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88,922 | fc5cf5661ec42511f8c1e54bd1d5c99738b90d1a | By . James Daniel . PUBLISHED: . 21:30 EST, 6 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 21:38 EST, 6 May 2013 . A man accused of shooting his 9-year-old cousin during a Halloween party has avoided going to jail. Thomas Grant, 24, did not fight the charges in court and maintains it was an accident. The little girl was child was dressed in dark clothing outdoors at night. Probation: Thomas Grant, 24, was accused of accidentally shooting his young cousin during a Halloween party pleaded no contest in court and has been sentenced to probation . Grant has been placed on probation after initially being charged with aggravated assault, recklessly endangering another person and simple assault. 'He's terribly upset over this whole situation, and obviously the first concern is that the 9-year-old little girl is doing well,' defense attorney Steven Valsamidis said at a preliminary hearing in November. 'She's recovering, and it's my understanding that, so far so good.' The shooting happened in New Sewickley Township, Pennsylvania on October 20th during a bonfire. Accident: Grant shot his nine-year-old cousin after it was thought she was a skunk rather than someone in a Halloween costume . Mystery: No explanation was ever given by Thomas Grant as to why he thought his cousin was a skunk other than the fact she was dressed in a black and white costume for a Halloween party . Police said the owner at the home heard there was a skunk in the backyard and asked Grant, her son, to shoot the animal while she used a flashlight to shine light over the hillside. Grant fired the shotgun once and hit the girl, police said. 'He is extremely devastated by the actions that took place. I mean, it's a tragic incident that occurred. It's not something that he dreamed would ever happen,' Police Chief Ronald Leindecker said after the shooting. The girl was mistaken for the animal because her costume was black in color and included a black hat with a white tassel. She was being treated in the garage of the home by members of her family before being flown to the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh for surgery. | Thomas Grant shot the little girl by accident .
Cousin was wearing black & white outfit Grant thought was a skunk .
Girl survived the shooting and is recovering . |
261,255 | de5bcee61d2d8c7705e189c41a944494dfad1ea9 | (CNN) -- It lit up the world and showed us all our way. It served presidents, princes, and paupers with equal alacrity. It brought the writings of Yeats, Joyce, Rowling, and Trudeau to millions of bed-readers, and helped countless people around the world avoid stubbing their toes in the dark. And now, it is no more. Farewell, traditional light bulb. As the clock strikes midnight, the light dims on your reign as the mechanical illuminator of human existence. Rest in peace. This was no sudden death. The diagnosis came in years ago, in 2007, when President George W. Bush signed a law to replace standard incandescents with more efficient bulbs. Much more. Only about 10% of the energy these traditional bulbs use is for light, the Environmental Protection Agency says. Seventy-five- and 100-watt bulbs were already banned this year. The ban on production of 40 and 60-watt bulbs -- the most popular in the country -- kicks in as 2014 begins. "There are 4 billion light bulb sockets in the U.S. and more than 3 billion of them still use the standard incandescent technology that hasn't changed much in 125 years," the EPA says. "A standard incandescent is only 10% efficient -- the other 90% of the electricity it uses is lost as heat." It's the dawn of a new day. Taking over the limelight now: halogen bulbs, compact fluorescent bulbs, LED bulbs and high efficiency incandescents. While CNNMoney has covered the business behind all this, as well as the battle over whether it's a sign of too much government meddling, on this New Year's Eve, we're left with the sad sense of saying goodbye to you, sweet standard -- but also the knowledge that your legacy will irradiate our world, brighter than ever. Born in 1803 or later, depending on how you measure it, you, in all your transformational beauty, were raised by more parents than we could name -- Humphry Davy, James Bowman Lindsay, William Sawyer, Albon Man, Joseph Swan, and, of course, Thomas Edison, the Energy Department notes. While, unlike President Barack Obama, you have no birth certificate, we will always treasure Edison's patent of you from January 27, 1880. And we find solace in knowing that he just might be glad to see you exit gracefully, making way for the next generation. "Thomas Edison was a patriot, he was a futurist, and he was green. Edison's concern after the turn of the last century was with pollution and nonrenewable resources, not with freezing technological change at the level of 1879," David Edward Edison Sloane, Thomas Edison's great grandson, wrote for CNN.com under the headline, "Edison would've loved new light bulb law." Still, some aren't quite as ready to let go. And, in a way, they won't have to. As with all laws, there are some loopholes. Three-way standard incandescent light bulbs will still be made. Yes, we live in an era of space stations, blazing fast computers, and access to just about any piece of information we need. But no one can take away the glory of that click-click-click you give us in our hotel-room lamps. So, for those who just can't quit you yet, some enterprising shop owners have a plan. "Any regular lamp, you can change it from an on-and-off to a three-way, and we do it for our customers here," Doug Satterfield, owner of Rollier's Hardware in Mount Lebanon, Pennsylvania, told CNN affiliate KDKA. But in the not-so-long run, we know, your gleaming presence in our lives is fading. Today's children won't know you as previous generations did. At CNNMoney.com, a commenter calling himself Mudbone Willie posted his concern -- and received hundreds of "upvotes" for it. "Great. I do all of my baking in a small oven that uses a light bulb at its heat source. Now what?" Worry not, Mudbone Willie. The Easy-Bake oven has changed with the times. "No more light bulbs needed!" Hasbro says in its ad for the Easy-Bake Ultimate Oven. As greenbiz.com reported, Hasbro revised its classic in response to the new law. The new lights taking over our lives will surely bring joy and less wasted energy -- perhaps a beautiful new beginning. Still, on two of life's most pressing questions, we remain in the dark: . What will happen when a cartoon character gets a great idea? On this, Fortuna Lee offers some suggestions. And, finally, how many psychiatrists/lawyers/programmers/med students/economists/surrealists will it now take to change a light bulb? Oh, there are new ones that look the same? Problems solved. Here's to you, standard incandescent light bulb. May the fireworks that light up the skies this evening give you the blazing sendoff you deserve. | Standard incandescent light bulbs will no longer be manufactured .
They're being replaced by more energy-efficient bulbs .
A standard bulb only puts 10% of its energy into light, the EPA says .
Three-way standard lights will still be made . |
35,784 | 65a6b5b2b99a38869623bac608b788f2c37447f1 | By . Louise Boyle . PUBLISHED: . 14:58 EST, 28 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 17:42 EST, 28 August 2013 . The widow of a Hotshot firefighter killed by Arizona wildfires two months ago has given birth to the couple's son. The child was born on August 22 to Amanda Misner and named Sean Jaxon Herbert Misner after his brave father. Sean Misner, 26, was one of 19 men engulfed by ferocious, wind-whipped flames on June 30 as they battled the blaze on Yarnell Hill, Arizona. Son of a Hotshot: Sean Jaxon Herbert Misner was born on August 22, two months after his firefighter father Sean lost his live while heroically battling the Arizona wild fires . Parents-to-be: Sean and Amanda Misner were eagerly awaiting the birth of their first son . Joy tinged with loss: Sean Misner, 26, and his wife Amanda with the scans of their baby boy who was born last week, two months after his father's death . On the Sean Misner Memorial Facebook page, a message was posted: 'For everything sad we have posted last night something joyous happened. 'At 8:13pm, Sean Jaxon Herbert Misner was born. 6 lbs. 15 oz. 19 3/4 inches tall. 'Congratulations Amanda! We love you and the little guy so very much. Nobody could have been as strong as you needed to be through everything, except for you.' The couple had originally picked the name Jaxon for their first child but Mrs Misner decided to add Sean following her husband's death. He will be known as Jaxon, according to KPHO. Baby Sean was born just weeks before his parents were due to celebrate their first wedding anniversary on September 15. The couple met in 2010 and two years later Sean proposed. Five months later the couple married. True love: The couple had been married less than a year when Mr Misner was killed with 18 colleagues bravely fighting the Arizona wild fires . Blissfully happy: The couple on their wedding day last September . Baby boy: The scan of the Misners' son who was born last week. His mother Amanda named the baby Sean after his late father . The firefighter found out he was to . become a father on New Year's Day. Three months later, he began his job . with the Granite Mountain Hotshots after training for years to realize . his dream. The night before he died, he lay next to his wife and spoke to his son so that he could hear his voice, according to a moving family tribute. Sean Misner was with 18 other Prescott Granite Mountain Hotshots - whose average age was just 27 - when they were outflanked and engulfed by wind-whipped flames in seconds on June 30. The tragedy is the deadliest single incident for firefighters since the 9/11 terrorist attacks, where as many as 340 crew members lost their lives. It is also the deadliest wildland blaze for firefighters in the U.S. for 80 years. Engulfed: 19 firefighters died as the wildfire spread near the Arizona town of Yarnell . Mom-to-be: Amanda Misner gave birth to a baby boy last week after suffering the tragic loss of her husband in June . Sweet: The couple had married in September 2012 and their first baby born last week . A woman pays her respects in front of photos of the fallen members of the Granite Mountain Hotshots, including Sean Misner (center) at a memorial service on July 9 . Overwhelmed: Hotshot firefighters mourn during a moment of silence for in the gymnasium at a memorial for the 19 firefighters who lost their lives . | Sean Jaxon Herbert Misner was born on August 22 and named after his father .
Sean Misner, 26, was one of 19 Hotshot firefighters who lost their lives fighting a fire storm on June 30 . |
257,498 | d9417fc248c863075612ff0bda8925bd8552c06f | A 36-year-old man has been charged with the murder of a mother-of-five who was found stabbed to death in a paddock in the New Forest as she tended to her horses. Penelope Davis, 47, known as Pennie, was found with multiple stab wounds by her husband, Pete, near Beaulieu, Hampshire, on September 2. This afternoon, detectives charged Justin Robertson, of no fixed address, with Ms Davis's murder. A 36-year-old man has been charged with the murder of Penelope Davis, 47, known as Pennie, who was found dead in a field near Beaulieu, Hampshire, on September 2 . This afternoon, detectives from Hampshire Constabulary charged Justin Robertson, of no fixed abode, with Ms Davis's murder . Mrs Davis, pictured here on her wedding day in May with her husband Pete, had been stabbed multiple times when she was found by Mr Davis in the field five miles from their home . Mr Robertson will remain in custody and is due to appear at Southampton Magistrates' Court on Monday, September 15. A spokesman for Hampshire Constabulary said Mrs Davis' family had been informed. John Montague, senior district crown prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service in Wessex, said: 'I have authorised Hampshire Constabulary to charge Justin Robertson with the murder of Penelope Davis, 47, from Blackfield, on 2 September. 'It is alleged that Mrs Davis was found killed when she was tending to her horses in a paddock near Leygreen Farm in Beaulieu. Her husband Peter Davis found her dead; she had sustained several stab wounds. 'I carefully reviewed all the available evidence provided to me by Hampshire Constabulary and in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors I am satisfied that there is sufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction and it is in the public interest to prosecute Justin Robertson with the murder of Penelope Davis. 'Proceedings are now ongoing and the defendants have the right to a fair trial. It is very important that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.' Sainsbury's shop worker Mrs Davis - who married Mr Davis in May - was found in the field, five miles away from the couple's home in Blackfield, Hampshire. Witnesses saw Mr Davis, who also works for a supermarket, sobbing uncontrollably as he knelt by his love's body. Mrs Davis' devastated children made a desperate plea for help to find her killer, hours before the arrest of Mr Robertson . Family and friends, including her husband, pictured arriving at the scene of the investigation, left, and laying flowers, right, have left flowers and written tributes by the gate to the paddock where Mrs Davis was found . Around 200 police officers and staff have been working on the investigation and the public have come forward with more than 230 calls with information. Police have already charged suspect Leanne Doyle, 24, of Hythe, Hampshire, with assisting an offender and intending to pervert the course of justice. She has been bailed and will reappear at Winchester Crown Court on October 1. A 28-year-old woman, also from Hythe, who was arrested on Thursday on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder, has been released on bail until November 3. A 22-year-old man, previously arrested on suspicion of murder, has been released on bail, while a 37-year-old man held on suspicion of assisting an offender has also been bailed. Police continue to ask people with information about Mrs Davis's killing to contact them in confidence. In particular, they would like to hear from anyone who may have seen anything suspicious near Mrs Davis's work at Sainsbury's, Blackfield between 1.30 and 3pm on the day she was found. Police believe Mrs Davis was followed after leaving her work in her dark green Toyota Land Cruiser to Leygreen Farm in the New Forest. Around 200 police officers and staff have been working on the investigation, including searching a river for a weapon, just yards from where Mrs Davis was found . The public have come forward with more than 230 calls with information in the 11 days since her death . Detective Superintendent Paul Barton, leading the investigation, said: 'Pennie's death has had a significant impact on people living and working in the New Forest who are rightly concerned about what happened to her. 'I said early on, and I would like to say again today that there has never been any suggestion of a direct risk to the wider community. 'I appreciate our enquiries have also been a cause for concern and I would like to thank everyone affected for their understanding while we continue to investigate this brutal murder with minimal disruption to day-to-day life. 'I've been massively encouraged by the number of people who have come forward with information. 'During our week anniversary appeal work yesterday, we spoke to the occupants of around 960 vehicles, which has been incredibly useful. 'I'm asking anyone with information who has not already done so to get in touch. 'You may think what you saw or heard was insignificant, but it could be important to our enquiries and our efforts to secure justice for Pennie and her family.' Detectives are yet to confirm whether a murder weapon has been found but have previously said they may be looking for one or more assailants . Location: Mrs Davis was found by her husband in a field just yards from Leygreen Farm, in the New Forest . Mrs Davis' devastated children made a desperate plea for help to find her killer, hours before the arrest of Mr Robertson. Her husband Pete and her children Sophie, 20, Alex, 19, Georga, 18, Daniel, 15, and Josef, 13, described 'the void in their hearts' in the moving statement. The family said: 'It has been a long and agonising week since our precious mum and wife was selfishly taken from us. 'We had no idea how many lives she had touched and we have been overwhelmed by love and support. 'Despite this, the void in our hearts only continues to grow. The police have made progress in their investigation but there is still much more to be done. 'We only hope that no other family should ever have to go through the ordeal we are currently enduring. 'No other person deserves to have to go the way our poor mum and wife did. We will never begin to understand how scared and how alone she must have felt. 'This is why we are pleading for anybody with any information to come forward. Even if you think it won't make a difference, it might just be the call we were waiting for.' Detectives are yet to confirm whether a murder weapon has been found but have previously said they may be looking for one or more assailants. A total of 20 bouquets of flowers and written tributes remain by the gate to the paddock where shop worker Mrs Davis was found. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | Penelope Davis, 47, was found in a field in Beaulieu, Hampshire, 11 days ago .
She had suffered multiple stab wounds and was found by 'sobbing' husband .
Justin Robertson, 36, of no fixed address, has been charged with murder .
Hampshire police have made 5 arrests in connection with Mrs Davis's death . |
226,001 | b0a9c7b8b160eebd375d62e931ccad20b43023d6 | (CNN) -- One of the Bible's paradoxical statements comes from St. Paul's Epistle to the Galatians: "Power is made perfect in infirmity." The poetic statement proclaims that when we are weak, we are strong. Pope Benedict XVI's stepping down from what many consider one of the most powerful positions in the world proves it. In a position associated with infallibility -- though that refers to formal proclamations on faith and morals -- the pope declares his weakness. Interactive: Where does the pope live? His acceptance of frailty speaks realistically about humanity: We grow old, weaken, and eventually die. A job, even one guided by the Holy Spirit, as we Roman Catholics believe, can become too much for us. Acceptance of human frailty has marked this papacy. We all make mistakes, but the pope makes them on a huge stage. He was barely into his papacy, for example, when he visited Regensburg, Germany, where he once taught theology. Like many a professor, he offered a provocative statement to get the conversation going. To introduce the theme of his lecture, the pope quoted from an account of a dialogue between the Byzantine Emperor Manuel II Paleologus and an unnamed Muslim scholar, sometime near the end of the 14th century -- a quote that was misinterpreted by some as a condemnation of Mohammed and Islam. Opinion: 'Gay lobby' behind pope's resignation? Not likely . Twice, the pope emphasized that he was quoting someone else's words. Unfortunately, the statement about Islam was taken as insult, not a discussion opener, and sparked rage throughout the Muslim world. The startled pope had to explain himself. He apologized and traveled two months later to Istanbul's Blue Mosque, where he stood shoeless in prayer beside the Grand Mufti of Istanbul. Later he hosted Muslim leaders at the Vatican at the start of a Catholic-Muslim forum for dialogue. It was a human moment -- a mistake, an apology and atonement -- all round. A similar controversy erupted when he tried to bring the schismatic Society of St. Pius X back into the Roman Catholic fold. In a grand gesture toward reconciliation, he lifted the excommunication of four of its bishops, unaware that one, Richard Williamson, was a Holocaust denier. This outraged many Jews. Subsequently the Vatican said the bishop had not been vetted, and in a bow to modernity said officials at least should have looked him up on the Internet. In humble response, Benedict reiterated his condemnation of anti-Semitism and told Williamson that he must recant his Holocaust views to be fully reinstated. Again, his admission of a mistake and an effort to mend fences. News: Scandal threatens to overshadow pope's final days . Pope Benedict XVI came from a Catholic Bavarian town. Childhood family jaunts included trips to the shrine of the Black Madonna, Our Lady of Altotting. He entered the seminary at the age of 13. He became a priest, scholar and theologian. He lived his life in service to the church. Even in resigning from the papacy, he embraces the monastic life to pray for a church he has ever loved. With hindsight, his visit to the tomb of 13th century Pope Celestine V, a Benedictine monk who resigned from the papacy eight centuries before, becomes poignant. In 2009, on a visit to Aquila, Italy, Benedict left at Celestine's tomb the pallium, a stole-like vestment that signifies episcopal authority, that Benedict had worn for his installation as pope. The gesture takes on more meaning as the monkish Benedict steps down. We expect the pope to be perfect. Catholics hold him to be the vicar of Christ on earth. He stands as a spiritual leader for much of the world. Statesmen visit him from around the globe. He lives among splendid architecture, in the shadow of the domed St. Peter's Basilica. All testify to an almost surreal omnipotence. Complete coverage of the pope's resignation . In this world, however, walked a vulnerable, human person. And in a paradox of life, his most human moment -- giving up the power of office -- may prove to be his most potent, delivering a message that, as St. Paul noted many centuries ago, "Power is made perfect in infirmity." The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Mary Ann Walsh. | Sister Mary Ann Walsh: Pope Benedict acknowledged that he made mistakes .
Walsh: In firestorm over scholarly quotes about Islam, he went to great lengths to atone .
Walsh: Similarly, he quickly reversed a decision that had angered Jews and repaired ties .
Even his stepping down is a nod to his humanity and his love of the church, she says . |
124,950 | 2d8159cdffe285f8f3c7adef68215495e683a780 | (CNN) -- Apple has bought a 3-D-sensor company that helped build Microsoft's motion-control system Kinect, stirring curiosity about what the tech giant might be up to behind closed doors in Cupertino. PrimeSense is an Israel-based company that specializes in sensors that let users interact with mobile devices like tablets and smartphones by waving their hands. The company's technology was used to help create Kinect, rolled out for the Xbox 360 in 2010 as a way for gamers to put down the controller and use their bodies and voices to play games. It's been incorporated further into the new Xbox One console, letting users control movies and other media with their voices. Apple had reportedly been in talks with PrimeSense since July. The deal was sealed for a reported $360 million. A statement released by Apple in response to queries resulted in the same "non-confirmation confirmation" it has released after past acquisitions. "Apple buys smaller technology companies from time to time, and we generally do not discuss our purpose or plans," the statement says. PrimeSense has confirmed the purchase but offered no further details. The purchase, of course, immediately spurred speculation about what Apple might have in mind. "Apple could be thinking a number of things, from gaming on iPads to a way to interact with Apple TV or the rumored TV set," said Carolina Milanesi, a tech analyst with Gartner Research. She said she doubts Apple is working on a dedicated gaming device. Instead, she speculated, the company could be looking at a way to connect multiple devices and operate them at the same time. "Gesture certainly has a place in complementing touch and voice as a way to interact with different devices," she said. "Gesture could be particularly useful in interacting with different screens in the home." The less exciting possibility is that we'll never see a product or feature as a direct result of the buyout. "Apple has done a series of acquisitions that we have not seen through as far as a practical implementation of the technology," Milanesi said. But as the news spread Monday, it was the possibility of the long-rumored Apple TV set that many were thinking about. Apple-centric blog 9to5 Mac reported in September that Apple was testing motion-sensor technology for television products. To some, the PrimeSense purchase signals that Apple is working on something truly different. The television has supposedly been in the works for years, and the company is widely expected to be rolling out a smartwatch in the not-too-distant future. But incremental upgrades to its popular iPhone and iPad lines in recent years have led some observers to say the company has lost its knack for groundbreaking innovation. That's a concept Milanesi rejects. "To think that Apple is not innovating just because we do not see a new category of product hitting the market is quite shortsighted," she said. | Apple buys 3-D motion-sensor company PrimeSense .
Purchase reportedly was for $360 million .
Analyst says technology could be for an Apple TV set or for gaming .
Apple won't say what its plans for PrimeSense are . |
142,907 | 44cf55eb8cafd3f8ebb58e5bc51005afd01d8b08 | By . Margot Peppers . PUBLISHED: . 11:21 EST, 5 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 12:07 EST, 5 December 2013 . Cooking wine isn't meant for consumption, but more and more teens are buying bottles of it to get drunk. According to CBS Philly, underage drinkers are increasingly turning to cooking wine for their alcohol fix because it isn't regulated by the liquor patrol board, meaning it can be purchased at grocery stores without an ID. Not only is this trend perpetuating underage drinking, but cooking wine is also very high in sodium, which can contribute to health problems like high blood pressure and kidney disease. Legal buzz: More and more underage drinkers are turning to cooking wine for their alcohol fix because it isn't regulated by the liquor patrol board, meaning it can be purchased at grocery stores without an ID . The sale of cooking wine isn't regulated because it is considered non-potable due to its large sodium content. Indeed, according to Emily Rubin, a dietician at Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia, a 12-ounce bottle contains almost one-and-a-half times the recommended daily allowance of sodium. But while the salty drink may not taste great, it can certainly get you drunk; most bottles have an alcohol content of around 17per cent, the same as a bottle of Cabernet. In terms of how drunk it gets you, . drinking a whole bottle of cooking wine is equivalent to drinking three . or four beers, says Ms Rubin. High salt content: Not only is this trend perpetuating underage drinking, but cooking wine is also very high in sodium, which can contribute to health problems like high blood pressure and kidney disease . What's more, the high level of sodium is likely to cause dehydration in the drinkers, which often leads to a bad hangover, according to Chemistry.com. Teens aren't the only demographic using cooking wine to get drunk. According to ForwardLookout.com, homeless and low-income people buy it, too, because it's inexpensive and is considered a food at the grocery store. This means that unlike other forms of alcohol, you can purchase cooking wine with food stamps . | A 12-ounce bottle of cooking wine contains almost one-and-a-half times the recommended daily allowance of sodium .
It has an alcohol content of around 17per cent, which is the same as a bottle of Cabernet . |
39,009 | 6e3657fabf186e1c31969e851e8934d41ae336fa | By . Beth Stebner . PUBLISHED: . 00:19 EST, 29 September 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 13:17 EST, 29 September 2012 . Jay-Z was in a Brooklyn state of mind last night as he performed an inaugural sold-out concert at the borough’s new Barclays Center to uproarious response. But the star-studded opening was tarnished in part due to protests that had taken place throughout the day, gathering in front of the grey domed arena which one person said resembled ‘Chris Christie’s old lumpy mattress.’ Three women with scales in their hands wore signs reading ‘Billionaires for Barclays’ in front of the $1billion arena. Many of the protestors who showed up were concerned that the new venue will mean overwhelming congestion and noise for nearby residents. Scroll down for video . Hello Brooklyn: Jay-Z performs to the sold-out crowd at the new Barclays Center in the New York borough . All of the lights: The rapper's performance was the first at the new Brooklyn stadium, meant to rival Manhattan's Madison Square Garden . New York state of mind: Wearing a jersey from the Brooklyn Nets, Jay-Z put on a stellar show . Others were protesting that the arrival of the large arena has brought an unwelcome shift to a diverse borough known for its gentler rent prices. ‘What we need is two-bedroom, three-bedroom units that are affordable,’ Pratt Area Community Council executive director Deborah Howard said. ‘They have skewed what is needed.’ The use of eminent domain also meant that residents were forced out of the area. Hundreds more will likely notice the cost of living will creep up, due to the proximity to Barclays. Similarly, Candace Carponter, a spokesperson for Develop Don’t Destroy Brooklyn, rallied people ahead of the opening saying that Barclays was a ‘monument to crazy capitalism,’ according to the New York Times. Jay-Z said that performing in his hometown was better than performing at the Grammys, Glastonbury or Coachella. He yelled to the crowd of 18,000: 'Nothing feels like tonight!' The arena was full of exciting concertgoers, as the chaotic crowd made way to their seats after waiting outside to enter the building. Jay-Z emerged onstage as a video about Brooklyn's history played in the background. He opened with his songs about Brooklyn - 'Where I'm From' and 'Brooklyn Go Hard.' He also performed two songs from fellow Brooklynite Notorious B.I.G. He then held a moment of silence for the late rap veteran. Anticipation: Music fans arrive for the first of eight Jay-Z shows which will open the Barclays Center . Who's in your pocket? A protester wearing a sandwich board that reads Billionaires For Barclays stands in front of the new arena on opening night . Sending a message: The group 'Don't Shoot NYC' also protested, this time against youth violence . He told the crowd when B.I.G.'s 'Juicy' played: 'Sing loud so he can hear you in heaven.' The rapper is the co-owner of the Brooklyn Nets, who will play at the new arena later this year. Earlier this week Jay-Z revealed that while he is happy to be seen as a high profile endorser of President Obama, at least one of his political ideas is more in line with Republican candidate Mitt Romney. 'I don’t even like the word politics,' he told MTV News. 'It implies something underhanded and I think we need less government.' The Brooklyn rapper recently hosted a $40,000 per plate fundraiser for President Obama, which raised a reported $4 million. 'I support Barack because I gotta respect that sort of vision. I gotta respect a man who is the first black President ever,' he said. The Barclays Center will rival Manhattan's Madison Square Garden for musical events. A number of acts have booked shows at the venue, including Barbra Streisand, Lady Gaga, Bob Dylan, Rihanna, Rush, The Who, Justin Bieber and Neil Young and Crazy Horse. Famous faces: Star Jones, left, and celebrity chef Mario Batali, right, were among the audience members . Freaky Friday: The Barclays Center welcomed fans of Jay-Z amid the haze of Friday night following a day of rain . To mark the stadium's opening, the New York Times asked readers what they thought the Barclays Center looked like and predictably the responses they received were not very complimentary. 'Chris Christie's old lumpy mattress,' was one description, comparing the New Jersey governor's bed to the rust coloured Barclays Center. Another reader called it 'A soggy Oreo', while someone else said 'In fifty years, if it is still standing, it will be called 'Iconic'. Submissions from those who live in the two neighborhood's most likely to be affected by the stadium, Park Slope and Prospect Heights, were slightly less forgiving about the $1 billion construction. Carolyn from stroller-mom populated Park Slope called it 'Urban blight!', while Clayton G who also hails from the affluent area called it 'A beached humpback whale.'. Chris Christie's lumpy old mattress? New Yorkers have been scathing describing what the new Barclays Center looks like after the New York Times asked its readers . The new Barclays Center basketball stadium has divided opinion in Brooklyn and officially opens tonight as Jay-Z plays a show . Finishing touches: Workers put the finishing touches to the main entrance of the Barclays Center last week . Other comparisons submitted included, 'a huge George Foreman grill', 'a rotting turtle', 'a rusty alligator skull with a pronounced underbite', 'An angry clam. An angry, angry clam' and 'the burned bagel that will choke Brooklyn.' Originally envisaged as part of developer Bruce Ratner's Atlantic Yards urban regeneration plan for downtown Brooklyn, the proposals for the stadium were caught up in years of eminent domain challenges from local residents, which were resolved at the boroughs supreme court in 2010. With no size-able parking lot, the stadium is relying on spectators to make use of the extensive public transportation links to the arena, but residents worry about the extra cars and parking issues that will inevitably crop up. However, some of the likenesses seen by readers of the New York Times are positive, looking forward to the Barclays Center bringing new impetus to the already booming and confident borough of Brooklyn. 'Mega burger, medium well, pickle on the side', wrote in one hungry reader while another ignored the architecture to take a swipe at the Brooklyn Nets calling the arena 'An easy road win for the Milwaukee Bucks.' For Jay-Z though, tonight is his home-coming concert, having grown up a few blocks from Atlantic Avenue and the Long Island Rail Road. Work in progress: A July 2011 aerial picture shows construction of the Barclays Center, which has been racked with controversy since its inception . The 42-year-old music mogul and entrepreneur says when he was a poor kid Brooklyn growing up in the nearby Marcy projects, he never imagined that he'd someday own a basketball team. Now Jay is part owner of the Brooklyn Nets and instrumental in moving the franchise from New Jersey. He feels his rags-to-riches story embodies all that is possible in America. 'Yeah I think I'm the American dream,' Jay-Z said. 'That whole thing that you could come here and pull yourself up by the bootstraps, like that whole thing what America has always put up to the world that we represent. I feel that. Yes, I've lived that.' As a child, he says, he dreamed of glory on the basketball court. 'You know the three-two-one, oh, he hits the winning shot,' Jay-Z said. 'But no one was ever on the court saying I was gonna own the Knicks. Yes, it's way beyond any of my wildest dreams.' As part owner of the Nets, he's even designed the team's black and white logo. Ads for the team have been prominently displayed throughout the subway system with the tagline 'Hello Brooklyn.' Brooklyn has not had a professional sports team since the Brooklyn Dodgers left for Los Angeles after the 1957 baseball season. Sneak peek: Guests tour the new Barclays Center ahead of the opening; the stadium holds 18,000 . | Rapper wowed 18,000-person crowd at inaugural concert .
But ahead of event, the day was marred by protestors .
Plan for $1billion structure has been controversial, with many Atlantic Avenue residents concerned about traffic and noise .
Renowned Obama supporter recently revealed: 'we need less government' |
75,019 | d4ad0e23314c08d1e63273550b1ebbff808ef97d | Urban Outfitters' recent claim to be the leading seller of vinyl has been found to be false. Billboard says that the title actually belongs to Amazon, after surveying music labels, distributors and wholesalers that account for roughly 80per cent of the U.S. market. Last week, the retailer's Chief Administrative Officer Calvin Hollinger said in a meeting of Wall Street analysts: 'Music is very, very important to the Urban customer … in fact, we are the world’s number one vinyl seller.' Negative spin: Urban Outfitters' recent claim to be the leading seller of vinyl has been found to be false . According to Billboard's analysis, Amazon is actually the largest vinyl seller in the U.S. with a 12.3per cent market share, while Urban Outfitters trails behind with an 8.1per cent share. Hastings Entertainment has a 2.8per cent share, while Hot Topic follows with 2.4per cent of the market. Alliance Entertainment, a wholesaler that sells to chains such as Best Buy and Barnes & Noble, also has a significant share of the vinyl business. And in the U.S., independent record stores account for approximately 50per cent of all vinyl sales. Second place: Amazon is actually the largest vinyl seller in the U.S. with a 12.3per cent market share, while Urban Outfitters (pictured) trails behind with an 8.1per cent share . 'Independent retailers are still the backbone of vinyl's growth, and they are still selling tons of it,' one major label distribution executive said. 'Indies are driving the format's growth and everyone else is picking up on what they do.' Urban Outfitters has been the subject of other recent controversies. In September, the store was forced to apologize for selling a blood-stained 'vintage' Kent State sweatshirt, in what appeared to be a reference to the massacre of 1970. In July, the store pulled a duvet cover featuring the religious deity Lord Ganesh from its stores after observant Hindus took offense at the item, saying its design was not meant to be slept on. And in June, critics blasted the retailer for stocking pens shaped like heroin-filled needles. | Billboard found that Amazon is actually the largest vinyl seller in the U.S. |
62,921 | b2cb988f5304102f7fa19357d130ed1bb60ed75e | (CNN) -- Last week the news broke that the world's largest permissions-based e-mail marketing company, Epsilon, had been hacked -- compromising the security of an unknown number of e-mail addresses and names. Major companies with millions of customers, such as JP Morgan Chase and Target, sent e-mail notices alerting customers of the breach. CNN's John Sutter explained that the main problem consumers face from this breach is an increased risk of targeted "phishing" attempts -- "a sneakier and more sinister version of spam ... fake e-mails that try to look real because the scammer knows something about you." Recent research from Trusteer, an internet security firm, indicates that mobile users may be three times more likely to fall victim to e-mail phishing attempts. This is becoming increasingly important since recent ComScore research shows that more Americans are shifting their e-mail use to their mobile devices. Also, recent statistics from Nielsen indicate that U.S. mobile users spend more time on their phones doing e-mail than using Facebook. In January, Trusteer analyzed the "log files" (access records) of several Web servers that had hosted phishing sites. The records showed how many users accessed these nefarious sites, when they visited them, whether they entered their account login information and which devices they used to access the sites. Here's what Trusteer learned: . 1. Mobile users typically arrive first after the phishing e-mails are sent out. "This makes sense since mobile users are 'always on' and are most likely to read e-mail messages as soon as they arrive. Meanwhile, desktop users only read messages when they have access to their computer," wrote Trusteer CEO Mickey Boodaei. "Also, most fraudulent e-mails call for immediate action. For example, they usually claim that suspicious activity has been detected in the user's account and that immediate action is required. Most victims who fall for this ploy will visit the phishing site quickly." This is crucial, since internet providers and web hosts watch for phishing-style activity on their networks and often act quickly to block phishing sites. In a Marketplace Tech Report interview, internet security expert Anup Ghosh warned that one of the most insidious parts of e-mail phishing is that the fake alert e-mail might actually say the company is notifying you in response to a recent publicized security breach -- that is, the one they perpetrated. "It's a perfect cover," Ghosh noted. 2. Mobile users are three times more likely than desktop users to enter login information. The good news is that most people (mobile or not) don't enter any login information when they land on a phishing site. But among those who do, mobile users clearly were more likely to take this step into the phishing trap. 3. iPhone users are eight times more likely than BlackBerry users to access phishing sites. According to ComScore's latest figures, there are still more BlackBerry phones than iPhones in use in the U.S. market. According to Boodaei, it's "equally difficult to spot phishing websites on BlackBerry and iPhone devices." So why the disparity? Boodaei speculates that many BlackBerry users are business users who were issued their BlackBerry by their employer, ostensibly with at least some security training. In contrast, the iPhone is overwhelmingly a consumer device. How to protect yourself: Be skeptical of any e-mails that claim to come from companies that you do business with. Although phishing attempts are most likely immediately after a data breach, they can occur weeks or months later. So remain vigilant. Logos, e-mail addresses, and other visual clues to authenticity can be faked. Never click a link in an e-mail message that you don't trust 100%. Many web browsers (including mobile browsers) can be "infected" by malicious code just by accessing a website. But if you do click a link in an e-mail, make sure you never enter personal information on the resulting website. If you receive what may be a phishing attempt and have questions about whether your account may have been compromised, do this: Open a fresh Web browser window (on your computer or phone), access the real website of the company in question and log in to your account that way. Then check whether they've issued any security alerts. Or just look up the company's phone number and call them, an action that's especially easy from your mobile phone. Just make sure you don't just call whatever phone number is listed in the e-mail message. The opinions expressed in this post are solely those of Amy Gahran. | Epsilon, the largest permissions-based e-mail marketing company, was hacked .
Mobile users are more at risk of falling prey to phishing scams, according to a security firm .
Users should be skeptical of e-mails from companies they do business with . |
208,702 | 9a3d6ff913514876b0e60144e6e3aec735ae5947 | (CNN) -- Mitt Romney suspended his bid for the Republican presidential nomination Thursday, saying if he continued it would "forestall the launch of a national campaign and be making it easier for Senator Clinton or Obama to win." "In this time of war, I simply cannot let my campaign be a part of aiding a surrender to terror. This is not an easy decision. I hate to lose," the former Massachusetts governor said. "If this were only about me, I'd go on. But it's never been only about me. I entered this race because I love America, and because I love America, in this time of war I feel I have to now stand aside for our party and for our country." Romney made the announcement Thursday afternoon at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington. With Romney out, Sen. John McCain is locked in as the front-runner in the GOP race. Romney had won 286 delegates through the Super Tuesday contests, compared with McCain's 697. The crowd booed when Romney mentioned McCain, saying, "I disagree with Sen. McCain on a number of issues." Watch as Romney bows out » . "But I agree with him on doing whatever it takes to be successful in Iraq, on finding and executing Osama bin Laden, and I agree with him on eliminating al Qaeda and terror worldwide," he said. According to a senior McCain adviser, McCain called Romney and told him he "admired his speech today and that he was a tough competitor." McCain also told Romney he looks forward to sitting down with him at the earliest opportunity. McCain did not ask Romney for his endorsement. Democratic candidates Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama viewed Romney as a more vulnerable candidate, preferring to run against him rather than McCain, CNN senior political correspondent Candy Crowley said. "They were looking at Mitt Romney as pretty doable in the political sense saying, 'This is a guy that has a record that we can really run with' and they ran with it in the Republican Party as you know, saying that he used to be pro-choice, now he's anti-abortion. He has changed his position on stem cells, he has changed his position on gay unions, that sort of thing," she said. As recently as Wednesday, Romney met with aides to discuss strategy to stay in the race through March 4. Although he outspent his rivals, Romney received just 175 delegates on Super Tuesday, compared with at least 504 for McCain and 141 for former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, according to CNN estimates. Romney came in first in Massachusetts, Alaska, Minnesota, Colorado and Utah on Super Tuesday. In the early voting contests, he won Nevada, Maine, Michigan and Wyoming. After his win in the first-in-the-nation Iowa caucuses, Huckabee became Romney's chief rival for the party's conservative vote. Huckabee on Tuesday won Arkansas, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama and West Virginia. Romney entered the race in early 2007 after finishing his single term as governor with the support of much of the GOP's conservative establishment. He had campaigned as the viable conservative alternative to McCain, who has infuriated much of the party's activist base over the years. But voters "just didn't get a sense of him that gave enough of them enough confidence," said former education secretary and radio talk-show host Bill Bennett. "A lot of people couldn't get comfortable with Romney for one reason or another -- changes in position; 'Why is he going this way? He's a businessman, why does he sound like he is a born-again Christian?' People were just not sure of what the message was," Bennett said. The 60-year-old former investment banker touted his management credentials throughout the campaign, citing his experience in Massachusetts and his turnaround of the scandal-plagued 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah. Despite pouring millions of his own fortune into the campaign, Romney struggled after Huckabee upset him in the Iowa caucuses and McCain came from behind to beat him in New Hampshire. "Primaries are a killing field," said CNN senior political analyst Bill Schneider. "They take losing candidates and get their bodies off the field." Suspending a campaign has a different meaning depending on the party. On the Republican side, decisions on how to allocate delegates are left to the state parties. On the Democratic side, a candidate who "suspends" is technically still a candidate, so he or she keeps both district and statewide delegates won through primaries and caucuses. Superdelegates are always free to support any candidate at any time, whether the candidate drops out, suspends or stays in. National party rules say a candidate who "drops out" keeps any district-level delegates he or she has won so far but loses any statewide delegates he or she has won. E-mail to a friend . CNN's Robert Yoon, Dana Bash and chief national correspondent John King contributed to this report. | Romney: "I cannot let my campaign be a part of aiding a surrender to terror"
GOP hopeful won 286 delegates through the Super Tuesday contests .
Primaries are a killing field, says CNN senior political analyst Bill Schneider .
John McCain locks in front-runner position . |
74,411 | d2f742a0c95bc917a17b32760b0a9392bf44c8b0 | By . Anna Hodgekiss . PUBLISHED: . 10:11 EST, 12 November 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 02:59 EST, 17 May 2013 . A mother pregnant with twins has spoken movingly about her emotional journey after one baby died during pregnancy – but may have saved her twin sister's life in doing so. Kerry Carruthers, 32, from Truro, Cornwall was 24 weeks pregnant when one of her twin baby girls died following laser surgery to correct twin to twin transfusion syndrome. The condition develops in around 15 per cent of identical twins who share a placenta and blood supply in the womb. Kerry Carruthers lost one one of her twin daughters, Maddison, while pregnant. It was later claimed this saved baby Lucia's life, as the twins had been sharing a placenta. Pictured with older brother Morgan . One gets too little blood and amniotic fluid, which means it cannot grow very well. Between 80 and 90 per cent of babies die if the condition is not treated. One of Ms Carruthers’ babies died in the womb during the procedure and to save the life of the other, she faced the heartbreak of carrying her dead baby until she went into labour naturally. But despite her devastating news, she says carrying the twin – later named Maddison – for six weeks over Christmas and New Year was a privilege as she got to 'keep her close', while she came to terms with her loss and prepared for a birth and a funeral. Her surviving daughter, Lucia, was given a one in 500,000 chance but was born healthy. Ms Carruthers said: ‘It was utterly devastating to learn one of my twins had died. But even though I was shocked when I was told I would have to carry her until I went into labour, I was also relieved. It may sound strange but I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to her. ‘I felt privileged to have more time with her to come to terms with my loss before she was born and as my bump continued to grow I planned for a funeral and a birth. ‘It was heartbreaking picking a coffin for one daughter and a cot for the other, but I still bought them the same blankets and teddies because I loved them equally. ‘I got to spend one Christmas with Maddison in my tummy as nature intended and for that I consider myself fortunate. Other mums who lose babies do not get the chance to hold them close until they are ready to say goodbye as I did.’ Baby Lucia in intensive care when she was first born, nine weeks early (and right, with Morgan). The twins had been suffering from twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome and Maddison had died in the womb six weeks earlier . Ms Carruthers was delighted to discover at 18 weeks that she was carrying twin girls. But there was bad news at 23 weeks when following another scan her twins were diagnosed with suffering from twin to twin transfusion syndrome, a condition that only affects identical twins. The blood flow from their shared placenta wasn’t divided equally which meant one twin wasn’t getting enough blood and her organs were struggling. Twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome develops in around 15 per cent of . identical twins who share a placenta and blood supply in the womb. One gets too little blood and amniotic fluid, which means it cannot grow very well. The other gets too much of both, so its heart and circulation struggle . to cope. This twin often squashes the other against the wall of the . womb. Between 80 and 90 per cent of babies die if TTTS is not treated, and . those who live are likely to have heart or kidney problems or serious . neurological problems, such as cerebral palsy. The laser ablation procedure has recently been approved for use in the . UK to treat TTTS. Although the surgery is risky, the procedure has . greatly improved the chances for twins with the syndrome. The other baby was getting too much, putting pressure on her heart, and both of their lives were at risk. In the days that followed the condition became progressively worse and she was offered a termination. She said: ‘I asked the doctors to be honest and they said the situation was so serious they didn’t expect either of my babies to survive. I was devastated. ‘But I insisted no matter how bad it was termination was not an option. My babies deserved a chance.’ The consultant explained the only hope was laser surgery to try to even out the blood supply. Ms Carruthers was awake while it was performed and watched her babies on a screen throughout. She said: ‘The surgeon warned that if either began to struggle or even died during the operation the surgery would continue as it was vital to the survival of the other baby. ‘My heart was hammering and my eyes were fixed on the screen the whole time. They were wriggling and yawning and so unaware of the danger they were in. It was so detailed I could even see they both had blonde hair. It was heartbreaking.’ When the procedure was complete the surgeon confirmed that both babies were still alive. ‘I was utterly relieved, but I knew we weren’t out of the woods,' said Ms Carruthers. She woke the next morning with a terrible feeling that something was wrong. ‘Call it mother’s intuition, but I just knew something terrible had happened. I drove straight to the hospital.’ Ms Carruthers said: 'It was heart-breaking picking a coffin for one daughter and a cot for the other but I still bought them the same blankets and teddies because I loved them equally' Five weeks after her birth in January 2011, weighing 3lb 2oz, a healthy Lucia was allowed home . A scan confirmed her worst fear. One of her babies had died. ‘Tears rolled down my face as I looked at the monitor. One baby lay lifeless at the bottom of the screen while my other twin kicked and wriggled around her.’ It was then that she was told the only chance of saving her surviving twin was to carry her dead twin until she went into labour naturally or reached term. ‘I was shocked but also relieved. I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to my girl. It meant I could be her mummy and keep her close while I tried to come to terms with the fact she had died.’ She named the twin that had died Maddison and picked Lucia for her surviving sister. ‘I prayed that Lucia would survive and started to prepare for her arrival. But I also had to prepare to say goodbye to Maddision. ‘It was heartbreaking and surreal planning a funeral and a birth. I loved them both so equally I wanted to do the best for them both.’ ‘It was almost Christmas and people had bought the twins lots of matching outfits. I had to pack one of each set away knowing my baby girl would never get the chance to wear them. On New Year’s Day 2011 Ms Carruthers went into labour – still only 30 weeks pregnant. She said: I was told they needed to take me into theatre for an emergency C-section. But first I wanted to phone the undertakers to let them know. Lucia will be two in January . 'I wanted Maddison to be collected and taken care of as soon as she was born. I wanted her to be taken somewhere private to rest with dignity after all she had been through.’ Four hours later, she woke up in recovery and was handed a picture of her daughter Lucia who weighed 3lb 2oz having been born in the early hours of January 2nd. ‘She was tiny, covered in tubes and wires, but she was alive. I sagged with relief when the midwife assured me she was doing well.’ The midwife also explained that Maddison had been dressed and wrapped in the blanket her mother had bought her and Kerry was offered the chance to see her. ‘I said no because she had already been dead for six weeks. I wanted to remember her as she had been inside me, alive.’ Just 12 days later Ms Carruthers carried her daughter's coffin into the church for a final farewell. ‘Of course it broke my heart but I had to be strong for her sister Lucia and my son Morgan who needed me too,' she said. Five weeks on. Lucia was allowed home. She’s now a happy one year old and one day her mother plans to tell her about her twin. ‘I’ve been told that Maddison dying saved Lucia’s life. I could have lost them both but I’m lucky enough to have one of my daughter’s with me when I feared losing them both. I will always miss Maddison but I know how lucky I am to have Lucia.’ | Kerry Carruthers, 32, was 24 weeks pregnant when one twin died following .
laser surgery to correct twin to twin transfusion syndrome .
Condition affects 15 per cent of identical twins who share a placenta and blood supply in the womb .
Told one twin dying had saved the other one's life .
Carried both twins until she gave birth at 30 weeks . |
23,956 | 43f880129a48751b9d857e6f0f4a79aba4d7e06a | The mother of murdered schoolgirl Sarah Payne has been forced to quit Twitter after years of 'unrelenting' abuse, mainly by trolls delighting in the death of her daughter. Dr Sara Payne endured 'stalking and harassment' online, including by a convicted paedophile, her closest friend has said. Shy Keenan, who is a child protection campaigner said today Ms Payne was 'forced to close down her Twitter account' and called for the suspects to be arrested. The abuse Dr Payne suffered increased in recent weeks, particularly after the death of her ex-husband Michael, 45. Shame: Dr Sara Payne, left, has quit Twitter after unrelenting abuse by trolls, particularly about the murder of her daughter . He died alone in his armchair after being driven to drink and despair by the death of his daughter and his family said he was tortured by 'the fact he wasn't there to protect her'. Their daughter was snatched by paedophile Roy Whiting from a field near her grandparents' home in West Sussex, where she was playing with older brothers Luke and Lee and younger sister Charlotte in 2000. Tragedy: The abuse Dr Payne suffered increased in recent weeks, particularly after the death of her ex-husband Michael, 45, pictured . Mr Payne spoke of his battle with depression in the aftermath of the ordeal, when he suffered recurring nightmares and used alcohol to cope with her death. Michael Payne and his then wife made a series of heart-rending appeals for her safe return, but her body was discovered 16 days later in a shallow grave just a few miles away. Whiting was sentenced to life behind bars in January 2001, in what became one of Britain's most high profile child murder cases. It later emerged that Whiting was already on the Sex Offenders Register after abducting and sexually attacking another eight-year-old. The death of his daughter became one of Britain's most high profile child-murder cases and Mrs Payne later campaigned for ‘Sarah’s Law’. The rule allows concerned parents or grandparents to contact police to find out if a new boyfriend, or a neighbour, who has contact with a child, has a history of child sex offending. Mr and Mrs Payne ended their 18-year marriage three years after the disappearance and both blamed the 'overwhelming' strains of coping with their tragic loss. Sarah's mother, 45, went on to campaign for a change in legislation to allow parents to know if convicted child sex offenders live nearby, known as Sarah's Law. Monster: Roy Whiting loses his temper during a police interview over the murder of Sarah Payne. In 2001 he was jailed for life with no parole . She has been awarded an MBE and an honorary doctorate for her work and told recently how it had given her 'much-needed focus' amid the grief and her severe post-traumatic stress disorder. Mrs Payne also suffered a stroke in 2009 which has left her walking with the assistance of a stick. Sara and Michael Payne pictured outside Lewes Crown Court following the conviction of Whiting . In December 2001, Roy Whiting was sentenced to life in prison with a recommendation that he never be released after a jury found him guilty of the abduction and murder of Sarah Payne. After his conviction was entered, the court heard he had a previous conviction for the kidnap and indecent assault of a nine-year-old girl. The jury, who had been unaware of the previous sex conviction, were told Whiting had been sentenced to four years in jail for the sex attack in June 1995. Revelations Whiting already had a history of child abuse prior to the killing of Sarah prompted a national debate about how paedophiles are dealt with in the justice system. Mr and Mrs Payne began actively campaigning for a law change, piling pressure on ministers to allow people to know about convicted paedophiles living in their area. In the wake of Whiting's sentencing, Mrs Payne said: 'The Government only can make this decision. Right now, we have got a lot of work to do and it doesn't stop here. It just begins. You know what change I want, Sarah's Law.' The rule, eventually introduced in 2011, allows concerned parents or grandparents to contact police to find out if a new boyfriend, or a neighbour, who has contact with a child, has a history of child sex offending. The scheme is a watered-down version of similar laws in the U.S. under which details of where convicted paedophiles live are actively publicised. In 2008, Mrs Payne was awarded an MBE for her tireless campaigning on the issue. | Dr Sara Payne was 'stalked and harassed' - including by a paedophile .
The abuse increased after the death of her ex-husband Michael last month .
Their daughter was abducted and murdered by Roy Whiting in 2000 .
Trolls have been persistently delighting in her eight-year-old's death . |
17,656 | 3207021c299c397879f0a777cc062196e11192aa | (CNN) -- Do you get it? Translation: Are you strategic? How often have you overheard a group talking about a leader and saying, "She/he just doesn't get it?" Do they say that about you? A Wall Street Journal survey of corporate human resources and leadership-development executives identified "strategic thinking" as the business skill most sought by organizations. So how can you continually hone your strategic-thinking skills in order to provide value to the organization and advance your career? The fact is, most of us are now required to be more successful with fewer resources. Let's focus on the theme that's at the heart of being strategic: differentiation. In order to realize our full potential, we must embrace the style that makes us unique -- whatever it might be. Is our style quiet and introverted, or outgoing and extroverted? Do we thrive in an orderly, structured arena, or one that is constantly changing and requires a great deal of flexibility and improvisation? Success goes to those who are willing to be different in ways that bring value to others. Read more: The army guide to negotiation . Excellence, by its very definition, is deviation from the norm. The norm is an average, or a standard level. It's where the majority of people wind up, even though there is no such thing as a "normal" human being. Everyone has a unique style built on differences in background, abilities, temperament, and so forth. The difficult thing is uncovering and living that unique style. A manager whose products and services represent the norm for the industry may break even or make a modest profit. A person who lives by following the herd, and who is not willing to take the risks that will let his or her true gifts shine through, may be comfortable. But neither will ever know the exhilaration of finding what differentiates them and letting authenticity drive their individual success. We are all different from one another; our strategies need to be different as well. Strategy is inherently about doing different things than the competition or doing the same things in different ways than the competition. It's not about being better, it's about being different. Better is often subjective: Is blueberry pie better than lemon meringue? It depends, but it's definitely different and I can sell you on those differences. Differentiation in the studio . British artist Damien Hirst has taken a dramatic approach to art by performing it in a different way. He created a series of artworks in which dead animals (including a shark, a sheep, and a cow) are preserved -- sometimes after having been dissected -- in formaldehyde. While his artwork -- such as "The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living," featuring a shark in a tank of formaldehyde -- caused great debate on what is or is not art, one thing can't be denied: his ability to differentiate himself and his work through a well-conceived strategy that has jolted the business world of art. Hirst's different artistic activity has propelled him to become reportedly Britain's richest living artist, with his wealth valued at nearly $350 million. Read more: What's your career superpower? Differentiation in the kitchen . While Hirst employed different activities in the world of art, award-winning chef Grant Achatz has taken the common activity of cooking and is transforming it in different ways. Named the 2008 top chef in the United States by the James Beard Foundation, he is the owner of Alinea, Restaurant Magazine's best restaurant in North America in 2011. Now Achatz has conceived a new concept. His latest restaurant, Next, serves four menus per year, from great moments in culinary history or the future, such as Paris 1912, Sicily 1949, and Hong Kong 2036. Instead of reservations, bookings are made more like those for a play or a sporting event. Tickets are fully inclusive of all charges, including service. Ticket price depends on which seating you buy: Saturday at 8 pm is more expensive than Wednesday at 9:30 pm. Next also offers an annual subscription to all four menus at a discount, with preferred seating. Achatz has taken the common activity of running a restaurant and is constantly finding new ways to do it differently. Discover your differentiation . Five questions to help you discover your differentiation this year: . 1. What are the activities I perform that are truly different from those others perform? 2. What are the similar activities I perform in different ways than others do? 3. What characteristics or traits do I have that are unique to me? 4. What resources do I have that are different from those of others? 5. What is the primary differentiated value I bring to people in my life? Most books and training programs only address the first three levels of strategy: corporate, business unit and functional group. In reality, these are all subsets of the most important level of strategy: you. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Rich Horwath. | "We must embrace the style that makes us unique," says Rich Horwath .
Horwath says everyone has their own unique style that can help their career .
He asks five questions to help you discover your differentiation . |
215,421 | a2d9d6c5c9f25def7c55e823e3934bf80f8b45e6 | By . Jessica Jerreat . PUBLISHED: . 10:14 EST, 7 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 14:29 EST, 7 November 2013 . A South Florida nudist facing child porn charges has claimed photos of his three daughters, aged 8 to 12, are family portraits. Brian Martens, who lives at a Palm Beach nudist colony, claimed there was nothing sexual about the photos, which were taken by a neighbor who has since been convicted of child pornography. Martens admits he gave professional photographer Leslie Grey Vanaman permission to take pictures of his daughters, but at least one photo was a close up of a girl's genital area, investigators claimed. Family friendly: Brian Martens was living at the Sunsport Gardens naturist resort with his three daughters . A grand jury has voted that there is enough evidence to indict 53-year-old Martens on one count of producing child pornography and one count of receiving it, according to the Sun Sentinel. At a hearing on Wednesday Magistrate Judge Bill Matthewman agreed, and told the court: 'Several of these photos the court has . reviewed are lascivious ... They are, in the court's opinion, sexually . explicit.' Martens, who passed a background check before moving to the Sunsport Gardens Family Naturist Resort, was investigated earlier this year after Homeland Security found inappropriate photos of his children on Vanaman's computer. The Sunsport Gardens nudist colony was founded by Hugo Forester in 1965, as a 'happy place for all living things'. He turned a 40-acre tomato farm into a tropical resort with swimming pools, saunas and volleyball facilities. The family friendly resort has a community of permanent residents as well as cabins and camping facilities for visitors. Everyone must have membership to the resort, which does background checks. Membership fees start at $487 for a year. Nudity is expected, weather permitting, but in the pool and sauna everyone must be naked. The resort reminds first-time visitors that it is polite to maintain eye contact and not 'gawk'. Sunsport has no liquor license and smoking has been banned, though guests are asked to carry a towel to sit on at all times. Written permission is needed before taking photos in communal parts of the resort. Vanaman, the owner of A Shade of Grey Photography, is serving a 60-year sentence after pleading guilty to receiving and possessing child pornography. An attorney for Martens has agreed that one of the photos was pornographic but argued that his client didn't know it existed and hadn't given permission for it to be taken when he hired Vanaman to take professional portraits. 'The girls have no clothes on … but . they're not doing anything of a sexual nature,' Mr Eisenberg said. 'In . the context that everybody in this family are naturists … these photos . are not lewd or pornographic in any way. Martens, who is raising his daughters alone, 'cried when he viewed the images,' Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandy Brentari Galler said. Martens' daughters have been taken into protective custody. Their mother lives . in Illinois and was said to have supported their decision to live year-round in a . nudist colony with their father. He claimed he had only given permission for naturist photos to be taken, but an investigation of Martens' computer revealed he had signed releases and received more than 50 photos containing child pornography between 2010 and 2012, Mr Galler told the court. Emails between Martens, Vanaman and a third unidentified man discussed the 'sensuality and sexuality' of the images, agents claimed. Vetted: Sunsport Gardens' spokesman Morley Schloss says residents undergo background checks before being allowed to move to the Florida site . Martens also allegedly claimed his daughters 'opened doors' for him in the naturist community, investigators said. None . of the photos depicted sexual activity or adults abusing children, the . agents said, adding that some of the photos showed scenes such as the . girls baking cookies while naked. Jailed: Leslie Grey Vanaman is serving a 60-year-sentence for child pornography . The prosecution argued however that . images not shown in court were more disturbing, including ones of girls . in 'sexually suggestive poses'. The . prosecution is arguing that the definition of child porn is images . designed to evoke a sexual response and don't have to be explicit. Martens' daughters are currently in foster care but they are expected to be returned to their mother. Morley Schloss, spokesman for Sunsport Gardens, said the . allegations against Martens and Vanaman were an isolated aberration. 'We investigate . people, and Mr Martens had no record of any kind,' Mr Schloss said. 'We would never tolerate any . exploitation.' He told WPBF 25 after Vanaman's arrest that the photographer had passed a background check. The community also has strict rules about taking photographs in common areas. Martens, who has pleaded not guilty, could face between 15 and 30 years in federal prison if convicted of the . child porn production charge, and 5 to 20 years if convicted of . receiving child pornography. He has been kept in custody with bond after a judge ruled he was a flight risk and posed 'a clear risk of danger to the community, and specifically to his daughters'. | 53-year-old raising three girls alone at Florida nudist colony had nude images on computer .
Pictures were taken by neighbor who has been jailed over child pornography . |
217,697 | a5dde0b0ab2debdaf5faf41755d2831093117d4c | Islamabad, Pakistan (CNN) -- Pakistan's former cricket star turned politician, Imran Khan, has returned home after hospital treatment for injuries suffered in a dramatic fall two weeks ago, he said Wednesday via Twitter. Khan suffered spinal fractures and a head injury when he toppled from a forklift that was raising him up to a stage as he campaigned in Lahore for elections held on May 11. "By the grace of Allah I am now home. Want to thank everyone 4 their prayers," Khan tweeted Wednesday. Khan, who heads the Tehreek-e-Insaf party, or PTI, added that he hoped to continue political meetings to "plan future strategies." The party's information secretary, Shireen Mazari, told CNN that Khan had left the hospital Wednesday morning and was now at home with his family in Lahore. "He is walking around on and off, however he still needs a lot of rest," she said. Khan is wearing a back brace for support and is hopeful he will make a full recovery very soon, Mazari said. The party said Tuesday that Khan had been able to stand unsupported and walk for the first time since the injury two weeks ago with the help of the specially fitted back brace. X-rays showed his spine was healing well, the PTI statement said. "He will continue to receive regular physiotherapy and is likely to need to wear the spinal support for some weeks to come," it said. "Imran will gradually increase physical activity over the next few weeks with a return to his full functional capacity expected in approximately six to eight weeks." Victory in the elections went to Nawaz Sharif, a two-time former prime minister, and his party, the Pakistan Muslim League. CNN's Shaan Khan reported from Islamabad and Laura Smith-Spark wrote in London. CNN's Stefan Simons contributed to this report. | "By the grace of Allah I am now home," Imran Khan tweets .
He was hospitalized with injuries suffered in a dramatic fall while campaigning .
Khan, who heads the Tehreek-e-Insaf party, plans to resume political meetings .
He suffered spinal fractures and a head injury in the fall two weeks ago . |
5,552 | 0fbf368e42ee268d0ed54582264d462d51a7eb2b | 'It shouldn't be five white men': Danny Cohen, the BBC's director of television, singled out Match of the Day for fresh criticism over the racial mix of pundits . Match Of The Day needs to become more diverse with fewer white men on its panel of pundits, the BBC has said. Days after announcing its dramas would include more black and gay actors to reflect modern Britain, the corporation turned its sights on sports shows. Danny Cohen, the BBC’s director of television, singled out BBC1’s Saturday football highlights programme for fresh criticism. He said: ‘If we have five people on a panel show, it shouldn’t be five white men. I think the same thing of Match Of The Day. It’s a very diverse sport and it shouldn’t be like that.’ Although Mr Cohen stopped short of calling for a diversity quota for Match of the Day hosts, he made it clear he expects to see changes to the make-up of sports panels in the near future. His comments may cause some anxiety for the programme’s current team of presenters. The weekly show is normally fronted by former England footballer Gary Lineker, 53, who is paid £1.5million-a-year for his services. He is often paired with his former teammate Alan Shearer, 43, and retired Scotland player Alan Hansen, 58, and they are frequently joined by a string of other white male pundits, including Robbie Fowler, 38, and Michael Owen, 34. The corporation does have some prominent black football pundits and has lined up Manchester United player Rio Ferdinand to join its World Cup team in Brazil this summer. The first female commentator to appear on Match of the Day was Jacqui Oatley in 2007, while Radio Five Live appointed Charlotte Green as the new voice of its classified sports results last year. Last month, Mr Cohen was embroiled in a row with one of the BBC’s top comics after he said it was ‘not acceptable’ to have all-male comedy panel shows and said every one filmed from now on will have at least one woman. His remarks were criticised by Mock the Week presenter Dara O’Briain, who said the move would make female guests appear to be ‘token women’. 'It¿s a very diverse sport and it shouldn¿t be like that': Although Mr Cohen stopped short of calling for a diversity quota, he made it clear he expects to see changes to the make-up of sports panels soon . But Mr Cohen reiterated his determination to change the gender balance of TV this week, saying: ‘There isn’t a problem on some of the panel shows - they try to have a good gender balance all the time. Others, it was like pushing water up a hill and we kept saying it, and it wasn’t happening. ‘We got to the point where we thought, this is not acceptable anymore, this doesn’t reflect the world we live in. ‘In a leadership role, I can either keep pushing and hope it’s going to evolve, or I can set some really clear examples to provide a beacon for what our expectations are.’ Speaking at a separate event, drama controller Ben Stephenson said he wants more black and gay actors on TV in a bid to ‘reflect Britain as it really is’. | Comes after BBC said dramas should have more black and gay actors . |
128,034 | 317c0ba60e18c9b5b0d0b635fd74d8995ff88851 | By . Suzannah Hills . PUBLISHED: . 01:20 EST, 4 June 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 02:01 EST, 5 June 2012 . Pope Benedict got no respite over the weekend from the ongoing Vatileaks scandal after documents emerged showing that his butler was not the only person in possession of confidential correspondence indicating a Vatican in disarray. Benedict, 85, ended a weekend trip to Italy's industrial and financial capital Milan with a closing mass for an international gathering in which he praised traditional Catholic family values and re-stated his opposition to gay marriage. But it came as the Rome newspaper La Repubblica published leaked documents it received anonymously after the arrest of the Pope's butler on May 23. No respite: Pope Benedict XVI waves to thousands of pilgrims as he arrives in his Popemobile at Bresso Airport near Milan to celebrate open mass as the Vatileaks scandal rumbles on . Rome newspaper La Repubblica has published leaked documents it received anonymously after the arrest of the Pope's butler, Paolo Gabriele (bottom left) on May 23 . Gabriele (right, carrying bags), 45, is currently being held on charges of aggravated theft but if he is charged with divulging state secrets he could receive a prison sentence of up to 30 years . A note received by the newspaper said there were 'hundreds more' documents and that the butler, Paolo Gabriele, was just a scapegoat. The newspaper said that in the note the person who sent the documents said the contents . had been whited out 'so as not to offend the Holy Father' but it contained a threat . to reveal them. The furore over the leaked correspondence, which shows power-hungry cardinals and scheming within the walls of the city state, has gripped the Vatican just as it was recovering from a long-running scandal over sexual abuse by Roman Catholic priests in the United States, Ireland and other countries. One letter, dated January 16, was sent by Cardinal Raymond Burke, an American who heads a Vatican department, to the Pope's secretary of state, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone. Burke complains that a decision regarding a liturgical matter was taken without consulting his office, which is responsible for such matters. The person who sent Repubblica the documents also provided two letters signed by the Pope's private secretary, Monsignor Georg Ganswein. The newspaper said those letters had everything but the letterhead and the signature whited out. Pope Benedict XVI acknowledges the thousands of pilgrims after celebrating an open air mass at Bresso Airport yesterday . Thousands gather for the mass celebrated by Pope Benedict XVI on the last day of the 7th World Meeting of Families at Bresso airport near Milan . Meanwhile, butler Gabriele, who is being held in a 'safe room' in the Vatican's police station, is expected to be questioned this week by a Vatican prosecutor who will decide if there are grounds to order him to stand trial. Gabriele, 45, is currently being held on charges of aggravated theft but if he is charged with divulging state secrets he could receive a prison sentence of up to 30 years. The person who sent the documents to the paper said Bertone and Ganswein were 'those really responsible for this scandal'. During his weekend trip to Milan, the pope has made no reference to the affair, which began in January 2011 when an Italian television show first aired leaked documents alleging cronyism and corruption in the Vatican. Last week, Italian journalist Gianluigi Nuzzi published the book 'His Holiness', which contained more documents. In his sermon closing the event in Milan, the Pope, speaking to a crowd of one million who had come from as far away as Zimbabwe and New Zealand, stressed again that the family must be based on marriage between man and woman and open to the possibility of having children. The ceremony at a park in Milan's northern outskirts was attended by Italian leaders including Prime Minister Mario Monti. The Pope made no mention of the leaks scandal but spoke of the damage to family life that modern society can inflict. He said: 'The one-sided logic of sheer utility and maximum profit are not conducive to harmonious development, to the good of the family or to building a more just society. '(This) brings in its wake ferocious competition, strong inequalities, degradation of the environment, the race for consumer goods, family tensions'. But he has previously said of the scandal: 'The events of recent days about the Curia and my collaborators have brought sadness in my heart.' But he added: 'I want to renew my trust in and encouragement of my closest collaborators and all those who every day, with loyalty and a spirit of sacrifice and in silence, help me fulfill my ministry.' | The Vatileaks scandal broke in January after a journalist revealed letters from a Vatican administrator begging the Pope not to sack him for corruption .
Over the following months other documents were leaked including a number from Benedict's own desk .
The scandal represents one of the greatest breaches of trust and security for the Holy See in recent memory .
Paolo Gabriele, the Pope's butler, has been arrested after papal documents were found in his Vatican City apartment . |
53,923 | 98df7c5979bbadfd5646ce1d770d8abd0f7778c9 | (CNN) -- The mayor of Springfield, Illinois, was found dead in his home Tuesday morning, the day he had been ordered to present an accounting of his cousin's estate to a judge. Illinois State Police say they are looking into the death of Mayor Tim Davlin, and no cause of death was disclosed Tuesday. Frank Kunz, a Springfield alderman who serves as mayor pro tem, said investigators "didn't say much of anything" at a news conference held shortly after Davlin was found dead in his home. "Basically, what they confirmed was, it was the mayor, and he's dead," Kunz said. "They actually didn't say much of anything." The 53-year-old, two-term Democrat was scheduled to appear before a judge Tuesday morning and account for the balance of his cousin's $845,000 estate, for which he served as executor. Margaret Ettelbrick, who died in 2003, had willed the remainder of her estate to Springfield Catholic Charities after leaving $635,000 to other beneficiaries, court documents show. In May, Catholic Charities told the court it had received only a partial payment of $25,000. The same month, the Internal Revenue Service filed a lien against Davlin's home, seeking nearly $90,000 in back taxes from 2003, 2005 and 2006, according to property records. In September, Davlin's lawyer quit, telling the court that the mayor had not provided him with the needed paperwork to account for the balance of the estate. Davlin told the judge last week that he had hired a new attorney, and he was ordered to report back to court Tuesday. In November, Davlin announced that he would not seek a third term in 2011. Kunz said the city of about 115,000 was "stunned" by news of his death. "Even when they had a press conference, they weren't sure all the relatives had been notified," he said. "But he was the mayor, so they had to do something." Kunz said city council members would name a new mayor at some point, but officials were still examining the laws governing mayoral succession. The city's administrative staff remains intact, and "If they had to sign anything, I can sign it," he said. Davlin was divorced and had four children. Police were called to his home about 8:50 a.m. and found the mayor "unresponsive," Springfield Police Chief Robert Williams said. He was declared dead soon afterward, and the investigation was turned over to state police, he said. "It's very early," Illinois State Police Capt. James Wolf said. "And as information develops and we are in a position to provide the media with more information, we will do so." CNN's Kara Devlin contributed to this report. | The mayor was found dead in his home Tuesday morning .
Alderman says Springfield was "stunned" by the news .
Davlin had been ordered into court in an estate lawsuit .
The IRS had also placed a lien on his home for unpaid taxes . |
61,543 | aed899987b9147718b742f0c5c398f13146a667d | WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President-elect Barack Obama plans to order the closing of the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay as early as his first week in office to show a break from the Bush administration's approach to the war on terror, according to two officials close to the transition. President-elect Barack Obama is expected to sign an order closing the prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. One of the officials said it would be in keeping with Obama's campaign promise to shut down the prison through executive order, a move which was also pushed by last year's Republican presidential nominee, Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona. "The president-elect has repeatedly said the legal framework at Gitmo has failed to successfully and swiftly prosecute terrorists," said one of the officials close to the transition, who was not authorized to speak publicly about private deliberations. Such a move would reassure those concerned after Obama's recent public comments suggested he may not immediately shut the prison down. Watch what may delay Gitmo's closing » . "It is more difficult than I think a lot of people realize and we are going to get it done, but part of the challenge that you have is that you have a bunch of folks that have been detained, many of whom who may be very dangerous who have not been put on trial or have not gone through some adjudication," Obama said on ABC's "This Week" on Sunday when asked whether he would close the prison in his first 100 days. Obama also said he was trying to develop a process that "adheres to rule of law" but "doesn't result in releasing people who are intent on blowing us up." "I think it's going to take some time and our legal teams are working in consultation with our national security apparatus as we speak, to help design exactly what we need to do," Obama said. "But I don't want to be ambiguous about this. We are going to close Guantanamo and we are going to make sure that the procedures we set up are ones that abide by our Constitution," he said. The military prison at Guantanamo Bay is a major issue because for critics of the Bush administration, it has become a symbol of mismanagement and overreach in the war on terror. At his final White House press conference on Monday, President Bush was asked whether the military prison and harsh interrogation tactics have damaged America's standing in the world. iReport.com: What should Obama do first? "I strongly disagree with the assessment that our moral standing has been damaged," Bush said. "It may be damaged amongst some of the elite. But people still understand America stands for freedom; that America is a country that provides such great hope." | President-elect Barack Obama plans to sign order closing Guantanamo Bay prison .
Obama says legal framework must be worked out before "Gitmo" can be closed .
Military prison holds terrorist suspects, including mastermind of 9/11 attacks . |
284,702 | fce28cfc07c13a73f405e83df697cbc4a42bbe74 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . Is this hanging on your wall? This painting sold for £3,000 on eBay eight years ago, but has now been established as an Impressionist masterpiece . If you paid £3,000 for this painting on eBay eight years ago, you might be sitting on an Impressionist masterpiece – and a small fortune. It was sold with another which has just been established as the work of French painter Edouard Vuillard, worth around £250,000. Now experts on the BBC show Fake Or Fortune have appealed for the owner of the eBay painting to come forward so they can tell them the good news. The antiques programme made the discovery when experts valued a painting owned by the writer Keith Tutt. He had bought the canvas, now established as the work of French painter Edouard Vuillard, for a knock-down price at an auction. It had previously been owned by art dealer Robert Warren - who revealed to presenters that it was one of a pair. He had sold the other painting, which depicts a couple eating oysters and drinking champagne, on eBay but he could not remember who had bought it. Fiona Bruce, who co-hosts the programme, said: 'You can't miss this painting. It's very large at four feet high and an unusual oval shape. 'Whoever bought it off eBay has bagged themselves the bargain of the century. 'We've done all the forensic and investigative work to prove it's genuine - now we just need to find the owner and tell them the good news. Scroll down for video . Artwork: Experts on Fake Or Fortune have appealed for the owner of the eBay painting to come forward . Other paintings by Edouard Vuillard: Grandmother Michaud in Silhouette, 1890 (left), and Misia and Vallotton at Villeneuve, 1899 (right) 'Someone, somewhere in the world is sitting on a fortune.' Another of Vuillard's paintings, called Les Couturieres, sold for more than £5million in a Christie's auction in 2009 and experts value the newly discovered works at around £250,000 each. Co-presenter Philip Mould said: 'This is a wonderful example of what can happen in this programme. 'In the course of making the programme we . threw everything into the pot in terms of forensics, science, . historical (provenance) research, and even established that it been . painted in distemper made from boiling hot animal glue. BBC One - Fake or Fortune? Artist's eye: The discovery was made by the BBC show Fake or Fortune, hosted by Fiona Bruce and Philip Mould . Online: Robert Warren sold the painting on eBay (file picture) but could not remember who had bought it . 'An amazing add-on has been to prove that now there is out there, possibly hanging above someone's fireplace, this further missing treasure. And they almost certainly don't know it.' 'Whoever bought it off eBay has bagged themselves the bargain of the century' Fiona Bruce . This week a painting of King Henry VIII, which had been hanging in a Wiltshire stately home for more than 300 years, jumped in value from £10,000 to £1 million after experts decided it was the last painted before his death. They dated the oil painting to 1547 by studying tree rings in the oak panel on which it was created. In September, meanwhile, a lost Van Gogh painting found in a Norwegian attic was finally confirmed as a work of the tortured artist, despite the fact he was not proud enough of it to sign the canvas. | Art dealer sold work online eight years ago - but has forgotten who to .
BBC show Fake or Fortune has established it is by Edouard Vuillard .
The impressionist masterpiece is now worth an estimated £250,000 .
Presenter Fiona Bruce: 'Someone, somewhere, is sitting on a fortune' |
272,744 | ed3db8bbcf1ba92d39cef9cfdf48d1c0bbab402b | (CNN) -- Lessons learned from previous successful airliner ditchings helped pilot C.B. "Sully" Sullenberger save 155 lives when he put his US Airways A320 jetliner down in the Hudson River, a fellow pilot told CNN. An Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 767 is seen just before it crashes into the sea off the Comoro Islands in 1996. Twenty-three people died when an Overseas National Airways DC-9 ditched off the Caribbean island of St. Croix in 1970, and 123 were killed in the crash of an Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 767 off the Comoro Islands near Africa in 1996. But Emilio Corsetti, an Airbus 320 pilot and aviation author, said those ditchings were actually successful "because people were able to get out" -- 40 in the 1970 crash and 52 in the 1996 incident. More may have survived if those planes were equipped like the Airbus 320 and if passengers followed standard evacuation procedures, Corsetti told CNN. Watch how to survive a plane crash » . In fact, Corsetti said, the 1970 crash helped lead to a redesign of seat belts. The belts aboard the DC-9 were "metal-to-fabric," Corsetti said, depending upon tension to keep passengers strapped in their seats. "Those things gave out... People were thrown out of their seats 10 rows up," said Corsetti, who has written a book, "35 Miles from Shore," about the 1970 crash. On the Hudson River on Thursday, the impact was like "being inside a car that crashes," passenger Alberto Panero said. Corsetti also said that the DC-9 didn't have life raft capacity for all those aboard. Unlike the A320's escape slides, which helped dozens of passengers get out, the DC-9s rafts could hold only three or four. In the 1996 crash, the Ethiopian Airlines 767 was attempting a water landing off the Grand Comoro Island during a hijacking. The plane had run out of fuel. While it is uncertain whether there was a struggle in the cockpit, video shows the 767 nearing the ocean's surface. As it does, the plane's left engine hits a reef, Corsetti said, sending it into a cartwheel. He said the majority of the 123 who died drowned. They had put on life vests and inflated them before they could get out of the splintered fuselage, he said, and were trapped against the bulkheads as water filled the wreckage. Sullenberger had other advantages, too, Corsetti said. Putting the jetliner down into the placid Hudson River probably helped him keep the plane level. The DC-9 pilot faced 8- to 15-foot seas in the 1970 ditching and the Ethiopian jet was dealing with offshore waves. Watch a pilot describe how plane went down » . The A320 also is equipped with a ditching button, Corsetti said, which closes all valves below the waterline, enabling it to float more easily. No matter the lessons learned from the earlier crashes, US Airways passengers were happy Sullenberger was in the cockpit Thursday. "He's the man! He's absolutely the man!" passenger Vince Spera said. "If you want to talk to a hero, get a hold of him because that is the hero in this whole deal." CNN's Wayne Drash contributed to this report. | Lessons from 1970 DC-9 ditching into Caribbean, 1996 crash off Comoro Islands .
DC-9 seat belt failure lead to new design; jet didn't have enough life rafts .
Passengers in 1996 crash inflated vests before getting out, were trapped .
A320s have a "ditching button" to close valves, allowing jet to float longer . |
202,969 | 92c7d77ffa4d5266197bd2d6ef6388d4443c15a8 | Lib Dem MP David Ward has been summoned to meet party enforcers next week to explain the comments about the Holocaust he posted on his website . A Liberal Democrat MP facing disciplinary action after accusing 'the Jews' of atrocities against Palestinians has issued a public apology for causing 'unintended offence.' David Ward's comments - posted on his website ahead of tomorrow's Holocaust Memorial Day - were condemned by party chiefs and sparked a furious backlash. He initially strongly defended the article and hit out at criticisms by the party - which summoned him to the Whip's Office for a meeting on Monday morning. But in a new post this afternoon he said he 'never for a moment intended to criticise or offend the Jewish people as a whole, either as a race or as a people of faith, and apologise sincerely for the unintended offence which my words caused.' 'I recognise of course the deep sensitivities of these issues at all times, and particularly on occasions of commemoration such as this weekend,' he added. Mr Ward said that in raising the treatment of the Palestinians he had simply been 'trying to make clear that everybody needs to learn the lessons of the Holocaust.' 'I will continue to make criticisms of actions in Palestine in the strongest possible terms for as long as Israel continues to oppress the Palestinian people,' he added. The Bradford East MP composed his original posting after signing a Holocaust memorial book in the city, describing Auschwitz as 'the Nazi concentration and extermination camp which is the site of the largest mass murder in history.' This week Prime Minister David Cameron signed a book of remembrance to mark Holocaust Memorial Day in Downing Street . But in the addition which caused the . uproar, he added: 'Having visited Auschwitz twice - once with my family . and once with local schools - I am saddened that the Jews, who suffered . unbelievable levels of persecution during the Holocaust, could within a . few years of liberation from the death camps be inflicting atrocities on . Palestinians in the new State of Israel and continue to do so on a . daily basis in the West Bank and Gaza.' A Liberal Democrat spokesman said: . ‘This is a matter we take extremely seriously. The Liberal Democrats . deeply regret and condemn the statement issued by David Ward and his use . of language which is unacceptable.’ Holocaust Memorial Day marks the 68th . anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp, . where more than one million people, mostly Jews, were killed – many . shot, starved or victims of the gas chambers. Homosexuals, political . dissidents and the handicapped were also victims. Horror: Holocaust Memorial Day marks the 68th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp, where more than one million people, mostly Jews, were killed . The MP, who said he had attended a . Holocaust memorial event in Bradford yesterday which was ‘extremely . moving’ said he hoped the chief whip would respect his views. In an interview yesterday he said: . ‘What better day to raise the issue of learning from one of the worst . examples of inhumanity.’ He told The Commentator website: ‘It appears . that the suffering by the Jews has not transformed their views on how . others should be treated.’ On his website, Mr Ward said he had . ‘signed a Book of Commitment in the House of Commons, in doing so . pledging his commitment to Holocaust Memorial Day’ and describes . Auschwitz as ‘the Nazi concentration and extermination camp which is the . site of the largest mass murder in history.’ Karen Pollock, chief executive of the . Holocaust Educational Trust, said: ‘I am deeply saddened that at this . sombre time, when we remember those who were murdered by the Nazis, Mr . Ward has deliberately abused the memory of the Holocaust causing deep . pain and offence - these comments are sickening and unacceptable and . have no place in British politics.’ Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg is understood to be furious with Mr Ward and condemned his remarks . Jon Benjamin, chief executive of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, said: ‘We are outraged and shocked at these offensive comments about Jewish victims of the Holocaust and the suggestion that Jews should have learned a lesson from the experience. ‘For an MP to have made such comments on the eve of Holocaust Memorial Day is even more distasteful, and we welcome the fact that the Liberal Democrats have sought to disassociate the party from David Ward's comments.’ Tory MP Robert Halfon said his comments were ‘a tragic trivialisation of real evil.’ He said ‘It should be remembered that Israel withdrew from Gaza completely and yet has faced a barrage of 7000+ missiles from Hamas and been the victim of hundreds of terrorist suicide bombers and been attacked by all its neighbours in 1948, 1967 and 1973.’ Mr Ward has previously described Israel as an ‘apartheid regime’. Liberal Democrat Baroness Jenny Tonge has twice been fired from the frontbench for her anti-Israel comments. In 2004, she claimed she might become a suicide bomber if she lived in the West Bank or Gaza, and was sacked as the party’s spokesman on children’s issues. She was sacked as health spokesman in 2010 for accusing Israeli soldiers of harvesting body parts in Haiti while doing humanitarian work after the earthquake, and this year said ‘Israel is not going to be there forever.’ | Bradford East MP condemned for linking Israeli treatment of Palestine with WWII 'death camps'
Party enforcers demand a meeting next week to discuss his future .
Holocaust Educational Trust slams 'sickening' comments on MP's website . |
268,254 | e7782c9a743e28db4ee3d795d97c64143cd19260 | (CNN) -- An environmentally-friendly surfboard has taken to the waves after five years in development. Surf's up: Mark Harris tries out the Eden eco-surfboard. British profession surfer Mark "Egor" Harris was one of the first to try the British-made board at Fistral beach in Cornwall, England, giving its performance and eco-credentials the thumbs up. "It felt good and I can see these boards being popular with surfers. We spend a lot of time on the beach and in the sea and surfers have been campaigning to clean up the oceans for years. This board goes hand-in-hand with that philosophy," said Harris. The surfboard has been in development in the south west of England for five years and is the culmination of a collaboration between the Eden Project gardens and biosphere and three local companies. Chris Hines, former sustainability director of the Eden Project and a lifelong surfer and committed environmentalist came up with the idea for the board when a balsa tree had to be taken down in the rainforest biome. "I said, well, let's make a completely sustainable surfboard, because I knew people who could laminate in hemp cloth and plant-based resin, so we went for it. It was a eureka moment: we thought, let's really have a go, let's really see what we can do," he told CNN. Hines and the Eden Project team soon realized that balsa and hemp cloth were too heavy for commercially viable surfboards, but desire remained to produce a surfboard that reduces the reliance on petroleum chemicals and uses more sustainable materials. The Eden team worked with local company Homeblown to create a new type of foam core for the eco-board, 15 to 20 percent of which is made from plant derived material. Another local Cornish company, Sustainable Composites, developed a resin made almost entirely from linseed oil instead of oil-derived coatings, meaning over 50 percent of the final finished surfboards are made from renewable materials. Completing the use of local companies, the boards are being manufactured by surfboard shapers, Laminations. Junior British surfing champion Tassy Swallow is set to compete at the International Surfing Association World Junior Championships in Ecuador on a new Eden surfboard. "It's a really good board, it worked really well," said Swallow after her first outing on the board. "It feels a lot more buoyant in the nose which makes it easier to catch waves. It will really catch on when people realize that it's as good as a regular board." | New eco-surfboard made with over 50 percent renewable materials .
Developed by Eden Project in England in tandem with local companies .
Manufacturers hope it will appeal to surfers who are traditionally eco-conscious . |
243,098 | c69d8856213fd7da5d927317a6623e9ba792281f | NEW YORK (CNN) -- The crown of the Statue of Liberty will reopen to tourists on July 4. The Statue of Liberty welcomes visitors, immigrants, and returning Americans. The crown was closed after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, for safety and security reasons. The National Park Service closed the attraction amid worries that it would be difficult for visitors to evacuate quickly in the event of an emergency. Visitors must climb a narrow 168-step double-helix spiral staircase to get to the crown. Since the closing, tourists have been able to visit other parts of the statue. iReport.com: Show us your best Statue of Liberty shots . The federal government planned to give "America a special gift" by re-opening the crown, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said in May. "We are once again inviting the public to celebrate our great nation and the hope and opportunity it symbolizes by climbing to Lady Liberty's crown for a unique view of New York Harbor, where the forebears of millions of American families first saw the world," he said in a statement. Access to the crown will be limited to 10 people at a time, guided by a National Park Service ranger. "We cannot eliminate all the risk of climbing to the crown, but we are taking steps to make it safer," Salazar said. The measures include raising the handrails on the spiral staircase and stationing rangers throughout the Statue to help visitors. The Statue of Liberty will be open for the next two years, then closed again for "work on a long-term solution that will improve safety and security permanently," according to the U.S. Department of the Interior. A gift from France to the United States, the Statue of Liberty was dedicated in 1886, designated as a National Monument in 1924 and restored for its centennial on July 4, 1986. It stands just across New York Harbor from where the Twin Towers stood. | The Statue of Liberty's crown will reopen to the public on July 4 .
The crown has been closed since the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks .
iReporters shared photos of the statue, which CNN combined in a mosaic .
iReport.com: See, share your photos of Lady Liberty . |
76,188 | d811185bc79dd3e73c37cc4b0b8a03c4c410f854 | When Juan Mata slipped through the Chelsea exit, Eden Hazard was quick to assess the situation, spot the opening and explode into action, much as he does on the pitch. He sought out Jose Mourinho to ask for the No 10 shirt. He wanted to carry the number of his hero, Zinedine Zidane, on his back but he was under no illusions. Hazard was not expecting Mourinho to transform him into the team’s showman or hand him the licence to play where he liked, absolved of all defensive chores. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Eden Hazard take the Ice Bucket Challenge . Quick mover: Eden Hazard sought out Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho to ask for the No 10 shirt . 3 - AC Milan have part-retired the No 3 shirt to honour Paolo Maldini, though either of his sons can wear the number if they grace the club. 6 - Retired by both Milan and West Ham in honour of Franco Baresi and Bobby Moore respectively. 7 - From George Best to Kenny Dalglish, David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo, it’s a shirt for stars. 10 - The most iconic number in football, made famous by the likes of Pele, Maradona, Zidane and Messi. For one thing, it is not the way the Chelsea manager operates. For another, Hazard feels the luxury playmaker, the iconic No 10, may be gone for good. Modern football is a blur of pace, mobility and industry. ‘I think football is finished with No 10,’ said the Belgian, formerly known as Chelsea’s No 17. ‘You have to play with two wingers and one striker. No more No 10. When I was young I played No 10, but now I’m a left winger or a right winger. During the game you can change.’ ‘When Juan left the club I asked: “Can I take the No 10?” The manager said: “Yes, no problem”. But it’s just a number. If I play the same as last season, it’s not because I have the No 10. I have to do more. ‘I wanted it because it was the number of my idol, Zidane, not when he was at Real Madrid (where he wore No 5) but before in the French League.’ Hazard is shy of the obvious comparisons. Can he emulate Zidane? ‘Maybe one day; maybe one day,’ he smiled. For all his individual brilliance as a dynamic winger, valued by Chelsea far higher than the £32million they paid when signing him from Lille two years ago, Hazard has rarely wallowed in his status. On the ball: Hazard, wearing No 10, is challenged by Burnley's David Jones (left) at Turf Moor on Monday . He prefers to dazzle on the field and disappear into the shadows. Mourinho has tried to coax more from him, encouraging Hazard to embrace responsibility as one of the outstanding talents in the team, but he is a modest personality. He does not crave attention like, for example, Cristiano Ronaldo, although he is unquestionably one of the poster boys of the Barclays Premier League and in commercial demand. He has the power to sells tickets, boots, shirts... you name it. Hazard is the new pack star of FIFA 15 and attempts to do this interview, designed to coincide with its launch, in English. He is trying to speak more in English since his friend and interpreter Demba Ba moved from Chelsea to Besiktas. ‘It’s too much for me, actually,’ replied Hazard, when asked about becoming Chelsea’s answer to Ronaldo or Lionel Messi. ‘I don’t like it. I am not this year better than them. They are here and I am here,’ he says, holding his hands flat, one at head height and one by his chest. ‘I need to work,’ he went on. ‘I am getting closer. I was voted the Young Player of the Year, but I am 23. My first trophy in France was the Young Player of the Year. I was 17. Chelsea is not just one player. It is not only me. We have signed a lot of players. Now we have some good signings like Cesc Fabregas and Diego Costa. ‘Diego can score and that is good for me. Fabregas is one of the best midfielders in the world and we can have the chance to play, not better than last season because we had a lot of good games, but in an offensive style. I think together we can beat every team.’ Superstar: Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo dribbles with the ball during the UEFA Super Cup match in Cardiff . Magical: Barcelona's Lionel Messi on the ball during the Joan Gamper Trophy match on Monday . It started in impressive style at Burnley on Monday. Chelsea went a goal down but turned on the power with three goals in 17 minutes to ease through their first match of the season. It was an ominous display, especially if you are Leicester City, who visit Stamford Bridge today. ‘We did very well,’ said Hazard, who contributed to Andre Schurrle’s great goal at Turf Moor, with a robust dribble from the left, a move which pulled Burnley’s defence out of position and created space. Even so, he is searching for more. ‘I know as soon as a game is finished if I have done well,’ he said. ‘I don’t need people to tell me. I want to achieve perfection. The World Cup was good but not perfect. ‘It could have gone better. I did two good games but it wasn’t enough. In Belgium, people are happy because we have a very good team and lost against Argentina. People are sad because they know we could go further. Sometimes you make one mistake and that’s it. ‘Chelsea last season was not perfect because at the end I was injured. We lost many games at the end and lost our form. The whole season was good but the last months were not good. I need to score more goals. We need to go into a final, to be champions. We lost out in four trophies.” In demand: Hazard is unquestionably one of the poster boys of the English Premier League . Mourinho’s team lost to Atletico Madrid in the Champions League semi-finals and finished four points adrift of Barclays Premier League champions Manchester City. Like many at Stamford Bridge, Hazard points to the 1-0 defeat at Aston Villa in March as the moment when the title challenge ended. ‘When we came back in the coach, everyone was angry,’ he said. ‘Everyone knew how important it was.’ Hazard’s own form faded from its mid-season high, as he played on with a slight Achilles tendon problem. He was Chelsea’s top scorer with 17 goals, but the final four were all penalties. He has not scored from open play since the second in a hat-trick against Newcastle in February. On his knees: Hazard celebrates as he scores a hat-trick against Newcastle at Stamford Bridge in February . There was gentle criticism from Mourinho, who said he was not ‘ready to sacrifice himself 100 per cent for the team’, and fuelled stories about a return to France with Paris Saint-Germain, but Hazard insists he is happy at Chelsea and enjoys working with the manager. ‘It is a pleasure to play under Jose Mourinho and everything is OK,’ said Hazard. ‘I learn every day. He is a normal coach. He speaks a lot with the players. I like it when the manager speaks a lot with you because it gives you confidence. ‘Sometimes when you lose one game he is sad and he shows other people. You mustn’t smile when you lose. You have to be sad like other perople. You have to win every game.’ So it is on the quest to be Chelsea’s perfect 10. Eden Hazard was speaking as the Chelsea star was being unveiled as the pack star of EA SPORTS FIFA 15. Available for pre-order NOW at www.easports.com/uk/fifa/buy #FeelTheGame . New look: Hazard (left) and Lionel Messi are the cover stars for EA Sports' latest FIFA computer game . | Hazard sought out Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho to ask for the No 10 shirt when Juan Mata left .
The Belgian wanted to carry the number of hero Zinedine Zidane on his back .
Hazard is the new cover star of FIFA 15 alongside Barcelona's Lionel Messi . |
163,017 | 5ecb480f1a340169a3cb10d0c5613a77fa238cf9 | (CNN Student News) -- June 1, 2011 . Download PDF maps related to today's show: . • Germany • Joplin, Missouri . Transcript . THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED. CARL AZUZ, CNN STUDENT NEWS ANCHOR: The start of a new month, the start of a new day of CNN Student News! Hi, I'm Carl Azuz, and I'm delivering your 10 minutes of commercial-free headlines. First Up: Home Prices Drop . AZUZ: First up, we're talking about a new low for the price of homes in the United States. During the first quarter -- the first three months -- of 2011, home prices dropped more than 5 percent from where they were last year. Now, that's according to a new report that came out yesterday. And the comparison gets even worse when you go back a little farther. The housing market hit its highest point five years ago in 2006. Compared to that -- that highest point -- prices of homes have dropped almost 33 percent. Home prices are down; so what? It might not be something that you think about every day, but some of your parents are paying close attention. Home prices affect a lot of other industries -- like banks, like construction -- so that's one of the big indicators that experts use to figure out how the U.S. economy is doing. And prices have gone through kind of a double-dip. They went down after that peak in 2006. Then they went back up a little bit around 2009. Some government programs designed to encourage people to buy houses helped with that increase. But now, they're dropping again. And one expert says it doesn't look like that's going to change any time soon. E. coli Outbreak . AZUZ: Officials in Germany are warning people there not to eat raw cucumbers, leaf lettuce, or tomatoes. The reason: an outbreak of E. coli. That's a bacteria that can be transmitted through contaminated food or water, especially raw vegetables. Reports have connected at least 16 deaths to the outbreak. Hundreds of other people have gotten sick. German authorities are trying to contain the outbreak. In the meantime, scientists are trying to figure out where it started. They don't have that answer yet. They think it could be traced back to produce from Spain. Germany buys more Spanish fruits and vegetables than any other country. And the concerns about those foods could cost Spain's food industry millions of dollars. Shoutout . STAN CASE, CNN STUDENT NEWS: Time for the Shoutout! What's the term for when energy travels in particles or waves? If you think you know it, shout it out! Is it: A) Diffusion, B) Sublimation, C) Radiation or D) Circumnavigation? You've got three seconds -- GO! When energy is transmitted in particles or waves, it's called radiation. That's your answer and that's your Shoutout! Cell Phones & Cancer . AZUZ: The World Health Organization says that radiation from cell phones could possibly cause cancer. That announcement came after a group of scientists analyzed studies that have been done on cell phone safety. What this means is that the scientists found some evidence of an increase in certain types of cancer for cell phone users. They weren't able to make any conclusions about other types of cancers. One expert says it's hard because it can take several decades of exposure to see if there are any consequences. The wireless industry said the announcement does not mean cell phones cause cancer. It pointed out that the scientists didn't do new research, but just reviewed studies that already existed. This announcement probably will lead to more research on the issue. Tornado Recovery . AZUZ: Recovery efforts are getting started in Joplin, Missouri, and help is coming from some unexpected places. For example, a group of homeless volunteers from Kentucky. They collected donations for the tornado victims and then drove to Joplin to distribute them. Another unique source of help: an elephant from a circus that was supposed to perform in the area. The show, of course, couldn't happen. But the animal was able to use its strength to help workers clear heavy debris from some areas. Many residents of Joplin are still coming to grips with the devastation that hit their hometown. Morgan Schutters of affiliate KODE reports on the tornado's impact on the Joplin High School community. (BEGIN VIDEO) MORGAN SCHUTTERS, KODE REPORTER: Katie Wood graduated from Joplin High School just an hour before the tornado hit. KATIE WOOD, JOPLIN HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI: Even looking at it, it's still really hard to believe it. SCHUTTERS: Now, she's singing the national anthem at a memorial service for her classmates and the community. WOOD: It's so hard singing it right in front of my school that just blew away. SCHUTTERS: But Joplin High School sophomore Chanci McGowen still has the rest of her high school career ahead of her, as she looks at what is left in shambles. CHANCI MCGOWEN, JOPLIN HIGH SCHOOL SOPHOMORE: It's indescribable. It's horrible, just devastating to see all the destruction of my school, my home. SCHUTTERS: McGowen is one of many students who lost both. MCGOWEN: It was heartbreaking. My whole neighborhood is gone, but everyone's OK. SCHUTTERS: It was a somber afternoon as they gathered outside the school. A moment of silence honoring military and tornado victims. Eight people in the Joplin R-8 School District are confirmed dead: seven students and one staff member. WOOD: Wondering who is still alive and who's not. SCHUTTERS: Superintendent Dr. CJ Huff said last Friday, when he got word, his world stopped. Sorrow for the lost and relief for the living. CJ HUFF, SUPERINTENDENT, JOPLIN R-8 SCHOOL DISTRICT: As a result of your diligence and unwavering fortitude in the face of insurmountable challenges, 100 percent of our family are accounted for. SCHUTTERS: Summer classes will begin as scheduled in less than three weeks, on June 13th. (END VIDEO) I.D. Me . MICHELLE WRIGHT, CNN STUDENT NEWS: See if you can I.D. Me! I'm a famous landmark visited by millions every year. I'm located in Arizona. I was formed by the Colorado River. I'm the Grand Canyon, a huge rock formation that's a mile deep. All Work, No Play . AZUZ: The Grand Canyon's a major vacation destination. The nearly 5 million people who go there every year prove that. But would the Canyon get even more visitors if American workers took as much vacation as employees in other countries? That's what we're talking about. When it comes to time off, the U.S. is not number one. Karin Caifa looks at some of the reasons why. (BEGIN VIDEO) KARIN CAIFA, CNN CORRESPONDENT, WASHINGTON, D.C.: Days at the beach, trips you'll remember for a lifetime. That's what summer is all about, right? Not for most American workers, who lag behind international counterparts in the vacation time given and the time taken. According to a survey by Expedia, workers in Great Britain got an average of 28 days' vacation last year. In France: 37. Here in the U.S.: 18. And they only used 14. So, what's holding Americans back? With the economy still recovering, some workers are just happy to have a job to go to every day. And with staffing pared to bare bones during the recession, they'd rather be at their desks than on a guilt trip. JEFF GARDERE, CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST: We feel that we're letting our colleagues down. We're afraid of the work that's waiting for us when we get back from vacation. And that guilt will make us not take the days off that we really need. CAIFA: There are also the lingering financial concerns. A recent survey from CareerBuilder found one in four workers simply can't afford a getaway this year. Twelve percent say they can afford it but won't go. And only one in three said they felt more comfortable taking a vacation this summer than they did last year. (END VIDEO) Driving Knowledge . AZUZ: Sticking with the idea of hitting the road, it turns out about 37 million American drivers shouldn't! According to a new survey, one out of every five people in the United States would fail a driving test if they had to take one today. And what's even more strange: that's an improvement! Last year, 38 million people -- one million more -- would have failed. This survey asked drivers from all 50 states 20 questions about basic driving knowledge. What do you do when you're approaching a yellow light? What's a safe following distance? Things like that. The concern is that not knowing the rules leads to dangerous driving habits. Daily E-mail . AZUZ: Teachers, we know a lot of you get our daily e-mail. As you get ready to head off for the summer, you don't need to unsubscribe. The email is not gonna come out every day. We'll only send you something when we have something to say, like when one of our special summer shows goes up at CNNStudentNews.com. So stay subscribed; we will not spam you, we promise! Before We Go . AZUZ: Before we go, we're checking out a barnyard brawl. Boom! Only problem is, this isn't the barnyard. It's somebody's back yard! A flock of sheep showed up in a California neighborhood, and they didn't want to go anywhere. Police surrounded the feisty flock and eventually had to call in animal control. It's not like you could ask the sheep to leave nicely. I mean, you might try, but you know they wouldn't go for it. Goodbye . AZUZ: Those guys just look like they have baaaaad attitudes. Or maybe they were hoping not to get noticed so they could pull the wool over everyone's eyes. That would have been shear genius. It's always fun to see sheep on the lamb. But now that the whole thing's over, I bet they felt sheepish about causing such a problem. They are known to have bleat-ing hearts. You can tell the year's winding up, because we're getting awfully punchy. For CNN Student News, I'm Carl Azuz. | Consider the significance of a drop in U.S. home prices .
Find out what a health organization says about cell phones .
Discover some reasons why Americans take fewer vacations .
Use the Daily Discussion to help students understand today's featured news stories . |
59,424 | a8b916c9323425eb900d4054a114cb3d7a6af748 | Lebanon (CNN) -- As world leaders debate what to do about Syria, one thing remains clear -- the plight and suffering of the people is only getting worse. According to the United Nations, more than 100,000 Syrians have died in the conflict and about 2 million Syrians have fled their country, mostly to Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey. An estimated 6.8 million people are in desperate need inside Syria. As an aid worker for Mercy Corps for over a decade, I can attest that this is a humanitarian disaster of historic proportions. Mercy Corps is already supporting nearly 2 million people affected by the crisis, and we are now working around the clock to prepare for a variety of possible scenarios that could play out in the coming days or weeks. Although we haven't seen any significant change in the number of refugees crossing into Lebanon and Jordan yet, one likely scenario is a significant increase in refugees, and possibly a flood of families fleeing the violence in Syria. These refugees will have immediate emergency needs -- like food, shelter, water and medical and psychological care -- but neighboring countries that are already hosting hundreds of thousands of refugees are overwhelmed and struggling to support any newcomers. I see firsthand the tremendous burden the Syrian refugees are already placing on countries like Jordan, Turkey, Lebanon, and most recently Iraq. Their limited natural resources are being tapped, their economies are suffering and their own citizens are feeling the strain. In Lebanon the influx has caused a spike in the cost of rent, food and basic necessities, and a drop in household incomes as refugees, desperate for work, accept lower than standard wages. I recently met Ali Ahmad Obeid, a Lebanese small business owner, who has been running a carpentry shop for the past 14 years. Before the conflict, he had five employees and his business was thriving. But in the past two years, his business has suffered. He told me: "I used to rent my shop for 350 thousand Lebanese Liras, now the price is double. I can't afford the rent and I had to let my employees go... I can barely feed my children." This all creates tensions between the host communities and the refugees that has an additional destabilizing effect on the region, and that's a serious problem. The humanitarian response needs to address longer-term needs like creating jobs, while still providing urgently needed immediate assistance. Despite these challenges, host countries and the international aid community are building transit reception areas to accommodate incoming refugees who may have to wait for immigration processing and registration in the case of a massive influx of new arrivals. In Jordan, we are working closely with the U.N. and other aid organizations to prepare a new refugee camp (Azraq camp) located east of Amman. We are accelerating our work on providing water and child-friendly spaces, and the camp is scheduled to open in the next two weeks. It will accommodate 30,000 refugees upon opening, and can expand to accommodate up to 130,000 refugees. Mercy Corps has pre-positioned aid packages for new refugees, who often arrive with only the clothes they are wearing. Mattresses, blankets, hygiene kits and baby-kits are on stand-by to meet a possible increased need. We are also expanding our child protection programs to ensure young refugees have access to psychosocial support and activities they desperately need to recover from the traumatic events they experience. With no solution to the crisis on the horizon, the hope of refugees being able to return home anytime soon is remote. I've spoken with hundreds of refugees over the past year and most of them are realizing it will be a long haul. The majority of them don't see how the divisions that wrack Syria will be mended, but no one I have talked with has given up on their dream of returning. 'Slow response' Ehmad, a teenager from Homs who came to Lebanon over a year ago, told me he was so homesick that he actually tried to return. Despite the fighting, he went back to Homs and found his neighborhood destroyed and totally deserted, and couldn't stay. Back in Lebanon, Ehmad told me he no longer cares who wins. "I just want the fighting to stop so we can go home and restore our country," he said. Currently, the Syrian humanitarian crisis is woefully underfunded. From a private donor standpoint, Mercy Corps has raised just over $1 million for our Syria refugee work, mostly from a handful of major donors, but that is over two years. For the earthquake in Kashmir (2005) we raised more than $8 million in private donations in about two months. Without the necessary funding to run desperately needed programs, I am seeing more and more Syrian families and children facing desperate conditions. Donor response to slow-onset, conflict-related humanitarian emergencies is always slow compared to rapid-onset natural disasters -- but giving to the Syrian crisis has been exceptionally slow. That said, giving has picked up recently as media coverage has intensified and we are reaching out aggressively to find the resources required to help families fleeing the violence. However, as the conflict wears into a third year, governments and individuals need to make more funding available -- not only to the immediate crisis, but for longer-term solutions that include livelihoods and other economic enabling opportunities, and education for over a million refugee children. It is also critical that neighboring countries keep their borders open to Syrians who need to flee the conflict, despite the challenges that these massive, mobile populations can bring with them. Syrians are desperate, and their challenges will almost certainly get worse before they get better. This is the most complex humanitarian crisis of our time and it is more critical than ever that the international community strengthen its support. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Cassandra Nelson. | Nelson: I see firsthand the burden Syrian refugees are placing on neighboring countries .
The humanitarian response needs to address longer-term needs like creating jobs, she says .
Nelson says the hope of refugees being able to return home anytime soon is remote .
This is the most complex humanitarian crisis of our time, she writes . |
202,746 | 928337df3137ba3cc9ce8cb621c8387749587a41 | By . Luke Augustus for MailOnline . Follow @@Luke_Augustus29 . Demba Ba was inches away from scoring one of the most audacious goals ever seen in the Champions League - straight from kick-off. The Besiktas striker saw his ingenious strike hit the Arsenal crossbar in their play-off first leg encounter. The halfway effort caught out everyone bar Gunners goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, who managed to react just in time to tip it on to the frame of his goal. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Arsene Wenger: I am worried by how short we are at the back . Lined up: Demba Ba (centre) took a shot directly from kick-off against Arsenal . Audacious: Ba's (centre) effort caught the Arsenal players, expecting a conventional kick-off, by surprise . Run: The shot caught Gunners goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny (right) off his line . Tipped away: Szczesny (right) managed to sprint back in time and palm Ba's shot on to the crossbar . Ba, who joined Besiktas for £4.7million from Chelsea, is looking to impress his new side since leaving west London. And the Senegal striker nearly did so after six seconds at the Ataturk Stadium with that spectacular strike. Had it gone in, it would have been the fastest strike ever in the Champions League, beating Roy Makaay's goal for Bayern Munich against Real Madrid in 2007. The 29-year-old should not be an unknown quantity to Arsene Wenger's side having faced them while playing for West Ham, Newcastle and Chelsea during his time in England. Ba has already opened his European account for the season, scoring a hat-trick as Besiktas beat Feyenoord 3-1 in their second leg match during their Champions League third qualifying round. New surroundings: Ba (right) joined Besiktas in a £4.7million deal from Chelsea this summer . VIDEO Arsenal heading in the right direction - Winterburn . | Demba Ba almost scored after six seconds for Besiktas .
Striker saw his strike from kick-off hit the bar against the Gunners .
Shot was tipped on to the bar by Gunners goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny . |
81,781 | e7bb9f411189d596169ba80e91f738b8c938ff6f | A man who hit international headlines last year after being arrested for hacking an Australian government website has defended his conviction. Matthew Flannery, is currently serving a home detention of 15 months after he was convicted of five hacking charges after an obscene photo was uploaded to the Narrabri Shire Council website. At the time of his arrest in April last year Flannery was described as the leader of Lulzsec by the Australian Federal Police. Scroll down for video . Matthew Flannery, 25, was described in an AFP press release as leader of hacking group LulzSec . Flannery claims he sent the message as a joke to a friend, he is serving 15 months' home detention . In a new interview with ABC programme 7.30 Flannery, from Point Clare on the NSW Central Coast, claims that the 'AFP's claims are based on a single joke Facebook message'. Lulzsec, abbreviated from Lulz Security, is an international hacking group which has claimed responsibility for several high profile hackings including taking down the CIA website. Flannery told the show: 'I went to a computer in the library because, you know, they'd taken mine, and I started Googling [sic] and to my shock and horror I found that not only was I being reported by Australian news agencies, but also internationally,' reports ABC. The programme's investigation looked into the court documents and say they found just one reference to LulzSec. Flannery says that one reference was a joke in a Facebook message to one of his friends. He added: 'I would like to know if that is solely what they are basing their claims off of and, if so, then why did the AFP - in a press release in front of the world - state that I had made claims in online chat communities that were frequented by LulzSec members that I was the leader of LulzSec?' The 7.30 investigation says it found a teenage accomplice of Flannery actually carried out the hacking, this person was raided by police but never charged. Commander Glen McEwen, the AFP's national manager of cyber crime, also appeared on the show and said he couldn't be 100 per cent sure Flannery was not a member of LulzSec. Commander Glen McEwen, the AFP's national manager of cyber crime, said the police would not apologise for arresting Flannery . Commander McEwen said: 'As you'd appreciate, the virtual world and the anonymity as such, people come together for certain reasons and move away. 'I cannot categorically say that the individual was part of LulzSec but I definitely can't discount that. 'I don't make any excuse or apologise for the activity of the AFP in relation to this matter.' | Matthew Flannery, 25, was described as leader of hacking group LulzSec .
The 25-year-old says the Australian Federal Police got the wrong man .
He was convicted of five hacking charges .
Flannery was arrested in April last year and was shocked at the claims .
He says the accusations are based on a 'joke' Facebook message .
He was sentenced to 15 months' home detention last month .
Police chief says he won't apologise for how the police acted in the case . |
138,777 | 3f7ac60489fb5e669861f4c5540cf89ea51c087f | By . Jessica Jerreat . PUBLISHED: . 23:25 EST, 9 July 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:22 EST, 10 July 2013 . A homeowner had a shock after finding animal enforcement officers trying to remove a black bear from a tree in his garden. The 18-month-old bear had been chased through an Erie neighborhood in Pennsylvania on Tuesday afternoon, after being spotted near homes. When the 125lb bear took refuge in a tree, wildlife officers were able to tranquillize it and move it to a more suitable habitat. Scroll down for video . Tracked down: The young black bear was found in a tree in an Erie garden . Steve Sienerth, who owns the house where the bear was found, said: 'It's just crazy. It's never happened before and I hope it never happens again'. The 46-year-old told Go Erie he came home to find police in his yard and a 'big bear in a tree'. It is thought that the bear, which was first spotted in west Erie at about 1pm, is the same animal that has been seen frequently in the area in the past few weeks. Its appearance was a surprise for animal enforcement official Rob Culbertson, who said: 'Outskirts yeah, but this doesn't happen often [in the city]. We don't know where this one came from.' After tracking it through the city, wildlife officials were able tranquilize the bear as it hid in a tree. Once it was asleep, they knocked it to the ground and moved it to a safer location, according to WICU News. 'We try to detain the bear in one spot and try to keep people away as best we can, for the safety of the bear and the people,' Mr Culbertson said. Up close: Wildlife officer Mike Girosky checks on the bear after it has been hit with a tranquilizer dart . New home: The bear is carried away for a check up before being released in a more suitable environment . It is likely that the 18-month-old bear was looking for somewhere to live. Bears of that age are often chased away by their mothers at this time of year. Although he fell from the tree after being tranquilized, the bear appeared to be in good condition. 'We'll make sure he's ok. As soon as he wakes up he'll be on his own,' wildlife conservation officer Mike Girosky said. He added that after collecting information about the bear, it will be released into the wild. | Young animal spotted regularly by Erie residents .
18-month-old to be released after waking up from tranquilizer dart . |
146,164 | 49019b2cf5e75a819ca3f50382bd750d8e9f3bc8 | LONDON, England (CNN) -- Police have launched an investigation after a young disabled sportsman traveled to Switzerland to commit suicide, UK media report. Daniel James, who played rugby for England under-16s, was paralyzed during match practice last year. Daniel James, 23, from Sinton Green in western England was paralyzed from the chest down in March 2007 when a rugby scrum collapsed on top of him during match practice, dislocating his spine, the UK's Press Association has reported. Worcestershire Coroner's Service, which is conducing an inquest into the circumstances of his death, states on its Web site that James died on September 12 after he "traveled to Switzerland with a view to ending his own life. He was admitted to a clinic where he died." The inquest was adjourned on September 19 for reports. West Mercia police say that a man and a woman are helping the force with their enquiries. Assisting someone to commit suicide is illegal in the UK, as it is in most other European countries. What do you think of assisted suicide? James, who played rugby for England under-16s, was a university student at the time of his injury last year. He is believed to be the youngest person from the UK to have traveled to Switzerland to commit suicide. In a statement Friday, reported by PA, James' parents said that he had attempted to kill himself several times already. Watch why James opted for suicide » . "His death was an extremely sad loss for his family, friends and all those that care for him but no doubt a welcome relief from the 'prison' he felt his body had become and the day-to-day fear and loathing of his living existence, as a result of which he took his own life. "This is the last way that the family wanted Dan's life to end but he was, as those who know him are aware, an intelligent, strong-willed and some say determined young man," PA reported James' parents as saying. "The family suffered considerably over the last few months and do wish to be left in peace to allow them to grieve appropriately." James' parents added that their son, "an intelligent young man of sound mind," had never come to terms with his condition and was "not prepared to live what he felt was a second-class existence". Adrian Harling, the family solicitor, would not comment on the investigation, PA reported. More than 100 people from the UK who have committed suicide in Switzerland have traveled to the Dignitas Clinic in Forch. It is not known if James attended the clinic. Switzerland, along with Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands, are the only European countries where authorities will not prosecute those who assist with suicide. | Young rugby player, paralyzed after accident, commits suicide in Switzerland .
Police interview man and woman about the death of Daniel James, 23 .
It is illegal in UK and much of Europe to assist with suicide .
Assisted suicide is legal in Switzerland, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg . |
90,555 | 007d33fe39f1eed3f58561b7ed8abcc5deb2c5e8 | By . Kate Lyons for Daily Mail Australia . A teenager is in an induced coma after he was punched to the ground when a party spilled out of control. Police were called to a party in Bayswater in east Melbourne on Saturday night after a group of gate-crashers attended the party and fights broke out. By the time police arrive the party had spilled out onto the street and approximately 100 party-goers and other youths were involved in fights on the street. Scroll down for video . Jaiden, 15, is in an induced coma after he was punched and struck his head when a Melbourne party spun out of control . A witness told police a 15-year-old boy, Jaiden, who at the request of his family is known only by his first name, was walking away from the crowd along the footpath when he was punched by a youth running past him. Jaiden, from Carrum Downs in Melbourne's southeast, was knocked to the ground by the blow and struck his head on the footpath. The party which was held in a community hall, was advertised on social media and it's believed gate crashers turned up to the event. Police say there were a number of fights inside the hall that spilled onto the street. Officers broke up the fights but some of the crowd returned and continued fighting. Detective Rick Rittinger from Knox CIU said Jaiden was hit without warning. 'It was a case of the offender running past and stopping the victim and continuing running. There was no altercation, nothing said,' he said. Jaiden fell to the ground and hit his head on the footpath. He called his mother, Karen, to pick him up from the party but once in the car, the Carrum Downs teenager began having seizures and she rushed him to a nearby hospital. He was transferred to the Royal Children's Hospital and placed in an induced coma. The Rowville Secondary College student remains in the coma with bleeding on the brain. Police were called to a party, which had spilled out onto the street on Saturday night . Jaiden was treated by paramedics at the scene and collected by his mother, but his condition deteriorated as she drove him home and she took him to the hospital . His mother told of how Jaiden was an athlete with a placid personality who never would have provoked such an attack. 'My son who had the world at his feet now has a long road to go to get back to where he was,' she said at the Royal Children's Hospital. 'Young people need to know this is not on. People are getting hurt for nothing.' Jaiden was due to head to Italy in September for a trial to play soccer professionally, in the Italian Soccer Management Schools program. It offers advanced training from professional coaching staff to promising young players from across the world, reported Nine News. He had also been pursuing local options through his school, Flinders Christian Community College as well as playing with the Bentleigh Greens Soccer Club’s junior side. The Greens are a semi-professional side based in Cheltenham that play in the National Premier Leagues Victoria. 'He absolutely had not only the ability but the desire,' said his mother. Jaiden's brother Anthony also told Nine News ' he's the nicest kid you could meet in the world', while his family made a plea for the attacker to come forward. 'Be honest, please. You might not realise that the outcome of your action is what it is,' his mother said. Police are looking for a male with blue jeans, a hoodie and possibly blonde hair, aged in his late-teens to early 20s. The incident comes just days after the Victorian government announced it would introduce mandatory 10-year jail terms for perpetrators of one-punch attacks which result in a death. Police are yet to speak to the victim but are appealing for anyone who may have information about the incident to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via www.crimestoppers.com.au. Police are yet to speak to Jaiden (above) who is in an induced coma, but are investigating the incident . | Jaiden, 15, is in a coma after an attack on Saturday .
He was punched and struck his head on the footpath while leaving a party .
The party spiralled out of control and fights spilled onto the street .
He is being treated at the Royal Children's Hospital .
Jaiden was mean to travel to Italy next month for a soccer trial in Italy . |
258,043 | d9f59d862c51b07765d94c750f827a1b813a78d3 | Hillary Clinton's new book has drawn praise from an unexpected corner: Tea Party darling and walking soundbite Sarah Palin. Palin, who admitted she has only read the chapter in Clinton's Hard Choices about herself, said she admired Clinton for describing tactics used by the Obama camp during the 2008 election. In an email interview with the Hollywood Reporter, Palin also discussed her reality series Amazing America, her eagerness to join the panel on The View and her thoughts on the state of 'incorrigibly disastrous' politics. Scroll down for video . High praise: Palin said she admires Hillary Clinton for a revealing chapter in her memoir . Hard choice: Palin has read one chapter in Hillary Clinton's memoir about herself . When asked about Hillary Clinton's memoir Palin said, 'I appreciated her boldness in explaining that behind-the-scenes campaign tactic of Obama’s,' referring to a chapter in which Clinton detailed how she refused to engage in an attack on Palin based on her gender. She said she'd read the chapter because her attorney sent it to her - which doesn't bode well for the likelihood that she'll read the rest of the book. In language replete with gun metaphor, Palin explained that she has recovered from her election defeat, 'reloaded' and is ready for new challenges. Palin indicated she believes a show like The View would benefit from her 'real-life groundedness [sic], candor and commonsense.' Successful: Palin's Amazing America series has been renewed for another season . 'I hear everyone recently got canned from The View, maybe a show like that needs a punch of reality and a voice of reason from America's heartland to knock some humble sense into their scripts,' she told the Hollywood Reporter. 'You know, someone willing to go rogue.' Representatives from The View have not commented on whether or not Palin will be considered for the panel, but the former Alaska Governor's approach is working on her new series that screens on the Sportsman Channel. Amazing America with Sarah Palin has been renewed for a second season. 'Sportsman Channel has experienced tremendous growth this year and Sarah Palin’s involvement has proved to be a tremendous boon for our network and programming initiatives,' Marc Fein, executive vice president of programming and production told the Hollywood Reporter. | Sarah Palin made comments about Hillary Clinton's new memoir Hard Choices in an email interview .
She admitted that she's only read the chapter about herself .
Palin said she 'admired [Clinton's] boldness' in refusing to engage in an attack on Palin based on gender in the 2008 election .
She also indicated that The View would benefit from her 'groundedness, candor and commonsense' now that most of the panel has 'been canned'
Her series Amazing America has been renewed for a second season . |
123,875 | 2c2486debb1a328869a23c7a89496e10d92f2ff2 | McDonald's has paid out $700,000 to members of the Muslim community after one of its franchise restaurants in Michigan falsely advertised its food had been prepared according to Islamic dietary laws. A Muslim Detroit resident, Ahmed Ahmed, claimed he bought a chicken sandwich in . September 2011 at a Dearborn McDonald's but found it was not halal - . meaning it did not meet Islamic requirements for preparing food. The restaurant is one of two in Dearborn which sells halal products to cater for an area with one of the nation's largest Arab and Muslim communities. Settlement: A Muslim customer claimed he was served a non-halal meal at this McDonald's in Ford Road, Dearborn, Michigan, where they advertise halal Chicken McNuggest and McChicken sandwiches . Mr Ahmed then approached lawyer Kassem Dakhlallah who together conducted an investigation before launching a class-action lawsuit on the ground the franchise sold non-halal food 'on many occasions'. McDonald's and Finley's Management agreed to the tentative $700,000 (£442,000) settlement, with the money to be shared by Mr Ahmed, a Detroit health clinic, the Arab American National Museum in Dearborn and lawyers. Ahmed's attorney, Mr Dakhlallah, said that he is 'thrilled' with the preliminary deal that's expected to be finalised on March 1. Halal approved: Chicken McNuggets and McChicken sandwiches are two of the dishes served at the Detroit restaurant that are advertised as being halal . McDonald's and Finley's Management deny any liability but say the settlement is in their best interests. The Detroit area is home to about 150,000 Muslims of many different ethnicities and the two McDonald's branches advertise that they . exclusively sell halal Chicken McNuggets and McChicken sandwiches. Islam dietary guidelines state that meat must be prepared in a certain way before it can be eaten. Allah's name must be pronounced over the meat as thanks during the slaughter process, which can only be done with a swift incision to the animal's throat. The animal must then be allowed to drain of blood as it is considered harmful for humans to consume. The animal must never see another being slaughtered nor can it see the blade being sharpened. Halal literally means 'permissable' in Arabic and is used to describe types of actions that are acceptable under Islamic law. So when referring to food, Halal meat means food that has been prepared in accordance with the laws of Islam. They have to get those products from an approved halal provider where God's name has been invoked before an animal providing meat for . consumption is slaughtered. He said there was no evidence of . problems on the production side, but Mr Dakhallah alleges that the . Dearborn location on Ford Road sold non-approved products when it ran . out of halal. Mr Dakhlallah said he was approached by Mr Ahmed over the issue, and they conducted an investigation. A . letter sent to McDonald's and Finley's Management by Mr Dakhlallah's . firm said Mr Ahmed had 'confirmed from a source familiar with the . inventory' that the restaurant had sold non-halal food 'on many . occasions'. After they . received no response to the letter, Mr Dakhlallah said, they filed a . lawsuit in Wayne County Circuit Court in November 2011 as part of a . class action. In the . settlement notice, Finley's Management said it 'has a carefully designed . system for preparing and serving halal such that halal chicken products . are labelled, stored, refrigerated, and cooked in halal-only areas'. The company added it trains its employees on preparing halal food and 'requires strict adherence to the process'. He said although Mr Ahmed believes McDonald's was negligent, there was no evidence that the chain set out to deceive customers. 'McDonald's from the very beginning stepped up and took this case very seriously,' Mr Dakhlallah said. 'They made it clear they wanted to resolve this. They got ahead of the problem.' | Two McDonald's restaurants in Detroit advertise halal Chicken McNuggets and McChicken sandwiches .
But a Muslim customer claims to have been served a non-halal meal in 2011 .
McDonald's and Finley's Management have agreed preliminary settlement .
Detroit has one of America's largest Arab and Muslim communities . |
183,300 | 796b8dcdbc75f889422f30b1bb6a9b8e5a7f1ab4 | GAZA CITY (CNN) -- A large explosion late Tuesday at a wedding party for relatives of a Fatah leader injured at least 50 people in Gaza, Palestinian medical sources said. A bomb Tuesday injured relatives of Mohammed Dahlan, the Palestinian Authority's national security adviser. Fatah leader Mohammed Dahlan, the uncle of the groom, did not attend the wedding, according to witnesses. The cause of the explosion, which occurred at 11:10 p.m. in Khan Younis, was not known. Dahlan is the Palestinian Authority's national security adviser. Details of Tuesday's explosion were not immediately clear. Dahlan's associates in recent years have been targeted by Hamas as tensions between the militant group and rival Fatah -- the Palestine Liberation Organization's largest faction -- escalated. In January 2007, Hamas gunmen tried to kill Dahlan's bodyguard. Dahlan was not present at the time of the attack. In that month alone, Fatah and Hamas militants abducted more than 50 members of their rival groups -- most of them in the West Bank town of Nablus -- according to Palestinian security sources. Dahlan's nephew was kidnapped the next month amid a fragile cease-fire between supporters of Hamas and Fatah. In late December 2006, Hamas accused Dahlan of orchestrating an assassination attempt on its leader Ismail Haniya. Haniya's son was injured in the attack. Dahlan has described himself to CNN in the past as being involved in directing Fatah's military response to Hamas' military "provocation." Dahlan is particularly disliked by Hamas because during his leadership of the Preventive Security Forces in the 1990s, Hamas members were apprehended and tortured. After a series of suicide bombings in Israel in 1996, Dahlan took a major part in the Palestinian Authority's effort to crack down on Hamas. CNN's Talal Abu-Rahma in Gaza City contributed to this report. | Fatah leader Mohammed Dahlan is uncle of the groom .
Dahlan did not attend the wedding in Gaza .
The cause of the explosion is not known .
Hamas says Dahlan has sought to assassinate its leader Ismail Haniya . |
173,463 | 6c7b0aa965785448281d084cc0f671e80994bbf4 | LONDON, England (CNN) -- A disabled punk band has launched a campaign to fight for the rights of disabled people to be able to party late. Heavy Load are a UK-based punk band with three out of five members who are disabled. "Heavy Load," describe themselves as an "anarcho-garage-punk" band and are made up of five musicians, one of whom has Downs Syndrome and two who have unspecified learning disabilities. Their campaign, "Stay Up Late," encourages carers to support disabled people who want to stay out past 10pm. Heavy Load's manager and bass guitarist, Paul Richards, 39, told CNN: "The Stay Up Late" campaign is to raise awareness, and tackle the issue where disabled gig-goers end up going home at 9pm, therefore missing most of the evening, because their support workers finish their shifts at 10pm. "We started the campaign because we'd be playing a gig and something strange happens at 9pm when people would start to go home. We were also frustrated with asking to go on earlier in the evening so that our fans would still be there. It's not very punk to go on at 8.30pm," he added. "Stay up Late" has received widespread support from disabled people and the UK government, Richards said. Even carers who may be required to work later if the campaign is successful have offered their support. "So far, we've only had one or two support workers say that they don't think they should be required to work unsociable hours," Richards said. The group has also partnered with the UK's leading learning disabilities charity Mencap, who they say have really helped to relay their message to a wider audience. Mencap and Heavy Load teamed up last week where the band headlined a concert in London for people with learning disabilities, giving them an opportunity to be involved in running a club night. See images from the concert » . They concert was held in conjunction with London venue Proud Camden, and around 400 people attended the event which finished at 1am. Everyone at the event, from the door girl, to bar staff and cloakroom attendants, were people with learning disabilities, venue owner Alex Proud told CNN. "It's the first event of its kind for people with a learning disability and there was a real buzz about how people with learning disability are an untapped source in the entertainment industry." He said: "At these nights there is a lack of inhibitions. They tend to let their hair down and really know how to party; it's a hell of a lot of fun for all involved. Proud is eager to put on events that include people with a learning disability and to make the public more aware of this often overlooked group. "Young people with learning disabilities want to go out, but they are not catered for in the entertainment industry," he added. Heavy Load have been together for 13 years since meeting at the Southdown housing in England, a non-profit assisted-living community for people with learning disabilities. Vocalist Jimmy Nicholls, 62, posted an advert and a week later the band including Michael White, 47 (drums) Simon barker, 37 (lead vocals) and Mick Williams, 47 (guitar and vocals) was formed. Since then the band has gained many disabled and non-disabled fans and a successful documentary, "Heavy Load," has been made about their lives. Now they are looking forward to setting up the "Stay Up Late" campaign around the world. Richards said: "When we visited New York last year we were surprised to find that it's an issue for people with learning disabilities to get out much at all -- so there is definitely a need there. "We've also been asked to go to Russia, Serbia, other parts of the U.S., Scotland and Czech Republic to play and promote the campaign -- which we'd love to do, but money's tight, " he added. However, Richards insists the campaign is not about partying late every night. "We don't insist on people staying up late against their will -- just having the choice to do what they want to do!" | Disabled punk bank Heavy Load have launched the "Stay Up Late" campaign .
The band want disabled concert-goers to be able to enjoy gigs until the end .
Disabled people often have to leave gigs early when their carers' shifts end .
Heavy Load played last week at a London club night run by disabled people . |
37,100 | 6927d8e502280dc1502845f16b870286538d7514 | Women who are undergoing chemotherapy have started decorating their eyebrows in festive holiday themes, as part of a new social media campaign. The Younger Breast Cancer Network, a support group for women in the UK aged 45 and under, is behind the new beauty trend, which began on Facebook and Twitter earlier this week using the hashtag #christmaschemobrow. 'Our Christmas gift of laughter to our followers....#christmaschemobrow and #chemobrow The funniest cancer pics ever, spread the ybcn love!' the organisation tweeted on Sunday. Take a bow: Women who are undergoing chemotherapy have started decorating their eyebrows in festive holiday themes, as part of a new social media campaign . Participants have gotten quite creative, adorning their brows with metallic bows, drawn-on boughs of holly, candy canes and other colourful embellishments. One woman painted on eyebrows with gold glitter, while another crafted them out of tinsel. Victoria Yates, who founded the network in 2010, told ABC News that she wanted to cheer up women who had lost their eyebrows due to the effects of chemotherapy. Tartan it up: The Younger Breast Cancer Network, a support group for women in the U.K. aged 45 and under, is behind the new beauty trend . Reindeer games: Women have been posting photos of themselves with whimsically decorated brows using the hashtag #christmaschemobrow . Star treatment: 'Our Christmas gift of laughter to our followers....#christmaschemobrow and #chemobrow The funniest cancer pics ever, spread the ybcn love!' the organisation tweeted on Sunday . 'Losing eyebrows and lashes is worse than the hair on your head for lots of our members so this was just acknowledging it and using it to make us smile,' she said. Ms Yates, a lawyer and mother-of-two who survived breast cancer four years ago at the age of 36, began noticing the group's members sharing photos of 'extreme brow drawing' a few months ago, and soon the trend took on a Christmas theme - and gained a wider audience. 'It was a real giggle and lifted our spirits at what is a tricky time for lots of our members. it was so funny and heartwarming that we decided to share it outside of our group too,' Ms Yates said. All that glitters: Participants have gotten quite creative, adorning their brows with all sorts of festive designs . Orange is the new black: One resourceful woman even festooned her forehead with a carrot . Fur real: Victoria Yates, who founded the network in 2010, told ABC News that she wanted to cheer up women who had lost their eyebrows due to the effects of chemotherapy . All women are encouraged to show their support for those battling breast cancer by donning a whimsical brow decoration. 'Going through chemo and other cancer treatment is hard,' YBCN member Sarah Perry told BuzzFeed. 'You spend so much time ill, stressed out, worried, afraid – maintaining a sense of humour and finding ways to laugh are so important.' 'Christmas can be a difficult time of year for younger women going through treatment like chemotherapy for breast cancer, especially when it is making them ill and preventing them from joining in the festive parties and celebrations,' she added. Making her mark: One creative woman drew on a festive design in a merry red hue . Good enough to eat: One woman used gammon and cranberry sauce to decorate her brows . Seeing through a new lens: One woman adorned her glasses with metallic gold leaves . Holiday message: 'Losing eyebrows and lashes is worse than the hair on your head for lots of our members so this was just acknowledging it and using it to make us smile,' Ms Yates said . Thumbs up: 'It was a real giggle and lifted our spirits at what is a tricky time for lots of our members. it was so funny and heartwarming that we decided to share it outside of our group too,' Ms Yates said . Like a lightbulb: One women transformed herself into Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer . Halo: Another participant used two adorable angel ornaments to get into the holiday spirit . One for the dogs: A Peanuts fan shared a spot-on rendering of a sleeping Snoopy on her forehead . Deck the halls: Another woman turned her brows into festive boughs of holly . Go for the gold: Another used tinsel from a decorative garland to create sparkling brows . Bird's eye view: One woman's artwork featured a feathered friend sitting atop a branch . Shine on: Another woman applied shimmering blue and violet tinsel using tape . New twist: One woman got particularly artistic, donning various Christmas ornaments . Red letter day: Plaid bows and a glittering garland combine for a merry palette . Rudolph-inspired: One woman drew antlers on her brows and added a red nose for the final touch . On Dasher, on Dancer: One woman recreated Santa's sleigh travelling across her forehead . Sketchy behavior: A pair of Christmas tree drawings adds a simple but festive touch . Riding high: A duo of sleigh sketches match this woman's hair color . Feeling Frosty: Two charming snowman drawings bring holiday cheer . Show your stripes: These colourful candy cane drawings are a sweet-looking pair . All tied up: An oversize bow brightens up this woman's face . | The Younger Breast Cancer Network, a support group for women in the UK aged 45 and under, is behind the social media trend . |
247,592 | cc66d1486f9be2f6e4458d94d7200d0ba333404c | PHOENIX, Arizona (CNN) -- Two years ago, Karen Daniel was wider around than she was tall. "It's a lot harder to be fat than it is to work so hard at being fit," says Karen Daniel who has lost 175 pounds. Weighing 375 pounds, the 45-year-old wife and mother had high blood pressure; her knees hurt and she was always hot. She felt fatigued and could barely breathe at the slightest exertion. Even the simplest things became a chore -- tying her shoes, crossing her legs, getting in and out of the car or trying to fit into a chair with arms. "I wasn't living ... I was just existing," recalled Daniel. She hadn't always struggled with her weight. Daniel said she started gaining weight at age 18 after moving out of her parents' home to live on her own. By the time she married her husband, Paul, at age 22, she weighed 225 pounds. "Whenever something happened, I used food," said Daniel. "It was like my drug of choice was food. I never did drugs or alcohol. I was addicted to food." Seven months after her wedding and another 50 pounds later, Daniel became pregnant with her first child. Instead of gaining weight during the pregnancy, she lost 75 pounds after a doctor warned her not to use it as an excuse to eat. But after her daughter Sarah was born, Daniel gained back all the weight she'd lost and then some. Ten years later, she weighed 300 pounds and became pregnant with their second child, Mckenna. Again, she lost weight during the pregnancy, but with the stress of having another child and running her own business, she turned to food. By the time her youngest daughter was 10 years old, Daniel weighed 375 pounds. "I ate all the time. ... I was stuffing my emotions, I was eating my emotions," said Daniel. "When I would finally get [Mckenna] to bed at night, I would stay up late and that was my time alone. I tried to de-stress and wind down and I'd watch TV and eat. It was mindless eating." Mentally, something started to click and Daniel began to wonder how and why she had allowed her weight to spiral out of control. She said there was no "lightbulb" moment or wake-up call that made her realize she'd had enough. For her, there was a series of events that helped her finally realize she was tired of being morbidly obese. Watch Karen Daniel take flight to achieve a lifelong dream » . "I couldn't bend over to tie my shoes, get down on the ground or fit into chairs. Everything was hard," said Daniel. "You're constantly worried about fitting on the toilet or in the shower or visiting someone's house and [worrying] about breaking a chair. It affects every minute of your life and you don't realize it." As fate would have it, she saw a TV commercial for exercise equipment that was being sold at a local gym. It was geared toward senior citizens, but Daniel saw it as a start. When she showed up to buy it, she met the gym's owner, Bill Crawford. "He gave me some of his literature and told me if I needed anything or a jump-start to give him a call," said Daniel. See Daniel's before-and-after photos » . When Daniel got home, she told her sister, Jan, she was thinking about hiring Crawford as her personal trainer, but she was hesitant. Her sister asked if she would have to think twice about hiring a trainer if it were for her husband or daughters. "She made me realize I was worth it as much as they were," said Daniel, whose fear of failure kept her from telling people outside her family about her plans to work out. On September 15, 2006, Daniel showed up for her first training session. She was wearing a dress over her workout clothes because she refused to be seen in size 40W pants. "When Karen first walked in the door, she weighed 375 pounds and she could barely make it from the car to the front door," recalled Crawford, founder of Basic Training in Phoenix, Arizona. "I knew that just making it to the front door of a fitness center was a big deal." Before her first workout, Crawford took her measurements, but the tape measure wasn't long enough to fit around her hips. He needed seven more inches. "I was 67 inches around on my butt and 65 inches tall. So I was two inches bigger around than I was tall," said Daniel, who had a body fat percentage of 54.60 percent. "I also couldn't fit on his scale or in some of his machines when I started." Crawford and Daniel improvised and she made it through her first hourlong workout. She continued to train for one hour, three times a week and said even though she "hated every minute of it" she pushed herself. "It was extremely hard, I'm not gonna lie," said Daniel. "I couldn't count down the minutes fast enough. It was something I did not enjoy -- I was so out of breath. I was sweaty, hot. But as soon as I stepped out that door, it was so worth it to me because I felt so much better about what I had accomplished. I knew I made it through one more workout. I knew it was getting me closer to where I wanted to be." In addition to the one-on-one training sessions, Daniel modified her diet, eating more proteins and complex carbohydrates. She also eliminated bread and pasta and reduced her intake of sugar, salt and processed foods. If she craved something sweet, she ate a piece of fruit. She cooked with olive oil instead of butter. Just short of her one-year anniversary, she had lost 102 pounds. Her daughters gave her a Tiffany bracelet and her sister, Jan, treated her to her first pedicure. Crawford, her trainer, celebrated her success with a reminder. "I had her take two 50-pound dumbbells and walk out to the street and walk back," recalled Crawford. "When she got back she was exhausted and that's the kind of weight people have to carry when they're overweight like that." On her one-year anniversary, Daniel had lost 114 pounds. By her two-year anniversary on September 15, 2008, she had lost 170 pounds. Now weighing around 200 pounds, she has gone from wearing a women's size 30 dress to a size 14 and she's gone from wearing a double-wide shoe to a medium width. Since losing the weight, Daniel has celebrated many milestones she never would have achieved weighing nearly 400 pounds, such as attending sporting events with her family, white-water rafting, kayaking, flying on an airplane without buying two tickets or using a seatbelt extender or simply being able to look down and see her feet. She recently achieved one of her lifelong dreams: riding in a hot air balloon over the Arizona desert. Today, she works out nine times a week -- doing cardio and weight training twice a day with Crawford on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Then she does a mix of cardio and weight-resistance classes on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Even though she now enjoys working out, staying on track is a constant struggle. Daniel said losing weight has been the hardest thing she's ever done. "Every minute of my life was about my weight. What I couldn't do. Things I couldn't accomplish," said Daniel, who admitted it was hard to get started. "It's a lot harder to be fat than it is to work so hard at being fit. Fit feels so good." What's next for Daniel? She wants to lose 35 to 40 more pounds before her 48th birthday and keep adding to the list of things she wants to do to make sure she savors every moment. Most of all, Daniel hopes to inspire others by sharing her weight-loss story on her Web site, www.ihavebones.com. "I just wish they would take the first step, because it's so worth it. Your life is so much better than worrying about where you're going to sit and how you're going to sit. You can actually ... enjoy life!" Matt Sloane contributed to this report. | At her heaviest, Karen Daniel weighed 375 pounds; she was 67 inches around .
She battled fatigue, hypertension and was more than 54 percent body fat .
Daniel hired a personal trainer and ate a high protein, low-carb, no sugar diet .
Two years later, she'd lost 175 pounds and went from wearing size 30 to 14 . |
14,793 | 29f418c60f49a987620c89cd2e49f1764a30a619 | Interview: Dame Sally Davies said she ate hash cakes at university and hallucinated . Earlier this week, England's top doctor called for a ban on smoking in parks - to set a better example for children. But yesterday, Dame Sally Davies spoke again about the time she ate hash cakes and hallucinated. The chief medical officer, who has previously admitted taking cannabis at university, blamed the bad experience which made her stop dabbling with the illegal drug on 'contaminants' in an interview. Her drug experience sparked guffaws from smokers' group Forest who accused her of double standards and derided her notion of adults as role models. Anti-drugs campaigners said her 'contamination' comment was 'dangerous', 'careless' and even 'nonsense'. They say the mind-altering chemical THC in cannabis is more likely to make users hallucinate - as 'contaminated' cannabis is practically unheard of. Recalling the 'three or four times' she ate hash cakes, Dame Sally, 64, said in the interview with The Times newspaper yesterday: 'The last time there were contaminants in it and I had hallucinations.' The Government's most senior medical adviser first revealed she had tried cannabis baked into cookies while studying medicine at Manchester University in the late 1960s and early 1970s on BBC Radio 3's Private Passions last year. On that occasion she said: 'I never smoked, so I couldn't smoke joints, but I did have some cookies until on the third or fourth occasion I had hallucinations and I have never touched it since. I think I understood through that what my father said to me when I told him I was going to try it. He said drugs de-civilise you, you stop being a civilised person.' The mystery 'contaminants' in her latest telling of the hash cake hallucinations incident has led to raised eyebrows among anti-drugs campaigners. Mary Brett, chairman of drugs prevention charity Cannabis Skunk Sense, said: 'It's a careless thing to say. It implies contaminants are responsible for the hallucinations when it is more likely THC was responsible. 'To toss it off as 'contaminants' is a throwaway remark that really could be quite dangerous. 'Cannabis is something that has never really been badly adulterated with anything else. I remember reading someone ground up glass and put it in cannabis a few years ago, but apart from that I have never read anything about it being contaminated. 'It sounds most unusual. Does she know what the contaminants were or who put them there? Did she eat a whole cookie instead of half this time? She needs to answer that.' A National Drugs Prevention Alliance spokesman: 'People take cannabis because cannabis effects the brain and quite a few people do have a bad experience as a result, either short term or long term. 'How could she know if it had contaminants in it? Did she have it analysed? The whole thing is a nonsense. We would expect rather more rational comments from the Chief Medical Officer.' In her wide-ranging Times interview, Dame Sally warned that since her student days 'cannabis has got much stronger and I worry about that. Cannabis used by people whose brains are still developing, adolescents, is not a good idea, particularly in high doses.' A National Drugs Prevention Alliance spokesman said 'People take cannabis because cannabis effects the brain and quite a few people do have a bad experience as a result, either short term or long term.' She also told how 'the things that damage our health - whether it's diet leading to obesity, smoking or addiction - are individual choices' and said: 'I think it's very important we don't sidestep that by becoming a nanny state.' Earlier this week she backed a plan for smoking to be outlawed in public parks in London, saying: 'We all know smoking is bad for health. So I welcome any measures to reduce both active smoking and its role-modelling in front of children.' Campaigners have denounced the plan as an attack on civil liberties. Yesterday Simon Clark, director of the smokers' group Forest, said: 'She was happy to eat hash cakes when she was young. Now she wants to stop people smoking a legal product in the open air where there is no risk to anyone other than themselves. 'The idea that adults have to be role models for the next generation is ridiculous. Let today's youth find their own way, just as Dame Sally did when she was young. Educate but don't over-regulate. 'Unfortunately today's public health industry is driven by control freaks like Dame Sally who want to micro-manage our lives in a way they would never have accepted when they were young.' The dangers of long-term cannabis use, including mental health problems, were recently laid bare in a 20-year study by Professor Wayne Hall, a drugs advisor to the World Health Organisation. He found cannabis doubles the risk of developing psychotic disorders, including schizophrenia. | England's top doctor blames bad experience on 'contaminants' in the drug .
Smokers' group Forest accuse chief medical office of double standards .
Anti-drugs campaigners says her 'contamination' comment is 'nonsense' |
122,392 | 2a34b3e61f6c22f099ee29b8fc8ea51d6ef40990 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 18:11 EST, 26 October 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 19:01 EST, 26 October 2012 . NFL Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor celebrated with a cigar on Friday and pledged to concentrate on his 'broken life' after a jury rejected a woman's claims that he assaulted her by failing to recognize her distress when he had sex with her in a hotel room when she was 16 years old. The jury in U.S. District Court in Manhattan deliberated for about an hour before siding with Taylor, who appeared relieved as he turned around and gave a thumbs-up to a friend on a court bench behind him. Outside court, Taylor signed a copy of the verdict sheet belonging to his lawyer, Arthur Aidala, and then spoke about his future and his past. Acquitted: Former New York Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor smokes a cigar as he leaves federal Friday in New York after winning a lawsuit against him . All smiles: Taylor, pictured walking out of Manhattan Federal Court today, left, and right, texting on his phone . Taylor, led the New York Giants to Super Bowl titles in 1987 and 1991, said he wanted to go home to Broward County, Fla., and 'concentrate on my own broken life and try to repair that.' Asked to elaborate, he said: 'I've done a lot of things I need to address. I look forward to going home.' Outside the courthouse, Taylor, whose post-NFL life has been marred by missteps including drug and tax charges, smoked a cigar. When asked what kind, he said, 'Redemption.' The verdict came after a four-day trial in which Taylor testified that he had sex with a 'very, very pretty' prostitute in 2010 but denied accusations that he ignored obvious signs she was a teen runaway who had been beaten and forced to meet with him. He said she told him she was 19. The meeting occurred in his room at a Holiday Inn in Montebello, just north of New York City, where he paid $300 to Cristina Fierro after the sexual encounter. Fierro said another man forced her to have sex with Taylor. She said she brought the lawsuit to hold Taylor accountable. Accuser: Cristina Fierro, right, said she didn't . know who Taylor was when she went to his hotel room and found him naked . in bed in the 2010 incident . NFL icon: Taylor played for 13 seasons in the NFL and has two Super Bowl rings that he won with the New York Giants . The Associated Press doesn't normally . publish the names of accusers in sexual-assault cases unless they agree . to be named or identify themselves publicly, as Fierro has done. Fierro's lawyer could not immediately be reached for comment after the verdict. Taylor, though, said he regretted that he did not know when he met Fierro about the true circumstances of their meeting. 'I feel for what she has gone . through,' he said. 'At the time, I wasn't a bad person, and if I had . known what was going on, I would have helped her. I hope the best for . her.' He shook his head as he spoke quietly about his missed opportunity. 'I'm a sensitive person. I love people,' he said. 'She was in good hands.' During the trial, Fierro wept as she . described the sexual encounter, saying the hulking Taylor failed to stop . having sex with her even after she told him it hurt and tried to push . him away. Accused: Taylor, pictured with attorney Arthur Aidala shortly after his arrest in May 2010, was charged with sexual misconduct and prostitution charges . 'I kept telling him I didn't want to be there,' she said. 'He's much bigger than me. I couldn't do anything.' Taylor testified that Fierro 'didn't seem to have a problem' and 'didn't tell me to stop.' Taylor, who played in the NFL for 13 . seasons and was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the NFL's . 75th Anniversary All-Time Team, had already pleaded guilty to . misdemeanor criminal charges of sexual misconduct and patronizing an . underage prostitute and is serving six years of probation. Outside court, he cited 'changing . times' and said there were many lessons to be learned from his encounter . with Fierro and everything that came afterward. 'We're not in the '80s. We're not in the '90s anymore,' he said. 'You have to govern yourself accordingly.' In his testimony, Taylor, . 53, told a Manhattan jury at a civil trial that he had a history of . hiring women for 'company' when on the road but didn't expect them to . automatically have sex with him. 'I . still like the chase,' Taylor testified. But he added, 'I like to stack . the odds in my favor... I don't like to work too hard.' Fall from grace: Taylor, who is considered to be . one of the greatest linebackers in the history of the NFL, was charged . with rape in May 2010 . Hall of famer: Taylor, right, pictured with his son Lawrence Jr, was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1999 . | Lawrence Taylor, 53, acquitted of rape charges by jury .
During trial, he admitted that he often hires prostitutes 'for company' when he's on the road .
He claims Cristina Fierro, who was 16 at the time, told him that she was 19 in May 2010 incident .
Taylor was charged with sexual misconduct and patronizing an underage prostitute in the May 2006 incident .
Taylor played for 13 seasons in the NFL and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1999 . |
16,637 | 2f2cf6727d78de03030ce6395f99053ebdc1ec76 | Gamma rays are the most powerful form of radioactive waves known in the universe. But how these mysterious waves are made, and where exactly they come from have baffled scientists for years. Now, for the first time, scientists have peered into the heart of an erupting star to uncover the origin of this stunning phenomenon. Gamma rays, emitted when a star explodes, are the most powerful form of radioactive waves known in the universe. But how these mysterious waves were made and where exactly they come from have baffled scientists for years. Pictured is an artist's impression of gas ejected in the nova explosion . Astronomers, led by Michigan State and Manchester University, made an unexpected discovery when looking at an explosion on the surface of a star. 'We not only found where the gamma rays came from, but also got a look at a previously-unseen scenario that may be common in other nova explosions,' said Laura Chomiuk, of Michigan State University. A nova occurs in a star that is part of a binary system – two stars orbiting one another. One star, known as a dense white dwarf, steals matter from the other and the interaction triggers a thermonuclear explosion that flings debris into space. It was from this explosion from a system known as V959 Mon, located some 5,000 light-years from Earth, that the researchers think the gamma rays were emitted. It was from an explosion from a system known as V959 Mon, located some 5,000 light years from Earth, that the researchers think the gamma rays were emitted. Artist’s impressions of the gas ejected in the nova explosion is pictured . This activity was first detected two years ago by Nasa's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope. At about that same time, similar activity was being picked up by land-based radio telescopes around the world, revealing two distinct knots of radio emission. These knots were then seen to move away from each other. Astronomers have found the brightest ‘dead star’ ever recorded - but its very existence threatens to underpin our known laws of the universe. The pulsar - a dense and rapidly spinning remnant of a much larger star left over from a supernova explosion - has the energy of about 10 million suns and was previously thought to be a black hole. Its discovery, however, breaks a theoretical limit for how bright such an object can get - and it may also mean many other black holes found to date are actually pulsars. The discovery, published in the journal Nature, was made by scientists at Nasa’s California Institute of Technology (Caltech) using the Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuStar). This pulsar is the remnant of a once-in-a-century supernova dubbed SN2014J that was spotted in the Cigar Galaxy, also known as Messier 82 (M82), 12 million light-years away. The rare event captured the attention of telescopes around the world but when astronomers looked at NuStar’s data they found that what they thought was a black hole was actually the brightest pulsar ever seen. Scientists believe the white dwarf and its companion gave up some of their orbital energy to boost some of the explosion material, making the ejected material move outward faster in the plane of their orbit. Later, the white dwarf blew off a faster wind of particles moving mostly outward along the poles of the orbital plane. When the faster-moving polar flow hit the slower-moving material, the shock accelerated particles to the speeds needed to produce the gamma rays, and the knots of radio emission. This artist's impression is believed to be the exact replica of the moment a star explodes. When the faster-moving polar flow hits the slower-moving material, the shock accelerated particles to the speeds needed to produce the gamma rays, and the knots of radio emission . 'By watching this system over time, and seeing how the pattern of radio emission changed, then tracing the movements of the knots, we saw the exact behaviour expected from this scenario,' Professor Chomiuk said. Since that initial detection by Fermi, the spacecraft has detected gamma rays from three additional nova explosions in other star systems. 'This mechanism may be common to such systems,' said Professor Chomiuk. 'The reason the gamma rays were first seen in V959 Mon is because it's closer to us.' Because the type of ejection detected in V959 Mon also is seen in other binary star systems, the new insights might help astronomers understand how those systems develop. 'We may be able to use novae as a 'testbed' for improving our understanding of this critical stage of binary evolution,' Professor Chomiuk said. Gamma rays can be dangerous and are capable of killing living cells. The medical field uses gamma rays, along with X-rays and other forms of high-energy radiation, to treat cancer. Fortunately, by the time gamma rays travel across the universe to us, they are absorbed by the Earth's atmosphere. | Nasa's Fermi Gamma-ray Telescope detected gamma ray activity in 2012 .
Other telescopes also revealed two knots of radio emission activity .
US and UK scientists looked at a binary star system known as V959 Mon .
White dwarf blew off fast-moving particles, which hit slower-moving ones .
The shock accelerated particles to the speeds needed to produce the gamma rays, and the knots of radio emission . |
155,676 | 553ad47758aa1d2408e03a67c2a0342cb8c29d00 | Twenty-four states and New York City were at the worst levels for the week ending Jan. 5, according to the Centers for Disease Control. That's five fewer states than the previous week, lending a bit of hope that the epidemic has begun to wane since those states with decreased activity, such as Florida and South Carolina, were also where the flu first started growing at a terrifying pace. "It may be decreasing in some areas, but that's hard to predict," CDC . Director Dr. Thomas Frieden said. "Trends only in the next week or two will show whether we have in fact . crossed the peak." Getting better: High levels of flu activity has dropped in the past week, giving hope that the virus has slowed down . But the positive news was tempered by the startling figure that 47 states now report widespread flu activity. The only states not on that list are Hawaii, California and Mississippi. The death toll continues to rise with 21 children nationally having passed away from the flu, which has hit harder and earlier than previous years, USA Today said. Officials in New York City are warning that the 'severe’ strain has reached epidemic proportions across the city. Two of the 21 children to have died have been identified as Tahila Johnson, 6, from Dallas, Texas and Joshua Polehna, 15, from Fenton, Michigan . New York health officials advised the public to get flu shots in an attempt to limit the impact of the virus as five per cent of patients in city emergency rooms report influenza-like symptoms, compared to two per cent of patients last year. 'Our message is it’s still not too late to get your flu shot,' said New York City Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas Farley. 'If you haven’t gotten the flu yet and you haven’t gotten your flu shot . yet, you could still get it. 'It’s a bad year. We’ve got lots . of flu, it’s mainly type AH3N2, which tends to be a little more severe. 'So we’re seeing plenty of cases of flu and plenty of people sick with . flu,' he said. 'Anybody that doesn’t think so is . just missing an opportunity to protect themselves. There’s no guarantees . in life. New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg got a . flu injection in October but still got ill last month. He said that . won’t stop him from continuing to get vaccinated every year, CBS 2 . reported. 'You can take a flu shot, walk across the street and get hit by . a car. It doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take your flu shot,' Bloomberg . said. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious . Diseases said the outbreak could be the worst since 2003-2004. 'We are into what would classically be described as a flu epidemic,' the Institute's Director, Anthony Fauci, told Agence France Presse. Danger zones: The most recent Center for Disease Control map shows the states with the highest number of flu cases . Sick: Thousands of people are going to doctors complaining of illness with a severe cough being the most widespread symptom . The epidemic, which broke out in early December, has caused more than 3,700 . hospitalizations across the United States. An entire school district in Oklahoma on Thursday was forced to close until Monday since 25 percent of its students were ill, ABC News said. Eight people throughout Oklahoma have died from the flu since October. Among the 21 children who have died are Tahila Johnson, 6, from Dallas, Texas and Joshua Polehna, 15, from Fenton, Michigan. Tahila was found dead in her bed, the day after her family had taken . her to the emergency room with flu-like symptoms, . including fever and chills. Family members are questioning whether she . should have been sent home Monday from Dallas Regional Medical Center in . Mesquite. According to a police report, her family took her in for . treatment and was given a flu diagnosis and a prescription for Zyrtec. The next morning, the girl’s grandmother found her dead. The Michigan Department of Community Health has said that Polenha had no underlying health condition. The 2012-2013 flu vaccine protects against three different flu viruses: an H3N2 virus, an influenza B virus and the H1N1 virus. Google, which tracks national flu trends according to the number of times people ask about the flu, rates the current outbreak as 'intense.' Although patients are being advised to seek medical . attention if they are sick and have clear symptoms, . emergency rooms are so overloaded that hospitals are instructing people to see their . primary care physicians first. Not enough: Roughly three-fourths of people with the flu said they did not get vaccinations this year . 'It’s about five weeks ahead of the average flu season,' said Lyn Finelli, lead of the surveillance and response team that monitors influenza for the CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. 'We haven’t seen such an early season since 2003 to 2004.' During that flu season, Joe Lastinger's daughter Emily, 3, died only five days after coming down with the flu in late January. 'That was the first really bad season for children in a while,' said Lastinger, 40. 'For whatever reason that's not well understood, it affected her and it killed her.' 1. Cough . 2. Sore throat . 3. Fatigue . 4. Headache . 5. Body Ache . 6. Fever . In that season, illnesses peaked in early to mid-December, with flu-related pneumonia and deaths peaking in early January. That season was considered a 'moderately severe' season for flu, and ended in mid-February. It's still too early to tell how bad this year's flu season will get. During the 2010-2011 flu season, the CDC reports vaccine's were effective four about 60 percent for all age groups combined. While . there were then reports of vaccinated people developing . laboratory-confirmed flu strains, CDC officials said it's not yet . possible to know if this year's trends match up though they are . 'watching the situation closely.' Those . officials also noted that this year's vaccines seem to be a good match . for the two strains of influenza A and one of influenza B circulating. The H3N2 strain is dominant this year, and it can cause more serious illnesses. Flu seasons vary widely in severity with some year's totaling up to 200,000 hospitalized and between 3,000 to 49,000 dead . | Twenty-four states and New York City are at high levels, down from 29 states one week earlier .
Doctors advising public to get vaccinated to keep epidemic in check .
But the flu has now claimed the lives of 21 children and is now widespread in 47 states .
New York City in middle of 'severe' outbreak as five percent of its hospital patients have influenza, up from two percent last year . |
58,756 | a6af75518aa9f84f17d058cf8a98a62c0000f29e | By . Damien Gayle . PUBLISHED: . 11:55 EST, 19 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 11:56 EST, 19 November 2013 . Some of the Greenpeace activists held over a protest at a Russian oil right were granted bail by a Russian court today - but none of their British co-accused were among them. The nine named today are the first of the foreign activists eligible for release from jail while awaiting trial for their part in the protest in the Arctic Sea two months ago. The Primorsky court in St. Petersburg set bail at 2million rubles (£38,000; $61,500) each for the activists, who come from Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Finland, France, Italy, New Zealand and Poland. Save the Arctic: Polish Greenpeace activist Tomasz Dziemianczuk, one of the nine who were granted bail today . Also freed: Greenpeace activist Ana Paula Alminhana Maciel, left, from Brazil, looks ready to cry as she awaits the court's decision. Right Sini Saarela, of Finland, holds a message for supporters as she stands in the dock . Emotion: Miguel Orsi of Argentina clutches a . photograph of his daughter and sobs as he is told he has been granted . bail after nearly two months inside a Russian jail after he was arrested . during the protest in October . Set for release: David Haussmann, left, from New Zealand and Cristian D'Alessandro, right, from Italy . 'We can't wait to hug her': The mother of Argentinian Camila Speziale told of her joy at her daughter's release . Still facing trial: Paul D Ruzycki, left, of Canada, and Francesco Pisanu, right, of France, complete the list of those bailed today. However, all the suspects still face charges of hooliganism . The court said they will be released if the bail is paid within the next four days. Greenpeace said it would make money available as soon as possible. One of the activists, Miguel Orsi of Argentina, sat in court clutching a photograph of his baby daughter and cried upon hearing the judge's decision. Other activists bailed today were Sini Saarela from Finland; David Haussmann from New Zealand; Paul D. Ruzycki from Canada; Camila Speziale from Argentina; Tomasz Dziemianczuk from Poland; Francesco Pisanu from France; Christian D'Alessandro from Italy and Ana Paula Alminhana Maciel from Brazil. Mr Ruzycki's sister, Patti Stirling, said: 'It’s a bittersweet day. We’re very happy Paul is coming out of jail, but we know his first thoughts will be for the people he’s leaving behind in prison. 'All of the Arctic 30, including Paul, are still facing very serious charges and we can’t for a moment think this is a victory.' Ms Speziale's mother Paula Boscaroli added: 'We cannot wait to hug Camila and tell her how much we love her.' Judges . in Greenpeace hearings had previously agreed with prosecutors that the . foreign activists in the case were a flight risk, but the Primorsky . court did not say whether the nine could leave Russia while on bail. No trial dates have been set. Still caged: Freelance videographer Kieron Bryan stands in the defendants' cage at a hearing yesterday. None of the six British nationals held over the Arctic sea protest were bailed today . Impounded: A crew member keeps watch aboard a coast guard boat, left, as the Greenpeace ship 'Arctic Sunrise', . right, is anchored next to it in a small bay near Severomorsk after . it was seized by Russian forces . Thirty people aboard a Greenpeace ship . were detained in Russia's Arctic in September for a protest outside a . floating oil rig and have been in custody since. The . activists were initially charged with piracy, but investigators later . said they were bringing hooliganism charges and that piracy would be . dropped. People convicted of hooliganism are normally subject to fines, not prison sentences - although the charges, if proved, still carry a potential seven-year jail term. The Primorsky court refused to release an Australian activist, while another St Petersburg court has already granted bail to the three Russians aboard the ship, including prominent photographer Denis Sinyakov. Nineteen other crew members are expecting court rulings on their detentions. Mads Christensen of Greenpeace said: 'We cannot be at all confident that the Arctic 30 are going home any time soon. 'None of them have passports, so as things stand at the very least they could be restricted to Russian territory. 'And they are still charged with at least one very serious offence which could see them jailed for many years. Nobody at Greenpeace is celebrating yet.' Former Beatle Paul McCartney had urged President Vladimir Putin to release all 30 of the detainees. | Those named today are the first foreign activists made eligible for release .
A St Petersburg court set bail at around £38,000, to be paid in four days .
Greenpeace said it would make the bail money available as soon as possible . |
11,096 | 1f898c3dea0afefba901c0065c97796cb7f775ba | By . Hugo Duncan . PUBLISHED: . 14:33 EST, 29 January 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 05:08 EST, 30 January 2013 . Bonus: Antony Jenkins, who took over from Bob Diamond as chief executive of Barclays, is set to receive a bonus of £1 million . Barclays triggered outrage last night as it emerged it plans to pay its new boss a £1million bonus despite being engulfed in scandal last year. Antony Jenkins, who took over from Bob Diamond as chief executive at the end of August with a brief to clean up the bank’s image, is being lined up for a seven-figure payout on top of his £1.1million salary. However, critics say Barclays should not pay such big bonuses for 2012 – a year when its name was dragged through the mud. In total, it is thought the bank is preparing to pay up to £2billion in bonuses for the last financial year. But Barclays was forced to cough up £290million over its involvement in the Libor interest-rate rigging scandal – a humiliating episode which cost Mr Diamond his job. It has also been accused of aggressive tax avoidance and mis-selling products such as payment protection insurance to unsuspecting customers. The row over bonuses at Barclays came a day after it emerged that RBS was planning to pay its investment bankers £250million for 2012, despite being more than 80 per cent owned by taxpayers. Critics reacted with anger to the prospect of another round of bumper bonuses following a year of shame for the industry. Richard Lloyd, executive director of Which?, said: ‘Recent scandals have decimated consumer confidence, and the public will be rightly outraged if senior bankers get huge bonuses despite their failings. Cleanup: Mr Jenkins, who previously ran the Barclays retail banking arm and the credit cards division Barclaycard, was appointed chief executive to clean up the bank's tarnished image . Mega pay: Mr Jenkins's pay pales in comparison to Diamond's, who earned £17 million in 2011 . ‘Excessive bonuses shouldn’t even be . contemplated where there is evidence of mis-selling or rate-rigging. Past bonuses should be clawed back from those who presided over . wrongdoing.’ Mr Jenkins was appointed as a ‘new . broom’ after the bank plunged into crisis under Mr Diamond. As chief . executive, his total package will be up to £8.6million, including a . salary of £1.1million, a bonus of up to £2.75million, shares in an . incentive plan worth up to £4.4million and a cash allowance of £363,000 . instead of a pension. Labour MP Chris Leslie, a shadow . Treasury minister, said: ‘While our economy is shrinking it looks set to . be another bumper bonus round for bankers. 'There should be fair rewards for performance, but these bonuses follow the Libor fixing and mis-selling scandals.’ Reward: It is thought the bank is preparing to pay a total of between £1.5 billion and £2 billion in bonuses to its staff for 2012 . Barclays sources insisted no decisions on bonuses have been taken and insisted pay is ‘something we want to bring down’. The bank paid out a total of £2.2billion in bonuses for 2011. MPs were told yesterday that a . generation of young people are being put off saving because of the . record-low base interest rate of 0.5 per cent. Experts also savaged the Bank’s . £375billion quantitative-easing policy, with one telling the Treasury . Select Committee that it was ‘an appalling confiscation of wealth’ from . pensioners. | Chief executive Antony Jenkins set for £1 million bonus on top of £1.1 million salary .
Bank planning to spend up to £2 billion on staff bonuses for 2012 .
Forced to pay £290 million over involvement in Libor interest-rate scandal .
Bank has been accused of aggressive tax avoidance and mis-selling products in the last year . |
5,028 | 0e4f146ea790563e2ee9771b9f64a744a17321d7 | By . Robin Wylie, Ucl . The canyon-like scars which line Mars' crust are seen by many as evidence for liquid water. But a study now suggests that a different kind of fluid – one much less hospitable to life – may actually have carved these features. On Mars, the most striking topography occurs around the equator. The planet’s low latitudes are dominated by the Tharsis plateau, which hosts several towering volcanoes. The canyon-like scars which line Mars' crust are seen by many as evidence for liquid water.But a study now suggests that a different kind of fluid – one much less hospitable to life – may actually have carved these features. In this image, a geothermal picture of the Martian surface shows the massive gorge system . Not far off sits the solar system’s largest – Olympus Mons. Near the Eastern fringe, however, things start to get deep. There the land dives into a winding maze of valleys and river-like 'outflow channels', the former including the 2,485 miles (4000km)-long Valles Marineris – the 'Grand Canyon' of Mars – which exceeds its terrestrial namesake in every dimension. These great gouges are widely thought to have been formed, at least in part, by flowing water. But according to recently published research, they could have had a very different genesis, linked to the volcanoes to the west. A paper by Giovanni Leone of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, published in the Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, suggests that the Martian valleys and outflow channels were in fact formed mostly by lava flows, which erupted from the Tharsis plateau in the planet’s distant past. The 2,485 mile (4000km)-long Valles Marineris (pictured) – the 'Grand Canyon' of Mars – exceeds its namesake in every dimension. These gouges are widely thought to have been formed by flowing water. But according to recently published research, they could have had a very different genesis, linked to the volcanoes to the west . The slopes of a huge Martian volcano, once covered in ice, may have been home to one of the most recent habitable environments to be found on the red planet. Geological landforms discovered on Arsia Mons, the Mars’ third tallest volcano, suggest that lakes could have existed on the planet 210 million years ago. Researchers believe the lakes may have been home to bacteria and other single-celled organisms which evolved at the same time as dinosaurs began appearing on Earth. Nearly twice as tall as Mount Everest, Arsia Mons would have produced intense heat from eruptions that melted massive amounts of ice to form englacial lakes. These are bodies of water that form within glaciers like bubbles in a half-frozen ice cube. The ice-covered lakes of Arsia Mons would have held hundreds of cubic miles of meltwater, according to calculations by Kat Scanlon, a graduate student at Brown University in New York. And where there’s water, there’s the possibility of a habitable environment. ‘This is interesting because it’s a way to get a lot of liquid water very recently on Mars,’ Ms Scanlon said. To draw this conclusion, Professor Leone scrutinised thousands of images from Nasa's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) spacecraft, which has been orbiting the planet since 2006. This allowed him to map the floors of the equatorial valleys and outflow channels at an extremely high resolution of up to 25cm per pixel. These images appear to show extensive lava flows draping the floors of many of the valleys and channels. Around 90 per cent of the floors look to be covered either by lava or by lava-related landslides. The morphology of the lava flows Professor Leone encountered suggest that the lava actually incised the valleys and channels in the first place. The MRO images seem to show that channels formed by the freshly erupted lava were later deepened and widened by the passage of liquid rock. This type of erosion, Professor Leone argues, can explain the existence of the valleys and outflow channels without the need to invoke significant amounts of liquid water. The valleys and outflow channels are believed to be many billion years old. Professor Leone believes the lava would have been emitted by now-vanished volcanoes somewhere on the Tharsis plateau, forerunners of the region’s (relatively juvenile) modern volcanoes. The Grand Canyon of Mars – Valles Marineris is pictured here. Here lava tunnels seem to have collapsed, forming 'pit chains' – long curvilinear depressions in the crust . Professor Leone believes that every stage of this volcanic erosion process is visible in the MRO images. The first stage, he concludes, can be seen in the locations closest to today’s Tharsis volcanoes, at the western end of Valles Marineris. Here lava tunnels seem to have collapsed, forming 'pit chains' – long curvilinear depressions in the crust. Further east, where the terrain deepens, the pit chains seem to have been further eroded, by the injection of yet more lava, into more extensive channels – first into 'fossae' and later into larger 'chasmata'. The MRO images showed relatively little evidence for the past presence of liquid water in the valleys and outflow channels, which can be inferred by the presence of 'light toned deposits' in the images. This, Professor Leone believes, adds further weight to the theory that these features are igneous in origin. These are radical conclusions. While a volcanic origin for Mars' valleys and outflow channels had been proposed before (in the wake of Nasa's Viking mission in the 1970s, this was actually the prevailing theory), for the past 25 years, scientific opinion has drifted towards an explanation involving a mixture of tectonic uplift and sedimentary erosion caused by water. The study is unlikely to change the Esa's travel plans. Professor Leone’s research, while intriguing, is far from conclusive, according to UCL researcher Robin Wylie . The distinction between sedimentary and igneous rocks reaches far beyond geology. If, as the majority of scientists still believe, the valleys and outflow channels once contained significant volumes of water, then they are naturally prime candidates for future missions on the hunt for life. For instance, the European Space Agency’s ExoMars rover, due to touch down in 2019, is considering landing sites around Valles Marineris. If Professor Leone’s conclusion is accurate, however, and these features are instead mostly volcanogenic, this implies that much less water was present during their formation. If this turns out to be true, their suitability as landing sites could be called into question. This would not spell doom for the chances of finding life on Mars. If Professor Leone is right, it simply means that less liquid water existed in this particular corner of the planet. It would say little about Mars' total water inventory. In any case, this study is unlikely to change the Esa's travel plans. Professor Leone’s research, while intriguing, is far from conclusive. It is notoriously tough to tell between igneous and sedimentary rocks using orbital images, even at the resolution offered by the MRO. A definitive answer, then, will have to wait. But let’s hope not at the cost of another expensive mission which comes up dry. Robin Wylie is a researcher in Volcanology at University College London, This article was originally published in The Conversation. | Study look at gorges in Mars' Noctis Labyrinthus and Valles Marineris .
It found water on Mars would not have been enough to carve canyons .
Instead, study claims canyons were formed by passage of volcanic rock .
This implies that much less water was present during their formation .
If this turns out to be true, UCL researcher Robin Wylie claims the suitability of these areas to search for life could be called into question .
This article was originally published in The Conversation . |
286,080 | feb03de9f0ce6c6d6ae7109b00ae0efaee5e5d60 | Beijing (CNN) -- Three Chinese airlines received "false bomb threats" on Wednesday that caused disruption to five different domestic flights destined for the southern city of Shenzhen, state-run media reported. Shenzhen Airlines said on its official microblog account that it had received multiple threats that lead it to reroute two flights and delay another. A flight to Shenzhen operated by Juneyao Airlines returned to Shanghai, its point of departure, so that the plane, passengers and baggage could all be checked following a threat, the state-run news agency Xinhua reported. The flight eventually took off using a different plane, the news agency said. China Eastern Airlines received a threat regarding its flight from the northern city of Lanzhou to Shenzhen, via the central city of Xi'an, Xinhua reported. The flight was subsequently cleared for takeoff, it said. According to China Eastern's website, the flight's departure from Xi'an to Shenzhen was delayed by more than two hours. Shenzhen Airlines said that a flight from the eastern city of Nanjing returned to its point of departure, a flight from Xi'an changed course to land in the southwestern city of Guilin, and a flight from Beijing departed late after police talked to passengers. Police are now investigating the case, according to Xinhua and Shenzhen Airlines. Asked for further comment on the threats, Shenzhen Airlines directed inquiries to the individual airports where the threats were received. CNN's Feng Ke contributed to this report. | NEW: Police are investigating the threats to three Chinese airlines .
Five different flights to the southern city of Shenzhen are affected .
Two flights are rerouted and three are delayed .
The state-run news agency says the airlines received "false bomb threats" |
30,460 | 56975aa8bcd85b6070b74b97fecdcb964d5a5cd1 | Racing legend Lester Piggott has put his bespoke-designed stables - which has sent out 34 winning race horses - on the market for £1.25 million. The flat-race ex-jockey, who rode almost 4,500 wins, is selling Eve Lodge Stables in Newmarket, Suffolk, which he designed in 1985. The stables, which covers more than five . acres of land, includes an indoor arena, paddocks, 95 horse boxes and a . manager's house, which boasts three bedrooms. The house and stables owned by flat-race legend Lester Piggott in Newmarket, Suffolk, have been put on the market for £1.25million . At its peak, the stables, which Piggott designed more than 30 years ago, housed 97 horses and sent out 34 winners . The racing yard, part of the plot set over more than five acres of land, is currently leased to trainer James Toler and race horse handler Gill Duffield . Lester Piggott, pictured here after the Cambridgeshire race at Newmarket racecourse in September 1993, is understood to be selling the Eve Lodge Stables because he and his wife Susan no longer need them . There are also four semi-detached cottages on the site, each with two bedrooms, as well as direct access to 'The Gallops' training . grounds at Newmarket racecourse. Piggott, . 78, currently leases the racing yard out to trainer James Toller and . Arab race horse handler Gill Duffield but has now decided to sell up. At its peak, the stables, which Piggott designed more than 30 years ago, housed 97 horses and sent out 34 . winners. But Piggott and his wife, Susan, who no longer live at the . property, are understood to be selling the site on Hamilton Road as it . is 'surplus to requirements'. Gemma Bailey, from Bidwells, the estate . agents which is marketing the land, said: 'It is not everyday that we . get to sell the training yard of one of the country's best known and . most successful jockeys. 'It . is in immaculate condition and is in one of the leading locations for . the horse training industry. We hope to see considerable interest in the . yard.' The stables were specifically . designed by Piggott with a jockey's eye for detail. It is said that Piggott was greatly influenced by a visit to . Colin Hayes, an Australian champion trainer, and his Lindsay Park . establishment in Adelaide, when he designed the stables. Piggott and his wife have two daughters, Maureen, a former eventer, and . Tracy, a sports presenter for RTE in Ireland. Piggott is one of the most famous jockeys in British history. In a career spanning 48 years, he was champion . jockey 11 times and also had 30 Classic wins, including a record nine in The Derby. He also had 116 successes at Royal Ascot in a total of 4,493 career wins in . Britain - a record that only Sir Gordon Richards and Pat Eddery have bettered. He won the Oaks six times and the St Leger eight times. He won the Epsom Derby . for the first time in 1955 and went on to win the race eight more times. But . two years after becoming a trainer, the 11-time champion was convicted . of tax evasion and sentenced to three years in prison. He spent 366 days behind bar. On . his release, one year later, Piggott returned to racing and trained a . total of 34 winners at Eve Lodge Stables. The vast stables and racing yard include 95 boxes, an indoor arena, paddocks and a manager's house . It is believed Piggott's inspiration for the site was a visit to see Colin Hayes, an Australian champion trainer, at his Lindsay Park establishment in Adelaide, Australia . Gemma Bailey, from Bidwells, the estate agents which is marketing the land, said: 'It is not everyday that we get to sell the training yard of one of the country's best known and most successful jockeys' A rare part of the property is the indoor arena, which is floodlit with sand base. There are also storage barns at either end which are large enough to house a horsebox . There are also four semi-detached cottages on the site, each of which having two bedrooms, as well as direct access to 'The Gallops' training grounds at Newmarket racecourse . | Racing legend Lester Piggott has put his stables and training yard in Newmarket, Suffolk, on the market for £1.25m .
The 78-year-old ex-jockey won almost 5,000 races during his 48-year career, including the Epsom Derby nine times .
The stables, set over five acres, were designed by Mr Piggott himself more than 30 years ago .
It is believed the design was inspired by a visit to see Colin Hayes, an Australian champion trainer, at his Lindsay Park establishment in Adelaide .
The site includes an indoor arena, four semi-detached cottages, a manager's house and 95 horse boxes . |
168,737 | 664b937d6cea7f0964a77dae1cca663ffde3f717 | By . Craig Mackenzie and Amy Oliver . PUBLISHED: . 03:52 EST, 28 May 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 12:56 EST, 28 May 2012 . A 63-stone teenage girl, who last week had to be rescued from her own home, had been struggling with the guilt of dumping a mystery boyfriend, it emerged today. Georgia Davis, 19, who was hauled into hospital after being unable to stand because of her weight, ended the relationship with the man she met online despite him telling her she was 'Mrs Right'. The Sun reported how Miss Davis, from Aberdare, South Wales, had lamented to friends on Facebook about the admirer in February. She posted: 'What to do?! Why can’t love be easy? I’ve got some thinking to do. I don’t love him like he claims to love me - I’m pretty sure he thinks I’m Mrs Right. 'I don’t want to hurt him the way he’s claiming I’m hurting him. I know I shouldn’t be in this relationship it’s not right on us both.' Heartache: 63 stone Georgia Davis, 19, from Aberdare, South Wales, was struggling with the guilt of dumping a mystery boyfriend . It had been thought that Miss Davis piled on the pounds after her stepfather Arthur Treloar was diagnosed with lung cancer. But a former schoolfriend of the teenager told The Sun: 'She couldn’t deal with the high emotions of her relationship and when it ended she was so upset she just turned to food.' The couple are said to have got together after Miss Davis quit a U.S. fat camp in 2009. On Thursday emergency service workers were forced to smash their way the family home after Miss Davis called out to her mother that she could not even stand up. The teenager then had to wait eight hours as walls were knocked down before she could be carried from her home into an ambulance. Stepfather Mr Treloar said: 'It breaks my heart to think of what poor Georgia has been through. It's all my fault. 'She had watched her own dad die of a heart attack when she was a toddler. One day she turned to me and said: 'I've lost one dad - I can't lose another.' A 10ft by 10ft space was cut into to the top floor of the house in Aberdare, South Wales, so that the emergency services could remove the teenager . The scene as Miss Davis was removed from her home and loaded into an ambulance last week . It cost an estimated £100,000 as emergency workers spent eight hours cutting her free as two walls of her home in Aberdare, South Wales, were demolished to remove her from her first-floor bedroom. She remained at the Prince Charles Hospital in Merthyr Tydfil over the weekend while doctors continued to test for medical complaints including diabetes, kidney disease, spinal problems and respiratory failure. Her heart rate and blood pressure are being constantly monitored. Britain's fattest teenager had told friends on Facebook of her fears for her life because of her diet of junk food, chocolate and fizzy drinks. She said: 'We all die in the end...but food will inevitably kill me. I can't handle losing weight, my stepdad's lung cancer, mum's sickness and my depression all at once.' Ambulance men, paramedics, contractors from RCT homes, police, firemen, social workers all helped in the operation . A bridge was also built from the roadside to the top floor with between 30 to 40 people involved in the operation . Mr Treloar, 73, told the Sun on Sunday how his step-daughter had been gaining weight since her return from fat camp - staying in her bedroom watching television or messaging her friends. He said she managed to come downstairs to eat or talk to her family by sliding down on her bottom, but last Monday she confessed she could no longer stand up. 'Georgia had been in terrible pain for a long time from sores and swelling in her feet, but as usual she was trying to protect me and her mum so she kept if from us, ' added Mr Treloar. Over 40 firemen, medics and engineers took part in the operation last Thursday to rescue Miss Davis and take her to hospital in a reinforced ambulance after her mother Lesley called a doctor. It was the first time she had been out of the house in six months. Friends and neighbours claim Mrs Davis, 57, bought all her daughter's food which included processed ready-meals, sandwiches and packs of peanuts and crisps. She is also partial to sausages, pasties, chips, chocolate and chunks of cheese with bottles of coke or pints of milk.’ The cost of removing Miss Davis is estimated to cost £100,000 to cover manpower, plus the emergency call-out and the reconstruction of the demolished walls . The operation began just after 9am, and she was seen leaving the scene in an ambulance just after 5pm . She has previously spoken of her guilt over the teenager’s obesity. She has said of Miss Davis's weight: ‘I feel guilty, of course I do.’ In an interview, she said she and her daughter had started comfort eating after her husband Geoff died when Miss Davis was five. But she said she had later made a determined effort to change their diets – such as making her own chips instead of buying them from the takeaway. She said in the interview: ‘I wish I could turn back the clock. But if you’ve never had food addiction, you can’t understand. You try to fight it but it’s like a drug.’ In 2008, Miss Davis told reporters: ‘Some people choose heroin but I’ve chosen food and it’s killing me.’ In the past, she has spoken of eating ‘a couple of loaves-worth of sandwiches filled with jam or cheese or meat’ every day. Miss Davis lost 15 stone after her visit to a U.S. weight loss camp (left) but was piling on the pounds by September last year (right) Georgia Davis, aged 17, was weighing around 40st. Pictured with her mother Lesley . This was in addition to five bags of cheese and onion crisps, two packets of chocolate bourbons, sponge cake, trifle chocolate cake, and four sausages with mashed potato and baked beans for dinner, as well as fizzy drinks. She consumed as much as 13,000 calories a day. Miss Davis returned from the Wellspring Academy in North Carolina, in June 2009, weighing around 19st after losing 14st 6lbs by ditching her diet of cheese, biscuits and chocolate for regular exercise salads and lean meat. But when she learned of her stepfather's cancer, she would not go back to the fat camp. Mr Treloar told the Sun: 'It was the beginning of the end because she refused to return to America and for that I blame myself. It was difficult for Georgia to maintain her weight loss because she couldn't find the right foods in the supermarket in Aberdare.' Her mother says Georgia was always a large child, pictured here eating a lolly as a toddler . Early signs: Miss Davis was an overweight toddler, and the rapid growth has continued to this day . Mr Treloar revealed that Miss Davis had been forced to wear a bed sheet because clothes no longer fitted her. Now doctors have told her she can only have 2,000 calories a day to ensure she loses weight. He said: 'She is feeling depressed but we're doing our best to keep her spirits up. She's sick and we're worried sick.' On Facebook, Miss Davis told friends she was not coping with her family's health. She said: 'I have my issues. At the moment dealing with everything is too much. 'I need to take it one step at a time, but I will fix all this.' She confessed that she was smoking heavily to avoid comfort eating and had contracted an infection. 'My life cannot get possibly worse,' she said. 'I have needs sorting out because it's added loads more weight on to me. It's unbearable now.' A hospital spokesman said: ‘This young lady has had a settled night and has been seen this morning by the consultant in charge of her care. ‘Initial assessments have been undertaken and she will be undergoing further assessment during the day to assist in her plan of care.’ | Georgia Davis, 19, met man online after quitting a U.S. fat camp in 2009 .
She told friends on Facebook: 'I don’t love him like he claims to love me - I’m pretty sure he thinks I’m Mrs Right'
Former schoolfriend reveals boyfriend is reason teen piled on pounds .
Britain's fattest teenager had to be hauled out of her home and into hospital after being unable to stand .
Rescuers built a bridge to carry her and had a crane ready if it was needed .
Cost of rescue estimated to be around £100,000 . |
263,139 | e0d4711e68e490bf710a20b93a9d013d41292436 | (Mashable) -- Amazon has just entered the streaming music business with the launch of Cloud Player, a music player that lets anyone upload their music to Amazon's servers and play them via the web or Android. The new Cloud Player service adds a new "Save to Amazon Cloud Drive" button for saving MP3s to the cloud, as well as an option to upload music from a hard drive to a user's Cloud Drive. Users are given 5 GB of free storage, but can get 20 GB if they purchase an album through Amazon. It's $1 per GB after that. Cloud Player comes in two flavors, an app for the web and an Android app counterpart. Both players allow users to upload their music, create playlists and organize their music. And because it's a cloud-based platform, users can access their music and settings from any compatible computer or Android device. The most comparable service to Cloud Drive is probably Grooveshark, which also lets you upload your music, though Amazon has several major advantages in its MP3 store, its longstanding payment system and its stronger brand recognition. Google and Apple have been rumored to be hard at work on their own cloud-based players, but it looks like Amazon beat them to the punch. Amazon's Cloud Player will certainly face a stiff challenge when they launch their own streaming music services, especially given Google's control over Android and Apple's control over iPhone and iTunes. © 2010 MASHABLE.com. All rights reserved. | The service adds a new "Save to Amazon Cloud Drive" button for saving MP3s to the cloud .
Users are given 5 GB of free storage, but can get 20 GB if they purchase an album .
Google and Apple have been rumored to be hard at work on their own cloud-based players . |
30,557 | 56e73dd4c47c104281e748037845c74e15855992 | (CNN) -- The mother of a woman who gave birth on Monday to octuplets said her daughter already has six children at home and was undergoing fertility treatment. Dr. Karen Maples is part of the large team of doctors and nurses that helped deliver the octuplets. The Los Angeles Times reported on Thursday that Angela Suleman said her daughter had the embryos implanted last year, resulting in the eight births. "They all happened to take," Suleman told the Times. "I looked at those babies. They are so tiny and so beautiful." The woman declined to have the number of embryos reduced when she discovered she was carrying multiples, the Times reported. The six older siblings range from ages 7 to 2, according to the newspaper. Suleman said she was concerned about her daughter's homecoming because her husband, a contract worker, is due to return to Iraq. In the meantime, the mother, who remains unidentified, appealed for privacy while she recovers from giving birth, medical officials said Thursday. In her written statement delivered by Dr. Karen Maples of the Kaiser Permanente Bellflower Medical Center in California, the woman who delivered eight babies in five minutes said she would soon make public the details of her "miraculous experience." "We understand that you are all curious about the arrival of the octuplets, and we appreciate your respect for our family's privacy," she said. "The babies continue to grow strong every day and make good progress. My family and I are ecstatic about all of their arrivals." "Needless to say, the eighth was a surprise to us all, but a blessing as well," she added. The six boys and two girls -- ranging in weight from 1 pound, 8 ounces to 3 pounds, 4 ounces -- are doing well following their Caesarean-section delivery at the Bellflower hospital, doctors said. They were born nine weeks premature. Dr. Mandhir Gupta, a neonatalist, said all but one of the octuplets are now breathing on their own. That baby might be taken off breathing equipment Friday. Caring for eight premature babies is a challenge. Duties are being shared by a large team of hospital nurses and doctors for the time being. Two nurses have been assigned to each child, and all the babies are receiving fluids, proteins and vitamins intravenously, Gupta said. "We feed them. ... We change diapers. ... When they cry, we console them," Gupta said. "When the mom comes and touches the babies, you can definitely see their expression on their faces and body. They are very happy." The babies, who are being referred to by letters of the alphabet, will remain in the hospital for at least seven more weeks. Baby H made headlines for its surprise appearance during the delivery, which took months of preparation by a team of doctors, nurses and respiratory therapists. Watch a report on babies' progress » . The mother will not be able to hold her babies for another week, Gupta said. They are still fragile, developing intestines, he said. Doctors initially thought the mother was pregnant with seven fetuses. She was hospitalized seven weeks ago and ordered to bed rest. During the seven weeks, a team of 46 physicians, nurses and other staff members prepared for the births. When they started the delivery Monday, they were in for a surprise. "After the seventh baby was born, we were taking a sigh of relief," Maples said. "It was a surprise of our life when we in fact discovered there was an eighth baby," she said. "We never had an assignment for baby H nurse or baby H doctor. We just had to go on the fly and figure out what to do." "Baby G nurse stepped up. We handed off the baby to baby G nurse. She then delivered that last baby to the neonatologist of the baby F." "It was all wonderful because of the teamwork and the training we did before," Maples said. | Grandmother of the eight babies: 'They are so tiny and so beautiful'
The father, a contract worker, is due to return to Iraq, mother-in-law says .
Mother of babies appeals for privacy while she recovers from giving birth .
Large medical team monitoring babies; each infant has two devoted nurses . |
114,563 | 1fdb965c330003acc6bfaf18a78dbdc6be927658 | The checkered career of scandal-hit former IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn is set to take another turn, with the news Friday that he is to become an economic adviser to the Serbian government. The appointment will be announced next week, an official in the Serbian Deputy Prime Minister's Office told CNN. She was not named in line with government policy. "The exact details still have to be worked out, but we will have more information on Tuesday," the official said. "Mr. Strauss-Kahn will come to Serbia from time to time, but I don't think he will live here." Asked why the government had chosen Strauss-Kahn, she said, "Because he is an expert in the field of economics." The government declined to give out any more details ahead of Tuesday's announcement. Strauss-Kahn, once considered a likely candidate for the French presidency, resigned as head of the International Monetary Fund in 2011 after being charged with sexually assaulting a New York City maid. All sexual assault charges against him related to the maid were later dismissed at the request of a prosecutor. Strauss-Kahn: A reputation battered by sex allegations . More than a year later, in December 2012, Strauss-Kahn reached a settlement with the maid, the terms of which were not released. He told CNN's Richard Quest in an interview in July that he had opted to "pay and go on with my life," rather than spend more in legal fees fighting the civil case. The 64-year-old told CNN he sometimes gives advice for free to less economically developed countries and had recently been working with the government of South Sudan. In France, Strauss-Kahn is among a number of people charged with aggravated pimping in an investigation into sex parties at the Hotel Carlton, in the northern city of Lille. CNN affiliate BFM-TV said a trial was likely to be held next year. Strauss-Kahn did not deny attending the parties, his lawyers said, but he said he did not know that the young women at the parties were being paid for sex. | Deputy Prime Minister's Office official: He'll work with government on economic affairs .
The appointment will be announced Tuesday, the Serbian official says .
He resigned as IMF chief in 2011 after being charged with sexual assault in New York .
The charges in New York were eventually dropped, and Strauss-Kahn settled a civil case . |
285,300 | fdb267ba12d46992d14a827056784b71d2a78793 | LaGuardia Airport Terminal C was evacuated Tuesday afternoon after officials noticed a package being loaded onto a Richmond, Virginia-bound plane was spewing smoke. Port Authority spokesman Joe Pentangelo said some ramp workers reported the issue shortly before noon. Boarding of Delta Flight 5208 was suspended and the terminal partially emptied as authorities investigated the matter. Evacuation: Hundreds of travelers can be seen being forced out of LaGuardia airport's Terminal C after 11am Tuesday when employees spotted a package that appeared to be smoking . Cold: 'Airport officials are making us walk farther and farther from terminal C at Laguardia airport. #freezing' wrote Twitter user and evacuee Dionna Widder . Authorities have called the evacuation a precautionary measure. Pentangelo said a passenger was being interviewed, though it remained unclear at the time of the evacuation whether the package was a parcel that was simply being shipped or if it belonged to a passenger. Also unclear was what exactly caused the bag to smoke, though the New York Post reports that the Port Authority’s Police Crash Fire Rescue Unit was on hand during the evacuation and investigation. The package never made it onto the Virginia-bound fight. Hundreds of passengers were forced out into the cold, snowy thoroughfares outside the terminal and the plane was briefly called back to the gate. The day resumes: An all clear was given after 1pm and tweeted out by the New York FBI . 'Airport officials are making us walk farther and farther from terminal C at LaGuardia airport. #freezing,' wrote Twitter user Dionna Widder. By 12:30, employees were allowed back into the evacuated area. Passengers soon followed and the ExpressJet has since been cleared for takeoff. 'All clear at LaGuardia Airport following earlier reports of a suspicious package,' tweeted the New York FBI. It was expected to be a little over an hour and a half late into Richmond. Pentangelo said the bag was moved to a remote location, X-rayed and declared harmless. Precautionary: The Delta terminal was partially cleared as a precaution before noon and a passenger was questioned by authorities but authorities said nothing nefarious was suspected . | Richmond, Virginia-bound Delta Flight 5208 was called briefly back to its gate after the suspicious package was spotted by baggage loaders .
Authorities say the package never made it onto the plane .
Port Authority authorities did not immediately reveal what made the package smoke but at least one traveler was questioned during the investigation .
The precautionary evacuation ended around 12:30pm and the flight was cleared to take off . |
276,696 | f274872949cbe2b772d82844307be6a9926bb5cd | By . James Nye . The youngest victim of the devastating Washington landslide was seconds away from a tragic death - but instead was plucked from the debris by one good Samaritan. If Kody Wesson had been driving through Oso along Highway 530 seconds earlier, he would have been killed by the landslide that destroyed the home of Amanda Skorjanc and her 22-week-old son, Duke Saddarth. As it happens, Wesson was able to race to the rescue and trudge straight into the monstrous mess and save Duke and alert emergency services to Amanda. Scroll down for video . Hero and survivor: Kody Wesson pulls five-month-old baby Duke Saddarth from the debris left in the immediate aftermath of the Oso, Washington landslide which has claimed the lives of at least 18 people . Ignoring the commands of a state trooper not to enter the devastation, Wesson climed into the debris field to look for survivors. 'You gotta help 'em. How can you not? What are you supposed to do, you can't just stand there and watch,' said Wesson. Spotting Duke on the floor, Wesson rushed to hep. 'I could see the baby's face. It was all bruised up,' said Wesson who also tended to Amanda, whose legs were broken. Wesson wrapped the baby in his coat and carried Duke to safety past witness, Paulo Falcao. 'Something positive from the mudslide, a six-month-old baby. So precious,' said Falcao to the Atlanta Journal Constitution. Good Samaritan: Kody Wesson explained how he pulled baby Duke from the rubble and tended to his mother Amanda when he rushed to the rescue eight days ago . Mom and baby: Amanda Skorjanc and her son Duke Saddarth both survived and the five-month-old is in a serious condition but improving at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle . Duke is listed in serious condition and improving at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. His mother, 25-year-old Amanda Skorjanc, is in satisfactory condition at the hospital. Three men rescued from the March 22 slide also are at the hospital. A 37-year-old is in serious condition in intensive care. An 81-year-old in serious condition in intensive care. And a 58-year-old is in satisfactory condition. The family of the mother and baby released a statement through the hospital, saying: 'We are so grateful to all the responders who jeopardized their safety in order to pull Duke and Amanda out of the debris. 'Words alone cannot tell you how thankful we are. Our hearts and support continue to go out to everyone who has been affected by this tragedy.' Firefighters carefully cross a pool of water, using a fallen tree as a path, at the west side of the mudslide on Highway 530 near mile marker 37 on Sunday . Search workers ride on a tracked vehicle through the debris field of the massive mudslide that struck the community of Oso as the search for victims continued . An American flag pulled from the debris hangs in the staging area at the west side of the mudslide on Highway 530 near mile marker 37, in Arlington . Families coping with the loss of friends, neighbors and normalcy sought comfort in church services Sunday, as crews worked to recover more victims from the soggy pile of mud that buried the small mountainside community of Oso, Wash., more than a week ago. Rescue crews said Sunday that many of the dogs that have been essential in the search for victims will take a two-day break. Days of sniffing through cold, soupy mud and nearly nonstop rain have taken their toll on the animals, and officials say dogs can lose their sensing ability if they work too long. 'The conditions on the slide field are difficult, so this is just a time to take care of the dogs,' said Kris Rietmann, lead spokeswoman for the team working on the eastern portion of the slide. Dogs from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, more recent arrivals on the scene, will continue working, said Heidi Amrine, another spokeswoman for the operation. Engineers were watching for any material sloughing off the landslide area, making sure that a weekend of torrential rainfall doesn't displace more land. A weary searcher heads out of the west side of the mudslide site with a small saw . Rescue dog Nexus, muddy from working onsite, is decontaminated via hose after leaving the west side of the mudslide on Highway 530 near mile marker 37 on Sunday . A worker cuts a tree with a chainsaw next to a 'PV' marking, which stands for 'possible victim,' in the debris field of the massive landslide . Meanwhile, many residents attended church services for solace ahead of another week of recovery efforts. 'I can only compare it to a hot hearty meal after a very cold day,' Slava Botamanenko of Darrington said of the church services. Botamanenko works at the hospital in Arlington and said he spent two nights there to be sure he was available for work after the slide shut the road. Late Saturday, authorities said the number of people believed missing decreased substantially, from 90 to 30. The official death toll of victims identified by the medical examiner increased to 21, said Jason Biermann, program manager at the Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management. Authorities have said they have recovered more than two dozen bodies, but they won't be added to the official tally until a formal identification is made. A small rubber duck sits on a pile of assorted debris. Periods of rain and wind have hampered efforts the past two days, with some rain showers continuing Sunday . A flag flies at half-staff on a log with the slope of the massive mudslide that struck Oso in the background near Darrington, Washington . Dwarfed: The size of the debris field is also smaller than initially thought, officials said Sunday. After further scientific review and analysis, geologists have determined that the size of the debris field is about 300 acres in size . And, underscoring the difficulty of identifying those killed in one of the deadliest landslides in U.S. history, Biermann said crews are not always discovering complete remains. This weekend, crews completed a makeshift road that will link one side of the debris field to the other, significantly easing the recovery operation. They've also been working to clear mud and debris from the highway, leaving piles of gooey muck, splintered wood and housing insulation on the sides of the road. Searchers have had to contend with treacherous conditions. The search area has septic tanks, gasoline, propane tanks and other hazards. When rescuers and search dogs leave, they're hosed off by hazardous materials crews stationed at the edges of the debris field. The slide dammed up the North Fork of the Stillaguamish River, causing water to pool up on the east side. The river cut a new channel through the mud, but torrential weekend rainfall has raised the water level nearly a foot, Rietmann said Sunday. Washington Governor Jay Inslee, right, is shown after taking an aerial tour of the Oso mudslide area at the Arlington Municipal Airport Sunday . AQquatic: Workers maneuver though flood waters on C Post Road as search work continues in the mud and debris from a massive landslide that struck Oso near Darrington, Washington March on 29, 2014 . Lonely: A home located off Highway 530 is surrounded by mud and debris as search work continues from a massive landslide that struck Oso near Darrington, Washington on March 29, 2014 . In at least one place, the water level has risen so high that it's covered areas that have already been searched by Snohomish County responders, said Tim Pierce, leader of Washington Task Force 1, a search and rescue team. 'At this point there's no point in searching (that area) again until the water drops back down,' Pierce said. Rescuers should get some relief soon. Mainly dry weather is forecast Monday through Wednesday in Western Washington. The size of the debris field is also smaller than initially thought, officials said Sunday. After further scientific review and analysis, geologists have determined that the size of the debris field is about 300 acres in size. That's just under half the size of the earlier projected one square mile. Away from the whirring chain saws and roaring bulldozers, many residents of the nearby community of Darrington sought quiet comfort in church services. Helping: A dog is used as search work continues in the mud and debris from a massive landslide that struck Oso near Darrington, Washington on March 29, 2014 . Relief: Rescuers should get some relief soon. Mainly dry weather is forecast Monday through Wednesday in Western Washington . All week, a steady stream of people has stopped in to pray at the Glad Tidings Assembly of God on the edge of town, Senior Pastor Les Hagen said. 'At a time like this, everybody knows they've got to have God's help,' Hagen said. Steve Huot, lead chaplain for the Arlington Fire Department, is seeing people in varying emotional states related to the disaster. Some are in shock while others seem to have grasped the grim reality of the situation. Many are exhausted. He said there's nothing 'key' to say to people. 'It's more about listening right now. You need to encourage them and maybe change their focus to staying busy for the group, for the team,' he said. 'You might need to drive them into something productive and make sure that they feel a sense of accomplishment and contribution.' | Picture has emerged of the moment that five-month-old Duke Saddarth was plucked from the aftermath of the Washington landslide by a good Samaritan .
Kody Wesson was driving along a road and escaped the slide by seconds .
He rushed to climb onto the debris field - ignoring the commands of a state trooper .
Found little Duke lying injured and drew attention to his mother Amanda for other rescuers .
Put the baby in his coat and rushed the child to safety .
Duke is currently listed in serious condition but is improving at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle .
His mother's legs were broken but she is expected to make a full recovery .
The death toll for the tragedy now stands at 21 with 30 still missing . |
123,208 | 2b4553409b59240264ca10420e97ab4b08f649ed | Three children were rescued from a burning car in Pennsylvania after their mother left them alone in the vehicle while she went shopping inside a Walmart. Stacey Nelson, 32, is facing charges after she admitted to police that she left her three kids unsupervised to shop for 'about five minutes'. Police said it is extremely lucky that the children, aged two, three and ten escaped unhurt from the blaze on Friday afternoon. The mother left her three children alone in the car while she went shopping in Walmart (file picture) According to the Bradford Era, the source of the fire was traced to the passenger seat of the car where the ten-year-old girl had been sitting, while her younger siblings were strapped into their car seats in the back. Police said the girl told them she had been playing with a yellow lighter that she had found in the glove compartment and had 'caught some papers on fire and tried to get it out, but it was too late'. Foster Township Police Chief Tom Munn said passers-by in the parking lot rescued the children from the unlocked SUV. Ms Nelson was found inside the store. Firefighters extinguished the fire and the car, which had suffered heavy damage to the interior, was towed from the scene. Passersby in the store parking lot rescued the children from the unlocked sport-utility vehicle (file picture) | Stacey Nelson, 32, told police she left her kids for 'about five minutes'
Ten-year-old was playing with lighter she found in the glove compartment .
Younger children, aged two and three, were strapped into seats in the back .
Police said it is extremely lucky the children escaped unhurt from the blaze . |
64,290 | b6983b5e6229f8301a0e3474aa2d35df2dce40fe | By . Anthony Bond . UPDATED: . 03:02 EST, 25 October 2011 . Victim: Kalinka Bamberski is seen in this undated family photo. Dieter Krombach, a German doctor and the stepfather of Kalinka, has been jailed for 15 years for killing her . A German doctor has been sentenced to . 15 years in prison for killing his teenage stepdaughter after he was . kidnapped and smuggled into France to face justice. Dieter . Krombach, 76, was found guilty by a French court on Saturday for . unintentionally killing Kalinka Bamberski in Bavaria in 1982. It . followed a three-week trial which only came about after the victim's . natural father, Andre Bamberski, hired a team of Russian kidnappers to . take Krombach from Germany to France to face a court. The bizarre case has divided French and German investigators. In 1995, Krombach, a cardiologist, was found guilty of manslaughter by a French court in absentia while living in Bavaria. German . investigators had ruled in 1987 that there was insufficient evidence to . charge Krombach and extradition to France was refused. Krombach thought he would be safe in his home in Germany. But . Mr Bamberski, 74, waged a relentless campaign to bring the ageing . suspect before a French court and went to extreme lengths by hiring a . team of professional Russian kidnappers. Two years ago the medic was bundled into the back of a blacked-out limousine car, bound and gagged, and driven to France. After . being hauled out of the back of a limousine by the Russian kidnappers, . Mr Krombach was found tied and gagged next to a court building in . Mulhouse, the French city on the German border. French law allowed him to be retried before a judge. Speaking to the Daily Telegraph, Mr Bamberski told how he was delighted with the verdict. 'My . first thought is for Kalinka,' he said. 'What I promised her, what I . wanted was a complete and fair trial. Now that goal has been reached. Justice has been done in her memory and now I will be able to mourn for . her.' Happier times: Kalinka Bamberski, left, is seen with her stepfather Dieter Krombach and an unidentified young woman in this family photo. Krombach has been sent to prison for killing his stepdaughter . Facing charges: Andre Bamberski, second left, father of Kalinka Bamberski, speaks to the media during the trial of German doctor Dieter Krombach. He hired professional kidnappers to take Krombach to France to face justice . Mr Bamberski, who is French, now faces kidnapping charges for Krombach's abduction. The . retired accountant has admitted organising the abduction of his . daughter's killer but denies paying any money to abductors. He says it . was justified because Krombach would otherwise have escaped justice. His daughter died in 1982 aged 14 while on holiday with her mother near Lake Constance in southern Germany. Prosecution . counsel Pierre Kramer said Krombach raped the French teenager after . drugging her, inadvertently causing her death when she suffocated in her . sleep. Krombach claimed he had given her an iron injection to help improve her suntan. Denial: Dieter Krombach, left, has always insisted he was innocent of attacking his stepdaughter Kalinka Bamberski . An initial autopsy report pointed to signs of injury to her genitals, but subsequent tests were rendered inconclusive. Suspicious white and red fluids were also found on Kalinka's underwear and legs. According . to the Daily Telegraph, Kalinka's mother Danielle Gonnin, told the . court that she had found her daughter lifeless in bed. 'I . immediately thought of the injection, but Dieter Krombach told me: "No, . there's never been any problem with these injections.' The court in Paris said on Saturday that Krombach was guilty of 'wilful violence leading to death without intent'. In . 1997 - in a completely separate case - he was convicted of drugging and . raping a 16-year-old patient and received a two-year suspended prison . sentence. Krombach's . attorneys had said the French trial was illegal and argued the case . should be heard by the European Court of Human Rights. They said they . would appeal against the latest court decision. A . legal observer from Germany went to the Paris trial. The country has . made it clear that it disapproves of both the kidnapping and retrial. | Victim's natural father hired Russian kidnappers so that killer could face justice .
Case has divided investigators in France and Germany .
Dead girl's dad now faces criminal charges for organising kidnap . |
263,161 | e0dbf5cc8bc1be135717176ae10c26f85f715b22 | By . Rob Waugh . PUBLISHED: . 03:58 EST, 10 May 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 04:05 EST, 10 May 2012 . The App Center will feature apps that designed for PCs as well as for mobile devices such as Apple iPhones and Android smartphones. If a mobile app requires installation for the mobile device, Facebook said it will direct users to Apple's App Store or Google Inc's Play store to download the app . If Apple and Google can do it, so can social network Facebook - the site is to launch an 'app store' to showcase the games and apps that earn the site much of its revenue. The app store will also allow developers to sell apps direct to consumers for the first time via the network. It's the latest in a series of moves to 'spruce up' the number one social network in advance of a flotation on the stock market expected to take place later this month - and to convince investors it CAN earn more money. Apps such as games - particularly Zynga's titles such as Cityville - are a major source of Facebook's revenue, a fact the network is keen to hammer home. The App Center will, for the first time, allow software developers to sell apps to consumers directly on Facebook. 'Many developers have been successful . with in-app purchases, but to support more types of apps on . Facebook.com, we will give developers the option to offer paid apps. This is a simple-to-implement payment feature that lets people pay a . flat fee to use an app on Facebook.com,' says Facebook's Developer blog. 'For the over 900 million people that use Facebook, the App Center will become the new, central place to find great apps like Draw Something, Pinterest, Spotify, Battle Pirates, Viddy, and Bubble Witch Saga,' said the site's developer blog. The apps will be 'rated' by users, as they are on Google's Play and Apple's iTunes - which should help weed out apps that exist only to spam people via the site. The new App Center, which Facebook said will launch in the next few weeks, comes as the company is preparing an initial public offering that would value the company between $77 billion and $96 billion. A key concern for investors is Facebook's slowing revenue growth, due in part to the widening trend of consumers accessing its service on smartphones, where Facebook provides limited ads. In an amended prospectus filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Wednesday, Facebook said the popularity of mobile devices has caused its number of daily users to grow faster than the number of ads it is delivering. Facebook makes the vast majority of its revenue from online ads, although it also collects fees when consumers purchase goods from within social apps, such as Zynga's Farmville. If Apple and Google can do it, so can social network Facebook - the site is to launch an 'app store' to showcase the games and apps that earn the site much of its revenue . Consumers will need to use Facebook Credits, the company's payment system, to purchase the apps and Facebook will take a 30 percent cut of the revenue as it does with in-app purchases, said Facebook spokeswoman Malorie Lucich. Facebook is introducing the app service to give software developers additional options, but the company expects in-app purchases to remain more prevalent on the social network, said Lucich. Apps, ranging from social games to music services, are popular activities on Facebook, the world's No.1 online social network with roughly 900 million users. According to the company, 200 of the apps that are available on Facebook have more than 1 million users. The App Center will feature apps that designed for PCs as well as for mobile devices such as Apple iPhones and Android smartphones. If a mobile app requires installation for the mobile device, Facebook said it will direct users to Apple's App Store or Google's Play store to download the app. Apps such as Marvel Avenger's Alliance already allow users to buy in-game items using 'Facebook Credits' - linked to a credit card . Earnings: With the IPO, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg will place him in the top 30 richest people in the world while retaining stock valued at $17.6 billion . Mark Zuckerberg will become one of the worlds' richest people, worth $17.6 billion (£10.8 billion) when Facebook floats on the stock market on May 18. Zuckerberg, . 27, will be worth more than technology rivals such as Microsoft's fiery . CEO Steve Ballmer, who at 56 is twice Zuckerberg's age, according to . official documents filed by Facebook yesterday with US financial . regulators. He will . also be richer than Michael Dell, 47, and Russian steel billionaire . Vladimir Lisin, who at 55 is also twice Zuckerberg's age. The CEO will also maintain about 58% of the company's voting power. Facebook has set a price range of $28 . to $35 for its initial public offering of stock - potentially valuing . Facebook at $79.3 billion, by far the biggest IPO in Silicon Valley . history. The IPO could raise as much as $11.8 billion in Silicon Valley's largest IPO ever. Investors are expected to . flock to the highly anticipated IPO, though some have voiced concerns . about the social network's longer-term growth. Last week, Facebook reported its first . quarter-to-quarter revenue slide in at least two years. Investors took it as a sign that the . social network's sizzling growth may be cooling as it prepares to go . public in the biggest ever Internet IPO. 'It was a faster slowdown than we would have guessed,’ said Brian Wieser, an analyst with Pivotal Research Group. ‘No . matter how you slice it, for a company that is perceived as growing so . rapidly, to slow so much on whatever basis - sequentially or annually - . it will be somewhat concerning to investors if faced with a lofty . valuation,’ Wieser said. Zuckerberg, 27, will be worth more than technology rivals such as Microsoft's fiery CEO Steve Ballmer, who at 56 is twice Zuckerberg's age . He will also be richer than Michael Dell, 47, and Russian steel billionaire Vladimir Lisin (pictured), who at 55 is also twice Zuckerberg's age . Facebook's IPO . has been highly anticipated, not just because of how much money it will . raise but because Facebook itself is so popular. The world's largest . online social network has more than 900 million users worldwide. If . the underwriters sell the extra stock reserved for overallotments, the . IPO will value Facebook at $79.3 billion at the high end of the price . range. That's much . higher than any other Internet IPO in the past, even Google Inc. in . 2004, which raised $1.9 billion. The range came in a regulatory filing . Thursday. After that, Facebook will go on an . 'IPO roadshow,' where executives talk to potential investors about why . they should invest in the stock. If all goes well, Facebook's stock is expected to price on May 17 and make its public debut on May 18. The indicative price range, which is lower than first expected, can be . adjusted depending on Wall Street's response. Priced: Facebook will set its price range between $28 to $35 for its initial public offering of stock, potentially valuing the company at $79.3 billion . Ticker: Listed on the Nasdaq under the ticker 'FB,' the IPO expects to raise as much as $11.8 billion after its public debut on May 18 . CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who turns 28 . this month, has emerged as a wunderkind leader who's led Facebook . through unprecedented growth from its scrappy start as a hangout for . Harvard students. Zuckerberg will keep tight control over the company even after the IPO. He . will control about 58 percent of the company's voting power, through . stocks he owns or because other shareholders have promised to vote his . way through shares that they own. This means he will have final say over the biggest decisions facing the company even after it goes public. Zuckerberg will own 31.5 per cent of Facebook's outstanding stock after the IPO. | App store offers first time for developers to charge consumers directly .
'In-app' purchases already a major source of social site's revenue .
Will also offer apps for Android and iPhone . |
23,209 | 41d97bea231e2cff92671f79d532b93be6d58081 | By . Mail Foreign Service . A morbidly obese two-year-old has become the youngest person in the world to undergo a gastrectomy - where most of the stomach is cut away. The parents of the toddler from Saudi Arabia - who weighed more than 5st and had a Body Mass Index of 41 - sought help because he suffered severe breathing problems while asleep. Two attempts to control his weight by dieting failed, wrote his surgeons in an article in the International Journal of Surgery Case Reports. Operation: A morbidly obese two-year-old has become the youngest person in the world to undergo bariatric surgery . Gastrectomy is a drastic alternative to gastric band or bypass surgery - none of which would ever be carried out on pre-teen children in the UK. When he first presented to an endocrinologist at 14 months the toddler weighed 3st 4lb, but after dieting for four months his weight increased to more than 4st. The doctors from Prince Sultan Military Medical City at Riyadh were unable to ascertain whether the child’s parents had stuck to the diet. A further attempt at dieting failed and when his weight passed 5st, and his legs were bowing, doctors decided to perform surgery. Surgeons carried out a laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy on the boy which involved removing the outer margin of the stomach to restrict food intake, leaving about 30% of the stomach as a ‘sleeve’ roughly the size and shape of a banana. ‘To our knowledge LSG has never been tried in very young age children,’ the surgeons say in their report. ‘We present here probably the first case report of the successful management of a two year old morbidly obese boy.’ Drastic: Surgeons removed the outer margin of the stomach to restrict food intake, leaving about 30% of the stomach as a 'sleeve' the size and shape of a banana . Within two months the boy lost 15 per cent of his body weight and two years after the 2010 surgery his weight had fallen back to 3st 10lb and his BMI of 24 was within the normal range. International experts said the case was ‘shocking’ and ‘very unusual’. Professor Paul Zimmett, from the Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute in Australia, said: ‘We have no idea what effect this may have on the child’s growth and unless he has proper follow up he may suffer vitamin deficiencies.’ NHS guidelines say that any type of braiatric surgey would only be considered for British children ‘in exceptional circumstances’ and ‘only if the child is physically mature’ - typically 13 for girls and 15 for boys. | At 5st the toddler's legs bowed and doctors in Riyadh decided to operate .
The procedure involves part of the stomach being cut away .
International experts said that the case was 'shocking' and 'very unusual' |
286,184 | fed669c2a93a1951acb05593cc6ca621ed5def5f | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 15:36 EST, 10 June 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 15:37 EST, 10 June 2013 . Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant has reached a settlement with the auction house that was sold a collection of his memorabilia by his own mother. The star was also locked in an ongoing legal battle with his mother Pamela, who planned to auction off more than a million dollars’ worth of his sports memorabilia without his permission. But he has reached an undisclosed deal with Ken Goldin, owner of Goldin Auctions in New Jersey, for the sale of the six basketball items, which will be sold between June 17 and July 19, ESPN reported. Family feud: Lakers star Kobe Bryant accused his mother, Pamela (pictured) of selling his valuable collection of memorabilia, and even stealing some of the items from his home . He said, she said: Kobe Bryant (left) insisted that his mother (right) was never given consent to take his collectibles and sell them, but Pamela Bryant claims her son had given her permission to auction them off . Last month, a judge issued a . temporary restraining order against Goldin Auctions barring the auction . house from selling Bryant's basketball jerseys, jackets, high school . championship rings, trophies and other collectibles pending a full . hearing. Bryant's attorney also claimed his . mother, Pamela Bryant, wasn't authorized to sell the items, which where . given to her as a gift from her son. Amidst the family feud, the auction . house then sued Kobe and asked for proof of his ownership of the goods, . because Goldin had paid $450,000 to his mother in advance for the items . in January - which Pamela used to buy a house in Nevada. The items numbering in the hundreds were expected to fetch around $1.5million. Goldin is 'thrilled' that the pair have reached a settlement - which has not been fully disclosed. Bryant would also not disclose details of the settlement, but his attorney Mark D. Campbell of Loeb & Loeb LLP, told ABC news: . 'On behalf of Loeb & Loeb's client Kobe Bryant, we are pleased to . announce that a settlement has been reached in the dispute involving his . mother, Pamela Bryant and Goldin Auctions over the proposed auctioning . of Kobe Byrant sports memorabilia. 'The terms of settlement are confidential.' For sale: An advertisement for an auction of items belonging to Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant is pictured . Deal: A lawsuit by the New Jersey auction house claimed that Kobe Bryant's mother Pamela Bryant, seen beside his father Joe Bryant, already struck a deal with them for the items' sale . While Pamela Bryant said in a statement: 'We regret out actions and statements related to the Kobe Bryant auction memorabilia. 'We apologize for any . misunderstanding and unintended paid we have caused out son and . appreciate the financial support he has provided over the years. 'We also apologize to Goldin Auctions for their inadvertent involvement in this matter and thank them for their assistance.' In May, Mr Bryant said: 'I never told . my mother that she could have my personal property, let alone consign it . for public auction.' According to the complaint . filed in US District Court in Camden, New Jersey, the Lakers shooting . guard claimed that Mrs Bryant admitted to him recently that she was . never given consent to sell his possessions. 'I confronted her about her false . statement that I had given my memorabilia to her,' Bryant wrote in the filing cited by ESPN. 'I said . to her, "Mom, you know I never told you that you could have the . memorabilia." 'Her response . was, "Yes, but you never said you wanted it, either." Of course, this is . untrue, since my wife and I requested that she return my memorabilia . several years earlier.' Bryant said in . a sworn statement that the items at the center of the dispute go back . to his teenage years have 'tremendous sentimental value,' adding that he . was planning to hand down his 'well-deserved memorabilia’ to his . children, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer. Gifted: A Los Angeles Lakers championship ring given by Kobe to his father Joe Bryant is seen among the items the auction house hopes to sell . Fair game: Two Lower Merion High School basketball jerseys worn by Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant are seen for sale . Price tag: The 900 items belonging to Bryant, seen with his wife Vanessa at a cancer research benefit in May, could bring in upward of $1.5 million . Bryant said his mother can claim ownership of only two items, NBA Championship rings that he had custom-made for his parents. Kobe's wife Vanessa . Bryant also weighed in on the mother-son spat, stating that when . confronted about the items, her mother-in-law agreed to return theme, . but said that she had moved all the jerseys and championship mementos to . a storage facility. Among . the first 100 or so items to sell: the NBA star's . jerseys, practice gear and sweatsuits from Lower Merion High School; . varsity letters; a trophy for being the outstanding player at the 1995 . Adidas ABCD basketball camp; and a signed basketball from the 2000 NBA . championship game. And . then there are rings, for the 1996 Pennsylvania high school . championship, a pair that the Lakers made for Bryant's parents for the . 2000 NBA championship and one from the 1998 NBA All-Star game. According . to court filings, Pamela Bryant struck a deal in January with Goldin . Auctions in Berlin, N.J., which earlier this year sold a rare Honus . Wagner baseball card for a record $2.1 million. In its court filings, Goldin says . Pamela Bryant told the auction house that she asked her son five years . ago what he wanted to do with the items that were in her home. 'Kobe Bryant indicated to Pamela . Bryant that the items belonged to her and that he had no interest in . them,' the auction house's attorneys wrote. So she put them in a . $1,500-per-month New Jersey storage unit. | Auction house settled with Kobe Bryant in an undisclosed deal .
His mother Pamela Bryant struck deal in January with Goldin Auctions and received $450,000 up front toward a new house .
Memorabilia includes high school clothing, gear, trophies and rings . |
172,898 | 6bc27ebc4fc3ea1459d1a1e0a211a3a7a68a7758 | As usual, Louis van Gaal wasn’t going to accept criticism. When a journalist persisted in a line of questioning about the shortcomings of the new system Holland had adopted during their friendly with Ghana, Van Gaal finally lost patience. ‘I’ve been assigned to win. I need to get the best out of this team. That and nothing else,’ he snapped back. He then added, lest anyone be in any doubt as to who was in charge: ‘I make my own decisions on what formation I play. No director says how I play. I choose a team and a system that I think has the best chance of success.’ One's enough: Robin van Persie scored the only goal as an experimental Holland triumphed 1-0 over Ghana . Bombardment: Wesley Sneijder (above) took it in turns with Arjen Robben to attack the Ghana penalty box playing behind Robin van Persie . Wasteful: Holland's winning margin over Ghana could have been much more had Robben not squandered a number of chances . ‘Total Football’ it wasn’t, but Holland had emerged from their penultimate World Cup warm-up game with a 1-0 victory, secured when Robin van Persie tapped in after just five minutes, and Van Gaal was happy enough. As he pointed out, Holland had created six good opportunities at the De Kuip in Rotterdam and Ghana had created not one. They would have been home and dry by half-time had Arjen Robben not been so wasteful. It was an open secret that Van Gaal was set to trial a new formation in this match and those who didn’t know could easily have guessed it from Friday’s training session which was attended by 5,000 fans. The accent was on flying wing-backs - on this occasion, Daley Blind of Ajax and Daryl Janmaat of Feyenoord - in a 5-3-2 formation that could quickly shift to a 3-4-3 when Holland were on the attack. Blind and . Janmaat were encouraged to bomb forward at every opportunity and they . contributed assists for Robben’s two squandered chances in the . first-half, showing the potential effectiveness of the system. In . the midfield, Nigel de Jong and Jonathan de Guzman offered cover for . the defence against any Ghanaian counter-attacks and, up front, Robin . van Persie spearheaded a forward trio of Robben and Wesley Sneijder. Plan B: Holland boss Louis van Gaal deployed a 5-3-2 formation which morphed into a 3-4-3 during the win . Lead role: Van Gaal's new system is set to fit at Manchester United next season, with Van Persie likely to spearhead the attack . Strong support cast: Wayne Rooney (right) and Juan Mata would play off Van Persie in the formation . It was a formation that certainly has the potential to be exciting and the critical tone of some of the questions in the post-match press conference would surely have been avoided if Holland had won 3-0 or 4-0 like they should have done. Van Gaal said he had devised the system as a means of playing Spain at their own game, of fighting fire with fire, when they meet in their opening World Cup group match on June 13. He also hinted that it could be a set-up he brings to the Premier League when he takes over as Manchester United manager next season - or ‘after the World Cup final’ as he put it. If that . happens, we’ll certainly be in for some fun and games at Old Trafford. Van Gaal will need two attack-minded wing-backs to thunder up and down . the flanks and deliver effective crosses. Luke . Shaw’s £27m move from Southampton looks set to be confirmed any day and . the teenager will be given a licence to attack in the United tradition . regardless of the formation. Blind is also on the Old Trafford radar and . could also serve in his natural defensive midfield role. Van . Gaal will then need someone identical on the right-hand side, either . Rafael or the likes of Dani Alves, whose time at Barcelona is reportedly . drawing to a close, or Serge Aurier, the buccaneering Toulouse player . who is interesting Arsenal as Bacary Sagna’s replacement. Pulling the strings? Long time Manchester United target Cesc Fabregas (left) would be an ideal fit in midfield . Versatile: Daley Blind featured against Ghana at left-back and the Ajax star can also play as a defensive midfielder . Closing in: Manchester United are hoping to complete a £27million deal for Southampton and England left-back Luke Shaw . A timid Ghana side, which contained a number of second string players in the first-half as coach Kwesi Appiah makes the final call on his 23 for Brazil, failed to trouble the Dutch back line, but that will be a different story in the Premier League. Accordingly, Van Gaal is targeting Mats Hummels of Borussia Dortmund and Miranda of Atletico Madrid to strengthen his defence. United’s midfield were regularly embarrassed last season during the David Moyes tenure and reinforcements are desperately needed here too. Van Gaal will look at compatriot Kevin Strootman, who was very impressive for Roma before a cruciate ligament injury curtailed his season. He would certainly be in the Dutch World Cup midfield if not for this misfortune. Barcelona’s Cesc Fabregas would fill the vacancy with style but United face stiff competition for his signature from Arsenal and Manchester City. Up front, it would be Van Persie leading the attack ahead of Wayne Rooney and Juan Mata. There’s a strong possibility that Rooney is heading for a midfield role under Van Gaal and he’s likely to be overlooked for the captain’s armband in favour of Van Persie, who gets on very well with his national team manager. But on the evidence of the match with Ghana, this does not necessarily mean that Rooney will cut a frustrated figure as he sits backs in the midfield. Sneijder and Robben took turns to try and break into the penalty box, while Van Persie was not shy in dropping back to try and win the ball. The goalscorer would often by found trying to win the ball aerially close to the touchline from goal kicks and long balls from defence, with Janmaat a willing outlet out wide. Van Gaal fervently believes his new system will deliver the Dutch success at the World Cup. How about defending champions Spain as the acid test? | Louis van Gaal tried experimental formation in Holland's 1-0 win over Ghana .
Holland boss says he could use system at Man United after the World Cup .
Formation favours key trio of Wayne Rooney, Robin van Persie and Juan Mata .
Rampaging full-backs a key feature with target Luke Shaw a perfect fit .
Red Devils also monitoring Cesc Fabregas to add strength to midfield . |
167,578 | 64b9e6688ae6ab356fa3fc417805e36acd86d472 | By . Robert Verkaik . PUBLISHED: . 18:31 EST, 16 March 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 04:10 EST, 18 March 2013 . MPs are to investigate claims that the Pentagon is running a secret drone war from RAF bases inside the UK. The move follows The Mail on Sunday’s revelation last week that a drones company is openly recruiting US security-cleared staff to work on American military operations from Britain. Bosh Global Services, the firm at the centre of the allegations, wants drone personnel to work at RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire. Evidence: MPs from the all-party parliamentary group on drones will now consider evidence as to whether US Predator drones are being operated from RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire . Bosh says the new staff should have military experience and will support the US Air Force’s armed drone, the Predator, which has killed hundreds of people in Pakistan, Somalia and Yemen. MPs from the all-party parliamentary group on drones will now consider the evidence of a US ‘operations centre’ at the RAF base at their next meeting. John Hemming MP, treasurer of the parliamentary group, said: ‘If Americans are involved in extra-judicial killings from the UK then we should be told.’ The committee’s action is supported by Labour’s former Security Minister Lord West of Spithead, who said: ‘If there are drone attacks being operated by the Americans from this country against targets in countries with which we are not at war, then I, the public and Parliament should be made aware.’ Recruitment: US company Bosh Global Services has been advertising for staff at the RAF base to support the US Air Force's armed drone. A US solider operated a Reaper drone remotely in Nevada (above) Last week Bosh pulled the recruitment documents from its website and removed all references to RAF Waddington. The revelation has sparked claims of British complicity in the USAF assassination programme, which human rights groups have branded unlawful and is now being investigated by the United Nations. RAF Waddington has been designated as Britain’s first drone centre but will not be operational until next year, when it will fly five fully armed Reaper drones. Last night the Ministry of Defence confirmed that Virginia-based Bosh was working at RAF Waddington but was only supporting UK operations. An MoD spokesman said: ‘There are no US Reaper support facilities operating in the UK.’ | US company Bosh Global Services recruiting staff for RAF Waddington .
Bosh says staff will support the US Air Force’s armed Predator drone .
MPs from the all-party parliamentary group on drones will consider evidence . |
246,450 | caf66473e20407021774b2eb6b31d53e92285180 | By . Ben Spencer . A quarter of the bumblebees in Europe are at risk of extinction as their habitats are destroyed, according to a new report. The loss of the bees will place farming in crisis because of the insects’ vital role in pollinating crops, claim conservationists. Sixteen of 68 bumblebee species in Europe are at risk, according to the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). A quarter of the bumblebees, stock image pictured, in Europe are at risk of extinction as their habitats are destroyed, according to a new report. The loss of the bees will place farming in crisis because of the insects' vital role in pollinating crops, claim conservationists . Bumblebees live in small nests of up to . 200 bees and do not make honeycombs. Bigger than honeybees, they usually . have yellow and black stripes. Half of Europe’s bumblebee species have falling populations and just 13 per cent are increasing. Some 26 of the listed 68 species live in Britain, of which 12 are decreasing, six stable and five increasing. Some 26 of the listed species live in Britain, of which 12 are decreasing, six are stable and five increasing. The IUCN, which brings together governments, scientists and conservation groups, said: ‘Of the five most important insect pollinators of European crops, three are bumblebee species. ‘Together with other pollinators, bumblebees contribute more than £18billion (€22 billion euros) to European agriculture a year,’ its report said. The biggest threat to bumblebees is the destruction of wildflower meadows which gives them a food supply. The mass use of herbicides and pesticides has also been a big blow, with chemicals used to remove ‘weeds’ such as clover from farmlands that the insects feed on. Half of Europe’s bumblebee species have falling populations and just 13 per cent are increasing, it said. The biggest threat to bumblebees is the destruction of wildflower meadows, stock image pictured, which gives them a food supply. The mass use of herbicides and pesticides has also been a big blow, with chemicals used to remove 'weeds' such as clover from farmlands that the insects feed on . The report, which is the first Red List assessment of the threats to bumblebees, said: ‘Climate change, the intensification of agriculture and changes in agricultural land are the main threats. The European Union’s top environment official said the EU’s 28 nations were taking action to improve the situation. EU Environment Commissioner Janez Potocnik said: ‘The EU recently banned or restricted the use of certain pesticides that are dangerous to bees and is funding research into status of pollinators. ‘However, efforts clearly need to be scaled up.’ Recent studies have found that diseases from commercial honeybee hives are spreading to bumblebees. A study in the journal Nature said that deformed wing virus, for instance, was found in both honeybees and bumblebees in Britain. The virus was more prevalent in honeybees, suggesting it was spreading from them to bumblebees. | Report finds a quarter of bumblebees in Europe are at risk of extinction .
Sixteen of 68 species are at risk because their habitats are being destroyed .
The biggest threat to bumblebees is the destruction of wildflower meadows .
In the UK alone, 12 species are decreasing in number and six are stable .
This has a knock-on effect for farming because the insects pollinate crops . |
65,248 | b93e69ce14bd9c95c653963a389e668592c0f264 | By . Dan Bloom . These road safety signs on a remote Himalayan mountain road have driven tourists to hysterics - and may have saved their lives. The signs on the Leh-Manili Highway, a 298-mile road with frequent plunging drops and landslide risks, include 'be gentle on my curves' and 'if you want to donate blood, don't do it on the road'. Winding between the Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh regions in India, it gained traction with drivers by declaring 'speed thrills but often kills' and 'driving faster can cause disaster'. Poetry in motion: The signs are on a mountain pass between the Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh regions . This isn't a car chase! These signs have amused drivers on the 298-mile Leh-Manili Highway in India . Catchy: The signs were built by the Indian army to keep the road safe for the 18 weeks a year it is passable . Beautiful: But the road is a death trap, several thousand feet above sea level inducing altitude sickness . Simple message: Sherap Sherpa (pictured), from Kathmandu, has spent six years photographing the signs . But the light-hearted tone of the signs belies their seriousness. The arid road is thought to be one of the most dangerous in the world and drivers have been killed after experiencing lapses in concentration caused by altitude sickness. Sherap Sherpa, 42, has spent the last six years photographing the unusual road signs. He said: 'A few years ago I saw my first funny road sign. It said, "after drinking whiskey, driving is risky". 'I thought it was hilarious so I posted it on my Facebook. Within an hour it was shared by more than 20 friends and liked by more than 100 people. 'This inspired me to continue to photograph and share them.' Blood bank: Drivers on the road have reportedly blacked out after being overcome by altitude sickness . Live longer: The signs all convey a positive message - though they could of course be distracting themselves . Gently does it: Mr Sherpa said his favourite sign after six years was 'drive like hell, you will be there' The Ladakh-Manali highway is only open for 18 weeks during the summer, because snow makes the route impassable for the rest of the year. The comical road signs were erected by the Border Roads Organisation of the Indian Army. Mr Sherpa, from Kathmandu, said his favourite sign reads, 'drive like hell, you will be there.' He said: 'I have many favourites, but I think that one has a strong message.' Mr Sherpa, who documents the bizarre road signs on his website ladakhroadsigns.com, said he doubts the effectiveness of the messages. End of a relationship: One of the amusing - but deadly serious - signs photographed by Sherap Sherpa . Logic: It's impossible to fault the simple thinking behind the signs, along a landslide-threatened blackspot . Driven to hysterics: The photos quickly gained traction on Facebook and have been seen worldwide . Plane and simple: One of the witty signs reminds drivers that 'this is a highway, not a runway' He said: 'I'm not sure if they help with road safety. Most local truck drivers can't read English. Those who can just laugh at the humour in the language.' So far Mr Sherpa, a tour guide, has photographed more than 130 of the humourous road signs. Pankaj Batra, 31, from Gurgaon, India, who has also driven down the road, said: 'These signs are funny yet meaningful. On difficult drives, they ease your pain. 'On this quiet and very risky route, these signs bring smiles to drivers' faces and help to ease their tension.' Mr Sherpa said: 'Most local truck drivers can't read English. Those who can just laugh at the humour' Poignant: The funny tone of the signs belies a serious message on one of the world's most hazardous roads . Stark: The Border Roads Organisation is famous for signs elsewhere, such as this one in Sikkim, Himalayas . | Signs on famous Leh-Manili Highway in Himalayas have a serious message .
The 298-mile road has frequent plunging drops and landslide risks .
It is only passable for 18 weeks a year and many suffer altitude sickness .
Signs include 'if you love her divorce speed' and 'be gentle on my curves' |
101,519 | 0edaf35e16f69c348ee606145ddfb554f0f00a5e | (CNN) -- G8 summits are often fertile ground for the most grandiose of political promises. True to form, this year's one didn't disappoint: The leaders of the U.S. and the EU fired the starting gun in the race to create the biggest bilateral trade agreement the world has ever seen. Despite tensions surrounding revelations of alleged U.S. spying on key EU figures, the talks officially kicked off this week. But what are the chances of such a deal coming to fruition? Read more: EU envoys meet over claims of U.S. spying on European allies . And by the time each side has had its say, will the new pact really bring the benefits touted today? At a recent event I chaired in Brussels, former World Bank president and one-time U.S. trade negotiator Bob Zoellick was skeptical. Talk is cheap, he said, what matters is what's achieved. Obama visit: Why U.S. now needs Germany more than ever . One thing Zoellick was adamant about is that it will take years to get any definite deal up and running, and by the time concessions have been made the agreement is likely to look rather different to the original blueprint. The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership -- or TTIP for short -- is an ambitious project, designed to boost what is already the world's most important inter-regional trading relationship. Both partners are betting it will add generously to the 13 million or so jobs that depend on transatlantic trade, whilst boosting investment in key sectors starved of cash during the global financial crisis. Outgoing World Bank chief: Fix eurozone . Make no mistake, each side needs this deal badly: To speed up the painfully slow recovery and provide an effective counterweight to China, whose cheap exports have put scores of American and European firms out of business. But there are limits to what each side will accept. The logic is by removing all tariffs on goods and harmonizing regulatory standards for the production of cars to crops, the regions will be able to create one gargantuan market for their goods and services. France has so far successfully lobbied to protect Europe's film and music industry while the U.S. could retaliate with its own conditions, meaning the chances of a fully comprehensive framework look slim. Worth up to around $280 billion, the TTIP will cement an alliance between two blocs which already account for almost half of the world's gross domestic product. Richard Quest: US-EU trade deal not in 'our lifetime' All this may sound great in principle but the reality is stronger U.S.-EU ties risk alienating large emerging economies that have been deliberately excluded. China has watched the transatlantic nations' dubious stewardship of the world economy with increasing alarm. It will not take kindly to their stranglehold over world trade. Back in Europe, some are already questioning whether the TTIP's economic benefits will be evenly shared. A survey commissioned by Germany's Bertelsmann Foundation expected U.S. incomes would rise 13.4% per head thanks to the TTIP, whereas those in Europe would only increase 5%. Even among EU member states the trickle down effect is likely to be uneven with the UK's economy likely to grow 9.7% while that of France would expand just 2.6%, the study found. What also remains unclear is the effect increased trade with the U.S. would have on intra-EU commerce upon which many member states are heavily reliant. Still, on balance, even if there are fewer crumbs to be had on its side of the table, Europe has the most to lose if the TTIP doesn't go through. Why? because it has fewer options than America. Dogged by uncomfortably high unemployment and repeated recessions, one gets the sense the European Commission views the TTIP rather like a "get out of jail" card. Faced with no effective policy to tackle its issues, a crisis of leadership and a dearth of funds, Brussels appears to believe the TTIP will prove to be some sort of panacea. Another unknown is whether the business community will buy into the TTIP. Large firms often talk up the merits of free trade but shy away from the cumbersome aspects that new trading environments often offer. The nascent U.S.-EU trade negotiations aim to achieve much but it will take years to work out the details and by the time the TTIP is up and running the economy will probably be back on its feet again. Hopefully by then they will have dreamed up a new name though. After all "TIP" is hardly a promising acronym for the biggest deal on the planet. | Worth up to around $280 billion, the agreement will cement an alliance between the two blocs .
Both partners are betting it will add generously to the 13 million or so jobs that depend on transatlantic trade .
But stronger U.S.-EU ties risk alienating large emerging economies that have been deliberately excluded . |
111,939 | 1c5d986f3b2ae332f04efcf1e104ba18f18f94a0 | Secret agent: U.S. country star Jerry Naylor has revealed he used his international fame as cover to run missions for the CIA . Ageing U.S. country star Jerry Naylor has sensationally revealed today he used his international fame as cover to work as a secret agent for the CIA. Naylor, 74, who replaced Buddy Holly in the Crickets, says he was recruited on more than 100 occasions to spy for America under his guise as a touring singer. He says he was first hired by American spooks in Japan in 1968 and asked to use his tour as cover to collect a briefcase from Taiwan. The singer, who enjoyed international success in the 1960s, agreed to help his country which was in the midst of the Vietnam war. During one six-month mission, Naylor then helped the U.S. government derail the presidential campaign of one of Colonel Gaddafi's close allies. He was also asked to use Chinese money to set up a bank on Marshall Island before handing ownership back over to the island's president. In another daring ploy, similar to Hollywood blockbuster Argo, Naylor was part of a film crew that monitored the training of terrorists in Lebanon's Baqaa Valley in the late 70s. The singer claimed other U.S. stars must have been recruited into similar roles. Jerry, of Oregon, in the USA, said: 'My work with the government started in 1968 while I was in tour in Japan. 'This man came up to me - and it was during the Vietnam War - and he just said that he was going to pick me up and send me to Taiwan. 'I had already been denied a visa there because of the war and I thought I was just going over there to do a few more performances. Well connected: Jerry Naylor meets President Ronald Reagan in the Oval Office in 1986. The musician says he was recruited on more than 100 occasions to spy for America under his guise as a touring singer . Spook: Jerry (pictured with Nancy and Ronald Reagan) said he also helped the U.S. government de-rail the presidential campaign of one of Libyan dictator Colonel Gaddafi's close allies . 'We got on a plane, went over to Taiwan, I got off, went over to this man, took his briefcase and then took him back to the mainland. 'I don't know what my wife and kids would think if anything happened to me or if I got blown up by a mortar. 'I got back to America and just carried on with whatever it was I was supposed to be doing. I still don't know what that whole meeting was about. I didn't get told any of the details. 'Because I was over there doing a solo tour it must have been easy to use me as cover.' International fame: Jerry (right) joined Sonny Curtis, Bobby Vee and Glen D Hardin in the Crickets after replacing Buddy Holly . Success: Jerry (second right), who dueted with Elvis and Jonny Cash, was brought in to replace Buddy Holly in The Crickets after the original singer died in a plane crash in 1959 . He added: 'It wasn't a formal arrangement. I would get a call and they would lay out what it was I would have to do. 'Sometimes it could be something small like charter a plane to somewhere. 'I think using celebrities from Los Angeles and Hollywood for covert operations is probably something that the CIA liked to do. I doubt I was the only one.' Jerry claims his biggest use has been as a cover for CIA agents who needed private jets booking without drawing attention to their movements. Double life: Jerry (pictured with American singer and actor Kris Kristofferson) says he was first hired by American spies in Japan in 1968 and asked to use his tour as cover to collect a briefcase from Taiwan . But he also saw action closer to the 'frontline'. In 1973, Jerry claims he was seconds from death when terrorists targeted an airport in Athens and killed 34 people. Rock n' roll icon: Buddy Holly died in 1959 at the age of just 22 . Between 1978 and 1982, Jerry worked on . the research and production of a film called 'The Bounty Hunter', which . he now claims was cover for monitoring terrorists in the Lebanon. And in 1991 he claims to have been recruited to help de-rail the presidential campaign of Colonel Rashid, one of Colonel Gaddafi's close allies in the volatile state of Bangladesh. Naylor spent six months helping Rashid promote his campaign and held numerous meetings with the tyrant in Switzerland and the Netherlands. But all the while he was feeding vital campaign information to Rashid's political opponent to ensure the extremist didn't win. The singer, who dueted with Elvis and Jonny Cash, was brought in to replace Buddy Holly in The Crickets after the original singer died in a plane crash in 1959. He spent five years touring the world with the band and charting top ten hits in countless countries around the globe. But when the band split in 1965 he decided to launch his own solo career, gaining three Grammy nominations for his single 'But For Love' in 1970. Jerry revealed his surprise past ahead of the release of his 50th anniversary tribute album 'The Rocabilly Legends'. The CIA declined to comment. | Naylor, 74, was first hired to collect briefcase from Taiwan on tour in 1968 .
Helped to derail presidential campaign of one of Colonel Gaddafi's allies .
Monitored training of terrorists in Lebanon's Baqaa Valley in late 1970s .
Was often used as cover for CIA agents who needed to hire private jets .
He said: 'It wasn't a formal arrangement. I would get a call and they would lay out what it was I would have to do'
He joined the Crickets after Buddy Holly died in a plane crash in 1959 . |
276,996 | f2dc85b498f1d115ecfaf187124631091169a9ac | Kirsty Walters, 29, was released from prison five months early because of a 'clerical error' by staff . Police are trying to find a female burglar who was released from prison five months early because of administrative blunders by officials. Kirsty Walters was locked up for 876 days after she broke into a string of properties in Darwen in Lancashire. But she was released five months early in October from New Hall Prison in Wakefield because of what police have described as a 'clerical error.' The Ministry of Justice has been accused of 'incompetency' in allowing the 29-year-old to be released before the end of her sentence. She was due to be released in March 2015. Walters, of no fixed address, is described as being white, 5ft 1ins tall, of medium build, with long blonde or dyed red hair and green eyes. She has pierced ears and bellybutton and spoke with a gruff local accent. Graham Jones, MP for Hyndburn, said: 'This shows incompetency from the Ministry of Justice in signing off this release. 'It is also a rather bizarre story and I would take the view that having committed the crime, Walters must complete her sentence.' A police spokesman said Walters 'was released due to a clerical error.' He said she has previous convictions for burglary and has been recalled to prison where she targeted insecure properties in Darwen. A Prison Service spokeswoman said: 'Releases in error are very rare but regrettable occurrences. 'The number of incidents have fallen significantly in recent years with figures down by a quarter compared to 2009/10 but every incident is taken extremely seriously and we are not complacent. 'We are formally investigating this incident and it is now a matter for the police.' Walters was not due to be released from New Hall prison in Wakefield until March but left prison in October . Last year figures released by the Ministry of Justice in response to a number of parliamentary questions revealed 148 inmates had been released in error since May 2010 from jails in England and Wales. At the time Shadow Justice Secretary Sadiq Khan said: 'Victims will be insulted that criminals are allowed to waltz out of jail so easily, and continue to live their lives scot free.' | Kirsty Walters was jailed for 876 days for breaking into buildings in Darwen .
But 29-year-old was released from New Hall Prison because of clerical error .
She was let out of prison in October but was meant to remain until March .
Prison service confirmed it would be investigating Walters' early release . |
194,657 | 87f7cb29e390cde8433e00d5dee70cd0875fbb45 | By . Emma Reynolds . PUBLISHED: . 05:59 EST, 8 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 14:14 EST, 8 February 2013 . Devastated: Xiaoliang Qin, 31, said he would not be able to visit home after losing most of his money . A Chinese worker who dropped his entire annual salary at a road crossing on a windy day watched in horror as passers-by scooped up his cash. Xiaoliang Qin, 31, a migrant worker from the impoverished Anhui province, had withdrawn his year's cash at a Shanghai bank and planned to spend it on a trip back home. But while crossing a busy intersection, the courier dropped the bag containing 18,000 yuan (£1,800), sending 100-yuan notes blowing across the street. Motorists and pedestrians grabbed handfuls of notes as Mr Qin screamed at them that it was all he had. A passer-by was hit by a car and injured his leg in the chaos. 'I was there shouting, "Don't pick it up! It is my whole year's salary! I need it for the New Year!",' said Mr Qin, according to a report in China Daily. The only people who handed any money back were three sanitation workers, Mr Qin told the Shanghai Morning Post, leaving him with just 3,700 yuan (£377). He called the police, who arrived to find the courier crying on his knees at the intersection. 'I cannot celebrate New Year without my money,' he said afterwards. 'You people who own cars, how can you stop and take my money?' Scroll down for video . CCTV: The migrant worker is seen crossing the road after withdrawing all his cash at a Shanghai bank . Shock: The money flies out of his hands in the wind and 100-yuan notes scatter over the busy intersection . Thrilled: Excited pedestrians and motorists rush to pick up the cash as Mr Qin shouts at them to stop . VIDEO: Migrant worker's horror as his salary blows away . Shanghai police contacted two car owners seen on CCTV picking up money to tell them to return it. He had intended to travel home with his 83-year-old father, a street cleaner, by night bus. But happily for Mr Qin, his plight invoked the generosity of more than 300 users of Weibo, China's version of Twitter, who offered to help fund his trip home for the Spring . Festival, according to Shanghai TV. The migrant worker has now recovered around 7,800 yuan (£796). Scrum: One passer-by was hit by a car and injured his leg in the fight to get the notes . Gone: The Chinese worker was left with just over £300 after bystanders ran away with most of the money . Police found Mr Qin crying in the road - but internet users have now donated much of the cash he needs . | Worker dropped notes as he crossed street after visiting Shanghai bank .
Drivers and pedestrians grabbed all the 31-year-old's money .
The impoverished migrant worker had planned to spend it on visiting home .
Police found him crying on his knees in the street . |
49,112 | 8ab093e2ce38151da817b07af993e6000863cebb | By . David Baker . PUBLISHED: . 14:07 EST, 30 November 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 14:20 EST, 30 November 2012 . A three year old girl died in a house fire made worse by piles of clutter which set alight and created toxic smoke that overwhelmed her. Amelia Brown was in a first floor bedroom of her home in Grinacombe Moor near Lifton, Devon, when the house caught fire last December. Firefighters were beaten back by the fierce blaze which melted the plastic visors of their helmets and they were unable to recover the little girl’s body until the next day. Tragic: Three-year-old Amelia Brown died in the house fire fuelled by piles of clutter strewn around her family home, an inquest heard . Clutter: The fire, started in the kitchen, was 'accelerated' by the hoards of combustible furniture, clothes and bric-a-brac . An inquest in Bideford, Devon, heard the cottage had been full of clutter much of which belonged to her grandmother Stephanie Brown and that smoke alarms were not fitted in the house. Mrs Brown owned the property, which was full of clothes and furniture, but lived across the road. Det Sgt Barry Mitchell said: 'I saw an . extraordinary amount of hoarding and rubbish. It would have made moving . around the property very difficult and would have made what I would call . normal living activity virtually impossible.' Amelia's grandfather David, who was babysitting managed to escape but she was overcome by fumes and died of smoke inhalation . Devon and Somerset Fire service investigator George Setter said doors could not be closed because of clutter and that Amelia’s door could not be closed because of clothes, household goods and material in the way. He said: ‘The unusually excessive amount of combustible materials’ led to the fierce fire which generated large amounts of toxic smoke affecting all parts of the property’. Mrs Brown, in her 60s, admitted the . property was cluttered saying: 'I’m a great one for make do and mend. While it may have looked shabby, it was functional.' Her . late husband David had been babysitting while Amelia's mother . Abigail was out at a pre-school fundraiser that evening and she added: 'Amelia . was everything to Abigail. We all doted on her. 'She was a non stop . bundle of energy, very curious and always asked questions, very eager to . learn . 'But she also loved dressing up, . dancing and singing. She loved flowers and animals and died with her pet . cat who she had only had for a month but she really loved him. 'Everyone did what they could but it . all happened so quickly. We have been told that anyone who suffers smoke . inhalation is not aware of it. It is very quick and very gentle and we . take some small comfort in the fact that Amelia will not have suffered.' Mrs Brown said they will probably never know what sparked the fire which is thought to have started in the kitchen. The inquest into her death heard there was so much junk that some internal doors could not be closed, including the one in Amelia's bedroom . She said: 'There were no naked flames . or electrical appliances left on. We did not have smoke detectors but . neither do many old cottages. 'We will never forget the beautiful, bright little girl who never stopped telling us she loved us.' Deputy Devon coroner John Tomalin said Amelia died from smoke inhalation and recorded an accidental death verdict. He said: 'It’s accepted by all that there was a large number of items in each room. This was to the extent that internal doors could not be closed.' | Doors in house could not be closed because of clutter in the way .
Grandmother describes girl as 'a non-stop bundle of energy'
Amelia Brown died as a result of smoke inhalation . |
216,558 | a45e5b583e48c683d2d94608f6fde1a79742f427 | By . Mia De Graaf . PUBLISHED: . 14:14 EST, 15 March 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 11:25 EST, 16 March 2014 . The Mexican fisherman who claims to have survived more than a year at sea has flown into Mexico to meet the family of his dead shipmate. José Salvador Alvarenga, 37, was discovered in January this year, 14 months after setting sail with 23-year-old Ezekiel Cordoba Rios. Just four months into the trip, young Rios became ill after drinking turtle's blood to survive, and died. Scroll down for video . Survivor: Still-injured José Salvador Alvarenga, 37, was supported by his mother as he limped into Chiapas where he will meet the family of his shipmate Ezekiel Cordoba Rios, 23, who died at sea . From the airport, he drove to Costa Azul, where the family live. He said he will pass on Ezekiel's dying message and answer questions about their months adrift after the engine on their wooden fishing boat broke . On Friday, the Salvadoran fisherman landed in Mexico City with his parents and lawyer, before catching another plane to Chiapas, where his journey started in December 2012. 'I feel like a hero,' Alvarenga told press as he limped through Chiapas Airport, still recovering from his injuries sustained at sea. 'I don't feel capable yet of telling what I remember. 'When I talk about that day, I feel like I am back there in the moment when I was suffering and hurting... what I am trying to do is to forget that. Ezekiel Cordoba Rios (pictured left) died four months into their exile at sea in a 24ft wooden boat (right) Their engine broke and bad weather sent them 6,500 miles into the Pacific Ocean where they were stranded . Survivor: Alvarenga was far more articulate on Friday than when he first spoke to journalists. Plans are now under way for a book deal or movie to be made of his life . He called Nicolas Cordoba Cruz, Ezekiel's father, in February but today will meet him to answer his questions . Asked about his time with Rios, he said: 'There was nothing we could do except cry and suffer.' The . so-called Miracle Man Of The Pacific is now en route to Costa Azul, the . coastal town where Ezekiel's father, mother and three brothers live. It . has emerged Alvarenga phoned his companion's father, Nicolas Cordoba . Cruz, on February 7 for an initial conversation, and passed on part of . his companion's dying message. Alvarenga, who flew in with his parents and lawyer, said he will struggle to discuss those months . 'Ezekiel . told him [Alvarenga] to tell his brothers to look after their mother . and to tell me that he was going to be fine,' Cordoba Cruz told the El . Paso Times, clutching the only two pictures he has of his son. But, he added, there is much more to discuss in person: 'He . asked me for forgiveness because he could not do anything for . Ezequiel. 'Maybe authorities think that it is enough to have an explanation of what happened over the phone. 'But that doesn't hurt as much as the pain I feel of knowing I will not see my son again.' When he emerged on January 30, 2014, Alvarenga told media his companion died just four months into the trip. 'My friend,' he said in an interview, 'tried to drink the blood of turtles but he kept being sick because it disagreed with his stomach.' Eventually Ezekiel died, Alvarenga said, and he had to lower the body overboard. They had drifted 6,500 miles from Mexico into the Pacific Ocean, thrown off course by bad weather. Despite emerging from the fishing boat with bleached hair, sunburn, and bloating, Alvarenga was deemed to be in strikingly good health by doctors - though mentally frail. Ezekiel, his three brothers and his parents lived in Mexican border town Juarez until early 2012 when they moved to the seaside village of Chiapas to escape the town's gang culture. There, the young fisherman met Alvarenga and months later they were missing. Alvarenga's mother Maria Julia cupped his chin as he spoke to journalists yesterday in Mexico . Alvarenga emerged in January bloated, sun-scorched and frail after drifting 6,500 miles from Mexico . Five days after Cordoba Rios failed to return from his shark-fishing trip with Alvarenga, the family in Chiapas reported him missing and began searching for him, his aunt Lucia Cordoba Cruz said. 'Our family looked for him in the sea, in other villages, always hoping to find him,' she said, adding that their search ended about three weeks later in December 2012. But his father, who had been sick and had several surgeries, was not told about his son's disappearance for several more months. 'I thought the boat had sunk in the open sea,' he said. Plans are now under way for a book or movie to be made about the ordeal. | José Salvador Alvarenga and Ezekiel Cordoba Rios set sail December 2012 .
Alvarenga emerged bloated, burned and frail January 2014 without Rios .
He said Rios, 23, 'died at sea' after 'drinking turtle blood to survive'
Today meets family in Costa Azul, Mexico, to pass on dying message . |
122,726 | 2a9e9c8122c737c647b7612062e3e949ad6b46b2 | Wolves boss Kenny Jackett believes Sir Jack Hayward's life should be celebrated as the club plan further tributes. The club's former owner, who bankrolled them to a return to the top flight in 2003, passed away on Tuesday aged 91. He owned Wolves for 17 years before selling to Steve Morgan in 2007 for just £10, in return for a £30million investment into the club. Sir Jack Hayward poses outside Molineux before a home game for Wolves . Former owner and chairman of Wolves Sir Jack holds a sign renaming Molineux Way . Hayward sold Wolves to current chairman Steve Morgan for £10 and a promise of £30million investment . Hours after the news of his death was announced Wolves were knocked out of the FA Cup after a 5-3 third-round penalty defeat to Fulham following a 3-3 draw. The club are planning a full tribute before Saturday's Championship visit of Blackpool and Jackett knows Hayward deserves every honour. 'He is one of Wolves' favourite sons, not just at the club but the area. He was the owner for 17 years and when I met him he was a true gentleman. It is a life which should be celebrated,' he said. 'People within the industry spoke of him very well, Graham Taylor who was the manager here, and he was very well thought of by everyone in football. He had a first class reputation. 'When I met him over the last year and a half he was a true gentleman. 'Sir Jack put a lot of time and effort into the club, he started the development of the training ground and the fantastic ground we have here at moment. 'He will be missed and was very well thought of by everyone in the club.' Former Wolves goalkeeper Matt Murray also paid tribute to Hayward. Kenny Jackett (third from right) believes Sir Jack's life should be celebrated as the club plan further tributes . Wolves manager Jackett on Sir Jack: 'He is one of Wolves' favourite sons, not just at the club but the area' Murray made 100 appearances for Wolves before being forced to retire with a knee injury in 2008. He was in the side which won the play-off final 3-0 against Sheffield United to realise Hayward's dream of returning to the top flight in 2003. Murray said: 'I remember when myself and Robbie Keane were in Miami just chilling, and he heard we were there and sent his jet over to pick up Robbie and myself and our wives and put us up in a nice little hut on the beach. 'It was all off his own bat but he was so generous. He organised for us to swim with dolphins, took us to his restaurant and he was such a humble guy for someone who had done so well. 'He always made a fuss of the young kids at the training ground and he had time for everybody.' Chief executive Jez Moxey, who was appointed by Hayward, insisted his love for the club never waned. He said: 'He would tune in every single game wherever he was in the world, he was always doing a world cruise every year for four or five months. Day or night he would wake up and listen to the matches or try to watch them without fail.' Hayward looks delighted as he holds a scarf after becoming Wolves chairman in 1990 . Hayward (centre) stands with supporters during a Wolves game back in 1991 . | Sir Jack Hayward was Wolves owner for 17 years between 1990 and 2007 .
His reign saw the club win promotion to the Premier League in 2003 .
Hayward was also a great philanthropist, selling the club for just £10 .
Wolves chairman Steve Morgan hailed his predecessor as 'the most generous, humble and special gentleman you could ever wish to meet'
'He is one of Wolves' favourite sons, not just at the club but the area. It is a life which should be celebrated,' believes manager Kenny Jackett . |
21,597 | 3d55592f593f8cbe5025bf5cf1f9c3198a578e2a | A British man has appeared in court in Dubai accused of getting drunk and running naked through a building on the Palm Jumeirah. The 33-year-old tourist, identified as RS, was said to have entered the reception of the building on the Palm Jumeirah in his underwear after consuming eight rums. He was then allegedly seen by a security guard naked in a corridor on the second floor of the apartment block, Dubai Court of Misdemeanours has heard today. The 33-year-old British man has been jailed for running naked through the corridors of a building on the Palm Jumeirah (file picture) The man has been charged with consuming alcohol without a licence and committing an indecent act. He denies committing an indecent act but admits drinking alcohol. The court today heard how it took police 30 minutes to talk him from his hiding place on December 20, according to The National. It was reported that a Nepali security guard, identified as NT, 34, said he noticed the defendant arguing with other security guards, dressed only in his underwear, when he started his shift. He said the tourist pushed him aside and ran to the second floor of the building after he tried to calm him down. He said: 'I called our control room to contact police and then I followed him to the second floor, where I found that he had taken off his underwear and stood there in the brightly lit corridor, completely naked.' The tourist was drinking at Le Meridien Mina Sey hotel (pictured) before returning to his accommodation on the Palm Jumeirah . RS is reported to have said he was unable to remember anything because he 'was too drunk'. He had allegedly been drinking at Le Meridien Mina Sey hotel before returning to the Shoreline, on the Palm, where he was staying. The next hearing is due to be held on March 27. It is the latest in a string of court cases involving Britons in Dubai, home to a significant British resident population and a popular holiday spot. Foreign residents in Dubai must have a licence to legally drink alcohol in the Gulf emirate. Officials in the Gulf state have prosecuted several British tourists for indecent behaviour and for swearing in public over the past few years. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | British tourist accused of being drunk and running naked through building .
Man, 33, was said to have entered reception in only his underwear .
Dubai court heard he was then seen naked in a corridor .
He has admitted drinking alcohol but denies committing an indecent act . |
202,461 | 921b18849f0ce83afe91894e993e51ffbb775853 | Sam Burgess will be unveiled as a Bath player on Thursday, and the man tipped to become ‘the greatest rugby star on the planet’ will speak about his decision to switch codes in a bid for World Cup glory. The 25-year-old will hold a press conference at the Recreation Ground less than a month after guiding the South Sydney Rabbitohs to a historic NRL Grand Final victory, which saw him shatter his eye socket in the first minute but go on to earn the man-of-the-match award and, with it, a place in league folklore. The man they call ‘Slammin Sam’ needed five metal plates inserted to reconstruct his face following the dramatic triumph over Canterbury Bulldogs. Scroll down for video . Sam Burgess (right) said goodbye to older brother Luke and girlfriend Phoebe Hooke at Sydney Airport . Burgess and his girlfriend Hooke were sad to part from one another on Tuesday . The surgery forced him to delay his return from Australia but enabled him to collect the international rugby league player of the year award in person; becoming the first Englishman ever to do so. The former Bradford Bull was lured to Bath by a big-money offer and the prospect of following in the footsteps of Jason Robinson — the only Englishman to switch codes and win the union World Cup. With less than a year to prove himself ahead of next September’s global tournament many doubt the 18-stone former loose forward — being lined up to play inside centre — can make the transition in time. His tackling technique, in particular, is likely to be heavily scrutinized. Robinson is not among the doubters. ‘It took me three months after my switch to play for England and get on a Lions tour and I’ve no doubt Sam can do the same,’ said the 2003 World Cup winner and former Wigan great. ‘He’s already got the title as the best player in rugby league and has all the ingredients to do the same in rugby union. I think Sam will play in the World Cup. I certainly think he can be the best-ever cross-code player.’ The two brothers embraced before Burgess jetted off on a flight to the UK to join his new club Bath . Burgess holds hands with his girlfriend, and the pair will be reunited in a couple of weeks . SAM BURGESS @SamBurgess8 . ‘Well, I’ve arrived in bath and been for a look around. What a wonderful town. Quite jet lagged now but powering on. What Restraunt tonight??.’ Burgess was happy in his new surroundings on Wednesday after flying in from Australia . The RFU insist they played no part in Burgess’s switch but Stuart Lancaster — a huge admirer of league — is clearly excited by the prospect of working with such a talent. England’s midfield is still not settled, with injury and lack of form hampering Lancaster’s attempts to forge a tried and trusted partnership. Burgess could yet be the answer to his prayers. ‘Having spoken to him, his mind-set obviously is to make the World Cup squad,’ Lancaster said. ‘We have some very good centres who will have something to say about that and he will have to learn quickly, but he’s mentally strong. If he can learn the game he’ll bring an invaluable amount to the group. He is a very, very good player and an impressive person. ‘What stands out for me is his mental toughness and strength, the desire to dominate his opposite number. It will be fascinating to see how he goes.’ Those who have worked with Burgess speak of an intensely competitive individual, even by the standards of professional rugby, with an almost superhuman capacity to absorb pain and a relentless work ethic which drives others around him. New Zealand-born actor and Rabbitohs owner Russell Crowe — who signed him from Bradford Bulls in 2010 — described Burgess as his ‘sparkly-eyed man’. Without doubt, Burgess is a leader of men. Burgess in action during the 2013 Rugby World Cup semi-final match between England and New Zealand . Hooke will fly to Bath in two weeks time to join boyfriend Burgess as he begins his rugby union career . Burgess said his loved ones are excited for him joining Aviva Premiership side Bath . The death of his father, former professional league player Mark, at the age of 44 is said to have had a profound effect on Sam, along with his three younger brothers, who he has left behind at the Rabbitohs to forge a new career in union. ‘Sam has made himself a legend in rugby league,’ said Bath owner Bruce Craig, a key player in the deal to bring Burgess to the Rec. ‘It was absolutely extraordinary that he was able to play 79 minutes with a broken cheek bone and be man-of-the-match as well. He is a warrior who is going to create huge interest in the English game. It can only be good for rugby.’ His arrival is set to attract unprecedented attention on Bath — an upwardly mobile club with a great history and an increasingly rosy future. On Tuesday, Wallaby scrum-half Will Genia indicated his interest in joining Burgess at Bath. ‘Obviously the chance to possibly play with someone as special a player like that is definitely appealing,’ Genia said. Burgess (far left) with mother Julie and brothers Luke, George and Thomas after the 2014 NRL Grand Final . The Bath star celebrates with Russell Crowe after the Rabbitohs won the NRL Grand Final match in Sydney . ‘You saw the type of character he was in that NRL grand final. You always want to play with guys who are inspirational and make such an impact.’ But what do those already at the Rec think of his pending arrival? ‘When (Bath coach) Mike Ford spoke to me about signing him the first thing he mentioned was his character,’ said Bath captain Stuart Hooper. ‘He felt he would fit into our Bath system. I’m excited about welcoming him and helping him learn our sport and ultimately become a very successful rugby union player. I don’t think there’s a danger of his arrival disrupting us. We’ve got numerous people who could be involved with England through to the World Cup. ‘If everything goes to plan and England win they will all be superstars. We’re aware of this. You have to deal with it. It’s part and parcel of wanting to become a great club.’ Of course, a pocket of union diehards will dismiss Burgess’s chances out of hand. Time is against him and history suggests more converts fail than succeed. But such was his league stature, and such is England’s desire for him to make the grade, it would be folly to write off his chances of making the World Cup; despite the inconvenience of a depressed fracture of his cheek delaying his start until the turn of the year. Hooke admitted that 'there were a few sponge baths' as Sam recovered from his on-pitch clash . Burgess poses after being awarded rugby league's International Player of the Year award last week . His brutish carrying, sublime off-loading and incredible work-rate has drawn comparisons with Sonny Bill Williams, who switched codes at short notice and became an All Black World Cup winner in 2011. It is not beyond the realms of possibility that Burgess leapfrogs Brad Barritt, Billy Twelvetrees and Kyle Eastmond to claim the England No12 jersey. ‘He won’t take much bedding in because his size and the threat he poses in league make him a completely different kettle of fish,’ said another successful cross-coder, Saracens and England winger Chris Ashton. ‘Sam’s an exception. If you watch him play league, he’s the best player on the pitch every single time. There aren’t many players like that — he’s up there with Sonny Bill Williams.’ Time will tell. But whatever Burgess achieves in union, and however long he sticks around, the mark he has left in Australia, where league is king, is indelible. ‘People talk about Sam becoming the greatest English forward to ever come to Australia,’ said Rabittohs chief executive Shane Richardson. ‘The reality is he could be one of the greatest forwards to have ever played the game.’ Burgess has a new game to play now. Buckle up. It’s going to be some ride. | Sam Burgess left Australia to fly to the UK to join new club Bath .
The former rugby league player quit South Sydney Rabbitohs to sign for English rugby union outfit Bath .
Burgess's girlfriend Phoebe Hooke will join him in Bath in two weeks .
The 25-year-old fractured his cheekbone and eye socket during South Sydney's NRL grand final win earlier this month .
Bath lost 21-19 at home to Toulouse on Saturday .
England will be hoping he is the final piece of jigsaw . |
167,601 | 64c06254db90e68848d42b8b44f1d9d1895f75b6 | Three players were ejected after a fight broke out at the women's basketball game between Auburn and Alabama on Thursday night. With 1:14 left in the first half and Alabama leading 28-15, Auburn's Hasina Muhammad and the Crimson Tide's Breanna Hayden got tangled up after a free throw. Video replay showed Hayden throwing a punch that connected with Muhammad's face. Scroll down for video . Cause: Auburn's Khady Dieng, front left, and Katie Frerking collapse on Alabama forward Nikki Hegstetter (13) for Dieng's fifth and final foul during an NCAA college basketball game . Face-off: Auburn guard Hasina Muhammad goes after Alabama guard Breanna Hayden after Hayden hit her as the referees and Auburn guard Kiani Parker attempt to hold her back . An official got knocked to the floor as she tried to separate the two. Muhammad threw a punch after chasing Hayden toward the Alabama bench. Both players were ejected. Meoshonti Knight of Alabama was also ejected for leaving the bench. The game was delayed for around 20 minutes as a result of the vicious altercation. Alabama went on to win the tense game 51-50. Brawl: A fight between Auburn guard Hasina Muhammad, center, facing camera, and Alabama guard Breanna Hayden spills into the Alabama bench . Knocked down: An official is seen being pushed to the ground between the group of scrapping players as coaching staff try and break up the brawl . Players are seen waving their fists around during the violent altercation . Auburn forward Jazmine Jones works around Alabama forward Ashley Williams during the game. Alabama won 51-50 . | Players from Auburn and Alabama got started brawl during the 2nd period .
Auburn's Hasina Muhammad and the Crimson Tide's Breanna Hayden got tangled up after a free throw .
Video replay showed Hayden throwing a punch that connected with Muhammad's face .
An official got knocked to the floor as she tried to separate the two .
Alabama went on to win the tense encounter 51-50 . |
251,589 | d1a85ba253d2a44ea4f12930dd5921d81136869f | (CNN) -- Thursday, the White House revealed its efforts to reform the patent system, following up on President Obama's call in the State of the Union address. The White House called on Congress to pass legislation to combat patent trolls, known less pejoratively as "patent assertion entities." PAE's are firms that don't manufacture anything. They buy patents and threaten to sue people to extract licensing fees, like the mythical troll charging a fee to cross a bridge. Apple, Google and AT&T have each faced more than 100 such suits since 2009. Critics suggest that trolls create a drag on innovation by diverting resources to litigation. In response, the House of Representatives passed the Innovation Act of 2013 in December. The Senate is considering various anti-troll bills. Even the Supreme Court has gotten into the act, hearing cases this term that relate to the troll issue. If all three branches of government are reacting to trolls, clearly they are a huge problem. Except, they aren't. What is lost in this mudslinging is that much of what PAEs do is laudable — paying inventors. Patents don't grow on trees. Someone came up with the invention and incurred considerable expense to obtain the patent. Many inventors can't bring their invention to market themselves, however, so selling the patent may be the only way for them to make money. By buying these patents, PAEs compensate inventors, one of patent law's objectives. Patents give their owners the right to seek compensation for unauthorized uses of the invention, so there is nothing wrong with a PAE enforcing a valid patent. The key word, though, is valid. Problems arise when PAEs sue on improperly issued patents, ones that never should have gotten out of the US Patent and Trademark Office. For example, many patents on software and business methods -- areas where PAEs often operate -- are not sufficiently different from earlier technology to justify the patent, or are too vague to discern what they legitimately cover. Even though companies can knock these patents out in court, most parties settle. But, if they aren't legitimate patents, why do parties settle? Simple: to avoid the expense. According to a 2013 American Intellectual Property Law Association survey, median litigation costs are $3.3 million when $10 million to $25 million is at stake. Discovery -- the process of looking for evidence relevant to the case --is responsible for much of the expense. Defendants must wade through voluminous records and e-mails to find anything relevant to the case. For a case worth $10 million to $25 million, the survey estimates that the median cost through discovery in defending a PAE suit is $1.5 million. A PAE doesn't face these expenses. Discovery is easy for it because all it has is the patent. Plus, its lawyers usually take these cases on contingency, taking a percentage of whatever money they bring in, so there are no upfront attorney costs. When manufacturing companies face these costs, many simply settle, leaving the invalid patent in place. But these are not troll problems; they are litigation and patent quality issues. Scapegoating trolls risks disrupting the useful compensatory purpose they serve and may cause unintended consequences in non-troll litigation. Unfortunately much of the Innovation Act's proposals are ill-considered from this perspective. For example, the act makes all patent litigation -- troll and non-troll -- a "loser pays" system. The losing party must pay the attorney fees of the other side unless the loser's case was "reasonably justified." So, if a PAE sues on a bad patent and loses, it may have to pay the company's attorney fees. By having more skin in the game, hopefully PAEs would think twice about asserting bad patents. Unfortunately, the provision applies to all patent cases, likely increasing litigation expenses in all cases as parties fight over fees -- worrisome and chilling the willingness of non-trolls, such as startups, to enforce their patents. Such legislation is premature because two of the troll-related cases at the Supreme Court deal precisely with this issue. Other provisions in the act attempt to reduce litigation expenses, but they inappropriately micromanage the federal courts. Patent quality concerns must be addressed by the patent office. Unfortunately, the relevant provisions of the Innovation Act were removed prior to passage, so the final version contains no provisions relating to patent office procedures. The President's proposals, however, are directed to improving the quality of the patent office's review of patent applications. If successful, enhancing the clarity of what a patent covers would be a welcome improvement. The patent office's efforts to create greater transparency of patent ownership is also important because PAEs often hide their ownership behind various corporate shells. Finally, in 2011, Congress created new procedures to challenge patents after the patent office has issued them. Time will tell whether they successfully enhance patent quality, yet the promise is there. But all three branches must remember that not all patent trolls are demons. PAEs create markets for compensating inventors. Patent reform efforts should not myopically focus on trolls per se, or it may disrupt these markets and create other unintended consequences. Reform must address patent quality and exorbitant litigation costs. The President's proposals offer hope, but the Innovation Act's efforts are misplaced. The Senate proposals are more modest. Let's hope Congress pauses to consider the broader role PAEs play in our economy and appropriately tailors legislation to the patent system's real problems. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Timothy Holbrook. | President Obama, Congress have proposed reforms to curb patent trolls .
Supreme Court is considering cases relating to the issue of patent trolls .
Timothy Holbrook says some trolls sue to enforce bad patents, but others serve useful purpose .
Holbrook: The problem is mostly with Patent Office failings and with exorbitant costs for lawsuits . |
270,017 | e9b2fc60303abfd089bf58f38509d095e4f07389 | Editor's note: Actor Rainn Wilson plays paper salesman Dwight Schrute in the television comedy "The Office." Rainn Wilson says fellow members of his Baha'i faith are being persecuted in Iran. (CNN) -- Why is Rainn Wilson, "Dwight" on "The Office," writing a news commentary for CNN? Good question. It's a bit strange for me, to say the least; a comic character actor best known for playing weirdos with bad haircuts getting all serious to talk about the persecution of the fellow members of his religious faith. Dear readers of CNN, I assure you that what I'm writing about is no joking matter or some hoax perpetrated by a paper-sellin', bear-fearin', Battlestar-Galactica obsessed beet farmer. I am a member of the Baha'i faith. What is that, you ask? Well, long story short, it's an independent world religion that began in the mid-1800s in Iran. Baha'is believe that there is only one God and therefore only one religion. All of the world's divine teachers (Jesus, Muhammad, Buddha, Moses, Abraham, Krishna, etc.) bring essentially the same message -- one of unity, love and knowledge of God or the divine. This constantly updated faith of God, Baha'is believe, has been refreshed for this day and age by our founder, Baha'u'llah. There. Nutshell version. Now, as I mentioned, this all happened in Iran, and needless to say the Muslim authorities did not like the Baha'is very much, accusing them of heresy and apostasy. Tens of thousands were killed in the early years of the faith, and the persecutions have continued off and on for the past 150 years. Why write about all this now? Well, I'm glad you asked. You see there's a 'trial' going on very soon for seven Baha'i national leaders in Iran. They've been accused of all manner of things including being "spies for Israel," "insulting religious sanctities" and "propaganda against the Islamic Republic." They've been held for a year in Evin Prison in Tehran without any access to their lawyer (the Nobel Laureate Shirin Ebadi) and with zero evidence of any of these charges. When a similar thing happened in 1980, the national leadership of the Iranian Baha'i community disappeared. And this was repeated again in 1981. In fact, since 1979, more than 200 Baha'is have been killed, holy places and cemeteries desecrated, homes burned, civil rights taken away and secret lists compiled of Baha'is (and even Muslims who associate with them) by government agencies. It's bad right now for all the peace-loving Baha'is in Iran who want only to practice their religion and follow their beliefs. It's especially bad for these seven. Here's a link to their bios. They're teachers, and engineers, and optometrists and social workers just like us. This thought has become kind of a cliché', but we take our rights for granted here in America. Imagine if a group of people were rounded up and imprisoned and then disappeared not for anything they'd done, but because they wanted to worship differently than the majority. There is a resolution on the situation of the Baha'is in Iran being sent to Congress. Please ask your representatives to support it. And ask them to speak out about this terrible situation. Thanks for reading. Now back to bears, paper and beets! The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Rainn Wilson. | Rainn Wilson: I'm a member of the Baha'i faith, founded in the 1800s in Iran .
He says the faith has been persecuted on and off for 150 years .
Seven Baha'i leaders are going on trial in Iran on a variety of charges, he says .
Wilson: Ask your congressman to support a resolution on the Baha'is . |
170,540 | 68c193e0a94a2e0cdc37a001c8a5634021a27d88 | By . Sean Poulter . Last updated at 4:26 PM on 17th October 2011 . The average house price in the South is now more than twice as high as in the North, a study has revealed. It is thought to be the first time that the North/South gap has widened to this extent. Despite widespread economic gloom, experts say that asking prices across London, the South-East, South-West and East Anglia rose by 4.7 per cent last month. House Prices . However, prices in the North and North-West, the West and East Midlands, Yorkshire and the Humber and Wales fell by 0.7 per cent. The typical property in the South now costs £336,743, compared with £164,347 in the North. The £172,396 gap is the largest recorded in the nine-year history of property firm Rightmove’s pricing index. Property prices had been predicted to . fall by as much as ten per cent by 2013 due to the challenging financial . climate, but Rightmove said the South, and London in particular, . continues to exceed expectations. In the four years since the start of the credit crunch, asking prices have fallen by 9.6 per cent in the North - but jumped 5.4 per cent in the South. Rising house prices in the South are pricing many would-be buyers out of the market . Rightmove spokesman Miles Shipside said: ‘Wider access to mortgages and rising asking prices are early signs of increasing demand, giving homeowners some grounds for hope of a market recovery.’ However, he added that the reality was a ‘two-tier’ market with a ‘growing price gap’. The firm’s report suggested high unemployment in the North had driven prices down. ■ A mansion put on sale for £70million six years ago is reported to have finally come under offer - for less than half the original asking price. Surrey’s Updown Court - also known as Bling Towers – boasts five swimming pools, a heated marble driveway, a bowling alley and escape tunnels. A foreign businessman is said to have offered almost £35million for the 103-room property. | House prices in the South rose by almost 5 per cent last month .
Gap between average cost of home in the two regions is £172,396 . |
23,389 | 4275495cbab368496369e875568dad4a839e971b | A dad accused of killing his 10-week-old baby has claimed that his miniature dachshund tripped him, causing him to fall on the child. The murder trial of Anthony Casanova, 41, began in Muskegon, Michigan on Tuesday, 20 months after the death of his baby son, Tyler, at their home in Norton Shores in January 2013. Casanova has claimed he was holding Tyler in one arm and letting his dog in through a glass door, when the pet ran between his legs, tripping him and causing him to drop the baby on the carpet and then fall on top of him, Mlive reported. But in court, jurors heard how, during a three-hour interview with cops, Casanova eventually said that he had squeezed the crying baby twice before hitting his head against a bed multiple times. Scroll down for video . In court: Anthony Casanova, pictured in court on Wednesday, is on trial for murdering his 10-week-old son in his Michigan home in January 2013. Casanova insists he tripped on his dog and fell on the child . 'Proud': A picture shared in court shows Casanova with his baby son, Tyler, before the boy's death . Police and fire officials were dispatched to the home around 4pm on January 4, 2013 and found the baby not breathing. Detective Anthony Nanna previously told the court that, after hours of interviewing Casanova, the father admitted he had 'lost it' and squeezed the boy. He then took his son into the living room to make it appear as if the incident had happened there. Nanna attended the child's autopsy, where the doctor showed him previous and more-recent broken ribs, a lacerated liver, skull fracture, and bleeding on the brain. Heartbroken: Julia Striker, the baby's mother and Casanova's former girlfriend, appears in court on Wednesday. Casanova said he falsely confessed to killing the boy so that he could get home to her . Testimony: Paramedic Jonathon Degen points to where he saw and felt damage to baby Tyler's head . Discovery: Degen points to where he saw the baby inside the Muskegon home. Casanova told detectives in an interview that he had squeezed the baby and thrown him against a bed before taking him to the living room . On Wednesday, the jury members were to hear a recording of the apparent confession, which Casanova's defense team insists he only made after little sleep and much heartbreak. Claims: Casanova told cops and fire officials that he had tripped on his miniature dachshund, pictured . In court, the Norton Shores fire chief, a police officer, a police sergeant and a paramedic all testified that Casanova told them the same story about tripping and falling on the boy. The only difference between the stories was that, while he told most he dropped the boy and then fell on him, the fire chief remembers Casanova saying the two fell together. They also testified that bruises on the boy's chin and body appeared to be semi-healed, suggesting that they were not newly inflicted. Prosecutor D.J. Hilson has said he believes Casanova should be found guilty of first-degree murder, which comes with a mandatory life sentence. To secure this, prosecutors must show the dad intended to kill the boy or showed 'willful and wanton disregard' for the fact that he could harm or kill the baby. Hilson said he will prove that the boy had received multiple injuries, saying: 'This was no accident.' Casanova faces an open murder charge, however, meaning he could still face second-degree murder or a manslaughter charge. Loss: Baby Tyler was found unresponsive in his parents' home on January 4, 2013 and an autopsy later revealed he had broken ribs, a lacerated liver, skull fracture, and bleeding on the brain . But the defense team, led by Muskegon County Public Defender Fred Johnson insisted that the dog story was true and that Casanova, who has some learning difficulties, told detectives he'd shaken the baby so that he could return home to his fiancee. Johnson added that no family members had spotted signs of abuse on the little boy. 'What happened here isn't murder,' Johnson said. 'This man idolized this child. ... It was a tragic accident.' The trial has long been delayed due to legal wrangling. Most recently, prosecutors were granted permission to play Casanova's videotaped statement to cops. | The murder trial of Anthony Casanova, 41, started in Michigan this week, 20 months after his baby son Tyler was killed at his home in January 2013 .
Casanova has maintained that he was holding the boy when his dog got between his legs and tripped him over, causing him to fall on the baby .
But he later told a detective that he had squeezed the crying baby until he stopped breathing and hit his head repeatedly against a bed .
Casanova's defense team says he only made the 'confession' after hours of questioning and a lack of sleep . |
171,368 | 69ce9f166dbc4c6b9a924241a2b158e0a829369a | By . Travelmail Reporter . Five people were hurt during ‘severe turbulence’ on a Ryanair flight from Dublin to Reus in Spain on Monday. It is understood that two passengers and three cabin crew were thrown around after the Boeing 737-800 hit an unexpected patch of turbulence on the approach to Reus airport. One traveller told Irish news website, the Journal.ie, about the ‘panic’ on board the aircraft, which was carrying 160 passengers. Scroll down for video . The McDonagh family were on a Ryanair flight to London Stansted when they caused trouble on board, Highbury Magistrates Court heard . The passenger said: ‘We were absolutely terrified as the plane pitched aggressively roughly over a 60 degree angle throwing debris all over the plane.’ The injured were treated by ambulance staff when the plane landed. A spokesman for Ryanair said: ‘Our flight from Dublin to Reus experienced some severe turbulence on approach to Reus Airport. 40612 . 23708 . 250776 . 40032 . 96292 . 298795 . McDonagh had switched seats and changed his clothes in an attempt to prevent police spotting him (file photo) 'Two customers and three cabin crew members sustained minor cuts and bruising. ‘The . captain called ahead to request the Reus ambulance service to meet the . aircraft and provide medical assistance to these crew and customers.’ The aircraft was then delayed four hours before departing on the return flight. | Two customers and three cabin crew sustained minor cuts and bruising .
Traveller reveals the 'panic' on board the aircraft among 160 passengers .
Reus ambulance service met the aircraft on landing . |
166,105 | 62c6aa3b4bac6cbc4f8c2c17923f7810252ad7c2 | January 23, 2014 . Stories from Switzerland to China headline today's edition of CNN Student News, as we cover subjects involving civil war and media rights. Afterward, a firefighter shares an idea for an app that could help save lives, though the technology has limitations. And an ice sculptor creates what could be the coolest orchestra ever. On this page you will find today's show Transcript, the Daily Curriculum, and a place for you to leave feedback. TRANSCRIPT . Click here to access the transcript of today's CNN Student News program. Please note that there may be a delay between the time when the video is available and when the transcript is published. DAILY CURRICULUM . Click here for a printable version of the Daily Curriculum (PDF). Media Literacy Question of the Day: . Where would you go to get information about a country's human rights record? How might you determine the credibility of this information? Key Concepts: Identify or explain these subjects you heard about in today's show: . 1. Geneva . 2. activist . 3. censor . Fast Facts: How well were you listening to today's program? 1. Why are diplomats from around the world gathered in Geneva, Switzerland? How would you describe the current situation in Syria? 2. According to the video: What does China's constitution say about freedom of the press? What does it say about the power of the state? What happened when CNN reporters tried to cover the trial of a prominent Chinese activist in Beijing? 3. What are some tasks that firefighter Patrick Johnson wants Google Glass to do? What are some limitations of the technology when it comes to firefighting? Discussion Questions: . 1. In your opinion, what solutions might be generated for Syria from the conference in Geneva? Why do you think that officials there are not expecting a breakthrough regarding this conflict? 2. Why do you think the city of Geneva is known as the "world's negotiating table"? How do you think that the city of Geneva has maintained its reputation for neutrality? Why do you think that a neutral site is important in sensitive negotiations? 3. How would you categorize China's type of government? What do you know about this form of government? How does it differ from the type of government you live under? Why do you think that China's government might want to control information about activists who speak out against it? 4. Do you use any software or apps that help you in your daily life? If so, what are they? Do you have any ideas for an app that could improve a person's quality of life, or even possibly save lives? Explain. CNN Student News is created by a team of journalists and educators who consider the Common Core State Standards, national standards in different subject areas, and state standards when producing the show and curriculum. We hope you use our free daily materials along with the program, and we welcome your feedback on them. FEEDBACK . We're looking for your feedback about CNN Student News. Please use this page to leave us comments about today's program, including what you think about our stories and our resources. Also, feel free to tell us how you use them in your classroom. The educators on our staff will monitor this page and may respond to your comments as well. Thank you for using CNN Student News! Click here to submit your Roll Call request. | This page includes the show Transcript and the Daily Curriculum .
Use the Transcript to help students with reading comprehension and vocabulary .
The Daily Curriculum offers the Media Literacy Question of the Day, Key Concepts, Fast Facts and Discussion Questions .
At the bottom of the page, please share your feedback about our show and curriculum . |
141,512 | 42fb620b70cca914ba8fb1e0e5bd3ff2402cf27a | By . Steve Robson . PUBLISHED: . 07:30 EST, 11 January 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 17:12 EST, 11 January 2013 . A landslide has engulfed a village in southern China killing at least 32 people and leaving 'dozens' more trapped today. Mud and rocks smothered 16 homes in Zhaojiagou village, in county of Zhenxiong this morning. Rescuers have so far recovered 32 bodies and a further 46 have been reported missing according to state media sources. Scroll down for video . Disaster: Rescuers search for survivors after the landslide which swept away an entire village in southern China . Deadly: The death toll is currently 32 and is expected to rise as rescuers continue the hunt for survivors . Two victims have been taken to hospital. Falling earth swept over the village at around 8.20am this morning said the state-controlled channel CCTV. Local reports said a . 700-strong emergency team had been dispatched to the disaster zone while . Yunnan's provincial governor, Li Jiheng, had also travelled to the region. Rescue crews in orange jumpsuits were using construction machinery to sift through massive piles of mud and earth in the desperate scramble to find survivors. Behind them stood hillsides and pine trees covered in snow, signs of the unusually cold winter that has hit all of China. An official from Zhenxiong's propaganda office, who gave his name as Mr. Wu, told the Daily Telegraph: 'All the leaders are at the scene giving instructions on the rescue work. Right now the rescue work is the priority, trying to save more lives is the priority.' Reports did not say what triggered the landslide. They occur periodically in the region, which is prone to earthquakes and heavy rains. In a nearby county, 81 people died after an earthquake in September. A month later, a landslide buried a primary school, leaving 18 students and one other person dead. Desperate search: Paramilitary policemen help with the operation to look for survivors . | Mud and rocks smothered 16 homes in Zhaojiagou .
Not clear what triggered the disaster but China is in the grip of an unusually cold winter .
Rescuers using construction machinery to search for survivors . |
58,995 | a760d4b9095d9a0b13f88a6db02b326e4a01afcf | He's the footballer who hit headlines last year after reportedly flying a Serbian model out to visit him on a private jet - and has even been hailed the new Ronaldo. And it seems that Neymar Jr really is set to steal Cristiano's heartthrob crown, if his latest fashion campaign is anything to go by. International fashion and lifestyle brand, Police, has signed the 23-year-old to be the face of its new Optical range - and he looks seriously dapper in the campaign imagery. Brazilian footballer Neymar Jr has been unveiled as the face of Police's new Optical range . The brand ambassador, who also fronted the spring/summer 2015 sunglasses campaign, models the 'sleek, key, urban eyewear' and the brand says the style of their new glasses is synonymous with their global brand ambassador. It seems no expense was spared for the FC Barcelona star; industry heavyweight Rankin was called in to shoot the campaign. Starring alongside the heartthrob is Mexican model Daniela de Jesus, who has worked with GUESS?, Vivienne Westwood and Abercrombie. Neymar follows in the footsteps of past Police ambassadors who include Bruce Willis, George Clooney, David Beckham and Antonio Banderas. Neymar Jr, who famously flew a female friend out to see him on a private plane, stars with Mexican model . Daniela de Jesus has worked with GUESS?, Vivienne Westwood and Abercrombie . It was revealed last year that Neymar reportedly sent a private plane for Serbian model Soraja Vucelic to bring her to visit him in the Spanish city of Barcelona. Tabloid Kurir reported that Soraja, 28, and the footballer met last summer in Ibiza and since then she and the Brazilian national football team star have reportedly been chatting frequently via Skype. And it seems things are hotting up after Neymar, whose full name is Neymar da Silva Santos Junior, sent an aeroplane to pick her and her female friend up. According to the newspaper, Soraja allegedly flew to Neymar in Barcelona and stayed there for several days. The paper claims that the couple first agreed she would visit him at the end of October, but then decided they couldn't wait that long and instead he cancelled the tickets and sent a private plane to collect her instead. Watch out, Ronaldo! The 23-year-old last year fronted the brand's sunglasses range . The model later published a photo in Neymar's Barcelona FC jersey in the aeroplane on her Instagram account. Soraja Vucelic became popular in Balkans after participating in their Big Brother show. Since then she has become a pin-up girl for many local men and has huge local fan club. There's no wonder the busty model is a fan of Neymar. The young star has scored 40 goals in 58 matches for Brazil, making him the fifth highest goalscorer for his national team. He's won accolades such as most marketable athlete in the world and last year, The Guardian hailed him as the sixth best player in the world. Neymar reacts after scoring a penalty kick during the shootout of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil . | Neymar, 23, unveiled as face of Police's Optical range .
Follows David Beckham and George Clooney as campaign star for brand .
Champions League star reportedly flew in model Soraja Vucelic to see him . |
1,731 | 04fb35909f9611b19de4baec58c8e08bdd9d544d | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 22:59 EST, 16 February 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 22:59 EST, 16 February 2014 . A childhood friend of embattled New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has been dragged into the Bridgegate scandal, with emails revealing he gave a key Port Authority official a tour of the traffic chaos. In the latest twist, emails show Port Authority police officer Thomas 'Chip' Michaels was on the George Washington Bridge with David Wildstein, the official who ordered the road closures, when the disaster unfolded. The messages also reveal Michaels was aware of the plan to flood Fort Lee with traffic the . day before the controversial lane closings in September last year and kept Wildstein updated. It is not clear if Michaels will be implicated in the scandal. Thrown under the bus: It has been revealed that Chris Christie's long time friend, Port Authority police officer Thomas 'Chip' Michaels (left), was involved in the infamous George Washington Bridge lane closures . They go way back: New Jersey Governor Chris Christie (pictured) and Thomas Michaels reportedly grew up together in Livingston, New Jersey, and Michaels recently coached Christie's son in little league hockey . Michaels grew up with Christie in Livingston and even coached the Governor's son in Little League hockey. He joined the Port Authority Police Department in 1998, according to payroll records. The troubling emails were today released by MSNBC's Steve Kornacki and can be found at the bottom of this page. On September 8, a day before the lane closures, Michaels emailed . Port Authority Captain Darcy Licorish, asking, 'Is there going to be a new . traffic pattern installed for Monday the 9th?' In a 7.28am email on the first day of the traffic snarl, Wildstein informed Robert Durando, general manager of the bridge, 'Going to take a ride with chip and see how it looks.' 'Want me to pik u up. Its fkd up here (sic),' Michaels, a 15-year Port Authority officer, told Wildstein in a text before the tour. Michaels later texted Wildstein, 'I may have idea to mak ths beter (sic)'. The text-message exchanges between . Michaels and Wildstein were included in documents subpoenaed by a New . Jersey legislative committee investigating the bridge scandal. Scandalous: Emails released today show Michaels took David Wildstein (pictured) on a tour of the George Washington Bridge traffic snarl . The Fort Lee lane closure scandal has thrown Christie's presidential campaign into disarray, with mounting evidence showing his appointees conspired to . create traffic jams in Fort Lee, New Jersey on September 9 last year. The problems began after two toll lanes at a New . York-bound, toll plaza entrance to the George Washington . Bridge were closed to traffic from . Fort Lee before rush hour. The closures caused massive traffic snarls for days. Various reasons for the closure have been reported, including that it was political retribution against Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich, a Democrat, for not endorsing Christie in the 2013 gubernatorial election. The Fort Lee lane closure scandal: Evidence shows appointees of New Jersey Governor Chris Christie conspired to create traffic jams in Fort Lee, New Jersey, starting at a New York-bound, toll plaza entrance to the George Washington Bridge (pictured) Christie has repeatedly denied knowing of the bridge debacle until it was over. But Wildstein's . lawyer has recently claim that 'evidence exists' Christie knew of the . lane closures while they were occurring. Wildstein resigned in December. Meanwhile, Michaels' brother, Jeffrey Michaels, is a top Republican lobbyist whose business Optimus Partners L.L.C. has flourished under the Christie administration. MSNBC reported Jeffrey Michaels served as the chief of staff to Republican Gov. Donald DiFrancesco just . over a decade ago before transitioning into lobbying. He also advised Christie in his 2009 run for governor. 'I’ve known him for a long time,' Jeffrey Michaels said in a TV interview after the campaign. 'We went to high school with – we – our families knew each other . from Livingston, and just stayed in close contact with him over the . years and was very pleased to help his campaign out with policy.' Local . reports and I.R.S. filings show Jeffrey Michaels has donated . extensively to pro-Christie groups. The donations include $25,000 to a PAC-created . to push the governor’s agenda and $20,450 since October 2012 to the . Republican Governors Association, which Christie heads. Documents and Emails Shed Light on the Lane Closures . | Emails reveal Lt. Thomas 'Chip' Michaels, a Port Authority police officer, took David Wildstein on a tour of George Washington Bridge during debacle .
Michaels grew up with Chris Christie in Livingston, New Jersey, and recently coached the Governor's son in hockey .
The messages, reported today by MSNBC, also show Michaels was aware of the plan to flood Fort Lee with traffic .
Michaels' brother is New Jersey Republican power broker Jeffrey Michaels . |
85,403 | f23ef4f13343cb5ad1fd9e7a351c71f4ee83e4b3 | By . Dominic King for the Daily Mail . Follow @@DominicKing_DM . Gareth Southgate will not search for stars if England reach Euro 2015 as he vowed to stick with the players who are on the brink of qualification. England, who have already won Group One, face fixtures tonight in Lithuania and Moldova next Tuesday before they discover in seven days which country they must beat over two legs in October to secure a trip to the Czech Republic. But if they fulfil that aim, Southgate has made it clear he will not look to draft in players such Jack Wilshere, Phil Jones, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Raheem Sterling to boost England’s chances, even though they are all eligible. Warning: Gareth Southgate has told young England hopefuls they must show commitment to his project . (4-2-3-1): Butland: Gibson, Moore, M Keane, Robinson: Ward-Prowse, Chalobah: Redmond, Kane, Ince: Berahino. Former Under-21 head coach Stuart Pearce used to clash with the FA over not being able to select the best available players and often used the example of Spain, who picked World Cup winners Juan Mata and Javi Martinez when they won the 2011 tournament in Denmark. Southgate, however, does not feel there would be any benefits – either for the players or his team – by naming those who have graduated. Sterling, for instance, played in three of Southgate’s first five games but is now one of the first names on Roy Hodgson’s team sheet. I can tell you now that isn't even in my thinking,’ said Southgate. ‘Alex, for example, has been to two major championships. Those guys are seniors. I know people cite Spain, with Mata and a couple of others. But this is fairly typical of must Under 21 coaches around Europe. ‘Christian Eriksen still qualifies to play for Denmark but I don't see the Danes clamouring for him (to be involved with the Under 21s). It is that balance. You need to see what can be gained by bringing them back into this environment. Senior step-up: Raheem Sterling has become a starter for England and is seen as the future of the side . No go: Gareth Southgate has confirmed players such as Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain won't play for the Under 21s . Leading the attack: West Brom striker Saido Berahino celebrates scoring for England Under 21s . ‘My job is like that of a reserve team manager at a club - you have got to adapt and adjust to the players you have got available. Roy wants to play younger players, so they are going to gain international experience. That is key.’ The standard of opposition England face over the next five days, starting here in Kaunas, will have no relation to what will be in store next month but Southgate is not concerned they will be found wanting after their educational trip to Toulon this summer. ‘We went there so the players could recognise the level that is needed and the experiences they are going to face,’ said Southgate. ‘Very few of the countries (who will be in the play-offs) are going to face a really top side prepare them for next month. There are going to be seven or eight top nations in the draw but you don’t know who will be strong. For all we know, Poland could be stronger than Spain. It is difficult to tell with age groups but I don't think we are short of talent.’ | Gareth Southgate's side have already secured top spot in their group .
England will face a two leg contest in October to secure a trip to Euro 2015 .
Senior stars eligible such as Jack Wilshere, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Phil Jones and Raheem Sterling won't be selected if England qualify .
Calum Chambers and John Stones also played in senior win against Norway . |
60,998 | ad47ae5241ad4978b8c3ed77e6c2d48ea92721c7 | (CNN) -- Tax day is an annual stress test for millions of Americans, but Wednesday's Internal Revenue Service filing deadline may be the toughest one yet for many who can't pay their mortgages or rent, let alone a big tax bill. Jonathan Hermosa wears a costume this week to beckon customers to a tax service office in New York. "Our message to taxpayers [is] that we're going the extra mile to help those of you in economic distress," IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman told the National Press Club in Washington on Monday. "We want to get you your refunds as quickly as possible. And if you think you can't pay, please come in and let's talk about it. There are steps we can take to help." iReport contributor Crystal Gress will need to follow some of those steps. The Coplay, Pennsylvania, bank call center employee said she doesn't know how she's going to pay the $1,200 she owes the IRS. It's the first time she's had a balance due on April 15. "I'm really scared because I've never had to do it before," said Gress, 23. "I'm used to getting a return, but this past year has been really rough." Watch who's more likely to get audited » . Gress adjusted her withholding last year to increase her take-home pay to cover bills; she intended the change to be temporary, but car repairs and other expenses kept coming up, she said. She used an estimating tool on tax preparer H&R Block's Web site and got the bad news. "I was like, 'Oh, crap. I owe money.' And I don't know what to do now," she said. "... I waited until yesterday to do my taxes because I didn't want to submit them." People who know they're getting a refund tend to file as early as possible, while those with a balance due tend to file late in the season, IRS spokesman John Lipold said. Watch last-minute tips from CNN's Gerri Willis » . "A lot of people who were getting refunds in the past are not getting them this year," said Brian Joubert, owner of L&B Tax Service with five locations in the Atlanta, Georgia, area and Houston, Texas. Because his clients usually pay their preparation fees out of their refunds, Joubert's company has had to make changes to accommodate them, including cutting fees in select cases, holding checks until payday or taking payments in installments. "We've had more people to pay with a credit card this year than I've ever seen," said Joubert, who has been in the tax preparation business for 12 years. "I feel like a department store in some sense." The IRS has a monthly payment plan, but it comes with an upfront fee, stiff penalties and interest, making it more costly than a commercial loan. But a loan isn't an option for Gress, whose credit rating is hurt by lingering debt from admittedly unwise earlier choices. After her monthly rent, utilities and car payment, "I barely have enough to buy ramen noodles," Gress said. iReport.com: Read more of Gress' story . She tried to refinance her $5,000 used car but was turned down, and getting a loan from her family is not an option, she said. Her fiancé doesn't make much at the auto body shop where he works, and she can't work a second job because of long hours at the call center and recent hip surgery. "I've been looking at every option to pay my taxes," she said, acknowledging she'll probably have to go with the costly IRS installment plan. She won't be alone. Between 2 million and 3 million taxpayers a year follow that route, Lipold said. Watch what protesters are planning for tax day » . Others in similar situations might consider filing for an extension, but they still have to pay extra on any balance not paid by midnight Wednesday. "Bring your checkbook when you go to file an extension," said Amy McAnarney, executive director of the Tax Institute at H&R Block. "The tax that isn't paid by April 15 is subject to interest and penalties, so it's best to pay as much as you can even if you are requesting an extension." In rare cases, the IRS will negotiate with the taxpayer and settle for a smaller amount in what is called an offer in compromise. In 2008, the agency worked out 11,000 offers in compromise (out of about 150 million individual returns) worth about $200 million, Lipold said. "The IRS understands that a lot of people are having problems right now economically and is willing to work with them," he said. "If you're having a problem, call now." Watch how your car could earn you a tax break » . In contrast to Gress, Joe and Patty Lewis are getting a large tax refund for the first time. The Willow Grove, Pennsylvania, couple are due $7,000, which they said they hope will help save their home, which is in foreclosure. Joe Lewis' job as a senior systems analyst was eliminated in January 2008, and at 56 he hasn't found anyone willing to hire him. His $1,800 monthly unemployment benefit -- of which $900 goes to COBRA health care coverage -- runs out at the end of April. iReport.com: Watch Patty Lewis' iReports . Patty Lewis, 55, is a former executive with a furniture company who is disabled and no longer able to work. She first shared her story on iReport.com. The $7,000 is mostly a refund of the penalties they paid when they cashed in Joe's 401(k) and a deduction for their considerable medical expenses, Patty Lewis said. The Lewises are in talks to take that money and a lump-sum payment of her private long-term disability insurance and make a deal with their lender to settle their mortgage debt, she said. "If I cash it in, I'll be screwing myself by a couple hundred thousand dollars," she said. "But if it's something that's going to save me from foreclosure, I'm willing to do anything I can to secure my home. I'm offering my lender everything that I possibly have. I'm praying to God." Until Joe can find a job, "I'm going to have to live on $900 Social Security a month, which is going to be extremely difficult, but our house is everything to us and it's the only thing that I have to offer," she said. Their property taxes are $500 a month, she noted. The couple has filed for mortgage assistance available through national economic stimulus legislation, but Patty Lewis said she doubts they'll get it. "The administration is not looking at people who have been out of work since this recession started -- December 2007, January 2008. That's when my husband lost his job. And they know that a huge part of foreclosures is due to job loss, but yet they still keep addressing the subprime and adjustable-rate victims," she said. "And there's nothing out there for us at all. ... How can they structure the payments in order for you to pay that mortgage payment every month?" | NEW: More clients using credit cards to pay fees, tax preparer says .
Tough economic times make it hard for some to pay tax bills .
IRS offers installment payment plans, may be willing to negotiate .
Couple hopes to use refund to save house from foreclosure . |
87,141 | f7453992378bac1df8d7b84436f32fecc3d67acd | (CNN) -- The sudden momentum toward a bipartisan plan to reform the U.S. immigration system has sparked a torrent of discussion about this politically charged and emotional issue. Here's a sampling of voices from across the spectrum of viewpoints: . "Anything other than having these people going home and apply through our regular immigration system that successfully admits over 1 million people every year is amnesty," said a CNN commenter using the screen name ninesixteen. "Allowing them to wait in the U.S. is a reward. Our immigration is deliberately constructed to not let in unlimited numbers. These people violate our laws yet expect to be allowed to stay and work when others wait patiently in their countries. Legalization is wrong." Immigration Q&A: Amnesty or path to citizenship? "Illegal immigration has already put massive and unaffordable burdens on the welfare state and with 20 million or more applying for Amnesty, this will simply accelerate this process," said Tea Party Nation founder Judson Phillips, who argues that the real number of undocumented immigrants in the United States is higher than the frequently cited 11 million figure. Mexico 'welcomes' new U.S. immigration reform push . "I'm a liberal democrat but here's the problem with this law," said a CNN commenter going by the screen name Riprod. "Legalize them and now they have to pay taxes, SS (Social Security), get minimum wages, union participation etc. Now they are no longer economically employable by farmers, construction, landscapers and hotels, hotel workers, etc. So we are left with 11 million more on welfare while these companies search outside our border for more workers. No, I'm totally against this, they're illegal, arrest them and kick them out. Secondly, it took me 20 years and about $40,000 to get my citizenship legally and I feel cheated when I see this." By the numbers: Immigration and naturalization . "They need to make them do things the right way. Spend the thousands of dollars to file that paperwork properly. Make sure all the criteria is met. Put them through the ringer like they do anyone else who applies for Residence in the United States," CNN comenter Melissa Bickers said. "First fix the border. Then make e-verify federal law, and enforced. After that is done, I will welcome the 11 million illegal immigrants," CNN commenter "David" said. What's in Senate immigration plan? "What I am asking for is that President Obama consider every category of immigrant as he moves forward with immigration reform. I have to say, it irks me a bit when I hear that illegal immigrants will not be deported when I have waited for months and spent thousands of dollars to do it 'the right way,' " said CNN iReporter Julie Richard, a Canadian who married an American but said she wasn't allowed back in the country after a visit home with the couple's infant daughter. The couple has had to spend seven months apart, she said, while sorting through immigration issues. Immigration plan: A new era of bipartisanship or a political necessity? "It is vital that the framework includes a path to citizenship, so that undocumented immigrants can come out of the shadows and into the light and have a chance to become Americans. It gives hope to millions of our fellow human beings," Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Committee on Migration. iReport: Under deportation, above fear . | Immigration reform proposals have sparked nationwide debate .
A bipartisan group of senators has proposed one plan .
President Barack Obama is unveiling his plan Tuesday . |
18,869 | 35694797aa3b9dbab5a32e9ba5833e83038db062 | The current season of TLC's hit show My Strange Addiction has portrayed a variety of wacky obsessions, including a man in love with his inflatable toys and a woman who eats beauty products. But the finale episode could be the weirdest one yet - because it features a tattoo artist whose addiction is drinking a liter of blood every day. Michelle, 29, has been downing pig's blood since she was a teenager, and now says she cannot be in a good mood without it. Scroll down for video . Obsession: In the latest episode of TLC's My Strange Addiction, tattoo artist Michelle drinks around a liter of pig's blood every day, on its own and with meals . Needs it to function: Michelle has been downing pig's blood since she was a teenager, and now says she cannot be in a good mood without it . 'Blood is as important as water to me,' she says during her appearance on the show. 'I like to drink blood when I'm reading, when I'm relaxing, when I'm watching TV, when I'm painting,' she explains. 'There's never a bad time for me to drink blood.' The Lancaster, California native's addiction is so severe that she says she cannot start her day without a sip of blood. 'I drink it and I get energized,' she says of the liquid. Sometimes she indulges in her favorite snack straight from the glass, but she also likes to cook with it or mix it in with other substances. Shocking: Sometimes Michelle indulges in her favorite snack straight from the glass or with a spoon . Seasoning: The 29-year-old also likes to cook with blood and add it to stir fries . Preferences: Michelle likes pig's blood better than cow's blood. 'I prefer the gaminess, it's a little bit saltier than the beef blood,' she says . 'I wake up in the morning, I pour it . into my coffee cup,' she says - adding that she also enjoys an authentic . Bloody Mary made with the real thing. But not all blood is created equal, Michelle insists - she prefers pig's blood to cow's blood. 'I prefer the gaminess, it's a little bit saltier than the beef blood,' she says. 'When I feel it going down my throat, it's like having a cold and drinking a hot toddy' While most people might be disgusted by the idea, Michelle says it is in fact very similar to drinking wine. 'It definitely has the same ambiance,' she says. And rather than finding the taste repulsive she considers it comforting, saying: 'When I feel it going down my throat, it's like having a cold and drinking a hot toddy.' If she doesn't get her daily fix, Michelle says: 'I get irritable without it, I get angry, I don't want to leave my house - I want my blood.' She calculates that she has drunk a . total of 1,000 gallons of blood since she first took up her habit ten . years ago, which TLC notes is enough of the liquid to fill a bathtub 23 . times. Nightcap: While most people might be disgusted by the idea, Michelle says it is in fact very similar to drinking wine - 'it definitely has the same ambiance,' she explains . Seriously addicted: She calculates has drunk a total of 1,000 gallons of blood since she first took up her habit ten years ago, which TLC notes is enough of the liquid to fill a bathtub 23 times . Watch: The season finale of My Strange Addiction featuring Michelle airs on TLC on Wednesday at 10/9c . The season finale of My Strange Addiction featuring Michelle airs on TLC on Wednesday at 10/9c. Previous bizarre habits featured on the cable show include an addiction to eating vapor rub, a woman's fetish for stinging herself with bees, and a couple obsessed with taking coffee enemas. | Michelle, 29, drinks a liter of blood every day and mixes it with her coffee .
Tattoo artist says she prefers pig's blood to cow because of its 'gaminess' |
191,842 | 846be3fdbec7736cc81b562f1de94bb6eda05d1a | British soldiers killed in a 'friendly fire' incident in Afghanistan when they were hit by an anti-tank missile had repeatedly requested the rocket to be fired, an inquest has heard. A senior Danish officer, who was in command of the operation in which Captain Tom Sawyer, 26, and Corporal Danny Winter, 28, were killed, insisted British troops had 'pushed' for the Javelin missile to be deployed. The attack on the evening of January 14, 2009, had been ordered by the British troops' Danish counterparts during a joint operation against the Taliban. Capt Sawyer, of the Royal Artillery, and Cpl Winter, of 45 Commando Royal Marines, were among a group of British soldiers on a rooftop providing fire support for an operation clearing insurgent compounds north east of Gereshk in central Helmand. Captain Tom Sawyer, (left) of the Royal Artillery, and Corporal Danny Winter, of the Royal Marines, were killed in southern Afghanistan in the friendly fire incident . Two other members of the Zulu Company were injured in the explosion, which happened around 800 metres from Forward Operating Base Gibraltar. Investigations into the incident have shown that the missile was fired by British personnel but the order was given by a lieutenant in the Danish Army only referred to as Soldier A. The Danish soldiers have declined to attend the inquest and their evidence would be given in witness statements. The Danish officer commanding the operation, known as Soldier B, explained his soldiers, including a British Javelin missile team with night sight equipment, were on the roof of a compound. Soldier B insisted that the Javelin missile operators had positively identified enemy insurgents crawling into position on the roof of a building and they spent up to one hour trying to locate Zulu Company. 'Soldier A and I interpreted this as the enemy was about to take up position closer to Zulu,' Soldier B said in a written statement read to the court. 'Over the network I asked Zulu Company to confirm they were inside the compound. I did not know the exact words used as it was signalman who was conducting the conversation. A British soldier undertaking a training exercise fires a Javelin missile similar to that which killed two British soldiers in friendly fire in Afghanistan in 2009. File image used . British troops faced a number of fierce battles in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. File image used . 'I found out from the signalman that Zulu Company was static which is why it could not be them that was moving. He added that Zulu Company then asked repeatedly for his team to use the Javelin as they could see light about 100 metres from their position, which is why they were convinced they were soon to be attacked. 'Javelin again asked for permission to fire as it looked as if the enemy were in the position of extricating themselves from the position. 'Soldier A was still in doubt, which is why he again ordered the observer to fire with his rifle using live tracers.' After this Soldier A ordered the Javelin marksman to fire off a shot towards the target. He added: 'Immediately afterwards the Rifleman fired a rocket and reported he had hit the target but the target was still moving about, which is why he requested permission to fire again. 'Soldier A wanted a positive confirmation from Zulu Company that the enemy had been hit before firing again, so he refused to let them fire.' | British soldiers killed by friendly fire attack had requested the rocket strike .
The strike killed Captain Tom Sawyer, 26, and Corporal Danny Winter, 28 .
They were among Zulu Company soldiers on rooftop clearing compounds .
Nearby Danish officer in charge said missile operators identified enemy .
He said his team spent an hour trying to locate British Zulu Company .
But at Zulu Company's insistence, an anti-tank Javelin missile was fired . |
252,322 | d28ee32d2988e6f2b9643dc2d51deac63817988a | (CNN) -- Jane Fonda told Piers Morgan that Michael Jackson's 1981 visit to her California ranch inspired him to purchase what was to become Neverland Ranch. The actress and author of the new book "Prime Time" -- which is about the last third of life -- is a guest on tonight's "Piers Morgan Tonight." "I had a ranch in Santa Barbara," said Fonda. "And he came and visited me once. And I was walking him around. It's how he was introduced to that area -- where he eventually bought Neverland -- is when I had him to my ranch." The King of Pop, who was in his early 20s at the time, spent a week on the set of "On Golden Pond." "He came and he wanted to watch my father and Katharine Hepburn work," said Fonda. "He was interested in becoming a movie actor." Fonda also recalled pointing out to Jackson the spot on the ranch's grounds where she intended to be buried. "I thought he was going to have a meltdown," Fonda stated. "The notion that I could countenance the fact that I was going to die was anathema to him. He just -- he screamed." The actress recalled Jackson insisting that he was never going to die. "He talked about how he would get into an oxygen tank and he thought that was going to keep him, you know, alive forever." Fonda told Morgan that she doesn't like the notion that Jackson's 2009 death was a "Hollywood cliché," but that "it's hard to imagine that someone that was as tormented as he was, you know, could have sort of lived a long and peaceful and natural life." Fonda and her father, Henry Fonda, co-starred in 1981's "On Golden Pond," for which they both won Oscars. The film also won Best Picture that year. "I feel so blessed, Piers, to have been able to have that experience," said Fonda. "He died five months later. I bought the play. I made the movie, because I wanted to work with him. We knew he was dying." The actress described her relationship with her father. "He was a man of profound integrity," she said. "He was a good man. He had good values. He had problems in the relationship department. He had problems with emotions, which is interesting for an actor, a hard time expressing emotions and being around someone who was emotional. It was absolutely terrifying to him." Fonda also noted that while her father was difficult, "he did the best he could; and I was able to tell him that before he died." Fonda also stated that "if there had been Prozac then, I think probably our lives would have been very different." The actress also said that she believes that what her father didn't communicate directly to her, he did through the films whose values he held dear, such as "Twelve Angry Men," "Young Abe Lincoln," "The Wrong Man," and "The Grapes of Wrath." Fonda also told Morgan that she knows her dad would have been pleased to know that she married Ted Turner. "I found out after my dad died that he was fascinated by Ted Turner," said Fonda. "Dad loved the news; and he told a reporter that once interviewed me that he thought that Ted Turner was the greatest guy in the world because he started CNN." Turner and Fonda divorced in 2001. "We had a great time for 10 years," said Fonda. "I am so happy that I got to spend 10 years with him. It ended when it was supposed to end and we're very, very close. I just talked to him today. I told him I was going to be on the show. And I'm so proud of him. He's done so much good work in the world." Fonda told Morgan that the current crop of GOP candidates does not impress her. "They all scare me, frankly," said Fonda. "I get depressed and scared when I look at the Republican debates." The actress stated that she's "worried about anybody getting elected to office who says we have to do away with or privatize Social Security, we have to reduce health insurance; we have to not raise taxes." Fonda is hoping that voters reelect Barack Obama, telling the CNN host, "I hope he gets re-elected. I wish that he would be stronger. I think he will be in his second term. I think he's going to be reelected. I think he's a good man, but I wish that he was tougher on the issues that I care about and that a lot of people care about." Watch Piers Morgan Tonight weeknights 9 p.m. ET. For the latest from Piers Morgan click here. | Jane Fonda on her father: If there had been Prozac, our lives would have been different .
Fonda on Ted Turner: "I'm so proud of him. He's done so much good work in the world"
She hopes Barack Obama gets re-elected .
Fonda on GOP candidates: "I get depressed and scared when I look at the Republican debates" |
282,429 | f9cd278dfd7c20ab0d79dd90dee9b59c917ccdb0 | By . Martha De Lacey . PUBLISHED: . 10:27 EST, 20 June 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 10:30 EST, 20 June 2012 . It seems that two famous British Kates - Middleton and Moss - have been influencing the way UK women dress - and, in particular, how much flesh they choose to bare. We may have invented the miniskirt, but these days British women are some of the most covered-up in Europe, wearing longer skirts and less revealing tops than their continental counterparts, according to new research. British modesty: The conservative style of the Duchess of Cambridge, left, and comments made by Kate Moss, right, are proving influential in the way British women choose to dress . Skirts in Britain tend to hang, on average, 10cm longer than those worn in France and Italy, while . the majority of British women cover their upper arms, cleavages and . legs above the knee, according to research carried out by Parisian fashion house Georgede. The findings revealed that French . and Italian women wear the shortest skirts, followed by the Spanish and . Germans, then the Scandinavians, Austrians and Brits. In fact, only women in Luxembourg wear longer skirts than those in Britain do, but their clothes are still more revealing overall. Georgede's MD Phillip Bendavid said: 'It is very much the Kate effect. Kate Middleton and Kate Moss are leading the charge. 'Kate Moss’ recent comment that women should cover up more is very much a reflection of what is happening in the UK.'Increasingly, British women are becoming more conservative in the way they dress.'The Duchess of Cambridge is also definitely influencing the way British women are dressing.'For example, you never see her inappropriately dressed. She covers up those areas that women are very conscious about.' Continental curves: European women including Italian Nancy Dell'Olio, left, and Spain's Elen Rivas, right, have been found to bare more flesh than their British counterparts . A survey of 1,000 British women found 61 per cent of those aged 35 and over were most likely to avoid baring their upper arms, and 54 per cent of this age group cover their knees. Only 37 per cent of the over 35s and only 19 per cent of those under 35 choose to cover their cleavage. Mr Bendavid added that he approved of British women's new-found fondness British for covering-up. He said: 'Imagination is a wonderful thing. A women is often more alluring when sufficiently well-covered.' | British women wear longer skirts and less revealing tops than those in France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Scandinavia and Austria .
UK women influenced by Duchess of Cambridge's style and comments from Kate Moss .
Only Luxembourg ladies cover up more than us! |
211,907 | 9e69da9acca3725b9616e9193c58451fac8df500 | By . Lizzie Parry . Former Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin has indulged in another 'told you so' moment, taking part in a funny skit pointing out her prediction in 2008 that Russia would invade Ukraine. The one-time Presidential candidate appeared on The Tonight Show with host Jimmy Fallon, apparently speaking to President Vladimir Putin on the phone. Setting up the sketch, Fallon told viewers he had footage of a phone call between Putin and Palin. The skit featured Fallon dressed up in a wig and grey suit, playing the Russian President discussing Palin's 2008 prediction that he would invade Ukraine. Scroll down for video . Skit: Former Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin appeared on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon (left dressed up as Vladimir Putin), in a funny sketch pointing out her prediction in 2008 that Russia would invade Ukraine . Introducing the sketch, host Jimmy Fallon told viewers he had footage of a phone call between Sarah Palin and the Russian President . Putin said: 'I once invaded a country called . Youbetchavlad. … Anyway, since you so great at guessing my next move, . who do you think I should invade next? 'I’m thinking Finland, Sweden – I . hear Jamaica is nice this time of year.' To which, Palin replied: 'My advice to you would be, you get those troops out of Ukraine right now.’ And when Palin brings up shooting a bear, Putin says he prefers to take them down in 'hand-to-hand combat'. Palin tells the president: ‘That’s why people say you’re such a strong leader . ‘Well, I come from strong genes. Obama comes from mom genes,’ he replies. Joking about hearing breathing on the line, the pair question whether the NSA are listening in. The camera cut to Fallon dressed up in a wig and grey suit, playing Putin as he dialled the one-time presidential candidate's number . Putin tells Palin: 'I once invaded a country called Youbetchavlad¿ Anyway, since you so great at guessing my next move, who do you think I should invade next? 'I¿m thinking Finland, Sweden ¿ I hear Jamaica is nice this time of year' To which, Palin advised the Russian President: 'My advice to you would be, you get those troops out of Ukraine right now' At which point President Obama cuts into the conversation, apparently listening in, sheepishly putting the phone down. Rounding off the sketch the pair made light of how close Alaska is to Russia, with Putin threatening to invade. But Palin tells him: 'I wouldn’t Vlad, you might be able to take down a bear, but you are no match for a mumma grizzly.’ In among the joking about the pair perform a strange duet of Pharrell's hit Happy, with Putin on the Ukulele-type instrument and Palin accompanying him on the flute. Palin grabbed the media spotlight last month with a 'told-ya-so' moment by pointing out on Facebook that she had predicted Putin's Ukraine invasion six years ago. The one-time vice presidential candidate wrote a strongly worded post on Friday calling out her liberal critics for mocking her. During the four-minute sketch the pair play a duet of Pharrell's hit Happy with Putin on a ukulele-type instrument and Palin accompanying on the flute . At one point Putin and Palin joke that breathing on the line could be the NSA listening into their call, and the camera cuts to Obama, looking sheepish and gently putting his phone down . And joking about how close Alaska is to Russia, the Russian leader threatens an invasion, to which the former Alaskan Governor replies: 'I wouldn't Vlad, you might be able to take down a bear, but you are no match for a mumma grizzly' At a rally in Reno, Nevada in October 2008 Sarah Palin (right) told the crowd that Obama's response to the Russia's invasion of Georgia was 'the kind of response that would only encourage Russia's Putin (left) to invade Ukraine next' 'Yes, I could see this one from Alaska,' Palin wrote. 'I'm usually not one to Told-Ya-So, but I did, despite my accurate prediction being derided as “an extremely far-fetched scenario” by the “high-brow” Foreign Policy magazine.' During the 2008 presidential campaign, Foreign Policy published an article ridiculing her prediction that if then-Senator Barack Obama is elected into office, Russia under President Vladimir Putin would be emboldened to occupy Ukraine. Palin's statements on the campaign trail came during an armed conflict that broke out between Russia and Georgia over the contested territory of South Ossetia. ‘After the Russian Army invaded the nation of Georgia, Senator Obama's reaction was one of indecision and moral equivalence, the kind of response that would only encourage Russia's Putin to invade Ukraine next,’ Palin told a crowd at a rally held in Reno, Nevada, in October 2008. Palin took to her Facebook page in February to point out her 2008 prediction, saying 'I'm usually not one to Told-Ya-So, but I did' | Former Alaskan Governor appeared on The Tonight Show in a fun sketch .
She joined host Jimmy Fallon in a mock phone call with Vladimir Putin .
They discussed Palin's 2008 prediction that Russia would invade Ukraine .
Pair joked about the NSA listening in on their spoof call .
And Palin advised the Russian President to withdraw from Ukraine . |
124,928 | 2d79bbe439206ed5388ce5a646fb60267610796a | Rawalpindi, Pakistan (CNN)A suicide bomber detonated explosives outside a Shiite Muslim mosque in the northern Pakistani city of Rawalpindi on Wednesday evening, officials said, killing at least two people in what is the third such deadly attack in Pakistan in three weeks. The attacker tried to enter the mosque during evening prayers at 6:45 p.m. but was stopped by a security guard, Islamabad police said. The bomber detonated his explosives outside the building, police said. The bombing killed two people and injured seven others, said Dr. Aisha Isani, a representative of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, which was treating people injured in the blast. The militant group Jundallah claimed responsibility for Wednesday's attack, said a Jundallah spokesman going only by the name of Fahad. The spokesman said that the group attacked because of a months-long Pakistani military operation against the Taliban and other militant groups in the country's North Waziristan area, and that Jundallah would continue to target Shiite Muslims. North Waziristan is one of the northwestern Pakistan tribal areas bordering Afghanistan that have long been a base for anti-government militants. The Pakistani military campaign has displaced tens of thousands of people. Pakistan is a majority Sunni Muslim country. Shiites make up about 10% to 15% of the country's population, according to the CIA World Factbook. Jundallah also claimed responsibility for a January 30 bombing at a Shiite mosque in the southern Pakistani city of Shikarpur. That blast killed at least 48 people and injured dozens of others, officials said. On Friday, a suicide bombing and gunfire attack on a Shiite mosque in the northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar killed at least 19 people, officials said. The Pakistan Taliban claimed responsibility for that attack. Journalist Adeel Raja reported from Rawalpindi. CNN's Sophia Saifi reported from Islamabad, Pakistan. CNN's Jason Hanna contributed to this report. | Jundallah militant group claims responsibility, blames a military offensive in North Waziristan .
A suicide bomber detonates explosives outside a mosque after guard stops him, police say .
Three deadly attacks on Shiite Muslim mosques have happened in Pakistan since January 30 . |
12,112 | 2260e4a2fb3ff992fb37df2bd5cfc338aee6198d | Ander Herrera was given a tour of Manchester United's Carrington training ground along with his entourage on Wednesday. The 24-year-old midfielder also had his photographs taken for the club website ahead of the official announcement of his £28.7million transfer from Athletic Bilbao. The Spaniard stepped off a train at Stockport just after 1.30pm to be met by United security staff before being whisked away with his representatives and friends to Manchester. Wanted man: Manchester United have made a second move to sign Athletic Bilbao midfielder Ander Herrera . Bright future: Herrera (right), pictured in action against Barcelona, becomes Louis van Gaal's first signing . Race against time: Herrera's buyout clause at Athletic Bilbao was set to increase on June 30 . VIDEO Ander Herrera set to sign for Manchester United . Herrera has become Louis van Gaal’s first signing as Manchester United manager. United moved to pay the buy-out clause . fee for the 24-year-old Athletic Bilbao midfielder on Tuesday, with the . player signing a four-year contract. Former club Real Zaragoza are due £1million sell-on fee as part of the deal. Herrera, an intelligent and stylish midfielder, was the subject of a £24m offer from David Moyes’s United last summer. At that time they did not believe it was worth paying the best part of £5m more to make the deal happen. United denied problems trying to sign Herrera last year — namely when three lawyers turned up at La Liga headquarters in an attempt to push through the transfer without knowledge of either club. They know the buy-out figure is due to rise to £32m from July 1 and Ed Woodward, the club’s executive vice-chairman, did not want another saga to drag on this summer. Herrera has been watched by United for more than three years, with Sir Alex Ferguson’s brother Martin among the first to bring him to the club’s attention. VIDEO Van Gaal set for German shopping spree . Forward planning: Incoming United boss Louis van Gaal is aiming to strengthen his squad this summer . Despite shelving the signing last August, Moyes had promised Herrera he would monitor his progress. A dip in form followed but he recovered to help propel Bilbao to fourth place in La Liga. Herrera, part of Spain’s Olympic squad at London 2012, was also a team-mate of United’s Juan Mata and David de Gea with Spain Under 21s. Van Gaal is already starting to put his mark on the squad, with Antonio Valencia and Patrice Evra both signing contract extensions. Fresh bid: United have made an improved offer for Southampton and England defender Luke Shaw . United have improved their original offer for Southampton and England left back Luke Shaw with a bid understood to be around £30m. Alexander Buttner, meanwhile, will join Dynamo Moscow once the details of his fee have been agreed. United are due to tour the United States later this month before opening their Premier League campaign against Swansea on August 16.October. | 24-year-old arrived in Stockport on Wednesday afternoon .
Herrera was shown around Carrington training ground .
United will offer him four-year contract worth £50,000 a week .
United previously tried to sign Spanish international last summer .
Herrera is Louis van Gaal's first signing as United manager . |
42,348 | 776ffdb4559998d684b92d06d2ebc74843aaa2c6 | Washington (CNN) -- While the BP oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico has put accidental spills squarely in the national spotlight, one U.S. senator is warning of another possible threat: deliberate sabotage. Democrat Jim Webb of Virginia is calling on the Obama administration to develop plans to safeguard offshore platforms from attack by terrorists. The senator, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, made his case in a letter to Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Interior Secretary Ken Salazar. "While Congress will continue to scrutinize BP and regulatory agencies, I write to urge you to also be vigilant against deliberate acts, such as an attack or sabotage, that could similarly devastate the region," Webb said in the letter, referring to the Gulf Coast. But he wants the security plans adopted for all U.S. coastal areas. While there are no oil derricks off Virginia's coast, Webb, the state's senior senator, favors oil and gas exploration in Virginia waters. He also backs a controversial moratorium in deepwater drilling ordered by the Interior Department, until risks and safeguards can be better assessed. Webb notes in the letter that the BP oil spill is the worst environmental disaster in the country's history. He said that, "With dozens of wells operating in the Gulf of Mexico and elsewhere, we must employ policies that mitigate all types of risk." The senator said that a lack of vigilance on security issues "could leave the marine ecosystem, as well as certain areas of our national security, at great risk." He's asking the federal agencies to assess how vulnerable offshore oil rigs are to attack and make recommendations to Congress for safeguarding them. The senator points out in his letter that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission requires that nuclear reactors be able to withstand plane crashes and said similar standards should be considered for the oil and gas industry. Webb's request for security measures comes as he prepares for a possible rematch in 2012 with Republican George Allen, the incumbent he narrowly defeated in 2006. Allen, a former governor, also supports oil and gas exploration off Virginia's coast. | Senator Webb of Virginia warns of terror threat to offshore oil rigs .
Webb asks federal agencies to report on security measures .
Webb says rigs must be protected, much like nuclear reactors . |
10,334 | 1d586a4304c7e3f4be3595376ce818ce60389d59 | (CNN) -- The "fastest man in rugby" is to remain in the sport after resisting overtures from a major National Football League (NFL) team to sign for British team Glasgow Warriors. Carlin Isles built his reputation playing for the U.S. in the HSBC Sevens World Series, where his searing pace helped him score 27 tries in 14 tournaments. The former track athlete caught the attention of NFL franchise the Detroit Lions, who signed Isles to a practice contract in December. But Isles has opted to commit his future to rugby, moving from sevens into the 15-a-side version of the sport with the Warriors -- who play in the Rabo Direct Pro 12 competition with teams from Scotland, Ireland, Wales and Italy. "I can't wait to fly over to Glasgow and join up with my new teammates," the 24-year-old, who only started playing sevens for the U.S. in 2012, told the Sevens World Series website . "Everything has happened so quickly for me over the last couple of years and I'm just happy to be playing rugby and getting the opportunity to play at the highest level." Isles hasn't ruled out representing the U.S. sevens team, known as "The Eagles", in future tournaments, but for now he is focused solely on playing for Glasgow. The Warriors head coach Gregor Townsend, a veteran of 82 Test matches with Scotland's rugby union team, is excited by the potential of Isles -- who clocked a time of 4.22 seconds for the 40-yard dash while training with the Lions. "This is a major coup for the club and a very exciting prospect," said Townsend. "Carlin is an exceptionally gifted athlete, who has picked up the game of rugby in a very short period of time and has had a huge impact on the sevens circuit over the last couple of years." Isles' conversations with Townsend proved key to the American's decision in making the switch from sevens into the 15-a-side form of the sport. "It's very exciting to be moving to the 15-a-side game," he added. "It's a lot different to sevens but I want to work hard and do everything I can to succeed. "I've been in contact with Gregor (Townsend) a few times and knowing he really wants me and sees something in me means a lot and was a big factor in deciding to join the club." The Detroit Lions was not immediately available for comment. | Carlin Isles signs a contract with Glasgow Warriors rugby union team .
The American made his name playing in the HSBC Sevens World Series .
Isles previously signed a practice contract with NFL franchise the Detroit Lions .
The former track athlete made his sevens debut in 2012 . |
187,142 | 7e5aa23d6616d898b0faf87daf40c92f1186529f | Dejan Lovren has submitted a formal written transfer request demanding to leave Southampton. Sportsmail Online can reveal that the central defender wrote an email to executive director Les Reed and chairman Ralph Krueger on May 30 with notice of his desire to leave St Mary's this summer. In the email, the defender outlined his ambition to play Champions League football next season and wants to move this summer. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Lovren transfer request a day before the World Cup opener . I'll get my Croat! Dejan Lovren has handed in a formal transfer request at Southampton . Despite Lovren's determination to leave in this transfer window that the club have yet to acknowledge receipt of his signed email. Lovren, who joined Southampton at the start of last season, claims the changes to management have also affected his decision. Executive chairman Nicola Cortese left in January and manager Mauricio Pochettino has quit to become the new Tottenham boss. The club have yet to appoint a manager to succeed Pochettino, but have always insisted cash would be made available to the new coach to strengthen the team. Lovren held talks with Saints at the end of the season after Liverpool, who are among a number of clubs who want to sign the Croatian, made their interest known. Red alert! The Croatia defender represented his nation in Brazil during the 2014 World Cup . He then followed up that meeting with an email detailing the reasons behind his decision to leave Southampton. Lovren, 24, was signed from Lyon last summer for £7m is determined to quit the club to stay in the Barclays Premier League with a top four team. The defender, who was outstanding in his first season at the club, is among a number of players who want to leave. Captain Adam Lallana wants to move to Liverpool after the World Cup and young left-back Luke Shaw is on the verge of a switch to Manchester United when he returns from Brazil. Striker Rickie Lambert, also on international duty with England at the World Cup, has already sealed a £4m move to Liverpool. Anfield exodus? Adam Lallana wants to follow England teammate Rickie Lambert (R) to Liverpool . | Defender Dejan Lovren has handed in a transfer request at Southampton .
Saints stopper has been linked with a move to Liverpool .
Lovren has cited wanting to play Champions League football and changes in management as his reasons for wanting to leave .
Rickie Lambert has already signed for Liverpool, while Adam Lallana wants to follow his England teammate . |
242,954 | c67841947a67c0d9982e43d2e8ddd9ac4ac3c835 | Syrian rebels beheaded a Christian man and fed his body to dogs, according to a nun who says the West is ignoring atrocities committed by Islamic extremists. The nun said taxi driver Andrei Arbashe, 38, was kidnapped after his brother was heard complaining that fighters against the ruling regime behaved like bandits. She said his headless corpse was found by the side of the road, surrounded by hungry dogs. He had recently married and was soon to be a father. Volatile fighting: The news of the kidnapping and beheading of Mr Arbashe came as pro-government forces celebrated their victory against rebels at the Air Defence Base in Tal Hassil near Aleppo Airport last night . Sister Agnes-Mariam de la Croix said: ‘His only crime was his brother criticised the rebels, accused them of acting like bandits, which is what they are.’ There have been a growing number of accounts of atrocities carried out by rogue elements of the Syrian Free Army, which opposes dictator Bashar al-Assad and is recognised by Britain and the West as the legitimate leadership. Sister Agnes-Miriam, mother superior of the Monastery of St James the Mutilated, has condemned Britain and the west for supporting the rebels despite growing evidence of human rights abuses. Murder, kidnapping, rape and robbery are becoming commonplace, she says. ‘The free and democratic world is supporting extremists,’ Sister Agnes-Miriam said from her sanctuary in Lebanon. ‘They want to impose Sharia Law and create an Islamic state in Syria.’ Fatal: Fighting in Aleppo has intensified with rebel forces specifically targeting air bases. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said fighting led to closure of Aleppo International Airport on Monday . The 60-year-old Carmelite nun claims the west has turned a blind eye to growing evidence of a ‘fifth column’ of fanatics within the rag-tag ranks that make up the Free Syrian Army that they back to oust Assad. One of the most effective fighting forces is the Jabat Al-Nusra, which has an ideology similar to Al Qaeda. ‘The uprising has been hijacked by Islamist mercenaries who are more interested in fighting a holy war than in changing the government,’ she said. ‘It has turned into a sectarian conflict. One in which Christians are paying a high price.’ The rebel attacked the northern town of Ras Al-Ayn, on the Turkish border, last month. The fighters entered the Christian quarter, ordering civilians to leave and leaving their homes. ‘More than 200 families were driven out in the night,’ Sister Agnes-Miriam says. ‘People are afraid. Everywhere the deaths squads stop civilians, abduct them and ask for ransom, sometimes they kill them.’ Threat: Rebel fighters launched a major offensive on Aleppo in mid-July but the city had remained in stalemate until recent weeks . Militants wearing black bandanas of Al Qaeda recently laid siege to the Monastery of St James the Mutilated, located between Damascus and Homs, for two days in an attempt to prevent Christmas celebrations, the nun claims. An estimated 300,000 Christians have been displaced in the conflict, with 80,000 forced out of the Homs region alone, she claims. Many have fled abroad raising fears that Syria’s Christian community may vanish - like others across Middle East, the birthplace of Christianity. Al Assad, a member of the Alawite Muslim sect, claims only his regime can protect Syria’s minorities from domination from the Sunni Muslims majority. Meanwhile the fighting continues to rage with government forces retaking control of a key district in the city of Homs yesterday. The latest violence comes after United Nations peace envoy Lakhdar Brahimi warned of ‘hell’ for Syria if no political solution could be found. Russia has stated the conflict is becoming increasingly militarised and sectarian and risks bringing chaos to the whole region. Some 44,000 people have been killed since the uprising against the Al Assad regime began in March 2011. | Christian Andrei Arbashe, 38, was kidnapped and beheaded by rebel fighters in northern town of Ras Al-Ayn on the Turkish border .
News came as pro-government forces celebrated their victory against rebels near Aleppo Airport . |
213,769 | a0dc9ceccd24357326241c97c07df17c93e77420 | Apple's iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C handsets are still in high demand following their launch in September, but already rumours are circulating about what the next handsets could look like. The latest speculate about what the size of the 'iPhone 6' handset's display might be and suggests the fabled smartphone will include a full HD 1080p Retina screen. The rumour comes from a Japanese magazine called Mac Fan. An illustration of what Apple's next generation iPhone might look-like. The handset is rumoured to sport a Retina HD screen that is measures five inches diagonally . The magazine said the screen of the iPhone 6 handset is expected to measure 5 inches diagonally. This would make it an inch larger than the iPhone 5S' screen and it would directly compete with Google's Nexus 5, announced earlier this week. However, recent rumours suggested that Apple has not yet decided how large to make the new screen of its flagship handset, Yahoo! News reported. The Mac Fan rumour also suggests that Apple's next iPhone handset will launch in September 2014. This would fit in with the company's launch pattern and give the iPhone 5S, which features a fingerprint scanner, a full year as Apple's highest-spec handset. While the spec of the iPhone 6 handset will be under scrutiny until the smartphone launches, fans of Apple's mobile offerings will no doubt be interested in what finish and colours the phone will come in. A survey recently revealed that different sexes are often drawn to different coloured iPhones. Chicago-based Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP) examined buying behaviour of Apple's luxurious iPhone 5S handset, which comes in three colours: space grey, silver and gold. A survey has recently revealed that different sexes are often drawn to different coloured iPhones. Chicago-based Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP) examined buying behaviour of Apple's luxurious iPhone 5S handset, which comes in three colours: space grey, silver and gold (pictured) Space grey accounts for 43 per cent of all sales of the handset and the study found that men predominantly chose the favourite grey shade, while most women preferred the lighter and more sparkly silver option. Interestingly, the gold iPhone 5S, which was originally reported in being the most short in supply, accounted for 27 per cent of sales and was equally popular among men and women. Whatever the next handset looks like, Apple will have to compete more fiercely with Samsung than ever before, which is squeezing Apple with a 2.5 per cent rise in market share. Samsung Electronics shipped a record 88.4 million smartphones in the third quarter of this year to take its global market share above 35 per cent, while rival Apple's slice thinned, according to recent research data. The figure marked a 55 per cent surge for Samsung over the same period last year, the independent research firm Strategy Analytics said. The South Korean tech company's market share swelled to 35.2 per cent from 32.9 pec ent in the third quarter of 2012, whereas Apple's market share dipped from 15.6 per cent to 13.4 per cent. Japanese magazine Mac Fan said the screen of the iPhone 6 handset will measure 5 inches diagonally, which would make it an inch larger than the luxurious iPhone 5S' screen (pictured in gold), if the rumour proves true . | The rumour comes from a Japanese magazine called Mac Fan .
It said Apple's forthcoming handset could have a screen that is one inch larger than the company's newly-launched iPhone 5S .
It is believed that the handset could launch in September 2014 . |
225,585 | b0173499908f470c48e0b02c56f3dfc8b7b36203 | For the second straight year, youth and adult membership in the Girl Scouts has dropped sharply, intensifying pressure on the 102-year-old youth organization to find ways of reversing the trend. According to figures provided to The Associated Press, the total of youth members and adult volunteers dropped by 6per cent over the past year — from 2,994,844 to 2,813,997. Over two years, total membership is down 11.6per cent, and it has fallen 27per cent from a peak of more than 3.8million in 2003. While the Girl Scouts of the USA have had an array of recent internal difficulties — including rifts over programming and serious fiscal problems — CEO Anna Maria Chavez attributed the membership drop primarily to broader societal factors that have affected many youth-serving organizations. Smart cookies: For the second straight year, youth and adult membership in the Girl Scouts has dropped . 'Parents and families are less financially stable, frequently working two jobs or more, leaving little time to volunteer or take their children to extracurricular activities,' she said. In hopes of stemming the decline, the Girl Scouts are revamping their online platforms with new toolkits. One is aimed at streamlining the process of joining the Girl Scouts; another seeks to help volunteer troop leaders plan an entire year of meetings and activities with a single online visit. 'These tools will dramatically decrease the amount of time a volunteer has to spend preparing so that they can spend it serving the girls,' Chavez said. A crucial challenge, she said, is supporting the current ranks of volunteers and recruiting more adults to join them. A breakdown of the 2014 figures shows 809,413 adult leaders and 2,004,584 youth members. In 2003, there were about 2.9million youth members and more than 900,000 adults. In some regions, a shortage of volunteers is forcing Girl Scout councils to turn away girls who want to join. Chavez said there are about 30,000 girls on waiting lists nationwide. 'The need for what Girl Scouts has to offer is not decreasing — more than ever girls need our time and our commitment,' she said. 'Our challenge is to meet them where they are with enough caring adults to serve them.' Last year, the Girl Scouts enlisted First Lady Michelle Obama to make a video pitch for more adult volunteers. This year, there's a national recruitment campaign on Facebook. Campaign: Last year, the Girl Scouts enlisted First Lady Michelle Obama (pictured planting seedlings at the White House with Girl Scouts in 2012) to make a video pitch for more adult volunteers . Just two years ago, the Girl Scouts celebrated their centennial with a host of upbeat activities, but it's been a rough stretch since then. There was disgruntlement in some regional councils related to a deficit-strapped pension plan, as well as revenue shortfalls that prompted the national headquarters to trim about one-fourth of its staff through buyouts and layoffs. Many alumnae — including some who were active as volunteers — complained publicly about the closure of some Girl Scout camps and what they perceived as a misguided shift away from camping and other traditional outdoor activities. Chavez defended the changes, which included new programs seeking to boost girls' competency with money matters and encouraging them to pursue careers in science and technology. The Girl Scouts also have defended their decision to enter a business partnership with Mattel, the manufacturer of Barbie dolls. There's now a Barbie patch that girls can wear on their uniforms and a Barbie Girl Scout doll. Two consumer advocacy groups — the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood and the Center for a New American Dream — have urged an end to the partnership, saying Barbie is a flawed role model for little girls. If there's a broad theme to the Girl Scouts' current outreach efforts, it's to depict its programs as invaluable in helping girls grow up to be leaders, particularly girls disadvantaged by poverty and racial or ethnic disparities. The Girl Scouts Research Institute recently compiled a comprehensive study, 'The State of Girls,' that assesses how the organization can help address social, economic, and health issues affecting the 26 million girls ages 5 to 17 in the U.S. That mission — as well as the membership problems and the new outreach strategies — will be discussed next week at the organization's national convention in Salt Lake City. Some other youth organizations also have been losing members, for reasons including competition from youth sports leagues and a perception by some families that they are old-fashioned. The Boy Scouts of America lost 6 percent of its membership last year; its youth membership has dropped from 3.3 million to about 2.5 million since 2002. The Boy Scouts alienated some conservatives last year by deciding to accept openly gay boys for the first time, while angering gay-rights supporters by maintaining a ban on gays serving as adult leaders . By contrast, the Girl Scouts have long had inclusive membership policies, although there have been some defections by families who felt the organization had become too liberal. American Heritage Girls, formed in 1995 as a Christian-oriented alternative, now claims more than 35,000 members. | Over two years, total membership is down 11.6per cent, and it has fallen 27per cent from a peak of more than 3.8 million in 2003 .
In some regions, a shortage of volunteers is forcing Girl Scout councils to turn away girls who want to join .
Last year, the Girl Scouts enlisted First Lady Michelle Obama to make a video pitch for more adult volunteers . |
59,784 | a9ccc84ebba16bd802898a33d0804f827a7baefc | (CNN) -- Actor Matt Damon confirmed that he will return to the role of Jason Bourne in 2016 after stepping out of the spotlight for the fourth installment of the popular action series. Damon's buddy Ben Affleck let the cat out of the bag in a red carpet interview Friday with E! News. The two were joking about whether they treat each other differently when one is in better shape than the other, when Affleck (intentionally or not) let the news slip. "Well, (Damon's) going to be doing a Bourne movie next fall when I've just completely lost any semblance of physical fitness. So --" Affleck told E! News. "Yes, next year," Damon responded to E! News when asked for clarification. "It'll be in 2016 when the movie will actually come out. (Director) Paul Greengrass is going to do another one and that's all I ever said. I just needed him to say yes." Damon played the title role of CIA assassin Jason Bourne in the first three installments of the series based on Robert Ludlum's popular spy novels. The fourth movie, 2012's "The Bourne Legacy," centered on CIA agent Aaron Cross, played by Jeremy Renner. | Matt Damon tells E! News that he will reprise role as Jason Bourne .
Damon stepped out of the spotlight for the fourth installment in the Bourne franchise .
"It'll be in 2016 when the movie will actually come out," Damon tells E! |
46,020 | 81a3bb6f5172cc5513448a4771ecee4d59c15f81 | Radical new option: Methotrexate treats rheumatoid arthritis, so it is thought it could help with osteoarthritis too . The usual drug treatments for osteoarthritis are anti-inflammatory painkillers, often topped up with cortisone injections. And for more than a year this is what Susan Dawson was given, but it made little difference. Susan, a school learning 'mentor' from Liversedge, West Yorks, has osteoarthritis in all her joints - it started in her elbows in 2007, but she quickly developed it in her shoulders, hips, fingers and knees and she could soon walk only with a stick. Then Susan, who is married with a son and daughter in their 30s, was prescribed a new drug in a six-month pilot study by Arthritis Research UK and the University of Leeds. After taking the drug for three months the swelling in her knees went down markedly and the pain reduced. She was also able to walk without the stick - before and after scans and measurements of the knees showed a remarkable improvement in the inflammation. 'I couldn't believe it,' she says. 'The drug made a huge difference. I was very grateful, as I'd been in so much pain.' The drug Susan was given was methotrexate - a chemotherapy drug which is also licensed for treating rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune condition that affects around 400,000 people in the UK, causing inflammation of the joints. In rheumatoid arthritis, the drug helps to reduce the inflammation by reducing the activity of the immune system - around half of those with rheumatoid arthritis take methotrexate. Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease where the cartilage, which cushions the joints, wears away. Both conditions can lead to inflammation - pain, swelling and stiffness - in the joints. The thinking behind the pilot study was that if methotrexate works in reducing inflammation, it would help osteoarthritis, too. Osteoarthritis is typically managed with weight loss and muscle-strengthening exercises (to help provide support for the joint). Current drug options include cortisone injections and anti-inflammatories. But patients often live with severe pain and have difficulty carrying out their normal day-to-day activities, says Philip Conaghan, professor of musculoskeletal medicine at the University of Leeds and lead researcher on the pilot study. 'There is an urgent need to find better ways of managing their pain,' he says. The pilot study suggested methotrexate could possibly answer that need. It found that 37 per cent of the 30 patients with knee osteoarthritis who took methotrexate had a significant (40 per cent) reduction in their pain (there was no placebo group as a comparison). About 10 per cent (four people) had increased pain. Osteoarthritis: A degenerative joint disease where the cartilage, which cushions the joints, wears away . The results also suggested that inflammation plays a role in the pain of osteoarthritis, something that hasn't been clear before. Before she joined the pilot study in 2009, Susan had been in excruciating pain. Just over a year earlier, she'd noticed her knees were clicking when she walked, then the right one gave way completely. 'I didn't hurt myself, but all I could think of was how I was going to manage on the Nile cruise my husband, Stephen, and I were set to go on a month later,' she says. Her GP prescribed anti-inflammatories and the knee improved enough for her to be able to hobble around without support - and take the cruise - but the following year her left knee gave way in the school playground. 'I was terrified it was going to keep happening and that I'd keep falling over,' says Susan. She was put on different anti-inflammatories and signed off work for three-and-a-half weeks. 'I couldn't walk at all and the pain was terrible,' she says. After seeing a number of specialists at her local hospital, Susan was referred to Chapel Allerton Hospital, where Professor Conaghan invited her to take part in the trial. 'The anti-inflammatories and cortisone injections just weren't working and I felt so bad I'd have turned to anything,' she says. Susan was prescribed eight 2.5mg tablets of methotrexate once a week, gradually increased to 6.5mg - this is the standard dose for rheumatoid arthritis. She also had to take folic acid to reduce the nausea and mouth ulcers that are sometimes associated with taking the drug. Then, three months after she'd started the treatment, Susan noticed a significant change - the swelling in her knees had gone down and she wasn't in so much pain. 'I felt so much better,' she says. She improved so much that when the trial finished Professor Conaghan gave permission for her to keep taking the drug. She was given three-monthly blood tests to check for possible major side-effects such as liver damage. As Professor Conaghan explains: 'Changes in liver function tests are seen in about 10 per cent of people taking methotrexate. 'These changes are reversible, but we routinely monitor the blood readings and reduce or stop the drug if we see any changes. Liver damage is extremely rare. 'One of the advantages of methotrexate is that we know there are a large number of people being treated for rheumatoid arthritis who have been able to stay on it for years.' This means doctors already know about the effects of the drug's use, should it become available to osteoarthritis patients. Most trials of osteoarthritis drugs, on the other hand, usually last only three months, says Professor Conaghan. Potential solution: 37% of patients with knee osteoarthritis who took methotrexate felt a significant reduction in pain . 'Yet most people have the disease for 20 to 30 years,' he says. 'Taken over long periods, anti-inflammatory drugs such as diclofenac and ibuprofen can have serious side-effects such as heart attack, stroke and stomach bleeds, which is why they are prescribed only in the lowest doses for the shortest amount of time. They are not very practical for chronic conditions.' Early next year Arthritis Research UK and the University of Leeds will be carrying out a larger clinical trial to test the effectiveness of methotrexate compared with a placebo. Professor Alan Silman, medical director of Arthritis Research UK, which is funding the research, said: 'Many people with osteoarthritis complain their joints are swollen and tender, suggesting there is inflammation which is damaging the joint. 'Stopping that inflammation early could halt the continuing damage many patients suffer.' Meanwhile, Susan, who is no longer on the drug, has had no more flare-ups of her osteo-arthritis and any pain is manageable with ibuprofen. However, she is careful and avoids doing too much or walking long distances. Her biggest bugbear is not being able to wear high heels any more as they puts pressure on her knees. 'But that's a small price to pay for being able to get around,' she says. If you would like to take part in the trial, contact Sarah Hogg at the University of Leeds by calling 0113 392 4990 or emailing [email protected] . | Methotrexate is a drug licensed for treating rheumatoid arthritis .
Because it reduces inflammation, it's thought it could help osteoarthritis .
A new study shows that it can reduce pain for those with this condition . |
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