ok, Pro Athlete, he won't try to kill or rob me, so sure I will. 'So, we go on a date, its nice, hang out- yada yada yada... about a week later he started asking if could hook him up with girls on the road. Revelation: After telling her 750,000 Twitter followers that Del Zotto 'pesters her', the adult film actress then told the story of how the two met (right, the porn star poses as politician Sarah Palin) 'I say NO... I say YO, you are a cute kid, you can pull tail, if not have your agent do it.. just don't ask me.... 'After 4 months of going to games and explaining that to him, I finally gave up.. so about a year goes by and we don't talk.. 'We reconnect and start talking and we get right back to this before we even had another date our selves.. I did warn him of this outcome.' Tell all: Lisa Ann fails to hold back in her assessment of the ice hockey star's behaviour . Tweets: Lisa Ann's Twitter feed is filled with posts about Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Michael Del Zotto . She later jests: 'As you may imagine, I get some pretty random texts.. Takes a lot to annoy me, but some people strive at it. 'So girls,... Do me a favor... Just to do the kid the favor and get it out of my hands @MichaelDelZotto is looking for dates, lots of them! 'Wait now.. Maybe today I should build a "dating profile" for @MichaelDelZotto here on Twitter. Girls who want to date him can follow him!' Del Zotto is yet to respond to the series of posts. In October, Lisa Ann was rumored to be dating 18-year-old Notre Dame football player Justin Brent, 24 years her junior, after the two were spotted cuddling up at a game. Rumors: In October 2014, speculation was raised as to whether Lisa Ann and 18-year old Notre Dame football player Justin Brent were an item . 'Selfie': Brent caused controversy after posting this picture of the pair in bed together online . The speculation appeared to be confirmed after freshman wide receiver Brent posted a 'selfie' of the pair in bed together. Commenting on public reaction to the photo, she tweeted: 'I am a women NOT held back by my age. 'Lucky for me, because the writers seem to make me out to be a dinosaur. 42 is NOT old, It is amazing!' | Adult film star Lisa Ann, 42, posted a series of embarrassing Tweets .
Called NHL player Del Zotto, 24, 'most annoying texter in history of my life'
Suggests to 750,000 followers she should create online dating profile for him .
In October Lisa Ann was romantically linked to 18-year-old college footballer . |
244,423 | c853019046f6b676f7138fb4aa661ead558f15b4 | By . Paul Revoir Tv Correspondent . PUBLISHED: . 19:53 EST, 21 April 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 05:05 EST, 22 April 2013 . Concerns: Child welfare campaigners yesterday questioned whether Jordan Nash could give 'informed consent' to the attention that comes with appearing on Britain's Got Talent . Britain's Got Talent has come under fire for allowing a five-year-old dancer on to the show and putting him through to the next round. Child welfare campaigners yesterday questioned whether Jordan Nash could give 'informed consent' to the attention that comes with appearing on the programme. While the youngster, from London, received positive comments from the judges, there were concerns that he is too young to cope with fame, should he progress to the final stages of the competition. The five-year-old, dressed in a black baseball cap and a t-shirt with his name on it, performed an impressive dance routine and was given a 'yes' by all four judges. But viewers branded the decision 'inappropriate' and called on ITV to bring in new rules to 'stop this happening'. Fears for Jordan renewed the controversy surrounding child performers on the programme, which drew hundreds of complaints in 2009 when two child singers, Hollie Steel and Natalie Okri, cried due to the pressure of performing live. Last year Britain's Got Talent was again forced to defend its lack of an age limit when nine-year-old Malaki Paul broke down in tears after struggling to finish his song because of nerves. In Saturday's show Simon Cowell joked about Jordan's youth, asking: 'How old are you – 20? 21?'After the youngster revealed his age Alesha Dixon added: 'Your mum and dad must be so proud of you.' The boy is one of the youngest solo performers to have appeared on the show. Unlike The X Factor and The Voice, which insist contestants are 16 and over, Britain's Got Talent is open to performers of any age. One viewer wrote on Twitter: 'A five-year-old on Britain's got Talent. Inappropriate! There should be some rules to stop this happening.' Joker: On Saturday's show, Simon Cowell joked about five-year-old Jordan Nash's age . Another, writing on Facebook, added: 'It's a shame for them, they will always be let down and have no chance of winning. He is only 5!' One simply added: 'He was good but he's going to get his heart broken.' There was also criticism of parents who allow their young children to go on to the programme. Claude Knights, director of anti-bullying and child protection charity Kidscape, said: 'We have in the past been concerned by a trend in some of these reality shows to have much younger children … the main concern being that a young child can't give informed consent to the consequences of the attention and exposure, to that degree. 'The programme makers of course say there are lots of safeguards in place … but when it does go wrong, who knows how and when the child could break down and not cope.' A spokesman for Britain's Got Talent said welfare of contestants was the show's 'number one priority'. Alfie, Jordan's father, said: 'It would be a shame to deny any individual the opportunity to display their talent publicly whatever their age.' Complaints: In 2009, the programme came under fire after contestant Hollie Steel broke down in tears . | Campaigners question whether Jordan Nash can give 'informed consent .
Concerns that he is too young to cope with fame should he progress .
It follows show bosses having to defend its lack of age limit last year . |
125,299 | 2df84d98898c66470b272a6ef1a45d30bdc20b9e | (CNN) -- Two Southwest Airlines flights from Orange County, California, to Phoenix were the subject of security scares Tuesday night, and authorities are investigating whether the incidents are linked. Both planes were eventually cleared after officials determined a threat did not exist. Southwest Airlines flight 811 was headed to Phoenix's Sky Harbor International Airport from John Wayne Airport when officials removed passengers and brought in a bomb squad and canine units to search the plane, said Laura Eimiller, FBI spokeswoman in the agency's Los Angeles office said. "No threats of any kind" were found, said Orange County Sheriff's Lt. Joe Balicki. In the second incident, Southwest flight 1184 was taken to an isolated area at Sky Harbor after it flew in from John Wayne Airport after authorities received a "non-specific threat," said Ashley Dillon, the spokeswoman for the airline in Dallas. Passengers and their bags were re-screened. and authorities did not find anything, Dillon said. "We take any kind of threat seriously," she said. | Both planes are eventually cleared .
One flight was searched at John Wayne Airport .
The other at Phoenix's Sky Harbor . |
24,477 | 456a3cc7476f23c3fda608aacb9faca9e574e3cf | A Louisiana man gave his newborn son a name just like his own, but instead of simply calling him 'Junior,' Jack Daniels named his son Jim Beam. Jack Daniels Leathers, 31, was just turning rebellion into tradition. 'My parents decided they wanted to name their son something to make their parents mad,' Jack told Houma Today. Newborn: A Louisiana man gave his newborn son a name just like his own, but instead of simply calling him 'Junior,' Jack Daniels named his son Jim Beam . 'And, at the time, my dad was drinking Jack, which he enjoyed,' he explained. 'My mom said, "Why not?"' 'Nobody believed my name until I showed them my ID,' Jack said about the name, which also made him popular during his time in the military. 'When I went into the Army, sergeants would yell, "How much more American can you get than Jack Daniels?"' 'I went through most of my Army career not hearing my last name because people would call me Jack Daniels, he said.' Jack brought up the story of his name on his first date with Lydia, and the couple decided then to name their first-born Jim Beam, after the Kentucky bourbon. They even kept the beverage theme running through their wedding, which was officiated by Houma's Judge Johnny Walker. Fallen: Jack and his wife Lydia were already talking baby names on their first date, and decided then on Jim Beam . Liquor up: The theme was the same for their wedding, which Judge Johnny Walker officiated over, and the couple plans to name their next boy Evan Williams or call a girl Sherry . When Judge Johnny Walker realized that he was marrying Lydia to Jack Daniels, he turned red,' Jack said. 'We wanted to get in touch with Judge Walker to notify him that Jack Daniels had a son named Jim Beam.' If they have more kids, the Leather's plan to add to their liquor collection, planning to call another baby boy Evan Williams or a girl Sherry. 'I've always tried to do stuff out of the ordinary, to do things differently than other people,' said Lydia. 'It's hard to find a name that you like that nobody you know has. It was all Jack's idea. I just went along with it.' | Jack Daniels Leathers, 31, named his newborn son Jim Beam .
He continues the practice of naming a child after a whiskey started by his parents to make their own parents mad .
Leathers and his 23-year-old wife Lydia decided on the name during their first date .
They also had Judge Johnny Walker presiding over their wedding . |
9,061 | 19a7629dfcb5347dd3f8bc51f6033d0b9e3d804c | By . Inderdeep Bains . PUBLISHED: . 13:54 EST, 20 December 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 20:20 EST, 20 December 2012 . Tragic: Caitriona O'Leary, pictured, has died after being thrown from retired racehorse Mister, also pictured, which she was 'sharing' with another rider . A woman who had written articles warning about the dangers of riding other people’s horses died after falling from a thoroughbred she shared with its owner. Caitriona O’Leary suffered fatal head injuries after she lost control of the 15-hand former racehorse named Mister, an inquest was told. Witnesses said she may have tightened up and leaned forward, making the 12-year-old mount speed up, thinking it was in a race. Recording a verdict of accidental death, coroner Alan Craze said he would write to the British Horse Society about the dangers of sharing former racehorses. In a bitter twist, Miss O’Leary, 28, herself had warned about the potential dangers of ‘horse sharing’ – where an owner offers to share their animal in return for help with its care. In a newspaper interview in February she said: ‘There is a lot of trust involved. Owners will look you in the eye and tell you a horse is safe when they know it is a psycho.’ The article, which showed her pictured with Mister and owner Rebecca Fuller, 19, quoted Miss O’Leary as saying: ‘The owner is entrusting you with their horse, and you are entrusting them with your heart.’ On May 28, two shocked bystanders leapt into their cars and gave chase after Mister charged past them on a country lane with the Irish rider shouting ‘no, no, no’, the coroner heard yesterday. They found Miss O’Leary lying in the road. She had suffered multiple skull fractures despite wearing a riding hat. It is not clear if the horse threw her off or she jumped off voluntarily, the inquest in Eastbourne, East Sussex, was told. She was rushed by air ambulance from Magham Down in Hailsham, East Sussex, to the Royal London Hospital but died on June 1. The hearing heard that local resident June Axon found the rider on her back in the middle of the road. Shared: Caitriona O'Leary (right) and Becky Fuller (left) with Mister the horse, at Brent Farm, near Hailsham, East Sussex . Sad: Miss O'Leary was airlifted to the Royal London Hospital, pictured, and put on a life support machine, but she later died . The pensioner said she had not seen . what caused the horse to bolt but believed that the tragic death may . have been caused by rider error. Ms Axon said: ‘It is possible . something made him trot on and that Caitriona tightened up and if she . tightened up, a racehorse is going to think “right I’ve got to go”. ‘She should have known that. If you . pull a racehorse’s head backwards and learn forwards, it’s going to go. I . guess that is initially what she did.’ Tragic: Caitriona was an experienced rider, but she may have been inexperienced in dealing with emergency situations . Coroners today recorded a verdict of accidental death for Caitriona O'Leary (pictured, far left) Equestrian: Her father said horses were Caitriona's 'passion' and she died 'doing what she loved' Susan Wilson, who had followed Miss . O’Leary in her car, said: ‘We put her in the recovery position and she . was breathing noisily when the ambulance arrived.’ Ms Wilson, an experienced equestrian, was asked about Miss O’Leary’s riding ability. ‘She didn’t seem to have the confidence to ride him,’ she said. ‘She always looked nervous and tentative and could not ride correctly. The horse would pick up on that. ‘This tragedy could have been avoided . had Caitriona not exaggerated her ability and her skills had been . assessed. Caitriona’s instinct was to grab hold of his head really . tightly and lean up its neck, which to racehorses means “go, go, go, . you’ve got to go faster”. I think that was why he was at full gallop.’ Miss Fuller, who was given Mister by her riding instructor, said the horse had a ‘lovely temperament’. Because she was studying at the University of Sussex, Miss Fuller . decided to seek a ‘sharing’ partner for Mister to help out with his . care. She said: ‘All was well. I rode out . with Caitriona on several occasions and she knew how to ride. I was . confident in her ability with horses.’ After the inquest, Miss O’Leary’s father, Patrick, said: ‘These things happen. It was an accident. ‘Riding horses was her passion. She died doing what she loved.’ | Caitriona O'Leary, 28, died after her horse bolted in a country lane .
Two motorists chased after the stricken woman, only to find her fatally injured in the road .
Today a coroner recorded a verdict of accidental death .
Father says she 'died doing what she loved' |
107,139 | 162c63d6168864cbcf9dd923e3ede98ce8cc37ee | Kathmandu, Nepal (CNN) -- Nepal's cabinet met at the base of Everest on Friday to highlight the impact of climate change on the Himalayas and adopted a 10-point Everest Declaration. "The Himalayas are important not only for the people of Nepal but for 1.3 billion people who depend on waters from the mountains for their livelihoods," said Nepal's Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal at the cabinet meeting broadcast live by state-owned Nepal Television. Wearing oxygen masks and warm jackets, the cabinet met for about half an hour at Kala Patthar at an altitude of 5,242 meters surrounded by the world's highest mountains and glaciers. The ministers flew in to Lukla, in the Everest region where the nearest airstrip is, a day earlier to acclimatize to the rarefied atmosphere of Kala Patthar. The cabinet met out in the open where tables had been set up. The ministers spoke through microphones because it was difficult to hear even over a short distance with the wind blowing. Of the 27 cabinet ministers, 24 were present at the meeting and they were wearing blue sashes that said "Save the Himalayas." The sun was shining bright during the meeting in the morning but in the afternoon fog descended and the wind grew fiercer. Before they were airlifted by helicopters to Kala Patthar the ministers' health was checked to ensure they could withstand the high altitude and not suffer from acute mountain sickness because of the low amount of oxygen in the atmosphere at that altitude. "This is a very important and historic meeting," Prime Minister Nepal said. The meeting comes ahead of the United Nations climate summit in Copenhagen next week. The Himalayas have an important role in the world's environmental balance, he added. The melting of the glaciers in the mountains due to global warming would bring about a scarcity of water in the river systems in South Asia, affecting more than a billion people in Nepal, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and China, according to various experts. "But there has not been enough study to say exactly how much of the river water comes from the melting of the snow and ice in the mountains," said Ajay Dixit, a climate change expert from the Institute of Social and Environment Transition, a Kathmandu-based think tank. "Estimates vary between four to 10 percent." Dixit, however, added that in specific areas in the mountains where people depend on the melting of specific glaciers for irrigation, the change in the snow system will affect livelihoods. There has been an annual increase of temperature by 0.06 degrees Celsius over the past decade, according to a study conducted earlier this year by Dixit together with Oxford University. It it estimated that the temperature in Nepal could rise by as much as two Celsius by 2030. Rainfall patterns have also been erratic and this affects the livelihoods of almost two thirds of Nepal's population of 28 million who depend on rain-fed agriculture. "Various global circulation models show that precipitation could go down by 14 percent or increase by as much as 40 percent by 2030," Dixit told CNN. Although the contribution of Nepal, one of the poorest countries in the world, to carbon emissions is negligible, the poor and the marginalized bear the brunt of climate change, Prime Minister Nepal said at a press conference after the cabinet meeting. The 10-point Everest Declaration the cabinet adopted includes increasing the protected area of Nepal's land from 20 percent to 25 percent, developing communities' capacity to cope with climate change and working together with other countries to mitigate the impact of global warming. The declaration also supported developed countries' plans to contribute 1.5 percent of GDP to a climate fund and bring down greenhouse gases to pre-industrialization levels. "The earth is our common abode," said Prime Minister Nepal. "To save the earth the biggest sacrifice is needed from nations producing large amounts of carbon." | 24 of Nepal's cabinet members met at base of Everest to highlight impact of climate change .
Ministers wore oxygen masks and used microphones because wind made it difficult to hear .
It is feared melting glaciers could cause water scarcity affecting one billion people .
Adopted 10-point Everest Declaration which increases area of Nepal's protected land . |
145,192 | 47cab4728c29bb4761e00be473e2a0715f1a086c | Presumably nobody at Manchester United explained to Louis van Gaal how the English fixture list works. If they had, he surely wouldn't be complaining about the number of matches in December. United started a run of nine games in 36 days with the 3-0 win over Hull on Saturday and the Dutchman has had a good old whinge about the packed schedule and the fact he can't spend Christmas at home in the armchair in the corner. ‘I’m not happy but I cannot change it,’ said Van Gaal, whose team face Stoke on Tuesday. ‘I don’t agree with it because I don’t think that it is good for the players that they play another match within two days. In December, it shall be like that. A stern-faced Louis van Gaal before Manchester United's victory over Hull on Saturday . The Dutchman has had a whinge about the packed schedule in December . Manchester United face a busy Christmas schedule which could well define their season . ‘We also have families. I also have a wife and kids and grandchildren and I cannot see them this Christmas. 'But I want to work in the Premier League, I have to adapt and I shall adapt. But I don’t think it is good for players, neither for the families.’ Here's the smallest violin in the world Louis, just for you. What Van Gaal, who has now presided over a whopping 14 competitive fixtures in around four months, forgets is that it's the same for everyone. Liverpool, for instance, have 11 matches in the next month, including FA Cup third-round weekend. It's not like United's players will be overburdened in the new year, either, seeing as they failed to qualify for Europe and were dumped out of the Capital One Cup by MK Dons. There have been a lot of injuries but the ludicrously lop-sided buying policy (carried out by a Mr A van Gaal, no less) has not helped. And let's face it, when January rolls around Van Gaal could get another £100million to chuck around on new players if anyone picks up a bad injury, despite senior figures at the club insisting there will be no spending in the upcoming transfer window. The festive fixture list is one of the things that makes English football great, so the Dutchman will just have to lump it as he continues to adapt to his not-so new surroundings. And he can console himself with the thought that by the time this 36-day spell is over he will have earned £690,000 - plenty of money with which to buy presents for those neglected family members. Merry Christmas. Van Gaal has also bemoaned the fact that he will not be able to spend Christmas with his family . | Manchester United started a run of nine matches in 36 days on Saturday .
Louis van Gaal says playing so many matches isn't good for the players .
Dutchman also complains that he can't spend Christmas with his family .
It's the same for all his rivals - Liverpool have 11 matches in next month .
United face Stoke at Old Trafford on Tuesday . |
82,356 | e97f414a4330a0e3c07395597332efa845c0ffb5 | Half of drivers ignore speed limits on Britain’s motorways and town centre roads, shocking new figures show. Last year 47 per cent of cars travelled faster than the 70mph limit on motorways, but the government has ruled out doing anything about it. Motoring groups said the ‘default limit’ was now 80mph, because drivers know they will avoid prosecution. Scroll down for video . Most drivers think they will not be fined if they break the 70mph limit on motorways, driving groups claimed . Official data from the Department for Transport reveals the scale of law breaking on the nation’s roads. In 2013, 47 per cent of cars, 46 per cent of motorbikes and 48 per cent of vans broke the 70mph limit in free-flowing traffic. It also shows that in built up areas where the limit is 30mph, drivers are just as willing to speed. There are fears that the reluctance of police forces to stop people speeding on motorways could be encouraging drivers to think they will escape a ticket in residential roads, where speeding is more dangerous. The government has announced plans to increase the speed limit for HGVs on single carriageway roads from 40mph to 50mph. It follows data showing that 73 per cent of lorries breaks the current limit. Transport minister Baroness Kramer said: ‘There are a variety of reasons why it is appropriate to change the national HGV speed limits on single and dual carriageways. ‘One is that the low level of compliance with them is symptomatic of their being set at the wrong level compared to other limits. ‘So on single carriageways the non-compliance level for cars is 7 per cent and buses and coaches 26 per cent, compared to 73 per cent for articulated lorries.’ However, the government insists it is not reviewing national speed limits for other types of vehicles. The last Transport Secretary Philip Hammond announced plans to raise the motorway limit to 80mph. But the proposals have been shelved by his replacement, Patrick McLoughlin, with officials saying it is not a priority. Almost half of cars, motorbikes and vans break the 70mph speed limit on motorways in free flow traffic . There are fears that the 'flexibility' in motorway limits encourages people to break the law in built up areas where the speed limit is 30mph . Edmund King, President of the AA, said: ‘In decent weather in a modern car at a good distance from the care in front, 80mph is probably a safe speed. ‘But 50mph in an old car, on a pot-holed motorway, too close to the car in front is probably too fast.’ He said the ‘default speed limit’ on motorways is now 80mph. ‘One is rarely if ever stopped by the police and prosecuted between 80 and 80mph. AA President Edmund King warned drivers now think they can get away with speeding . ‘Therefore it is almost accepted as the common law speed limit. That’s why half of drivers tend to break it.’ But Mr King warned the flouting of the law on motorways risked creating a precedent in built-up areas, where ignoring the 30mph limit could become the norm. ‘If drivers are of the opinion that there is some flexibility around speed limits the danger is that when it comes to lower speed limits, which are much more crucial in road safety, we don’t want drivers to have that same flexibility. ‘Driving at 40mph in a 30mph area is incredibly dangerous.’ He called for variable limits for different times of the day. ‘In the UK we don’t trend to treat our drivers as intelligent. ‘There is probably a good case in some of our urban areas for a different limit during the day time when more people are around and in the middle of the night when no-one is around.’ Labour’s shadow transport secretary Mary Creagh said: ‘Road safety and law enforcement should be a top priority for any Government. Sadly, more than 10,000 frontline traffic police posts have gone since 2010. ‘Instead of increasing HGV speed limits, ministers need to take concrete steps to make our roads safe for all users, particularly children, older people and cyclists.’ A Department for Transport spokesman said: ‘Most drivers know that keeping to the speed limit can mean the difference between life and death in a collision, regardless of the road type. ‘We want people to drive safely at all times, which is we recently increased the fixed penalty to £100 for several driving offences, including careless driving, and why we have given local councils more flexibility to implement 20mph limits and zones.’ | 47% of cars, 46% of motorbikes and 48% of vans break 70mph limits .
AA claims the 'default limit' is now 80mph because police won't prosecute .
Ministers are increasing limit for HGVs because so many ignore it .
But they rule it out for motorways despite fears it legitimises speeding . |
251,254 | d1334b2ada94c49ff0fcf2dcfd99303266bf762d | By . Daily Mail Reporter . Newly elected councillors are being given tips on how to keep themselves safe – from voters. Members of Camden Council in north west London have been handed a four-page dossier outlining the precautions they should take when meeting the public. According to the four-page leaflet, representatives must 'sit nearest to the door' and lay out seating at '45 degree angles [to avoid] appearing confrontational'. Councillors at Labour-controlled Camden council in north London have been issued with a safety leaflet on meeting with voters, including planning an escape route and having car keys in your hand . On another, more sinister note, it adds: 'Make sure there are no heavy items in the room that could be used as weapons' and 'get a space which has a swift means of escape'. Liberal councillor Andrew Pennington, 39, was killed in Cheltenham by a man with a samurai sword . For the especially anxious, there is even this instruction: 'Have your (car) keys in your hand [and] park facing the way you want to drive off'. It warns that 'abusive phone calls', 'malicious anonymous letters' and 'unwanted callers at private homes' are all risks councillors face. Camden Council has taken the drastic move 14 years after a constituent brandishing a Samurai sword stormed into his local MP's constituency office in Cheltenham, Glos, and launched a brutal attack. Liberal councillor Andrew Pennington, 39, was killed as he went to the defence of MP Nigel Jones, who was seriously injured by the attacker. Cllr Theo Blackwell, who has taken surgeries in Camden for 12 years, said: 'I became a councillor not long after the sword attack and it was quite a live issue at the time. 'I've not had a problem in any of the surgeries I've attended but we do need to make sure the new councillors know the proper safety precautions.' The Labour councillor admitted: 'Something that does make some councillors a bit uncomfortable is having to make public their home addresses. 'I still don't know why we can't just put the address of our surgeries.' | Safety leaflet given to councillors in Labour-controlled Camden, London .
Advice includes sitting near a door and planning an escape route .
Councillors told to keep items that could be used as weapons out of offices . |
144,098 | 4652b5cb55c56b771221986468d77729e74ebf99 | By . Associated Press . and Reuters . PUBLISHED: . 12:58 EST, 24 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 17:11 EST, 24 December 2013 . More than 500,000 homes and businesses were still without power Tuesday afternoon in parts of central and northeastern U.S. as nearly 95million Americans hit the road or the skies ahead of Christmas Day. Municipalities impacted by the outages struggled to restore power in time for Christmas following an ice and snow storm that walloped portions of the U.S. over the weekend. While the holiday forecast for Tuesday night into Wednesday is mostly dry and mild, there are a few exceptions, including . Northern Plains and Upper Midwest, which will experience snow showers . stretching from the Great lakes to the Dakotas courtesy of a weak weather . system. Most locations will have accumulations of 1-2 inches, but . some areas could pick up 3 inches. On the go: A pilot walks past a Christmas Tree at Reagan National Airport on Christmas Eve, Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2013. A steady but light stream of travelers set out from the airport in the morning . By land and by air: AAA projected that Americans will journey 50 miles or more from home for Christmas, breaking last year's record of 94million . Weak system: Northern Plains and Upper Midwest will experience snow showers stretching from the Great lakes to the Dakotas . Western New York and central Ohio are also expected to get a . coating to an inch of snow on Christmas Eve, but the snowfall will stop come Wednesday . morning, according AccuWeather.com. In the West, residents of Arizona, California and Nevada . will celebrate Christmas with temperatures in the 60s and 70s, and plenty . of sunshine. It is also shaping out to be a dry Christmas for Southern Plains . - a welcome change after a massive storm that dumped several inches of rain . over the weekend. Alaska Airlines cancelled 24 flights on Sunday and Monday after flu-stricken pilots and flight attendants called in sick. Alaska spokeswoman Bobbie Egan says about 270 passengers were affected . by cancelled flights. Another 14 flights were cancelled Sunday due to . bad weather. Egan says a 'very unusual' cold and flu season hit the airline's Pacific Northwest hub, and the entire region was affected. Egan says pilots and flight attendants who were off-duty have volunteered to work while their colleagues are out sick. The airline forecasts a less-busy Tuesday, and says it probably won't have to cancel any more flights because of illness. Source: Associated Press . At . least 11 deaths in the U.S. were blamed on Winter Storm Gemini, . including five people killed in flooding in Kentucky and a woman who . died after a tornado with winds of 130 mph struck in Arkansas. In Canada, police said two people in Ontario are dead from carbon monoxide poisoning after using a gas generator to heat their blacked-out home northeast of Toronto. The region was under a cold alert, with temperatures expected to be well below freezing Tuesday. Toronto Mayor Rob Ford said 115,000 customers were still awaiting power, and officials said some may not have it restored until after Christmas. Some U.S. states kept emergency shelters open for people who would be without power. The favorable forecast comes as good news to the 94.5million . travelers who will be on the move for the holiday, according to AAA New York. The auto club said in a press release that Americans will . journey 50 miles or more from home for Christmas, breaking last year’s record . of 94 million. This marks the fifth consecutive year of increases. White Christmas: Ice covers trees and a field in Metamora, Michigan. The upper Midwest and Canada are experiencing snow storms and extremely low temperatures . The remains of the storm: Crews work to restore power lines that were damaged along DeMille Road in Lapeer, Michigan on Monday, after the ice storm over the weekend . Too cold to drive: Jeremy Sisk tries to jump start his white Pontiac Grand Am with the help of Chris Clifford (not pictured) during a cold snap on Monday, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota . Clearing the way: A man in Ashland, Wisconsin battles to make a path on his sidewalk through the snow on Monday . According to the survey, the average distance traveled is . expected to be 805 miles – up 45 miles from last year. More than 90 per cent will journey by car, representing a . slight uptick from last year. However, holiday air travel is expected to . decline to 5.53million passengers from 5.61 in 2012. Although Christmas Day is shaping up to be a relatively quiet . one in terms of weather conditions, Americans flying to their holiday . destinations could face some disruptions. According to . FlightAware, a website tracking air travel, 111 flights into, within and . out of the U.S. were cancelled so far today, . and 1,800 experienced delays. On . Sunday and Monday, 24 Alaska Airlines flights were canceled after . flu-stricken pilots and flight attendants called in sick, affecting the . holiday travel plans of some 270 passengers. Grounded: Passengers sleep on the floor in the check-in line as dozens of flights were canceled or delayed by Sunday's ice storm, at Pearson International Airport in Toronto, Monday, December 23 . Woeful weather: Travelers line up after dozens of flights were canceled or delayed by Sunday's ice storm at Pearson International Airport in Toronto on Monday . Rising tide: Westbound traffic congestion builds as floodwater begins to cross Highway 46 Monday morning in Columbus, Indiana . More than 390,000 homes and businesses were without power Monday in Michigan, upstate New York and northern New England, down from Sunday's peak of more than a half million. The bulk were in Michigan, where more than 297,000 customers remained without power Monday. The state's largest utilities said it will be days before most of those get their electricity back because of the difficulty of working around ice-broken lines. In Maine, the number of people without power spiked to more than 68,000. A medical clinic in Bangor lost power, forcing walk-in patients to seek other options. 'It's certainly not going away,' Margaret Curtis, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Gray, Maine, said Monday of the precipitation and cold. 'In fact, we don't have very many areas where we're expecting temperatures to rise above freezing.' That means untreated roads and sidewalks from the upper Midwest to northern New England will remain a slippery, dangerous mess as people head out for last-minute shopping or holiday travel. Parts of interior Maine were expected to get another quarter to half-inch of ice Monday. Authorities reduced the speed limit along a 107-mile stretch of the Maine Turnpike from Kittery to Augusta as freezing rain continued to fall Monday morning and temperatures hovered around freezing. Dozens of flights out of Toronto were canceled while other airports in the storm-hit region were faring well despite the weather. In Maine, Judith Martin was heading from her home in South Grafton, Massachussetts to Kingston, when she stopped at a rest area along Interstate 95 in West Gardiner. She said roads got worse the farther north she drove. 'The trees are loaded with ice, so it makes me think the road is loaded with ice,' Martin said. Power failures caused related concerns. Vermont's Department of Health warned people to be careful with generators and other equipment after a weekend spike in carbon monoxide poisonings. The department had half a dozen reports in one day, about what the state sees in a typical winter. While the cold will continue to harass people, there's no major precipitation on the horizon through the end of the week, Curtis said. Let it snow: A tree is coated in ice near the corner of Fourth Street and Saginaw Streets in Flint, Michigan . On Sunday, the mercury reached 70 degrees in New York's Central Park, easily eclipsing the previous high of 63 from 1998. Records were also set in Wilmington, Delaware, (67), Atlantic City, New Jersey, (68), and Philadelphia (67). Washington tied its 1889 mark at 72. The weather is predicted to turn much colder across the East and Midwest in coming days, and after Monday it's likely to dry up. Most of the snow and rain will end by Monday night. The National Weather Service predicts a 'quiet weather pattern” to return by the middle of the week, but says 'it will remain quite cold across the northern tier states.' 'The country is pretty much in the clear Tuesday through Friday,' says National Weather Service meteorologist Brian Korty. 'People who are traveling shouldn't have significant issues.' | AAA predicts that nearly a third of Americans will travel for the holiday .
This marks fifth consecutive year of increases in number of travelers .
Weather is expected to be mild in most parts of the country .
Upper Midwest, Northern Plains and western New York could see between a coating to a couple of inches of snow .
There were more than 1,800 delays and nearly 115 flight cancellations Tuesday .
More than 500,000 homes and businesses are still without power after weekend ice storm . |
166,990 | 63efaf314f02d7c2626a4113041d9d3429b14a5a | PORTSMOUTH, New Hampshire (CNN) -- Hillary Clinton became visibly emotional at a New Hampshire campaign event Monday after a friendly question from a voter. Sen. Hillary Clinton's eyes welled with tears as she spoke in New Hampshire Monday. At the close of a Portsmouth campaign stop, Marianne Pernold-Young, 64, asked Clinton: "How do you do it? How do you keep up ... and who does your hair?" Clinton said she had help with her hair on "special days," and that she drew criticism on the days she did not. Then she added: "It's not easy, and I couldn't do it if I just didn't, you know, passionately believe it was the right thing to do. "You know, I have so many opportunities from this country, I just don't want to see us fall backwards," she said, her voice breaking a bit. The audience applauded. "This is very personal for me, it's not just political, it's [that] I see what's happening, we have to reverse it," she said emotionally, adding that some "just put ourselves out there and do this against some pretty difficult odds. "But some of us are right and some of us are wrong. Some of us ready and some of us are not. Some of us know what we will do on day one, and some of us really haven't thought that through enough." "So as tired as I am and I am. And as difficult as it is to try and keep up what I try to do on the road, like occasionally exercise and try to eat right -- it's tough when the easiest food is pizza -- I just believe so strongly in who we are as a nation. So I'm going to do everything I can and make my case and you know the voters get to decide." Watch Clinton become emotional as she's answering a question » . The New York senator is under pressure after some weekend surveys show opponent Barack Obama with a sudden almost double digit lead, with less than a day to go until the New Hampshire primary. At a New Hampshire campaign event, presidential rival John Edwards told reporters he was unaware of Clinton's emotional reaction and would not respond to it. But he did say, "I think what we need in a commander in chief is strength and resolve, and presidential campaigns are a tough business, but being president of the United States is also a very tough business. "And the President of the United States is faced with very, very difficult challenges every single day, difficult judgments every single day." E-mail to a friend . | Clinton begins talking about how others have criticized her, gets emotional .
She was with mostly female voters in New Hampshire on a campaign stop .
"It's not easy," she told them .
The New York senator is trailing Sen. Barack Obama in polls . |
278,863 | f548e8907149133cbc0bd0d59533a36ce430aade | (CNN)Six heavily armed inmates who held their warden and a guard hostage at a prison in Taiwan have committed suicide after a dramatic 14-hour siege. The prisoners had broken into the prison's armory and seized a number of weapons, including rifles, handguns and more than 200 bullets, Justice Minister Lou Ying-shay told reporters Thursday. Warden Chen Shih-chih and the head of prison guards, Wang Shih-tsang, were found safe, according to the island's justice ministry. Officials said the six men turned their guns on themselves. The incident at the prison in the southern city of Kaohsiung unfolded at around 4 p.m. local time on Wednesday when the men grabbed a guard and member of the prison staff, the justice ministry told CNN. The six inmates all worked in the sewing factory and would have had access to scissors, the ministry said. The inmates pretended to be sick and went to the prison infirmary. While there, they grabbed the keys from prison staff but were unable to break out of the prison. They smashed their way into a room storing the prison's weapons instead. The facility's deputy warden, Lai Chen-jung, and head of guards, Wang, then offered themselves as hostages in exchange for the two held captive. The inmates then allowed Warden Chen to take the place of his deputy. The inmates, who were serving a range of sentences for crimes including murder, complained about their sentences, mistreatment at the jail, and the recent release of former President Chen Shui-bian on medical grounds, according to Taiwanese media reports. He was serving a 20-year sentence for corruption. One of the hostage takers, identified by Taiwanese media as Cheng Li-te, a member of a notorious criminal gang, issued a statement at around 11 p.m., which was read on Taiwanese television by Wu Hsien-chang, head of the Taiwan's Corrections Agency. In it, Cheng pleaded his innocence. "I didn't kill anyone but I have to serve 18 years in prison. I'm not the only innocent inmate here. Who can speak out for us?" He then complained that their monthly allowance of NT$200 (around US$6) was not even enough to buy underwear, and that prison inmates were denied the same chance of medical parole as former President Chen. The inmates demanded safe exit by car via a side door of the prison. The prison itself was locked down and surrounded by armed police, according to Taiwanese media, while relatives of the inmates were brought in to to assist with negotiations to secure the release of the hostages. Early on Thursday morning Deputy Justice Minister Chen Ming-tang reported that the hostages had been freed but that the six inmates had shot themselves. Warden Chen described how the inmates treated the hostages well, and seemed in good spirits throughout the siege -- even toasting each other before shooting themselves. He said Cheng and one of the other prisoners made sure their co-conspirators were dead before they shot themselves in the head. Chen Chun-hsiu, a senior prosecutor with the Kaohsiung District Prosecutors' Office, told reporters at a press conference Thursday that he spoke to Cheng during the standoff, and was told that he planned to end his own life. He added that he did not seem mentally stable. He said Cheng and the other inmates decided to take hostages to break out of the prison because they feared spending the rest of their lives incarcerated otherwise. Journalist Annie Liao in Taiwan contributed to this report. | Six inmates take two hostages, break into weapons cache at Taiwan prison .
Hostages freed, inmates commit suicide after 14-hour standoff .
The man, some convicted murders, complained of mistreatment . |
57,597 | a341b9993616c99afe6706faf06f994faa6b8d5d | (CNN) -- Australian Samantha Stosur made a strong start to the defense of her U.S. Open crown with a crushing opening victory at Flushing Meadows. Her Croatian opponent Petra Matric won just two games as the seventh seed marched to a 6-1 6-1triumph in just 51 minutes. Stosur won the first grand slam title of her career in New York last year, beating home-crowd favorite Serena Williams in the final. The 28-year-old will now face Edina Gallovits-Hall, an unseeded Romanian who has won through to the second round of year's final major for the first time. Speaking after the match, Stosur explained how being away from home has helped her game. "You're in the spotlight a bit more back home and you see yourself on TV and the newspapers even if you're not looking for it," the 28-year-old told reporters. "It's unavoidable, whereas here there are other players that are in that spotlight instead." U.S. Open: Get the latest scores and match statistics . World No. 1 Victoria Azarenka dropped just one game against Russia's Alexandra Panova as she secured her place in the second round. The Australian Open champion, eliminated in the third round of the 2011 event, took just 50 minutes to complete a resounding 6-0 6-1 win and set up a tie with Belgium's Kirsten Flipkens. Olympic silver medal winner Maria Sharapova put in a powerful performance against Hungarian Melinda Czink, winning 6-2 6-2. The 2006 champion wrapped up the match in just over an hour and will face Spain's world No. 78 Lourdes Dominguez Lino for a place in the last 32. A two-and-a-half-hour rain break did not trouble ninth seed Li Na, as she reached the second round for the first time since 2009 with a 6-2 6-3 victory over Britain's Heather Watson. She will now play unseeded Australian Casey Dellacqua. Three-time champion Kim Clijsters made a fine start to the final grand slam of her career, entertaining the Arthur Ashe Stadium with a 6-3 6-1 defeat of American Victoria Duval. The Belgian, who came out of retirement in 2009 and won back-to-back U.S. Open titles, will retire after this tournament and faces Britain's Olympic mixed doubles silver medalist Laura Robson in the next round. Fifth seed and 2011 Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova battled past Slovenian Polona Hercog 7-6 6-1 to set up a meeting with 50th-ranked Alize Cornet of France. | Reigning champion Samantha Stosur cruises through U.S. Open first round match .
Top seed Victoria Azarenka also through after a crushing 6-0 6-1 win .
Former world No. 1 Maria Sharapova and three-time champion Kim Clijsters through .
Fifth seed Petra Kvitova battles through first set tiebreak to make second round . |
31,317 | 5901468ba41bfda23cc0a7a0909fd04e19e00a9e | A new study has revealed that a quarter of ads for luxury goods shown on Facebook are selling counterfeit products. The study was conducted by Italian cyber-security researchers Andrew Stroppa and Agostino Spechhiarello, who analyzed 1,000 ads on Facebook to reach their finding - and urged the social network to do do more to protect consumers. According to Bloomberg, 24per cent of the fashion and luxury ads on Facebook hawk fake goods, even though the social media website claims it is making a conscious effort to try to remove these ads. Scroll down for video . Ray Ban was one of the brand researchers found targeted most, along with Louis Vuitton and Ralph Lauren. One of the fake ads the team found selling Ray Ban sunglasses. Many of the ads were traced back to Chinese websites by the researchers . The global counterfeiting market has reached unprecedented levels. Counterfeit goods now account for nearly 10 percent of worldwide trade, an estimated $500 billion annually, according to the World Customs Organization. According to the pair, 180 of the 1,000 ads were luxury and fashion listings. Ray Bay sunglasses, Louis Vuitton bags, and Ralph Lauren polo shirts were all among the most popular items offered for sale. Of those, 43 were for counterfeit goods, linking to phony websites made to look like the real thing. A picture promoting Ray-Ban sunglasses, for instance, will connect you to a website that features all the same branding, but with slight alterations indicating that it is a fake. The same goes for ads for handbags, designer clothing or accessories. Many of the phony e-commerce sites are registered under Chinese front companies, according to the review. Researchers set up automatic Facebook accounts to activate and gather the specific ads promoted by the social network. Once they had gathered the ads, the team manually analysed each one, to see which pointed to a 'real' supplier and which to a counterfeit firm. Clicking on the ads led consumers to fake sites designed to look exactly like the real thing, the team said. The researchers found sites use a variety of tricks to fool both consumers and Facebook. They including designing sites to look like the 'real' brand, and even choosing domain names that are very similar. 'Facebook should do more, and must do more against this,' they told Mashable. A spokesperson for Facebook told Bloomberg that they go to great lengths to prevent these ads from appearing on the site. 'We prohibit fraudulent or misleading claims or content,' the spokesperson said. Researchers set up automatic Facebook accounts to activate and gather the specific ads promoted by the social network. Once they had gathered the ads, the team manually analysed each one, to see which pointed to a 'real' supplier and which to a counterfeit firm. They then tried to track the sites, finding many were based in China. 'And to enforce our terms and policies, we have invested significant resources in developing a robust advertising review program that includes both automated and manual review of ads.' The researchers also noted that since they started researching the issue, many of the illegitimate ads have been removed. Google also faces similar issues. It removed more than 350 million 'bad ads' in 2013, and almost 220 million in 2012, according to the company's transparency report. In any case, the researchers told Mashable that internet users should be wary of being too open with their credit card details online. 'You do not know where you are going to end up,' they explained. 'In many cases, your credit card is at risk, thanks to obscure payment systems backed by companies you have no idea who they are.' | Over 1,000 ads for luxury brands like Ray Ban were analysed .
Firms bought sponsored posts and targetted luxury goods buyers .
Disguised their site to look like that of the 'real' brand .
Many of the fake sites were traced back to China by researchers . |
82,948 | eb38f5926aaf87b4fe38480a1c20ccb45486f1f6 | By . Mia De Graaf . PUBLISHED: . 13:16 EST, 22 February 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 13:46 EST, 22 February 2014 . An 18-year-old threatened to burn down his family home and knife his mother after she bought him the wrong kind of trainers for Christmas. Jake Wilder leaped for a kitchen knife, screaming 'I'll jab you!' in front of his younger siblings after opening his present from under the tree. When the teenager said he was going to burn down the house in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, his mother, Rachael Anderson, called the police, a court heard. Rage: Jake Wilder leaped for a kitchen knife when he unwrapped a pair of trainers he didn't want (file image) Today, Wilder was banned from visiting his mother, and handed a suspended 21-day jail sentence for the 'extremely hurtful' attack. Magistrates heard that Wilder, his older sister and two younger siblings were at home with their mother, Mrs Anderson, for Christmas Day. But the festivities came to a halt when Wilder opened his mother's present towards the end of the day. He broke into a rage, advancing on his mother in front of his siblings. On Boxing Day, officers arrived to arrest the teenager and he admitted common assault in a police interview. 'An argument broke out over some trainers she had bought him and there were young children present,' said prosecutor Clare Barclay. 'Hurtful' attack: Police arrived at the Rachael Anderson's house in Abingdon on Boxing Day to arrest her son . 'He was aggressive towards his mother and threatened her with a kitchen knife, saying 'I'll jab you'. 'He also threatened to burn the house down and she called the police.' Howard . Wilson, mitigating, told the magistrates in Oxford that Wilder was now . living in the same road as his mother, with a friend. 'He has apologised to his mother and sister for the words he used, which must have been extremely hurtful,' he said. Wilder wore a white baggy jumper and grey tracksuit bottoms and smirked at two friends during the hearing. Sentenced: Magistrates at Oxford Magistrate's Court banned Wilder, 18, from visiting his mother . Presiding magistrate David Simmons told the teenager: 'You have pleaded guilty to a serious offence. 'The use of a knife in a domestic setting makes this a very serious incident and the fact that young children were present to witness it makes it worse.' Wilder was sentenced to 21 days in prison, suspended for one year, and ordered to pay £85 pounds costs and a £60 pounds victim surcharge. He was also made the subject of a restraining order banning him from visiting Mrs Anderson. Mr Simmons added: 'You need to get some help for the problems you are having in dealing with aggression and in particular towards family members.' | Jake Wilder, 18, leaped for kitchen knife after opening present .
Mother Rachael Anderson called police when he went to burn house .
Judge berated 'extremely hurtful' attack in front of young siblings .
Handed 21-day suspended sentence and banned from visiting mother . |
6,869 | 137a10571702204baad352702502345783597b8d | A student opening fire with a handgun he took from his parents. Screaming students running for cover. A teacher, trying to help, shot dead. Two students wounded. The terror lasted just a few brutal minutes. As authorities investigated, details were still trickling out hours after a deadly shooting Monday at a Nevada middle school. One official described the scene at Sparks Middle School with one word: chaos. Students described to CNN how they ran into the school screaming and crying when they realized the pops they heard were gunshots just before the morning bell welcomed them back from fall break. The shooter took a handgun from his parents, a federal law enforcement source who was briefed on the situation told CNN's Evan Perez. The gunman eventually shot and killed himself with the semiautomatic gun, Sparks Deputy Chief Tom Miller said Monday evening at a news conference. Teachers train to face school shooter . Authorities said the shooter's motive was unclear. "It's too early to say whether he was targeting specific people or just going on an indiscriminate shooting spree," said Tom Robinson, deputy chief of the Reno Police Department. Teacher loved his kids, brother says . Mike Landsberry, a popular math teacher at the school, was killed in the shooting, Sparks Mayor Geno Martini told CNN. In addition to his work as a teacher, Landsberry also had served in the Marines and served several tours in Afghanistan as a member of the Nevada Air National Guard, his brother, Reggie, told CNN's "Anderson Cooper 360." "He was the kind of person that if someone needed help he would be there," Reggie Landsberry said. "He loved teaching. He loved the kids. He loved coaching them. ... He was just a good all-around individual." Reggie Landsberry said his brother was probably trying to "talk the kid down and protect whoever he could. That sounds like Mike." One student told "Pier Morgan Live" that she knew the student who shot Landsberry and wounded two 12-year-old schoolmates. "He was really a nice kid," Amaya Newton told CNN. "He would make you smile when you were having bad day." He even offered to buy other students something to cheer them up, Newton said. Newton said she thought the two students who were wounded were friends of the shooter. She and her mother, Tabatha, said they thought the shooter had been bullied in the past. Student Faith Robinson said she was standing to the side of one of the school buildings where she heard shots and saw Landsberry killed. She told CNN that she ran into the school and was separated from her friends. "I start getting really worried and then I was trying to get a hold of my Mom," she said. Terra Robinson was just a few minutes away when she got her daughter's distressing call. By the time she got to the school there was a sea of flashing lights and panicked parents, she said. The superintendent of Washoe County Schools said there were many heroes. "Including our children who, even though school hadn't started, when the teachers came out, they listened to them and they went into their classrooms immediately," Pedro Martinez said. Witness: Teacher tried to get student to put gun down . Student Thomas Wing said he was walking out of the cafeteria after eating breakfast when he saw a gun. He told CNN affiliate KOLO that Landsberry was trying to get the student to put the weapon down. After a gunshot, Thomas started running back toward the cafeteria. He heard another shot. "I was thinking, oh my gosh, am I going to get out of this? Am I going to die?" he told KOLO. "My heart was pounding faster than I could run." An emergency dispatch calls released by the Sparks police department indicate Landsberry was shot on the school playground. One wounded student was shot in the stomach, and the other injured student was shot in the shoulder, Washoe County School District Police Chief Mike Mieras said. The two 12-year-old boys were both in stable condition Monday night, Miller said. Does your child's school have a security plan? Authorities said that first responders were at the school just three minutes after the initial 911 calls. "I think we were well-prepared. Everybody responded appropriately. I think our first responders did a heckuva job, but it's a sad day for the city of Sparks," Mayor Martini told CNN. Shooting began early Monday morning . City officials said authorities received emergency calls from students and staff at the school about 7:15 a.m. about an active shooter on campus. Guns, guards and posses: Schools try new security strategies . Authorities said students were taken to a nearby high school to meet their parents. School was canceled for the week at Sparks Middle School and for the day at nearby Agnes Risley Elementary, officials said. "I was deeply saddened to learn of the horrific shooting at Sparks Middle School this morning," Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval said in a statement. "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." The shooting is one of several this year at a U.S. middle or high school. Last week a student at a high school in Austin, Texas, killed himself in front of other students. In August, a student at a high school in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, shot and wounded another student in the neck. Another shooting occurred at an Atlanta middle school in January, the same month a California high school student wounded two people, one seriously. The Nevada shooting also comes almost a year after a gunman killed 26 people at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, igniting nationwide debate over gun violence and school safety. The mother of a student killed in December's shooting in Newtown said Monday's shooting was reminder of the need to find solutions to keep students safe. "The unthinkable has happened yet again, this time in Sparks, Nevada," Nicole Hockley said in a statement. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families, and the children of Sparks Middle School, who today came face to face with violence that no child should ever experience. It's moments like this that demand that we unite as parents to find common sense solutions that keep our children -- all children -- safe, and prevent these tragedies from happening again and again." More from CNN affiliate KOLO . In August: Woman hailed as true hero for handling Georgia school gunman . Fast facts on school violence . | Student says gunman shot teacher as he was asked to put weapon down .
There have been at least three other shootings at U.S. secondary schools and one suicide .
Brother says teacher who was killed was kind of man who tried to help those in need .
Two wounded students are in stable condition . |
209,208 | 9aed0af54608b2cb0488a959b81f046447d98068 | (CNN) -- Six Americans imprisoned in Honduras for more than a month on weapons smuggling charges are back home after sailing their ship from the Central American country to their home port in Florida. The crew of the Aqua Quest arrived in Tarpon Springs, Florida, on Wednesday after a voyage on stormy seas that delayed their return home by a day. As their boat sailed into the marina, they were met by family, friends and U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis of Florida. "They're thrilled to be back in the states, surrounded by family and friends," said Stephen Mayne, owner of Aqua Quest International, a salvage and treasure hunting company. "They are looking forward to taking some time off, then regrouping to work on new projects." The captain of the ship, Robert Mayne -- Stephen's brother -- called it "an overwhelming day." "It's like waking up from a really bad nightmare," he said. The Americans sailed to Honduras in May at the invitation of officials in the country's eastern municipality of Ahuas. They were tasked with removing valuable mahogany logs from a nearby riverbed, remnants of decades of logging. Profits from the sale of the recovered logs would be split between Aqua Quest and the municipality for use for social projects there. But the project was halted before it could really begin with their arrest on May 5 after Honduran authorities boarded their ship and discovered two handguns, two shotguns and a semiautomatic rifle. A judge and prosecutor in Ahuas accused the crew of attempting to smuggle weapons into the country for resale. The crew, however, were adamant that their weapons were for personal use and not for resale on the black market. Honduras is mired in drug and gang activity that has resulted in a sharp spike in gun-related deaths in recent years. Illegal arms regularly flow through the country, as drug traffickers transit cocaine from Colombia through the Central American country. Robert Mayne told CNN last month by cell phone from the prison that the weapons were for protection against piracy while at sea. He said that he and his crew always bring them when traveling in international waters. The captain said he even once had to brandish a handgun to ward out would-be pirates off the coast of Mexico. "Everyone tells us this would never happen in any other port in Honduras," he said earlier this month, expressing his frustration with the judge's and state prosecutor's interpretation of the law. "We have the right to do it (carry arms) for protection on the high seas." The charges were dropped against the men last week after they spent more than a month in a rural prison camp. They faced potential sentences of up to 16 years if convicted on the weapons smuggling charges. Hoping to rid themselves of the bad fortune their weapons brought them on their latest adventure, the crew voted to "bury them as sea," according to Stephen Mayne, once they entered U.S. waters, tossing the firearms overboard. "They said goodbye to their little friends," said Mayne laughing. "We decided to just turn them over to King Neptune." Despite the run-in with authorities, Mayne said his company would continue to work with Honduras on the log retrieval project, though they would likely not return by sea. "We are going to go forward with this project," said Mayne. "We made a commitment to he community of Ahuas. "We won't let this incident stop us." Dangerous detention for six Americans in Honduras after weapons charge . More on detained Americans . | The crew of the Aqua Quest arrives in Tarpon Springs, Florida, on Wednesday .
Contracted to do salvage work, they were imprisoned on weapons smuggling charges .
Owner of salvage company said crew had weapons for protection on high seas . |
139,976 | 40fa3f8ef8d521d9259fa81355add00763950a8a | If you’ve ever carried your laptop around a room, trying to pick up a Wi-Fi signal, then this device may help. Youtuber, Charles Lohr, has created a Wi-Fi radar system that he claims allows anyone to see invisible Wi-Fi signals around the home. The Maryland-based hacker built the device using a chip, LED light, software and a CNC milling machine. Scroll down for video . If you’ve ever carried your laptop around a room, trying to pick up a Wi-Fi signal, then this device may help.Youtuber, Charles Lohr, has created a Wi-Fi radar system that he claims allows anyone to see invisible Wi-Fi signals. This is a screenshot of his 3D software program. Blue shows where the signal is strongest . The system works with a battery-powered ESP8266 chip which pings a device and measures the signal - in a similar way to the process used by a Wi-Fi radar. By attaching a light to the hardware, the system changes colour depending on the quality of signal in a given location. 'There is an application on my computer that looks at the receiver power of those pings and sends a colour to the ESP8266,’ Mr Lohr says in his video. 'So as Adam moves around in the three dimensional space, you can see the relative strength changing.' The system works with a battery-powered ESP8266 chip which pings a device and measures the signal - in a similar way to the process used by a Wi-Fi radar. The images reveal just how much variation there is in Wi-Fi strength in just one area . By attaching a light to the hardware, the system changes colour depending on the quality of signal in a given location. This image was captured using a long exposure camera . The images reveal just how much variation there is in Wi-Fi strength in just one area, with most of the images appearing in a variety of colours. Wi-Fi signals use very low intensity radio waves. While similar in wavelength to domestic microwave radiation, the intensity of Wi-Fi radiation is 100,000 times less than that of a domestic microwave oven. The type of radiation emitted by radio waves (Wi-Fi), visible light, microwaves and mobile phones has been shown to raise the temperature of tissue at very high levels of exposure - but that's much higher than what people are subjected to on a regular basis. This is called a thermal interaction, but researchers are divided as to whether the radiation we receive daily can cause damage. The UK Health Protection Agency (HPA) has been monitoring the safety of Wi-Fi. It says people using Wi-Fi, or those in the proximity, are exposed to the radio signals it emits - and some of the transmitted energy in the signals is absorbed in their bodies. However, the signals are very low power. Sitting in a Wi-Fi hotspot for a year results in receiving the same dose of radio waves as making a 20 minute mobile phone call. Mr Lohr then attempted to capture these colours using long-exposure on his camera. Blue in the images shows where the signal is at its strongest. ‘I thought, there must be a better way to do this,’ he said. Using just a Wi-Fi module and a CNC mill, Mr Lohr then captured the variability of the signal to create a 3D visualisation on his computer. ‘The mill follows a basic zig zag pattern, while I'm running the same software that determines the signal strength,’ he said. ‘As the mill goes back and forth, I record the position of the mill and the Wi-Fi signal at the same time.’ The data is then uploaded onto his computer, showing a 3D model of blackspots and areas with good signal strength. 'This absolutely surprised me,’ he said. ‘I did not expect to see this much detail...it just blew my mind.' A number of things can affect Wi-Fi signal, including competing Wi-Fi systems, household electronics and Bluetooth devices. Last year, Jason Cole at Imperial College London attempted to tackle the problem of improving Wi-Fi signals by mathematically working out the optimum position for a router. He studied how walls and reflections affected signal strength and concluded that, as common sense might suggest, the centre of the house, is the best place for a router. Mr Lohr attempted to capture these colours using long-exposure on his camera. Blue in the images shows where the signal is at its strongest . Mr Lohr's initial attempt at capturing Wi-Fi signal. However he says the image didn't provide much detail . | Device created using a chip, LED, software and a CNC milling machine .
Chip attached to LED pings a device and measures the resulting signal .
The LED then changes colour depending on the quality of the Wi-Fi signal .
The colours are mapped using photography, milling machine and software . |
24,533 | 458edf0aba8f8f9fc760cd91127a25fbb6ef821d | (CNN) -- Swiss super-combined world skiing champion Daniel Albrecht was airlifted to hospital after a sickening crash on Kitzbuehel's Streif course on Thursday. Albrecht nose-dives down Kitzbuehel's Streif course after crashing during training for a World Cup downhill. Albrecht, who was said to have suffered concussion and bruising to a lung, was in training for the weekend's World Cup downhill at the Austrian venue when he lost control approaching the bottom of the run. The 25-year-old received lengthy treatment on the slopes before being flown to hospital at St. Johann, where he regained consciouness before being put in an induced coma. An induced coma puts the brain in hibernation so it can recuperate and allows swelling in the brain to ease. Helmuth Obermoser, the official race doctor, said in a brief statement that Albrecht had bleeding on the brain and a lung contusion. Albrecht took the season's opening giant slalom at Solden in October and scored a second victory and fourth of his career two months later in Alta Badia, Italy, where he became the first Swiss winner in 10 years. Thursday's fall came on a similar section at Kitzbuehel that saw American Scott Macartney suffer head injuries in a crash last season -- an episode that led officials to make changes to the course. | Daniel Albrecht is airlifted to hospital after a sickening accident at Kitzbuehel .
Super-combined world skiing champion was training for a World Cup downhill .
Swiss Albrecht was airlifted to hospital after lengthy treatment on the slopes . |
166,833 | 63bb974fcf92349ca62e629ac6b96727dccb220f | By . Sam Webb . PUBLISHED: . 12:36 EST, 26 February 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 15:49 EST, 26 February 2014 . These incredible pictures show the gripping moments a snowy owl snatches its prey off freezing ground. The sequence of images follows the bird from being perched on a post to taking flight after spotting a helpless mouse with its piercing yellow eyes. In one of the shots, the bird flashes an glance to the camera as if to say 'watch this', before swooping on the unsuspecting creature. Moments away from impact: The snowy owl a split-second away from striking . Swooping: The bird of prey outstretches its claws as it glides in . In for the kill: The helpless mouse is clamped in the bird's killer grip . A small explosion of powder shoots off the turf as the owl's claws grab the rodent as it swoops down, wings outspread, to grab its dinner. And seconds after spotting dinner, it soars off into the sky before gobbling down the feast. Photographer Peter Stahl, who took the images in Alberta, Canada, said he was so focused on capturing the shot he wasn't able to enjoy the incredible moment until afterwards. 'To get the right setting and lighting rarely comes along, so this was a once in a lifetime shot,' he said. Seconds after spotting dinner, it soars off into the sky before gobbling down the freshly-caught meal . Killer vision: Snow owls have keen eyesight and good hearing which help them when they are hunting for prey hiding under vegetation or snow . The sequence follows the bird from being perched on a post to taking flight after spotting a helpless mouse with its piercing yellow eyes . Soaring: The snowy owl takes to the sky after a successful hunt . 'When I realised I was going to get the image, I was just so focused on the subject thinking "I better get this shot right" because it might not happen again all winter, that I didn't really appreciate how amazing it was until I looked back at my pictures.' According to National Geographic, the snowy owl has unmistakable white plumage that echoes its Arctic origins. Young owls get whiter as they get older. Females are darker than males with dusky spotting and never become totally white. They have keen eyesight and good hearing which help them when they are hunting for prey hiding under vegetation or snow. The magnificent birds sometimes remain year-round in their northern breeding grounds, but are frequent migrants to Canada, the norther United States, Europe and Asia. Waiting: The snowy owl sits on a post in a snow-covered Canadian field before it strikes . Lift-off: With a flap of its beautiful wings, the bird of prey begins its attack . Snowy owls are frequent migrants to Canada, the norther United States, Europe and Asia . | The bird of prey was captured in exhilarating set of pictures .
They were taken in Alberta, Canada by photographer Peter Stahl .
He described it as a 'once in a lifetime' opportunity to capture spectacle . |
223,953 | adfb8f9b9142668b2a58a3b7d1792a5ca339d30c | (CNN) -- Barack Obama ran for president in 2008 on the "audacity of hope," but "audacious" is hardly the first word that comes to mind in describing American politics these days. Paralysis? Check. Polarization? Check. Small ball? Check. In a column after a trip to Singapore in November, Thomas Friedman wrote: "(T)he country that showed the world how to pull together to put a man on the moon and defeat Nazism and Communism, today broadcasts a politics dominated by three phrases: 'You can't do that,' 'It's off the table' and 'The president didn't know.' " In my view, at least, the further we fall the higher the potential for rising again. We cannot continue to muddle through, because muddling through now means falling further and further behind. Our greatest strength as a nation has been our capacity for perpetual renewal. As Doris Kearns Goodwin shows in her splendid book "The Bully Pulpit," we faced similar challenges of corrupt government, excessive concentration of power and a denial of equal opportunity to the majority of our citizens at the end of the 19th century. The progressive movement, born initially out of the Republican Party but ultimately drawing supporters from both parties, rose to the occasion. That change was fueled by a vibrant press and an entire set of new ideas that accompanied new technologies. Big ideas about how to organize our government and ourselves, how to structure our economy, how to reform our educational system and our working conditions. We need a similar set of ideas today. That's why the think tank and civic enterprise I lead, New America, is trying to shift the national conversation toward a set of big ideas as blueprints for change. Two big ideas strike at the heart of who we are as a nation and what we offer our citizens. Rachel Black, Reid Cramer and Aleta Sprague call on America to "restore the second-chance economy." The American dream has always been one not only of upward mobility, but of the ability to fall and rise again. Millions of Americans came to this country to reinvent themselves; in the 19th and early 20th centuries, they could escape the stigma of bankruptcy or even a criminal conviction by heading out to the frontier. Yet while "fail early and often" is a recipe for success in Silicon Valley, it is a death sentence, sometimes literally, for the majority of Americans. Credit histories and criminal records now follow citizens everywhere and forever, always accessible online. We need to end institutional practices that currently double down on disadvantage, while at the same time helping our citizens build assets and provide social insurance that will cushion them through the inevitable ups and downs of life. The idea of a second-chance economy should be built into the social contract between Americans and their government. In return for paying taxes, participating in elections and obeying the law, citizens should expect the government to invest in an infrastructure of both competition and care that enables them to reach their full potential as workers and human beings. In the 21st century, that should start with providing every citizen with universal high-speed Internet -- as Alan Davidson and Danielle Kehl put it -- "for everyone. Everywhere. Really." Big ideas for a new America expand well beyond government policy, however. Consider the future of American manufacturing, which Michael Lind and Joshua Freedman argue lies in "servitization," the transformation of goods into packages of physical products attached to a stream of services. A John Deere tractor, for instance, comes with an onboard computer that can steer itself, adjust levels of fertilizer, seed and water, and, most importantly, send a continual flow of data back to a 24-hour service line that will in turn tell farmers how to increase productivity and when they need preventive maintenance. That service line, in turn, is staffed by information and analysis service providers, a huge and expanding category of jobs that will process data coming from virtually every "product" we use in our lives and work, all now connected to each other in the Internet of things. At the same time, technology shouldn't become an impediment to the American birthright of the pursuit of happiness. We can increase productivity and at the same time, increase leisure. Other big ideas worth considering include a smart plan to fix our political system: The answer for elections dominated by big donors is to make everyone a political donor. Mark Schmitt and Zephyr Teachout outline the basic logic of this approach: "If politicians have a broad base of support, they will be far less dependent on the 0.01 percent, even if the big spenders still exist." If the remedy for bad speech is more speech, our classic defense of the First Amendment, then the remedy for distorted democracy is more democracy. Finally, consider the state of American education. Amid all the justified hand-wringing over our schools, a revolution is about to take place in higher education. Physical campuses will transform or combine with virtual platforms that provide lifelong learning from multiple sources with measurable outcomes. The key to this transformation, as New America's Amy Laitinen points out, is to start measuring education in terms of learning rather than time. The idea involves the redefinition or even abolition of "the credit hour." We currently award degrees based on how many "credits" a student receives for a course, which in turn measures how much time he or she has sat in a classroom every week, whether that time was spent listening to the professor or surfing the Web. But students today, many of whom can expect to live to 100 or more, will learn what they need and want to know over a lifetime, in physical school, their workplaces, online and in the school of life. They will be able to prove that they have in fact gained the knowledge they need through a variety of certification measures, all of which will replace "credits" as we know them. It is so easy to be cynical, to think that talk is cheap and ideas are easy to promote but impossible to implement. I have a different view. Inspiration cannot take flight without ideas to power it. With inspiration, by contrast, comes a vision of genuine change and the energy, faith, commitment, determination and persistence to make it happen. If our politics are small, it is because our imagination is impoverished, strangled by the belief that nothing big can happen. If we start with ideas -- not just speeches, but real ideas -- the politics will follow. | Anne-Marie Slaughter: U.S. politics paralyzed, polarized and in "small-ball" mode .
She says that shouldn't prevent us from pushing ahead with big new ideas .
Economy needs to give Americans a "second chance" to thrive, she says .
Slaughter: Education, manufacturing, campaign finance all need rethinking . |
94,519 | 057b7c8e49e36fd320f956d7f8bffbd80ab1198d | (CNN) -- Bolivian President Evo Morales has put the brakes on a controversial road project through a national park in the Amazon rainforest where indigenous communities live. "The road project in the indigenous park ... is suspended," Morales announced Monday, after 41 days of sometimes violent protests. Before the project can proceed, it will have to pass a referendum in Cochabamba and Beni provinces, where the road would be located, according to the president. The announcement came as Morales condemned weekend violence between police and an indigenous group protesting the construction. "We ... do not share the use of violence and the abuse toward the indigenous brothers who were on the march," the president said. Some indigenous leaders said a baby was killed, but Morales said there was no evidence to support the claim. "We do not know of the death of a baby or child; I hope it did not happen," the president. said. But Jose Ortiz, leader of the Indigenous from northern La Paz, said "this attack ... will stay in the memory of all Bolivians. ... We are outraged." Hundreds of people gathered Monday in the capital, La Paz, to denounce the violence, chanting "killers, killers, killers" to police. Bienvenido Zacu, the deputy of the Guarayos Indigenous people from Santa Cruz called the violence "a violation of the human rights," saying it was the first time he had seen "this kind of abuse by an Indian government." Some groups are planning a general strike for Wednesday. | The suspension follows 41 days of protests .
Violence broke out between demonstrators and police Sunday .
A referendum is required for the project to restart .
The road would run through the Amazon rainforest . |
5,924 | 10ca05c202bb324c14c8419da1cf5466c88700b9 | Frostie, the two-month-old snow goat whose battle for survival won him millions of fans around the world, died on Monday, only about a week after he was able to walk for the first time. Edgar's Mission, a not-for-profit sanctuary for rescued farm animals outside of Melbourne, announced the news on its Facebook page today. An autopsy revealed that Frostie's spinal column was riddled with abscesses, with one so large that it was pressing on his small rumen, preventing the stomach from functioning properly and leading to bloat. Scroll down for video . Frostie the snow goat licks the nose of one of his handlers at Edgar's Mission, the animal sanctuary that took him under its wing in May. Frostie died on Monday after battling a hind leg infection since birth . 'In the early hours of Monday morning, the little champ told me he was not well, as his rapidly expanding stomach screamed bloat,' according to a post on the group's website. 'As the little guy took his last gasps of breath, he looked into my tear filled eyes as I begged him to stay. I told him I loved him and would do so forever more. It was not until I knew his spirit had passed that I would scream, “Why?” at the top of my lungs and sob inconsolably into his warm, sweet smelling white fur.' Frostie snuggles up in his bed in a picture likely taken not long before he died. His autopsy revealed that his spinal column was covered with abscesses . Edgar's Mission, a sanctuary for rescued farm animals, nursed the near-disabled baby goat back to health until he took a turn for the worst in recent days . Frostie's many admirers quickly began expressing their dismay at his passing on the website. 'No...not Frostie!! Im a bit shocked..Frostie was doing so well.' wrote Bronwyn Russell. Fostie was covered in lice, severely dehydrated and was unable to use his back legs when he was first brought to Edgar's Mission in May. At birth, he contracted a hind leg infection through his umbilical cord. An Edgar's Mission employee holds Frostie the Snow Goat in her arms an undated photo . Frostie is shown here about a week ago without the wheelchair he has used since May . The sanctuary fitted Frostie with a custom wheelchair so he could run around and play with the other animals. Pictures of the goat with his rear wheels rapidly went viral around the internet. Before being inherited by Frostie, the wheelchair belonged to Leon Trotsky - a baby pig who was injured when his mother sat on him, crushing his hind legs. Just last week it seemed all the antibiotics, painkillers and tender love and care Frostie was receiving were doing the trick. For the first time, he was let out of his wheelchair and began running freely around the farm. 'That Frostie was a sickly little kid goat was something that we knew from the very day he came into our world,' Edgar's Mission said in the Facebook post. 'Frostie’s lot was not good, but no one told him that. He wanted to live, and that was just what we promised him we would help him do.' Despite being just one of 350 animals cared for, Frostie got all the attention he appeared to have needed at the sanctuary - which also houses cows, alpacas, deer, sheep, chicken, geese, ducks, rabbits, guinea pigs, peacocks and horses, in addition to goats and pigs. 'The fact that Frostie looked a little different was no justification to me for denying him the chance at life he so richly deserved - we would do no less if he were a puppy or kitten,' Edgar's Mission said. A staff member at Edgar's Mission holds Frostie, the snow goat that won the hearts of millions around the world as he struggled to walk and live . | Frostie has struggled to survive since being born with a hind leg infection he got from his umbilical cord .
His autopsy showed his spinal column was riddled with abscesses that were preventing his stomach from functioning normally, causing severe bloat .
Frostie had just turned two months old . |
262,755 | e056443db23f083b7cc05e6246cd4c359790b4bf | (CNN) -- Diplomats sought new ways to forge peace in Syria on Friday as the killings continued in the restive land. Kofi Annan, the special envoy to Syria for the Arab League and the United Nations, urged countries to use their pull on the combatants to stop the fighting. He is also planning an international meeting to discuss next steps on Syria. "It is time for countries of influence to raise the level of pressure on the parties on the ground and to persuade them that it is in their interest to stop the killing and start talking," Annan said in Geneva, Switzerland. "I urge all parties to heed the call for a cessation of violence in all its forms, first and foremost for the sake of the Syrian people, the children and women in particular. I think they have suffered for far too long and continue to suffer. But if our efforts are to succeed, we shall need the united and sustained support of the international community. This is essential." The diplomatic wrangling comes as violence continues to rage across the country. Since the uprising began in March 2011, violence has killed more than 15,000 people in Syria, mostly civilians, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The United Nations has said that at least 10,000 people have been killed in the conflict. At least 128 people died Thursday in one of the deadliest days of the 15-month conflict, and another 87 deaths have been recorded Friday, the opposition Local Coordination Committees said. Thirteen people died in Homs, 11 in Aleppo and 10 in the Damascus suburbs. The Local Coordination Committees said that more than 10 massacres have occurred in the past few days, including recent ones in Inkhel and Douma. News also emerged Friday of a recent mass killing and constant shelling in Daret Azza, in Aleppo province. Syrian state-run TV says "armed terrorist gangs" kidnapped "innocent civilians" and "desecrated their bodies," an act it describes as a "barbaric massacre" in the area. It said that more than 25 people have been killed. The opposition Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 26 people shot and killed in the area were members of a pro-government militia called the Shabiha, who are themselves blamed for killings of civilians. Syria consistently blames terrorists for the violence. Opposition groups say the violence began when a government crackdown on peaceful protesters generated a nationwide uprising. CNN cannot confirm specific reports of violence in Syria because the government has restricted access to the country by international journalists. Annan and Maj. Gen. Robert Mood, the head of the suspended U.N. observer mission in Syria, described a bleak scenario to reporters in Geneva, Switzerland. Annan said that in the past few days, he has been in "intensive consultations with a number of ministers and officials in capitals around the world about the possibility of convening a meeting of ministers to discuss what further actions could be taken to implement the Security Council resolutions." "We can not just step back and do nothing, and this is why I say, if we have alternatives, let's go with it," Annan said. Annan favors the inclusion of Iran in such a meeting. "The composition of the group will be such that I hope that apart from Security Council members, the permanent members of the Security Council, it will include governments and countries with influence on one or the other parties, coming together and deciding that they will cooperate and work together, realizing that it is only when the international community comes together and sustains its pressure and effort that we get results. Today, honestly speaking, that is not happening," he said. Annan was asked what actions he would like to see taken at the upcoming conference. "We either have to find ways of getting the plan implemented, if we think it is still worthwhile pursuing it, and if the plan is not worthwhile, what other options are we going to look at and begin to take a look at them," he said. "There may be recommendations emanating from the group that the council would want to act on, but they as a group will not take that kind of decisions. I hope they will decide to use their collective influence on the parties to push them in the right direction as well as perhaps coming up with ideas that the council can work on." Both men discussed the deteriorating humanitarian situation. Annan said that up to 1.5 million people are affected somehow by the warfare. He said that at least 92,000 people have fled to other countries in the region. Mood said the "level of destruction" is massive in violence-stricken flashpoints, such as neighborhoods in Homs, Daraa and Hama. "I am also particularly concerned about the continued military occupation of hospitals, health facilities and schools, also preventing access to medical attention for those in need. Which means the need for the humanitarian response plan to be effective and the scale of rebuilding and reconstruction that is before us once there is a cessation of violence is enormous," he said. The International Committee of the Red Cross said one of its teams tried to enter neighborhoods in Homs to help people caught in the crossfire, but Mood said "civilians continue to be trapped in the line of fire." "There is a need to call on all parties when they are pursuing their objectives by military means to distinguish very clearly between civilians and combatants. It is not always easy. And all parties must abide by the obligation to keep civilians out of harm's way. And obviously it is the government that has the primary responsibility to civilian populations to protect them from all forms of violence. The latest attempts by the (Syrian Arab Red Crescent) and the ICRC to have a breakthrough related to evacuating the civilians -- children, women, elderly -- out of Homs have regrettably not yet succeeded," Mood said. Mood has been leading a mission to monitor what is a failed cease-fire and the government's adherence to a six-point peace plan that has not taken hold. But the mission had to be suspended because of rising violence. He said the observers are still in Syria and are conducting administrative activities. The Local Coordination Committees said that more than 3,600 people have died since the Annan plan began this year. "The observers in Syria, at the moment, they are mainly in their team sites and at headquarters," Mood said. "That does not mean that we are doing nothing. It means that, from their team sites, they have view of surrounding areas, the cities. We are also continuing the engagement by telephone with the different parties, and we also have some patrols going to local hospitals and assessing the situation. So the normal administrative activities are ongoing, but patrols and exploring new areas and going into new projects is not on the agenda while the activities are suspended. Obviously, given the fact that the mandate is for 90 days and that it doesn't expire until the 20th of July, my focus is to be able to continue to implement the mandated tasks as soon as the situation allows. And a less risky level of violence makes that possible." Annan said the observers are "keen to resume their work." "In the short time that they have been there, they have engaged not just with the parties but with communities at all levels of society in the cities and towns where they have been deployed," Annan said. "Their commitment to the Syrian people has not faltered. But the circumstances must allow them to do their work. And we all know that they are unarmed men and women who are doing courageous work." Annan hasn't lost hope about the mission. He said he's seen other situations where plans are implemented and progress is reached after long delays. "I have seen situations where plans have not been implemented for a while, and then suddenly there are shifts, shifts take place on the ground in strategic alliances, and you can see progress. And I hope we can see some of the positive shifts in positions of government, their willingness to pressure, or to take certain actions to give us movement," he said. Annan was asked when he'll know the crisis will spiral out of control. "If it does continue to escalate, there will come a moment when not only the U.N. but everybody will see very clearly that the situation is not sustainable, is not controllable and is beyond control of everyone. And we don't want to get there. his is why we are trying to press and push to see if we can get the parties to take steps to end the violence before we get to that stage. I don't think we are there yet, but we may not be far from there." Meanwhile, Russia's foreign minister says Syrian leaders are ready to work with the rebels to synchronize a pullout of forces. Russia is a friend of Syria's, and world powers believe that it has tremendous pull with President Bashar al-Assad's regime. "Among the most important positions in our vision for the forthcoming conference on Syria is that the government forces and armed forces of the opposition should make a synchronized withdrawal of forces from towns and centers of population under control of international observers. The Syrian government has told me today they are ready to do this," Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told Rossiya 24 TV. "It's now important that the other side gets ready for the move and that the U.N. mission in Syria draws up the necessary (withdrawal) plans and pursue their implementation." Russia has no plans to send naval forces to Syria with soldiers on board, Lavrov said Friday in response to recent media reports. . CNN's Saad Abedine, Hamdi Alkhshali and Joe Sterling contributed to this report. | Annan and the head of the U.N. observer mission brief reporters Friday .
Thursday was one of the bloodiest days in the Syrian conflict .
Syria claims terrorists fired at Red Cross officials in Homs . |
94,607 | 05945e3413303a02ee55fe27720b820ffeb2cdb8 | By . Geoffrey Levy . PUBLISHED: . 18:46 EST, 4 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 19:39 EST, 4 February 2013 . So the man who could easily have been our Deputy Prime Minister today contemplates a prison sentence for perverting the course of justice, though few tears will be shed by fellow politicians even among his own Lib-Dem colleagues. And for what? Three points on his driving licence for speeding; three measly points which would have been added to those he already had for using his mobile phone while driving, and possibly cost him his licence. No issue so penetratingly defines the ferocious political ambition of Chris Huhne, nor his stupidity and lack of judgement. Guilty: Chris Huhne, with his partner Carina Trimingham, speaks to the media, outside Southwark Crown Court . His resignation as an MP brings to a full stop the rise of a brilliant man whose life has been marked as much by lies and obfuscation as by the smooth progress characterised by the ease with which he stepped from Westminster school to a first class PPE degree at Oxford. This time last year, Huhne was in the Cabinet as Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, consummate politician, and one who views any small blemish on his record as a hindrance to advancement. That old summons for speeding on the M11 had been long forgotten. The day when it had dropped through the door of his Hampshire home in June, 2003, Huhne wasn’t even a member of Parliament – that was still two years away. But the then MEP for South East England was always planning a bigger future, at Westminster. A man marked out by his arrogance, he had no intention of remaining merely one of those Euro MPs most people have never even heard of. His practice of dealing expediently with inconveniences went back to his Oxford days at Magdalen College. Then, to help smooth his path to the executive of the university Labour Club, he dropped the name by which he had always been known, Christopher Paul-Huhne, and adopting the chirpy Chris Huhne. That speeding summons had to be similarly dealt with and, as we now know and he will forever bitterly regret, the police accepted the story that his Greek-born, economist wife Vicky Pryce, mother of his three children aged 18 to 25, was driving the speeding car, not him. Ex-wife: Vicky Pryce, Chris Huhne's former wife, arrives at Southwark Crown Court in London for her trial hearing accused of perverting the course of justice. She denies the offence on the grounds of marital coercion . She took his three points. And that would have been that. For her part Vicky Pryce denies the offence of perverting the course of justice on the grounds of marital coercion. But as she would discover, this was not the only time she would be used as a prop to promote his driven political ambitions. Speed forward to the general election of 2005, where Huhne is fighting the Tory-held marginal of Eastleigh, Hampshire, and we find his election literature desperately gushing: ‘Family matters to me so much. Where would we be without them?’ Affair: Chris Huhne, right, arrives at court for his hearing, with Carina Trimingham . Pre-election leaflets shoved through voters’ front doors showed pictures of his wedding with the caption ‘Getting married does not seem like 26 years ago’, and another picture of him feeding a baby, with the caption, ‘I took to becoming a father so seriously I gave up smoking’. Just how important family matters really were to Chris Huhne became crystal clear in June, 2010 when it emerged that, for perhaps two years, he had been having a secret affair with his former press officer, Carina Trimingham, who was in a civil partnership with a woman. He had even been using his Hampshire constituency home for trysts with Miss Trimingham, now 45, and 13 years younger than his wife. Disclosure of the affair in two Sunday newspapers produced an almost comic response from the Cabinet Minister, showing how easily he dismissed moral issues. In a carbon copy of that other Cabinet rank politician, Labour’s late Robin Cook, another dedicated family politician caught bang-to-rights in an affair with his secretary, Huhne immediately issued a statement saying: ‘I am in a serious relationship with Carina Trimingham and am separating from my wife.’ (Cook was actually at the airport about to go on holiday with his wife when he was forced by Alastair Campbell to decide – wife or mistress.) Ms Pryce, a thoughtful figure, is best remembered that difficult day for despatching her son Peter to the newsagents to buy all the papers. But it was a full 11 months later that the allegation which would destroy him first appeared in a Sunday newspaper. Imagine Huhne’s horror at this exposure, the loss of face over something, in retrospect, so ludicrously trivial. Fleeting victory: Chris Huhne and Vicky Pryce celebrate his 2010 election win, but Huhne is now contemplating a prison sentence for perverting the course of justice . This is a man used to brushing awkward inconveniences aside, a millionaire politician whose expenses included receipts for bus tickets, milk and loo rolls, as well as £119 for a Corby trouser press, but who had the temerity to declare with typical passion on his (now former) constituency website that ‘MPs should spend the taxpayers’ money more carefully.’ Huhne and Trimingham were living together and he had been hoping that his domestic troubles were behind him. He was even quietly eyeing the party leadership again – despite having thrown his hat twice into the ring and lost – as Nick Clegg struggled to maintain party support within the Coalition. The first time he had lost to Sir ‘Ming’ Campbell in 2006 – impudent, really, for an MP who’d been in the Commons less than a year. A year later, when Campbell stood down, he had another go. This time he lost by a squeak to Clegg. 'Imagine Huhne’s horror at this exposure, the loss of face over something, in retrospect, so ludicrously trivial' No-one supported him more, or was more desperate for him to win, than Carina Trimingham. Indeed, it can surely be argued that Carina’s love and support may well have cost him everything. It is arguable that Carina’s earlier admiration for Huhne cost him the leadership as well. This is what happened. He and Clegg were neck and neck – Clegg with his youthful appeal, and Huhne with that touch of gravitas. The older man was a success, someone who’d lived a bit, who’d worked both as a journalist and in the City and made a lot of money buying properties – currently he has seven. In a party poll of more than 41,000 votes, Huhne lost by a mere 511. What tipped the balance against him was a live debate on the BBC’s Sunday programme, The Politics Show. Before the programme, presenter Jon Sopel had received from Huhne’s team a detailed aide memoire detailing a list of Clegg’s policy fault lines. Astonishingly for a fellow party member, it was titled: ‘Calamity Clegg’. Nothing could have more clearly indicated Huhne’s stop-at-nothing determination to be the party leader, and it is hardly surprising that Clegg made a formal complaint about his opponent’s ‘dirty tricks’ to the party’s chief whip running the leadership election, Lord Rennard. Colleagues: Nick Clegg, right, pictured with Chris Huhne after Clegg won the 2007 Liberal Democrat leadership contest . Huhne denied all knowledge of the document. ‘It’s quite impossible to check everything that goes out of the office…I can assure you it did not have my authorisation,’ he declared. It was an over-zealous young researcher who was responsible for drawing up the document’. Oh, and the researcher was not actually on the staff. But the episode turned many Lib-Dem party members against him. In fact, as the Daily Mail discovered, the ‘Calamity Clegg’ document had been created and circulated by Carina Trimingham, who was working as his leadership campaign press manager – although this was before they started their affair. Whether Miss Trimingham considers herself in any way responsible for her lover’s demise, first in sharing his bed and then pushing his leadership ambitions too hard, hardly matters now. She suffered defeat in a contest of her own last year in the High Court, when she lost a privacy and harassment claim against Associated Newspapers, publishers of the Daily Mail. Mr Justice Tugendhat ruled that as the ‘secret mistress’ of a married MP, she was a public figure and only had herself to blame for newspaper articles about her private life. She is appealing against the judgement. As Huhne’s arrogance fades from Westminster, it is impossible to over-estimate the mess that he has made of his life, especially with his children. And the future? No doubt Chris Huhne will revert to his old professional love, finance and property. He might even revert to his old name, Christopher Paul-Huhne. It may not work for a politician, but out in the commercial world it has a ring about it. | Issue defines Huhne's ferocious political ambition, and his lack of judgement .
Practice of dealing with inconveniences goes back to Oxford days .
He also campaigned on 'family matters' before embarking on secret affair with former press officer . |
118,338 | 24c8b00b1beda6de1b534f60bafdac0aff2aca16 | By . Corey Charlton . A Romanian visited his holiday home only to find a completely empty plot of land with a field of corn planted in its place after his house had been stolen by thieves. Police in the Romanian port city of Braila got a call from Andy Pascali, 40, complaining that his holiday house on the Danube Delta had been stolen. At first they thought it was a joke, but when they turned up at the nearby village of Baldovinesti they found not only that there was no property where there should have been a three-bedroom building, but that a field of ready-to-harvest corn had been planted in its place. Before: The house owned by Mr Pascali in Romania which was stolen and replaced by a cornfield . After: The cornfield planted by a neighbour where Mr Pascali's house should have been before it was stolen . Police thought someone was playing a prank when they first received a call about the house being stolen . A shocked Mr Pascali, who posted the image of the cornfield on his Facebook page, said: 'I think this could only happen in Romania. 'My entire house has been stolen and my neighbours have taken advantage of the opportunity to plant a field of corn instead. Absolutely incredible.' He said the theft should be a warning to anybody who might be thinking about buying a holiday home in the country that they should make regular checks to make sure it was still there. He added: 'My message is to anyone with a holiday home in Romania is this, it could happen to you to!' He said that he believed the crooks had probably managed to recycle just about everything after slowly taking the house apart while he was not there. He said the property that he had inherited from his parents who had built it in 1986 had also been fully furnished with a brand-new fitted kitchen and bathroom. He added: 'I had been worried about thieves maybe breaking in and stealing the television or something, and so I put a barbed wire fence up around the house for added security. But they stole that as well.' Police officers looking across the cornfield which was planted on the empty plot of land . Andy Pascali (pictured) believes his holiday home was stolen piece by piece while he was not there . The man from the capital Bucharest had been looking forward to enjoying a break after the house was finally complete and landscape gardeners had finished putting down the lawn. They had even installed a pond with a fountain, which had also vanished when Andy turned up for his holiday. A local man admitted he decided to take advantage of the fact that the ground was no longer being used to plant a field of corn but denied knowing anything about the theft of the house in the first place. | Andy Pascali, 40, visited his holiday home only to find an empty plot of land .
Where his home should have been was a field of ready-to-harvest corn .
Thieves even stole barbed wire security fence erected to prevent break-ins . |
141,796 | 435da2404e73b1fb711de52df4a1d27394adb46e | A pair of hapless thieves spent five hours inside a restaurant after breaking in only to steal £2.50 and a handful of vegan sweets, CCTV has revealed. The men are being hunted by Police Scotland after breaking into Artisan Lounge, a vegetarian restaurant and cafe, in Ayrshire on Monday night. They spent five hours talking to themselves in mirrors and destroying stock before walking out with a few low-cost items. 'You talking to me?': One of the thieves was filmed talking to himself in a mirror while brandishing a kitchen knife. The burglars spent five hours wandering around Artisan Lounge in Ayshire after breaking in . The men looked as though they could barely keep their balance as they walked around the restaurant. Their crime was captured on CCTV cameras installed by owners . Their 'peculiar' behaviour was captured on CCTV installed by staff at the restaurant which was closed for two days following the incident. 'A lot of damage has been done, they went through a lot of our vegetables and some of what was sitting out. 'The fridges were open so all of the food in there was gone as well,' said Euan Bryson, a manager at the restaurant. 'The whole scenario is quite peculiar though, all they took out the building is £2.50 from a tip jar and a couple of these vegan sweets. 'The building has thousands of pounds worth of artwork by local artists and our coffee machine is really expensive too. The men stole a handful of vegan sweets and a meagre £2.50 but left behind thousands of pounds worth of artwork and expensive kitchen equipment . At around midnight the men make their exit, stumbling back onto the street through the front door. Police Scotland said enquiries were ongoing . The restaurant was closed for two days after the theft, but owners say they are glad nothing more valuable was stolen . 'One of the staff had left their drone camera which is worth about £1,000 as well but they didn't take any of it.' Two expensive kitchen knives which the thieves are seen brandishing in the footage were however stolen. 'There's quite a sinister element to it, at one point in the tape we saw one of them hiding behind the staircase clutching the knife as though he was ready to pounce. 'The knife he had is made in the same way as a Samurai knife, it's very sharp and a viable weapon. 'I hope they are found soon, the local police are very good.' Police Scotland confirmed inquiries into the incident were ongoing. | The thieves were filmed breaking into the Artisan Lounge in Ayrshire .
Men spent five hours walking around and talking to themselves in mirrors .
They finally made off with £2.50 from a tip jar and a handful of sweets .
Left behind thousands in local artwork and expensive kitchen equipment . |
156,230 | 55ec01fb8e961a26fd64492bf3f727829203d311 | (CNN) -- It has been nearly 20 years since Poland's Solidarity movement defeated the Communist Party in an historic election that prompted the fall of communism across central and eastern Europe. Solidarity leader Lech Walesa takes the oath in front of Poland's National Assembly on December 22, 1990. CNN International marks this significant anniversary with "The New Poland," a week of programming examining the transformation of Poland from 1989 to where it sits today on the world stage. The combination of daily live programming and special reports from CNN correspondents in cities across Poland culminates June 4 with "Autumn of Change, an in-depth documentary that takes a retrospective look at the events leading up to the election exactly 20 years ago. Reflecting the tumultuous year of 1989, which changed Europe forever, "Autumn of Change" will mix live programming and documentary programming, unforgettable historical images with interviews past and present, and a huge online audience initiative through Poland, Hungary, Germany, the former Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria and Romania, in a comprehensive narrative of events that have helped to shape the Europe of today. "CNN's combination of historic footage, comprehensive reporting and access to Poland's key figures puts us in an unparalleled position to set the scene for how Poland was the catalyst for the Europe of today," said Mike McCarthy, vice president of coverage and feature programming for CNN International. "In step with the anniversaries of the events themselves, CNN will invite viewers to take part in our ambitious account of how Europe has changed over the last 20 years and what the future may hold." About the programming: . Just eight months after reporting from Poland for the week-long "Eye on Poland" special, Fionnuala Sweeney returns to the country to anchor the network's live coverage for "The New Poland." She will report on the various commemoration and celebration ceremonies throughout the week from cities across Poland including Warsaw, Krakow and Gdansk. In addition to Sweeney's live reports, CNN correspondent Frederik Pleitgen will take viewers inside the Poland of today looking at the political, cultural, social and economic changes that have taken place in the past 20 years. The programs include: . -- Gdansk Today: CNN explores the city of Gdansk, the birthplace of the Solidarity movement. We visit the main shipyard and spend the day with a foreman who has been working there for more than 30 years. He talks about the transformation since Solidarity was born and the challenges the shipyards face three decades on. Finally, CNN heads out to sea with a polish yacht maker and finds out how they are dealing with the economic crisis. -- Catholicism in Poland: CNN looks at the Catholic Church in Poland and the challenges it faces. We visit Religia TV, a new project that aims to attract Catholics as well as viewers from other religions. -- Business in Poland: Solidarity transformed Poland from a communist state into a capitalist economy eventually capable of becoming a democratic member of the EU. During the last 20 years, its economy developed at a thriving pace, but even today there are remnants of the old system. CNN speaks to a family-run business on the local economy. We also visit Poland's biggest copper mining and refining company. We find out how the global market place is impacting the global economy and Polish business. -- Polish Cuisine: CNN speaks to Krakow's top celebrity chef and historian Robert Maklowicz about Polish cuisine and the recent trend to return to its roots. -- Poland's Film School: CNN visits Poland's largest film production Centrex, the National Film, Television and Theatre School in Lodz, and finds out what makes this school so unique. About the documentary: By combining narratives from key players within the Solidarity movement, the Communist leadership, CNN reporters who covered the events and Polish civilians who lived through it all, Autumn of Change charts the individuals, relationships and astonishing chain of events that shook eastern Europe to its foundations. About the online coverage: CNN's television coverage will be complemented by a full interactive companion site. This special site will feature a number of pieces that reflect the cultural influence of this movement as well as narratives from some of the major figures involved in the process. Via iReport.com, CNN will also encourage viewers and users from Poland and elsewhere to submit content -- photos, videos and comments -- to illustrate personal experiences. Whether a part of this revolutionary period or not, CNN wants to know how these pivotal events affected them. | 20 years since Poland's Solidarity movement defeated the Communist Party .
The New Poland is a week of programming examining the transformation of Poland .
Culminates in Autumn of Change, a look at the events that led to the election .
Fionnuala Sweeney will anchor CNN's live coverage from Poland . |
101,591 | 0eeda49323ae2298095ef246558096bb0d8c6369 | (CNN) -- The images are all too familiar. Young protesters, disenfranchised and frustrated, take to the streets to fight a government that is ignoring their demands. At first peaceful, the protests are met with the heavy hand of riot police. Photographs of resilient demonstrators -- some standing obstinate amid the clouds of tear gas, others covered in pepper spray -- flood the Internet. But what is surprising about this week's images is that they come from Hong Kong, one of Asia's financial hubs and a territory known for its stability. The impetus for these pro-democracy protests, started by a student boycott of classes and joined by the group Occupy Central with Love and Peace, was the Chinese government's pronouncement that the selection of candidates in Hong Kong's election in 2017 would be limited by a pro-Beijing committee, a move that would ostensibly prevent a leader resistant to Beijing's influence from coming to power. Such an arrangement follows the letter of the Basic Law, which codified the policy of "one country, two systems," as well as a 2007 decree by the National People's Congress that promised universal suffrage in 2017, but hardly their spirit. It is therefore no surprise that the signs have long seemed to point to an eventual clash of perspective. Hong Kong was returned to mainland China from the British Commonwealth in 1997, its institutions grounded in Western and democratic thought. Hong Kong's economic freedoms and openness draws in companies and individuals from around the globe, further perpetuating the territory's ties to the outside world. On the other side of the coin is Beijing, well known for its opposition to the open flow of information and the Western concept of democracy. Hong Kong protests: What you need to know . Both sides have demonstrated restraint, with the protesters remaining largely peaceful and the government pulling back riot police after a day of aggressive crowd control tactics. Moreover, it is in the interest of both parties to maintain a low level of intensity. Violent escalation by the Occupy Central movement would only justify an equally violent response, and international condemnation and domestic anger would follow hostile action by the police. That said, in a meeting with Hong Kong's business elite, Chinese President Xi Jinping asserted that Beijing will not yield. The Chinese government is aggressively censoring posts on Weibo, a popular social media site -- censored posts reportedly increased five-fold over the weekend, and "Hong Kong" is now the most widely deleted search term on the social media site -- and Instagram was blocked for the first time in Hong Kong. In the meantime, the Occupy Central movement has already achieved much by bringing greater attention to Hong Kong's struggle for democracy. As the removal of riot police reveals, the international presence in Hong Kong means that Beijing does not have the same freedom of action as it does on the mainland. In China, demonstrations against issues such as pollution, corruption and forced land seizures are common and under-reported, caught behind the government's Great Firewall. But it is harder for the world to ignore the comprehensive and detailed reports emanating from Hong Kong. With their actions, the Hong Kong citizens are assembling the pieces for greater civil and political participation in not only Hong Kong but also mainland China. The possible financial ramifications of the Occupy Central movement could cause Beijing to seek a quick conclusion to the demonstrations. After all, with traffic bottlenecked by protesters, business as usual in one of Asia's financial hubs and China's financial center is in question. A number of banks reportedly temporarily closed some of their branches and asked employees to work from home. Investors, too, are waiting to see the outcome of the protests in Hong Kong before continuing projects. Should the demonstrations linger, Beijing might therefore need to reassess its tactics -- though this could result in an even more aggressive crackdown. The road ahead will not be easy. Xi and the Communist Party are unlikely to shift from the short-term tactic of censorship and suppression. The leaders and participants of the Occupy Central movement risk arrest and censure in a territory and country that values stability above all. But they are carving out a space for civil and political participation throughout Greater China. In the end, such participation will improve both China's governance and the lives of its people. Now if only Beijing can get out of its own way. From umbrella protests to 'umbrella revolution' | Hong Kong was returned to mainland China from the British Commonwealth in 1997 .
William Piekos: Occupy Central brings attention to Hong Kong's struggle for democracy .
Hong Kong citizens are assembling pieces for greater civil participation, Piekos says . |
172,062 | 6ab579d8cb60048b697e8e8682e1c969dc8b7bef | BERLIN, Germany (CNN) -- A German court Monday refused to intervene in the case of Bishop Richard Williamson, who is facing prosecution for denying the Holocaust -- a crime in Germany. Bishop Richard Williamson, shown in the recent Swedish TV interview, has been removed from his seminary post in Argentina. Williamson asked the court to order Swedish Public Television to restrict broadcast of an interview in which he doubts the existence of Nazi gas chambers and a systematic Nazi plan to annihilate European Jewry. Williamson sought the help of the court because Holocaust denial is punishable in Germany only if it is publicized there. The court refused the request, it announced Monday. His lawyers argued that giving an interview to a Swedish television station did not constitute denying the Holocaust in Germany -- although he was physically in the country when he made the remarks. Williamson hit the headlines last month when he and three other ultra-conservative bishops were welcomed back into the Roman Catholic Church, more than 20 years after Pope John Paul II excommunicated them on a theological question unrelated to the Holocaust. The state court of Nuremberg-Fuerth ruled that the bishop would have had to notify Swedish reporters of any restrictions before the interview. According to the court, Williamson also wanted the interview removed from the network's Web site. The court said it is clear that the Swedish network is available on satellite in many countries and that he knew they had a Web site which can be seen around the world. A German district attorney announced February 4 that he had launched a criminal investigation against Williamson on January 23. Regensburg District Attorney Guenther Ruckdaeschel said authorities are investigating whether his remarks can be considered "inciting racial hatred." Denying the Holocaust in Germany is punishable by up to five years in prison. "I believe that the historical evidence is strongly against -- is hugely against -- six million Jews having been deliberately gassed in gas chambers as a deliberate policy of Adolf Hitler," Williamson said in the interview, which also appeared on various Web sites after broadcast. "I believe there were no gas chambers." Williamson and three other bishops who belong to the Society of Saint Pius X were excommunicated in 1988. The society was founded by Archbishop Marcel Lefebrve, who rebelled against the Vatican's modernizing reforms in the 1960s, and who consecrated the men in unsanctioned ceremonies. The rehabilitation of Williamson sparked harsh condemnation from Israel, American Jewish leaders and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, among others. The Vatican has pointed to several statements by Pope Benedict XVI in the past few years condemning the destruction of European Jewry, including his visits to concentration camps. He has also said he did not know of Williamson's views on the Holocaust when he lifted the excommunication. The Vatican has said Williamson will not be allowed to perform priestly functions until he recants his Holocaust denial. He has apologized for "distress" his remarks caused the pope, but he has not retracted them. On Sunday, Merkel phoned Pope Benedict about the issue, though neither side seemed to have shifted its position over Williamson. In addition, Williamson was removed over the weekend as head of a seminary in Argentina. The views of Bishop Williamson, who has led the seminary in La Reja since 2003, do not reflect those of The Society of St. Pius X, said Christian Bouchacourt, head of its Latin American chapter. Bouchacourt said, in effect, Williamson had no business discussing the Holocaust issue. "It's obvious that a Catholic bishop cannot talk with the ecclesiastical authority but to things related to faith and morality," Bouchacourt said in a written statement. | Bishop Richard Williamson loses bid to restrict access in Germany to a TV interview .
He told Swedish TV he did not believe there was a Nazi plan to wipe out Jews .
He wanted Swedish TV to be banned from airing interview in Germany or on Internet .
Holocaust denial is a crime in Germany if the denial is publicized in Germany . |
190,115 | 822501f455da339ef25f1d986a813c93ed8ae3a6 | By . Nick Mcdermott, Science Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 16:06 EST, 8 July 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 16:06 EST, 8 July 2013 . Bladder cancer can now be detected long before symptoms develop - after scientists created a device that can smell the disease. Responding to chemicals in a patient’s urine, the sensor is able to give an accurate diagnosis within 30 minutes. Around 10,000 people are diagnosed with the disease each year but there are no reliable screening methods, unlike in breast or cervical cancers. Bladder cancer can now be detected long before symptoms develop - after scientists created a device that can smell the disease . Due to later diagnosis, it is one of the most common causes of death in cancer patients. The device, known as the Odoreader, was inspired by a dog’s ability to detect smells that escape the human nose, including the scent of lung cancer. In a trial on 98 patients - 24 of whom had cancer - the sensor was 100 per cent accurate in identifying individuals with the disease. Larger clinical trials are now planned before the technique becomes publicly available. The researchers hope the technique can also be used to diagnose the early stages of prostate cancer. Researcher Professor Chris Probert, from the University of Liverpool’s Institute of Translational Medicine, said: ‘Each year approximately 10,000 people in the UK are diagnosed with bladder cancer. ‘It is a disease that, if caught early, can be treated effectively, but unfortunately we do not have any early screening methods other than diagnosis through urine tests at the stage when it starts to become a problem.’ Researchers from the UWE Bristol, the . University of Liverpool, and Bristol Urological Institute have spent . four years developing the Odoreader. The . device contains a sensor that responds to chemicals in a patient’s . urine. Scientists are then able to read the profile to diagnose the . presence of cancer cells in the bladder. Responding to chemicals in a patient's urine, the sensor is able to give an accurate diagnosis within 30 minutes . Researcher Professor Norman Ratcliffe from the Institute of Biosensor Technology at UWE Bristol said: ‘It is thought that dogs can smell cancer, but this is obviously not a practical way for hospitals to diagnose the disease. ‘Taking this principle, however, we have developed a device that can give us a profile of the odour in urine. It reads the gases that chemicals in the urine can give off when the sample is heated. ‘Odoreader works by inserting a bottle containing the urine sample into the device. About 30 minutes later the Odoreader is capable of showing the diagnosis on the computer screen if the sample derives from a patient with bladder cancer. It is simple to use and could be operated in a doctor’s surgery.’ The study is published in the journal Public Library of Science ONE. | Odoreader can detect the disease in a patient's urine .
Can be used by GP and gives result in 30 minutes .
Trials showed it to be 100% accurate . |
219,784 | a87eb75afe9f1198e063be576f502156d8c3b594 | A child dubbed 'turtle boy' because of a giant mole that covered his back like a shell, can now live a normal life thanks to a British surgeon. Didier Montalvo, six, from Colombia, had the rare condition Congenital Melanocytic Nevus. There was a chance the growth could turn malignant but Didier's mother Luz could not raise the money for the operation. Didier looks in wonder after his giant mole is removed from his back (pictured right) The family were also ostracised from their rural village as the superstitious residents said Didier's condition was due to being conceived during an eclipse. They feared he was touched by evil forces which meant he could not attend school or be baptised. 'I want to grow up,' Didier said. 'But the mole won't let me.' But thanks to leading plastic surgeon Neil Bulstrode, who operated on him free after hearing of his plight, Didier can now grow up as any other child. The story will be told tonight as part of Channel 4's Bodyshock documentary series. Mr Bulstrode removes the growth during surgery in Colombia . Didier and his family was ostracised by their village due to his condition . Mr Bulstrode flew to the Colombian capital Bogotá to help a team of surgeons remove Didier’s birthmark, which had grown so big that it was feared it could become malignant. The doctors then had to carry out a complicated series of skin grafts over several stages. Mr Bulstrode told the Evening Standard: 'Didier’s was the worst case I had ever seen. Effectively three quarters of the circumference of his body was affected. 'Obviously he has had to go through a number of painful operations, but we feel it was worth it. It’s great to see the photos of how Didier is getting on now. I’m really happy with how things have healed.' Smiling again: Didier says he can 'grow up' now his mole has gone . Mr Bulstrode is an expert in treating patients like Didier, who suffer from the rare condition. The cause is not known but experts think there is a change in the development of skin cells in the embryo triggered by a gene mutation. Mr Bulstrode, who carries out about 40 CMN removals a year on patients at Great Ormond Street, said that working with the team in Bogotá had been an amazing experience. Turtle Boy will be broadcast at 10pm on Channel 4 tonight . | Villagers ostracised Didier and his family because they feared dark forces were at work .
British surgeon says Didier's condition was the most extreme case he had ever seen . |
75,901 | d73b2d90eb89a70a376f3f28065394c8b59a5c6c | (CNN) -- Occupy activists tossed pipes, bottles, burning flares and other objects Saturday at Oakland police, who responded by using tear gas and smoke grenades and arresting more than 100 demonstrators, city and police officials said. Oakland has been a flash point of the Occupy movement since October when police used tear gas to break up demonstrators who refused to leave downtown. One demonstrator, a Marine veteran of the war in Iraq, suffered a skull fracture after being hit with a police projectile, according to a veteran's group. Police said they acted after the crowd threw paint and other objects at officers. On Saturday, police made mass arrests following an afternoon clash with protesters near the Kaiser Convention Center and then later outside a downtown YMCA, according to a police statement. The tension began Saturday around noon when about 250 activists gathered in Frank Ogawa Plaza. They were joined later by another 200 people as they marched around the city. Police said the protesters "began tearing down perimeter fences around" the Kaiser center around 2:30 p.m., with officers ordering the protesters to leave the area about 20 minutes later. "The City of Oakland welcomes peaceful forms of assembly and freedom of speech, but acts of violence, property destruction and overnight lodging will not be tolerated," the statement said. On its Twitter feed, Oakland police wrote that people near the YMCA were being arrested for unlawful assembly. Police claimed, too, that parts of the Oakland Museum and Kaiser Center were "severely impacted," with people cutting and tearing fences. Occupy protesters also blocked traffic at major intersections and attacked a KTVU television truck, damaging the truck and breaking windows, the station said. No injuries were reported. By nightfall, Occupy protesters moved toward Oakland City Hall, according to the group's Twitter feed. "Amazing day. We didnt get in the building, but fought like our future depended on it," the group tweeted. Posts on Occupy Oakland's Twitter feed claim that police met the protesters "with munitions and violence." One read: "#OccupyOakland being teargassed smoked bombed & shot at w rubber bullets." Oakland police said they used only smoke and tear gas. They did so after warning activists who had begun "destroying construction equipment and fencing" around the Kaiser center, authorities said. Officers were "pelted" with bottles, metal pipes, rocks and burning flares, according to another police statement released earlier in the day. While there was no immediate word on injuries to protesters, Oakland police said that three of their officers were hurt in the earlier clash. After that incident, roughly 500 activists returned to Ogawa Plaza, according to a police statement. Aerial video footage showed them later on the move and a post on Occupy Oakland's Twitter feed indicated they were planning to march to a "second building" -- an apparent reference to the YMCA. While touting the action as "Move-In Day" on their website, occupyoaklandmoveinday.org, organizers did not state what "large, vacant" building they planned to occupy. They also acknowledged that "like the encampment at Oscar Grant Plaza, the building move-in is not legal." But the group said the move was necessary, in part because "since November, the city of Oakland and its police force have made it impossible for us to meet, to serve food, and to provide a place for people to stay." "Occupy Oakland is about people providing for themselves and for others, since it is clear that the system can no longer provide for them," the group said on its website. "It is a place where people who are fed up can come together and develop new forms of struggle." In a letter to Mayor Jean Quan, the city council and the Oakland police department, protesters threatened several actions if authorities try to "evict us again." They included "blockading the airport indefinitely, occupying City Hall indefinitely, shutting down the Oakland ports" and getting help from the activist hacking group known as Anonymous. In mid-December, Occupy protesters shut down the Oakland port terminal. Following October's clashes with protesters, Police Chief Howard Jordan said "all allegations of misconduct and excessive uses of forces are being thoroughly investigated by internal and external investigative sources," according to a letter posted on the department's website. The website also solicits "input ... about police interactions with protesters during the Occupy Oakland protests." People are asked to contact the independent investigator who is looking into authorities' actions in October and November 2011. CNN's Greg Morrison contributed to this report. | NEW: More than 100 protesters are arrested after they enter a downtown Oakland YMCA building .
NEW: Occupy protesters claim an attempt to enter Oakland City Hall .
Police say activists threw bottles, flares and other objects, injuring 3 officers .
Police used tear gas and smoke; activists say they also used rubber bullets . |
117,588 | 23d3b3a7f7cb39c7a36dbe2ad9597657fdea7e2b | By . Martin Robinson . The BBC has spent almost £30million on hotels for staff in the past three years including one room costing £633-a-night. Despite the corporation promising to cut costs, the bill is up by 32 per cent in the past year, with up front spending for the upcoming World Cup in Brazil and Commonwealth Games in Glasgow blamed. New figures have revealed that in 2011 the total paid out for hotel rooms stood at £8.4million, rising to £8.8million in 2012. But in 2013 it rose to £11.6million, taking the three year total to £28.8million. Big spender: BBC has paid almost £30million for hotel rooms in the past three years, including here at the Art Hotel in Amsterdam . A breakdown of the most expensive rooms reveals that one room booked cost £633 for a night, but on several occasions in excess of £300 a room was spent. But the BBC has refused to name many of the hotels, who stayed in them and for how long. A . BBC source, who asked not to be named, said today: 'It's fair to say . that BBC staff go all over the world, sometimes at short notice, to . cover events, but to pay more than £600-a-night for a hotel room is . taking the mick. 'Most normal people would make do with a basic hotel, like a Premier Inn or Travelodge for a maximum of £100-a-night or so. 'The . simple fact is that it's not your average BBC worker living it up in . these hotels, it's the big bosses or presenters - and that's what makes . everyone a little bit peeved off when we are meant to be cutting back on . expenses.' High price: One BBC staff member stayed in the NH Doelen Hotel in the Dutch capital but the Corporation says it is trying to keep costs down . Favourite: At least one BBC worker stayed at this Hotel Dante in Barcelona on three occasion, costing an average of £400 a night or more . Hotels stayed at include the trendy 84-bedroom Art Hotel in Amsterdam, the NH Doelen Hotel, again in Amsterdam, and the Premier Dante Best Western Hotel in Barcelona. The 'room rate' price paid for the Premier Dante Best Western Hotel in Barcelona by the BBC in 2013 is listed as £400.38, despite the fact that you can book a room at the hotel for £116 today. The 'room rate' paid for a stay at the Art Hotel in Amsterdam by the BBC in 2011 was £254.29, but again, if you were booking a room today it could cost you as little as £121-a-night. In 2012 the BBC paid a 'room rate' of £443.91 of the NH Doelen Hotel in Amsterdam, when you could book a room now for £113 for the night. And in all 30 'top prices' paid for hotels, just one was in the UK - booked in 2013 for £378-a-night. Top 10 hotel 'room rate' prices for 2011, 2012 and 2013 paid for the BBC, revealed in a Freedom of Information request; . A spokesman for the BBC said: 'The BBC doesn't choose the location of major events around the world – like the World Cup or the Olympics which incur costs – but we do book in advance to save money'. TOP TEN HIGHEST ROOM RATES PAID BY THE BBC IN THE PAST THREE YEARS . 2011 . 1 - £306 - Not in UK . 2 - £284 - Not in UK . 3 - £269 - Not in UK . 4 - £254 - Not in UK . 5 - £254 - Art Hotel, AMS . 6 - £253 - Not in UK . 7 - £252 - Not in UK . 8 - £241 - Not in UK . 9 - £240 - Not in UK . 10 - £238 - Not in UK . 2012 . 1 - £633 - Not in UK . 2 - £525 - Not in UK . 3 - £482 - Not in UK . 4 - £444 - Doelen Hotel, AMS . 5 - £412 - Not in UK . 6 - £412 - Not in UK . 7 - £376 - Not in UK . 8 - £376 - Not in UK . 9 - £348 - Doelen Hotel, AMS . 10 - £348 - Doelen Hotel, AMS . 2013 . 1 - £415 - Not in UK . 2 - £400 - Hotel Dante, BAR . 3 - £400 - Hotel Dante, BAR . 4 - £397 - Hotel Dante, BAR . 5 - £378 - UK hotel . 6 - £359 - Not in UK . 7 - £355 - Not in UK . 8 - £355 - Not in UK . 9 - £352 - Not in UK . 10 - £352 - Not in UK . | Corporation blames upfront costs of World Cup for £11.6m in 2013 .
Source says BBC stars and bosses being put up in most expensive hotels .
FOI reveals £633-a-night room but costs regularly exceeded £300-a-night .
BBC says staff always stay in 'most economical accommodation available' |
114,057 | 1f264bd27f8c5fdf392fa2817312dd2f15b14d10 | (RealSimple.com) -- Here are nine common (and commonly ignored) dressing oversights -- and easy ways to fix them. Problem: Incorrectly hemmed jeans . Solution: A good tailor . Don't cut off the extra length and at the same time lose the nice crisp hemline (marked by the recognizable yellow thread). "A good tailor should be able to preserve the original hem," says Guillermo Molina, owner of Guillermo Couture, in New York City. With very long pants, your tailor may have to cut off a bit of fabric above the hemline and reattach the original hems (with barely noticeable blue thread that matches the denim), but the task can usually be achieved by folding a hem up accordion-style and sewing it in place, so the original finished seam is in plain view. Real Simple: How to dress for any occasion . Problem: Peds in plain view . Solution: Partial peds . Your secret weapon against blistered toes is a pair of Peds. But make sure they're truly a secret weapon. "Visible Peds are a classic faux pas," says Leah Feldon, author of "Does This Make Me Look Fat?: The Definitive Rules for Dressing Thin for Every Height, Size, and Shape" (Villard, $15, amazon.com). To avoid peekaboo nylons, skip the skimpy stockings altogeter or try Hue Toe Covers ($15 for three pairs, barenecessities.com), which cover only the front half of the foot. A bit of padding on the bottom provides a cushion and keeps the cover from sliding and scrunching into the toe of your shoe. Real Simple: Avoiding wardrobe blunders . Problem: Unopened vent . Solution: Scissors . Jackets, blazers, and skirts often come with vents that are tacked together with thread. "Don't forget to snip the string once you bring your item home from the store," says JoAnna Nicholson, author of "Dressing Smart for Women: 101 Mistakes You Can't Afford to Make...and How to Avoid Them" (Impact Publications, $17, amazon.com). Besides being a potential source of embarrassment, a tacked-together vent may also increase your chances of ripping your garment when you take a large step or reach for something on the top pantry shelf. Real Simple: Old clothing gets a second life . Problem: A gaping blouse . Solution: Velcro . Your favorite shirt was dried once too often, and now it's a bit snug, with buttons that appear to be hanging on for dear life. "You don't want your coworkers staring at your chest, waiting for a button to pop off onto the conference table," says Clinton Kelly, cohost of TLC's "What Not to Wear." To avoid this scenario, sew a small piece of Velcro between the buttons or use a piece of double-stick tape. That way your shirt will stay flush against your skin, buttons will remain attached, and your assets will be tucked away from Bob in Accounting's sight. Problem: Cropped pants with boots . Solution: Taller boots . Once considered a summer-only staple, Capri pants are now available in thicker, fall-friendly fabrics, such as wool and tweed. But don't wear them with your lowest pair of boots. "Low ankle boots paired with cropped pants look dowdy, because they break up your silhouette," says Stacy London, cohost of TLC's "What Not to Wear." "Wearing high boots that completely cover the calves and a few inches of skin underneath the pants has a more elongating effect," she says. Real Simple: New uses for things in your closet . Problem: Peekaboo lingerie . Solution: A nude bra . White underwear may seem demure and understated next to that rack of red lace skivvies in the department store, but it screams "Look at me!" when worn under white clothing. If you want your unmentionables to be unnoticeable underneath a favorite white T-shirt or blouse, wear a bra that is close to your skin tone (this holds true for all underwear). Problem: Visible tag . Solution: Seam ripper . Your Sealy Posturepedic mattress may have come with a DO NOT REMOVE label, but your brand-new scarf didn't. So throw needless caution to the wind and snip the tags on scarves, sheer blouses, and any other wardrobe piece with an unsightly label. Use a seam ripper in lieu of scissors to easily remove stitches holding the tag in place, but beware of tags sewn directly into a seam, says Audrey Smaltz, founder of the Ground Crew, a backstage-management company for fashion shows. For these use a small pair of scissors to cut the tag just below the seam (so the tiny bit of tag is barely noticeable). Real Simple: Dress to flatter your figure . Problem: A bare midriff . Solution: Layering . Pant rises have gotten lower (and lower), but shirts, sweaters, and blouses have stayed the same. The result? An exposed midsection that leaves you looking like a teen pop sensation. Rather than banishing your favorite―and most flattering -- pair of pants to the back of the closet, layer a lacy tank top underneath a sweater. A hint of added color and texture keeps your tummy hidden and creates a more interesting, modern look. Another benefit: Um, how about warmth? Problem: Visible panty line . Solution: Smooth briefs . You want all the attention on you, not your tush. A visible panty line draws attention to your backside (making it look larger), but don't assume a lifetime of wearing thongs is your only option. "Panties are more demure and chic, and they are also a lot more comfortable," says Simon Doonan, creative director of Barneys New York. Jockey No Panty Line Promise briefs ($9.50, jockey.com) have flat seams that are only 1/8 inch wide, preventing them from cutting into your skin. These full-coverage briefs end below the curvature of your bottom, completely covering (not bisecting) the area where pants tend to be most snug. Bonus: The spandex briefs are as soft as your most lived-in T-shirt. Real Simple: 10 fashion trends with staying power . Get a FREE TRIAL issue of Real Simple - CLICK HERE! Copyright © 2011 Time Inc. All rights reserved. | Take incorrectly hemmed jeans to a good tailor .
Use Velcro to keep your blouse from gaping .
Open vents and pleats with a pair of scissors or a seam ripper . |
145,106 | 47ab9e0084061a711d13acc0186ecb6ae191ea50 | Jose Mourinho may have apologised to Kevin Friend after Chelsea's victory over Watford but the referee is not likely to be on Didier Drogba's Christmas card list this year. The Chelsea striker posted a picture on Instagram of his ripped shirt with the words: 'No penalty, no yellow card, only thing I got was two minutes out of the pitch because…I had to change shirt.' Didier Drogba shows the referee his ripped shirt during Chelsea's 3-0 win over Watford on Sunday . Drogba has a look at the damage to his Chelsea shirt and tries to draw attention to the rip . Drogba posted the above picture with this accompanying message on Instagram after the game . Chelsea went on to win the FA Cup third-round tie 3-0 and Mourinho, who spoke of a 'campaign' against Chelsea after the draw at Southampton last week, praised Friend for his performance. Friend played advantage rather than awarding a penalty after Craig Cathcart appeared to handball in the box and Loic Remy slammed home the rebound to put Chelsea 2-0 up. 'I want to apologise for my earlier comments in some television (interviews). What the referee did was great refereeing,' Mourinho said. Loic Remy (far right) puts Chelsea 2-0 up after Diego Costa's effort had been blocked by Craig Cathcart . Remy celebrates after all but securing Chelsea's progress. Kurt Zouma scored the third goal . 'He saw that it was a penalty, he was going to give a penalty, but he saw the ball was going to Remy. And he waited a couple of seconds. 'He told me that if Remy didn't control the ball well or the ball goes over the bar or the ball is lost, he would have given the penalty. 'I was complaining, but it was good refereeing by Kevin.' | Chelsea beat Watford 3-0 in the FA Cup third round on Sunday .
Didier Drogba complains on Instagram about shirt-pulling by Watford .
Jose Mourinho last week spoke of 'campaign' against Chelsea . |
107,597 | 16bdf9c8db0d5535ae7c7ecaa76e26f56a5c4b09 | LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Subtlety may not be in Kevin Smith's vocabulary, but a lot of off-color words are. They're sprinkled liberally throughout the writer-director's new movie, "Zack and Miri Make a Porno." Kevin Smith can't understand why the word "porno" is still a hot button for some people. The comedy stars Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks as roommates and longtime friends who decide that the solution to their money problems is to make a porn film. Strong language is nothing new for Smith, whose first film, "Clerks," put him on the map with its merrily scatological musings. Though the film had little violence or exposed skin, it was initially given an NC-17 rating by the MPAA based on the language. "Zack and Miri" was also a possibility for an NC-17, considered the kiss of death by studios because of distributing and marketing challenges, until Smith argued its merits to the ratings board and received an R. Since "Clerks," Smith's films have been almost wistfully romantic ("Chasing Amy," "Jersey Girl") or as joyfully profane as "Clerks" ("Dogma," "Clerks II"). "Zack and Miri," which opens Friday, is a blend of the two Smiths: full of sex and colorful language, but with a sweet side. Indeed, Banks told CNN not to be fooled by the film's tawdry talk. "Kevin Smith is a huge romantic," she said. "He likes to wrap up the romance in profanity, but the guy is more sweet than spicy." Watch why "Zack and Miri" is so controversial » . In an interview with CNN, Smith, 38, cheerfully acknowledged that this is not a film for prudes. The following is an edited version of the conversation. Kevin Smith: There's a bit of language in this picture. I'm not going to lie to you. ... I don't even think of it as salty. To me, it's just like part of a lexicon. CNN: Well, you do hear it a lot. Smith: Yeah, yeah, yeah, no doubt. We're raising our kid in a household where people curse, as an experiment. And I think our experiment is working, because I don't tame my language around the kid. I don't run up to her and yell [expletive] in her face, but I don't go out of my way to like not curse in front of her. And honestly, ironically, she doesn't curse. And I've tried to get her to curse for like friends and family, because it's always entertaining to hear a child curse, and she doesn't do it. CNN: Well ... I almost hesitate to ask, but tell me what the genesis was of the film. Smith: It's a movie I've been researching since I was like 12 years old, to be honest with you. And sometimes three or four times a day. ... But it only really came together when I saw Seth Rogen in "40-Year-Old Virgin" and instantly fell in love with him and was like, "I got to work with this guy." ... So I started thinking about this movie, and immediately it kind of crystallized. Seeing Seth and thinking about porn, I was like, boom, "Zack and Miri Make a Porno." I wrote the script with him in mind. And by the time I finished with it, "Knocked Up" was about to open, and the word was it was going to be huge, so I was like, we missed our window. This guy's going to be famous, and he'll want nothing to do with this movie. But I sent him an e-mail anyway where I said, "Look, man, I wrote this flick with you in mind. Please give it a read." ... And I got an e-mail back within five minutes that said, "When I first came to Los Angeles, an agent asked me what I wanted to do with my career. I said I wanted to be in a Kevin Smith movie. That has not changed. Please send me the script; I would be honored to read it." And I was, I was like cha-ching! You know, my God, it worked out. CNN: You're working with some professionals here, and by that I don't mean Seth and Elizabeth. I mean working with actual people with porn experience. Smith: We got ourselves a former pro. ... Traci Lords, man. Who, for the last 20 years, has not made an adult film. Has been keeping that industry at arm's length as she concentrates on a mainstream career and her musical career and stuff like that. But you know, it just seemed like if we're going to make this movie, Traci Lords would just fit into it so well. We approached her agent, and her agent was like, I don't know, it's got "porno" in the title, she ain't going to want to do it. Then she heard that Seth was in it, and she heard that I was making it, and so she was like, well, I'll at least read it. She came over to my house and read it. And I remember, I was sitting downstairs while she was upstairs reading it, and I was like, if I could go back in time and tell the 16-year-old version of me that Traci Lords is going to be hanging out in your living room ... my 16-year-old head would explode. First, the 16-year-old would be like, where'd you get a time machine, and then the 16-year-old would be like, does she want to have sex with us, and then I'd have to break it to the 16-year-old that, no, Traci Lords -- even many years from now -- [is] still not interested in your fat ass. So, she loved the material. ... Maybe it's time to embrace it and make fun of it. I said yeah, please do it. Katie Morgan is still active in the adult film industry, and she brought a kind of a current vision to it. She was able to kind of tell me where to put the camera to make things look as convincing as possible. So I was like, wow, man, this chick who most people know from porn has taught me how to direct. So if the movie looks any better than my normal stuff, it's probably because of Katie Morgan. iReport.com: Will you see 'Zach and Miri'? CNN: The title has created some challenges in terms of the marketing, that some newspapers are not taking ads for it and some buses and what have you. What do you make of that? Smith: I think it's strange that in this day and age, the 21st century, that people are hung up on a word, and the word is "porno." It's not like we put salacious posters out there. ... The poster is literally stick figures. ... People are afraid like, what if my kid asks what porno is? Just tell them. Tell your kid that the porno's not for you. My kid asked me what a porno is, I'm going to be like, guess what? Hannah Montana is not in it. Not yet. Are you still interested? Of course she's not interested in it, because it has nothing to do with her world. So I just think its kind of sad that like some people lobby against it. Like, based on the dude who called in, or the many people that called in after the Dodgers ran a spot. ... Just tell your kid, man; just be honest with them. It's like, look, [the] movie's not for you. ... It's crazy to me, because it's like, some people think that it's real porn that's being advertised. Can you tell me the last porno that you saw that had the word "porno" in the title? Like, it doesn't exist. I don't think it's ever existed. CNN: I understand that you were able to convince the MPAA to give you an R rating. Did that require any cuts? And if not, were you surprised? Smith: Initially, I was kind of surprised that they gave us the NC-17. Especially because the two areas they focused on were easily addressed: one ... they felt [was] gratuitous thrusting in the first porno sequence between Katie Morgan and Jason Mewes, and the other was what we'll call the egregious bodily fluid shot. ... I was able to go to the appeals process with the film, where you show it to a different audience. ... [You] screen it for [theater owners], and then you get up and do 15 minutes on why you feel it should be an R. Joan Graves [of] the MPAA gets up and does 15 minutes on why she feels it's an NC-17, then you get 10 minutes to rebut, she gets 10 minutes to rebut. You leave the room, and that audience makes the vote. ... You have to win by a two-thirds majority [to have the rating changed]. And they changed the rating. [The] appeals group that we screened for ... flipped it, gave us an R. And I didn't have to make a single cut, so everything I wanted in the movie is in the movie. That's kind of cool as a filmmaker. CNN: Your own presidential debate. Smith: A little bit. ... It was kind of like "Inherit the Wind," but about porn, not the Scopes Monkey Trial. | Kevin Smith is a fan of being bluntly honest .
Writer-director can't understand why some words, profanity bother people .
New movie "Zack and Miri Make a Porno" has rough language but sweet side . |
57,301 | a25dd9efd5cb1d88e4486647c2c379a19118c6ab | Eight puppies were forced to eat each other to try to survive after their owners locked them in a kitchen where they starved to death. Despite the appalling case of animal cruelty Sam Hessin, 39, and her two children, Damon, 22, and Hazel, 18, were spared jail. Pictures released by the RSPCA show the dogs' rotting remains in the house in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, lying in their own faeces. The Hessin family barricaded the eight pets - which were around six months old - into the downstairs room because they were biting them and did not know what else to do. WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT . The family left the animals, which were around six-months-old, to starve to death in a downstairs room in their home . Damon Hessin (left) and his sister Hazel (right) have been banned from keeping animals for life after they let eight puppies starve to death . Prosecutor . Kevin McCole said: 'The smell was almost unbearable, with dog faeces . several inches thick. It was likely the place had not been cleaned for . months or even years. 'It was clear the puppies had suffered and would have been obvious they were unwell and needed help.' He added: 'The life of some might have been extended by eating the others.' Neighbours described being able to hear the dogs howling at night and hit out at the sentences they were handed. Sam Hessin was given an 18 week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, when she appeared at court last month . One said: 'That family should be in jail now, not allowed to swan about like nothing happened. 'It's . just awful how they put those poor dogs through such torture. People . often heard the animals crying in the evenings but no one believed it . was because they were dying. 'A . friend of mine saw the RSPCA officers come out of the house when they . raided it and there were grown men in tears at the state of the place. Their sentence was soft. They got away with it.' Damon and Hazel have both been banned from keeping animals for life after admitting causing suffering to the eight dogs. They were both given suspended sentences at Leicester Magistrates' Court. Sam Hessin, 40, banned her two children from going into the kitchen and they used the living room to cook their meals. She was given an 18-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, ordered to do 200 hours of unpaid work and told to pay an £80 victim surcharge at a court appearance last month. She was also banned from keeping animals for life. On . Friday Damon Hessin was sentenced to 12 weeks in prison suspended for . 12 months and ordered to carry out 180 hours of unpaid work. The . same day Hazel Hessin was given an eight week sentence suspended for . six months and ordered to attend a 10-day training course. Both were ordered to pay £180 court costs and a £80 victim surcharge. The court heard RSPCA officers raided . their rented £120,000 home in Melton Mowbray, on May 1 after . a tip-off from the family’s landlady. The RPSCA have released shocking images of the dogs' remains which they discovered after they raided the home earlier this year . Investigators . were shocked to find the rotting remains of the dogs in the kitchen . which had been kept out-of-bounds by the family. When RSPCA inspector Deb Scotcher . entered the kitchen she found six Staffordshire Bull Terrier puppies . dead on the kitchen floor and further investigation led to the discovery . of two puppy skulls. Prosecutor . Kevin McCole told magistrates: 'When the inspector walked into the . kitchen the smell was rancid and putrid, to her horror she saw the . puppies were in advanced stages of decomposition, on a urine stained . bed. 'Dog faeces was several inches thick and everything in the kitchen was in a total state of disarray. 'The vet estimated the puppies would have been about six months old when they died. The sight and smell of them was shocking and deeply distressing.' Roger Wood, chairman of the magistrates’ bench, told the brother and sister: 'Had this been a trial you would both be going to prison.' Speaking . after the case, RSPCA inspector Deborah Scotcher said: 'The sentence . was very appropriate, it was a harrowing case, the worst one I’ve seen, . I’ll never forget it. The court heard the siblings' mother Sam Hessin, 40, banned her children from entering the kitchen . | Sam Hessin and her two children Damon and Hazel left the dogs to starve .
They were handed suspended sentences after admitting causing suffering .
The puppies were no older than six months old according to a vet . |
148,565 | 4c1cb8eb35cbd987a8efd1ea128411a3727bda3a | (CNN) -- A college student in Nigeria has been sentenced to 19 years in prison for scamming an Australian woman out of $47,000 online by pretending to be a widowed white businessman desperately in love with her. A court in Ikeja in southwest Nigeria ruled that Lawal Adekunie Nurudeen will also have to pay back the 56-year-old woman, even if it meant selling the two plots of land and the Honda Prelude he bought with her money. Nurudeen was an engineering student when he met the woman online in 2007, said the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Nigeria's anti-corruption police. The woman lamented that she was looking for a husband but had been disappointed in the men she had met. "The convict, who is married with three children, instantly applied and told the victim that she had met Mr. Right," the commission said in a statement. Nurudeen pretended to be a 57-year-old British engineer working with a multinational company in Nigeria. He told her his wife and only child had died in a road accident in Lagos, the former capital of the country. "He sent the picture of a white man to the victim to foreclose any suspicions," police said. The woman agreed to marry him. A few weeks later, Nurudeen called the woman pretending to be a doctor. He told her that her fiance had been in an accident and needed money for treatment. The woman obliged, the commission said. Nurudeen let two weeks pass. He then called the woman again, thanking her profusely for her kindness and telling her that he would like to visit her in Australia. He asked her for airfare, cash for customs clearance and other incidentals, police said. Authorities did not say how Nurudeen was caught. But he duped the woman of $47,000 before his arrest, the commission said. Scammers in Nigeria have gained a reputation for using the Internet to con foreign nationals out of money. Some of the scams have earned the name "419" after the clause in the Nigerian criminal code that deals with obtaining property under false pretense. | Police: Nurudeen was engineering student when he met the woman online in 2007 .
Nurudeen pretended to be a British engineer working in Nigeria .
Authorities do not say how he was caught . |
70,764 | c898baca026c3858bf7e53df829df2e622264a02 | By . Kimberley Dadds . Last updated at 11:24 AM on 20th February 2012 . Kimberley Walsh has become accustomed to dressing in an unflattering green outfit while playing an ogre on stage, while Kara Tointon's currently dressing in drab clothes for her turn in the theatre. So no wonder the pair took the opportunity to dress to the nines at the Whatsonstage.com theatre awards on Sunday night. The singer and actress led the stylish ladies gracing the red carpet as they entered the glitzy event. Stunners: Stars of the theatre Kimberley Walsh and Kara Tointon drew attention in their stunning dresses as they turned up to the Whatsonstage.com awards on Sunday night . Girls Aloud singer Kimberley, who currently plays Princess Fiona in Shrek: The Musical, was a lady in red for the night as she donned a scarlet frock. The strapless dress with a heart shaped bust flattered her figure and showed off her tanned skin. Matching the outfit with beige heels with bow detailing and a cute clutch, the singer sparkled as she joined in the festivities. Ditching the ogre clothes: Girls Aloud singer Kimberley swapped her green Princess Fiona outfit for musical Shrek for traffic-stopping red . And Kara looked just as ravishing as she styled herself especially for the awards show at the Prince of Wales theatre in London. The actress can currently be seen in Absent Friends, in which she has to dress in dowdy clothing and unflattering hairstyles every night. But on Sunday she was immaculate in an intricate silver gown which showed off her tiny frame with the off-shoulder cut. The dress, which was embellished with flowers and lace, was teamed with strappy heels. Striking a pose: The stage queen dressed to . impress in pencil skirt with a sheer top as she was also joined by Jenny . Eclair for hosting duties . And she tied her new hair-do up into a high bun, showing off her new fringe style, which was brushed forward. The former EastEnders star had only debuted the choppy new look earlier this week as she enjoyed the Jasper Conran catwalk show during London Fashion Week. Stage queen Sheridan Smith was also dressed to the max for the awards in her little black number. The former blonde looked ravishing with her red hair tied back, showing off the pencil skirt with sheer top. It was a sophisticated look for the star, who posed with comedian Alan Davies, who also looked dapper in his suit and tie. Hosts: Sheridan Smith and comedian Alan Davies presented the awards show at London's Prince of Wales Theatre . Sheridan hosted the event alongside Alan and Jenny Eclair, writing on Twitter before the show: 'Backstage at @Whatsonstage awards with @alandavies1 & @jennyeclair about to go on.Make some noise plse audience,let's make it a good one! :D' Throughout the night prizes were handed out to stars including Amanda Holden, who won Best Actress in a Musical for her role in Shrek: The Musical before Kimberley took over. Her colleague Nigel Harman also won Best Supporting Actor in a Musical for the same show, while Catherine Tate was handed the Best Supporting actress in a Play title for Seasons Greetings at the National, Lyttelton. Fashionable fillies: There were a varierty of styles on show at the event which was held at the Prince of Wales Theatre in London . The Best Actor in a Play award went to Gavin & Stacey star James Corden for his successful stint in One Man, Two Guvnors, which will transfer from the West End to Broadway later this year. He saw off competition from the likes of Kevin Spacey, Benedict Cumberbatch, Jude Law and David Tennant for the prize. And Best Actress in a Play went to veteran star Vanessa Redgrave for her role in Driving Miss Daisy. Winner: Composer and performer Tim Minchin took home an award for his work on musical Matilda The Musical . Best Actress in a Play · Vanessa Redgrave – Driving Miss Daisy Best Actor in a Play · James Corden – One Man, Two Guvnors Best Supporting Actress in a Play · Catherine Tate – Season’s Greetings Best Supporting Actor in a Play · Oliver Chris – One Man, Two Guvnors The BABY GRAND Best Actress in a Musical · Amanda Holden – Shrek the Musical The THEATRE TOKENS Best Actor in a Musical · Richard Fleeshman – Ghost the Musical Best Supporting Actress in a Musical · Hannah Waddingham – The Wizard of Oz Best Supporting Actor in a Musical · Nigel Harman – Shrek the Musical The LES MISERABLES Best Ensemble Performance · London Road The JO HUTCHINSON INTERNATIONAL Best Solo Performance · Kerry Ellis – Anthems: The Concert The SEATLIVE Best Takeover in a Role · Alfie Boe – Les Miserables The NICK HERN BOOKS Best New Play · Three Days in May – by Ben Brown The EMG Best New Comedy . · One Man, Two Guvnors The SEE TICKETS Best New Musical · Matilda the Musical – by Tim Minchin (music and lyrics) and Dennis Kelly (book) The SAMUEL FRENCH Best Play Revival · Driving Miss Daisy The RADISSON EDWARDIAN Best Musical Revival · The Wizard of Oz The Best Shakespearean Production · Much Ado About Nothing (Wyndham’s) The OAKLEY CAPITAL Best Director · Danny Boyle – Frankenstein Best Set Designer · Rob Howell – Ghost the Musical The WHITE LIGHT Best Lighting Designer · Hugh Vanstone – Ghost the Musical Best Choreographer · Peter Darling – Matilda the Musical The DEWYNTERS London Newcomer of the Year · Tim Minchin – Matilda the Musical The TIME OUT Best Off-West End Production · The Riots (Tricycle Theatre) The LUCKINGS Best Regional Production · Sweeney Todd (Chichester Festival Theatre) The EQUITY Best West End Show · War Horse The AKA Theatre Event of the Year · David Tennant and Catherine Tate reuniting on stage in Much Ado About Nothing . | Matilda wins four awards, including Best New Musical and Newcomer of the Year for composer Tim Minchin .
James Corden takes Best Actor in a Play for One Man, Two Guvnors .
David Tennant-Catherine Tate’s reunion in Much Ado About Nothing named Theatre Event of the Year .
Vanessa Redgrave scoops Best Actress for her performance in Driving Miss Daisy .
Musical Shrek nets awards for Amanda Holden and Nigel Harman . |
130,163 | 34448c50e5f31133c0ef13199a9049742bf9eff4 | The asteroids would cause catastrophic damage, on a city-sized scale or larger. Research from the University of Southhampton has identified the countries most likely to be worst hit. They have identified for the first time those which will suffer catastrophic loss of life or be so crippled it will be almost impossible for them to recover. Nasa's Wide Field Infrared Survey Explorer has sampled 107 'potentially hazardous' asteroids near Earth - 330ft wide or larger - to make estimates about how many are out there - and the figure is a terrifying 47,000. Nasa's Wide Field Infrared Survey Explorer has sampled 107 'potentially hazardous asteroids' - PHAs - as shown in this diagram illustrating their orbits crossing Earth . Nasa's NEOWISE project has identified 47,000 potentially hazardous asteroids . The WISE survey now estimates there are 47,000 'potentially hazardous' asteroids. The top 10 countries most likely to be affected are, in in no particular order: . The PHAs - potentially hazardous asteroids - have the closest orbits to Earth's, coming within five million miles and they are big enough to survive passing through Earth's atmosphere and cause damage on a regional, or greater, scale.The new results come from the asteroid-hunting portion of the WISE mission, called NEOWISE. The project sampled 107 PHAs to make predictions about the entire population as a whole. Findings indicate there are roughly 4,700 PHAs, plus or minus 1,500, with diameters larger than 330 feet . So far, an estimated 20 to 30 percent of these objects have been found. Scientists have also drawn up a league table of the countries which will be worst affected in the event of an asteroid strike. They have identified for the first time those which will suffer catastrophic loss of life or be so crippled it will be almost impossible for them to recover. The list has been compiled by researchers from the University of Southampton using software called called NEOimpactor, short for NASA's ‘NEO’ or Near Earth Object programme. Overall the top ten countries most at risk are: China, Indonesia, India, Japan, the U.S, the Philippines, Italy, the U.K, Brazil and Nigeria.'The NEOWISE analysis shows us we've made a good start at finding those objects that truly represent an impact hazard to Earth,' said Lindley Johnson, program executive for the Near-Earth Object Observation Program at NASA Headquarters in Washington. 'But we've many more to find, and it will take a concerted effort during the next couple of decades to find all of them that could do serious damage or be a mission destination in the future.' 'The NEOWISE analysis shows us we've made a good start at finding those objects that truly represent an impact hazard to Earth,' said Lindley Johnson, program executive for the Near-Earth Object Observation Program at NASA Headquarters in Washington . The PHAs - potentially hazardous asteroids - have the closest orbits to Earth's, coming within five million miles and they are big enough to survive passing through Earth's atmosphere and cause damage on a regional, or greater, scale . The new analysis also suggests that about twice as many PHAs as previously thought are likely to reside in 'lower incination' orbits, which are more aligned with the plane of Earth's orbit. Asteroids with lower-inclination orbits would be more likely to encounter Earth. They would also be easier to reach. The results therefore suggest more near-Earth objects might be available for future robotic or human missions.Amy Mainzer at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif. 'Everything we can learn about these objects helps us understand their origins and fate. Our team was surprised to find the overabundance of low-inclination PHAs. Because they will tend to make more close approaches to Earth, these targets can provide the best opportunities for the next generation of human and robotic exploration.'The discovery that many PHAs tend to be bright says something about their composition; they are more likely to be either stony, like granite, or metallic. This type of information is important in assessing the space rocks' potential hazards to Earth. The composition of the bodies would affect how quickly they might burn up in our atmosphere if an encounter were to take place.The NEOWISE results have been accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal.The WISE spacecraft scanned the sky twice in infrared light before entering hibernation mode in early 2011. It catalogued hundreds of millions of objects, including super-luminous galaxies, stellar nurseries and closer-to-home asteroids. The NEOWISE project snapped images of about 600 near-Earth asteroids, about 135 of which were new discoveries. | 10 countries likely to be worst affected identified .
Data from Nasa WISE sky-scan .
47,000 potentially hazardous asteroids .
Would cause catastrophic damage on a city-sized scale or larger . |
208,585 | 9a1410fda6254e8fc4936bfa137916ea8f10a463 | BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (CNN) -- More than 10,000 charred bone fragments were found buried at the site of a former Argentine government detention center, the first find of its kind at one of the secret centers, Argentine officials said. Bones were unearthed during a seven-month search at an ex-detention post in La Plata, Argentina, officials said. Searchers said they also found a wall with more than 200 bullet holes and an "important quantity" of spent ammunition shells on the ground nearby. In some cases, bullets were still lodged in the wall. The announcement was made Tuesday at a news conference by government officials and representatives of the Argentine Forensic Anthropology Team, better known as EAAF, the initials of its name in Spanish. A team of six professional anthropologists and support crew said it believed the remains were human, but it was unable to determine how many bodies the fragments represented. "I ask the forgiveness of family members, because I can imagine what the mothers and all who are gathered here will feel, but what we are about to show is not to detail the genocide but so that we have proof for the trials that are to come," said Sara Derotier de Cobacho, secretary of human rights for Buenos Aires province. "But let us not forget," she said in a statement, "that behind every clandestine center there were the names of the repressors. ... So it is very important for all citizens to know those names." The detention center was among those used in Argentina during the country's "Dirty War," which started in 1976 when a group of generals staged a coup and started a vicious crackdown against anyone considered a subversive. By the time civilian control of the government resumed in 1983, up to 30,000 Argentines had been abducted and taken to the secret government detention centers, where they were tortured and killed. They are widely called "los desaparecidos," or "the disappeared." Thousands more people were abducted and killed by right-wing dictatorships in other South American countries during the 1970s and 1980s, particularly in Chile and Uruguay. The bone fragments in Argentina were unearthed during a seven-month search at the former detention post in the city of La Plata, near Buenos Aires. In 25 years of searching, this was the first time that human remains were found at a former detention center, said Luis Fondebrider, president of the EAAF. "We've worked throughout the country and have always found remains in cemeteries, never outside," Fondebrider said in the release. The conference was called, he said, because of the extraordinary nature of the find. "We usually don't hold press conferences about our work or what we find," Fondebrider said. "But we understand that the magnitude of what we have found where the Clandestine Center of Arana was located merits that sometimes we show partial results." The searchers determined that bodies had been burned inside graves along with tires, combustibles and other material, Fondebrider said. "The possibilities of identifying some of these remains is low because of the state they are in," Fondebrider said. The searchers will start analyzing the remains next year and are working with two prominent forensic genetic laboratories that specialize in working with remains that are in poor condition, he said. Lending an official air to Tuesday's proceedings, Carlos Stornelli, minister of security for the province of Buenos Aires, and Pablo Buruera, mayor of La Plata, also attended the news conference. "We are looking for the truth so we can attain justice and construct, from there, the memory of our 30,000 'desaparecidos,' " Derotier said. | Remains believed to be human; number of bodies unknown, officials say .
Detention center among those used in Argentina's 1976-1983 "Dirty War"
Tens of thousands said to have been abducted, killed during "Dirty War" |
15,925 | 2d2acd3a0bf242dfdb90a6b9931030dcd0552dae | (CNN) -- As an American socialite and hotel heiress, Paris Hilton has built up a global brand on her sexy image -- and sometimes very few clothes. But many believe she has gone a step too far in opening a store selling luxury items in the Muslim holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia. Hilton's rise to worldwide fame was boosted in part by a homemade sex movie that went viral online in 2003, days before the debut of her reality TV series "The Simple Life." This does not sit well with many in Mecca, which attracts three million Muslim pilgrims from around the world every year. All Muslims who are able are expected to make the pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in their lifetime, and non-Muslims are not allowed to enter the city. Most Saudi women cover themselves fully with a black abaya. Hilton introduced her store on the social media site Twitter, when she wrote, "Loving my beautiful new store that just opened at Mecca Mall in Saudi Arabia!" accompanying the post with a picture. She later added: "This is the 5th store in Saudi Arabia, and store number 42 in total! So proud to keep growing my brand!" It is not the store itself that is out of place in Mecca -- the presence of Western luxury brands is nothing new in Saudi Arabia. Hilton's store sells luxury handbags and accessories and is in the new Makkah Mall, which opened in 2011 with 255 shops, many of them global chains, selling everything from jewelery to electronics, women's fashion to sportswear. It even has a branch of the lingerie chain La Senza. Also on Inside the Middle East: New wealth brings luxury shopping to Iraq . Paris Hilton has 42 stores worldwide selling handbags, accessories, shoes, fragrances, watches and T-shirts, and already has four in Saudi Arabia. However, the combination of Hilton's personal image with the holiest city in the Muslim world has riled some in the conservative kingdom. Sheikh Adnan Baharith, a conservative cleric who preaches in Mecca, said: ''It is unnecessary to have her shop here because we do not need it. ''If it was in our hands we would have closed all of her shops in Saudi.'' For others, the outrage was more about the ongoing commercialization of the heritage of Mecca than Hilton herself. Ahmed Al Omran, who writes the blogs Saudi Jeans and Riyadh Bureau, said: "Some people were angry about it and others saw the humor in it. "In the end, it's made a lot of people think about the bigger issue of the commercialization of Mecca where historic sites have been demolished to make way for modern malls and international brands. "There's no particular reason to be outraged about Paris Hilton when we already have Gucci and Christian Dior. But for many it's further evidence of how the character of Mecca is being lost." He added: "It's the combination of the location of the store, who Paris Hilton is and what she stands for." Others on Twitter expressed similar concerns. Muna AbuSulayman, a Saudi host on MBC wrote: "Huge outrage on Paris Hilton shop in Mecca Mall! With or against? Or, don't care? Personally I am against the (Disneyfication) of Mecca.'' Laila Lalami, a Moroccan writer based in Los Angeles, tweeted: ''Wahhabis (the dominant branch of Islam in Saudi) at work! Historic religious sites in Medina are being destroyed, while Paris Hilton opens a new store in Mecca mall.'' A Saudi nursing student Aqila Bint Suleyman wrote: ''Paris Hilton's new store in (Mecca). Islamic Heritage being torn apart whilst Saudi makes way for atrocities like this!'' While some, like Dubai-based Saudi entrepreneur and founder of Switch restaurant Deem AlBassam, are more pragmatic. He said: "Saudi is a fair-trade market, where many investors from around the world come to invest and trade. I think it was a smart move from the local partners in expanding to (Mecca) considering it (is) one of the prime locations and hubs in the kingdom's retail industry. "The other four branches of the store in the country indicate acceptance from the people and the fifth store is simply catering to their demands." CNN's calls to the Paris Hilton Shop headquarters in the United States were not returned. | American socialite opens store in Muslim holy city of Mecca .
Hilton's fifth store in Saudi Arabia and has upset many Muslims .
Some say it is more evidence of commercialization of the historic pilgrimage site .
Others say Mecca is one of Saudi's prime retail sites and the shop is catering to demand . |
220,081 | a8d8cd635e416d542847720dce4e0466f9bca125 | Neil Warnock is under investigation by the FA for his comments about referee Craig Pawson following Crystal Palace’s home defeat by Chelsea on Saturday. The FA are looking at the interview during which Warnock claimed Pawson had been looking to ‘even up’ the teams by sending off Damien Delaney two minutes after showing a red card to Chelsea defender Cesar Azpilicueta. Neil Warnock looks on prior to the Barclays Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Chelsea . Warnock claimed the officials had been influenced by the Chelsea players, including John Terry, on Saturday . The Palace manager also claimed the officials was influenced by the Chelsea players and inferred they had been operating double-standards, failing to book John Terry but showing Delaney the first of his two yellow cards for a similar foul. The FA must rule on whether any of his comments have questioned the integrity of Pawson and his assistants, before deciding to charge him, issue an official warning or say there is no case to answer. In his press conference, Warnock told reporters: ‘They buzzed me down from upstairs saying it’ll be evened up if we’re not careful. Delaney shouldn’t have given him a chance but it was wrong that four or five Chelsea players surrounded the referee. 'I thought he was influenced by one or two things. John Terry’s (non) booking — if that’s one of my players, it’s a booking. I don’t understand why it’s not an even platform.’ Cesar Azpilicueta was shown a straight red card for a two-footed challenge on Mile Jedinak . Referee Craig Pawson then sent off Crystal Palace defender Damien Delaney two minutes later . Warnock has a history of disciplinary trouble for criticising referees but this is his first scrape since returning to Palace. The FA are also looking into comments by Swansea manager Garry Monk after their defeat at Stoke on Sunday. Monk criticised referee Michael Oliver for a ‘disgusting’ decision in awarding a penalty for a foul on Stoke’s Victor Moses, which the Swans boss claimed was a blatant dive. | Incident alleged to have happened following Crystal Palace's defeat at home to Chelsea .
FA disciplinary chiefs are examining interview footage in which Warnock claimed Pawson had been looking to 'even up' the teams after sending off Damien Delaney, two minutes after showing the red card to Cesar Azpilicueta .
The Palace manager also claimed the officials had been influenced by the Chelsea players on Saturday .
The FA are also looking into comments made by Swansea manager Garry Monk after their defeat at Stoke on Sunday . |
145,025 | 4791e41dcb058bc9c10e3819b914677d720bfb70 | Harare, Zimbabwe (CNN) -- A police officer in Zimbabwe who has languished at a police detention barracks for a month for using a toilet reserved for President Robert Mugabe will learn his fate at end of this week following an appeal to his boss. Alois Mabhunu, a homicide detective was sentenced last week to 10 days after he was convicted by an internal police court for responding to a call of nature in a toilet which had been reserved for Mugabe at a trade fair in Zimbabwes second biggest city. On Monday, a relative of Mabhunu said the officer was not represented by a lawyer at the hearing, but is hoping the police commissioner-general, Augustine Chihuri, will overturn the guilty verdict this week. He said he had heard that Chihuri will look at the appeal on Thursday or Friday.Besides serving the 10-day sentence, Mabhunu, a homicide detective, has been demoted and will no longer be allowed to wear plain clothes. Contacted for comment, Wayne Bvudzijena police spokesperson on Monday said the issue of Mabhunu was an internal, purely disciplinary matter on which he couldn't comment. Bvudzijen said Mabhunu failed to obey instructions and the law had to take its course. Mabhunu was part of the security team when Mugabe attended the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair last month. He is alleged to have rushed to the VIP toilets reserved for Mugabe and Jean Louis Ekra, head of the African Export Import Bank, who was participating in the opening ceremonies. When he was stopped by other officers guarding the toilets, he obliged, but he later forced his way in. The following day he was arrested, he has been in custody since then. | Police officer on security team at Zimbabwe trade fair had to go, and used VIP toilet .
It was reserved for President Robert Mugabe and African Export Import Bank chief .
Relative of officer says he hopes the guilty verdict will be overturned this week . |
228,605 | b40044415b9a33b4a29ecd47464ed1e2129849a3 | A man thought to be a campaigner for Fathers 4 Justice has been charged with criminal damage after a picture of a boy was stuck to one of the country’s most famous paintings. Paul Douglas Manning, 57, from Sheffield, was arrested yesterday after a photograph was stuck to the canvas of John Constable's The Hay Wain at the National Gallery. He appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court today where he was bailed to appear at Southwark Crown Court on July 12. The incident comes two weeks after a man, also linked to Fathers 4 Justice, was accused of defacing a portrait of the Queen at Westminster Abbey. 'Vandalised': A picture of a young boy, whose face has been pixelated to protect his identity, was stuck to Constable's The Hay Wain . Glued: Fathers 4 Justice said the photograph, which appeared to have the word 'help' written on it, was stuck on by one of their campaigners . A spokesman from the group, which . campaigns for fathers’ custody rights, yesterday claimed responsibility . for the latest attack. Arrest: Paul Manning, 57, from Sheffield, has been charged with criminal damage following the incident . In . a statement it said it was a ‘final act of desperation’ after a man . lost a final appeal in the High Court over custody rights to his son. Gallery . curators said there was ‘no lasting damage’ to the painting, which was . completed by Constable in 1821 and shows a hay cart crossing the River . Stour near Flatford Mill in Suffolk. A National Gallery spokesman . said: ‘No damage to Constable’s original paint occurred and there is no . lasting damage to the painting. 'We are currently investigating this with the police.’ The painting was due to be put back on display today, she added. Separately, . a court was told yesterday that a Fathers 4 Justice campaigner caused . up to £10,000 worth of damage when he allegedly defaced a portrait of . the Queen at Westminster Abbey. Tim Haries, 41, from Doncaster, is . accused of daubing the artwork, created for the Diamond Jubilee, with . the word ‘help’ after smuggling spray paint into the Abbey on June 13. Gap: There was an empty space at the National Gallery after The Hay Wain was taken away to be inspected for damage . Masterpiece: Constable's The Hay Wain (pictured) was completed in 1821 . 'Defaced': Fathers4Justice protester Tim Haries (left) has appeared in court accused of daubing 'help' on a picture of the Queen by artist Ralph Heimans (right), which was commissioned for her Diamond Jubilee . The £160,000 painting, called The Coronation Theatre, had only been on show for two weeks. Haries is due to stand trial after . indicated a plea of not guilty to one count of criminal damage at . Southwark Crown Court yesterday. Fathers . 4 Justice yesterday called on fathers to take direct action ‘to defend . themselves and the 1,000 families a week destroyed in the secret family . courts’. It also said it was refusing to deal with the national media because of ‘inaccurate and misleading reporting’ of its campaign. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | Paul Manning, 57, from Sheffield charged with criminal damage .
Yesterday a picture of young boy was glued to Constable masterpiece .
Gallery said there has been 'no lasting damage' done to the painting .
Fathers 4 Justice claimed responsibility and called for 'direct action' |
150,864 | 4f0bd980e35450ce282e9deaa5e35ab9b5574303 | From the outside, the home at 2207 Seymour Avenue looked like most any other in Cleveland's Westside neighborhood. From the inside, it looked like hell. There were the makeshift alarms rigged to the front and back doors. The porch swing blocking a stairway. Heavy fabric obstructing the kitchen and the second floor. A plastic toilet in a bedroom. Doors without handles, but with padlocks, dead bolts and slide locks. Solid wood covering second-floor windows, assuring no light would enter even on bright, sunny days. And there were the restraints -- duct tape, plastic zip ties, metal chains fastened to a basement pole and bedroom walls -- to ensure that Michelle Knight, Amanda Berry and Gina DeJesus wouldn't leave. But, despite Ariel Castro's efforts, they did. On May 6, Berry alerted passers-by by banging on the front door then crawling out with her 6-year-old daughter. Police officers arrived and went upstairs, where Knight jumped into their arms -- holding them tight and thanking them for ending her 11 years of terror. A pale, quiet DeJesus emerged from a room a short time later. Today, all three women are free. And Castro is paying a price for what he did: life in prison without parole and 1,000 years, as finalized in a Cleveland court Thursday. Castro sentenced to life plus 1,000 years . The sentence follows a deal in which Castro agreed to plead guilty to 937 charges to avoid a trial and a possible death penalty. The prosecution didn't have to present evidence Thursday, but they did -- laying out in vivid detail the twisted torment that Knight, DeJesus, Berry and Berry's young daughter, fathered by Castro, went through -- in testimony, impact statements and a sentencing memorandum. "The days never got shorter," said Knight, the lone victim to speak in court. "The nights turned into days. The days turned into years. The years turned into eternity." Lured into home, restrained and assaulted . It started on August 22, 2002, when Castro saw the then 21-year-old Knight at a Family Dollar store. She was trying to find the social worker in charge of her son, then not even 2½ years old, Cleveland police Det. Andrew Harasimchuk testified. Knight asked around for directions, and Castro responded that he knew where to go. Knight knew his daughter, Emily, so she took up his offer for a ride. They ended up at the Seymour Avenue home Castro had bought a decade earlier. Did Knight want to go inside to get a puppy for her son, Castro asked? She did, and went in. But instead of giving her a puppy, Castro tied her up with an extension cord. A few hours later, Knight was taken down to the basement, where she was restrained with a chain and with plastic ties around her wrists, said Harasimchuk, his department's lead investigator on the case. Castro put a motorcycle helmet over her head. And then he sexually assaulted her -- for the first of what would be scores of times. Michelle Knight: 'After 11 years, I'm finally being heard' The following April, Castro spotted Amanda Berry walking along a Cleveland street in her Burger King. She was 16; he was 42. Did Berry know his son, who'd also worked at Burger King? What about his daughter Angie? Berry said she knew them both, and she accepted his offer for a ride after he told her Angie was at Castro's home. Berry went in, but saw no sign of her friend, ending up in an upstairs bedroom. Berry asked to go home and when Castro didn't comply, she tried to run away -- her exit stopped when she slammed into a closet instead. Then Castro sexually assaulted her, putting duct tape over her wrists, legs and mouth and a motorcycle helmet over her head. Berry was carried to the basement and tied to a chain attached to a center support pole. A third, eerily similar chapter of this story played out about a year later. This time the victim -- Gina DeJesus -- was younger, at age 14. And she was even closer to Castro's family, as one of his daughter Arlene's best friends. That spring afternoon, DeJesus and Arlene Castro had been together and hoped to spend the afternoon at DeJesus' house. When that plan didn't pan out, the two walked separate ways. Ariel Castro spotted the two together, then apart. He admitted driving past his daughter to get to DeJesus. She got in the car after he asked for help finding his daughter, then got out of it when he asked for help carrying a speaker from his home into his car, testified Harasimchuk. Once inside, DeJesus became uncomfortable and wanted to leave. Castro steered her, unwittingly, into the basement -- where she was tied up with a chain and plastic ties and sexually assaulted. Constantly fearing for their lives . The young women's nightmares didn't end there. The sexual abuse was rampant, as was the violence and threats thereof. Castro had a gun that he'd show to Knight, DeJesus and Berry, threatening to shoot them if they ever tried to escape, prosecutors said. At times, they'd play Russian roulette -- where one bullet is loaded, the cylinder is spun and a person pulls the trigger to see whether the gun fires a shot. Each woman was given one meal a day. They couldn't use the lone bathroom downstairs, and were allowed to shower at most twice a week. After sexually abusing them, Castro would sometimes throw money at them -- money that he'd take back if they wanted him to get anything on the outside. "He made them believe that their physical survival depended on him," Cuyahoga County Prosecuting Attorney Timothy McGinty wrote in the prosecution investigation report and sentencing memorandum. "And he threatened to end their lives if they did not comply with his every demand." When Knight became pregnant, Castro acted. He said they devised a plan together, which ended after "several days" following a diet of only tea and a regimen of knee bends and jumping jacks. But according to authorities, Knight (and DeJesus) explained it very differently: Castro punched, kicked and jumped on her stomach, forced her to do exercises and starved her for days. This happened multiple times, Knight told Harasimchuk, each time culminating in the loss of a baby. Castro's guilty plea included two counts of aggravated murder. Amanda Berry also got pregnant. She wasn't given any prenatal care, but was allowed to carry the baby. And on Christmas Day 2006, the little girl was born in a plastic baby pool (to contain the mess) inside the Seymour Avenue home. Knight served as the midwife, albeit under great duress. The child wasn't breathing when she emerged, until Knight breathed into her mouth. All the while, Castro loomed over her. "I remember Michelle saying if that baby died, 'he was going to kill me'," recalled Cleveland police Officer Barbara Johnson, one of the two officers that went inside the home and rescued Knight, during her testimony Thursday. That baby, miraculously, survived. And so did Knight, Berry and DeJesus. "I spent 11 years in hell," Knight said Thursday, proclaiming herself a survivor before addressing Castro. "Now your hell is just beginning." 'The damage that was done does not go away' Over all these years, Castro would go about his life -- working as a school bus driver, jamming in bands with names like Grupo Fuego and Los Boyz del Merengue, going to church on Sundays -- and return home to abuse the young women sexually, physically and emotionally again and again and again. In court on Thursday, he tried to explain his behavior by saying, "I am not a monster. I am sick." Castro claimed his addiction to sex had compelled him to do things he understands were "100% wrong," even as he denied torturing or beating his three captives. Still, by pleading guilty to the hundreds of charges, Castro has officially admitted to committing numerous sordid crimes. Plus, the stories of the victims and the ample evidence presented by law enforcement officers paint a vivid, horrifying picture of what these women went through. So how did they make it? While the four captives were typically kept apart, they did help and draw strength from each other. Knight, the oldest of them, served as a doctor, nurse, midwife and pediatrician for Berry and her young child, Dr. Frank Ochberg testified Thursday. And she literally put herself in between Castro and DeJesus, taking on physical and sexual abuse herself to protect her friend. In court Thursday, Knight credited DeJesus -- whom she shared a dark room measuring about 7 feet by 11½ feet -- for saving her life. "I never let her fall, and she never let me fall," Knight said. "She nursed me back to health when I was dying from his abuse. My friendship with Gina is the only good thing to come from this situation." The captives kept diaries documenting the forced sex and anticipation of more abuse, the days and nights bleeding together amid the darkness, of being chained to walls and being treated like animals. And, somehow, they also kept hope. As Knight said, "We said we'll all get out alive some day and we did." Ochberg, a pioneer in trauma science, lauded the three women's survival and coping skills as "marvelous, compelling examples of resilience, of imagination, of humanity." Still, while they're no longer at 2207 Seymour Avenue, their suffering from their years there isn't over, he said. "The damage that was done does not go away. They have life sentences," said Ochberg. "...I think they will -- with the love and support of the whole community -- they have a good chance to live a good life. But that doesn't mean that they'll ever be free of the damage that was done." | Four captives were freed from Ariel Castro's Cleveland home in May .
All knew Castro's children, which is a reason they took his offer for rides .
He abused them sexually, physically and emotionally for over a decade .
Castro controlled when they ate, used the bathroom and much more . |
168,846 | 666e26c9c8d1bc9617f6d31c0e1d8d669d208ed9 | By . Ryan Kisiel . With rain forecast from Thursday, those braving Glastonbury this weekend are clearly going to have to pack their wellies. But for those wishing to escape the misery of the mudbath in store in a traditional tent, there is an oasis in sight. This luxurious temporary hotel on the outskirts of the music festival has a four-bedroom suite that comes with its own butler. The so-called ‘Tenthouse suite’ has three bathrooms, expensive rugs on top of the wall-to-wall carpets, antique furniture and sofas to take the weight off your feet. Scroll down for video . Why rough it when you can party in style? The interior of an RV is seen at the Pop-Up Hotel, which offers festival goers alternative luxury camping close to the Glastonbury Festival . With rain forecast from Thursday, those braving Glastonbury this weekend are clearly going to have to pack their wellies. But for those wishing to escape the misery of the mudbath in store in a traditional tent, the luxurious glamping site offers an oasis . The so-called 'Tenthouse suite' has three bathrooms, expensive rugs on top of the wall-to-wall car-pets, antique furniture and sofas to take the weight off your feet . Emma Catchpole enjoys a drink of champagne inside her bell tent at the Pop-Up Hotel. Every room it offers is decked out with floor-boards, rugs, wardrobes, LED lighting and large double beds . The master bedroom inside a Tenthouse Suite certainly beats a leaky two-man tent anyday - especially with the luxury of fresh linen sheets, plump pillows, electricity points and internet access . For a cool £9,995 for the long weekend – tickets not included – the 2,000sq ft series of tents sleeps up to eight people and also comes with free spa treatments such as facials and pedicures. Celebrities including singer Katherine Jenkins, model Cara Delevingne and actor Chris O’Dowd are all believed to have enjoyed ‘glamping’, glamorous camping, either here or at similar sites while attending the festival. Guests at the Pop-up Hotel will also notice the difference compared to the other 130,000 campers at Glastonbury with the luxury of fresh linen sheets, plump pillows, electricity points and internet access. The company, which also offers a more modest 16sq ft luxury tents with beds that comfortably sleeps three to five people, has an array of facilities including a reception, 200-seater restaurant, bar, showers and make-up areas. Tattinger champagne can be bought for £45 a bottle and every room it offers is decked out with floor-boards, rugs, wardrobes, LED lighting and large double beds. www.thepopuphotel.com . Jess Evans works at the reception of the Pop-Up Hotel, which offers an array of facilities such as a reception and waiting area, 200-seat restaurant and bar, luxury showers, make-up areas, hairdresser and on on-site spa . Forget burgers and chips - at the Pop-Up Hotel flatbreads, and chicken, tomato and artichoke salads are the order of the day. Or perhaps a glass of Hennessy Cognac, for £5 a pop . The hotel also still has 'American-style' vintage caravans available that have a bedroom, bathroom, kitchen and sofa to watch the festival in comfort on. They come with room service and cost between £6,000 to £9,000 for the length of the festival . Tattinger champagne can be bought for £45 a bottle, and there is a 200-seater restaurant, bar, showers and make-up areas . Managing director Mark Sorrill said he had been inundated with late bookings since the weather fore-cast revealed it is due to rain most days during the festival in Somerset. ‘We’re all hoping for a nice and sunny Glastonbury and not have the problems of mud, but here you don’t get it,’ he added. ‘There is less people walking around as we’re just off the main Glastonbury site and there’s not the mud. We’ve been receiving loads of late calls with people wishing to upgrade and there are still a few different sizes of accommodation available.’ A hairdresser cuts the hair of a woman in the hair salon inside a converted railway carriage at the Pop-Up Hotel. Celebrities including singer Katherine Jenkins, model Cara Delevingne and actor Chris O'Dowd are all believed to have enjoyed 'glamping', glamorous camping, either here or at similar sites . Music lovers can make sure they look their very best whatever the weather before they wade out into the muddy fields of Pilton Farm . Guests at the Pop-Up hotel enjoy spacious surroundings as they relax outside their bell tents ahead of this weekend's revelry . The sumptuous surroundings guests at the Pop-Up Hotel can enjoy are a far cry away from those experienced by the average Glastonbury festival-goer . Mr Sorrill came up with idea of creating the hotel after spending 12 years in property development in the Caribbean. After developing Indigo Bay, a thatched hut resort in Grand Cayman, the 44 -year-old decided to bring the idea home to Somerset, England. He added: ‘Glastonbury 2011 is where the Pop-up made its first appearance, and it’s really taken off from there. ‘We really aim to design the tents and hotel to match the surroundings, so naturally for Glastonbury, we try and make the tents quite arty, but still very classic and British. ‘It takes 20 to 30 people around two and half weeks to set up the site for the festival.’ The hotel also still has ‘American-style’ vintage caravans available that have a bedroom, bathroom, kitchen and sofa to watch the festival in comfort on. They come with room service and cost between £6,000 to £9,000 for the length of the festival. | Guests at Pop-up Hotel have luxury of fresh linen sheets, plump pillows, .
electricity points and internet access .
Luxurious temporary hotel on outskirts of festival has a four-bedroom suite that comes with its own butler .
Tenthouse suite’ has three bathrooms, expensive rugs on top of the wall-to-wall carpets, antique furniture and sofas . |
162,589 | 5e359f2595ae4adba54fe7cb0b1767cfd845d98b | Beachfront homeowners in the exclusive L.A. neighborhood of Malibu are up in arms about a new smartphone app which provides anyone using it with evaluable information about how to get to the area’s hard to reach public beaches. Environmental writer Jenny Price passionately believes that everyone deserves access to the area's public beaches but with 20 of Malibu's 27 miles of coastline lined with private developments trying to access the beaches has long been a complicated business. Homeowners in Malibu - include some of the wealthiest and most famous people in the country – have long used a variety of means to keep the beaches to themselves including padlocks, gates, menacing signs, security guards and lawsuits. Environmental writer Jenny Price passionately believes that everyone deserves access to Malibu's public beaches . Gaining access to Malibu's public beaches has long been a complicated business as much of the coastline is lined with private developments . Price decided to get together with tech developers EscapeApps to create an app for smartphones which provides users with all the necessary tips and information on how to reach the hard to find beauty spots. The ‘Our Malibu Beaches’ app claims to give users ‘pinpointed directions and expert tips so you can enjoy the 20 miles of gorgeous beaches in Malibu that are lined with private development’. It includes info on how to find the elusive access-ways, where you're free to walk and put your towel and which fake 'No Trespassing' and 'No Parking' signs you can legally ignore. The release of the app has set off waves of anxiety among local homeowners, fearful that this summer they will be descended upon by hordes of people. Using the funding website Kickerstarter, Price raised over $30,000 needed to build the app . An iPhone version is currently available for free, while an Android version is expected in the fall . Locals complain that the remote and often small beaches simply don’t have enough amenities - such as bathrooms and parking - to accommodate large influxes of sun-seekers. ‘People come through, they urinate, defecate, they leave their garbage - there are no garbage pails. They can’t park; there is no parking, so they block driveways,' one local told the New York Times. But local homeowners have also been known to use underhand means to keep people out. Parking is a serious problem and homeowners are known to drop orange cones on the street or build fake garage doors to block off legal parking spots. The app includes info on how to find the elusive access-ways, where you're free to walk and put your towel and which fake 'No Trespassing' and 'No Parking' signs you can legally ignore . Some owners plant hedges to obscure beach access gates, while other gates are often weighted down with numerous signs, some legitimate, some that can be bought at Home Depot for $10, said Price. Using the funding website Kickerstarter, Price raised over $30,000 needed to build the app. An iPhone version is currently available for free, while an Android version is expected in the fall costing $1.99. Malibu is home to stars including Pierce Brosnan and major Hollywood producers including David Geffen, Michael D. Eisner and Jeffrey Katzenberg, but Price claims she isn’t interested in class warfare. 'It’s not about who lives down here. It’s not a take-down-the-billionaires project. This is not a political statement,' she told The New York Times. Instead she believes public spaces should be open to all. Video: Jenny Price explains how her app works . | Jenny Price believes everyone should have access to the public beaches in Malibu .
Traditionally it has been hard for people to access the beaches because access is blocked by homes of the rich and famous .
She has created an app which tells ordinary people which bogus 'No Trespassing' to ignore . |
70,613 | c8346a850aa8e468885ba61f4d64144d562c858d | New York (CNN) -- A New York police officer is under investigation after a video emerged showing him beating a 21-year-old man at a community center in Brooklyn, police said Monday. The incident occurred at 5 a.m. on October 8, after police received a call about a dispute at the ALIYA Center in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn, police said. There, police came upon Ehud Haleavy, who refused to leave the women's portion of the center, the statement said. "The officers used force" to make the arrest, and Haleavy was charged with assault, trespass, resisting arrest, harassment and unlawful possession of marijuana, according to the statement, from Deputy Commissioner Paul J. Browne. The incident was caught on camera and obtained by CNN from CrownHeights.info. The video shows a bare-chested, bearded man talking with two officers -- one of them a woman -- in what appears to be a game room containing a pool table and two couches. The video shows the officers approaching Haleavy, who is on one of the couches, and talking to him. Moments later, he stands and talks with the officers, gesticulating with his arms but making no apparent threat toward either officer. The video has no sound. When the officers attempt to grab him by his arms, Haleavy pulls free of their grasp. At that, the male officer, 41, crouches into a boxing stance and hits the victim more than a dozen times, striking him in the face, the back of his head and his torso. Haleavy falls back into a couch, where he raises his arms in an apparent attempt to deflect the blows, but at no point does it appear that he is seeking to strike either officer. Later in the video, the female officer can be seen striking Haleavy repeatedly with a truncheon. More than three minutes into the video, about 10 more officers enter the room, where they cuff Haleavy's wrists behind his back and lead him out. "This video does not indicate New York's finest," Assemblyman Dov Hikind said. "You begin to wonder how often things like this happen." Haleavy "keeps his arms down and in back of him, but he is the one who gets arrested with felonies against a police officer," Hikind said. "It's just lies, lies, lies." The department's Internal Affairs Bureau has opened an investigation into the incident after reviewing the video, according to Browne. The matter was also referred to the Civilian Complaint Review Board. ALIYA -- an acronym for Alternative Learning Institute for Young Adults -- seeks to serve "spiritual, physical, educational, emotional and vocational needs of young adults in the Crown Heights community," according to its website. | Video shows male officer hitting suspect dozens of times .
It also shows a female officer striking suspect repeatedly with a truncheon .
"This video does not indicate New York's finest," assemblyman says . |
174,362 | 6daedb8e65a0084afbf97d0d00de6cb9e77324ec | By . Sam Adams . PUBLISHED: . 03:51 EST, 29 April 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 11:42 EST, 29 April 2013 . Accused: American tour guide Kenneth Bae faces the death penalty in North Korea for allegedly photographing starving orphans . An American tour guide faces the death penalty in North Korea after allegedly taking photographs of orphans begging in the street. Kenneth Bae was arrested in November while leading a group of tourists through the rogue state's Rason Special Economic Zone and later admitted to committing 'crimes aimed to topple the DPRK,' according to a Korean news agency. The exact reasons for his arrest have not been confirmed by North Korea but sources in the country say he is accused of photographing starving children. Identified in North Korea’s state media by his Korean name, Pae Jun Ho, Mr Bae is a tour operator of Korean descent. He is the sixth American detained in the secretive country since 2009. The other Americans were eventually deported or released after high-profile diplomatic interventions, including some involving former Presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter. Analysts say the North will likely soon hand Mr Bae a harsh punishment to use him as a bargaining chip in possible negotiations with the United States. In 2009, American journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee were arrested and sentenced to 12 years of hard labor for trespassing and unspecified hostile acts. They were freed later that year after former President Bill Clinton visited Pyongyang to negotiate their release. ‘The preliminary inquiry into crimes . committed by American citizen Pae Jun Ho closed,’ the official Korean . Central News Agency said in a brief report. ‘In the process of . investigation he admitted that he committed crimes aimed to topple the . DPRK with hostility toward it. His crimes were proved by evidence.’ Under . North Korea's criminal code, terrorist acts include murdering, . kidnapping and injuring the country's citizens can lead to a death . sentence or life in jail. Tensions . between North Korea and the US have remained high since the state . expressed outrage over a February nuclear test and ongoing U.S.-South . Korean . military drills. Rogue: Led by Kim Jong Un, pictured, North Korea has indicted Mr Bae on charges of plotting to overthrow the government . Ruling: North Korea says it will soon deliver a verdict in the case of Mr Bae (pictured, Pyongyang's Supreme Court) North Korea and the United States fought the 1950-53 Korean War and still do not have diplomatic relations. The Swedish Embassy in Pyongyang represents the United States. North Korea's state media and the U.S. government have made little information about Mr Bae public. But his friends, colleagues and South Korean activists specializing in North Korea affairs said he is a Christian missionary based in a Chinese border town who frequently made trips to North Korea to feed orphans there. It is not known whether he tried to evangelize while in North Korea. Officially, North Korea guarantees freedom of religion. In practice, authorities crack down on Christians, who are seen as Western-influenced threats to the government. The distribution of Bibles and secret prayer services can mean banishment to a labor camp or execution, defectors from the country have said. | Kenneth Bae was arrested while leading tour group near Chinese border .
Reported to have taken photographs of orphans begging on streets .
Could face death for 'crimes' aimed to topple the country's government . |
76,037 | d7aff26b2ea6545c95e5ef69557ff5b694741c45 | LONDON, England (CNN) -- Worldwide tributes for U.S. Senator Edward Kennedy, who has died after a long battle with brain cancer, poured in Wednesday, led by politicians hailing his role in securing a lasting peace in Northern Ireland. Senator Edward Kennedy, right, pictured with Northern Irish politician Gerry Adams in 1996 . Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, whose administration presided over the 1998 Good Friday Agreement which led to an end to decades of sectarian violence in the province and established a united ruling Assembly, praised Kennedy's commitment to the process. "I saw his focus and determination first hand in Northern Ireland where his passionate commitment was matched with a practical understanding of what needed to be done to bring about peace and to sustain it," Blair said. Kennedy, of Irish Catholic ancestry, was initially an outspoken opponent of British military deployment to the province during the violence of the 1970s and 80s in which more than 3,600 people were killed, but later moderated his views to support negotiations that brought all sides to the table. The senator is credited with getting an American visa for Gerry Adams -- leader of the pro-Irish nationalism Sinn Fein party accused of links to Irish Republican Army militants -- allowing him to attend a pivotal U.S. conference on Northern Ireland's future. Sound off: Your reactions to Sen. Kennedy's death . Kennedy was awarded an honorary knighthood in March 2009, for his contribution to Northern Irish peace, which included a landmark speech in the province in 1998 urging mainly pro-British Protestants and mainly pro-Irish Catholics to work together. Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen described Kennedy "a great friend of Ireland." "He has used his considerable influence in the world's most powerful parliament for the betterment of this island," he said. "In good days and bad, Ted Kennedy worked valiantly for the cause of peace on this island. He played a particularly important role in the formative days of the Northern Ireland peace process in the early to mid-1990s." iReport.com: Share your tributes . Irish President Mary McAleese added: "He will be remembered here in Ireland as a hugely important friend to this country during the very difficult times. "His death will be greeted with a great sense of sadness here because of his long-standing affection for this country, not just with the peace process, but on many other issues, including emigration," McAleese said. "His outstanding and remarkable personal contribution was made, despite the sacrifice and sorrow that was part of the overall contribution of the entire Kennedy family." Sinn Fein president Adams greeted Kennedy's death with great sadness, according to the UK Press Asscociation. "He has served the American people with courage and commitment for nearly 50 years. His service to Ireland through his role in the peace process was exceptional and contributed significantly to its progress." Irish former policitician John Hume, a co-recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize for his work in ending Northern Irish violence, described Kennedy as a close personal friend who took the Northern Ireland issue onto the world state. "Ted Kennedy was at the forefront of persuading the British government to talk to the Irish government," he told CNN. Shaun Woodward, the British government's Northern Ireland minister, said he was "deeply saddened" to hear of Kennedy's death. "Ted Kennedy was a true and constant friend of the peace process in Northern Ireland whose huge influence in engaging the United States in that process cannot be over estimated," he said. "In every sense he was an immense figure whose part in transforming Northern Ireland will be a lasting memorial. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown paid tribute to Kennedy's achievements on the wider world stage, describing him as the "senator of senators." "He led the world in championing children's education and health care, and believed that every single child should have the chance to realize their potential to the full," Brown said. "Even facing illness and death he never stopped fighting for the causes which were his life's work. I am proud to have counted him as a friend and proud that the United Kingdom recognized his service earlier this year with the award of an honorary knighthood." In Israel, Foreign Minister Avigdor Leiberman hailed Kennedy as a "great friend of Israel and the Jewish people a defender of human rights and member of a family that through the years at the Senate was always at the side of Israel, in bad times and good and contributed to the deep and special relationship between Israel and the United States." German Chancellor Angela Merkel described Kennedy as a "towering figure in U.S. politics." "His battle for justice and equality was defined by persistence and resoluteness. In Senator Kennedy both Germany and Europe have lost a great and dear friend," she said. Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd described Kennedy as a "great American, a great Democrat and also a great friend of Australia." "He has made an extraordinary contribution to American politics, an extraordinary contribution to America's role in the world," Rudd said in a statement, according to Agence France-Presse. | Sen. Edward Kennedy praised as influential in Northern Ireland peace process .
Former UK prime minister Tony Blair says Kennedy "committed" to peace .
Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen: Kennedy "a great friend of Ireland" |
97,498 | 097b9341926e02ac5fadb5f420c3cbb109acae51 | A teenager will have to pay almost £900 in fines and costs after playing a James Blunt song too loudly – even though she claims to hate his music. Council environmental health officers heard Rebecca Hope, 19, blasting out the British singer’s 2004 hit You’re Beautiful in her first-floor flat. Another officer visited eight days later and heard her loudly playing the 1998 number one C’est La Vie by Irish girl band B*Witched, a court heard. Scroll down for video . Council environmental health officers heard Rebecca Hope, 19, blasting out the James Blunt's 2004 hit You’re Beautiful in her first-floor flat . Another officer visited eight days later and heard Hope loudly playing the 1998 number one C’est La Vie by Irish girl band B*Witched, a court heard . Hope was found guilty in her absence of four offences of breaching a noise abatement notice at her council home in Ipswich in March and April. It was imposed by Ipswich Borough Council in February after neighbours complained about noise from her flat. South East Suffolk magistrates fined Hope £500 and ordered her to pay £374 costs and a £20 surcharge from her benefits. But yesterday she denied that she was responsible for playing James Blunt and B*Witched, claiming it must have been one of her neighbours. ‘I hate the sound of James Blunt – so why would I listen to him,’ said Hope. ‘I am in to much more modern music. My mum likes James Blunt and the last time I heard one of his songs was when she was listening to it at her home in Devon. ‘I don’t know anything about B*Witched and I haven’t even got any of their music.’ A council spokesman said: 'The council is here to help residents who are upset by loud noise. 'We will take action if necessary and will not tolerate noise nuisance that blights people’s lives.' | Rebecca Hope, 19, fined nearly £900 for playing music too loudly .
Council officers heard teenager blasting out James Blunt's You're Beautiful .
Days later C'est La Vie by B*Witched could be heard playing in her flat . |
248,307 | cd48a86609151e72ec6730dd56f490ace001be6f | If a male-only social network was launched that let men rate their former conquests in terms of attractiveness and sexual ability, it probably wouldn't go down very well. But somehow, a female-only equivalent is OK. Luluvise.com, which went live yesterday, is a social network, described as 'Sex And The City marries Facebook' - and it bans boys. Latest internet craze? Entrepreneur Alexandra Chong has set up Luluvise.com, a social network that is just for women . It connects through your Facebook . profile - although does not let any of your Facebook friends know that you have connected. 'Luluvise uses Facebook to make registration easier. We do not post to walls or make Luluvise information public anywhere or to other Facebook users,' creator Alexandra Chong explained. Once you've logged on you can see what other women have . said about your potential love interests. The site does serve other functions too - you can use it to send messages, photos or polls to groups of female BFFs ('Best Friends Forever'). But that is only likely to take off if people flock to the 'WikiDate Database'. Rate after dating: The site's most interesting - and controversial - feature lets women secretly rate their past conquests . Harsh? Luluvise lets you describe your first kiss with a former squeeze as 'slobber city' - or amazing . This is internet dating 2.0 - in that the first men that pop up are the ones who are already your friends on Facebook. But they will never know that you have rated them, and neither will anyone else. Some of the ratings do seem a little harsh. Particularly the ones that invite you to rate your first kiss as 'slobber city', or to summarise your sex life as 'All I could could think was..."Is he into girls?".' But getting an insight into your male friends' romantic lives - even if you have no interest in bagging them at all - is bound to be popular. Not fair? Men cannot even see their ratings - unless they create a fake facebook profile in which they pretend to be a woman . The website, set up by Canadian entrepreneur Alexandra Chong, 30, in London, is already all over twitter. Cosmopolitan UK tweeted: 'If Carrie Bradshaw had signed up to #Luluvise, it would've saved her a LOT of heartache!' Men are unsurprisingly hankering to join. More than 500 boys have already submitted their . emails to get access to the site, but instead received an email reading: 'Hey Dude, you're a dude.' Circle of friends: The site also lets you set up a network of 'BFFs' who you can collectively ask questions, send messages and send photos . It is possible for men to get around the ban and see what women are saying about them - with a little dedication. They need to set up a fake Facebook profile as a woman, and make friends with themselves on that social network. Then, when they log onto Luluvise, their own ratings will pop straight up. But they will not be able to see private conversations. However, Luluvise has set up a series of strict rules in the backend technology that should prevent any fake Facebook accounts from accessing the site. The site's first 1,000 legitimate users came from across the globe, with 69 countries represented on the platform. The majority were split across the US, UK and Canada. | Luluvise connects though Facebook .
Database of doom - discover how a guy has been rated . |
177,099 | 7140b2878fded294ddba6df2f83964a67e00b286 | By . James Nye . Striking: Mary Jean Conniff at the Victor de Souza Fashion Show in 2012 at the Bowery Hotel in New York City . A rake-thin model was arrested for trying to steal boxes of fattening Pop-Tarts, a cake and cake mix from a Harlem supermarket. Six-foot-tall Mary Jean Conniff appeared in Manhattan Criminal Court on Wednesday charged with the May 5 theft where she agreed to a punishment of one day of community service. Store workers at the Harelm Pathmark said that they felt sorry for the light-fingered model. 'I don’t want to judge her, but maybe she needed it,' said one employee. 'Maybe she was hungry and had a sweet tooth.' The . Detroit native previously appeared at the Fall 2012 Victor de Souza fashion show . and was caught by a security guard stealing the sweet food, according to . The New York Post. 'He . observed the defendant remove one cake, three boxes of Pop-Tarts, two . boxes of cake mix and several other items from a shelf and conceal the . items inside the defendant's purse and pockets,' said the cirminal . complaint. The . store security allowed her to leave the Pathmark, after which she was . grabbed and held until the police arrived to arrest her. According to The New York Post, Conniff does not seem to have enjoyed much work since the show for Argentine designer De Souza. Highlight: Mary Jean Conniff does not appear to have worked since the Victor de Souza show in New York City in 2012 . He claims clients such as Lady Gaga, Sarah Jessica Parker, Naomi Campbell and Rihanna. She refused to speak to reporters after her sentence and if she keeps her record clean will see her petit larceny charge reduced to a violation. Arrested: Mary Jean Conniff was taken into custody from the Pathmark store in Harlem, New York City on May 5 . Her lawyer, Thomas Kenniff, said the whole arrest was a misunderstanding. 'There was no finding of guilt against my client. There’s no reason to think this was anything more than a misunderstanding. She will go on to live a law-abiding life as she has always done,' he said to The New York Post. | Six-foot tall model, Mary Jean Conniff, sentenced to one day of community service for the May 5 theft in New York City .
Caught by security with Pop Tarts and cake mix in her handbag . |
164,039 | 6021024e22fc675173619c08f27a9a40fac6ac6c | By . Mail On Sunday Reporter . A holidaymaker plunged 50 metres to his death in a horrific cliff fall in front of his wife and two children. The 52-year-old man was walking on a cliff path in West Cornwall when he is thought to have slipped on ground left muddy by recent heavy rain. A sea and air rescue was launched after his family raised the alarm but he was declared dead after his body was recovered from rocks at the base of the cliff. Tragedy: The 52-year-old holiday maker fell 160ft, whilst walking with his wife. and two children on a clifftop path near Mullion in West Cornwall . The tragedy comes as Britain faces a . Bank Holiday washout with yet more severe conditions and wet weather . expected later in the week. The Met office issued early weather warnings for next week with persistent heavy rain expected to spread across the country during Wednesday evening and the early hours of Thursday. The lowest temperature recorded overnight on Friday was in south-west Scotland, where it plummeted to -6C (21.2F). Yesterday, . Scotland experienced snow, while the skies over southern England were . grey with patchy rain. Further north, sunny intervals were interspersed . with showers. Snow in May: A car travels through appalling weather along the Inverness-Ullapool Road in Scotland . Forecast: The dismal weather follows weeks of heavy rain which has caused flooding in many areas. Temperatures in north-east England . peaked at about 6C (42.8F), while in Cornwall, the mercury struggled to . climb above 11C (51.8F). 'It's been pretty cold,' said forecaster Nick Prebble of MeteoGroup yesterday. 'We've . seen flurries of snow over the Grampians and north-west Highlands, and . there's been sleet there, too. There have also been a few light sleet . showers in northern England.' More snow flurries are forecast today over high ground in Scotland. The unsettled weather is due to continue tomorrow, with a band of heavy rain edging north-east across most parts of the country. 'It's looking like most places will see a wet and breezy day,' Mr Prebble. The tragedy in Cornwall happened . early on Friday morning as the visitor from Basingstoke, Hampshire, was . walking at the Cornish beauty spot. A police spokesman said: 'A 52 year . old male from the Basingstoke area was airlifted from the bottom of . cliffs at Mullion around 7.45pm on Friday 4 May. Snow in spring: The lowest temperature recorded overnight on Friday was in Scotland, where it plummeted to -6C . A hillwalker strolls though the snow-covered heather at Braemore near Inverness today . 'The male was pronounced deceased at . hospital. It is believed that the male had been walking with his wife . and two young children along the cliff path prior to being found. Police are treating the man's death as accidental. The coroner has been informed. Falmouth Coastguards have warned other visitors to be very careful on muddy paths near unprotected cliffs. A spokesman said: 'People who walk . along paths should be aware that we have had a lot of wet weather and . the ground may be slippery.' The dismal weather follows weeks of heavy rain which has caused flooding in many areas. Downpour: A woman walks in the rain past colourful Azalea flowers in Exbury Gardens in the New Forest . Purple haze: A stunning bloom of British bluebells at Enys Garden in Cornwall . Four . flood warnings remain in place and the Environment Agency said that . while water levels were receding, officials were continuing to monitor the situation. Yesterday, roads remained fairly clear, with many people opting to stay at home. The Highways Agency said: 'The roads haven't been overly congested, performing well despite the weather.' | Tourist, 52, slipped in wet conditions infront of wife and two children .
Snow in Scotland as Met issues early weather warnings for next week .
Flood warnings continue with more persistent and heavy rain expected . |
182,547 | 78631728585256dfb758e3d84c97cea5e12a9942 | (CNN) -- After Carmen Tarleton's estranged husband doused her with industrial-strength lye, doctors saved her life with a medically induced coma and more than 50 surgeries. But they could do little about her scar-ravaged face. She was so disfigured that children ran away from her. When TV news shows did stories about her, they warned that the images might be disturbing and advised viewer discretion. For four years Tarleton lived with this reality, plus enormous amounts of pain. Then her plastic surgeon at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston made a suggestion. He'd recently done the first facial transplant in the United States, and he thought it might work for her. At first the idea sounded a bit strange -- going through life with someone else's face? -- but it didn't take long for Tarleton to say yes, and on Wednesday, Tarleton unveiled her new face at a press conference. She doesn't know her deceased donor's name but said she thinks about her every day. "I have conversations with her and let her know how grateful I am," Tarleton, 44, told CNN during a visit Monday to her home in Thetford, Vermont. "I'm thrilled. I'm thrilled with what I've got." Doctor: 'We had some sleepless nights' Dr. Bohdan Pomahac had never seen anyone like Tarleton. The director of the burn unit at Brigham and Women's, Pomahac assessed Tarleton's wounds when she came in after the June 2007 attack. The lye had burned more than 80% of her body, and the burns went deep -- all the way through her skin. In 2011, Pomahac and his team made headlines when they performed the nation's first full facial transplant on Dallas Wiens, a Texas man who got too close to a high-voltage line while at work. Tarleton was approved for a full transplant in December of that year. It took about 14 months -- an unusually long time -- to find a donor, because she had so many antibodies in her immune system built up from the blood transfusions and surgeries used to treat her injuries. She had the 15-hour transplant surgery in February, becoming about the sixth person in the United States to get a full facial transplant, according to Pomahac. An animation of the procedure done by the hospital shows how surgeons removed her skin, muscles, tendons, and nerves, replacing them with those of the donor. At first, it didn't go so well. Tarleton's body started to reject her new face -- a rejection so strong doctors feared the transplant might fail. "We had some sleepless nights," Pomahac said. But a well-tailored cocktail of anti-rejection drugs saved Tarleton's new face. 'He was able to see me through my scars' Completely blind in one eye and partially blind in the other, Tarleton is still able to live on her own in her apartment in Vermont. She did have to quit her job as a nurse. Donations she received after she appeared on "The Doctors" television show have helped support her and her two daughters, who were 12 and 14 when they witnessed their stepfather attack their mother. Private insurance and Medicare have paid for her medical care. Emotionally, Tarleton has recovered by forgiving her ex-husband, who's now in prison, and by giving inspirational talks and publishing a book, "Overcome: Burned, Blinded, and Blessed." In December, she started taking piano lessons from a local teacher named Sheldon Stein. The lessons were before the transplant, when her face was so badly disfigured, but still he fell in love with her. "He was able to see me through my scars," she said. Stein helped her through her February transplant and during her recovery. At first, she had hardly any control over her face, but she can now muster a bit of a smile, and her doctors say with time she should be able raise her eyebrows and make other facial expressions. She especially looks forward to gaining the strength and coordination to kiss the man she calls "the love of my life." "I can't pucker and feel yet," she said. "But I am looking forward to that day. I know that day will come." CNN's John Bonifield contributed to this report. | Carmen Tarleton was burned over 80% of her body with industrial-strength lye .
She received a full facial transplant in February .
She says she thinks about her deceased donor every day .
Her goal is to be able to move her face enough to kiss the man she calls "the love of my life" |
137,019 | 3d3fc0a2d1f105ea79b0960922cf1bc95dd10bba | England recorded a 47-17 victory against Italy in the Six Nations at Twickenham on Saturday to make it two wins from two. Jonathan Joseph helped himself to two tries with Billy Vunipola, Ben Youngs, Danny Cipriani and Nick Easter also touching down for Stuart Lancaster's side. Sportsmail's Sam Peters runs the rule over the England and Italy players' performance. Jonathan Joseph delivered another world class performance at Twickenham on Saturday . England . Mike Brown (rep Twelvetrees 13 mins) – N/A . Horrible injury saw the England full back knocked unconscious after collision with Masi. Would be unfair to mark. Anthony Watson – 7 . A couple of hot-stepping bursts but England were unable to release the Bath flyer in space. Saved late try. Jonathan Joseph – 9 . His second world-class contribution in successive weeks. Two brilliantly taken tries and a permanent attacking threat. Joseph touched down fro two tries and was a constant attacking threat fro England . Luther Burrell – 6 . An early interception did not help confidence but was assured when he moved to outside centre after Brown went off. Jonny May – 4 . Bombed a golden first-half chance with two players outside and kicking game also wayward. George Ford (Cipriani 62 mins) – 7 . Very tidy. Just looks at home at this level. Nothing spectacular but assured again. George Ford looked assured again and his kicking, in the main, was reliable . Ben Youngs (Wigglesworth 66 mins) – 8 . His second strong contribution in succession. Sniped well and linked effectively with Ford. Joe Marler (Vunipola 62 mins) – 7 . Excellent scrummaging which we have come to expect. Not as prominent in loose. Dylan Hartley (rep Youngs 58 mins) – 7 . Missed an early line-out throw but scrummaged well and worked tirelessly at the breakdown. Mike Brown took a sickening blow leaving him knocked out and carried off on a stretcher after 12 minutes . Dan Cole (rep Brookes 58 mins) – 7 . Two impressive returns for the Leicester tighthead who has exceeded expectations after a lengthy lay off. Dave Attwood (rep Easter 56 mins) – 6 . Early line-out steal settled nerves but not as dominant as he can be before being replaced. George Kruis – 8 . Outstanding contribution from a young lock looking more and more at home on international stage. Incredible work-rate. George Kruis put in another assured performance as the young lock looks at home on international stage . James Haskell (Croft 62 mins) – 7 . Not as prominent as he was against Wales but still a decent day’s work from powerful Wasp. Chris Robshaw (c) – 8 . Vital first-half turnover allowed Joseph to scorch in from inside half. Typically selfless contribution. Billy Vunipola – 7 . Carried superbly, especially in second quarter. Worked tirelessly and was effective once again. Captain Chris Robshaw climbs highest to take an England line-out under the lights at Twickenham . Italy . McLean 7, Sarto (Bisegni 71 mins) 5, Morisi 8, Masi 7, Venditti 6, Haimona (Allen 69 mins) 6, Gori (Palazzani 69 mins) 5, De Marchi 6, Ghiraldini 6, Castrogiovanni 5, Biagi 6, Bortolami 6, Minto 5, Bergamasco 5, Parisse (c) 7 . Sergio Parisse touches down to give Italy an early lead against England on Saturday . | England beat Italy 47-17 in the Six Nations at Twickenham on Saturday .
Jonathan Joseph scored two tries and was a constant attacking threat .
Jonny May's kicking was wayward and passed up brilliant opportunity . |
24,712 | 460d169af81402bcb377afcef48cf2b2a9431b55 | (CNN) -- Jessica Barrymore, the half-sister of actress Drew Barrymore, was found dead early Tuesday morning. Jessica Barrymore, 47, was found in her vehicle on a street in National City, California, near San Diego, the San Diego County Medical Examiner said in a report. According to San Diego TV station KGTV, a resident noticed Barrymore at the wheel of a car blocking her driveway around 6 a.m. Tuesday. When the resident went to check on her, Barrymore did not respond. Upon seeing "dozens of white pills scattered around," the TV station reported, the resident called police. Her death was confirmed by the fire department. She was an employee of a Petco store. Jessica Barrymore and Drew Barrymore are both daughters of actor John Drew Barrymore but have different mothers. Drew Barrymore, who was born nine years after Jessica, only met her half-sister "briefly," she said in a statement. She expressed sorrow at her death. "I wish her and her loved ones as much peace as possible and I'm so incredibly sorry for their loss," she said. A postmortem examination has not been scheduled. 'Die Hard' actor James Shigeta dies . Last Enola Gay crew member dies . CNN's Joan Yeam contributed to this story. | Jessica Barrymore was half-sister of Drew Barrymore .
She was found dead early Tuesday morning .
Drew Barrymore: "I'm so incredibly sorry" |
177,596 | 71e9287165bc59632e74e8114fbd4d0471739031 | By . Reuters . Afghanistan handed the death . penalty to seven men on Sunday for raping and robbing a group of . women returning from a wedding. This rare case of sexual assault has shaken the capital and raised concerns over public . security at a time of transition. Police said a large group of men, some dressed in police . uniforms, and with assault rifles, stopped a convoy of cars in which the women and their families in just outside of Kabul in district of Paghman. Scroll down for video . The seven men who gang-raped four women on August 23, stand trial in court in Kabul . The leader of seven men who gang-raped four women on August 23, is brought up to testify in court in Kabul . They dragged four women out of the cars in the middle of the . night and raped them in the field near the main road. One of . them was pregnant. The victims were also beaten and their . jewellery and mobile phones stolen. Crimes against women are common but mostly take place inside . homes in Afghanistan's conservative society. But a gang rape by . armed men is rare in Kabul and has tapped into a vein of anxiety . as foreign troops leave the country and a badly stretched Afghan . army and police fight a deadly Taliban insurgency. The case caused nationwide outrage and the court's proceedings were broadcast on live television . Jamil, one of seven men sentenced to death for the gang-rape of four women . Judge Safihullah Mujadidi in a summary trial, televised nationwide, convicted the men of armed robbery and sexual assault. 'Based on criminal law these individuals are sentenced to . the severest punishment which is death sentence,' he said. The men stood before him in a heavily guarded courtroom. Outside dozens of activists gathered demanding speedy justice to . instil public confidence in law and order. 'This kind of gang rape is unprecedented in Kabul,' Kabul . police chief General Zahir earlier said in his testimony seeking . summary punishment for the men. An Afghan judge on September 7 sentenced seven men to death for the gang-rape of four women in a case that has sparked nationwide outrage . Afghan gang-rape suspects (in dark brown traditional attire) arrive in court for their trial . The assault has led to such outpouring of rage that . President Hamid Karzai told a delegation of women last week that . the perpetrators would face the death penalty. The men can appeal Sunday's verdict in a higher court. Karzai has to ratify the executions under Afghan law. 'If this act goes unpunished, the women of Afghanistan will . continue to be victims,' said Uma Saeed, a rights activist. 'This is really very significant moment, I would say, even maybe . in the history of Karzai's government.' The men dragged four women out of the cars and raped them. They were beaten and their jewellery and mobile phones stolen (stock image) Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | Four women were raped, beaten and robbed by a group of seven men in Kabul .
The seven men were found guilty and were given the death penalty .
The gang rape tapped into a vein of anxiety as foreign troops leave the country .
Afghan President Hamid Karzai told a delegation of women last week that the perpetrators would face the death penalty . |
156,773 | 56b59b2fac6ebffe3b1bbb9c1e1e1ee575b2f5a2 | By . Associated Press . PUBLISHED: . 11:14 EST, 14 September 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 13:24 EST, 16 September 2013 . This is the incredible sound recording beamed back to Earth from Voyager 1 as it crossed a new frontier, becoming the first spacecraft ever to leave the solar system. The rising tones NASA observed are made by the vibration of dense plasma or ionised gas and were captured by the probe's plasma wave instrument. Speaking in a news conference, Don Gurnett, principle investigator for the Voyager plasma wave investigation, said: 'When you hear this recording, please recognise that this is an historic event. It's the first time that we've ever made a recording of sounds in interstellar space.' Scroll down for video . Somewhere out there: Voyager 1 spacecraft barreling through space. The space agency announced today that Voyager 1 has become the first spacecraft to enter interstellar space, or the space between stars . Voyager 1's current mission, along with Voyager 2, is to explore the outermost edge of the Sun's domain and beyond . NASA officials added: 'There were two times the instrument heard these vibrations: October to November 2012 and April to May 2013. 'Scientists noticed that each occurrence involved a rising tone. The dashed line indicates that the rising tones follow the same slope. This means a continuously increasing density.' A team still stays in contact with the two Voyager spacecraft every day but Voyager 1's extreme distance, currently around 12 billion miles from Earth, means a message takes 17 hours to reach us. Thirty-six years after it was . launched from Earth on a tour of the outer planets, the . plutonium-powered probe is more than 11 1/2 billion miles from the sun, . cruising through what scientists call interstellar space — the vast, . cold emptiness between the stars, the space agency said. Voyager 1 actually made its exit more . than a year ago, according to NASA. But it's not as if there's a dotted . boundary line out there or a signpost, and it was not until recently . that the space agency had the evidence to convince it of what an outside . research team had claimed last month: that the spacecraft had finally . plowed through the hot plasma bubble surrounding the planets and escaped . the sun's influence. While some scientists said they remain unconvinced, NASA celebrated. 'It's a milestone and the beginning . of a new journey,' said mission chief scientist Ed Stone at NASA's Jet . Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena. Voyager 1 will now study exotic . particles and other phenomena in a never-before-explored part of the . universe and radio the data back to Earth, where the Voyager team awaits . the starship's discoveries. The interstellar ambassador also . carries a gold-plated disc containing multicultural greetings, songs and . photos, just in case it bumps into an intelligent species. This artist's concept shows NASA's two Voyager spacecraft exploring a turbulent region of space known as the heliosheath, the outer shell of the bubble of charged particles around our sun . It is 36 years since the twin Voyager 1 and 2 spacecraft were launched and the pair continue to explore where . nothing from Earth has flown before. Their primary mission was the exploration of Jupiter and Saturn. After . making a string of discoveries there -- such as active volcanoes on . Jupiter's moon Io and intricacies of Saturn's rings -- the mission was . extended. Voyager 2 went on to explore Uranus and Neptune, and is still the only spacecraft to have visited those outer planets. The . current mission for both spacecraft, the Voyager Interstellar Mission, . is to explore the outermost edge of the Sun's domain and beyond. Voyager 1's odyssey began in 1977 . when the spacecraft and its twin, Voyager 2, were launched on a tour of . the gas giant planets of the solar system. After beaming back dazzling . postcard views of Jupiter's giant red spot and Saturn's shimmering . rings, Voyager 2 hopscotched to Uranus and Neptune. Meanwhile, Voyager 1 . used Saturn as a gravitational slingshot to power itself past Pluto. Voyager 1, which is about the size of . a subcompact car, carries instruments that study magnetic fields, . cosmic rays and solar wind. Last year, scientists monitoring . Voyager 1 noticed strange happenings that suggested the spacecraft had . broken through: Charged particles streaming from the sun suddenly . vanished. At the same time, there was a spike in galactic cosmic rays . bursting in from the outside. Since there was no detectable change . in the direction of the magnetic field lines, the team assumed the . far-flung craft was still in the heliosphere, or the vast bubble of . charged particles around the sun . Voyager is bathed in solar wind from the southern hemisphere flowing northward . The Voyager team patiently waited for . a change in magnetic field direction — thought to be the telltale sign . of a cosmic border crossing. But in the meantime, a chance solar . eruption caused the space around Voyager 1 to echo like a bell last . spring and provided the scientists with the data they needed, convincing . them the boundary had been crossed in August of last year. 'It took us 10 seconds to realize we . were in interstellar space,' said Don Gurnett, a Voyager scientist at . the University of Iowa who led the new research, published online in the . journal Science. The new observations are fascinating, . but 'it's premature to judge,' said Lennard Fisk, a space science . professor at the University of Michigan and former NASA associate . administrator who was not part of the team. 'Can we wait a little while . longer? Maybe this picture will clear up the farther we go.' Voyager 1 is capable of returning scientific data from a full range of instruments, with adequate electrical power and attitude control propellant to keep operating until 2020. What bothers Fisk is the absence of a change in magnetic field direction. Harvard astrophysicist Jonathan . McDowell was more blunt: 'I'm actually not going to believe it for . another year or two until it's been solidly outside for a while.' While Voyager 1 may have left the . solar system as most people understand it, it still has thousands of . years to go before bidding adieu to the last icy bodies that make up our . neighborhood. Voyager 2 trails behind at 9 1/2 . billion miles from the sun. It may take another three years before . Voyager 2 joins its twin on the other side. Eventually, the Voyagers . will run out of nuclear fuel and will have to power down their . instruments, perhaps by 2025. This artist's impression shows how plasma flows around NASA's Voyager 1 spacecraft as it gets close to entering interstellar space . | Sound recording is made by vibrations in dense plasma or ionised gas .
Voyager 1 and 2 were launched in 1977, 16 days apart .
'We are in a new region of space,' NASA project scientist says .
Scientists claim Voyager 1 entered interstellar space more than a year ago .
Study claims Voyager 1 left heliosphere around August 25, 2012 .
Voyager 1 is now the first mission to explore interstellar space . |
139,572 | 407b6f190cdf8802c129d407f4c1298c1a05bdef | By . Chris Parsons and Andrea Magrath . UPDATED: . 06:26 EST, 23 December 2011 . 2011 has ended on the highest of notes for cyclist Mark Cavendish. Just two months after announcing he is to become a father for the first time, the 26-year-old has been named BBC Sports Personality of the Year. Accepting his award at the ceremony, the tearful sportsman dedicated it to his teammates and to his pregnant girlfriend, glamour model Peta Todd. Glamour couple: BBC Sports Personality of the Year Mark Cavendish was accomanied by his pregnant girlfriend Peta Todd . The couple announced in October that Peta, 25, was pregnant with the baby - her second - and due in April. In an interview at the time of the . announcement, she revealed: 'We planned it. I'm four months gone, which . means it was conceived in July, during the Tour de France. It's a Tour . baby.' The ecstatic model tweeted as she . proudly cheered on her man: 'Congratu-BLOODY-lations...!!! Thank you so . SO much for everyones support. Proud doesn't come close.' Bumper year: The couple announced they were expecting in October . Cavendish, who was world race champion and winner of five stages at this year's Tour de France, saw off competition from distance runner Mo Farah and golfer Darren Clarke to land the top prize at the glitzy BBC ceremony in Salford. He had long been the odds on favourite to scoop Sports Personality of the Year 2011 following an extraordinary 12 months. Landmark: Mark Cavendish hailed the award as 'an honour' before paying tribute to the other nominees and his pregnant girlfriend . Personal triumph: Bookies' favourite Cavendish won this year after previously winning four stages of the Tour de France in 2008 but not even getting nominated . The Isle of Man rider achieved the . two huge goals he set for himself in 2011, becoming the first Briton to . win the green jersey in the Tour de France and then clinching gold in . the road race at the World Championships. In addition to dedicating the award to Miss Todd, Cavendish, who joins Tommy . Simpson and Sir Chris Hoy as cycling's winners of the award, said: 'I'm . absolutely speechless. 'A few of my team-mates here will say that's a rare thing. Without those guys this wouldn't even be close to possible. Sporting legends: Footballer Michael Owen dressed to impress as he turned up with his wife Louise to the awards show in Salford . 'I had a group of guys in (the World Championships in) Copenhagen who rode incredible and that brought a rainbow jersey back to Britain after more than half a decade, and that's a massive thing.' Cavendish has established himself as one of the best sprinters in the history of cycling and this year took his tally of Tour de France stage wins to 20. The award will be a personal triumph for . Cavendish, who despite winning four stages of the Tour de France in 2008 . and six in 2009, has yet to land one of the most prestigious prizes in . British sport. Podium places: Golder Darren Clarke came in . second at the glitzy BBC award ceremony in Salford, while distance . runner Mo Farah, pictured with his wife Tania and daughter Rihanna, came . third . After winning four stages in 2008 he was not even nominated, and described the four seconds air time he got from host Sue Barker that year as 'four daggers through my heart'. But the cycling star was not to be denied in 2011 and scooped the prize ahead of Darren Clarke in second and Mo Farah in third. Veteran Clarke was an emotional and surprise winner of the Open Championship this summer, five years after his wife Heather died of breast cancer. Dressing up: Paula Radcliffe and Jane Torvill enjoyed dressing to impress in heels and frocks . Still going strong: Former Personality of the Year, boxer Joe Calzaghe, and his dancer girlfriend Kristina Rihanoff turned up the glamour at the event . Farah starred at the athletics World Championships in Daegu, South Korea, becoming the first British athlete to win the 5,000 metres title and also taking silver in the 10,000m. After receiving the award, Cavendish said: 'I would like to thanks everyone who . supported me, my girlfriend Peta and her little bump, and obviously well . done to all the other people who were nominated. 'In an incredible year for British . sport....where we can produce champions from such a small place, and to . be yo against nine inspirational people - I'm lost for words.' 'It's a landmark in cycling.' Hero Olympian Sir Steve Redgrave was given a Lifetime Achievement Award at the BBC ceremony . Icing on the cake: Andrew Strauss, left, accepts the Team of the Year gong on behalf of the England cricket side, who this year won the Ashes in Australia and became the world's top test side . Elsewhere at the glitzy award . ceremony hosted by Gary Lineker and Sue Barker, Coach of the Year award . went to England cricket team director Andy Flower, who guided England to . a first Ashes win in Australia in more than 20 years. The Zimbabwean, who beat Manchester . United boss Sir Alex Ferguson and Wales rugby coach Warren Gatland to . the award, said: 'This is a very proud moment for me to stand here, . England has been very good to me and my family. 'I'm very proud to be part of the England cricket team. They have done some wonderful things over the last couple of years. Boxer Amir Kahn, left, dressed to impress in a black suit and tie, while golfer Luke Donald also looked sharp . 'I think everyone in this room realises it's the players that make the hard decisions, play under pressure and have to deliver. It's great to have a good bunch of players and a good bunch of people to work with.' England's cricket achievements were also honoured with the Team of the Year award, which was collected by captain Andrew Strauss, also a nominee for the individual award. He said: 'This is a very special award . for a couple of reasons. First there's so many great teams who have won . this in the past. 'But also if there's one thing we've all bought into . it is the idea the team is more important that the individual. It's the . real basis of why we've done well and makes it even more special to win . this accolade.' Specs appeal: Golfer Rory McIlroy was named in the final 10 after the best 12 months of his career . Meanwhile, tennis world number one Novak Djokovic won the Overseas Sports Personality of the Year gong following a year in which he went 41 matches unbeaten and won the Australian Open, Wimbledon and the US Open. Steve Redgrave, the former rower and arguably Britain's greatest ever Olympian, was honoured with the lifetime achievement award. Redgrave won his first gold at the 1984 Los Angeles Games, and unforgettably won his fifth in Sydney at the 2000 Olympics. Golfer Lauren Taylor, 17, was named Young Sports Personality of the Year. | Isle of Man cyclist finally lands award after snubs in last three years .
Dedicates award to teammates and pregnant girlfriend Peta Todd .
Cavendish won green jersey at Tour de France and won five tour stages . |
61,560 | aee5fa94ec0e8f605efd4d6f3fd18769a2b71ed8 | Manchester City have inquired about signing Anderlecht’s Dennis Praet. Manuel Pellegrini has said that UEFA Financial Fair Play restrictions will make it difficult for the club to sign players this month, but despite this City are closely monitoring Praet. The £10million attacking midfielder was excellent in Anderlecht’s Champions League games against Arsenal, and City have been watching him for some time. VIDEO Scroll down to see Praet and other Anderlecht stars showing off their dodgy skills . Dennis Praet looks to get on the attack during Anderlecht's Champions League game with Borussia Dortmund . Praet could make the move to the Etihad Stadium and then be immediately loaned back to Anderlecht . City not only have a restriction on the amount they can spend but they have also agreed to limit their wage bill and are short of homegrown players for their Champions League squad. Even if a deal is done this month, there is a possibility that Praet, whose contract runs out in 2017, could stay at Anderlecht for another season. This which would keep him off the City wage bill and allow him to mature in the process. But City will have to conclude a deal quickly as Borussia Dortmund are also keen on the midfielder, who once trialled at Arsenal, and could put him straight into their team. | The champions have made an enquiry for Anderlecht's Dennis Praet .
The 20-year-old is valued at around £10million .
The attacking midfielder impressed during Anderlecht's Champions League clash against Arsenal earlier in the season .
Manuel Pellegrini has said that he believes UEFA Financial Fair Play restrictions will make it tough for City to sign anyone in January .
However that could be resolved if Praet is immediately loaned back to Anderlecht for another season . |
141,530 | 43005f65b75a84eef057fd44a0a7d4910c6b82db | By . Lizzie Edmonds . PUBLISHED: . 16:00 EST, 16 March 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 06:56 EST, 17 March 2014 . They say actors have to be like chameleons to play different characters. But these lizards have turned that on its head - proving their acting skills by showing off their best Titanic impersonation. The creative duo played the part of main characters Jack and Rose by carefully holding onto one another while balancing on the end of a stick. Two chameleons emulate the famous scene in Hollywood Blockbuster Titanic by holding on to one another at the end of a stick . The wannabe actor lizards look surprisingly like Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet in the 1997 film - pictured . Keen photographer Katja Jentschura . captured the moment one chameleon places its hands on the other's waist. 'Kate' then stretches its arms out in a pose its human counterpart Winslet would perhaps . be . proud of. She photographed the comic chameleons while she was visiting a friend's house in Berlin, Germany. A fan of James Cameron movies, she saw the scene unfolding and immediately used her camera to snap the entertaining shot. She added: 'I could immediately see the Titanic scene and will now always have it in mind when I look at the photo. 'I like reptiles and I think chameleons are astounding creatures. 'They are also fun to observe and I think they have many comical expressions.' The Kate Winslet chameleon takes a moment to get into character, before posing for the camera before its big moment . The pictures were taken by photographer Katja Jentschura who said the pair were 'fun to observe' and had 'many comical expressions' | Chameleons prove their acting worth by emulating Jack and Rose in infamous Titanic scene .
Photographer Katja Jentschura captured moment between creative pair at friend house in Berlin, Germany . |
109,190 | 18bcc69ae704d5726448532d3c6096e9a37661c8 | By . Damien Gayle . PUBLISHED: . 12:59 EST, 21 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 08:35 EST, 22 February 2013 . A giant sunspot that is at least six times the diameter of Earth has formed on the Sun in less than 48 hours, Nasa has announced. Sunspots are dark spots on the surface of the Sun which appear as turbulent magnetic fields in its surface rearrange and realign. The massive sunspot, which formed over the course of Tuesday and Wednesday, quickly evolved into an unstable configuration, and could lead to solar flares, which can interrupt our radio communications. Scroll down for video . Rapid formation: The bottom two black spots on the sun, known as sunspots, appeared quickly over the course of February 19-20. These two sunspots are part of the same system and are over six Earths across . Nasa scientists spotted the huge sunspot forming through instruments on the agency's Solar Dynamics Observatory, one of several spacecraft that monitor the Sun's weather. 'Over the course of February 19-20, 2013, scientists watched a giant sunspot form in under 48 hours,' said Karen Fox, a spokesman for Nasa. 'It has grown to over six Earth diameters across but its full extent is hard to judge since the spot lies on a sphere not a flat disk.' The sunspot identified by Nasa is formed of several dark blemishes on the surface on the Sun which have evolved rapidly over the past couple of days. The Solar Dynamics Observatory contains a suite of instruments that will provide observations leading to a more complete understanding of the solar dynamics that drive variability in the Earth's environment. This set of instruments: . Sunspots are caused by intense magnetic activity and are actually cooler than the rest of the Sun, which leaves them clearly visible as dark spots in the photosphere. In reality, if the sunspot were isolated from the surrounding photosphere it would be brighter than an electric arc. Ms Fox added: 'The spot quickly evolved into what's called a delta region, in which the lighter areas around the sunspot, the penumbra, exhibit magnetic fields that point in the opposite direction of those fields in the center, dark area. 'This is a fairly unstable configuration that scientists know can lead to eruptions of radiation on the sun called solar flares.' The observation comes as the Sun is gearing up for the most active phase of its 11-year solar cycle. The Sun's magnetic field lines are the most distorted at this time due to the magnetic field on the solar equator rotating at a slightly faster pace than at the solar poles. This causes large numbers of sunspots appear, and the Sun's irradiance output grows by about 0.1 per cent. The increased energy output of solar maxima can impact global climate and recent studies have shown some correlation with regional weather patterns. The solar cycle takes an average of about 11 years to go from one solar maximum to the next, with an observed variation in duration of 9 to 14 years for any given solar cycle. Large solar flares often occur during a maximum. For example, the Solar storm of 1859 struck the Earth with such intensity the northern lights could be seen as far south as Rome. The last solar maximum was in 2000. In 2006 NASA initially expected a solar maximum in 2010 or 2011, and thought that it could be the strongest since 1958. However, more recent projections say the maximum should arrive in autumn of 2013 and be the smallest sunspot cycle since 1906. | The sunspot quickly evolved into an unstable configuration and could lead to solar flares, Nasa warns .
The agency's Solar Dynamics Observatory watched it form in less than 48 hours over Tuesday and Wednesday . |
104,940 | 136112bef8513f92bf52ef55c2fb047d1dfc7efe | By . Ellie Buchdahl . PUBLISHED: . 05:15 EST, 13 September 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 08:43 EST, 13 September 2013 . Thanks: The receipt appeared to give the waiter a bigger tip than his 20 per cent . A bartender was given what may be one of the biggest tips in history - well, almost. Unfortunately for the St Louis restaurant worker, the $200,000-plus thank you was rejected by the debit card company of the person who was apparently trying to make the gesture. An internet user going by the name 'randomdazee' and claiming to be a bartender in the Missouri city posted a picture of a receipt on the social news site Reddit - with $200,000 handwritten in the space for a tip. In his post, the waitress - who described herself as a bartender and server and was named 'Sara' on the receipt - said two women and a man had come into the restaurant and ordered a meal amounting to $111.54. As the tipper apparently could not add up, the receipt suggested the waiter could have gone home with $210,889. But when the waiter spoke to Visa, the debit card company, she said she was told that the bank would not pay out on 'excessive tips' - sparking claims from other internet users that this was a scam to get out of paying the bill. The post by randomdazee began: 'Today the absolute weirdest thing happened to me, ever. 'We're pretty slow during lunch shifts. I was working by myself and had literally only had one table the entire shift when about a half hour before close two mid-20s sisters walked in and said another person would be meeting them. 'I had been bored the entire shift and basically just filling the time with doing mundane cleaning tasks so actual human interaction was pretty exciting. They were pretty nice. 'One of the sisters was taking the other out after she had gone through a pretty big personal trauma and she obviously wanted to show her sister a good time. They ordered quite a few things and a gentleman met them.' The post went on to describe how the bartender never expected the tip, despite one of the women dropping lots of hints throughout the meal. Scam: Reddit users suggested the diners were trying to get out of paying the bill rather than being as generous as they seemed . 'Throughout the meal the sister that was treating the other one would flag me down and talk with me and kept saying things like “Don’t tell my sister how I tip.” “Today I’m your guardian angel.” Etc., etc.,' the post read. 'I’ve worked in restaurants forever and can tell you from experience that usually people who say things like this are full of s***. Generous: The waiter said the woman had boasted that she was going to leave him a big tip . 'But she seemed to be tossing a LOT of cash around to her guests and the situation was just bizarre. She asked for the check only a few minutes after we closed (which is super nice and courteous anyway, often we have people walk in right before we close and hang out for ages which forces me to stay later).' Then came the big moment: . 'She signed the receipt (paid with a normal looking Visa debit) after I brought her the check. I don’t like to be rude and look at or pick up the checks before the person has left and since she told me explicitly not to react to the check in front of her sister I especially didn’t want to on this check. 'They leave and I look at the receipt and yeah. $200,000.' But any sense that that she had just hit the jackpot was quickly snubbed, as the post went on to describe what happened when the bartender went to declare her tip. 'Being realistic and not insane I immediately ran to get my manager. He was in a meeting but the corporate office for our entire restaurant is two floors above the restaurant I work at so I ran up there to grab someone and they were empty too. 'I called the marketing director who I had just seen previously and my manager finally gets back from the meeting he was in and the marketing director and my manager were both as incredulous as I was. 'They decided to call the credit card processing company. I basically couldn’t function at this point because even though I was pretty suspicious it’s still pretty life changing to even think about getting that kind of money just for being courteous and doing your job.' Source: The Week . The bartender said that Visa had bad news for her. 'Basically, the gist of it is that banks don’t honor payouts on excessive tips,' she wrote. '(Apparently they can bounce back tips that are even over 30% of the bill… which is kind of crazy because I often receive those kind of tips on tabs of regulars or other industry workers.) 'Although they did say that things like this actually happens pretty often like when someone wins the lottery or a jackpot at the casino, receives a lot of money in a settlement or inheritance, or was already wealthy but terminally ill with little time left. I guess nobody actually ever gets the payout on it. 'I didn’t even attempt to close out the check for $200,000 obviously so who knows if that kind of money was even in the account. But yeah, it was still a pretty exciting and crazy afternoon. 'I wish I could get a hold of my “guardian angel” and at least thank her for the entertainment haha. And if it was real, I’d thank her for the sentiment at least. It’d be cool to know why she was possessed to give me of all people that kind of money.' Responses on the site suggested that the woman who left the tip knew full well what she was doing. 'SHE WAS TRYING TO SCAM YOU!' wrote one user. 'Basically it gets the guest out of paying their bill. If the server were to reconcile their transactions at the end of the night the entire transaction would be flagged and a stop payment would be put in place immediately. 'If by some miracle the transaction were approved all the cardholder has to do is call in and say its fraud, boom charges reversed.' 'That is a common scam,' wrote another. 'I used to be a bartender, and every once in a while that would happen. The person just has to put something "impossible" on the bill, and Visa will not process it.' Visa has yet to respond with a statement on their credit card regulations. | Picture posted on Reddit of receipt with $200,000 tip .
Bill for $111.54 meal added up to $211,000.54 so tip could have been more .
Tip declined by debit card company as over percentage limit .
Other website users comment tip could be scam to escape paying bill . |
112,348 | 1ceb6cc5032d13c7005f8ac238ae7d2b4549a6d8 | (CNN) -- The proposed super-fight between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jnr has been thrown into doubt because of a dispute over the timing of a pre-match blood-test according to Golden Boy Promotions. Richard Schaefer, chief executive of Golden Boy who promote Mayweather, announced on the company's official Web site that the Filipino would not agree to blood-testing in the immediate run up to the welterweight fight which had been expected to take place in March. Mayweather's management have requested the fighters submit to Olympic-style blood testing as outlined and mandated by the United States Anti Doping Agency (USADA) 30 days prior to the bout. But Schaefer claims that Pacquiao has refused to have blood taken so close to a fight with the American. "Pacquiao would only agree to have blood drawn before the kick-off press conference and after the fight. It is unfortunate to hear this from Manny Pacquiao's representatives, particularly since both parties had worked out all other issues related to this fight," Schaefer said on the Golden Boy Promotions Web site. Mayweather, who was informed of Pacquiao's reluctance shortly after Schaefer received word of the impasse, empathized with his possible opponent but hopes he will undergo the tests. "I understand Pacquiao not liking having his blood taken, because frankly I don't know anyone who really does," Mayweather said. "I hope this is either some miscommunication or that Manny will change his mind and step up and allow these tests, which were good enough for all these other great athletes, to be performed by USADA." USA Today reported an angry response from Pacquiao's promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank, who said the fight was now in jeopardy. "The press release is absurd, the plug [on the fight] is pulled. The fight is off as far as we're concerned," he said. Arum, who has previously represented Mayweather added: "It proves Mayweather is a coward and he's looking for a way out of the fight. "The Nevada commission has been doing drug testing for the last 40 years. To appease Mayweather, we agreed they could do urine analysis anytime they wanted. But Manny doesn't want them to draw his blood when he's in training because it weakens him," he told the American newspaper. Pacquiao became a five-weight world champion following his WBO welterweight title win over Miguel Cotto in November, while Mayweather returned from a 21-month retirement to beat Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez in September. Their super-fight was widely reported to be set for the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on March 13, with only the final details to be thrashed out and an official announcement early next month. | The Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather fight is in doubt over the timing of a pre-match blood test .
Golden Boy Promotions chief executive Richard Schaefer claims Filipino Pacquiao is refusing a test 30 days before the bout .
Mayweather called on Filipino to undergo the test to ensure a fair fight .
Pacquiao's promoter Bob Arum says the "plug has been pulled" on the fight . |
196,905 | 8ad76f8a553ed05027fdc0b8b5342492e15197b3 | By . Suzannah Hills . PUBLISHED: . 02:58 EST, 2 July 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 03:24 EST, 2 July 2013 . A four-year-old girl has died from internal bleeding after swallowing a button-sized lithium battery. The child, from Tewantin on the Sunshine Coast in Australia, was rushed to her local hospital around 8am Sunday morning with symptoms of stomach bleeding. Medical staff immediately airlifted the child who was in a critical condition to the Royal Brisbane Hospital where she could receive specialist treatment. But despite the best efforts of doctors, the toddler died later that afternoon. Tragedy: The four-year-old girl from Tewantin was rushed to nearby Noosa Hospital on the Sunshine Coast after swallowing the battery but later died from stomach bleeding . Susan Teerds from Kidsafe Queensland warned that parents must be vigilant in keeping the button-shaped batteries, which are found in many common household items, out of the reach of children. She told ABC radio: 'When a child swallows a battery it often gets caught in the oesophagus, around the voice box. Once it's been lodged, within an hour, it will start to burn a hole. Potentially lethal: Button-sized lithium batteries are found in many common household items such as remote controls and thermometers . 'The saliva actually starts a chemical reaction and burns a hole through the oesophagus and can keep burning a hole into the aorta, through to the spine and whatever else is there.' Kidsafe Queensland estimates that four children are taken to emergency departments across Australia with button battery-related injuries every week. Kidsafe has launched a Battery Controlled Campaign to try and make parents aware of the dangers of lithium batteries. If a child swallows a button battery, it can get stuck in the child's throat and burn through the oesophagus in as little as two hours. Repairing the damage can require feeding and breathing tubes and multiple surgeries. If the battery is swallowed completely, it will leak in the stomach, causing internal bleeding. Lithium batteries are common in toys, remotes and thermometers. | Child was rushed to Noosa Hospital on the Sunshine Coast Sunday morning .
She was suffering from stomach bleeding after swallowing the lithium battery .
Staff airlifted her to Royal Brisbane Hospital where she died just hours later .
Lithium batteries can be found in everyday household items such as remotes . |
147,486 | 4ab039bae14499bc4f432f9f20a2509fe9310fb0 | Islamabad, Pakistan (CNN) -- A suicide car bomber killed at least 56 people and wounded more than 100 others Friday when his vehicle exploded in a market in Mohmand Agency in Pakistan's tribal region, officials said. The intended target of the attack was a local government office in the town of Eakah. But the vehicle detonated in a market near the building, said Hayat Khan, a local administration official. About 20 shops, five houses and the local jail were damaged in the blast. In the confusion following the attack, various officials provided conflicting death tolls. Amjad Ali Khan, chief of Mohmand Agency, said four policemen were among the dead. Maqsood Mahed Khan, a local government official, said three children and two women were killed. Authorities also believe more victims may be trapped under the rubble of damaged buildings. Mohmand is one of seven semiautonomous tribal agencies along the 1,500-mile border porous border that Pakistan shares with Afghanistan. The Pakistani military has been battling insurgents in the area for some time. | More victims may be trapped under rubble .
Attack is carried out by a suicide car bomber .
Target is a government building .
Mohmand Agency is one of seven semiautonomous regions . |
275,935 | f17bf4b4baa9e663e9f705d844df4d2b612ec3ed | (CNN) -- Both houses of the New Jersey legislature plan to vote Monday on a controversial bill backed by Democrats that would qualify illegal immigrants for in-state tuition at public colleges and universities. Supporters hope to pass the measure before Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine leaves office. Gov.-elect Christopher J. Christie, a Republican who takes office January 19, has said he opposes the bill. On Thursday, a Senate vote on the legislation was postponed. After hours of heated debate January 4, the bill passed the Assembly Appropriations Committee, 7-4, and the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, 8-6. Both votes were along party lines. To qualify under the bill, New Jersey high school graduates who are illegal immigrants must be enrolled at a public university or college and file an affidavit with the institution stating that they have applied for legal immigration status or will do so when eligible. If signed into law, the bill would be the 11th of its kind. There are similar laws in California, Illinois, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah and Washington. In 2008, Oklahoma ended its support for in-state tuition for students who are in the United States illegally. New Jersey Assemblyman Samuel Thompson, a Republican, said the bill discriminates against U.S. citizens who attend New Jersey colleges and universities but don't live in the state. Thompson believes illegal immigrants do not have the right to a reduced tuition. "You can call it undocumented, you can call it whatever you want. But you are not legal and you are not entitled," Thompson said. Assemblywoman Valerie Huttle, a Democrat, expressed frustration with misconceptions of the bill that label it as a "free ride" or "state-funded" education. "These students have been here for decades, have gone through the school system here and should pay the same as their counterparts who have gone through school with them," she said. G. Jeremiah Ryan, president of Bergen Community College in Huttle's district, supports the bill. "The undocumented kids have a tough time anyway. They're really good about going to class," Ryan said. "Then they stop because they can't afford to go to a four-year institution." The New Jersey Office of Legislative Services said the bill would not affect state revenue because the state does not collect revenue from public colleges and universities. It is estimated that the bill's provisions would increase the number of illegal immigrants applying for admission. Assemblyman Michael Carroll, a Republican, questioned the validity of a bill that improves illegal immigrants' access to education when their illegal status prohibits them from giving back to the state in a meaningful way. However, proponents of the bill believe that the young students will be resources for the state. Democrats say that the backlog in applications for citizenship is the real culprit and that the controversy highlights the need for immigration reform on a national level. Daniel Hurley, director of state relations and policy analysis at the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, agreed. "New Jersey could be the tipping point in terms of energizing Congress to put immigration reform higher on the agenda," he said. Hurley cited a lack of legislative activity regarding in-state tuition for illegal immigrants in the past few years and applauded the New Jersey legislature. The legislation is the path to a more rational policy on education and immigration on a federal level, he said. "These men and women are not going back to their native homeland by and large; they will be staying in New Jersey and the U.S. The question is: Do we want to facilitate their education and professional aspirations so they can contribute civically and economically, or do we want to prevent that?" Hurley said. "They may very well become a liability." Thompson had blunt words for immigrants whose illegal status he felt nullified their right to education, "Go back home, apply, come legally, and I'll welcome you with open arms." However, students who have lived illegally with their families in the United States see the opportunities the bill would give them. One such student -- Aura, who would only give her first name -- has been praised by teachers for her high grades. "This bill would just make our school dream possible. They're not giving it to us for free," said Aura, who is now a U.S. citizen. "If they open up this channel for us, we'll do the rest." | Democratic backer: Students "should pay the same as their counterparts"
GOP critic: Bill discriminates against some U.S. citizens .
To qualify, immigrants must be enrolled, must apply for legal status or say they'll do so . |
56,750 | a0c8e891686757ebf11356bf3a134347f34c0960 | Santa Barbara, California (CNN) -- As Elliot Rodger was carrying out a deadly rampage Friday night around Santa Barbara, his parents were frantically trying to find him, having just received a chilling manifesto from their son. Rodger, 22, sent a couple dozen people -- including his parents and at least one of his therapists -- the 140-page document via e-mail not long before the shootings began, Simon Astaire, a family friend, told CNN. The manifesto is a lengthy chronicle detailing Rodger's frustrations with his height, his parents' divorce and rejection by women. It was obtained by the media on Saturday, but it was not known then that his family had seen the document before the rampage. Rodger's mother, Lichin, who saw the e-mail at 9:17 p.m. PT, immediately went to Rodger's YouTube page, where he had been known to post videos about himself. According to Astaire, that's when Rodger's mother saw her son's latest video, called "Retribution," that he posted Friday, the day of the shootings. In the video, Rodger outlined his plan of "slaughtering" women at a sorority house at the University of California at Santa Barbara. His mother called Rodger's father, Peter, and said he had to watch the YouTube video. At the time, Peter Rodger had not yet seen the manifesto. Lichin Rodger called 911, and the parents set off for Santa Barbara from Los Angeles, according to Astaire. En route, they heard there was a shooting. Later that night, they found out their son was behind the violence. Authorities say the killing rampage left six victims dead and 13 injured. It ended when Rodger slammed into a parked vehicle and apparently shot himself in the head, police said. Who were the victims? There had been warning signs that Rodgers was struggling with mental health. His mother came across his YouTube videos in April after she hadn't heard from Rodger in a few days, Astaire said. She called one of his therapists, who then called a Santa Barbara mental health hotline. A woman on the hotline called police to check on him, Astaire said. Six policemen showed up at his house in Isla Vista on April 30, but they found nothing alarming, so they told Rodger to call his mother and they reassured her that he was OK, according to Astaire. Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown told reporters Saturday that at the time, deputies "determined he did not meet the criteria for an involuntary hold." Looking back, Rodger's parents now feel that the well-being check in April by police was a "pivotal moment," and his parents are frustrated, Astaire said. He described it as a "missed opportunity" to really find out what was going on with Rodger, but his parents admit that hindsight is always easy, Astaire said. In fact, Elliot Rodger himself wrote in the manifesto that he worried that someone had discovered his plan when the police visited. "I had the striking and devastating fear that someone had somehow discovered what I was planning to do, and reported me for it," he wrote. "If that was the case, the police would have searched my room, found all of my guns and weapons, along with my writings about what I plan to do with them. I would have been thrown in jail, denied of the chance to exact revenge on my enemies. I can't imagine a hell darker than that." He continued: "If they had demanded to search my room ... That would have ended everything. For a few horrible seconds I thought it was all over. When they left, the biggest wave of relief swept over me." Brown told reporters that Rodger suffered from an undisclosed mental health issue and was under the care of a variety of health care professionals. On Sunday, the sheriff defended the April welfare check, saying on CNN's "State of the Union with Candy Crowley" that getting involved in mental health cases is a "delicate balance." "You want to certainly intervene and obviously try to prevent a tragedy such as we've experienced here. On the same token, you don't want to stigmatize people who are seeking treatment for mental illness and you don't want to prevent them from doing so because of the potential stigma that's attached," he said. "It's a double-edged sword in some respects." Rodger had been seeing therapists on and off since he was 8, according to Astaire. He went to high school in Van Nuys, California, and met with a therapist "pretty much every day," Astaire said. Before his death, Rodger was seeing two therapists, Astaire added. "(Rodger) has always been going to see someone," he said, describing him as "reserved to a daunting degree." But Astaire said Rodger didn't seem to have violent tendencies. In fact, there was no recent indication Rodger was growing increasingly distant or that his condition was deteriorating, Astaire added. Rodger's father said a week ago that Rodger seemed to be doing well "at the moment." On Thursday, he spoke to his father and said he was looking forward to seeing his family this weekend. Astaire told CNN that Rodger never expressed any fascination with guns. "Guns were never part of the dialogue," he said. Inside Rodger's car Friday night police found three handguns -- all legally purchased -- and more than 400 rounds of unused ammunition. Rodger passed the background check needed to buy the firearm used in the shooting, a law enforcement official briefed on the investigation told CNN. The official said nothing had been found in the gun trace to indicate Rodger should have been disqualified. Astaire also mentioned a feud that Rodger had had recently with his roommates, saying Rodger complained to his landlord that his roommates were too noisy and played lots of video games. Rodger suggested they move out but was told that couldn't happen. "(His parents) were conscious and concerned about their son's health," Astaire said. "They thought he was in good hands." But "in a moment of indescribable grief," he said, they are "of course asking themselves, 'Did we do as much as we can do?'" CNN's Ashley Killough contributed to this report. | Elliot Rodger's mother read his manifesto, alerted his father, and they set out to find him .
The Santa Barbara shooter had sent the writing to a couple dozen people, family friend says .
Rodger's parents say the April 30 well-being check was a turning point, friend says .
Elliot Rodger had been seeing therapists since he was 8, family friend says . |
24,811 | 465045106e663dc3c36c5ed1caa009fdcb883858 | By . Ellie Zolfagharifard for MailOnline . A British inventor is hoping to turn the world of the humble umbrella on its head after designing one that folds inwards to stop water dripping onto the floor. Rather than creating pools of rainwater when it is put away, like normal umbrellas, the Kazbrella folds the opposite way, collecting drips inside it. It also solves the problem of poking passers-by in the head with an umbrella's spokes because it opens from the top rather than the bottom. Scroll down for video . A British inventor is hoping to turn the world of the umbrella upside down after designing one that folds inwards (pictured) to stop water dripping onto the floor . According to its inventor, Jenan Kazim, it means users can stay dry for longer by putting their umbrellas down once inside, avoiding damage by strong gusts of wind. Mr Kazim, an aeronautical engineer, came up with the idea after his mother-in-law complained her regular umbrella had dripped all over the floor of her house. He has been accused of trying to reinvent the wheel - but he claims his invention could be the future for the much-needed umbrella. The device is now in the final design process before being put into production in a few months' time and is expected to cost around £45 ($75). It also solves the problem of poking passers-by in the head (pictured) with an umbrella's spokes because it opens from the top rather than the bottom. According to inventor, Jenan Kazim, users can stay dry for longer . Rather than creating pools of rainwater when it is put away like normal umbrellas, this device folds the opposite way, collecting drips inside it (pictured) The Kazbrella turns inside out leaving the dry side of the canopy on the outside. To close the umbrella, users pull it up, instead of pulling it down, as is the case with a normal brolly. This captures the dripping water within so it doesn't make the surroundings wet. The website claims it does this by using 'patented' folds that change the way the umbrella opens and closes . It will cost around £45 ($75) when it is launched later this year. Mr Kazim, 61, from St Albans, Hertfordshire, said: 'A number of years ago my mother-in-law was walking into her house from the rain with her umbrella. 'She put it down as she came into the house and stood it up on its end like normal but it dripped water all over her floor.' The Kazbrella turns inside out leaving the dry side of the canopy on the outside. To close the umbrella you pull it up, instead of pulling it down as is the case with a normal brolly. 'I'm an engineer by trade and it got me thinking about what I could do to remedy the problem,' said Mr Kazim. 'The initial idea to turn the conventional design upside down so that it closes in on itself came pretty quickly, but it took me some time to work out how I was going to do it. By putting their umbrellas down once they are inside a car, users can avoid damage by strong gusts of wind . The Kazbrella (pictured) is expected to cost £45 ($75) when it is launched later this year . 'Kazbrella won't drip on your floor once you come in out of the rain and, unlike normal brollies, you don't have to lift it way above people's heads to put it up. 'It won't poke people in the face, you can put it down once you're sat inside a car to make sure you stay dry for longer, and it can't be blown inside out by the wind because it's already inside out. 'Umbrellas have been around for 3,000 years and some people have said I'm trying to reinvent the wheel but what I'm actually doing is evolving a design which is great but has flaws. 'The Kazbrella has the same iconic look as a normal umbrella but it resolves some of the problems that have beset umbrellas for millennia.' The 'Kazbrella won't drip on your floor once the user comes in out of the rain, and unlike normal brollies you don't have to lift it way above people's heads to put it up,' said inventor Jenan Kazim (pictured) To close the Kazbrella (pictured left) users pull it up, instead of pulling it down, as is the case with a conventional brolly (pictured right) | Device was invented by 61-year-old Jenan Kazim from Hertfordshire .
Dubbed the Kazbrella, it also avoids poking passers-by in the head .
It closes and opens in reverse, helping trap the water on the inside .
It is expected to go into production in a few months and will cost £45 ($75) |
82,797 | eac51f872d8da2fa7bce12e4ec6857b783b71ce0 | With his public school education and aristocratic-sounding name, it’s hardly surprising Benedict Cumberbatch has been branded one of Britain’s poshest actors. But the Sherlock and Star Trek star has railed against the tag, insisting it’s unfair to typecast him as another stereotypical ‘posh kid’. In an interview with today’s Mail on Sunday Event magazine, he says: ‘There’s always going to be somebody spitting blood about my wooden-faced toffee-named crappy acting.’ Benedict Cumberbatch has railed against the tag of being one of Britain's poshest actors . The star of Sherlock tells The Mail on Sunday's Event magazine that it is 'lazy' to treat all public school actors the same way . The 36-year-old, who was brought up in Kensington and educated at £30,000-a-year Harrow, says it is ‘lazy’ to treat all public school actors the same way. He adds that he prefers working in the US because they are less interested in class. ‘No one minds so much over there,’ he says. ‘It’s rather about how good you are at your job. I was desperately proud of my parents for sending me to Harrow. It was a huge stretch for them. They were working actors who never knew when the next pay day might come. ‘My parents wanted the best for me. I wasn’t sent to the school my dad went to. I’m not a hereditary peer. Cumberbatch stars in the newest instalment of the Star Trek franchise . ‘One of the best things about being an actor is that it’s a meritocracy.’ Cumberbatch, who last year threatened to leave the UK because he was sick of being seen as ‘a moaning, rich, public school bastard’, adds: ‘I’m definitely middle-class, I think. 'I know others would argue but I’m not upper-class. Upper-class to me means you are either born into wealth or you’re royalty. Okay, maybe I’m upper-middle class.’ | Sherlock star says it is 'lazy' to treat public school actors the same way .
Cumberbatch, 36, was educated at £30,000-a-year Harrow . |
148,742 | 4c593429006423e097b95f0fee6c18102496b10e | (CNN)Finding "the one" is a centuries-old quest; but neither Adam nor Eve had to log in to an app to make a love connection, and Tarzan found Jane without ever having to swipe left. And though Romeo and Juliet certainly had their share of obstacles, losing a WiFi connection was never one of them. Dating in the digital era can be a rocky road, but in the forthcoming airing of "Inside Man," Morgan Spurlock looks to redefine the road trip. In advance of the episode, here are a few street signs every traveler ought to take note of: . Before setting out on the heartbeat highway, one must lock in on the ideal travel companion. As Spurlock learns in a visit with Dr. Helen Fisher -- a world renowned love expert -- determining who you'll ultimately end up with comes down to identifying four main lanes, each of which is linked to a specific hormone: . 1) "The Explorer," a thrill seeker, linked to dopamine . 2) "The Builder," a traditional calm thinker, linked to serotonin . 3) "The Director," a competitive and analytical thinker, linked to testosterone . 4) "The Negotiator," the compassionate idealist, linked to estrogen . "We are all made up of a unique combination of all four different styles of thinking -- but in different proportions. And this affects who is drawn to whom," shares Spurlock. "Dr. Fisher believes certain hormone dominant personalities compliment others." The Internet is full of countless dating apps, but not all cars are comfortable to every driver. (If you're looking for long-term love, steer clear of "Tinder.") Before choosing which app to hitch your wagon to, navigate your way to CNN's handy "What dating app is right for you?" flow chart, a go-to guideline that puts you in the drivers seat to love. Far too often a given driver is guilty of not paying nearly enough attention to his or her journey, instead burying a pair of eyeballs in an iPhone while a potential partner ends up in the rearview mirror like a missed exit. Instead of texting, try talking, and actually engaging. You know, like Tarzan and Jane did. "I teach people how to meet people. What I'm working to do is to get people you know off their phones and engaging with people," says Anthony Recenello, a self-described "Social Development Coach." While chucking the smartphone out the passenger side window is probably unrealistic, Recenello says going lo-tech can heighten ones chances of truly connecting: . "The ability to just be there present with another person is the thing that people are losing." On a course as complicated as dating, there's no reason to ride solo -- especially with so many experienced travelers available for assistance. As a part of Thursday's episode, Spurlock checks in with a professional "wingman," several professional matchmaking services and multiple profile coaches, all of which boast an ability to keep daters on track. "We do the work for you. We meet everyone," explains Talia Goldstein, founder of matchmaking service "Three Day Rule." "When we find a great match, then we set you up on a date." Of course few singles are as outgoing and charismatic as Spurlock, so an online dating coach may be a better way of staying the course. In "Money can buy you love -- or at least make you dateable," CNN breaks down a collection of sites offering everything from assistance with profile writing to live dating advice. On a roadtrip of any length, falling asleep at the wheel is a cardinal sin; cruising for companionship is no different. As the "Inside Man" explores individual landmarks this week, one constant theme remains: stay awake, and keep on coming. In visiting with "OKCupid," one of the world's premier dating sites, Spurlock learns of creating ones own path to a successful relationship: . "OKCupid's philosophy is that you don't need to wait for destiny to take its course when you could use a mathematical model instead to find your one true love." In the same way a safe driver crunches the numbers on an odometer or fuel gauge, an OKCupid member deals with data in the form of a relatively simple algorithm: . "We let people weigh an importance. So like if you really, really care about scary movies or whatever you could max it out or if you just don't care then you could give it a zero basically," details Chris Rudder, one of the site's founders. "So the match percentage is actually really simple. There's not like calculus or anything." And whether it's virtually online, through "OKCupid," or literally on line, like in a local watering hole, the secret to success is keeping one's foot on the proverbial pedal. Behind the "OKCupid" curtain, it's revealed that increased activity on the site -- posting photos, regularly checking in -- rewards users. Meanwhile, at Spurlock's urging, the habitually single Raja steps outside of his comfort zone and buys someone a drink at a bar. "Well that was nice ... there is an interest that is for sure," he reports, furthering the notion that while being overly aggressive will cause you to crash and burn, a squeaky wheel will almost certainly get oiled first. "I had a real connection." Alas, the road to true love has forever been a complicated one, often full of twists and turns. But with Morgan Spurlock at the wheel, the latest episode of "Inside Man" (airing Thursday at 9 p.m.) sets out to handle dating detours and lead even the most sour of relationship lemons out of their respective rut. More on dating in the digital age . | Dating in the digital era can be a rocky road, but in the forthcoming airing of "Inside Man," Morgan Spurlock looks to redefine the road trip . |
206,250 | 96fcf8e5c202daecb90fc00988077e16d996aa30 | Bosses of the new Battersea Power Station development have taken their plans for the iconic site on the road as they try to tempt the world's rich to take up residence in south London. Actress Kate Beckinsale fronted a 'launch party' in Hollywood last night in the latest of a series of events aimed at attracting foreign buyers to snap up flats on the banks of the River Thames. Glitzy public exhibitions have now been held in Paris, New York, Shanghai, Singapore, Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur last week, followed by shows in Tokyo, Beijing, Doha and Milan this week. Actress Kate Beckinsale attended a launch of the Battersea Power Station Development in Hollywood last night as the site's bosses try to convince A-listers to snap up luxury apartments next to the River Thames . Miss Beckinsale was shown models of the buildings planned for the site by CEO Rob Tincknell . The Hollywood event came after businessmen and women in Shanghai were shown plans for the site last week . The events around the world came after rock star Sting and his wife Trudie Styler confirmed they will be among the future tenants living in the redeveloped towers. Developers are keen to get world-famous stars and international businessmen and women into some of the 4,000 apartments being built on the famous site, which is to have its own tube station. Apartments in the power station vary widely in price and size. Studios are available from £495,000, one bedroom apartments being sold for £595,000 and four bedroom apartments for £3million. Prices for the sprawling penthouses - which are likely to attract super-rich buyers - have not been released, but experts predicted they could cost as much as £30million. Battersea Power Station CEO Rob Tincknell with Trudie Styler and Sting, who have bought one of the apartments, attended the New York 'launch night' last week . Also at the glitzy event in LA were Dancing with the Stars dancer Sharna Burgess (left) and actress Hayley Hasslehoff (right), daughter of Baywatch star, David . Mad Men actor Jared Harris was also among the stars perusing flats in the new development in Nine Elms . Footballer Robbie Rogers (left) and musician Steve Cooke, pictured with actor Aiden Turner (right), also attended the Hollywood night . Miss Beckinsale - star of Pearl Harbour and Underworld - was seen chatting with development bosses last night, sparking rumours she could be about to follow Sting in buying one of the properties. Mad Men actor Jared Harris, Dancing with the Stars dancer Sharna Burgess and actress Hayley Hasselhoff, daughter of Baywatch actor David, were seen walking the red carpet at the launch event last night. Last last month, Sting became among the first to snap up an apartment in the redeveloped towers, adding to his long list of properties around the world. His wife Trudie Styler said: 'The exciting development plans for the whole site are a great solution for the regeneration of an iconic London landmark which has been in decay for the last 30 years. 'We are both very pleased to be part of this new community and really look forward to making our London home at the Battersea Power Station.' Exclusive launch events around the world have featured DJs and musicians in a bid to create a buzz around the London development . Mercedes Yao (left) and Sinclair Lu at the event in Shanghai and socialite Whitney Fairchild (right) at the New York launch . Potential investors give plans for the site careful inspection at The House of Roosevelt in Shanghai . Guests at the event in Paris, which was held in one of the grand rooms of the British embassy last week . Commenting on the events around the world, development chairman Tan Sri Liew Kee Sin said: 'The simultaneous global launch to find the most creative businesses, exciting fashion, retail, food brands and restaurants to bring alive each phase of the development at Battersea Power Station is an momentous milestone on our journey to create a new flourishing community in central London. 'By bringing the very best of UK and international businesses to the site, we will create one of the most wonderful places to live, work and visit in the capital.' The redevelopment of Battersea Power Station, which is costing £8billion, will see the 42 acre site transformed into a riverside town for thousands of people. After years of failed bids to redevelop it, the he site was bought by Real Estate Opportunities and the project was given planning permission in 2010. It is expected to be completed by 2025. The power station itself, which has been closed to the public for 30 years, is expected to be opened in 2019. Jo Squillo (left) and DJ Leslie Kirchhoff (right) at the launch nights in Milan and New York respectively . The development of the iconic building, which will be converted into flats, is expected to be finished by 2025 . The site has sat disused for years but plans for its re-development are finally under way after getting planning permission in 2010 . Models of the modern-looking apartment blocks are now being taken around the world to encourage buyers . Work has already started at the site, where rock star Sting announced he had bought a flat last month . At the heart of the scheme called Prospect Place, will be Gehry's Flower building - a striking structure which will offer residents a lounge, library, a large chef's table dining room, a yoga studio and treatment rooms. London-based Foster + Partners have designed a building inspired by the 1930s which will be topped by one of the city's largest roof gardens offering spectacular panoramic views of London. The development will also house 103 affordable homes. The redevelopment of Battersea Power Station will create 15,000 new jobs, 3,500 new homes and a privately-funded extension of the London Underground at Nine Elms and Battersea Power Station. Artist's impressions of the interiors show developers plans to make them light and airy . Luxury flats at the famous site are selling for as much as £3.2m, as part of the £8bn redevelopment . The interior of a show flat being sold at Battersea Power Station, which is overlooking the River Thames . 1926: The site of a super-station at Battersea is first mooted, with its proposed location causing a storm of protest. Plans are approved by Electricity Commissioners the following year. 1930: Battersea A, the first of the two adjacent power stations begins to take shape. Architect Sir Giles Gilbert Scott is appointed and tasked with connecting Battersea Power Station's architectural features. The steel frame is enveloped in a brick skin and the chimneys pre-cast in concrete. Distinctive fluting is designed for the brick cladding and chimney bases. 1933: The first two 69MW generating units in Battersea A begin operating. Two years later, a further 105MW generating set completes Battersea A. Design and presentation throughout the finished building reflects its eminent position in the industry. 1937: Construction begins on Battersea B. With war imminent, brick and concrete covers are constructed for the turbo– alternators and shelters built over existing glass. 1939: Construction of Battersea B continues throughout World War II. A survey by Architectural Magazine finds that the power station is the second most popular modern building in the country. 1944: Battersea B comes into service. 1953: With the last 100MW set commissioned the overall capacity is 509MW. Battersea generates a fifth of London's power, with 28 stations taking care of the rest. It has a higher thermal efficiency than any other power station. 1955: The fourth and final chimney is completed, making the power station the largest brick building in Europe. 1975: Battersea A ceases generation after 42 years. 1976: Pink Floyd suspends an inflatable pink pig between The Power Station's chimneys, for its 'Animals' album cover. Chaos ensues when the pig breaks free and flies into a Heathrow flight path. 1980: In recognition of its Art Deco splendour, the Secretary of State for the Environment Michael Heseltine lists Battersea Power Station as a building of special architectural and historical interest. 1982: Battersea B ceases operations. 1984: Battersea Leisure wins a development competition run by The Department of Environment and The Central Electricity Generating Board with plans for a leisure and entertainment complex. 1987: John Broome purchases the site. 1989: With initial demolition complete, including removal of the Boiler House roof and west wall, funding runs out and Battersea Leisure ceases trading. 1993: Hong Kong-based consortium Parkview International buys the site and embarks on a series of schemes and planning applications. 2006: Real Estate Opportunities (REO) plc, majority-owned by Irish developer Treasury Holdings, purchases the site and appoints Rafael Viñoly's practice to devise a new master plan. 2010: The London Borough of Wandsworth grants planning for a development of 7.9m sq ft – one of the largest planning consents granted in central London. 2010: Following the collapse of the Irish real estate market, the Irish agency NAMA and Lloyds TSB foreclose on REO loans and administrators Ernst & Young (E&Y) are appointed. 2012: In June, it is announced that SP Setia and Sime Darby have entered into an exclusive agreement with Ernst & Young, NAMA and LloydsTSB to purchase Battersea Power Station. Wandsworth Council greets the announcement by stating that the deal is 'very good news.' In September the purchase is completed. 2013: Battersea Power Station launches its public sales. 2014: The redevelopment of Battersea Power Station will take place in seven stages - with stages being designed by different architects. 2014: In May 254 properties which will be located within the existing facades of the western and eastern flanks of the former Power Station and on top of the central boiler house went on sale. 2014: In October sales of property in the third phase, designed by world-renowned architects Frank Gehry and Lord Foster, were launched. | Nearly 4,000 apartments to be built on famous site on banks of River Thames .
Developers are on 'world tour' showing off their plans for the buildings .
Red carpet event in Hollywood last night fronted by actress Kate Beckinsale .
She pored over models of the tower blocks and chatted with bosses .
Comes after rock star Sting snapped up one the new flats last month . |
249,507 | cee7ce956181c4bb19b53798bbad0ff66a5cea6c | Freddy, Sina, Finn, Morta Boy, Tinkerbell, Silly Billy, Annie, Gregory, Mama, Barbie, Kim, Pappa, Don, Derrik, Tess and Long Grass, who's always outside – these are just a handful of Gloria Morales' 30-odd dogs. The Chilean-born migrant who moved to the remote Aboriginal community of Yuendumu in Central Australia 10 years ago, is one of the 85 women that feature in photographer David Darcy's new book, A Girl's Best Friend. The 42-year-old photographer from the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney, whose favourite sight is the face of dog hanging out of a car window, told Daily Mail Australia that he spent half a year travelling around the country to document the stories and happy moments between women and their dogs for his new book. Scroll down for video . Gloria Morales currently lives with about 32 dogs in her outback home in the remote Aboriginal community of Yuendumu in Central Australia . The Chilean-born migrant has dedicated her life to saving the seven hundred or so stray dogs in the area by implementing health programs and educating locals on how best to deal with the problem while maintaining respect for the animals . 'There are about 85 women in the book from all walks of life - some of them are living on the streets, some of them are millionaires and celebrities as well,' he said. Amongst them is Christine, from Alice Springs, who adopted her dog Bill after finding him abandoned and stranded in the flood waters following Hurricane Katrina in the United States. 'He was using this car as like an island, but because of the heat at the time, all his feet had become blistered from the roof and Christine found him over there and brought him all the way back to Australia,' Mr Darcy said. Meanwhile Linda, who lives in Penrith with her beagle, Sam, spent over $50,000 to save her dog's life from numerous health conditions including lymphoma and epilepsy. She’s one of the 85 women and their dogs, from all walks of life, whose stories feature in photographer David Darcy's new book, A Girl's Best Friend . Christine, from Alice Springs, adopted Bill after finding him abandoned and stranded on the roof of a car with blistered feet amongst the flood waters of Hurricane Katrina, bringing him back with her from the US . But it's Gloria, with her Land Cruiser over-flowing with canines, that has dedicated her whole life to saving the seven hundred or so stray dogs in her local community. She has dedicated her time to implementing health programs and educating locals on how best to deal with the strays, while maintaining respect for the animals. 'Ten years ago I arrived here in Yuendumu to work as the assistant art manager, and I discovered that the dogs in the community were in really bad condition. There was no vet coming here, no animal welfare people,' Gloria told Darcey. 'Most people in the community didn't realise that if you had a sick dog, you could do something about it—like if you take medication for yourself you're going to get better. If you do it for the dogs, they are going to get better also.' Linda, who lives in Penrith with her Beagle Sam, spent over $50,000 to save her dog's life from numerous health conditions including lymphoma and epilepsy . Camille adopted Bella when she was still a veterinary student. 'Bella's been diagnosed with a terminal illness that Camille can't fix; she's learnt all the skills in the world but she can’t save this dog from her heart condition,' Mr Darcy said . Gloria began by feeding the dogs with her own money and eventually, after holding talks with the local council, managed to arrange for a vet to come out to the remote town to help manage simple health problems like ticks, start a temporary sterilisation solution and offer the option of euthanasia. 'Many of the dogs were unwanted, but it was very difficult for the people to say that because the police would come round and shoot the unwanted dogs,' Gloria said. 'The locals didn't want to see the dogs shot, so the vet showed them how she could put them to sleep in a very comfortable manner, without any screaming, fighting or bloodshed. Margaret and her greyhound Gertie on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula – Gertie saved Margaret from an intruder entering her home . Karen is the president of the Shenton Park Dogs' Refuge Home in Perth. She credits her beautiful Pitbull Homer (right) as the instigation for getting involved in the shelter in the first place . 'When the community saw this option they surrendered 174 dogs for euthanasia. It was very sad, but it was also amazing because these people were being educated and were able to manage an animal health problem for the first time.' Gloria was also responsible for the adoption of over 250 dogs that were sent out to various new homes across the country through the Desert Dogs program. 'When I arrived here, people told me that these Aboriginals don't care about the dogs. That was bulls***!' Gloria said. She recalled unforgettable moments of compassion from the locals, including one family who waited until their dog was under anaesthetic and unable to hear them during its sterilisation, before admitting they didn't want to keep him. Three-legged Lester, the jack russell cross fox terrier, was lucky enough to find a home with former athlete Giaan after having his leg amputated following an accident with a bike . Hannah met Axel after moving from Sydney’s northern beaches to Alice Springs, where she turned her life around by beginning work on a camel farm and forming a relationship with a camel stockman . 'That showed me that they really did respect the dogs, because they didn't want the dog to know it wasn't wanted,' Gloria said. She also remembered an Aboriginal family that had dug a specific grave for their dog, which had passed away, so that his head would be pointing towards his home, and held hands to pray following his burial. But it's her own dog family that makes Gloria love her life. 'Over the ten years I've been here, I've probably had more than 1000 dogs living here. At the moment I have 32 dogs. They are all different and they all have their quirky behaviours.' David Darcy and his own loved pets: A Girl's Best Friend is the photographer’s fifth book entirely dedicated to dogs . 'People always ask if I have a favourite, but I love them all. Some people might look at me and think I'm crazy, because the situation might look overwhelming…, but the other day I was thinking just how lucky I am to have all these dogs. I really love my life.' One of the most memorable characters Mr Darcy met on his travels, was Camille and her dog Bella. The duo met while Camille was a vet student, practising operations on dogs that had to be euthanised. But the bond between Camille and Bella became too strong, and the student felt compelled to save her life and adopt her. Years later, with the growth of her own veterinary business, Camille is coming to terms with letting Bella go. 'She's been diagnosed with a terminal illness that Camille can't fix; she's learnt all the skills in the world, but she can't save this dog from her heart condition,' Mr Darcy said of the heart-wrenching duo. 'For me it's about those little moments – I see a lot of photos of dogs that are staged, but if you are a dog lover, you know and understand them and that little moment of interaction, when the dog is doing something beautiful and you get joy from it, that gives me a great happiness. A Girl's Best Friend by David Darcy (Murdoch Books) $29.99, is available now. | A Girl's Best Friend, by photographer David Darcy, documents the stories of 85 entirely different Australian women - from millionaires to the homeless - and their beloved dogs .
Amongst them Chilean-born migrant Gloria Morales, who has saved the lives of hundreds of stray canines in the Aboriginal community of Yuendumu in Central Australia .
She has lived with over 1000 dogs since moving to the remote town, where she has implemented health programs, adoption websites and educated locals about how to care for the stray animals .
Christine, from Alice Springs, adopted her dog Bill after finding him abandoned and stranded on the roof of a car amongst the flood waters of Hurricane Katrina, bringing him home with her from the United States . |
20,858 | 3b3204a9e553680795006b84fa6320f58cc22af8 | By . Simon Cable . PUBLISHED: . 19:45 EST, 15 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 02:30 EST, 16 November 2013 . Make-up free: Former ballerina Darcey Bussell steps out in West London . As an ex-prima ballerina who now has a glamorous judging job on Strictly Come Dancing, the Darcey Bussell we know is poised, elegant and rarely has a hair out of place. But the 44-year-old dancer seemed happy to show off a slightly scruffier look this week, wearing a rather mismatched ensemble during a family outing in West London. She opted for a pair of loose-fitting tartan leggings, which she teamed with a wax overcoat and a long black tunic. She chose to go make-up free for the oaccasion, even apparently neglecting to style her normally luscious mane of hair as she walked the streets in west London. The mother of two, who recently starred in a high-profile Marks and Spencer’s advertising campaign, couldn’t have looked more different from her highly-poolished appearances on the BBC1 dance contest if she had tried. It was in August this year that Miss Bussell starred in the Leading Ladies campaign for Marks and Spencer alongside Olympic medal winner Nicola Adams, artist Tracey Emin, novelist Monica Ali and actress Dame Helen Mirren. The campaign was pitched as a celebration of successful women, highlighting their desire to remain fashionable as they mature. Talking about her sense of style, Miss Bussell, who is widely recognised as Britain’s greatest ever ballet dancer, recently said: ‘Don’t get me wrong, when I dress for an evening out, I like to go the whole way. ‘I know some people worry they’re going to be overdressed, but when I go out I don’t care. It’s odd because I live on stage in costumes and yet I never want to dress down. ‘My grandmother used to wear these really high, elegant Charles Jourdan stilettos well into her 70s, and I thought she looked great, whatever her age. I know I’ll always make an effort, and to look as glamorous as my grandma would be my ideal.’ Miss Bussell started in ballet at the age of 13. By 17 she had joined the Royal Ballet Company and, by 20, she had become the youngest ever principal dancer the company had seen, receiving an OBE six years later in 1995. She retired from dancing six years ago, and her final performance in Sir Kenneth MacMillan’s The Song Of The Earth at the Royal Opera House ended with an eight-minute standing ovation and a stage knee-deep in flowers. Groomed on: Miss Bussell looking glamorous for Strictly . Miss Bussell returned to the limelight in 2012 when she took over as a judge on Strictly Come Dancing from singer Alesha Dixon. She is married to investment banker Angus Forbes, and the couple have daughters Phoebe, 12 and nine-year-old Zoe. She and her husband of 16 years, banker Angus Forbes, then moved the family to Australia, where Darcey has since written a successful series of children’s books. | Miss Bussell, 44, stepped out with her family in West London .
She opted for a mismatched tartan and black ensemble .
The Strictly Come Dancing judge even went make-up free . |
275,155 | f071c5ffdf41f59f93bc49d82340235f968351f1 | The general consensus up until the late 20th century was that after Earth’s formation 4.54 billion years ago, the planet was a hellish place covered in magma. But now scientists say conditions on Earth for the first 500 million years after it formed may have been surprisingly similar to the present day complete with oceans and even continents. Researchers say that ancient rocks in Iceland indicate that early Earth had a more moderate temperature and was more hospitable than thought. Researchers at Vanderbilt University in Tennessee say that the young Earth (pictured from space on the ISS in 2007) might not have been inhospitable to life. It had been thought that in its first 500 million years after its formation 4.54 billion years ago our planet was covered in magma and was a hellish place . The study was conducted by a team of geologists from Vanderbilt University in Tennessee. They examined a long-standing theory that modern Iceland is an analogue of the early Earth. Previously it had been thought that Iceland’s crust, which formed from magma that is much hotter than anywhere else on the planet, was similar to Earth’s in its first 500 million years. However in the study the researchers examined zircons - crystals that have existed almost since Earth’s formation - in Iceland. The first 500 million years of the Earth's life are known as the Hadean Eon. Although this time amounts to more than 10 percent of Earth's history, little is known about it, since few rocks are known that are older than 3.8 billion years old. For much of the Hadean, Earth and its sister worlds in the inner solar system were pummeled with an extraordinary number of cosmic impacts. And they found that while the zircons on Iceland were indicative of a hot formation, they did not match the composition of zircons found elsewhere on Earth. This suggest that Iceland is not a model for the young Earth - and instead Earth 4 billion years ago was not as hellish as thought. ‘We discovered that Icelandic zircons are quite distinctive from crystals formed in other locations on modern Earth,’ explained Vanderbilt doctoral student Tamara Carley who was part of the study. ‘We also found that they formed in magmas that are remarkably different from those in which the Hadean zircons grew.’ Analysis of zircon crystals - remants of the ancient Earth - in Iceland suggests our planet was hospitable early in its formation. Shown are images of a collection of Icelandic zircons taken with a scanning electron microscope. They range in size from a tenth of a millimeter to a few thousandths of a millimeter . The researchers found that while zircons on Iceland grew from hot magma, they did not match zircons found elsewhere on Earth, suggesting Iceland was not an analogue of the young Earth. Pictured is Professor Miller, who led the study, at the Kerlingarfjoll volcano in central Iceland . Carley collected samples from volcanoes and sands derived from the erosion of Icelandic volcanoes. She separated thousands of zircon crystals from the samples, which cover the island's regional diversity and represent its 18 million year history. Together with other scientists she analysed about 1,000 zircon crystals for their age and elemental isotopic compositions. Most importantly, their analysis found that Icelandic zircons grew from much hotter magmas than Hadean zircons. Although surface water played an important role in the generation of both Icelandic and Hadean crystals, in the Icelandic case the water was extremely hot when it interacted with the source rocks. By comparison, the Hadean water-rock interactions were at significantly lower temperatures. ‘Our conclusion is counterintuitive,’ said Professor Calvin Miller, who led the study. ‘Hadean zircons grew from magmas rather similar to those formed in modern subduction zones, but apparently even "cooler" and "wetter" than those being produced today.’ The researchers would suggest Iceland is not an analogue of Earth, and instead our young planet may have had more moderate temperatures as opposed to being a hellish place as shown in this illustration. This means that in its first 500 million years continents and even oceans could have formed on the surface of Earth . | Researchers at Vanderbilt University in Tennessee say that the young Earth might not have been inhospitable to life .
It had been thought that in its first 500 million years after its formation 4.54 billion years ago our planet was covered in magma and was a hellish place .
But analysis of zircon crystals in Iceland suggests this is not the case .
Zircons are ancient remnants of Earth left over from its formation .
Scientists had thought Iceland was an analogue of early Earth owing to its crust being hotter than elsewhere on the planet .
But they found that while zircons on Iceland grew from hot magma, they did not match zircons found elsewhere on Earth .
This would suggest Iceland is not an analogue of Earth, and instead our young planet may have had more moderate temperatures .
This means in its first 500 million years continents and even oceans could have formed on its surface . |
264,315 | e254fae7062f7e7eb45dbcb7ff30d8f9a25b1bcd | By . Katy Winter . A self-confessed former couch potato has lost seven stone in under a year and says it’s changed her life. Claire Griffiths, 35, says she’s always been overweight, but her ever-increasing size meant she she avoided the scales out of fear. It wasn’t until the mother-of-two went along to a weight-loss club meeting with her friend for 'moral support' that she actually found out what she weighed - which was 19st 2lb. Claire dropped from 19st 2lb and size 26 (left) to 12st 2lb and size 12 (right) in under a year . Photos showing Claire's amazing transformation (L-R) which she achieved through ditching her unhealthy diet . 'I would never have got on the scales previously,' says Claire, a customer assistant for Tesco, who lives in Hemlington, Middlesbrough with her sons Kane, 17, and Brandon, 11, and partner Jason Fysh, 43. 'Basically a friend asked me to go with her to a slimming club. I went along really thinking it was a big con. 'I thought "you have to pay someone to weigh you? It’s not going to work".' Breakfast: Three slices of toast with thick butter, cup of tea and five chocolate digestives . Lunch: Two Greggs pasties . Dinner: Spaghetti bolognese made from jars or a take away. Snacks/Other: Up to two bottles of wine, chocolate bars, crisps . Breakfast: A fresh fruit salad with fat free yoghurt . Lunch: Left overs from a freshly cooked meal or salad . Dinner: Freshly cooked meal such as Mexican or homemade Indian . Snacks/Other: Fruit . Claire now runs her own slimming group and says her weigh loss has changed her life . But . despite her misgiving she was inspired to join up and within a week on . the plan, Claire - who was a size 24-26 - had lost six and a half pounds . and was inspired to keep on with the weight loss. In just under a year Claire, who went to a Coulby Newham Slimming World Group, has slimmed to 12st 2lb and a dress size 12. 'I just went on from there,” says Claire, who now runs her own group in Yarm. 'And it has changed my life dramatically. I used to get in from work and plonk myself on the settee. Now I go to Zumba, go to the gym. My confidence has soared.' Claire's aim is to eat healthily - including a lot of home-cooked meals - with the occasional treat. 'I eat loads,' says Claire, 'In fact I never stop eating. It’s just about working out the correct foods.' She added: 'I thought I was happy before but I’m actually really happy now. 'Friends and family have been shocked but really supportive and really happy for me. 'A lot of them now comment on how well I look. 'I feel healthier too - I do things like going swimming with the boys which I never used to do. 'I used to read the magazines about people who’d lost weight and think ‘that’s not the same person’. 'But it really, really does work - as long as you stick to a plan. I’m living proof.' | Dropped from 19st 2lb and size 26 to 12st 2lb and size 12 in under a year .
Having always been overweight, Claire became too afraid to weigh herself .
Took the moral support of her friends to get her on scales .
Joined local slimming club and drastically changed unhealthy diet .
Now runs her own Slimming World group . |
275,514 | f0ee54b243fc648a65e50182b1dd5568e165824e | Three couples, who are determined to build the restaurant of their dreams, have turned to crowd sourcing to fund their $100,000 project. The entrepreneurs, who also co-own another bar in Perth, have so far raised over $80,000 for the creation of Lucky Chan's Laundry and Noodle Bar which, if successful, will be the first permanent crowd-funded restaurant in Australia. One of the creative minds behind the community project, Andrew Bennet, told Daily Mail Australia that donors were not contributing to a charity, but would have their money returned to them in another form. Scroll down for video . Lucky Chan's Laundry and Noodle Bar will be the first permanent crowd-funded restaurant in Australia if the future owners, three couples from Perth, reach their target . 'Every dollar that people contribute is matched, dollar for dollar with a reward or a giveback. They are given an opportunity to redeem that value at the restaurant when it opens,' Mr Bennet said. 'That's really important as to why we've been so successfully.' The 32-year-old said that donation options start from as little as $5, with which donors will have their name painted on the 'Great Wall of Chan'. 'The top tier pledge level is $20,000 and we have actually had two different people take that on,' he said. 'One of them is a lovely couple who are getting married next year and wanted something different for their wedding reception, location and theme. We'll be closing down the venue just for them, as we won't take bookings like this in the future. With only 15 days to go, the team of entrepreneurs have raised more than $80,000 of their $100,000 limit . One of the future owners of the restaurant, Andrew Bennet (right), said the crowd-sourcing project was not just about sourcing money, but also about hearing design and food ideas from the future customers . 'We are also taking the chance to sit down with them and work through wedding cocktails and food for the one off because we've been blown away by their support.' One of the most popular pledges is the Lucky Chan Hot Date, designed for a couple to donate $55 towards the building of the restaurant and in return receive a romantic dinner and drinks for two to the value of $85. But it's not just about sourcing money, Mr Bennet explains. Even if the owners don't reach their $100,000 target in the next 15 days – which would mean they don't receive a cent of the pledged donations, Lucky Chan's will still come to life. The future owners of the bar have been using their donations' page and social media to ask people what they want the future bar and restaurant to serve and even look like and also to create excitement about the coming venue. The future site of Lucky Chan's: The restaurant and bar will be designed to resemble a Chinese laundry that has been haphazardly converted into a speak-easy . 'On the hard dollar side of things, one hundred thousand isn't going to be the complete funding budget for project,' Mr Bennet said. 'The reality is that if the Kickstarter campaign didn't go ahead, Lucky Chan's will still be a reality – perhaps a smaller less compelling vision than what we had planned, but with Kickstarter it will be enriched by not only financial support but their thoughts and opinions and the feedback about what they want to see when it opens. 'The feedback we've been getting most is about our opening hours. A lot of restaurants and bars close at midnight and from day one of our campaign people were telling us they wanted a late night option for a good quality meal and drink - and not just the hard core hospitality nerds but mums and dads and professionals. 'We've also had great feedback about the décor. We're planning to have a large open air courtyard at the top – so there have been suggestions on how to animate that space at night, like Chinese lanterns or kind of silent movie screen. So all these ideas that we haven't thought of is exactly why we caught these nets out and want to hear from our future customers.' The highest contributors include a couple who have donated $20,000 for Lucky Chan's to be built, and in return will have their wedding reception at the venue . 'People end up feeling like they own a bit of their own bar, which is exactly what we wanted.' If all goes to plan, Luck Chan's will open in early January of 2015 as a quirky restaurant and bar that resembles an old Chinese Laundry that has been haphazardly reorganised into a speak-easy. 'The idea was to create a late night venue in North Bridge which paid homage to the history and culture of the Asian migration in the area,' Mr Bennet said. 'One of the industries that many brought with them was the concept of the Chinese laundry and in some small areas during the 1900s, there were something like between 50 and 70 of them. 'We are not pretending that we are doing an authentic Asian restaurant by any means, we just want to pay respect and homage to deep flavours and tastes that went before us.' | Lucky Chan's Laundry and Noodle Bar will be the first permanent crowd-funded restaurant in Australia if the future owners reach their target .
They plan to create a bar and restaurant which resembles a Chinese Laundry and speak-easy through crowd funding .
More than $80,000 has so far been donated by members of the public .
The team of entrepreneurs said the money will help them fulfil the multiple design ideas and requests put forth by members of the community . |
24,397 | 453be14887792a109e4f450b80260a36364dbde6 | A former para-educator from Vermont has been accused of using Facebook to send sexually explicit messages to a 15-year-old student and allowing him to sleep at her home. Investigators would not say if the two had sex during the boy's stay. Tiffany Pagan, 25, worked at an alternative education facility in Rutland. On Wednesday, she was charged with one count of child luring. 'Predator': Tiffany Pagan, 25, has been charged with one count of child luring for allegedly engaging in sexually explicit communication on Facebook with a 15-year-old boy attending a school for troubled kids . Police said they began investigating the Clarendon resident in July after the Department for Children and Families in Rutland received a complaint about her conduct. Rutland City Public Schools Assistant Superintendent Rob Bliss told the Burlington Free Press Pagan worked for less than a full school year at the Allen Street Campus - an alternative school for children in grades 6-12 who require structured learning and support due to emotional difficulties. Ms Pagan mentored the 15-year-old student attending the institution, previously known as the Success School. The Vermont Department for Children and Families contacted state police July 2 to report a possible sexual relationship between the para-educator and the teenager. Tiffany Pagan is scheduled to appear in court on October 20. Safe haven: Pagan worked as a para-educator for less than a full school year at the Allen Street Campus in Vermont - an alternative school for children suffering from emotional difficulties . | Tiffany Pagan, 25, a former para-educator from Vermont, charged with one count of child luring .
She worked for less than a full school year at the Allen Street Campus - an alternative school for children suffering from emotional difficulties . |
255,008 | d613e52f1e26df797a10a7aaaa7ab44ed4db5cd0 | (CNN) -- Arab modernity. Why is it that at the beginning of the 21st century the Arab world seems stuck in time? Why are most Arabs still ruled by kings or military dictatorships? And specifically, why has the most populous Arab nation, Egypt, been governed by one man for nearly three decades? President Hosni Mubarak, a former general, came to power in the aftermath of Anwar Sadat's assassination in October 1981. He has ruled Egypt ever since under a state of emergency. Last week, Mubarak's regime extended for another two years a Draconian emergency law that permits police to detain individuals indefinitely, prohibits unauthorized assembly and severely restricts freedom of speech. We Americans should care about this state of affairs. Mubarak's regime exists in part because our tax dollars subsidize this dictatorship to the tune of several billion dollars a year. We also support the Saudi royalty. And although President Obama and previous presidents have often spoken eloquently about the need for democratization, Egypt's elections are anything but democratic. Why does nothing change? I spent virtually my entire childhood in the Middle East, and though it is not my home, I worry about it as if it were my home. I mourn for it, I fear for it -- and I also greatly fear it. Modernity, if not ever completely defeated, seems to have been put on hold throughout much of the Arab world. A worn-out, 82-year-old pharaoh still reigns in Egypt. Royalty still rules in Jordan and Saudi Arabia. Islamists still seem to be winning hearts and minds in a political vacuum. The fact is that the Egypt of my adolescence in the 1960s was a more democratic and secular society than today. My father was an American Foreign Service officer stationed in Cairo from 1965-67. An army colonel, Gamal Abdel Nasser, was Egypt's virtual dictator. But Nasser had at least been elected president in 1956. He was a wildly popular and populist politician throughout Egypt. Sadat was never as popular as Nasser. He had catered to the Islamists in the aftermath of Nasser's death, thinking they were not dangerous, and ending up being killed by them. Neither he nor Mubarak could have survived a truly democratic election. Nasser became an autocrat, but at least he offered the Arabs a secular vision. Even today, Nasser remains emblematic of a lost era when hope still existed among Arabs of all classes and tribes for a modern, secular and progressive Arab nation. Suave and articulate, Nasser exuded a quiet intelligence. His colleagues knew him to be incorruptible. He had no personal peccadilloes, aside from smoking three packs of cigarettes a day. He loved American films. His good friend the newspaper editor Mohammed Heikel claimed that Nasser loved watching Frank Capra's syrupy Christmas tale, "It's a Wonderful Life." His favorite American writer was Mark Twain. He spent an hour or two each evening reading American, French and Arabic magazines. His closest political enemies at home were the Muslim Brotherhood, political theocrats who then attracted an insignificant following. Today, the Muslim Brotherhood would undoubtedly win any democratic election in Egypt. But back in the 1960s, most young Arab men aspired to a secular modernity. They wanted to be engineers or doctors or lawyers -- and they admired, like Nasser did, American culture. I lived in Cairo's upscale suburban community of Maadi, about eight miles south of the city on the eastern bank of the Nile River. I am startled to realize now that another resident of Maadi was the young Ayman al-Zawahiri. In 1965, the future doctor and No. 2 leader of al Qaeda was attending Maadi's state-run secondary school. He was exactly my age. And like me, al-Zawahiri used to watch Hollywood films on an outdoor screen at the Maadi Sports Club. Al-Zawahiri once aspired to a career in public health. His ambitions were the same as most young Arab men in the Nasser era. Even then he was a practicing Muslim. And his religious sensibilities did not become politically radicalized until after Nasser ordered the execution of the Muslim Brotherhood's leader, Sayyid Qutb, in 1966. But I would argue that al-Zawahiri and other young men would never have taken the road to jihadist terror had it not been for the June 1967 war. Sadik al-Azm, the Yale-educated, Syrian philosopher, described Nasser's defeat in the June war as a "lightning bolt" and a "shock" to the Arab ethos. Nasser's humiliation spelled the defeat of the idea of a secular path to Arab modernity. Nasser's once powerful notion that the Arabic-speaking peoples of the Middle East could unite under the banner of a progressive Arab nationalist movement was now discredited. Over time, political Islam moved into this political vacuum. Al-Zawahiri himself wrote in his 2001 memoir that the "Naksa" -- the June 1967 defeat -- "influenced the awakening of the jihadist movement." Al-Zawahiri today is hiding in a cave in Afghanistan, or dodging drone missile attacks in Pakistan. Someday he will be a dead man, along with his pitiful co-conspirator Osama bin Laden. The jihadists don't have any thing real to offer the Arabs of the 21st century. They can't put bread on the table in this era of globalization. Al-Azm believes the jihadists have already lost: "There may be intermittent battles in the decades to come, with many innocent victims. But the number of supporters of armed Islamism is unlikely to grow, its support throughout the Arab Muslim world will likely decline. ... September 11 signaled the last gasp of Islamism rather than the beginnings of its global challenge." I hope so. But if Al-Azm is right, the new generation of young Arab men and women must find hope for their lives elsewhere. And so long as tired old kings and pharaohs smother their rights to democratic elections and free speech, the jihadists will still offer a desperate alternative. The opinions in this commentary are solely those of Kai Bird. | Kai Bird: Why does Hosni Mubarak still rule in Egypt, royalty in Jordan, Saudi Arabia?
Bird grew up in Egypt under Nasser, who envisioned secular path to modernity .
He says Nasser's defeat in June 1967 war was a shock to Arab ethos, end to his dream .
Bird: Jihadists have nothing to offer but a desperate alternative to dictatorships . |
269,332 | e8dc3a7719a5a9768c6c2c841c89fb187f3f5fb7 | By . Paul Bentley . PUBLISHED: . 17:08 EST, 24 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 04:42 EST, 25 January 2014 . A little girl in a white silk dress poses shyly with a basket of flowers, in a garden bordered by a neat privet hedge. The roofs of terraced houses can be seen beyond. She is about to attend a church parade. A small boy, of perhaps the same age, stands to attention in a double-breasted coat and school cap outside the bay window of his redbrick home. His shoes and shirt are immaculate and only an errant right sock, which has begun to wrinkle and slide down his leg, suggests anything less than a dedication to military smartness - by his parents, at least. Both photographs were taken in the same street, in the same period of immediate post-war Britain. No litter. No television aerials. Both evoke an urban working-class pride in family, home and hard work, as well as a sense of community and making the best of a tough situation. Scroll down for video . Looking smart: Martin Hanchett (left) stands in his school uniform on the street and Nina Clayton, aged 6, all dressed up for the church procession . The girl’s dress is made from parachute silk; a luxury commodity only made available by a parent’s involvement in the recently ended world war. In that respect the photographs are wholly unremarkable. Thousands like them must exist. And yet they are not mundane. In their modest good order they are both shocking and sad, because the street in which they were taken is today the most notorious in Britain; made so by a television programme which has shown the current residents’ lifestyles, squalor, habitual criminality and an overall social disintegration. James Turner Street in Winson Green, Birmingham, is infamous after being featured in Channel 4’s highly controversial series Benefits Street. Today the majority of residents in the Victorian terrace houses claim benefits. The road is filthy, with rubbish strewn across the street and dirty mattresses abandoned on the pavements. Many of those featured are criminals, drunks or class-A drug addicts. Neighbours rob each other and children fend for themselves while their parents smoke and drink outside. Nina Clayton, aged 6, pictured middle, with her family all dressed up for the church procession . But it was not always this way. This week, we spoke to members of families who lived in the ‘golden age’ of ‘Benefits Street’ in the Forties through to the Seventies. They have long since moved away and now say they are saddened by how far their former home has fallen and the ‘scrounging vermin’ who live there now. Martin Hanchett was the small chap in the cap and wrinkled sock. His family lived two doors away from the house now inhabited by the mother known as White Dee. His great-grandparents, grandparents and his mother Helen all lived on the road, the family having settled there at the start of the 20th century. Mr Hanchett, 65, said the family all worked in manual jobs, some from as young as ten years old, and moved to the area from Nottingham because Birmingham was renowned as the ‘city of 1,000 trades’. The women would work in cafes or wash neighbours’ clothes for change, he recalled. ‘Everybody was working,’ he said. ‘People had to because there was no welfare. Attitudes are different now. There’s a lot of people on benefits today. My parents and grandparents wouldn’t believe it. When they were alive, if you didn’t work you didn’t get anything.’ The retired engraver, who now lives in Halesowen, West Midlands, with his wife said he was dismayed at the state of the street and how moral standards have disappeared. ‘Nobody ever swore like that when we were there. If you were caught swearing in the street and a passer-by heard you, he’d give you a clip round the ear. That’s how it was. ‘The way they now swear at the young kids is dreadful. ‘I can’t remember as a kid any robberies or thefts. I never knew anyone who was a drunk. There wasn’t anyone taking drugs. There was never rubbish on the road like there is now. ‘You kept your doors open. It used to be a nice road, with privet bushes outside every house. People had pride in their appearance. ‘It was a community — a village within a city, really. Changes: The street is now featured in Channel 4 documentary Benefits Street . ‘A lot of people I know can’t bring themselves to watch the programme. We’re shocked at what has happened to the street.’ Nina Clayton was six when her photograph was taken as she wore the parachute silk dress, made by her mother. In the Forties she lived with her parents and two brothers a few houses away from where White Dee now lives. ‘Our house was a small grocer’s shop,’ she said. ‘I was only five or six at the time but I remember it so well, cigarettes kept under the counter for regulars, sacks of liquorice root, the fish and chip shop around the corner where you could get free scratchings.’ John Cahill, 56, lived on the street in the Sixties and Seventies before leaving to join the forces. He is now a bricklayer and lives in Wolverhampton with his wife, with whom he has three adult children. He said: ‘It infuriates me that these people are wallowing in their mire. They enjoy the lifestyle they are leading. It just dismays me to see what sort of vermin have colonised the area. They have turned it into a cesspit. ‘It is such a shame because of all the happy memories I had growing up there. I am ashamed to tell anyone I spent my childhood there because people will think I am as bad as the people in the programme. But my parents and their neighbours were a world apart. Two residents sit drinking beer on their doorstep while talking to a child on a bicycle . Piles of rubbish are often seen scattered all over the street - which was very different in the post-war era . ‘My parents would be disgusted if they saw what it was like now.’ Mr Cahill was brought up with his three siblings on James Turner Street by his father Joseph, a lathe turner, and mother Edna, who worked in a factory. He said all the residents worked, even most mothers, and they took pride in their children’s discipline and appearance. ‘My dad worked all the time. My mum was also at work. They couldn’t afford not to. ‘You never swore in front of your parents because you knew what you were going to get if you answered back. Now the children are effing and blinding, and that’s even the toddlers. ‘I can’t believe how bad it has got. It is filthy now. There is this greed — people want something for nothing.’ The road is believed to be named after James Turner, a 19th-century master at the local King Edward’s School, who never missed a day of work. ‘He went out, worked hard and earned that honour,’ says Mr Cahill. ‘Now his name is associated with everything he was not.’ | Photographs taken of residents of James Turner Street in post-war Britain .
Location is now featured in Channel 4's Benefits Street .
Residents, almost all of whom are on benefits, shown living in squalor .
Locals say area was starkly different after the war - with a strong community spirit and work ethic . |
38,945 | 6e09200fe6c2e5790da11e24e1f7639f9f49b708 | By . Lizzie Parry . PUBLISHED: . 13:48 EST, 13 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 13:56 EST, 13 November 2013 . Preston's 'most prolific burglar' Thomas Green was caught after an ex recognised his face in CCTV images released by police . A 'one-man crimewave' is back behind bars after an ex-girlfriend shopped him to police having recognised his face as that of a man wanted in connection with 12 burglaries. Preston's 'most prolific burglar' Thomas Green was caught on CCTV as he carried out his latest crime spree, targeting a string of businesses stealing items worth £20,000. Despite bragging on Facebook he could outrun 10 police officers the repeat offender was snared by detectives who chased him through a series of gardens jumping over fences. While evading the law, Green posted a series of messages on the social networking site showing him bare-chested as he claimed he was building up his tan ahead of his next prison stint. They came after the 27-year-old realised he had been caught on CCTV during several of the raids he carried out in June and July. Appearing at Preston Crown Court today, the yob who has a criminal record dating back to when he was 13 years old, admitted 12 burglaries, a shop theft and had five other similar offences taken into consideration. He swore loudly as he was jailed for two years and eight months, after 32 victims and witnesses lined up ready to testify against him. During his latest spree, the thief, caused damage to premises, pushed a shop worker into a cupboard before stealing a phone, broke into a bed shop through the roof landing on the mattress before stealing a quantity of money. Lancashire Police, who dubbed him . 'Preston's most prolific burglar' said he burgled the Cash In A Dash . shop in the city after getting in through the roof and stealing £4,500 . of electricals, jewellery and money. The 27-year-old, who has a criminal record dating back to when he was 13, admitted 12 burglaries, a shop theft and five other similar offences when he appeared at Preston Crown Court for sentencing . While on the run this summer, Green took to Facebook to boast that he could outrun 10 police officers. He was caught after an ex recognised his face as that of a man wanted by Lancashire Police . Green was sent back to prison for two years and eight months. While evading the law he posted pictures of himself on Facebook bare-chested claiming he was getting a tan ahead of his next prison stint . And he helped himself to three TVs worth £2,500 from another store as well as stealing mobile phones from staff at McDonald's in Deepdale. The force said he targeted businesses across the city from interior design companies to Post Offices, hairdressers to fishing shops and newsagents. His criminal rampage came to an end on August 2 when police officers received a tip-off as to his whereabouts. Green believes the information came from an ex-girlfriend, the court heard. One entry posted by Green while he was on the run, said: 'fun fun fun in the sun sun sun hopefully at last this heatwave has begun (sic).' In another he added: 'It’s boiling am stood in the garden tryin to get a tan that can last a 2 year stretch (sic).' In . a third he went on: 'hello hello hello everyone hope everyones avin a . gud day and lookin forward to a hot weekend. Its guna be a sunny day so . get da f*** outta bed every1 (sic).' While in the middle of his latest . crime spree, he posted another message on his Facebook page saying: . 'Don’t I feel good. No gym for eighteen months but can still out run 10 . police officers who go everyday. Stamina boy or what? ha ha. (sic)' In his last Facebook post before his arrest Green wrote, 'Grassing exes and their boyfriends. 'Im goin jail so watch now you snitching bastards - yous deserve each other. People don’t usually last long these days due to grasses!!! (sic)' Mr Recorder Guy Mathieson sentencing Green told the court the sheer volume of offences and the damage caused to property meant prison was 'inevitable'. He said: 'Before I came into court I wrote down . the words ‘totally selfish’. 'That’s how these papers read, someone who . gives no thought to other people’s property, feelings or indeed care and . concern other than your totally selfish need to get your next fix. 'That . was before I read the very eloquently well written letter from yourself . that puts everything into perspective and offers an explanation, not an . excuse for why you are in the state you are in.' Det . Insp Warren Atkinson, of Preston police, said: 'Thomas Green can only be . described as a one man crime spree. 'His crimes have been committed . mainly against commercial premises but also caused staff distress and . inconvenience. 'He is a . career criminal and one of the city’s most prolific burglars. As he got . more desperate he became less and less concerned about CCTV. 'It is great . news for traders and residents that he will be off Preston’s streets . for some time.' | Lancashire Police dubbed Thomas Green 'Preston's most prolific burglar'
27-year-old has string of convictions dating back to when he was 13 .
Latest spree saw him target businesses stealing £20,000 worth of items .
Green admitted 12 burglaries, a shop theft and five other offences .
He was jailed for two years and eight months at Preston Crown Court .
Despite bragging on Facebook he could outrun police he was caught after officers chased him through a series of gardens, jumping various fences . |
233,876 | bac6bc6da1cc4928b6b19ef181c955bf4d035398 | By . Suzannah Hills . PUBLISHED: . 06:21 EST, 30 July 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 11:04 EST, 30 July 2012 . Michael Foreman, 48, died from 'multiple traumatic injuries' after plunging 100ft to his death at London's Tate Modern gallery . The man who plunged 100ft to his death at London’s Tate Modern gallery in front of horrified onlookers was a HSBC bank manager, it was revealed today. Michael Foreman, 48, was reported missing the day before he fell from a private members' balcony on the fifth floor of the gallery just before 6pm last Tuesday evening. An inquest was today opened into his death at Southwark Coroner’s Court after Mr Foreman was formally identified by his wife following the incident. His death - caused by 'multiple traumatic injuries' - was deemed non suspicious, the court heard. The hearing was told: 'On July 23rd he was reported missing to Essex Police. On July 24th he was witnessed to jump from the fifth floor members bar area of the Tate Modern. He was taken to St Thomas Hospital.' Coroner Dr Andrew Harris was told Mr Foreman, who lived with his wife Janet in Essex, was 'a senior bank manager with HSBC'. Mr Foreman’s funeral is due to take place on Friday at Corbets Tey crematorium in Upminster. Devastated friends of the HSBC banker . described him as a 'gentleman' who was 'very passionate' about his . hobby, playing trombone in brass bands. His friends revealed Mr Foreman's . death was a case of 'history repeating itself' as Mr Foreman's brother, . who had also worked for HSBC, died in tragic circumstances after going . for a swim and suffering a heart attack aged just 24. Shocking: Mr Foreman plummeted to the ground from the London art gallery's private members' terrace five floors up . He was a trombonist in the Tilbury brass band in Essex and also used to play regularly with The Aveley and Newham Band in east London. Tilbury brass band member Derek Morris said married Mr Foreman was always a 'gentleman' and worked in HSBC's City HQ where he had a 'good job'. Mr Morris, who also plays trombone, added: 'He had a good job in the City and was always flying to Hong Kong so it makes you think what was going through his mind when he died. 'I've known him for many years as we played for 50 years for the Aveley band. He was a quiet man, but very passionate about the trombone. 'He was very business-like and not very sociable. He was always very well-suited and always a gentleman. 'It's very sad news and I just can't believe it. 'He had a brother who used to work for HSBC too, but he tragically died years ago. 'He went for a swim and had a heart attack. He was 24 when he died and they were both very close.' High season: Major exhibitions of work by Damien Hirst and Edvard Munch were taking place at the London gallery . Sudden death: Police stand guard outside the gallery after the afternoon tragedy . Mr Foreman from the terrace of a bar . and restaurant area as tourists picnicking by the Thames in the late . afternoon sun watched in shock. It was a busy period for the gallery with shows by hugely popular artists Damien Hirst and Edvard Munch taking place. Elodie . Soetaert, 25, an account manager for We Are Social, said: 'We arrived . just after and saw police and police tape everywhere. The body was . covered in tarpaulin and the police had put screens up so we couldn’t . see it. 'It was really shocking. Some people had been playing music and when they stopped it was silent. 'I’d gone for drinks with my friends and I’m happy I arrived after he had fallen because I wouldn’t have wanted to see that.' One Tate employee, who did not want to be named, said: 'I was just finishing my shift when I heard what had happened. 'As I was walking out of the building I saw him on the ground. 'It was horrible. I didn't stop to look at any more. Everybody is so shocked. Nobody is even speaking about it today.' A cyclist who saw a man plunge to his death returned to the gallery yesterday to leave a bunch of flowers at the spot where he died. Bystanders: Day-trippers packing the area around the Thames were aghast at the incident . Drama: Mr Foreman had been reported missing just a day before the tragic incident . The man, who would not give his name, said he did not know the victim, as he laid a bunch of pink lilies outside just after 4pm. Looking visibly upset, he said: 'I was on the balcony of the espresso bar when it happened, which is two floors below where he fell. 'I didn't see or hear anything beforehand I just saw him fall and hit the ground. 'It was awful. It was one of the most shocking things I've ever seen.' Shocked onlookers took to the internet to describe the tragic incident. @CathHannahx wrote on Twitter: ‘Seeing the guy who had committed suicide and jumped off the Tate modern has been the most traumatic thing I have seen.’ Some onlookers at first thought it was 'a staged flash mob thing' and took photographs, tweeted @salmasaid. Another user, @afbsutherland, said: 'Weird day at Tate modern. Sehgal was amazing, the possible suicide outside was pretty awful. Hope it wasn't as bad as it looked.' A spokesman for the museum said: 'Our deepest sympathies go to his family.’ This is not the first time the gallery has encountered tragedy. In 2007, lawyer Matthew Courtney, 27, plunged 80ft down a stairwell leading to the art gallery’s seventh floor restaurant in a tragic accident. | Michael Foreman, 48, fell from a private members' balcony on the fifth floor of the gallery .
Inquest hears he was reported missing just the day before his death .
Mr Foreman worked as bank manager for HSBC .
Several visitors to the Edvard Munch and Damien Hirst exhibitions at the gallery witnessed fall .
Bystanders said on Twitter that they were 'traumatised' |
Subsets and Splits
No saved queries yet
Save your SQL queries to embed, download, and access them later. Queries will appear here once saved.